text:
Europe and the Developing World: Statements.
Wednesday, 10 May 2006
Dáil Eireann Debate
Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs (Mr. C. Lenihan): For a number of reasons, 2005 was a vital year for development. The donor community committed itself as never before to a massive scaling up of aid, partner countries to the Paris declaration agreed on a set of aims and principles to make aid more effective and donors agreed to put the plight of Africa at the forefront of development efforts.
EU leadership was the motor driving this major mobilization of the international community towards the achievement of the millennium development goals, which aim to halve world poverty by 2015. In May 2005, development Ministers mapped out a timetable for member states to achieve the 0.7% target by 2015, including an interim target of 0.56% by 2010. Ireland is committed to reaching the 0.7% target by 2012 and is on track to do so. I have described the timeframe in this House as realistic and achievable and I am confident it will be met. We are well above the less familiar UN target of 0.15% for aid to least developed countries as a percentage of gross national income. Arguably, this is a better benchmark for the focus on poverty of our overseas development assistance policies.
Last year, in order to make its aid more effective and responsive to the concerns of its partners, the EU launched a major new development co-operation initiative, the European consensus for development. This initiative commits the main institutions of the EU to the same set of basic principles and values in the field of development co-operation. These principles include poverty reduction, partnership and country ownership, human rights, peace, democracy and good governance.
Proper governance will determine whether the increased levels of aid will be effective in the long run. The stress on democracy and governance at EU level is reflected in our bilateral programmes. Support for good governance is a major priority area of expenditure in Ireland's development co-operation programme and includes assistance for building democratic systems of government which are underpinned by free and fair elections.
I have already pointed out that 2005 was notable for the focus given to the special plight of Africa. This initiative was also driven by EU leadership because not only did the EU pledge half of its increased aid volumes to that continent, it also agreed on a long-term framework for its [439]relationship with Africa. This new strategy for Africa was adopted by the European Council last December after extensive preparatory work between the EU and African regional organisations. It provides a comprehensive and long-term framework for EU relations with Africa. In addition to support for national plans for economic growth and poverty reduction, the strategy will promote African leadership on peace and security issues. A key component of this is the EU's African peace facility, which has already proven to be an effective mechanism for delivering peace support on the African continent.
Last year, I launched an Irish Aid capacity building programme for the ten new EU member states, the object of which is to share Irish Aid's experiences in building its own programmes over the past 30 years. As part of the mentoring programme, delegations from the new member states visit Dublin for an intensive series of seminars on different aspects of Ireland's aid operations. The fact they are keen to learn from Ireland is a tribute to the Members of this House and the previous holders of my office. Irish Aid is recognised as a success story at EU and world levels.
Trade has the potential to lift millions out of poverty. Last December, I spoke in the Dáil about the EU's expectations for the Hong Kong World Trade Organisation ministerial meeting in the area of trade and development. EU leadership was crucial to securing a strong development package in Hong Kong. In particular, Ministers agreed that all developed countries, as well as developing countries in a position to do so, would extend duty and quota free access to 97% of imports from least developed countries. Ministers also made decisions on cotton, TRIPS and aid for trade which will address some of the pressing concerns of least developed and low income countries. In parallel with the WTO negotiations, the EU is negotiating economic partnership agreements, EPAs, with six regional groupings of African, Caribbean and Pacific states. The EU Commissioner for Trade, Mr. Peter Mandelson, has stressed that EPAs will be geared toward south-south economic integration, with an emphasis on market building within the ACP. Trade liberalisation will be gradual and will flow from the agreements.
I value the support and solidarity given by Members of the Oireachtas to the work of Irish Aid and set great store by their continued attention to various aspects of our bilateral aid programmes. This parliamentary engagement brings many benefits. It helps to create public support for development and poverty reduction and holds the Government to account for the commitments it makes. As we expand our enormous and well regarded Irish Aid programmes, we need closer and better parliamentary scrutiny of our efforts. Informed parliamentary scrutiny of development policies ensures the most effective use of the [440]unprecedented level of resources being made available for poverty reduction in the poorest countries and amongst the poorest people.
In the context of a rapid expansion in overseas aid, I welcome the views of the Oireachtas committee and of Members in general on how their involvement with Irish Aid might be deepened. We should continue to discharge this responsibility in a spirit of common purpose. All Members of this House and, in particular, those with former ministerial responsibility for development assistance have made enormous contributions to the building of an aid programme which is the envy of many other donor countries. The programme we have built brings credit to this country. Per capita, Ireland is now the world's tenth largest donor of overseas aid. The OECD, in its peer group review, praised our aid programme by putting it at the cutting edge of development policy. Action Aid, an independent NGO based in London, stated that Ireland's aid programme is of the highest quality. In its examination of the efforts of various donors, it made a unique distinction between phantom and real aid. Ireland has a reputation for delivering real aid which is of real benefit to really poor people.
Mr. Allen: I thank the Minister of State for his contribution but, while his statement contained a bit of self-praising propaganda regarding Irish development assistance targets, he neglected to note that these targets fall far short of the commitment given by the Taoiseach at the millennium summit in 2000. The poor of this world will have to wait many more years before they receive effective aid.
Much of our business with the Minister of State can be conducted through the committees on foreign affairs and european affairs, so I want to use this debate as a vehicle to ask the questions the public would like us to raise. Before I do so, however, I call on the Minister of State to bring us up to date on the biggest threat to Ireland's development assistance programme, namely his hamfisted attempts to force through the decentralisation programme, thereby threatening the institutional memory of Irish Aid.
I also raised the question of the development fund for Iraq and the misappropriation of massive amounts of money in Iraq therefrom. What has happened, what investigations have taken place and what questions has the Government asked about these allegations? This money was earmarked for the Iraqi people but it seems to have gone into the pockets of well-placed contacts of political figures.
The other issue about which I wish to inquire is the decision made at European level to stop humanitarian funding to the Palestinian Authority. This was raised earlier and will be raised again. Was Ireland a party to that appalling decision and would it be possible to have some transparency in respect of it?
[441]I will use the remainder of the time available to pose some of the questions that have been coming through to us on the EU and the developing world and I will give the Minister the opportunity to prepare answers. Why, somebody asks, does the Commission continue to pursue aggressive trade tactics at the WTO and through economic partnership agreements to open up developing countries despite its commitment to use trade to enhance development?
Mr. Quinn: That is a good question.
Mr. Allen: A long question was submitted on Africa. Does the Minister of State have copies of the questions?
Mr. Allen: I refer to question No. 3 on the EU and the developing world and I will not read it in its entirety. It includes the following sentence, "If Europe is to be a 'responsible' player on the world stage, the evolution of its policies as they affect developing countries in particular, is of crucial significance." I ask that the Minister of State give a detailed response to that important question because a well-informed person has gone to much trouble to submit it and it is important we get a response on the record of the House.
Mr. Quinn: The question deserves a response.
Mr. Allen: Could the Minister respond to the question on EU financial perspectives? I do not ask because it arose from Deputy Gay Mitchell's report on the development co-operation and economic co-operation instrument, DCECI.
Mr. M. Higgins: I welcome the opportunity to contribute to the debate on this matter. I wish to put some questions to the Minister of State. While I have wished him well in all of his endeavours to date, some conclusions might be drawn from an earlier presentation that affect what has been said on one of the topics with which he is dealing, namely, the resumed WTO talks. The latter have been described by some of the NGOs that will be represented at the talks as taking place on the eve of a disaster. Although the meeting in Hong Kong produced a better offer for most of the developing countries than the one made at Cancún, it is regarded by every NGO dealing with trade as far short of what is needed. For example, while we have heard in this debate about the elimination of export subsidies for agricultural products, they comprise approximately 3.7% of the EU basic activity and, therefore, we must be vigilant in all the other areas. I do not have time to go into detail but we can deal with particular questions later. On the demands for flexibility and access to markets and services, what has been offered on agriculture in the [442]developing world is perceived as minimal. That creates an issue.
It is time that some hard evidence was provided in respect of the millennium development goals. Time is running out. It should be stated publicly in parliaments that the budget for the response to the AIDS crisis in Africa has not been met by the countries that committed to it. Neither the amount pledged nor that delivered approach what is required to make significant progress. I do not have the detailed figures but I think the highest point funding reached was 40% of what was required to achieve the goal. We need reports on the progress of the millennium goals. There is evidence that few of the goals will be met on the continent of Africa. That creates a crisis and there is no point stating otherwise. The 110 that came together to extract a slightly better package in Hong Kong than they had in Cancún are likely to conclude that they will do better on trade by delaying an agreement rather than by accepting what is on offer.
I cannot understand why the name of Irish Aid has changed again. What was wrong with the original name? I am weary of being unable to answer queries on how individuals might take part, as competent persons, in volunteering or working in different parts of the developing world. These questions have been submitted to me by fine people who, or whose friends, have given fine service abroad for APSO. It is difficult to get a straight answer in respect of this matter, which is not to be disposed of by saying that we like to pass on responsibility for the various projects to local people. The latter is an approach that I support.
I was interested in the Minister of State's combination of human rights and their integration into the development project. Following the election of Hamas in Palestine, Ramallah is besieged with development workers. When I was there last year, one could hardly move without bumping into such individuals. They ask why the EU, which like the Minister of State, talks about human rights, refuses to address the illegality of the occupation. Development work is carried out in an atmosphere in which it will always involve responding to victims and will never be about basic rights and the need to address difficult situations. The situation is not assisted by the actions of Hamas, although it must be remembered that elections took place. Why are EU governments silent on the simple illegality of occupation and the expansion of Jerusalem, which has been expanded by an area one and a half times the size of Paris?
Mr. M. Higgins: These issues will not go away.
