EXCELLENT video on what glyphosate and Roundup® (the poisonous herbicide used on GMO soy, GMO corn, and possibly in your backyard!) does to our bodies, brains, hormones, and even our gut bacteria!
CLINK HERE to watch Dr. Seneff's interview: Institute for Responsible Technology
Like to learn more? Watch Genetic Roulette
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Remember tomatoes and strawberries containing fish genes and potatoes and corn with bacterial genes spliced into them? Some are registered as pesticides but not labeled for human consumption.... these foods have never been seen in nature and have not been tested for safety in humans. Eminent scientists have outlined numerous concerns about the safety of these experimental foods including allergic reactions, production of unintentional toxins, cross-contamination with traditional food crops and wild species, etc.
Remember the "tryptophan scare" when they pulled tryptophan off the shelves when the real problem was the GENETICALLY ENGINEERED bacteria they developed to produce the tryptophan. The GMO bacteria also produced a nerve toxin linked to the deadly cases of EMS that occurred following consumption of the GMO tryptophan. They SHOULD HAVE PULLED GENETIC ENGINEERING OFF THE SHELF INSTEAD.
Visit the Institute for Responsible Technology, biointegrity.org, safe-food.org or Organic Consumers Association or GMO COMPASS for more information. PLEASE CONTACT YOUR CONGRESSIONAL REPRESENTATIVE to support labeling of genetically engineered foods here in the U.S.A. CLINK HERE to follow the Federal Labeling Bill for GMO foods.
Because these foods do not have a long history of use in the human food supply (basically being released into the U.S. food supply in 1995) and have no scientific data demonstrating that they are safe for human consumption, they do not meet the criteria for "generally recognized as safe" and are essentially on the market illegally. Several countries have banned them.
Please read the excerpt below from The Alliance for Biointegrity and visit their website biointegrity.org to learn about the lawsuit against the FDA for releasing these experimental foods into our food supply.
WHY CONCERNS ABOUT HEALTH RISKS OF GENETICALLY ENGINEERED FOOD ARE SCIENTIFICALLY JUSTIFIED
Steven M. Druker
1. Reliance on a Flawed Assumption. As numerous eminent scientists point out, genetically engineered (GE) foods have not been demonstrated safe through standard scientific testing. Rather, the belief they are safe to eat rests on an unfounded assumption – the assumption that producing new varieties of food-yielding organisms through recombinant DNA technology (“genetic engineering”) is inherently no more hazardous than doing so through traditional breeding. Not only is this assumption empirically unsubstantiated, the weight of the evidence is against it. The following paragraphs explain why.
2. The Fallacy of Equating Gene-Splicing With Traditional Breeding. Traditional breeding is based on sexual reproduction between like organisms. The transferred genes are similar to genes in the cell they join. They are conveyed in complete groups and in a fixed sequence that harmonizes with the sequence of genes in the partner cell. In contrast, bioengineers isolate a gene from one type of organism and splice it haphazardly into the DNA of a dissimilar species, disrupting its natural sequence. Further, because the transplanted gene is foreign to its new surroundings, it cannot function without a big artificial boost. Biotechnicians achieve this unnatural boosting by taking the section of DNA that promotes gene expression in a pathogenic virus and fusing it to the gene prior to insertion. This causes the transplanted gene to act independently of the host organism's intricate control system, as does an invading virus, in contrast to the harmonious coordination that exists among the native genes. Consequently, not only does the foreign gene produce substances that have never been in that species -- it produces them in an essentially unregulated manner.
Accordingly, the director of UK’s prestigious Rowett Research Institute has stated: "The perception that everything is totally straightforward and safe is utterly naive. I don't think we fully understand the dimensions of what we're getting into." And molecular biologist Liebe Cavalieri, a Professor at the State University of New York, says it is "simplistic, if not downright simple-minded" to claim that genetic engineering is substantially the same as traditional breeding -- and that to do so is a “sham."
3. Unprecedented Risks. Due to its deep differences with traditional breeding, genetic engineering entails unprecedented risks to human health: (a) Because the foreign genes enter the host DNA haphazardly and disrupt the region into which they wedge, they can broadly and adversely alter cellular function. (b) The viral boosters (called "promoters") artificially attached to the foreign genes are powerful and can induce erratic expression of native genes or activate biochemical pathways that are ordinarily inactive. (c) The transplanted genes' continual and unregulated production of foreign substances drains energy from the organism’s vital functions, which can induce metabolic imbalances. It can also upset complex biochemical feedback loops.
Each of these types of disruption can cause the generation of unpredictable toxins, allergens, and other harmful substances. Yet, because the bioengineers and governmental regulators operate on the assumption that the only new substances will be those that are expected and desired, the types of tests needed to adequately screen for the numerous potential problems are not performed.
Recent evidence provides added justification for concern about unexpected side effects. First, the discoveries of the human genome project released in early 2001 (a) confirm that the foundational assumptions of genetic engineering are overly simplistic and seriously unsound and (b) indicate that recombinant DNA techniques entail greater potential for unpredictable hazards than was previously suspected even by experts advocating a more precautionary approach. Second, there is mounting evidence of GE plants with substantial – and unexpected – alterations in chemical composition. (a) Aventis’s data shows statistically significant differences between T25 herbicide-resistant maize and its conventional counterpart in terms of carbohydrate, amino acid and fatty acid composition. (b) Research at the Rowett Institute on two lines of GE potatoes found several statistically significant compositional differences between each one and the non-GE parental line. (c) The Public Health Association of Australia (PHAA) analyzed Monsanto’s data from controlled studies on three of its GE plants (herbicide resistant corn (maize) and canola, and pesticide-producing corn) and in all three cases discovered several statistically significant differences in chemical composition (including amino acid profiles) between the GE organism and its non-GE counterpart. The PHAA report (October 2000) states that the differences in the amino acids cannot be attributed solely to the known products of the inserted genes and cautions that these plants may contain unexpected – and to date unidentified – new proteins that could be harmful to humans.[i] (d) Recent investigation by Japanese scientists reveals that Monsanto’s data on its “Roundup Ready” soybean, the most widely planted GE crop, shows important differences between the GE bean and its conventional counterpart. For instance, after heat processing of both the GE and non-GE beans, the concentrations of three harmful substances were significantly higher in the GE samples.[ii] Third, research at UK’s John Innes Centre confirms that the viral promoter used in almost all GE plants can facilitate various abnormal genetic recombinations. This could lead to serious disruptions or to generation of new and hazardous chemicals. Additionally, experts warn that parts of existing viruses could recombine into novel and more dangerous viruses.
4. Scientists Voice Their Concerns. In light of the many hazards, hundreds of scientists have signed an open letter to the world’s governments warning of the hazards and calling for a moratorium on all GE foods. Signatories include professors of biology from Harvard and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and the director of the renowned Woods Hole Research Center. Further, nine scientific experts were so concerned they took the unprecedented step of joining as plaintiffs in a lawsuit organized by the Alliance for Bio-Integrity to reform U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) policy on GE food. By asserting that they regard GE foods to entail unique risks, they refuted FDA’s claim that experts overwhelmingly recognize them as safe. They include a professor of molecular biology at the University of California, Berkeley; the co-director of Targeted Mutagenics at Northwestern University Medical School; and a renowned expert in plant genetics at the University of Minnesota whose declaration to the court stated: "…there are scientifically justified concerns about the safety of genetically engineered foods, and some of them could be quite dangerous.”
Further, the respected UK medical journal The Lancet has strongly criticized the presumption that GE foods entail no greater risks of unexpected effects than conventional ones, stating that there are “good reasons to believe that specific risks may exist” and that “governments should never have allowed these products into the food chain without insisting on rigorous testing for effects on health.” (May 29, 1999). And on February 5, 2001 the Royal Society of Canada issued a report declaring the presumption of no increased risk to be “scientifically unjustifiable.” In the words of the Toronto Star: “The experts say this approach is fatally flawed … and exposes Canadians to several potential health risks, including toxicity and allergic reactions.”
5. Irresponsible Government Oversight. The scientific experts of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) also recognized the unique hazards of GE foods, and they repeatedly warned their superiors about them. This was exposed when our lawsuit forced the FDA to divulge its files. The pervasiveness of the concerns within the scientific staff is attested by a memo from an FDA official stating: "The processes of genetic engineering and traditional breeding are different, and according to the technical experts in the agency, they lead to different risks." Yet, FDA political appointees – operating under a White House directive “to foster” the biotech industry – covered up these warnings, professed themselves “not aware of any information” showing that GE foods differ from others, and allowed GE foods to be marketed without testing by claiming there is an overwhelming consensus among experts they are safe. This claim of general recognition of safety remains the sole legal basis for the U.S. marketing of GE foods, despite the fact FDA officials are well aware that substantial disagreement exists in the scientific community. Copies of memos from FDA experts and summaries of FDA’s extensive misbehavior are at www.biointegrity.org The quotation above is from Document #1 on the list.
If the FDA had told the truth, no GE foods would currently be marketed, since no other country would have approved them if the U.S. had not. Moreover, regulation in other nations ignores GE foods’ unique potential for unpredictable problems, fails to employ the tests recommended by the FDA experts, and instead relies on tests
that do not adequately screen for the potential hazards about which they warned – the approach the expert panel of the Royal Society of Canada has termed “scientifically unjustifiable.” Further, even though this overly narrow testing has frequently yielded problematic results (as discussed in Section 3), the regulators have routinely ignored them. They have also disregarded glaring weaknesses in the way many of the tests were conducted, as documented by the independent investigations of (a) the Public Health Association of Australia, which reviewed several GE plants, and (b) the Japanese scientists who reviewed Monsanto’s tests on its “Roundup Ready” soy. These experts found so many irregularities in the safety assessment of the GE soy they concluded it was “inadequate and incomplete.” Their report concludes: “The safety assessment of the Monsanto Roundup Ready soybean needs to be reassessed.”[iii]
6. A GE Food Has Caused Death and Disease – and Those on the Market May Also Be Causing Harm.
Proponents of GE foods often claim that because no definite link has yet been established between the genetic engineering of a food and human disease, it implies these foods are safe. However, a large portion of human food-borne illness develops over a long time through repeated doses of harmful substances. This applies not only to cancer but to many other diseases as well. Further, some diseases can result from a single exposure but still take a long time to manifest. The human variant of “mad cow” disease, which is often fatal, has a latency period of over 12 years from the ingestion of the harmful substance to the initial appearance of the symptoms.
Accordingly, numerous experts have pointed out that the mere absence of hard evidence linking the genetic engineering of foods to disease in no way constitutes evidence that foods so produced are safe. They say that due to the hazards entailed by GE foods, it is possible that some of them are causing disease conditions now that will only be clearly documented many years in the future. In this vein, the head of the FDA’s Biological and Organic Chemistry Section cautioned agency bureaucrats that lack of proof that a GE food is dangerous does not assure its safety and noted, "in this instance ignorance is not bliss." (FDA Document #7 at www.biointegrity.org )
Further, a food supplement of the amino acid L-tryptophan that was produced through genetic engineering caused an epidemic of a novel disease that killed dozens of Americans and seriously disabled thousands more during 1989. That supplement contained numerous contaminants, at least two of which have not been found in any conventionally produced batches of food-grade L-tryptophan. Experts at the Center for Disease Control and the Mayo Clinic have concluded that the epidemic was a result of the contamination. Further, although it’s still unclear which particular contaminant(s) caused the catastrophe, many experts think the bioengineering process may have been a key factor in producing the toxic agent(s); and the FDA’s biotech coordinator admits it cannot be ruled out.[iv]
In light of all the above, it is necessary to uphold the precautionary approach that is mandated by the food safety laws in both the U.S. and the European Union but which in practice is not being adequately followed in the case of GE foods.
[i] PHAA’s Written Comments to ANZFA, October 2000.
[ii] The team was headed by Dr. Masaharu Kawata, an Assistant Professor in the School of Science at Nagoya University. Their report was published in the Japanese journal Technology and Human Beings, vol.11, Nov. 2000. pp. 24-33)
[iv] FDA Administrative Record, Alliance for Bio-Integrity, et al. vs. Shalala, et al., at 22923.


