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The Fizz Biz
Post by Chuck Hayward | September 28th, 2010
The Institute of the Masters of Wine is a London based organization devoted to the education of the wine trade which culminates in the famous Master of Wine exam, a rigorous four day series of tastings and essays. Equivalent in study to a Ph.D., there are currently 289 members who have completed the study program and are involved in the wine trade in occupations as varied as journalists to grape growers.
The average consumer will probably not have too much direct contact with an MW; that is something that usually occurs with members of the trade. Once a year, however, The Institute hosts a tasting where both consumers and the trade mingle with local MWs to raise funds for their scholarship program.
To do so, they assemble a formidable amount of top-shelf champagne and limit attendance to a few hundred.
For me, this presented a perfect opportunity to sample some rare and hard-to-find cuvees in preparation for our first annual report on champagne. Following in the footsteps of our popular 2009 Bordeaux report, JJ Buckley's wine staff is beginning to conduct research and compile tasting notes that will provide you with a handy guide and overview to the world of Champagne. Look out for this guide in November.
The sold-out tasting offered up an intriguing mix of styles and producers with the grandes marques well represented by tete-de-cuvees alongside their non-vintage blends. While the expensive cuvees captured the attention of many consumers, sommeliers and wine writers honed in on the increasingly popular category of "grower champagnes", which emphasize vineyard location and site as well as different approaches to winemaking. As I talked with both friends in the business as well as champagne enthusiasts, favorites were spread almost evenly between the two categories with consumers finding excitement amongst the smaller properties while members of the trade found favor in the traditional cuvees poured by the larger wineries. It goes to show that champagne has something for everyone!


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subset: commoncrawl


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Stolen '57 Chevy returned to owner 30 years later
Published: Friday, February 21, 2014 at 8:39 a.m.
Last Modified: Friday, February 21, 2014 at 8:39 a.m.
LAKEPORT, Calif. — Three decades after it was stolen, a 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air has been returned to a Northern California man — in better shape than when he originally owned it.
The Santa Rosa Press Democrat reports (http://bit.ly/NcVegk) Ian "Skip" Wilson was shocked to get a call from the California Highway Patrol informing him that his long-lost Chevy was taken off an Australia-bound cargo ship.
The 65-year-old says the car has had a lot of work done on it since it disappeared from his Lake County home in 1984. It was returned with a monogrammed interior, 17-inch racing wheels, rack-and-pinion steering and a 350-horsepower V-8 engine.
The retired mechanic says the two-door was in sorry shape when he bought it for $375 in 1975 with plans for fixing it up.
Information from: The Santa Rosa Press Democrat, http://www.pressdemocrat.com
Reader comments posted to this article may be published in our print edition. All rights reserved. This copyrighted material may not be re-published without permission. Links are encouraged.


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Ten Charts That Show Us Something New About The IPO Boom
Companies have been going public at a pace not seen since dot-com days, and the drivers of the boom are well-known to regular MoneyBeat readers: soaring stock markets, early investors eager to monetize, momentum traders gobbling up deals, and tons of confidential filings under a new rule that makes it easier for small companies to go public.
But there are some other things happening under the hood that haven't gotten nearly as much scrutiny.
Law firm Proskauer Rose LLP, in a study published last week, dug into some of the more esoteric parts of IPO prospectuses and studied the correspondence between companies and the Securities and Exchange Commission prior to the offerings to better understand what is driving the boom.
What the firm found, in a review of 100 U.S. listings that priced in 2013, is that the SEC is moving some deals from submission to approval very quickly. And that investors appear to be rewarding some changes in company behavior – such as adding independent directors to corporate boards – by bidding up shares, even as they ignore some other things, like exit fees from private equity deals and dual-class shares structures.
Some of these findings may be causes of the hot market, some may be effects. They're all interesting. Here are some of our key takeaways from the report.
1. Costs for smaller companies are falling.
Proskauer took a look at usage of provisions of the 2012 Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act, or JOBS Act. It allowed some companies to file confidentially for IPOs, submit fewer audited years of financials, and have previously banned pre-deal conversations with investors about valuation. The JOBS Act applies only to companies with less than $1 billion in revenue in the prior year, which are known as "emerging growth companies," or EGCs.
That cost of going public was a huge reason that advocates of the JOBS Act said it was needed, to make it cheaper for companies to go through the process by cutting out legal and compliance costs. They argued that a million dollars here or there could be a potential deterrent for an IPO, though many academic studies have tended to find that other factors play a much, much bigger role in the decision.
What Proskauer found was that on average, the reported expense of going public as an emerging-growth company was $3.7 million last year, versus $5.9 million for non-EGCs.
This could be partly explained by the fact that non-EGCs tend to be bigger companies. No, says Proskauer's Frank Lopez, co-head of the capital markets practice. While he couldn't pinpoint the reasons, he explained that "larger companies can be just as simple, but just generating more money," implying that costs should be pretty standard across all deals.
2. Biotech firms are sailing through.
The SEC review of confidentially filed IPOs on average took longer than it did for non-confidential filers, with one notable exception: health-care companies. The vast majority of confidentially filed health-care deals were biotechnology firms just starting to produce new drugs, meaning they usually had no revenue, no profits, and a lot of risk. Surprisingly, they sailed through the SEC process faster than just about any other type of deal.
3. The SEC doesn't have as much to say about biotech businesses.
Confidentially filed biotech firms also received fewer overall comments from the SEC than consumer or technology companies that filed privately—though that wasn't the case for publicly filed health-care IPOs, which tended to be of bigger, non-biotechs. Mr. Lopez of Proskauer said in his experience, "when you have a more mature business, the SEC has a lot more to say. There are more questions about backing up what you're saying about the history of the business." However, that wasn't the case for TMT or consumer/retail deals, where EGCs got more questions, not fewer.
4. Cloud computing revenue raises questions.
But notably, a lot of technology companies got questions during the SEC's review about revenue recognition. While the data doesn't go into detail about what companies this applies to, we suspect some of it is traced to issues with "software as a service," or "saas," firms. These firms sell subscriptions to web-based, or "cloud," software instead of just selling the software directly to customers to let them install it on their own machines. The problem these firms have is that booking a major new client can be invisible in quarterly results under standard accounting rules, since the subscriptions are counted as revenues only day-by-day, rather than in one chunk.
5. 'Going concern' is only a small concern.
Investors don't seem to care much whether companies raised yellow flags during their pre-IPO reviews by auditors. Companies where auditors found a "material weakness" in the numbers–or in other words, some potential problem with their financial reporting that could result in an important omission or misstatement – were up 76% over the first three months of their lives, versus 48% for all IPOs.
Only companies where auditors had to attest that the firm was a "going concern"—meaning that they wouldn't run out of money if they didn't raise funds in an IPO —underperformed the broader IPO universe. And only in first-day trading.
Proskauer noted that nine of the eleven IPOs that got flagged with the "going concern" warning were biotech or biopharma firms.
6. Testing the waters may not work.
One of the benefits of the JOBS Act is the ability of EGCs to ask investors whether they'd buy the stock before the SEC approves the offering documents, a process known as "testing the waters." These conversations weren't allowed under previous rules.
But the handful of companies that took advantage of this tactic didn't seem to be able to price their deals with any more precision. A relatively larger share—36%, or five of the 14 companies that reported testing the waters in 2013—actually priced their IPOs below their projected range. Less than 20% of all EGC deals priced below the range.
If this trend keeps up, investors may even come to see it as a warning sign if a company tests the waters.
7. Lock-ups have unlocked back doors.
When a company goes public, their bankers enforce what's known as a "lock up" on pre-IPO shareholders who don't sell stock in the IPO. This is to protect the new investors from a flood of selling immediately after the deal.
But Proskauer founded that 65 out of the 100 IPOs studied in 2013, primarily in tech and telecom and health care, got away with creating an exemption to those agreements for making deals. The clauses allow them to sell stock during the lock-up period in connection with an acquisition or joint-venture.
This is standard practice for mature companies, but investors in IPOs tend to be much more sensitive to this possible selling pressure coming from the company. So it's interesting to see the clause included so regularly.
8. Independent directors help.
What does seem to matter to investors? Corporate governance. IPOs of companies where the majority of the board was composed of independent directors tended to outperform those that weren't. This is a major question in the upcoming IPO of Alibaba Group Holding Ltd., which has a board that could potentially be controlled by a group of managers who get a special power to nominate directors. Many investors have said it doesn't matter, but recent history suggests it might be a factor.