On the Minister of State's reference to the EPA negotiations between the EU and developing countries, in many cases the EU was seeking more than originally envisaged. That [443]approach was rejected in the initial WTO talks. The developing countries, particularly those in Africa, sought time, flexibility and exemptions for developments they wished to provide by way of universal availability, such as those in the area of education. We heard today that anything conceded in agriculture will come about at the price of concessions on services and being obliged to open markets quickly. That starkly contradicts what was offered by the EU Development Ministers and what the Minister of State said. His contribution contained the suggestion that there will be an opportunity for countries to be flexible and respond slowly to their markets. That is not what the Commissioner stated. The NAMA condition is a fundamental demand concerning the reciprocity the Commission is seeking from developing countries. It is unreal and will lead to the rejection and failure of the talks, and rightly so, because no developing country could accept it as it stands.
There is a raft of other issues I could discuss. I welcome the expansion of our aid and also the thinking of the European Union. However, its thinking on Doha and Palestine and its silence in the international legal atmosphere in which it is working is quite appalling. The European Union has no credibility among those who are seriously concerned about justice and law in the Middle East. The volume of the Union's money is welcome, as are its development workers, but its silence and disgraceful following of the United States in removing aid from the Palestinian people will be long-remembered, and rightly so.
Mr. F. McGrath: I wish to share time with Deputies Boyle and Morgan.
An Leas-Cheann Comhairle: Agreed.
Mr. F. McGrath: I thank the Leas-Cheann Comhairle for allowing me to make a short contribution to this debate on aid and the developing world. Ireland has a moral duty to assist the poorer countries of the developing world, particularly those in Africa. When engaging in development projects, we have a great responsibility to ensure that those distributing aid are of the highest calibre. It saddened, annoyed and hurt me in recent days to hear that child abuse and sexual exploitation are being carried out by certain elements of the aid community. It is a scandal that very poor young girls of 13, 14 and 15 in a country ravaged by conflict are being exploited by people sent to help them. This abuse should always be challenged and we should all speak out against it. I demand a reaction and a proper vetting system for those involved in aid distribution.
Bearing in mind our history, including the advent of the Famine and the impact of imperialism on this island, we should instinctively be on the side of poorer countries. I urge the European Union to become more involved and to be pro[444]active. Some EU countries have had a very bad relationship with Africa historically. The Belgians, French, Spanish and British had colonies in Africa and they have a responsibility to combat exploitation.
I commend the Minister of State, Deputy Conor Lenihan, on the work he is doing to address these issues. Although we have not reached the aid target of 0.7%, much work has been done. This work must continue and be developed.
Mr. Boyle: We need to examine the role of the EU in respect of the developing world. Disappointment must be expressed at the collective role of EU member states in meeting their millennium development goals, which will not be achieved. Ireland has failed to protest against this and has not met its own goals. The reality is that, in many respects, there is no common EU standard of aid. The aid and trade issue is not being addressed. Many EU countries export military hardware to developing countries, which become inflamed and whose misery and poverty become entrenched as a consequence. Ireland, because of its history, should be more trenchant within the European Union to ensure that more coherent and consistent policies are developed in this area.
The main point I want to make concerns the role of the European Union in respect of Palestine, as mentioned by Deputy Michael D. Higgins. I refer not only to the Union's failure to protest against the occupation of Palestine but also to its failure to protest when the infrastructure of that country, in which it invested, was destroyed in the name of the security of another country. My party and I protest at the European Union's current policy of withholding money from Palestine, notwithstanding the difficulties the Hamas movement poses for many in this part of the world. The people suffering from this policy are individual Palestinians. The failure to provide resources and the shortage of medical supplies will ultimately increase fundamentalism, fanaticism and military and terrorist activity in the Middle East. Ireland, as a member of the European Union, should take no great pride in this policy, which is wrong and dangerous.
Mr. Morgan: As I have a farcically short time in which to address the issue of Europe and the developing world, I will confine my comments to the role the European Union must play in challenging the malign influence of the international financial institutions in developing countries. I agree, in particular, with the comments of the previous three speakers.
The plight of developing countries has been demonstrably aggravated by the policies and actions pursued by the IMF and the World Bank. These organisations pursue neoliberal and free market policies that take no account whatsoever of the social and human costs to developing countries. Their policies in recent decades have con[445]tributed to the overwhelming burden of debt under which developing countries toil.
Voting rights in the IMF and the World Bank are stacked in favour of the developed states, particularly the USA, and against developing countries. The selection procedures for IMF and World Bank leaders are totally undemocratic. These institutions are little more than sophisticated tools of modern imperialism. The European Union must take a lead role in pushing for the abolition of the World Bank and the IMF and, importantly, for the creation of new financial instruments under the control of a democratised UN.
The European Union must also use its position of power and influence to advance the demand for the immediate abolition of the IMF-imposed structural adjustment programmes, which force Governments in developing countries to open up their states' economies to export more and spend less, thus reducing public spending drastically, cutting social budgets in areas such as health, education, housing and infrastructure, and ending subsidies on products and services of primary necessity. The so-called structural adjustment programmes have had drastic consequences for local populations in the affected countries because living conditions have deteriorated substantially since their introduction.
An Leas-Cheann Comhairle: We will proceed to questions. I call Deputy O'Donnell.
Ms O'Donnell: I welcome the Minister of State and his initiative to build capacity and help states that have recently acceded to the Union to build their own overseas development programmes. Using Ireland as a mentor is a very good initiative.
I wish to raise two points, the first of which concerns conditionality and aid. As we all know, this issue can pose real dilemmas for donor states such as Ireland. Perhaps the problem is most acute in the occupied territories in Palestine. Will the Minister of State outline clearly to interested Members the position of Ireland and the EU, as part of the Quartet, in regard to the suspension of aid? This poses a dilemma for those of us who are extremely concerned about the humanitarian situation in the occupied territories. There is deepening poverty in the occupied territories and the population there faces a possible collapse of infrastructure and of the institutions of the fledgling state. Will the Minister of State outline the threat this poses to the vision of having two viable states, namely, Palestine and Israel? How has Ireland articulated its position on this matter internationally? Is it appropriate that we should abandon the Palestinian people through the suspension of aid to the extent that millions of people will suffer from food shortages and a lack of basic services, sanitation, water, etc.?
I wish to raise a matter of a more domestic nature that is of concern to Members of the House. [446]Self Help, a long-standing partner organisation of the Irish Government in its overseas development programme, has unfortunately become embroiled in a controversy concerning the proportion of its public funding that has been spent on promotion and administration in Ireland rather than on projects for the needy in Africa, as was intended.
Mr. C. Lenihan: Deputy O'Donnell's question on Ireland's position on Palestine is serious. I made Ireland's position clear in the Seanad recently and will give a longer answer on the Adjournment. Ireland favours the continuation of aid to the Palestinian people rather than interruptions to that aid. However, Ireland, along with the EU, expresses deep reservations about the recognition of Israel and the principle of non-violence. Along with the Quartet, Ireland is monitoring the situation but Irish aid to Palestine will continue. We spend €4.5 million at present and are examining ways of ring-fencing funding to help the poverty stricken people in their great difficulty. Our programme focuses on helping people out of poverty. If there are problems with institutions or administrations in Palestine or in Africa, it is our policy to remain engaged and identify ways in which we can give aid without Irish taxpayers' money being construed as assisting terrorists. We will remain engaged but we must examine the modality of how aid is delivered. We provide assistance to the Palestinian delegation in Ireland, predicated on support for President Mahmoud Abbas.
Mr. Deasy: May I intervene with a question submitted by a member of the public?
Mr. C. Lenihan: I was about to finish by answering Deputy O'Donnell.
Mr. Deasy: It is a very simple question.
Mr. C. Lenihan: Is this a point of order?
Acting Chairman (Mr. McCormack): Deputy Deasy can continue only if the Minister of State gives way.
Mr. Deasy: Regarding the decision of EU Foreign Ministers to withhold further payments to Palestine following the recent elections, who voted for the payments to stop and who voted against it? How was the decision made, by a simple majority or a three quarters majority?
Mr. C. Lenihan: I am not in a position to answer because I did not attend the meeting. Funding has been suspended for good reasons and yesterday the Quartet indicated that agreement has been reached to support a temporary mechanism for direct delivery of assistance to the Palestinian people.
[447]Mr. Allen: The Minister of State should not speak out of both sides of his mouth.
Mr. C. Lenihan: A suspension does not provide a resolution to this issue but humanitarian and poverty focused assistance can now be delivered to the people. That is the key point rather than the theology of the issue.
Mr. Quinn: Nobody is talking about theology.
Mr. Allen: I asked a question earlier and would like the Minister of State to respond.
Mr. C. Lenihan: I will respond to Deputy Allen's question but first I must conclude my response to Deputy O'Donnell's serious question.
Mr. Allen: My question is serious.
Mr. C. Lenihan: Deputy Allen chose to ask questions as part of his speech. The question session has just begun and Deputy O'Donnell has posed questions in a legitimate fashion.
Mr. Allen: I can ask a question in any way I wish.
Mr. C. Lenihan: In fairness to her, I must respond. I can elongate my response to include a response to Deputy Allen.
Mr. Allen: I will be raising it on the Adjournment tonight.
Mr. C. Lenihan: I refer to Deputy O'Donnell's question about Self Help, a Carlow-based NGO that receives multi-annual funding from my Department. Some issues have been raised regarding the charity and, from my investigations, it appears the matter is a power control issue within the charity. Different members of the board have differing views and I have asked my officials to investigate and produce a report. Reports in newspapers are vague but I am told informally that financial irregularity is not the subject of the controversy. The conflict appears to be centred on administrative costs but I assure the Deputy that none of the money provided by Irish Aid is in any way affected by administrative costs.
Acting Chairman: As there is a time limit on this debate I wish to give as many Deputies as possible the opportunity to contribute.
Mr. Quinn: This is a filibuster.
Mr. C. Lenihan: No, I am trying to answer a serious question.
Mr. Quinn: The Minister of State has already answered it.
[448]Mr. C. Lenihan: Officials from my Department will investigate this.
Mr. Quinn: The Minister of State has already said that.
Mr. C. Lenihan: The most senior official in the Irish Aid section will speak to officials from Self Help next week. The money we deploy cannot be misused for administrative costs because we control the amount that can be apportioned to such costs.
Mr. Quinn: I welcome the Minister of State. Today is Europe Day and European aid should be emphasised instead of the good story of Irish aid. The biggest donor of international aid, up to 80%, is the EU.
Mr. Quinn: This story is not told. Americans parade themselves as great benefactors but contribute tied aid and armaments. Young people may not be interested in domestic issues but every Member knows they have not lost the sense of passion about politics. Bob Geldof and the Make Poverty History campaign have mobilised young people on the question of global equity and justice. The major hero in this story is the EU, along with Ireland.
I have monitored a number of elections in Africa and have been involved in politics in Namibia, South Africa and Niger. The bulk of European aid in Africa over the past 30 years has been wasted and much of it has been transferred to Swiss banks.
