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Greeting All,
2018 has started off as a great year! From having the best customers, being featured in The Manual Online Magazine, and now doing an exclusive interview for Voyage Houston Magazine.
This interview allow me to tell the story of Dr Goat and to prove some insight behind the business. This opportunity really opened my eyes to how intrigued people are not only in Dr Goat products, but also of the story behind the brand.
With that being said, I invite you all to take a moment and read the full interview. Feel free to leave a comment.
Thank you all again for your support!

subset: commoncrawl


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get involved.
Do you want to support us or become a part of Bike Bridge? We are always looking for volunteers who either become trainers for one of our cycling courses or help out with the maintenance of our bikes. Donations in all forms are greatly appreciated as well. Get in touch by using our contact form, give us a call or just swing by our office.


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Sometimes, no matter how well trained your dog is when it comes to potty breaks, accidents can happen. Diapers are not just for humans our beloved pooches may need them too on some occasions.
It is not ideal to put your dog in diapers for all of its life. The use of diapers is only recommended when the accidents happen much too often. It could be that they have illnesses or diseases or a female dog could be in heat.
If you think your dog needs diapers, here are a few suggestions we have of the best dog diapers available.
Vet's Best Comfort Fit Disposable Male Dog Diapers
Vet's Best Comfort Fit Disposable Male Dog Diapers is specifically designed for male dogs. It is a comfortable fit around a male dog to prevent accidents around your house. This pack of disposable male dog wraps will cost you less than $11.
These wraps have super-absorbent cores and have leak-proof elastic barriers. Well as a diaper, its job is to prevent leakage so that should be a no-brainer.
Of course, these diapers should fit comfortably around your dog. This uses fur-safe fasteners to keep it secured. Your dog's fur will surely be safe from being pulled.
If you have an active dog, the diaper is stretchable for flexible movement. This also has a wetness indicator to let you know when it needs changing.
- Stretchy and comfortable
- Changes color when wet
- Locks in moisture
- Some customers complained that the tabs have lowered in quality
- Not recommended to be reused
- $11 is kind of expensive for a 12-pack
Teamoy Reusable Wrap Diapers for Male Dogs
If you do not like buying diapers repeatedly, a reusable one will do you good. Three pieces of these bell bands will cost you less than $14. The may be costly now, but they can repeatedly be used, unlike disposable ones.
Teamoy Reusable Wrap Diapers are padded and soft. It has two layers of microfiber to prevent urine from leaking.This has a wide magic tape closure to keep the diapers securely around your male dog's waist. This also makes the diaper easily adjustable, so it accommodates your dog's movement.
These diapers can be machine or hand washed. The high-quality fabric can last a long time even after so many uses.
- Environment-friendly and economical
- Available in different colors and patterns
- Secure magic tape
- Does not have a wetness indicator
- Inaccurate sizing chart
Wegreeco Washable Female Dog Diapers
Wegreeco Washable diapers are perfect for female dogs when they are in heat. Since heat is a natural thing that happens to them, we can only prevent the bloodstains when we put them on diapers. For less than $15, you will have three pieces of diapers for your dog to use over and over.
These soft and absorbent diapers can also be used for other urinary problems, of course. Your dog will be comfortable wearing these because it does not have the rough texture disposable ones have. These are also secured by Velcro that will not stick to their fur.
Your furniture also will not get wet because the outer layer is waterproof.
- Tested for quality and durability
- Available in different colors and prints
- Environment-friendly and economical
- Guaranteed safe and non-toxic
- Not recommended for 24/7 use
- The tail hole is small for large dogs
- Inaccurate sizing chart
Simple Solution Disposable Female Dog Diapers
If you do not have the time and energy to wash diapers, you can just opt for disposable ones. These disposable diapers from Simple Solution are designed for female dogs. A 30-piece pack will cost you less than $22.
Simple Solution diapers have super-absorbent cores and leak-proof barriers. Moisture would be kept in so that no mess would go into your rugs, carpets, couches, and other parts of the house. After every use, you simply have to throw it in the trash.
Dogs can be quite playful, so these diapers are secured with fasteners to keep it from slipping. Do not worry as these are fur-friendly, which means it will not stick to the fur. This also has a tail hole so your dog's tail can move around freely.
- Soft and breathable outer layer
- Made of stretchable fabric
- Has long wings to keep it in place
- Can get stinky
- Gives rash to dogs with sensitive skin
- The sizes are actually pretty small
Factors to Consider When Choosing the Best Dog Diaper that Stays On
Male or Female
Dog diapers are manufactured differently for male and female dogs. Usually, male diapers are like bands that go around their genital area. Female diapers wrap around and cover their bottoms with a hole for their tails.
Male dogs may need diapers for incontinence, urinary tract problems, aging or illnesses. Females can also have problems because of those and also whenever they are in heat. Diapers are useful to prevent leakages and messes around your house.
Disposable or Reusable
The biggest advantage of reusable dog diapers is that they are environment-friendly and economical. They can save you a lot more money than keeping on buying disposable ones. This is a better option if your dog needs the long-term use of diapers.
Disposable ones, however, are better if you cannot or do not want to wash reusable diapers. Sometimes we may just be too busy with other stuff that washing doggy diapers is not a priority. Disposable dog diapers are best for occasional use.
Dog diapers that are soft and snug are more comfortable for your dogs. They may be able to wear those diapers longer instead of whining and trying to shake it off. Because diapers are designed for preventing leakage, it is important that they are super absorbent.
Disposable and reusable diapers are made of different materials. Reusable ones are usually made of cloth so they can be washed and used repeatedly. Disposable diapers, however, are made for one-time use only, which can be terrible to the environment.
The size of the diapers can make or break the usability of it. What is the point of using diapers if it will just leak right? Diapers are supposed to keep moisture in.
Too large diapers will not be able to hold in wetness and may cause leakage. Too small diapers can be very uncomfortable and restrictive for your dogs. Be sure to measure your dog's waist to be able to determine what size fits best.
Sometimes sizing charts can be inaccurate. Even if you measure your dogs, there is still a possibility that the diapers could be too small or large. If the sizing chart is the problem, trial and error might be the solution, or maybe some helpful reviews from other customers.
Is your dog having problems with wetting? After taking your dog to the vet to check for possible illnesses, dog diapers can help with the mess.
Keep in mind that dogs can be very active, so their diapers need to stay on. These dog diapers we have for you have secure and fur-friendly fasteners to keep them around your dogs.
These dog diapers are good to have for potty training your fur babies. However, if uncontrollable problems cause the wetting, then you definitely must have these at the ready.


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Pizza delivery has long been the lazy man's solution to dinner, so it's only appropriate that it seems to have brought us the latest innovation designed to phase out effort: No-click purchasing.
Yes, you can now order pizza by doing practically nothing. This gem of effortless consumption comes to you from a longtime industry titan, Domino's Pizza, which introduced its Zero Click app in early April.
"Zero-click ordering is as easy as it sounds," according to a Domino's press release.. Before you get too excited about mindlessly ordering your next cheesy pie, you should know that you will have to do a teensy bit of leg work. (Finger work? You can do it all from your smartphone or computer.)
First, you need to create a Domino's Pizza profile and set an Easy Order. Once you've downloaded the Zero Click app and linked it to your profile, you can place an order merely by opening the app. You'll see a timer, which counts down the 10 seconds you have to stop the order before it is placed. You can pause the timer if you want some extra time to think, and if you leave the app before the timer expires, your order will not be placed. The timer will restart upon opening the app.
As an online demonstration of the app says: "It's easy. Maybe too easy. You've been warned."
It's a Ninja Turtle's dream.
It could also be a financial nightmare, if you aren't careful. On this app, the barrier to ordering is so thin that it seems like you could easily place an order you don't actually want. (An image of a small child, sitting in front of a towering stack of pizza boxes, playing with Dad's smartphone, comes to mind.)
Of course, anything that makes it easy to buy something can be dangerous, so it's on you to have some self control. Think about it: Do you want to be that person who goes into credit card debt because you couldn't stop ordering pizza? Didn't think so.
On a more serious note, just because it's easy to spend money without thinking about it doesn't mean you it's a good idea to ignore your finances as a whole. Seemingly small, habitual purchases can quickly add up (especially on a credit card), so you should take care in budgeting and tracking your spending. Those are helpful practices if you're working toward goals like saving for retirement or good credit. You can track your financial goals, like improving your credit scores, for free on Credit.com.
More on Credit Cards:
- Credit.com's Expert Credit Card Shopping Tips
- How to Get a Credit Card With Bad Credit
- An Expert Guide to Credit Cards With Rewards
Image: Pekic


text: No Firmware Update without Support Contract Hi out there. Im new to the Ruckus so please don't nail me for some Questions. We are running a Zone director 220.127.116.11 Build. For th... Christian Hartmann, 7 years ago Last reply: Keith - Pack Leader, 7 years ago 1 1 me too 7 7 replies Question Answered


