Thursday, October 29, 2020
Vaccine And Insurance
From News Nation:
“How your
insurance plan will cover a coronavirus vaccine and treatments”
Federal health
officials Wednesday issued insurance coverage rules designed to deliver on the
promise that every American will have access to free COVID-19 vaccines when
they are approved. The regulations from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid
Services, or CMS, will also increase what Medicare pays hospitals for COVID-19
treatments. The changes arrive at a time when coronavirus infections are rising
in much of the country.
Congress and
President Donald Trump have already enacted legislation that calls for vaccines
to be free, but the new rules were needed to align that policy with the many
arcane payment requirements for public and private insurance. “CMS is acting
now to remove bureaucratic barriers while ensuring that states, providers and
health plans have the information and direction they need to ensure broad
vaccine access and coverage for all Americans,” agency head Seema Verma said in
a statement. The rules aim to resolve potential legal issues over whether
Medicare could cover a vaccine that receives “emergency use authorization” from
the Food and Drug Administration. That’s a step short of full approval, and
questions arose about whether Medicare could pay under its standard coverage
policies.
Under
Wednesday’s announcement:
Seniors with
traditional Medicare will pay nothing for COVID-19 vaccines, and any copays and
deductibles are waived.
The government
will pay private Medicare Advantage plans to administer the vaccine to seniors.
Enrollees will not be charged.
Workplace and
individual health insurance plans will cover the COVID-19 vaccine as a
preventive service, with no cost sharing. The requirement applies to the vast
majority of private plans, which are mandated to cover approved preventive care
under the Obama-era Affordable Care Act — even as the Trump administration is
trying to overturn that law at the Supreme Court.
State Medicaid
and Children’s Health Insurance plans will have to provide vaccines for free
for the duration of the coronavirus public health emergency.
Doctors,
clinics and hospitals vaccinating uninsured people will be able to get paid
through a federal fund set up to assist health care providers under financial
stress.
The regulations
take effect immediately.
^ Here’s hoping
that a free vaccine that is independently verified as safe will encourage
people to get vaccinated so we can stop all of these restrictions and move on.
^
Anonymous Revealed
From the CBC:
“Former U.S.
Homeland Security chief of staff outs himself as 'Anonymous' who criticized
Trump”
A former Trump
administration official who penned a scathing anti-Trump op-ed and book under
the pen name "Anonymous" revealed himself Wednesday as a former chief
of staff at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. The official, Miles
Taylor, said in a tweet six days before the Nov. 3 election that U.S. President
Donald Trump is "a man without character," and "it's time for
everyone to step out of the shadows." Taylor has been an outspoken critic
of Trump's in recent months and had repeatedly denied he was the author of the
column — even to colleagues at CNN, where he has a contributor contract. He
left the Trump administration in June 2019 and endorsed Democrat Joe Biden for
president this past summer.
Trump and White
House officials moved quickly to describe Taylor as someone with little
standing and clout. "This guy is a low-level lowlife that I don't know. I
have no idea who he is, other than I got to see him a little while ago on
television," Trump told a campaign rally crowd in Arizona. As he belittled
Taylor as a "sleazebag" and called for his prosecution, the crowd
broke into cheers of "drain that swamp." But as DHS chief of staff,
Taylor was in many White House meetings with the president on his border policy
and other major homeland security issues. During Taylor's time as chief of
staff, Trump threatened to shut down the southern border, and his
administration developed the policy to force asylum seekers to wait across the
U.S.-Mexico border. White House chief of staff Mark Meadows called Taylor's
revelation "a monumental embarrassment," tweeting, "I've seen
more exciting reveals in Scooby-Doo episodes."
During a CNN
appearance with Chris Cuomo on Wednesday night, Taylor said he didn't unmask
himself earlier because the story would have disappeared within 48 hours. "No
one would pay attention and they wouldn't care," he said. "Right now,
Americans are reviewing the president's resume, his record and his character
and it is mission critical that people like me, but others, come out now when
the voters are listening and tell them who this man really is." Taylor's
anonymous essay was published in 2018 by The New York Times, infuriating the
president and setting off a frantic White House leak investigation to try to
unmask the author. In the essay, the person, who at the time identified
themselves only as a senior administration official, said they were part of a
secret "resistance" force out to counter Trump's "misguided
impulses" and undermine parts of his agenda. "Many Trump appointees
have vowed to do what we can to preserve our democratic institutions, while
thwarting Mr. Trump's more misguided impulses until he is out of office,"
read the essay. The allegations incensed the president, bolstering his
allegations about a "deep state" operating within his government and
conspiring against him. And it set off a guessing game that seeped into the
White House, with current and former staffers trading calls and texts, trying
to figure out who could have written the piece. Trump's campaign press
secretary called Taylor's revelation Wednesday "the least impressive,
lamest political 'reveal' of all time." Hogan Gidley said in a statement
that Taylor "loved President Trump until he figured out he could try to
make money by attacking him."
Trump, who had
long complained about leaks in the White House, had ordered aides to unmask the
writer, citing "national security" concerns to justify a possible
Justice Department investigation. And he issued an extraordinary demand that
the newspaper reveal the author. Instead, the author pressed forward, penning a
follow-up book published last November, called A Warning, that continued to
paint a disturbing picture of the president, describing him as volatile,
incompetent and unfit to be commander-in-chief. To a certain extent, he's since
been overshadowed by other former government officials, both during impeachment
hearings and after, who went public condemning Trump's behaviour with their
names attached. Taylor's behaviour also leaves questions for CNN. He was asked
directly by the network's Anderson Cooper in August whether he was
"Anonymous" and answered: "I wear a mask for two things,
Anderson: Halloween and pandemics. So, no." Josh Campbell, a national
security correspondent for CNN, tweeted that he had also asked Taylor if he was
"Anonymous" and was told no.
Taylor said
Wednesday that he owed Cooper a beer and a mea culpa. He said he wrote in his
book that he would deny being "Anonymous" if asked, because he wanted
to keep the focus on his arguments, instead of who was writing them. "You
know what the problem is with having lied is: Now you're a liar, and people
will be slow to believe you," Cuomo said. But he continued with a
half-hour interview where Taylor denounced Trump. CNN said Taylor would remain
a network contributor. Taylor said he believed Trump would double down on
damaging policies, particularly the separation of families at the southern
border, if he won a second term. "They want to turn this country into
Fortress America rather than a shining city on the hill," he said. He said
he considered resigning from the Trump administration a year before he did and
wishes now that he had. Former Republican Party consultant Reed Galen, one of
the founders of the anti-Trump group the Lincoln Project, tweeted that Taylor
"isn't a hero." He added: "He sat in those rooms, in those
councils of power and allowed the banality of evil to work.... Heroism isn't
silence until it's convenient and personally advantageous to stand up."
^ I don’t
believe that anyone who publishes an Op-Ed or claims to be a Whistleblower
should be allowed to be Anonymous and if they do then I hold little stock in
what they say. I believe Whistleblowers should be protected after their
complaint, but that their name should be made public when their statement or
report is made public otherwise it is just some unknown troll complaining and
could be anyone including foreign trolls. As for Taylor, I don’t hold him in
much esteem since he openly lied on record when directly asked if he was Anonymous.
Whatever he says now is tainted. ^
https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/anonymous-identity-revealed-miles-taylor-1.5780612
New French Lockdown
From the BBC:
“Coronavirus:
Macron declares second national lockdown in France”
French
President Emmanuel Macron has announced a second national lockdown until at
least the end of November. Mr Macron said that under the new measures, starting
on Friday, people would only be allowed to leave home for essential work or
medical reasons. Non-essential businesses, such as restaurants and bars, will
close, but schools and factories will remain open. Covid daily deaths in France
are at the highest level since April. On Tuesday, 33,000 new cases were
confirmed. Mr Macron said the country risked being "overwhelmed by a
second wave that no doubt will be harder than the first".
Tracking the
pandemic: Where has been hit hardest? Infections are rising sharply across
Europe, including the UK which on Wednesday announced 310 new deaths and 24,701
new officially-recorded cases. In England, a new study estimates almost 100,000
people are actually catching the virus every day, with researchers warning that
"something has to change". Night curfews are in force in several
countries, including for 46 million people in France. News of the new
restrictions being introduced in Europe's biggest economies led to sharp falls
in the financial markets on Wednesday. The UK's FTSE 100 ended almost 2.6%
lower, and Germany's Dax dropped 4.2%. Major US indexes also sank 3.4% or more.
"We are deep in the second wave," European Commission President
Ursula von der Leyen said. "I think that this year's Christmas will be a
different Christmas."
