By David Alexander and Madeline Chambers
DRESDEN, Germany (Reuters) - U.S. President Barack Obama expressed hope on Friday of making serious progress in Middle East peacemaking this year and said Israelis and Palestinians had to "get serious" and make tough compromises.
On a visit to Germany, Obama repeated his call for Israel to halt settlement expansion in the West Bank, but he also pushed the Palestinians to improve security and pressed Arab states to match any Israeli peace steps with confidence-building gestures.
"The Palestinians have to get serious about creating the security environment that is required for Israel to feel confident. Israelis are going to have to take some difficult steps," he said.
Obama, who sees Israeli-Palestinian progress as crucial to repairing the U.S. image in the Muslim world, was speaking a day after delivering a speech in Cairo in which he offered Muslims a "new beginning" with the United States.
Germany is the third stop on a trip which started in Saudi Arabia. On Saturday, he will attend commemorations in France marking the 65th anniversary of the World War Two D-Day landings in France.
"I am confident that if we stick with it ... we can make some serious progress this year," Obama said of the peace process at a news conference in Dresden with German Chancellor Angela Merkel.
"The moment is now for us to act on what we all know to be the truth, which is that each side is going to have to make some difficult compromises."
After Dresden, Obama toured the site of the Buchenwald concentration camp, paying homage to the victims of the Holocaust, in which 6 million Jews died.
The visit will send a signal to Jerusalem that while he did not visit Israel on his maiden trip to the Middle East, its security is still central to U.S. foreign policy.
"To this day we know there are those who insist the Holocaust never happened, a denial of a fact or truth that is baseless, ignorant and hateful. This place is the ultimate rebuke to such thoughts," Obama said, with Merkel and camp survivors Elie Wiesel and Bertrand Herz standing behind him.
UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY
Obama has made finding a solution to the protracted Israeli-Palestinian conflict a top foreign policy priority and has plunged into Middle East politics, often a quagmire for his predecessors, early in his presidency.
Former President George W. Bush was seen as taking a hands-off approach to Middle East peacemaking until late in his administration. Muslims saw Bush as biased toward Israel.
"I believe with the new U.S. administration, with President Obama, there is a unique opportunity to see to it that the negotiation process is revived," Merkel said.
Obama said he was concerned his recent comments on the need for Israel to accept a Palestinian state were getting a disproportionate amount of attention. Palestinians needed to take steps, too, he said.
"We have still not seen a firm commitment from the Palestinian Authority that they can control some of the border areas that Israel is going to be concerned about if there was going to be a two-state solution," he said.
If this was not solved, the Israelis would have "trouble moving forward," Obama said.
He called on Arab states to "make some hard choices" by opening up trade and offering diplomatic exchanges with Israel if it made "tough commitments." Until now, Arab states have said Israel must fulfill its obligations under the 2003 "road map" peace plan before they will reciprocate.
Along with the Middle East crisis, Obama and Merkel also discussed the nuclear stand-off with Iran, the global financial crisis, climate change and the fate of prisoners at the U.S. military prison at Guantanamo Bay.
Obama is hugely popular in Germany, but relations between Washington and Berlin have been less than smooth since Obama took office in January. Facing an election in September, Merkel has resisted U.S. pressure to take inmates from Guantanamo and send more troops to Afghanistan.
The brevity of Obama's stay in Germany and his decision not to go to Berlin led to German media speculation of a rift, but the president dismissed this as "wild speculation."
(Additional reporting by Kerstin Gehmlich and Noah Barkin)
(Writing by Ross Colvin and Madeline Chambers; editing by Jon Hemming)
It is unclear to me where President Obama is going with his health care strategy. Does he believe that it is impossible to get single payer health care passed by Congress, so he does not even want it "on the table" like Sen. Max Baucus? Is he willing to have it considered along with the other options? If his strategy is to get a single payer option existing side by side with the private healthcare companies, what is to prevent the healthcare companies from pushing sick people into the single payer system, leaving only healthy people as their insureds?
