#united nations postal administration

[howsublime]

Got these matching dragon stamps to go with UN dragon postcards.

[worldpostday]

Launch of a new series of stamps in support of the “Don’t Choose Extinction” campaign.

 The United Nations Postal Administration and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) announced today the launch of a new series of stamps in support of the “Don’t Choose Extinction” campaign. The three stamp sheets feature Frankie the Dino, the campaign CGI-generated dinosaur hero, addressing world leaders about the climate emergency in the General Assembly Hall of the UN Headquarters in New York. Each stamp sheet has a QR code that, when scanned, will launch a video of Frankie’s speech to world leaders.

The stamps were designed by Rorie Katz of the UNPA, and can be purchased online at http://unstamps.org/shop/dont-choose-extinction/

[dreaminginthedeepsouth]

David Rowe

* * * *

Good morning. This is what fascism looks like.

Lucian K. Truscott IV

Oct 26, 2024

It crept in overnight, while we were sleeping.  Fascism showed its face not with jackboots and concentration camps…not yet, anyway…but rather as just another day in Capitalist America.  Two major media companies, the Washington Post and the LA Times, made decisions to capitulate to the man they fear will be elected president before a single vote has been counted.  They decided not to run editorials endorsing their preferred candidate for president, Kamala Harris, because the owners of the companies, Jeff Bezos and Patrick Soon-Shiong, are afraid if they anger Donald Trump, he will hit them where it hurts:  In their pocketbooks.

Bezos sees himself as particularly vulnerable to the wrath of Donald Trump.  Before he left office in 2021, Trump appointed a puppet to run the United States Postal Service (USPS):  Louis DeJoy, a long-time Republican fund-raiser and major Trump contributor who was appointed as one of three deputy finance chairmen of the Republican National Committee shortly after Trump took office in 2017.  The USPS prioritizes package delivery for Amazon and sets the price it pays for the service.  Trump has threatened Bezos with jacking up his Amazon delivery prices before, in 2018.  The Postmaster General was then Megan Brennan, appointed during the Obama administration, who resisted Trump’s demand to raise delivery prices, but such resistance is unlikely to happen if Trump is elected and DeJoy is there to carry out his wishes.

This is the way it happens.  An autocrat like Donald Trump, with his history of impulsive decisions and threats against perceived enemies, has two billionaires cowering in fear, and he didn’t even have to pick up the phone.

Fascism is not an all-at-once transformation.  We’ve already had our Brownshirt day, on Jan. 6, 2021, when Trump’s MAGA army stormed the Capitol waving Confederate and Nazi flags and assaulting police officers and attempting to hunt down and kill Nancy Pelosi and Mike Pence, all of it, we now know, with Trump cheering them on from the White House.  Fascism uses symbols – MAGA this time, Swastika last time – to rally followers, and then it feeds them fear and lies and the demonization of minorities and others perceived as not like us.

I don’t even know that you can name the period of fascism we’re in right now.  Giving it a name doesn’t matter.  What matters is that it is happening right in front of our eyes, and little if nothing is being done about it, other than fascism finally being called out by political leaders such as Kamala Harris and other Democrats, and some news organizations have at last crossed the Rubicon of using the “F” word of fascism and the “H” word of Hitler in the same sentences with Donald Trump.

What can we do?  We can all vote for Kamala Harris and whatever Democrat is running for whatever office in your district and state. 

Journalists everywhere, but particularly at the Washington Post and LA Times, have a crucial role to play right now.  It is journalism about Donald Trump’s crimes and political extremism that has revealed him as not just a totalitarian politician, but as a man consumed with a fascist lust for absolute power.  It has been people like Timothy Snyder and Heather Cox Richardson who have put Trump’s rise in historical perspective and compared what is happening right now in this country to what happened nearly a century ago in Germany with the rise of Hitler, when German corporate titans of the day bowed down to him in fear. 

Now the reporters and editors at the Post and the LA Times can help show the world what contemporary fascism looks like by refusing to countenance the craven subservience of their owners.  There are leaders at the Washington Post, in particular Bob Woodward and Eugene Robinson and David Ignatius and Ruth Marcus and Karen Tumulty, who can show the way for their colleagues by leading a newspaper-wide walk out.  With what we are seeing every day from Donald Trump, they can call it a “Strike Against Fascism,” or “A Call to Arms.”

You might accuse me as a freelancer of not taking seriously the possibility that people at both papers might lose their jobs for leading or participating in a walk-out.  But people have already resigned in protest at both papers.  This isn’t a time to show fear.  It’s a time to stand up to power. The writers and editors have a lot to lose, but they have already been treated as expendable, and they’ve been told they are in danger of losing their jobs anyway.

The guy Bezos put in as publisher of the Post, former Murdoch hitman Will Lewis, bluntly told Post staffers when he was appointed, “We are losing large amounts of money. Your audience has halved in recent years. People are not reading your stuff. I can’t sugarcoat it anymore.”   He could have been talking as well to the staffs of the New York Times and the three major television networks and cable news like CNN and MSNBC.  All of them are in an existential crisis at this crucial moment in our history.  Newspapers are closing across the country.  Television networks and cable news shows are hemorrhaging viewers. 

The arrival of Bezos and Soon-Shiong to “rescue” two major American newspapers has shown us how hollow were any hopes that billionaires will or even can make a difference in today’s economic and political climate. 

But workers can make a difference.  With ten days to go until the election, let’s see if a day with no newspaper in Washington D.C. and Los Angeles can make a difference.  Maybe a strike will teach reporters and editors and the rest of us that we are beyond the point of being able to affect our lives and the lives of others.  Or maybe rallying against the fascism that has been stealing our national politics will help to send more people to the polls to vote for Kamala Harris on November 5.

I do know this:  When you are bullied, you STAND UP or you lose your self-respect and your dignity and your right to life. The fascism of Donald Trump would take away all three.

