#but it's work and is regulated as such including under health and safety laws

[setnet]

sex work was decriminalised in NZ in 2003. Afaik NZPC/nz sex workers collective is not formally a union but it provides similar services in terms of advocacy legal and practical advice and representation and its made up almost entirely of current or former sex workers.

The NZPC were big advocates for the decriminalisation and have a lot of research about its effects - their website is well worth a look:

if sex work was legal the workers could unionize

[sayruq]

The Malawi government has finally spoken out on the arrest of Malawian farm workers in Israel, clarifying that 12 out of 40 individuals detained are from the country. According to Minister of Information Moses Kunkuyu, the 40 individuals, representing 13 nationalities, were arrested for leaving their designated work stations and seeking employment in town without proper authorization. Kunkuyu revealed that the group, including the 12 Malawians, had abandoned their farm work to seek jobs at a bakery in Bnei Brak, violating Israel’s labor laws and regulations.

Malawi and Israel signed a labor export deal in 2022, allowing Malawi to send unskilled laborers to Israel to work in various sectors, including agriculture and construction. The deal aimed to generate more foreign exchange revenue for Malawi and provide employment opportunities for its citizens. Under the deal, Malawian workers are expected to work in Israel for a maximum of 5 years, with a minimum salary of $1,500 per month. The deal also includes provisions for workers’ safety, health insurance, and protection from exploitation. However, the deal has faced criticism and controversy, with some opposition politicians and human rights organizations expressing concerns about the secrecy surrounding the deal and the potential risks to workers’ safety.

The arrest of the Malawian workers has raised concerns about the treatment of foreign workers in Israel and the effectiveness of the labor deal in protecting their rights. Human rights organizations have called on the Malawian government to take action to ensure the safe return of the detained workers and to review the labor deal to prevent similar incidents in the future. The incident has also sparked debate about the benefits and risks of labor export deals and the need for greater transparency and accountability in such agreements.

The mistreatment of foreign workers in Israel is well documented and would explain why the 45 workers escaped the farm to look for work elsewhere

[autisticadvocacy]

The Autistic Self Advocacy Network (ASAN) condemns the United States Supreme Court ruling on two combined cases, Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo and Relentless v. Department of Commerce. The decision overturns a decades-old legal principle known as the Chevron Doctrine, which gives federal agencies the authority to reasonably interpret ambiguous laws when they create federal regulations. These regulations are made legally binding through a rulemaking process that is shaped by the public servants within federal agencies, the input of subject area experts across fields, and anyone who chooses to share their opinion. Instead, federal courts will now have the final say in circumstances where knowledge of highly specialized, complex, and technical issues is required. This ruling will weaken the regulatory authority of all federal agencies, including the Departments of Labor (DOL), Education (ED), Health and Human Services (HHS), the Social Security Administration (SSA), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Federal agencies create regulations or rules that fill in the gaps of laws intended to protect disability rights, civil rights laws, housing, healthcare, and more. The overturning of Chevron and the deference it gives to the courts will have devastating impacts on all marginalized people, including disabled people and particularly disabled people of color. Often, these rules concern subjects well outside of the scope of legal training, including, as Marissa Ditkowsky noted, drug safety evidentiary standards, eligibility criteria for public benefits, the threshold for disability discrimination, or guidance around worker protections. This change will lead to inconsistent and conflicting adjudication across the country, driving avoidable litigation, confusion, and decisions that do not work well for the people they affect. These harms will fall disproportionately on marginalized people, including the disability community. As the American Cancer Society explained in its amicus brief, “The resulting uncertainty would be extraordinarily destabilizing, not just to the Medicare and Medicaid programs but also – given the size of these programs – to the operational and financial stability of the country’s health care system as a whole.” The same can be said for programs within DOL, ED, SSA, and many other federal agencies. This decision is also undemocratic, moving crucial decisions out of a process where the public has an opportunity to weigh in and into the purview of the courts.

This decision invites challenges to the forty years of legal precedents relying on Chevron. While these cases and the existing Code of Federal Regulations are not automatically overturned by Loper and Relentless, many will be challenged in the months and years to come. Future regulations are also under threat. Agencies may be less ambitious in fulfilling their mandates, protecting the public, and using taxpayers’ resources well in the face of increased risk that courts will undo their work. The endangered regulations include the Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) Settings Rule, the final rule implementing Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, the final rule implementing Title IX of the Education Amendments, and the final rule regarding section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act (ACA).

ASAN echoes the demands of the American Federation of Teachers (AFT): “Congress should urgently enact Chevron deference into law by passing the Stop Corporate Capture Act (H.R. 1507), a comprehensive blueprint for modernizing, improving and strengthening the regulatory system. That would ensure public input into regulatory decisions, promote scientific integrity and restore our government’s ability to help the workers and consumers it is meant to serve.”

ASAN will fight to safeguard federal agencies’ ability to protect the people we serve. We will continue to do what we always have: defend the rights, health, services, safety, and well-being of all people with disabilities.

Here are statements on this issue from our allies:

Democracy Forward

National Health Law Program (NHeLP)

National Education Association (NEA)

American Federation of Teachers (AFT)

The Autistic Self Advocacy Network (ASAN) is a national grassroots disability rights organization run by and for autistic people. We believe that the goal of autism advocacy should be a world in which autistic people enjoy equal access, rights, and opportunities. ASAN works to make sure autistic people are included in policy-making, so that laws and policies meet our community’s needs. Our members and supporters include autistic adults and youth, cross-disability advocates, and non-autistic family members, professionals, educators, and friends.

[justinspoliticalcorner]

Robert Reich's Substack:

Friends, For years, conservatives have railed against what they call the “administrative state” and denounced regulations. But let’s be clear. When they speak of the “administrative state,” they’re talking about agencies tasked with protecting the public from corporations that seek profits at the expense of the health, safety, and pocketbooks of average Americans. Regulations are the means by which agencies translate broad legal mandates into practical guardrails. Substitute the word “protection” for “regulation” and you get a more accurate picture of who has benefited — consumers, workers, and average people needing clean air and clean water. Substitute “corporate legal movement” for the “conservative legal movement” and you see who’s really mobilizing, and for what purpose.

**

[...] Last week, the Supreme Court made it much harder for the FTC, the Labor Department, and dozens of other agencies — ranging from the Environmental Protection Agency to the Food and Drug Administration, Securities and Exchange Commission, Occupational Safety and Health Administration, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, and National Highway and Safety Administration — to protect Americans from corporate misconduct.

On Thursday, the six Republican-appointed justices eliminated the ability of these agencies to enforce their rules through in-house tribunals, rather than go through the far more costly and laborious process of suing corporations in federal courts before juries. On Friday, the justices overturned a 40-year-old precedent requiring courts to defer to the expertise of these agencies in interpreting the law, thereby opening the agencies to countless corporate lawsuits alleging that Congress did not authorize the agencies to go after specific corporate wrongdoing. In recent years, the court’s majority has also made it easier for corporations to sue agencies and get public protections overturned. The so-called “major questions doctrine” holds that judges should nullify regulations that have a significant impact on corporate profits if Congress was not sufficiently clear in authorizing them.

