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Muslims & Minorities in the MilitaryWednesday, July 26, 2017
Demographers predict that aging, shifting birth rates, and immigration will change the face of European and North American populations over the next few decades. For example, researchers predict that persons of Muslim origin will make up a quarter of the French and third of the German populations by 2050. At the briefing, European security practitioners discussed how demographic change is impacting the security workforce, and the subsequent implications for the OSCE region. Panelists also highlighted the ways in which recruitment, personnel, and other security workforce policies and practices are changing in light of Europe's increasing ethnic and religious diversity.
press release
Helsinki Commission Announces Briefing on Muslims & Minorities in the Military in the OSCE RegionMonday, July 24, 2017
WASHINGTON—The Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe, also known as the Helsinki Commission, today announced the following briefing: MUSLIMS AND MINORITIES IN THE MILITARY Changing Demographics in the OSCE Region and Implications for Europe's Security Sector Wednesday, July 26, 2017 11:00AM to 12:00PM Dirksen Senate Office Building Room 562 Live Webcast: www.facebook.com/HelsinkiCommission Demographers predict that aging, shifting birth rates, and immigration will change the face of European and North American populations over the next few decades. For example, researchers predict that persons of Muslim origin will make up a quarter of the French and third of the German populations by 2050. At the briefing, European security practitioners will discuss how demographic change is impacting the security workforce, and the subsequent implications for the OSCE region. Panelists will also highlight the ways in which recruitment, personnel, and other security workforce policies and practices are changing in light of Europe's increasing ethnic and religious diversity. Speakers include: Dominik Wullers (Germany), Economist, Spokesman of the Federal Office for Federal Ministry of Defense Equipment, and Vice President of Deutscher.Soldat Samira Rafaela (Netherlands), Organizational Strategy Advisor, Dutch National Police Rozemina Abbasi (United Kingdom), Assistant Head, Armed Forces Targets, Ministry of Defense Dr. Elyamine Settoul (France), Professor, Institute for Strategic Research at the Military College, French Ministry of Defense
Engaging Belarus on Human Rights & DemocracyFriday, July 21, 2017
The 2017 Annual Session of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly (OSCE PA) hosted by Belarus from July 5 to July 9 provided a rare opportunity for parliamentarians from OSCE participating States to learn more about current conditions in Belarus, and to meet Belarusian activists promoting reforms to the country's democratic governance and human rights practices. The United Nations (UN), National Democratic Institute (NDI), and International Republican Institute (IRI) are all deeply engaged in work to promote democracy and greater respect for human rights in Belarus, from both in-country (primarily the UN) and outside Belarus (NDI and IRI). Belarus has shown a willingness to engage with the U.S., EU, and NGOs on human rights in recent years. Past experience has shown some approaches have worked much better than others. This briefing focused on the best ways to engage Belarus to encourage progress on human rights and democracy after the OSCE PA Annual Session in Minsk.
Kleptocrats of the Kremlin: Ties Between Business and Power in RussiaThursday, July 20, 2017
Eighteen years after he first took power, Vladimir Putin rules a Russia increasingly characterized by censorship, political repression, and human rights violations. A central feature of Putin's authoritarian regime is sprawling corruption. This corruption undermines the legitimacy of public institutions domestically and internationally via an opaque network of interlocutors who enable assets to be stolen from the Russian people and hidden abroad. While the president is the primary beneficiary, the Kremlin's brand of kleptocracy depends on a loyal group of cronies, who acquire untold wealth by ensuring that state institutions follow Kremlin directives, and that private businesses play along or stay out of the way. The briefing examined the dynamics of Putin's closest circle in order to establish who most strengthens and benefits from his rule. Additionally, briefers analyzed how these cronies advance Putin's geopolitical goals and interests.
One Year Later: Seeking Justice for Pavel SheremetThursday, July 20, 2017
When investigative journalist Pavel Sheremet died in a car explosion in central Kyiv on July 20, 2016, his assassination garnered global media attention. Upon learning the tragic news, then-OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Dunja Mijatović condemned the murder, saying, "This killing and its circumstances must be swiftly and thoroughly investigated, and the perpetrators brought to justice." However, one year later, virtually no progress has been made on his case. Furthermore, the escalating harassment and attacks against journalists in Ukraine, coupled with a culture of impunity for perpetrators, is worrisome for Ukraine's democratic future. To ensure they meet the aspirations of the Ukrainian people, authorities in Kiev must reaffirm their commitment to freedom of the press by ensuring the perpetrators of Sheremet's murder—and similar cases of killing, assault, and harassment—are brought to justice. Download the full report to learn more.
2017 OSCE Gender Equality Review ConferenceWednesday, July 19, 2017
By Janice Helwig, Representative of the Helsinki Commission to the U.S. Mission to the OSCE The OSCE held its second Gender Equality Review Conference in Vienna on June 12-13, 2017. The meeting was not a traditional review conference; it did not systematically evaluate how OSCE participating States are doing in implementing their commitments, but rather offered a framework for an exchange of information and best practices among governments, international organizations, and NGOs. Austrian Federal Minister for Families and Youth Sophie Karmasin opened the conference, followed by a video address from the Prime Minister of Canada, Justin Trudeau. The conference was also addressed by the Special Representative of the OSCE Chairmanship-in-Office on Gender Issues Ambassador Melanne Verveer. The conference was held in a non-traditional format for the OSCE, which usually holds meetings with government delegates speaking from behind their country's nameplate. It comprised concurrent panel discussions viewed by an audience, followed by a question and answer session. Panelists came from governments, the OSCE Institutions and field missions, the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, the European Union, the United Nations, and civil society. Panelists discussed women's participation in the security sector; women's participation in political and public life; equal economic opportunities for women; combating violence against women; strengthening institutional mechanisms; and emerging issues and ways forward. Issues raised included the disproportionately low number of women in political decision-making positions or in military, security, and conflict management roles; the pay gap between women and men for similar work; discrimination and harassment, including of minority women; and the vulnerability of women and girls to trafficking and sexual abuse. Recommendations for areas that need more attention included improving access to and the quality of education for girls; alleviating poverty and other situations that make girls more vulnerable to trafficking and sexual exploitation; doing more to better prevent violence against women; promoting women's participation in conflict management, mediation, and peace processes; closing the pay gap; focusing on the role of women in perpetrating or countering violent extremism and terrorism; and the need to gather more sex-disaggregated data and research to develop the most effective programs to address these issues. Several speakers also discussed OSCE efforts to promote equal opportunities for women inside the Organization, as well as to incorporate a gender perspective in its work. They noted that the OSCE has established a network of Gender Focal Points throughout all OSCE structures; raised the percentage of women working in the Organization from 35 percent in 2004 to 49 percent today; increased gender components in OSCE projects; and stepped up assistance to participating States in implementing their gender-related commitments. They recommended that the OSCE strive to increase the number of women appointed to senior level positions, provide more coaching on gender issues for OSCE management, develop a mechanism to more systematically incorporate a gender perspective in all OSCE projects and activities, ensure no all-male panels at OSCE events, and update the 2004 Action Plan for the Promotion of Gender Equality.
The OSCE Moscow MechanismTuesday, July 18, 2017
The Moscow Mechanism is a tool allowing for the establishment of a short-term fact finding mission to address a specific human rights concern in the OSCE region. It grew out of the earlier Vienna Mechanism, which was designed as a vehicle to enable participating States to raise and address specific concerns in the human dimension. Together, the two today form what is generally referred to as the OSCE Human Dimension Mechanism, although in practice, the Vienna Mechanism has largely been overtaken by the Moscow Mechanism. Download the full report to learn more.
The 2017 OSCE Asian Partners ConferenceMonday, July 17, 2017
By Janice Helwig, Policy Advisor and Representative of the Helsinki Commission to the USOSCE From June 19 to June 20, 2017, approximately 150 representatives of governments, academia, and international organizations from 41 OSCE participating States and seven Partners for Cooperation gathered in Berlin for the annual OSCE Asian Partners. The venue of the annual conference rotates among the five OSCE Asian Partners for Cooperation; however, as this year's chair of the Asian Partners Contact Group, Germany hosted rather than Afghanistan. The conference, with a theme of "Common Challenges and Common Opportunities," opened with a high-level session in which participants discussed security challenges in the OSCE and Asian regions. H.E. Adela Raz, Afghanistan's Deputy Foreign Minister for Economic Cooperation, described the growing complexities of combating terrorism, including an increase in foreign terrorist fighters, links between international organized crime and terrorist financing, and the vulnerability to recruitment of unemployed and marginalized youth. The session also focused on threats stemming from North Korea's nuclear and missile testing programs, territorial disputes in the South China Sea, and cybercrime. A second session focused on connectivity and regional economic cooperation, particularly between Afghanistan and the countries of the Central Asian region. Participants discussed various initiatives to foster trade along the historic Silk Road, including building roads, railways, and modernized ports, as well as developing digital and financial connectivity. The third session looked at three specific United Nations Sustainable Development Goals –, goal 4 on ensuring inclusive and quality education for all, goal 5 on achieving gender equality, and goal 16 on promoting peaceful and inclusive societies – and opportunities for the OSCE to support them. Common priorities discussed included increasing access to and funding for quality education, combating violence against women, and promoting human rights and the rule of law. A side event organized by the OSCE focused on a project to increase women's participation in water management and promote confidence-building between Afghanistan and Central Asia. Women play a major role in household use of water in the rural areas of the region, but often have little say in decisions concerning water management. The OSCE project fosters the development of a regional network of female water professionals from state agencies, NGOs, research institutes, and water users associations and providing capacity building in negotiation and mediation skills.
Addressing Anti-Semitism through Intersectional AdvocacyFriday, July 14, 2017
By Dr. Mischa Thompson, Policy Advisor "[There were so many victims of the Holocaust] but we engage in competitive victimhood, where we take the oppressor's view of a victim's worth." – Words into Action participant Misko Stanisic, Terraforming From June 21 to June 23, 2017, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (OSCE/ODIHR) hosted the second in a series of workshops focused on addressing anti-Semitism. The workshop, titled "Gender and Intersectional Activism: Coalition-Building for a More Tolerant Society," provided a forum for 50 civil society leaders to discuss their efforts to address prejudice and discrimination across the 57 European and North American countries of the OSCE. The forum was part of the OSCE/ODIHR's "Turning Words into Action to Address Anti-Semitism" (WiA) project, which increases the capacity of countries and civil society to prevent and respond to anti-Semitism through security, education, and coalition-building measures. According to Cristina Finch, Head of the ODIHR Tolerance and Discrimination Department, the forum will also assist with "creation of a coalition-building manual that ODIHR will publish to assist civil society in these efforts." Noting the problem of "underreporting," the forum educated participants about OSCE/ODIHR efforts to collect hate crimes statistics, and highlighted methods by which civil society could work with local law enforcement and the OSCE/ODIHR to report hate crimes. At the forum, OSCE/ODIHR shared recent findings that indicate that while Jewish men are more likely to be victims of anti-Semitic speech or physical violence, Jewish women fear anti-Semitic attacks more. This suggests gender may play an important role in addressing anti-Semitism, prompting the need for more gender-rich and intersectional prevention efforts. For instance, Misko Stanisic of Terraforming, an organization focused on Holocaust and human rights education, noted that thousands of women participated in crimes of the Holocaust, but that gender stereotypes resulted in women often not being viewed as perpetrators, resulting in "female perpetrators [being] seldom investigated for their crimes and rarely prosecuted during the post-war trials." He also described how socially constructed perceptions of gender, race, and other identities not only impacted who is – and who is not – included in text books and other educational tools on the Holocaust, but also how this has impacted efforts to address anti-Semitism. "[There were so many victims of the Holocaust] but we engage in competitive victimhood, where we take the oppressor's view of a victim's worth," he said. Other participants highlighted the forum's relevance to American scholar Kimberle Crenshaw's intersectionality theory, which details how hierarchal systems of gender and race resulted in African-American women often being excluded from the mainstream feminist movement in the United States. In particular, participants discussed how efforts to address anti-Semitism and other forms of prejudice and discrimination have been stymied by approaches that have reinforced gender and other hierarchical power structures preventing men and women within communities from effectively working together. Invoking American luminary James Baldwin, Finnish journalist Maryan Abdulkarim stated, "No one is free until we are all free." She stressed the need for more inclusive efforts that move away from a focus on differences that separate the "majority" and "minorities," and to restore humanity by challenging harmful societal constructs and working across communities, including with the "majority" to address problems. While the forum explored the importance of inclusive approaches to addressing anti-Semitism and other forms of intolerance, some participants warned that intersectionality could become an ineffective trend if care is not taken in its implementation. Specifically, the differences between academic discussions and practice were raised. In particular, participants cited the need for clear laws, processes, and procedures that protect all, as well as equal access to justice. For example, laws and policies should be understandable to police, judges, and ordinary citizens, and straightforward to implement. Researchers, funders, and advocates should be particularly mindful as to whether their efforts advance equality, or simply check a box. The art and commentary of speaker Dan Perjovschi underscored and offered insight into the societal challenges forum participants faced in efforts to address anti-Semitism, gender and other inequities in countering prejudice and discrimination at large, and the need for their continued efforts. More Information Roundtable on Fighting Anti-Semitism Looks at Turning Words into Action OSCE/ODIHR Turning Words into Action Project