VATICAN City, Nov. 21, 2013 (CNA/EWTN News)—Pope Francis met with the Filipino community of Rome today, encouraging them in the wake of their native country’s recent disaster to never tire of praying, even if the prayer is that of a child.
Referencing the typhoon that wreaked havoc in the Philippines, Pope Francis encouraged, “In these moments of sadness, let the power of this prayer be the most useful: ‘the prayer of why.’…And I also accompany you, with this ‘prayer of why.’”
“There are many things that we cannot understand. When children begin to grow, they don’t understand things and begin to ask questions of their father or mother,” the Pope explained to the group gathered in St. Peter’s Basilica on Nov. 21.
A child asks “one after another ‘why’s” but does not “wait for a response.” Rather, “the child in his insecurity needs his father and mother watch over him. He needs the eyes of his parents, he needs the heart of his parents,” the Pope continued.
As children of God, we must pray “the prayer of why,” especially in moments of difficulty, emphasized Pope Francis.
“In these moments of great suffering, don’t tire of saying, ‘Why?’ (Be) like children…and so attract the eyes of our Father for your people; draw the tenderness of the ‘dad of heaven’ upon yourselves. Be like the child when asking, ‘Why? Why?’”
Pope Francis had joined Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle of Manila and the Filipino community of Rome for a celebration of St. Pedro Calungsod, a Filipino catechist and martyr for the faith. The Pope blessed a mosaic icon of the young man who was proclaimed a saint by Benedict XVI last October.
Cardinal Tagle spoke of the struggles of the people in the Philippines, as well as their courage in the face of frightening circumstances. Pope Francis embraced the cardinal at the end of his remarks, assuring him of his “closeness and prayers.”
The honoring of St. Pedro Calungsod in St. Peter’s Basilica comes at a crucial time for the people of the Philippines, who are struggling to recover from the recent typhoon.
Lina Santos, who lives in Rome but is originally from the Philippines, told CNA that today’s gathering was “very very meaningful for us” because the honoring of a Filipino saint came “despite the difficulties we are encountering now.”
“Even though we have experienced disasters, there is still hope that we can gain again our hope,” she said.
Fr. Jan Limchua, a diocesan priest of Cebu, Philippines, expressed his gratitude to be in attendance at today’s gathering, noting that Calungsod’s witness is particularly important “because we are in the year of faith.”
Today’s event is one of the various ways of “honoring many many great examples of (people) living their faith in the midst of difficulties and in the midst of such harsh situations, like St. Pedro Calungsod,” Fr. Limchua told CNA in an interview on Nov. 21.
The young man was martyred not because he was a companion of the Jesuit missionaries, said Fr. Limchua, but because “he was a catechist, so he defended his faith, he even offered his life: he died before the Jesuit priest was killed because he offered his life…for God and the Church.”
St. Pedro Calungsod “was not a great preacher,” explained Fr. Limchua, but “he just served the priests in his own little way.” The result was his sanctity and martyrdom.
The life and witness of this simple catechist serves as an example of how any Christian “can make a great impact in the world of today.”
“So we are called in this way,” reflected Fr. Limcha, to imitate “that example of simplicity and holiness.”
The blessing of the mosaic was followed by a mass celebrated by Cardinal Tagle. (Kerri Lenartowick)


Mr. Faisal Yousef Abualfain from Doha Bank’s Legal Department and Mr. Ahmed Al Ali representing Qatar Charity signed the partnership agreement.
As part of its corporate social responsibility charter, Doha Bank, one of the leading financial institutions in Qatar, has confirmed a partnership with Qatar Charity to support its ‘Ademha’ programme which provides prepared meals to underprivileged families.
Doha Bank regularly supports charitable causes as well as works closely with societal bodies in Qatar to generate awareness of important issues within the community. The Bank’s CSR programme aims to contribute to the goals of Qatar Vision 2030 and its primary pillars of economic, social, environmental and human development.
Mr. Faisal Yousef Abualfain from Doha Bank’s Legal Department and Mr. Ahmed Al Ali representing Qatar Charity signed the partnership agreement to support the programme.
On the occasion, Mr. Faisal Abualfain said: “Doha Bank is committed to supporting the efforts of leading social organisations such as Qatar Charity. We are also honoured to support the remarkable efforts of the social workers who dedicate their lives to making positive changes in our society. Qatar Charity reaches out to hundreds of thousands of people every year across a variety of programmes in Qatar and around the world and Ademha is a shining example of a programme that promotes solidarity within the society.”


Photo via Getty/Prince Williams
By Tristin Marshall
This year, Lil Baby released ‘Harder Than Ever’ which debuted at No. 3 on the Billboard top 200 chart, and also went platinum with the single “Yes Indeed” featuring Drake.
This summer, the Atlanta rapper hit the road for the Harder Than Ever Tour with special guests including City Girls and received a glowing review from Billboard. It was also just announced that Lil Baby has been nominated for Best New Hip-Hop Artist at this year’s BET Hip-Hop Awards.
Gunna, who hails from College Park, GA, the same hood as rap superstars like 2 Chainz, is signed to Young Thug’s YSL label and released his project ‘Drip Season 3’ earlier this year. He will also be heading on tour with Travis Scott as the opener on the Astroworld: Wish You Were Here Tour this October.
After starting his career just over a year ago, Lil Baby released four mixtapes before ‘Harder Than Ever.’ His cinderella story in rap has unfolded through the vision of his fairy godfathers, co-CEO’s of Quality Control Music Kevin “Coach K” Lee and Pierre “Pee” Thomas, who incubated the talent in the young rapper and kept him off the streets after he was released from jail. Lil Baby joined Motown in 2017 through the label’s joint venture with Quality Control Music.