Ted Vaill
Americans' lives depend on whether we pass the right kind of health care reform. So why is NBC News airing an infomercial that will spread dangerous misinformation?
President Obama is committed to health care reform*, but some Democrats in Congress are already wavering on an extremely important provision - basically, without a public option, the health insurance industry gets to keep getting richer while Americans languish without the care they need.
We need to tell the truth about health care. But NBC is preparing to put lies on the air this Sunday.
Rick Scott is the Chairman of a group called Conservatives for Patients' Rights, and he has a history of disseminating lies and misinformation. According to the AP, Scott is "the former head of Columbia/HCA health care company who was ousted amid a fraud investigation that ultimately resulted in the firm pleading guilty to charges of overbilling." His "documentary" looks to be an extended version of videos he's been promoting over the last few weeks, which FactCheck.org characterized as "misleading" in part because they misrepresented the opinions of a doctor who actually favors the public option.
Send an e-mail to NBC News President Steve Capus today: Tell him not to air Rick Scott's shameful propaganda. The show is scheduled to air this Sunday, so please act today.
Please pass this on, far and wide. Here's the link:
http://act.credoaction.com/campaign/nbc_healthcare/?r_by=-158861-Lw1JRwx&rc=confemail
SIGN ON!
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Beth-Krom-for-Congress/55505738357?ref=share
FINALLY! SOMEONE WHO CAN HELP BRING OBAMA'S POLICY & SOME BRIGHT BLUE TO THE DARK RED 48TH !!!!!!!! ACT LOCAL - SUPPORT Beth Krom CA-48 SHE'S THE BEST!
PS: BETH IS FOR VETS INSTEAD OF THE DEFENSE INDUSTRY....SMALL BIZ INSTEAD OF BIG...HOMEOWNERS AND RENTERS VS THE BANKS ... DISABLED TO BE ABLE ....
AND MORE!
From: John.Campbell@address-verify.com
Subject: April 27, 2009: From Congressman John Campbell's Laptop to Yours
Organizing for America Listening Tour (Meeting)
Organizing for America is dedicated to making real the change we fought for during the election. But to be successful, we need to hear from you -- your effort and commitment are the backbone of this movement and this organization. We'll tell you about some lessons learned during the general election, and ask for your thoughts on how we can organize California going forward.
Your ideas will be used to write a California-specific plan for Organizing for America in 2009 and beyond. Come and make your voice heard!
Time:Sunday, May 17 from 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Host:Mary Jane Stevenson
Location:TBD (Irvine, CA)Irvine, CA 92602
VOTE NO No No on all propositons may 19th.
Please !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
http://ca.lwv.org/action/prop0905/flyer.pdf
Don't let the state raid the budgets/ cut services for other use!!!
CDCAN ACTION ALERT
California Disability Community Action Network
Advocacy Without Borders: One Community
APRIL 14, 2009 - TUESDAY
To reply to this email alert: Marty Omoto – martyomoto@rcip.com or go to the CDCAN website at www.cdcan.us
MAJOR PERMANENT CUTS TO REGIONAL CENTERS, MEDI-CAL, IHSS, SSI/SSP COMING
APRIL 22nd and MAY 7th MARCH & SIDEWALK DEMONSTRATION FOR RIGHTS OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS & SENIORS, LOW-INCOME WORKERS AND FAMILIES
Also: Come to April 23 Budget Hearing on Medi-Cal Cuts & Mental Health Issues
· California (and the nation) is going through the worse financial crisis since the Great Depression in the 1930’s, with California’s budget shortfall still growing by billions of dollars despite major spending cuts and new revenues and fund shifting and borrowing made in the 2009-2010 State Budget passed in February (four months early).
· Major permanent cuts impacting regional centers, SSI/SSP (federal/state grants to the lowest income persons with disabilities, the blind and seniors), CalWORKS, In-Home Supportive Services, permanent elimination of several Medi-Cal optional benefits including adult dental, mental health services, are already in the budget unless the Legislature and Governor rescind their previous actions and restore funding.
