#HEADLINES: Donald Sterling, Nigeria Kidnappings, Columbia U Title IX Complaint, CIW's Fair Food Program, African-American Unemployment, Pollution, Super PACs
Pollution Killed 7 Million People Worldwide in 2012, Report Finds -- New York Times
"More than one-third of those deaths, the organization said, occurred in fast-developing nations of Asia, where rates of cardiovascular and pulmonary disease have been soaring.
Around the world, one out of every eight deaths was tied to dirty air, the agency determined — twice as many as previously estimated."
Worldwide Protests Call for Release of Kidnapped Nigerian Girls -- CNN
International pressure on Nigeria mounted Saturday with protesters taking to the streets around the world to demand the rescue of hundreds of schoolgirls abducted by the terror group Boko Haram.
From Los Angeles to London, demonstrators carried posters reading #BringBackOurGirls -- a campaign that began on Twitter following the mass abduction of the girls in April -- and chanted "Bring them home!," "Not for sale!" and "African lives matter!"
Columbia University Students File Title IX Sexual Assault Complaint -- CNN
"The 100-page complaint alleges that the University allows accused perpetrators of sexual assault to remain on campus, has too-lenient sanctions for perpetrators, discourages victims from reporting assault and denies accommodations to students with mental health disabilities (which they say result from their attacks). The students also claim that LGBTQ students are discriminated against in advising, counseling and Greek Life."
In Florida Tomato Fields, a Penny Buys Progress -- New York Times
"By enlisting the might of major restaurant chains and retailers — including Walmart, which signed on this year — the Coalition of Immokalee Workers has pressured growers that produce 90 percent of Florida’s tomatoes to increase wages for their 30,000 workers and follow strict standards that mandate rest breaks and forbid sexual harassment and verbal abuse.
The incentive for growers to comply with what’s called the Fair Food Program is economically stark: The big companies have pledged to buy only from growers who follow the new standards, paying them an extra penny a pound, which goes to the pickers. The companies have also pledged to drop any suppliers that violate the standards."
Unemployment for African-Americans Drops to Lowest Level Since November 2008 -- National Journal
"Unemployment among African-Americans, however, remains a major problem. Last month, more than 2.2 million African-Americans were unemployed, the highest rate of any racial group.
In April, the unemployment rate dropped for whites to 5.3 percent, Hispanics to 7.3 percent and Asians to 5.7 percent.
That means, too, that the unemployment rate for black Americans is more than double that of whites, which is not a new trend. A Pew study from last year shows that since 1954, when the BLS consistently started recording unemployment by race, the rate for African-Americans has consistently been twice that of whites."
What Helped Bring Donald Sterling Down? A Threatened Strike Against Racism -- Edge of Sports
"The plan was set, the product of a 30-minute players meeting. The Warriors were going to go through pre-game warm-ups and take part in the national anthem and starting line-up introductions. They were going to take the floor for the jump ball, dapping up the Clippers players as is customary before games.
Then once the ball was in the air, they were just going to walk off. All 15 of them."
Candidates Are Now Suggesting Ad Copy for Super PACs -- National Journal
"Candidates can't legally talk strategy with a super PAC. But can they write a super PAC's ad copy?
That's the question raised by a new page on Sen. Jeanne Shaheen's website, in which the New Hampshire Democrat is shopping what appears to be a 30-second ad script for an outside group. The script comes complete with a document backing up the attacks on her opponent, former Sen. Scott Brown, and high-resolution images of the smiling candidate that could populate a potential future ad.
'When Brown was the Senator from Massachusetts he gave big oil and Wall Street billions in special breaks,' the site says. 'They gave him millions in campaign contributions.'
This is the bold new frontier of candidate and super PAC coordination without direct communication. The party committees now post opposition research packets online for super PAC usage."
"More than one-third of those deaths, the organization said, occurred in fast-developing nations of Asia, where rates of cardiovascular and pulmonary disease have been soaring.
Around the world, one out of every eight deaths was tied to dirty air, the agency determined — twice as many as previously estimated."
International pressure on Nigeria mounted Saturday with protesters taking to the streets around the world to demand the rescue of hundreds of schoolgirls abducted by the terror group Boko Haram.
From Los Angeles to London, demonstrators carried posters reading #BringBackOurGirls -- a campaign that began on Twitter following the mass abduction of the girls in April -- and chanted "Bring them home!," "Not for sale!" and "African lives matter!"
Columbia University Students File Title IX Sexual Assault Complaint -- CNN
"The 100-page complaint alleges that the University allows accused perpetrators of sexual assault to remain on campus, has too-lenient sanctions for perpetrators, discourages victims from reporting assault and denies accommodations to students with mental health disabilities (which they say result from their attacks). The students also claim that LGBTQ students are discriminated against in advising, counseling and Greek Life."
"By enlisting the might of major restaurant chains and retailers — including Walmart, which signed on this year — the Coalition of Immokalee Workers has pressured growers that produce 90 percent of Florida’s tomatoes to increase wages for their 30,000 workers and follow strict standards that mandate rest breaks and forbid sexual harassment and verbal abuse.
The incentive for growers to comply with what’s called the Fair Food Program is economically stark: The big companies have pledged to buy only from growers who follow the new standards, paying them an extra penny a pound, which goes to the pickers. The companies have also pledged to drop any suppliers that violate the standards."
"Unemployment among African-Americans, however, remains a major problem. Last month, more than 2.2 million African-Americans were unemployed, the highest rate of any racial group.
In April, the unemployment rate dropped for whites to 5.3 percent, Hispanics to 7.3 percent and Asians to 5.7 percent.
That means, too, that the unemployment rate for black Americans is more than double that of whites, which is not a new trend. A Pew study from last year shows that since 1954, when the BLS consistently started recording unemployment by race, the rate for African-Americans has consistently been twice that of whites."
"The plan was set, the product of a 30-minute players meeting. The Warriors were going to go through pre-game warm-ups and take part in the national anthem and starting line-up introductions. They were going to take the floor for the jump ball, dapping up the Clippers players as is customary before games.
Then once the ball was in the air, they were just going to walk off. All 15 of them."
"Candidates can't legally talk strategy with a super PAC. But can they write a super PAC's ad copy?
That's the question raised by a new page on Sen. Jeanne Shaheen's website, in which the New Hampshire Democrat is shopping what appears to be a 30-second ad script for an outside group. The script comes complete with a document backing up the attacks on her opponent, former Sen. Scott Brown, and high-resolution images of the smiling candidate that could populate a potential future ad.
'When Brown was the Senator from Massachusetts he gave big oil and Wall Street billions in special breaks,' the site says. 'They gave him millions in campaign contributions.'
This is the bold new frontier of candidate and super PAC coordination without direct communication. The party committees now post opposition research packets online for super PAC usage."
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