#Committee of Inquiry into Homelessness in the ACT

[brianrope]

Relating to the Honourable Tom Uren AC

Forty years ago this month, a major and challenging event happened in my life. It involved the Honourable Tom Uren AC. This is the story of my relationship with Uren during 18 months of my working life. Legend, charismatic hero, champion. These are just some of the words used in the media to describe The Honourable Tom Uren AC after he died on 26 January 2015. Born on 28 May 1921 in the then…

[pipelinelaserraygun]

Wednesday, December 18th, 2019: it's the FIRST morning when Senate votes can be counted up to determine if President Trump gets impeached, or not. Ours is a nation DIVIDED: American Beulah, versus American babylon.

Back in the days of the Prophet Jeremiah, the Promised Land was a nation SPLIT, right down the middle. Jeremiah contains History lessons that we can LEARN FROM, to avoid MANY of the same errors which led to Israel being invaded, and OVERTAKEN, by foreign conquerors. The United States is vulnerable. She is going through a Reformation. The question is, who will REFORM 🇺🇸 HER FASTER: babylon, or Beulah?

NEW Bible Study‼️Jeremiah, Chapter 1.

Referenced during the new Bible Study ⬆️. The Eternal Kingdom is wherever WE ARE. It is NOT a FIXED location.

What is Adrian Veidt talking about, when he FIRST sees Trieu’s Millennium Clock in action? His lines are “Israel is DESOLATE, and her seed is no MORE. Palestine is become a widow for Egypt.”

⬆️ THIS is an excerpt from the inscription on the antiquity Merneptah Stele, dating from 1208 B.C., the ONLY surviving textual reference to Israel, from ancient Egypt.

The stele mostly deals with an Egyptian military campaign Phaero/Pharaoh Merneptah led, against Libyans, but the LAST lines deal with a campaign against Israel most likely.

Wilhelm Spiegelberg, the FIRST person to translate the stele after it's discovery in 1896, rendered those lines THIS way:*

"The people of Israel is laid waste,—their crops are not. Khor (Palestine) has become as a widow for Egypt. All lands together, they are in peace. Every one who roamed about is punished by King Merenptah, gifted with life, like the sun every day."

Arch-villain Veidt’s translation, using “seed” instead of “crops,” has obvious resonances when spoken by a man who believes he is about to watch his Daughter become a god, or die trying. The lines he omits, about an all-powerful ruler uniting the world and punishing evildoers, also seem apt.

Merneptah Stele was found right across the Nile from Karnak, the Egyptian temple complex that Adrian Veidt named his Antarctic retreat, AFTER.

There’s MORE: Merneptah was the son of Ramesses II, whom the Greeks called Ozymandias, the name of Adrian Veidt, when dressed as a supervillain.

Daughter Trieu reached to the heavens, in an unsuccessful attempt to literally become Doctor Frankenstein, an AKA Mary Shelley's modern-day Prometheus, who dares to steal the power of omnipotent creation, AWAY FROM the Creator of EVERYTHING.

In Ancient Greek mythology, Prometheus is a blood relative of Princess Diana (Wonder Woman) and both of their stories relate to ORIGINAL sources of light.

Exact sentiments that are echoed, in the Book of Jeremiah.

2019 will be deservedly remembered as an EPIC "Year of the Watchmen".

❤️ heartwarming: lots of goodies have been readied for the December 2019 monthly, local homeless outreach distribution, on Skid Row in San Diego. Heaven is keeping tabs. Be a cheerful giver. After all, benevolence is redistribution of provisions that aren't all yours in the FIRST place, to keep. You are custodians of the Lord's holdings.

December 18th, 2019: Justice Department Inspector General Michael Horowitz testified before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee on his report on the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) abuse allegations related to the 2016 presidential campaign. Senators questioned the inspector general about his findings into the origins of the FBI’s Russia inquiry, including how FISA warrants were obtained against 2016 Trump campaign adviser Carter Page.

Rally from BATTLE CREEK, Michigan begins at 01:33:00. LITERALLY, the battle lines are drawn.

[labourpress]

Jeremy Corbyn letter to the Prime Minister regarding the independent public inquiry into the fire at Grenfell Tower

Jeremy Corbyn, Leader of the Labour Party, has today written to the Prime Minister regarding the decision to hold a full and independent public inquiry into the fire at Grenfell Tower.

Jeremy Corbyn said:

“Whilst the inquiry should be limited to the awful events at Grenfell Tower, it must be empowered to consider all the steps that were, or were not, taken leading up to and contributing to this most terrible incident. It must also identify the urgent steps that need to be taken in relation to fire safety standards for other buildings of this nature.

“In addition to finding facts, the inquiry must be empowered to make recommendations for the avoidance of any similar future disaster – and in so doing, to consider recommendations arising from previous similar fire-related deaths.”

The full text of the letter is below.

Theresa May                                                                                     16 June 2017

The Prime Minister

10 Downing Street

London

SW1A 2AA

 Dear Prime Minister,

I am writing to note your decision to hold a full and independent public inquiry into the fire at Grenfell Tower and to seek your assurance that the inquiry you establish will be held under the provisions of the 2005 Inquiries Act.

On the assumption that it is your intention to establish a 2005 Act Inquiry, I want to share my view that it is vital that the Terms of Reference be drawn with sufficient scope for the inquiry to establish all the relevant facts and to ensure that all necessary lessons are learned. Whilst the inquiry should be limited to the awful events at Grenfell Tower, it must be empowered to consider all the steps that were, or were not, taken leading up to and contributing to this most terrible incident. It must also identify the urgent steps that need to be taken in relation to fire safety standards for other buildings of this nature.

