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Darfur remains adrift: A skeptical assessment of resolution 1769 (2)
A survey of very recent developments clearly suggests that despite these desperate pleas, the security situation in Darfur continues to deteriorate. Last week (October 8, 2007) the UN made a decision to withdraw its non-essential personnel from Nyala, capital of South Darfur and the humanitarian hub for all of Darfur. This was done under cover of the Eid holiday. In an October 17, 2007 press release, the UN World Food Program reported that three of its drivers had been shot to death in South Darfur. In late September 2007, the relief agency World Vision scaled back its operations in South Darfur after its staff suffered three attacks within a week, putting all non-essential staff on leave, with only approximately 85 of its staff of 325 (international and national) remaining; the organization feeds 500,000 people and runs clinics and nutrition centers.
Web Chat With Karen P. Hughes On Public Diplomacy
Sports are another effective way to engage young people, and it teaches life lessons of teamwork, respect, discipline and persistence. We have increased our budget for sports programs from $600,000 to roughly $5 million in the last five years. This year, our programs have included basketball clinics in Jordan, swimming and basketball camps in Turkey, as well as baseball and basketball clinics for Iraqi young people. Last year, for the first time since 1979, we re-started people-to-people exchanges with Iran. An American wrestling team traveled to Iran and women soccer coaches from Afghanistan have received training in the U.S. And just this summer, 12 sports representatives from China trained at the Cal Ripken Baseball Academy to learn coaching skills so they can introduce the great American sport of baseball to young people in China! Cal Ripken, who joins Olympic ice skater Michelle Kwan as an American public diplomacy envoy, will travel to China next week to reach out to young people there.
Equipment for stroke victims proves valuable to UPMC Horizon president
FARRELL, Pa. When UPMC Horizon got some new equipment last summer that instantly linked up emergency stroke victims to neurosurgeons in Pittsburgh, hospital President Joel Yuhas thought it was a valuable resource. Now, he's just grateful it was there. The equipment took on new significance for the hospital president when his 71-year-old mother Beverly Yuhas suffered a stroke while visiting and needed immediate care. Beverly Yuhas of Elyria, Ohio, was visiting her son late last summer when she started getting a chill and then couldn't communicate. "She mumbled something and then half of her face began to droop," Joel Yuhas said. She was rushed by ambulance to UPMC Horizon's Farrell campus and was taken to the emergency room where the hospital had recently acquired telemedicine equipment a sophisticated Internet-based videoconferencing system that allows the Pittsburgh doctors to see and speak to patients and others in the emergency room instantly.
Gas prices drive sales
Since December, the price has been flirting with $3 for a gallon of regular unleaded in Amarillo. One year ago it was $2.20, but in July it broke the record at $3.30, according to AAA. The averages cover a slight spread in prices. Gasbuddy.com reports prices can range 10 to 15 cents per gallon from the truck stops on the east side of town to the convenience stores on Western, Coulter and Georgia streets. The boost in gas prices has helped steer some drivers in the region toward leaving the idea of owning a strictly gasoline- powered vehicle behind. One local dealership reports sales of vehicles that run on gas and electricity are doing well since gas prices have been trending up. "In our five-state area, sales of hybrids in Amarillo are as good as anywhere," said Joe Street, owner of Street Toyota.
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