press release
One Year After Coup Attempt, Helsinki Commission Calls on Turkish Government to Respect OSCE Commitments, End CrackdownFriday, July 14, 2017
WASHINGTON—Ahead of the one-year anniversary of the attempted coup in Turkey, Helsinki Commission Chairman Sen. Roger Wicker (MS) and Co-Chairman Rep. Chris Smith (NJ-04) issued the following statements: "Last July, thousands of Turks took to the streets to stand against a military coup attempt. Turkish democracy still hangs in the balance one year later," said Chairman Wicker. "I urge the Turkish government to restore stability and trust in its institutions by ending the state of emergency, releasing all prisoners of conscience, and guaranteeing full due process to all those who face credible charges." "The Turkish government's campaign against parliamentarians, academics, journalists, and thousands of others is marked by grave human rights violations," said Co-Chairman Smith. "The Turkish courts' support for this campaign is a sad sign of the challenges ahead – we recently saw this in a court's confirmation of the expropriation of a Syriac Orthodox monastery. I call on the Turkish government and courts not to continue down the path to dictatorship." Ahead of the May 2017 meeting between President Donald Trump and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Helsinki Commission leaders urged President Trump to seek guarantees that several U.S. citizens currently jailed in Turkey will have their cases promptly and fairly adjudicated and receive full consular assistance. They called for the prompt release of imprisoned American pastor Andrew Brunson; for consular access and fair trials for American dual citizens like Serkan Golge; and for timely and transparent due process for long-standing U.S. consulate employee Hamza Uluçay. Chairman Wicker also submitted a statement to the Congressional Record expressing his concern about the outcome of the April 16 constitutional referendum in Turkey, which approved Turkey's conversion from a parliamentary government into an "executive presidency," further weakening crucial checks and balances.
press release
Helsinki Commission Announces Briefing on Kleptocracy in RussiaThursday, July 13, 2017
WASHINGTON—The Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe, also known as the Helsinki Commission, today announced the following briefing: KLEPTOCRATS OF THE KREMLIN: TIES BETWEEN BUSINESS AND POWER IN RUSSIA Thursday, July 20, 2017 3:30 PM – 5:00 PM Dirksen Senate Office Building Room G11 Live Webcast: www.facebook.com/HelsinkiCommission Eighteen years after he first took power, Vladimir Putin rules a Russia increasingly characterized by censorship, political repression, and human rights violations. A central feature of Putin's authoritarian regime is sprawling corruption. This corruption undermines the legitimacy of public institutions domestically and internationally via an opaque network of interlocutors who enable assets to be stolen from the Russian people and hidden abroad. While the president is the primary beneficiary, the Kremlin's brand of kleptocracy depends on a loyal group of cronies, who acquire untold wealth by ensuring that state institutions follow Kremlin directives, and that private businesses play along or stay out of the way. The briefing will examine the dynamics of Putin's closest circle in order to establish who most strengthens and benefits from his rule. Additionally, briefers will analyze how these cronies advance Putin's geopolitical goals and interests. The following panelists are scheduled to speak: Brian Whitmore, Senior Russia Analyst, Radio Free Europe Ilya Zaslavskiy, Research Expert, Free Russia Foundation Dr. Anders Aslund, Senior Fellow, Atlantic Council Marius Laurinavicius, Senior Analyst, Vilnius Institute for Policy Analysis Ambassador Daniel Fried, Distinguished Fellow, Atlantic Council
Energy (In)Security in Russia's PeripheryThursday, July 13, 2017
On July 13, 2017, the U.S. Helsinki Commission held a briefing on "Energy (In)security in Russia's Periphery." Energy security is an important topic that belongs to the OSCE's Second Dimension. This briefing addressed energy security challenges in Eastern Europe and the Caucasus, in particular in Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia. Panelists included Peter Doran, Executive Vice President and Interim Director at the Center for European Policy Analysis (CEPA); Edward Chow, Senior Fellow at the Energy and National Security Program of the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS); Andrian Prokip, Senior Associate at the Kennan Institute of the Woodrow Wilson Center and Energy Expert at the Institute for Social and Economic Research; Lyndon Allin, Associate at Baker McKenzie; and Dr. Mamuka Tsereteli, Senior Fellow at the Central Asia-Caucasus Institute. The panelists provided a background on energy security both generally and in the regional context of the post-Soviet space, as well as in the specific case studies of Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia. Mr. Doran stated that the energy security situation in Europe, and also in Russia's immediate neighborhood, has fundamentally changed as a result of the end of energy scarcity in the world and the construction of new energy infrastructure in Central and Eastern Europe in a positive way. However, the bad news is that Russia is not willing to accept this game-changing market shift and is fighting back. For instance, the panelists agreed on the key role that Azerbaijan could play for the supply of energy not only in the post-Soviet space, but also in other European countries. They noted, however, in order for world-class projects, like the ones operating or being planned in Azerbaijan, to become a reality, the achievement of market integration is critical. Unfortunately, market integration in Southeastern Europe is exactly what Russia has been trying to prevent with the tool of energy corruption, which it uses to keep its neighboring countries dependent on it for energy supplies, and to obtain kompromat on various political leaders in the region. Mr. Doran specifically cited the case of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline project, which he argued is a political and not a commercial project for Russia to gain more influence over European, and in particular Ukrainian, energy security. When it comes to ways of approaching energy security, panelists agreed that it must be achieved not by top-down but rather with bottom-up solutions, citing the specific example of Ukraine, which could easily become self-sufficient if it implemented crucial reforms that hinder much-needed private investment in its energy sector. In particular, Mr. Chow observed that, while external challenges must be confronted and overcome, the implementation of crucial structural reforms in the energy sectors of post-Soviet countries is critical to meet the challenge that Russia poses. For example, he regards corruption in the energy sector in Ukraine as the key reason for the nation's energy insecurity. The panelists agreed that U.S. political leaders should be careful about making promises to politicians in the region, for example the oft-cited promise that U.S. LNG exports will be able to substitute for Russian gas and solve the energy security problems of the region. Instead, as the panelists pointed out, the emphasis should be put on supporting the energy market development of countries in the post-Soviet space. Mr. Prokip stressed that the recently proposed reforms in Ukraine must go forward. In particular, progress must be made in implementation, which he argued could only happen if the West is willing to exert more pressure on the Ukrainian authorities, while continuing to provide advice and assistance. In both Chow's and Prokip's view, U.S. energy exports cannot serve as a substitute for structural economic reforms in Ukraine. Following a similar line of argument, Mr. Allin pointed out that, in the case of Moldova, it is the Moldovans who need to make more effort to solve their own problems, rather than looking only to foreign partners for external solutions. Finally, Dr. Tsereteli reminded the audience that structural reforms and the openness to trade and investment that accompanies them can lead to post-Soviet countries' integration in the global economic system, as was the case in Georgia, which managed to improve its energy security significantly this way.
Helsinki Commission Staff Meet with OSCE Election ExpertsWednesday, July 12, 2017
By Erika Schlager, Counsel for International Law On July 11, Helsinki Commission staff met with Dame Audrey Glover, head of the OSCE election observation mission during the 2016 U.S. elections. Other members of the OSCE team included Mr. Jan Haukass (Vienna Representative of the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, or ODIHR), Dr. Richard Lappin (ODIHR-Warsaw), and Mr. Radivoje Grujic (ODIHR-Warsaw). The meeting was part of OSCE's standard consultations following the deployment of an election observation mission. The election team also held meetings in Washington with Members of Congress and the Department of State. OSCE election observation is based on the 1990 Copenhagen Document in which the participating States agreed that "the will of the people, freely and fairly expressed through periodic and genuine elections, is the basis of the authority and legitimacy of all government." The commitment fosters universal suffrage, equality, fairness, freedom, transparency, accountability, and secrecy of the ballot. The original proposal for a commitment to hold free and fair elections came from the Helsinki Commission in 1989 but, at that time, was unacceptable to communist countries. In 1990, as communist regimes began to fall, agreement on the new commitment was adopted and signaled the rejection of the one-party systems that had previously dominated Eastern Europe. However, implementation of this commitment continues to be restricted in some countries where civil society is limited or faces repression. OSCE election observation in the region represents the "gold standard" in international election observation. In some instances, when even the fundamental conditions for free and fair elections are lacking, the OSCE may decline to observe elections rather than give them a degree of legitimacy that is unwarranted. In 2015, restrictions imposed by the government of Azerbaijan compelled the OSCE to cancel a planned election observation mission. Some countries, such as Russia, have sought to undermine OSCE election observation by promoting observation through the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), a post-Soviet grouping that includes Azerbaijan, Armenia, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Ukraine. CIS election observers consistently praise elections that are considered to be significantly flawed by independent observers, particularly the OSCE. Helsinki Commissioners and staff have participated in well over 100 election observation missions since 1990 – the vast majority of them as members of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly contingent that is part of the larger OSCE-led international observation missions. The Commission continues to support OSCE observation efforts, focusing on countries where resistance to democratic change remains the strongest. The Commission has also actively supported the right of domestic election observers to monitor the elections in their own countries. Learn more about OSCE election observation.
press release
Helsinki Commission Briefing to Examine Energy Security in Russia's PeripheryMonday, July 03, 2017
WASHINGTON—The Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe, also known as the Helsinki Commission, today announced the following briefing: ENERGY (IN)SECURITY IN RUSSIA'S PERIPHERY July 13, 2017 3:30 PM – 5:00 PM Dirksen Senate Office Building Room G11 Under Vladimir Putin, Russia has used its neighbors' dependence on its energy supplies as a source of geopolitical leverage and sought to keep their energy sectors underdeveloped and corrupt. Ukraine has recently managed to implement crucial reforms in its energy sector, but challenges remain. Meanwhile, initiatives for similar reforms in Moldova have stalled, while Georgia has successfully reformed its energy sector and developed new infrastructure. Why are these outcomes so different and what more can be done to achieve energy security in post-Soviet Eastern Europe? This briefing will provide a general overview of energy security in Ukraine, Moldova, and Georgia, and examine challenges and opportunities in the energy sectors of these states. Briefers will discuss the role that corruption plays in preventing the implementation of effective reforms as well as strategies to curb Russian influence. The following experts are scheduled to participate: Peter Doran, Executive Vice President and Interim Director, Center for European Policy Analysis (CEPA) Edward Chow, Senior Fellow, Energy and National Security Program, Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) Andrian Prokip, Senior Associate, Kennan Institute; Energy Expert, Institute for Social and Economic Research Lyndon Allin, Associate, Baker McKenzie Mamuka Tsereteli, Senior Fellow, Central Asia-Caucasus Institute
Transatlantic Inclusion Leaders Network 2017 Workshop ReportFriday, June 30, 2017