Why is
France acting now? In a televised address on Wednesday, Mr Macron said that
France must now "brutally apply the brakes" to avoid being
"submerged by the acceleration of the epidemic". "The
virus is circulating at a speed that not even the most pessimistic forecasts
had anticipated," he said, adding that half of all intensive care beds at
French hospitals were being occupied by Covid patients. The president
said that under the new rules, people would need to fill in a form to justify
leaving their homes, as was required in the initial lockdown in March. Social
gatherings are banned. "Like in the spring, you will be able to
leave your house only to work, for a medical appointment, to provide assistance
to a relative, to shop for essential goods or to go for a walk near your house,"
Mr Macron said. But he made clear that public services and factories
would remain open, adding that the economy "must not stop or
collapse". Mr Macron added that visits to care homes - which were
banned during the two-month lockdown declared in March - would be permitted
under the latest measures. The curbs will apply until 1 December and
will be reassessed every two weeks. The president said he retained "hope
that families will be able to be reunited for Christmas".
A new French
lockdown - with differences The French government has been taken by
surprise by the virulence of this second Covid wave. Some 50,000 new cases a
day are being reported and that's probably a big underestimate. The
proportion of critical beds occupied by Covid patients is now 70% in Paris. The
new restrictions announced by President Macron on Wednesday are similar to
measures introduced in March, but with some key differences. For
business, it's going to be another massive blow - especially for sectors like
entertainment and events. The president promised help for French firms, but did
not provide details. After the economy picked up in the third quarter,
it now looks inevitable that it'll contract again between now and the end of
the year, and for the whole of 2020 the government's predicting a 10% fall in
GDP.
^ I took out the part of the article that dealt with the German Lockdown because I just wrote about that. This new French Lockdown is not a surprise the same way the new German Lockdown wasn’t. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-54716993
One-Size Doesn't Fit
From the BBC:
“Cornish war
veteran driving instructor 'has to stand in rain'”
A disabled war
veteran driving instructor said he has been repeatedly forced to sit outside
during wet and windy weather because of the closure of test centre waiting
rooms. Andy Small, from Cornwall, said blanket national closures due to
Covid-19 were "ridiculous". "All instructors now have to sit or
stand, outside, for up to 40 minutes while tests take place," he said. The
Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency said it was reviewing the situation.
Mr Small was
medically discharged from the army in 2010 and has rheumatoid arthritis. He
served in the Gulf War, completed two tours of Bosnia and was awarded the Royal
Warrant in 2005. He said he could not stand for long periods so when pupils
have been taking their tests, he would be sitting in the car park in a camping
chair, holding an umbrella. "The inclement weather conditions will only
deteriorate over the coming months," he said. "There is no cover. "A
number of instructors have underlying health issues which will be made worse. "This
will lead to many experiencing a physical and financial difficulty because
they'll become ill and need time off to recover. "Now a tiered lockdown
has been introduced across the country, surely test centre waiting rooms should
be reopened using a similar approach?" He said it was ridiculous to have a
blanket closure when "some areas of the country are at lower risk than
others".
Mr Small said
he wanted the DVSA to look at waiting rooms based on the size of the test
centre. "We have five examiners covering Bodmin and can maintain social
distancing guidelines with no difficulty," he said. "The examiners
can sit in our cars, inches from strangers, but we're not allowed to be in a
waiting room that can accommodate us with social distancing." The DVSA
said it was working with the Health and Safety Executive and driving instructor
associations to ''review our centres". "We are initially reopening
nine waiting rooms and to ensure everyone's safety we will review the measures
we put in place and get feedback from staff and our waiting room visitors
before we open anymore," it added. Bodmin test centre is not one of the
nine.
^ While it may
be easier for Local, State and Federal Governments to make blanket and general restrictions
that doesn’t mean it is the right thing to do. It is one thing to do these one-sized
fits all restrictions at the beginning of the pandemic when people weren’t sure
what was going on and things were getting chaotic and deadly, but we are now
almost 8 months into this pandemic and had a lull between waves that one-sized
doesn’t fit all and restrictions and policies for employees, officials and the
public should be more tailored to both the individual agency/department/group
and the region. I know that what works in Florida doesn’t mean it will work in Maine
especially if it only calls for outside dining, visiting, waiting, etc. It
seems this is the case with this Test Centre in Cornwall. ^
Texas Backtracks
From KUVE:
“Texas
social workers will no longer be allowed to discriminate against LGBTQ Texans
and people with disabilities”
The Texas
Behavioral Health Executive Council voted unanimously to restore protections
for social workers' LGBTQ and disabled clients after backlash from advocates. After
backlash from lawmakers and advocates, a state board voted Tuesday to undo a
rule change that would have allowed social workers to turn away clients who are
LGBTQ or have a disability. The Texas Behavioral Health Executive Council voted
unanimously to restore protections for LGBTQ and disabled clients to Texas
social workers’ code of conduct just two weeks after removing them. Gloria
Canseco, who was appointed by Gov. Greg Abbott to lead the behavioral health
council, expressed regret that the previous rule change was “perceived as
hostile to the LGBTQ+ community or to disabled persons.” “At every opportunity
our intent is to prohibit discrimination against any person for any reason,”
she said. Abbott's office recommended earlier this month that the board strip
three categories from a code of conduct that establishes when a social worker
may refuse to serve someone.
The governor’s
office recommended removing language that prohibited social workers from
turning away clients on the basis of disability, sexual orientation or gender
identity. The reason, Abbott’s office said, was because the code’s
nondiscrimination protections went beyond protections laid out in the state law
that governs how and when the state may discipline social workers. That set off
an immediate firestorm of criticism from social workers, LGBTQ advocates and
advocates for people with disabilities. Tim Brown, a social worker on the behavioral
health council, complained that he had been the subject of much criticism after
the board’s earlier vote on Oct. 12. He said the board made its vote not
because it wanted to permit discrimination but because it was stuck between the
“proverbial rock and a hard place.” “We’re opposed to any form of
discrimination,” Brown said.
State Sen. José
Menéndez, D-San Antonio, and state Rep. Jessica González, D-Dallas, urged the
board Tuesday to undo its vote and said they would file legislation next year aimed
at preventing discrimination against marginalized groups. “Sometimes when
you’re put in a position of leadership, it can be a very lonely place, and at
times you’re being put in a position where you’re being asked to do something
that you have to push back” against, Menéndez told the board.
The board also
voted to seek an opinion from Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s office about
the legality of its rule change, though the board has previously indicated that
Paxton’s office would likely oppose explicit protections for LGBTQ Texans and
Texans with disabilities in the social worker’s code of conduct. Darrel Spinks,
the council’s executive director, said earlier this month that he had already
sought an “informal” opinion from the Texas attorney general’s office about the
rule change and that the attorneys agreed with Abbott’s interpretation. “Your
rule needs to match what the statute is,” Spinks said at the time. Paxton, a
Republican, has historically opposed expanded protections for LGBTQ people. Spinks
estimated it would take 90 days or more to get a formal attorney general
opinion. "We are so grateful for the vote to keep the anti-discrimination
protections in place," said Will Francis, executive director of the Texas
chapter of the National Association of Social Workers. "This is a
recognition of the key principle that a social worker’s personal beliefs must
never impede a person’s right to self-determination or access to
services."
^ It is good to
see that so many people showed their disgust and outrage after the Texan
Governor and the Texan Behavioral Health Executive Council decided to allow
Local and State Officials to openly discriminate against gays and the disabled.
That outrage was right and now the Texan Officials were made to change their
tune and not allow the open discrimination. It’s sad that it had to be forced on
them to do the right thing, but openly now they will see their bigotness and
not do something this stupid again in the future. ^
Wednesday, October 28, 2020
New German Lockdown
From the DW:
“Coronavirus:
Germany to impose one-month partial lockdown”
German
Chancellor Angela Merkel has announced tough new measures from Monday, November
2, in an attempt to curb the spread of the coronavirus pandemic. But will the
German people be compliant? German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Germany's state
premiers announced on Wednesday a new partial lockdown to begin on Monday,
November 2. The so-called nationwide "lockdown light" is a less
intense version of the measures that brought German society and economic
activity to a standstill in the spring.
New
restrictions for the next month
Restaurants and
bars will close, except for take-away
Large events
will be canceled again
Unnecessary
travel is strongly discouraged
Overnight stays
in hotels for tourist purposes is banned
All those who
can work from home should do so and employers should ease a transition into
working from home
Meetings in
public will be restricted to just two households of up to 10 people total.
Entertainment
facilities such as theaters and cinemas will be closed
Public
recreation centers such as swimming pools, gyms and saunas will be closed
No crowds at
sports events
What is
allowed
Schools and
kindergartens will remain open
Church services
and protests will be allowed to continue due constitutional concerns
Nursing home
residents will be allowed to receive visitors.