Unless we deal with the problem of corruption in Africa we will not solve the problem of poverty. The Irish Aid programme should have a democracy building capacity as an integral part of the aid programme. Would the Minister of State consider the models that can allow this to take place? One option is the British model, the Westminster fund, where political parties can apply to fund programmes with international sister parties. Another is the US model, where individual political parties can establish foundations. Civil servants cannot teach political parties to run smart, clean machines. They have other skills.
Mr. C. Lenihan: Deputy Quinn's suggestion is a fine one and I challenge the Members to devise a mechanism to exploit the undoubted talent within the Oireachtas. I refer to Deputies, Senators and those who work for political parties. These people have skills that could be used to in our aid programme. I would like a foundation entitled "The Oireachtas Foundation" to facilitate this and seek contributions from donors, as other countries have done. Now, because of affluence, we in Ireland have the capacity to do that. I recently read in The Economist that, on an international index, we are insufficiently provided [449]with institutes and think-tanks of that kind. It is very important that it now start, and there is no better place than the Oireachtas.
I am not convinced the bulk of European aid has been wasted over the years, but we are all very open regarding the fact that a great deal of aid generally has been wasted over the last 20 or 30 years. A great deal was corrupted in a moral sense because of the Cold War conflict. In other words, aid was applied for the wrong purposes. I believe that Deputy Boyle referred to people adopting the sleazy agenda of supplying military hardware or political advice that was rather dubious in its strategic nature and make-up. We in Ireland are lucky enough, in that our hands are clean. The aid we provide is healthy and untied and not linked to the purchase of Irish commercial services.
On the wider issue of European aid, it is true that for years it has not been the most efficient; let us be honest about it. There is now a process of tightening up, and last year saw the Paris Declaration on Aid Effectiveness. It would be criminal for what I have described as the donor world, of which we are a leading part, to increase the scale of aid and assistance without addressing corruption, governance and the effectiveness of our actions. There will be great pressure for rationalisation between donors, and we will very much be part and parcel of it. That was among the reasons I set up a mentoring initiative. We must learn in advance of very significant rationalisation and the removal of duplication in the efforts of various countries that donate to the developing world.
Regarding the untold story of European aid, I wholeheartedly agree it is very appropriate on Europe Day that we state this very clearly. Some 60% of the increased aid flows coming as a result of the momentous development in 2000 are from the European Union and its donors. They are not coming from the G8 or elsewhere. Together with many other Ministers with responsibility for development, I decided regarding the timeframe of 2010 and 2015 for the collective European target of 0.7%. That alone will bring €20 billion into play for development by 2010. One can see the size of the European contribution, for example, in the debt relief package, which provided €25 billion. The increased flow of aid from Europe alone is almost as large as the relief aid package.
Deputy Allen is becoming agitated about a question, and I would like him to pose it again for my benefit.
Mr. Allen: It was not one question; there were several.
Acting Chairman: The Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach, Deputy Kitt, would like to speak. I ask him to ensure he has a question and the Minster of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs, Deputy Conor Lenihan, to be a little more brief in his replies as he is [450]preventing some of his own party Members from asking questions.
Mr. C. Lenihan: I will be brief.
Acting Chairman: I also ask others to ensure they ask questions and are brief.
Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach (Mr. Kitt): Like other colleagues, I warmly welcome these statements on Europe Day. I know some of the questions have come from the public, and my question is linked with one of those. There is a reference to coherence in EU policy and talk of the need for constructive engagement between Europe and the developing world.
My question is very much in the context of the earlier discussion with the EU Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Ms Fischer Boel. For Ireland, agriculture, development and trade form a very important debate. Ms Fischer Boel put some very useful points to us this morning in her honest, upfront answers to questions. I genuinely believe we have worked out a good, coherent policy on agriculture, trade and development regarding the WTO talks, although there are some difficulties with agriculture. I speak of the journey from Seattle to Doha, Cancún and Hong Kong. Is the Minister of State satisfied with the coherence at EU level on agriculture, trade and development?
Regarding Deputy Quinn's comments, our position on development is good, but we can do much more at EU level to support developing countries to trade out of poverty. There is a much stronger need in that regard.
Acting Chairman: We require questions.
Mr. Kitt: Can we do more to encourage greater partnership, trade and investment between Europe and the developing world, especially Africa? There are fantastic agricultural products in many of the countries that I and other Members with experience of development have visited. Can we do more to promote greater constructive engagement with the developing world, especially Africa, and greater support? Can we call it "aid for trade" when it comes to supporting their products and developing partnerships between the European Union and Africa?
Mr. C. Lenihan: Deputy Kitt was my predecessor as Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs. There is now much more co-ordination between agriculture, trade and development Ministers in the EU. That was very evident at Hong Kong in the private meetings, and also in some more public pronouncements. Obviously, one would hope there would be more and that we in Ireland could be more coherent. We will address that subject in our White Paper, which I intend publishing in September. We hope [451]to conclude work on it during the summer and then put it to the Cabinet.
Regarding the Private Sector Forum, there is room for much more involvement from Irish private sector companies. The Private Sector Forum, which was established by Deputy Kitt, has borne fruit. I do not mean that facetiously, since it is focused on a Ugandan food project involving fruit and biscuits and how they can be brought into retail outlets in Ireland and Britain. That has become a practical success story, and we are very proud that such engagement can be continued and improved.
The broader issue of coherence concerns the European Union. There were very coherent discussions in Hong Kong, and people are becoming more coherent and talking more for the precise reason that Deputy Quinn outlined. Europe is doing great things on development but receiving very little credit for it. The Everything but Arms initiative has had an enormous impact on least-developed countries, and it is now being extended, albeit haltingly, since other countries are adopting it. Europe took the lead in granting total quota- and duty-free access to the wealthiest markets in the world.
The others present at Hong Kong and in those countries can learn from Europe, which is taking the initiative. A great many simplistic rationales are thrown at European agriculture, which is being reformed very vigorously. The Taoiseach, Deputy Bertie Ahern, has stated that people, including farmers, need time to trade out of their subsidy regime, and that will happen between now and 2013. The Taoiseach is right to take that view from both a European and a national interest perspective.
Mr. Allen: This discussion is like a mutual admiration society. I thought today's spirit was that we would reach out.
Mr. C. Lenihan: Deputy Allen should feel free to break out of it.
Mr. Allen: The Minister of State had enough time and should allow me to speak.
I thought that we were trying to reflect people's concerns and questions and that we would discard the Question Time format. Much of this could be done any week in committee. I thought we would at least get to grips with some of the concerns. I laid aside my opening statement to put some questions to the Minister of State that he has not even addressed. He has spoken on the Palestinian situation and the termination of aid to the Palestinian Authority. Having listened to him, I do not know where he stands. I am none the wiser, since I heard many words but no points made.
Acting Chairman: The Deputy should put a question to the Minister.
[452]Mr. Allen: I am asking a simple question. What is Ireland's stance on humanitarian aid to Palestine? How did Ireland vote on the decision taken by the Council of Ministers? Was yesterday's UN decision a slap in the face for the EU regarding its original premature decision, which has seriously harmed services in Palestine and its people? Has anyone questioned Israel's attitude to withholding taxes that it should have paid to the Palestinian Authority? Some do not like the election result, but it was conducted fairly, and we should not penalise people for exercising their democratic right, even as we condemn Hamas. The Minister should give a straight answer regarding who made the decision, what side we were on, and whether we were for or against it.
Mr. C. Lenihan: I can give a straight answer now. There was no vote on the matter.
Mr. Allen: The Minister of State has not even got around to addressing the other questions I asked at the outset.
Mr. C. Lenihan: I admire and totally applaud the idealism from which the Deputy's concern for the people of Palestine springs. The Irish position could not be clearer. We are in favour of engagement and continue to disperse our development aid in the country. The European decision was taken for good, well-argued reasons.
Mr. C. Lenihan: The key point, as Deputies Allen and Quinn are aware, is that there was no vote. Matters at European level are generally pursued by way of consensus. I have only been in this post for two years, but I have never been in a situation where there has been a vote at a gathering of European Ministers.
Deputy Allen posed some serious questions and while I wanted to respond earlier, the procedure did not allow it. The Deputy inquired about decentralisation. I am glad that of the 124 posts we will relocate to Limerick, 34 have already been filled by officers who wish to move with the decentralisation project to Limerick. A further 17 posts will be filled in the coming months by staff from within the Department of Foreign Affairs who are due to return from overseas postings. We are very confident that we will meet our targets. The Office of Public Works has indicated that it has reached agreement on the terms of lease for our premises in Limerick. We are confident that the project will proceed and we are very happy with the numbers we are achieving. Clearly, we will need to monitor the issues of risk management and the protection of corporate management to which the Deputy referred. That is being done. Within my office, I have seen new people joining who are being inducted into the organisation and knowledge is being shared. I am confident that this project will be well executed [453]and that it will reflect well on both the Department and the original decision to decentralise.
We provide some assistance to Iraq. The Deputy referred to an issue relating to investigations about money——
Mr. Allen: It is not some issue; it is a major issue about the pocketing of billions in funds.
Mr. C. Lenihan: I believe that refers to other donors and not to the Irish aid money. I reassure the Deputy that none of our money has been tampered with in the context of what we do on a humanitarian basis in Iraq.
Mr. C. Lenihan: I will revert to the Deputy with a detailed note on the matter so that he can be more reassured on the matter.
The economic partnership agreements have, to a large extent, been misconstrued by many people in civil society and in the Dáil. The EPAs are development instruments designed to help these countries. They have not yet reached the deadline by which they are to be finished and operational. We have until 2008 in that regard. I am reassured by personally having raised the matter at various ministerial meetings and directly with Commissioner Mandelson. I was particularly encouraged by the remarks he made to the EU Development Ministers in Leeds that these are primarily viewed as development instruments, designed to encourage south-to-south trade, which is the key issue. While considerable talk and guff is engaged in regarding the WTO, one crucial point cannot be forgotten in this regard, namely, that 60% of levies and customs duties of various kinds are charged by developing countries against other developing countries. The important focus of EU aid efforts will be on how we can create regional integration within the continent of Africa. For example, east Africa has very ambitious plans to integrate its economies, namely, those of Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda, in a common market-style approach, which was how Ireland, as a country, gained from Europe.
Mr. Quinn: That is for them to decide.