[...] In 1971, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, then a modest business group in Washington, D.C., asked Lewis Powell, then an attorney in Richmond, Virginia, to recommend actions corporations should take in response to the rising tide of public protections (that is, regulations). Powell’s memo — distributed widely to Chamber members — said corporations were “under broad attack” from consumer, labor, and environmental groups. In reality, these groups were doing nothing more than enforcing the implicit social contract that had emerged at the end of World War II, ensuring that corporations be responsive to all their stakeholders — not just shareholders but also their workers, consumers, and the environment.

[...] The so-called “conservative legal movement” of young lawyers who came of age working for Ronald Reagan — including Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. and Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel A. Alito Jr. — were in reality part of this corporate legal movement. And they still are. Trump’s three appointments to the Supreme Court emerged from the same corporate legal movement. The next victory of the corporate legal movement will occur if and when the Supreme Court accepts a broad interpretation of the so-called “non-delegation doctrine.” Under this theory of the Constitution, the courts should not uphold any regulation in which Congress has delegated its lawmaking authority to agencies charged with protecting the public. If accepted by the court, this would mark the end of all regulations — that is, all public protections not expressly contained in statutes — and the final triumph of Lewis Powell’s vision.

Robert Reich wrote an interesting Substack piece on the history of the right-wing war on regulatory power that began with the infamous Powell Memo by Lewis Powell, and culminated with the recent Loper Bright Enterprises, Jarkesy, and Trump rulings.

[mariacallous]

After passing the Senate nearly unanimously last week, the future of the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA) appears uncertain. Congress is now on a six-week recess, and reporting from Punchbowl News indicates that the House Republican leadership may not prioritize bringing the bill to the floor for a vote when legislators return.

In response to Punchbowl’s reporting, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer released a statement saying, “Just one week ago, Speaker Johnson said that he’d like to get KOSA done. I hope that hasn’t changed. Letting KOSA and [the Children and Teens’ Online Protection Act] collect dust in the House would be an awful mistake and a gut punch—a gut punch to these brave, wonderful parents who have worked so hard to reach this point.” The bill has also received support from vice president and Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris.

But the bill created a massive divide among the digital rights and tech accountability community. If passed, the legislation would require online platforms to block users under 18 from seeing certain types of content that the government considers harmful.

Proponents of the measure, which included the Tech Oversight Project, an nonprofit focused on tech accountability through antitrust legislation, saw the bill as a meaningful step toward holding tech companies accountable for the way their products impact children.

“Too many young people, parents, and families have experienced the dire consequences that result from social media companies’ greed,” said Sacha Haworth, executive director of the Tech Oversight Project, in a statement in June. “The accountability KOSA would provide for these families is long overdue.”

Others, like the nonprofit digital rights organization the Center for Technology and Democracy, said that, if enacted, the law could be used to prevent young users from accessing critical information about topics like sexual health and LGBTQ+ issues. This meant that some organizations that regularly lobby to hold Silicon Valley accountable found themselves siding with tech companies and their lobbyists in trying to kill the bill.

“KOSA is not ready for a floor vote,” said Aliya Bhatia, policy analyst with the Center for Technology and Democracy’s Free Expression Project, in a statement in July. “In its current form, KOSA can still be misused to target marginalized communities and politically sensitive information.”

Evan Greer, director of the nonprofit advocacy group Fight for the Future, which opposed the bill, tells WIRED that KOSA and legislation like it “divides our coalition” while allowing tech companies to “keep getting away with murder and avoiding regulation.”

“This was never really about protecting kids,” Greer says. “It was sort of about lawmakers wanting to say that they’re protecting kids, and that doesn’t actually help kids.” Instead of legislators focusing on the “flawed” legislation, Greer says that Congress could have spent that same time and energy on antitrust-focused legislation like the American Innovation and Choice Online and the Open App Markets Act, or on the American Privacy Rights Act.

“When our coalition is divided in fighting each other, we’re going to get rolled every time by Big Tech,” she says.

Meanwhile, Linda Yaccarino, CEO of X, has said that she supports KOSA, as has the Center for Countering Digital Hate, a tech accountability nonprofit that was sued by X last year for exposing hate speech on its platform.

Although the House Republican leadership’s decision may signal the beginning of the end of KOSA itself, Gautam Hans, an associate law professor at Cornell University, says that “given the bipartisan interest in enacting this law, I suspect other proposals will follow—with hopefully more extensive safeguards against potential censorship by the state.”

[ukrfeminism]

Pornography creators, law enforcement, parents and the public asked for views as government investigates impact of pornography

views to be collected on impact of emerging tech, such as AI and virtual reality, on pornography

results will inform independent Pornography Review that will cover harm caused to sexual relationships and violence against women in wider society

Law enforcers, pornography makers, parents and the public are being asked to help shape the future of pornography regulation in the UK from today (Thursday 11 January) as the government launches a wide-ranging call for evidence as part of its review of the pornography industry.

The questionnaire, which closes on Thursday 7 March will collect evidence on the impact of pornographic content on relationships, sexual behaviours, mental health and people’s views of women and girls.

This exercise will provide independent Lead Reviewer Baroness Bertin with evidence that represents the views of those in the industry itself and the public, which will be used to develop recommendations for the government to undertake.

The substantial impact that new technologies have had on the pornography industry will also be covered, with respondents asked for their thoughts on how AI and virtual reality have changed how pornography is made, accessed and viewed, as well as how this impacts viewers and the industry.

Law enforcement and the criminal justice system will have an opportunity to raise what challenges face them in identifying and tackling these issues in pornography – as well as giving the industry an opportunity to set out what it is doing to tackle them more effectively.

Lead Reviewer Baroness Bertin said:

Throughout this review, it is essential we engage directly with those who are most involved in the pornography industry and accurately establish what the general public thinks of the current rules governing pornography. We want to hear from a wide range of views, whether it be a worried parent, those enforcing the laws to stop exploitation or someone directing or performing in pornography themselves, to speak up and support our review. Extreme pornography can have a damaging impact - we owe it to our children and indeed to the whole of society to put the guard rails back in place. This review will help us fully understand what we must now do to protect those most affected as well as future proofing the law to keep pace with an ever-evolving pornography industry.

Minister for Tech and the Digital Economy Saqib Bhatti said:

The Pornography Review will be key to informing what we do next to tackle any harmful impact the industry may have on those working within it, or society at large. The invaluable evidence the public, experts and industry provide will be integral to what Baroness Bertin recommends later this year.

Ian Critchley, QPM, National Police Chiefs’ Council lead for Child Abuse and Investigation said:

I very much welcome this government commissioned review led by Baroness Bertin. It is one that is essential in tackling harmful sexual behaviours. This is in addition to the whole scale use of smart devices by teenagers and now under 10s, which gives them increased access to harmful material including violent pornography and indecent images of children. The Online Safety Act is one of the most important pieces of legislation for a generation and it will help us to improve the safety of children and young people. In tandem with this review will provide a greater evidence base allowing us to better understand the impact violent pornography is having on the behaviour of young people and adults who continue to pose the greatest risk of harm to children. It will then ensure we can work together across agencies to prevent what has become normalised behaviour which is causing some of the greatest harm often with lifelong consequences.

The Pornography Review, announced last year, builds on the government’s work to take the long-term decisions for a better future for our children and grandchildren through the Online Safety Act, by stopping children from accessing pornography online by requiring services to establish the age of their users, including through age verification and age estimation tools.

