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mariacallous · 2 months ago

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For decades, Americans United for Separation of Church and State called its adversaries “religious extremists.” Today, the group has a more specific target: fighting Christian nationalism.

The decision to sharpen the language was made by Rachel Laser, the group’s president for the last six years. A Jew and the first religious minority to lead Americans United since its founding in 1947, Laser wanted the group to be more clear-eyed about what she sees as a growing threat to religious pluralism in the United States: the belief that American laws should favor Christian values over those of other religions.

But it was not an easy decision for her to make. “On some deep level, I worry about alienating Christians, as many Jews do,” Laser wrote last year in the group’s magazine. “When you are part of a mere 2% of the population, it can feel perilous to risk fostering adversity with 65% of the population.”

That anxiety about the optics of her leadership surfaced even before she took the job. During her interview, Laser recounted to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency, she asked the board outright: “Why aren’t you hiring Christian clergy?”

Americans United had always been led by pastors, but Barry Lynn, who served as the organization’s previous leader, from 1992 to 2018, said he welcomes a departure. If there were any concerns about having a Jew lead a fight against Christian nationalism, Laser has proven it’s possible to do so, he said.

“I’ve thought about that a lot, but I just don’t think it’s a burden or a problem because she works very collaboratively with board members who are themselves Christians and she works in coalitions,” Lynn said. “She understands the depths of the danger that Christian nationalism presents to both Christianity and to religious minorities.”

Laser, 55, is married to intellectual property lawyer Mark Davies. They have three children and the family belongs to Adas Israel, a Conservative congregation in Washington, D.C. She began her journey in Chicago, where she grew up with Jewish activist parents who didn’t prioritize religious life. But when she followed a friend to Sunday school, she encountered Rabbi Arnold Jacob Wolf, a progressive Reform Jewish leader who was deeply involved in civil rights and other social justice causes.

“I was a very curious kid, and he encouraged me to ask questions,” Laser said, fighting back tears as she recalled Wolf, who passed away in 2008. “The more questions I asked, the more he appreciated me. That’s why I value being Jewish.”

Laser (her name is pronounced LAZZ-er) carried those values into a career focused on public service. After earning a law degree, she held senior roles in organizations advocating for reproductive rights, LGBTQ equality, and interfaith dialogue, including as the deputy director of the Religious Action Center, the advocacy arm of Reform Judaism.

“She’s a knowledgeable Jew who cares deeply about Jewish concerns,” said Rabbi David Saperstein, who led the Religious Action Center during Laser’s time there. “She fit very comfortably into the Reform movement’s view that social justice was a central part of what it means to be a Jew.”

He said he hired her because she was already a proven bridge builder, and it was important for the organization to work across political and ideological lines in Washington. It’s a skill that would be critical when Americans United tapped her in 2018, tasking her with adapting the group for a polarized era.

She took the helm during the second year of Donald Trump’s first presidency, as debates over religion in public life were intensifying. Laser commissioned research to gauge public attitudes and test Americans United’s messaging.

The results were mixed. “Religious extremism” resonated with most audiences, but “Christian nationalism” was less familiar — and even sounded positive to some people. “We didn’t want people to think we were insulting Christianity or patriotism,” Laser said, so she decided against emphasizing the term.

Then came the January 6, 2021, assault on the U.S. Capitol.

Laser saw the insurrection as a wake-up call. In the rioters’ biblical rhetoric and religious rituals, she recognized Christian nationalism as a potent and underappreciated threat. She soon hired Andrew Seidel, a prominent critic of Christian nationalism. On his first day as the new vice president of strategic communications at Americans United, Seidel testified before Congress about the role of Christian nationalism in the Capitol insurrection.

Americans United began using the term regularly, aiming to educate the public while highlighting church-state separation as a critical countermeasure.

“The antidote to Christian nationalism is church-state separation,” Laser said in an interview. “It’s the kryptonite that prevents Christian nationalists from codifying their views into our laws.”

Under Laser’s leadership, Americans United has taken high-profile legal actions, such as suing Oklahoma over its proposed religious charter school and representing a Tennessee Jewish couple rejected by an adoption agency due to their faith. The group also helped raise awareness earlier this year about Project 2025, a detailed conservative proposal for Trump’s second term from the Heritage Foundation.

Donors have responded to these efforts. In 2023, the organization reported $17.9 million in revenue — almost triple what it was raising before Laser took over.

But Laser’s tenure hasn’t been without controversy. The organization’s employee union and some former board members have accused her of fostering a toxic work environment and prioritizing publicity over policy and legal work. After commissioning an outside investigation of the organization’s work culture, the board said Laser has its full support.

Laser’s efforts to counter Christian nationalism reflect broader tensions in American society. While religious affiliation is declining, Trump’s political alliance with the Christian right has energized a vocal minority.

“I love you, Christians,” he said on the campaign trail. “In four years, you don’t have to vote again, we’ll have it fixed so good you’re not going to have to vote.” And the vast majority of them did vote for him.

Since the election, Trump has put together for his next administration a slate of deputies that reflects his strong political alliance with the Christian right, from his nominee for White House budget director Russell Vought to his preferred candidate for defense secretary, Pete Hesgeth.

But while giving Republicans a resounding victory, American voters also rejected many of the specific policies promoted by conservative Christians. In seven states, including four won by Trump, voters approved measures to protect abortion rights. All three state proposals to allow public funding to flow to private and religious schools were defeated. Laser calls these outcomes a rejection of Christian nationalism and a continued endorsement of the principle of church-state separation.

In saying that a solid majority of Americans agree with her worldview, Laser relies on surveys like those from the Public Religion Research Institute. “We find that by a margin of about two to one, most Americans reject Christian nationalism,” said PRRI’s president, Robert Jones.

He said he’s confident in the results because the statements the surveys test against are ”fairly unambiguous.”

“They’re things like, ‘U.S. law should be based on the Bible,’ ‘To be truly American, you must be Christian’ and ‘Christians should take dominion over all areas of American society,’” he said.

As the term “Christian nationalism” has come into play in recent years, Jones’ group has been studying how people respond not only to the underlying attitudes, but also to the term itself.

“We are finding people who qualify as Christian nationalists based on our criteria have a positive view of the term, and people who are rejecting that worldview have a negative view of the term,” Jones said. “So it’s not just a term used by one side to smear the other.”

The phenomena can be seen in the strong sales of a 2022 book called “The Case for Christian Nationalism,” by conservative political theorist Stephen Wolfe, and in prominent politicians, like U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene and Sen. Josh Hawley, who have embraced the moniker.

But even as one term has become more common, the question of what language to use is far from settled. Advocates on either side of the debate over the place of religion in public life make various choices for strategic or other reasons.

Sorting through the rhetoric has required substantial attention from Ruth Braunstein, a professor of sociology at the University of Connecticut. That’s because earlier this year, she was awarded a grant from the Henry Luce Foundation to map out the individuals and groups fighting Christian nationalism.

Many of the 100 groups added to the list so far don’t use the term Christian nationalism.

“Some, for example, talk about defending or promoting pluralistic democracy,” Braunstein said. “Others talk about creating a more inclusive vision of American identity.”

A growing bunch, including Americans United, do. And for Braunstein, it was easy to figure out how Laser’s group fit into her project.

“They have a high profile, historical gravitas and respect, and the resources to be able to provide support to other organizations,” she said. “So I think of them as an important node in this broad network.”

A few weeks ago, Laser went on CNN to be briefly interviewed about her opposition to plans in Oklahoma and Texas to bring Christianity into the classroom. She didn’t mention anything about her identity. She simply delivered Americans United talking points: Parents, not politicians, should decide when and if children are exposed to religion; state mandates sully rather than enhance religion; mixing church and state goes against the country’s founding ideals.

But one viewer who contacted CNN to complain about Laser’s statements discovered through Google, or correctly assumed, that Laser is a Jew. He made her identity the center of a lengthy tirade, which he ended with a broad threat.

“When Jews go into the public square to attack Christianity, then we have a problem,” the angry viewer wrote. “Stop abusing the people that treat you kindly because, eventually, the patience will run out.”

Asked if this kind of threat gives her anxiety about the place of Jews in the United States, she said, “Firstly, I’m Jewish. There’s always anxiety. So, fair question.”

But then she went on to emphasize that she’s never felt alone in her activism. She’s always surrounded by Christian allies.

As soon as she took the helm, for example, she set up a faith advisory for Americans United and packed it with pastors (as well as other faith leaders). When her group files lawsuits against policies it opposes, it always includes Christian plaintiffs.

“It’s more important to make it clear that Christians are leaders in this cause,” she said. “In any case, however, I don’t plan to go anywhere. This country has given so much to Jews and I feel gratitude for that. I want to ensure that my kids and my kids’ kids can enjoy and be proud of the same America.”