Lucian Truscott Newsletter

[reasoningdaily]

February is Black History Month The Library of Congress, National Archives and Records Administration, National Endowment for the Humanities, National Gallery of Art, National Park Service, Smithsonian Institution and United States Holocaust Memorial Museum join in paying tribute to the generations of African Americans who struggled with adversity to achieve full citizenship in American society.

Cultural Expressions

Culture shapes lives. It’s in the food people eat, the languages they speak, the art they create, and many other ways they express themselves. These traditions reflect the history and creative spirit of African American and other cultures of the African diaspora. Cultural Expressions is a circular, experiential, introductory space to African American and African diaspora culture.

16 Black Artists to Know

Are you a fan of Glenn Ligon, Alma Thomas, or Gordon Parks? The National Gallery of Art paired eight Black artists you might know with eight others to discover.

Image Credit: Sam Gilliam, Wissahickon, 1975, color screenprint on wove paper, Gift of Funds from the Roy Lichtenstein Foundation, National Gallery of Art, Washington, 2023.22.17

Your Park Story: Black History and Heritage

More than 400 years of Black history and heritage are preserved in national parks and communities around the country. Discover stories shared by people who formed powerful connections with these places of history, nature, and enjoyment. Inspire others by sharing your “park story”!

Image credit: Girl takes photo in front of the “We Can Do It” sign at Rosie the Riveter/WWII Home Front National Historical Park (NPS)

Beginning Feb. 10, 2023, the museum will present a second group of portraits from Brian Lanker’s 1989 book project “I Dream a World: Portraits of Black Women Who Changed America.”

Image credit: “Althea Gibson” by Brian Lanker. Gelatin silver print, 1988. National Portrait Gallery.

For Teachers

Put the power of primary sources to work in the classroom. Browse ready-to-use lesson plans, student activities, collection guides and research aids.

Image credit: “Frederick Douglass appealing to President Lincoln and his cabinet to enlist Negroes,” mural by William Edouard Scott, at the Recorder of Deeds building, built in 1943. 515 D St., NW, Washington, D.C. (Library of Congress)

Veterans History

African Americans serving in the military service throughout U.S. history have often fought on two fronts. fighting the actual enemy and fighting a system of segregation and exclusion.

Image credit: Violet Hill Gordon, 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion, Women's Army Corps (Library of Congress)

[theivorybilledwoodpecker]

Washington, DC – More than 500 former campaign staffers who helped elect Joe Biden in 2020 have called on the United States president to work towards a ceasefire in Gaza and end the violence that has killed more than 10,800 Palestinians. The letter released on Thursday adds to the growing calls from sources close to the Biden administration to push for an end to the war. "As President of the United States, you have significant influence in this perilous moment,” the letter, first reported by Vox, said. “You must call for a ceasefire, hostage exchange, and de-escalation, and take concrete steps to address the conditions of occupation, apartheid, and ethnic cleansing at the root of the horrific violence we are witnessing now.” While the Biden administration and Congress remain steadfast in their support for Israel, staff members, grassroots organisations and activists have been expressing growing opposition to the war. The American Postal Workers Union, which represents US Postal Service employees, also backed calls for a ceasefire on Thursday. “We call on our government, which is the primary foreign benefactor of the Israeli government, to use all its power to protect innocent lives and to help bring about peace in the region, and not use our tax dollars for more war,” the union said in a statement. “We join the calls for an immediate ceasefire, the release of hostages, and urgently needed massive humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza. The cries of humanity demand nothing less.” Growing calls The two statements follow earlier efforts from within the government to push for an end to hostilities. Last week, employees at the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) circulated a letter calling for an immediate ceasefire, and by Wednesday, it had surpassed 1,000 signatures. Hundreds of Congress staffers also staged a walk-out on Wednesday to demand an end to the war. Thursday’s letter by people who worked on Biden’s campaign highlighted the mounting death toll in Gaza and the mass displacement of residents in the territory’s northern reaches, noting that scholars have raised alarm about the risk of genocide in the conflict. The Democratic staffers also said they were “horrified by the devastating Hamas attack against Israeli civilians on October 7″. United Nations agencies and rights groups have also urged a ceasefire, with UN chief Antonio Guterres warning that Gaza is becoming a “graveyard for children”. But early Thursday, Biden ruled out any definitive stop to the conflict. When reporters asked about the possibility of a ceasefire in Gaza, the US president said, “None, no possibility.” Biden has voiced unconditional support for Israel and requested more than $14bn in additional assistance for the country since its war in Gaza started on October 7, angering US progressives, Palestinians, Arabs and Muslims. Last month, the US president sparked outrage among Palestinian rights supporters when he cast doubt over the death toll in Gaza, saying that he has “no confidence in the number that the Palestinians are using”. Rights experts and fact-checkers defended the numbers, which are released by the Palestinian Health Ministry in Gaza based on hospital and morgue records. They explained that, in previous conflicts, the Health Ministry’s numbers matched the findings of independent researchers. A senior State Department official also said on Wednesday that the actual Palestinian death toll may be even higher than the official numbers. “In this period of conflict and conditions of war, it is very difficult for any of us to assess what the rate of casualties are,” Barbara Leaf, assistant US secretary of state for Near Eastern affairs, told lawmakers. “We think they’re very high, frankly — and it could be that they’re even higher than are being cited.”

[greenerteacups]

Re economy question it tickles me how the Ministry looks like the biggest employer of Wizarding Britain…their economy is a mishmash of preindustrial commerce and landholding held together by a kleptocracy

The number of people employed by the Ministry is like, absurd. To the point where I assumed it was overrepresented for Plot Reasons. Like, we need Arthur to have a Ministry job so he has the inside scoop on Bertha Jorkins and a bunch of stuff in fifth year, we meet a lot of Aurors because this is a story about a war, a lot of the bureaucrats who get involved with Harry's hearing/school administration are a result of the Umbridge Arc, and I take it as implicit that most of all jobs Just Happen Somewhere Else, because like.

