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Category: Education

  • MIL-OSI Global: Kenya’s whistleblowers are key to fighting corruption: how a new law could protect them

    Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Gedion Onyango, Research Fellow, Firoz Lalji Institute for Africa, London School of Economics and Political Science

    Kenya has published a draft bill outlining protections for whistleblowers. Long in the making, the Whistleblower Protection Bill 2024 could help to encourage disclosures in a country where 86% of the respondents to a 2023 survey feared what might happen to them if they reported corruption cases. Gedion Onyango, who researches public accountability reforms, anti-corruption and whistleblowing reforms, sets out what protections are needed and how to change public mindsets.

    What is whistleblowing?

    Whistleblowing is disclosing information about behaviour or misconduct that could harm the public interest – the overall welfare of a society.

    Whistleblowing is primarily associated with disclosing corruption in state institutions. Because the private sector has become a partner in public service and national development processes, emerging laws like Kenya’s whistleblower protection bill and existing ones like Botswana’s Whistleblower Protection Act 2016 have been designed also to expose activities of companies and institutions that directly affect public affairs.

    Several key conditions must be met for whistleblowing to be effective.



    Read more:
    Corruption in South Africa: would paying whistleblowers help?

    Firstly, the society needs to broadly agree on what misconduct is. People should feel obliged to flag and address wrongdoing, and know what is expected when such information is disclosed. Essentially, the disclosure must be made in good faith.

    Secondly, there must be an authority that is expected to and is willing to take action after receiving such information.

    Thirdly, clear procedures or legal processes should be in place for receiving the information and determining the truth.

    The person disclosing the information must find it easy to report, besides having sufficient evidence to support their claims. A thoroughly bureaucratic way of receiving information about wrongdoing is more likely to intimidate and discourage potential whistleblowers.

    Fourthly, a system should be in place to reward individuals who disclose wrongdoing. This could involve recognising their contribution to society or providing financial incentives, often a percentage of money recovered in cases of corruption and asset recovery. Not all countries have this provision. But having such a reward is not always enough. This has been shown in Nigeria, where whistleblowing is declining despite the reward of 5% of recovered funds.

    Finally, there needs to be trust in the authority and the process for it to work.

    Why the focus on whistleblowers?

    Whistleblowers are important sources of information about misconduct, dishonesty and unethical behaviour that would otherwise remain concealed from the public. They are critical in promoting human rights, fighting corruption and addressing governance misconduct and inequalities.

    Many infamous scandals around the world have been brought to light by individuals who disclosed the wrongdoing. These include Kenya’s Anglo Leasing scandal.

    Whistleblowing is essential to ethical public leadership. It is no accident that many developing countries are now enacting laws to encourage and protect whistleblowers. With new laws in Kenya, whistleblowers would no longer have to primarily defend themselves against non-disclosure clauses that outlaw disclosures of a potential wrongdoing. Whistleblowers have previously been targeted by public organisations for releasing information in an unprocedural manner.

    You want to blow the whistle. What next?

    Potential whistleblowers can use internal or external mechanisms to disclose wrongdoing. The choice of mechanism will depend on the whistleblower’s confidence or history with these mechanisms.

    Studies have shown that internal whistleblowing is less desirable, and most whistleblowers prefer anonymous external whistleblowing channels that could prompt an investigation by an authority.



    Read more:
    South Africa’s corporate whistleblowers don’t get enough protection: what needs to change

    What protections should whistleblowers expect?

    Effective whistleblower protection mechanisms include protecting the identities of whistleblowers until the responsible authority has checked that there was wrongdoing.

    Whistleblowers should be protected from retaliation or harm, including social victimisation, physical attacks and disciplinary actions.

    The law should ensure that an insider whistleblower, such as an employee, is protected from being intimidated, disciplined or removed from their position. This should be for a long enough time (for example, at least five years), even if the case ultimately collapses, as often happens.

    In other words, the person should be protected from any loss, including damages that would affect their mental health or their job. This is typical of legislation globally.

    In today’s age of social media, the laws against defamation should be applied strictly to guard against online harassment.

    What would a forward-looking whistleblower policy look like?

    It’s important that whistleblower protection policies are understood and accepted by everyone. The process should start with extensive consultation. It should involve authorities such as religious groups, traditional leaders and government administrators at the lowest levels.

    Including whistleblowing in the country’s school, college and professional curriculum would increase awareness and improve social acceptance.

    It’s often the case that whistleblowers are seen as betrayers or snitches rather than as courageous defenders of public interest and ethical members of society. The reward system for whistleblowers should be included in prestigious national honours such as the Presidential Award.

    Gedion Onyango receives funding from ESRC. He is also affiliated with Afrobarometer East Africa

    – ref. Kenya’s whistleblowers are key to fighting corruption: how a new law could protect them – https://theconversation.com/kenyas-whistleblowers-are-key-to-fighting-corruption-how-a-new-law-could-protect-them-239647

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: South African women face exclusion from society due to gender-based violence – how they’re fighting back

    Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Amanda Gouws, Professor of Political Science and Chair of the South African Research Initiative in Gender Politics, Stellenbosch University

    When South Africa became a democracy in 1994, a primary goal was to grant citizenship rights to all its people, in particular, to give the majority black South Africans rights they had been denied during colonialism and apartheid. This included the right to vote.

    Apartheid segregated the population into ethnic groups. All but people classified as white were stripped of their rights. The 1996 constitution conferred upon citizens civil liberties such as the right to vote, movement, association and free speech as well as substantive rights such as access to land, health, education and employment.

    But, as I argue in the Palgrave Handbook of Gender and Citizenship, full citizenship is about more than a legal status that grants rights. Full citizenship also means being able to fully participate in a society.

    Based on my research into South African politics and gender politics over the past three decades I argue in a recent chapter that women in South Africa don’t enjoy full citizenship because they face endemic gender-based violence.

    Sexual violence against women has become normalised in South Africa. Everyday spaces are filled with violence, as indicated by the South African Police Service’s quarterly crime statistics.

    I conclude in the book chapter that people who feel excluded turn to protest to claim their rights as citizens. In doing so they become activist citizens.

    Acts of citizenship can occur in many different places – on streets, in courts, at borders, or even through media. They can happen on different scales, from local community action to international movements. These acts may involve protests, organising campaigns, or using digital media to spread awareness. People engaging in these acts might demand a wide range of rights, including political, social, sexual, ecological, or cultural rights.



    Read more:
    Gender apartheid: oppression of women should be made a crime against humanity – feminist academic explains why

    While legal frameworks to enhance citizenship have changed over the past 30 years in South Africa, deep-seated inequalities and exclusions persist. Law reform cannot address high levels of unemployment (that need to be rectified through economic growth), neither can it address poverty that is endemic because of the legacies of apartheid, such as the exclusion from decent education and health care.

    Acts of citizenship – whether through protest (such as service delivery protest), art, or everyday actions – continue to play a crucial role in expanding the boundaries of who is considered a citizen and what rights citizens can claim.

    By understanding citizenship as something that is actively performed and claimed, rather than simply granted, society can better appreciate the ongoing struggles for equality and recognition.

    Acts of citizenship

    Emotions play a significant role in these citizenship actions, a concept known as “affective citizenship”. Expressions of fear, happiness, loneliness, anger, or grief can all be part of how people assert their rights and demand recognition. These emotional displays can be disruptive or more conventional, but they all focus on exclusions from citizenship.

    Some acts of citizenship involve a “politics of refusal” – rejecting unfair conditions or norms. This refusal can expose hidden issues within citizenship, such as specific forms of gendered violence or discrimination. By disrupting “business as usual”, these acts force society to confront uncomfortable truths.

    It’s important to note that acts of citizenship aren’t always large-scale or dramatic. They can also involve everyday actions that challenge norms or assert rights in smaller ways. What matters is that these acts transform the actors from passive subjects into active citizens claiming their rights.

    Examples include the #EndRapeCulture campaign of 2016, when women protested against pervasive sexual violence on university campuses. At the same time, transgender students also protested against marginalisation.

    Both groups of students used naked protests to show their refusal to be treated as though they were not citizens. Through their campaign, the students rejected behaviour and attitudes that normalise sexual violence on campuses.

    Women students disrupted public spaces by protesting topless or in their underwear, sometimes brandishing sjamboks (plastic whips). These actions expressed anger at university authorities’ failure to address sexual violence. The activists were refusing to be treated as though they were not citizens.

    By using their bodies in these acts of citizenship the protesters made visible the rage many South African women feel about sexual violence committed with seeming impunity. They highlighted how women’s bodies are vulnerable to violence due to neglect by authorities in implementing their own laws, such as the Sexual Offences Act and the Domestic Violence Act.



    Read more:
    Victory for women’s rights in Ghana as affirmative action law is passed – what must happen next

    For its part the Trans Collective, a group of transgender students at the University of Cape Town, used a provocative art intervention to highlight the erasure or the making invisible of transgender experiences within the broader student movement during the same 2016 period.

    They smeared red paint on photographs at an exhibit about student activism and used their naked, paint-covered bodies to block the entrance of the art gallery at the university to force visitors to confront the physical reality of how transgender rights are often “trampled” or ignored, even within progressive movements.

    Impact

    Acts of citizenship – whether through naked protests, art interventions, or other forms of activism – serve multiple purposes:

    • They make visible groups and issues that are overlooked or deliberately ignored.

    • They challenge conventional understandings of how citizens should behave or what citizenship looks like.

    • They create new spaces for political action and discourse.

    • They force society and authorities to confront uncomfortable truths about exclusion and violence.

    • They assert the agency of marginalised groups in defining and claiming their rights.

    Amanda Gouws receives funding from the NRF through her SARChI Chair in Gender Politics.

    – ref. South African women face exclusion from society due to gender-based violence – how they’re fighting back – https://theconversation.com/south-african-women-face-exclusion-from-society-due-to-gender-based-violence-how-theyre-fighting-back-237493

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI USA: House Passes Thompson-Championed Anti-Hazing Legislation

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Glenn Thompson (5th District Pennsylvania)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the U.S. House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed H.R. 5646, theStop Campus Hazing Act, which includes many anti-hazing provisions long championed by U.S. Representative Glenn “GT” Thompson (R-PA).

    This bill was shaped by the efforts of Evelyn and Jim Piazza, whose son, Tim Piazza, tragically passed away in February 2017 at Penn State as a direct result of a hazing ritual at his fraternity.

    September 25 would have been Tim’s 27th birthday.

    The Piazza’s advocacy led to the establishment of the Timothy J. Piazza Center for Fraternity and Sorority Research and Reform at Penn State, whose research helped shape the Stop Campus Hazing Act and led to the enactment of some of the strongest anti-hazing laws anywhere in the country in Pennsylvania.

    Rep. Thompson with Evelyn and Jim Piazza, parents of Tim Piazza.

    “Today’s overwhelming passage of H.R. 5646 reaffirms Congress’ commitment to protect students on college campuses across the country,” Rep. Thompson said. “This vital legislation will increase transparency and accountability in an effort to ensure that no one will have to experience what the Piazza family has over these past seven years. My prayers go out to Evelyn and Jim Piazza, and I sincerely appreciate their ongoing advocacy and strength.”

    “Our son Tim would have turned 27 tomorrow, September 25, 2024,” Evelyn and Jim Piazza said. “Sadly, we do not get to celebrate his birthday with him, but we feel he may have given us a wink from above with today’s vote. We are thrilled to see the House passage of the Stop Campus Hazing Act on this day and appreciate Rep. Thompson’s continued and unwavering support of federal anti-hazing legislation. Over the last several years, our family, along with other families from the Anti-Hazing Coalition, has been determined to bring this bill forward, and we are now one step closer. Tim’s death due to fraternity hazing at Penn State is something no family should have to experience. Through this important legislation, students and their families will have the much-needed transparency by universities to make informed decisions about which student organizations to join.”