9. Dual-class is okay.
That said, one thing investors don't appear to care about is whether CEOs, founders, or other individuals have outsized control of the company via dual-class stock. Companies like Facebook, Twitter Inc., and Google have used this to empower their famous founders. It's something that a lot of governance watchdogs complain about, but without making much headway.
Ironically, Alibaba does not use dual class stock, arguing that investors would like it less than their "partnership" structure. The partners, by the way, have so far said they will not opt to nominate a majority of the board.
10. You want to buy a private-equity backed IPO, you have to pay for it.
Private-equity firms have been big sellers in the IPO market, taking note of Leon Black's declaration that this is a "time to reap" investments made during the crisis. But one feature of private-equity-backed IPOs is that they often feature a termination fee for ending a firm's management of the company as it moves to public ownership.
Proskauer found that on average, 6.8% of IPO proceeds raised by private-equity-backed industrial companies go toward paying this fee, though it's less for other industries. And the fees tend to be higher for quick-flip sales (in which the private-equity firm acquired the company less than two years prior to the IPO) than for older investments (which have been held for more than six years). Gotta move that stale inventory.


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The New School
Jazz Presents: Andrew Cyrille
Andrew Cyrille is perhaps the preeminent free-jazz percussionist of the 1980s and '90s. Few free-jazz drummers play with a tenth of Cyrille's grace and authority. His energy is unflagging, his power absolute, tempered only by an ever-present sense of propriety.Featuring:Dorothea "Micky" Davidson - danceHenry Grimes - bassAdriel Williams* - violin, tap dance *NSJCM alumnus
Jazz and Contemporary Music Performance Space, Arnhold Hall, 55 West 13th Street, 5th floor
$10; free to all students and New School faculty, staff, and alumni with ID at the door or at the Box Office.
Single event purchases can be made online at any time at the New School Box Office. Series and discounted tickets must still be made in person or over the phone at The New School Box Office at 66 West 12th Street, main floor, Monday-Thursday 4:00 to 7:00 p.m., and Friday 3:00 to 6:00 p.m. The box office opens the first day of classes and closes after the last paid event of each semester. Reservations and inquiries can be made by emailing firstname.lastname@example.com or calling 212.229.5488.For events scheduled during the summer term, the box office will open one hour before each event.
For more information contact Phil Ballman, Coordinator of Special Programs, The New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music: 212-229-5896, ext. 4591; email@example.com
Email Updates
Browse Events by School


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I've had PS3MS running quite a while. I was so impressed I even made a donation (which is unlike me).
It works flawlessly with the PS3, I've evn connected to it from my iphone via wifi and it works.
However, I'm struggling with an Xbox360.
PS3MS can see the Xbox, and I can browse to the media folder from the xbox.
This is where the problem starts.
I can see the root folder (music)
I can see the sub folders (A, B C etc), but I'm unable to see anything after this ??
Any ideas


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Dominican Republic
Last updated: ET
Still valid: ET
Latest updates: An editorial change was made.
Dominican Republic - Exercise a high degree of caution
There is no nationwide advisory in effect for the Dominican Republic. However, you should exercise a high degree of caution due to a high crime rate.
Travel Health Notice - Zika virus
The Public Health Agency of Canada has issued a Travel Health Notice for the Global Update: Zika virus infection recommending that Canadians practice special health precautions while travelling in affected countries. Pregnant women and those considering becoming pregnant should avoid travel to the Dominican Republic. See Health for more information.
Violent crime (including assault) against foreigners occasionally occurs. Petty crime (including pickpocketing) is common in urban areas. Thefts have been reported in resorts, including in hotel rooms and hotel room safes. Exercise caution and be aware of your surroundings, especially after dark. Avoid showing signs of affluence and do not leave your personal belongings unattended on the beach. Ensure that your personal belongings, passports and other travel documents are secure at all times. Limit the valuable items you bring into the country.
Theft of items from checked baggage at airports has been reported. These thefts have taken place most frequently when travellers are departing. Money and personal items have also been stolen from carry-on luggage while travellers are going through security checks. Do not pack valuables in your checked luggage. Items most likely to disappear include electronics (especially digital cameras), jewellery and perfume. All bags are routinely X-rayed upon arrival and departure.
In the event that documents are lost or stolen, obtain a police report in order to receive a passport or an appropriate travel document from the Embassy of Canada in Santo Domingo, the Consulate of Canada in Puerto Plata or the Office of the Embassy of Canada in Punta Cana.
Unaccompanied female travellers should exercise caution in dealing with strangers or recent acquaintances, especially regarding the acceptance of rides or other invitations. Incidents of assault, rape and sexual aggression against foreigners have been reported, including at beach resorts. In some cases, hotel employees have been implicated.
Never leave food or drinks unattended or in the care of strangers. Be wary of accepting snacks, beverages, gum, or cigarettes from new acquaintances, as they may contain drugs that could put you at risk of sexual assault and robbery. Anyone who is a victim of sexual assault or other crime should report the crime immediately. No criminal investigation is possible without a formal complaint to the Dominican authorities.
Road travel
The Dominican Republic has one of the highest road accident rates in the world. Driving is hazardous due to aggressive driving habits, a significant number of trucks and motorcycles, reckless passing, excessive speeds, poorly marked lanes, construction, vehicles travelling in the wrong direction on one-way streets, and poorly maintained roads and cars. Driving after dark is not recommended due to poor lighting.
Traffic laws are similar to those in Canada but are often not respected. There have been reports of police officers, or criminals posing as police officers, demanding immediate payment of traffic fines. Drivers should insist on paying any traffic fine at the nearest police station. Pedestrians should take extra care.
In the event of a vehicle breakdown or roadside emergency, a highway patrol service sponsored by the Ministry of Public Works and staffed by police officers and military personnel provides free 24-hour assistance on all major toll highways. In case of an emergency, dial 1-829-688-1000 for assistance.
Public transportation
Public transportation is not recommended. Private companies operate reliable buses between cities. Taxi-plane services are also available.
Taxis are fairly reliable. You should always negotiate the fare prior to departure. Avoid using or renting motorcycle taxis (motoconchos), as they are very dangerous. Route taxis (gua-guas/carros publicos) are not recommended as they may disregard traffic laws, often resulting in serious accidents involving injury and sometimes death. They may also be used by thieves to rob passengers.
Air travel
The Government of Canada does not assess foreign domestic airlines' compliance with international aviation safety standards. See Foreign domestic airlines for more information.
Credit card and debit card fraud occurs. Pay careful attention when your cards are being handled by others during payment. Be cautious when using automated banking machines, and only do so to withdraw money during business hours inside a bank.
Demonstrations and protests occasionally occur throughout the country. While demonstrations do not generally occur near all-inclusive resorts, and foreigners are not targeted, local travel outside resorts areas could be affected. Exercise caution and avoid all demonstrations and public gatherings, as they may turn violent without warning.
General security information
Water safety standards may not be comparable to Canadian safety standards. Hotels and resorts may not have lifeguards on beaches, and appropriate safety and rescue equipment may not be available. It is imperative that you keep informed of local water conditions and warning systems (including at your hotel) and follow instructions accordingly. Strong undertows could pose threats, especially in the Macao area. Swimmers who enter the water do so at their own risk. Remain in well-marked and supervised areas. Avoid walking on deserted or unsupervised beaches after dark.
It is also possible that aquatic equipment offered at the beach does not meet Canadian safety standards. Check that your travel insurance covers accidents related to recreational activities. Avoid participating in any water activities under the influence of alcohol or other substances.
Avoid excursions that are not recommended by tour operators. Ensure that tour operators have taken proper safety measures, including the use of safety equipment such as helmets and life jackets, before undertaking extreme or eco-tourism types of activities.
A number of cases have been reported of Canadians losing large sums of money while playing progressive keno, super keno and other keno or progressive roulette games at casinos. These games operate on a progressive wagering basis, and large amounts of money can be lost rapidly. Exercise caution in hotel casinos where these games are offered, especially when requested to provide credit card information.
The tourist police (POLITUR), a cooperative effort between the national police, secretary of the armed forces and the secretary of tourism, provide a security presence in tourist areas and first response assistance to tourists.
Entry/exit requirements
Entry/exit requirements
It is the sole prerogative of every country or territory to determine who is allowed to enter or exit. Canadian consular officials cannot intervene on your behalf if you do not meet entry or exit requirements. The following information has been obtained from the authorities of the Dominican Republic and is subject to change at any time. The country- or territory-specific entry/exit requirements are provided on this page for information purposes only. While every effort is made to provide accurate information, information contained here is provided on an "as is" basis without warranty of any kind, express or implied. The Government of Canada assumes no responsibility, and shall not be liable for any damages in connection to the information provided. It is your responsibility to check with the Embassy of the Dominican Republic or one of its consulates for up-to-date information.