· With budget shortfall growing once again, additional huge permanent cuts are almost certain to be proposed by the Governor in late May.
· These are protests to stand up for the rights of children and adults with disabilities, with mental health needs, seniors, those with traumatic brain and other injuries, those with MS, Alzheimer’s and other disorders, their families, and the community organizations and low income workers who provide critical supports and services.
· This is about an individual’s right to live in their own home and community, rights that the Governor and Legislature have a responsibility to protect – not take away.
· This protest march and demonstration is also to let the Governor and Legislature know that our community of children and adults with disabilities, with mental health needs, with traumatic brain and other injuries, with MS, Alzheimer’s and other disorders, seniors and low income families should not be the ones bearing the burden to pay for California’s recovery. Our community has a right to share in the recovery too.
· Californians can lose their homes, employment and even lives not just by foreclosure or when retail businesses close – but also when the Governor and Legislature (and local government) cut funding for critical services (such as Medi-Cal, regional center funded services, In-Home Supportive Services, SSI/SSP, senior and mental health services) that results in a person being forced out of their home or job.
APRIL 22, 2009 – WEDNESDAY
REGIONAL CENTERS – MENTAL HEALTH CUTS (ASSEMBLY)
11:00 AM to 1:00 PM (be on time!)
PRIORITY: VERY HIGH!
WHERE:
Meet at the Sacramento Convention Center sidewalk area on 13th and K Streets (facing rear entrance of Hyatt Regency Hotel and the Esquire Grill restaurant)
WHAT:
· Meet at 11 AM in the sidewalk/plaza area in front of the Sacramento Convention Center FACING 13th and K Streets (across from Esquire Grill and the Hyatt Regency Hotel rear entrance)
· March from there, crossing 13th Street, marching down K Street Mall, crossing 12th street (stoplight) to 11th Street (walking mall), turning left marching down the 11th Street walking mall to the State Capitol, crossing L Street (stoplight) to the sidewalk facing the Capitol building (where the sidewalk demonstration will occur).
· Sidewalk demonstration until 1:00 PM for rights of children and adults with disabilities, mental health needs, seniors and low income families.
WHY:
· Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Health and Human Services (agenda will focus on cuts to regional centers and mental health services) meets at 1:00 PM, April 22, 2009 Wednesday afternoon in the State Capitol. Public testimony will be taken on cuts to regional centers. These permanent cuts include the details from the Governor (through the Department of Developmental Services) on needed changes in state law to implement cuts of over $100 million in state general fund money to regional center funded services between July 1, 2009 and June 30, 2010 and beyond. Advocates expect ,more and even larger permanent cuts in late May when the Governor submits his budget revisions – including more cuts to regional centers.
· March and sidewalk demonstration will protest the continued cuts made by the Governor and Legislature to regional centers that fund critical services to children and adults with developmental disabilities (including autism, down syndrome, cerebral palsy) AND the prospect of MORE additional permanent cuts coming in late May and January as the State budget shortfall grows worse. Protest will also focus attention on cuts to mental health services.
· March and sidewalk demonstration also continues earlier protests against huge permanent cuts impacting cuts to In-Home Supportive Services, SSI/SSP, CalWORKS, senior services, low income children.
APRIL 23, 2009 – THURSDAY MORNING
MEDI-CAL – MENTAL HEALTH CUTS (SENATE)
09:30 AM or upon adjournment of Senate floor session
PRIORITY: VERY HIGH
State Capitol – Room 4203
· No outside protest or demonstration planned.
· Attend and testify at Senate Budget Subcommittee hearing that will focus on Medi-Cal, including cuts in the budget now that, unless rescinded before July 1, 2009, will permanently eliminate several Medi-Cal optional benefits including adult dental, incontinence creams and washes, podiatry and other critical services for persons not living in a nursing home or other similar health facility.