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Car Insurance Calculation Explained
Car Insurance Calculation Different companies will apply different factors to the way they finally arrive at a price for your Car Insurance. Generally speaking though the concept is the same. This involves collecting various bits of information from you and feeding it through a computer system which adds or takes away money depending on the answers you give. The value put on these answers is decided by the individual Car Insurance company. For example, some Car Insurance companies may believe that having a speeding conviction increases your chance of having a mishap in the future – therefore they may add money to your price ifRead More →


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Home > NRC Library > Document Collections > Generic Communications > Information Notices > 1988 > IN 88-74
Information Notice No. 88-74: Potentially Inadequate Performance of ECCS in PWRs During Recirculation Operation Following a LOCA
UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION OFFICE OF NUCLEAR REACTOR REGULATION WASHINGTON, D.C. 20555 September 14, 1988 Information Notice No. 88-74: POTENTIALLY INADEQUATE PERFORMANCE OF ECCS IN PWRs DURING RECIRCULATION OPERATION FOLLOWING A LOCA Addressees: All holders of operating licenses or construction permits for Westinghouse (W) and Babcock and Wilcox (B&W)-designed nuclear power reactors. Purpose: This information notice is being provided to alert addressees to potential problems that could result in inadequate performance of the emergency core cooling system (ECCS) during the recirculation phase of operation following a loss-of-coolant accident (LOCA). It is expected that recipients will review the information for applicability to their facilities and consider actions, as appropriate, to avoid similar problems. However, suggestions contained in this information notice do not constitute NRC requirements; therefore, no specific action or written response is required. Description of Circumstances: The NRC has received two licensee event reports on potential deficiencies in performance of the ECCS during the recirculation phase of operation following a small-break LOCA. These events were reported by the licensees of the Oconee and Turkey Point facilities after engineering analysis for each facility had identified the potential problems. Oconee Nuclear Station During a technical review of nuclear safety-related mechanical calculations, the licensee discovered that the design analysis had not been adequately per- formed for the recirculation phase of operation following a small-break LOCA. Subsequent engineering analysis indicated the following design deficiencies: (1) Under certain small-break LOCA scenarios, when the borated water storage tank (BWST) is depleted and the reactor coolant system (RCS) pressure remains high (greater than the low-pressure injection (LPI) pump shut-off head), a piggyback-type operation is required to ensure core cooling. This operation entails taking suction from the reactor building sump, through the LPI pumps, through the high-pressure injection (HPI) pumps, 8809080339 . IN 88-74 September 14, 1988 Page 2 of 3 and then to the RCS. However, because of (1) the high flow resistance in the cross-connect piping between the HPI and LPI pumps, (2) the potential for partially closed LPI discharge throttle valves, and (3) the high flow rate downstream of the LPI pumps, there may not have been adequate net positive suction head (NPSH) at the suction inlets of the HPI pumps. Inadequate NPSH would render the HPI system inoperable. The high flow rate would have occurred when the reactor building spray pumps and HPI pumps take suction simultaneously from the LPI pump discharge. The licensee has corrected the problem by revising the operating pro- cedures to provide guidance for maintaining adequate NPSH to the HPI pumps operating in the piggyback mode. The revised procedures provide for (1) HPI flow limitations when the HPI and reactor building spray pumps are piggybacked off the LPI pumps, (2) precautions on the use of reactor building spray, and (3) precautions on the throttling of the LPI discharge valves LP-12 and LP-14. (A simplified Oconee ECCS and reactor building spray system are shown in Attachment 1.) (2) A single failure of the "TD" ECCS switchgear during loss of offsite power would have prevented the remote alignment of the LPI system to the HPI system in the piggyback mode because (1) valves LP-9, LP-15, and LPI pump B are powered by ECCS switchgear bus "TD" but their backup power supplies are classified as load shed power supplies, and (2) valves LP-9 and LP-15 were in the normally closed position. The licensee has corrected the problem by (1) changing valve LP-9 to a normally open position so that it will not be required to operate when the LPI system is being aligned with the HPI system in the piggyback mode of operation, and (2) revising the emergency operating procedure to ensure time is available for operators to locally, manually open valves LP-15 and LP-16 (if the valves cannot be opened remotely) before LPI suction must be swapped from the BWST to the reactor building sump. Turkey Point Nuclear Station As part of its ongoing design-basis reconstitution program, the licensee dis- covered a condition of potentially inadequate NPSH for the containment spray and safety injection (SI) pumps during the recirculation mode of operation following a LOCA. Under these conditions, the low head residual heat removal (RHR) pumps are providing flow to the containment spray pumps and the SI pumps. A throttle valve in each RHR discharge line is normally throttled to 30 percent. However, an analysis to support this valve throttling position had not been performed. To resolve this discrepancy, the subject valves were locked in the fully open position until an engineering evaluation showed that the original configuration (30 percent open) was acceptable. . IN 88-74 September 14, 1988 Page 3 of 3 Discussion: Following a small-break LOCA, the piggyback mode of operation may be required (depending on the size and location of the break) to sustain injection flow when the BWST (B&W plant) or refueling water storage tank (Westinghouse plant) has been depleted and RCS pressure remains above the shutoff head of the low head pumps. As previously described, two mechanisms could prevent this in- tended piggyback mode from operating: (1) insufficient NPSH at HPI (or SI) pump suction inlets, or (2) inadequate operating procedures combined with system design deficiencies for a loss-of-offsite-power condition. Although the low head pumps provide relatively high discharge pressure, the intervening cross-connect piping between the high head and low head systems and/or partially closed low head pump discharge valves could result in excessive hydraulic resistance and cause insufficient NPSH at the HPI (or SI) pump suction inlets. Insufficient NPSH could also be caused by running multiple pumps off the dis-charge of a single pump that may increase the flow above the design flow rate and consequently reduce the available pressure at the low head pump discharge. These are safety concerns because of the reliance on HPI (or SI) for mitigating small-break LOCAs, and in some cases, the piggyback-type operation is used for hot leg recirculation even for large-break LOCAs. There are no redundant systems to perform the function of the HPI (or SI) system in the piggyback mode. Although the reactor vessel high-point vents and the power-operated relief valve(s) could be used to depressurize the RCS to low head pump operating pressures, the related safety analysis had never been performed - thus, their effectiveness was not ensured. No specific action or written response is required by this information notice. If you have any questions about this matter, please contact one of the technical contacts listed below or the Regional Administrator of the appropriate regional office. Charles E. Rossi, Director Division of Operational Events Assessment Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Technical Contacts: S. Israel, AEOD (301) 492-4437 J. Thompson, NRR (301) 492-1175 P. Wen, NRR (301) 492-1172 Attachments: 1. Figure 1, Simplified Oconee Emergency Core Cooling and Reactor Building Spray Systems 2. List of Recently Issued NRC Information Notices . Attachment 2 IN 88-74 September 14, 1988 Page 1 of 1 LIST OF RECENTLY ISSUED NRC INFORMATION NOTICES _____________________________________________________________________________ Information Date of Notice No._____Subject_______________________Issuance_______Issued to________ 88-73 Direction-Dependent Leak 9/8/88 All holders of OLs Characteristics of or CPs for nuclear Containment Purge Valves power reactors. 88-72 Inadequacies in the Design 9/2/88 All holders of OLs of dc Motor-Operated Valves or CPs for nuclear power reactors. 88-71 Possible Environmental 9/1/88 All holders of OLs Effect of the Reentry or CPs for nuclear of COSMOS 1900 and power reactors, Request for Collection fuel cycle of Licensee Radioactivity licensees, and Measurements Attributed Priority 1 to That Event material licensees. 88-70 Check Valve Inservice 8/29/88 All holders of OLs Testing Program or CPs for nuclear Deficiencies power reactors. 88-69 Movable Contact Finger 8/19/88 All holders of OLs Binding in HFA Relays or CPs for nuclear Manufactured by General power reactors. Electric (GE) 88-48, Licensee Report of Defective 8/24/88 All holders of OLs Supplement 1 Refurbished Valves or CPs for nuclear power reactors. 88-68 Setpoint Testing of Pres- 8/22/88 All holders of OLs surizer Safety Valves with or CPs for nuclear Filled Loop Seals Using power reactors. Hydraulic Assist Devices 88-67 PWR Auxiliary Feedwater Pump 8/22/88 All holders of OLs Turbine Overspeed Trip or CPs for nuclear Failure power reactors. 88-66 Industrial Radiography 8/22/88 All NRC industrial Inspection and Enforcement radiography licensees. _____________________________________________________________________________ OL = Operating License CP = Construction Permit
Page Last Reviewed/Updated Friday, May 22, 2015