Official (special and diplomatic) passport holders must consult the Official Travel page, as they may be subject to different entry requirements.
A valid passport is now required for Canadians intending to visit the Dominican Republic. The passport must be valid until the date of expected departure from the country. Before you leave, ask your transportation company about its requirements related to passport validity, which may be more stringent than the country's entry rules. Canadian tourists must also be in possession of a return airline ticket.
Temporary passport holders may be subject to different entry requirements. Check with diplomatic representatives for up-to-date information.
Tourist visa: Not required
Business visa: Required
Student visa: Required
Canadians entering the Dominican Republic for tourist purposes must purchase a tourist card at a cost of US$10, which is valid for 30 days. The tourist card can be purchased at the airport upon arrival to the country. Those wishing to stay for a longer period than allowed on the tourist card must pay a surcharge at the airport upon departure, which ranges in cost depending on length of stay, or request an extension by visiting the Department of Immigration in Santo Domingo. Those wishing to work in the Dominican Republic must apply for a business visa. For more information, contact the Embassy of the Dominican Republic.
Foreigners may gain the right to reside in the Dominican Republic by acquiring a residence visa from the Foreign Relations Ministry and a temporary or permanent residence card from the Immigration Department. A student visa is also required. For more information, contact the Embassy of the Dominican Republic.
Departure tax
A departure tax of US$20 is charged for stays of up to 30 days. The departure tax for stays longer than 30 days varies depending on length of stay and nationality. The tax applies to all international flights, and may be included in the price of the airline ticket.
Drug screening
The Dominican Republic is actively working to fight drug trafficking by enforcing strict border controls and increasing its capacity to screen narcotics. As part of standard local procedure, you may be subjected to drug screening measures by authorities upon departure from the country. Your luggage may be searched and you may be asked to sign a form (written in Spanish and for internal use only) stating that the search was performed within procedural requirements. In some cases, you may be required to undergo an x-ray either at the airport or at a local hospital. If your results come back clear, you will be immediately returned to the airport. Should you be found transporting illegal substances, you will be taken into custody. In accordance with Dominican law, a person detained or arrested by the authorities may be held without charges for up to 48 hours before the case is presented to a judge. For consular assistance, contact the Embassy of Canada in the Dominican Republic.
Children and travel
Children need special documentation to visit certain countries. See Children for more information.
Yellow fever
See Health to obtain information on this country's vaccination requirements.
- Zika virus infection: Global Update - August 29, 2016 13:40 EDT
- Chikungunya: Global Update - August 26, 2016 14:53 EDT
- Cholera in Dominican Republic and Haiti - August 18, 2016 11:18 EDT
- Measles: Global Update - July 28, 2016 10:24 EDT
- Dengue in the Americas - June 17, 2016 10:52 EDT
Routine Vaccines
Be sure that your routine vaccines are up-to-date regardless of your travel destination.
Vaccines to Consider
You may be at risk for these vaccine-preventable diseases while travelling in this country. Talk to your travel health provider about which ones are right for you.
Hepatitis A
Hepatitis A is a disease of the liver spread through contaminated food and water or contact with an infected person. All those travelling to regions with a risk of hepatitis A infection should get vaccinated.
Hepatitis B
Hepatitis B is a disease of the liver spread through blood or other bodily fluids. Travellers who may be exposed (e.g., through sexual contact, medical treatment, sharing needles, tattooing, acupuncture or occupational exposure) should get vaccinated.
Seasonal influenza occurs worldwide. The flu season usually runs from November to April in the northern hemisphere, between April and October in the southern hemisphere and year round in the tropics. Influenza (flu) is caused by a virus spread from person to person when they cough or sneeze or by touching objects and surfaces that have been contaminated with the virus. Get the flu shot.
Measles is a highly contagious viral disease and is common in most parts of the world. Be sure your measles vaccination is up-to-date regardless of your travel destination.
Rabies is a deadly illness spread to humans through a bite, scratch or lick from an infected animal. Vaccination should be considered for travellers going to areas where rabies exists and who have a high risk of exposure (i.e., close contact with animals, occupational risk, and children).
Yellow Fever Vaccination
Yellow fever is a disease caused by a flavivirus from the bite of an infected mosquito.
Travellers get vaccinated either because it is required to enter a country or because it is recommended for their protection.
|* It is important to note that country entry requirements may not reflect your risk of yellow fever at your destination. It is recommended that you contact the nearest diplomatic or consular office of the destination(s) you will be visiting to verify any additional entry requirements.
|Country Entry Requirement*
Food and Water-borne Diseases
Travellers to any destination in the world can develop travellers' diarrhea from consuming contaminated water or food.
In some areas in the Caribbean, food and water can also carry diseases like cholera, hepatitis A, schistosomiasis and typhoid. Practise safe food and water precautions while travelling in the Caribbean. Remember: Boil it, cook it, peel it, or leave it!
Cholera is a bacterial disease that is most often spread by drinking water or eating food that has been contaminated. It causes diarrhea and in severe cases it can lead to dehydration and even death.
Most travellers are at very low risk. Travellers at higher risk include those visiting, working or living in areas with limited access to safe food, water and proper sanitation, or to areas where outbreaks are occurring. Travellers at higher risk should discuss with a health care provider the benefits of getting vaccinated.
Travellers' diarrhea
- Travellers' diarrhea is the most common illness affecting travellers. It is spread from eating or drinking contaminated food or water.
- Risk of developing travellers' diarrhea increases when travelling in regions with poor standards of hygiene and sanitation. Practise safe food and water precautions.
- The most important treatment for travellers' diarrhea is rehydration (drinking lots of fluids). Carry oral rehydration salts when travelling.
Typhoid is a bacterial infection spread by contaminated food or water. Risk is higher among pediatric travellers, travellers going to rural areas, visiting friends and relatives or travelling for a long period of time. Travellers at high risk visiting regions with typhoid risk, especially those exposed to places with poor sanitation should speak to a health care provider about vaccination.
Insects and Illness
In some areas in the Caribbean, certain insects carry and spread diseases like chikungunya, dengue fever, malaria, West Nile virus and Zika virus.
Travellers are advised to take precautions against bites.
There is currently an outbreak of chikungunya in this country. Chikungunya is a viral disease spread through the bite of an infected mosquito that typically causes fever and pain in the joints. Protect yourself from mosquito bites, particularly around sunrise and sunset. There is no vaccine available for chikungunya.
Dengue fever
- Dengue fever occurs in this country. Dengue fever is a viral disease that can cause severe flu-like symptoms. In some cases it leads to dengue haemorrhagic fever, which can be fatal.
- The risk of dengue is higher during the daytime, particularly at sunrise and sunset.
- Protect yourself from mosquito bites. There is no vaccine or medication that protects against dengue fever.
Zika Virus
Locally acquired mosquito-associated Zika virus is currently being reported in this country. Zika virus infection is primarily spread by the bite of an infected mosquito and can cause fever, rash, and joint pain. It can also be transmitted through blood, semen and from an infected pregnant woman to her developing baby. Most people do not develop symptoms and recover fully without severe complications. There is scientific consensus that Zika virus infection is a cause of both microcephaly and Guillain-Barre Syndrome. Other neurological disorders have also been associated with Zika virus infection. Protect yourself from mosquito bites in daylight and evening hours. There is no vaccine for Zika virus infection.
- There is a risk of malaria in certain areas and/or during a certain time of year in this country.
- Malaria is a serious and occasionally fatal disease that is spread by the bite of an infected mosquito. There is no vaccine against malaria.
- Protect yourself from mosquito bites. This includes covering up, using insect repellent and staying in enclosed air-conditioned accommodations. You may also consider pre-treating clothing and travel gear with insecticides and sleeping under an insecticide-treated bednet.
- Antimalarial medication may be recommended depending on your itinerary and the time of year you are travelling. See a health care provider or visit a travel health clinic, preferably six weeks before you travel to discuss your options.
Animals and Illness
Travellers are cautioned to avoid contact with animals, including dogs, monkeys, snakes, rodents, birds, and bats. Some infections found in some areas in the Caribbean, like rabies, can be shared between humans and animals.
Person-to-Person Infections
Crowded conditions can increase your risk of certain illnesses. Remember to wash your hands often and practice proper cough and sneeze etiquette to avoid colds, the flu and other illnesses.
Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and HIV are spread through blood and bodily fluids; practise safer sex.
HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) is a virus that attacks and impairs the immune system, resulting in a chronic, progressive illness known as AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome).