· Also hearing will focus on mental health services, Healthy Families and California Children Services budget issues
MAY 7, 2009 – THURSDAY MORNING
REGIONAL CENTER CUTS (SENATE)
09:00 AM (until start of hearing)
State Capitol – L Street sidewalk
Sidewalk demonstration for rights of people with disabilities, mental health needs, seniors. Meet on sidewalk on L Street facing the State Capitol (at 11th Street). More details coming.
· Senate Budget Subcommittee on Health and Human Services (agenda will focus on cuts to regional centers) meets at 09:30 AM (or when the Senate floor session adjourns that morning – could be later than 9:30 AM) May 7, 2009, Thursday morning in the State Capitol in Room 4203. Public testimony will be taken on cuts to regional centers.
· This sidewalk demonstration will continue the protests against cuts impacting not only regional centers, but cuts to In-Home Supportive Services, SSI/SSP, CalWORKS, mental health, low income children.
WHAT TO BRING TO APRIL 22 & MAY 7 EVENTS:
· Pictures of loved ones impacted by all these cuts, including those of workers.
· Posters and signs (“No More Cuts” “People with disabilities, mental health c needs and seniors deserve a better California” “Governor and Legislature: Do the Right Thing: Rescind Cuts to Disabled and Seniors”, etc) .
· Make signs as individualized as possible. This is about an individual’s rights to live in their own home and community and to share in the recovery of California and the nation and not be the ones made to pay for it.
· Bring your own lunch or snacks and water for April 22 and May 7 – it will be long a day!
SOME THINGS TO CONSIDER AVOIDING
· Avoid personal attacks on posters and signs as it takes focus away from the issue of the rights of a child, of an adult (including seniors), with disabilities, who are blind , mental health needs, or a disorder or injury.
· If coming with a group, consider NOT wearing the same color shirts (not just unions, but also community organizations, regional centers, or associations who sometime like to have their members wear the same outfit or shirt). This suggestion of not wearing the same type of t-shirt or holding the same exact mass produced sign is not an attack on any group – all groups are welcome.
· Wearing the same colored t-shirt (either one promoting a regional center, union, or association or other group) takes away from the focus of an individual – that of a child or adult or senior with disabilities, with autism, with traumatic brain injuries, with Alzheimer’s, with mental health needs. A person who is deaf or blind.
· The cuts are attacking and harming individuals – a child, an adult, a senior, a low income worker.
· Dress as an individual – as you would normally – because THAT is the best way to show California – to show the Governor and Legislature and others that this is about how these terrible cuts are harming a child with disabilities and mental health needs, an adult with disabilities and mental health needs, a senior, a low income worker. We want to make California see us in that way – and to hear the voices of individuals who are being harmed. Si Se Puede.
WHO SHOULD COME
· Cuts impact children and adults with developmental disabilities – including those with autism spectrum disorders, down syndrome; children and adults with other disabilities, children and adults with mental health needs, seniors including those with Alzheimer’s, persons with MS and other disorders, children and adults with traumatic brain and other injuries, children and parents from low income families, community organizations and facilities and low income workers who provide critical supports and services, regional centers, independent living centers, and more. All should come.
· These hearings are just three in a series of budget hearings that have been held all this past year – with more to come. There have been hearings on In-Home Supportive Services, mental health – and more will be scheduled likely on those and other issues – and we will organize events also on those dates.
· For April 22 and May 7, both the Assembly and Senate budget subcommittees will focus on major cuts to regional centers that fund community-based services to children and adults with developmental disabilities. Cuts include those that will children in Early Start (California’s early intervention program), transportation, supported living and a wide range of other services – in addition to on-going cuts passed last September and in February, which have already been implemented (including 3% cuts in regional center provider payments retroactive to February 1, 2009). The April 23rd Senate budget subcommittee hearing will focus on cuts to Medi-Cal, mental health.
· Just as important as focusing on cuts already proposed or already passed, is a focus that MORE permanent cuts of hundreds of millions of dollars in state spending is certain to come in the coming months, if the state’s budget situation continues to grow worse – as most expect it will.