Read the pornography regulation, legislation and enforcement call for evidence here.

[tomorrowusa]

The Biden administration has established the first ever White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention. It's met with approval from anti-violence activists.

Speaking in front of gun violence survivors, activists, and lawmakers, President Joe Biden on Friday announced a new White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention, an effort he promised would “centralize, accelerate, and intensify” the federal government’s efforts to combat gun violence. “After every mass shooting, we hear a very simple message ... do something,” Biden said in the White House Rose Garden. “My administration has been working tirelessly to do something,” Biden added, pointing to executive actions his administration had taken on ghost guns and gun trafficking, as well as the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, landmark legislation that became law in 2022. The new office, according to Biden, is one more attempt to answer that call, helping, for example, to “coordinate support for survivors, families, and communities affected by gun violence,” an effort that he said would be similar to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the government’s on-the-ground emergency response team. The office will also seek to identify more executive actions the president can take. Biden noted that he would continue to urge Congress to take legislative action on banning assault weapons and implementing universal background checks. Until then, he said the White House and activists will move forward with or without them.

The establishment of this office is not dependent on Congressional approval. House Republicans are probably too busy trying to shut down the government while seeking new ways to humiliate Speaker McCarthy.

Stefanie Feldman, an aide to President Biden who’s been working on gun safety policy with him for over a decade, will be the director of the new office. In an interview with Vox, she said that the office is meant to implement the laws and policies passed during Biden’s tenure, including the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act and the president’s executive actions on gun violence. [ ... ] Currently, multiple government agencies are involved in efforts to reduce gun violence, including the Department of Justice, which gives grants to communities working to prevent gun violence; the Department of Health and Human Services, which funds research studying gun violence as a health epidemic; the FBI, which runs criminal background checks; and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, which enforces national gun laws and regulates firearms sales. The White House, its gun reform allies in Congress, and advocates have been coordinating with one another for years. This office puts all of those efforts under one roof, with a dedicated leadership team inside the executive branch.

David Hogg, a Parkland shooting survivor and co-founder of March For Our Lives, has been calling for such an office.

[thequietmanno1]

TheLreads, Vigilantes ch 90, Replies Part 1

“Now, what was happening on Vigilantes- Oh yeah, blatant fuckery in the wordlbuilding department, the usual, then Number 5 showed up to the party.”- Number Hood just wanted to get in on the fighting action with the rest of the battle junkies.

2) “Ah, upstairs, in the picnic the police squad set up. Glad to see they are having fun frolicking around while everybody dies downstairs.”- There is some merit to be made that the Police become a bit too complacent in the heyday of All Might’s era, what with him running about all over the place doing their jobs tenfold before they could lift a finger. Still, some little more pro-active measures on their behalf would have been appreciated.  

3) “Yeah guys, what you think we are? law enforcers? Fuck that, let the pro hero handle it, he was the one that asked for in the first place. God knows why so many cops were needed for that.”-  If nothing else, I’d love to see a cop drama set in MHA’s world, with a young rookie wanting to be a good outstanding and efficient officer in the line of duty, dealing with a cynical mentor and the actions of heroes always bursting in and taking the credit, as he tried to work his way through the complicated system 4) “IS THAT WEED? NOW ITS TIME FOR THE POLICE TO ACT

LEAVE NO SURVIVORS, ANYBODY WITH RED EYES NEED TO BE EXTERMINATED WITH MAXIMUM FORCE POSSIBLE

you know, like in `murica”- AFO getting people hooked on drugs and illegal narcotics young, whether they want to or not. Truly, the most villainous evil that ever existed.

5) “Alright now, Furuhashi, you got the three best characters to be stuck working together, you absolutely must make sure to put them to good use, you got that?”- How about matching them up against the early-model version of one of the most interesting Nomus we’ve yet seen? That’d be a fight I’d pay to watch.

6) “Huh, I don’t know, this just looks like a normal punk rave to me, nothing out of the ordinary here alright”- 7) “And once again, we are faced with a place that is not up the fire safety regulations, smh… Although, unlike the sky egg, this one is deliberate, still I want to see AfO explaining that to the safety inspector.”- He probably happily outlined to him all the health and safety violations he’d deliberately included in the building because he wanted to make it as unsafe as possible for others to hurt themselves on for his idle amusement, before he stole his Quirk and killed him/repurposed the body for “materials”.

8) “I want to know where they kept those masks, because they are a bit too big to keep hidden under their clothes without gathering some unwanted attention.”- They pulled them straight from the plot hole dimension….assuming AFO didn’t have said gas masks stored in boxes over to the side somewhere. They are standing in front of a shelving rack, after all. 9) “Oh perish that thought Knuckles! Goodness gracious, what sort of lowly scallywag would ever dare to commit such acts?”- AFO is the type of man to commit all action of villainy, from dastardly, all the way down to just plain dick. 10) “Good thing you don’t expend a lot of oxygen while using your quirk and thus need to be constantly breathing in, even whilst inside a cloud of drug-laced gas, right Knuckles?”- Knuckles probably trained himself like a deep-sea diver, finding ways to ensure maximum lung capacity if he was ever in an environment where breathable oxygen was getting into short supply, to maximise his speed bursts 11) “GUNKLEDUSTER STRIKES AGAIN

WHY THE FUCK WOULD THE STAFF HAVE A FAKE GUN INSTEAD OF A REAL ONE? OR EVEN SOME TRANQUILIZER WEAPONS? YOU GUYS THINK A PROP WILL DEFUSE TROUBLE? THOSE GUYS WILL EAT YOU ALIVE, EVEN MORE WHEN THEY SEE THE GUN IS FAKE”- I can see AFO issuing unloaded firearms to his security staff just for the Lulz when they try to bring them to bear and find out they’re empty in a crisis situation.

12) “again, you guys think that those batons would stop a stampede of desperate brutes? you twinks there would be snapped in half, and not even the furry guy there would be able to stand there.

Just bring the heavy weaponry, nobody is gonna complain, the police is too busy making flower crowns for each other.”- Again, AFO wouldn’t want any good Quirks getting killed off by a heavy shot before he was ready to stealthily steal them in the chaos. These guys are here to look intimidating and act as a big distraction whilst he moves in the shadows doing what he wants, so if the sight of them brings the rioters up short just for a second, that’s long enough for him.

13) “Oh, really heroic of you Knuckles… Can you imagine if something had happened to them? You could kiss your hero license bye-bye, well, that is, four years before it actually happened I mean.”-  Knuckles already knows them well enough to know that A), they’re simple-minded and like a simple plan, B) they got no issues risking themselves, and C) they wanna fight. So let them fight.

14) “Wait, you are gonna give the signal? Wouldn’t be better for them to give a signal if they are in trouble? Knuckles I’m starting to think they are not just bait, but meat for the grinder.”- That’s assuming either of them can see danger and not go “awesome! I’mma fight that!”

15) “You guys need to ask? You know that kicking ass is not optional here. Go nuts, show those fuckers who’s the alpha team.”- Well, it is technically optional…as in, Rappa and Mirko are split over whether kicking or punching ass is better to proceed with.