High risk activities include anything which puts you in contact with blood or body fluids, such as unprotected sex and exposure to unsterilized needles for medications or other substances (for example, steroids and drugs), tattooing, body-piercing or acupuncture.
Tuberculosis is an infection caused by bacteria and usually affects the lungs.
For most travellers the risk of tuberculosis is low.
Travellers who may be at high risk while travelling in regions with risk of tuberculosis should discuss pre- and post-travel options with a health care provider.
High-risk travellers include those visiting or working in prisons, refugee camps, homeless shelters, or hospitals, or travellers visiting friends and relatives.
Medical services and facilities
Good, private medical facilities exist in all tourist areas; however medical care is limited in remote areas. Medical expenses can be very costly, even for basic services. Ensure you have adequate medical coverage for the duration of your visit to the Dominican Republic. Many clinics and hospitals require patients to sign an undertaking to pay agreement and to take a credit card impression as guarantee of payment before providing medical care.
Inquire about fees prior to undergoing treatment. The Embassy of Canada in Santo Domingo has received reports of overcharging for medical services, variable pricing and unnecessary overnight hospital stays. If you feel you have been overcharged after a visit to the hospital, let the hospital administrators know, as some Canadians have successfully negotiated a reduction in their hospital bill. If you go to the hospital, you should request English or French speaking assistance from the guest services desk of the hospital to ensure you understand procedures, processes and pricing. Assistance in your preferred language may not be offered unless requested. Beware of aggressive sales tactics of in-house resort doctors, who are often contracted out by private hospitals and try to sell you on their facility.
Patients requiring medical care in remote areas may be transferred to better equipped facilities in Santo Domingo when warranted.
Any incidents of sickness or injury requiring hospitalization should be reported to the Embassy of Canada in Santo Domingo.
Keep in Mind...
The decision to travel is the sole responsibility of the traveller. The traveller is also responsible for his or her own personal safety.
Be prepared. Do not expect medical services to be the same as in Canada. Pack a travel health kit, especially if you will be travelling away from major city centres.
Laws & culture
Laws & culture
You are subject to local laws. Consult our Arrest and detention page and our Overview of the criminal law system in the Dominican Republic for more information.
Illegal drugs
Persons convicted of buying, selling, carrying or using any type or quantity of drug are subject to strict penalties. Judicial processes may last several years (during which accused individuals are normally detained) and could lead to long prison sentences in harsh conditions.
Dominican law stipulates that victims of crime (including foreigners) are responsible for reporting incidents to police. Victims who wish to pursue prosecution or seek compensation must retain Dominican legal counsel to file a formal complaint to the police and to pursue the case through the justice system. The official language of the Dominican Republic is Spanish. You should expect all documents to be in Spanish and not English or French.
An International Driving Permit is required.
Dual citizenship
Dual citizenship is legally recognized in Dominican Republic. However, Canadian officials may be limited in their ability to provide you with consular services if local authorities consider you a Dominican Republic citizen. You should always travel using your valid Canadian passport and present yourself as Canadian to foreign authorities at all times to minimize this risk. You may also need to carry and present a Dominican Republic passport for legal reasons, for example to enter and exit the country (see Entry/exit requirements to determine passport requirements). Citizenship is determined solely by national laws, and the decision to recognize dual citizenship rests completely with the country in which you are located when seeking consular assistance. See Travelling as a dual citizen for more information.
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Many Canadians have reported financial problems and complications involving time-share arrangements and other property investment activities. Exercise caution whenever approached by time-share representatives as pressure sales techniques are used. Do not reveal personal information or provide your credit card unless you are certain you wish to make a purchase.
Before making any real estate or land investment, consult Dominican and Canadian lawyers with relevant experience, and exercise extreme caution. Land deeds should be carefully verified. Ensure that constant vigilance of land will take place, as there have been several instances of disputed land occupation in the absence of the alleged owner. The Embassy of Canada in Santo Domingo cannot intervene in legal matters, and cannot give legal advice regarding land purchases or disputes.
Marriages legally performed in compliance with the laws of the Dominican Republic are recognized in Canada. For information on required documentation and procedures, contact the Embassy of the Dominican Republic in Ottawa.
Upon departure from the Dominican Republic, you cannot export more than US$10,000 or its equivalent in another currency.
The currency is the Dominican peso (DOP). U.S. dollars are widely accepted, but Canadian currency is not. Canadian currency and traveller's cheques can be exchanged at most commercial banks and exchange booths or offices (casas de cambio) and in resort areas and major tourist hotels. Currency should be exchanged only at banks, official exchange booths and casas de cambio.
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Natural disasters & climate
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The hurricane season extends from June to the end of November. The National Hurricane Center provides additional information on weather conditions. Stay informed of regional weather forecasts, and follow the advice and instructions of local authorities.
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There is no centralized number to reach emergency services outside of Santo Domingo. If you are in Santo Domingo dial 911. For all other areas dial 1-809-200-3500 for tourist police (POLITUR) and research and carry contact information for local police and medical facilities.
Consular assistance
Santo Domingo - Embassy of Canada
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Embajada de Canadá en República Dominicana
Puerto Plata - Consulate of Canada
Embajada de Canadá en República Dominicana
For emergency assistance after hours, call the Embassy of Canada in Santo Domingo and follow the instructions. You may also make a collect call to the Emergency Watch and Response Centre in Ottawa at 613-996-8885.
The decision to travel is your choice and you are responsible for your personal safety abroad. The Government of Canada takes the safety and security of Canadians abroad very seriously and provides credible and timely information in its Travel Advice to enable you to make well-informed decisions regarding your travel abroad. In the event of a large-scale emergency, every effort will be made to provide assistance. However, there may be constraints that will limit the ability of the Government of Canada to provide services.
See Large-scale emergencies abroad for more information.
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7 May 2013
The Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights today concluded its consideration of the initial report of Togo on how that country implements the provisions of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.Introducing the report, Leonardina Rita Doris Wilson de Souza, Minister of Human Rights, Consolidation of Democracy and Civic Training of Togo, said difficulties related to data collection had delayed the submission of the initial report. The Government had an accelerated growth and employment strategy. Texts covering water and sanitation, health insurance, social security, the family code and the general statute on the civil service had been adopted. There was regular recruitment for parts of the administration and a programme for voluntary work. The country's population was young and entrepreneurship was a priority. Health insurance was compulsorily offered to civil servants. Civil marriage was not necessary to receive family benefits. The level of coverage of safe drinking water and latrines had increased. Food security efforts had been successful, and a national programme to improve the living conditions of vulnerable rural communities continued. Experts asked questions about access to justice and corruption, the exploitation of natural resources, the instability of budgets to social sectors, changes to the criminal code, unemployment, labour inspections in free zones, wages in the public sector, child labour, the civil code, registration of birth, death and marriage, the situation of widows, the right to food, land tenure, property speculation, the health system and its budget allocations, epidemics, malnutrition, drug use, the use of minority languages, integration of the Covenant into domestic legislation, human rights impact assessments, displacements due to industrial actions, the draft discrimination law, data collection, ratification of the Optional Protocol, temporary special measures in the area of promoting women, legislatory review, mining, Togo's Ministry for Human Rights, gender parity, employment, labour laws, labour courts, the right to strike, employment quotas, combating poverty, the national employment plan, and the minimum wage and social security coverage. In concluding remarks, Clement Atangana, Country Rapporteur for Togo, said he wanted to thank the delegation for the information provided, as this had allowed for a fruitful dialogue. There was a lack of jurisprudence as well as statistics. It was hoped that the next report of Togo would provide more information. Leonardina Rita Doris Wilson de Souza, Minister of Human Rights, Consolidation of Democracy and Civic Training of Togo, expressed thanks to the Committee for the commitment they had shown in their examination. All comments made had been noted. Togo had an unswerving commitment to all rights, despite difficulties linked to the current international financial environment. All relevant stakeholders were invited to assist Togo in its efforts to improve the life of its people. Zdzislaw Kedzia, Committee Chairperson, said the Committee was impressed by the delegation and the very competent and professional intervention it had made. The Committee had learnt about the richness of initiatives put forward, while facing a lot of challenges. The general impression given was that there were many changes underway. The concluding observations would be in the spirit of providing assistance to the State party. The delegation included representatives of the Ministry of Human Rights, Consolidation of Democracy and Civic Training; the Ministry of Work, Employment and Social Protection; the Ministry of Arts and Culture; the Permanent Mission of Togo to the United Nations Office at Geneva; the Prosecutor-General of the Court of Appeal of Lomé; the Ministry of Social Action and National Solidarity; the Ministry of Health; the Ministry of Agriculture; the Ministry of Economy and Finances; and the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education and Literacy Teaching.The next public meeting of the Committee will be at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, 8 May when it is scheduled to start its consideration of the combined second to fourth periodic report of Rwanda (E/C.12/RWA/2-4). ReportThe initial report of Togo can be read here: (E/C.12/TGO/1).Opening Statement LEONARDINA RITA DORIS WILSON-DE SOUZA, Minister of Human Rights, Consolidation of Democracy and Civic Training of Togo, said the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights was ratified by Togo in 1984, though due to difficulties related to data collection the first report was only submitted in 2010. The Government had drawn up an accelerated growth and employment strategy. Legislatively, texts to do with strengthening the rights framework had been adopted, covering water and sanitation, health insurance, social security, the family code and the general statute on the civil service. There was regular recruitment for parts of the administration, particularly defence. There was a programme for national voluntary work, bringing over 5,000 people the benefit of training. Since 2011, a support project for young craftspeople and entrepreneurs had trained 300 young people every year. Micro-projects were also funded as the country's population was young and entrepreneurship was a priority. Such programmes were offered thanks to support from the African Development Bank and the World Bank. Health insurance