The Transatlantic Inclusion Leaders Network (TILN) advances leaders who are global in outlook, representative, culturally competent, and inclusive. TILN is the premier venue for young, diverse U.S. and European elected and civil society leaders to meet, enhance their inclusive leadership portfolio, and engage senior policymakers. Now entering its sixth year housed within the German Marshall Fund in cooperation with the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe (U.S. Helsinki Commission), TILN has been honored to be supported through partnerships with the U.S. Department of State, Balkan Trust for Democracy, Open Society Foundations, Meridiam, IMPACT, ONCE Foundation, Operation Black Vote, Unitas Communications, New American Leaders Project and the World Jewish Congress. At the center of the initiative is an annual leadership workshop for young diverse leaders from Europe and the United States. TILN workshops have created an empowered and highly upwardly mobile network that bridges the Atlantic and strengthens transatlantic relations for the future. TILN alumni utilize their experiences to reach new heights from mounting campaigns for the European and national Parliaments to becoming Members of the U.S. Congress, Ministers, and regionally and locally elected officials. Alumni include U.S. Congressman Ruben Gallego, Swedish Parliamentarian Said Abdu, UN Expert on Minority Issues Rita Iszak, and other Parliamentarians, Ministers, Mayors, City Councilpersons, regional and local leaders. Download the full report to learn more about the 2017 Annual Workshop.
#MovetheCouch: Transatlantic Leaders Convene in BrusselsFriday, June 30, 2017
By Dr. Mischa Thompson, Policy Advisor "If we cannot be entrusted as leaders to do the small things, why should the public trust us to do the big ones, including governing international relations?" –Svante Myrick Mayor of Ithaca, New York TILN 2016 From March 20-26, 2017, the U.S. Helsinki Commission, in partnership with the German Marshall Fund of the United States (GMF), the U.S. State Department, and other stakeholders, hosted the sixth annual Transatlantic Inclusion Leaders Network (TILN) workshop in Brussels, Belgium. Twenty-five young leaders representing more than fourteen European countries and the United States came together to learn from one another, expand their leadership skills, and offer a more inclusive vision for the world. As participants in the Brussels Forum Young Professionals Summit, TILN participants engaged with senior U.S. and European public and private sector leaders on the most pressing issues impacting the transatlantic relationship today, ranging from U.S. elections and the international workforce to Russia and counterterrorism. Several TILN participants also visited a high school in Brussels, exploring opportunities for international exchange and collaboration between administrators, educators, and students related to the educational needs of increasingly diverse student bodies and the future workforce on both sides of the Atlantic. Ithaca Mayor Svante Myrick closed Brussels Forum with powerful cautionary comments to all leaders. "While here in Brussels thinking about global problems, I received an email from a constituent who has been annoyed by an abandoned couch for days. It might seem like a small issue, but I'm going to make sure I move that couch," he stated. "I had to move it because, if we cannot be entrusted as leaders to do the small things, why should the public trust us to do the big ones, including governing international relations?" Sharing the vision for a more inclusive world, in the week following the workshop, TILN alumni from previous years led GMF-funded alumni leadership action projects in the Netherlands, Finland, Italy, and during the European Union's Roma Week. For more information on this year's Brussels workshop, please see the Transatlantic Inclusion Leaders Network 2017 Workshop Report. The Transatlantic Inclusion Leaders Network (TILN) "inspires, informs, and connects diverse young leaders to excel in elected office and other leadership roles, advance inclusive policies, and engage with senior transatlantic policymakers." Participants are from diverse U.S. and European communities, including the Balkans, with a proven commitment to advancing diversity and inclusion best practices in their policymaking and society. For more information on TILN, please see the Transatlantic Inclusion Leaders Network 2017 Workshop Report. TILN 2016 Participants Umut Aydin | France | Analyst, Meridiam Delio Diaz Garcia | Spain | Secretary General, Juventudes de Unidad Progresista Nebojša Dobrijević | Croatia | Independent Advisor, Joint Council of Municipalities Judith Garcia | United States | City Councillor, Chelsea, Massachusetts Diana Horvat | Serbia | Editor, Radio Televison of Vojvodina Maryam Jamshid | Belgium | Social Council Elected Member, City of Hasselt, Flanders Paulette Jordan | United States | State Representative, Idaho Natascha Kabir | Germany | Green Party Faction Leader, City Parliament of Offenbach Aroosa Khan | Netherlands | Board Member, PvdA Party, Amsterdam-East Edin Koljenović | Montenegro | Program Coordinator, Civic Alliance Oleksii Krasnoshchokov | Ukraine | Board President, Pidmoga.info Hayatte Maazouza | France | Municipal Council Member, Trappes Sammy Mahdi | Belgium | President, Work Group on Diversity, Youth, CD&V Party Martin Mata | Czech Republic | City Council Member, Usti nad Labem Svante L. Myrick | United States | Mayor, City of Ithaca, New York Frances O'Donovan | Denmark | City Council Member, Fredericia Anna Poisner | Ukraine | Counsel, Dragon Capital Aida Salketić | Bosnia and Herzegovina | Cultural Heritage Professional Athena Salman | United States | State Representative, Arizona Brandon Scott | United States | City Council Member, Baltimore, Maryland Karen Taylor | Germany | Advisor to of Member of Parliament Dr. Karamba Diaby David Walsh | United Kingdom | International Relations Officer, Board of Deputies of British Jews John Vargas | United States | Secretary, NALEO Alex Yip | United Kingdom | City Councillor for Sutton New Hall, Birmingham City
Social Media Day 2017Friday, June 30, 2017
First celebrated in 2010, Social Media Day recognizes the enormous impact social media has had on global communication. Many OSCE institutions, field missions, and related entities maintain a robust presence on social media, allowing them to share news, facilitate dialogue, and promote democracy, the rule of law, and human rights throughout the 57 participating States of the OSCE. Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe (U.S. Helsinki Commission) Twitter Facebook YouTube Flickr LinkedIn U.S. Mission to the OSCE Twitter Facebook YouTube OSCE Parliamentary Assembly Twitter Facebook YouTube Flickr Instagram OSCE Secretariat Twitter Facebook YouTube Instagram LinkedIn SoundCloud OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities Twitter OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights Twitter Facebook LinkedIn OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Twitter Facebook YouTube Flickr OSCE Presence in Albania Twitter Facebook OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina Twitter Facebook YouTube Google+ SoundCloud OSCE Mission in Kosovo Twitter Facebook YouTube OSCE Mission to Serbia Twitter Facebook OSCE Mission to Skopje Twitter Facebook OSCE Mission to Moldova Facebook OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Ukraine Facebook OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine Twitter Facebook OSCE Office in Tajikistan Facebook
Using Technology to Protect Children from Online ExploitationThursday, June 29, 2017
Helsinki Commission Co-Chairman Rep. Chris Smith, the Special Representative for Human Trafficking to the President of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, has registered a supplementary item for this year's Annual Session in Minsk, Belarus, titled, "Preventing Child Sexual Exploitation Online through Advances in Technology." Smith's supplementary item examines the ways protections for children have lagged behind technology, leaving children vulnerable. "Impressionable children in most of the OSCE region have unrestricted access on any web-capable device to every conceivable form of pornography—even the most violent and vile acts—and that exposure has measurable impact on their vulnerability to sexual exploitation," Smith said. "Tragically, we are seeing children targeted and further victimized as they are exposed to pornographic websites," said Smith. Studies Show Correlation between Youth Access to Pornography, Sexual Exploitation Similar to earlier studies, a 2016 study in the Journal of Interpersonal Violence (Stanley et. al) of 4,564 young people aged 14 to 17 found in boys a statistically significant correlation between viewing online pornography and committing sexual coercion and abuse. Importantly, this study was conducted in five OSCE participating States. A definitive study in the European Journal of Developmental Psychology (Bonino, et. al, 2006) found that adolescent girls who report viewing pornography are more likely to report being victims of sexual harassment or forced sex at the hands of male friends or acquaintances. "We are kidding ourselves if we think unrestricted access to pornography online is not harming our children," said Smith. "We are allowing them to be actively and passively groomed for trafficking," said Smith, referring to how child sex abusers are known to lower the defenses of children and condition children to accept sexual abuse as normal by showing children pornography. Age Verification The United Kingdom recently joined Germany, Finland, and Iceland in recognizing that unrestricted access of children to online pornography is a public health concern. In April of this year, the UK's Digital Economy Act of 2017 became law, empowering an "age verification-regulator," most likely the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC), to create guidelines on age verification walls for all pornographic websites viewed from within the UK. The age-verification regulator will be able to fine websites that violate the new guidelines. Ultimately, IP addresses in the UK for non-compliant websites could be shut down. The new UK law is in addition to the country's current requirement that cell phone companies filter content unless the cell phone owner is 18 or older. "All UK mobile operators run content filtering and age verification on their networks, based on the BBFC guidelines," said Ernie Allen, who led the Center for Missing and Exploited Children in the United States and International Center for Missing and Exploited Children for more than 25 years. "If a customer tries to access an 18+ site and has not age verified, he or she receives a notice on the site that they may not access it until they have age verified," Allen said. Verification may be accomplished by visiting the cell phone store and showing identification, or logging into a designated website and using a credit card. Cardholders must be 18 or older to have a credit card in the UK. To make sure the card is not "borrowed" from a parent, one pound may be deducted to give notice to the credit card owner that their card has been used for age verification. The data repository already created by the UK cell phone requirements could be used to inform age verification for pornographic websites. In addition, the data repository created by the UK's Gambling Act of 2005, which imposed age restrictions for online gambling, could also be used to verify age. Visitors to pornographic websites could enter their gambling account number, which would then be authenticated by the website. The pornography industry has recently come out with its own age verifying system, AgeID. After an account is created on AgeID, the account number would be sufficient for age verification. Other companies are offering biometric options, using apps to verify that a passport showing the appropriate age belongs to the person offering the passport as verification. "We now have the technology to protect children online," said Allen. "A few data points sent to a third party can effectively verify age without necessarily disclosing identity." The pending supplementary item received sponsorship from 54 parliamentarians representing 26 countries. President of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, Christine Muttonen, has offered her support. Since raising this issue at the St. Petersburg Annual Session in 1999, Rep. Smith has introduced or cosponsored a supplementary item or amendments on trafficking at every annual session of the OSCE PA, including on issues such as prevention of sex tourism, situational awareness for the detection of trafficking victims in transit, and corporate responsibility for trafficking in supply chains.
2017 Trafficking in Persons Report – the OSCE RegionTuesday, June 27, 2017
Human trafficking remains a pressing human rights violation around the world with the International Labor Organization estimating that nearly 21 million people are enslaved at any given time, most of them women and children. As part of U.S. efforts to combat human trafficking, the U.S. Department of State today released the 2017 Trafficking in Persons Report (TIP Report), reflecting the efforts of 187 countries and territories to prosecute traffickers, prevent trafficking, and to identify and assist victims, as described by the Palermo Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, especially Women and Children. Trafficking Victim Identification and Care: Regional Perspectives According to the new TIP Report, in the 2016 reporting year, countries in the OSCE region identified 304 more trafficking victims than in the previous year, for a total of 11,416 victims. This increase is particularly notable when compared to the East Asia and Pacific, Near East, South and Central Asia, and Western Hemisphere regions, where victim identification declined, but still maintained a generally upward trend over 2014. Trafficking victim identification and care is critical for proper management of refugee and migrant flows. In order to help law enforcement and border guards identify trafficking victims among the nearly 400,000 migrants and refugees entering the region last year, the OSCE Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Human Beings launched a new project to conduct multiple trainings, including simulation exercises, through 2018. The first training in November 2016 included participants from 30 OSCE participating States. Victim identification and care are also critical for successful prosecutions. Nearly every region of the world saw a drop in prosecutions of human traffickers, but an increase in convictions in the 2016 reporting year. This trend may reflect a growing knowledge among prosecutors of how to successfully investigate and prosecute a trafficking case. It also may reflect an overall increase in trafficking victims who have been identified, permitted to remain in-country, and cared for such that the victims—now survivors—are ready, willing, and able to testify against their traffickers. Despite the dramatic decline in prosecutions (46 percent) in the OSCE region, convictions held steady at nearly the same numbers as the previous year. Individual Country Narratives Along with regional statistics, the TIP Report also provides individual country narratives, recommendations for the most urgent changes needed to eliminate human trafficking, and an assessment of whether the country is making significant efforts to meet the minimum standards for the elimination of human trafficking. Tier 1 countries meet the minimum standards for the elimination of human trafficking. Tier 2 countries do not yet meet the standards, but are making significant efforts to do so. Tier 2 Watch List countries do not meet the minimum standards and are making significant efforts to do so, but have a very large or increasing number of trafficking victims, have failed to demonstrate increasing efforts over the previous year, or lack a solid plan to take additional steps in the coming year. Tier 3 countries do not meet the minimum standards and are not making significant efforts to do so. Twenty-five OSCE participating States qualified for Tier 1 in the TIP Report. Nineteen participating States qualified for Tier 2, including Ukraine, which was upgraded this year after four years on the Tier 2 Watch List. Five participating States were designated for the Tier 2 Watch List, including Hungary, Moldova, Montenegro, Serbia, and Bulgaria.* Four participating States were on Tier 3, including Belarus, Russia, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. States on Tier 3 may be subject to sanctions. Legislation authored by Helsinki Commission Co-Chairman Rep. Chris Smith—who also serves as the Special Representative for Human Trafficking Issues to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe Parliamentary Assembly – requires the TIP Report to be produced every year. In recent years the report has also included an assessment of the United States. Since the inception of the report, more than 100 countries have written or amended their trafficking laws, with some nations openly crediting the report for inspiring progress in their countries' fight against human trafficking. * OSCE participating States Andorra, Monaco, Lichtenstein, and San Marino are not included in the TIP Report.