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beardedmrbean · 9 months ago

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The Supreme Court unanimously handed the National Rifle Association a win Thursday in the gun rights group's effort to revive a 2018 First Amendment lawsuit accusing a New York official of causing damage to the NRA's relationships with banks and insurers.

Justice Sonia Sotomayor wrote a unanimous opinion that found the NRA "plausibly alleged" that Maria Vullo, a former superintendent of New York's Department of Financial Services, illegally retaliated against the pro-Second Amendment group after the Parkland, Florida, high school mass shooting that left 17 people dead.

The question before the justices was whether Vullo used her regulatory power to force state financial institutions to cut off ties with the NRA in violation of constitutional First Amendment protections.

Vullo, who worked in former Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo's administration, said her regulations targeted an insurance product that is illegal in New York, which is dubbed by critics as "murder insurance." In essence, such insurances are third-party policies sold via the NRA that cover personal injury and criminal defense costs after the use of a firearm.

"Here, the NRA plausibly alleged that Vullo violated the First Amendment by coercing DFS-regulated entities into disassociating with the NRA in order to punish or suppress gun-promotion advocacy," Sotomayor, an appointee of former President Barack Obama, wrote in her decision.

Although the gun rights group is typically involved in litigation surrounding the Second Amendment, the case marked an unusual departure to a First Amendment claim that even had backing from the American Civil Liberties Union, which has historically targeted the gun rights group in other cases before the high court.

The result of the case means the NRA can continue its lawsuit against Vullo.

Justices Neil Gorsuch and Ketanji Brown Jackson penned separate concurrences.

#nunyas news

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pilawturkey · 4 months ago

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Dispute Resolution Service in Turkey

Dispute resolution service requires an innovative and comprehensive strategy for each case. Overall, there are a wide variety of methods for conflict resolution at the domestic or international level. Dispute resolution service lawyers have a substantial impact upon concluding disputes between parties. Dispute resolution service lawyers have been at the center of providing best results for their clients. It has been already established that dispute resolution service is very essential to provide a chance of success.

What are the 4 types of dispute resolution service in Turkey?

It is significant at the outset that there are four main accepted forms of conflict resolution: negotiation, mediation, arbitration and litigation.

Firstly, negotiation brings partners together with a view to solving the relevant dispute on their own.

Second popular dispute resolution tool is mediation. Indeed, mediation requires the existence of a neutral third-party assuming responsibility to help disputants for a consensus. It is noteworthy to stress here that Turkey adopted the Law (No:7282) approving the ratification of the Singapore Convention on Mediation, published in the Official Gazette on 11 March 2021.Our article on A Brief Analysis of the Singapore Convention highlights the implementation of international mechanisms dedicated to mediation.

Thirdly, natural or legal persons are also free to choose the best dispute settlement process by selecting arbitration process.

Last but not least, litigation may be used to finalize any conflict complained of by the judicial authorities.

It is useful to understand that judicial review will cover a full-fledged examination when a dispute resolution service is needed for enforcement of foreign arbitral awards. As underlined in our article on 2024 Case Analysis of Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral Awards in Turkey, the judgment by Istanbul Appellate Court 14th Chamber on 17 September 2020 [E. 2018/2196, K.2020/917], the below-mentioned criteria must be controlled by a judicial review for enforcement of foreign arbitral awards in Turkey:

· The fact that the arbitration rules are applicable to any dispute between parties must be accepted in accordance with the contract between parties,

· The final award must be given by the arbitrator after review and fair trial within the framework of the representation of all parties,

· The dispute must be suitable for arbitration in terms of Turkish law,

· The evaluation of these defense claims was included in the final award,

· The addressee company was present at every stage of the proceedings at the Arbitration Center,

· The defense arguments must be taken properly during the arbitration proceedings,

What is the meaning of dispute resolution service in Turkey?

It is not hard to maintain that the most commonly used method for dispute settlement is litigation in Turkey. Huge backlog before court rooms has already establishes this argument. Increasing number for civil and administrative litigation has been a matter of concern over the years in Turkey. Dispute resolution through arbitration agreements and|or dispute resolution arbitration is newly improving in Turkey. There is much work needs to be done for alternative dispute resolution methods. Building dispute resolution owing to the alternative ways such as consumer dispute resolution may be found very workable and reasonable solution to all parties of a dispute.

With regard to a comprehensive analysis of implementation of foreign arbitral awards see our article on Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral Awards

What is the most common dispute resolution?

Litigation has still been considered as the most workable solution in Turkey. Therefore, there is an increasing workload before civil and administrative courts in Turkey. It seems clear that dispute resolution service needs to more concentrate on other methods for faster solutions.

What is the importance of dispute resolution service for administrative cases?

All administrative acts and actions are bound by the law. This principle is reiterated in Article 2 of the Turkish Constitution guaranteeing the rule of law. Administrative disputes are settled by administrative courts in Turkey, as examined in our article on Administrative Cases in Turkey

What is the significance of dispute resolution service for criminal cases?

It is beyond doubt that criminal cases in Turkey requires a full-fledged dispute resolution service by criminal defense lawyers at the time of any criminal investigation or prosecution.

What is the concept of the enforcement and bankruptcy Law in Turkey in terms of dispute resolution service?

Generally speaking, fundamental purpose of the enforcement and bankruptcy regulatory framework is to settle disputes between the creditors and debtors concerned. Enforcement and Bankruptcy Law in Turkey regulates detailed procedures for insolvency, bankruptcy and enforcement. What is more, the Law in question stipulates the bankruptcy liquidation steps for insolvent debtors.

What is the importance of dispute resolution service for divorce proceedings?

Divorce proceedings for foreigners in Turkey is categorized in two main types: consensual divorce through negotiation and contested divorce through litigation. It should be remembered that the first legal instrument to be applied in divorce proceedings for foreigners is the Act on Private International and Procedural Law (Numbered 5718). According to Article 14, the grounds and provisions for divorce and separation shall be governed by the common national law of the spouses.

#disputeresolution #negotiation skills #negotiation tips #mediation #arbitration #litigation

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whitesinhistory · 10 months ago

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Louisiana Officially Disenfranchises Black Voters and Jurors

On May 12, 1898, the State of Louisiana adopted a new constitution with numerous restrictive provisions intended to exclude African American men from civic participation. At this time in the U.S., women of all races remained barred from voting, while Black men had recently gained the right to vote under the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Amendments to the U.S. Constitution. The new Louisiana Constitution, however, created a poll tax, literacy and property-ownership requirements, and a complex voter registration form all designed and enforced to disproportionately disenfranchise Black male voters.

The year 1865 included the Confederacy's defeat in the Civil War, widespread emancipation, and the abolition of slavery. All of these developments threatened to overturn Southern culture and social relations, which were based on white supremacy and racial hierarchy. After Reconstruction ended in 1877 and white politicians and lawmakers regained control and power in the South, many efforts were made to restore that racial order through very strict laws that stripped Black people of many of their new civil rights—including the right to vote. In Louisiana, framers explicitly expressed their goal to “purify the electorate.”

When the restrictive voting provisions were first proposed for the 1898 Louisiana Constitution, some white officials expressed concern that the property and literacy requirements would also disenfranchise an estimated 25% of the white male population of voting age. In response, lawmakers drafted a “Grandfather Clause” which created an exception for those whose ancestors were registered to vote before 1867. This clause enabled many illiterate and poor white men to get around the literacy and property requirements. Black people remained blocked because Louisiana laws before 1867 disenfranchised nearly all Black men—especially those who were enslaved.

The 1898 Louisiana Constitution also eliminated the requirement of unanimous jury verdicts, allowing as much as a 9-3 split to still stand as a conviction. Because the U.S. Constitution now prevented states from wholly barring Black people from jury service, this provision was enacted to render small numbers of Black jurors inconsequential. Thomas Semmes, a former Confederate senator and head of the convention’s judiciary committee, praised the provision for success in its goal “to establish the supremacy of the white race in this State to the extent to which it could be legally and Constitutionally done.”

The 1898 Louisiana Constitution eliminated federally enforced voting rules that had enfranchised Black men in Louisiana during Reconstruction. As a result, in a state with 650,804 Black residents, the number of Black registered voters dropped from 130,000 before the new Constitution to just 5,000 by 1900. By 1904, the number dropped to just 1,000.

Throughout the Southern states, disenfranchisement laws targeted Black communities for generations. Louisiana’s 1898 Constitution was revised slightly in 1913, but most of its restrictive language remained until 1972. The non-unanimous jury rule remained in effect for more than a century, until Louisiana voters approved a Constitutional amendment to abolish it in November 2018.