    This bipartisan legislation is supported by the National Panhellenic Conference, the North American Interfraternity Conference, the Clery Center, and the Anti-Hazing Coalition.

    Now, the StopCampus Hazing Act awaits action in the Senate.

    Background: 

    • Rep. Thompson has continuously advocated for student safety on campuses during his time in Congress.
    • He led efforts in 2017 at the Education and the Workforce Committee to ensure institutions have clear policies prohibiting hazing, require institutions receiving federal funding to disclose policies related to hazing, and educate student organizations about the dangers of hazing.
    • In 2019, Rep. Thompson introduced the End All Hazing Act, which worked to prevent hazing incidents by ensuring increased campus-wide transparency and accountability for all student organizations.
    • Earlier this month, Rep Thompson led the effort to advance H.R. 5646 through the House Committee on Education and the Workforce.
    • Today’s passage of H.R. 5646 includes provisions from the End All Hazing Act. 

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Video: Teaching with Tech: Redefining Digital Literacy

    Source: World Economic Forum (video statements)

    With the urgent global demand for 44 million teachers by 2030, AI-driven tools are transforming the educational landscape and reshaping digital literacy.

    How can AI empower educators, enhance teacher training, and seamlessly integrate technology to improve learning outcomes?

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8L_CQn_HQlM

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: FS wraps up Spain trip

    Source: Hong Kong Information Services

    Financial Secretary Paul Chan today wrapped up his visit to Spain by attending an exchange session organised by the IESE Business School in Madrid.

    Leading a delegation of technology startups, Mr Chan met more than 10 Spanish startup entrepreneurs, representatives of venture capital funds, investors and business matching enterprises.

    As one of the top business schools in Europe and the world, IESE has close collaborations with several universities in Hong Kong, as well as with the Hong Kong Science & Technology Parks Corporation and Cyberport.

    Mr Chan introduced the new advantages and new opportunities in Hong Kong and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, the policies and measures of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government to promote innovation and technology, along with the flourishing development of the city’s innovation and technology ecosystem.

    Representatives of startups and investors from both economies introduced their businesses and development strategies, with a view to enhancing mutual knowledge and understanding, and opening up more opportunities for collaboration.

    Mr Chan also IESE Business School Dean Prof Franz Heukamp to exchange views on the business environments of Hong Kong and Spain, as well as promote academic exchanges and co-operation between the two places.

    The finance chief welcomed the business school to further leverage Hong Kong’s international academic environment and convenient connections with Mainland China and Asia to deepen exchanges with various academic institutions and businesses in Hong Kong, promoting more co-operation in education, company executive training and other business areas.

    Mr Chan will now proceed to London.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: In Odd Galaxy, NASA’s Webb Finds Potential Missing Link to First Stars

    Source: NASA

    Looking deep into the early universe with NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope, astronomers have found something unprecedented: a galaxy with an odd light signature, which they attribute to its gas outshining its stars. Found approximately one billion years after the big bang, galaxy GS-NDG-9422 (9422) may be a missing-link phase of galactic evolution between the universe’s first stars and familiar, well-established galaxies.

    Image A: Galaxy GS-NDG-9422 (NIRCam Image)

    “My first thought in looking at the galaxy’s spectrum was, ‘that’s weird,’ which is exactly what the Webb telescope was designed to reveal: totally new phenomena in the early universe that will help us understand how the cosmic story began,” said lead researcher Alex Cameron of the University of Oxford.

    Cameron reached out to colleague Harley Katz, a theorist, to discuss the strange data. Working together, their team found that computer models of cosmic gas clouds heated by very hot, massive stars, to an extent that the gas shone brighter than the stars, was nearly a perfect match to Webb’s observations.

    “It looks like these stars must be much hotter and more massive than what we see in the local universe, which makes sense because the early universe was a very different environment,” said Katz, of Oxford and the University of Chicago.

    In the local universe, typical hot, massive stars have a temperature ranging between 70,000 to 90,000 degrees Fahrenheit (40,000 to 50,000 degrees Celsius). According to the team, galaxy 9422 has stars hotter than 140,000 degrees Fahrenheit (80,000 degrees Celsius).

    The research team suspects that the galaxy is in the midst of a brief phase of intense star formation inside a cloud of dense gas that is producing a large number of massive, hot stars. The gas cloud is being hit with so many photons of light from the stars that it is shining extremely brightly.

    Image B: Galaxy GS-NDG-9422 Spectrum (NIRSpec)

    In addition to its novelty, nebular gas outshining stars is intriguing because it is something predicted in the environments of the universe’s first generation of stars, which astronomers classify as Population III stars.

    “We know that this galaxy does not have Population III stars, because the Webb data shows too much chemical complexity. However, its stars are different than what we are familiar with – the exotic stars in this galaxy could be a guide for understanding how galaxies transitioned from primordial stars to the types of galaxies we already know,” said Katz.

    At this point, galaxy 9422 is one example of this phase of galaxy development, so there are still many questions to be answered. Are these conditions common in galaxies at this time period, or a rare occurrence? What more can they tell us about even earlier phases of galaxy evolution? Cameron, Katz, and their research colleagues are actively identifying more galaxies to add to this population to better understand what was happening in the universe within the first billion years after the big bang.

    “It’s a very exciting time, to be able to use the Webb telescope to explore this time in the universe that was once inaccessible,” Cameron said. “We are just at the beginning of new discoveries and understanding.”

    The research paper is published in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society.

    The James Webb Space Telescope is the world’s premier space science observatory. Webb is solving mysteries in our solar system, looking beyond to distant worlds around other stars, and probing the mysterious structures and origins of our universe and our place in it. Webb is an international program led by NASA with its partners, ESA (European Space Agency) and CSA (Canadian Space Agency).

    Downloads

    Right click any image to save it or open a larger version in a new tab/window via the browser’s popup menu.

    View/Download all image products at all resolutions for this article from the Space Telescope Science Institute.

    View/Download the research results from the Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society.

    Media Contacts

    Laura Betz – laura.e.betz@nasa.gov, Rob Gutro – rob.gutro@nasa.govNASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md.

    Christine Pulliam – cpulliam@stsci.edu, Leah Ramsay – lramsay@stsci.eduSpace Telescope Science Institute, Baltimore, Md.

    Related Information

    Read more: “What Were the First Stars Like?”

    Watch: “Massive Stars: Engines of Creation”

    Learn about spectroscopy: “Spectroscopy 101 – Introduction”

    Star Lifecycle

    More Webb News

    More Webb Images

    Webb Science Themes

    Webb Mission Page

    Related For Kids

    What is a galaxy?

    What is the Webb Telescope?

    SpacePlace for Kids

    En Español

    Ciencia de la NASA

    NASA en español 

    Space Place para niños

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Banking: Be Internet Awesome World: A fun new game to learn about online safety

    Source: Google

    Around the world, parents and teachers are eager for best practices and resources they can trust to help them navigate important conversations about online safety with their children and students. That’s why we created Be Internet Awesome, a program designed in partnership with leading child development and safety experts, focused on topics like how to spot scams, create strong passwords and be cautious about sharing personal information online. Over the years, we’ve educated more than 100 million children globally through this program.

    Today, we’re announcing Be Internet Awesome World, a new gaming experience on Roblox that will bring these same safety lessons to life in an interactive and fun way.

    Creating an immersive and educational game

    Roblox is one of the most popular online gaming platforms, with over 79.5 million daily active users. Working with Roblox helps Google to reach kids where they’re already spending time to teach them the basics of online safety.

    In the Be Internet Awesome experience, visitors will explore the magical world of the Internauts and learn how to navigate various real-world scenarios and risks by applying safety tips and critical thinking skills. They’ll have the ability to play multiple games, each based on a specific safety topic, ranging from identifying phishing attempts to practicing kindness online. During the game, players will receive immediate feedback, helping them learn through trial and error.

    This game-based learning approach not only reinforces the lessons of Be Internet Awesome, but also reimagines the curriculum in a new and exciting format for kids. Google’s experience is now available on Roblox.

    Promoting online safety and youth wellbeing

    Expanding Be Internet Awesome to a wider audience on Roblox is just one of the ways we keep more people safer online than anyone else in the world. Here are a few additional ways we’re working to promote online safety and youth wellbeing:

    • Partnering with Highlights Magazine: Earlier this year, we teamed up with Highlights to create a special edition of the magazine based on Google’s Be Internet Awesome curriculum. We’ve also partnered with the Boys and Girls club to host a series of events to help walk kids through the lessons and activities inside the magazine.
    • Investing in Teen Mental Health: Recently, Google.org launched a $10 million Teen Mental Health Initiative to help more than a million high school students and 10,000 teachers build strong mental health habits across the country. Google partnered with leading mental health and educational organizations on this effort including Selena Gomez’s Rare Impact Fund, DonorsChoose, JED Foundation, Child Mind Institute and The Steve Fund.
    • Building AI literacy: We’ve developed tailored resources to help teach teens how to use AI responsibly, including our AI Literacy Guide, and videos focused on the five must-knows of generative AI and how to use AI to uplevel learning.

    MIL OSI Global Banks –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Chairman Aguilar: There is no greater example of Republican extremism than Trump’s Project 2025

    Source: US House of Representatives – Democratic Caucus

    The following text contains opinion that is not, or not necessarily, that of MIL-OSI – September 24, 2024

    WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, House Democratic Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar and Vice Chair Ted Lieu were joined by Representatives Sara Jacobs and Nikema Williams in a press conference on how Trump’s Project 2025 gives Extreme MAGA Republicans total control to criminalize abortion, gut Social Security and raise taxes for working families.

    CHAIRMAN AGUILAR: Good morning. The Vice Chair and I are grateful to be joined by incredible leaders within our Caucus, Nikema Williams and Sara Jacobs. 

    House Democrats have said from the beginning of this Congress that we will be ready to work in a bipartisan way to get things done for the American people whenever and wherever possible. But we are also going to call out extremism when it exists. And there is no greater example of Republican extremism than Trump’s Project 2025. 

    Should extreme MAGA Republicans be successful in winning the House, the Senate and the presidency, they have created the blueprint in a 920-page roadmap that lays out exactly how they plan to govern. Under their plan, Project 2025 criminalizes abortion, hurts middle class families to help the wealthy and well connected and ends Social Security as we know it. It gives Donald Trump unchecked presidential power and unparalleled control over the American people. It is both deeply troubling and deeply unpopular because of the work of House Democrats, Leader Jeffries, Whip Clark, Jared Huffman, our own Vice Chair Ted Lieu and the leaders behind me today to put a spotlight on this dangerous plan. We know that House Republicans are in trouble because they are running scared anytime we mention Project 2025. 
    Later today, the Steering and Policy Committee will convene a hearing of hard-working Americans who will testify about what Project 2025 would mean to them in their daily lives. Don’t just take our word for it. Listen to the abortion care providers and seniors who have to ration insulin, who will courageously share their stories. House Democrats are fighting for them, as House Republicans are fighting to give Donald Trump more control of our daily lives. 
    I’ll turn it over to Vice Chair Ted Lieu.

    VICE CHAIR LIEU: Thank you, Chairman Aguilar. 

    Trump’s Project 2025 isn’t just a radical document. It’s a document that Republicans this term have tried to implement through a series of appropriations bills. And as Chairman Aguilar said, we’re having a hearing today that the Steering and Policy Committee is hosting at 2:15 at HVC-215. Hope you all can make it. And I want to thank Jared Huffman earlier this year for starting the Project 2025 Task Force. 