was compulsorily offered to civil servants. Civil marriage was no longer necessary for the receipt of family benefits. The cost of cesarean operations was now covered by the State to 90 per cent, and support for women with fistula was offered. The level of coverage of safe drinking water had increased and more hand pumps had been introduced in rural areas. Access to latrines had gone up. On improving food security, efforts had been successful; there was now a surplus which was being sold. A national programme was underway to increase the revenue from crops and improve the living conditions of vulnerable rural communities. On education, three million textbooks had been distributed, and two teacher training schools and two scientific colleges built. On average, more than 80 per cent of children went to primary schools, this figure moved to 62.2 for per cent secondary schools. Despite efforts deployed by the State, the effectiveness of the right to education came up against a number of financial, socio-cultural and infrastructure problems. Schooling for children with disabilities was difficult. The Government had adopted a national gender strategy, and there was parity in elected posts and those of responsibility. With regards to inheritance, the family code recognised that men and women could inherit equally, and awareness-raising had taken place to change mentalities on this. A national strategy for the protection and promotion of rights for persons with disabilities had been adopted. On housing, there was an ill-suited land regime, so the Government was looking at planning rules for the main towns. A cultural policy had been adopted to make the most of this opportunity for development, and funding had been laid out in the budget to support artistic and cultural efforts. Micro-projects in this regard had been funded. Generally, the Government recognised that additional efforts needed to be made to make economic, social and cultural rights effective and a human-rights based approach had been adopted to achieve this. For this reason, the delegation wanted to reassure the Committee that the Government was determined to implement the recommendations offered. Institutionally, a research centre on cultural issues had been created. Questions from ExpertsCLEMENT ATANGANA, Country Rapporteur for the Report of Togo, said the State had seen many positive developments, such as the ratification of international instruments. On the other hand, issues included access to justice and corruption, the exploitation of natural resources, the instability of budgets to social sectors, changes to the criminal code, unemployment, a lack of labour inspectors in free zones and wages in the public sector. Other topics to be discussed included child labour, the civil code, registration of births, deaths and marriages, the passing on of nationality, the situation of widows, the right to food, land tenure, property speculation, the health system and its budget allocations, epidemics, malnutrition, drug use, shortcomings in the education system and the use of minority languages. Another Expert asked how the Covenant was integrated into domestic legislation and if there was jurisprudence which was linked to it? More details were requested on birth certificates issued to persons of foreign fathers or stateless persons, were these of the same standing as those given to Togolese children? What special measures had been taken in both formal and customary law to ensure parity of men and women in land and property rights? What policies had been developed to ensure the application of customary law did not violate women's rights? How did human rights impact assessments completed before displacements due to industrial actions take place? What was the status of the draft discrimination law? Could other grounds for discrimination be added to this text? What was the system for data collection and was there an annual census? Was there any discussion in Togo about the ratification of the Optional Protocol, which the country had signed? Did Togolese law allow temporary special measures in the area of promoting women? Was it possible to systematically review whether laws were discriminatory? Another Expert wondered how Togo had coped with the wealth of recommendations from the Human Rights Council? Did the 30 year delay in reporting to this Committee mean that it was not highly considered in Togo? Had Togo considered their Covenant obligations when it signed mining agreements with multinational companies? Togo had a Ministry for Human Rights, how had it taken part in the production of the report? What was the work of the Ministry? Was the country working with the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, as had been recommended in 1991? Had the parity promised been delivered in practice? Had remedies been conceived on the lack of data about employment, both in the formal and informal sectors? How were violations of the labour laws found or monitored? What was the current status of the setting-up of labour courts in the regions? Did all workers have the right to strike? Was there a quota system for the employment of persons with disabilities? What efforts had been made to combat poverty? What was the status of the national employment agency? In free import/export zones, were labour laws applicable? If not, what was to be done to bring this in line? It seemed the food basket had not been taken into account when reviewing the minimum wage, how was it supposed to reflect the needs of workers? What was the situation with regard to social security coverage for workers in the informal economy? Was there contingency planning in relation to a pensions shortfall? How successful was the health insurance plan for civil servants, as there had been suggestions it was complicated and some persons wanted to opt-out? About efforts to increase employment, where had women found work? Had enough funding been allocated to the implementation of the new social code? What stage were reforms of the legal system at? Had any action been taken against senior officials accused of corruption? Response from the DelegationOn how the Covenant was applicable domestically, a member of the delegation gave an example saying, if a worker was dismissed for using his right to strike then the labour court could refer to the Covenant. It was necessary to raise awareness among the people of their rights, and refer them to the court, as without a complaint there could be no justice. It was now possible for a mother to give her nationality to her child and birth certificates issued to stateless persons would be equivalent to those given to Togolese babies. There now existed a number of Courts of First Instance, and more staff were needed for these. All of these courts could deal with labour issues. Labour courts needed to understand their subject matter, so it was decided to start with one region and see what the workload was like, before devolving again to the prefectures if possible. If this was taken too far then there would not be enough work, so this was to dictate the level of decentralisation. Courts on children's issues were also to be established in the sub-regions. Land tenure was a problem, and a study was underway with the aim of setting up a Land Registry. Studies were also underway about having a single harmonised law on this at the national level. Having ratified various conventions, the new Criminal Code contained lots of provisions on the discrimination of all persons. On corruption, a judge had been expelled when an allegation of corruption was verified, and others had been suspended. Proceedings were held in secrecy, though if cases were proved their details would be made public. On discrimination, another member of the delegation said the gender policy document talked about women in the family and community, also their ability to earn for themselves, access to services, the representation of women in power, violence against women, and strengthening the capacity of policies and institutions. Young girls were also subject to violence, especially if they were placed in voodoo convents and training had been offered to doctors to treat these children. The Government had carried out a study on the practice and it was engaged in combatting them. Togo was currently revising its national legislation to ensure it complied with the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Togo's national strategy also particularly considered women with disabilities as in need of protection. On another point, the wages of civil servants had increased. Also, there had been a lot of criticism levelled on the work done in the free zones and there was an increased incidence of inspections. The labour code applied in these zones in the same way as the rest of the country. On the right to strike, there was total freedom in this regard, though employers in sensitive areas such as health could requisition officials to provide a minimum level of service. There was a body responsible for statistics, and the focus going forward was on having reliable numbers. There was an ILO mission to visit Togo on 5 June to assist the Government on labour and workplace issues. Domestic work was an area that was increasingly regulated, and there were now trade unions that protected these workers. Complaints had been received from members of this sector that received less than the minimum wage. Penalties and sanctions were available as punishments for employers if warnings on implementing the minimum wage were ignored. With regards to the health insurance offered, there had been a lot of fraud and so the system administered needed to be able to recognise this, creating a lot of paperwork. This had, however, been improved and efforts to streamline further continued. Partners had been informed on how the process worked to make the process clearer in the future. The national employment agency had been very successful in finding people jobs. On mining, there was not a huge number of operations, though in some areas it was necessary to displace persons. This was necessary to distribute the potential for wealth around the country. Contracts were currently being reviewed to ensure that persons relocated were properly compensated. Questions from ExpertsAn Expert wondered about adequate housing, was more information available on why the rate of those without this was so high? There were serious problems on conditions such as cholera and AIDS in the country, what was being done to tackle this? Was there an integrated cross-cutting approach to tackle poverty in Togo? It was reported that funding for healthcare had fluctuated, and this raised questions about whether the State party was applying the resources available to it to protect the right to health to the maximum extent possible, was this the case? Was the funding allocation given to social action acceptable for the areas it covered? What was the situation with regards to the implementation of Togo's chapter on mental health? What were the current poverty rates? Could the State party shed some light on whether it had achieved the targets it had outlined in relation to building social housing? What was being done to address problems in getting title deeds? What was being done to ensure legal and affordable rental housing? Were there laws and regulations on forced evictions that complied with international standards? Were there effective campaigns to combat female genital mutilation and polygamy? Was the registration of marriages in rural areas carried out well? What was the coverage of the country's medical insurance? Did it cover all persons? Was there was a high dropout rate in education? About the transfer of local initiative schools to primary schools, how long would this take and how many were there? Could more information be given on measures to improve the quality of education? What was the budget offered for education? How far was Togo from the objective of universal schooling at the primary level? What was the ethnic composition of the country? Were there any technical reasons why the State party had not ratified the ILO Convention on indigenous and tribal persons? How was it possible to preserve the rights of indigenous persons in relation to land tenure? Had the fact-finding mission, which had been previously spoken about during the Universal Periodic Review process to investigate members of the press inciting racial hatred, achieved any results? Was there a way that ethnic groups could self-identify and be recognised in the government system? Were there special budget allocations for cultural activities for different ethnic groups, or was there just a general budget line? How were languages dealt with as part of education, particularly minority languages? How were these featured into access to services? Response of the DelegationA member of the delegation apologised for the lack of accurate statistical data and said Togo would provide this as soon as it was available. The social housing mentioned had not been built due to budgetary problems, and the need for dialogue with landowners. However, there were some cases when persons had been asked to give up their land and were moved to new locations and