January 28, 2011

On Saturday, February 26, more than one hundred bottled waters from around the globe will compete at the award-winning Berkeley Springs International Water Tasting competition. Held in the historic spa town of Berkeley Springs, West Virginia, it is the largest water tasting competition in the world. This year six of the entries will be bottled rainwater sponsored by the 501(c)(3) nonprofit American Rainwater Catchment Systems Association (ARCSA - www.arcsa.org). The mission of ARCSA is to promote sustainable rainwater harvesting practices to help solve potable, nonpotable, stormwater and energy challenges throughout the world. Full release

The following is being issued by Mayors Against Illegal Guns: "In December 2005, Seung-Hui Cho was found to present "an imminent danger to himself as a result of mental illness" by a special judge. This should have barred him from owning a gun under federal law, 18 U.S.C. section 922(g)(4), but, because his mental health records were never sent to the FBI's National Instant Criminal Background Check System ("NICS"), in March 2007 Cho was able to purchase the guns he used the following month to shoot and kill 32 people at Virginia Tech. Similarly, the Tucson shooter, Jared Loughner, should have been barred from purchasing his shotgun less than a year after he was rejected from enlisting in the army due to drug abuse, but his record was not forwarded to NICS." Full release

The Department of Justice's (DOJ) Office of Justice Programs' (OJP) newly created Science Advisory Board will convene its first meeting today in Washington. Created last year, the Board is charged with providing OJP with guidance and recommendations for research, statistics and grant programs, ensuring the programs and activities are scientifically sound and pertinent to policymakers and practitioners. Today's meeting will provide the Board's newly appointed members with information about OJP's mission and goals, and how their participation will enhance the overall impact and performance of OJP's activities in criminal and juvenile justice. In Fiscal Year 2010, OJP, which administers grants on behalf of DOJ, awarded nearly 5,000 grants totaling $2.6 billion to the criminal and juvenile justice field. This funding will be used for research and evaluation programs designed to encourage innovative approaches to prevent and control crime, to assist victims, and to increase the capacity of state, local and tribal law enforcement agencies. Full release

Following is a comment of Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) on Protests in Egypt and Global Internet Freedom: "I join President Obama and Secretary of State Clinton in voicing strong support for the fundamental right of freedom of expression and assembly for the Egyptian people, and in urging the Egyptian Government not to block access to internet communications, including online social media. As the situation in Egypt continues to unfold, I urge all parties to refrain from using violence. The internet - a product of American innovation - is a vital tool for communicating and sharing information and for ensuring the rights and basic freedoms of people everywhere. A free and open internet is essential to ensuring the universal rights of the people of Egypt, and of all peoples, to freedom of expression, confidence in the rule of law, and government that is transparent and accountable to the citizens." Full release

Overstock.com, Inc. (Nasdaq: OSTK) (short cut: O.CO) today applauded the decision by a Federal Court in Colorado enjoining the enforcement of Colorado's new "internet tax notice" law. The controversial law, enacted in 2010, required out-of-state retailers to publish to Colorado purchasers a notice telling them of their obligation to pay Colorado "use" taxes on their purchases. The law also required retailers to report these transactions to the Colorado Department of Revenue at year's end, and to tell Colorado purchases at year's end of their obligations to pay and that the retailers were providing purchase information to the Colorado tax authorities. Full release

In 2010, major Churches of Scientology opened across Europe, North America and Africa. These new Churches are the realization of Scientology Founder L. Ron Hubbard's vision, where he prescribed the standard and model for all Churches of Scientology to aspire to in becoming what he called an Ideal Organization (Org). Ideal Orgs are built to provide all services of the Scientology religion while also serving as a home for the community at large for the cooperative advancement of the underprivileged and forsaken of every ethnic and denomination. Ideal Orgs are made possible by the contributions of Scientology parishioners dedicated to uplifting their communities and helping their fellow man. Full release

The United States Commission on Civil Rights announces that it has released its report, including statements by Commissioners, on the implications of the Justice Department's actions in the New Black Panther Party (NBPP) case: Race Neutral Enforcement of the Law? DOJ and the New Black Panther Party Litigation: An Interim Report. The interim report has been transmitted to the President and Congress pursuant to the Commission's statute which provides that the Commission "shall submit to the President and Congress at least one report annually that monitors Federal civil rights enforcement efforts in the United States." The report is posted at http://www.usccr.gov/NBPH/USCCR_NBPP_report.pdf. The NBPP case arose when two members of the Party wearing paramilitary uniforms, one of whom was carrying a billy club and yelling racial epithets, stood outside a Philadelphia polling place on the day of the general election in November 2008. The incident was caught on video, posted on YouTube, and played on news stations. Full release

Following are the comments of Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) and Congressman Peter DeFazio (D-Ore.) on USDA's announcement Thursday that the agency will completely remove current regulations that limit use of genetically engineered (GE) alfalfa, a key commodity in dairy farming, including organic dairy farming, making alfalfa the first perennial GE crop approved for widespread planting. Leahy and DeFazio have led congressional efforts to limit the threat to organic farmers of widely introducing "Roundup Ready" genetically engineered alfalfa. The two lawmakers last June headed a letter to Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, asking that alfalfa's regulated status be retained in USDA's pending rulemaking on GE alfalfa. Leahy and DeFazio also are the co-authors of the 1990 legislation that created the national organic standards and labeling program and continue to champion the growth and success of the U.S. organic industry. Full release

For the first time ever, the SPIEF website, www.forumspb.com, streamed a live broadcast from Davos, Switzerland, of a Plenary Session featuring Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, and a special session organized by the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum and the World Economic Forum, which included Russian First Deputy Prime Minister Igor Shuvalov. Russian President Dmitry Medvedev addressed the participants of the World Economic Forum (WEF) at the opening plenary of its Annual Meeting in Davos, Switzerland, on 26 January 2011. President Medvedev's address focused on those issues that are reshaping and redefining the global community. It also highlighted how Russia is responding to these challenges - with a special emphasis on the importance of cooperation with international partners. Full release

Lisa A. Rickard, president of the U.S. Chamber Institute for Legal Reform, issued the following statement regarding Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker's signing of comprehensive legal reform legislation earlier today: "All across the United States, governors and state legislatures are considering important civil justice reforms that will help promote job creation and rein in excessive litigation. Today in Wisconsin, the first of those 2011 reforms was signed into law. We commend Governor Walker and the Wisconsin Legislature for their leadership in advancing legal reform. We strongly encourage other states to follow Wisconsin's lead and we stand ready and willing to work with governors and state legislatures to advance commonsense, pro-jobs legal reform measures." Full release

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