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Benchmark crude oil futures will likely extend last week's gains after Greece secured the latest portion of a European Union bailout package, sending the euro higher against the dollar.
Across the Atlantic, Friday's robust ISM reading for June of national factory activity offset the gloomier China PMI number, which showed manufacturing activity falling to its lowest in nearly 28 months, raising fears of a hard-landing in the world's second-largest economy.
"Greece and the general direction of the Euro will have much to do with price action in WTI crude over the coming week," said Dhiren Sarin, Chief Technical Strategist, Asia-Pacific at Barclays Capital. "I'm more neutral for next week with a small positive bias if we get a break through $96/barrel in WTI crude."
On the currency front, Sarin warned euro/dollar was approaching range highs around 1.47. "You can't rule out the risk of a pullback from there for the Euro itself."
For this week, the main risk event will be the U.S. jobs report on Friday. The U.S. economy created 88,000 jobs in June, according to consensus forecasts, marking a slight improvement from the 54,000 for May but still well under the 200,000 seen on a consistent basis earlier in the year.
Last week, oil futures recovered from the four-month lows hit after the prior week's surprise move by the 28-nation International Energy Agency to release 60 million barrels of oil reserves. NYMEX crude for August delivery settled at $94.94 a barrel on Friday, rising $3.78, or 4.2 percent, for the week. Meanwhile, front-month Brent settled Friday at $111.77 a barrel, up $6.65 a barrel or 6.3 percent.
Holiday-Shortened Week May Cause Volatility
Gains may continue this week, according to CNBC's weekly poll of oil analysts, traders and strategists. Out of ten respondents, four are calling for prices to rise, four say prices will be little changed while two expect a decline. Another sub-par U.S. jobs report may cap those gains.
Linda Rafield, Senior Oil Analyst Platts, has a neutral call on oil. The holiday-shortened week in the U.S. may crimp volume and activity this week, possibly causing some volatile moves.
"If there are any surprises Thursday in the weekly oil stats, there will be a short-lived violent move ahead of Friday's job data but the jobs data has been a non-event recently," Rafield said. She forecast NYMEX would trade between $90-$95 this week while Brent may slip back below $110, "maybe even as low as $105."
On the outlook for the third-quarter, Rafield said a seasonal pick-up in demand due to the U.S. summer driving season could prove supportive "but that will be highly dependent upon the global economy coming out of this so-called soft-patch."
Gavin Wendt, Founding Director & Senior Resource Analyst at MineLife is bullish for the week ahead. He said the immediate impact of the strategic release of 60 million barrels of reserves by the International Energy Agency on June 23 "will be wearing off and we are now entering Q3, the traditionally high-demand driving quarter."


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One of the things that makes zombie survival sim DayZ so difficult is that players start the game without a map. Even later on, getting hold of one can be tough. Without a map, you can't see where you are, and if you don't know where you are, you have trouble finding other survivors.
Sure, you can get around this by just downloading a map, but that's hardly as authentic an experience as buying a large, $15, real-world map to have sitting next to you, is it?
These were first printed up last year, but given DayZ's popularity - and its lack of map - ArmA II developers Bohemia Interactive have decided to start selling the things.
Other recommendations for a more authentic experience: drink a can of pepsi every hour, shoot the first person who knocks on your front door and don't go climbing ladders with your pistol drawn. Even in the real world.
Chernarus Map Collection + 8 Bonus Postcards [BI, via PC Gamer]


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03 September
The seaside town of Troon was ranked as the happiest place to live in Scotland and the 2nd happiest in the whole of the UK!
Based on an extensive survey by online property experts RightMove, results showed that Troon residents felt a "sense of belonging" in the town as well as feeling safe and being able be themselves.
Rightmove's Research Manager Abiola Oni said: "Obviously what 'happy' means to different people can vary greatly, but when you compare which factors score highest in the happiest areas, it shows just how important having friendly people in the local community area is alongside the services and amenities, which is something buyers often tell us when they are looking in new areas to live."
The results come on the back of a bumper summer for Troon having hosted the The Open Golf Championships in July which saw over 150,000 fans visit the town. Hot on the heels of Troon in the results, nearby Ayr also scored highly proving we do like to be beside the seaside!
Read our guide to the local area
Get the latest tweets and weather updates by following Troon Yacht Haven today.