compensated accordingly. Togo's revised sanitation and housing policy was moving towards increased access to latrines and sanitation, as well as increasing the availability of low-rent housing. Regarding drinking water, a deal had been signed to allow the best access to drinking water in the rural Savanes region and in schools. A national employment policy for poverty reduction was launched in 2004, though despite this there were problems, and the policy needed to be revised and improved to have a more inclusive approach. Health insurance did not cover the informal and private sectors, though the national social security fund did. On polygamy, it was the Government's purpose that its campaign against the problem was to eventually do away with it. Many organizations from civil society were travelling across the country to raise awareness against the practice. There was no specific legislation against marital rape, as rape was considered an offence under the criminal code in this context and was severely punished as such. On education, the transition from local initiative schools was to improve education standards, as the teachers and facilities were merged into the state system. On measures taken to combat discrimination, they could be seen in practice, customs and behaviour. Actions regularly taken to ensure provisions were respected included consciousness raising actions and training and education, which were often community based. This included the press, the armed forces and community leaders. The Togo family code addressed issues, such as in the cases of inheritance or widowhood, where it sought to combat discrimination. On human trafficking, the current focus was combating the trafficking of children and there was a programme in place to tackle child labour, as well as a children's code which specifically punished child trafficking. This had led to convictions for those involved in child trafficking or labour. A proper legal framework was still needed and a law was currently being drafted to tackle all elements of human trafficking. A national institution to take care of all victims of the crime had also been proposed. On parity, actions were being taken with stakeholders to raise awareness, and the Government considered this principle when filling strategic posts, for example in the security forces. There were quotas for women in the competitive teaching recruitment exams. The Human Rights Ministry of Togo cooperated closely with the country's Human Rights Commission and there were regular exchanges on topics, such as recent work on the prevention of torture. Following the last Universal Periodic Review before the Human Rights Council, there had been a range of awareness-raising actions and a five-year action plan was created. Having taken stock of this, it was decided to create a single document bringing together the recommendations of a number of treaty bodies. Generally, cooperation with national and international human rights bodies and non-governmental organizations was good. On labour inspectors, Togo had inspection services working in all areas, including the free zone. On another point, a member of the delegation said it was unfortunate that Togo had been examined in absentia by this Committee on a previous occasion. Despite this, recommendations offered at that stage were still being acted on and this was a sign of the country's commitment. About access to land it was explained that thanks to the family code, men and women were able to inherit land on an equal basis. When registering marriage, the modern law was considered the default, and the customary law was only relevant if specifically selected. The land registry had not been properly completed, though the land code addressed issues such as cost. Both modern and customary law covered land usage. Follow-up QuestionsAn Expert asked about reviews of legislation to spot gender bias and the minimum age for marriage? What accommodations were made for persons with disabilities? Did labour inspectors have jurisdiction over the informal economy? Could concrete examples of this be given? Why was there a dual-track system in relation to the inspection of the free processing zones? What was the status of the national policy on social protection? Was it planned that the health insurance system was to eventually cover both the public and private sector, merging the two current systems? What would happen to contributions already made under these circumstances? What steps had been taken to ensure customary law infringed women's rights? Could the nationality law be amended to eliminate gaps which might give rise to statelessness? What steps were being taken to eliminate discriminatory customary law? What was the legal framework for the protection of domestic workers? Was their any jurisprudence on the applicability of the Covenant? Was property owned under customary law recorded with the Government? Response by the DelegationA member of the delegation said under the auspice of universal social protection, the two services currently offering social security would be merged under the new policy for provision, if they could not be made to work in a complementary manner. Where customary law was positive and good it would be kept, though if a law ran counter to constitutional provisions then it should be removed. It was planned to extend social protection to domestic workers. Purchases of land under customary law could be registered with a notary, who passed on details for registration. In any case, where the Covenant could be invoked, then it could be considered alongside the Constitution. The Government was working on ensuring that international texts could be applied appropriately. Of the 766 complaints received by labour inspectors, over 500 had been resolved through conciliation. Others were escalated to the labour courts and still others rejected. For at least the last five years mothers had been able to confer their nationality upon their children. Polygamy was once a right and had now become a choice. It was thought that monogamy was to eventually prevail. Women were free to practice whichever profession or trade they wished without the permission of their husband. On another point, some discriminatory laws had been removed, though it was not possible to say this had been done comprehensively. Work would continue on eradicating these instances as they were identified. There was a human rights focal point in every ministry, and this reflected efforts on mainstreaming international instrument into domestic legislation. Child marriage was prohibited and the minimum age for marriage was 18 years; forced marriage was outlawed and considered discriminatory against women. The prevalence rate of female genital mutilation had dropped following a law against it, from 12 per cent to two per cent. A hotline had been set up for the reporting of trafficking. Mutual health insurance organizations were to be encouraged, though the issue was always whether these had enough members.Persons suffering from HIV/AIDS were given free retrovirals, offered through the combination of internal resources and external partners. Training was being given to health staff to ensure they had the right skills to treat these people. Prevention was also a focus and information was being given to schools and members of the press. Infant mortality was a health issue in Togo. Free vaccines were given to children under five, mosquito nets were distributed and malnourished children were helped in feeding centres. Efforts were being made to ensure that school children had access to latrines and sanitation. Meningitis was treated with antibiotics. New efforts were underway in the push to create social housing, with several ministries working together in the hopes of getting projects off the ground. There were not really cases of forced eviction per se, instead there were warnings and dialogue with landowners, then a transparent process where people were moved to new accommodation. There were no quotas for the employment of disabled persons, though the Government was to ensure that there were proper statistics on their jobs. It was also planned to make institutions better in terms of access. Follow-up QuestionWas rent paid to persons that had been moved on from their agricultural lands for them to be used for public projects? What was the number of homeless persons in the country, as well as any measures taken to ensure no one was rendered homeless? Response from the DelegationEvictions were possible in situations where people had not paid their rent, though this was a private matter. With regard to rents for persons moved on, it was instead a case of paying compensation so they had money to settle elsewhere. Associations had been formed by persons that this had happened to, and these were in conversation with ministries. Whether the compensation had been adequate was an issue that needed to be resolved. These issues and others needed to be addressed as part of land law reform. Evictions could only happen under the direction of the courts, and this was only done alongside the offer of compensation. The Government was taking steps to try and help persons living in precarious accommodation, though sufficient resources were a barrier to this. A member of the delegation said the national policy on culture set out to consolidate artistic and cultural development, while reaching out to other sectors. The Government was trying to promote art and culture, establish infrastructure for culture, develop the business of culture and encourage the expression of the various cultures in the country, despite budget constraints. There was not a single budget line for cultural activities, instead a sectoral approach was used. Infrastructure for cultural activities, such as reading rooms and cultural centres, had been improved, at the same time adding a decentralised aspect to provision. It was recognised that local languages must be heard, as they were a vehicle for culture and at the heart of the States concerns. Persons with disabilities were also considered, and infrastructure to allow this group to enjoy their cultural rights on an equal footing was a consideration in development and planning. Culture was also important in improving social cohesion. Languages were taught at secondary level, with tuition provided in the language of both the south of the country and the north. There were 45 ethnic groups in Togo, and these were not distinct or separate, and lived happily side-by-side. Inter-ethnic marriages were common. Unrest along ethnic lines in the early nineties was due more to political devices on the part of politicians than actual ethnic conflict. On education, the level of education in local initiative schools was not what it should be, hence the reason they were to be taken over by the State to improve standards. Voluntary teachers were rewarded financially. Teachers without formal training could be offered courses to catch up. An educational facility to provide teaching in trades was to be constructed. Free education had helped address dropout rates, and this had particularly helped with the situation of girls. There was a school subject around civic training, and this covered human rights. New classrooms were to be built, thereby reducing class numbers. A workshop was planned to come up with a national policy on human right and citizenship, and consider curricula for different levels of education. Focal points in universities had been given human rights training. Togo did need to update its school material. The reduction of the educational budget was seen across all sectors. The goal remained to improve the system. Concluding RemarksCLEMENT ATANGANA, Country Rapporteur for the Report of Togo, said he wanted to thank the delegation for the information provided, as this had allowed for a fruitful dialogue. There was a lack of jurisprudence as well as statistics. It was hoped that the next report of Togo would provide more information. LEONARDINA RITA DORIS WILSON-DE SOUZA, Minister of Human Rights, Consolidation of Democracy and Civic Training of Togo, expressed thanks to the Committee for the commitment they had shown in their examination. All comments made had been noted. Togo had an unswerving commitment to all rights, despite difficulties linked to the current international financial environment. All relevant stakeholders were invited to assist Togo in its efforts to improve the life of its people. ZDZISLAW KEDZIA, Committee Chairperson, said the Committee was impressed by the delegation and the very competent and professional intervention it had made. The Committee had learnt about the richness of initiatives put forward, while facing a lot of challenges. The general impression given was that there were many changes underway. The concluding observations would be in the spirit of providing assistance to the State party. The Committee would be pleased to hear from the State party on its follow-up on recommendations, even before the filing of the next periodic report. __________
For use of the information media; not an official record


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Still looking for teams for each day. Hurry up and register.