In addition to finding facts, the inquiry must be empowered to make recommendations for the avoidance of any similar future disaster – and in so doing, to consider recommendations arising from previous similar fire-related deaths.

It is very important that the Terms of Reference are drawn with sufficient scope to require the participation of all those with a legitimate interest – this should undoubtedly include the bereaved families, survivors and also individuals and organisations with a legitimate interest such as the residents’ campaign and representative organisations who were involved in the period leading up to these events. Their views and experiences are as important, if not more so, as the expert opinions of state actors and their service providing contractors.

I am also very concerned to ensure that this public inquiry is not used to delay any parallel actions which might be taken by interested parties. It is important that justice is served in as comprehensive and timely way possible. This must include, of course, ensuring that legal funding is available to support those involved in the inquiry and any inquests.  I would also like to support the request of the Mayor of London for an interim report to be produced which I believe is important for the community to feel as if justice is being done in a timely manner.

Whilst I believe that the policies and priorities of your government in the arenas of social housing and public safety are legitimate targets for my criticism, I hope we both share a determination to discover the truths underpinning this tragedy so to avoid any repetition.  For these reasons, in support of my hope to publicly welcome your decision, I would appreciate early consultation on your government’s proposed inquiry Terms of Reference.

In response to my question yesterday, the Minister of State for Policing and the Fire Service made it very clear that survivors made homeless would be appropriately and locally rehoused. This is imperative in order that they be enabled to re-build their lives and have some hope of recovery from these devastating events. It now appears that the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea may not be as committed to ensuring that all are re-housed locally. Your public re-commitment to this is imperative as part of an unequivocal, wider statement that the government will do all it can to provide timely practical support to those who have suffered so much. In this context, I note the announcement of the first government investment of £5million. Given the magnitude and scale of the crisis, this will clearly not be sufficient and I therefore await information regarding further funding plans.

On a related matter, I believe that an attitude of generosity and compassion in relation to the costs of funeral expenses and ensuring that it is possible for families living outside the UK to travel here to attend funerals, as well as participate in the inquiry, is also warranted in such a tragic situation. This is particularly the case given the circumstances of many of the Grenfell Tower residents, including the number of bereaved families who may be resident overseas and the costs of burial and cremation. As was also raised at yesterday’s brief discussion in the Grand Committee, I would expect that the Home Office guarantees the replacement, as a matter of urgent priority, of all documentation for those affected.

Finally, on behalf of all those in the Labour Party, may I express our admiration for those in the emergency services who responded with the utmost courage and professionalism and share our deepest sorrow at these harrowing events – and commit that we will do all in our power to ensure that this be the last such tragedy of its kind in our country.

Yours sincerely,

Jeremy Corbyn

[biofunmy]

His White House Engulfed, Trump Keeps California in the Cross Hairs

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WASHINGTON — President Trump has never been one to dive into the details of policy, especially now, as an impeachment inquiry threatens to engulf his administration. In recent days, he has allowed his son-in-law to lead a major policy shift in the Middle East and has backed away from a high-profile promise to ban flavored e-cigarettes.

But even as his presidency teeters, one of the few policy issues that has maintained Mr. Trump’s personal focus is not one central to his political appeal, like immigration or trade.

It is the state of California.

The state has been a political fixation since the early days of his presidency, but that was heightened this autumn. Mr. Trump has attended meetings, asked detailed questions at briefings and pressed aides to find ways to use policies to go after the most populous state in the union, according to three people familiar with the matter. Aides say that Mr. Trump remains deeply involved on immigration policy, like a recent decision to slash the nation’s refugee program nearly in half, and on trade. But they describe him as obsessed with narrow policies that directly affect California. Beyond those three policy matters, little else has penetrated the swirl of impeachment.

Two Californians, Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Adam B. Schiff, chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, are leading the impeachment investigation. The state’s Democratic governor, Gavin Newsom, has been unsparing in his criticism and his legal challenges.

And the president’s response appears to be personal. Beyond the name-calling — “Shifty” Adam Schiff and “Nervous Nancy” Pelosi — he has held California Democrats responsible even for the state’s natural disasters.

“The Governor of California, Gavin Newsom, has done a terrible job of forest management,” Mr. Trump wrote on Twitter this month, adding a threat: “Every year, as the fire’s rage & California burns, it is the same thing — and then he comes to the Federal Government for $$$ help. No more. Get your act together Governor.”

Governor Newsom’s ex-wife, Kimberly Guilfoyle, now a Trump campaign adviser and girlfriend of Donald Trump Jr., has joined in the criticism on Twitter and at campaign events. And the House Republican leader, Kevin McCarthy of California, has often counseled Mr. Trump on the politics of his state.

In a statement, a White House spokesman, Judd Deere, said, “California leaders continue to support destructive liberal policies that kill jobs, increase housing costs, provide sanctuary to criminal illegal aliens, and ignore longtime environmental issues.”

Since the beginning of his presidency, Mr. Trump has been enthusiastic about his administration’s push to roll back Obama-era rules on climate-warming auto pollution, framing it as a signature move to save an iconic industry from burdensome red tape. For most of that earlier period, Mr. Trump stayed away from the complex regulatory details involved in undoing the regulation, according to two current and two former White House officials.

That changed with Governor Newsom’s deal with the automakers. Suddenly Mr. Trump was delving into policy details.