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Shopping Cart
Our Sky Princess Tricycle by Airflow is fashioned exactly after the original Sky King Trikes from 1936. The Airflow Sky Princess Tricycle is 26 inches high, with a pink powder coat finish with chrome insignias. All steel, this beautiful trike has an adustable spring seat, solid rubber tires, working light, reflectors, sealed ball bearing, rubber handle grips and tassles on the handlebars.
Toy Safety Approved / Lead-Free Paint
Slight assembly required
Airflow's Sky Princess Tricycle is Recommended for kids age 3-6 years old.
With the original Sky King trikes selling for over $3000, this great looking trike is affordable for the whole family and the future collectors of the replicas.
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Posts Tagged torture victims
Collaborative Models: Reflections on working with survivors of violence and torture
Posted by World Without Torture in IRCT Scientific Symposium 2016, Latin America & the Caribbean, Sharing knowledge on 18/04/2017
"When we work with persons who have been tortured or victims of violence without seriously questioning and denouncing the existence of this continuum of violence, we run the risk that our support can become yet another act of violence, even without intending so. And because of this, as professionals and as members of humanitarian organisations, it is necessary to develop an internal alarm system sensitive to this reality."
In her post on the Hilton Prize Coalition website, youth psychologist Gabriela Monroy offers readers a glimpse into one of the projects currently being implemented under the Hilton Prize Coalition's Collaborative Models Program. Coalition members Covenant House International and the International Rehabilitation Council for Torture Victims (IRCT) are working together to develop a comprehensive set of materials on issues related to trauma informed care. These materials will be used for training and as reference for healthcare workers and specialists to better understand the effects of trauma and how to approach traumatised youth.
(From Hilton Prize Coalition, by Gabriela Monroy)
I am a psychologist at La Alianza, Covenant House International's (CHI) safe house for trafficked and sexually exploited girls in Guatemala. I am also the CHI regional coordinator in Latin America for the Hilton Prize Coalition's Collaborative Models Program on trauma-informed care, which is being carried out by the IRCT and CHI. I was invited to attend the 10th International Scientific Symposium organised by the IRCT in December 2016 in Mexico City. When I received the invitation, I very much looked forward to the opportunity to learn from survivors of torture and those who work to support them. I knew I had much to learn and much to share. After three days of listening to the presentations and experiences from different countries, I began to realise that in many countries across the globe like mine, "normal" is similar to a war zone where death, torture, rape, abuse and abandonment of children is the norm and life is a continuum of traumatic events. The exception is a moment of human and humane interaction– which is what we strive to accomplish at La Alianza.
At La Alianza, young girls who are survivors of human trafficking and sexual exploitation find an environment that offers them the opportunity to finally be treated as human beings, in a dignified, respectful and non-violent way. For some of them, the violence in their lives has been so overwhelming that it can feel traumatic to be treated in such a humane fashion. Using a trauma informed care lens in my day-to-day work as a youth psychologist, I see, after some time of working with them, that the impact on their lives is visible. Society seems so surprised at the transformation that care, affection, and dignified treatment can produce. It is ironic because acting in a humane way should be the most common thing we do as humans, yet it still surprises us even more than the violence itself.
Every single presentation at the Symposium presented the testimonies and experiences of survivors on this continuum of violence and torture as examples of integrity and dignity. This simple reflection on my experience of this symposium hopefully will be a recognition and a homage to their courage and an expression of my respect for each one's journey and all they have gone through.
When we work with persons who have been tortured or victims of violence without seriously questioning and denouncing the existence of this continuum of violence, we run the risk that our support can become yet another act of violence, even without intending so. And because of this, as professionals and as members of humanitarian organisations, it is necessary to develop an internal alarm system sensitive to this reality.
Also, we need to realise that best practices for dealing with survivors of torture and violence need to be based in respect for their day-to-day experience and respect for the ways they have survived, and if we can recognise this then we may be able to transform the norm that violence has become into the exception. This is my hope. I am grateful to the Hilton Prize Coalition for giving me the opportunity to be a witness to such courage.
About the Hilton Prize Coalition
The Hilton Prize Coalition is an independent alliance of the 21 winners of the Conrad N. Hilton Humanitarian Prize — working together globally to advance their unique missions and achieve collective impact in humanitarian assistance, human rights, development, education and health. Through its three Signature Programmes — the Hilton Prize Coalition Fellows Programme, the Disaster Resiliency and Response Programme and the Storytelling Programme – the Coalition is continually leveraging the resources, talents and expertise of each of its members to innovate new models for consideration.
For more information please visit their website.
On a mission to document torture
Posted by World Without Torture in Forensics - Project Work, Latin America & the Caribbean, Sharing knowledge on 21/09/2016
Across the globe there are many human rights defenders and organisations whose work has made an enormous difference to the fight against torture – yet we know very little about them and what they do. One such group is the Independent Forensic Expert Group (IFEG), which consists of 35 of the world's most eminent experts in the documentation and investigation of torture. Coming from 18 different countries, these experts have varied backgrounds ranging from forensic pathologists to clinical psychologists.
The objective of the IFEG is to use its members' expertise as doctors, psychologist and psychiatrists to document and investigate torture and to secure justice for victims. As part of their work they go on documentation missions around the world, conducting physical and psychological evaluations of alleged torture victims. They also train health and legal professionals in how to document torture and help raise awareness among the public.
Dastan Salehi from the International Rehabilitation Council for Torture Victims (IRCT) recently spent a week with IFEG members Dr Maximo Alberto Duque Piedrahita and Dr Ana Deutsch on a mission in the Bolivian capital of La Paz. We asked Dastan to document the mission and as his pictures show, the work of the IFEG can take many different forms.
Dr Duque (left) and Dr Deutsch (right) spent one week in La Paz, Bolivia on a documentation mission, conducting physical and psychological evaluation on three people who allege they were subjected to torture in Bolivia.
Documentation missions are the bread and butter of the IFEG's work. In a nutshell, they feature two IFEG experts (one medical doctor and one psychologist or psychiatrist) who travel to a particular country to conduct examinations on people who allege they have been tortured. This examination results in what is known as a 'medico-legal report', which seeks to medically and psychologically assess the correlation of the physical and psychological scars with the allegations of torture.
While in La Paz, the two experts delivered a workshop on the Istanbul Protocol, the key international instrument on the investigation and documentation of torture and ill-treatment. The workshop, which was hosted by local rehabilitation centre Instituto de Terapia y Investigacion (ITEI), looked at ways to improve effective documentation of torture and the obligations of health professionals to document and report cases of torture independently.
During the mission, the IFEG experts spent time with ITEI to share experiences and best practices and to discuss how they can best work together in the future to document torture.
The IFEG's visit caught the attention of several local media outlets, which were all keen to interview them. In this one, Dr Duque appears alongside Andres Gautier, Lead Psychologist at ITEI, on the television programme Claroscuro con Angel Careaga to discuss the situation of torture in Bolivia and Latin America.
Dr Duque also met with journalists from Agencia de Noticias Fides Bolivia and was interviewed on Radio PanAmericana Bolivia to share his views on the situation in Bolivia, as well as to discuss the importance of the Istanbul Protocol.
Going on mission with the IFEG experts, Dastan Salehi quickly realised just how important their work is to the anti-torture movement and torture victims around the world.
"It was really inspiring to see Ana and Maximo at work. The way they spoke to and interacted with the victims and their families was just phenomenal. They didn't treat them as just a case. They built rapport, shared and collaborated with them as people, and that was quite special."
Each IFEG mission leaves behind a legacy of learning and inspiration, despite the difficult nature of the expert's work; this was no different in La Paz.
A big thank you to Dastan for sharing his pictures with us. To find out more about the work of the IFEG click here.
On the forefront: Helping refugees rebuild their lives in New Zealand
Posted by World Without Torture in From our members, On the Forefront, Pacific on 26/07/2016
With its remote location – far away from war and conflict – New Zealand is rarely mentioned in discussions about refugee quotas and resettlement. But each year a small number of refugees arrive in the country, where they are welcomed by local rehabilitation centre Refugees as Survivors New Zealand (RASNZ) at the National Refugee Resettlement centre in Auckland.
We recently spoke with RASNZ CEO Ann Hood about the treatment of refugees and asylum seekers in New Zealand, many of whom have fled torture and ill treatment, and how RASNZ is helping them overcome their trauma and settle in a new country.
As the CEO of RASNZ, Ann oversees 45 staff and 60 volunteers, providing newly arrived refugees with psychosocial and mental health assessments, brief therapeutic interventions and orientation to life in New Zealand.
RASNZ's job is to ensure that refugees receive the psychological support they need to adapt to a new country and get the best start for themselves and their families. Something that is vital for those who have experienced torture and other forms of trauma. In addition, RASNZ also supports former refugees who continue to struggle with their traumatic past, despite the passing of many years.
WWT: The National Refugee Centre provides a wide array of health services to improve the physical and mental wellbeing of your clients. How do these services help vulnerable people to settle in a new country?
AH: We firmly believe that if the aim is for people to participate in society they need to be mentally and physically well. Otherwise, they aren't able to learn the language, cope with a job or simply manage everyday life. The health aspect has to be addressed in order for people to live productive lives.
WWT: How does this work in practice?
AH: We have two clinical teams. One team is based at the Resettlement Centre, providing assessment and brief therapy. The other is based in the community in Auckland, covering the whole city, and is able to treat people over a longer period of time. For many traumatised refugees it is often down the track that they need support and treatment. Some don't need our services for 10 years because they need to meet their basic needs first.
There is also a non-clinical community team mainly made up of former refugees. This team provides services within the community such as psycho education, introductory health programmes, support with education and employment and lots of engagement in activities. For young people we have the youth team with sports and mentoring programmes. For adults we run support groups, such as sewing groups for women and training in road codes and computer use.
WWT: We tend to often talk about refugees, but you also treat asylum seekers. As clients, how do they differ from refugees?
AH: When it comes to asylum seekers we tend to work with them particularly during the determination process as this is when they're really struggling. Their future and fate is in the hands of the government. And they lose a lot of hope and faith during this process.
WWT: You actually worked at RASNZ as a clinical psychologist before taking a job elsewhere for 10 years. You returned last year as the CEO. How do you think the sector has changed since you first started working?
AH: I've seen a change in who are coming as refugees. New Zealand doesn't take many people from Africa now, but focuses mainly on people from Burma, as well as refugees from Afghanistan and Colombia and asylum seekers from Sri Lanka. The government has also changed its policy on specific issues over time. Like now, New Zealand no longer accepts unaccompanied minors.
WWT: Speaking of the government. New Zealand has such a strong history of protecting human rights and an equally good refugee settlement programme so we were a bit shocked to find out that the country only takes 750 refugees every year.
AH: In general, there is an overwhelming support for refugees in the country and when the government recently announced that it would increase the intake of refugees, there were great expectations about the number. It is fair to say there was an outcry when the government announced it would only increase the intake from 750 to 1000 refugees. New Zealand takes a very small number of refugees but I think that its resettlement programme is well regarded and we provide a very good service and system. From the moment refugees arrive in the country they get New Zealand residency and have access to the full range of health services.
WWT: It sounds like an efficient system with a strong focus on health and rehabilitation. Does this mean that you have the backing and support you need or do you still face challenges?
AH: We constantly need more money and run at a deficit. My number one priority is getting resources, and not just resources but sustainable resources. We can only employ people for the amount of time that we have money. Regarding our services, there is also a great need for clinical training and various aspects of working with trauma victims. Our team need to be up-skilled, such as being trained in the Istanbul Protocol. We work closely with lawyers and doctors, but at the moment we don't have any doctors in New Zealand – as far as I know – who are trained in Istanbul Protocol, so it's crucial.
We are relatively small with just two services in New Zealand and New Zealand is pretty isolated. So sometimes it can feel like we are a long way from the action. I think it's really important to get that international perspective and to understand not only what's happening around the world in terms of refugee and asylum issues, but also how other organisations are working and how we can work more collaboratively and support each other. Basically to keep up to speed. I would like our organisation to be able to grow in terms of research and advocacy, but at the moment we just don't have the resources.
About RASNZ
RASNZ has helped resettle United Nations quota refugees since 1995 and is one of just two services in the country providing treatment to refugees. Under international humanitarian conventions, the centre's clinical team additionally delivers specialist mental health services for convention refugees and asylum seekers either in detention or with cases before the Refugee Appeals Authority. The centre has to date provided support to thousands of people.
Around the world: 26 June 2016 in pictures
Posted by World Without Torture in 26 June, Advocacy and Influencing Policy, Justice, Voices on 11/07/2016
Just as we have seen in previous years, creativity played a big role in marking this year's 26 June campaign. Thousands of people across the globe joined the torture rehabilitation movement in showcasing both the resilience and creativity of survivors and caregivers alike.
TPO Cambodia – Transcultural Psychosocial Organization
This year, TPO Cambodia organised an event together with torture survivors of the Khmer Rouge Regime at their headquarters in Phnom Penh. Survivors, TPO staff and other guests discussed the right to compensation and rehabilitation for the victims of torture. The event began with a guided meditation by one of the TPOs counsellors, Dr. Muny, and a TPOs technical advisor, who reminded the audience about the importance of the commemoration of this day and the development of rehabilitation rights for victims of torture.
In addition, in a symbolic act, TPO staff and survivors freed a dozen of caged birds on the TPO´s rooftop, follow by a speech of a survivor, Mr. Ith Udom, who shared some of his experiences and expressed how important the remembrance of this day is for him and other survivors.
DIGNITY – The Danish Institute Against Torture, Denmark
To mark the UN International day in Support of Victims of Torture, on June 24, DIGNITY held an event in the Kongens Have park in Copenhagen. Approximately 18.000 people joined the event and enjoyed music, food, drinks and talked with DIGNITY staff. Chinah, L.I.G.A, Kesi, The Eclectic Monkier and the kid-friendly show Pippelipop were among the performers who entertained throughout the day.
EATIP – Equipo Argentino de Trabajo e Investigación Psicosocial, Argentina
To commemorate 26 June, EATIP ran a clinical athenaeum and hosted a film screening of 'The Look of Silence', an Oscar-nominated documentary by Joshua Oppenheimer that examines the perspective of victims of torture, disappearances and Extrajudicial Killings in Indonesia. Afterwards, the centre organised a post-film debate among the participants.
As part of their 26 June activities, EATIPs staff also organised a photo contest 'Miradas sobre la memoria y la resistencia' – 'Views on memories and resistance', which is currently running for two months and will finish with a photo exhibition open for the public. The objective of this contest is to further commemorate 26 June and the 40th anniversary of the military civic coup in Argentina.
Jiyan Foundation for Human Rights, Iraq
In Sulaymaniyah, Iraq, Jiyan Foundation invited survivors to share their stories with politicians, human rights workers, therapists, lawyers and journalists, at a dinner event. After the dinner, there was a panel discussion, where the participants discussed how survivors could be helped more effectively. A press release in Kurdish, Arabic and English was also published, calling attention to the many people who were tortured by the Saddam regime and need our support.
In Kirkuk, Jiyan Foundation met with the Iraqi Council of Representatives and the Provincial Council to discuss the relevance of the work of the centre, and how civil society as well as the government can support survivors of torture more effectively and cooperate on these issues.
SURVIVORS of Torture, International, USA
A photo exhibition featuring SURVIVORS' clients and the journeys that may take to rebuild their lives, ran throughout all the month of June at La Mesa Library in San Diego, California. SURVIVORS also held a client Healing Club with a drum circle provided by Resounding Joy and its annual Ice Cream Social. This event was an opportunity for the community to come together in solidarity with torture survivors, meet staff, volunteers, and partners, and write letters of hope to the clients detained at the detention centres.
STTARTS – Survivors of Torture and Trauma Assitance and Rehabilitation Service Inc, Australia
This year, Survivors of Torture and Trauma Assistance and Rehabilitation Services (STTARS) invited Paris Aristotle AM, who is the CEO of the Victorian Foundation for Survivors of Torture, Chair of the Settlement Services Advisory Council and advisor to the Australian Government on refugee and asylum seeker policy, to speak at the "Sustainable Rehabilitation for Survivors and their Communities" event at the University of Australia. At the event, Mr Aristotle spoke about how Australia can respond to the growing humanitarian crisis, which to date has led to the displacement of an estimated 18 million people in Syria alone.
He also reviewed current settlement issues within Australia. In his keynote address, Paris focused upon the most effective ways to "Support Life after Torture", not only for the intake of 12,000 Syrian/Iraqi refugees displaced as a direct cause of the terrifying war and ongoing conflict within that region, but to highlight concerns for refugees living in Australia.
Advocacy Centre for Human Rights, Kenya
In Kenya, to mark 26 June, the Advocacy Centre for Human Rights teamed up with members of a local youth group, police officers from Kahawa Sukari police station, members of the local county commission and the administration police. The event culminated with a social forum, where the local youth group interacted freely with the police and participated in a football match. This was a very positive event as the local police has been accused of a number abuses against members of the community.
During the event dubbed 'Support Life After Torture', over 140 youths and 21 police officers gathered at Kahawa Sukari Estate to celebrate Life after Torture in remembrance of victims and survivors of torture, sexual violence, inhumane and degrading treatment and other related abuse under the police and helped create a common understanding to hold perpetrators accountable through community based advocacy.
Photo slide-show:
What politicians and the public need to know about life after torture: An interview with Victor Madrigal-Borloz
Posted by World Without Torture in Advocacy and Influencing Policy, Europe, Rehabilitation on 06/07/2016
For the first time, the International Rehabilitation Council for Victims of Torture (IRCT) will speak at the Swedish event Almedalen this July. The week-long forum, where political and non-govermental organisations come together, attracts more than 35,000 visitors to discuss relevant issues every year. IRCT Secretary-General, Victor Madrigal-Borloz is one of four panellists who will discuss the physical and psychological effects of torture at a seminar on life after torture. We spoke to Victor about his upcoming visit to Almedalen, what he hopes to get out of it and why he thinks that NGOs like the IRCT and its members need to start a dialogue with their local politicians.
Q: This is your first time going to Almedalen in Sweden. The event is an annual tradition that has connected politicians, political and non-governmental organisations and the public for more than 40 years, what do you expect to take away from it?
Almedalen is a very unique opportunity because it represents direct access to members of parliament, to politicians and to political thinkers. We're hoping to bring the plight of torture victims into their minds and thoughts.
I also expect that we will be able to liaise with politicians who are interested in creating societies that offer more solidarity and are willing to show empathy and understanding of the plight of torture victims. Finally, I think it will be interesting to meet those who are fuelling irresponsible political discourse. Not only to understand their motivation, but also to expose them to the consequences of their narratives.
Q: You will be speaking at the 'Life after Torture' seminar. Life after torture can mean a lot of things. What exactly will you be speaking about?