· The Governor will propose revisions to the State budget for 2009-2010 that was passed in February four months early. But the deficit that was closed by that budget (which goes into effect July 1, 2009) has grown by a projected $8 billion, a number that will likely grow even larger in the coming months.
· That will almost certainly mean more proposed cuts – including those impacting specifically regional centers – and also other health and human services critical to people with disabilities, mental health needs, seniors and low income families across California. Unlike in previous years, these cuts will almost certainly be permanent.
HOW A PERSON CAN TESTIFY AT HEARINGS
· Nearly all of the budget subcommittee hearings allow time for the public to provide testimony or comments – but that time is very limited, especially if there is a large crowd waiting to testify.
· The subcommittee chair will, usually after each agenda item, ask for comments from the subcommittee, then will ask for any testimony or comments from the public (you don’t fill out a card requesting to speak in advance that is often the practice at local government type meetings) [CDCAN Note: agendas for these hearings are usually not available until the day before the hearing. Agendas are available in the hearing rooms – CDCAN will also send out copies and post on the CDCAN website as soon as agendas become available]
· People simply line up to speak (at the podium or table, depending on the hearing room). In the larger hearing rooms the subcommittees will often have wireless microphones available for persons unable to make it up to the podium easily.
· Give your full name and where you are from. If you have a picture – show it (including to the audience behind you).
· Keep comments focused on the specific agenda item that the subcommittee chair is asking people to speak on. Sometimes that is not always possible if the agenda doesn’t include the issues you want to talk about.
· Time to speak is very limited, especially if there are a lot of agenda items and also if there are a lot of people waiting to also testify. Persons should try to make brief comments, lasting not more than a minute or so.
· Talking longer is NOT more effective – and it simply takes away time for another person to speak (you can give written comments to the subcommittee in addition to speaking). And taking time away from another person waiting to speak is taking away their right to participate too.
· Think of how long a good commercial on radio or TV lasts – usually 30 seconds. But a strong and compelling point can be made in that time – in part also because if there are others lined up to speak too – then each person’s testimony is being supported and emphasized by everyone else.
· Be respectful to the subcommittee chair, members and staff – and also the sergeant at arms in the hearing rooms.
· CDCAN Note: more information about the specific hearings, including committee members and other ideas will be sent out later – and also at the two protests/demonstrations prior to the hearings.
URGENT!!!!
PLEASE HELP CDCAN CONTINUE ITS WORK!!!
CDCAN Townhall Telemeetings, reports and alerts and other activities cannot continue without your help.
To continue the CDCAN website, the CDCAN News Reports. sent out and read by over 45,000 people and organizations, policy makers and media across California and to continue the CDCAN Townhall Telemeetings which since December 2003 have connected thousands of people with disabilities, seniors, mental health needs, people with MS and other disorders, people with traumatic brain and other injuries to public policy makers, legislators, and issues.
Please send your contribution/donation (make payable to "CDCAN" or "California Disability Community Action Network):
CDCAN
1225 8th Street Suite 480
Sacramento, CA 95814
You can also donate via credit card – paypal on the CDCAN site working again!
MANY, MANY THANKS to HOPE Services of San Jose, FEAT of Sacramento (Families for Early Autism Treatment), RESCoalition, Easter Seals of Southern California, Tri-Counties Regional Center, Westside Regional Center, Regional Center of the East Bay, Friends of Children with Special Needs, UCP of Orange County, UCP of Los Angeles and Ventura Counties, Alta California Regional Center, Life Steps, Parents Helping Parents, Work Training, Foothill Autism Alliance, Arc Contra Costa, Pause4Kids, Manteca CAPS, Training Toward Self Reliance, UCP, California NAELA, Californians for Disability Rights, Inc (CDR) including CDR chapters, CHANCE Inc, , Strategies To Empower People (STEP), Harbor Regional Center, Asian American parents groups, Resources for Independent Living and many other Independent Living Centers, several regional centers, People First chapters, IHSS workers, other self advocacy and family support groups, developmental center families, adoption assistance program families and children, and others across California
Dear All APF members,
FDA Briefing on Unapproved Opioids was held on April 9, 2009.