#history #white history #Black history #us history #voting rights #voting #voter suppression #1898 #Louisiana #Thomas Semmes #jumblr #am yisrael chai #palestine #israel #israeli apartheid #israel is an apartheid state #republicans #democrats #usa is an apartheid state

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swiftsnowmane · 1 year ago

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A former leader of the Iranian Baha’i community says the Islamic Republic gives them no chance of “leading a normal life” on account of their faith.

“For forty-five years, we Baha’is have been constantly disqualified from leading a normal life in our ancestral homeland,” Mahvash Sabet, a former member of the Baha’i community’s leadership group wrote in a letter from Tehran’s Evin Prison.

She reflected on the impact of the Islamic Revolution of 1979, stating, "Our ancestral homeland was abruptly taken from us, and we became 'the others'." Sabet recounted the misfortunes suffered by the Baha’i community, including the execution of nearly 250 of its members and the confiscation of assets belonging to many others.

The Shia clergy consider the Baha’i faith as a heretical sect. With approximately 300,000 adherents in Iran, Baha’is face systematic persecution, discrimination, and harassment. They are barred from public sector employment and, in certain instances, have been terminated from private sector jobs due to pressure from authorities.

In her letter, a copy of which was received by Iran International, Sabet has used the term “disqualified” (radd-e salahiyat) to describe Iranian Baha’is deprivation of civil and human rights including freedom of religion, the right to higher education, and most jobs.

In the context of ideological screening primarily carried out by security and intelligence bodies, Radd-e salahiyat means “found disqualified” for a position or status. Screening is conducted in a wide range of situations including higher education, civil service, participation in national sports teams, and elections.

Belief in the absolute guardianship and rule of a jurisprudent cleric (velayat-e motlaqqeh-ye faqih) and the Constitution of the Islamic Republic as a governing system are two of the fundamental requirements for being “qualified” in these situations.

Sabet, now seventy-one, was dismissed from her job as a school principal after the Islamic Revolution of 1979. She has been consistently denied the opportunity to publish her poetry in Iran, where books undergo scrutiny and rejection not solely based on their content, but often due to the authors' ideology, religion, or private lives.

In her letter, Sabet, who has spent nearly twelve years in prison for her faith, reveals that authorities appropriated a sand processing factory her husband had been constructing just a week before its launch. “He was disqualified, too!” she wrote in her letter.

In 2009, seven leaders of the Baha’i community, collectively known as Yaran (friends or helpers), including Sabet, were arrested. They were sentenced by a revolutionary court to 20 years in prison on fabricated charges, including "insulting" Islamic sanctities, propaganda against the regime, and alleged spying for Israel, for which the prosecutor had sought death sentences.

Some of the charges, including espionage, were dropped by an appeal court in 2010, resulting in a reduction of their sentences to 10 years. However, authorities reinstated the original 20-year sentences in 2011.

All members of the Yaran group were released from prison between September 2017 and December 2018. However, Sabet and Fariba Kamalabadi, another female member of the group, were arrested again on August 1, 2022.

Both women endured months of solitary confinement while awaiting their trial. In December, they were handed another decade-long prison term for "forming a group to act against national security," a sentence they are currently serving.

#baha’is in Iran #Iranian baha’is #Iranian women #Bahá’í faith #Baha’i faith #religious persecution #human rights violations #yaran #mahvash sabet #fariba kalamabadi #false imprisonment #I was devastated when these women were arrested again #I remember spending years campaigning for their release #the regime wants them to die in in prison

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bobbinacrossafricatake2 · 10 months ago

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Jo’burg

May 16, 2024

There’s really nothing like the feeling of someplace that is home away from home. Last night we got through immigration in record time, despite the fact that there is an immigration/customs go-slow (worker strike) going on, resulting in minimal service lanes. While we got through quickly, the downside for us is that we missed our one opportunity to meet Mike, our Toronto-based Africa guy and the mastermind of this adventure.

Zem met us at the gate (gotta love seeing our names on a sign!), escorted us through immigration and customs where we met our driver. The two of them led us to a money exchange counter and then off we went to The Residence. In 2018, on our first trip to Africa, we overnighted in this lovely, gracious, wonderful, small hotel in the Houghton neighborhood of Johannesburg. We loved it so much that we wanted to come back and what a wonderful place to spend our first two nights in Africa, recovering from jet lag and settling into vacation mode. The staff is so so welcoming and we were upgraded to an amazing suite with jacuzzi, overlooking one of multiple swimming pools. Mike had a bottle of wine and cheese platter waiting in the room for us – wonderful. We did not indulge on arrival but rather took showers and settled into the wonderful beds after our very long journey.

In the morning, an excellent night’s sleep for Seb and a decent night’s sleep for Jill, we enjoyed a delicious breakfast in the restaurant, sitting at the same table where we enjoyed a dinner six years ago! Cappuccino and coffee with soy milk, respectively, such as civilized start to the day. We decided to have a low-key get-over-jet lag day, and headed out to an arts district. It wasn’t a total bust, but not as interesting or extensive as we expected. That said, at a gallery down the street (with a wonderful exhibit), they recommended another arts area called Victoria Yards. So with a little bit of electronic finagling, we caught an Uber there. (So crazy to go half way around the world and use the Uber app we can use from our front doors!) From our hotel to guards at the galleries, we were given some level of security cautions. Even knowing that there must be safety issues in town, it was lovely knowing that people were watching out for us and giving us tips on how to make sure we stay safe. Victoria Yards was a compound of old warehouse type buildings with working artists. It turned out to be nice to be there on a low-key weekday, when various artists were quite happy to chat and explain their techniques. A jewelry maker, book binder and silkscreen artist were some of the highlights.

After we were through, we contacted our hotel driver (through WhatsApp, as you do); he collected us and we headed “home.” There, the hot tub beckoned. Neither of us typically frequents hot tubs, but WOW - it was ever so relaxing, with a glass of wine from Mike’s gift. After turning into prunes, we set to work, blogging and preparing (tip) money in local currency (Rands) for our next stop, Namibia. As we know from our last trip to Africa, tipping (and tipping well, but not extravagantly) is simply part of the planned cost of the trip, and very much a part of how the African hospitality economy works. It’s certainly a way to show our appreciation for the wonderful service we experience and anticipate.

Dinner was in the hotel. We were intercepted on the way through the bar and ended up ordering a bottle of wine to share in front of a roaring fire. Wonderful! Piano music in the background, attentive staff and just chilling. They even brought over the menus so we could order. When our meals were just about ready, we were escorted to our table and seated. We each put our small bag on the table, at which point, small side tables appeared next to each of us for our bags. LOL. Holy moly, the service. Dinner of ostrich (yes, the bird) and kingklip (a fish) was fabulous. We ordered two things to share and they arrived already split and plated. Did we mention that we love this place? The restaurant was near empty so we enjoyed all the attention and graciousness. At the end of the meal, four chocolate truffles arrived with over a dish of smoking, overflowing coldness of the dry ice. Presentation is, after all, so important. Indeed, The Residence was everything we hoped for and more than what we expected. We asked for more water for the room, and (of course) it had already been delivered to by the time we asked for it. We did some pre-departure packing and settled again into our cushy beds for a wonderful - if too short - night’s sleep. 0430 pick-up by our driver will come, oh, too soon. Our only wish - to someday have the opportunity to again experience this hospitality.

P.S. Now that kingklip has been identified as eel (not fish), it’s a shock to the system, and we may not admit to it having been so tasty.

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thoughtportal · 2 years ago

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It shouldn't be against the law to provide an encrypted app. But if the STOP CSAM Act passes, it would make it a crime to offer encryption, because it could "facilitate" the sharing of illegal child abuse material (CSAM)—even if there's no evidence that a platform or service intended to do so. The law would undermine digital security for all internet users, impacting private messaging and email app providers, social media platforms, cloud storage providers, and many other internet intermediaries and online services.

Free speech would also be at risk. STOP CSAM would create a carveout in Section 230, the law that protects our online speech, exposing platforms to civil lawsuits for merely hosting a platform where part of the illegal conduct occurred. This carveout is similar to the disastrous SESTA-FOSTA law, which passed in 2018, and immediately resulted in companies removing online content and spaces for discussion in order to protect themselves from potential liability.

Congress already has tools in place to remove CSAM from the internet: current law prohibits the distribution of CSAM, and since 2008, providers have faced large fines if they fail to report CSAM after receiving actual knowledge of its presence on their platforms. Yet we know of no case where the federal government has ever enforced this provision. Congress must not pass this broad and dangerous law, and instead must use the tools that are already in place rather than outlawing important encrypted services.

Tell Congress: don't pass this law that would undermine security and free speech online.