Shops will
remain open, with one customer allowed per 10 square meters (108 square feet).
Borders remain
open
'Serious
situation' Merkel said in a press conference: "We are in a very
serious situation." "We must act, and now, to avoid an acute
national health emergency." She said the number of people in
intensive care units has doubled in the past 10 days, and that in many areas it
was no longer possible to track and trace infection chains. In 75% of cases,
the source of infection is unknown. "If infections continue at this rate, we
will be at the limits of the capacities of our health system," she said.
"That is why this is a difficult day today, also for political
decision-makers, I want to say this explicitly because we know what we are
putting people through," she said. State and federal leaders will
meet again in two weeks to assess if the new measures are having enough of an
effect, and recalibrate if needed.
Business
support Merkel promised that firms hit by the new measures would receive
economic support. Companies with up to 50 employees and the self-employed will
receive 75% of their income in support. "We will compensate
affected companies, institutions and clubs," she said. According to
media reports, a total of €10 billion ($11.8 billion) has been earmarked for
support. Larger companies will be reliant on EU rules for assistance and
this will vary from company to company. Emergency loans will be made
available for self-employed workers such as artists and stage hands, while
small businesses with less than 10 employees will gain access to very cheap
loans.
Public mood Until
now, Merkel's government has enjoyed high levels of support for the measures
put in place to tackle the pandemic and Germany has fared relatively well
compared to many of its European neighbors. But public mood has been
shifting and criticism among the population of government-ordained measures is
on the rise. Wednesday saw Germany's highest rate of new daily
infections yet — over 14,000 — and the latest figures show that only around 25%
of Germany's intensive care beds are still available.
Mounting
dissatisfaction Compared to the
beginning of October, 5% more people now say that the measures currently in
place do not go far enough (32% in total), according to the statistics agency
Infratest. At the same time, the number of people for whom the measures go too
far increased by 4% to 15% of people in total. A slim majority (51%) feel that
the current measures are sufficient, but this number is 8% less than at the
start of October. Some of those who vehemently oppose further
restrictions are fearful of the economic impact. Many Berlin restaurant owners,
for example, have said they would probably have to close down their business if
faced with a second lockdown. They have already seen losses after the closure
in the spring, followed by rules that forced them to adhere to social
distancing regulations and then the curfew imposed last month. Several
news outlets also reported that financing the new measures would push the
amount of debt Germany was in for 2021 well over €100 billion ($117 billion).
Finance Minister Olaf Scholz had planned a sum of €96 billion to help
businesses ride out the pandemic next year, but the new aid package could cost
€10 billion more. The opposition pro-business liberal Free Democrats
have spoken out against another shutdown of the hospitality sector. "I
believe it is unnecessary and unconstitutional," party leader Christian
Lindner wrote on Twitter before Wednesday's meeting.
'Lockdown
fantasies' For many in Germany, the
question of individual freedom is at least as important as a thriving economy.
Leaders of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD), which is the largest
opposition party in the German federal parliament, have been among those the
most widely critical of further restrictions. "No measures — including lockdowns —
have had a demonstrable influence on the infection rate, but the lockdown
fantasies of government politicians are becoming increasingly absurd," the
AfD parliamentary leader Alexander Gauland said in a statement on Tuesday. Germany has seen anti-lockdown protests in
recent months, with some groups protesting under the banner of
"Querdenker" — people who "think outside the box." A
demonstration in Berlin at the weekend coincided with an arson attack on the
Robert Koch Institute, Germany's public health agency — although no suspects
have yet been identified. Protesters
espousing conspiracy theories and far-right groups have joined the
demonstrations, drawing criticism and ridicule from the left and more liberal
quarters. But surveys show that there is a growing number of people critical of
restrictions, who believe that fighting the virus should be a question of
personal responsibility. The most recent survey shows that a narrow majority of
Germans agree with this view: 54% compared to 43% who say authorities should
put restrictions in place.
Berlin vs.
the states As Germany is governed by
a federal system, one of the key questions during the pandemic response has
been how much of a say the central government in Berlin should have, as health
policy is the mandate of the 16 states. This has led to a "patchwork"
of regulations across the country, with travel bans or curfews in some places
and no restrictions in others. The most recent survey shows over two
thirds (68%) of people want regulations to be unified across the 16 states.
Additionally, 78% said they wanted the states to "work more closely
together" in pandemic response. There
have been calls for the parliaments at federal and state levels to be involved
in decision-making, with MPs from all political parties speaking out against
decision-making behind closed doors.
Nuremberg
cancels Christmas market The city announced on Monday (Oct.26) that this
decision had been made in view of the rapidly increasing number of coronavirus
cases. The mayor explained that it was to be assumed that in the near future
the Covid-19 traffic light in Nuremberg will change to dark red. "Against
this background, we think it would be the wrong signal to go ahead with the
annual Christkindlesmarkt Christmas market.
A European
role model? Despite the increasing
infection rates, Germany still stands on good ground compared to other European
countries. Even with the high daily infection figures seen in late October, in
terms of cases per 100,000 inhabitants Germany remains well below rates in
Switzerland, the Czech Republic and Belgium. France and the UK are among the countries
that have introduced partial or localized lockdowns in recent weeks in an
effort to curb the number of cases. Germany is hoping to take action before
cases reach the rates seen there, in two of the worst-affected nations in the
world. Germany's relatively
strong acceptance of measures up until now may have been key in the low
infection and death rates. But surveys show that 50% of Germans believe that
efforts by police and authorities to enforce the restrictions have not gone far
enough. The challenge is to make
sure the German people accept the new measures — and to enforce them. Relying
on goodwill and compliance, as the chancellor called for in her most recent
video podcast, may not go far enough.
^ Another country
shutting down. I’m not saying it doesn’t need to happen, but it definitely isn’t
going to be easy on people as it was back in February/March. Back then people
saw the chaos and fear from the pandemic and willingly stayed inside for
months. Once they were let out they don’t seem to want to willingly go back to
that isolation and fear. Governments have to be more careful the second time
around to not go too far with restrictions and to give financial aid to help people
and businesses survive. ^
https://www.dw.com/en/coronavirus-germany-to-impose-one-month-partial-lockdown/a-55421241
Army Africa Merger
From Military Times:
“Upcoming
merger gives Army Africa more advocacy in Washington, two-star says”
A plan to merge
U.S. Army Africa with the newly elevated four-star command of U.S. Army Europe
will give soldiers on the African continent more influence back in Washington,
D.C., according to Maj. Gen. Andrew Rohling, who took over the Italy-based Army
component this summer. Having a four-star general overseeing both commands and
regularly making trips to Congress, the Pentagon and think tanks in D.C. will
“give us greater advocacy,” Rohling told Army Times during a recent telephone
interview. “In my last job, I was the deputy commander for United States Army
Europe,” Rohling said. “So I’ve been involved in this discussion since its
beginning. … If I didn’t think it was good, knowing that I was coming to be the
commander of United States Army Africa, I’d never have been for it.”
The merger
won’t change the number of soldiers assigned to Army Africa, Rohling said. What
merging will do is eliminate some of the administrative burdens on his command
and help synchronize exercises with Army Europe and tap into some of its
resources, Rohling explained. “There’s always been a way to do it, but you had
to go between two different [combatant commands],” he added. “They can [now]
make that transition in a much easier bureaucratic manner than you could’ve in
the past, and it’s given a lot of flexibility for both commands.”
The merger
comes on the heels of some combat incidents around outposts on the Horn of
Africa, including a May 9 attack on U.S. soldiers assigned to a coordination
cell in Mogadishu, Somalia. Seven soldiers received Combat Action badges
following the attack, the details of which were not elaborated on during the
telephone call. Rohling’s predecessor, Maj. Gen. Roger Cloutier Jr., obtained
wartime awards approval authority after a brief but complex al-Shabab attack
was repelled by U.S. soldiers at Baledogle Airfield, in southern Somalia, on
Sept. 30, 2019. The approval authority allowed the awarding of combat badges
for some 120 soldiers at the airfield. “I personally have retained that
authority and I have signed combat awards since I’ve been in command,” Rohling
said. “And has there been small-scale combat? Yes. Major combat? I would say
no.” Army Africa approved 160 combat badges in fiscal 2020. About two-thirds of
those were from the Baledogle incident, according to command spokesman Col. Ryan
Dillon. A Jan. 5 attack by al-Shabab at Manda Bay Airfield in Kenya claimed the
lives of a U.S. soldier and two Pentagon contractors. The investigation into
that incident remains ongoing, but some recommendations have already been
implemented, Rohling said, though he declined to discuss what those were until
the investigation is released.
