September 08, 2010

Michelle Obama, who along with Dr. Jill Biden last year helped to launch Mission Serve, the civilian-military initiative of the ServiceNation coalition, will be volunteering with Mission Serve and The George Washington (GW) University community this September 11, the National Day of Service and Remembrance. Mission Serve, in the words of its Director, Afghanistan veteran Ross Cohen, is a network of non-profit organizations dedicated to "bringing together civilian and military communities through service and volunteerism." The First Lady will be serving with nearly two hundred GW Freshmen, veterans, active duty servicemembers, students, military retirees, spouses and Chesterbrook Elementary School students to renovate the Vinson Hall Retirement Community. Full release.

The Arizona chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-AZ) today called on the FBI to investigate a possible bias motive for recent vandalism at a Phoenix mosque site. Representatives of the mosque, which is under construction, suspect the broken glass and graffiti is related to the current anti-Muslim sentiment nationwide resulting from the controversy over a planned Islamic community center in Manhattan. "Given the level of anti-Muslim rhetoric in our society, the planned Quran burning in Florida and the upcoming anniversary of the 9/11 terror attacks, it is only reasonable to investigate a possible bias motive for this vandalism," said CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper. Full release.

Three in ten Americans recently surveyed by PricewaterhouseCoopers' Health Research Institute said they would use their cell or smart phone to track and monitor their personal health, and 40 percent would be willing to pay for a remote monitoring device that sends health information directly to their doctor. Their interest reflects the nascent but fast-growing market for remote and mobile health and significant business opportunities for organizations using consumer technologies to support preventative, acute and chronic care. The findings of the survey and new report entitled Healthcare Unwired were presented today by PricewaterhouseCoopers at the mHealth Initiative 2nd International mHealth Conference in San Diego. According to the report, wireless technology, remote monitoring and mobile devices are changing the nature of healthcare, making it possible to deliver care anywhere in ways that are proving to reduce healthcare costs and keep people healthier. Full release.

Millions of children are online everyday. Do you think they are aware of the dangers that exist? Do you even know the evil residing online looking to connect with children? The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and administrators for the FBI-SOS initiative do. Online child pornography/child sexual exploitation investigations accounted for 39 percent of all investigations worked under the FBI's Cyber Division. Designed to meet state and federal Internet safety mandates, the FBI-SOS (Safe Online Surfing) Internet Challenge, is a free educational program that delivers critical Internet safety information in a fun, competitive format to students in 3rd through 8th grades with a separate monthly challenge for each grade level. At the end of each month, the schools with the highest-scoring students in each grade are rewarded with a visit from a FBI Special Agent, who presents the national trophy. Full release.

The United States ties for fifth place with Switzerland in a new "World Giving Index 2010" (WGI 2010) report issued today by the Charities Aid Foundation America (CAFAmerica), a member organization of the United Kingdom-based Charities Aid Foundation international network of offices. The review of the state of giving in 153 countries representing 95 percent of the globe's population is the most ambitious study of its kind to have ever been attempted. The U.S. posted impressive numbers in all three WGI 2010 categories-with 60 percent in the U.S. giving to an organization, 39 percent volunteering time and 65 percent willing to help a complete stranger. The Index ranked Australia and New Zealand as the most charitable nations in the world, followed by Ireland and Canada in third and fourth place respectively. Full release.

A report released today by BP spreads blame for the Gulf Coast disaster across many entities, including Transocean and Halliburton. Meanwhile, news accounts have indicated that final payment protocols for the BP fund / Gulf Coast Claims Facility will require claimants to waive future legal rights against all corporations involved in the disaster. The following is a statement from American Association for Justice President Gibson Vance: "From the very beginning, BP has distorted the impact of this disaster and attempted to skirt accountability, so the accuracy and candor of their report is unknown. But in light of BP spreading blame among multiple corporations, claimants must not be forced to sign away all their legal rights if accepting settlements from the Gulf Coast Claims Facility. To force Gulf Coast residents and businesses to grant all these corporations blanket immunity before the disaster and its scope is fully understood is unconscionable." Full release.

Although the U.S. economy is still vulnerable, a "double-dip" recession is unlikely with slow-to-moderate growth continuing this year and gradually accelerating in 2011, according to a U.S. economic forecast released by George Mokrzan, senior economist for Huntington Bank (Nasdaq: HBAN; www.huntington.com). "The economy is especially vulnerable when it comes to additional negative economic shocks, whether they come from credit markets, the geo-political environment, the policy environment or other unforeseeable areas," Mokrzan said. Mokrzan sees the probability of a double-dip recession at 26 percent this year. Full release.

AARP today announced a new relationship with former U.S. Treasurer Anna Escobedo Cabral. As the new Family Finance Ambassador for AARP, Cabral will provide practical advice to AARP's members and all Americans 50+ on everyday saving tips, budgeting and tools for achieving financial security. Baby Boomers have acquired more debt than any other age group in today's economy, raising the prospect that many will carry that debt into retirement. Cabral will share practical financial advice and her personal experiences about ways people can improve their family's financial future. This information will be communicated via video content, webisodes, in-person appearances at AARP events, and live Web chats on www.aarp.org. She will also reach out to Latinos age 50+ and their families with in-culture and bilingual financial guidance. Full release.

An international partnership is racing against the clock to ensure the survival of the last 48 Javan rhinos on earth by carving out a safe haven in the dense jungles of Indonesia's Ujung Kulon National Park. The species' entire viable population, living on the island of Java, is quite literally stuck between a rock and a hard place. In 1883, Ujung Kulon and the surrounding areas were decimated by the eruption of Krakatau, one of the most violent volcanic events in modern times. Anak Krakatau ("son of Krakatau") remains active in the area causing great concern for conservationists. Full release.

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