#petition #CSAM #encryption #internet privacy #online privacy #right to privacy #privacy #internet #STOP CSAM Act #call to action

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benjaminandshapiroltd · 6 days ago

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What to Do After a Car Accident in Illinois

Car crashes are a common occurrence on Illinois roads. According to the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT), from 2018 to 2022 the average number of car crashes per year in the state was 293,622 (about 804 crashes per day). The four-year average for fatal crashes was 1,049 and the four-year average for injury crashes was 61,092.

With such a high number of car accidents, it is important for all drivers to know what to do when involved in a crash.

Immediately after an accident, a driver must stop their vehicle beside the road so that it does not interfere with traffic. Driving off is not advisable, as it could be a crime. For example, in a hit and run where only property is damaged, the driver who fled could be charged with a Class A misdemeanor subjecting them to fines of up to $2,500 or one year in jail. If a person was injured or killed, it would be a felony. The driver who fled could face years in prison. Thus, after an accident, a driver should stop at the scene.

After stopping, the driver should call the police immediately, especially if there was an injury or fatality. They should also request an ambulance so that the injured are taken to a hospital. If the driver is injured too, they should seek medical assistance immediately upon arrival of the ambulance.

If the driver is not seriously injured, they can get out of their car and see if any people in the other car are injured. If no one is injured, they can exchange information with the other driver as they wait for the police to arrive. Illinois law actually requires drivers to remain at the scene of an accident to exchange information with the driver of the other vehicle. A driver can show them their driver’s license and then give them their name, address, and vehicle registration number. If they are not the owner of the vehicle, they can provide the name of the owner.

Afterward, the driver should begin gathering evidence. They should take pictures of the scene, including the vehicles involved. They should take pictures of any physical injuries as well. They can also get the contact information of those who were present when the accident occurred. When they eventually do get medical attention, they should keep all medical documentation.

Collecting this information is vital, as it may help in a civil case. Illinois is an at-fault state, meaning that the party at fault is the one that pays all accident claims. If there is a dispute in settling the claims, the driver without fault can sue the one at fault for damages covering property damage, personal injuries, and other losses.

When the police arrive at the scene of the accident, the driver should record their badge numbers. The police will investigate the accident and then file a report within 10 days. If the police do not arrive at the scene of the accident, then each driver should file a report with the Illinois State Police no later than 10 days after the crash. They should do this if the accident resulted in a person’s injury or death, caused over $1,500 in damages and all drivers were insured, or caused over $500 in damages and one driver was uninsured.

If a driver strikes a parked motor vehicle, the law requires them to find the owner of the vehicle and provide them with their information (name, address, vehicle registration number). If they cannot find the owner, they should write their information on a piece of paper and attach it somewhere the owner of the car will find it. For these cases, they should call the police if the damage exceeds $1,500.

Many insurance contracts require drivers to contact an insurer in case of an accident, so drivers should inform their insurer of accidents promptly. They may also seek the services of an attorney to guide them through the claims process should there be a dispute or disagreement.

#Benjamin and Shapiro Ltd

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deliatennyson · 1 month ago

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Boeing in Big Trouble as Three Crash in One Day

There are certain days in aviation history that should be remembered. And this day in 2024 is undoubtedly Boeing's nightmare.

In just 24 hours, three Boeing airplane accidents occurred one after another in many places around the world. In triggering many people's heart palpitations at the same time, but also become more than 100 families of gray memories, another aviation disaster day was unfortunately born!

In the past, the claim that airplanes are the “safest form of transportation”, although highly questionable, was only controversial.

Now, it is certain that the Boeing aircraft is not, at least the Boeing 737 model is definitely not, the safety of frequent accidents, but it has become the most unstable “time bomb”.

So far this year, Boeing has lost nearly 8 billion dollars. Boeing's stock price has fallen about 30% during the year.

Accumulated weight is difficult to return, for Boeing itself, do not solve the internal problems, will only be more and more pull down; and for passengers, Boeing's quality problems caused by each accident, may need to pay the price of life.

Such a Boeing airliner, how to talk about safety?

South Korea shocked the sky disaster, Boeing airplane landing collision fire accident, the result in addition to two crew members were rescued, the rest of the 179 people on board were killed.

It is reported that this is the largest number of casualties in South Korea's domestic aircraft accidents, another aviation disaster day was unfortunately born.

For the innocent passengers, it was nothing short of murder!

It is worth mentioning that in just one day, Boeing airplanes had three accidents one after another, one was a shocking sky disaster in South Korea, one was a Dutch airplane landing off the runway, and another was a Canadian airliner that caught fire in part of the fuselage while landing, but fortunately, the latter two did not have any serious injuries or deaths.

These three accidents, like a hammer, hit hard on the Boeing Company's signboard.

It is important to know that most of the airliners involved in the accidents were Boeing 737-800, an airplane that, as one of Boeing's main models, is widely in service with major airlines around the world.

In just the past year or so, it has been involved in a number of accidents caused by landing gear anomalies, none of which had previously resulted in injuries, but were undoubtedly an early warning of danger.

On August 20, 2023, an Alaska Airlines 737-800 lost its left landing gear and was forced to make a hard landing on the runway.

In January 2024, a South Korean Dewi Air Boeing 737-800 also caught fire in its right engine due to a bird strike before landing at Incheon Airport; also in January, a door plug blew out on an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 MAX 9, resulting in loss of control and decompression; on May 9, a 737-800 from Turkish airline Corendon landed with a flat tire on the front landing gear; and on October 11, an Indian Express Airline a 737-800 hydraulic failure, resulting in landing gear can not be retracted, had to return to the flight.

Not long ago, South Korea's Jeju Air, another aircraft of the same type of landing gear failure, just better luck, a safe landing.

The Boeing 737, with its frequent problems, is no longer a simple means of transportation, but a “time bomb” and a source of nightmares for many families in distress.

Boeing has a long history, its business involves rotary-wing aircraft, electronic and defense systems, missiles, satellites, communications systems and many other fields, once shining the world:

It was once the world's largest aerospace industry company, as well as the largest manufacturer of civil and military airplanes, with customers in more than 150 countries and territories.

2018 was undoubtedly Boeing's last moment of glory.

That year, Boeing delivered a record-breaking 806 airplanes, and for the seventh year in a row, Boeing was the airplane manufacturer with the most deliveries.

What's more, Boeing's 2018 revenue was $101.1 billion (about $707.7 billion) and its net profit was $10.46 billion (about $73.2 billion), up 24% year-over-year.

If you look at sales alone, Boeing was the largest U.S. exporter at the time, towering over the jewel of American industry.

But it was such a juggernaut that brewed a devastating disaster!

In October 2018 and March 2019, shocking sky crashes occurred on Indonesian Lion Air and Ethiopian Airlines flights, totaling 346 people killed, and the planes involved in the crashes were both Boeing 737 MAX airliners.

Investigations found that the cause of the accidents was related to a safety design flaw in the model's new software system, the risks of which Boeing had deliberately concealed in order to get the model certified as airworthy, and had failed to enhance pilot training on the software system.

Such an appalling cause is tantamount to treating the lives of passengers as a child's play!

According to statistics, on September 5, 1994 the Boeing 737-800 program was officially launched.

Boeing 737-800 airliner for the Boeing 737 improved models in a Boeing 737, is the Boeing 737-700 fuselage extension model, directly replacing the Boeing 737-400. Throughout the Boeing 737 series, since the first prototype delivery in 1967, to the launch of the 737 MAX, in the more than 50 years, the Boeing 737 series has developed 14 models.

An amazing news is that in the Guangxi air disaster 2 years ago, the airplane was also a Boeing 737-800.

Two major air crashes, both the same Boeing model, I wonder if it's a coincidence.

There is also 10 years ago missing Malaysia Airlines MH370, is also a Boeing airplane, only is a Boeing 777-200ER.

It can be said that the Boeing airplane accident has not been once or twice, against the Boeing accident-prone model 737Max, we directly to the ban on flights.

As the industrial crown of the U.S. empire, Boeing has come to today, but also three feet of ice is not a day's cold.

For a long time, in order to maintain the share price, Boeing earnings distribution tilted to shareholders, resulting in relatively insufficient investment in technological innovation.

In order to compete with the new Airbus model, Boeing rushed to launch the 737 MAX airliner, to the future flight safety buried hidden dangers. Boeing used to arrange about 15 quality inspectors for each class of airplane production, and later reduced to only 1 quality inspector for each class.

Two consecutive air accidents, the cost of 346 lives shocked the world, finally returned to Boeing's short “conscience”, Boeing 737 MAX forced to stop production.

What is even more unbelievable is that the production of Boeing 737 MAX was resumed a year later after a simple improvement, and there were still many problems!

Boeing's strategy of prioritizing profit over safety over the years has dragged itself into a quagmire, resulting in five consecutive years of non-profitability, whether it is the manufacture of airliners, military airplanes, or space vehicles, Boeing is now very much pulling down.