Okay sidebar about the Ministry. Let me talk to you about the Ministry. Can I talk to you about the fucking Ministry? Put aside the fact that there are more named Ministry employees in this story than there are normal taxpayers. Put aside the fact that the banking system being run exclusively by a disenfranchised underclass that you happen to treat like shit is a policy move that ranks up there with "invading the Soviet Union in December." Put aside the fact that this is basically a modern welfare state stapled on top of a market that's still hammering out the kinks of industrial economics in 19-fucking-91. Here's my question, alright:

WHERE IS THE MONEY GOING?

Let's do an exercise. In 1990, public sector employment was 27% of the British national workforce (and growing). The population dynamics of Harry Potter are irrevocably fucked, so this is only going to even-sort-of-work if we fudge it, as I'm about to do: I'm setting the number of Ministry workers, e.g. salaried bureaucrats, at 10,000. Base pay for a government bureaucrat in 1990, is, what, £25-30,000? Let's say so. Multiply that by 10k, you get a personnel budget of £300 million. Sounds like a lot of money, right?

Except what the fuck does the Ministry do? The reason employment costs balloon in the late twentieth century is because we see the rise of social services that require a lot more administrators to vet and deliver — social security in the United States, the NHS in Britain, public education, etc., etc. Public housing! This is why Maggie Thatcher goes postal and starts hack-sawing the national budget. But what, exactly, does the Ministry of Magic deliver? We don't see any poverty relief programs being administered to the Weasleys. Pensions are a thing, but only for Ministry workers. Health services? Sure, let's say St. Mungo's is a public hospital, fair enough. And Hogwarts is free for all British citizens, that's cool, that's probably some expense. But those are two institutions. Where's the rest of it? Where are the big-ticket items that justify this huge corpus of employees? A pure regulatory state does not require this much personnel! There's a whole Department for Games and Sports (e.g. quidditch — oh wait, that's a private league sport!), but not a Department of Energy, or Department of Housing? Fuck off! There is not!

That's not even the biggest problem, though. There's a much, much bigger issue with Ministry organization: There's no fucking Inland Revenue! It doesn't matter how the budgets are balanced, frankly, because unless IR is hidden somewhere in a secret department we don't know about, nobody is paying the government for fuck!

Admittedly, this is pedantry, at some point. JKR was frankly under no obligation to explore the finer points of tax collection in her series of children's novels. I get that, I do. But I'm reminded of what George R. R. Martin said about his annoyance with fantasy novels — the fact that you never got to judge these mythical kings and Chosen Ones by their actual leadership choices. You never see what Aragorn's tax policy is like. And in reality, that's much more important than how good you are with a sword. So — especially in things like The Cursed Child, which actually does try to explore the "adult" world of Harry Potter — it's fascinating that there are so are so many parts of the universe that just live in the world of inference.

[lboogie1906]

Staff Sergeant Millie Dunn Veasey (January 31, 1918 – March 9, 2018) was a veteran, who served (1942-45) in the Women’s Army Corps and the Women’s Auxiliary Army Corps.

She worked as executive secretary at St. Augustine’s University and was active in the civil rights movement with the Raleigh-Wake Chapter of the NAACP, where she became president in 1965.

She was born in Raleigh, as one of six children. She attended Washington High School. She worked with the Wake County extension agent before joining the Army. She graduated from St. Augustine’s College with a BA in Business Education and a minor in English. She earned an MA in Business Administration and an Education Counseling minor from North Carolina Central University

She enlisted in the army with the “six-triple-eight” battalion, the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion in December 1942.

This unit was the only all-female and all-Black battalion to serve during WWII overseas. She was in Birmingham, England, for four months before transferring to Rouen, France, as a supply clerk until she was discharged.

She taught business education at Thompson High School in Mathews, Virginia, as well as eighth-grade English. She returned to Raleigh and worked for St. Augustine’s before retiring as director of career planning and placement/cooperative education in 1986.

She married in 1949 to Warren L. Veasey, (1949-61) and had two stepchildren.

She interacted with key figures such as Thurgood Marshall and sat next to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. during the March on Washington. She was involved in the National Federation of Democratic Women and the American Legion. She was a member of the Zeta Phi Beta Sorority and held both national and regional leadership positions.

Her Army uniforms, which were donated to the North Carolina Museum of History, are the only known examples of uniforms from the 6888th Battalion.

The Congressional Black Caucus Foundation with the “Distinguished Veteran Living Legend Award.” She was posthumously inducted into the Raleigh Hall of Fame. #africanhistory365 #africanexcellence #zetaphibeta

[lakelandg]

USPS to suspend mail service on Jan. 9 to honor Jimmy Carter

A National Day of Observance has been declared on Jan. 9 to honor the death of former President Jimmy Carter.  The United States Postal Service announced it will suspend regular mail deliveries, retail services, and administrative office activity on Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025. USPS will continue accepting and processing volume dropped by commercial mailers at mail-processing facilities. There will…

[yetisidelblog]

Trump is back and he’s bringing out of touch billionaires like Elon Musk along for the ride to push his dangerous United States Postal Service privatization agenda. Their plan? Tear apart the USPS and hand it over to greedy corporations that care only about profits -- not people.

We’ve seen this playbook before. In 2018, Trump’s administration tried to privatize the USPS, and together, we defeated him.

This time, the stakes are even higher.

The USPS is essential to rural communities - including hundreds of tribal nations and millions of Indigenous peoples -- seniors, veterans, small businesses, and millions of families with no other affordable option because their community isn’t considered profitable. Privatization would mean higher costs, reduced or no access for some, and devastating threats to service for those who rely on it the most.

That’s why we’re leading the Save the Post Office Coalition, a group of over 300 organizations committed to protecting this beloved institution. Our coalition includes national groups like the ACLU, NAACP, Public Citizen, and Indivisible, as well as grassroots champions like the National Farmers Union, RuralOrganizing.org, and Kentuckians for the Commonwealth.

