November 25, 2009

Business leaders representing a network of over 150 companies from more than 30 states today applauded President Obama's decision to travel to Copenhagen on Dec. 9 to participate in the United Nations Climate Change Conference and to work with the international community to drive progress toward a comprehensive and operational accord to combat climate change. "An international agreement on climate is essential for creating a level playing field for American businesses and to increase our competitiveness. We are thrilled at President Obama's announcement today that he will travel to Copenhagen to help drive these issues forward," said John Doerr, Partner, Kleiner Perkins Caufield Byers. "President Obama's leadership in Copenhagen will send a strong message to the world that America is committed to lead in clean energy." "I applaud President Obama's travel to Copenhagen, demonstrating the United States' commitment to action on climate change," said Jim Rogers, CEO of Duke Energy. "His presence will help ensure a successful outcome at the global climate talks, driving new investment, strengthening our global economic recovery, and moving us forward in building a productive, competitive economy here at home. The rules that Congress is developing will complement Copenhagen's global road map, supporting our business objectives to provide clean, efficient, affordable, and reliable energy to our customers." Full release.

Last week, Humane Police Officers with the Pennsylvania Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals filed criminal complaints against six Pennsylvania commercial dog breeders after agents and volunteers purchased twelve dogs at a dog auction in Holmes County, Ohio on October 7, 2009. There is clear evidence as set forth in the criminal complaints that the dogs have been victims of deliberate cruelty. This is the first time any law enforcement agency has brought abused breeding dogs back into their state of origin and filed charges against the breeders who harmed them. PSPCA agents drove unmarked trucks from Philadelphia to the rural town of Baltic, Ohio in Holmes County, to attend the auction, where some of Pennsylvania's largest commercial dog breeders had sent almost four hundred breeding dogs to be sold at auction. At the same time, investigators from Main Line Animal Rescue flew a private plane, on loan from a generous supporter of MLAR, to Holmes County to attend the same auction. On board was a licensed veterinarian who provided invaluable assistance, examining dogs inside the auction and later dogs purchased by agents and volunteers. Full release.

The National Response Team (NRT) of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) along with ATF special agents from the New York Field Division have been activated by a request from the Rochester Fire Department Arson Bureau to investigate a fire at the FAMILY DOLLAR located at 1731 North Clinton Avenue, Rochester, NY. The fire occurred just before noon on Monday, November 23, 2009. The team of about 20 agents and specialists started the scene investigation this morning. Several local ATF agents have been onsite since the fire. "ATF along with the Rochester Fire and Police Departments are investigating this fire," said Ronald B. Turk, ATF special agent in charge of the New York Field Division. "We will work together to determine the origin and cause of this fire, and if criminal in nature work closely with our partners to bring those responsible to justice." He estimates total loss of the businesses to be in excess of $3 million. This is the 4th activation of the NRT in fiscal year 2010, and the 686th activation since the inception of the team in 1978. Aside from being placed on standby during the Republican National Convention in 2004, this is the first activation of the NRT in New York State since the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center in February 1993. Full release.

Today, Lung Cancer Alliance-California (LCA-CA) issued its 2nd Annual Report Card on Lung Cancer. The 2009 Report Card is an assessment of progress being made against this lethal disease in the state of California. LCA-CA is a chapter of Lung Cancer Alliance (LCA), the only national organization dedicated exclusively to patient support and advocacy for people living with or at risk for lung cancer. The 2009 California Report Card on Lung Cancer tracks LCA's National Report Card on Lung Cancer, now in its fifth edition, which gauges national progress in the battle to reverse lung cancer's stigma and mortality rate. These Report Cards have become centerpieces to draw attention to the need for increased support, attention and research funding for lung cancer. "We have again laid out our commitments for reversing the decades of stigma and neglect associated with lung cancer," said Mike Stevens, LCA-CA Co-chair and lung cancer survivor. "Our team is in place and is willing to work with other organizations to increase research funding and ending lung cancer as we know it." Full release.

The Justice Department today announced an agreement with the city of Poplarville, Miss., to improve access for persons with disabilities to its programs, services, activities and facilities. The agreement was reached under the department's Project Civic Access initiative to bring localities into full compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). This agreement is the 173rd under Project Civic Access and the 12th this year. "Access to public programs, activities and services is critical to ensuring that individuals with disabilities can participate fully in their communities and in civic life, and the ADA guarantees them that access," said Thomas E. Perez, Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division. "The department is pleased that city officials have made this commitment to great access for persons with disabilities." Full release.