This past June, two astronauts were stranded on the International Space Station after a potential malfunction in their Boeing Starliner capsule and have yet to return to Earth.

In short, Boeing has had a long history of quality problems, has had reports from internal employees, and will actually be physically wiped out?

The core problem of Boeing is the inevitable result of the hollowing out of industry, financialization and human corruption of the entire empire.

At least the Japanese industry has a “craftsman spirit”, but the former pearl of American industry, corrected the error? Is it safe?

The outside world's trust in Boeing has been eroded, and at the same time Boeing is carrying too much debt, and then Boeing has made a bad move - laying off 10% of its workforce.

Starting at the Seattle Commercial Aviation manufacturing plant, the strike spread quickly, like a virus, instantly paralyzing all of Boeing's production lines and bringing airplane deliveries to a standstill.

According to Boeing's labor union, a whopping 96 percent of employees voted in favor of the strike. Behind this alarming percentage is the pent-up anger and helplessness of the employees.

The lack of production capacity caused by the strike has made Boeing's financial report more and more difficult to see.

Data show that in the first nine months of this year, Boeing delivered 291 airplanes to customers, while its competitor Airbus delivered 497 airplanes, Boeing delivered just over half as many as Airbus.

The financial report showed that Boeing realized revenue of $17.840 billion in the third quarter of this year, with a net loss of $6.174 billion, widening by 277 percent year-on-year. Boeing's net loss accumulated 7.968 billion U.S. dollars in the first three quarters of the year, the loss is about 3.6 times that of the same period last year, hitting the largest loss record since 2020.

Not only that, Boeing operating cash flow also from positive to negative.

Last year's first three quarters of operating cash flow was $2.579 billion, while the first three quarters of this year's operating cash flow was negative 8.630 billion dollars.

Boeing's stock price has fallen about 30% this year, this year is Boeing's “miserable” year.

Apparently, the accident has made Boeing “go from bad to worse”.

One step wrong step wrong, Boeing is gradually decline.

In the battlefield of external competition, Boeing is also in trouble on all sides.

“It all depends on the peers to set off!” In fact, the new energy vehicle industry, this is very popular words, in the field of aviation is also very applicable!

A whale falls, everything is born.

Boeing aircraft of all kinds of pull down behavior, accelerated the decline of Boeing, the end is Boeing in the aviation market completely out of the exit.

Boeing's decline, it is very good for our domestic aircraft. C919, C929 has soared nine days, I believe that there will be more models in the future, traveling in the world above!

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brookstonalmanac · 2 months ago

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Events 1.16 (after 1910)

1913 – Indian mathematician Srinivasa Ramanujan writes his first letter to G. H. Hardy at Cambridge, stating without proof various formulae involving integrals, infinite series, and continued fractions, beginning a long correspondence between the two as well as widespread recognition of Ramanujan's results. 1919 – Nebraska becomes the 36th state to approve the Eighteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution. With the necessary three-quarters of the states approving the amendment, Prohibition is constitutionally mandated in the United States one year later. 1920 – The League of Nations holds its first council meeting in Paris, France. 1921 – The Marxist Left in Slovakia and the Transcarpathian Ukraine holds its founding congress in Ľubochňa. 1942 – The Holocaust: Nazi Germany begins deporting Jews from the Łódź Ghetto to Chełmno extermination camp. 1942 – Crash of TWA Flight 3, killing all 22 aboard, including film star Carole Lombard. 1945 – World War II: Adolf Hitler moves into his underground bunker, the so-called Führerbunker. 1959 – Austral Líneas Aéreas Flight 205 crashes into the Atlantic Ocean near Astor Piazzolla International Airport in Mar del Plata, Argentina, killing 51. 1969 – Czech student Jan Palach commits suicide by self-immolation in Prague, Czechoslovakia, in protest against the Soviets' crushing of the Prague Spring the year before. 1969 – Space Race: Soviet spacecraft Soyuz 4 and Soyuz 5 perform the first-ever docking of crewed spacecraft in orbit, the first-ever transfer of crew from one space vehicle to another, and the only time such a transfer was accomplished with a space walk. 1979 – Iranian Revolution: The last Iranian Shah flees Iran with his family for good and relocates to Egypt. 1983 – Turkish Airlines Flight 158 crashes at Ankara Esenboğa Airport in Ankara, Turkey, killing 47 and injuring 20. 1991 – Coalition Forces go to war with Iraq, beginning the Gulf War. 1992 – El Salvador officials and rebel leaders sign the Chapultepec Peace Accords in Mexico City, Mexico ending the 12-year Salvadoran Civil War that claimed at least 75,000 lives. 1995 – An avalanche hits the Icelandic village Súðavík, destroying 25 homes and burying 26 people, 14 of whom died. 2001 – Second Congo War: Congolese President Laurent-Désiré Kabila is assassinated by one of his own bodyguards in Kinshasa. 2001 – US President Bill Clinton awards former President Theodore Roosevelt a posthumous Medal of Honor for his service in the Spanish–American War. 2002 – War in Afghanistan: The UN Security Council unanimously establishes an arms embargo and the freezing of assets of Osama bin Laden, al-Qaeda, and the remaining members of the Taliban. 2003 – The Space Shuttle Columbia takes off for mission STS-107 which would be its final one. Columbia disintegrated 16 days later on re-entry. 2006 – Ellen Johnson Sirleaf is sworn in as Liberia's new president. She becomes Africa's first female elected head of state. 2011 – Syrian civil war: The Movement for a Democratic Society (TEV-DEM) is established with the stated goal of re-organizing Syria along the lines of democratic confederalism. 2012 – The Mali War begins when Tuareg militias start fighting the Malian government for independence. 2016 – Thirty-three out of 126 freed hostages are injured and 23 killed in terrorist attacks in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso on a hotel and a nearby restaurant. 2017 – Turkish Airlines Flight 6491 crashes into a residential area near Manas International Airport in Kyrgyzstan, killing 39 people. 2018 – Myanmar police open fire on a group of ethnic Rakhine protesters, killing seven and wounding twelve. 2020 – The first impeachment of Donald Trump formally moves into its trial phase in the United States Senate. 2020 – The United States Senate ratifies the United States–Mexico–Canada Agreement as a replacement for NAFTA.

#Events

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industrynewsupdates · 3 months ago

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AI Governance Market: Trends and Future Growth Prospects

The global AI governance market size is anticipated to reach USD 1,418.3 million by 2030, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc. The market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 35.7% from 2025 to 2030. Owing to the increasing benefits of Al, businesses, and governments across the globe are beginning projects to adopt artificial intelligence (Al) and machine learning (ML) technologies and establish themselves as market leaders. To embrace Al governance solutions, government organizations from many nations are creating councils, new rules and regulations, and frameworks. The main goals of governments using Al governance solutions are to increase public trust in Al technology and to preserve private information and civil rights. Additionally, several businesses have established committees in partnership with suppliers of Al solutions, academic institutions, and research centers to identify risk issues for Al technology.

Cloud providers progressively implement ethical norms and principles to ensure AI workloads, which are developed and utilized responsibly. Cloud providers work with governing bodies, regulatory agencies, and other organizations to create AI governance frameworks. These collaborations pool knowledge from several fields to create comprehensive and efficient AI governance frameworks. For instance, In February 2022, Virtana announced the creation of a platform for managing hybrid cloud installations that use machine learning, artificial intelligence, and data analytics. With this platform's observability, customers can manage app workloads in private, public, multi-cloud, and hybrid environments.

Explainability and transparency are critical components of AI governance in healthcare. Healthcare professionals and patients must comprehend how AI algorithms function to enhance patient care. Healthcare AI governance frameworks strongly emphasize the requirement for concise and open explanations of AI algorithms' operation. All medical technologies are developed by businesses or through public-private partnerships. IoT has several applications in healthcare and can improve physician treatment delivery while keeping patients healthy and safe. As a result, there is an increase in demand for Al governance in healthcare, which is projected to fuel the growth of the segment in the future.

Gather more insights about the market drivers, restrains and growth of the AI Governance Market

AI Governance Market Report Highlights

• The global market is forecasted to grow at a CAGR of 35.7% over the forecast period.

• Based on verticals, the government and defense segment dominated the market for AI governance in 2024.

• Healthcare facilities across the globe are utilizing AI systems to identify diseases through a patient's voice or a chest x-ray. Several nations have also proposed surveillance systems to track the person-to-person spread of several viruses. From Asia to Europe, several organizations from the public & private sectors have joined forces to track the spread of the various viruses using AI-based technology.

• The solutions segment is anticipated to expand throughout the projected time frame for several reasons, including increasing user adoption for AI-based systems, growing dependency, among others.