I think our great advantage in every public narrative we create is that we ensure that victims and survivors of torture are the protagonists. As a representative of the movement, I can then surround their experience and political aspirations with an understanding of the structures that have been put in place. That way we can understand how these individuals' aspirations can be met through law reform and public policy.
Q: One of the IRCT's Swedish members Red Cross in Malmø will also be speaking at the event. Do you think it's important to collaborate with or involve members?
We hope that when activities are carried out in any given country, the local IRCT member centre will play a leading role. This is very important because the members are the ones that actually have an overview as to how the political problems reflect their everyday life and they can identify the particular problems facing torture victims. We can bring the global strategy of the movement and try to connect with the local situation, but I think it's essential to have the local member be the ones that tell us how this global strategy can connect with their local context.
Q: Do you listen to members or go to them for information to stay up to date with what's going on around the world in terms of torture and rehabilitation?
I think our members are an important source of information and we always make sure to stay in touch with them and follow their work closely. It's interesting though, because the way information moves has changed drastically. Now it happens instantaneously and through very efficient channels, which means people find out about major events at the same time.
For us, this becomes clear during major events and political processes where we're able to carry out a lot of analysis ourselves. But where we can't actually do without our members is when we need to understand the events that have an impact on them or how rehabilitation is affected by certain political conceptions. It's very important to have this contextual understanding because sometimes the impact won't be felt before two years from now, but you still need to take action today.
Q: Why do you think more and more NGOs participate in forums like Almedalen?
I think that forums such as Almedalen provide a unique platform for political and non-governmental organisations to get together to discuss relevant issues. I think many NGOs like the IRCT are hoping to not only contribute to the public debate, but to also put their cause back on the agenda of their local politicians.
Q: Since you started as Secretary-General for the IRCT in 2013, you must have seen and experienced quite a lot in terms of change in political commitment or attitude towards the fight against torture and the need for rehabilitation. Do you think the movement is better or worse off when it comes to political support and understanding?
The movement is becoming stronger in the sense that the strategy is becoming clearer. The commitment of the movement to give a voice to the victim is becoming clearer, as well as the movement's commitment to being professional and accountable. But the context is becoming a lot more challenging. As already mentioned, irresponsible political discourses fuelling certain opinions that people have where refugees, who includes a significant proportion of victims of torture, are seen as undesirable.
These discourses also fuel the stigmatisation of certain groups in society. I think they make it very difficult for the movement to expect that there will be an acknowledgment of the needs of this group and they also create more difficult grounds for politicians to wholeheartedly support the movement. Finally, these discourses also provide perfect conditions for those who want to fuel hate, xenophobia and fear because it's easier to draw on those unspoken connections.
Q: What can the IRCT and its members do to influence the political debate and to get the attention of local politicians?
I think it's very important to maintain a core objective and ensure victims of torture have a visible presence and a voice. This is difficult because we do not have the prerogative to decide who wants to make their story public, but we do have the need and the responsibility to ensure that information about the damage created by torture and about the needs of the victims become very clear to the public.
Q: What about public support? Do we need to continuously raise the issue of torture among everyday people like me or do you think most people are aware of it and feel strongly about eradicating torture?
I don't think there's an awareness about the fact that torture occurs and I think that there's very little awareness about the type of damage that it causes and how unjustified it's when it's used. I think there are subtle mechanisms in public discourse that make it easier for people to not realise that this is an everyday occurrence that affects children, the elderly, men and women everywhere.
But the reality is that it does happen and it happens frequently and the damage is horrendous. For that reason, there's a need to insist on this point. One of the great determinants in public opinion is the media and also the entertainment industry. Today I think we're plagued with images of torture in entertainment shows that make it very easy for people to think that this is something that may work. With this in mind, I think it's very important to raise awareness about the issue.
Q: Finally, how do you think the IRCT has made a difference to torture victims around the world? And what are your hopes for the future?
I think the great contribution of the IRCT is to place rehabilitation and the needs of torture victims at the forefront of the narrative of international human rights. Before the movement took this very clear strategy, rehabilitation was seen as a charity or at best as a political reparation. The great contribution of the movement has been to create a framework that is considered to be part of a right or a series of rights.
I hope that in the future we will see a society that through embracing solidarity and empathy actively rejects torture because it doesn't happen to others, it happens to "us". It's about acknowledging that torture victims are us rather than them. I think we can learn from experience and have an appreciation of empathy, whether it's from getting to know each other or from reading and from renouncing fear and hatred.
Sanctuary and Sustenance: Photographing the journey towards a better life
Posted by World Without Torture in From our members, North America, Rehabilitation on 01/07/2016
The United States-Mexico border at San Ysidro, in the county of San Diego, is the busiest land border crossing in the western hemisphere. Every day, these people, who come in search of protection and a better life arrive in San Diego; one of the many cities that have seen an increase in refugees and asylum seekers.
The inspiring and shocking stories of some of these people have been captured by photographer Misael Virgen and were until recently on display at the La Mesa Library in San Diego.
The photo series focus on the journey from the points of entry to San Diego, beginning with the border and the airport. A collaboration between the organisation ART WORKS Projects and International Rehabilitation Council for Torture Victims (IRCT) member Survivors of Torture, International (SURVIVORS), the photographs are San Diego's version of the international project Sanctuary and Sustenance, which tells the stories of some of the more than 60 million people currently without a permanent home because of war or persecution.
"The images help us share several of the thousands of stories of newcomers to our community," explains Niki Kalmus, Community Relations Manager of SURVIVORS.
"We want San Diego to understand the long, arduous journeys our clients, refugees, asylum seekers, and all migrants make to rebuild their lives in our city. We also want to show that the lives these migrants lead are very similar to our own. The images Misael captured demonstrate how torture survivors' lives are hardly different from the lives of you and me."
SURVIVORS and ART WORKS Projects hope to raise awareness of the challenges faced by refugees and asylum seekers, as well as of their resilience, to spark conversations about collective responsibility, welcome newcomers to communities, and encourage policy-makers to act in favour of fundamental human rights for refugees and asylum seekers.
"So far we have been able to reach many people who had never heard of SURVIVORS. The clients featured in Misael's photography were excited to raise awareness about torture survivors, and came to see the exhibits when they were unveiled. One of the clients is highly involved with advocating for the rights of transgendered individuals, the reason she was tortured and forced to flee her home country," explains Niki.
According to her, the exhibition, which was shown at La Mesa Library throughout the month of June, has inspired lots of visitors to get involved.
"Many of them now volunteer at SURVIVORS or have sought more information from us about how they can help torture survivors. Lots of people commented that they had no idea this was still an issue today, and especially not that it reached our community."
Sanctuary & Sustenance is a multimedia projection of photography, film, music, and words, launched on June 20, 2013 in honour of World Refugee Day in cities around the world.
Through photographs, moving graphics, and music, viewers have an opportunity to trace the journey of a family during the catastrophic events of displacement, on a path to sanctuary, and through the long process of rebuilding life in a new community. Across the world, it aims to raise the public consciousness of these issues and facilitate conversations about the collective responsibility to welcome refugees and encourage policy-makers to act in favour of fundamental human rights for refugees and asylum seekers.
Niki says that in San Diego, SURVIVORS does its best to educate the public about torture and its consequences.
"We raise awareness through community outreach such as this exhibit to let our community know that torture survivors are an underserved and often invisible part of the population. The most important thing we can do is simply understand that they are among us and spread the word about the important work of SURVIVORS and torture treatment centres throughout the world. We believe that by raising awareness about the existence of torture survivors in our very neighbourhoods we can create a more welcoming community."
SURVIVORS is currently seeking other locations to show the exhibition. You can find out more about the Sanctuary & Sustenance project by clicking here, see more of the work from the exhibition by going to Misael Virgen's website or get the latest news from SURVIVORS by following them on Facebook.
Fighting Torture: Q&A with Guy Mulunda Kitwe
Posted by World Without Torture in Fighting Torture Q&A, Great Lakes Region, Rehabilitation, Sub-Saharan Africa on 01/03/2016
In this series, we speak with different people from various sectors and backgrounds who all work with and support survivors of torture in one way or another. What does their work mean to them and what are the biggest challenges in the anti-torture and rehabilitation movement?
For the third entry in our Q&A series, we speak with Guy Mulunda Kitwe, about his work as a psychologist at the SAVE CONGO Rehabilitation Centre, the legacy of rape and torture in the DRC and the ongoing struggle for funding.
Q: What is your profession and where do you work?
I am a psychologist at the SAVE CONGO rehabilitation centre in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
Q: How long have you worked with torture survivors?
I have worked with torture victims since 2003. I was initially working with USAID as a psychologist on a programme for abandoned children.
Q: How did you end up in this sector? Was it something you specifically wanted to do or was it more of a coincidence?
It was during the armed conflict in 1997. Many women and children experienced torture and mass violence and I just thought how come so many people are suffering from torture. It was then that I decided to work for the anti-torture movement.
Q: Tell us about the situation for torture survivors where you are/or your home country?
Torture is widespread in the DRC. For many years the country was known as the centre of rape because of the violence against women. This continued for a long time and now we're seeing the consequences. Women have had children as a result of the rape and for most victims the trauma continues. We have many clients who experienced torture a long time ago, but are only now seeking help at our centre. This is because the security in the country has improved thanks to the UN peacekeeping forces and a hardworking government.
In the DRC, there are still some rebel groups in the mountains and in the villages, but the number has gone down from 24 to just five to six groups. It is still a long process to treat victims of torture. We are the only centre in the DRC that is working specifically with victims of torture. Sometimes we receive clients referred to us by the UNHCR and UNICEF. We have a close working relationship with these and other UN agencies.
Q: What does your work mean to you?
For me, working with victims of torture means to respect human beings. My work has truly taught me to respect other people. It has also allowed me to progress/grow personally and professionally, especially in relation to increasing my knowledge and ability to working with people.
Q: Can you give us an example of how you have seen your work make a difference?
In 2000, many torture victims did not have access to rehabilitation. If, for example, they went to a hospital, they would not be given specific treatment. However, over the years, SAVE CONGO has built and developed a range of services. Now victims know where to go and other organisations, such as the hospitals know where to send victims. Another thing is training, which is something we are able to offer because of our work with organisations like the International Rehabilitation Council for Torture Victims (IRCT). I am proud to say that we have supported more than 8,000 torture victims.
Q: How has your sector/industry changed since you started?
The change is that many organisations and hospitals are now involved in the fight against torture.
Q: What do you think are the biggest challenges facing the sector/industry?
The lack of funding for rehabilitation centres. We are receiving more and more victims of torture, but sadly we do not have sufficient funding to do our job. This means that we have limited resources such as staff.
Q: What do you think needs to be done to make the right to rehabilitation a reality?
In the DRC, the state needs to take responsibility for all the people in the country and do everything in its power to support torture victims. At the moment, there is no national programme on torture and this is something that we really need.
Q: What are your hopes for the future?
My hope is that torture rehabilitation will be available for all victims of torture.
Freedom of oppression in Egypt: How a rehabilitation centre is facing closure
Posted by World Without Torture in Advocacy and Influencing Policy, From our members, Middle East North Africa on 26/02/2016
On 17 February the last remaining centre for the treatment and documentation of alleged torture victims in Egypt was ordered to close by the Egyptian authorities. The reason given was that the Nadeem Center for the Rehabilitation of Victims of Violence and Torture had 'breached unspecified health ministry regulations'. But critics say that the order is part of a sweeping crackdown on human rights organisations and defenders in the country.
At a news conference, the Nadeem Center's director Aida Seif el-Dawla called the decision to close the centre politically motivated.
"This is a political decision and it's coming from the cabinet that represents all the actors that are keen on the survival of this regime, despite the oppression and the torture that the Egyptian people are living through on a daily basis."
The regime that Aida Seif el-Dawla is referring to is that of President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi. Since al-Sisi took office in June 2014, repression and shrinking of the public space has only increased, targeting the entire spectrum of human rights organisations, professional and labour associations, political activists, journalists and media.
In its 2016 World Report, Human Rights Watch (HRW) said that authorities have effectively banned protests and imprisoned tens of thousands—often after unfair trials. According to the report, National Security officers commit torture and enforced disappearances, while many detainees die in custody from mistreatment.
Despite the constitution forbidding torture and the abuse of detainees, the practice is widespread in Egyptian prisons. In 2014 British newspaper The Guardian revealed that since July 2013, at least 400 people had been tortured and held outside of judicial oversight in a secret military prison.
The Nadeem Center is a private, politically independent organisation that is known around the world for speaking out against torture and other human rights violations. It is the centre's work to document torture in particular that the authorities see as a great threat to the survival of the regime. Just last December the centre and other civil society organisations announced they were able to document 625 torture cases in Egyptian prisons. Allegations that the authorities continue to deny.
Meanwhile, international rights organisations, including the International Rehabilitation Council for Torture Victims (IRCT) have come out in support of the Nadeem Center and Aida Seif el-Dawla.
The IRCT, which has a membership of more than 150 torture rehabilitation centres across the world, including the Nadeem Center, released a statement calling for action and intervention.
"The Egyptian authorities have a duty to protect and promote the work of human rights defenders; any state hoping to be regarded as democratic must abide by the rule of law and respect for human rights. We will continue to be concerned with this situation until it is fully solved," said Victor Madrigal-Borloz, the Secretary-General of the IRCT.
In the statement, the IRCT also emphasised the importance of the centre being able to provide treatment to victims of torture, warning that without it, torture victims would have nowhere to go.
Other organisations are pointing to the fact that the closure of El Nadeem Center would constitute an unprecedented violation of the right to freedoms of association and of expression, as well as a dramatic threat to civil liberties, with thousands of political prisoners behind bars, all virtually threatened with systematised acts of torture. Despite the pressure, the Egyptian authorities have showed no signs of budging.
Yet the Nadeem Center refuses to give up, saying that, "If both the clinic and the centre are closed, we shall continue to release our reports and we shall continue to help victims of violence and torture as long as we are doctors and as long as this state insists to use torture as a means of oppressing its citizens."
Treating refugees: How NGOs are supporting refugees in Hungary
Posted by World Without Torture in Advocacy and Influencing Policy, Europe on 26/10/2015
The use of riot police, the construction of a 175 km razor-wire fence and threats of deportation. These are just some of the harsh measures taken by the Hungarian government to curb the influx of refugees entering the country. Meanwhile, Hungarian NGOs are providing much needed support and relief to the refugees who have made it to the country. One of these NGOs is IRCT member centre the Cordelia Foundation, which is based in Budapest. The centre offers psychiatric and psychosocial care to torture survivors. We spoke with the centre's Medical Director Lilla Hardi about travelling to the Hungarian border to help out at the front line.
"We have seen a huge number of refugees at the railway stations in Budapest and have heard that the situation at the border is really catastrophic and chaotic."
In an email, Dr. Lilla Hardi explains why she and 11 colleagues from the Cordelia Foundation rehabilitation centre decided to travel to the border between Hungary and Serbia last month. They made two trips to assess the refugee situation and to offer their support to those in need of rehabilitation services.
On their first trip they were denied access to the refugees. However, on their second trip they managed to treat a number of people each day.
According to Dr. Hardi, most of the refugees she saw seemed to be doing relatively well physically, but suffered from serious mental health problems as a direct result of the traumatising events they had experienced.
"Many of the newly arrived refugees were in a very bad state mentally. They were very exhausted and desperate," she writes. "I think aggressive manifestations in their behaviour might happen due to their traumatised and desperate state. This situation is another trauma contributing to their already unbalanced mental state and earlier traumatisation."
Empirical studies by the Chamber of Psychotherapists in Germany echo this assessment, suggesting that at least half of the refugees coming to the country have mental health problems because of the trauma suffered in war or during their dangerous escapes. An even bigger number of these refugees have been subjected to human rights violations, including torture, says the Chamber.
In the ongoing political debate, there seems to be hardly any focus on early identification of torture victims among newly arrived refugees and no coordinated response schemes are available. Currently, the work carried out by the Cordelia Foundation and other organisations in support of traumatised refugees is largely done on a voluntary basis. This shows how urgent the need is for States to acknowledge their obligation and provide the resources and mechanisms to support and protect victims of torture.
However, in Hungary, the government's response to the crisis so far has been to close off a railway track used by tens of thousands of refugees to enter the European Union on foot. This is all part of its crackdown on refugees coming from Serbia.
Personally, Dr. Hardi did not experience any hostility from Hungarian police, but she notes how strange it is to see police officers wearing masks and gloves. "They wear them in the belief that it prevents them from getting 'contaminated'," she explains.
The fact that Hungarian police officers find it necessary to wear masks and gloves to protect themselves from disease and contamination illustrates the general lack of compassion for the refugees coming to Europe and the lack of understanding there is for what many of them have been through.
"In one of the detention centres we met a Syrian family of 12 who had been transferred from the border that very day. The head of the family used to be a high-rank public service person in his country. They had witnessed the beheading of about 500 persons in their city," writes Dr. Hardi.
"All of the family members were seriously traumatised and showed serious symptoms of PTSD. One of them had lost a lower limb and had a temporary prosthesis; another suffered from diabetes and needed insulin urgently. We asked one of the nurses to monitor him and to give him the insulin that he had brought himself.
The team from the Cordelia Foundation also alerted the local authorities to the fact that the family needed help.
"We introduced them to our local therapist and our psychiatrist who is in charge of our clients on a weekly basis. She has been taking care of the family since then. We immediately wrote a short medical report on their state ordering them to be released as they belong to the vulnerable group. However, the authorities did not release them. Instead they extended their stay in detention by another 30 days."
With the situation in Syria unchanged and other armed conflicts continuing to disrupt the Middle Eastern and Sub-Saharan region, hundreds of thousands are left with no other choice than to flee war, violence and human rights abuses, torture being one of them.
When asked what she thinks will happen, Dr. Hardi replies:
"Nobody knows. The situation is permanently changing."