The administration and Justice Department have pushed an unusual series of legal and policy moves against California and the auto companies that backed the state’s climate change plan.

Last month, the Justice Department filed suit to force the state to drop Quebec from its central effort to limit greenhouse gases from power plants, arguing that a state could not conduct foreign policy. In September, the Environmental Protection Agency threatened to withhold federal highway funding from California if it did not address a decades-long backlog of air pollution control plans.

Also in September, the administration opened an antitrust investigation into the four automakers that sided with California over Mr. Trump in the dispute over fuel efficiency standards.

When aides told Mr. Trump that the final details of his rollback of the auto emissions rule would most likely not be completed before the end of this year, he demanded faster action. Officials at the E.P.A. and the Department of Transportation responded by separating out California’s portion of the rule and releasing it in September.

Mr. Trump announced the new rule on Twitter while in Los Angeles for a fund-raiser.

That night, Mr. Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One that his administration would issue a notice of environmental violation against the city of San Francisco because of its homelessness problem.

On Twitter and in speeches, Mr. Trump has frequently seemed to find ways to disparage his West Coast target. In a Nov. 12 appearance at the Economic Club of New York, Mr. Trump responded to a broad question about climate change with a detour into California: “Los Angeles? What a — what a mess that is.”

Barry Rabe, a public policy professor at the University of Michigan who is writing a book about the history of the state-federal relationship, said there were no historical parallels for the president’s obsession.

“I cannot think of another president who sustained a political jihad against a specific state,” he said.

Professor Rabe expressed particular surprise about the administration’s Oct. 23 lawsuit to block California’s climate change program with Quebec, since that relationship has been in place for a decade.

“This is a pretty established policy,” he said. “It’s never had a serious legal challenge, and it’s not like it’s something the Trump administration came in with a plan to pursue.”

“This is like going out of your way to find something to bring against the state,” Professor Rabe added.

If anything, the president’s attacks on California have helped his fund-raising from Republicans in the state. On a visit in September, Mr. Trump raised around $15 million for his re-election effort, according to Republican officials.

“This is great support from a lot of people who have financially contributed to the campaign,” Tim Murtaugh, the Trump campaign’s communications director, said.

Xavier Becerra, the California attorney general, said he was undeterred by the president’s personal attention. The state has already filed over 60 lawsuits against the Trump administration — more than any other filed by a single state against any administration, according to Paul Nolette, a political scientist at Marquette University who maintains an online database of state litigation and activity by attorneys general. (The runner-up is Texas, which has sued the Obama administration 48 times over eight years.)

Last week, Mr. Becerra’s office filed its second lawsuit to block the administration’s effort to revoke California’s authority to regulate tailpipe emissions.

“He’s a bump in the road of what we’re trying to do,” Mr. Becerra said. “So I’m just figuring out, do I go over the bump or around the bump?”

For more news on climate and the environment, follow @NYTClimate on Twitter.

Sahred From Source link Science

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[markstucker]

YCBK 87: How Do Admissions Committees Make Decisions?

In this episode you will hear:

(06:12) In this week’s news, an article from savingforcollege.com, “Surge in Number of Colleges Cutting Tuition”, by Mark Kantrowitz. Between 2012 through 2018 small non-selective, private 4-year colleges began enacting tuition re-sets. These re-sets are a one-time reduction in a college’s tuition rate, usually accompanied by a cut in financial aid.

  https://www.savingforcollege.com/article/surge-in-number-of-colleges-cutting-tuition

  (23:50) We are in chapter 87 of 171 Answers and we’re talking through how college admissions committees make their acceptance decisions. You may be surprised by how many evaluation systems are used by colleges. Mark introduces us to the Committee Based Evaluation method developed at the University of Pennsylvania, and explains why it has been lauded as an effective evaluation approach by some while criticized by others as a system that is benefits admissions more than it benefits the applicant.

  (43:58) This week’s question is from Tamara from Discovery Bay, California who wants to know if consent is required for her younger aged daughter to start college. Mark walks through the FERPA laws that impact how much information parents will have access to once a student is 18 – or enrolled in college, as in Tamara’s daughter’s case.

  (55:49) Mark continues his interview with one of his former students, Tara Kalinisan, the Assistant Director of Admissions at Smith College, and they are talking through what you need to know about college fairs and college admissions interviews.

  (1:09:49) Mark has two recommended resources for this week and both resources will help students and parents to understand how to get an athletic scholarship. The first resource is The Recruit Me-Athletic Scholarship podcast by John Fugler and the second resource is the Athletic Scholarship Playbook which is also by Fugler. The book is available in Audiobook, Kindle or as a paperback.

  It is time to get your FSA ID if you are applying for Financial Aid, and remember, there are some colleges that do not give merit aid to anyone who does NOT apply for the FAFSA. Here is a link to get your FSA ID: You can learn more about this FSA ID and you can get your FSA ID now through this link: https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/fafsa/filling-out/fsaid

  Inquiry Card-What to put on them?

Preprinted Labels

Full Name

Gender

Full Mailing Address (including Zip code)

Student Email

Parent Email

Date of Birth

High School Name

Year you plan on enrolling

Freshman or Transfer student?