On March 25th the Senate approved a $2 Trillion stimulus bill — the largest financial aid package in history!
In total, the new stimulus package is more than twice as much as Congress coughed up after the 2008 financial crisis.
Here’s how the Coronavirus cash is expected to be divvied up:
1. Individuals and families will get $301B in direct assistance:
- Individuals who earn <$75k/year will get a $1.2k check.
- Families will receive an additional $500 per child.
- Assistance decreases for people who earn >$75k/year and stops for those who earn $99k+.
2. ~$350B in loans are earmarked for small businesses:
- They’ll be available through June 30, and forgiven for businesses that keep paying their employees.
- Companies with <500 employees can access loans of up to $10m to pay their staff.
- But many small businesses say they’re already running into problems getting financial assistance, and say they could go under before the new rescue money is doled out.
3. Unemployed workers will get $250B in benefits:
- Unemployment assistance will increase by $600 for the next 4 months.
- Benefits will extend for an additional 13 weeks and will apply to non-traditional employees like gig workers.
4. ~$500B in loans and other aid will be set aside for corporations, states, and local governments:
- $454B of the money will be available through a fund controlled by the Federal Reserve.
- The rest will be set aside for specific industries (including $29B for passenger and cargo airlines).
State and local governments will get $150B. When news of the deal broke yesterday, the Dow Jones rose more than 11%.
Source: The Hustle Newsletter
The Small Business Administration has issued Disaster Recovery Loans for small businesses for immediate deployment, in amounts up to $2 million, based on direct business impact from coronavirus. The loan advance will provide economic relief to businesses that are currently experiencing a temporary loss of revenue. Funds will be made available within three days of a successful application, and this loan advance will not have to be repaid.
- Businesses can secure up to $2 million.
- Interest rates will not exceed 4% per year and terms will not exceed 30 years.
- If your business has access to credit, you are not eligible to apply. If your small business has no available credit, for-profit companies can qualify for an interest rate of 3.75%, and nonprofits will receive an interest rate of 2.75%.
- All U.S. states and territories qualify.
To apply for a COVID-19 Economic Injury Disaster Loan, click here.
2. US Chamber of Commerce
The US Chamber of Commerce has published a variety of resources, including COVID-19 Tips for Employees: uschamber.com/coronavirus#resources
There are legislative initiatives in the works also to provide economic stimulus as well as tax and federal obligation relief. The SBAs EIDL program (discussed above) is the only phase of relief that has been approved as of yet. It is unknown what will be approved and what won’t. The US Chamber of Commerce, Forbes, and other media/organizations are keeping up with the efforts. The US Chamber outlines current effortshere. It is important to continue keeping an eye on this to help you formulate new pieces of your plan.
3. CARES Act
The CARES Act was recently passed which provides more options for disaster funding for business owners including the Paycheck Protection Program loan, tax credits, and SBA loan payment relief. The SBA has 15 days to respond/provide infrastructure for enacting the parts of the bill that relate to small business. While we do not know everything yet, here is what we do know:
- Click here to find a sample application
- Click here to see the program guidelines
- Click here to see a Small Business Owners Guide to the CARES Act
- Click here to see a CARES Act checklist compiled by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce
- Click here to read a simple guide about the Payment Protection Program
4. Federal Assistance
5. IRS Resources
The U.S. government announced the ability for individuals to defer up to $1 million in taxes for 90 days beyond the April 15 deadline, while corporations can defer up to $10 million.
Regarding the IRS, please see their website: irs.gov/coronavirus
6. Corporate Solutions for Entrepreneurs
Whether in their own backyards or across the globe, corporations are stepping up to offer grants and loans to entrepreneurs in need. Amazon has committed $5 million to neighboring businesses in Seattle, while Facebook has committed a whopping $100 million to 30,000 small businesses around the world. Wells Fargo has $6.25 million in funds to distribute, and more help is undoubtedly going to arise in the weeks to come. This is non-dilutive capital that won’t impact your balance sheet, specifically designed to get your business back on its feet.
- Facebook is offering $100M in cash grants and ad credits for up to 30,000 eligible small businesses in over 30 countries where we operate.
- Amazon is creating a $5 million Neighborhood Small Business Relief Fund to provide cash grants to Seattle small businesses that need assistance.
- Business for All is a national movement to lift up 100,000 small business owners to receive funding and mentorship. By completing the application below, you’re eligible to receive up to $50,000 in grant funding.
- Airbnb launched The Superhost Relief Fund and employees have donated $1 million from their own pockets to kickstart a fund for hosts struggling to make ends meet.
- Google said it will give the World Health Organization and global government agencies a total of $250 million in ad grants. Another $340 million in Google ad credits will be available to small and medium-sized businesses whose accounts have been active over the past year, with an additional $20 million earmarked for announcements on relief funds and support for small businesses.
- Capital One, Citi, and Wells Fargo have announced that they’re willing to work with customers impacted by COVID-19 (coronavirus), meaning you might avoid late fees or can receive special payment plans depending on your situation. For 30 days, Citi small business customers are eligible to have their monthly service fees, and early CD withdrawal fees, waived.
- If you have an existing brick & mortar business that has been negatively effected by the COVID-19 outbreak and you launch a capital raise on Mainvest, you may be eligible to receive a $2,000 zero-interest loan immediately. Then through your capital raise, you can receive over $100,000 of investment from your community.
Additional Resources: Emergency Funding for Small Businesses Affected by the Coronavirus
Womply is a local commerce company that serves more than 450,000 local businesses across America. Last year we helped those businesses manage more than $130 billion in sales. We’ve been in business for nine years and we’re proud to call some of the biggest financial services companies in the world our partners.
The $1,000 Stimulus is a no-interest and no-fee capital offer that is deposited directly into your business bank account. You can use the money for any business purpose–pay your bills, avoid overdraft fees, invest in marketing, etc.
Any US business with a verifiable business bank account is eligible. We will approve as many businesses as possible, but as you can imagine we reserve the right to not give you the money if we believe your business is operating in a suspicious manner.
8. Grant Programs
- Facebook: Facebook is launching a grant program that most small businesses are eligible to apply for. They have not officially launched, but you can monitor and apply here when they do.
- Bumble Community Grants: Bumble has announced they will be giving community grants to small businesses up to $5000. You can apply here.
- Small Business Relief Fund: A program supported by GoFundMe, Yelp, and Intuit QuickBooks: gofundme.com/f/smallbusinessrelieffund
- All Together ATX Fund: A program through Austin Community Foundation and United Way for COVID-19 Relief: find information here and find more information here.
- AssistHer Emergency Relief Grant: A program offered by Texas Women’s University: find information here.
- Alice: Hello Alice is offering grants up to $50,000 to support business growth, including $10,000 emergency COVID-19 Business for All Grants to help small businesses in crisis. Join leaders such as Gwyneth Paltrow, Kristen Bell, Lisa Price, and Zaw Thet to empower every American with an entrepreneurial spirit. In addition to funding, grant recipients will receive ongoing support from the Hello Alice community: covid19businesscenter.com/
- PeopleFund Loans: Click here to learn more about out our resources, including funding and education
9. Unemployment In Crisis
The Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) program provides unemployment benefits to individuals who have become unemployed as a direct result of a Presidentially declared major disaster.
In the event of a disaster, the affected state will publish announcements about the availability of Disaster Unemployment Assistance. To file a claim, individuals who are unemployed as a direct result of the disaster should contact their State Unemployment Insurance agency. Individuals who have moved or have been evacuated to another state should also contact the state agency.
For more information about this program and where to apply for benefits, please visit the Disaster Unemployment Assistance website.
10. Finding A Job
There’s so many online job boards to throw your name into the hat — Glassdoor, Indeed, CareerBuilder, ZipRecruiter, and my favorite LinkedIn Jobs. It’s super easy to apply for jobs with a simple one-click feature to send your resume/CV on LinkedIn. I also recommend checking out this list of Top 100 Remote Companies Hiring.
If your job has been impacted by coronavirus, or if you’re ready to immediately jump in to help those organizations that need to fill roles during this challenging time, here are the most in-demand jobs and companies hiring right now (based on LinkedIn job posting data in the U.S. between March 15 – 21, 2020).
Companies with the most open jobs in the U.S.
- Army National Guard
- HCA Healthcare
- Whole Foods
- Sherman Williams
11. Resources for Veterans
- Veteran LLC website puts you in contact with local community lenders and local resources dedicated to help your small business.
- Veteran Business Outreach Centers (VBOC) provides an interactive map that shows the closest VBOC to you.
- Bunker Labsis hosting regular webinars and has a Facebook page with live assistance.
- PenFed Foundation Veteran Entrepreneur Investment Programhas a list of several resources for veteran entrepreneurs.
12. Donate To Non-Profit Organizations
Feeding America is a nationwide organization that harnesses support from local communities to the federal government to keep low-income families supplied with food. Right now, its biggest concern is children whose schools have closed, cutting off a source of healthy, free meals. Feeding America also has a running list of food banks across the country, if you’d like to donate closer to home.
Meals on Wheels delivers food to seniors—safely, per CDC guidelines, as older folks are at greater risk of serious illness from COVID-19—and makes sure they’re not left on their own while the country hunkers down. You can donate to the national branch, or call up your local Meals on Wheels provider to see how you can help.
According to medical researchers, the half-million homeless people in America are at a higher risk of contracting coronavirus, and shelters around the country have been advised by the CDC to conduct screenings. Meaning, the already-stressed shelter system will need more assistance than ever. Look to this directory of homeless shelters to find one near you.
The coronavirus outbreak appears to be keeping Americans from donating blood. Hundreds of blood drives have already been cancelled, but if you’re healthy and still have access to one near your home, the Red Cross is asking that you schedule a time to donate. To be clear, there is no evidence that coronavirus can be spread through blood, and Red Cross employees will employ stringent safety precautions.
Thanks for reading! I decided to put together this comprehensive list of financial resources to help individuals, families, and small businesses struggling to keep their heads above water during this economic recession spurred on by the Coronavirus (COVID-19) world pandemic. This post will be updated frequently to provide additional resources as more information comes to light.
You can read my previous blog post entitled Traveling During the Coronavirus Outbreak in which I offer a rational unapologetic explanation why I’m continuing to travel in Southeast Asia during the Coronavirus outbreak. I believe the mass hysteria and fear-mongering is more dangerous than COVID-19 itself. In the prophetic words of FDR, “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself”.
You may also be interested in this article about How to Get Your Stimulus Check Faster from IRS (2020).


Sharice Davids’ Statement on the Supreme Court’s Decision to Overturn Roe v. Wade
Rep. Sharice Davids released the following statement after the Supreme Court issued its ruling overturning Roe v. Wade:
“This is no longer hyperbole or hypothetical. For 50 years, we’ve been protected from the most extreme attempts to control people’s decisions about their bodies, but that protection is now gone and Kansas is at a major decision point.
Will we stand by as Kansas joins a wave of states with extreme, no-exception bans? Or will we make it known that in Kansas, we support women and access to health care–and we believe politicians have no right to take away a person’s right to choose?
I urge folks to consider carefully what’s at stake. I will always work to protect Kansans’ rights to choose—starting by voting no on the amendment seeking to strip existing protections from our state constitution in August.”