16) “Bullshit Knuckles, and you know it. And you Rappa, keep quiet, Mirko got the gist of it, she just needs to promise that she won’t kill anyone and then kick people so hard their vertebrae pop out through their mouth like they are pez dispensers”- Arguably the main difference between them. Mirko knows when to play along before she can cut loose once she’s gained permission, whereas Rappa’s just too upfront and is entirely honest about his desire to fight to the death. Weird seeing the hero being the deceitful one, honestly.

17) “There go my two kids, they are always so happy when they are curb-stomping people into a mush…”- The joys of simple violence. Poetry in motion, to the chorus of breaking bones.

18) “Oh don’t worry Knuckles, they have no need for help. You should worry about who’s going to pay the medical bills of the people they are beating up tho, you said yourself they are ~civilians dosed without consent~”- I presume Knuckles made the police foot the bill, since they’ve contributed pretty much nothing else to this raid.

19) “THAT’S RIGHT GUNKLE! SHOT AT AfO THROUGH THE PORTAL, I THINK NOBODY ACTUALLY BOTHERED TO CHECK IF A HEADSHOT WOULDN’T SOLVE ALL THOSE PROBLEMS, WE DON’T KNOW IF HE ALREADY HAD THE ANTI-HEAD-CRUSHING MEASURE READY BY THEN”- Him still possessing his facial features is a sign that he still doesn’t have Hyper Regeneration specifically but from what we see of Hood, he’s already working on a pseudo-means of being able to heal injuries, presumably with the final product intended for his own use, but this research didn’t proceed far enough until All Might finally caught up to him and crushed his dreams along with his face. From what I can tell, it doesn’t seem to be that Hood is specifically ‘healing’ himself, but rather ‘fixing’ himself, using his unique construction as a modded human, rather than a healing Quirk outright, hence why AFO can’t exactly steal it if it comes down to the way his body’s been rebuilt rather than a power he’s using.  

20) “oh wow, a prop gun you said? Thank fuck they didn’t bothered to get a real one then, it would probably have the wield of a fucking nuclear weapon.”- I fully believe that Knuckles is the kind of guy to keep a few bullets on him in reserve in case he ever needs to shoot somebody, even if he doesn’t always bring an accompanying gun.

21) “HEEEY- THERE WE HAVE IT, OUR FIRST LOOK AT PRE-POTATO AfO, AND HE IMMEDIATELY GOES D:  HILARIOUS “- Honestly, it’s just nice to see something other than ‘smug satisfaction’ on his mug for once, even if it is only a minor victory at best.

@thelreads

[conniejoworld]

LETTERS These are our thoughts Re: “Our classes are full of life, learning — not hate,” by Tyra Damm, May 6 column. Thank you, Tyra Damm, for speaking truth to power. How refreshing to read this column. She clearly and succinctly communicated the thoughts of many of us who have worked in public schools. “There is no time or proclivity for hate. There is no hidden agenda, woke or otherwise.” For obvious reasons of political expediency, our public schools have come under the Republican gun (purposeful choice of words). Public school employees who bravely persisted through a pandemic now suffer harmful rhetoric from Gov. Greg Abbott and also experience attacks from parents and legislators who display an obtunded and obstructive mindset. Yet, with little encouragement, praise or meaningful pay, and in spite of the negativity being levied toward them, those who have chosen to continue their valuable work meet our children and grandchildren with smiles and love, committed to teaching basics and useful, meaningful life lessons. I hope Abbott and his cohorts read her column and hang their heads in shame. That would be refreshing. And thank you, Dallas Morning News , for the incredibly incisive political cartoon on Wednesday (Uncle Sam taken down by a gun addiction). Well done. Theresa Riggs, Arlington More praise for cartoon Regarding Wednesday’s editorial cartoon, what a powerful and impactful graphic representation of national maladies! Bill Bramhall has married two American tragedies into one pictorial representation that grabs our hearts and highlights the tragic results of both evils. Here’s hoping that this gripping cartoon will affect continued progress in reigning in both gun violence and drug deaths. Dan Siculan, Royse City

Some ideas to consider After the Allen Premium Outlets shooting, those who believe a right to life supersedes a right for everyone to possess a firearm, regulations derived from the Second Amendment, the expression “well-regulated” must apply. First, a firearm owner must be licensed through an extensive background check which will include psychological testing to eliminate those suicidal or psychotic. Gov. Greg Abbott insists the problem is mental health, but he provides guns to crazy people. The licensee must have a picture I.D. and thumbprint, and be over 21. Those under 21 must have an adult with them to handle a firearm. Second, for a licensee to purchase a gun, a 10-day waiting period must be used to research behavior since licensing. The purchaser must undergo training in firearm safety. No military-style rifles are to be in any one’s possession other than the military. Third, if a person has a firearm in bodily possession, he will forfeit it if intoxicated or under the influence of drugs, or if he threatens to use it illegally or exhibits family violence. Finally, private militias must not be allowed firearms. Public militias will be controlled by the Department of Public Safety and have all firearms registered. Criminals must not have guns. Walter Lindrose, Denton He blames gerrymandering Re: “Uphill battle for gun control — Amid growing pressure, GOP leaders unlikely to push reform,” Thursday news story. This story concludes that reasonable gun control laws fail in Texas because GOP lawmakers are “driven by a more powerful force: Republican primary voters.” True enough, but where is the rest of the story? In a democracy, why are only Republican primary voters in control and not the entire electorate? The missing explanation to the story: gerrymandering. When voters are “packed” and “cracked” into district lines that dilute the voting power of some groups in favor of others, the will of the majority can be thwarted and we inevitably end up with legislators narrowly focused on the extreme demands of primary voters. A third of the members of the Texas House (58 out of 150) and Texas Senate (10 out of 31) didn’t even have general-election opponents in 2022. Even in the general election, only one contested Texas Senate race and only four contested Texas House races were won by less than a 10% margin. Legislators chose their voters, not the other way around. The “powerful force” driving GOP lawmakers is one of their own choosing. Those lawmakers created that force, by rigging district lines to favor certain voters. Dave Jones, Sherman President, Clean Elections Texas What will they take next? Re: “Neighbors, not short-term rentals, foster community — Restricting these dwellings in residentially zoned areas will protect homeowners, home values,” by Douglas Newby, May 7 opinion. If my worst fears hold true, the state of Texas is forging ahead to preempt local control of neighborhood property rights with House Bill 2665. My family bought a home in a quiet neighborhood zoned for single-family residential homes, and that’s the way we want to keep it. As citizens of Arlington, a city with the foresight to restrict businesses to areas zoned for business, we are able to plan for our future and prosper here. A state so eager to usurp our ability to enjoy the fruits of our labor in a quiet, single-family-residence neighborhood doesn’t appear to stand for personal choice or personal control over the biggest longterm investment many families ever make. It seems, rather, that the once-upon-a-time-limited-government proponents at the helm of Texas government want control over local government as well as state government in order to cull the favors of business interests rather than protect the rights of individual citizens. If my own state representatives can take my property rights away, what are they going to take next? Pat Sanchez, Arlington

[uirukii]

So tell me again how ‘both sides are the same’ or ‘just as bad’?

In the agenda, “our administration will release federal funding to support programs that help parents affirm their LGBTQ+ kids and advance new regulations to protect LGBTQ+ youth in foster care”.