The Orland Park Magic 18u is hosting a 3 Game Round Robin on Saturday 9/14/2013 Sunday 9/15/2013
This round robin is open to 16u and 18u teams.
This is a great way to get the fall season started!
Games will be held at the fields behind Crete Elementary which is located at:
435 North Street Crete, Illinois
There will be an open concession stand
There will be 1 umpire for each game and game balls are included!
The games will be 1 hour 15 minutes - Finish the Inning
There will be a maximum of 12 teams each day Cost: $200.00 for 1 day (3 games)
375.00 for both days (6 games)
Round Robins sell out quickly and only the first 12 will be accepted so get your registrations in as soon as possible.
Please make checks payable to Jim Rizzo and send to:
Orland Park Magic 18U c/o Jim Rizzo
25749 Mccorkle ave
Monee IL 60449
I have attached the Round Robin form Below or go to our website www.leaguelineup.com/magicfastpitchsoftball and download it there.
If you have any questions email me at email@example.com or call (708) 945-7556
ACTIVE is the leader in online event registrations from 5k running races and marathons to softball leagues and local events. ACTIVE also makes it easy to learn and prepare for all the things you love to do with expert resources, training plans and fitness calculators.


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These creative play tips for beach-time fun
are brought to you by Melissa & Doug, written
by our Blog Ambassador Zina Harrington.
Keep the light of curiosity alive! -Zina
Grab the sunscreen, let's roll! Playing in the sandbox is a blast, but going to the beach opens the door to a world of possibilities. Here are five tips for an unforgettable day at the beach:
1. Bring a variety of tools. Any sand toy from the Sunny Patch Collection will ensure a creative day. Don't underestimate the power of a simple bucket like the Happy Giddy Pail (pictured left). It lets the imagination run free! Bringing a variety of items in your beach tote, including plastic recyclables, allows your child to share "toys" with other children worry-free.
2. Let your child be the general contractor. Let your child be in control. Experimenting with different building techniques and failing can be an educational blast. Resist the urge to direct; rather smile and be the assistant for the day.
3. Keep them protected. Make sure everyone has on a base layer of water-resistant sunscreen before you leave the house, so the kids can hit the sand as soon as you get to the beach! Once the kids are sandy, applying lotion can be challenging–so keep spray sunscreen on hand for hassle-free protection.
4. Let them rest and relax. Playing in the sun can be draining. Let your child rest. Avoid beach meltdowns by ensuring everyone stays hydrated, including yourself. Kids can get ravenous at the beach, so having snacks on hand instantly makes you a hero. Nothing is better than fresh, cool fruit if you have time to prepare a small cooler. Crackers and other munchies always go over well, too.
5. Go beyond building a castle; build a community. Creating multiple small dwellings connected by small waterways is a great way to get a group of children to cooperate. If you are at the beach with a single child, it is a great way to meet friends. I guarantee other children will ask if they can help, too!
Where is your favorite beach? Do you prefer to relax on the ocean or on a lake?
Let's chat in the comments.
Zina Harrington is the author of Let's Lasso the Moon, where she inspires parents and children to interact creatively and enjoy the beauty of everyday moments. Visit Zina at LetsLassoTheMoon.com, say "Hi" on Facebook or check her out on Pinterest!
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This is an excerpt from EERE Network News, a weekly electronic newsletter.
August 03, 2011
Solar Startup to Create 250 Jobs in North Carolina
A DOE-enabled innovation made Tuesday, July 19, a good day for North Carolina. Entrepreneurs from Durham-based solar startup Semprius teamed with Governor Bev Perdue to announce the company's plan to build a new high-tech manufacturing facility in Henderson. The factory is expected to create more than 250 full-time jobs over the next five years, which is a particular boon for Henderson, where the county unemployment rate reached 13.3% in May. This follows on the heels of news that Siemens recently participated with others in a $20 million investment in Semprius. Siemens took a 16% stake in the company—a vote of confidence from a global engineering giant with years of success in the solar industry.
None of this comes as a surprise to those of us who have followed Semprius' progress as a pioneer in the design and fabrication of high concentration photovoltaic (HCPV) solar modules. The company's story provides a case-study example for how federally funded research and development sparks job-creation for Americans in a global growth industry. See the Energy Blog post.


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Copenhagen is a cool, clean, safe and cosmopolitan Scandinavian hub. The Danish capital repeatedly ranks as one of the world's most liveable cities, while polls show that its people are among the happiest in the world.
Both modern and historic, Copenhagen is an exciting destination to visit. Enjoying a long heritage that stretches back a millennium to the Viking Age, the city is home of the world's oldest monarchy and is dotted with statues, monuments, canals and cobbled squares. In striking contrast, its culture keenly encourages innovation, and sees the city stand at the forefront of world design, architecture, food, fashion and music.
Copenhagen Information
Population: Approx. 1,100,000
Time Zone: GMT +2 hours
Languages: Danish (official language), many Danes also speak English, German and French.
Currency: Kroner (DKK)
Currency Exchange: Purchase your DKK and travellers' cheques before you leave Australia.
Copenhagen Climate
Copenhagen has an oceanic climate, and experiences four distinct seasons. Summers are generally warm, with average temperatures sitting between 12°C and 20°C, and long days – reaching a peak of eighteen hours on summer solstice (21 June). Autumn and winter are cold, short and dark, and see locals adopt the Danish concept of hygge (hibernation). Snowfall occurs mainly from late December until early March, and seldom lasts long. Spring is regarded as the best time to visit the city, as the sunshine returns, temperatures quickly soar to 12°C and above, and the weather is favourable.
Copenhagen Airport
Name: Copenhagen Airport (Københavns Lufthavn)
Address: Lufthavnsboulevarden 6, 2770 Kastrup, Denmark
Location: Kastrup, 13.3 km, 15 minutes' drive south west of Copenhagen city centre.
Hire Cars: Great choice of hire cars at mates' rates from our car suppliers
Taxi: Taxis pick up outside Arrivals Areas at Terminal 1 and 3. A taxi rank reserved for taxis to Sweden is located outside Terminal 3.
Train: A Metro station is located at the end of Terminal 3. The travel time from Norreport Station (central Copenhagen) to the airport/and vice versa is 15 minutes. To reach Copenhagen Central Station, passengers must purchase three zones or more. Tickets for the Metro are available at the Metro station and at the DSB ticket sales counter in Terminal 3.