OSCE Debates Future of European SecurityMonday, June 19, 2017
By Alex Tiersky, Global Security and Political-Military Affairs Advisor Can an organization of 57 participating States which includes both the United States and Russia come to agreement on the causes of instability in European security today, let alone re-commit to the basic rules of the road governing states' behavior? And are all participating States – especially Russia – still able and willing to participate in good faith in a positive-sum, cooperative approach to building security, rather than a competitive, beggar-thy-neighbor approach? These were the questions that underpinned the OSCE Security Days conference of non-governmental experts and governmental representatives on "Countering fragmentation and polarization: Re-creating a climate for stability in Europe," held on May 18-19, 2017 in Prague. While the Czech hosts were proud to inform attendees that the meeting was held in the very hall in which the July 1, 1991 protocol dissolving the Warsaw Pact was signed, it seemed unlikely that this historical spirit would deliver positive breakthroughs in the current challenges facing the post-Cold War order in Europe, which was declared dead by more than one speaker. The great majority of interventions focused on the deliberate undermining of other countries' security and independence by Russia. Additional challenges raised by speakers included increasing polarization within and among states, the rise of populist movements, a post-truth environment that feeds instability and mistrust, and the emergence of the cyber domain and its use in interstate competition. Russian revisionist perspectives on the European security order, declared on such occasions as President Putin's speech at the Munich Security Conference in 2007, underline the extent to which Russian leaders see the post- cold war order as detrimental to Russia's interests and therefore obsolete, according to several speakers. Conference participants from Russia, for their part, painted an entirely different reality than that described by most other participants. In the former's telling, the west took advantage of Russia in the post-cold war period despite positive actions by Russia, ranging from the withdrawal of troops and armaments previously stationed across Europe, to more recent collaboration in fighting against piracy or eliminating Syrian chemical weapons. Stressing the concept of indivisibility of security, Russian speakers underlined that Russia would make no more of what they called unilateral concessions, and called for a new European Security Treaty. NATO's concept of deterring Russia is not compatible with OSCE commitments, they asserted. Seeking to address these widely differing perspectives among its membership, the German Chairmanship in 2016 and the Austrian Chairmanship in 2017 have launched an informal working group on "structured dialogue" to discuss participating States' differing views on security threats and possible ways forward. Conference participants were of mixed views on the prospects for the structured dialogue effort, with skeptics citing what they saw as similar past processes such as the Corfu Process or Helsinki +40, which failed to show concrete results. Many participants were keen to underline the need for the structured dialogue to avoid calling existing institutions or principles into question. The challenges facing European security were not institutional in nature, these voices argued, but rather the result of one OSCE participating State – Russia – failing to uphold its commitments or respect the sovereignty and independence of other participating States. Conference participants offered a number of policy recommendations for strengthening the OSCE (such as providing a small crisis response fund under the Secretary General's authority; providing additional tangible assets like unmanned aerial vehicles; supporting historical research to better understand the sources of divergent perspectives; or modernizing arms control and confidence building measures). The OSCE should pay more attention to the increasing instability in the Western Balkans, it was suggested, and ongoing work on cyber norms had real potential utility. Individual participating States were urged to combat disinformation campaigns by investing in tools to rapidly rebut false claims, educate publics, and discredit outlets that serve as propaganda, while safeguarding fundamental freedoms. Despite these and other positively-inclined recommendations, however, the general mood at the conference was one of urgency, not optimism. If one point of general consensus emerged among the widely differing perspectives, it was that in the face of increasingly complex and urgent challenges (many of them caused by or closely linked to Russia's geopolitical stance, according to the great majority of conference attendees) the absence of shared views and approaches was unlikely to resolve itself in the near term. This dynamic was likely to contribute to a worsening of existing and emerging security crises – and ultimately the further loss of lives. Alex Tiersky attended the conference as a representative of the U.S Helsinki Commission.
By Erika B. Schlager, Counsel for International Law
From September 26 to October 7, 2011, the OSCE participating States met in Warsaw, Poland, for the annual Human Dimension Implementation Meeting (HDIM). The meeting was organized by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, according to an agenda approved by consensus of all 56 participating States.
The HDIM is Europe's largest annual human rights gathering and provides a venue for participating States and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to review the implementation of the full range of core human rights and fundamental freedoms (e.g., freedoms of speech, assembly and association; prevention of torture; right to a fair trial), as well as rule of law, free elections and democracy-building issues. National minorities, Roma, tolerance and non-discrimination are also on the agenda.
In accordance with OSCE procedures, the agenda included three specially selected topics, each of which was given a full day of review. In 2011, those subjects were: 1) "Democratic elections and electoral observation," 2) "Freedom of movement," and 3) "Enhancing implementation of OSCE commitments regarding Roma and Sinti."
U.S. Delegation
The U.S. Delegation was headed by Ambassador David Johnson. Other members of the delegation included Ambassador Ian Kelly, Head of the U.S. Mission to the OSCE; Ambassador Cynthia Efird, Senior State Department Advisor to the Helsinki Commission; Ambassador Suzan Johnson Cook, Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom; and Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor Thomas Melia. Helsinki Commission staff participated in all aspects of the delegation's work.
Patrick Merloe, National Democratic Institute, Kathleen Newland, Migration Policy Institute, and Ethel Brooks, Rutgers University, served as Public Members of the delegation, addressing democratic elections, freedom of movement, and the situation of Romani people in the OSCE region respectively. Public Members have traditionally been included in U.S. delegations to OSCE human dimension meetings as a means of bringing special expertise to the U.S. delegations and to promote greater knowledge of the OSCE process in civil society.
Highlights of This Year's Meeting
The severe crackdown in Belarus which followed elections last December was a focus of attention throughout the two-week meeting, both in formal sessions and special side events. During the final session, the United States delivered a statement focused on the use of the Moscow Mechanism regarding Belarus -- an OSCE tool used in exceptional circumstances to conduct fact-finding regarding extreme human rights concerns. The mechanism had been invoked in April by 14 participating States and a report was presented to the OSCE Permanent Council by the Mechanism Rapporteur, Professor Emmanuel Decaux, on May 28. NGOs also demonstrated throughout the meeting on behalf of Belarusian political prisoner Alex Bielatskiy.
The United States also raised issues which remain unresolved following the 2003 invocation of the Moscow Mechanism regarding Turkmenistan. In particular, Ambassador Johnson drew attention to the continued disappearance of Ambassador Batyr Berdiev, the former representative of Turkmenistan to the OSCE. Although Turkmenistan officials did not to participate in the HDIM, human rights groups concerned with Turkmenistan were present and members of the opposition-in-exile made a statement expressing their willingness to return to Turkmenistan and participate in the February 2012 presidential elections. They also called for the OSCE to conduct a full election observation mission for those elections.
In its opening statement, the United States observed that Kazakhstan had failed to fully implement the commitments on domestic reform it had made in 2007 in Madrid upon receiving the Chairmanship for 2010, that leading human rights activist Yevgeniy Zhovtis remained in prison as a result of a trial that lacked due process, that Kazakhstan had adopted measures in a one-party parliament giving the current president continued power and immunity from prosecution for life and had held a poorly-conducted snap presidential election following an attempt to push through a referendum to obviate future elections for the incumbent. Although Kazakhstan protested the U. S. characterization of 2010 as "a year of missed opportunities for reform," Kazakhstan's adoption of a new restrictive religion law during the course of the human dimension meeting illustrated the very point the United States was making.
In fact, of the topics restricted to three-hour sessions, the subject of religious liberties was the most oversubscribed, with Kazakhstan's new religion law generating particular criticism. As at previous meetings, the allocation of time during the meeting was highly problematic, with speaking time at some of the sessions limited to only one or two minutes to accommodate dozens desiring the floor, while other sessions ended early with time unused.
Other real-time developments during the HDIM also found their way into discussions. Following the outbreak of fighting on September 27 at a Kosovo border crossing with Serbia, Serbian representatives at the meeting engaged in a sharply worded exchange with Albanian officials. (Serbia's engagement at the meeting was of particular note in light of Belgrade's bid to serve as OSCE Chair-in-Office in 2014.) The outbreak of anti-Roma rioting in every major Bulgarian town or city during the HDIM underscored the urgency of addressing the chronic human rights problems affecting Roma as well as the acute and escalating crises.
Many participants also raised concern regarding continuing human rights abuses against ethnic Uzbeks in southern Kyrgyzstan in the wake of widespread violence last year and in advance of Kyrgyzstani elections in October. During the formal sessions, NGOs demonstrated on behalf of Kyrgyzstani political prisoner Azhimzhon Askarov.
The United States engaged fully in all aspects of the meeting, holding bilateral meetings with other OSCE participating States and extensive consultations with NGOs. The United States also organized two side events. The first focused on on the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction. Professor Louise Teitz from the Hague Permanent Bureau (an intergovernmental organization that administers this and other Hague Conventions), and Corrin Ferber from the Department of State, made presentations, with additional comments provided by Consul General Linda Hoover, U.S. Embassy Warsaw. The second event focused on fundamental freedoms in the digital age. DAS Thomas Melia moderated the discussion, which included comments by the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Dunja Mijatovic; Agata Waclik-Wejman, policy counsel for Google; and Nataliya Radzina, a Belarusian journalist who faces a lengthy prison sentence in Belarus.
The Human Dimension Implementation Meeting served as an important forum for the United States to raise issues of concern, both formally and informally, and to hold extensive consultations with governments, OSCE officials, and representatives of civil society. That said, this year's HDIM was somewhat diminished relative to past meetings.
First, member states of the European Union appeared divided or preoccupied (or both). As a consequence, on a number of subjects – for example, the session that included migrant workers, refugees, and displaced persons -- there was neither a coordinated European Union statement nor statements by individual EU member states speaking in their national capacity. This voice was missed.
Second, the level of participation on the part of governments as well as civil society was reduced. This may be in part due to economic factors. But it may also reflect other factors. Prior to the HDIM, for example, Belarus and Russia dragged out the adoption of an agenda until the last possible moment, making it especially hard for NGOs to plan their participation. In addition, OSCE has, in recent years, scheduled so many human dimension meetings throughout the year that it is difficult for government and non-governmental experts to cover them all. (In addition to the discussion of tolerance and non-discrimination at the HDIM, those issues have been or will be addressed at three different ad hoc meetings, as well as one of the Supplementary Human Dimension Implementation Meetings.) The Lithuanian Chairmanship also scheduled some meetings in Vienna during the HDIM, although the modalities call for all Vienna meetings to be suspended during the HDIM to facilitate participation by the representatives to the OSCE. Similarly, the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly fall meeting overlapped with the final sessions of the HDIM.
In fact, the modalities for the OSCE's human dimension activities were a dominant theme during the HDIM's closing session -- presaging the opening of discussions in Vienna on that issue held immediately after the HDIM at the insistence of Belarus. While many governments, including the U.S., believe the way in which the OSCE organizes its human dimension activities could be improved, the discussions themselves risk being held hostage by those countries inimical to the OSCE's human rights work.