Robert ,

Trump is back and he’s bringing out of touch billionaires like Elon Musk along for the ride to push his dangerous United States Postal Service privatization agenda. Their plan? Tear apart the USPS and hand it over to greedy corporations that care only about profits -- not people.

We’ve seen this playbook before. In 2018, Trump’s administration tried to privatize the USPS, and together, we defeated him.

This time, the stakes are even higher.

The USPS is essential to rural communities - including hundreds of tribal nations and millions of Indigenous peoples -- seniors, veterans, small businesses, and millions of families with no other affordable option because their community isn’t considered profitable. Privatization would mean higher costs, reduced or no access for some, and devastating threats to service for those who rely on it the most.

That’s why we’re leading the Save the Post Office Coalition, a group of over 300 organizations committed to protecting this beloved institution. Our coalition includes national groups like the ACLU, NAACP, Public Citizen, and Indivisible, as well as grassroots champions like the National Farmers Union, RuralOrganizing.org, and Kentuckians for the Commonwealth.

Together, we’ve fought to protect the USPS before, and we’re ready to do it again. Please make a donation right now to protect the USPS from Donald Trump's privatization plan.DONATE

Privatization would be catastrophic for rural Americans, who often have no alternatives to the USPS for affordable mail and package delivery.

For veterans and seniors who depend on the USPS for essential medications. For small businesses that need reliable shipping. And for workers whose jobs and wages would be slashed in favor of corporate profits. The Postal Service has long been a source of good middle class jobs -- the USPS workforce is nearly 30% Black and 45% women.

We can stop Trump’s privatization plan, but only if we act quickly.

Our coalition is gearing up for a massive public campaign to raise awareness, mobilize grassroots action, and pressure Congress to protect the USPS. But we need your help to make it happen.

Chip in $5 or more now to help us stop Trump’s USPS privatization plan.

The USPS is a lifeline for millions of Americans and a cornerstone of our democracy. Together, we can ensure it stays that way.

Ends midnight 12/31!

@upontheshelfreviews

@greenwingspino

@one-time-i-dreamt

@tenaflyviper

@akron-squirrel

@ifihadaworldofmyown

@justice-for-jacob-marley

@voicetalentbrendan

@thebigdeepcheatsy

@what-is-my-aesthetic

@ravenlynclemens

@writerofweird

@bogleech

[daphenominchief]

Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) and the Cordillera Autonomous Region, as outlined in Republic Act No. 6734 and Republic Act No. 6766, respectively.

Here are the salient points from the establishment, structure, and functions of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) and the Cordillera Autonomous Region, as outlined in Republic Act No. 6734 and Republic Act No. 6766, respectively.

Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) - RA 6734:

Establishment and Purpose: The ARMM was created to establish an autonomous regional government that reflects the ideals and aspirations of the Muslim Mindanao people within the framework of the Constitution and national sovereignty of the Philippines. It aims to ensure peace and equality for all within the region.

Area and Seat of Government: The ARMM is composed of provinces and cities that voted favorably in the plebiscite. The provisional seat of the regional government is in Cotabato City, but the Regional Assembly can fix a permanent seat.

Guiding Principles:

The ARMM is an integral part of the Philippines.

The people of the ARMM owe allegiance to the Republic of the Philippines.

The Regional Government will settle conflicts peacefully and renounce lawless violence.

The Regional Government will adopt a policy of local autonomy, with regional powers devolved to local government units.

There is to be mutual respect for and protection of diverse beliefs, customs, and traditions; discrimination is prohibited.

The Regional Government will implement educational policies reflective of the needs of the people.

The Regional Government will endeavor to improve the well-being of its constituents, especially the marginalized.

Indigenous cultural communities have priority rights in ancestral domain areas.

The Regional Government will uphold and protect the rights of women and children.

Powers Devolved to the Autonomous Region: The ARMM exercises powers through the Regional Assembly, the Regional Governor, and special courts. These powers include:

Administrative organization.

Creation of revenue sources.

Management of ancestral domain and natural resources.

Personal, family, and property relations.

Regional, urban, and rural planning development.

Economic, social, and tourism development.

Educational policies.

Preservation of cultural heritage.

Powers and functions of national government departments, except for specific exclusions such as foreign affairs, national defense, postal service, and others.

Legislative Department: The Regional Assembly holds the legislative power, with members having specific qualifications, salaries, and restrictions. The Assembly can conduct inquiries, keep records, and has the power to pass regional laws.

Executive Department: The executive power is vested in the Regional Governor, who is elected by direct vote, assisted by a cabinet. There is also a Vice-Governor elected in the same manner. The Governor and Vice-Governor have specific qualifications, compensations, and terms. They may be removed from office for specific violations or by recall.

Administration of Justice: The judicial system includes the Supreme Court, the Court of Appeals, and other courts, as well as Shari'ah courts, with a Shari'ah Appellate Court having jurisdiction over cases involving personal, family, and property relations of Muslims. The Regional Assembly, in consultation with the Supreme Court, determines the number and jurisdiction of these courts.

Fiscal Autonomy: The ARMM has the power to create its own revenue sources, levy taxes, and receive financial assistance from the National Government. It also has shares in national internal revenue taxes, fees, and charges collected within the region.

Ancestral Domain: The Regional Government protects the ancestral domain of indigenous cultural communities, including lands possessed since time immemorial. Lands in open possession and occupation by a community for at least 30 years are considered ancestral lands.

Economy and Patrimony: The Regional Government can enact laws pertaining to the national economy and patrimony that are responsive to the region's needs. It has control over natural resources, except for strategic minerals. It also promotes agriculture, trade, industry, and tourism.

Education: The Autonomous Region establishes a complete system of quality education, with policies that respect cultural diversity, and the Arabic language is a compulsory subject for Muslims and optional for non-Muslims in schools in the region.

Public Order and Security: The Regional Government gives priority to peace and order and may create a Regional Police Force as part of the Philippine National Police. The Regional Governor can request assistance from the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

Amendments: Amendments to this Organic Act require approval by a majority of votes cast in a plebiscite.