    This is 920 pages of crazy–that’s what Project 2025 is–with deadly consequences. I’m going to go through just three of the insane things in that document. Project 2025 wants to eliminate the Department of Education, and that is on page 319 of the document. Project 2025 also wants to eliminate the National Weather Service. Think about that. We’ve got a hurricane coming into Georgia or Florida, and this is what Project 2025 authors want to do. They want to eliminate the National Weather Service–that’s on page 675 of the document. And get this: Project 2025 wants to allow children to work in hazardous conditions. Like, who comes up with this crazy stuff? That’s on page 595 of the document. 

    So again, I hope you all come to this hearing. And let me now introduce our amazing member from Georgia, the great Nikema Williams, who will talk about reproductive freedom and Project 2025.

    REP. WILLIAMS: Thank you, Vice Chair Lieu and Chairman Aguilar. Good morning, everyone. 

    I’m Congresswoman Nikema Williams, and I proudly represent Georgia’s fighting Fifth Congressional District. I’m a member of the Pro-Choice Caucus and Vice Chair of the Democratic Women’s Caucus. But y’all, before I came to Congress, I served as the VP of Public Policy at Planned Parenthood Southeast for ten years. I will always carry with me the stories that I heard from people we served on the frontlines just about how hard they had to fight to get the essential abortion care that they needed and deserve. This was long before the overturning of Roe v. Wade that was orchestrated by Donald Trump and his Republican Party. 

    We’re seeing the deadly result of abortion bans in Georgia, and around the country. Just last week, ProPublica reported on the deaths of two Georgia women, Candi Miller and Amber Thurman, who died because they couldn’t receive the care that they desperately needed. Let me say that again: Candi Miller and Amber Thurman died because of Georgia’s inhumane abortion ban that was ushered in by Donald Trump and his MAGA Republicans. These were preventable deaths. As a mama, I’m heartbroken, and as a Georgian, as an elected official, I’m pissed, y’all. Because it doesn’t have to be this way. These were policy decisions. But let me be clear: it could get even worse. Trump’s Project 2025 would lead to more heartbreak and more preventable deaths. Project 2025 would ban abortion nationwide, criminalizing patients and doctors, making it impossible for people to get the care that they need. 

    Abortion is essential health care. One in four women will access abortion care at some point in their lives. And that’s not one in four Democratic women, not one in four Republican or Independent women. That’s someone you know, someone you love, someone you go to church with, someone you grew up with, someone in your family. One in four women, y’all. 

    I will continue to fight alongside House Democrats to protect reproductive freedom in the face of extreme Republican abortion bans and the looming threat of Trump’s Project 2025, which will ban abortion nationwide. We will restore the reproductive freedom that Trump and House Republicans brag about taking away, and we will ensure that every person can get the care that they need. 

    Thank you so much, and I’ll now turn it over to another co-conspirator for justice in our Caucus, Congresswoman Sara Jacobs.

    REP. JACOBS: Well, thank you, Chairman Aguilar, Vice Chair Lieu, Nikema, for really highlighting the stakes here. 

    So, I’ve spent the past few months traveling the country talking to young people, college students and women. I’m a 35-year-old woman, so basically, this is a topic I talk about all the time with my friends and peers. And here’s the deal: all of these young people are terrified about Project 2025, and so am I. So, not only would Project 2025 make it difficult or impossible to access abortion, birth control, emergency contraception and other reproductive services, as my colleague Nikema highlighted, it would also authorize a pregnancy surveillance system. So, even if you live in a state like California, like I do, where we have strong state-level abortion and privacy laws, you would not be protected. Every abortion, every miscarriage, every stillbirth, every pregnancy loss, every pregnancy, even abortions and pregnancy losses that result from medical treatment, would be logged and reported to the federal government and used to monitor pregnancies.

    Project 2025 would supersede HIPAA. It would nullify doctor-patient confidentiality, and it would reject a right to privacy. And pretty soon, it would be used to weaponize health data against patients and providers in court. We’ve already seen this happen. 

    In 2017, Mississippi police charged Latice Fisher after digging into her Google search history and finding that she searched how to buy misoprostol abortion pills online. In 2022, Nebraska police used Facebook messages between a mother and a daughter, private Facebook messages, to prosecute an abortion that was illegal under state law. Now, imagine how much more this would happen if there was a centralized treasure trove of this information, of this data. 

    Now, House Democrats, we want to protect the sensitive data, and we have a bill to do it, My Body My Data Act. House Democrats, we want to strengthen HIPAA for the post Roe era, not gut it. And we have a bill to do that, The Safer Health Act. But you know who stands in the way? MAGA Republicans. 

    House Democrats will continue to fight to protect patient privacy, protect their right to make their own health decisions and protect them from abortion and pregnancy surveillance. So, thank you so much, now I will turn it over to Chairman Aguilar for questions.

    Video of the full press conference and Q&A can be viewed here.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: NREL Researcher Silvana Ovaitt Honored With Award From Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers

    Source: US National Renewable Energy Laboratory

    Ovaitt’s Mentors Taught Her That Education and Outreach Make a Difference. Now She Is Showing the Next Generation of Scientists How To Pay It Forward.

    Researcher Silvana Ovaitt plants crops in a garden row at the bifacial agrivoltaics array on the National Renewable Energy Laboratory’s campus in 2023. Photo by Joe DelNero, NREL

    Silvana Ovaitt is already known as a rising star around the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) for her research advancing bifacial photovoltaic (PV) performance, not to mention her already-extensive record of leadership in community and educational outreach. Now, the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE) has made it official by honoring Ovaitt with a STAR of Tomorrow Award for 2024.

    “I’m very honored to receive this award because SHPE is such a fundamental organization shaping Latinx career paths, and it’s great to be recognized and be able to give a wider platform to the amazing activities I am part of, like the Hands-On PV Experience (HOPE), bifacial research, international collaborations, and more,” Ovaitt said.

    The SHPE Technical Achievement and Recognition Awards, or STAR Awards, honor those working across science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields. SHPE gives two STAR Awards—one in government and one in corporate. The STAR of Tomorrow Award – Government recognizes an individual who has demonstrated excellence in their technical work and a commitment to leadership, mentoring, and community service.

    “Dr. Ovaitt’s exceptional technical skills, commitment to research, and selfless support to the STEM community make her truly deserving of the STAR of Tomorrow Award,” said STAR Awards Chair Diana Gomez.

    Ovaitt first arrived at NREL as a participant in a workshop she now leads. She attended the HOPE workshop as a student in 2016, then joined the program’s staff after becoming an NREL researcher. She became part of program leadership in 2021. A core program at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Solar Energy Technologies Office, HOPE brings Ph.D. students to NREL to learn more about PV fabrication, metrology, and characterization to encourage university PV research. Ovaitt experienced how the program can serve as a spark for a student’s future career in PV research, and now every summer she helps ignite that spark for a new group of students by welcoming them to NREL.

    Silvana Ovaitt. Photo by Gregory Cooper, NREL

    Leading the workshop is just one of many projects that seamlessly combine Ovaitt’s commitment to outreach and mentorship with her current research interests. Her work in the Photovoltaic Reliability and System Performance group focuses on the optical and electrical performance of bifacial PV systems, modeling bifacial PV systems, and circularity pathways for PV sustainability. Alongside her publications and conference presentations, she has lent her talents to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts, serving on NREL’s Hispanic and Latinx Alliance and Women’s Network employee resource groups and nationally leading the Women in PV Committee and DEI initiatives at the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers’ Photovoltaic Specialists Conference. She also creates tools to help researchers consider energy justice in their work.

    “Outreach is awesome for bringing science to students who would otherwise not have access to it,” Ovaitt said. “It helps me go back to the basics of how and why we do the research that we do, and I also learn how to better share and teach it in an accessible way—which benefits me for writing proposals and talking to legislators and wider audiences. The mentors who have shaped my path were all very good at this, and I love paying it forward.”

    NREL researcher Chris Deline said he has been impressed with her work from the start.

    “I have known Silvana since we conducted research together during her Ph.D. program at the University of Arizona, and I was blown away by her energy, research knowledge, and strategic vision,” said Deline, manager of the U.S. Department of Energy’s Regional Test Center program for field assessment of novel PV technologies at NREL. “She puts 100% effort into her technical research and publications and also somehow puts another 100% into external collaborations and stakeholder outreach. I place Silvana as one of the most impactful early career researchers that we have at NREL in her accomplishments and in her technical merit.”

    SHPE is not the only organization that has recognized Ovaitt’s work this year. She was also invited to the National Academy of Engineering’s U.S. Frontiers of Engineering symposium, and she received the PowerMark Early Career Prize in PV Reliability during NREL’s PV Reliability Workshop in March.

    Ovaitt and the other award recipients will be honored at SHPE’s STAR Awards ceremony during the organization’s national convention Oct. 30–Nov. 3, 2024, in Anaheim, California. SHPE is the largest U.S. organization representing Hispanics in STEM fields, and it will celebrate its 50th anniversary at the 2024 convention.

    Learn more about NREL’s PV reliability and system performance research and the Hands-On Photovoltaics Experience (HOPE) for graduate students, and find out more about the STAR Awards.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Julie Rivera Pérez Bridges Business, STEM to ‘Make the Magic Happen’

    Source: NASA

    Senior Resource Analyst Julie Rivera Pérez ensures finances and assets are in place to enable missions’ engineering and science “magic” can happen. As a former intern, she also reaches out to current students to ensure a diverse and inclusive future workforce.
    Name: Julie Rivera PérezFormal Job Classification: Senior Resources AnalystOrganization: Systems Review Office/Resource Management Office, Office of the Chief Financial Officer (Code 159.2)