• North America leads the global AI Governance market accounting for a leading share of 32.6% in 2024.

AI Governance Market Segmentation

Grand View Research has segmented the global AI governance market report based on component, deployment, organization size, vertical and region:

AI Governance Component Outlook (Revenue, USD Million; 2018 - 2030)

• Solution

• Services

AI Governance Deployment Outlook (Revenue, USD Million; 2018 - 2030)

• On-Premises

• Cloud

AI Governance Organization Size (Revenue, USD Million; 2018 - 2030)

• Large Enterprise

• SMEs

AI Governance Vertical (Revenue, USD Million; 2018 - 2030)

• BFSI

• Government and Defense

• Healthcare and life sciences

• Media and Entertainment

• Retail

• IT and Telecommunication

• Automotive

• Others

AI Governance Regional Outlook (Revenue, USD Million; 2018 - 2030)

• North America

o U.S.

o Canada

o Mexico

• Europe

o UK

o Germany

o France

• Asia Pacific

o China

o Japan

o India

o Australia

o South Korea

• Latin America

o Brazil

• Middle East & Africa (MEA)

o KSA

o UAE

o South Africa

Order a free sample PDF of the AI Governance Market Intelligence Study, published by Grand View Research.

#AI Governance Market #AI Governance Market Analysis #AI Governance Market Report #AI Governance Market Size #AI Governance Market Share

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beardedmrbean · 6 months ago

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A former Army financial counselor was sentenced this week to more than 12 years in prison for using his position to defraud Gold Star families out of millions, the Justice Department announced this week.

Caz Craffy, also known as “Carz Craffey,” 42, pleaded guilty in April after officials charged him with multiple charges, including six counts of wire fraud.

As a result of the scheme, the Gold Star families — relatives of service members who gave the ultimate sacrifice — lost more than $3.7 million, while Craffy earned more than $1.4 million in commissions.

In addition to the prison term, a federal judge sentenced Craffy to three years of supervised release and ordered forfeiture of $1.4 million, according to a department release, which added that restitution will be determined at a later date.

“Craffy made a conscious decision to defraud Gold Star families suffering from losing their loved one who paid the ultimate sacrifice serving this country,” FBI Special Agent in Charge James Dennehy said in the announcement.

“They believed Craffy was acting in their best interest, but instead, he was using their money as a method to make his own,” he said. “Heartless and despicable don’t even begin to sum up his crimes.”

House moves to strengthen vetting for military financial counselors

From November 2017 to January 2023, Craffy was a civilian Army employee, working as a financial counselor with the Casualty Assistance Office, responsible for providing advice to the surviving beneficiaries of deceased troops who can be eligible for hundreds of thousands of dollars in compensation.

From May 2018 to November 2022, he obtained more than $9.9 million from Gold Star families to invest in accounts he managed on his own and outside the system, repeatedly executing trades often without the families’ authorization, earning himself high commissions in the process, the release states.

He let the vast majority of them mistakenly believe his management of their money was done on behalf of and with the Army’s authorization.

Authorities pursued Craffy — who is also a major in the U.S. Army Reserve, where he has served since 2003 — following an investigation by The Washington Post.

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission has a pending civil complaint against Craffy based on the same and additional conduct, according to the feds, and Craffy has been permanently prohibited from association with any member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority Inc.

The Army Reserve acknowledged Craffy received his federal sentence, but declined to say whether he is expected to face additional punishment by the military.

“The U.S. Army Reserve remains committed to holding personnel accountable for conduct that does not align with DoD and Army policies,” Army Reserve spokesperson Lt. Col. Addie Leonhardt told Military Times in a statement. “However, the Army Reserve generally cannot comment on pending military personnel matters.”

Craffy’s attorney declined a request for comment. _____________

Let the UCMJ take care of him

#nunyas news #they still have firing squads right

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legacyias1 · 3 months ago

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Top Alumni from Bangalore’s Best IAS Coaching Institutes

Bangalore, often hailed as the educational hub of India, is home to some of the finest IAS coaching centres that have consistently produced exceptional civil service officers. Over the years, these institutes have shaped the careers of numerous aspirants, guiding them to crack the UPSC Civil Services Examination and serve the nation with distinction. In this blog, we celebrate the achievements of top alumni from Bangalore’s best coaching for IAS, their inspiring journeys, and the role of coaching in their success.

The Role of Coaching in IAS Success

Preparing for the UPSC exam requires structured guidance, discipline, and access to the right resources. This is where Bangalore’s best IAS academy stands out, offering mentorship, exhaustive study material, and mock tests tailored to meet the needs of aspiring civil servants. Many toppers have credited their success to these institutes, which have created a legacy of excellence in producing results year after year.

The alumni from Bangalore’s best IAS coaching institute have gone on to become distinguished IAS, IPS, and IFS officers. Let’s take a closer look at some of these remarkable individuals and the institutes that played a pivotal role in their journeys.

1. Arun Prakash (Rank 8, 2021)

Coaching Institute: Legacy IAS Academy Arun Prakash, a graduate from IIT, switched gears from a corporate career to pursue civil services. He relied heavily on Legacy IAS’s personalized mentorship program and test series to secure an All-India Rank of 8. His story is a testament to the quality of training offered by Bangalore’s top IAS coaching.

2. Sneha Reddy (Rank 14, 2020)

Coaching Institute: Legacy IAS Academy Sneha Reddy, an alumnus of Bangalore’s own Legacy IAS Academy, achieved her dreams through hard work and the guidance of seasoned faculty. The academy, known as one of the best coaching for UPSC, provided her with a well-structured timetable and personalized feedback that helped her excel in mains and the interview. Highlight: Legacy IAS Academy continues to be one of the most sought-after IAS coaching classes in Bangalore for its student-centric approach and consistent results.

3. Ankit Verma (Rank 25, 2019)

Coaching Institute: InsightsIAS Ankit’s journey to the top was marked by strategic preparation. He opted for Bangalore’s best IAS coaching centre, InsightsIAS, which provided him with a comprehensive test series and regular answer writing practice. His disciplined approach and the institute’s structured mentorship made all the difference.

4. Priya Sharma (Rank 56, 2021)

Coaching Institute: Shankar IAS Academy

Priya Sharma cracked the UPSC exam while juggling a full-time job. Shankar IAS Academy, known for its flexible UPSC coaching classes, played a crucial role in her preparation by offering weekend batches and an exclusive current affairs module.

5. Ravi Kumar (Rank 18, 2022)

Coaching Institute: Vision IAS Bangalore

Another proud alumnus of Vision IAS Academy, Ravi Kumar, credits the institute for its holistic approach to preparation. Recognized as one of the best coaching for IAS, the academy’s rigorous mock tests and one-on-one mentoring were instrumental in his success. Fun Fact: Vision IAS Academy’s alumni network is filled with rank-holders who inspire the next generation of aspirants.

6. Meera Nair (Rank 40, 2018)

Coaching Institute: Rau’s IAS Study Circle Rau’s IAS Study Circle, one of the oldest coaching for IAS institutes in Bangalore, helped Meera secure a top rank with its in-depth classroom programs and highly competitive peer environment.

7. Arjun Shetty (Rank 33, 2020)

Coaching Institute: ALS IAS Arjun opted for ALS IAS, known for its cutting-edge online learning programs and classroom sessions. His success highlights the importance of Bangalore’s UPSC coaching centres in providing aspirants with both flexibility and quality.

8. Kavya Srinivas (Rank 51, 2019)

Coaching Institute: Plutus IAS Kavya’s success story showcases how Plutus IAS, a premier IAS academy, prepared her for every stage of the exam, from prelims to the interview, with its top-notch faculty and regular assessments.

9. Rajesh Pillai (Rank 22, 2021)

Coaching Institute: BYJU’S IAS Rajesh, a tech enthusiast, benefited from BYJU’S IAS’s digital-first approach to IAS coaching classes. The institute’s online modules and doubt-clearing sessions were key to his preparation.

10. Aditi Rao (Rank 29, 2020)

Coaching Institute: Drishti IAS Drishti IAS, one of Bangalore’s leading UPSC coaching providers, helped Aditi with its focus on ethics and essay writing, two critical areas that many aspirants struggle with.

Why Choose Bangalore for IAS Preparation?

The success stories of these alumni highlight the critical role played by Bangalore’s best IAS coaching institutes in shaping their careers. The city is not just a coaching hub but also offers a thriving environment for aspirants, complete with libraries, study circles, and peer networks.

Whether you are a beginner or a seasoned aspirant, enrolling in one of Bangalore’s UPSC coaching centres can provide you with the tools, resources, and mentorship needed to achieve your goals.