More of the progressive agenda under the cut that includes youth mental health and homelessness help, tackling the epidemic of bigoted book bans and creating a partnership specifically for LGBTQ safety that works with LOCAL LGBTQ community organizations.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will partner with the Departments of Justice and Health and Human Services to form a new LGBTQI+ Community Safety Partnership, to provide safety resources to local LGBTQ+ community organizations and help them prevent and respond to threats.

It also admits cops have been problematic with the LGBTQ+ community and will work towards fixing that massive problem.

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) will take the lead with initiatives to protect the health and safety of LGBTQ+ kids and their families. Pointing to a nationwide mental health crisis among LGBTQ+ youth, the administration will strengthen mental health resources and launch a new federal initiative to address LGBTQ+ youth homelessness.

The Department of Education will address the epidemic of book bans targeting LGBTQ+-themed content in schools and libraries. “Book banning erodes our democracy, removes vital resources for student learning, and can contribute to the stigma and isolation that LGBTQI+ people and other communities face,” the White House said.

The Department’s Office for Civil Rights will appoint a new coordinator to address “the growing threat that book bans pose for the civil rights of students,” and ensure local stakeholders understand how targeting specific communities, LGBTQ+ and communities of color among them, may violate federal civil rights laws.

[stout-stoat]

here's a list!! :>

LABOR

- expanded protections for pregnant and nursing workers - already in place for larger employers - to almost everyone in the state.

- created new worker protections for Amazon warehouse workers and refinery workers.

- banned "captive audience meetings" where employers force employees to watch anti-union presentations.

- passed new wage protections for the construction industry, against industry resistance.

- banned noncompete agreements and created statewide paid sick leave.

- created a huge new statewide paid family and medical leave program, raising the number of workers receiving paid leave from 25% to 100%.

SCHOOLING

- passed a bunch of labor protections for teachers, including requiring school districts to negotiate class sizes as part of union contracts.

- raised education spending by 10%, or about 2.3 billion.

- made hourly school workers (e.g. bus drivers and paraprofessionals) eligible for unemployment during summer break, when they're not working or getting paid.

- made public college education free for Minnesota families that make under $80k per year.

- made school breakfast and lunches free for all students.

ENVIRONMENT

- spent nearly a billion dollars on a variety of environmental programs, from heat pumps to reforestation.

- created an energy standard for 100% carbon-free electricity by 2040.

HEALTH

- created a state board to govern labor standards at nursing homes.

- banned conversion therapy for minors.

- laid the groundwork for a public health insurance option.

- made the largest increase to nursing home funding in state history.

- expanded the publicly subsidized health insurance program to undocumented immigrants.

- bumped up salaries for home health workers to address the shortage of in-home nurses.

- legalized drug paraphernalia: allows social service providers to conduct needle exchanges and address substance abuse with reduced fear of incurring legal action.

- created a Prescription Drug Affordability Board: sets price caps for high-cost pharmaceuticals.

- passed strict new regulations on PFAS ("forever chemicals"). the law, "Amara's Law," is named after a 20 year old cancer victim.

- signed a $240 million lead pipe removal bill. (this passed with unanimous support!)

- codified Roe v. Wade, protecting abortion rights.

- fully legalized marijuana.

CLASS

- created a new child tax credit that will cut child poverty by about a quarter.

- banned price gouging in public emergencies.

- put $50 million into homelessness prevention programs.

- put $1 billion into affordable housing programs, including by creating a new state housing voucher program.

TRANSIT

- forced signal priority changes to Twin Cities transit. right now the trains have to wait at intersections for cars, "which, i can say from experience, is terrible."

- passed a law to prevent catalytic converter thefts. (this is a car part that people steal and sell for scrap platinum)

- going to build a passenger train from the Twin Cities to Duluth.

- created a new sales tax to fund bus and train lines, an enormous victory for the sustainability and quality of public transit. transit will be more pleasant to ride, more frequent, and have better shelters along more lines.

- created new protections for Uber and Lyft drivers, "leading to State Senator Omar Fateh to be adorably mobbed by Uber and Lyft drivers."

POLICING

- banned white supremacists and extremists from police forces.

- capped probation at 5 years for most crimes.

- mostly banned no-knock warrants.

- made prison phone calls free.

- restored voting rights to convicted felons as soon as they leave prison.

- expanded background checks and enacted red-flag lavws, passing gun safety measures that the GOP has thwarted for years.

- massively increased funding for the state's perpetually-underfunded public defenders, which lets more public defenders be hired and existing public defenders get a salary increase.

ETC.

- passed the largest bonding bill in state history! total of $2.6 billion in funding improvements to parks, colleges, water infrastructure, bridges, etc. etc. etc.

- made a digital fair repair law that requires electronics manufacturers to make tools and parts available so that consumers can repair their electronics rather than purchase new items.

- made Juneteenth a state holiday.

- ensured that everyone, including undocumented immigrants, can get drivers' licenses.

- "you belong here:" made a raft of laws to make the state a trans refuge, and ensure people receiving trans care here can't be reached by far-right governments in places like Florida and Texas.

- already has some of the strongest election infrastructure (and highest voter participation) in the country, but the legislature just made it stronger, with automatic registration, preregistration for minors, and easier access to absentee ballots.

Massive Minnesota W read em for yourself

[cohenlawfirmpll]

Understanding the Legal Framework of Dental Services Organizations

Dental Services Organization (DSOs) have become increasingly significant in the dental care landscape. They provide support services to dental practices, allowing practitioners to focus on patient care while benefiting from operational efficiencies. As DSOs continue to grow, understanding the legal framework governing their operations is crucial for both the organizations themselves and the dental professionals they serve.

This article explores the legal considerations surrounding DSOs and their implications for the dental industry.

What are Dental Services Organizations?

Dental Services Organizations are businesses that provide non-clinical support services to dental practices. These services can include administrative support, marketing, human resources, and financial management. By centralizing these functions, DSOs enable dental practitioners to concentrate on their clinical responsibilities, improving patient care and practice efficiency.

DSOs can vary widely in their structure and business model. Some may operate a network of dental practices under a unified brand, while others may provide services to independent dental offices. Regardless of their structure, a common goal remains: to streamline operations and enhance the profitability of dental practices.

Regulatory Environment for DSOs

The legal landscape for DSOs is complex and varies from state to state. One of the primary concerns is the regulatory framework governing the practice of dentistry. Many states have laws that dictate who can own and operate a dental practice. In some jurisdictions, non-dentists are prohibited from owning dental practices, which can complicate the structure of a DSO.

Ownership Restrictions

In states where ownership restrictions exist, DSOs must navigate these laws carefully. Typically, a DSO may provide management services to a dental practice owned by licensed dentists. This structure allows DSOs to operate within the legal framework while still providing essential services to dental practitioners.

Licensing and Compliance

Another critical legal aspect for DSOs is compliance with licensing requirements. Dental practices must maintain proper licenses to operate, and DSOs must ensure that their affiliated practices comply with all applicable regulations. This includes adhering to state dental board requirements, health regulations, and employment laws.

DSOs also face scrutiny regarding their financial practices. Many states impose regulations on how dental practices can structure their fees and payments. DSOs must ensure that their business models align with these regulations to avoid legal repercussions.

Employment Law Considerations

Employment law is another area where DSOs must exercise caution. As they provide support services to dental practices, DSOs often employ staff who work in these practices. This creates a need for compliance with labor laws, including wage and hour regulations, employee benefits, and workplace safety requirements.