Army advisers
in Africa following spike in combat “Special Forces is very good at
training tactical-type units; They’re very good at accompanying tactical-type
units," McConville said. “But SFABs build a professional military force,
which is different." U.S. Africa Command boss Gen. Stephen Townsend
characterized Manda Bay as a place that both the Americans and Kenyans
incorrectly viewed as a safe haven. He told Congress earlier this year that the
Kenyans had family housing there for their military members and considered it
"a resort area.” “We’re working hard to make sure we’ve integrated
the lessons-learned from that investigation,” Rohling added. “I get a brief on
it routinely, [and] I brief Gen. Townsend on it routinely.” In the days
following the Manda Bay attack, roughly 120 infantrymen from the 101st Airborne
Division were sent to secure the area, lay concertina wire and build defensive
positions. Force protection is one of Rohling’s leading priorities going
into his tenure leading Army Africa. “That means that we continually
work to make sure that if we put a United States Army soldier onto the African
continent that they’ve got everything they need in terms of their preparation,
their training and then once they get there, [ensuring] that they’re in a safe
place, they’re not going to get harmed [and] they have access to medical
care," Rohling said.
Under a new
regional alignment model for the Army’s security force assistance brigades, the
2nd SFAB, out of Fort Bragg, North Carolina, will soon start rotating teams to
Africa, providing dedicated advisers to military units from countries like
Tunisia, Djibouti and Somalia. Those partnerships with African militaries have
been limited these past few months due to the coronavirus pandemic. So far,
SFAB teams have been mostly dispatched to places where there is already a U.S.
footprint, like East Africa. “As we make our assessments in accordance with
what AFRICOM and the Department of Defense wants to do, we’ll position them
elsewhere across the continent,” Rohling said.
The U.S.
National Defense Strategy argues that some sort of U.S. presence on the
continent prevents terror groups aligned with the Islamic State and al Qaida
from gaining ground there. A U.S. presence also provides a counterweight
against other non-African powers, like China, which are interested in the
region’s emerging markets and raw materials. Africa is “the emerging front of
global power competition,” Rohling said during the telephone call with Army
Times. “The Army has a role in Africa, and we’re operating there every single
day."
^ Hopefully,
this merger will help the US Troops in Africa as well as the African Troops we
work with there. ^
Disabled Stepping Out!
From the MT:
“Beyond
Moscow: People With Disabilities Are Stepping Out”
With the baby
carriage I can go to the store but not to the pharmacy, because there is no
ramp. That was part of my daily planning when I became a mother. Life with a
baby carriage was sometimes complicated, but the lives of many disabled people,
especially in smaller Russian cities and towns, often shrinks to four walls of
the apartment. According to the Federal Register of Disabled Persons, as of
October 1, 2019, there were almost 12 million disabled people in Russia. The
“Accessible Environment” state program looks good on paper, but it doesn’t work
everywhere, especially in small Russian cities, including Lipetsk. But even
where it does function well, there are problems that ramps and audible
pedestrian crossing signals can’t solve.
A new
perspective for people with disabilities Denise Roza is the head of
Perspektiva, a Russian disability non-governmental organization. In the 1990s
at the start of Roza’s work in Russia, when a group of young people with
disabilities marched in Novgorod in 1999, people thought they were crazy. And
when a Perspektiva employee who used a wheelchair tried to go on a business
trip, airport officials wouldn’t let her on the plane. Now with a staff
of about 80 employees, half with disabilities, some of the basic issues have
been solved, but there is still much to be done. “If a person good at
his or her job, there is no problem,” Denis Roza told The Moscow Times.
“However, disabled people often lack skills and don’t have work experience, so
employers are afraid to hire them.”
Perspektiva
conducts a variety of programs to facilitate greater inclusion: job training
and placement assistance, inclusive education and sports, development of
leadership qualities, and several creative projects, such as Theater
Perspektiva where young people write plays with the help of professional
playwrights and then see them staged by famous directors and actors. Another
program, supports "universal design" that is suitable for everyone:
people with various forms of disability, senior citizens, parents with baby
carriages. For this project, the team conducts seminars, audits of existing
facilities, festivals, and competitions among designers and architects. “In
1997, we began to conduct “kindness lessons” where people with disabilities
went to schools and tried to break down physical and psychological barriers.
Since we began our work, the situation has changed for the better,” Roza said.
Living
independent lives Perspektiva has partner organizations in approximately 30
regions, and although things are changing, the pace is slow. In Lipetsk,
Solnechny Mir (Sunny World) joins together about 150 families with children who
have Down syndrome or autism. “As a mother of a ten-year-old son with Down
syndrome, I understand what it feels like when the doctor says that your child
will not live a productive life,” Lilia Pedan, a leader of the organization,
told The Moscow Times. The goal of her work is to teach children to become
independent. With funding from two state grants, the group has provided
training for parents and allowed them to hire specialists: a psychologist, a
specialist in developmental and physical disabilities, and a speech-language
therapist. Children play sports, dance, and develop different kinds of crafts
that expand their capabilities. To move toward Pedan’s goal of helping people
with Down syndrome live on their own, students are getting an education through
the Lipetsk Center for Education, Rehabilitation and Wellness.
Another group,
the “Lestnitsa” (Staircase) Special Folk Theater, welcomes adults with any kind
of disability. “Our life is a staircase, but some people decide to rise, and
someone decide to descend. Our artists try to rise,” director Marina Ralina
said. With a grant from the city, the theater started its work, giving
roles to match abilities, so if someone can’t remember many lines, he’s given a
cameo role, and someone who can’t stand has a role that allows her to sit.
Progress may be slow, but it’s very gratifying. When Victor Rodionov came to
the theater, he could barely say simple phrases. Now he plays the leading
roles. Although Ralina would like more teachers, the real problem is
that they are ‘preaching to the choir’ — to an audience made up of people with
disabilities, veterans, and sometimes a few high school students.
Being part
of the community Yelena Kosenko started the Parallels dance troupe with the
“unusual” premise that people with and without disabilities could dance
together. With space in the Gorodskoi House of Children’s Creativity in
Lipetsk, the troupe has grown from a dance group to a theater. Virtually
anyone can join. Kosenko teaches the choreography to children without
disabilities, and then it’s adapted for the children using wheelchairs. Kids
with hearing impairment are taught according to a special program that is based
on modern choreography with techniques of contact and non-contact
improvisation. Children with autism joined two years ago, and after a period of
adjustment, are now dancing on their own. This year the theater won an award at the
All-Russian Competition of Inclusive Performances. There is no problem with integration. The
only problem is that they now have too many dancers to fit in their small dance
hall.
Full
employment is still far down the road Just over a quarter of disabled Russian
people of working age have a job. In Lipetsk, there are a few organizations
dedicated to improving this situation. One is Sosnovy Bor that helps people who
have become disabled after an accident or health condition. Some people
come to them for psychological and medical rehabilitation, but Sofia
Vorontsova, head of the department of social rehabilitation, says that
employees of the center try to provide them with employable skills. Almost
everyone who has attended the center has found employment, ranging from
photography to computer programming. Roman Bobylev opened the enterprise
Lozaholding, where people with disabilities make wicker objects. With a state
grant, he began to create electric scooters for the disabled that are faster
and more maneuverable than wheelchairs. He also repairs wheelchairs damaged on
rough roads and entries without ramps. Besides all this, he created a small
framing workshop where people with disabilities work. Roman Bobylev and
his colleagues are creating an urban environment that is more accessible and
helping people with disabilities navigate it. Society only has to accept them.
As Denise Roza said, "Integrating disabled people into society is a
two-way street."
^ While there is
still a very long way to go for both the disabled and the non-disabled in
Russia it is nice to see that there are groups that are working hard to change
centuries-old bad stereotypes that the vast majority of Russians have regarding
the disabled and that the disabled in Russia are no longer simply hiding
themselves. The non-disabled in Russia need to see the disabled every day since
that is the only way they (the non-disabled) will start to see them (the
disabled) as human beings. ^
French Terrorism Warning
From Reuters:
“France
warns citizens to be cautious as anger seethes in Muslim world over cartoons”
France warned
its citizens living or travelling in several Muslim-majority countries to take
extra security precautions on Tuesday as anger surged over cartoons of the
Prophet Mohammad. In a sign that some countries want to limit the fallout,
Saudi Arabia condemned the cartoons but held back from echoing calls by other
Muslim states for a boycott of French products or other actions.