120 1st Avenue North, Great Falls, Montana 59401
Phone: 1-800-732-2451 • Fax: 406-454-8000
The Voice of The Injured Worker
The MT Trial Lawyers Association elected Stacy Tempel-St. John to its Board of Directors. Stacy looks forward to facilitating its mission to uphold and defend the MT and US Constitutions; promote the administration of justice for the public good; and help secure a just result for the injured, the accused, and those whose rights are jeopardized.


Congratulations to our own Rick Jahnke, Chapter Treasurer, on his HCSO promotion
TAMPA — The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office announced several promotions to its command staff on Monday, scheduled to take effect Dec. 3.
Among the rising employees is Major Wayne Bunton, who will move from District I to colonel of the Department of Detention Services. Bunton is the first African American to achieve the rank of colonel in the agency’s history.
Major Ciro Dominguez from the Training Division becomes colonel of the Department of Operational Support.
The other announced command staff promotions include: Captain O’Neal Jackson from District IV to major of District I; Captain Rick Roebuck from District III to major of the Training Division; and Lieutenant Rick Jahnke to Captain of District III;
In addition, Sgt. Michael Kuettner of District V will move to lieutenant of District III and Corporal Nicole Morgan of District II will be sergeant of District II.
Source – Tony Marrero at email@example.com or (813) 226-3374. Follow @tmarrerotimes.


Ambassador Sun Weidong inaugurated the China Cultural Heritage week, being held from the 7th-14th of July, at the Pakistan National Council of Arts (PNCA).The Ministry of Culture is holding similar celebrations in thirty cultural centers all over the world. The exhibition is on Intangible Culture, a concept adopted by UNESCO for the preservation of knowledge and skills in 2003.
With work on CPEC gaining momentum, cultural exchanges between the two countries have increased. Ambassador Sun Weidong in his speech recognized the rich and diverse cultural heritage of Pakistan, both tangible and intangible, and mentioned that Pakistan had over 60 indigenous languages, mosques, folk music, dances, ceramics and woodwork amongst others. He said that in this exhibition of Chinese heritage there were splendid paintings, bird-worm seal script, ceramic handicrafts, dough modeling and paper cutting. He said that many Chinese experts were on hand to demonstrate their art and skills, and people would be able to directly interact with them. This exhibition, he said, would raise awareness about our cultural heritage, and these cultural exchanges would act as a bridge between the two peoples. He described the relationship of the two countries as one between two iron brothers, and that this rich and diverse heritage of the two countries would be carried on from generation to generation.
With China’s long history of civilization, UNESCO had put thirty items of China on its Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage. He also appreciated that under the auspices of the Pakistan Academy of Letters, Mr Munir Fayyaz, a renowned poet, had translated Chinese short stories from English to the Urdu language, making them accessible to the Pakistani public who could now get familiar with rural life in China. He said that CPEC was a flagship project of One Belt One Road (OBOR), and more cultural events would be organized to further improve understanding between the people of the two countries.
Professor Qasim Bughio, the Chairman of the Pakistan Academy of Letters also spoke on the occasion and said that the exchanges of writers’ delegations between the two countries, had increased with the launch of CPEC.
Since the Chinese Cultural Center was inaugurated at the beautiful PNCA building in the center of town in April of this year, the Cultural Center’s activities have become more accessible to the citizens of Islamabad, who flocked in large numbers to see this exhibition.
You may also like:
To Reflect: To Recognise
(February 12, 2018)
Art Review: Raja Changez Sultan at Tanzara Gallery
(January 19, 2018)
NCA Rawalpindi Degree Show 2017
(January 17, 2018)
Winter Fete, Islamabad
(January 09, 2018)
Review: 9th National Exhibition at PNCA
(January 02, 2018)
Yeh Hai Karachi 2: Photography and Film Exhibition
(December 20, 2017)
Art Review: Punjab Romanticism by Zulfiqar Ali Zulfi at Tanzara Gallery, Islamabad
(December 18, 2017)
Art Review: Reading Between the Lines at Sanat Initiative, Karachi
(December 05, 2017)
Art Review: The Onrushing 2 at Gallery 6, Islamabad
(December 04, 2017)
Daachi Arts and Crafts Exhibition 2017
(November 13, 2017)
Art Review: 'Loompaland' at Studio Seven, Karachi
(November 09, 2017)
The Behbud Bazaar, Islamabad
(November 07, 2017)
The Karachi Biennale 2017 (KB17)
(October 27, 2017)
VM Centre for Traditional Arts (VMCTA) – Rangoonwala Foundation and The Prince's School of Traditional Arts join hands
(October 26, 2017)
Wahab Jaffer Exhibition Opens at Tanzara Gallery, Islamabad
(October 20, 2017)