Independent Contractors vs. Employees

One of the more challenging aspects of employment law for DSOs involves the classification of workers. Determining whether staff should be classified as independent contractors or employees can have significant legal implications. Misclassification can lead to penalties and back pay for unpaid wages. DSOs must be diligent in understanding the legal criteria for worker classification and ensure proper compliance.

Non-Compete Agreements

Another employment law consideration is the use of non-compete agreements. DSOs may require dental professionals to sign these agreements to protect their business interests. However, the enforceability of non-compete clauses can vary significantly by state. DSOs must be aware of local laws regarding non-compete agreements to avoid potential legal challenges.

Contractual Relationships

Contracts play a vital role in the operation of Dental Services Organizations. DSOs typically enter into agreements with dental practices outlining the terms of the services provided, compensation structures, and other critical details.

Service Agreements

Service agreements between DSOs and dental practices must be carefully crafted to ensure legal compliance. These contracts should clearly define the scope of services, payment terms, and responsibilities of both parties. Establishing transparent and well-structured agreements helps mitigate potential disputes and provides a framework for successful collaboration.

Vendor Contracts

In addition to service agreements, DSOs often engage with third-party vendors for various services, such as technology support or dental supplies. These vendor contracts must also be legally sound, addressing issues such as liability, confidentiality, and termination rights.

Risk Management and Liability

As with any business, risk management is a critical consideration for Dental Services Organizations. DSOs must establish comprehensive strategies to identify and mitigate potential legal risks.

Liability Insurance

One of the primary ways to manage risk is through liability insurance. DSOs should consider obtaining professional liability insurance to protect against claims arising from their support services. This coverage can safeguard the organization from financial losses due to lawsuits or regulatory actions.

Compliance Programs

Implementing robust compliance programs is another essential aspect of risk management for DSOs. These programs should include regular training for employees, clear policies regarding legal compliance, and mechanisms for reporting potential violations. By fostering a culture of compliance, DSOs can reduce the likelihood of legal issues arising.

The Role of Legal Counsel

Given the complexities of the legal landscape surrounding Dental Services Organizations, having experienced legal counsel is invaluable. Legal professionals can provide guidance on regulatory compliance, contract negotiation, and risk management strategies.

Navigating Legal Challenges

When legal challenges arise, having a knowledgeable attorney can help DSOs navigate the complexities of the law. Attorneys can assist in resolving disputes, negotiating settlements, and representing the organization in legal proceedings.

Proactive Legal Strategies

Proactive legal strategies can help DSOs avoid potential pitfalls. By working with legal counsel to conduct regular audits of business practices, DSOs can identify areas of concern and take corrective actions before issues escalate.

Conclusion

Dental Services Organizations play a vital role in the modern dental industry, providing essential support to practitioners and enhancing patient care. However, navigating the legal framework governing DSOs requires a thorough understanding of various legal considerations, including ownership restrictions, employment law, contractual relationships, and risk management.

To ensure compliance and mitigate potential legal risks, DSOs should consider partnering with experienced legal professionals who specialize in this field. For expert guidance and support, Cohen Law Firm, PLLC, offers comprehensive legal services tailored to the needs of Dental Services Organizations. By leveraging legal expertise, DSOs can focus on their mission of delivering quality dental care while minimizing legal challenges.

[maxlearnllc]

The Role of Compliance Training in Building a Resilient Workforce: A Strategic Approach

In today's fast-paced business environment, organizations are under increasing pressure to maintain operational efficiency while adhering to a growing number of regulations and standards. Compliance training is one of the most effective ways to ensure that employees are not only aware of their responsibilities but are equipped with the knowledge and skills to navigate complex regulatory landscapes. By investing in a robust compliance training program, businesses can foster a resilient workforce that can adapt to change, mitigate risks, and ensure long-term success.

What is Compliance Training?

Compliance training refers to the structured education programs designed to help employees understand and comply with legal and ethical requirements within their organization. It covers a wide array of topics, including but not limited to corporate governance, workplace safety, environmental regulations, ethical behavior, and data protection. Compliance training for employees is vital for mitigating risks, protecting the company from fines, and ensuring a safe and ethical working environment.

In the modern workplace, compliance training has evolved beyond simple awareness sessions. Today, companies leverage a variety of tools and platforms to deliver engaging and effective training programs. This includes compliance training online, which offers flexibility and convenience, allowing employees to learn at their own pace and access training materials at any time.

Types of Compliance Training Programs

There are several types of compliance courses designed to address the unique needs of different industries. Some of the most common training programs include:

HR Compliance Training Human Resources departments play a key role in ensuring that workplace policies and practices comply with employment laws. HR compliance courses cover critical areas like anti-discrimination laws, wage and hour laws, employee benefits, and workplace harassment.

Corporate Compliance Training Corporate compliance training is designed to ensure that employees understand the company's internal policies and external regulatory requirements. This type of training typically covers topics like corporate governance, financial regulations, and legal compliance, such as the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act or the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.

Safety and Compliance Training Safety compliance training focuses on reducing workplace accidents and ensuring that employees are aware of safety regulations. Topics covered in safety compliance training can include personal protective equipment (PPE), emergency procedures, hazardous materials handling, and OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) regulations.

Environmental Compliance Training Environmental compliance training ensures that organizations meet environmental regulations and minimize their impact on the environment. Employees may be trained on waste disposal, energy use, pollution control, and other aspects of sustainability.

Ethics and Compliance Training Ethics and compliance training covers a wide range of ethical dilemmas and compliance issues that employees may encounter in the workplace. This type of training typically includes anti-bribery policies, conflicts of interest, confidentiality agreements, and fair business practices.

Compliance Officer Training Compliance officers are responsible for overseeing an organization’s compliance efforts. Compliance officer training provides these professionals with the knowledge and tools needed to identify risks, monitor compliance, and enforce regulations within the company.

Regulatory and Compliance Training Regulatory and compliance training ensures that employees understand the specific legal and regulatory frameworks that apply to their industry. For example, healthcare workers need to be trained on HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) regulations, while financial institutions may need training on the Dodd-Frank Act.

The Benefits of Compliance Training

The importance of compliance training cannot be overstated. Not only does it help businesses avoid costly fines and legal penalties, but it also promotes a culture of accountability, transparency, and integrity within the organization. Below are some key benefits of compliance training:

Mitigating Risks Effective compliance training helps reduce the likelihood of regulatory violations, which can result in heavy fines or lawsuits. By equipping employees with the knowledge of company policies and industry regulations, businesses can minimize the risk of non-compliance and its associated costs.

Promoting a Safe Work Environment Safety compliance training ensures that employees understand the hazards they may face in the workplace and how to mitigate them. This contributes to a safer environment, reduces accidents, and improves employee well-being.

Building Employee Confidence Training employees in compliance helps them feel more confident in their roles, knowing they are well-versed in the policies and regulations that govern their work. This can improve employee morale and productivity, as they are less likely to make mistakes or encounter unexpected challenges.

Improving Company Reputation Companies that prioritize compliance and ethics are more likely to earn the trust of their customers, partners, and stakeholders. A reputation for operating with integrity and following the law can strengthen business relationships and attract top talent.