#upsc #best upsc online coaching #iaspreparation #upsc2024 #upscpreparation #studying

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nyxlion · 5 months ago

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The 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War was a hard fought conflict that resulted in numerous casualties, but a renewed sense of hope and national pride for its people. Mass uprising, like mass liberation movements, involve great sacrifices. In 2024 an initially peaceful protest to scrap the quota system for civil service positions took a violent turn when government supports attacked students. The government's excessive use of force killing multiple students and eventually hundreds of protesters, ignited an anti-government uprising.

The uprising began as protest against the job quota system, which allocates civil service positions to various groups. This system originated in 1972, and initially reserved one third of positions to veterans of the liberation war. Yet the quota remained the same in 2018, when mass student protests initially scrapped the quota. Only for it to be reinstated in 2024 due to a high court ruling.

In late July in an effort to quell the protests the government shut down social media and the internet for over a week. While eventually turning it back on, the move only increased the protesters anger. Millions of demonstrators defied stay at home orders, resulting in the leader of the ruling Awami League party to resign and even flee to India in a helicopter.

But fuck me I guess if I can turn this splatter of information into a comprehensible 1000 word essay based on anti democratic thought, I have a disease called run-on-sentences, that when I try to cure it, becomes chopping-sentences-that-suck-and-have-no- flow. So no I can't craft this essay these words hurt my brain I am sorry Bangladesh you've accomplished what others can only dream of fuck

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soulscribe786 · 5 months ago

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Syrian Refugees Health & Mental Healthcare amongst Syrian Women

By Zartasha Zainab

April 2, 2018

The civil war in Syria from 2011 to 2018 has led to more than 5.5 million Syrian refugees fleeing the country and seeking refuge in neighbouring countries and 6.1 million people who are internally displaced. The majority of them are women and children. The UNHCR has declared it the largest displacement and humanitarian crisis. Women are left with the responsibility of caring and providing for their families. The civil war practically destroyed all infrastructures in Aleppo, Syria as well as Ghouta leaving many Syrian civilians with no place to live. This has resulted in refugees being internally displaced or being forced to seek refuge in other countries. This paper will focus on the mentality of middle-aged Syrian refugee women who were impacted by separation, isolation, hardship and vulnerability. It will assess the mental health needs of middle-aged Syrian refugee women who arrived as refugees in Toronto as a result of the Syrian civil war who are particularly prone to mental health risks, such as PTSD, anxiety disorder, emotional problems, stress disorders and depression due to the various traumatic experiences and human rights violations from war, challenges and barriers faced in adjustment and accessing healthcare services, and being overburdened with responsibilities of taking care of dependents. It will then explore contemporary literature for themes of intersectionality, human rights and the political economy of health to reframe and conceptualize the issue. This will be followed by an analysis of the literature in identifying gaps and broadly understanding the issue to better advocate and cater to the mental health needs of Syrian refugee middle-aged women.

Literature Review

The overarching literature focuses primarily on the mental health of Syrian refugees living in refugee camps. It contextualizes the experience of refugees in the broader social and political structures and the mental health outcomes. There is some research as well that discusses the refugees settling into another country and the mental health needs for which they are assessed and are provided. Refugees predominantly receive psychosocial support in refugee camps (Abo-Hilal & Said, 2014). Mental health outcomes in refugee women are often the result of separation, isolation, hardship, and vulnerability (Boswall & Akash, 2015). There is also research suggesting that social support networks can act as a buffer against mental health issues. However, refugees living in isolation may be particularly more vulnerable. (Rabaia, 2014).

Themes of sexual and gender-based violence can also be identified for women while being in refugee camps by camp staff, aid workers, and administrative authorities. This can result in further trauma. (War Trauma Foundation, 2016). Furthermore, in refugee camps, women are also vulnerable to sexual and gender-based violence as a result of the breakdown of social order, early marriage, prostitution, sexual harassment, rape, stigma, human trafficking, fraud, theft, cheap labour and other various crimes and human rights violations (Anise).

Themes of shifting gender roles can also be identified. Women who took refuge in Western countries had the additional challenge of being breadwinners of the family and changed gender roles which can additionally result in domestic violence and added responsibilities that they are not traditionally accustomed to. These themes were not identified in refugees moving to their neighbouring country, Jordan, where women were not expected to change cultural roles.

These can lead to stress, emotional and adjustment problems impacting their mental health (Anise).

One academic journal touched upon the unique experiences of women in Canada and adjustment. It discussed the impact of xenophobia and acceptance of cultural differences within the society. (Scott & Safdar 2017). Nonetheless, it did not focus on the perspective of Syrians, but rather of Canadian attitudes towards Syrians. There is also some research in the States about how Syrian refugees adjusted to society and identifying various financial, psychological, social and academic needs of Syrians to help them adjust to society. (Reda, 2017).

Newspaper articles, however, did look into the adjustment of Syrian refugees into Canadian society. Oftentimes, Syrians in Canada are considered to be the best accommodated in comparison to other places. Refugees coming to Canada are categorized into three broad categories. This includes government-assisted refugees, Privately sponsored refugees and ‘boat people’ who are primarily in Vancouver. The best accommodated and well-adjusted refugees in Toronto are privately sponsored refugees. Government-sponsored refugees are often placed on a limited amount of funds to help them start their life in Canada but often face language barriers and other obstacles in finding work and settling down.

Conceptual Lens

The political economy of health integrates the political, social, cultural, historical, and economic context of health. (Born, Pilley & Holtz, 2017). This can allow us to not simply take an individualistic approach to understanding the mental health needs of Syrian refugee women but also understand their lived experiences and larger societal forces impacting their mental health. It can allow us to understand the impact of neoliberal policies shaping their resettlement such as how neoliberalism ideologies in settling in Canada require them to work hard to earn a living, which are rooted in the protestant work ethic in Western society. It can also address health policies for refugees in accessing healthcare and most essentially, the impact of the war and its breakdown of law and order as well as social structures and how it has led to a devastating impact on the mental health of Syrian refugee women. Furthermore, it can locate human rights violations within these contexts including access to rights in places of settlement including rights to basic human needs, education, and work. It also includes the violations of human rights such as sexual and gender-based violence, domestic abuse, human trafficking, early marriage, war crimes and exploitation of vulnerable populations.

Intersectionality can also further allow us to further understand the impact of xenophobia and islamophobia as obstacles in resettlement. This includes challenges or stigma (such as being associated with ISIS) that refugees may additionally face. It can also help us locate the experiences of middle-aged women particularly, socioeconomic status (i.e. educational attainment, language barriers), and social support networks on the social gradient (social support vs social isolation) mental healthcare. Taking an intersectionality approach helps us identify and assess the vulnerable population in addressing the mental health needs of Syrian refugee women.

Analysis

There is a significant gap in the literature in specifically understanding and addressing the experiences of Syrian refugee women’s mental health in Toronto. The only themes addressed in academic writings were in regard to the perspective of Canadians in viewing refugees (such as xenophobia and social dominance orientation and multicultural values).

It addresses the potential of Syrian refugees being a threat to Canadian society due to their different cultural practices. (Scott & Saffdar, 2017). Most studies on refugees in Toronto and their mental health are not published in academic journals. Nonetheless, different organizations within Toronto as well as newspapers have identified the psychological and mental health needs of Syrian refugee women. Primarily touching upon post-traumatic stress disorder and depression and often giving people antidepressants as a coping mechanism. Although the Canadian government has been iconized and modelled after when it comes to helping refugees, there are still a lot of gaps in addressing their mental health.

Political Economy of Health

Most newspaper articles touched upon aspects of health policy and health insurance. Syrians, upon arriving in Canada, received a start-up fund, which they were expected to use during their first year to help them settle and integrate into the new country. However, these are not sufficient as refugees are clumped into cramped apartment quarters, have expensive rent, and their start-up funds are running out within the first year. (Bascaramurty, 2017) Furthermore, Syrians often have to take on minimum wage jobs such as cooking or Uber and continue to face obstacles in getting jobs as most Canadian employers prefer to hire Canadians with Canadian experience. (Kassam, 2016).

Nonetheless, there is failure to address various obstacles, which include cultural shock for coming into a completely different country with different values and social structures. It also fails to address things such as being unable to access healthcare due to not having health insurance. It does not address the language barriers, making it difficult to get jobs that are at the root of adjustment. It also does not address the shifting gender roles for women and how they are coping with the changed gender roles and expectations. Research in Europe, for example, discussed how women are often faced with domestic abuse as a result of changing gender roles for which their husbands and families are not accepting or supportive. This additionally adds to emotional problems impacting their mental health (Anise). Additionally, while there is a focus on providing housing, there is little done to address psychosocial needs, which are often neglected for Syrians coming into Canada as they are supposedly doing much better than others. Nonetheless, many of these refugees have experienced trauma as a result of the war, leaving their loved ones behind and additionally human rights violations faced in refugee camps.

