June 02, 2010

The American Jewish Committee condemned a resolution adopted by the United Nations Human Rights Council which authorizes "an independent international fact-finding mission" into Israel's interception of ships bound for Gaza organized by the pro-Hamas "Free Gaza" movement. "The UN Human Rights Council remains a kangaroo court, in which repressive and authoritarian states like Cuba, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan can indulge their obsession with Israel, while ignoring serial violators such as Iran and North Korea," said AJC Executive Director David Harris. "Fresh from convicting Israel through the notoriously biased Goldstone Report into the war in Gaza, which presumed Israel's 'guilt' before launching a fact-finding mission, the Council is now embarking on a new attempt to vilify Israel." Full release.

The U.S. Association of Former Members of Congress, the Bipartisan Policy Center (BPC) and the U.S. National Archives announced today that they will host Breaking the Stalemate: Renewing a Bipartisan Dialogue, a conference to explore the causes and effects of partisan gridlock in Washington and outline tangible solutions for changing course. Current and former Members of Congress, political experts, and journalists will participate in panel discussions throughout the one-day conference. The conference will be held on Wednesday, June 16, 2010 at the National Archives Building in Washington, D.C. Full release.

Speaker Nancy Pelosi issued the following statement today to commemorate the 21st anniversary of the Tiananmen Square massacre in Beijing on June 4, 1989: "Twenty one years ago this week, thousands of Chinese students, workers, and citizens assembled in Tiananmen Square to bravely speak out. They called for the elimination of corruption. They called for an acceleration of democratic reform, freedom of speech and assembly. They called for a dialogue with China's leaders on how to make progress." Full release.

The Community Oncology Alliance (COA) announced today that more than 50,000 Americans have already signed the Petition to Stop Cancer Care Cuts, which can be found online at www.communityoncology.org/coa-petition. Community oncologists and cancer patients plan to deliver the petition to Congress on June 23 in Washington, DC. These patients and doctors will visit the nation's capital to deliver a strong message about the crisis facing the U.S. cancer care delivery system. "We're encouraging all Americans whose lives have been affected by cancer to sign the Petition before it is delivered this month," said Ted Okon, Executive Director of COA. Full release.

According to the latest data from Interpret's New Media Measure report, "Privacy Perimeters: Not All Consumer Data Is Created Equal," consumer attitudes towards their private information online is still evolving, but there is a distinct blueprint for consumer willingness to share. According to New Media Measure consumer survey data, consumers are far more willing to reveal basic demographic information as well as their taste in media such as favorite movies, TV shows and music. Over one in five consumers have posted their gender on their profile and 68 percent share their birthday. However, as social networking profiles venture into professional or commercial territory, consumers are more guarded. Full release.

Amnesty International members and other activists will rally prior to President Barack Obama's rescheduled trip to Indonesia to encourage him to place pressure on the Indonesian government to release two Amnesty International prisoners of conscience, Filep Karma and Yusak Pakage. Both men were unfairly sentenced to 15 and 10 years in prison, respectively, for participating in a peaceful protest for Papuan independence and raising the outlawed Morning Star flag. Full release.

As hurricane season begins, safety remains a top priority for Shell. Leading up to and throughout the season, Shell preparation efforts are focused on three areas: personnel safety, protection of the environment and minimizing the impact on production and supply. Shell approach to hurricane management includes early detection, tracking, and timely preparation. Shell has many years of experience in preparing for storms in the Gulf of Mexico. We monitor every tropical development that may potentially impact the United States and initiate preparation and recovery plans accordingly, said Tom Smith, President, Shell Oil Products US. Full release.

The National Association of State Boards of Education (NASBE) supports the Common Core Standards being released today as a major step toward elevating the expectations for every student and looks forward to assisting state boards in this effort. NASBE is proud of its role in the process for developing the proposed standards for math and English language arts drafted by the National Governor's Association (NGA) and the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO). Today's announcement is an important step toward establishing a uniform set of voluntary, rigorous, and consistent K–12 standards for American students. Full release.

The Ford Foundation today announced a $25 million effort to fight the disproportionate yet largely hidden impact of HIV/AIDS on marginalized communities in the United States. The initiative will target the District of Columbia and nine states in the South that rank among the highest in new AIDS cases. It will also support efforts to address the spread of HIV among African Americans, women and Latinos. The effort will build upon investments made by Ford over the past several years to address the impact of HIV in these communities and to fight the discrimination that allows the epidemic to spread. It is informed by decades of Ford work tackling difficult human rights issues facing highly marginalized communities. Full release.

According to a new AARP survey, Sex, Romance, and Relationships Among Hispanics Age 45 or Older: AARP Survey of Midlife and Older Adults, released today, Hispanics 45+ are more sexually active than their counterparts in the general population. The survey also showed that Hispanics believe that an active and healthy sex life is important in maintaining a successful relationship and that sexual satisfaction is higher among Hispanics 45+ who are married than those who are single. They're also less likely to think that there is too much emphasis on sex in today's culture. Full release.

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