Mr. C. Lenihan: To a large extent, it is not remarked upon in the literature. Our access to the Common Market allowed us to become one of the greatest and biggest trading nations on earth. Some 90% of what we produce is now exported.
Acting Chairman: I will take questions from the four Deputies offering and perhaps the Minister of State will reply to them. If the four Deputies limit themselves to asking questions, the Minister of State will have time to do so.
Mr. Carey: I will be very specific. Along with some colleagues from the Houses of the [454]Oireachtas, I spent some days last week in Ethiopia to look at Irish aid projects and to consider the outcome of the flawed elections that took place last May. The Irish aid projects we saw in Tigré are worthy of continued support and I urge the Minister of State to continue and to intensify that support, if possible. We were very impressed by the watershed and safety net projects in particular.
Acting Chairman: The Deputy should ask a question.
Mr. Carey: In the course of our discussions, we met the Prime Minister and three imprisoned leaders of the opposition. We met Hailu Shawil and Dr. Berhanu Nega, who will be known to many people here because he worked with the ESRI, both of whom are imprisoned. Will the Minister of State engage with his colleagues in the EU to speed up the trials of the many people in prison? The Prime Minister claims that approximately 90 people are imprisoned. The leaders of the opposition state that there are more than 1,000 people in prisons scattered throughout the country. There is an onus on the Government to pressurise the Ethiopian Government to speed up their release.
An Action Aid human-rights lawyer, Daniel Bekele, who is in Kaliti prison, has been working his way through the courts, up to and including Ethiopia's supreme court.
Acting Chairman: The Deputy is giving information rather than seeking it. The Deputy should ask a question because I am trying to accommodate other Members.
Mr. Carey: Will the Minister of State engage with his European colleagues in that regard? Will Ireland expand its number of programme countries from the current level?
Acting Chairman: I propose to take all the questions together because we will not be able to deal with them otherwise.
Mr. M. Higgins: When does the Government propose to sign the United Nations Convention against Corruption? How many countries in the EU have done so and when will the others do so? On Europe Day, can the Minister of State provide details of the total amount of committed, lodged but unallocated money for development purposes from the European Union? Can some of this money be used for the replacement of cattle in countries such as Chad?
Mr. Quinn: This is money that is committed but unspent.
Mr. M. Higgins: Is it the view of the European Union that we should not force countries to accept genetically modified foods as is happening at present? Is the view of the Minister of State [455]and that of the European Development Ministers different from that of the World Bank in promoting the privatisation of water supplies, particularly in Africa where countries struggle to achieve universal provision? If the purpose of the EPAs is south-to-south co-operation, as the Minister of State said, why did the European Union refuse to negotiate with the countries on a collective basis? Several states wanted to come together to engage in talks with the European Union.
Mr. Deasy: How much pressure is the EU exerting on Zimbabwe to implement internal reform? How much pressure are we putting on the EU to make this happen? Given that the Oireachtas Joint Committee on European Affairs recently held a hearing on this matter, it is germane.
Mr. Boyle: Yesterday, the People's Republic of China was elected to the United Nations Human Rights Council. China has an appalling human rights record in the context of its actions in Tibet and its approach to its Muslim minority and the practitioners of Falun Gong. Why has the EU — and Ireland as part thereof — not been sufficiently strong in condemning China's human rights record? Is not its election to this body an obscenity, allowing the Chinese to preen as part of such a body when its human rights are so appalling?
Mr. C. Lenihan: Deputy Carey referred to his recent visit to Ethiopia. We will continue our operation in Tigré and will consider the regional presence of our programme in that country. We are actively considering how we can spread our aid more regionally. Tigré is our only regional involvement. As the Deputy correctly stated, the safety net project saves up to 6 million people from dying as a result of famine. It is a very successful programme, of which other donors now want to be part.
We are very strong on following up on and being concerned about human rights and other issues. We act in concert with our EU donor partners and with the Nordic plus group, of which we form a part in terms of our involvement in Addis Ababa and Ethiopia generally. Nobody has a magic answer as to how we could tidy up and make the Ethiopian Government improve its treatment of and respect for the opposition. At the recent meeting of the world's richest donor countries in Paris, the assistance committee of the OECD, this subject perplexed virtually every donor Minister who spoke. The OECD gave the simple advice to stay engaged and maximise the diplomatic pressure that can and should be applied to the Prime Minister, Mr. Meles Zenawi and his government. We will respond directly to Deputy Carey regarding the Action Aid lawyer.
[456]I have raised the problem of unspent aid numerous times, particularly in regard to humanitarian interventions. The EU was very slow to commit money to many high-profile human disasters in 2005. We criticised this, as did some of the Nordic donors. There is a problem around the European Union quickly disbursing aid both in the humanitarian sense——
Mr. Quinn: What is the problem?
Mr. C. Lenihan: I do not know. It has perplexed us all that the European Union does not seem to make people aware that the money is there, or have it drawn down and disbursed. We have a good reputation in this regard but not all donors do. The European Union has been slow and we have put as much pressure as we can on the Commissioner, Mr. Michel, to disburse that money in a timely and efficient fashion.
Neither we nor the European Union support water privatisation. That is not part of the EU's development assistance efforts or policies. We would not support that directly in any way.
Mr. M. Higgins: It is the policy of the World Bank.
Mr. C. Lenihan: It has been the policy of some of the multilateral or Bretton-Woods institutions but we are not particularly enthusiastic about it.
Mr. Quinn: Is that the Irish position or the Union position?
Mr. C. Lenihan: The European Union does not have a policy of supporting privatisation in Africa or other developing countries.
We are addressing the matter of the EPAs. We have voiced serious concerns at EU ministerial level on behalf of our partner countries in Africa which are deeply disappointed the Commission is not discussing these EPAs in a timely fashion. They want the EPAs to work but they also want the level of compensation they expect and deserve, and we are raising that matter.
Deputy Deasy raised the vexed issue of Zimbabwe. I cannot present a positive view of what is occurring there. I applaud the Deputy for holding a discussion and hearing on this in the Joint Committee on European Affairs, which he chairs. There is no easy answer. The European Union and other donors around the world have been urging, pressing and pushing African leaders, who are best placed to deal with this issue, to sort the matter out and bring pressure to bear on Robert Mugabe. This has not worked. Many people wonder how we can confront issues of governance and the renunciation of the democratic rights we take for granted but which are being routinely abused in Zimbabwe and elsewhere.
Mr. Deasy: The Minister of State should be talking to the South Africans about it.
[457]Mr. C. Lenihan: We do not have much hope for this situation because we tell the South Africans and many other African governments that we want to see them act on this matter.
Mr. Deasy: South Africa is the one that counts.
Mr. C. Lenihan: While we have strong positive feelings about the new economic partnership for Africa we have expressed deep concern about its peer review process of how countries conduct themselves in matters of governance and proper government. The NEPAD initiative will not work unless something is done about Mugabe and the situation in Zimbabwe. I would love to pour more hope into the situation but unfortunately I cannot.
We regularly and often raise the human rights situation in China in the context of our bilateral ministerial visits. The European Union shows its strength by having an established structure for human rights dialogue with China, the next round of which will be held in Vienna in May. The issues Deputy Boyle mentioned, including Falun Gong, are regularly raised with the Chinese authorities in that dialogue. We and other countries express deep concern about that.
Two members of Falun Gong, one of whom lives in my constituency, came to my clinic on Monday night to express their concern.
Mr. Quinn: What did the Minister of State say to them?
Mr. C. Lenihan: The European Union regularly brings virtually all the complaints made by Falun Gong to the attention of the Chinese authorities. We act in concert with those representations. The strength of the European Union is to act as a cohesive group and raise concerns at that level. We try to hold people to account for human rights. I accept there is something-——
Acting Chairman: The Minister of State has four minutes left to reply in a statement if he wishes.
Mr. C. Lenihan: For the benefit of the House I do not wish to inflict a five minute round-up on Members. I am conscious of Deputy Allen's points about getting his questions answered. I will open the debate up to further questions if that is in order.
Acting Chairman: The time for questions has expired. The Minister of State has four minutes in which to make a final statement if he so wishes.
Mr. C. Lenihan: For the first time in a long while I am beginning to agree with Deputy Allen. This was intended to be an initiative but I see now——
Mr. Quinn: I will assist the Minister of State. He said there was no vote on the Palestinian [458]question but will he indicate what was the formal position of the Irish Minister in the tour de table? Was it for or against?
Mr. C. Lenihan: I am at a loss to answer that directly. I do not wish to be dishonest or misleading in my reply. I will reply to the Deputy directly by letter.
Mr. Allen: I hope the Minister of State will have an answer to my matter on the Adjournment tonight.
Mr. C. Lenihan: Absolutely. My senior colleague attended that meeting.
Mr. Allen: The Minister of State has two hours to get the answer.
Mr. C. Lenihan: I am not the Minister for Foreign Affairs yet.
Mr. Allen: There must be someone who knows.
Mr. C. Lenihan: My senior colleague would be a bit put out if I started answering ex cathedra on subjects discussed at meetings which he attended.
Mr. M. Higgins: The Minister of State did not reply to my question on the UN Convention against Torture. I also asked about the replacement of cattle.
Mr. C. Lenihan: The Deputy referred to the UN Convention against Corruption.
Mr. M. Higgins: Yes, that is what I meant.
Mr. C. Lenihan: That is a matter for the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform.
Mr. M. Higgins: No, it is not.
Mr. C. Lenihan: Although I am often tempted to comment on the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform and its very colourful Minister, I will forgo that pleasure.
Mr. M. Higgins: It is a matter for the Department of Foreign Affairs. The debate about corruption in Africa is terribly important.
Mr. C. Lenihan: Of course it is.
Mr. M. Higgins: There are studies in the Nordic countries; for example that of Professor Svendsen in Denmark, suggesting that it is helpful to publish and make transparent the transfers within a country. The European Union's influence on corruption is reduced because it has not signed the United Nations Convention against Corruption.
Mr. C. Lenihan: I am anxious to answer the Deputy's question. We take this matter seriously. [459]At a recent meeting in Paris my Norwegian counterpart, Eric Solheim, said we are under pressure to frontload the kind of commitments on corruption, human rights, and democratic accountability that we expect from recipient countries, in return for the contribution we make to their exchequers, by way of development assistance. This is becoming increasingly the pattern with other bilateral donors like ourselves.
Mr. M. Higgins: Why do we not sign the convention?
Mr. C. Lenihan: This will form a significant part of the effort as we increase the amount we give to these countries. There must be clear milestones, and obligations on the recipients to reach these milestones which will be linked to further assistance. This must be presented upfront in the country programmes. Eric Solheim said——
Mr. M. Higgins: I support the Minister of State on all those issues but why do we and other European countries not sign the convention in order to have some credibility? That is the issue. All the rest is fine but when will we sign?
Mr. C. Lenihan: I will discuss this with the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform who is very anxious to do things speedily. Are there other questions?
Acting Chairman: That concludes statements on Europe and the developing world. I thank the Minister of State.
|Last Updated: 03/11/2010 23:41:13
|Page of 107