An emergency stakeholder briefing was convened via conference call by the FDA to address concerns that have been raised by the pain and palliative care communities regarding warnings to nine companies to stop manufacturing and distributing 14 opioid analgesics within 60 days. APF participated in this briefing. A replay of the briefing will be available until April 15, 2009 at 11:59 PM EDT. To hear the replay, callers can dial 1-866-419-2678.
Douglas Throckmorton, M.D., Deputy Director, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research stated that the FDA understands that patients dealing with terminal illness have unique needs that should have been taken into consideration. The FDA reported that they are taking immediate corrective action regarding the availability of the 20mg/ml morphine sulfate solution. They regretted that they failed to include representatives from hospice and palliative care organizations in deliberations over this particular issue and will improve their consultation process with key stakeholders in the future. The FDA commented that they were not aware of the extent of disruption in patient care because of their ruling or that a critical shortage of some of these medications already exists. We would like to acknowledge them for their swift action in this case as they became aware of the impact this disruption was having on the community. In order to help remedy this; they would like to hear from providers if there are critical shortages in medications to help manage patients optimally.
Action:The FDA has asked to be notified of drug shortages in your area as they arise. Contact FDA by emailing this information to drugshortages@fda.hhs.gov. All correspondence should include your professional information, name of the drug, your location, name of wholesaler (if available) and identify yourself as an APF member.
To stay informed of drug shortages, visit the FDA website at: http://www.fda.gov/cder/drug/shortages/
Our voices can make a difference.
If you are receiving this e-mail for the first time as a forward from a friend, please register here to continue to receive news and action items regarding pain management.
Sincerely,American Pain Foundation
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ALREADY many OBAMA FEDERAL STIMULUS funds for adultS disabled are being diverted to other programs - huge cuts including to psychologists are planned !
PLEASE VOTE NO ON 1E BECAUSE THAT BILL IS THE DEFINITION OF INSANITY !
DON'T ALLOW MH SPECIFIC $ TO "DISAPPEAR" IN THE CA GENERAL FUND.!!!!!!!!!!
WARning: CA CUTTING CARE TO DISABLED ADULTS on ssi/ssp THROUGHOUT all PROGRAMS increasing disability and inability among Adults with mh and multiple disability!
Act Now To Defeat Proposition 1E
California's Special Election is less than two months away. We must act quickly and take the necessary steps to defeat Proposition 1E.
From NAMI California by Grace McAndrews, Executive Director, March 26, 2009
It's up to us to act now to defeat this harmful act.
HERE'S WHAT YOU CAN DO:
FINANCIALLY SUPPORT THE CAMPAIGN
Attached for your convenience is a Fact Sheet & Contribution Form and Endorsement Forms for Individuals and Organizations. Please be as generous as you can. We ask that you share this information with all of your contacts, including members of your affiliate, neighbors, co-workers and friends listed in your address book. Post information on your web site and in your newsletter. Write letters to your local newspaper. Hold parties to support the campaign. Do whatever else is necessary to get the word out.
GET OUT THE VOTE
Voters who are registered to vote must vote at their polling place or vote-by-mail. This is critical. People who are not registered to vote must register by the deadline and vote either at their polling place or use the vote-by-mail ballot. This is critical as well. Historically, voting is light in special elections. We believe there is a good chance that t hose who opt for the vote-by-mail ballot may very well dictate the results of the May 19th election.
Those who wish to vote-by-mail can use the application printed on their Sample Ballot which will be sent prior to the elections, or one can apply in writing to their county elections official. If choosing the latter, you will need to submit a completed application or letter to your county elections official between 29 days and 7 days before the election. You can find the telephone number and address of your county elections official by looking in the front of your telephone directory in the White Pages Government Listing section under County Offices. Look for “Elections”, Registrar of Voters”, “County Clerks”, or “Voting.” For complete “how to” information of Registering to Vote and vote-by-mail, visit the following web site: www.sos.ca.gov/elections/elections Go to Voter Reigstration, click on Vote by Mail.