    What do you do and what is most interesting about your role here at Goddard?
    I work in Goddard’s Systems Review Office (SRO), which plays a critical role in NASA’s mission gate reviews, also known as system review boards (SRBs). As the lead senior resources analyst, I provide financial expertise relating to budget planning and funds execution in support of all life-cycle reviews for Goddard missions. These reviews occur during key milestones in the progression of a mission through the various stages until launch. A mission cannot proceed with its work unless it passes the gate reviews, like the preliminary design review (PDR), critical design review (PDR), system integration review (SIR), operational readiness review (ORR), among others. It is great to support these reviews and make sure that key panel members like engineering, science, cost/schedule, and programmatic subject matter experts are planned for and funded to hold these SRB reviews. It is exciting to be able to contribute to Goddard missions!
    What is your educational background?
    In 2010, I graduated from the University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras Campus, with a bachelor’s degree in business administration. My major was in human resources, and my minor was in marketing.
    Why did you come to Goddard?
    I first came to Goddard in 2008, as a summer intern. I will never forget the team of recruiters that visited my university and shared Goddard’s opportunities for business majors. I dreamed to contribute to the NASA mission! I took a chance and signed up to be interviewed. Three months later, I was offered an internship, and here I am, nearly 15 years later and thriving!
    Where have you worked at Goddard? What was a pivotal moment for you?
    In 2009, I had the opportunity to intern with the Office of Human Capital Management, the Office of Diversity and Equal Opportunity, and the Office of Education.
    After graduating in 2010, I joined Goddard as a procurement analyst in the Small Business Office. In 2013, I became the Contracting Officer for the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES) system.
    In 2015, I was selected as a participant in the NASA FIRST Program, a very prestigious NASA leadership program, which was pivotal for me. I learned about different roles at NASA including the important roles of business professionals. This inspired me to transition into the world of resources and finance!
    In 2017, I became a senior resources analyst for the Joint Polar Satellite System (JPSS). My procurement background helped me understand the underlying contractual mechanics in the world of resources. I was very excited to continue to grow in my NASA career! In 2018, I served as a contract resources analyst of the Ground Systems and Missions Operations 2 contract for the Space Science Mission Operations Division. Presently, I serve as the lead senior resources analyst for the Systems Review Office within the Safety and Mission Assurance Business Branch of the Office of the Chief Financial Officer (OCFO).
    It has been an amazing journey! I have had the opportunity to work in multiple flagship missions, mission operations, interagency collaborations, procurement, finance, and resources. I am excited for what the future will bring in my NASA career!
    What are your responsibilities in your current role?
    My key responsibility is serving as the financial liaison between the Systems Review Office (SRO) and program or project offices. I collaborate with program managers, deputy program managers for resources, and financial managers from other NASA centers to ensure the proper coordination of system review boards’ funding requirements. This includes preparing program, planning, budget, and execution (PPBE) inputs, labor projections, continuing resolution funding requirements, and phasing plans for all SRB missions.
    As the SRO lead senior resources analyst, I also oversee the daily functions and activities of the SRO staff members, providing them with appropriate guidance, direction, knowledge sharing, and mentorship.
    What are you most thankful about in your career?
    I have had many opportunities from the moment I started working at Goddard as an intern. I have always been encouraged to continue growing as a professional through several significant work opportunities. One of them being the NASA FIRST leadership program for the 2015 cohort. It was a joy when I was accepted into this life-changing and unique opportunity! Throughout my career at Goddard, I have learned about many different aspects and the importance of being a business professional to help achieve the NASA mission.
    Who is your mentor and what is their advice?
    I have had several amazing mentors throughout my career at Goddard. Dan Krieger was key in my recruitment and has always supported me through my journey. Veronica Hill has continuously provided her guidance and wisdom. Janine Dolinka welcomed me to Goddard as my first mentor and further inspired me grow at NASA. Jennifer Perez took me under her wing and taught me the importance and roles of the Small Business Office. Currently, I am under the mentorship of Rich Ryan (deputy program director for business, Mars Sample Return) and Kevin Miller (chief of Resources Management Office). All in all, my mentors have always reminded me to always be my authentic self. It sounds so simple, yet it is such powerful advice. I want to thank each and every one of them for fueling the desire to make a difference for the NASA mission and to continue bringing my talents to the workforce!
    What is important to you about your role on the Hispanic Advisory Committee for Employees (HACE)?
    A very fulfilling part of the work I do at NASA Goddard is my voluntary service as the co-chair for the Hispanic Advisory Committee for Employees (HACE) resource group. I am in a unique position to provide advice, guidance, and recommendations to center management, the Office of STEM Engagement, and the Office of Diversity and Equal Opportunity on initiatives regarding recruitment, outreach, retention, cultural awareness, and professional development of minorities and Hispanics at Goddard. I also serve as the recruitment and outreach co-lead for the committee. As co-chair, I am a voice representing the interests of the GSFC Hispanic community.
    I also develop key initiatives in student recruitment and outreach to build a pipeline of Hispanic interns for NASA. Every summer, I coordinate intern presentations to center management, as well as provide training to the Hispanic interns on how to write a federal résumé and apply for a federal job within NASA.
    It is my wish to pay it forward. I once was an intern. I want to encourage others to join the NASA community and make a positive impact with diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility. Así Se HACE!
    In 2021, you were a panel speaker at the Women of Color conference. What did you talk about?
    It was such an honor to be invited as a panel speaker with a financial professional background for a STEM event. I served as a bridge between STEM and the business world and how both come together to make the magic happen. I have a deep understanding of how the business world and the engineering and science come together to bring missions to life. While I may not have a STEM degree, I am a STEM advocate. This event was an opportunity to tell my story as a Hispanic woman in resources and finance working at NASA. As a business professional, it is important that the money and the assets are in place so all the engineering and science can happen. It was equally important to highlight the value of embracing yourself and what you bring you the table because that is where your strength lies and how you can make a difference.
    What do you do for fun?
    I have a passion for singing! Since my early teens, I studied music and singing at the Music Conservatory of Puerto Rico. In college, I was accepted into the very competitive University of Puerto Rico classical choir. I continued to pursue my love for music through the Goddard Music and Drama Club (MAD). I even starred in
    two musicals produced by MAD!
    I love spending time with my husband and two children, as well as watching movies with family and friends, spending time at the beach, reading, walking, listening to true crime podcasts, and watching the occasional Spanish telenovela.
    What is your favorite life quote?
    This Gandhi quote speaks to the power of perseverance and means a lot to me: “Strength does not come from physical capacity. It comes from an indomitable will.”
    What is your “six-word memoir”? A six-word memoir describes something in just six words.
    PassionateCreativeDedicatedAuthenticLeaderDetermined

    Conversations With Goddard is a collection of Q&A profiles highlighting the breadth and depth of NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center’s talented and diverse workforce. The Conversations have been published twice a month on average since May 2011. Read past editions on Goddard’s “Our People” webpage.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: NASA Awards Contract Extension for Solar Science Instrument

    Source: NASA

    NASA has awarded a contract extension to Stanford University, California, to continue the mission and services for the Helioseismic and Magnetic Imager (HMI) instrument on the agency’s Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO).

    NASA has awarded a contract extension to Stanford University, California, to continue the mission and services for the Helioseismic and Magnetic Imager (HMI) instrument on the agency’s Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO).
    The cost-reimbursement, no fee contract extension provides for support, operation, and calibration of the HMI instrument, which is one of three main instruments on SDO. In addition, the extension provides for operating and maintaining the Joint Science Operations Center – Science Data Processing facility at Stanford as well as the HMI team’s support for Heliophysics System Observatory science.
    The period of performance for the extension runs Tuesday, Oct. 1, through Sept. 30, 2027. The extension increases the total contract value for HMI services by about $12.5 million — from $173.84 million to $186.34 million.
    SDO’s mission is to help advance our understanding of the Sun’s influence on Earth and near-Earth space by studying how the star changes over time and how solar activity is created. Understanding the solar environment and how it drives space weather is vital to protecting ground and space-based infrastructure as well as NASA’s efforts to establish a sustainable presence on the Moon with Artemis. The study of the Sun also teaches us more about how stars contribute to the habitability of planets throughout the universe.
    The SDO mission launched in February 2010 with science operations beginning in May of that year. The HMI instrument on SDO studies oscillations and the magnetic field at the solar surface, or photosphere.
    For information about NASA and agency programs, visit:

    Home Page

    Jeremy EggersGoddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md.757-824-2958jeremy.l.eggers@nasa.gov

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: UConn Health Students Volunteer for a Heart Healthy Cause

    Source: US State of Connecticut

    “It was an extremely great turnout with over 300 walkers. We raised over $62,000!” reports Ire Opayemi, a medical student at UConn School of Medicine in the Class of 2025 who is pursuing a dual MD/MPH degree. “I think it was a great show of how much UConn Health students are involved in the community which we serve and how we’re spreading awareness of CHD.”

    Congenital heart defects (CHDs) are the most common type of birth defect in the United States, affecting nearly 1 in 100 babies each year. Despite this prevalence, CHD research and programs are severely underfunded.

    The UConn Health students participated in the 1-mile walk around downtown West Hartford. The Connecticut Walk for 1 in 100 was one of 15 similar events ACHA is hosting nationwide this year to raise funds for greater family and community outreach, education, and research.

    “The Adult Congenital Heart Association is an incredible organization that has done so much for the community by providing vital education and support groups for those living with congenital heart disease. As UConn medical and dental students, we’re working to show that we care deeply about those living with congenital heart disease and are committed to increasing awareness within the broader community,” shared UConn’s Opayemi.

    He added, “We’re also aiming to enhance providers’ understanding of congenital heart disease, inspiring some to specialize in this field and ensuring that all have the experience to connect with and relate to these patients in their care. This year, we’ve seen tremendous engagement, not just from students but from the local community as well. We’re all coming together to show we truly care about supporting and empowering people with congenital heart disease.”

    Funds generated from the Connecticut Walk support the ACHA Adult Congenital Heart Disease (ACHD) Accreditation Program, which is working to elevate and standardize care for the ACHD population nationwide. In addition, Walk for 1 in 100 helps to fund cutting-edge medical research, advocacy efforts and various educational and outreach initiatives.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: AMMO, Inc. Appoints New Chief Financial Officer and Provides Corporate Update

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Paul Kasowski, Who Has Served as Chief Compliance and Transformation Officer, Named New Chief Financial Officer

    The Board of Directors Has Retained Independent Advisors to Support an Investigation Into Financial Reporting for Fiscal Years 2020-2023

    SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., Sept. 24, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — AMMO, Inc. (Nasdaq: POWW, POWWP) (“AMMO” or the “Company”), the owner of GunBroker.com, the largest online marketplace serving the firearms and shooting sports industries, and a leading vertically integrated producer of high-performance ammunition and components, today announced that Paul Kasowski, who has served as the Company’s Chief Compliance and Transformation Officer, has been appointed by AMMO’s Board of Directors (the “Board”) as the Company’s new Chief Financial Officer, effective immediately. Mr. Kasowski succeeds Rob Wiley, who resigned on September 19, 2024 at the request of the Board.

    After due consideration, the Company’s Board determined that Mr. Kasowski possesses the requisite experience and qualifications to serve as CFO. Mr. Kasowski most recently served as Chief Compliance and Transformation Officer since January 2024.

    Jared Smith, AMMO’s Chief Executive Officer and Board member, commented:

    “Since my appointment as CEO in July 2023, I have prioritized laying a foundation for long-term value creation and helping AMMO mature as a public company. The appointment of Paul will support these efforts. He brings additive experience in a variety of areas, including enhancing margins, improving internal processes, and positioning businesses to transform.”

    Paul Kasowski Biography:

    Prior to joining the Company in January 2024, Mr. Kasowski held the role of SVP, Business Transformation for Kinder’s Seasonings & Sauces from January 2022 to July 2023 where he professionalized financial reporting and implemented margin improvement projects while building a winning culture for this high growth brand. Previously, from December 2020 to December 2021, he was CFO for Arizona Natural Resources, a privately owned manufacturer of premium beauty care products where he oversaw finance, accounting, IT, HR, planning and sourcing. Mr. Kasowski also held the role of VP, Financial Planning & Analysis from April 2019 to December 2020 for Igloo Products Corp., a manufacturer of coolers and hydration products based in Katy, TX. From 2003 to 2019, he held progressing roles in finance, strategy, and operations for Del Monte Foods and Ainsworth Pet Nutrition. Mr. Kasowski earned his M.S. in Supply Chain Management from Michigan State University, MBA from Ohio University, and B.S. in Finance from Robert Morris University.

    Independent Investigation Into Historical Financial Statements

    As disclosed in a Form 8-K filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on September 24, 2024, a Special Sub-Committee of the Nominations and Corporate Governance Committee of the Board of Directors has retained a law firm to conduct an independent investigation into the Company’s internal control over financial reporting for the fiscal years 2020 through 2023. The independent investigation is in its early stages and is focused on fiscal years 2020 through 2023.

    The Company does not plan to comment further until the completion of the investigation.

    About AMMO, Inc.

    With its corporate offices headquartered in Scottsdale, Arizona, AMMO designs and manufactures products for a variety of aptitudes, including law enforcement, military, sport shooting and self-defense. The Company was founded in 2016 with a vision to change, innovate and invigorate the complacent munitions industry. AMMO promotes branded munitions as well as its patented STREAK™ Visual Ammunition, /stelTH/™ subsonic munitions, and specialty rounds for military use via government programs. For more information, please visit: www.ammo-inc.com.