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Prioritization is among a Key Success factors if used appropriately. Many people just fail to realize the importance of this concept which can do magic with their productivity, motivation and job growth. Prioritization if used wisely has the potential to deliver quality and success in stipulated timeframes. We use Prioritization daily in our lives in numerous ways and develop our own hacks to get maximum out of it. But at same time the absence of Prioritization makes our life all the more miserable. Yes, It becomes miserable because we end up killing the whole time without any significant gain.
So, how you're normal days go
1) You start with some work
2) You get more work
3) You shift from one to another to another
Why does this happen
1) There is too much work flowing
2) Everything is important at all the time
3) Everything has the same timelines attached to it.
End result
1) You spend some time in first
2) You spend some time in the next one
3) You leave that and then spend some time in yet another one.
At the end of the day
1) Hardly anything gets completed
2) You are at the same level as that of start of the day
3) You achieve nothing.
Potentially, you lose your whole Day. This is the biggest factor responsible for productivity loss in many companies. People spend their whole day and wonder what they have achieved in span of 8 to 12 hours.
The Productivity Loss needs to be reversed and you need to become more efficient. How?
By Prioritization
How exactly,Here it goes
At start of the day
1) List down all the task of the day
2) Prioritize them yourself or with the help of your manager
3) Complete them and then ask for more
This will help you to
1) Analyze the task from each angle
2) Understand the Priority of each
3) Understand the importance of First thing First
In mean time if new work comes to you
1) Postpone it to next cycle
2) If it is urgent for the day, Drop some other task from the list
3) Never accommodate without changing something in your schedule
This is a recipe of success. Why?
Think about the Game of Football
1) The Players have limited time
2) They know they have to score a goal.
3) They give their best in the stipulated time
Same Way
1) You know what is your goal
2) You have stipulated time in a day
3) You give your best in those hours.
End Result
Successful You, Satisfied You, Efficient You
Prioritization has Numerous Power. Harness It. Wisely
Try it.
Related Articles To Supplement Your Reading
Focusing on What Matters (and Ignoring What Does Not)
Need to prioritize your projects/ demand?
Iterative Development = Project Success
Prioritization – How to Find Your Focus