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and Kaiser Permanente today announced an exciting program designed to improve care and services to our Nation's heroes. VA and Kaiser Permanente are launching a pilot program to exchange electronic health record (EHR) information using the Nationwide Health Information Network (NHIN) created by the Department of Health and Human Services. "The ability to share critical health information is essential to interoperability," said Secretary of Veterans Affairs, Eric K. Shinseki. "Utilizing the NHIN's standards and network will allow organizations like VA and the Department of Defense to partner with private sector health care providers to promote better, faster and safer care for Veterans." This week, VA and Kaiser Permanente will send a joint letter to Veterans in the San Diego area who receive care from both institutions, to invite Veterans to participate in this first-ever pilot program. Veterans, who respond and ask to participate, will enable their public and private sector health care providers and doctors to share specific health information electronically, safely, securely and privately. This initial pilot is planned to begin in mid-December 2009. Full release.

Workers making shoes, Christmas lights, tools, curtains and paper boxes sold at Wal-Mart stores labor in illegal and degrading conditions. China Labor Watch's latest investigation of five Wal-Mart supplier factories reveals that not a single factory has implemented Wal-Mart's basic standards, and a total of 10,000 workers included in the report suffer serious rights abuses. "This is not about a single factory, but about Wal-Mart's inability to implement its standards," says CLW Executive Director, Li Qiang. In the report, CLW attributes this failure to ineffective auditing and a pricing structure that forces factories to sell goods at unsustainable prices. As the world's largest retailer, Wal-Mart leverages its massive product orders to purchase goods at low prices, and workers suffer the financial burden. As Wal-Mart gears up for holiday sales, workers at all five factories work at least 3 hours of overtime/day, for 100-140 total hours of overtime/month, and one factory routinely schedules overtime through the night. Two of the factories illegally underpay overtime wages at rates as low as $0.44/hour, and two withhold wages from workers who fail to meet production quotas. Workers' low wages are further undermined by excessive fines and unpaid days off or maternity leave, and some workers cannot even purchase social security! Full release.

The Donald W. Reynolds National Center for Business Journalism has awarded 12 fellowships to its "Strictly Financials Seminar" for working journalists and 12 fellowships to its "Business Journalism Professors Seminar." Both programs will be held Jan. 5-8 in Phoenix. These competitive fellowships, valued at $2,000, cover all seminar expenses. The seminars take place during Reynolds Business Journalism Week at Arizona State University's Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication, where the Reynolds Center is based. "The dramatic increase in number of applications this year underscores the strong interest journalists have in improving their financial skills and the importance universities are now placing on business journalism," said Andrew Leckey, president of the Reynolds Center. "It is an honor to have these fellows join us this January." The financials seminar covers stock markets, financial statements, options and SEC documents. The professors seminar covers how to teach a hands-on, university course in business journalism. Full release.

The leader of the Raelian Movement in Iran, Negar Azizmoradi, was arrested in Turkey a few days ago after escaping from Iran, where she faced a likely death sentence for declaring herself an atheist. Raelians deny the existence of god - any god. Instead, they say that advanced extraterrestrial scientists known as the Elohim created all life on Earth, including humans in their own image. After she had stated her beliefs publicly in Iran, her native land, Azizmoradi found herself increasingly under surveillance. But the worst was yet to come. More recently, after the last elections, she faced a situation in which she had only two choices: to leave her homeland forever or stay and face arrest and a sure death. "A few days after her arrival in Turkey, our Iranian leader was arrested because she didn't have a proper passport," said Brigitte Boisselier, official spokesperson of the International Raelian Movement. "Unfortunately, according to our information, she may be sent back to Iran, where she faces certain death for her Raelian beliefs. The 70,000 plus members of the Raelian Movement have mobilized to help her stay alive. They will be demonstrating in front of Turkish embassies worldwide, and they will also alert international authorities about this brave woman's predicament." Full release.

Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) is sharply critical of the Obama Administration's decision, announced Tuesday by the State Department, to decline to join the international treaty to ban anti-personnel landmines, a weapon that kills or maims thousands of civilians each year. "This is a default of U.S. leadership and a detour from the clear path of history," Leahy said in a statement. "The United States is the most powerful nation on earth. We don't need these weapons and most of our allies have long ago abandoned them. It is a lost opportunity for the United States to show leadership instead of joining with China and Russia and impeding progress. The United States took some of the earliest and most effective steps to restrict the use of landmines. We should be leading this effort, not sitting on the sidelines." For two decades Leahy has been the leading U.S. officeholder advocating an international ban on the use of anti-personnel landmines. Leahy's groundbreaking legislation, including the world's first export ban on landmines, was a catalyst in launching the treaty effort. Full release.

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