Transitory Provisions: The existing Sangguniang Pampook and Lupong Tagapagpaganap ng Pook of Regions IX and XII are abolished. The National Government provides financial assistance to the Autonomous Region.

Cordillera Autonomous Region - RA 6766:

Establishment and Purpose: The Cordillera Autonomous Region was created to establish a regional government that ensures human rights, human development, and participation in the affairs of the Filipino nation.

Area: The region is composed of the city and provinces that vote favorably in the plebiscite. The plebiscite included the provinces of Benguet, Mountain Province, Ifugao, Abra, Kalinga-Apayao, and the city of Baguio.

Guiding Principles:

The Cordillera Autonomous Region is an integral part of the Philippines.

The people of the region owe allegiance to the Philippines.

All government authority comes from the people.

The Regional Government protects basic rights and promotes peace.

There is to be equal access to resources and services.

The people have the right to participate in decision-making.

The region's resources should be used for the benefit of the people of the Cordilleras.

The Regional Government is tasked with establishing an educational system that provides the best quality of education within its means.

The National Government provides financial assistance to the region.

The Regional Government will hold consultations on matters of local and regional priorities and be transparent in project implementation.

There will be a devolution of power.

Organized sectors can monitor fund utilization and project implementation.

The Regional Government will take measures to free people from poverty.

The region is to be free from nuclear, biological or chemical weapons.

The government will set guidelines for energy, transportation and communication.

Powers of Government: The Regional Government is a territorial and political subdivision with powers inherent to a municipal corporation and those granted by the Act. It can also exercise the power of eminent domain.

Inter-Governmental Relations: The President supervises the Regional Government. All judicial bodies exercise their powers as provided by the Constitution.

Legislative Department: The legislative power is vested in the Cordillera Assembly. The Assembly can create or alter boundaries of political units, with specific qualifications for members. It also establishes its own rules and procedures. It may hold people's hours for cabinet members to answer questions. The Assembly also handles the regional budget and taxation.

Executive Department: The executive power is vested in the Cordillera Governor, elected by direct vote. A Cordillera Deputy Governor is elected in the same manner. Both have specific qualifications and terms. The Governor is assisted by a Cabinet.

Indigenous and Special Courts: A system of tribal courts is created to handle personal, family, and property rights according to tribal codes.

Local Government: The region includes provinces, cities, municipalities, and barangays or ili (tribal villages), all of which enjoy local autonomy.

Accountability of Public Officers: Public officers are accountable to the people, with procedures for removal of the Governor and Deputy Governor. There is also a system of recall.

Personal, Family, Tribal and Property Relations: Customary laws are recognized among members of the indigenous tribal group. Customary practices are also recognized.

Ancestral Domain: The Regional Government protects ancestral domain and lands, which are considered communal or tribal lands. Lands occupied by communities for at least 30 years are considered ancestral lands.

Patrimony, Economy, and Development: The Regional Government initiates development and allows for the control and supervision of natural resources, except strategic minerals. The Assembly is also authorized to enact laws pertaining to natural resources.

Fiscal Autonomy: The Regional Government has the power to create its own revenue sources and levy taxes, but income tax remains the concern of the National Government. They also have shares in revenues collected within the region.

Education: The Regional Government will develop curricula relevant to the cultural heritage and needs of the region. Private educational institutions will have protection and support.

Social Justice and Welfare: The government promotes shared responsibility between workers and employers and provides social security measures responsive to the needs of the people.

Human Rights: The Cordillera Assembly can create a Cordillera Commission on Human Rights.

Peace and Order: The Regional Government will give priority to peace and order.

Transitory Provisions: The first election will be held in February 1990. The Cordillera Executive Board and the Cordillera Regional Assembly will cease to exist upon ratification of this act. There will be an oversight committee to supervise transfer of powers, and the National Government provides financial assistance.

Amendments: Amendments may be proposed by the people and must be ratified by a majority in a plebiscite.

[newstfionline]

Tuesday, December 17, 2024

Canada Post says operations to resume after nearly a monthlong strike (AP) Canada Post said operations will resume at the national postal service on Tuesday after the nearly monthlong work stoppage. Workers went on strike after failing to reach a negotiated agreement with the primary postal operator in Canada over key issues, including wages, job security, and how to staff a proposed expansion into weekend delivery.

Three Dead at Wisconsin Christian School, Including Shooter, Police Say (CNN/AP) A 15-year-old student opened fire inside a study hall at a small Christian school in Wisconsin, killing a teacher and teenager and prompting a swarm of police officers responding to a second grader’s 911 call. The female student wounded six others in Monday’s shooting at Abundant Life Christian School, including two students who were in critical condition, Madison Police Chief Shon Barnes said. A teacher and three students were taken to a hospital with less serious injuries. Police said the shooter, identified as Natalie Rupnow, was found with a self-inflicted gunshot wound when officers arrived and died en route to a hospital. There have been over 322 school shootings in the United States in 2024, according to a report by data scientist David Riedman. Riedman found that there have been at least 210 victims, both deceased and wounded.

As Trump threatens mass deportations, Central America braces for an influx of vulnerable migrants (AP) As U.S. President-elect Donald Trump is set to take office in January with a promise of carrying out mass deportations, Honduras and other Central American countries people have fled for generations are bracing for a potential influx of vulnerable migrants—a situation they are ill-prepared to handle. Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador, which have the largest number of people living illegally in the U.S., after Mexico, could be among the first and most heavily impacted by mass deportations, said Jason Houser, former Immigration & Customs Enforcement chief of staff in the Biden administration. Because countries like Venezuela refuse to accept deportation flights from the U.S., Houser suggests that the Trump administration may prioritize the deportation of “the most vulnerable” migrants from those countries who have removal orders but no criminal record, in an effort to rapidly increase deportation numbers. “We don’t have the capacity” to take so many people, said Antonio García, Honduras’ deputy foreign minister. “There’s very little here for deportees.” People who return, he said, “are the last to be taken care of.”