subset: commoncrawl


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Lumberton, NJ (PRWEB) August 17, 2012
First in Results SEO Marketing will be featuring three newly designed database-driven websites customized for the Lucas Auto Group, located in Lumberton and Burlington, NJ. These websites were developed by First In Results using Ruby 1.9 and Rails 3.2 and will be unveiled the weekend of August 17, 2012. The cutting edge design of these newly released sites will allow automotive consumers a friendlier all-around user experience from start to finish. This fresh and innovative design will give Lucas Auto Group an undeniable edge over their competitors. Combined with the sterling reputation for which Lucas Auto Group is already renown in the New Jersey area, they are all but assured years of continued domination in their market.
Lucas Ford is an independent and family-owned Ford dealer located in Burlington, NJ, and convenient to Trenton, Toms River, and nearby Philadelphia, PA. They are one of the very best new and used car and truck dealers with an enormous inventory proudly serving the fine people of New Jersey since 1946. The relationship with their loyal customers is predicated on honesty and trust along with the desire to meet the needs of the state's car-buying public with complete satisfaction at every opportunity. Their long-standing presence in the state is a testament to the success they've achieved in this endeavor thus far.
Lucas Chevy, located in Lumberton, NJ, is another member of their independent and family-owned dealerships that has proudly served New Jerseyans since 1994. Their Lumberton Chevrolet dealership strives to maintain the same high standards that customers have come to know and expect from its sister dealerships. They guarantee an equally vast inventory of vehicles to choose from along with the same top-quality environment and knowledgeable and friendly sales staff and support team, which is the key to their current and long-lasting success.
And finally, Lumberton, NJ is where you can find Lucas Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram, the third member of the Lucas Auto Group family. At Lucas, the goal is to earn the business and trust of their customers by providing excellent service before, during, and after a purchase. It is where automobile shoppers are treated with respect. All three of these highly rated dealerships are anticipating a significant increase in performance from the launch of their newly designed websites. They expect to increase their loyal customer base exponentially through their association with First in Results SEO Marketing's innovative and aggressive web design and marketing strategy, which is specifically tailored to the Lucas Auto Group family's individual needs.


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On 02/15/2013 06:03 AM, Atri Sharma wrote: > Can't we have something related to machine learning? I was thinking of extending a technique where we can fill in some missing values in a data set for the user if he wants us to using some standard ml algorithms. Take a look at MADLib. My suggestion would be extending the MADlib functions; there's plenty of unimplemented ML algrothims which could be added to it. http://madlib.net/ -- Josh Berkus PostgreSQL Experts Inc. http://pgexperts.com
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Days before David Petraeus resigned from his post as director of the CIA for having an extramarital affair, The Daily Beast's
Newsreek Newsweek column published the general's "Rules for Living" as documented by his biographer and mistress, Paula Broadwell.
"Lead by example from the front of the formation," begins the philandering ex-leader's advice for those hoping to live well. "Take your performance personally—if you are proud to be average, so too will be your troops."
Of all the vaunted warrior's suggestions for becoming a sterling example of leadership and decency, it's the wisdom of rules No. 4 and 8 (printed below) on the subjects of exceptions and "the best ideas" sometimes coming "from bottom-up" that he seems to have most taken to heart.
—Posted by Alexander Reed Kelly.
The Daily Beast's 'Newsweek'
2. A leader must provide a vision—clear and achievable "big ideas" combined in a strategic concept—and communicate those ideas throughout the entire organization and to all other stakeholders.
4. There is an exception to every rule, standard operating procedure, and policy; it is up to leaders to determine when exceptions should be made and to explain why they made them.
8. Don't rely on rank. If you rely on rank, rather than on the persuasiveness of your logic, the problem could be you and either your thinking or your communication skills. Likewise, sometimes the best ideas come from bottom-up information sharing (i.e., "Need to share" not "Need to know"). Use "directed telescopes" to improve situational awareness.
The general with President Barack Obama.