    About GunBroker

    GunBroker is the largest online marketplace dedicated to firearms, hunting, shooting and related products. Aside from merchandise bearing its logo, GunBroker currently sells none of the items listed on its website. Third-party sellers list items on the site and Federal and state laws govern the sale of firearms and other restricted items. Ownership policies and regulations are followed using licensed firearms dealers as transfer agents. Launched in 1999, the GunBroker.com website is an informative, secure and safe way to buy and sell firearms, ammunition, air guns, archery equipment, knives and swords, firearms accessories and hunting/shooting gear online. GunBroker promotes responsible ownership of guns and firearms. For more information, visit: www.gunbroker.com.

    Forward Looking Statements

    This document contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements can be identified by words like “may,” “will,” “likely,” “should,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “future,” “plan,” “believe,” “intend,” “goal,” “seek,” “estimate,” “project,” “continue,” and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements are neither historical facts nor assurances of future performance. Instead, they are based only on current beliefs, expectations and assumptions regarding the future of the business, future plans and strategies, projections, anticipated events and trends, the economy, and other future conditions. Because forward-looking statements relate to the future, they are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks, and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict. Actual results and financial condition may differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements. Therefore, you should not rely on any of these forward-looking statements. We do not undertake to update forward-looking statements to reflect the impact of circumstances or events that arise after the dates they are made. You should, however, consult further disclosures and risk factors we include in Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, and Current Reports filed on Form 8-K.

    Contacts

    For media:
    Longacre Square Partners
    Joe Householder, (646) 582-3643
    AMMO@longacresquare.com

    For investors:
    Matt Blazei
    CoreIR
    Phone: (516) 386-0430
    IR@ammo-inc.com

    Source: AMMO, Inc.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-Evening Report: The design tricks keeping your kids hooked on games and apps – and 3 things you can do about it

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Chris Zomer, Associate Research Fellow at the Centre of the Digital Child, Deakin University

    This article is part of a series on the great internet letdown. Read the rest of the series.

    Ever found yourself unable to resist checking out a social media notification? Or sending a random picture just to keep a Snapchat “streak” going? Or simply getting stuck staring at YouTube because it auto-played yet another cute cat video?

    If so, you’re far from alone. And if we adults can’t resist such digital temptations, how can we expect children to do any better?

    Many digital environments are not designed with the best interest of users in mind – and this is especially true of games, apps and platforms commonly used by kids and teens.

    Designers use persuasive design techniques to make users spend more time on apps or platforms, so they can make more money selling ads. Below, we explain some of the most common design tricks used in popular games, social media and apps.

    Decision-making made easy 🔀

    Social media and streaming platforms strive to provide “seamless” user experiences. This makes it easy to stay engaged without needing to click anything very often, which also minimises any obvious opportunities where we might disengage.

    These seamless experiences include things such as auto-play when streaming videos, or “infinite scrolling” on social media. When algorithms present us with a steady flow of content, shaped by what we have liked or engaged with in the past, we must put in extra effort to stop watching. Unsurprisingly, we often decide to stay put.

    Rewards and dopamine hits 🧠

    Another way to keep children engaged is by using rewards, such as stars, diamonds, stickers, badges or other “points” in children’s apps. “Likes” on social media are no different.

    Rewards trigger the release of a chemical in our brains – dopamine – which not only makes us feel good but also leaves us wanting more.

    Rewards can be used to promote good behaviour, but not always. In some children’s apps, rewards are doubled if users watch advertisements.

    Loot boxes and ‘gambling’ 💰

    Variable rewards have been found to be especially effective. When you do not know when you will get a certain reward or desired item, you are more likely to keep going.

    In games, variable rewards can often be found (or purchased) in the form of “loot boxes”. Loot boxes might be chests, treasures, or stacks of cards containing a random reward. Because of the unpredictable reward, some researchers have described loot boxes as akin to gambling, even though the games do not always involve real money.

    Sometimes in-game currency (fake game money) can be bought with real money and used to “gamble” for rare characters and special items. This is very tempting for young people.

    In one of our (as yet unpublished) studies, a 12-year-old student admitted to spending several hundred dollars to obtain a desired character in the popular game Genshin Impact.

    The lure of streaks 🔥

    Another problematic way of using rewards in design is negative reinforcement. For instance, when you are at risk of a negative outcome (like losing something good), you feel compelled to continue a particular behaviour.

    “Streaks” work like this. If you do not do the same task for several days in a row, you will not get the extra rewards promised. Language learning app DuoLingo uses streaks, but so does Snapchat, a popular social media app. Research has shown a correlation between Snapchat streaks and problematic smartphone use among teens.

    Streaks can also make money for apps directly. If you miss a day and lose your streak, you can often pay to restore it.

    Loss of reputation 👎

    Reputation is important on social media. Think of the number of Facebook friends you have, or the number of likes your post receives.

    Sometimes designers build on our fear of losing our reputation. For instance, they can do this by adding a leaderboard that ranks users based on their score.

    While you may have heard of the use of leaderboards in games, they are also common in popular educational apps such as Kahoot! or Education Perfect. Leaderboards introduce an element of competition that many students enjoy.

    However, for some this competition has negative consequences – especially for those languishing low in the ranks.

    Similarly, Snapchat has a SnapScore where reputational loss is still at play. You do not want a lower score than your friends! This makes you want to keep using the app.

    Exploiting feelings of connection 🥰

    Another tool in the designers’ bag of tricks is capitalising on the emotional ties or connections users form with influencers or celebrities on social media, or favourite media characters (such as Elmo or Peppa pig) for younger children.

    While these connections can foster a sense of belonging, they can also be exploited for commercial gain, such as when influencers promote commercial products, or characters urge in-app purchases.

    What can parents do? 🤷

    Persuasive design isn’t inherently bad. Users want apps and games to be engaging, like we do for movies or TV shows. However, some design “tricks” simply serve commercial interests, often at the expense of users’ wellbeing.

    It is not all bleak, though. Here are a few steps parents can take to help kids stay on top of the apps:

    • have early and ongoing discussions with children about ideas such as the underlying commercial intent of what they are engaging with

    • model good digital choices of not giving in to persuasive design, such as by avoiding digital distractions yourself

    • use trustworthy resources to help in digital decision-making, such as Common Sense Media and Dark Pattern Games.

    For the moment, the responsibility for managing children’s interactions with the digital realm falls largely on individuals and families.

    Some governments are beginning to take action, but measures such as blanket age-based bans on social media or other platforms will only shield children temporarily. A better approach for governments and regulators would be to focus on safety by design: the idea that the safety and rights of users should be the starting point of any app, product or service, rather than an afterthought.

    The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. The design tricks keeping your kids hooked on games and apps – and 3 things you can do about it – https://theconversation.com/the-design-tricks-keeping-your-kids-hooked-on-games-and-apps-and-3-things-you-can-do-about-it-239493

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Where do we stash the equivalent of 110 Sydney harbour bridges? That’s the conundrum Australia faces as oil and gas rigs close

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Darryn Snell, Associate professor, School of Management, RMIT University

    James Jones Jr, Shutterstock

    Oil and gas wells are dotted off Australia’s shores. They involve huge steel structures fixed firmly to the sea floor, and thousands of kilometres of pipelines.

    Most of Australia’s offshore oil and gas projects will be decommissioned in the next 30 years – some in the next decade. An estimated 5.7 million tonnes of material will need to be removed – the equivalent of 110 Sydney harbour bridges.

    Australia desperately needs the skills and equipment to conduct these complex decommissioning operations. The Albanese government says a high-capacity decommissioning facility is required by the early 2030s. At present, no such facilities exist.

    We hope the nation welcomes the opportunity to build a new multi-billion dollar demolition and recycling industry, with skilled jobs for workers. Rather than letting companies abandon structures for so-called “artificial reefs”.

    What would a decommissioning industry look like?

    Australia has two main offshore oil and gas producing areas: the North West Shelf in Western Australia and the Bass Strait off Gippsland, Victoria.

    WA and the Northern Territory have 35 platforms, 11 floating facilities and 6,076km of pipelines offshore. Victoria has 22 platforms and 2,089km of pipelines. Altogether, more than a thousand wells will need to be plugged and abandoned.

    Many of these facilities have already reached the end of their lives, or soon will. Less demand for fossil fuels in the future means we don’t need to refurbish or extend them. The only other option is to decommission them.

    Federal law requires the complete removal of offshore oil and gas infrastructure and plugging of wells, unless companies can come up with a better option.

    About 60% of the material requiring removal is steel, which could be recycled. A further 25% is concrete. The remainder includes plastics, hazardous metals and naturally occurring radioactive materials.

    But decommissioning is expensive, complex and time consuming, and the weak regulations are poorly enforced. Companies often present proposals that fail to meet community expectations.

    The Australasian Centre for Corporate Responsibility argues “further regulation is needed to ensure greater transparency, disclosure, and public consultation on decommissioning”.

    The Albanese government has been developing a plan for a decommissioning industry in Australia. It would be worth A$60 billion over the next 30 to 50 years.

    The industry would reclaim the materials and transport them to dismantling yards, for safe sorting and recycling. It would create highly skilled jobs, many of which overlap with skills needed for building offshore wind farms. These include:

    • electricians and mechanical fitters
    • specialist engineering roles
    • various management and contract management roles
    • health, safety and environmental specialists
    • specialist offshore operators, including for cranes and drilling activities.

    Currently only a few countries such as Norway and Turkiye have such dedicated decommissioning industries. Some also accept materials from oil and gas fields further afield. Scottish oil and gas rigs, for example, were controversially transported to Turkiye for dismantling and recycling in 2022-23.

    Plenty of work to be done

    In Gippsland, there may be ways to decommission not just offshore oil and gas, but also coal-fired power stations in the Latrobe Valley, which are scheduled to close in coming years.

    Some 30,000 tonnes of steel and 65,000m³ of asbestos was removed when Hazelwood Power Station was demolished. A further 100,000 tonnes of steel and 100,000 tonnes of concrete was recycled.

    Much recycling work was done on site. This provided more than 1.1 million hours of work employment badly needed in a region that had lost one of its largest employers.

    The WA state government allocated $5 million to a local decommissioning industry in its 2022-23 budget. This funds the Centre of Decommissioning Australia’s research, including a study investigating how to develop a dismantling hub in WA.

    Unfortunately, Victoria has not shown similar interest. This is despite decommissioning work by Esso in Bass Strait raising ongoing community concerns. They relate to the marine environment, human safety – for fishing, beach and tourism activities – and the loss of other potential industry and job opportunities.

    Whether to remove oil and gas structures or leave them in place is hotly debated. Some people argue the structures should be left to serve as artificial reefs. Others say the material is dangerous and potentially toxic.

    Given the immense size and number of oil and gas platforms around the world, a lot of material could be left to decay in the oceans with unknown consequences.

    Gas in the Bass Strait is running out but what will happen to the offshore rigs? | 7.30.

    Challenges and opportunities

    Renewable energy promises to create jobs and revitalise many fossil-fuel dependent regions. Setting up a decommissioning industry in the oil and gas regions of WA and Victoria would provide further opportunities during the transition.

    Ideally, the decommissioning process would deliver positive social and environmental benefits, not just cost savings. But that requires managing decommissioning as part of policies aimed at supporting workers and communities to adjust to a low carbon economy.

    The Future Made in Australia policy, for instance, could consider including support for a decommissioning industry.

    Regulations for decommissioning of oil and gas infrastructure must be strengthened. Environmental groups and unions are increasingly campaigning for these changes. Australia’s oil and gas companies are powerful and will likely resist further regulation.

    Abandoning oil and gas infrastructure on the ocean floor would result in lost opportunities for regions, communities and workers. It would also set a precedent for the dumping of yet more industrial waste into the ocean.