The row has its
roots in a knife attack outside a French school on Oct. 16 in which a man of
Chechen origin beheaded Samuel Paty, a teacher who had shown pupils cartoons of
Prophet Mohammad in a civics lesson on freedom of speech. The caricatures are
considered blasphemous by Muslims. France’s foreign ministry on Tuesday issued
safety advice to French citizens in Indonesia, Bangladesh, Iraq and Mauritania,
advising them to exercise caution. They should stay away from any protests over
the cartoons and avoid any public gatherings. “It is recommended to exercise
the greatest vigilance, especially while travelling, and in places that are
frequented by tourists or expatriate communities,” it said. The French embassy
in Turkey issued similar advice to its citizens there.
Turkish
President Tayyip Erdogan has been one of the most vociferous critics of the
French government, leading calls for a boycott of French goods. French Interior
Minister Gerald Darmanin retorted on Tuesday that Turkey, and Pakistan, should
not meddle in France’s domestic affairs. Paris has recalled its ambassador in
Ankara, and Pakistan’s parliament on Monday passed a resolution urging the
government to recall its envoy from Paris. The images of the Prophet were first
published years ago by a French satirical magazine, whose editorial offices
were attacked in 2015 by gunmen who killed 12 people.
Since the
beheading of the teacher Paty this month, the cartoons have been displayed in
France in solidarity, angering some Muslims. President Emmanuel Macron, who met
representatives of France’s Muslim community on Monday, has pledged to fight
“Islamist separatism”, saying it was threatening to take over some Muslim
communities in France.
SAUDI
CONDMENS TERRORISM Saudi Arabia appeared to be taking a moderate response
to the controversy, steering clear of boycott calls. A Saudi foreign ministry
official said on Tuesday the Gulf state condemns all acts of terrorism, an
apparent reference to Paty’s killing. “Freedom of expression and culture
should be a beacon of respect, tolerance and peace that rejects practices and
acts which generate hatred, violence and extremism and are contrary to
coexistence,” the official said in a statement. The daily Arab News on
Tuesday cited the head of the Saudi-based Muslim World League, Mohammed
al-Issa, as cautioning that an over-reaction “that is negative and goes beyond
what is acceptable” would only benefit “haters”. However, calls for a
boycott of French supermarket chain Carrefour were trending on social media in
Saudi Arabia. In Kuwait, some supermarkets have pulled French products. Turkey’s
Erdogan on Monday asked his compatriots to stop buying French goods and accused
France of pursuing an anti-Islam agenda.
France is a
major exporter of grain to mainly-Muslim North Africa, and French companies in
the autos and retail sectors also have significant exposure to majority-Muslim
countries. French Trade Minister Franck Riester said it was too earlyto put a
figure on the impact of a boycott campaign but so farit was limited and mainly
affected French agricultural exports. Iran’s Foreign Ministry summoned the
French charge d’affaires over the cartoons, state media reported on Tuesday. A
ministry official told the diplomat during their meeting on Monday that Iran
strongly rejected “any insult and disrespect to the Prophet of Islam”. n
Bangladesh on Monday, protesters held placards with the image of the French
President and the words: “Macron is the enemy of peace”.
^ Only Saudi
Arabia has condemned the Islamist Terrorist Attack outside the Paris School which
started all of this. That shows the true nature of many Muslim-majority
countries. They care more about a boycott of French goods than the beheading of
a human being and that is not right. If a Christian, a Jew or any other religion
goes to a Muslim country then you are required to abide by the Muslim Religious
Traditions (I was when I went to Kuwait) so why don’t Muslims have to abide by
either Christian, Jewish or even Secular Traditions when they are in a country like
France (or the US or most of the world?) People can have their freedom of
religion, but must also follow the laws of the country they are in – whether they
are a citizen, a tourist, etc. I am religious, but I also believe in the “Separation
of Church and State.” I don’t force my own religious beliefs on anyone and I expect
others to do the same for me. A public school in the US, in Canada, in Germany,
in Russia, in the UK, in Spain, in France, etc. should not praise one religion
over another nor should they be censored in teaching and discussing religions
as long as all religions are taught. A secular country is the only way to not
favor one religion over another and to not force one religion over another and that
is the best option for the vast majority of people around the world today. If a
Chechen or a Turk or a Bangladeshi or a Pakistanis or an Iranian, etc. doesn’t
like how things are in France, in the US, in Russia, in the UK, in Canada, etc.
then they can go to a Muslim-majority country (like Iran, Saudi Arabia, etc.)
and follow the strict Islamic laws. Otherwise they need to become secular in
public and religious in private. Turkey is just leading this current charge
because they are mad that the EU will never let them join, that their war in
Syria isn’t going well, that the ordinary Turks are protesting against Erdogan’s
Dictatorship and many other issues. They are just trying to deflect away from
their own internal and international problems. As for the other countries: it
is a little funny to see Third World Countries like Pakistan and Bangladesh
call for a boycott of French goods when you know the vast majority of the
citizens living there work in sweat-shops barely making $1 and can not afford
French (or Western goods) whether there is a boycott or not. The bottom line
is: Muslims need to denounce Terrorism (especially Islamic Terrorism) and if
they don’t then they are only supporting the terrorists who commit these crimes
and giving credit to the belief that Muslims love death and violence of
non-Muslims. I know that after every Islamic Terrorist Attack we always hear
that Islam is about love and respect for all, but actions speak louder than
words. ^
Tuesday, October 27, 2020
Canada's 10,000
From the CBC:
“The other
numbers behind Canada's 10,000 pandemic deaths”
Canada hit
another milestone in the COVID-19 pandemic on Tuesday, when the death toll
reached 10,000 people. That number may be inaccurate, though, and the true
number could be higher. Statistics Canada has said the number of deaths from
COVID-19 in the early months of the pandemic might have been under-reported.
That's because some patients might have died before getting tested for the
coronavirus.
The numbers
vary greatly between regions. Most of the deaths — more than 90 per cent — have
been reported in Quebec (6,172 deaths) and Ontario (3,103). Those provinces
also account for 80 per cent of Canada's overall cases. More than 70 per cent
of Canada's deaths have occurred in those aged over 80 — about twice the
average of rates in other developed countries. Both Ontario and Quebec experienced
severe COVID-19 outbreaks in long-term care homes which drove those numbers up.
There are currently more than 320 outbreaks in such homes across Canada. Canada
crossed the threshold of 5,000 deaths on May 12, a little over two months after
the first death was reported.
COVID-19 case
counts slowed across the country through the summer, but have taken a big jump
in many areas this fall, with new daily highs regularly being set through
Central and Western Canada. The death toll has also climbed much more slowly
since April and May, when outbreaks in long-term care homes and a lack of
medical knowledge about the coronavirus led to more fatal infections.
Growing more
deadly However, the pandemic has grown deadlier over the past month. More
than 600 COVID-19-related fatalities have been reported in October so far
compared with 165 COVID-19 in September, according to the Public Health Agency
of Canada. Equally troubling, the number of people experiencing severe
COVID-19 illness continues to increase. According to Canada's Chief
Public Health Officer, Dr. Theresa Tam, data from the provinces and territories
shows that an average of 1,010 people with COVID-19 were being treated in
hospitals each day during the most recent seven-day period (Oct. 16-22),
including 209 of whom were being treated in intensive care units. During the
same period, there were an average of 23 COVID-19-related deaths reported
daily. Tam also warned in her statement Monday that "as
hospitalisations and deaths tend to lag behind increased disease activity by
one to several weeks, the concern is that we have yet to see the extent of
severe impacts associated with the ongoing increase in COVID-19 disease
activity."
Doctors have
learned how to better prevent COVID-19 from spreading — through masks,
distancing, hand hygiene and avoiding crowds — and have found better ways to
treat it in hospital, for example, by not putting people on ventilators too
soon, or by using new steroid treatments like dexamethasone. Overall, deaths and hospitalizations in Canada
are not as bad as some experts had predicted they would be by this point, and
they are not necessarily in line with the rate of new cases seen early in the
pandemic. It's not entirely clear why that is. According to the Coronavirus
Resource Centre at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Md., Canada's
COVID-19 case fatality rate is about 4.5 per cent, with about 27 deaths per
100,000 residents.
^ It is always
sad to hear that a country or a region has reached a grim milestone like this
one. ^
https://www.cbc.ca/news/health/covid-19-10-000-deaths-1.5779193
120 Year Sentence
From News Nation:
“NXIVM sex
cult founder Keith Raniere sentenced to 120 years in prison”
Disgraced
self-improvement guru Keith Raniere, whose NXIVM followers included
millionaires and Hollywood actors, was sentenced to 120 years on Tuesday for
turning some adherents into sex slaves branded with his initials. U.S. District
Judge Nicholas Garaufis handed down the sentence in federal court in Brooklyn
after a lengthy hearing featuring statements by victims of a sex-trafficking
conspiracy that resulted in Raniere’s conviction last year. Prosecutors had
sought life in prison while defense lawyers said he should face 15 years behind
bars. Raniere, 60, had shown no remorse, with his lawyers telling the judge
before the sentencing that their client wasn’t sorry “for his conduct or his
choices.”