text:
Hello! I hope everyone is having a great week so far! I just want to share a little video that I made regarding the influence of the 1970's and the era of the infamous nightclub Studio 54 and how it has influence our generation. Continue reading Throwback Thursday!
Tag: Youtube
Pretty, Paid, Proenza
This video by Proenza Schouler is a great way that fashion has incorporate with the latest technology of using YouTube as an asset. This video showcases the essence of what fashion trends and going viral. Continue reading Pretty, Paid, Proenza

subset: commoncrawl


text:
HOPKINS COUNTY, Ky. - Winfred 'Boogie' Duncan, 73 of Madisonville, KY passed away at 5:09 a.m. on Tuesday, October 8, 2013 at his home after a lengthy illness.
He was born on October 30, 1939 in Indianapolis, IN to the late Oather and Louella Duncan. He was formerly a self employed contractor and was a member of Covenant Community Church in Madisonville.
In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by his sisters, Rita Duncan and Charlotte Ballard and his brother, Arnold Duncan.
He is survived by his wife, Charlotte Duncan; his daughters, Angi Duncan of Ohio and Lisa Duncan of Louisville, KY; his son, David (Karen) Duncan of Madisonville; his step-son, Allen Courington of Campbellsville, KY; his grandchildren, Chandler Stanke, Ashlea Stanke and Tiffany Duncan; his step-grandchildren, Eric Heltsley and Chasity Messinger; nine great-grandchildren; his sisters, Wanda (Levi) Knight, Shirley (Larry) Wilson and Della Garrison; and his brother, Oather (Peggy) Duncan.
Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. on Thursday, October 10, 2013 at Covenant Community Church in Madisonville with Dr. Michael Knight officiating and Rev. Jim Leek and Rev. Paula Farmer assisting. Burial to follow in Forest Lawn Memorial Gardens in Madisonville.
Visitation will be from 5 p.m. until 8 p.m. Wednesday and from 11 a.m. until the funeral hour Thursday at Covenant Community Church. Harris Funeral Home in Madisonville is in charge of arrangements.
Memorial contributions may be made to Baptist Health Hospice. Envelopes will be available.
Condolences may be made to the family at www.harrisfuneralinc.com.
|< Prev
|Next >


text:
We don't know why, and we don't know how, but at some point in 1980 the Prince of Wales was offered a breakdancing lesson from a group of young kids in a club, which he graciously accepted and took in a rather spectacularly cut gray suit. And the weird thing is, dude wasn't half bad.
We hope Charles busts a move like this during the Royal Wedding afterparty. There's no explanation for this video's existence, and we're too busy rolling on the floor with laughter and amazement to do any investigative reporting at the moment, so for now we're just going to ask you to watch it once and tell us it's not the most amazing thing you've seen today. Then watch it again, look out for Charles' attendant's faces, and tell us they're not the most awkwardly uncomfortable people you've ever seen on video. Try it.
Prince Charles Breakdances In 1980 Clip [The Huffington Post]
Win A Royally Inspired Ring And $500 To Rent The Runway!


text:
American Mom.
I'm a normal American Mom. I drop my son at school, hurry to yoga class, swap kids stories with the bank teller, and destroy the Earth.
I wait in the school pick up line with the A/C running. I rest my head and close my eyes and an image comes to mind. It's been haunting me, accompanying me wherever I go. It's a bird, oil covered and struggling in the surf. The waves crash over him, his tar soaked wings are powerless. He suffocates. I open my eyes and shake the image away.
The Yoga Sutras say the most difficult task is training the mind. Yoga teaches us to observe thoughts, note if they serve us, and release them. But as much as I try, I can't release this haunting imagery.
My son jumps into the back seat and tells me about his day on our drive to the grocery store. I search the trunk for my re-useable bags, wipe down my shopping cart until it is 99.9% germ free, and roll into the produce section.
There was a time when I took pride in shopping with my little boy. He flirted with the female employees and snacked on pretzels blissfully unaware that SpongeBob and Tony the Tiger existed. But recently, he started watching television and has been transformed by the all-powerful Commercial. "Hey, I saw that on TV!" is his new catchphrase and I cringe if anyone can overhear.
By the time we get to the cereal aisle I've repeated "No honey, that's junk" five times. I realize how confusing it is for him. The television advises that if he doesn't eat it, own it or wear it, he isn't worthy, yet his Mama, who loves him, says no. Again, I repeat the junk mantra as we pass the monster trucks at the end of the aisle.
Finally, I agree to ice cream. A voice in my head prompts me to buy the organic, locally made from grass fed cows, low sugar ice cream. Abruptly, an image of a dolphin, stranded, on oil-smudged sand, enters my mind. His eyes bleeding and his mouth agape. My son drops the pint of chocolate ice cream into the cart and the clatter awakens me from the spell.
Conveniently located at children's eye level is a tempting display of sparkly, plastic, ice cream scoopers. "Mom, can I please have that? It's not a toy and its not junk food". I relent. I can't say no again. "Yeah" he cheers and tosses it on the top of the groceries, like a cherry on a Sundae.
This time, my unwelcome traveler shows up, in the checkout line. I imagine a pelican mired in a pool of oil, his eyes glazed. I feel anxious and struggle for a deep breath. I pick up the scooper, glittering on the top of my grocery pile. "Sweetie, we are not going to get this. We can scoop with a spoon. Let's be grateful for the ice cream and let that be our special treat. The more I think about it, the more I know we need to put this back."
"Well" he responds, "I know what to do Mom. Just stop thinking".
Stop thinking, this is what we do. If we don't like the news we change the channel or close the window on the desktop. We stop thinking because the alternative is to take responsibility for our choices and see our role in last year's gulf disaster.
We are overwhelmed with labels to read, precautions to take and problems in the world. We stop thinking and convince ourselves that the government wouldn't put it on the shelves if it were unsafe. This assumption that someone else's choices are good for us requires less effort. We don't care where or how things are made and disposed of. We only look to our immediate gratification and this lack of awareness has created a cheap, disposable society.
Annie Leonard of The Story of Stuff project explains how this attitude was deliberately designed for us. During the Depression era, President Eisenhower enacted a strategy called "planned obsolesce" to stimulate the economy.
Things were purposefully manufactured to last only long enough for us not to loose faith in the company. This combined with perceived obsolescence, rapidly changing trends in appearance, fashion and electronics, created a wasteful attitude, furthered by the media and advertisements.
Leonard brilliantly points out, "After 9/11, when the country was in shock, our president didn't advise us to grieve, pray or hope but instead told us to shop."
Victor Lebow a retail analyst during Eisenhower's presidency said; "Our enormously productive economy demands that we make consumption our way of life, that we convert the buying and use of goods into rituals, that we seek our spiritual satisfaction, our ego satisfaction, in consumption…We need things consumed, burned up, replaced and discarded at an ever accelerating rate."
Little more than a year has passed since the Deepwater Horizon spill. Scientists are still studying the effects of the toxic dispersants that were injected and the troubling photographs are no longer splashed across our televisions and Internet screens.
We don't know what is happening below the surface and how our ocean has been altered. The question is: Has it altered you?
The devastation in the Gulf can serve as our wake up call. Let the images serve us and teach us that every choice has a consequence. If we develop a consciousness about our choices and our consumption, we honor the finite resources of our planet and all the living things.
Join the mailing list at CHAKRAS YOGA
Other pieces by Marylee: The Princess Of Garbage Day, Sing Out, Clara, and Letter From A Bully.
Incorrect source, offensive, or found a typo? Email us (please put title in subject bar of email so we'll be able to fix). Or do you want to write for Elephant?
{Waylon H. Lewis C Enterprises 2015: Use Rights in perpetuity. Ownership remains with author.}
49 Responses to "American Mom."
That's one of the many reasons we dumped our tv. Three years and it's bliss not hearing "I saw that on tv".
I love that you have no tv!
Well intended but not well fact checked: "During the Depression era, President Eisenhower enacted a strategy called "planned obsolesce" (sic) to stimulate the economy."
President Eisenhower was in office from 1953 through 1961, during the booming postwar economy. The Depression, at least in the United States, was from 1929 through the early 1940s. The president throughout most of the Great Depression was FDR.
Thanks for that correction! See? I should have spent less time in front of the TV and more time studying my American history in high school!
we too are TV free. Commercials are just too much with three little ones. I feel your pain (and love your article). I abhor the "use once and toss" culture we live in, but still can't be 100% planet friendly. We do what we can and hope it's enough, and are role models to friends, family and our little ones that things like paper towels, kleenex, foil, ziploc bags, plastic toys and anything else "disposable" are not necessary. As I tell my sons: where do we throw it away to? Where is "away?" There is no away. It is all here, under our feet, in our water and the air we breathe.
really? tv-free? remote control to what then?
"But today? Today I ordered pizza, handed the remote control to the kids and poured a nice, big, cold gin and tonic. Somedays are like that. So today, gin. Tomorrow, I'll finally get off to yoga. Because dear god, tomorrow at least won't be today." – Candice Garrett – April, 26th, 2011.
Also – your response to a comment to this article:
"But you know what I don't do? I don't make myself to be something I am not. "
A bit inconsistent, eh?
Life is filled with inconsistency…Maybe it was the remote to the movie?
Yes Mary, I should have said "cable free".
Franny, let me clarify, we have a tv, but no cable. So they may watch a movie here and there, but there are no commercials in my house. Thanks for pointing that out.
Excellent and thoughtful article, Marylee. Thank you for sharing your insight.
Thanks for reading Debi
Hi ML, It does get better as the kids get older but only if you steer them the right way! My oldest daughter who is 12 read the "The Omnivore's Dilemma" by Michael Pollan two years ago and has not touched anything that's not local since then. Amazing for someone her age.
Like always great work — please keep up the good work.
I need to steer him away more aggressively. its not easy! Your daughter sounds amazing.
What a great dad!
we couldn't do it when we lived in the redwoods. Too dark and wet during the winter! But we moved to the coast and that was that.
Oh I wish i thought of that "programming" for this article.. perfect. Its tough with a busy little one. So easy to plunk him in front the show for an hour while I get some work done.. I need to do better..
Thanks Patrick for writing and for reading.
Children are smart. My children are probably older than your son and they now say, "Those commercials are just trying to get us to buy something." Also, we make big financial sacrifices to be able to afford organic food from smaller food companies that don't have much advertising budget.
thanks Janet.. I hope one day my boy will see it for what it is too!!
Enjoyed reading this Marylee! It doesn't get any easier as the kids get into school + extracurricular activities. Great that you're conscious and so true that many just avoid the news—there's a reason they coined the phrase "ignorance is bliss."
You might enjoy my recent elephant post about how my son inspired me… http://www.elephantjournal.com/2011/04/how-my-son…
Thanks Lynn! Clicking now!
thanks bob!
Brilliant piece, Marylee. Thank you.
thank you kindly Jim..I appreciate that
Marylee….thank you for your article. I still remember the Gulf Spill. Fukushima is for many now the straw that has broken our backs, and continues to. I am posting a link here to Hands Across the Sands, which is a peaceful protest against off-shore drilling. Anyone can organize this event in your neighborhood.
If you don't mind, I am also posting a link to my article, which goes deep into many of ideas you present:
Its so difficult and feels quite overwhelming. You feel that the little things you do are scarcely enough and I sometimes give in to things which i later regret (like the cheap toys in the birthday gift bags.) I often feel like a hypocrite struggling between giving in to a child's wish and doing what I know is right in the long term for ALL concerned.
I will check out your articles. Thanks for reading and namaste
I understand your feelings. I am doing an article on this hands across america event as i feel it is such a perfect and wonderful way to join together as a family, to share with our children the heart of a larger cause, to band together as community, and to voice ourselves in a deeply moving way. Please check it out…and maybe share with your children if you feel to….we are in this together, so let's stay strong and courageous….belssings to you and us all…Jack
[…] Jill Its actually not so hard.. i wrote a piece called american mom http://www.elephantjournal.com/2011/06/american-m… in it i talk about THe Story Of Stuff an how we are manipulated to purchase at all […]
[…] […]
[…] […]
[…] […]
[…] […]
[…] […]
[…] […]
[…] […]
[…] […]
[…] […]
[…] […]
[…] […]
[…] […]
[…] […]
[…] […]
[…] […]
[…] […]
[…] […]
Thoughtful and thought-provoking article, Marylee, thank you for sharing Aloha
so true annieory.. thanks much for reading and sharing
I have to laugh at myself sometimes. I spelled "divine" wrong. I don't even know what a diving spark would be. If you have a diving spark within you, I honor that, too. Pardon the typo
hey…diving…devine.. I'll take either one.