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Facility size: 14,923 sq. ft., 1,386 sq. m.
Scenes: 15
Ride cars: 14 four-passenger
Track length: 525 ft., 160 m.
*Track has multiple elevations.
Note: All Sally dark rides are flexible in size and configuration
Image Gallery
Chocolate and Peanut Butter battle it out!http://sallycorp.com/dark-rides/custom-designed/reeses-xtreme-cup-challenge/
Try Them ChilledConcept arthttp://sallycorp.com/dark-rides/custom-designed/reeses-xtreme-cup-challenge/
Skate Parkhttp://sallycorp.com/dark-rides/custom-designed/reeses-xtreme-cup-challenge/
Time to hit the beach!http://sallycorp.com/dark-rides/custom-designed/reeses-xtreme-cup-challenge/
Caramel Beachhttp://sallycorp.com/dark-rides/custom-designed/reeses-xtreme-cup-challenge/
Surf's Up
Watch out for skydivers!http://sallycorp.com/dark-rides/custom-designed/reeses-xtreme-cup-challenge/
Fun For All Ages!
Reese's Xtreme Cup Challenge : Load/Unloadhttp://sallycorp.com/dark-rides/custom-designed/reeses-xtreme-cup-challenge/
Reese's Xtreme Cup Challenge : Ride Layout
The Sweetest Challenge!
Interactive, Blacklight Thrill Ride
Hersheypark, Hershey, Pennsylvania
Opened May, 2006
The Story
Chocolate and peanut butter–travel together through 10 competition zones featuring Reese's-branded extreme sports. Ride cars are equipped with custom laser blasters to zap the targets and accumulate as many points as possible. At the end of the ride, each car's in-car scoring system totals that car's score, automatically compares the two totals, and relays the result to the event's two animatronic sports announcers.Set to a custom rock 'n' roll music track, this competitive thrill ride is the world's first interactive dark ride to pit car against car in a multi-sensory, multi-elevation laser competition.
Custom technology developed for this ride includes:
- Score uploads to displays throughout the ride
- Competition updates by two recurring animatronic sportscasters
- Surprise mini-coaster-style elevation changes
The Sportscasters
Sportscasters Sonny and Kip are seen at the start of the ride doing a pre-game introduction, then again updating the scores and encouraging the players during the "Take 5 Halftime Report" and in the final scene announcing the winning team. Turns out that both sportscasters have children who are competing in the Xtreme Sports Cup Challenge.
Double the Fun
Since the in-car scoring console also tracks each individual score, riders not only compete against the other car, but also against their own teammates.
* Under a design agreement, Sally worked closely with Hershey staff to create a unique, branded, custom dark ride


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ECC Vienna Preview 2 Oral Presentations
Beyond the late breaking abstracts and plenary sessions at the European Cancer Conference being held in Vienna, Austria later this month, what other important topics can we expect to hear about?
We covered the former in the last article on Biotech Strategy Blog, today we turn our attention to the proffered (oral) sessions and what we can learn from those sessions and the expected data that is due to be presented.
There are a number of interesting topics and new data slated for presentation that are worthy of review and highlighting in a What To Watch out For (W2W4) format.
Here's our take on the potential highlights at the meeting.
Subscribers can log in or you can sign up in the box below to learn more about the forthcoming ECCO conference.


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read aboutour school
Our school community is proud of our school. Read the information below to stay informed with what's happpening at Kalbar State School.
Welcome to Kalbar State School – a fantastic Queensland public school.
Kalbar has been offering a continuous educational program since 1879 and is proud of the high standards our students achieve in academic areas and in sporting and musical pursuits.
We aim to provide a high quality education in a supportive and caring environment where all students are supported to improve their learning outcomes.
Chris Muir


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We have found a mix of pills in a bottle and are trying to identify them. Any help would be appreciated.
round white with imprint 535-11 (looks like CS on other side)
very small round blue 15 on one side (can't read the other side)
long oval pink - MYLAN on one side 155 on the other


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We improvised with a tissue box. I ravaged the room and found a half-used tissue box. I borrowed a pair of scissors and made a quick incision in the side of the box slightly smaller than my smart phone. And quickly inserted it into the hole.
I remember it like it was last night. I flew into Detroit Metro Airport. And waited patiently as my mom and I drove through the slush and fresh snow that lined the streets. The drive to the Hospice facility where my Grandma laid having the best care felt surreal. Even though I was unsure of what to expect, I remember preparing myself for what was to come.
Two words that resonate to me to this day are strength and rejoice. I realize it might be difficult to include a word like rejoice in a time like this. But, nonetheless, I knew I had to be strong for myself, Grandma and those close to me.
Grandma lived an amazing life. She was an unlikely person used in a series of unlikely events and mission throughout her life. She lived through times of greatest of challenge, but more, she lived in times of greatest triumph. She stood up for movements in her city on the school board and lived through challenges in our family and upbringing. There is not a day that passes that I fail to think of how her strength has affected my life and the lives in her path.
I arrived to the Hospice at 12:28 am. The parking lot was filled with snow and the lights were dim and quickly defining what was to come. As I walked through the front doors, I knew I would look back on this moment for the rest of my life. Not for the sake of others but for the legacy that lives on in me.
As the elevator doors opened, I quickly met family I hadn't seen in a while. Emotions were dormant yet full of life waiting to let loose at any given moment. The air was thick and heavy yet calm at the same time. It was a moment that could only be felt by being there.
I remember seeing my grandmother laying there helpless yet having the people she loved most by her side. It was a beautiful picture to watch as her entire life flashed before my eyes. It was bittersweet yet felt warming to know [confidently] that her life would live on forever. I miss her everyday. And I knew how I reacted in that moment would define how I look at her life for the rest of my life.
As a few of us listened to some of Grandma's favorite songs, we sang to her. I can only imagine her as she waved her arms and hands and hummed to her favorite songs in her head. We took the make-shift speaker constructed from a half-used tissue box and filled the room with our voices. It gives me chills even to this day. It is one of the greatest and lasting memories of my Grandma during her last days in this place.
On this day of Thanksgiving, I'm thankful for a tissue box. I'm thankful for a smart phone filled with music. I'm thankful for an attitude of gratefulness and the ability to take a dim and dark moment and allow joy to surface and fill those close to me with a few minutes of joy and comfort as we lost my Grandma just hours later.
Even in the midst of chaos, tragedy and the unknown, there is always room for joy. And I activated it using an old Kleenex tissue box and a few unlikely people in a unlikely situation. I believe we sent Grandma off with a grand entourage and not to mention a chuckle by the display of our broken voices. This is true strength and even more what I am thankful for on this day of Thanksgiving.
Today this is her birthday – 87! I would bet a hundred thousand dollars that she would say, "I'm so thankful to have you as my grandson." But, Grandma… I'm the one that is thankful. Thank you to all that YOU have instilled into my life and my future that has not even been written. You're the true rockstar. Happy Birthday Granny!