2016 starts with a thud as markets tumble
Shares have got off to a very bad start for the year triggered by many of the same worries seen last year
A sharp fall in Chinese shares and the value of the Renminbi, which in turn triggered renewed worries about the Chinese economy; the weaker Renminbi triggering more commodity price weakness and fears of an emerging market crisis; some soft US manufacturing data; and geopolitical risks, this time regarding Saudi Arabia/Iran tensions and North Korea. Consequently all share markets have seen sharp declines (with US shares falling -6%, Eurozone shares -7.2%, Japanese shares -7.0%, Chinese shares -9.7% and Australian shares -5.8%), commodity prices are down further with the oil price falling to its lowest since 2009 and bonds have rallied with safe haven buying.
The poor start to the year clearly warns that global growth concerns remain, that commodity prices are still under downwards pressure and that volatility in investment markets will likely remain high. However, it is worth putting these developments in some perspective:
The latest fall in Chinese shares may have a bit further to go but looks to have been exaggerated and driven more by fears and regulatory issues around the share market and currency rather than a renewed deterioration in economic indicators.
While the Caixin business conditions PMIs were weaker in the last week Chinese economic data had shown encouraging signs of stabilisation during December. Chinese property prices rose, indicating that the gradual property market recovery is continuing. Industrial production rebounded to a 6.2% annual pace, while retail spending accelerated to an 11.2% pace. China’s inflation remains mild at 1.5% meaning there is considerable flexibility for China’s central bank to cut interest rates further to support growth. There are still signs of weakness with China’s manufacturing conditions indices providing mixed signals but essentially remaining soft. Services conditions indices remain reasonable. All in all, Chinese growth appears to be stabilising around a 6.5-7% pace as opposed to collapsing.
Rather the main drivers of the renewed volatility were worries about new share supply following the scheduled end to a ban on selling by major shareholders, a new share market circuit breaker that commenced on Monday 4 January which appears to have added to market volatility rather than calmed it down. The 7% threshold for a market fall to trigger a shutdown was too tight, and inadvertently encouraged investors to bring forward selling in an effort to beat the shutdown and a continuing depreciation of the Renminbi.
Chinese regulators have since announced a restrictive limit on the size of stakes that major investors can sell; the circuit breaker has now been suspended after the experience of the last week; and after 6% plus depreciation in the value of the Renminbi since July the People’s Bank of China is now likely to step up efforts to try and stabilise it again much as it did through September and October. The depreciation of the Renminbi is the key issue at present as its decline is helping fuel upwards pressure on the US$, adding to weakness in oil and other commodities and keeping alive fears of some sort of emerging market crisis. Fortunately, Friday did see some stability return to the Chinese share market and currency but it needs to be sustained.
While the US ISM manufacturing index has been softer lately and is a concern, most US data points to stable underlying growth of around 2% or so. US economic data was mostly positive during December and as a result the US Federal Reserve’s (Fed) interest rate hike was not a surprise. There were healthy gains in both jobs and retail sales and wages growth is continuing to trend up. While durable goods orders were on the soft side and existing home sales fell, consumer spending was solid, consumer confidence edged higher, new home sales rose and September quarter gross domestic product growth was stable at 2% annualised. Meanwhile, inflation remains at 1.3% year-on-year, well below the Fed’s 2% target. A sharp fall in the ISM manufacturing conditions index was disappointing and highlights the pressure the US manufacturing sector is facing from the rise in the US dollar, however, the broader Markit manufacturing conditions index is holding up much better and services sector conditions indexes remain strong, although they have slowed a bit. There were weak readings for manufacturing conditions in the New York and Philadelphia regions and a slight fall in the National Association of Home Builders’ conditions index but very strong gains in housing starts and permits, strong leading indicators and a larger than expected fall in jobless claims.
Signs that global growth remains fragile and constrained will have the effect of ensuring that global monetary policy remains easy this year, with US Federal Reserve tightening likely to be very gradual with maybe just two 0.25% rate hikes this year, Japan and Europe continuing with quantitative easing and China continuing to cut interest rates. The continuing global weakness also adds to the case for the Reserve Bank of Australia to cut interest rates again.
Structural issues in emerging markets require structural and potentially more painful solutions. Emerging market foreign exchange reserves and flows will likely cause further rebalancing and volatility. We would like to see oil and commodity prices stabilise, China policy gain greater traction and sentiment improve. While the broader European region is in good shape politically and has a strong policy toolset to protect against contagion, the ongoing bailout discussions for Greece and execution risks as well as anti-austerity party movements across the periphery may drag on sentiment. Global central bank policy and liquidity conditions continue to drive differing investor behaviour. Yet a rise in volatility across asset classes has ensured there is also an acknowledgement of market impact during this difference in timing and transition phase for global central banks.
The tensions between Sunni Saudi Arabia and Shia Iran have been building for a while and partly flow from the US’ shift in military focus away from the Middle East. However, while they will continue to show up in wars in the region, e.g. in Syria and Iraq, they are unlikely to result in outright direct conflict in a way that dramatically pushes up oil prices. In fact in the short term the tension ensures that OPEC will remain paralysed with Saudi Arabia focused on maintaining high production to inflict pain on Iran and Iraq, which will serve to keep oil prices low (or lower) for now.
North Korea’s H bomb test is a big concern but there is some question as to whether it was really an H bomb and it has already had three nuclear tests since 2006. So overall, while it’s been a very poor start to the year for equity markets and risks remain high in the short term our expectation remains for better returns this year than we saw in 2015 as share market valuations are reasonable being cheap relative to bonds and bank deposits, global monetary conditions are likely to remain very easy and this should in turn help ensure a rising trend in share markets, albeit with bouts of volatility along the way. While it’s hard to maintain confidence in Chinese shares, it’s worth noting that those listed in Hong Kong provide particularly attractive long term value trading on forward PEs close to 6 times, less than half that of Australian shares.
Worries about the China and the US Federal Reserve are likely to drive continued volatility in the short term until some stability returns to the Renminbi and US$ and hence in commodity prices.
Chinese economic outlook
The rapid pace of deterioration in Chinese data has ended, and while the data remains mixed, aggressive falls in data series have not continued. Consumption and services remain reasonable, however manufacturing and housing still face considerable challenges. Regional growth in exports has picked up on the technology product cycle but has yet to show convincing signs of broadening out to other sectors, and technology inventories remain high, limiting the extent to which the export sector is generating activity in manufacturing. The risk therefore remains that this improvement is both short and shallow. We continue to expect China to face structural headwinds as its economy reorients its growth drivers. It is likely the People’s Bank of China will continue to support the economy via required reserve ratio cuts going forward.
US economic outlook
In the US, the medium-term cyclical dynamic still appears reasonably positive, driven by ongoing improvements in the labour market. While housing data has become more mixed recently it nevertheless shows significant improvement from the first half of 2015. Given that backdrop, consumption is lower than one would normally expect with the tailwinds of a housing wealth effect and a lower cost of oil. Overall consumer sentiment remains reasonably strong however, which is not surprising given labour market dynamics and increasing wage growth. Recent manufacturing data points to some slowing, in part because of the strength of the US dollar impacting on exports, the lack of investment in the oil industry impacting on capital goods orders, and the inventory backlog that will act as a drag on manufacturing over coming quarters.
The December jobs report was particularly positive with payroll employment up much more than expected at 292,000 and employment in the prior two months being revised up but increasing participation keeping the unemployment rate unchanged at 5% and wages growth coming in weaker than expected at 2.5% year on year. The strength in jobs tells us that the US economy remains solid, but rising labour market participation and soft wages growth gives the Fed plenty of breathing space on interest rates. Meanwhile the minutes from the Fed’s last meeting reinforced the focus on “actual and expected inflation” moving closer to target when considering future rate hikes, so it’s hard to see the Fed being anything but gradual in raising rates as weak commodity prices will continue to constrain inflation. The next Fed hike is unlikely till March but this could be delayed if global growth concerns, market volatility and falling commodity prices continue.
The US remains the bright spot for developed markets and weakness in other parts of the world will likely continue to act as something of a drag on US growth.
Equity markets outlook
Beyond the short term we still expect shares to trend higher, helped by a combination of relatively attractive valuations compared to bonds, continuing easy global monetary conditions and continuing moderate economic growth. But expect volatility to remain high.
International shares – Global shares are likely to be helped by a combination of relatively attractive valuations compared to bonds, continuing easy global monetary conditions and continuing moderate economic growth. We favour Europe (which is still unambiguously cheap and seeing continued monetary easing), Japan (which will see continued monetary easing) and China (which will also see more monetary easing) over the US (which may be constrained by the US Federal Reserve and relatively high profit margins) and emerging markets generally (which remain cheap but suffer from structural problems).
In terms of global REITs, we are most positive on Europe and Japan. We continue to monitor China and the concerns over growth. We will also closely monitor commentary by the US Federal Reserve regarding interest rates, as well as the underlying economic data which is likely to drive its decisions. The large discrepancy between prices in the private and listed markets continues to benefit REITs and we expect large transactions to occur in the direct market globally, particularly the US and Europe (including the UK), as we continue to see strong demand from investors around the world.
In terms of listed infrastructure, the market remains volatile as we head into the new year, particularly for energy sensitive stocks. There is currently much focus on the changes in the global oil market and the ‘lower for longer’ crude oil environment. However, our view is we are in a ‘lower for longer’ global yield environment and we believe the US Federal Reserve will be cautious and not raise rates too quickly while the rest of the world remains weak. Overall, we believe global listed infrastructure will remain supported by a secular growth tailwind, stable and sustainable cash flows and above-average dividend yields.
Australian shares – Australian shares are likely to improve as the drag from slumping resources profits abates, interest rates remain low and growth rebalances away from resources. But they will probably continue to lag global shares as the commodity price headwind remains.
Important note: While every care has been taken in the preparation of this document, AMP Capital Investors Limited (ABN 59 001 777 591, AFSL 232497) and AMP Capital Funds Management Limited (ABN 15 159 557 721, AFSL 426455) make no representations or warranties as to the accuracy or completeness of any statement in it including, without limitation, any forecasts. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance. This document has been prepared for the purpose of providing general information, without taking account of any particular investor’s objectives, financial situation or needs. An investor should, before making any investment decisions, consider the appropriateness of the information in this document, and seek professional advice, having regard to the investor’s objectives, financial situation and needs. This document is solely for the use of the party to whom it is provided.


Tribal Gaming Commission Orders Unlicensed Casino to Close
On Friday January 20, 2012, the Saint Regis Tribal Gaming Commission issued a letter to the Three Feathers Casino, ordering it to close its doors and cease gaming operations. “Under Tribal Law, there are only two licensed gaming properties in Akwesasne,” said Tribal Chief Mark Garrow. “They are the Mohawk Bingo Palace and the Akwesasne Mohawk Casino. Any other gaming facilities are unlicensed and operating illegally.”
The closure order states, (in part) that Class II and Class III games are lawful, “if operated by the Tribe as a Tribal Enterprise or by any other person or entity authorized by the Tribe. The St. Regis Mohawk Tribe has not authorized licensed or designated as agents, any person(s) to operate the Three Feathers Casino.”
The two legal tribal gaming enterprises operate with regulatory oversight by the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribal Gaming Commission along with the National Indian Gaming Commission. The Akwesasne Mohawk Casino is additionally regulated by the New York State Racing and Wagering Board, as required by the New York-Saint Regis Mohawk Compact.
The unregulated and unlicensed gaming operation has been a concern to Tribal Council. “We’re not sure just exactly who is involved as financial backers,” said Randy Hart, Tribal Chief. “We know for sure that they are not part of the Tribal-State Compact which permits the legal operation of Class III Indian casinos in the Akwesasne Territory.” The unlicensed facility, its employees, gaming equipment suppliers, the operators or financiers have not undergone any background checks in order to operate gaming in that facility. “Those background checks are integral to maintain the integrity of Indian Gaming,” Hart added. Without those checks, it’s not possible to determine whether any of those entities is eligible for gaming licenses.
The Akwesasne Mohawk Casino and the Mohawk Bingo Palace operate for the benefit of the tribal community, by providing funding to over 100 programs. These programs include health services, education, prevention programs, a senior’s center, the fire department and the environment department, to name a few. This unlicensed casino has no oversight from the Saint Regis Tribal Gaming Commission, which ensures the fairness of the games and protects the gaming public. Further, it does not undergo an audit conforming to the National Indian Gaming Commission’s standards. Therefore, it’s not possible to know how much money is coming in or where it’s going. “One of the big questions is ‘Who benefits from the proceeds of unlicensed gaming?’” asked Tribal Chief Ron LaFrance. “It’s very clear who benefits from the proceeds from the tribally-operated casinos. That is the people of Akwesasne. No matter what the operators of the unlicensed facility may say, we have seen very few tangible benefits in terms of community support.”
The closure order further states, “The St. Regis Mohawk Tribal Gaming Commission has not issued Three Feathers Casino a gaming facility license, nor have individuals been licensed to conduct gaming activities in the facility. The operation is therefore in violation of the St. Regis Mohawk Tribe’s Gaming Ordinance. Accordingly, you are hereby ordered to cease and desist operating….”
The Saint Regis Mohawk Tribal Council, as the federally recognized representative of the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe, is the only entity that has the authority to legally regulate gaming operations located within the reservation. This authority can be confirmed through the National Indian Gaming Commission, the Department of the Interior and the Bureau of Indian Affairs. Furthermore, the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe is the only governing body in Akwesasne who is a signatory to the gaming compact, a requirement to conduct Class III gaming under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act.
For additional information contact David T. Staddon, Director of Public Information at 518-358-2272 ext. 286.January 27, 2012