The sentencing
culminated several years of revelations about Raniere’s program, NXIVM, which
charged thousands of dollars for invitation-only self improvement courses at
its headquarters near Albany, New York, along with branches in Mexico and
Canada. Adherents included millionaires and Hollywood actresses willing to
endure humiliation and pledge obedience to the defendant as part of his
teachings. NXIVM has been the subject of two TV documentary series this year,
HBO’s “The Vow,” and the Starz series “Seduced: Inside the NXIVM Cult.” Prosecutors
said Raniere led what amounted to a criminal enterprise, inducing shame and
guilt to influence and control co-conspirators who helped recruit and groom
sexual partners for Raniere.
He was
convicted on charges including racketeering, alien smuggling, sex trafficking,
extortion and obstruction of justice. They said that among other crimes,
Raniere began a sexual relationship in 2005 with a 15-year-old girl and
confined another teenager to a room for nearly two years. Raniere had come
under harsh attack on Tuesday from former followers during sentencing in his
sex-trafficking case. India Oxenberg, the daughter of “Dynasty” actress
Catherine Oxenberg, called him an “entitled little princess” and a sexual
predator and lamented that she “may have to spend the rest of my life with
Keith Raneire’s initials seared into me.” The likelihood of leniency had seemed
to dissipate with the recent sentencing of Clare Bronfman, 41, an heir to the
Seagram’s liquor fortune, for her role in what has been described by some
ex-members as a cult. Bronfman was sentenced to nearly seven years in prison.
Prosecutors had only sought five years. Ex-followers told the judge that
Bronfman for years had used her wealth to try to silence NXIVM defectors. Reniere’s
followers called him “Vanguard.” To honor him, the group formed a secret
sorority comprised of female “slaves” who were branded with his initials and
ordered to have sex with him, the prosecutors said. Women were also pressured
into giving up embarrassing information about themselves that could be used
against them if they left the group. Along with Bronfman, Raniere’s teachings
won him the devotion of Hollywood actors including Allison Mack of TV’s
“Smallville.” Mack also has pleaded guilty and is awaiting sentencing. In a
sentencing submission, lawyers for Reniere said he “continues to assert his
complete innocence to these charges.” They wrote that his jury conviction at an
unfair trial resulted from a media campaign involving witnesses who were
motivated to testify falsely as part of a “heavy-handed prosecution that
threatened potential defense witnesses.” His lawyers said the life prison term
prosecutors sought was excessive. “No one was shot, stabbed, punched, kicked,
slapped or even yelled at,” they said. “Despite the sex offenses, there is no
evidence that any woman ever told Keith Raniere that she did not want to kiss
him, touch him, hold his hand or have sex with him.”
^ This is such great
news. This is real justice. His cult is similar to that of Manson’s (without
the murders) and his followers are just as crazy and brainwashed as Manson’s
continue to be. Now, I can only hope that he is treated the same way in prison
that he treated the children he abused and raped. That would be karma in its
purest form. ^
Italian Protests
From Yahoo/Reuters:
“Protests
flare in Italian cities against COVID-19 restrictions”
Protests flared
across Italy on Monday against a new round of government restrictions aimed at
curbing a resurgent coronavirus, with violence reported in at least two major northern
cities, Milan and Turin. Witnesses said a number of luxury stores, including a
Gucci fashion shop, were ransacked in central Turin as crowds of youths took to
the streets after nightfall, letting off huge firecrackers and lighting
coloured flares. Police responded with volleys of tear gas as they tried to
restore order in the city, the capital of the wealthy Piedmont region. There
were also clashes in Milan, the capital of the neighbouring Lombardy region, an
area that has borne the brunt of the COVID-19 epidemic in Italy. "Freedom,
freedom, freedom," crowds chanted as they confronted police in the city
centre.
The Italian
government on Sunday ordered bars and restaurants to close by 6 p.m. and shut
public gyms, cinemas and swimming pools to try to slow a second wave of
coronavirus infections that is battering much of the country. A number of
regions, including Lombardy and Piedmont, have also imposed nighttime curfews. Many
small businesses, still badly bruised by an initial nationwide lockdown in
March and April, say the new restrictions could bankrupt them.
While Italians
complied peacefully to the spring lockdown, there has been an immediate
pushback against the renewed restrictions. Protesters took to the streets of up
to a dozen cities on Monday, including Treviso, Trieste, Viareggio, Latina,
Rome, Naples, Salerno, Palermo, Siracusa and Catania. Looking to calm tensions,
the government has said it will present a package of measures on Tuesday to
support businesses hurt by the new restrictions. Italy, once the country
hardest hit by the pandemic in the industrialised world, has been overtaken by
others in Europe including France and Britain. But infection rates have been
rebounding rapidly since the start of October.
^ It seems the
2nd Wave isn’t going to be so calm and peaceful as the 1st
Wave was in Europe. While the National and Local Governments may have had to
impose lockdowns the first time (and may need to this time) they haven’t taken
into account the needs of the ordinary people and businesses -which are
struggling and need help. ^
https://news.yahoo.com/protests-flare-italian-cities-against-221254644.html
Russia's 2nd Wave
From the MT:
“Russia
Reinstates Mask Mandate, Bans Late Restaurants and Bars to Stop Virus Spread”
Russia has
reinstated a nationwide mask mandate starting Wednesday amid a record-setting
second wave of the coronavirus pandemic, consumer safety watchdog
Rospotrebnadzor has announced. Russians will be required to wear masks in all
crowded places, including public transport, taxis, parking lots and elevators,
Rospotrebnadzor said Tuesday.
Russia imposed
a national mask mandate and other quarantine rules to slow the spread of
Covid-19 at the start of its outbreak in spring. Moscow lifted the mandate in
mid-July as Covid-19 cases began to decrease, though health officials urged
Russians to continue wearing masks to prevent the spread of the disease. Rospotrebnadzor
has also banned all restaurants and other nighttime establishments from staying
open between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m. The restrictions come days after Moscow
launched a contact-tracing system requiring restaurant and nightclub visitors
to register their phone numbers and scan a QR code. Also starting last week,
the Moscow public transportation system began cracking down on its rules by
banning passengers without masks or gloves.
The new
nationwide rules come amid widespread reports of hospital bed, medication and
staff shortages across the country during the second wave of the Covid-19
pandemic. Russia pushed past the 1.5 million mark for Covid-19 infections over
the weekend and set a daily record of 17,347 new cases Monday. The Kremlin
noted Monday that the second wave of the Covid-19 outbreak has shifted from
Moscow, which continues to see around one-third of all new infections, to the
regions. Rospotrebnadzor forecast that the Covid-19 pandemic will likely not
decline until the summer of 2021.
^ Sadly, Russia
is one of the countries (like the US) that didn’t/doesn’t take Covid-19
seriously and so is now the price. ^
DODEA Lunches
From Military.com:
“Free School
Meals Program Extended to Students on US Military Bases Overseas”
Students at
most overseas Department of Defense Education Activity schools will receive
free meals for the rest of the school year, the Army and Air Force Exchange
Service said Monday. The Department of Agriculture, which subsidizes the meals,
said they will help to ensure that children "have access to nutritious
food as the nation recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic.". The program,
under which free school meals were provided to students at U.S. schools in the
summer and through the fall, was extended to overseas military schools after
the USDA granted a waiver this month, DODEA officials said. The program also
was extended through June 30 next year, said AAFES' senior enlisted adviser,
Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Kevin Osby. It had been due to expire in December. The
USDA said the extension was made possible by "language in the continuing
resolution" to keep the government funded, which President Donald Trump
signed Oct. 1. "This is great news for families who may be experiencing
financial hardships during this pandemic," said Tech Sgt. Robert Harris,
of the 86th Vehicle Readiness Squadron at Ramstein Air Base, in AAFES's
statement. "I believe it's something that will help give peace of
mind."