Test scores (if they are good)

GPA (if it is good)

Majors or careers of interest

Extracurricular interests

Cell phone

I would like to receive emails? Yes or No

I would like to receive tests? Yes or No

Feel free to call me? Yes or No

  Sample Sticker Content

  William Mark Stucker                                 Male

7797 The Lakes Dr. Fairburn, GA, 30213     B/D: 9/9/2002

Student: mark@schoolmatch4u.com           Year to enroll: Fall 2020

Parent: livinginfairburn@gmail.com             HS: Westlake HS

Majors: Psychology, Sociology                     GPA: 3.69

Interests: Chess, Robotics, Creative Writing  ACT: 25 SAT 1230 

I would like to receive emails? Yes                Cell: 404-664-4340

I would like to receive texts? Yes

I am open to a phone call? Yes

  Note: You still need to peruse to see if you need to write in an

Answer to a question that you didn’t answer.

    Don't forget to send your questions related to any and every facet of the college process to: questions@yourcollegeboundkid.com

If you enjoy our podcast, would you please do us a favor and share our podcast both verbally and on social media? We would be most grateful!

Anika and I are excited to give our listeners a chance to play a role in shaping what topics we discuss, as well as what guests we have on our podcast. You can let your voice be heard by completing this survey. Just put the following link in your browser and give us your honest feedback. Anika and I would like to thank you in advance

https://tinyurl.com/YourCollegeBoundKid

Every episode of Your College-Bound Kid will align with a chapter from the book 171 Answers to the Most-Asked College Admission Questions. To get a copy go to Amazon and click: https://smile.amazon.com/171-Answers-Most-Asked-Admission-Questions/dp/0692953477/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=171+answers&qid=1568305805&s=books&sr=1-1

If you want to place a bulk order, you will save money by purchasing this book at 171answers.com. Every penny goes to The Atlanta Mission, a Christian organization that helps over 1000 homeless residents every day.  If you want to see what future episodes will discuss in the book chapter section,  just go to 171answers.com and then click the red button "See exactly what 171 Answers covers"

Check out this episode!

[omgmicheal01me]

Gagged farmers hope banking royal commission will expose misconduct

Updated May 21, 2018 13:34:03

Photo: Farmers are growing increasingly vocal about rural debt issues in Australia. (ABC Rural: Marty McCarthy) Australian farmers who have been foreclosed on hope the next round of banking royal commission hearings will expose the tactics of big banks they claim put them out of business. Their plight was the inspiration for some National Party MPs such as George Christensen to call for a commission of inquiry, which ultimately forced the major banks and Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull into agreeing to a royal commission. "There was a great outcry from a number of farmers in north and central Queensland, and it was their stories and victimisation that forced me and other people to take a stance on this," Mr Christensen said. In the wake of the global financial crisis, major banks such as ANZ and the Commonwealth Bank snapped up struggling lenders Landmark and Bankwest respectively, taking on their customers in the process. But the banks' attempts to restructure many of the loans led to widespread foreclosures in parts of the country, and farmers and other small businesses have long accused banks of suddenly calling in loans despite repayments never being missed. Some farmers have told the ABC their foreclosed properties were sold off at fire sale prices, leaving many of them homeless and with huge debts. "There are a lot of farmers out there who have been through terrible ordeals who are too frightened to speak out, as they are bound by confidentiality," said a farmer, who asked the ABC to withhold her identity. "That is why we're hoping the royal commission can get to the bottom of this." Major banks have previously said customers would be free to give evidence at the royal commission, although that privilege does not extend to them talking to media. In the opening address of the third-round hearings, which began on Monday, counsel assisting the banking royal commission, Michael Hodge QC, dashed the hopes of farmers who had been looking for answers over the next fortnight. But he said a specialist farm banking hearing would occur in the coming months. "This [round three] module will not include consideration of lending to farmers," he said. "Lending to farmers will form one part of the next round of hearings of module four." Farmers 'treated unfairly by banks', inquiry found Some farmers and business owners allege banks such as ANZ and the Commonwealth Bank forced them to refinance against their will.

Photo: Banks such as ANZ will face the banking royal commission over the way it handles small business and farmer clients. (AAP: Sergio Dionisio) A 2016 parliamentary inquiry into alleged impairment of customer loans found it could not prove misconduct had occurred, but did find some farmers had been treated unfairly at the hands of major banks. "The committee is concerned at the way many of these matters were handled, and that the extant system of checks and balances appears incapable of providing protection or redress to small business customers," the committee reported.

Photo: The Commonwealth Bank acquired Bankwest in 2008. (ABC News: Giulio Saggin) "ANZ acknowledged that it had found some problems with the way it had operated and that there are some individual customer matters where ANZ should have managed issues differently, with more empathy, responded more quickly and been more transparent." The ABC asked ANZ how many of the 10,000 Landmark loans it had called in since 2009, but a spokesperson declined to answer, saying the bank did not want to pre-empt questions that could come up in the royal commission. In a 2015 parliamentary inquiry, the Commonwealth Bank said it had called in receivers on 182 customers in the first two years after in acquired Bankwest, but it also declined the ABC's requests for an updated figure. Reports of loan periods being reduced Queensland farmers Gail and Joseph Courte accused ANZ of reducing their 20-year mortgage term to six months, and increasing their interest rate from 7.9 per cent to 8.9 per cent in a month. "The conduct of ANZ through this entire ordeal has been despicable," they wrote to a 2015 parliamentary inquiry. "It has been described by various members of our team as unconscionable, immoral, unethical, unprofessional and in many areas illegal. "They forced a loan agreement on us that we did not seek or sign for. They then proceeded to use every tactic they could imagine to drive a once-thriving enterprise into near bankruptcy and homelessness." ANZ has previously denied truncating long-term loans, arguing customers in default who were given six months to sell an asset may have confused this for a loan period. Regardless, the bank has since settled privately with many of the farmers it is thought to have or tried to foreclose on. ANZ chief executive Shayne Elliot recently told the Australian Financial Review, "We did have some failings with respect to the Landmark portfolio that we acquired. "We were not resourced sufficiently, to first identify the real problems, and then to deal with them in a timely manner. We were wrong. We have said that, and we have remediated [customers]." That remediation included settlements with confidentiality clauses gagging those who felt hard-done by, preventing them from speaking publicly without risking further legal action. 'There were real victims, human beings' Many farmers told the ABC they were only willing to make written submissions to the royal commission because of the legal protections it afforded them, but they still could not speak to the media. Sydney lawyer Stewart Levitt, who has represented up to 20 Landmark-turned-ANZ customers in their disputes with the bank, told the ABC he hoped the royal commission would reveal the full extent of unscrupulous behaviour of farm lenders.