text:
Oct 06
- McCarthy reacts to Philbin news 6:50am Oct 04
- Packers head to 4-0 7:05pm Oct 03
- Brewers blanked by Cubs 8:57pm Oct 02
- Brewers fall 6-1 to Cubs 10:18pm
- High School Football Scores: Friday, October 2nd 10:17pm
- High School Sports Scores: Thursday, October 1st 8:01am
Media Player
There are no podcasts for Media Player.
While I would have never complained had the Packers gone to San Francisco and won convincingly with their usual blend…
posted by Marques Pfaff 2 days ago
It's inevitable that with the sheer volume of injuries sustained by the Packers to this point in the season, there's…
posted by Marques Pfaff 7 days ago
On Monday, the Brewers announced the hiring of 30-year-old David Stearns to be their next General Manager. Now, there will…
posted by Marques Pfaff 15 days ago


text:
Without providing detail, Google disclosed the video copyright lawsuit in a quarterly filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. A Google spokesman didn't have any further information about the suit late Wednesday afternoon.
They are definitely no stranger to these lawsuits, and their recent acquisition of YouTube.com has made them only all the more prepared. Hopefully Google will reveal more information soon as to what exactly they are being sued over.


text:
Advancements in thin-film technology (used in both the head and platter) are to thank for this boost in capacity for such small drives. This should make it possible for a two-platter drive to hold up to 60GB of data (versus today's 40GB).
Its always nice to see that portable music players can be made to hold more, and that companies like Toshiba continue to innovate and invent.


text: Sab Shimono | IBDB: The official source for Broadway Information IBDB: The official source for Broadway Information Official Broadway League sites: - sites - broadway.org broadwayleague.com broadwayfanclub.com kidsnightonbroadway.com stagespecs.org tonyawards.com Quick Search For: In This Category: All Show People/Org. Theatre Season Sab Shimono Performer ( b. Jul 31, 1943 Sacramento, California, USA ) Male ProductionsAwards ProductionsDate of ProductionsPacific Overtures[Musical, Comedy, Drama, Revival] Performer: Sab Shimono [Lord Abe]Dec 02, 2004 - Jan 30, 2005Mame[Musical, Comedy, Revival] Also Starring: Sab Shimono [Ito]Jul 24, 1983 - Aug 28, 1983Pacific Overtures[Musical, Comedy, Drama, Original] Also Starring: Sab Shimono [Manjiro]Jan 11, 1976 - Jun 27, 1976Ride the Winds[Musical, Original] Performer: Sab Shimono [Yamada]May 16, 1974 - May 18, 1974Lovely Ladies, Kind Gentlemen[Musical, Comedy, Original] Performer: Sab Shimono [Ancient Man, Mr. Keora, Okinawan/American] Understudy: Sab Shimono [Mr. Oshira]Dec 28, 1970 - Jan 09, 1971Mame[Musical, Comedy, Original] Performer: Sab Shimono ItoIto - ReplacementMay 24, 1966 - Jan 03, 1970 1991 Drama Desk Award Outstanding Actor in a PlaySab Shimono (for "The Wash") [nominee] Find out where Sab Shimono and are credited together © 2001-2015, The Broadway League, All Rights Reserved. (Copyright and Disclaimer)


text:
- Filed Under
Conner's girls' basketball team traveled to Franklin County and defeated Meade County 70-63 in the Franklin County Shootout.
Conner, ranked No. 9 in The Enquirer Northern Kentucky coaches' poll, was led by sophomore guard Hunter Hendricks, who finished with a team-high 19 points, seven rounds and six assists.
Senior guard Brooke Maines aadded 18 points and seven rebounds for Conner, and senior center Madi Meyers recorded a double-double with 12 points and 12 rebounds. ...


text:
Skip to: Physics | Biophysics | Engineering Physics | Applied Physics
Every generation faces new and complex challenges. In content, physics seeks to understand the properties and behavior of the fundamental constituents of nature – matter and energy – leading to an exploration spanning from the subatomic scale of atoms and nuclei (particle physics) to the cosmic scale of galaxies and the Universe (astrophysics and cosmology). But the critical thinking skills that students master through their analysis of these various complex physical systems are transferable toward the solution of all complex problems. For this reason, a physics-based education provides a strong foundation upon which numerous career and research paths can begin – be they in the sciences, engineering, humanities, or business.
Guided by the University Mission, and driven by a commitment to the common good and to the education of the whole person, it is the goal of the physics department to be a learning community that fosters thought, discussion, and exploration through meaningful interactions among students and faculty and provides students with an educational experience that is tailored to their specific passions and interests. Toward that end, we offer Bachelor of Science degrees in:
Program specific information can be found by clicking on the corresponding word or tab.


text:
Many firms could save money by following HSBC's lead and moving support operations offshore. But for a company with less global presence than the banking giant, this process can be challenging. As well as choosing the right local partner, enterprises need to build support for the process among their own staff - rather than running the risk of alienating them.
Recent political events have somewhat dampened the explosion of interest in India and the Philippines as locations for call centers. Some US firms now favor nearer locations such as Canada and Mexico. However, for many companies, the cost savings afforded by these locations will outweigh the (often exaggerated) risks.
Insurer Prudential's decision to 'export' jobs to Mumbai is a bold move; it could both cut staff costs by 80% and improve quality of service. As utilities look to reduce costs and fight the downward price pressures that erode margins in the residential sector, they might do well to follow suit. The Pru's high profile example should encourage such moves.
The battle lines have been drawn, with tier-one providers such as IBM Global Services, CSC, EDS and CGEY all gearing up to grow their own units in India. With price competition driving the move, many of these companies are being forced to build their offshore businesses or risk a reduced ability to win major projects.
It was announced recently that negotiations are at an advanced stage for Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), to take over the operation of life and pensions administration for the closed book portfolio of UK-based insurer Pearl Group. The deal involves the transfer of existing Pearl non-IT staff to TCS and marks a significant watershed in the UK's outsourcing market.
One of Barack Obama's key goals as president is to reduce healthcare costs, particularly those related to prescription medications, by increasing the importation of generic drugs. However, the majority of these, or their ingredients, are manufactured in China, and to build confidence in such products, which are often considered unsafe, the FDA will require updated IT systems and solutions.
Edit my basket
© Datamonitor 2014. All rights reserved
About Datamonitor
Terms & Conditions
Privacy Policy


text:
June 22nd 2011 at 10:39 pm

 Filling:

 5-6 c. blueberries, fresh or frozen (If frozen, thaw and drain before using)

 3/4 c. sugar

 1/3 c. flour

 1 tbs. lemon juice

 2 tbs. corn starch

 Topping:

 1/2 c. flour

 1/2 c. brown sugar

 3 tbs. butter

 Crust:

 1 1/4 c. flour

 1/4 tsp salt

 1/2 c. unsalted butter

 The recipe calls for lemon juice in the filling, but you can use lime juice as an alternative. I like using lime simply because it's what I have on hand.