Critical Downloads:
Click Here to download the Fact Sheet and Contribution Form
Click Here to download the Endorsement Forms for Individuals and Organizations
NOTE: 501©3 affiliates can participate in this process as well as donate money to the campaign. Your affiliate's non-profit status will not be affected.
Thanks for helping to defeat Proposition 1E!!
Source: NAMI California
Link: http://namialifornia.org
This story is taken from Sacbee / Latest News / E-mail Alerts -- Breaking News
Bryan Edward Hall of Elk Grove, a U.S. Army staff sergeant, was among five American soldiers killed Friday in Iraq when a suicide bomber in a dump truck attacked a Mosul police station, military officials disclosed Sunday.
Hall, 32, had served in the military for 14 years and had been deployed in Iraq since September.
Hall and four other soldiers from Fort Carson in Colorado were in their military vehicle when the blast occurred, Army officials said.
The other soldiers were Staff Sgt. Gary L. Woods Jr., 24, of Kentucky, Sgt. Edward W. Forrest Jr., 25, of Missouri; Cpl. Jason G. Pautsch, 20, of Iowa and Pvt. Bryce E. Gautier, 22, of Cypress, California.
All were assigned to the 1st Battalion, 67th Armor Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division.
Hall had received three Army Commendation Medals, according to military records, as well as several Army Achievement, Good Conduct, and War on Terrorism medals.
The Friday attack caused the most American military deaths in any single incident in more than a year, the Washington Post reported.
Hi everyone,
The standoff in the Indian Ocean continues for a second day - with armed Somali pirates holding the captain of an American cargo ship on a lifeboat. A U.S. Navy Destroyer is now keeping close watch, and the FBI is sending in a hostage negotiating team to win the captain's release. Meanwhile, the cargo ship is on the move, toward Kenya, to carry out its original mission to deliver relief supplies. David Martin will have the latest.
David will be back later in the broadcast with an in depth report about the shocking increase of suicide among U.S. troops. He has an exclusive interview with a top general who admits the military needs to do more to address this problem.
Barry Petersen reports from the world's number one car market - China. Sales are booming there, and you might be surprised to learn that Ford and GM are selling lots of cars there. In fact, the Chinese market is providing a much-needed boost to Detroit.
When most people hear about spring break, they think of sandy beaches and late-night parities. But Dean Reynolds has a story about students from Howard University taking a different type of spring break, in order to inspire high school students.
See you tonight!
Katie Couric
Today, President Obama announced his comprehensive strategy for dealing with the deteriorating situation in the Afghanistan/Pakistan region. For those of us who fought in Iraq and Afghanistan, it was extremely important that the new President get this situation right. With today’s announcement, he’s shown that he “gets it.”CLICK HERE TO SUPPORT PRESIDENT OBAMA ON AFGHANISTANhttp://ga3.org/campaign/afghanistanThe President sees Afghanistan as a war that must be fought on a number of levels. Yes, militarily, but also with heavy diplomacy and political negotiation, as well as humanitarian assistance. Each of those were lacking during the last administration, and the result was a situation that devolved largely into chaos. Most importantly, this President has given up the pipe dream of setting up a European-style democracy in Afghanistan, and instead has refocused our goals on a more urgent mission – protecting America and the world from terrorism.President Obama has got it right. He knows that the war against terrorists requires much more than just throwing troops at the problem. We need to stand up to show our support for his renewed focus on getting Afghanistan right.CLICK HERE TO SIGN OUR PETITION, SUPPORTING PRESIDENT OBAMA ON AFGHANISTANhttp://ga3.org/campaign/afghanistanThis is just one quick and easy thing you can do, to show your public support for the President. The more people who sign, the more attention this petition will get. And, the more attention it gets, the more lawmakers in Washington know that the people are behind the President.So please, take a moment to sign on to our petition, and get five of your friends and family to do the same. Together, we can show that we support a strong but rational policy towards Afghanistan, that will keep America truly safe.Thanks for all you do, and your support,Brian McGoughAfghanistan War VeteranAnd the entire VoteVets.org team.