After 31 December 2020, EU trade agreements will no longer apply to the UK.  Agricultural products include chapters 1 to 24 of fewer fish in accordance with the WTO agreement on agriculture. Additional codes were not taken into account due to the availability of the data. The Government is cooperating with stakeholders to inform UK trade policy and negotiations. For all agricultural products, 61% of exports are shipped in value to the European Union. Of the world`s exports, about $3 billion goes to countries with which the EU has an existing trade agreement that accounts for about 14% of the UK`s total agricultural exports. Andorra, San Marino and Turkey are part of the customs union. The UK`s future trade relations with these countries will be influenced by the UK`s agreement with the EU. By October 2019, before the Brexit deadline, the UK government had already signed or implemented 15 agreements to continue after leaving the EU, which would have come into force in the event of a non-agreement scenario. However, a withdrawal agreement was finally reached between the two parties and the UK officially left the EU on 31 January 2020. However, the UK has entered a “transitional phase” in which the UK retains a number of EU advantages, such as .B internal market and customs union alignment, as well as access to all existing EU free trade agreements. Since October, the government has concluded a number of additional continuity agreements, with 21 agreements signed to date (for 50 countries) (14 September 2020).
While a member of the EU, the UK was automatically part of some 40 trade agreements that the EU has concluded with more than 70 countries. In 2018, these activities accounted for about 11% of total trade in the UK. During the Brexit negotiations between the EU and the UK, there were concerns about the lack of agreement on the terms of withdrawal and the fact that the UK would hastily leave the EU without any deal (the initial scenario of Brexit without a deal). With this result a possibility, the United Kingdom secured a pure trade agreement with Norway and Iceland, which would only be valid after an exit without an EU agreement. Since the UK agreed on conditions in November 2019 and ratified the Brexit withdrawal agreement and left the EU at the end of January 2020, the deal has become obsolete and will therefore not enter into force. Learn more about the trade agreements already signed by the UK and our discussions with the countries with which the EU has a trade agreement. Updated to reflect ongoing trade negotiations with Turkey and Vietnam Any trade agreement will aim to remove tariffs and remove other trade barriers that come into force. It will also cover both goods and services. What do free trade agreements mean for British businesses? The UK officially left the EU on 31 January 2020. Subsequently, the United Kingdom entered a transitional period that ends on 31 December 2021. During this period, the United Kingdom still has to turn away from the internal market and the customs union, a process that is arguably more laborious and complex than the initial withdrawal agreement.
The next deadline of 31 December 2020 has the potential to have a much deeper impact on agriculture. Although the UK Government has continued to sign continuity agreements, they still account for a small portion of the UK`s total agricultural exports, but some important partners have yet to be signed. If the UK leaves the customs union and the internal market without a trade deal, the UK will trade with the EU and a number of other important partners with regard to WTO rules which, as we have already studied, will have a number of effects on agriculture.


It seems like it was just yesterday when we were celebrating the start of Black History Month, and just like that, we are now in the middle of March. Where has the time gone?
In our first blog this month, I’m highlighting a subject dear to my heart, Black children and their challenges in an inequitable system with a particular focus on Black girls.
At the start of my career, I talked about Black children across genders. Folks would reply to my comments with “yeah, we have to fight for Black boys” or “especially Black boys”. These comments ignored the experience of Black girls and did not recognize that racism occurs for Black children regardless of gender.
Their struggle is a double-edged sword, with both racism and sexism a serious issue. Being both Black and a girl is not the problem; the burden is how the world treats you when you are Black and a girl. Unfortunately, in schools, discrimination starts as early as when Black girls are in childcare, starting when they are babies.
Invisibility and Marginalization
The systemic oppression that besets Black girls and follows them into womanhood renders them invisible. This misfortune sees their concerns lumped in with general human rights or undercut by focus mainly on boys. As just mentioned above, this injustice begins at a much earlier age than most people are aware.
Black girls are nearly six times more likely to get out-of-school suspension than other groups of girls. A report from the African American Policy Forum and Columbia Law School’s Center for Intersectionality and Social Policy Studies found that Black girls are more likely to be suspended multiple times than other students.
Dr. Monique W. Morris, featured in my last blog, opined, “We celebrate Rosa Parks and talk about all of these women who were part of the construction of democracy, yet when Black girls speak their truth, they’re told that they are disruptive to the learning process.” So the same qualities of assertiveness and speaking your truth which are celebrated in leaders are deemed as troublesome and undesirable in Black girls and women. The connected result being the exclusion of this group from potentially meaningful and influential positions in the future.
This bias towards Black girls in school leaves them frustrated and feeling misunderstood. This bias also causes adults to view them as deserving of punishment. Disciplinary actions not only result in lost classroom time and stalled academic progress, but they also erode self-esteem and reinforce the idea that Black girls are not welcome in class. Thus exacerbating an already undesirable situation.
According to the National Women’s Law Center, black girls are more likely to be referred to police for disciplinary actions at school. They are charged more often than any other groups of students for non-violent offenses such as truancy, violating curfew or court orders, or running away from their families and foster care placements, according to the Juvenile and Capital Advocacy Project. Another significant number are arrested for survival crimes and misdemeanors, such as petty theft or shoplifting. This does not mean they are doing these actions more often. The data shows for the same action; Black girls receive harsher and more frequent involvement in the carcel system.
Twenty-eight years ago, Kimberlé Crenshaw coined the term “intersectionality” in a paper to help explain the oppression of African-American women. Crenshaw’s then somewhat academic term is now at the forefront of national conversations about racial justice, identity politics, and policing—and over the years has helped shape legal discussions. “Black girls don’t misbehave more, but experts say they often receive more severe punishments for the same behavior as their White peers” – Hannah Gaber, USA Today. This is the intentional result of institutional structures driven by racist underpinnings.
Research on racial and gender stereotyping typically focuses on the role of one of these social categories at a time rather than race/gender combinations. This has led some scholars to conclude that the relative non-prototypicality of Black women’s race and gender results in their “invisibility” relative to White women and to men of other races (Fryberg and Townsend, 2008, Purdie-Vaughns and Eibach, 2008).
Two studies address whether Black women go “unnoticed” and their voices “unheard” by examining memory for Black women’s faces and speech contributions. These studies found that photos of Black women were least likely to be recognized (Study 1), and statements said by a Black woman in a group discussion were least likely to be correctly attributed (Study 2) compared to men and other women. The importance and implications of invisibility as a unique form of discrimination are discussed at length.
Lending weight to these pronouncements is the fact that when the feminist movement first began, its premise was for White women to get voting rights but excluded Black women. So even White women when fighting for their rights did not think that Black women should be included in that universal suffrage.
As one of my favorite authors, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, said: “We teach girls to shrink themselves, to make themselves smaller”. This, to me, is the tragedy of humanity in this age and cannot be allowed to continue unchecked. That is why I believe that we need to listen to Black Educators about educating Black children. Last month’s blog post highlighted the work of such educators and their work in this regard and I would urge you to read it if you haven’t already done so.
So I ask you to now reflect… What messages are you sending the girl and femme students/children around you? One way or another you are shaping their future and that of all humanity.
For more information on this topic please read this blog I co authored with my colleague.


Because of racially motivated War on Drug policies, nearly 4 million African Americans and Latinos have been arrested, incarcerated and or convicted of a felony marijuana charge. Seventy five percent of those individuals will never move out of poverty unless the system is changed. Like the failed war on drugs, the new marijuana industry is poised to enshrine discriminatory practices in the regulatory system. By prohibiting the rights of those with marijuana related charges to fully participate in the cannabis marketplace, government and private industry partners are sealing the fate of people who already struggle to living wage employment, government assistance in housing and education support. Ironically, while people of color make up 88% of all marijuana related convictions for distribution of marijuana, they make up less than 1% of those who own and or work in the cultivation and dispensary sectors of the marijuana industry. Evidence is clear- African American communities where marijuana-related arrests outpace other communities have been socially and economically destroyed by mass incarceration related to drug law enforcement, yet these same communities are least likely to benefit from the billion-dollar economic boom that legalization now presents.
Our solution is simple. The Marijuana Policy Trust will provide unbiased and credible information based in research to local and state government officials tasked with implementing cannabis-related legislation and regulation. In collaboration with jurisdictions around the country we will ensure data-driven planning and implementation efforts that provide equitable access and opportunity at every stage of the regulatory process. Our team will develop policy recommendations, assessment and training materials that respond to the specific needs of the jurisdiction. Marijuana Policy Trust is a social enterprise aimed at modeling cannabis regulations that create equity in marketplace access, revenue generation and improved economic conditions for individuals and communities most impacted by failed the war on drug policies. We are DO-GOODERS passionate about creating pathways out of poverty! Credibility and community representation is at the heart of the organizational mission.
Khadijah Tribble is an activist and policy strategist on a mission to do good. Khadijah received her MPA from the Harvard Kennedy School in 2018. Upon her graduation, she successfully launched the Marijuana Policy Trust, a social enterprise partnering with government and the cannabis community establishing a regulatory framework that works for all stakeholders. Applying a social justice and equity lens, Khadijah utilizes over 15 years of consulting experience to assist government officials in regulating a new cannabis marketplace.
No stranger to complex problems, Khadijah has lent her expertise and talents as board advisor to numerous worthy organizations including her current role as board member for New Profit’s Hero awardee, Changing Perceptions, an organization leading the charge in offering ex-offenders a way out of recidivism and path to entrepreneurship. Most recently she served as strategic chair for United Medical Center Hospital and founding board member of the Community Wellness Collective. As a Cheng Fellow, Khadijah worked with local and state government officials in Massachusetts providing policy briefings and recommendations for establishing the state’s regulatory framework for cannabis. Dividing her time between Washington, DC, Boston and Oakland Khadijah continues to refine the cannabis equity in regulation toolkit (CERT) which she developed during her Cheng Fellowship.