Photo: A south-east Queensland farm for sale after being foreclosed on in 2014. (ABC Rural: Marty McCarthy) "If you have done something that is really culpable and inexcusable and unconscionable, then a few pieces of silver can't cleanse you of the deed," Mr Levitt said. "All these bankers should be held accountable for what they've done, because there were real victims, human beings. "They knew what their actions were doing to many suffering people and you can't disregard the consequence of your actions." Mr Levitt challenged ANZ's assertion it had remediated customers, saying of the 20 ANZ borrowers he had worked with, only six had successful outcomes. "In many instances we did deals, but the deals were never satisfactory in the sense they fully recognized the extent of the banks culpability," he said. "There was debt reduction and it was also made possible for many of the farmers to extricate themselves from total insolvency." But he said in many cases even when the debt was reduced, some still lost everything, and some never had the chance for remediation at all. "It didn't go anywhere near to discharging the debt and farmers were still being hit with the shortfall, and sometimes having lost ancestral properties made them bitter. "They wanted their properties back and it wasn't possible to give them that there was no amount of money that could make up for many of the losses the farmers had suffered." Banks acted legally but fairness is questioned Despite the sense of injustice felt by many of the farmers, the banks had not acted illegally. Small business and family enterprise ombudsman Kate Carnell said while the contracts were legal, she questioned their fairness, and hoped the royal commissioner did the same. "The loan agreements that the farmers and rural business owners signed in the past had clauses in them which fundamentally allowed the banks to change the terms and conditions of those contracts unliterally whenever they wanted to," she said. They are known as "non-financial default clauses", which allow the banks to use new risks such as natural disasters or changing market conditions as reasons to reassess the loans. It means customers can find themselves technically in default, even if they are making their repayments, and are then forced to refinance to more expensive loan conditions. "They were immediately made subject to ANZ's loan conditions which were a lot harsher than they'd contracted for with Landmark, and subject to a whole new regime," Mr Levitt said. As of November 2016, unfair contract term protections that traditionally applied to consumers were extended to small businesses on multi-year loans up to $1 million, and some big banks have opted to apply that to loans of up to $3 million. "For many farmers their loans are significantly higher than that, and so still it is legal for banks to be able to have these non-financial default clauses," Ms Carnell said. "We don't believe this is reasonable at all." Ms Carnell said the reforms were no help to those whose loans predated the change, or those who had already settled and were dissatisfied. She has also taken aim at confidentiality clauses that restrict farmers and small business owners from speaking out after dealing with a bank. Stress of dealing with bank affects health That use of power is not limited to the loans offered to previous customers of Landmark and Bankwest. For the past four years, Queensland cane farmer Ronald Feierabend has been negotiating to prevent foreclosure from his bank, and is not subject to a non-disclosure agreement.

Photo: Ron Feierabend has made a submission to the royal commission. (ABC Rural: Kallee Buchanan) "It's been very stressful. I've had to go on medications for stress and I have other health [issues] which have been exacerbated," he said. "It's got to the stage now where I doubt whether I will be able to run the farm because my health has deteriorated that much now." Topics:business-economics-and-finance,consumer-finance,industry,banking,royal-commissions,law-crime-and-justice,rural,government-and-politics,small-business,melbourne-3000,rockhampton-4700,townsville-4810,darwin-0800,hobart-7000,brisbane-4000,canberra-2600,perth-6000,adelaide-5000,sydney-2000 First posted May 21, 2018 07:26:51 http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-05-21/gagged-farmers-hope-banking-royal-commission-will-expose-miscond/9777286

[zeroviraluniverse-blog]

Former development secretary Justine Greening 'absolutely shocked' by claims

Visit Now - http://zeroviral.com/former-development-secretary-justine-greening-absolutely-shocked-by-claims/

Former development secretary Justine Greening 'absolutely shocked' by claims

Former international development secretary Justine Greening has said she does not recall being aware of allegations surrounding senior Oxfam aid workers in Haiti.

Speaking to Sky News, the Tory MP said she was “absolutely shocked” to hear of the claims that some of the charity’s employees used prostitutes in the country following the 2010 earthquake.

Image: Aid workers allegedly hosted sex parties with prostitutes

She said: “I don’t recall being aware of those allegations but I certainly know that whenever I had any instances raised with me they always would have been followed up.

“I’m not the kind of person who would have ignored anything like that – why would anyone?”

Ms Greening served as secretary of state for international development between 2012 and 2016.

Image: Millions were left homeless and 220,000 people were killed in the disaster in Haiti

She said that in the first half of 2016, the department was starting to look into how to keep track of people in the NGO sector “who were not behaving appropriately” in order to “make sure they were never allowed to circulate around the system”.