Marriott Hotel Copenhagen
5 Star Property
The Marriott Hotel captures Copenhagen's fairy-tale charm with 401 gracefully appointed and elegantly furnished rooms, offering spectacular views of the harbour. Located just 15 minutes' drive from the airport, the hotel is within easy reach of Central Station, Tivoli Gardens and Christiansborg Palace.
Stay Apartment Hotel Copenhagen
5 Star Property
Located on the Island of Amager, within the Islands Brygge group, Stay Apartment Hotel offers convenient access to the National Museum of Denmark and Rosenborg Palace Garden. The hotel features spacious and fully equipped apartments with tasteful decor, and an onsite restaurant and gourmet bakery.
Clarion Collection Hotel Neptun
4 Star Property
Situated at Sankt Annes Plads 18, 13km from Copenhagen Airport, Clarion Collection is close to attractions like Amalienborg Palace, Royal Danish Theatre, Kastellet and Stroget shopping street. The hotel's guestrooms are spacious and stylishly furnished with an array of contemporary amenities.
Phoenix Hotel Copenhagen
4 Star Property
Located in the heart of Copenhagen, the Phoenix Hotel offers easy access to Amalienborg Castle, Nyhavn Harbour, Nytorv and Stroget shopping street. Elegantly designed, the hotel's 213 spacious guestrooms are comfortable and come with contemporary amenities. Guests are privy to onsite restaurants, Von Plessen and Murdoch's Books and Ale.
Scandic Palace Hotel Copenhagen
3 Star Property
Found in the historic Town Hall Square, Scandic Palace Hotel is located opposite the Tivoli Gardens, while the shopping street of Stroget is just around the corner. The hotel's rooms are stylishly designed in various distinct styles, and come with an array of exceptional amenities.
Copenhagen is renowned as Scandinavia's culinary capital. The city has over 2,000 cafes, snack bars and restaurants, and more Michelin-star establishments than any other European city.
The city's main dining areas include, but are not restricted to, downtown's Nyhavn and Tivoli Gardens, The Meatpacking District in Vesterbro, Sankt Hans Torv in Norrebro, the streets off Stroget, Radhuspladsen (Town Hall Square), Christianshavn, and around Central Railway Station.
The Danes' love of pastries has seen the country become famous for them. Bageris or konditoris (bakeries) can be found on almost every block, selling Danish pastries in different shapes, sizes and flavours. Located just off Stroeget, the city's most famous and oldest bageri, La Glace is reputed to serve the best layered cakes in Copenhagen.
Perfectly complementing the country's love of baked goods, Copenhagen is a coffee paradise. Cafes inundate the city – particularly in areas like Osterbro, Norrebro and Vesterbro – selling delicious blends, which act as the perfect defence for Copenhagen's cold weather.
Lunch time in the Danish capital is synonymous with the smorrebrod – an open-faced sandwich made on dark rye bread (rugbrod), and stacked with a number of different toppings, such as herring, raw beef, seafood and egg. Other popular Danish foods include cured or smoked fish and meats, Limfjord oysters, Laeso langoustine, eel, plaice, pickled herring, and polser (sausage). Smorrebrods and Danish specialities are served in a number of dining settings throughout the city, from the grandest restaurant to the most humble street cart.
Whole heartedly embracing the concept of hyggelige (cosiness) the Danish love a cosy setting. The cosiest of settings generally exist in the form of a traditional Danish pub called a bodega. Bodegas attract a broad clientele, from old locals to young hipsters, all enjoying cheap beers or Danish bitters. Many of the city's bodegas date back to the 18th century and provide great insight into Copenhagen's long history.
In a more modern take on drinking, wine bars have become a hit concept in Copenhagen.
A flourishing array of cocktail and wine bars see the city bustle with afterhours activity, particularly in areas like Grabrodretorv (Grey Friars Square), Studiestraede in the Latin quarter, and Bohemian Nansensgade.
Shopping in Copenhagen is about quality, rather than quantity. Showcasing extraordinary talent, individuality and innovation in design and art, the city is renowned for its unique and exceptional retail experiences.
Downtown is Copenhagen's most established shopping district, home to renowned shopping street Stroeget, youth hub The Latin Quarter and trendy retail belt Krystalgade. Stroeget is Denmark's most prominent shopping strip – the longest pedestrian street in the world, lined with opportunities to suit all budgets and tastes. Just a few blocks west, the Latin Quarter caters to its university student population with boutiques selling vintage clothes, street fashions, jewellery and leather. While only minutes' north, the area around Krystalgade – most notably Kobmagergade – features trendy boutiques selling both Danish and international designer wares.
North of the downtown area, the tranquil corner of town known as Osterbro hosts sophisticated small boutiques. Nordre Frihavnsgade is particularly worth exploring, boasting a variety of shops, selling everything from quaint china to 1950's furniture and retro radios.
Further north again, Hellerup boasts impressive houses and cars, and equally impressive retail opportunities. Boutiques selling children's clothing, fashionable clothing and shoes, and on-trend furniture, arts and crafts dot the area.
South of downtown, Vesterbro is gaining a reputation as the city's hippest and most fashionable district. Home to Copenhagen's red light district, Vesterbro is undergoing a process of gentrification. Streets like Vesterbrogade and Istedgade are peppered with bars, restaurants and designer stores, while the Meatpacking District attracts the city's coolest crowds.
Across the Peblinge So lake, just minutes from the city centre, the cool and casual neighbourhood of Norrebro is home to fashionable designer shops and antique dealers. Streets like Elmegade and Ravnsborggade are go-tos for vintage clothing and second-hand furniture. Adhering to the retro theme of the neighbourhood, Norrebro is home to the city's most renowned flea market, the Norrebro Flea Market.
Outside Copenhagen, the district of Frederiksberg brims with excellent shopping opportunities. Frederiksberg's main street, Gammel Kongevej (Kings Road) is lined with historic buildings housing clothing shops, cafes, organic supermarkets and delicatessens.


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Scandal in a local school.
Five teachers stand accused of giving students grades they didn't deserve.
The events at Warren County High School have cost those five teachers their jobs, and could cost some students their Hope scholarships.
News 12's Jonathan Martin was the only Augusta reporter on hand to cover the story today as students protested, claiming the teachers did nothing wrong.
A lot of people on both sides are upset in the wake of the scandal.
Many are questioning why the teachers would do such a thing, and if they are guilty, why they are being allowed to finish the school year.
These students say they just want to know why three of their teachers are now on a leave of absence.
"They can't explain to use what's going on, what they tell us, we ask them questions, they can't explain our questions," says senior Rekeisha Allen.
Thursday was no typical day at Warren County High School. Students were protesting in the hallway and outside of the school.
"We feel that the way the teachers are being treated is unfair and it's wrong," says senior Shalanda Scism.
The protests are in response to an article in today's local paper, the Warrenton Clipper. In the article, Superintendent of Schools Carole Jean Carey says she found numerous cases of teachers falsifying grades.
"We know we earned our grades fairly. They don't give us no kind of help," Shalanda says.
Superintendent Carey says when one teacher told her he was being pressured by another teacher to change grades, she conducted an investigation...which she says showed that for the past two years, five teachers at the high school repeatedly gave students grades they didn't deserve.
"There were some cases where, many cases where the grade reported was not the grade earned," says Carey.
Three of those five still teach at the school, and that's why Carey says she was required by law to report her findings to the Professional Standards Commission.
"Three teachers' certificates were suspended by the Professional Standards Commission, so when your certificates are suspended, you can't be employed by the school system."
And while it's the Warren County School Board who voted to allow the teachers to take a 10-day leave of absence and then return to finish out the year, the superintendent says she's become the target of the student's angers.
"These are teachers that have been here for a while--some of the students really like these teachers, they're some of their favorites--and they have to have somebody, so I'm the target," she says.
The superintendent says the parents of students who received grades they shouldn't have will be receiving a letter in the mail informing them of the grade their child actually earned.
That could affect graduation and Hope scholarships for many of those students.
As for those teachers, all three have turned in letters of resignation as a result of this investigation.
However, the principal says they are allowed to come back to finish out the school year.
The superintendent says this has gone on for two years. She says there's nothing that can be done about those students who have already graduated.
The school principal, Roger Williams, says he believes the teachers actually got off very light for something this serious.
He also says he believes the investigation was done fairly, but he still respects the students' right to protest.
"Let's just be glad that this is America and you can exercise that right to protest in any legal or legitimate way that suits your purpose," Williams says.