    We must get decommissioning right. Otherwise, it may prove another environmental harm imposed on the planet by the oil and gas industry.

    The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. Where do we stash the equivalent of 110 Sydney harbour bridges? That’s the conundrum Australia faces as oil and gas rigs close – https://theconversation.com/where-do-we-stash-the-equivalent-of-110-sydney-harbour-bridges-thats-the-conundrum-australia-faces-as-oil-and-gas-rigs-close-235867

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Humanity needs more rare earth elements. Extinct volcanoes could be a rich new source

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michael Anenburg, Research Fellow in Earth Sciences, Australian National University

    Phawat/Shutterstock

    Extinct volcanoes are hard to study – we never see them erupt. Using a unique experimental technique, we were able to recreate a certain type of extinct volcano in a lab, learning more about the magma these volcanoes produce.

    We found that some rare magma types are surprisingly efficient at concentrating rare earth elements. This is a group of metals with crucial applications in several high-tech industries, such as magnets for electric vehicles and wind turbines.

    Demand for rare earths is soaring as society moves away from fossil fuels and electrifies energy production and transport. Despite the name, rare earths aren’t particularly rare. The biggest challenge is finding rocks in which these metals are concentrated enough to be economically viable to extract.

    Our new research, published in the journal Geochemical Perspectives Letters, shows certain extinct volcanoes are a great place to look.

    Iron-rich magma in extinct volcanoes

    There is an enigmatic type of magma that contains unusually large amounts of iron. It is so rare, no eruptions featuring this type of magma have happened in recorded history.

    Instead, it is only known from extinct volcanoes that were active many millions of years ago.

    The most famous example of such a volcano is El Laco in Chile. Another notable example is Kiruna in Sweden, mined for iron ore for many decades. Last year, its operating company LKAB announced Kiruna as the largest rare earths resource in Europe.

    The discovery at Kiruna made us (and many others) wonder why there would be a rare earth resource at a volcanic iron mine. We already know of many other rock types containing rare earths, and none of them are like Kiruna and other extinct iron-rich volcanoes.

    Was this just a geological serendipity, or is there something inherent to iron-rich magmas that make them rare-earth rich, too? After all, many of those iron-rich extinct volcanoes are known, but no one ever bothered to check whether they have a rare earth resource in them.

    Additionally, iron-rich rocks are often easy to find because of their strong magnetic signal, despite their rarity. Should they be added to the target list of rare earth explorers?

    Recreating volcanism in a bottle

    To test this hypothesis, we used a machine called a piston cylinder. We put synthetic material akin to volcanic rocks and magmas into small capsules or “bottles” made of noble metals such as platinum. We then pressurised them to depths equivalent to 15 kilometres deep in Earth’s crust and heated them up to 1,100°C, melting them into a liquid.

    At these extreme conditions, we found the iron-rich magma exists as bubbles inside a more common magma type known from virtually all modern active volcanoes. The iron-rich magma absorbs rare earths from the surrounding liquid.

    These iron-rich bubbles will have a different density and viscosity, and will separate from their iron-poor environment, similar to how water and oil mixed together will eventually separate into distinct layers.

    Iron-rich magmas absorb the rare earths so efficiently, their rare earth contents are almost 200 times greater than the regular magmas around them.

    This means the discovery at Kiruna wasn’t an accident. It’s something we can expect from most, if not all, iron-rich volcanoes.

    An experimental platinum capsule (4 mm in length) containing round bubbles of iron-rich and iron-poor magma. The capsule also contains abundant iron oxide crystals in light grey and blue, similar to the material making the iron ore in active mines.
    Shengchao Yan

    Why do we need more rare earth deposits?

    Production of rare earth elements is concentrated in just a handful of countries – mostly China, along with the United States, Myanmar and Australia.

    Rare earths are therefore classified as “critical minerals”: they have important uses, but suffer from a supply chain risk due to geopolitical factors.

    As demand for rare earths has surged, this has led to substantial investment in research and exploration for additional deposits. The more deposits are known, the better industry can pick deposits that will yield rare earths at the lowest financial, environmental and societal cost.

    Extinct iron-rich volcanoes are often mined for iron ore. Our results indicate existing mines at such locations can potentially be modified to produce rare earths as well.

    This would be a positive outcome – an existing mining operation can gain additional value. In some cases, mine waste can be reprocessed to extract these critical metals. This would mean new mines for rare earth elements may not even be required, preventing unnecessary disruption of natural environments.

    Michael Anenburg receives funding from the Australian Research Council for an Industry Fellowship co-funded by BHP Olympic Dam.

    – ref. Humanity needs more rare earth elements. Extinct volcanoes could be a rich new source – https://theconversation.com/humanity-needs-more-rare-earth-elements-extinct-volcanoes-could-be-a-rich-new-source-239410

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Welch in Judiciary Committee Hearing on SCOTUS’ Unprecedented Immunity Decision: “My concern is the rule of law is being whittled away.”

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Peter Welch (D-Vermont)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – At a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing today, Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.) emphasized how the U.S. Supreme Court’s recent ruling in former President Donald Trump’s immunity case endangers the United States’ constitutional system of checks and balances and Congress’ constitutional responsibility to enforce the rule of law. Senator Welch also questioned witnesses about how the Supreme Court’s unprecedented immunity decision undermines the core democratic principle that no one is above the law. 
    “At the heart of this seems to be a core dispute about whether presidential power needs immunity in order to be effective, powerful and unconstrained, or whether presidential power within the Constitution—adhering to the doctrine of separation of powers, adhering to the doctrine that no person is above the law—needs constraints,” said Senator Welch.  
    Questioning Michael Mukasey, former Attorney General under President George W. Bush, Senator Welch noted, “General Mukasey, you expressed a concern about the powers of the presidency being ‘whittled away.’ My concern is the rule of law is being whittled away. My concern is that constitutional freedoms are in the process of being whittled away. What’s been whittled away are the checks and balances at the core of our constitutional system. And, Mr. Chairman, what’s being whittled away is the Article I responsibility of Congress to enforce the rule of law.” 
    Senator Welch also asked Executive Director of the Institute for Constitutional Advocacy and Protection at Georgetown University Law School Mary McCord about potential ramifications of the Court’s decision to define presidential actions in office as absolutely immune. Professor McCord testified that the decision opens the doors to activities that scholars agree should not have immunity. 
    Senator Welch concluded: “Mr. Chairman, this is not about the Court—this is about us. It’s about how much confidence we have in our capacity as a democracy to govern ourselves as opposed to transfer that responsibility—without limitation—to a person in an office who is not traditionally been above the law, but subject to the law, and whose responsibility is to serve us and not use authority to abuse us.” 
    Watch the Senator’s full remarks below. 

    Senator Welch is a cosponsor of the No Kings Act, legislation that would reaffirm that the President is not immune to legal accountability and remove the Supreme Court’s jurisdiction to hear appeals related to presidential immunity from criminal law. Senator Welch is also a cosponsor of the Supreme Court Ethics, Recusal, and Transparency Act of 2023, which the Judiciary Committee advanced this summer with unanimous Democratic support. The legislation requires the Supreme Court to adopt a code of conduct, establish a mechanism to investigate breaches of that code, recuse themselves when they have conflicts of interest in cases, and disclose gifts and income, among other provisions.  

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Obesity in mums doubles the risk of autism in babies

    Source: University of South Australia

    25 September 2024

    Children born to mothers with obesity both before and during pregnancy have an increased risk of neuropsychiatric and behavioural conditions, including autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), according to new research from the University of South Australia.

    Funded by Centre of Research Excellence Health in Preconception & Pregnancy and conducted in partnership with Curtin University, Monash University,  SAHMRI and a team of national institutions*, the systematic review and meta-analysis of more than 3.6 million mother-child pairs across 42 epidemiological studies found that obesity during pregnancy:

    • increases the risk of ADHD in children by 32%.
    • doubles the risk of developing ASD in children (by 2.23 times).
    • increases the risk of conduct disorders by 16%

    The study also found that maternal pre-conception obesity or overweight was linked with an increased risk of ADHD, ASD, conduct disorder and psychotic disorder as well as a 30% increased risk in both externalising symptoms, and peer relationship problems.

    Lead researcher UniSA’s Dr Bereket Duko says the study provides new insights into the long-term impact of maternal body weight on child mental health.

    “Maternal obesity has long been associated with a range of adverse perinatal outcomes, including preterm birth, low birthweight, stillbirth, and it is also linked with macrosomia, or high birthweight,” Dr Duko says.

    “In this study, we examined maternal overweight and obesity before and during pregnancy, finding that both are significantly linked with psychiatric and behavioural problems in children later in life, specifically ASD, ADHD and peer relationship problems.

    “Given the rising global obesity rates among women of reproductive age, and the growing numbers of children identified with neurodiverse conditions, it’s important that we acknowledge the potential long-term consequences of maternal adiposity on child mental health.”

    In Australia, about one in 150 people have ASD with more than 8% of children aged 4-11 diagnosed with ADHD. Globally, one in eight people live with obesity.

    Dr Duko says the study’s results underscore the need for interventions targeting maternal weight management before and during pregnancy.

    “Public health efforts that target improving maternal health could help mitigate some of the risks of neuropsychiatric and behavioural disorders in children,” Dr Duko says.

    “While further research is needed to explore the biological mechanisms underlying these associations, the findings do stress the need for health interventions that promote healthy living and weight among parents to be.”

    Notes to editors:

    *Additional partners include Monash University, University of Western Australia, Fiona Stanley Hospital, University of Queensland, Edith Cowan University, and University of Sydney.

    The paper is available online here:  Associations between maternal preconception and pregnancy adiposity and neuropsychiatric and behavioral outcomes in the offspring: A systematic review and meta-analysis

    …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

    Contact for interview:  Dr Bereket Duko M: +61 410 350 140 E: Bereket.Adema@unisa.edu.au
    Media contact: Annabel Mansfield M: +61 479 182 489 E: Annabel.Mansfield@unisa.edu.au

    Other articles you may be interested in

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: NEWS RELEASE: DLIR Announces 2024 Workforce Development Heroes

    Source: US State of Hawaii

    NEWS RELEASE: DLIR Announces 2024 Workforce Development Heroes

    Posted on Sep 24, 2024 in Latest Department News, Newsroom

    DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS

    KA ʻOIHANA PONO LIMAHANA

     

    JOSH GREEN, M.D.

    GOVERNOR

    KE KIAʻĀINA

     

    JADE T. BUTAY

    DIRECTOR

    KA LUNA HOʻOKELE

     

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

    September 24, 2024

    DLIR Announces 2024 Workforce Development Heroes

    HONOLULU — The Hawaiʻi State Department of Labor and Industrial Relations (DLIR) today announced the recipients of the second annual Workforce Development Hero Awards, which recognize outstanding individuals and organizations. September is Workforce Development Month, a time to honor workforce development leaders and staff across Hawaiʻi, as well as draw attention to the resources available to those looking for work, wanting to prepare for in-demand employment or exploring their career options.

    “Ensuring that businesses have access to skilled workers, while helping job seekers find meaningful employment, is essential to equipping both local businesses and workers with the talent and expertise needed to thrive as Hawaiʻi’s economy evolves,” said DLIR Director Jade T. Butay.

    The Workforce Development Hero Awards honor key contributors to workforce excellence across the islands, acknowledging their dedication and innovation in advancing employment opportunities and skill development in Hawaiʻi. The awards drew nominations from across the state, showcasing the vast range of individuals and institutions working toward strengthening Hawaiʻi’s workforce.