Overseas, free
meals will be available beginning Nov. 2 at grab-and-go locations and schools
operated by the Defense Department School Food Authorities, which includes
AAFES, the Navy Exchange and Marine Corps Community Services, AAFES said in a
statement. A student is required to have a DODEA student ID number and a meal
account through one of the school food authorities to be able to benefit from
the free meals. Accounts can be created at AAFES customer service counters. Parents
of students at overseas DOD schools who paid for their children's meals in the
fall will be refunded for meals purchased from August through October, AAFES
said. But the cost of adult meals, second meals, a la carte items or additional
entrees purchased during that time will not be refunded, it said. DODEA
students in community schools in Garmisch, Germany; Sevilla, Spain; and Kleine
Brogel, Netherlands; are not eligible for the free meals, as their schools are
not served by a DOD school food authority, said DODEA-Europe spokesman Stephen
Smith. Students at U.S. schools will continue to get free meals, and the
program also will be available to students at Defense Department schools in
Asia. "I was thrilled and excited to hear about the free lunches for my
daughters," said Master Sgt. Brando O. Perez, of Marine Aviation Logistics
Squadron 36, Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, Okinawa, in the AAFES statement.
"This will not only help us financially, but will help so many families
who are stationed in Okinawa during the COVID-19 pandemic."
^ this is good
news for students and parents across DODEA schools. ^
CTA Backlog
From the CBC:
“Canada's
transport regulator hasn't settled a single COVID-19 flight cancellation
complaint”
The Canadian
Transportation Agency has failed to settle a single complaint from Canadians
demanding refunds for cancelled flights since the onset of the COVID-19
pandemic, CBC News has learned. The
independent tribunal said it has been inundated with close to 10,000 complaints
from mid-March, when global air travel largely ground to a halt, until Oct. 16.
The agency confirmed it's still
processing complaints it received before March 11; it has yet to deal with any
cases filed during the public health crisis. For months, Canada's Transport
Minister has told Canadians if they are unsatisfied with refunds, the course of
action is to file complaints with the tribunal.
Carly Aubertin
and her husband Rob McLean are upset that they filed a complaint in April,
which has been sitting in limbo ever since. "It's just so
disheartening," said Aubertin. "It's frustrating that the
government's not there to support us." The Ontario residents are considering selling
their home as they wrestle with living off a single income because the pandemic
has hurt McLean's business. Sunwing gave them a voucher for a cancelled trip to
Antigua due to COVID, rather than a full refund that could help pay their
mortgage until the spring. "Right
now, I mean, $5,000? There's five months of mortgage right there,"
Aubertin said.
Long backlog
before pandemic started The delay is partially due to a two-year backlog of
complaints the CTA received before the pandemic struck. The backlog is tied to
a significant influx of complaints received after new air passenger protection
regulations came into effect in December 2019. COVID-19 hampered further
efforts to process complaints; the CTA temporarily paused its discussions with
airlines regarding "dispute resolution activities" until June 30,
2020 to allow airlines to focus on more urgent matters. The agency also granted
airlines an extension until Oct. 28 to respond to passengers seeking
compensation. But the CTA says it's making progress on tackling the
caseload. The agency processed a record number of complaints in the past fiscal
year. The administrative tribunal also received a funding boost to get through
cases more quickly and says it's weeks away from starting on complaints filed
during the pandemic.
An ongoing
battle for closure The agency said it's now working through about 17,300
complaints. It is still in the process of reviewing all complaints filed during
the pandemic, but so far has counted 4,300 related to refunds, the agency said.
Those includes complaints from Canadians like Aubertin and McLean, who
spent about $5,000 for a spring vacation with a group of friends to celebrate
some of their 40th and 50th birthdays. McLean found himself without work
during the pandemic, meaning the Port Robinson, Ont., couple has started to dip
into their retirement savings. His last pay cheque was in February. "It's frustrating because in these
times we hear the leaders of our country saying to look out for everybody and
do the right thing and respect your community, and then to allow these
multimillion dollar companies to keep our money interest free for an extended
period of time doesn't feel like the right thing to us," McLean said. Aubertin said the obstacles have been
particularly disappointing given that other countries have taken a firmer
stance on helping passengers. In April, the U.S. Department of
Transportation issued a notice reminding U.S. and foreign airlines that they
"remain obligated to provide a prompt refund to passengers" despite
the pandemic and warned that it would take "enforcement action" as
necessary. In Canada, airlines have been asking the government for
financial help to survive an unprecedented drop in business during the height
of the pandemic. In many cases, airlines have been issuing travel vouchers
redeemable for two years, rather than refunds. The CTA said it issued a "non-binding
statement" on issuing vouchers in the face of "unprecedented and
extraordinary circumstances" during the pandemic. The agency said
the industry collapsed worldwide and there was an "absence of any general
minimum obligation under the law for airlines to pay refunds for flights
cancelled for reasons beyond their control." After months of public
outrage, WestJet announced last week it was changing its refund policy on Nov.
2 to give customers back money for flights cancelled due to COVID-19. Air
Canada took to Twitter shortly afterwards and said it's already repaid $1.2
billion to date for refundable tickets cancelled during the pandemic. John
Gradek, a former Air Canada executive and lecturer at McGill University's
aviation management program, said the timing is no coincidence. Canada's
major airlines — WestJet, Air Canada, Air Transat, Sunwing and Swoop — are
facing a series of class action lawsuits over refunds during COVID and the
federal court certification hearing is scheduled for Nov. 2. Gradek also
believes airlines realized there wasn't public support for a government bailout
unless carriers refunded passengers first. The Globe and Mail reported Friday
cabinet is currently deliberating a package for the aviation sector that
includes scaling back airport fee increases and low interest loans.
CTA losing
credibility, Bloc MP says Passengers and consumers have a right to feel
upset about the federal government's lack of action, said Bloc Québécois MP and
transport critic Xavier Barsalou-Duval. On Friday, he presented a bill
seeking to amend the Canada Transportation Act in order to ensure passengers
are fully refunded in the event that an air carrier cancels a flight. He said Transport Minister Marc Garneau's
failure to resolve the issue has put undue pressure on the CTA. "By
not acting, Mr. Garneau's transferring the weight of the situation on the
shoulders of the CTA and that's a big problem," said Barsalou-Duval. "[The
CTA is] losing credibility. And that's the big problem because usually they're
supposed to... apply the rules, apply the law." In a statement to
CBC News on Sunday, Garneau said he understood the frustration. "This
situation is far from ideal," he said. "We are encouraged to see that
some airlines have refunded their customers, and expect air carriers will do
their best to accommodate passengers under these extraordinary
circumstances," the statement read. "This is an important
issue to Canadians. We also continue to work with the airlines to address the
overall challenges they are facing due to the pandemic."
^ I’ve dealt
with the Canadian Government and there is a constant months-long or even
years-long delay in getting an answer or anything done. It’s due to a lack of
employees and a lack of caring. I have also dealt with the American Government
and only once had a months-long delay. Canada only has 38 million people
(compared to the US which has 330 million people) and so you would think that
they could be more efficient, but that is definitely not the case. The CTA
needs to start doing its job and keeping up on airlines and other travel
businesses to get Canadians the money they are owed. Canada has self-isolated
itself from the rest of the world since last March and so the least the
Canadian Government can now do is look after Canadians. ^
Monday, October 26, 2020
Pet Food Banks
From Generation
Wags:
“Pet Food
Banks and Pet Pantries”
Pet food
pantries and food banks provide pet food for pet owners who cannot afford it on
their own. They exist to serve low-income families, elderly, homeless community
members, and all of those who have fallen on hard times for whatever reason. Often
they also feed stray animals that otherwise would go hungry. If you know of others we should add email us
at generationwags@gmail.com Now
more than ever, given the Covid 19 virus, the needs are greater than ever. We recommend you contact local shelters or
local community groups to also see what other/new initiatives are being
offered.