Dear darlene,
I'm on the road in Washington, DC, but I wanted to send you a quick update on two big breaking news stories.
First, just a few minutes ago, the Pentagon officially announced they will be phasing out involuntary enlistment extensions, otherwise known as "stop-loss."
The Pentagon also agreed to pay $500 per month to servicemembers forced to stay beyond their original enlistment term, which is a policy that IAVA has been supporting for a long time.
Stop-loss has had an enormous impact on the lives of many of our nation's troops, veterans, and military families. As I mentioned last week, tonight's episode of MTV's The Real World, which features IAVA prominently, focuses on cast-member Ryan, an Iraq veteran who was stop-lossed. The information about that episode, which airs tonight at 10pm on MTV, is in the forwarded email below.
Second, on what has proven to be a huge day for veterans, there has been another major development in Washington, DC. President Obama listened to IAVA and the other major veterans organizations, and made a critical decision to not move forward with a proposal to bill a veteran's private insurance for the cost of caring for a service-connected injury.
Today, President Obama showed that he understands and respects our nation's veterans.
Later this week, I'll have much more to report about this whirlwind week in Washington, DC, which included meetings with the President, Speaker Pelosi and VA Secretary Shinseki.
In the meantime, be sure to tune in tonight at 10pm on MTV, and keep an eye on your inbox for more breaking news from the nation's capitol.
Thank you for standing with us.
Sincerely,
PaulPaul RieckhoffIraq VeteranExecutive Director & FounderIraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA)--sent from my mobile device
TOWN HALL MEETING WITH PRESIDENT OBAMA
Wednesday, March 18th
Doors Open at 1:30 PM OC Fair and Event Center
88 Fair Drive
Costa Mesa, CA 92626
TICKET DISTRIBUTION INFORMATION
The event is free and open to the public. Tickets are required and will be available at the following ticket distribution location beginning at 10:00 AM Tuesday, March 17. Tickets will be limited and will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis:
OC Fair and Event Center
(Enter at Gate 1 or Gate 10; Park in Lot A.)
Costa Mesa, CA
From: SEDBTAC ADA Network [mailto:SEDBTAC-ADANETWK@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU] On Behalf Of SEDBTA ProjectSent: Thursday, March 12, 2009 1:45 PMTo: SEDBTAC-ADANETWK@LISTSERV.SYR.EDUSubject: Accessible Transportation...Please distribute widely
FYI: Emailed for Informational Purpose. Please follow contact information below. Do not respond to this email. In conjunction with a grant received from the Federal Transit Administration, (http://www.fta.dot.gov/) Meeting the Challenge, Inc. is conducting a survey designed to collect information from people with disabilities regarding their experiences with public transportation. We would like to invite all people with disabilities to participate. Information gathered will be used to determine what barriers still exist in public transportation for people with disabilities and will be used to create Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) technical assistance materials directed toward alleviating those barriers.
This is an on-line survey which can be accessed from this link: http://mtcinc.transit.sgizmo.com . It is estimated that it will take from 5 to 15 minutes to complete the survey. If you do not have internet access, you can participate by calling Meeting the Challenge at 1-800-864-4264 (select menu choice #2), Monday through Friday between 9:00 AM and 4:00 PM (MT), and a staff member will assist you with the survey by telephone. If you prefer a paper copy of the survey, one can be obtained by calling the same phone number. Responses to the survey will be collected through March 31, 2009.
Please forward this e-mail to any individuals with a disability or to any groups serving individuals with disabilities that you feel would be appropriate respondents. We thank you for your participation and assistance!
Cristi L. Harris
Special Projects Director
Meeting the Challenge, Inc
(800) 949-4232 (CO, MT, ND, SD, UT, WY)
(719) 444-0252 ext. 108