 Combine your sugar, flour and cornstarch in a large bowl, and make sure you mix it thoroughly before adding the berries.

 Fold in the berries gently, you don't want to crush them! Add the lemon juice while you're doing this. You'll end up with a goopy berry mixture, set it in the fridge if you aren't using it immediately.

 For the topping, make sure you are using a packed cup of brown sugar. Mix the flour and sugar together before cutting in the butter.

 Mid-cutting the butter in -- when you're done, it should look like crumbs, with no large butter chunks left.

 Making the crust! This is loads easier if you have a food processor. Simply put the dry ingredients together, and blend for a few seconds. You want crumbs, not chunks of butter in the flour. Make sure everything is cold!

 Add the water a tiny bit at a time -- the last thing you want to do is add too much water to the mix. When you've done it correctly, the end result should look like coarse cornmeal, with the butter still solid. If it holds its shape when you pinch it, you've done it correctly.

 Place the crumbles on a sheet of plastic wrap, squishing them together into a loose ball and wrapping it tight. You want to leave the dough in the fridge for at least an hour or two, preferably overnight.

 Make sure you've got flour where you are rolling out the dough -- you don't want the dough to stick! You can put a little flour on your rolling pin too, if you like. Bonus: Keep your rolling pin in the freezer until you're ready to roll out your dough, it'll make sure everything stays nice and cool.

 Roll your dough out in a circle. ...as you can see here, I am definitely not an expert on rolling dough yet. As long as you can completely cover your pie pan, you're set.

 The dough is going to be delicate. Fold it in half, then lay it over your pie pan and fold it back out. Trim off the excess dough with a knife, leave yourself enough to pinch around the edge -- the more you leave, the thicker the edge of your crust will be.

 Use your thumb and forefinger to indent the crust around the edge of the pie pan. ...I'm not an expert on this, either! As you can see, I have a very narrow crust on top -- mostly because I don't like a big chunk of crust on the end of my pie.

 Add your berry mix to your pie pan. If you were keeping the mixture in the fridge, fold it a few times before you put it in your pie, because the liquid settles in the bottom of the bowl if you leave it sitting too long.

 Add your crumbles to the top of your pie -- you can use as much or as little as you like. With my family, the topping is very popular, so I dump a lot on top.

 Bake for 40 minutes at 375 degrees. Check it before you pull it out of the oven for good -- the edges of the crust should be a golden brown. If they aren't, put it back in for another five minutes and check it again.

 Make sure you let it cool completely before you try and cut it, or you'll end up with berry juice all over the place. Enjoy!

© 2015 AOL Inc.
All rights reserved. Reprints and Permissions Privacy Policy Updated Terms of Use Trademarks AOL A-Z Help Advertise with Us


text:
Whether commuting from work or just cruising at night time on your
bicycle, being seen by motorists is essential for your safety. These
cool Signal Gloves
from DOPPELGANGER in Japan, are a definite upgrade on your safety, the
gloves have an embedded LED light triggered by a thumb-accessible button
that flashes indicating the direction you wish to take, alerting both
cyclists and motorists. via
Bless this Stuff claims no credit for any images featured on this site unless otherwise noted.
All visual content is copyright to its respectful owners. If you own right to any of the images, and do not wish them to appear here, please contact us and they will be promptly removed.
Privacy | RSS feed | Contact | advertise


text:
For a brief time on Wednesday, Davy Crockett became the face of President Barack Obama's push to get more states to expand Medicaid.
Mr. Crockett, who described himself as a fifth-generation great-grandson of Davy Crockett, the American folk hero, attended the president's speech in Nashville, Tenn., and got the opportunity to ask a question.
He expressed frustration about denials of his application for Social Security benefits. Mr. Obama promised to look into it. Read More »


text:
SRAM issue new video update on hydraulic disc brake recall
Will be announcing an update on 15th January to 'get everyone back on hydraulics' + video
Previous News
Following the complete recall of its Red and S700 hydraulic disc brake systems, SRAM president Stan Day has appeared in another video on its recall website and says the company will be announcing on 15 January a comprehensive plan to get everyone back on hydraulics.
SRAM recalled its entire line of RED 22 and S-700 Road Hydraulic disc brakes last December, amounting to 19,000 brakes, after identifying a problem that could lead to a potential failure. The company subsequently launched a website, on which it urges anyone who has bought a bike with RED 22 and S-700 Road Hydraulic disc brakes on it, to register to keep updated.
President Stan Day recently issued a video apology and explanation of the reason for the recall soon after the recall announcement was made. He also outlined a replacement plan, providing two options, replacement mechanical brakes and levers with the option of receiving the redesigned hydraulic brakes when they're available, or a cheque for €150. Mechanical disc brakes should be in stock now, says Stan Day in the video above, and requests anyone affected to contact their dealer now.
SRAM say that to their knowledge there have been no injuries as a result of the failures which occurred during cyclocross races held in sub-zero temperatures when, according to SRAM, the master cylinder seals (the master cylinder is located in the brake lever) failed to hold pressure resulting in "abrupt loss of brake power, and an inability to stop the bike."
Have you been affected by this recall? Head over to http://sramroadhydraulicbrakerecall.com/ if you have
Not the best start for hydraulics but hey every new technology has some bumps. Although you could argue hydraulic brakes on bakes aren't exactly new
posted by jarredscycling [457 posts]
10th January 2014 - 21:25


text:
Add Date: May 19
Artist: The Field
Album: Yesterday and Today
Label: Kompakt/Anti-
Genre: Electronica, ambient
Comments: From the onesheet: "The Field is Axel Willner, and his last album, From Here We Go Sublime, was one of the most acclaimed releases of 2007, receiving a 9.0 on Pitchfork and universal praise. It was a soundtrack to the spit-shined airport of your dreams--faceless, futuristic, and fuzzy. You could dance to it, sleep to it, or daydream to it: it's a versatile little album... On the new album, Willner expands his palette, continuing the oblique sampling of From Here We Go Sublime while building up the rhythmic architecture; on the title track, Willner collaborates for the first time with Battles drummer John Stanier..."
This is wonderful and truly beautiful ambient electronic music from Willner, who's also a highly sought-after remixer, but it's also definitely a commitment from a radio standpoint. (The tracks range from 7 to 16 minutes in length.) Carve out some extra time to spin "Everybody's Got to Learn," "I Have the Moon, You Have the Internet" or the aforementioned title track, and you won't be disappointed.
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
No comments:
Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)


text:
Mon, 5 Oct, 2015, 3:23 PM EDT - Canadian Markets close in 37 mins.
Speculation is rampant that a deal is the works that will see Montreal's Cirque Du Soleil sold to New … More » What Canada loses if Cirque du Soleil is sold
For the past three years, Elite Traveller magazine has asked its readers, a group that apparently averages … More » The top 10 restaurants in the world in 2015
In a quest to find the best deals in Canadian real estate for 2015, MoneySense has ranked … More » Best deals in real estate 2015: Canada's top 10 cities to buy in
How deep is your love? The Lovers Deep submarine offers the chance for an adventurous, rich — and … More » The submarine hotel, Lovers Deep
Pinpointing exactly how many kilometers, on average, any given model has racked up is virtually impossible, … More » 15 most reliable cars in history
The most successful entrepreneurs of the digital age have often taken unusual routes to success; in fact, … More » 10 inspiring quotes on education from tech icons


text:
TEGIN® Pellets
INCI Name:
Glyceryl Stearate SE
Evonik Industries AG Personal Care
TEGIN® Pellets is an emulsifier based on vegetable raw materials with a usage concentration of 6.0 - 8.0 %. It is an emulsifier for O/W creams with pleasant application properties. It produces stable creams from pH 6.8 - 8.2. The creams based on TEGIN® Pellets are distinguished by good stability towards heat and freezing stress; stability between -15 °C and +50 °C is attainable.
- TEGIN® Pellets Datasheet (English)
Specification Sheet
- TEGIN® Pellets (English)
Evonik Industries AG Personal Care is a major provider of sophisticated active complexes and high-quality plant extracts to the Personal Care and Cosmetics industry. Evonik's active ingredients have been extensively researched and tested and provide a wide range of effects from anti-aging, protection, moisturizing, odor absorption to skin tone modulation and hair care and more.