National
The Humane
Society of the United States
Pets of the
Homeless
Alabama
Animal Friends
Humane Society – Save A Rescue
Friends of Cats
& Dogs Foundation
Alaska Alaska SPCA (Anchorage)
Arizona
Chuck Waggin’
Pet Food Pantry(Phoenix)
Empty Bowl Pet
Food Pantry
Pets In Need
Action League (Casa Grande)
The Good Dog
Food Bank
Arkansas
All About Labs
Bella Vista
Animal Shelter(Bella Vista)
Fuzzy Hearts
Animal Rescue (Van Buren Country) (homeless animals)
Out of the
Woods Rescue and Referral (Little Rock)
(homeless animals)
California
Animal
Assistance League of Orange County
AnimalSave
(Green Valley) (companion animals)
Bakersfield Pet
Food Pantry
Halo Cafe
(Fresno)
Helen Woodward
Animal Center (San Diego County) (pet food for pets owned by the elderly)
LA Feeders
(stray cats)
Ohlone Humane
Society (Freemont, Union City, Newark)
(companion animals for seniors)
Rescuing
Unwanted Furry Friends (Laguna Beach)
Actors and
Others for Pets (Greater Los Angeles Area)
Paws/LA
(seniors and disabled)
Paws San Diego
The Pet Food
Bank Seal Bank
Placer SPCA
(Placer County)
Sacramento Pet
Food Bank
Santa Cruz SPCA
– Heather’s Pet Food Pantry (Santa Cruz)
SPCA for
Monterey County
Colorado
Ark Valley
Humane Society (Buena Vista)
Pikes Peak Pet
Pantry (El Paso County)
Colorado Pet
Pantry
PawsCo (Denver,
Colorado)
Connecticut
Dogology
(Farmington Valley)
Connecticut
Humane Society (Newington, Quaker Hill, Westport)
Friends of
Animal Windsor Animal Control Inc (Windsor)
STARelief
(statewide)
Delaware
Delaware Humane
Association (Wilmington)
Faithful
Friends, Inc (Wilmington)
District of
Columbia
Humane Rescue
Alliance
PETS-DC
Florida
You Can Make a
Difference, Inc (Garsden County)
Humane Society
of North Central Florida
Humane Society
of Tampa Bay
Humane Society
of Pinellas
Paws Pet
Sanctuary (Sebastian)
SPCA Suncoast
(New Port Richey)
Leon County
Humane Society (Tallahassee)
Georgia
Coco’s Cupboard
(Pike County)
Daffy’s Pet
Soup Kitchen (Lilburn)
Humane Society
of South Coastal Georgia (Brunswick, St. Simons Island)
The Paws Cause
(Gainesville)
Pet Buddies
Food Pantry (Atlanta)
Save Our Pets
Food Bank
Hawaii Hawaiian
Humane Society (Honolulu)
Idaho
All Valley
Humane Society (Meridian, Boise)
Humane Society
of the Palouse (Moscow)
Idaho Humane
Society (Boise)
Illinois
Adopt a Senior
Pet
Best Buddies
Pet Pantry (NW Indiana and Illinois)
Care for Real
(Chicago)
Friendship Pet
Pantry (Chicago)
Tree house
Animals (Chicago)
Irving Park
Food Pantry (Chicago)
RiverBend Pet
Food Pantry (Alton)
Indiana
Best Buddies
Pet Pantry (NW Indiana and Illinois)
Brown County
Humane Society (Nashville)
Chow Pantry
(Brownsville)
F.I.D.O.
(Indianapolis)
The Kibble
Kitchen Pet Pantry (Porter and Lake Counties)
Vanderburgh
Humane Society (Evansville)
Iowa The Pet Project Midwest (Des Moines)
Kansas
Capitol Area
Animal Response Team (Shawnee)
The Humane
Society of Greater Kansas (Kansas City)
Kentucky
Kentucky Pets
Alive (Louisville)
No Kill
Louisville (Louisville)
Louisiana
Louisiana SPCA
The Pet Pantry
of Northwest Louisiana (Shreveport area)
Maine
Animal Refuge
League of Greater Portland
Hardy’s Friends
(Gouldsboro and Winter Harbor areas)
Maryland
Animal Welfare
League of Montgomery County
Anne Arundel
Feeding Pets in Need (Anne Arundel County)
Be More Kind
Pet Food Pantry (Baltimore Humane Society)
Caroline Humane
Society (Ridgely)
Frederick
County Humane Society (Frederick)
Humane Society
of Harford County
Help For Pets
in Charles County, MD
Maryland SPCA
MCQE Mobile Pet
Pantry (Carroll County)
Prince William
SPCA (Prince Willaim SPCA)
Talbot Humane
Society (Easton)
Thankful Paws,
Inc (Bel Air)
Massachusetts
A Helping Paw
(Cape Cod)
Central MA
Kibble Kitchen
Dakin Humane
Society (Springfield and Leverett)
Fairy
DogParents (Duxbury)
Southborough
Food Pantry (Southborough)
Michigan
Cascades Humane
Society (Jackson)
Humane Society
of Huron Valley (Ann Arbor)
Kalamazoo
Humane Society (Kalamazoo)
New Beginnings
Animal Rescue (Western Michigan)
Tail Waggers
1990 (Livonia)
Waggin’ Tails
Dog Rescue (Northville)
Minnesota
People and Pets
Together (Powderhorn and Phillips areas)
River Bluff
Humane Society
Mississippi Humane Society of South Mississippi
(Gulfport)
Missouri
Bi-State Pet
Food Pantry
The Northland
Pet Pantry (Platte and Clay counties)
Montana Humane Society of Western Montana
(Missoula)
Nebraska
Lincoln Animal
Ambassadors (Lincoln county)
Nebraska Humane
Society (Omaha)
Nevada
Heart’s Alive
Village Las Vegas (Las Vegas)
PAL Humane
Society (Las Vegas)
New
Hampshire
Cocheco Valley
Humane Society (Strafford County, NH, and Southern, ME)
Helping People
Helping Pets (Portsmouth)
NH Humane
Society (Laconia)
New Mexico
ACTion Programs
for Animals (Las Cruces)
Casa Rosa Food
Pantry (Placitas community)
Espanola Valley
Humane Society (Espanola)
New Jersey
Animal Welfare
Association: Camden County Pet Food Pantry
(Blackwood and Voorhees Township)
Companion
Animal Advocates (Hillsdale)
Oakland Animal
Hospital (Oakland)
Prince Chunk
Foundation (statewide)
New York
Baxter Pet
Pantry (Nassau and Suffolk Counties)
Beyond Breed’s
Ruff Riders (Brooklyn and New York City)
Hudson Valley
Pet Food Pantry
Nobody Starves
on Long Island
The Pet Chow
Pantry (Middletown)
The Pet Food
Pantry Auburn
North
Carolina
Animal Protection
Society of Durham
Feed Your Pets
(Apex)
Friends of
Madison County Animals (Madison County)
Friends of
Mebane’s Animals (Alamance County)
Forsyth County
Animal Control (Winston-Salem; Forsyth County)
Fuzzy Friends
Pet Food Pantry (Winston-Salem)
The Humane
Society of Piedmont (Greensboro)
SPCA of Wake
County (home delivery for seniors and the disabled)
North Dakota Atti’s Eats (Bismarck)
Ohio
Angels for
Animals (Canfield)
A Call Fur Help
(Youngstown)
CC’s Cupboard Pet food Pantry (Richmond Hts.)
Cincinnati Pet
Food Pantry
Humane Ohio
(Toledo)
My Best
Friend’s Bowl (Lakewood)
PAX: Peace for
Animals (Cleveland)
Oklahoma
OKC Animal
Welfare
Pet Food Pantry
of Oklahoma City
Oregon
Cat Adoption
Team (Sherwood)
Pro-Bone-O
(Eugene)
The Pongo Fund
Oregon Outback
Humane Society (Lakeview)
Pennsylvania
ACCTPhilly
Animal House
Project
Animal Food
Bank of the Lehigh Valley
Animal Friends
(Pittsburgh)
Ellie’s Pet
Pantry (Pittsburgh) – program of Humane Animal Rescue
Humane
Pennsylvania (Berks and Lancaster Counties)
Humane
Society’s of Harrisburg Area
Sam’s Hope
(Bucks, Montgomery and Philadelphia counties)
Rhode Island
Animal Rescue
Rhode Island (Peace Dale)
Maggie’s Pet
Pantry (Richmond)
Tennessee
H & L
Rescue (Critter Cupboard) (Sevierville)
McKamey Animal
Center (serving Chattanooga, Red Bank and LakeSite TN)
Texas
DaisyCares Pet
Food Program (San Antonio)
Don’t Forget to
Feed Me (Fortworth) (distributor of food)
North Texas Pet
Food Pantry
People
Assisting Animal Control (Corpus Christi)
Pet Food Bank
of Austin and Tavis County
St. Mary’s
Relief (Seven Points)
Virginia
Anicira
(Harrisongburg & Rockingham County)
Augusta Dog
Adoptions (told they have a program)
Dogs Deserve
Better (told they have a program)
Holly Help
(Bristol)
Humane Society
of Fairfax (Fairfax)
Loudoun County
Animal Services (Leesburg)
Rikki’s Animal
Refuge Sanctuary (Orange County)
Saint Seton’s
Orphaned Animals (Fredricksburg) (Meals on Wheels for Animals)
Valley Rescue
Allies (Rockingham Countly)
Virginia Beach
SPCA (Virginia Beach)
Washington Banfield Foundation
West
Virginia The Mosby Foundation (West Virginia, Virginia, and Maryland)
Wisconsin Wisconsin Humane Society
^ This is a
good website that gives people national and local resources on Pet Food Pantries.
^
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)