Memecoins (NBC News) The second Trump presidency hasn’t quite begun yet, but the era of memecoins is already here. Take, for example, Fartcoin. Like most other memecoins (and cryptocurrencies), Fartcoin is functionally useless, and its value isn’t tied to anything besides internet hype. Despite that, the coin’s value has tripled over the past week, soaring to a market cap of $700 million. Underlying the rise is a growing cynicism about the state of the economy. “All these kids are like, ‘All the good stocks are way too expensive. And houses? I can’t afford them,’” said Omid Malekan, a professor who teaches crypto at Columbia Business School. “So, ‘I’ll gamble on something that can ‘10x’ my money, and if I lose it all, Who cares, I was screwed anyway.’”

Brazilian President Lula discharged from hospital after surgery to stop brain bleed (AP) Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva was discharged from the hospital Sunday after undergoing surgery to stop a brain bleed. The 79-year-old president spoke alongside doctors in a press conference on Sunday morning in a show that he was doing well following the head surgery. “I’m here alive, well, with the urge to work. And I’ll tell you something I used to say during the campaign. I’m 79 years old, I have the energy of 30 and the enthusiasm of 20 to build this country,” Lula said.

Pope Francis makes 1st papal visit to France’s Corsica (AP) Pope Francis on the first papal visit ever to the French island of Corsica on Sunday called for a dynamic form of laicism, promoting the kind of popular piety that distinguishes the Mediterranean island from secular France as a bridge between religious and civic society. Francis appeared relaxed and energized during the one-day visit, just two days before his 88th birthday, still displaying a faded bruise from a fall a week ago. He frequently deviated from his prepared homily during Mass at the outdoor La Place d’Austerlitz, remarking at one point that he had never seen so many children as in Corsica—except, he added, in East Timor on his recent Asian tour. “Make children,″ he implored. “They will be your joy and your consolation in the future.”

German economic decline (Bloomberg) Germany is reaching a point of no return. Business leaders know it, the people in the country feel it, but politicians haven’t come up with answers. That has set Europe’s largest economy on a path of decline that threatens to become irreversible. Following five years of stagnation, Germany’s economy is now 5% smaller than it would have been if the pre-pandemic growth trend had been maintained. More worryingly, Bloomberg Economics estimates that the bulk of the shortfall will be tough to recover, due to structural blows such as the loss of cheap Russian energy and Volkswagen AG and Mercedes-Benz Group AG struggling to keep pace with China’s auto firms.

Georgia’s political crisis (Guardian) Georgia (the country) is facing a full-on leadership crisis. On Saturday, the country’s legislature, controlled by the Georgian Dream party, selected a pro-Kremlin far-right politician to serve as president, sparking a crisis as sitting president Salome Zourabichvili—a pro-Western, center-left politician from the country’s opposition—has refused to step down, calling the election “illegitimate.” Georgia (the country) has been embroiled in political turmoil since October, when the pro-Russia Georgian Dream party came into power after contested parliamentary elections. President Zourabichvili has claimed that the election process was contaminated by Russian interference, and crowds of protestors have demonstrated in front of parliament ever since. The real constitutional crisis is expected to begin following Georgia’s inauguration ceremony on December 29, as the country will supposedly have two presidents in power at that point.

Turkey exploits post-9/11 counterterrorism model to target critics in exile (Washington Post) Seven abductions in October were the latest of more than 118 “renditions” that Turkey’s intelligence service, MIT, has orchestrated over the past decade. Turkey has branded this global campaign its own “war on terror” in an echo of the phrase that came to define the period after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks in the United States. Turkey has also drawn extensively from the U.S. counterterrorism playbook. Beyond renditions, it has used secret detentions, terrorism watch lists, asset seizures and torture—including at least one reported case of waterboarding—against exiles, according to U.N. documents, human rights groups, Western security officials and public records in Turkey. Turkey’s attempt to characterize this crackdown as counterterrorism is seen by human rights organizations and Western security officials as an attempt to legitimize a campaign of transnational repression, a term for governments’ use of violence and intimidation against exiles seen as a political threat.

Christians in Syria mark country’s transformation with tears as UN envoy urges an end to sanctions (AP) In churches across long-stifled Syria, Christians marked the first Sunday services since the collapse of Bashar Assad ‘s government in an air of transformation. Some were in tears. Others clasped their hands in prayer. “They are promising us that government will be formed soon and, God willing, things will become better because we got rid of the tyrant,” said one worshiper, Jihad Raffoul, as the small Christian population hoped that new messages of inclusion would ring true. “Today, our prayers are for a new page in Syria’s future,” said another, Suzan Barakat. To help those efforts, the U.N. envoy for Syria, Geir Pedersen, called for a quick end to Western sanctions as the rebel alliance that ousted Assad and sent him into exile in Russia a week ago considers the way forward.

Unexploded mines endanger returnees in Syria (Washington Post) Tens of thousands of Syrians returning home face a new danger: millions of unexploded land mines and munitions from the country’s 13-year civil war. The live ordnance is littered across vast swaths of Syria, a nonprofit warned Saturday, and poses a severe threat.

Death toll from Israel-Hamas war tops 45,000, Palestinians say (Reuters) At least 53 Palestinians, including a video journalist for Al Jazeera TV, and rescue workers, were killed after an Israeli airstrike hit a civil emergency centre in the Nuseirat market area in the central Gaza Strip on Sunday. Palestinian health officials announced on Monday that 45,028 people have been killed and 106,962 have been wounded in the Gaza Strip from the 14-month war, with more than half of the fatalities being women and children.