Compliance Training Methods: Exploring the Future of Learning

As organizations embrace digital transformation, many have turned to online compliance training as a more efficient and flexible solution. Online platforms offer the advantage of delivering training to remote employees, ensuring that training is accessible and scalable.

Moreover, the rise of Compliance Microlearning has made compliance training even more effective. Microlearning breaks down training into bite-sized lessons that employees can complete in short bursts, making it easier to digest and retain complex compliance information. This approach is particularly beneficial for frontline employees, who may struggle to find time for lengthy training sessions.

Platforms like LMSTraining provide companies with the ability to track training progress, ensuring that employees complete necessary courses and certifications on time. Microlearning compliance solutions can be tailored to specific compliance needs, ensuring that training is relevant and targeted to the employee's role. These tools are particularly useful for training individual employees, enabling them to access training materials based on their unique learning paths.

Annual Compliance Training: A Continuous Learning Process

While compliance training may be seen as an annual event, it is important to view it as an ongoing process. Yearly compliance training should be supplemented with regular check-ins, refreshers, and updated content to ensure that employees stay informed about changes in the regulatory landscape. A compliance training timeline should be established, incorporating regular on-the-job training and learning initiatives to keep employees up to date on best practices and compliance standards.

Frontline learning can benefit from the use of mobile platforms and microlearning tools for frontline staff, allowing employees to access training on the go. This ensures that even employees who are not in front of a computer all day have access to the training they need to stay compliant.

Empowering Employees Through Compliance and Training

Ultimately, compliance training is not just about adhering to laws and regulations. It’s about empowering employees with the knowledge and skills they need to contribute to a safe, ethical, and successful workplace. When employees understand the importance of compliance and feel supported in their efforts, they are more likely to be engaged, motivated, and productive.

Training programs should not be viewed as a mandatory task but as an opportunity for growth and development. Whether through in-work training, microlearning solutions, or corporate compliance microlearning, organizations can create a culture of continuous learning that drives success, mitigates risks, and builds a resilient workforce ready to face the challenges of tomorrow.

[learnmorewithus]

How the OTHM Level 7 Diploma Prepares You for Real-World Safety Challenges in the Workplace

The OTHM Level 7 Diploma in Occupational Health and Safety Management is designed to equip professionals with the advanced knowledge, skills, and competencies needed to tackle the complexities of health and safety in the modern workplace. In today’s dynamic work environments, safety professionals face increasingly diverse challenges, ranging from regulatory compliance to risk management and employee well-being. Here’s how this diploma prepares you to face and resolve these real-world safety challenges:

1. In-Depth Understanding of Health and Safety Regulations

The diploma provides a strong foundation in understanding both national and international health and safety laws, standards, and regulations. This knowledge is crucial because safety professionals need to ensure their organizations remain compliant with ever-evolving legal requirements. Whether you’re working in the construction, manufacturing, or healthcare sector, being well-versed in safety legislation is essential for preventing accidents and legal penalties.

2. Practical Risk Management Skills

One of the main areas covered by the OTHM Level 7 Diploma is risk management. Students are trained in identifying hazards, assessing risks, and implementing strategies to mitigate these risks. This could involve designing workplace safety protocols, conducting safety audits, or implementing emergency procedures. The program emphasizes practical application, helping students understand how to assess and address real-world safety issues, from fire hazards to chemical exposure or machinery accidents.

3. Health and Safety Systems and Policies

In the workplace, it's essential to have a structured approach to managing health and safety. The OTHM Level 7 Diploma teaches students how to design, implement, and evaluate occupational health and safety systems. This includes creating safety policies, training programs for employees, and establishing procedures for regular inspections. You’ll also learn how to audit and evaluate these systems to ensure they remain effective and compliant with industry standards.

4. Developing Leadership and Decision-Making Skills

As an occupational health and safety manager, you’ll often need to make quick, well-informed decisions under pressure. The Level 7 Diploma focuses on developing leadership, communication, and decision-making skills. Students are trained to manage teams, influence organizational change, and lead safety initiatives, all of which are critical for addressing real-world challenges such as worker safety culture and compliance in fast-paced environments.

5. Handling Workplace Emergencies and Crisis Management

The ability to manage crises effectively is a key competency taught in the OTHM Level 7 Diploma. Students are trained in emergency preparedness, including how to develop and implement emergency response plans, evacuations, first aid, and disaster management protocols. In today’s workplace, being ready for emergencies — from medical incidents to natural disasters — is a non-negotiable skill for safety professionals.

6. Psychosocial Risk Management

In addition to physical safety, the program also covers the importance of psychosocial well-being in the workplace. Stress, harassment, bullying, and mental health issues are becoming more recognized as significant risks to employee health. The diploma trains you to identify and address these risks, developing strategies to create a healthier work environment.

7. Use of Technology in Safety Management

The modern workplace increasingly relies on technology to enhance safety management practices. The OTHM Level 7 Diploma integrates the latest trends in safety tech, from the use of safety apps and software for real-time reporting to digital tools for risk assessment and incident tracking. Understanding how to use these technologies is key to managing workplace safety effectively.

8. Building a Safety-Centric Culture

Creating a safety-centric workplace culture is often one of the most challenging aspects of a safety professional's role. The diploma emphasizes the importance of leadership in fostering this culture. By promoting safety as a core value and involving employees in the process, you’ll be equipped to create a work environment where safety is prioritized, reducing the likelihood of accidents and fostering better overall health outcomes.

9. Global Perspectives on Health and Safety

Since occupational health and safety regulations differ across borders, this program provides an understanding of how to manage safety in an international context. It gives students insights into global best practices, industry standards, and the cross-border challenges safety managers may face. This knowledge is especially valuable for professionals working in multinational organizations or those dealing with global compliance.

10. Capstone Project: Real-World Application

The program culminates in a capstone project that challenges students to apply what they have learned in a real-world scenario. This project could involve developing a comprehensive health and safety program for a company, conducting a safety audit, or designing a risk management strategy. This hands-on experience ensures that you’re ready to take on safety management roles as soon as you graduate.

By the end of the OTHM Level 7 Diploma in Occupational Health and Safety Management, you will have developed the necessary skills to handle real-world challenges and effectively contribute to a safe and compliant working environment. Whether you’re dealing with complex health risks, navigating regulations, or responding to crises, this diploma ensures you’re fully prepared to protect the well-being of your colleagues and organization.

[gauravmohindrachicago]

Global Health Governance

International health law is a complex and evolving field that encompasses the legal frameworks, policies, and treaties aimed at promoting and protecting global public health. It addresses issues such as disease prevention, health emergencies, access to healthcare, and the regulation of pharmaceuticals and medical devices. This article provides an overview of the foundations, key principles, institutions, notable agreements, challenges, and future directions in international health law says, Gaurav Mohindra.

 

Foundations of International Health Law

International health law has its roots in the recognition that health issues often transcend national borders and require coordinated global responses. The establishment of the World Health Organization (WHO) in 1948 marked a significant milestone in the development of this field, providing a platform for international cooperation on health matters.

The primary sources of international health law include:

International Treaties and Agreements: Treaties such as the International Health Regulations (IHR) and various conventions on tobacco control, pharmaceuticals, and infectious diseases form the backbone of international health law.