    2024 Workforce Development Hero Award Winners:

    • Oʻahu: Lord Ryan Lizardo, Chamber of Commerce Hawaii and Ariel Villanueva, Ewa Makai Middle School
    • Maui: Nicolette van Der Lee, University of Hawaiʻi, Maui Campus
    • Kauaʻi: Kaina Makua, Kumanu I Ke Ala
    • Hawaiʻi Island: Kevin Aki, County of Hawaiʻi
    • Legislator of the Year: Sen. Donovan M. Dela Cruz
    • Lifetime Achievement Award: David Lassner, President, University of Hawaiʻi

    “Each of this year’s Workforce Development Heroes has gone above and beyond in creating pathways to opportunity,” said the Workforce Development Council Executive Director Bennette Misalucha. “Their efforts have empowered individuals, strengthened communities, and contributed to the overall resilience and competitiveness of Hawaiʻi’s workforce.”

    The Workforce Development Hero finalists include Michael Cardenas, MC3 Technologies, Katie Hokama, Hilo Benioff Medical Center, Tracey Kaneshige, Workforce Development Division, DLIR, Joy Korkowski, Kaiser Permanente, Diane Oda, Workforce Development Division, DLIR, Constancio Paranal III, Department of Economic Revitalization, City and County of Honolulu, Erick Pascua, Workforce Development Division, DLIR, Jenna Silifaiva, County of Maui, Jeffrey Tom, WorkHawaiʻi Job Readiness Program, Deborah Uemura (Nakashima), Hawaiʻi National Guard Work for Warriors Program, Bridget Orsatelli, ʻŌmaʻo Ranch Lands, and Ashley Wang, Booz Allen.

    Lifetime Achievement Award

    A special Lifetime Achievement Award will be presented to David Lassner, President of the University of Hawaiʻi, for his 46 years of distinguished service at UH. Under his leadership, the UH system has become a driving force in meeting Hawaiʻi’s workforce needs, setting records in research, graduation rates and inclusion of underrepresented populations. His dedication to affordable education and workforce advancement, combined with a recent $1 million donation to support graduate students in technology fields, reflects his deep commitment to creating opportunities for future generations.

    Legislator of the Year

    Sen. Donovan M. Dela Cruz is being recognized as Legislator of the Year for his commitment to advancing workforce development across the state. As Chair of the Senate Ways and Means Committee, Dela Cruz has championed workforce development as a critical component in retaining local talent and meeting the needs of Hawaiʻi’s employers. Facing a state workforce vacancy rate averaging 30%, Dela Cruz spearheaded efforts to create the Hele Imua Internship Program.

    In 2022, the program was allocated $5.3 million, creating 330 interns with the state Executive Branch and four scholarships though the Ho‘oilina Scholarship program. The Ho‘oilina Scholarship is a partnership between the DLIR, Hawai‘i Lodging & Tourism Association (HLTA) and the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa Shidler College of Business, School of Travel Industry Management that provides support to Hawai‘i public high school graduates pursuing careers in the hospitality, the tourism or the transportation industries.

    Awards Ceremony Future of Work Conference

    The Future of Work 2025 Conference will honor the seven Workforce Development Hero awardees on September 30, 2024, at the Japanese Cultural Center of Hawaiʻi. The event will highlight each winner’s contributions to workforce development and celebrate their achievements.

    To register for the conference, click here.

    # # #

    Equal Opportunity Employer/Program
    Auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities.
    TDD/TTY Dial 711 then ask for 808-586-8842

     

    View DLIR news releases:

    http://labor.hawaii.gov/blog/category/news/

    Media Contact:

    Chavonnie Ramos

    Public Information Officer

    Department of Labor and Industrial Relations

    Ka ʻOihana Pono Limahana

    808-586-9720

    [email protected]

    http://labor.hawaii.gov

     

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Governor Newsom signs consumer protection bills targeting medical debt, overdraft fees, and unfair subscription practices

    Source: US State of California 2

    Sep 24, 2024

    What you need to know: New laws will strengthen consumer protections and help save Californians money.

    SACRAMENTO – Governor Gavin Newsom signed a package of bills that will strengthen protections for consumers, addressing issues that have put financial strain on Californians while setting new standards for transparency and accountability across industries.

    “Nobody wants to get ripped off, whether it’s a small subscription fee that’s seemingly impossible to cancel or massive medical debts which force families into financial ruin. We’re strengthening protections for Californians across the board and helping save consumers money.”

    Governor Gavin Newsom

    Medical debt relief

    SB 1061 by Senator Monique Limón (D-Santa Barbara) targets the devastating impact of medical debt on consumers. Under this new law, medical debt will no longer be included on consumers’ credit reports, ensuring that people are not penalized for the high costs of necessary healthcare. The bill also prohibits using any medical debt listed on a credit report as a negative factor when making credit decisions, and gives individuals more room to address their medical bills before debt collection and reporting actions can take place.

    “I am proud to author legislation to provide relief to Californians suffering from the burden of medical debt,” said Senator Limón. “No Californian should be unable to secure housing, a loan, or even a job because they accessed necessary medical care. With this new law, California is stepping up to protect consumers impacted by the effects of medical debt.” 

    Making it easier to cancel subscriptions

    AB 2863 by Assemblymember Pilar Schiavo (D-Chatsworth) addresses complicated auto-renewing subscription services that are easy to sign up for but hard to cancel. The bill requires companies offering automatic renewals and continuous services to provide consumers a means to cancel the subscription using the same medium they used to sign up; for example, a person who subscribes online has to be given an online click-to-cancel option. This ensures that consumers can easily exit from services they no longer want, without being trapped by confusing processes or hidden fees.

    “At a time when too many in our community are struggling, unwanted subscription renewals can really add up. AB 2863 is the most comprehensive ‘Click to Cancel’ legislation in the nation,  ensuring Californians can  cancel unwanted automatic subscription renewals just as easily as they signed up – with just a click or two,” said Assemblymember Schiavo. “California is setting a model for the nation on protecting consumers from unnecessary charges – giving them more control over their finances and helping to ensure fair business practices, providing a win for both consumers and small businesses. I’m grateful that this important legislation was signed, as it will mean more money in the pockets of people throughout our community.” 

    Protecting against unfair fees 

    AB 2017 by Assemblymember Tim Grayson (D-Concord) and SB 1075 by Senator Steven Bradford (D-Gardena) address unfair banking practices. AB 2017 prohibits certain banks and credit unions from charging nonsufficient funds fees when a transaction is declined due to the consumer having insufficient funds. SB 1075 sets limits on the amount credit unions can charge for overdraft fees. These bills aim to protect lower-income Californians that are disproportionately impacted by financial fees that can push them deeper into financial hardship.

    Additional consumer protection measures signed into law

    • AB 1849 by Assemblymember Tim Grayson (D-Concord) – Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act: services and repairs: travel trailers and motor homes (signed earlier this year).
    • AB 1900 by Assemblymember Dr. Akilah Weber (D-San Diego) – Consumer refunds: nondisclosure agreements (signed earlier this year).
    • AB 1971 by Assemblymember Dawn Addis (D-Morro Bay) – Administration of standardized tests.
    • AB 2202 by Assemblymember Anthony Rendon (D-Lakewood) – Short-term rentals: disclosure: cleaning tasks.
    • AB 2297 by Assemblymember Laura Friedman (D-Glendale) – Hospital and Emergency Physician Fair Pricing Policies.
    • AB 2347 by Assemblymember Ash Kalra (D-San Jose) – Summary proceedings for obtaining possession of real property: procedural requirements.
    • AB 2426 by Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin (D-Thousand Oaks) – Consumer protection: false advertising: digital goods.
    • AB 2801 by Assemblymember Laura Friedman (D-Glendale) – Tenancy: Security Deposits (signed earlier this year).
    • AB 2837 by Assemblymember Rebecca Bauer-Kahan (D-Orinda) – Civil actions: enforcement of money judgments.
    • AB 2992 by Assemblymember Stephanie Nguyen (D-Elk Grove) – Real Estate Law: buyer-broker representation agreements.
    • AB 3108 by Assemblymember Reginald Byron Jones-Sawyer, Sr. (D-Los Angeles) – Business: mortgage fraud.
    • AB 3283 by the Committee on Judiciary – Enforcement of judgments: claims of exemption (signed earlier this year).
    • SB 919 by Senator Thomas Umberg (D-Santa Ana) – Franchise Investment Law: franchise brokers.
    • SB 924 by Senator Steven Bradford (D-Gardena) – Tenancy: credit reporting: lower income households.
    • SB 1286 by Senator Dave Min (D-Irvine) – Rosenthal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act: covered debt: commercial debts.

    Recent news

    Sep 24, 2024

    News SACRAMENTO – As Tropical Storm Helene is expected to strengthen into a hurricane as it moves toward Florida’s Panhandle, Governor Gavin Newsom today announced the deployment of California firefighters to assist in staffing a Federal Emergency Management Agency…

    Sep 23, 2024

    News What you need to know: Governor Newsom signed four bills today to help law enforcement crack down on dangerous sideshows and street takeovers. These new laws will hold participants and organizers accountable by providing law enforcement with the tools to seize…

    Sep 23, 2024

    News What you need to know: Governor Gavin Newsom today signed Assembly Bill 3216, the Phone-Free School Act, to require every school district, charter school and county office of education to develop a policy limiting the use of smartphones by July 1, 2026….

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: DCCA News RELEASE: Registration Opens for 2024-2025 Hawaiʻi LifeSmarts Competition

    Source: US State of Hawaii

    DCCA News RELEASE: Registration Opens for 2024-2025 Hawaiʻi LifeSmarts Competition

    Posted on Sep 24, 2024 in Latest Department News, Newsroom

     

    DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE AND CONSUMER AFFAIRS

    KA ʻOIHANA PILI KĀLEPA


     JOSH GREEN, M.D.

    GOVERNOR | KE KIAʻĀINA

     

    NADINE Y. ANDO

    DIRECTOR | KA LUNA HOʻOKELE

    TY Y. NOHARA

    SECURITIES COMMISSIONER

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

    September 24, 2024

    Registration Opens for 2024-2025 Hawaiʻi LifeSmarts Competition

    HONOLULU — The state Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs (DCCA) Business Registration Division invites teams to participate in the 2024-2025 Hawaiʻi LifeSmarts Competition.

    LifeSmarts is a free, national educational program that teaches students critical life skills in five key areas: Personal Finance, Consumer Rights & Responsibilities, Health & Safety, the Environment, and Technology through online quizzes and in-person competitions. Teams must consist of one adult coach/teacher and at least four students.

    Registration is now open at lifesmarts.org.

    Once registered, high school or “varsity” teams can participate in the online portion of the competition from Monday, October 21, 2024, until Friday, December 6, 2024, at 7 p.m. HST. The top four highest-scoring teams will be invited to compete in the state championship competition at the Neal S. Blaisdell Center in Honolulu on February 21, 2025. The winning team will have the opportunity to represent Hawaiʻi at the national competition, scheduled for April 24 to 27, 2024, in Chicago, Illinois.

    Middle school or “junior varsity” teams with students in grades 6 to 8 can participate in an online-only competition from Monday, October 21, 2024, to Friday, December 6, 2024, at 7 p.m. HST. For more information about the Hawaiʻi LifeSmarts program, please visit www.lifesmartshawaii.com or contact LifeSmarts State Coordinator, Theresa Kong Kee, at 808-587-7400 or [email protected].

    The Hawaiʻi LifeSmarts program is locally sponsored by DCCA’s Business Registration Division and Insurance Division, in partnership with the Hawaiʻi Credit Union League, and is run by the National Consumers League. More than 3,000 local students have participated in Hawaiʻi LifeSmarts since 2004. Local businesses interested in becoming a sponsor of the Hawaiʻi LifeSmarts program are welcome to contact the state coordinator for more information.