“That’s something I think the NGO sector themselves should have been taking a lead on. They weren’t – but it’s certainly a question I raise with them,” she said.

An inquiry into the Oxfam sex scandal by the Charity Commission is due to get under way on Tuesday after the resignation of one of the aid agency’s most senior figures.

Deputy chief executive Penny Lawrence said she took full responsibility for what had happened on her watch and was sorry for the “harm and distress” it had caused supporters.

The charity now faces a battle to “rebuild the public trust” following crisis talks with the Government over future funding, its chief executive Mark Goldring has said.

Video: Oxfam’s deputy quits over prostitution scandal

International Development Secretary Penny Mordaunt told Sky News on Tuesday: “I know people will be worried about the charity, they’ll be worried about the money, but we need to be guided by what the Charity Commission are doing.

“And also I have made it very clear to Oxfam what we expect to see from them but these decisions shouldn’t be taken hastily.”

The Government spent £13.4bn on foreign aid last year, which is 0.7% of GDP. That figure includes almost £31.7m for Oxfam.

Image: Oxfam chief executive Mark Goldring says the charity now faces a battle to ‘rebuild public trust’

However, the charity also relies heavily on public donations, with £115m of its total income coming from donations, legacies and a Disasters Emergency Committee appeal. Retail sales contributed more than £90m.

Ms Greening’s comments come after Helen Evans, Oxfam’s former head of global safeguarding, said she was told of three examples of sexual misconduct in the space of 24 hours during her time in the post.

She was told about two women being coerced to have sex and a worker who had failed to say he had previously been struck off for sex abuse.

Image: Oxfam’s former hea of global safeguarding, Helen Evans

Ms Evans told Channel 4 News: “There was… a woman being coerced to have sex in a humanitarian response by another aid worker, another case where a woman had been coerced in exchange for aid and another one where it had come to our attention where a member of staff had been struck off for sexual abuse and hadn’t disclosed that, and we were then concerned about what he might be doing, and that was three allegations in one day.”

Oxfam has been given until the end of the week to detail how it will handle any further allegations.

Video: How does the Oxfam scandal affect donations?

In a statement posted on Twitter, Ms Evans claimed the allegations surrounding Oxfam’s work in Haiti were not an “isolated incident” and that claims began to “flood in” as reporting mechanisms were strengthened.

In response to Ms Evans’ claims, an Oxfam spokesperson said: “We regret that we did not act on Helen’s concerns much quicker and with more resources.”

They added that the charity had “introduced a whole range of measures to improve how we deal with safeguarding issues”.

Ms Evans also hit out at the Charity Commission, the Government and the Children’s Commissioner over the claims, alleging she raised her concerns with all of them in 2015 but no action was taken.

The Children’s Commissioner has since told Sky News Ms Evans did not make contact herself in 2015 but that the office did receive a letter from her MP in 2015.

The Commissioner’s office said it wrote back in agreement that DBS checks should take place for those working with children.

[deniseyallen]

Rob's Rundown: Week of September 11 - 15, 2017

This week, Senator Portman continued his efforts to get his bipartisan Stop Enabling Sex Traffickers Act—legislation that will help hold accountable companies like Backpage that knowingly facilitate online sex trafficking and get victims of trafficking the justice they deserve—signed into law. A Senate hearing on the bill will be held next week. Portman also introduced legislation to help low-income students pursue higher education, continued his efforts to raise awareness on the drug epidemic devastating our communities, and more. For a more in depth look at Senator Portman’s week, please see the following:

Monday, September 11

Portman Welcomes the Support of Social Conservative Groups Backing Stop Enabling Sex Traffickers Act

On Monday, Portman welcomed the support of social conservative groups behind the bipartisan Stop Enabling Sex Traffickers Act – legislation that will hold accountable companies that knowingly facilitate the trafficking of women and children online and ensure that victims get the justice they deserve.  The Faith & Freedom Coalition, the Family Research Council, the Southern Baptist Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission, Concerned Women for America, the National Center on Sexual Exploitation, and Focus on the Family all endorsed the legislation.  The bill, widely supported by dozens of Ohio and national anti-human trafficking advocates and law enforcement and more, is the result of a two-year Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations (PSI) inquiry, led by Senators Portman and Claire McCaskill (D-MO), which culminated in a report entitled “Backpage.com’s Knowing Facilitation of Online Sex Trafficking.” The report found that Backpage knowingly facilitated criminal sex trafficking of vulnerable women and children and then covered up evidence of these crimes in order to increase its own profits. 

“We have a moral responsibility to do everything we can to help stop the trafficking of women and children online, and I appreciate the support of these groups to this growing bipartisan effort,” said Portman. “Congress never intended to create a lawless internet where bad actors can engage in criminal activity online that they cannot engage in offline. Congress must fix this fundamental flaw so trafficking victims can get the justice they deserve.”

“Our organizations write to strongly support the Stop Enabling Sex Traffickers Act of 2017 which will empower law enforcement to effectively combat online sex trafficking hubs that provide a safe haven for modern day slave traders,” the conservative groups said.  “We commend you for shining a light on the online marketplaces that profit from the growing epidemic of sex trafficking in the United States, and we encourage Congress and President Trump to join your effort to amend Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act to protect our most vulnerable citizens who are ensnared in the online sex trade.”

The Faith & Freedom Coalition, the Family Research Council, the Southern Baptist Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission, Concerned Women for America, and the National Center on Sexual Exploitation endorsed the bill in a letter here.  The letter of support from the Focus on the Family is here.