It is with great pleasure that we announce that the 12th International conference on Carbonic Anhydrases: emerging advancements in the field will be held in Naples, Italy, in the period 5-7 July 2023.
The conference will be organized by the Institute of Biostructures and Bioimaging of the Italian National Research Council, the University of Florence and the University of Tampere. It will be a great opportunity to be updated with all the discoveries in the field of Carbonic Anhydrases in recent years, and to interact with leading scientists in this field who will join the conference from all over the world.
The program will cover a broad spectrum of topics in the field of Carbonic Anhydrases, including their role in human diseases, their physiological role in mammals, plants, bacteria and other organisms, and their biotechnological application.
The conference will take place at Royal Continental Hotel, located in the historical area of Naples, which is easily accessible from the airport and train station.
Naples is one of the most beautiful cities in Europe, located in south of Italy at the center of the homonymous gulf “dominated” by the volcano Vesuvius. It is the city where modern pizza was originated, but that is not all. It is a historic city full of stories to tell. Its historical center is an extraordinary open-air museum where ancient and modern merge continuously. Naples is famous all over the world for its magnificent artistic and historical treasures, its Unesco Heritage sites such as Pompeii and Herculaneum and its fascinating coast and islands such as Capri, Ischia and Procida.
On behalf of the Organizing Committee, we would like to warmly invite scientists from all parts of the world to join us at 12th International conference on Carbonic Anhydrases: emerging advancements in the field.
We are working hard every day to make this conference in Naples a pleasant and friendly event that will surely promote good scientific interactions between scientists, and build valuable professional networks that will extend beyond the congress itself.
We look forward to seeing you in Naples in 5-7 July 2023.
Giuseppina De Simone
Claudiu T. Supuran
Simona Maria Monti


If you haven't checked out the blogs section of ProfNet Connect lately, you're missing out on some wonderful posts. Here's a recap of some of the top posts for the week of September 1:
One of the Perils of Science Reporting: Scientists are People Too
"A recent New York Times article on research into caloric restriction illustrates one of the pitfalls of science reporting - namely, that scientists are just as human as the rest of us." Tony Rogers, journalist and journalism professor explains how scientists really feel when the results of a study don't result in a way they wished for.
Back-to-School Curriculum for PR: Cool Stuff You Can Learn Now
"It’s time to wake up and learn some new things! Their backpacks stuffed and alarm clocks set, the under-18 set is ready to strap in and begin another school year. Hopefully, this school year will leave them basking in new experiences, enjoying new friends and reveling in a trove of newly acquired skills. Why should they have all the fun?" Sarah Skerik, vice president of social media at PR Newswire shares some new apps and technologies we all should know about.
Interesting Expert of the Week, Nature Edition
"This week’s Interesting Expert spotlight belongs to Fred Kaufman, executive producer of “Nature,” which returns Oct. 10 with new programs on Siberian tigers, snowy owls and Attenborough’s 60-year career." Maria Perez, director of news operations at ProfNet has the interview.
MEDIAware is PR Newswire's Audience Research Department newsletter featuring media news and job changes in the last month by Kevin Frey, senior media researcher at PR Newswire.
Media News Highlight
"Media News Highlight shares articles and stories from the worlds of media and journalism that may be of interest to professionals who work in said industries and newsrooms across the country. Here's my latest summary."
How to use Instagram in PR
"We’ve all seen and likely created a sepia-tinted, vintage-style digital photo using the photo-sharing service, Instagram on our phones. It makes our photos look much cooler than they are, which is probably why usage is exploding – growing from 15 million users in early 2012 to 80 million users in July." Jennifer DeAngelis, PR professional at InkHouse LLC tells us exactly how to make use of this very helpful tool.
Expert Alerts: American Muslims, Politics and the Workplace, More
ProfNet is a free service that provides journalists, bloggers, authors and other writers with links to experts and story ideas on the topics they cover. You’ll also find links to job opportunities and other news and resources we think you’ll find useful. Jason Hahn, senior editor at ProfNet has this week's alert.
Fashion Week Forecast
"If you’re seeing an increase in tall, thin women walking the streets of New York and riding the subway, it’s a sign that we’re just days away from Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week." Mercedes Sanchez, style expert at BeChicMag.com describes the exciting events of this yearly NYC extravaganza.
DNC 2012 Day One: Event Prep and CarolinaFest
"PR Newswire arrived to the Democratic National Convention early Monday morning to an increasingly packed scene. The Charlotte Convention Center was bustling on this Labor Day with journalists prepping for the next day’s start of the convention, volunteers corralling themselves in pockets inside and outside of the building, locals and tourists documenting everything happening around them, and law enforcement officials securing the perimeter and surrounding streets." Christine Cube, media relations manager at PR Newswire was just 1 of the PR Newswire team members who attended the convention. Here's her recap of their first day in North Carolina.
Upcoming #ConnectChat: Tips for Using Photos in PR/Marketing Campaigns
"Visuals are playing an increasingly important role in companies’ PR and marketing efforts. A good photo can increase visibility for your news release, and photo-sharing sites like Pinterest and Instagram are more popular than ever. So, what makes a good photo? Do you need special equipment? What should companies be thinking about when looking to increase their use of photos in their PR and marketing campaigns?" Maria Perez will address these questions and much more during next week's #ConnectChat.
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The State Of The City 2021: Moving Forward Together
As we look back on the past year, we’re overwhelmed by our community’s strength and commitment. 2020 was an unprecedented year of change, challenge, and adaptation. As the premier city in the Inland Empire, Ontario’s residents, employees, business owners, and leaders banded together to overcome these challenges and create new ways to connect our community. This is YOUR Ontario, and together, we’re building a bright future!
Looking Back: 2020 In Review
COVID-19 suddenly and drastically transformed almost every aspect of our lives. Throughout the first tenuous months of the pandemic, information was flying, guidelines were changing on a daily (if not hourly) basis, and confusion was running rampant. To provide residents, workers, and leaders with essential and up-to-date information about the virus, current regulations, and state and county-wide programs, the City of Ontario created a Coronavirus Updates webpage.
During the initial stay-at-home orders, the City worked with essential businesses to provide the necessary letters for their employees that would allow them to continue operations. During this time, the City also worked with local businesses and manufacturers that retooled their production lines and operations to make the personal protective equipment (PPE) that was highly in demand.
The City’s Economic Development Team created a Coronavirus Resources hub to provide local, county, state, and national information and resources for employees and employers. We’ve continued to update the page with the latest information surrounding safety guidelines, protocols, and government grants and funding.
As the pandemic continued to develop, the Economic Development Team worked with restaurants, personal care services (including nail salons, barbershops, beauty salons, etc.), and other sectors that were restricted in their operations, to create and establish temporary outdoor operations.
A Community Proves Its Strength
Despite the challenges the pandemic created, Ontario’s entire community came together to keep our City thriving. We maintained the same level of City services – trash pickup, Staff available to answer questions, permit submissions and Strike Team Meetings, allowing businesses to do any construction or tenant improvements during this time.
Additionally, services to our residents did not stop and Staff found creative solutions to connect with the community. The Community Life & Culture Agency created a Virtual Resource Center composed of over 500 videos, informational links, and resources. The Ontario Museum of History & Art served more than 3,500 people through online programs and virtual activities and classes. The Ontario Senior Center partnered with local restaurants and services to support the increased demand of lunches for the senior community, providing almost 90,000 meals. The Ontario City Library had over 3,000 books checked out through curbside pickup. The Recreation Department held drive-thru events for Halloween and the winter holidays, in addition to the virtual tree lighting ceremony and the virtual Battle of the Bands. Clearly, Ontario stepped up in a big way for its citizens during the pandemic!
Moving Forward In Changing Times
One thing the pandemic couldn’t stop was Ontario’s growth. We welcomed several new local businesses, restaurants, shops, and community spaces in 2020 and even more will make Ontario their home in 2021. New housing developments are being planned throughout the City to accommodate our growing demand.
As we continue to look to the future, the City of Ontario is committed to supporting our citizens and businesses. The Economic Development Department is working on a COVID-19 Business Recovery Strategy to help Ontario’s businesses thrive in a post-pandemic world. Although 2021 isn’t without its own challenges, this year is full of promise and hope. If 2020 has shown us anything, it’s how much a community can do when we stand together and support each other. This is our Ontario, and we can’t wait to shape a new future with you!


THP Solicitors were very proud to once again support the Henley Herald Community Champion Awards which recognise those who have contributed to the town throughout the past year. Running since 2018, nominees and winners are decided by the public across the six awards categories.
The award sponsored by THP Solicitors is for the ‘Community Champion’ and was presented by Richard Rodway to Harriet Barcella for her work with Friends of Badgemore School and the Chiltern Centre, making it her second award for the evening alongside the ‘Heart of Gold Neighbour’ title.
Harriet said, “I didn’t expect to win two awards but it’s really lovely. As everyone else has said, this community doesn’t exist because of individuals; it exists because of everyone in this room and all of the amazing things that people do every day. It’s lovely to be nominated and really lovely to win but actually, this community is about every single person that is part of it“.
Proceeds from the event went to Lowland Oxfordshire Rescue, a team of 70 professional volunteers on call 24/7/365 to assist Thames Valley Police in the search for high risk, vulnerable missing people.
The Henley Herald Community Champion Awards will open nominations again in September 2022 www.henleyherald.com


SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic (sentinel.ht) – It was from the Dominican press that Haitians first learned, Monday, that President-elect Jovenel Moise was on a visit to the Dominican Republic, reports Le Nouvelliste.
Later, Monday evening, the Haitian Ambassador to Santo Domingo, Idabert Pierre-Jean, confirmed the news in a “terse” manner, reported the paper. “President Jovenel Moïse is here and we are still at the [Dominican] national palace,” said the Ambassador Pierre-Jean to the paper at 9 PM EST Monday.
Asked about the purpose of the president-elect’s visit to the neighboring territory, the diplomat replied: “I do not know. It is a private visit, he is the special guest of President Medina. They’re having dinner now. Tomorrow they will have visits to the places and work…”
According to Dominican media, President Danilo Medina received on Monday at the national palace Jovenel Moïse, where they discussed various issues relating to bilateral relations between the two countries. Mr. Moise’s arrival was scheduled for 5:30 PM EST, but the plane landed at 7:08 PM at Isabela airport in Santo Domingo.
Jovenel Moïse traveled by Sunrise Airways airline. He was received by the Dominican Minister of Foreign Affairs, Miguel Vargas Maldonado, and the Haitian Ambassador to the Dominican Republic, Idalbert Pierre-Jean.
According to the Dominican press, Jovenel Moses said he was on a courtesy visit to the Dominican Republic for two days. He will also meet with the authorities of the country and leaders of different sectors of the national life. He will deal with issues such as tourism, the free trade area, and migration, among others.
The President-elect took the opportunity to invite Danilo Medina to his inauguration on February 7, 2017 in Port-au-Prince.