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by Laura Kinsale
No current Talk conversations about this book.
I don't feel like this one lived up to its promise, begun in FOR MY LADY'S HEART. I also don't think it lived up to its promise as a femdom S&M exploration because the heroine's proclivities kind of came out of the blue.
Maybe I'm just not in the mood lately, but again I just didn't care about what happened to these people.
This is a hard book to review because on the one hand I was sucked into it because it was so well written, but on the other hand it kept me at bay with a few jarring gaps in the narrative. I wish Shadowheart wasn't a romance, because it could have been so good if it had committed to the action/adventure, political intrigue elements ala Sabatini or Shellabarger that were sprinkled throughout. These moments, all of which feature a to die for hero, Allegretto Navona, aka Il Corveto or the Raven, are brilliant. He is dark, twisted, beautiful, damned but still trying to claw his way into heaven somehow. I swoon at the thought of him. When we're allowed inside his head, the story is riveting, complex, compelling.
But here's the rub. There are only a few chapters, a mere handful, that focus on Allegretto, and they come very late in the story. The rest of the 502 pages are filtered through the perspective of our heroine, Elena di Monteverde, who finds out she's the princess of some Italian kingdom. At the age of six, too young to remember, she was spirited out of danger when the kingdom collapsed upon the death of her grandfather, torn apart by the warring houses of Navona and Riata. She's been raised in England ever since, but, thanks to some political machinations, she's being sent back to Monteverde to marry Franco Pietro, the head of the house of Riata. On the way she's captured by pirates and taken to the island stronghold of Il Corveto, who has his own plans for her.
Shadowheart covers a lot of ground, and not just geographically. It seems to have epic ambitions, charting long journeys, death defying adventures, the rise and fall of kingdoms, vendettas, religious crises, battles, and, we're told, romance. Unfortunately, with all this going on, and with such an unbalanced narrative in favor of a weak heroine, I'm very disappointed in the romance. It might have not been so bad if Elena had been strong enough to carry the story on her own, but she's not much of a character. She's a pawn in the political maneuverings of various factions, and when she steps in to take a more proactive role, she's less of a person and more of a lifeless figure head – an aspiring Queen Elizabeth (not as an anachronistic reference of course, but as an analogy) without the personality or strength to validate such a role. Whatever power she has is given to her by the hero. He lets her do the things she does, whether in the bedroom or on the political stage. Without him she would have been destroyed. And for the life of me I don't know why Allegretto places himself at her mercy. For love? For penance? For the pleasure/pain that directs their relationship? For the greater good? I think the love is supposed to be a given, but I really don't buy it. There's nothing about Elena to commend her. For such a long book, Shadowheart is stretched amazingly thin in this regard. The same goes for the BDSM sex scenes, which were really interesting and different, but left much to be desired. I can see how the author tried to go for a reversal of traditional gender roles through these scenes, effecting a descending and ascending power arc for Allegretto and Elena respectively but, at the same time I felt like here again the book only skimmed the surface and never fully explored the emotions propelling the situation. I didn't get a clear picture of the dynamics of their relationship. I don't need everything spelled out for me in huge blinking neon signs, but still I felt like there was so much more to the relationship that was left neglected or underdeveloped. For me, the s/m scenes and the romance that struggled to grow around it seemed random, an afterthought that wasn't that well integrated into the broader scope of the story itself. Despite my qualms, however, the s/m scenes were one of the few saving graces of the book. They're erotic, unconventional, disturbing, and powerful. At the very least they provide a lot of food for thought.
As for the broader scope of the story, the plot to reclaim Monteverde, Elena is on the periphery of all the fun, interesting stuff, but since the book is all about her, all the fun, interesting stuff happens elsewhere. I get brief glimpses of thrilling duels, daring rescue attempts, and emotional turmoil whenever we dip into Allegretto's perspective, but then the book quickly withdraws from these murky depths, dragging me back kicking and screaming to Elena's perspective. Tantalus was never so tormented. Because the really cruel trick is that I find myself invested in the book anyway, but never satisfied by what I find there, which is as perplexing as it is frustrating. Not a good combination. The book stayed with me after I finished it, and kept me thinking, but only because (pardon my dramatics) I was left speculating and despairing over what might have been.
Read this based on Cauterize's recommendation. Kinsale is a talented writer and I'm glad to have discovered her. Her writing style manages to be both detailed and action packed. The hero and heroine are well developed characters and continue to evolve throughout the story. The chemistry between them is slow to start but builds to simmering levels. Some details of their relationship might not be to everyone's taste, but I found it an interesting part of the power dynamic between them, as well as quiet sexy! This is one of the best novels I've read in the romance genre. Really enjoyed it and will definitely be reading more from this author.
Wicked good, but not all of it to my taste. Although the hero and heroine enjoyed each other in a unique way, that worked well for them, I was not the happy voyeur. Still, it's Kinsale and she's an excellent writer. I'm in awe, almost always.
References to this work on external resources.
Wikipedia in English
Amazon.com Product Description (ISBN 042516232X, Mass Market Paperback)Readers were first introduced to Allegreto, the elegant assassin, in For My Lady's Heart. Now, he is a charismatic, dangerous man who will stop at nothing to regain his rightful place in the rich Italian principality of Monteverde. And the perfect tool has just fallen into his hands, in the lovely form of Lady Elena--the long-lost Monteverde princess. Only she can solidify his claim...but the dark passion that grows between them is more dangerous than any treachery mortal men could devise.
(retrieved from Amazon Thu, 12 Mar 2015 18:13:20 -0400)
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PRS McCarty Electric GuitarProduct #519906 PRS 519906 AAG Solid Body Electric Guitars https://www.esnapw.com/rses/ESnapServlet?MerchantNumberSent=63655
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Honoring the legendary guitar designer Ted McCarty.
The PRS Guitars McCarty Electric Guitar is a dream machine. Paul Reed Smith guitars are famous for superb design, craftsmanship, and quality hardware and electronics. The McCarty model is special because it honors one of the electric guitar's most important pioneering designers, a direct mentor to Paul Reed Smith. Its carved mahogany body with a maple top has graceful lines and extra thickness for superior tone and sustain. The neck is mahogany with a 10" radius, and has a rosewood fretboard with abalone moon inlays, and 22 frets. The strings have a straight pull over the nut for extremely stable tuning. It has a PRS stop bridge, and its McCarty-design pickups give it a more vintage tone. Electronics also feature 3-way switching, volume, and a coil tap push-pull tone control. Includes hardshell case.
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Reviews & Stories
RNY Gastric Bypass. 170+lbs weight loss - Hamilton, ON.
Started at 350lbs and ended at 178lbs. I lost 100 pounds the first 100 days. I feel great. I look great. It was the best decision of my life. I am now almost 4 years post-op and I constantly get the same questions from people... Have you kept the weight off? Have you gained any of your old weight back? Are you able to eat again? According to my scale as of this morning I weigh 180 lbs... READ MORE
Recent comments from SantinoP
Awesome. Congratulations. Im so happy to hear people who have bettered their lives because of surgery. Im happy to be a part. Enjoy your new life. Santino READ COMMENT
Thanks! In the summer i do a lot of walking and jogging. Its too damn cold to go out now. Keep an eye on what you are eating. Stay away from the carbs. I have friends who have done the Atkins diet to get the last few pounds off. READ COMMENT
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2 Recommendations
thestylepage's recommendation
Grow your 'fro
brklynpop's recommendation
Sometimes I can't help but wonder if American consumerism hasn't completely spun out of control. Since when has respect and admiration seemed not enough that we can only show our feelings with a Chia Head?! The commemorative coin and decorative plate should have been the extent of things. I mean, c'mon guys! Obama Chia Head, $19.99. From drugstore.com
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In the Name of Allah, The Most Gracious, Ever Merciful.
Muslims who believe in the Messiah, Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad Qadiani (as)
Urdu speech by Maulana Muneer Ahmad Javed, Private Secretary London, on the topic of "Khilafat Say Zinda Ta'aluq" i.e. Living connection with Khilafat at Jalsa Salana 2011 of Ahmadiyya Muslim Community in Germany.


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I was born in El Salvador but grew up in 7 different countries (Europe & latin america).
I spend my free time doing improv comedy & photography.
-how to teach a blind parrot to read brail.
-running marathons backwards to see what second place looks like.
-dancing salsa with one leg.
You know, the basics.
Movies: The Boy Who Could Fly, Harry Pot-head, Care bears, teddy ruxpin great adventures, Friday 13th, Pet Cemetery, Psycho, Clock Work Orange & the rest of the Romantic classics.


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This review is from: ASUS Desktop PC CM6870-US-3AB Intel Core i7 3770 (3.40 GHz) 16 GB DDR3 2 TB HDD Intel HD Graphics 4000 Windows 7 Home Premium 64-Bit
Pros: Price, processor, 16gb memory and Windows 7.
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Other Thoughts: Great machine and super price for the casual user. Put in a SSD, bigger PSU and a video card and you really have something. Bought this for a family member that does not game and needs a good general machine. They were coming from XP so Win 7 is not a problem for them. I have Windows 8 and love it but some people can't get over the start screen and the apps thing. Hate all the bloatware on store bought computers but this one wasn't too bad. My advice is remove it all. All in all a great machine for the buck!READ FULL REVIEW
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Board layout is great and easy to build on.
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A massive brawl took place on Blackburn Road in Accrington near to the junction with Swiss Street last Saturday night (6th Ocotber 2012) at around 10pm.
Up to 20 men were seen fighting and a 35 year old man sustained a head injury and broken jaw in the incident. He required surgery at Royal Blackburn Hospital.
Witnesses reported weapons being seen, including hammers, sticks and a machete, although none of the weapons have yet been recovered
All the men involved are described as Asian and police are appealing to anybody that witnessed the fighting to come forward.
Detective Inspector Jill Johnston said: "This was an incident of large scale disorder that involved between 15 and 20 Asian men fighting in the middle of the street, to the extent that they brought traffic to a standstill for a number of minutes.
"On police arrival the crowd dispersed but three men, one aged 22, and two aged 23 have since been arrested and are now on police bail whilst we continue our investigation.
"The motive for the fight is not known at this time but we do believe that all the men involved were known to each other.
"I'd ask anyone that was in the area that witnessed the fight or with any information that could assist with our investigation to call Lancashire Police on 101."


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Binge-Watching 101
Who has the time to watch TV when it airs? Learn what you'll need to break those entertainment chains and start binge-watching properly.
great quality - quick delivery...
ITEM#: 10381847The trials and tribulations of President Bartlet (Martin Sheen) continue in this seventh season of the popular drama series. The life of his backroom staff and family fall under as much scrutiny as the man himself, offering a fascinating glimpse at what life as the President of the United States could be like. This time out the race to replace Bartlet heats up, with Senator Arnold Vinick (Alan Alda) and Congressman Mathew Vincente (Jimmy Smits) vying to take over at the Oval Office. Also included is a special episode titled "The Debate," which originally aired live on NBC. Having won countless Emmy Awards, THE WEST WING is a firm favorite with American TV audiences.
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West Wing: The Complete Seventh Season (DVD)
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Selected Community Events
Leon County EMS Car Seat Checkpoint
Dec 7, 2012 Noon - 5 p.m.
Corner of Blair Stone and Miccosukee Rds.
Leon County EMS urges parents and caregivers to have their children's car seats checked to make sure they are installed correctly. 80% of car seats are not installed correctly. Our certified car seat safety technicians will be available to inspect car seats and provide free hands-on education. Let's make sure all children are properly secured in appropriate car seats, booster seats or seat belts - every trip, every time! Limited number of seats available for those in need. We will be accepting toy donations for Toys for Tots.
Capt. Sally Davis


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Bryan Bouffier storms into the lead of the Monte Carlo Rally following a dramatic second day in the IRC season-opener
Juho Hanninen has taken the early lead on Rallye Monte Carlo and he finished the opening day 44.5 seconds up on Freddy Loix; Petter Solberg is third, 10.8s further back.
Ex-F1 driver Alex Caffi has said he will have nothing to fear when he makes his Intercontinental Rally Challenge debut on Rallye Monte Carlo next month.
The Spyker Squadron team has announced its two-car line-up for the 75th running of the Le Mans 24 Hours, which takes place at the famous La Sarthe circuit in just under a months time.


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The Testes Kitchen documents boys in their pursuit of culinary excellence. It also gives me an excuse to make gay jokes.
Now that the housing market is picking back up, gingerbread houses are in high off-season demand. My brother and his husband live in New York, meaning they don't have billions of dollars to spare on actual gingerbread houses, so they talked to their realtor and instead invested their hard-earned couch change in the graham cracker market.
They headed out into their 'hood Sesame Street style (Oooh, maybe 227 style. That was a good show.) to see what the neighborhood was lacking, and discovered there was nary a gay club or outhouse on the whole block. But after some blood, sweat and queers, that problem was remedied to the maximum.
The steps to making these graham cracker houses are simple:
1. Buy stuff.
2. Be gay.
3. Frosting = glue.
Voila! A delicious new family tradition to be enjoyed by you and your adopted and/or surrogate-produced offspring for years to come.