Tuesday, September 12

Portman Discusses Jobs, Trade & the Future of NAFTA at Center for Strategic & International Studies

Tuesday morning, Portman delivered remarks at an event titled “NAFTA Renegotiation: Strengthening North American Prosperity and Competitiveness” sponsored by the George W. Bush Institute and the Center for Strategic International Studies (CSIS). Portman, a former United States Trade Representative, discussed the importance of trade to jobs and our economy, his support for expanding markets for American-made products and holding countries accountable who violate our trade laws, and the future of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).

Portman has said consistently that NAFTA should be modernized and updated in order to expand market access, create more jobs, and boost wages. He has indicated that he will continue to work closely with the administration as they work to promote U.S. exports and protect against unfair imports by updating NAFTA for the 21st century.

Transcript of his remarks can be found here and a video of the event can be found here.

On Fox News, Portman Discusses Need for Tax Reform to Help Bring Back Jobs & Boost Wages

During an interview on Fox News, Senator Portman discussed the need to enact comprehensive tax reform to help boost wages and bring back jobs and investments lost to overseas competitors. Portman, who has recently hosted tax reform roundtables with local business leaders in Columbus, Dayton, Cleveland and Cincinnati, has been a leader in efforts to reform the tax code and protect taxpayer rights. Said Portman in the interview, “tax relief is necessary to give the economy a shot in the arm and also tax reform is needed for simplification and changing the international system so we can begin to bring some of these jobs and investment back here.”

Excerpts from the interview can be found here and you can watch the video here.

Portman Introduces Legislation to Remove Barriers, Provide Support for Homeless and Foster Students in Higher Education

Senators Portman and Patty Murray (D-WA), and Representatives Don Young (R-AK) and Katherine Clark (D-MA) introduced the Higher Education Access and Success for Homeless and Foster Youth Act today to help remove barriers and provide support to help homeless and foster kids access and succeed in higher education.

“Kids in foster care face an uphill battle when they pursue higher education.  It is in all of our interests to help these kids who have aged out of the foster care system or have experienced homelessness and ensure that services for them are a priority in existing federal programs,” said Senator Portman. “This common-sense legislation will remove unnecessary barriers and make college more affordable these youth.  It will support college retention, and greater success in higher education to allow these youth people to graduate, pursue their dreams, and achieve their God-given potential.”

For more information on the bill, go here.

State Department Nominee Confirms Support for Bipartisan Counter-Propaganda Law

Eric Ueland, nominee for Under Secretary of State for Management, confirmed to U.S. Senator Rob Portman (R-OH) that he would, if confirmed, work to ensure that the State Department’s Global Engagement Center (GEC) works effectively to push back against foreign disinformation and propaganda and receive the resources it needs. Portman is the author of the bipartisan Countering Foreign Propaganda and Disinformation Act, legislation signed-into-law last year, which increases the authority, resources, and mandate of the GEC to include state actors like Russia and China as well as non-state actors. Portman has called on the State Department to use the funds authorized in their legislation to get the GEC up and running so it can begin to develop, integrate, and synchronize whole-of-government initiatives to expose and counter foreign disinformation operations by our adversaries and proactively advance fact-based narratives that support U.S. allies and interests.

Transcript of the questioning can be found here and a video can be found here.

Wednesday, September 13

At Forum on the Opioid Epidemic, Portman Presses for Senate Action on the Bipartisan STOP Act

Portman discussed the opioid crisis in Ohio and around the country at an event hosted by The Hill titled “America's Opioid Epidemic: Search for Solutions.” Portman has been a national leader in the fight against the opioid epidemic. Last year, his bipartisan Comprehensive Addiction & Recovery Act (CARA) was signed-into-law. This bill ensures that federal resources are focused on evidence-based prevention, treatment, and recovery programs so that it can make a difference in people’s lives. Now, he is pressing or action on his bipartisan Synthetics Trafficking & Overdose Prevention (STOP) Act, legislation designed to help stop dangerous synthetic drugs like fentanyl and carfentanil from being shipped through our borders to drug traffickers here in the United States.

A video of his remarks can be found here and excerpts can be found here.

Portman, Blumenthal Welcome Commerce Committee Hearing on the Stop Enabling Sex Traffickers Act

Senator Portman and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) praised Senate Commerce Committee Chairman John Thune (R-SD) and Ranking Member Bill Nelson (D-FL) for announcing a hearing next week on the bipartisan Stop Enabling Sex Traffickers Act:

“We want to thank Chairman Thune and Ranking Member Nelson for holding this hearing on the bipartisan Stop Enabling Sex Traffickers Act.  We look forward to hearing both supporters and opponents of this bipartisan bill publicly defend their positions.  As support for this legislation continues to grow, we must act with urgency to hold online sex traffickers accountable for their active role in these crimes against women and children.”

Thursday, September 14

On Bloomberg TV, Portman Says Tax Reform Will Create Jobs, Increase Wages, Boost Middle Class

“There is nothing that would have a bigger bang for the buck than the right kind of tax reform,” said Portman during an interview Thursday morning on Bloomberg Television. That’s why Senator Portman is urging his colleagues in Congress to act on pro-growth tax reform that will help boost wages and bring back jobs and investments lost to overseas competitors. Portman, who has recently hosted tax reform roundtables with local business leaders in Columbus, Dayton, Cleveland and Cincinnati, has been a leader in efforts to reform the tax code and protect taxpayer rights.

Excerpts of the interview can be found here and a video can be found here.