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Will Social Security Be There for You?
You pay dearly for your promised Social Security benefits. Between your own contribution and your employer's contribution on your behalf, 12.4% of the first $117,000 of your earned income gets sent to Uncle Sam as a tax to pay for that program.
Source: Social Security Administration.
Despite that substantial tax rate, the program is in financial trouble. Its own trustees estimate that by 2033 its trust funds will empty and it will only be able to pay about 77% of expected benefits. Those same trustees estimate that it would take a tax rate of about 17.1% of covered payroll to cover Social Security's costs in 2035, rising to 18.2% by 2088.
What that means to you
In a nutshell, Social Security's trustees are making it abundantly clear that the program is not sustainable as is. Without changes, the already expensive benefits it provides will either become much more expensive to fund or get cut substantially.
Chances are strong that Social Security will survive but will look somewhat different from how it does today. If history is any guide, Congress will likely tinker around the edges with some combination of tax hikes and benefit cuts in order to shore up the system. Here are a few past and proposed adjustments that have affected, or may affect, the program.
Tax hikes
Over Social Security's history, total tax rates -- including the employee and employer parts -- have risen from 2% at its inception to the current 12.4%. The earned income subject to Social Security tax has increased as well, to $117,000 from $3,000 when the program began. Even adjusting for inflation, that income cap has more than doubled.
A combination of tax hikes and benefit cuts
In 1984, Social Security benefits became subject to income taxes. Today, up to 85% of your Social Security check can be subject to income taxes if you have sufficient total income levels. A large portion of those taxes go to help shore up Social Security's trust fund, and the rest go to shore up Medicare. In essence, these taxes cut the net benefits received by many Social Security recipients.
Benefit cuts
While Social Security's benefits are indexed to inflation, there are serious doubts that the inflation gauge used in that index truly measures the higher inflation rate experienced by seniors . Additionally, there's a proposal that surfaces from time to time to use a chain-weighted inflation index to slow that inflation adjustment even further.
What can you do about it?
Remember that even if nothing changes, Social Security is still on track to pay out about 77% of its expected benefits once its trust funds empty. It's the other 23% or so that is primarily at risk. Chances are that the shortfall will be covered by some combination of tax hikes and benefit cuts, as it has so many other times in the past when Social Security was at risk of not meeting its obligations.
With that as the backdrop, you should figure out how to invest your money now to cover the cost of the next patch when it does get implemented. After all:
- If tax rates go up , it's a lot easier to cut back on investing to cover those taxes than it is to cut back on your living expenses in response to a tax hike.
- If benefits get cut , it's a lot better to draw money from your nest egg than it is to be forced to cut your living expenses in response to a benefit cut.
- If some other solution is found that doesn't either raise taxes or cut benefits, then the money you save by preparing for those other outcomes remains yours to enjoy.
The thing about investing, though, is that the more time you put into it, the better your odds of success. You still have about 19 years before the Social Security trust funds are expected to empty. Get started now, and you'll substantially improve your prospects.
How to get even more income during retirement
Social Security plays a key role in your financial security, but it likely won't be enough on its own. In our brand-new free report, our retirement experts give their insight on a simple strategy to take advantage of a little-known IRS rule that can help ensure a more comfortable retirement for you and your family. Click here to get your copy today.
The article Will Social Security Be There for You? originally appeared on Fool.com.
Chuck Salettaisa Motley Fool contributor . Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days . We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy .
Copyright © 1995 - 2014 The Motley Fool, LLC. All rights reserved. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy .
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.