The recently completed Science and Engineering Building now houses an $8m radiocarbon dating lab where researchers will be able to generate urgently needed data on climate change.
Researchers will have exclusive access to an archive of Antarctic ice, subfossil and living trees from remote New Zealand Subantarctic Islands and other ancient carbon resources to analyse in the new lab.
Data generated from the archive will allow researchers to fill a vast 50,000-year gap in the planet’s climate records, highlighting the impacts of abrupt and extreme climate change.
The data will complement existing detailed climate records which only date back some 150 years, allowing Australia to better understand its environmental history.
The new facility, located in the Mark Wainwright Analytical Centre, is one of the first in the world to take advantage of recent developments in carbon-14 dating that allow researchers to reconstruct Southern Hemisphere climate records with incredibly targeted accuracy.
ARC Laureate Fellow and Professor of Earth Science and Climate Change, Chris Turney said the new facility will facilitate carbon dating research at UNSW to help explain changes in our climate today.
“The insights afforded by this new facility will provide an improved understanding of the global drivers and impacts of future climate whilst also allowing us to investigate the adverse impact of past global events on life on earth, including major changes in the carbon cycle,” Professor Turney said.
“It will also increase our knowledge of prehistoric human populations across Australia and Asia,” he said.
UNSW President and Vice-Chancellor Prof Ian Jacobs said the facility is an exciting and important addition to UNSW and further enhances the University as a leader in climate sciences.
“This facility will be the source of profound new discoveries in the Earth, Environmental and Archaeological Sciences,” he said.
“If ever we needed this type of insight into our environment, it is now, as we face the existential threat of a climate emergency.”
The $8 million Chronos 14 Carbon-Cycle Facility was developed in partnership with Australian National University and the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO).
It features the Southern Hemisphere’s first Mini Carbon Dating System (MICADAS) Accelerator Mass Spectrometer (AMS).
The facility, designed to house this specific research, is temperature controlled and dust-free with dedicated space for each stage of the research process.
UNSW is partnering with ANSTO to train a new generation of interdisciplinary researchers who will be equipped to meet the environmental challenges of the future.
PhD students, postdoctoral research staff and academics from across UNSW, particularly in the School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Science in the Schools of Science, Civil Engineering and Engineering will be able to utilise this world-class facility.
The installation of this Chronos 14 Carbon-Cycle Facility highlights the University’s commitment to significantly invest in world-class research and teaching facilities to deliver on its Strategy 2025 to position itself as Australia’s global university.
The construction of the laboratory in the basement of the Science and Engineering Building was managed by Estate Management who collaborated with architects to deliver the brand new world-class dedicated space.
Executive Director (Acting) of Estate Management, Sancha Cromie, said: “Estate Management have delivered this dedicated world-class facility, enabling further research across seven Australian institutions in the area of chronology, climate and carbon; truly important research, to which we are humbled to have contributed.”


The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) recently released regulations and guidelines for the operations of Payment Service Banks (PSBs) in Nigeria.
PSBs could revolutionise the Nigeria financial services industry, and be potential challengers to the incumbents in the industry, as they usher in a new era of innovative payments to customers.
KPMG has developed a point of view on this development and provided detailed perspectives on the issues in this publication (Payment Service Banks – The ‘Challenger’ Banks in Nigeria) including:
- An overview of PSBs and the implications for the Nigerian financial services landscape.
- Emerging market trends and their implications for the operations of PSBs.
- Potential levers of growth and profitability for PSBs, including how some of these levers can be adjusted for success.
- Outstanding issues regarding the operations of PSBs that may require regulatory attention going forward.
- A critical review of the India payments banks experience, on which the CBN has modelled PSBs, with insights from our KPMG colleagues in India.
Click to download and read more on this article.
© 2021 KPMG Professional Services, a partnership registered in Nigeria and a member firm of the KPMG global organization of independent member firms affiliated with KPMG International Limited, a private English company limited by guarantee. All rights reserved.


Philippine boxing great Manny Pacquiao returned to the ring Sunday for the first time since retiring from the sport last year, facing off against a South Korean YouTuber in an exhibition match near Seoul.
The 43-year-old fighter turned politician stepped away from boxing to launch a bid for the Philippine presidency that failed. He also served as a senator between 2016 and May this year.
On Sunday Pacquiao fought D.K. Yoo in a showcase match on the outskirts of the South Korean capital to raise money for Ukraine and homeless Filipinos.
Dressed in a shiny red robe with gold trimming, Pacquiao emerged into the KINTEX arena in Goyang to roars of excitement from the crowd.
For his opponent Yoo, a martial artist and internet star, it was only the second time in a boxing ring — his previous encounter an exhibition match against former UFC fighter Bradley Scott.
Yoo, dubbed the “Korean Bruce Lee” in his homeland — was no match for Pacquiao despite being significantly taller and heavier.
The South Korean was visibly tired and winded after the second round as a speedy Pacquiao moved in with an explosion of rapid-fire punches.
Pacquiao, who turns 44 next week, was the winner by unanimous decision and hinted that more appearances in the ring could lie ahead.
In a television interview, he said he would continue training to get back in shape. When asked about the prospect of a fight in 2023, he replied: “You’ll see.”
He had suggested prior to the match that he may not be done with fighting, calling Sunday’s bout a “very good stepping stone to come back”.
“This is a great opportunity to come back in the ring,” he added. “I thought it was easy to retire… I really missed boxing.”
Pacquiao, a multiple world champion who hung up his gloves with a 62-8-2 record after winning 12 major titles in eight weight classes, admitted: “I felt lonely when I retired from boxing.”


They may be considered more mega-chain than artisan burger flippers, but it’s difficult to argue with the fact that Byron is a consistently solid choice for a pretty decent burger. They pride themselves on using well-sourced British beef in their burger patties, which are generally served nicely pink and juicy in one of their many satisfying menu choices.
This year, they’re stepping out of their comfort zone and into the realm of culinary ‘innovation’ with a new range of vegetarian and vegan menu items. Carnivorous evangelists may scoff at the idea that a burger joint would invest so much time and energy into meatless frivolities, but for a restaurant operating at the scale Byron does, it’s essential for keeping customers in. The rise of vegetarianism and veganism in the UK is indisputable, and… well, nobody wants to feel left out when they go out for dinner, so we say good on them.
New burgers include the all-vegan Beetnik: a beetroot falafel patty with baby kale and smashed avo (obvs) as well as the Jack Stack – a fully loaded veggie burger with a tasty bean patty, pulled BBQ jackfruit and slaw. But the headline act in this festival of flexitarianism is the Flex burger – a concept totally new to the UK that combines 70% British beef and 30% minced mushrooms for those who just can’t decide whether or not they’re in a meaty mood.
“The Flex and the Reflex burgers have been created because our customers want them. Whether it be for health or sustainability reasons, there’s lot of people who are more conscious about the amount of meat they’re eating right now. I wanted to create a burger that makes it easy for our customers to make a simple switch but keep all of the flavour of our proper classics” says Paul Mason, Head of Food at Byron.
The jury’s out on whether it’s truly worth the sacrifice – in our opinion their classic, all-beef burgers and the undeniably delicious veggie Jack Stack are individually tastier and more satisfying than the Flex, but it’s certainly an option that will excite the UK’s meat reducers, and that’s no bad thing.
Find out more at www.byronhamburgers.com.


The 1st of July 2022 marked 50 years since the first ever pride demonstration took place in the UK. It was organised following efforts made by the LGBTQ+ community against police harassment in New York’s Stonewall riots three years prior. 700 participants attended in London and have continued to protest their rights and celebrate decades following, despite the hostility. Cities and towns across the country are painted in the colours of the rainbow every June.
The day marked remembrance and solidarity for the community who faced discrimination and injustice both socially and systemically. While same-sex relations have been decriminalised and gay marriage is legal in England, Wales, and Scotland, there are still disparities in how people are treated. According to the Stonewall Report, 2 in every 3 people belonging to the community have been the victim of a hate crime. One in seven have even shared that they have avoided healthcare in fear of discrimination from staff.
In terms of career opportunities and the workplace, the LGBTQ+ community is also disadvantaged and treated unfairly. Research conducted by the same body shared that 12% of those in their study lost a job in the last year because of their sexual/gender orientation. 46% of LGBT workers in another study said that they had experienced unfair treatment whilst at work. There’s also a lack of representation at every stage of management, especially for LGBTQ+ women as only 1.2% make up senior management.
Not being full inclusive deprives organisations of diversity and the wealth of ideas that it brings. Discriminatory behaviour is also in violation of the Equality Act (2010) that legally protects people from discrimination in the workplace and wider society.
What an LGBTQ+ Talent Pool Has to Offer and Employers Making a Difference
There are many benefits that an LGBTQ+ talent pool can bring. Studies highlight that they are well-educated, more highly engaged than average, and often empathetic.
An example of a company that is starting to embrace diversity in a big way is the pharmaceutical and consumer packaged goods manufacturer Johnson’s and Johnson’s. They have invested significant time and resources into transforming their workplace of over 132,000 employees to create a culture that’s inclusive. ‘Diversity University’ is an initiative that is a part of the movement.
Accenture is another business that is amongst a number of them. They are an employer of over 513,000 that provide professional/consulting services and are committed to enabling women, LGBTQ+, and employees from ethnic minorities to build the skills for success needed within the organisation. These two examples show that there’s more we must do as businesses to make those from the marginalised backgrounds feel welcome within our organisations and be treated fairly without prejudice and inequality. This can be achieved through staff training on diversity and equality.
Learn more about the training programmes that we provide by getting in touch with a member of our team.