Friday, September 15

In Cincinnati, Portman Hosts Discussion on Human Trafficking and Tours Valley Interfaith Community Resource Center

Portman hosted a roundtable discussion regarding efforts to combat human trafficking with staff at Valley Interfaith Community Resource Center, local law enforcement, and local community partners. Following the meeting Portman toured the Valley Interfaith Community Resource Center, a non-profit that works to help women in the community break the cycle of poverty, offers emergency assistance of food and clothing to those in need, and connects clients with other community partners as needed. Portman recorded this video.

Portman Announces Four New CARA Grants to Combat Opioid Crisis in Ohio

Portman issued the following statement on the Trump administration’s announcement of four new Comprehensive Addiction & Recovery Act (CARA) grants to help prevent and treat opioid addiction gripping communities in Ohio:

“These four new grants will help those on the frontlines in Ohio combat this crisis as we work together to turn the tide of addiction. I’m pleased to see that my CARA legislation is being implemented and funded to address the comprehensive challenge of combatting addiction. While these CARA grant programs are now being funded, we have much more ahead of us. In the coming months, I hope Congress will act to pass the bipartisan legislation to help stop dangerous synthetic drugs like fentanyl from being shipped into our communities, help stop overprescribing, and lift the cap on Medicaid funding for residential treatment facilities.”

NOTE: The following four grant awards for Ohio include:

$500,000 in first responders grant funding for the Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health Services Board Board for Montgomery County (Dayton).

$500,000 in first responders grant funding for the Alcohol and Drug Addiction Services Board of Lorain County.

$493,080 in first responders grant funding for the Metrohealth Medical Center in Cleveland.

$2 million for the Ohio State Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services in Columbus.

These grants build upon authorizations in Senator Portman’s recently signed-into-law and bipartisan Comprehensive Addiction & Recovery Act (CARA). This legislation ensures that federal resources are focused on evidence-based prevention, treatment, and recovery programs that have proven effective in local communities so that it can make a difference in people’s lives. Portman is currently working to get his bipartisan Synthetics Trafficking & Overdose Prevention (STOP) Act, legislation as well as his Prescription Drug Monitoring Act, and Medicaid CARE Act signed into law.

Portman Helps Secure $250,000 in Funding for Portsmouth to Fight Opioid Epidemic

Portman announced that the city of Portsmouth will receive $250,000 after being named one of the 10 Rural Health Opioid Program Awardees in the United States by the Heath Resources & Services Administration (HRSA). Portman advocated for Portsmouth to receive this funding to help fight back the opioid epidemic in this letter. Portman released the following statement:

“Ohio has been hit hard by the drug epidemic, and communities like Portsmouth need additional resources to help fight back. This funding will help Portsmouth give those on the frontlines the resources they need to treat those who are addicted. As we focus on best practices and provide more resources to address this issue, Ohioans will have better access to addiction treatment and long-term treatment and recovery programs that work.”

U.S. Senators Portman, Baldwin, Casey and Collins Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Save Perkins Loan Programs

Senators Portman, Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Susan Collins (R-ME) and Bob Casey (D-PA) have introduced bipartisan legislation to extend the federal Perkins Loan Program for two years. This popular and effective campus-based financial aid program that benefits many low-income undergraduate students is set to expire on September 30.

Unless Congress acts, approximately 1,500 colleges and universities across the country will not be able to make these low-interest loans, leaving approximately 500,000 students without access to an important source of financial aid.

“No one should be denied the chance to pursue higher education simply because of their financial status,” said Senator Portman. “For years, the assistance of the Perkins Loan Program has helped low-income students attend college—oftentimes as the first generation of their family to do so. Two years ago, Congress came together in a bipartisan way to extend this program. This legislation will extend those efforts and continue providing students the opportunity to achieve the American Dream.”

For more information, go here.

Portman, Brown Demand Action on Steel Investigation

Portman and Sherrod Brown (D-OH) demanded action on the Administration’s investigation into steel imports and their impact on national security.

In April, the Commerce Department launched an investigation into the impact of certain steel imports on national security, known as a 232 investigation. It has been months since then, and the delay has allowed foreign competitors to dump steel into the U.S. before the results of the investigation take effect. In a letter to Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross, the Senators urged the Administration to make its determination soon before more steel can flood the U.S. steel market.

“We know that this Administration understands the consequences of global steel overcapacity and the flood of steel imports for U.S. steel producers,” said the Senators in their letter. “Further postponement of the Section 232 investigation will invite a growing deluge of steel imports into the U.S. and cause even greater damage to the U.S. steel sector. We urge you to conclude the Section 232 steel investigation expeditiously to prevent the idling of additional U.S. steel facilities and the layoffs of more U.S. steelworkers.” 

For more information, go here.

Senate Passes Portman, Brown Resolution Declaring National “Isaac M. Wise Temple Day”

This week, the Senate passed Portman and Brown’s resolution designating Sept. 16, 2017 as national “Isaac M. Wise Temple Day.” Portman and Brown’s resolution marks the 175th anniversary of the Isaac M. Wise Congregation and the 150th anniversary of the Isaac M. Wise Temple, also known as the Plum Street Temple, in Cincinnati.

“When I visit Plum Street Temple I am amazed by its beauty and am so proud of the legacy of Rabbi Wise, both in Cincinnati and around the world,” said Portman. “I am glad to join Senator Brown in sponsoring this resolution and wish a heartfelt congratulations and mazel tov to my friends at Wise on reaching this milestone.”

For more information, go here.

from Rob Portman http://www.portman.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/rob-s-rundown?ContentRecord_id=C3393D72-2BFE-4B16-98D5-402FB5E90CBB