text:
Building Process:
Contract Accepted — Your contract and all necessary accompanying documents have been received in the Contract Administration Department, and a Sales Manager has accepted the contract by endorsing it.
Permit Received — A building permit to build your home has been received from the municipality. The superintendent assigned to oversee the construction of your home received his "Start Package." It contained all the plans and paperwork on your house. The house has also been placed on a dig schedule to have the excavation work done.
Basement Excavation Completed — The hole for your basement, crawl space or slab has been dug, and the sewers have been brought in.
Footer Completed — The forms have been built into which the concrete is poured to form the footers for your house's foundation. A municipal inspector has approved the forms, and the footers have been poured.
Foundation Completed — The block for the walls was stocked at the home site, and the masons laid the block to form the walls of the crawl space and/or basement. In communities where poured walls are an available option and you selected this option, or in communities where poured walls are required, these walls would be completed by the end of this stage.
Backfill Completed — Tuff n/Dri® basement waterproofing has been applied. Gravel has been installed around the outside perimeter of house, the municipality has inspected the foundation, and the dirt has been pushed up around the block. The steel package (I-beam and posts) has been ordered. A temporary driveway has been put in. The lumber package to frame the house has been ordered, and a framer has been scheduled to frame the house.
Frame Completed — The frame of your home has been constructed. At this point, installation of the Andersen® wood windows, the front door, any exterior swing doors, and the door to the attached garage (if any) have also been completed. The stairs have been set, and the shingles have been scheduled for installation.
Rough Plumbing Complete — Underground drains have been installed for sewage and water. The installation of water supply lines on the first and second floors is completed.
Rough HVAC Completed — The heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) duct work and air returns are in, as is the thermostat wire. The furnace has been set or hung. At this time the basement floor has been poured and the sump pump pit dug. By the completion of this stage, the garage floor may have been poured, and the exterior trim applied to the house. These steps are heavily controlled by the weather, and can be performed at other times during the construction of your home.
Rough Electric Completed — Electrical wire has been run, and the installation of the outlets, switch boxes and breaker box has been completed. The installation of the phone wire, cable, and security lines (if you selected a security system option) has been ordered. During this stage you will have seen the installation of any options you ordered that go in the walls, i.e., a central vacuum system, extra computer cabling, extra phone lines, speakers, or any number of options that require work behind the drywall. Since the superintendent does not have paperwork on what you've ordered, this is your chance to inspect things for yourself and contact the vendors to complete any outstanding work. You'll have another opportunity to do a final check on these things at your pre-drywall conference.
Frame Inspected — All plumbing, heating, electric and frame inspections have been successfully attained from the municipality. Your superintendent will also have conducted a complete frame inspection at this time, and he has ordered the installation of the gas and electric meters by the utility companies.
Insulation Completed — Sidewall insulation is installed, and batting placed in the ceiling per the house plan. The air package has also been completed, which includes foam around exterior outlets and switchboxes, the frames of the doors have been stuffed with insulation, and the frame plates are caulked to the floors. By this point, your superintendent will have called you to schedule a pre-drywall conference. This is the time for you to check the wiring, cables, plumbing and HVAC before it is covered by drywall. This is also the final opportunity to check the installation of your options that you looked at during the Rough Electric stage. Once drywall has been installed, these items cannot be added, changed or moved. The completion of the installation of your security system, if chosen, occurs by that vendor after closing. Depending on the time of year and weather, the exterior painting has been completed by the end of this stage. Before this stage is completed, the drywall will have been ordered.
Drywall Completed — A drywall crew has completed hanging, mudding (with joint compound), corner beading, skimming and sanding the walls. They've also textured the ceiling. While the drywall was being installed, things have been completed on the outside, too. By the end of this stage of construction, the exterior material (vinyl siding, stucco, brick, or stone) has been scheduled or started, and the garage door has been installed.
First Coat Painted — Before the first coat of paint was applied, the house was prepped for this step. All floors were swept and screwed down, the drywall has dried, and it has been properly sanded. The walls were inspected and any nicks repaired. All walls were painted with the first coat, and a second coat was applied inside the closets, and in the kitchen and bathrooms. There will be another opportunity for drywall repairs, if needed, at a later date. The interior trim package has been delivered, which consists of base trim, doorjambs, door casings, and doors. If your home includes hand-stained trim, the on-site staining began while the first coat of paint was applied. By the end of this stage, some more exterior work will have been started, or completed, including the driveway, porch, sidewalks, service walks and approach. In the winter, these steps will be completed at a later date when weather permits, which is called being placed in escrow.
Interior Trim Completed — The doors, jambs and casings, baseboards, kitchen cabinets and base cabinets in the bathrooms have all been installed. The ceramic tile in the bathroom is in. The superintendent has scheduled the measurement and delivery of the countertops and vanity tops.
Finish Electric Completed — At this stage the light fixtures have been hung and plates installed on outlets and switch boxes. The breakers were installed in the breaker box. The painter has returned to finish staining and lacquering the hand-stained trim, if applicable to your home.
Flooring Completed — The vinyl, laminate, wood or tile flooring has all been installed, depending on what you selected. The carpet will be laid at a later time. At the end of this stage, the asphalt driveway has been scheduled, and the gutters, downspouts and conductors (to funnel the water away from the house) put in. During inclement weather, the asphalt and conductors will be installed at a later date when conditions allow for proper installation, which are called escrow items.
House Completed — The floor was cleaned, and the pad, tack strips, carpet and floor registers have been installed. The house now has sinks, faucets and toilets, and the water supply lines have been hooked up. The drywall vendor has returned to touch-up any nicks to the drywall, and a second coat of paint was applied. The painter returned for final touch-ups, and the cold air return grills installed. Outside, the air conditioning condenser unit has been installed. The lot has been graded to a finish, and the landscaping and sod installed. In inclement weather, these steps will be placed in escrow to occur later when they can safely be put in place, and sod farms can begin cutting sod in the spring.
Final House Inspection Passed — The house has passed all final inspections by the municipality's inspector and was awarded a Certificate of Occupancy. In some cases, the Certificate of Occupancy is given to use before we've finished with all the steps in building your home, since it has to do with passing inspections and not whether the house is completed. If this is the case, this stage will show up on your status report as completed prior to earlier stages being completed.
Homeowner Orientation Meeting Held — A crew has come in and thoroughly cleaned the house from windows to basement to appliances to get it ready for your Homeowner Orientation meeting.
Custom Single Family Homes:
Every ZeesGroup home project is designed to satisfy 3 major criteria:
· Your design needs
· Your land
· Your building budget
You will come to appreciate the skill of a talented home designer when you begin to see how many other criteria, often with competing priorities, must be addressed in a well designed custom home. Structurally the home must be sound. The home must be functional and the spaces must work for the activities taking place there. The plan should flow logically from room to room and from the inside to outside.
The home should be oriented to take advantage of views and reduce the impact of obstructions. It should be environmentally sound. Many custom homes end up satisfying some of these criteria, but it's an art and a science to design a home that does it all !
2, 3 and 4 Flats:
If you are thinking about an investment property a 2 flat would the best choice. Zee's Services Co. specializes in multi unit buildings which are more affordable, considering the income.
This would a good investment for the beginners, who later want to start going on a bigger scale.