The unique destructiveness of Israel’s war on Gaza (Washington Post) Last week, Airwars, a British-based nonprofit that charts civilian casualties in 21st-century conflicts, put out a report that examined in granular detail the first 25 days of the war in October 2023. It concluded that, in that time period, “civilian harm in Gaza occurred on a scale unmatched by any conflict” the organization has tracked, which includes the U.S.-led bombing campaigns of the Islamic State-held cities of Mosul and Raqqa. The organization said Israel’s campaign in Gaza “is incomparable with any 21st century air campaign” and “by far the most intense, destructive, and fatal conflict” it has tracked. In October 2023 alone, Airwars reported, 5,139 civilians were killed in Israeli strikes, 1,900 of them children. The figure is nearly seven times higher than the monthly toll for slain children in any other conflict the group’s researchers have monitored. Out of 606 incidents of civilian harm during October 2023 that Airwars has studied so far, just 26 had clear public evidence of the death of at least one confirmed Palestinian militant. Those 606 are less than a tenth of the more than 7,000 such incidents its researchers have monitored that month. The scale of the devastation, the pattern of strikes and the rhetoric of many Israeli politicians all fed into Amnesty International’s declaration earlier this month that Israel had committed—and was committing—acts of genocide.

Filipina who won a last-minute reprieve from Indonesian firing squad prepares to fly home (AP) A Filipina who was on death row in Indonesia and was nearly executed by firing squad in 2015 will return home this week under an arrangement between the countries, officials said Monday. Mary Jane Veloso, who spent almost 15 years in an Indonesian prison for drug trafficking, won a last-minute reprieve that led to her testimony exposing how a criminal syndicate duped her into being an unwitting accomplice and drug courier. In a tearful interview with The Associated Press last week, Veloso described her return home as being “like a miracle when I have lost all hope.” “For almost 15 years I was separated from my children and parents, and I could not see my children grow up,” she said. “I wish to be given an opportunity to take care of my children and to be close to my parents.”

When ‘Middle Age’ Arrives in Your 20s (WSJ) Rachel Green felt middle-aged at 29. That’s about a decade earlier than the traditional start to midlife. She took on more management responsibilities at work—and her hair went gray. “I don’t want to be out past 10 p.m.,” says Green, a Hollywood, Fla., software engineer, now 38. People in their 20s and 30s are hitting milestones such as marrying and buying a home later than past generations, but the expectations to do so are creating stress for them. That stress makes them feel older, as do mounting concerns about job security, debt, child-care costs and caregiving for older relatives. Middle age is typically defined as ages 40 to 60. But about 20% of younger people ages 25 to 34 feel middle-aged, according to a study by Horizon Media, a marketing services agency. The average 25-year-old says middle age starts around 37 and ends at about 53. Conversely, the average 65-year-old says it starts at 46 and ends at 62, according to the study. “Young people are feeling older and feeling pressure a lot sooner in their lives,” says Tirrell De Gannes, a licensed clinical psychologist at the Thriving Center of Psychology, which surveyed millennials and found that 1 in 10 experienced a midlife crisis around the age of 34.

[foreverlogical]

For those who continue to be ignorant of what Biden has accomplished, let me enlighten you.

Although certain Americans who receive their daily news from television and social media may not realize it, President Joe Biden has already accomplished an incredible amount in his two-plus years in office. These accomplishments are of great importance to the people of our nation and the world. A dozen major accomplishments follow:

1. President Biden fought for and signed the American Rescue Plan which protected workers’ pensions, provided funding to communities and businesses devastated by COVID-19, lowered or eliminated insurance premiums for millions of lower- and middle-income families, provided funds for affordable housing, provided money for public safety and crime reduction, provided support to small business, expanded food assistance programs in homes and schools, expanded child care programs, invested in mental health and health care centers, added $40 billion for investing in American workers, provided funding to the economies of tribal nations, and supported families with children. Child poverty has already been cut in half as a result of his efforts.

2. He signed a $1 trillion infrastructure bill to repair our roads, waterways, bridges and railroads, and bring high-speed internet to rural communities. Also included is money for public transit and airports, electric vehicles and low emission public transportation, power infrastructure, and clean water.

3. Biden signed the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act. This law provides incentives for states to pass red flag laws, expands the law that prevents people convicted of domestic abuse from gun ownership, expands background checks on young people between 18 and 21 who want to buy a gun, and allocates funds for the mental health of young people.

4. He instituted an executive order raising standards for law enforcement agencies, with particular emphasis on use-of-force policies, availability of body cameras, and recruitment and retention of officers.

5. He brought the unemployment rate down to a low of 3.5%, matching the lowest rate before the pandemic. It has now climbed a bit to 3.8%, but this compares very favorably to the rates of other countries throughout the world. Biden’s administration has added 13.2 million jobs since he came into office, replacing all of the jobs that were lost at the beginning of the COVID pandemic. Today there are more people in America working today than ever before!

6. He signed a bill to help veterans who have long been suffering from the effects of burn pits.

7. Biden ended the war in Afghanistan, the longest war in U.S. history. Over 120,000 people were safely evacuated, double the number calculated by the most optimistic experts.

8. He has steadfastly supported Ukraine after this democratic country was unjustly invaded by Putin and Russia, and has successfully led the free world by lobbying NATO and other allies to add their financial and military support.

9. He signed the Inflation Reduction Act, making health insurance plans more affordable, lowering drug costs, preventing millions of Americans from losing their Affordable Care Act insurance, and requiring Medicare to negotiate the cost of 10 high-cost prescription drugs.

10. Biden signed the CHIPS and Science Act, providing funding to produce semiconductor chips for automobiles, cellphones, laptops, gaming consoles, washing machines, etc. here in the Unites States rather than continuing to rely on China.

11. His administration has provided over $369 million to reduce greenhouse emissions by 40% in the next seven years and promote clean energy technologies, moving our country to greater self-sufficiency in energy production.

12. He signed the Postal Service Reform Act to modernize and stabilize the U.S. Post Office and also to help it continue to deliver mail six days every week, focusing on on-time delivery.

Other accomplishments include the reestablishment of respect among our allies on the world stage, the Violence Against Women Act, the Respect for Marriage Act, pardoning those convicted of simple marijuana possession, appointing Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson (the first Black woman on the Supreme Court), forgiving certain student loans, and electoral reforms to ensure that election results are not undermined.