Furthermore, it is common for refugees to see the death of a loved one on social media, and middle-aged women are particularly more vulnerable to having experienced human rights violations in refugee camps. (Bascaramurty, 2017) Refugees are commonly given antidepressants to cope with the traumatic experiences of having been separated from their families and losing loved ones to deal with depression (Bascaramurty, 2017).

It is important to acknowledge that a lot of newcomers in Toronto have unique physical as well as social and emotional needs which are essential to address in catering to their mental health needs through analyzing the cultural and historical context. These refugees have traumatic experiences as a result of war, displacement, and conflict. It is crucial to integrate an approach that accounts for their lived experience in providing safe spaces, psychosocial support networks, and mental health and enhancement programs for their mental health needs to be met. (Abo-Hilal, 2014) This requires training for coping mechanisms that will help them adjust to Canadian society. An interdisciplinary approach that includes psychologists, counselors, and volunteers, as well as providing social visits and visiting homes of patients who are unable to visit the clinics. It is also essential to empower individuals by teaching recovery techniques and recreational and skill-building workshops and screening the wounded (Abo-Hilal, 2014). This will help them to adjust to society better. Failure to do so may lead to social isolation or even homelessness. Although some articles have suggested that many refugee families are living in invisible homelessness, little is being done to buffer the mental health effects that may have caused it.

Furthermore, most articles about Syrian refugee women in Toronto did not address the shifting gender roles. Women in Syrian society predominantly took on domestic roles and depended on male figures to protect and provide for them. It is important to understand that many of these women are coming from the breakdown of traditional social order and women have been particularly vulnerable as a result of the war, making them prone to sexual and gender-based violence, early marriage of their children, rape, human trafficking, sexual harassment, stigma and stress. It is crucial to identify women who have gone through such difficult experiences. (Anise). Women may not be open to talking about their traumatic experiences due to the stigma in Syrian culture of having a sexual encounter with a man whom they are not married or stigma from their community. This will make it difficult for them to speak up about their experiences and have a huge mental toll on their functioning and adjustment to Toronto. It is crucial to create safe spaces for women to be able to speak about their experiences as a result of war.

Health as a Human Right

Refugees in Canada do not have access to healthcare insurance, which makes it difficult for them to access health, or more specifically, mental health. Inadequate healthcare makes it additionally difficult for them to adjust and integrate into society as they are faced with traumatic experiences. Refugees often feel that their cries to access health are often neglected in places of refuge. (War Trauma Studies, 2016).

Additionally, women arriving from refugee camps may be silently suffering from human rights violations. These include sexual and gender-based violence, rape and sexual abuse. Some studies suggest that oftentimes, they are abused by the camp authorities and aid workers (War Trauma Studies, 2016). For this reason, it is important to help create safe spaces and psychosocial support services that will allow them to address human rights violations. It is also essential to ensure that they have access to health as a human right, vocational rights, educational rights, and basic human needs.

Intersectionality

Studies focusing on mental healthcare needs often fail to integrate intersectional approaches by looking at different experiences of different groups, including various socioeconomic status, gender, and age. (Abo-Hilal, 2014). A gap in Canadian (non-academic) articles and journals is also that women are broadly categorized. However, women have unique experiences as a result of their age, marital status, sexual orientation, and socioeconomic status.

By assessing age, we can see that middle-aged women are particularly in a difficult position as they have to take care of their children as caretaker and provider. They also are often faced with shifting gender roles and dealing with errands they are not traditionally accustomed to, including working, which may be shaped by the values in their age cohort. They are sometimes faced with difficult decisions such as marrying off their young daughters when they find it difficult to provide for them, which adds additional stress. They may also experience domestic abuse if their husbands are not comfortable with them working or of losing their power and control over economic decisions within the household and lash out on women or behave in verbally and sexually abusive ways (Anise).

In Canada, UNHCR is the primary mode of selecting government-sponsored refugees who particularly target vulnerable populations. This results in often not sponsoring refugees who have a strong educational background and rather those who are on a lower socioeconomic status. This results in facing additional language barriers as well as having a stigma toward mental health due to lower educational attainment (Hassan et al., 2016)

Furthermore, it is important to locate Syrian refugee women on the social gradient. Social support can serve as psychosocial support and act as a buffer against depression PTSD and stress. However, those who are isolated may be silently suffering from trauma or depression. (Rabaiya, 2014). Additionally, those who are vulnerable, upon arriving in a safe environment, may continue to face the trauma of losing their loved ones and additionally have difficulties in the new country, culture, and language. It is essential in addressing the mental health of Syrian refugee women to apply an integrative approach that caters to the vulnerable and aids refugees in understanding their legal rights, psychological needs, financial needs, housing, education, vocational needs, spiritual needs, leisure and other logistics. (Reda, 2017).

Discussion:

The analysis showed us that there are a lot of gaps in academic research that focus on the conceptual lens of the political economy of health, health as a human right and intersectionality that is needed to understand the complex issue of Syrian refugee middle-aged women located in Toronto.

In addressing the conceptual framework of the political economy of health, contemporary research and media trends on the mental health of Syrian refugee middle-aged women primarily focus on things such as government funding, invisible homelessness, and access to healthcare insurance. While these are essential, a more integrative approach would include delving deeper, such as the political and historical backgrounds that many of these refugees are coming from. These are essential components, in addition to the issue of settlement challenges that need to be addressed to better help Syrian refugee women, particularly those faced with mental health issues. Many refugees are living with difficulties and trauma as a result of the war, experiences in refugee camps, and separation from loved ones, making it difficult to settle into the new society. Furthermore, it is also essential to acknowledge the cultural barriers, including shifting gender roles and language barriers. The factors include facing stigma from the community by taking on non-traditional roles as well as having difficulty in assessing vocational rights and care due to language barriers which are at the core of settling in and adjusting to the society. Failure to address these larger social, historical, and political structures by oversimplifying mental health (i.e., giving antidepressants) makes it difficult to provide sustainable mental health solutions.

It is also critical to conceptualize human rights approaches in addressing the issue. Most interventions focus on providing things such as housing and basic human needs to survive (food, housing, shelter) to help adjust within the first year of settlement in Canada. However, a more integrative approach is needed to create sustainable solutions and provide refugees with better mental health. The study conducted in Portland, Oregon, for example, created a framework that gave refugees entitlement to healthcare, access to affordable housing, vocational rights, educational rights and more human rights. These are all essential in addressing mental health, yet missing from a lot of studies done in Toronto. Many refugees find themselves living in cramped spaces with expensive rent and having difficulty accessing jobs to provide for their families after the first year. They are also often living in invisible homelessness. The funding is inefficient in aiding settlement in Canada. These important human rights need to be taken into consideration.

Furthermore, it is also important to acknowledge that middle-aged Syrian women who are refugees most likely faced human rights violations before coming to Canada in refugee camps (rape, harassment, sexual violence, cheap labour, fraud, arson etc). In providing mental health, it is important to cater towards the unique cohort and their experiences coming from war-torn Syria, which may additionally result in daily trauma.

Finally, literature on intersectionality approaches primarily focuses on categorizing refugees into three broad categories, which are government-sponsored refugees, privately sponsored refugees, and ‘boat people’. While these categorizations are extremely helpful in identifying adjustment patterns in Canadian society, with privately sponsored refugees being the most well-adjusted, there continue to be gaps in understanding the experiences of refugees that specifically look at age, gender, socioeconomic status, vulnerability and sexual orientation. These factors can help us better conceptualize mental health needs and the unique forces shaping them. Studies have shown that age has a huge impact on women's experiences. For example, middle-aged women face unique challenges including the responsibility of taking care of and providing for dependents, the loss of members of their family, marrying off young daughters and protecting their family from the many dangers they are exposed to.

Understanding the socioeconomic status before coming to Canada can also show us the language and educational barriers to integrating into a new society. For example, most government-sponsored refugees in Canada tend to select the most vulnerable populations who are often at a lower socioeconomic status and have additional language barriers when integrating into society. By taking on this approach, health policymakers can also include workshops that help refugees overcome language barriers.

Furthermore, taking vulnerability factors, including sexual orientation, can also help to identify particularly vulnerable refugees who have additional stigma and cultural barriers, making it even more difficult for them to access mental health care and psychosocial support. THey may also face greater social isolation, making it harder for them to cope with the trauma and experience that they faced.

While Canada has been extremely accommodating towards Syrian refugees in helping them gain shelter and funding to settle down, without addressing key factors which can be understood through the conceptual frameworks of the Political Economy of Health, intersectionality and human rights approaches, it is going to be additionally difficult for the refugees to adjust to society while having mental health issues which make them difficult to normally function in any given society.

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