2. Customary International Law: Established practices accepted as law, including the principles of non-discrimination and the right to health, contribute to the legal landscape.

3. Judicial Decisions: Rulings by international courts and tribunals, such as the International Court of Justice (ICJ), play a role in interpreting and enforcing health-related laws.

Key Principles of International Health Law

Several core principles underpin international health law:

Right to Health: Recognized as a fundamental human right, the right to health includes access to timely, acceptable, and affordable healthcare of appropriate quality.

2. Equity and Non-Discrimination: Ensuring that all individuals have equal access to healthcare services without discrimination based on race, gender, socioeconomic status, or other factors.

3. International Cooperation: Emphasizing the need for countries to work together to address global health challenges, share information, and support capacity-building in low- and middle-income countries.

4. Public Health Security: Focusing on the prevention and control of health threats, including infectious diseases, environmental hazards, and bioterrorism.

Institutions of International Health Law

Several international institutions play crucial roles in the formulation, implementation, and enforcement of international health law:

World Health Organization (WHO):  As the leading global health authority, the WHO is responsible for setting international health standards, coordinating responses to health emergencies, and providing technical assistance to countries.

2. World Health Assembly (WHA): The decision-making body of the WHO, comprising representatives from all member states, the WHA adopts international health policies and strategies.

3. United Nations (UN): Various UN agencies, such as UNICEF and UNAIDS, contribute to international health efforts by addressing specific health issues like child health and HIV/AIDS.

4. International Labour Organization (ILO): Focuses on occupational health and safety, ensuring that workers have safe and healthy working conditions.

5. Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs): Organizations like Doctors Without Borders (MSF) and the Red Cross play significant roles in providing healthcare services and advocating for health rights globally.

Notable Agreements and Frameworks

Several key agreements and frameworks shape international health law:

International Health Regulations (IHR):  Legally binding regulations that provide a global framework for preventing and responding to public health emergencies, including infectious disease outbreaks.

2. Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC):  The first international treaty negotiated under the auspices of the WHO, aimed at reducing tobacco consumption and its health impacts.

3. Doha Declaration on the TRIPS Agreement and Public Health:  Affirms the right of WTO member states to protect public health and promote access to medicines for all.

4. Global Strategy and Plan of Action on Public Health, Innovation and Intellectual Property:  Aims to promote innovation and access to essential medicines in developing countries.

Challenges and Criticisms

International health law faces several significant challenges and criticisms:

Inequities in Health Access: Disparities in access to healthcare services and essential medicines persist, particularly between high-income and low-income countries.

2. Global Health Security: The COVID-19 pandemic exposed vulnerabilities in global health security and the need for more robust mechanisms to respond to health emergencies.

3. Intellectual Property Rights: Balancing intellectual property rights with the need to ensure access to affordable medicines remains a contentious issue.

4. Climate Change and Health: Addressing the health impacts of climate change, such as increased frequency of infectious diseases and environmental health hazards, requires coordinated international action.

Future Prospects

The future of international health law depends on addressing its current challenges and adapting to emerging global health threats. Key areas for future development include:

Strengthening Global Health Governance: Enhancing the effectiveness and accountability of international health institutions and improving coordination among them.

2. Improving Equity in Health Access: Implementing policies and strategies to reduce health disparities and ensure that all individuals have access to essential health services.

3. Enhancing Preparedness and Response: Developing more robust systems for detecting, preventing, and responding to health emergencies, including pandemics and bioterrorism threats.

4. Integrating Health and Climate Policies: Addressing the health impacts of climate change through integrated policies and international cooperation.

Gaurav Mohindra: International health law is a vital field that seeks to address global health challenges through legal frameworks, international cooperation, and the promotion of fundamental health rights. While it faces significant challenges, ongoing efforts to strengthen international health governance, improve equity in health access, and enhance preparedness for health emergencies hold promise for a healthier and more equitable world. As global health issues continue to evolve, international health law will remain essential in safeguarding public health and promoting global well-being.

Originally Posted: https://gauravmohindrachicago.com/global-health-governance/

[lithionpower]

Lithion's AQ16 Series BMS: Certified for Excellence in Safety and Performance

Introduction Safety and dependability are critical in the quickly developing fields of energy storage devices and electric vehicles (EVs). The Battery Management System (BMS), which is essential for monitoring and safeguarding lithium-ion batteries, is a crucial part of guaranteeing these attributes. By obtaining complete certification under AIS 156 and passing the EMI/EMC testing at ICAT, Manesar, Lithion's AQ16 series BMS has established a new benchmark in this field. This accomplishment demonstrates Lithion's dedication to providing top-notch goods that satisfy exacting safety and performance standards.

What is AIS 156 Certification? One important law controlling the safety standards for batteries used in electric vehicles in India is the Automobile Industry Standard (AIS) 156. This standard guarantees that batteries and the BMS, among other related parts, are made and built to avoid possible risks including overcharging, short circuits, and thermal runaway.

Lithion's AQ16 series BMS exhibits adherence to these exacting safety standards by earning AIS 156 certification. This certification guarantees manufacturers and users of the product's dependability and is essential for obtaining acceptance in the Indian EV market.

EMI/EMC Testing: Ensuring Compatibility and Performance Along with AIS 156 certification, the AQ16 series BMS has completed the International Centre for Automotive Technology's (ICAT) EMI/EMC (Electromagnetic Interference/Electromagnetic Compatibility) testing at Manesar.

A device's interactions with its electromagnetic environment are assessed through EMI/EMC testing. This entails making sure a BMS is resistant to external electromagnetic disturbances and does not release any damaging electromagnetic radiation that might interfere with other electronic components. The performance of the AQ16 series in this testing demonstrates its sturdy design, which enables deployment under a variety of operational situations.

Key Features of the AQ16 Series BMS

Comprehensive Battery Protection: The battery pack's longevity and safety are guaranteed by the sophisticated algorithms that the AQ16 series BMS uses to control overcharge, over-discharge, short circuit, and heat events.

Scalability: The AQ16 series is versatile and can be used for everything from little electric two-wheelers to huge commercial EVs.

Real-Time Monitoring: The BMS offers real-time insights into battery performance and health through accurate voltage, current, and temperature monitoring.

Durability: The AQ16 series can function dependably in demanding electromagnetic settings without sacrificing performance thanks to its passing of rigorous EMI/EMC tests.

Why This Matters In addition to being technological firsts, Lithion's AQ16 series BMS certification accomplishments mark a significant advancement in building confidence in EV technology. Ensuring the safety and dependability of battery systems is crucial for consumer acceptance and the expansion of the industry as the use of electric mobility increases.

Working with a qualified and established BMS supplier like Lithion helps OEMs cut down on the time and money required to comply with regulations, allowing their products to reach the market more quickly.

Conclusion Lithion's commitment to quality, innovation, and safety is demonstrated by their AQ16 series BMS. The AQ16 series is in a good position to satisfy the needs of India's expanding EV market because it has obtained AIS 156 certification and passed EMI/EMC testing at ICAT. Lithion's certified solutions provide a solid basis for creating the sustainable mobility of the future as the industry develops.

Call to Action Are you trying to find a licensed and trustworthy BMS for your energy storage or EV system? Examine Lithion's AQ16 series to see how it can improve the performance and safety of your products. Get in touch with us now to find out more!

For More information battery management in electric vehicles