These significant accomplishments in substantially less than three years reveal the Biden administration as an extremely progressive, productive administration — one that has already had a dramatic and very positive impact on all Americans.

Source: https://www.recorder.com/my-turn-Grosky-Biden-s-Record-and-Accomplishments-52422040

[gook54-blog]

Woodrow Wilson always praise by the media and history books .What's the truth?

Thomas Woodrow Wilson (December 28, 1856 – February 3, 1924) was the 28th president of the United States, serving from 1913 to 1921. He was the only Democrat to serve as president during the Progressive Era when Republicans dominated the presidency and legislative branches.

Wilson, in line with his belief in eugenics and white supremacy, fired all black postal workers, resegregated the military and helped to restart the Ku Klux Klan right in our White House. This paralleled the racial-supremacy policies of National Socialism (or rather Hitlerism, as racial supremacy seems unique to Wilson and Hitler; Franco and Mussolini, for example, did not employ it to nearly the same extent).

Prohibition and the Volstead Act passed under Wilson prohibiting the sale of alcoholic beverages.

Wilson implemented a compulsory military draft for WWI, with thousands imprisoned (many for life at hard labor—though all were pardoned by his successor, Harding) and seventeen executed when a board (not a court) found their claims for refusing service to be insincere. The individual standing against the government was not to be tolerated.

The Palmer Raids after WWI were aimed at shutting down competing socialist opposition, just as the Nazis went after social democrats and communists.

The Espionage Act of 1917 made it a crime to interfere with military or government operations, while the Sedition Act of 1918 even to voice criticisms or opinions contrary to government policy.

Sigmund Freud even collaborated with a former Wilson administration member to publish a book on Wilson's psychopathology: Woodrow Wilson: A Psychological Study.

All in all, under the Wilson administration, some 175,000 Americans were arrested for violation of the foregoing. By 1920, liberalism had revived in the form of the American Civil Liberties Union to counter the fascist excesses of Wilson, and America proceeded to elect, in Harding and Coolidge, two straight liberal (true sense) presidents.

[rethinkrx]

A Guide to Finding the Cheapest Medical Marijuana Doctors Near Me

With its increasing acceptance, finding the cheapest medical marijuana doctors near me has become a priority for those looking to explore its benefits without breaking the bank. Here, we delve into the vital information and steps to help you secure the most affordable and reliable medical marijuana card through Rethink-Rx.

The Growing Acceptance of Medical Marijuana

The use of Cannabis has dramatically increased over recent years. Fueled by the growing perception that cannabis is safer than both nicotine and alcohol, the number of regions across the globe that have legalized its use continues to increase. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), marijuana consumption has an annual prevalence rate of approximately 147 million individuals or nearly 2.5% of the global population.In the United States alone, approximately 22.2 million Americans aged 12 or older reported current cannabis use in 2014, with 8.4% using it within the previous month, as noted by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).

In addition to relaxed recreational laws, cannabis as a medical therapy has also grown exponentially. Fueled by a large and growing body of scientific evidence, cannabis is now more accepted in medical communities for a variety of medical conditions.Why Choose Virginia’s Medical Marijuana Dispensaries for Health Relief?

Medical marijuana has garnered increasing acceptance across the country. Legislative actions, ballot measures, and public opinion polls reflect this shift.

An October 2016 Gallup poll revealed that 60% of Americans believed cannabis should be legalized. Further, a Quinnipiac University poll concluded that U.S. Veterans Administration doctors should be allowed to prescribe marijuana in pill form to veterans suffering from PTSD, with American voters supporting this by 87-9 percent.

Virginia is among the 38 states where cannabis is approved for medicinal use. The National Conference of State Legislatures highlights that the number of states permitting medicinal cannabis use is continuously growing. This trend showcases the increasing recognition of the impact of medical marijuana on health and happiness.

The Ease of Obtaining a Medical Marijuana Card in Virginia

For residents of Virginia, the process to obtain a medical marijuana card is straightforward and accessible. The Board of Pharmacy has streamlined the registration process due to postal mail delivery issues across the state. Once an applicant is approved, they receive an email, which can be used in electronic or printed form at a medical cannabis dispensary to obtain products. Patients are required to provide photo identification and a valid, non-expired written certification. This system ensures that patients can easily access the relief they need without unnecessary hurdles.

Should there be a need for a physical medical cannabis registration card for employment or other purposes, Rethink-Rx can assist in obtaining one. Their support simplifies the process, making it easier for patients to navigate the requirements and receive their medical marijuana cards efficiently.

The Positive Impact on Health and Happiness

The movement for medicinal cannabis transcends a mere trend. Healthcare is getting a radical makeover, one that puts the onus on treating the entire person, not just their symptoms.

Marijuana possession incarcerations fall heavily on minorities, and President Biden's passionate remarks zero in on this very injustice, reigniting the debate on why arresting citizens for this 'crime' makes little sense. Imagine being blocked from a job, a home, or a decent education – all because of a federal marijuana conviction.

Your Path to Wellness

The cheapest medical marijuana doctors near me are not just about affordability but also about ensuring quality care and support. Rethink-Rx offers a seamless experience, from obtaining your medical marijuana card to accessing the treatment you need. As the medicinal cannabis landscape continues to evolve, staying informed and choosing the right service provider is crucial.

If you're seeking the cheapest medical marijuana doctors near me, look no further than Rethink-Rx. Their board-certified medical marijuana doctors are ready to provide expert opinions and guide you through the process of obtaining your Virginia medical marijuana card. Visit their website today to learn more and take the first step towards improved health and wellness.

Seek professional opinion from Rethink-Rx’s board-certified medical marijuana doctors and start your journey towards a healthier, happier life.

For more information about Medical Marijuana Card In Leesburg and Virginia Medical Marijuana Qualifying Conditions please visit:- ReThink-RX