text:
What I want to do when I grow up:
1. work with animals, i.e vet tech, zoo, humane society, wait, the humane society would be too sad, and i would own 800 pets.
2. hair stylist, then i would like to work with shelters for women and people trying to get their lives together and give them free heair cuts.
3. own a bible distribution warehouse and have tons of connections and money and bibles, so i could send the Good News to the people of the world who desire to read it.
4. Ride a motorcycle, go to Germany and Australia, be a great grandma, grow in sanctifing grace and love for Our Lord.
Blessings on your weekend.
Tomorrow is our churchs 10 year anniversary party. Should be fun.


text:
Our "articles" Feed
14 Jul 2014 16:36
YouTube coming up with creator-centric mobile app, includes crowdfunding feature
> FeedBack ( 0) Keep your eye on Youtube's plans for facilitating creation of video content on your smartphone. And also provide a possible source of revenue through its to-be-announced crowdfunding feature.
Given the simplicity of posting YouTube videos on your RSS feed with Enfeedia, and thereby, through syndication, posting videos on your website without the assistance of a webmaster, we could see a breakthrough opportunity to monetize your creative videos.
And here's a little teaser: Be on the watch for an announcement from Enfeedia regarding feed syndication without uploading a script. Syndicate by just inserting one line of code on your website. And that one of code can be one of four pre-defined formats, so you don't even have to think about it, just pick one. Syndication has never been easier!
Click the title of this item for the full article.


text:
Patronage & donations
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Index » absolute » ?C=M;O=A
Name Last modified Size Description
Parent Directory - absolute64-14.2.2/ 2019-12-27 12:32 - absolute-current64/ 2020-06-15 15:20 - snapshot/ 2020-06-17 05:03 - Extra/ 2020-10-28 05:33 - builds_15/ 2020-10-30 19:11 - absolute64-14.2.2.iso 2016-12-07 06:21 1.2G absolute64-live-current.iso 2018-11-25 04:14 2.0G absolute64-20200827.iso 2020-08-28 01:48 2.2G