text:
May 12, 2012
• Box Score | Box Score
LINCOLN, Neb. --Trailing with two outs in the top of the seventh, the Wisconsin softball team rallied to load the bases and bring the tying run to the plate, but couldn't find a way to score, falling to Nebraska 4-1 in the regular season finale Saturday afternoon in Lincoln.
Back-to-back doubles by Wisconsin in the sixth inning scored a run and cut into the Huskers' lead. Whitney Massey doubled to start the inning and Shannel Blackshear followed with a double to score Massey from second and put the Badgers on the scoreboard.
Wisconsin (34-19 overall, 13-10 Big Ten) continued to fight in the seventh inning, loading the bases with two outs to threaten Nebraska's lead. Maria Van Abel singled to the left side to get the rally started and walks by Mary Massei and Kendall Grimm loaded the bases for Massey. With the tying run at the plate, Nebraska's Ashley Hagemann was able to get Massey to strike out swinging to end the game.
Nebraska (33-22, 14-9) scored its first run of the game in the first inning, taking advantage of a Badger error to jump ahead by a run. The Huskers tacked on three more in fifth, also capitalizing on a Wisconsin error, to take a 4-0 lead.
UW starting pitcher Cassandra Darrah recorded four and two-thirds innings in the circle for the Badgers. Darrah surrendered just three hits, struck out one and walked five. All four of Nebraska's runs were unearned. Meghan McIntosh relieved Darrah in the fifth inning, recording the final four outs. McIntosh didn't allow a hit and walked two batters.
Hagemann recorded a complete game for the Huskers, allowing four hits, walking five and striking out six UW batters.
Wisconsin finishes the 2012 regular season with a program-best 13 Big Ten wins. UW's 34 regular-season victories ties the most in school history, while its 14 road wins are a program-best.
The Badgers' post-season fate will be determined on Sunday during the NCAA selection show. Fans can watch live on ESPNU at 9 p.m.
2015 Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System. All rights reserved worldwide.
Contact Us | Problems or accessibility issues: email@example.com


text:
Geological Sciences
University of Idaho
875 Perimeter Drive, MS 3022
Moscow, ID 83844-3022
phone: (208) 885-6192
We would like to hear from you! What have you been up to since graduating from U of I? Do you have any news you would like to share with fellow alums? Please drop us an email with your latest news and contact information. Check back periodically so you can find out what happened to all your fellow students from yesteryear. Please send information to Mickey Gunter at email@example.com.
Jonathan Meyer was born and raised in Nampa, Idaho where he graduated from Vallivue High School in 2005. Jonathan earned a B.S. in Geological Sciences from the University of Idaho in 2009, where he researched magmatic dike induced mega floods in the Elysium volcanic province, Mars, with senior thesis advisor Prof. Simon Kattenhorn. Jonathan is currently a graduate student at the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) where he is pursuing a M.S. in Geological Sciences.
Jonathan is part of NASA's 2011 Desert Research and Technology Studies (RATS) team which evaluates technology, human-robotic systems and extravehicular equipment in the high desert near Flagstaff, AZ. Jonathan's research focuses on lunar in situ resource discovery and utilization through the UTEP Center for Space Exploration Technology Research. Jonathan is currently developing new methods for lunar lava tube discovery and characterization using Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) data. Jonathan served on the strategic science team for Desert RATS 2010, and has been given the opportunity to serve as a geologist crew member for Desert RATS 2011. Field analog studies like Desert RATS aid Jonathan's research tremendously by providing a unique insight into the scientific planning and execution of manned exploration missions. Understanding the logistics of extraterrestrial exploration, and how to best conduct scientific operations will help Jonathan determine the utility of newly discovered lunar lava tube candidates.
After completing an M.S. in Geology in 2009, I began work for Barrick Gold Corporation, the largest gold mining company in the world. I am Project Geologist of the delineation drilling program at a mine called Turquoise Ridge, near Winnemucca Nevada. Turquoise Ridge is a subsurface mine, and the deepest point in the mine is about 1/2 mile underground.
The day-to-day activities of my job vary. Some days I log core, block core for assay intervals, interpret drill results, plan future drill programs, coordinate drill moves, QA/QC our data, verify and approve drill holes in the database, have safety meetings with the drill contractor, budget, write monthly reports, and go underground to chase drill rigs for a variety of reasons. It's a fast paced, dynamic environment and the underground is continually changing.
I really like my job – Barrick is a great company and has provided me with ample opportunity for professional development. Because Barrick is an international company with properties all over Nevada, South America, Australia, South Africa, and Alaska, I never know where the next opportunity will take me, and that's exciting.
After completing my B.S. degree in Geology in 2005, I continued my education at the University of Idaho to obtain my M.S. in Hydrology in 2007. Upon finishing school, I became a Research Hydrologist for the Idaho Water Resources Research Institute in Idaho Falls, ID. In the two years that I have been here, I've worked on a variety of projects that have included the Eastern Snake River Plain (ESRP) aquifer and the Spokane Valley-Rathdrum Prairie (SVRP) aquifer systems.
In the ESRP, I have been involved with updating the water budget of the ESRP Aquifer Model and developing a monitoring network of wells to conduct a recharge experiment in the northern area of the plain. I've also been involved with several geochemical experiments at the Idaho National Lab. For the SVRP aquifer, I was tasked with creating a user-friendly spreadsheet from the SVRP aquifer model to allow anyone to estimate surface water response to various recharge or pumping events in the SVRP.
Attending graduate school at the University of Idaho gave me the opportunity to work with several great professors and make many important contacts, which has led to the projects I work on today.


text:
Welcome to your best resource for Chattanooga and Hamilton County information! Please refer to this section for school and community information, utility links and resources, and all things Chattanooga!
If you are a buyer looking for a home or other real estate opportunties here in Chattanooga or surrounding communities, Bridge City Realty will search exhaustively to find your perfect place.
We will provide you with all the nececssary tools for finding the right property, from free access to perform your own search of Chattanooga area homes to comprehensive home purchasing and financing resources.
Welcome to your home sellers' resource, designed specifically to be your go-to for all things Southeast Tennessee and Northern Georgia!
Bridge City Realty is committed to helping sell your home or property in a timely fashion while attaining the highest possible price for your real estate.


text:
Body-stealing plot
Elvis was originally laid to rest at Forest Lawn Cemetery in Memphis, but soon after, when a plot to steal his body failed, he was interred in Meditation Garden on the grounds of Graceland. Elvis' father had requested that the valuable rings buried with him be removed before re-interment. I have heard that opening the casket, all present were astonished to find Elvis' body in an uncorrupted state. Despite embalming, the corpse should not have appeared in such condition. It was not just the preservation that startled them. There was an other-worldly look about it of almost transparent beauty. Elvis was fascinated by the Yogis and Saints ability to achieve transition of this physical realm at will, and studied the teachings of Parahamsaji Yogananda, whose body remained in a perfect state for quite some time after his death transition.
- The Commercial Appeal - August 27, 1977
Body of Elvis' mother moved to Mausoleum. 'The body of Gladys Love Presley, was quietly unearthed and moved late yesterday (Aug.26) into the Mausoleum where het son was entombed last week. In a 3 hour and 17 minute operation, 11 workers at Forest Hill Cemetery Midtown unearthed the massive steel and copper casket....' 'Vernon Presley, the entertainer's father, made the decision....'
- The Commercial Appeal - August 30, 1977
Three Charged in Body-stealing Plot. 'Three Memphis men were charged yesterday (Aug.29) afternoon with criminal trespassing in connection with what Police Director E. Winslow Chapman said was a plot to steal the entombed body of Elvis Presley'.
- The Commercial Appeal - September 8, 1977
Graceland site for Grave of Presley's. 'An application to allow the bodies of Elvis and his mother, Gladys to be moved to the Meditation Garden at Presley's Graceland Mansion was submitted yesterday (sept.7) to the board of Adjustment.....The request will be heard at the board's next meeting September 28, 1977.'
- The Commercial Appeal - October 3, 1977
Bodies of Elvis, Mother are moved. The move was unannounced. Two white hearses escorted by eight city police officers and five Shelby County deputies took the bodies of Elvis and his mother, Gladys, into the rear entrance of Graceland shortly after 7 last night (Oct.2)'.....' Only a few watchers were outside the gates of Graceland when the cortege arrived, and at first some did not realize what they had seen. The board of Adjustment gave permission last Wednesday to rebury the bodies on the south side of Graceland estatie....'
- The Commercial Appeal - October 5, 1977
Charges against 3 dropped, in Presley-body theft case. 'Trespassing charges against three men accused in a purported scheme to steal the body of Elvis were dismissed yesterday (oct.4) after the prosecutor said the city could not vouch for the truthfulness of it's key witness.'
Inside story of the Elvis bodysnatching by ex-Marine who tipped off the Police.
September 1977
who took part in the attempt to snatch
Elvis Presley's body told for the first
time this week the inside story of the
macabre plot.
- WorldNetDaily - August 15, 2002
FBI witness: Presley clan staged Elvis
An FBI informant involved in a plot to steal Elvis Presley's body shortly after he died claims the Presley family staged the grave-robbing to persuade Memphis officials to move him from the public cemetery to Graceland, a veteran FBI agent told WorldNetdaily.
The late Vernon Presley, Elvis' father and executor of his estate at the time, wanted his son buried on the mansion grounds, but it was in an area not zoned for burials. So three weeks after Elvis died of a heart attack, he had lawyers for the Presley estate petition the Memphis Shelby County Board of Adjustment for a zoning variance. They cited what they called an attempted theft of Presley's body several days earlier and the expense of round-the-clock security. Three men were arrested Aug. 29, 1977, near the Forest Hill Cemetery mausoleum where Evis was entombed in a 900-pound copper coffin. One of them was Ronnie Tyler, who later became an FBI informant. 'The scheme had been hatched after the Memphis board had refused the Presley family's request to bury Elvis at Graceland.' he said. Ivian C. Smith, former head of the FBI's Arkansas office, says Tyler told him years later that former Shelby County sheriff's deputy Billy Talley set up the hoax.
The Memphis board on September 28, 1977, OK'd Presley's request to move his son's body to Graceland and the singer was reburied there October 2, 1977.
Elvis at Forest Hill Cemetery, Memphis
Mug shot of Ronnie Lee Adkins, Bruce Eugend Nelson, Gary Oscar Travis, Raymond Martin Green, perpetrators in the plot to steal Elvis' body while it was interned at the Forest Hill Cemetery Mausoleum.
• Elvis Presley Pedia - www.elvispresleypedia.com • Contact • Webmaster •
Copyright © Elvis, Elvis Presley and Heartbreak Hotel are registered trademarks of Elvis Presley Enterprises.


text:
The Woman in the Burka
Every day, in hundreds of Ross Dress For Less's in hundreds of cities, women are looking for the perfect "something."
Intrigued by both the woman and poem that made its way in after so many years, I left the store with a new sense of awe, a shudder, a shiver of reverence even my mother would sanction godly enough. Best of all, I was so grateful, am so grateful, to live in a country, in a marriage, in a life that lets me be me.
"Wear it well," she said.