     

    Learn more about the Hawai‘i LifeSmarts program with this video. Content from previous years, including photos, is available here.

     

    # # #

    Media Contact:

    William Nhieu

    Communications Officer

    Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs

    Email: [email protected]

    Office: 808-586-7582

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: California deploys Incident Support Team to Florida ahead of Tropical Storm Helene

    Source: US State of California 2

    Sep 24, 2024

    SACRAMENTO – As Tropical Storm Helene is expected to strengthen into a hurricane as it moves toward Florida’s Panhandle, Governor Gavin Newsom today announced the deployment of California firefighters to assist in staffing a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Incident Support Team to Orlando, Florida.

    In close coordination with FEMA, the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) is immediately deploying seven firefighters from California’s Urban Search and Rescue (US&R) Task Force Incident Support Team. The deployment has no impact on California’s emergency response and firefighting capabilities. 

    “California stands ready to help assist where needed, even as we face ongoing wildfires in our state. This storm is dangerous and has the potential to produce heavy rainfall, storm surge and strong winds. We are glad to lend a helping hand to those in Helene’s path.”

    Governor Gavin Newsom

    The Incident Support Team provides a group of highly qualified specialists to support local officials with technical assistance, management and coordination of US&R resources.

    “This is a great example of how state-to-state cooperation works. California’s deployment of these specialized US&R firefighters ahead of the storm will allow for better emergency defenses,” said Cal OES Director Nancy Ward.  

    The specialized team members deployed to Florida come from California US&R Task Forces 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 from Oakland, Orange County, Riverside, Sacramento and San Diego. 

    This deployment builds on California’s continued efforts to aid other states during emergencies. In July, Governor Newsom deployed a similar Incident Support Team to Texas to assist in responding to Tropical Storm Beryl.   In the past two years, California has also deployed firefighters to New Mexico, Hawaii, Oregon and Montana.  

    Press Releases, Recent News

    Recent news

    Sep 23, 2024

    News What you need to know: Governor Newsom signed four bills today to help law enforcement crack down on dangerous sideshows and street takeovers. These new laws will hold participants and organizers accountable by providing law enforcement with the tools to seize…

    Sep 23, 2024

    News What you need to know: Governor Gavin Newsom today signed Assembly Bill 3216, the Phone-Free School Act, to require every school district, charter school and county office of education to develop a policy limiting the use of smartphones by July 1, 2026….

    Sep 23, 2024

    News What you need to know: California is launching a campaign to empower one million Californians to take climate action in their communities.  SACRAMENTO – During Climate Week, Governor Gavin Newsom announced a new state initiative to mobilize one million…

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Public Notice of Intent to Issue a Categorical Exclusion to Rockland Oaks

    Source: US State of Rhode Island

    Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH) is seeking public comment on its intent to issue a Categorical Exclusion.

    RIDOH has reviewed for approval the request by the Rockland Oaks public water system (PWS # RI1000020), in cooperation with an adjacent public water system, the Scituate High School & Middle School public water system (PWS # RI1615612) for a Categorical Exclusion determination for its proposed Rockland Oaks Public Water System Improvements project. Water supply for the Rockland Oaks facility is proposed to be provided by a new distribution connection to the Scituate High School & Middle School public water system (PWS # RI1615612) and improvements to the Rockland Oaks equipment/mechanical room, with the intent of ultimately inactivating the Rockland Oaks public water system (PWS # RI1000020). In addition to developing a new transmission main to Rockland Oaks, the project scope involves development of a new public well #4 at the High School/Middle School campus and select improvements to the High School/Middle School system related to the new connection, including to the pump house, controls, storage tank, and distribution pump system, presently under construction. The project location(s) will include the Scituate High School/Middle School campus located at 94 Trimtown Road, Scituate, RI 02857 (Scituate Assessors Map 33 Lot 14) through Rockland Road and into Rockland Oaks located at 104 Rockland Road, North Scituate, RI 02857 (Scituate Assessors Map 33 Lot 127).

    It has been determined that any impacts from the project, subject to certain defined conditions and with all proposed mitigation and the required mitigation and conditions in accordance with state permits and comments, would be minor and short term in duration and that the project, subject to certain defined conditions and with all proposed mitigation and the required mitigation and conditions in accordance with state permits and comments, will not individually, or cumulatively over time, have a significant effect on the quality of the environment. Therefore, RIDOH is hereby giving notice of intent to issue a Categorical Exclusion for the proposed project pursuant to the requirements and authority set forth in Chapter 46-12.8 of the General Laws of Rhode Island and the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund regulations (216-RICR-50-05-6).

    A copy of the proposed Categorical Exclusion can be obtained by calling RIDOH’s Center for Drinking Water Quality at 401-222-6867 weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. or by emailing DOH.RIDWQ@health.ri.gov. All material submitted for review is available for public inspection weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at RIDOH, Center for Drinking Water Quality, Three Capitol Hill, Room 209, Providence, RI 02908.

    Written comments should be sent to the Center for Drinking Water Quality at the address above or emailed to DOH.RIDWQ@health.ri.gov within thirty (30) days of the date of this notice.

    A public hearing to hear or otherwise receive comments on the proposed intent to issue a Categorical Exclusion will be held if RIDOH receives such a request by twenty-five (25) persons, or by a governmental agency, or by an association having not less than twenty-five (25) members, within ten (10) days of published notice. If a public hearing is held, it will be open to the public, recorded and held at least five (5) days before the end of the public-comment period. A hearing will not be held earlier than ten (10) days after notice of its location, date, and time published. A request for a public hearing should be sent to the Center for Drinking Water Quality at the address above or emailed to DOH.RIDWQ@health.ri.gov. Notice should be taken that if RIDOH receives a request(s) as provided above on or before 4:30 p.m., October 4, 2024, a public hearing will be held at the following time and place:

    October 8, 2024, at 11 a.m. RIDOH Auditorium Three Capitol Hill Providence, Rhode Island 02908

    Interested persons should contact RIDOH to confirm if a hearing will be held at the time and location noted above.

    The location of the public hearing will be accessible to the handicapped. Interpreter services for people with hearing impairment and audiotapes for people with vision impairment will be made available. RIDOH is handicap accessible to individuals with disabilities.

    Please call RIDOH’s Center for Drinking Water Quality at 401-222-6867 for further information. For individuals requesting communication assistance, call Rhode Island Relay (TTY) at 711 or 800-745-5555 at least forty-eight (48) hours in advance.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Translation: Government of Canada to announce investment to support skilled trades training in Alberta

    MIL OSI Translation. Canadian French to English –

    Source: Government of Canada – in French 2

    Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Official Languages Randy Boissonnault will make an announcement to highlight funding for projects in Alberta under the Canadian Apprenticeship Training Strategy.

    Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Official Languages Randy Boissonnault will make an announcement to highlight funding for projects in Alberta under the Canadian Apprenticeship Training Strategy.

    A photo opportunity and press briefing will follow the announcement. Please note that details are subject to change and all times are local.

    Date: Friday, September 13, 2024 Time: 10:30 a.m. MDT Location: Budd Coutts Apprenticeship and Education Center Township Road 584, Range Road 232 Thorhild County, Alberta

    To register, send an email to media@hrsdc-rhdcc.gc.ca by indicating your name and that of your press office before 9:30 a.m. (MDT) on Friday, September 13, 2024.

    Mathis DenisPress SecretaryOffice of the Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Official Languages, Randy Boissonnaultmathis.denis@hrsdc-rhdcc.gc.ca

    EDITOR’S NOTE: This article is a translation. Apologies should the grammar and/or sentence structure not be perfect.

    MIL Translation OSI

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator Murray Challenges Republicans to Join Democrats in Affirming the Right to Lifesaving Emergency Care for Women

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Washington State Patty Murray
    ICYMI: Murray Leads Congressional Democrats in Amicus Brief Urging SCOTUS to Affirm that EMTALA Requires Hospitals to Provide Emergency Stabilizing Care Including Abortion Care, Preempts Idaho’s Draconian Abortion Ban
    ICYMI: On Senate Floor, Murray Shines Spotlight On How Trump Abortion Bans are Killing Women in America
    ICYMI – FROM PROPUBLICA: Abortion Bans Have Delayed Emergency Medical Care. In Georgia, Experts Say This Mother’s Death Was Preventable.
    ***WATCH: SENATOR MURRAY’S REMARKS HERE***
    Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), a senior member and former Chair of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee (HELP), spoke at a press conference in the Capitol with Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Senator Mazie Hirono (D-HI) following introduction of her resolution which simply expresses the sense of the Senate that every patient has the basic right to emergency health care, including abortion care, regardless of where they live. Murray will seek unanimous consent to pass her resolution later this afternoon on the Senate floor and challenged Senate Republicans to join Democrats in affirming the basic right to lifesaving emergency care for women. Introduction of Murray’s resolution follows new reporting from ProPublica that makes plain that Republican abortion bans are preventing women from receiving lifesaving emergency health care and resulting in preventable deaths.
    “I really want to emphasize that—we are talking about women whose water breaks dangerously early, or who are experiencing uncontrollable hemorrhage, sepsis, or pre-eclampsia,” said Senator Murray at today’s press conference. “These are the patients we are saying doctors should treat under the basic right to emergency care. Today we are going to try and pass this resolution, and we are going to see if the Senate can come together with one voice, and tell women: we want to put your health first, we want to put your life first, we want to make sure you get the care you need in an emergency. It is a simple message—but sadly, it has become a necessary one. Now I don’t know if Republicans are going to let us pass this or not. Republicans sometimes talk about protecting the life of the mother, but frankly they have yet to lift a finger to ensure doctors can always do that.”
    “So we’ll see where they fall today, but even if they block this resolution—we are NOT going to stop fighting to protect women, to help everyone get the care they need, and, ultimately, to restore the reproductive rights Donald Trump ripped away,” said Senator Murray in closing.
    Since the overturn of Roe v. Wade over two years ago, nearly two dozen US states led by Republicans have passed, banned, or severely restricted access to abortion. These strict laws have created confusion around the treatment doctors can provide even when a pregnant patient’s life is in danger, as physicians fear that they may lose their medical license, be sued, or even charged with a felony if they perform life-saving emergency care. Despite the federal Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act’s (EMTALA) requirements that Medicare-participating hospitals treat and stabilize pregnant patients in need of emergency medical care, women are being turned away from emergency rooms following the Dobbs decision.
    In Moyle v. United States, the U.S. Supreme Court had the opportunity to reaffirm that federal law requires pregnant patients to have access to life-saving emergency care in every state, but instead, the Court dismissed the case and sent it back to the lower courts, effectively punting on making a decision on the case itself. While the litigation continues in the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, the health and lives of women remain at risk as uncertainty around emergency abortion care persists. 121 Congressional Republicans, including 26 Senators, filed an amicus brief arguing that EMTALA does not require hospitals to provide abortion care as emergency stabilizing care in order to save a patient’s life.
    Senator Murray is a longtime leader in the fight to protect and expand access to reproductive health care and abortion rights, and she has led Congressional efforts to fight back after the Supreme Court’s disastrous decision overturning Roe v. Wade. Murray has introduced more than a dozen pieces of legislation to protect reproductive rights from further attacks, protect providers, and help ensure women get the care they need; Murray has led efforts to push for passage of these bills on the floor multiple times. Senator Murray also co-leads the Women’s Health Protection Act, which would restore the right to abortion nationwide. This January, Murray led her colleagues in hosting a “State of Abortion Rights” briefing with women who have suffered firsthand from Republican abortion bans. On June 4th of this year, Senator Murray chaired a HELP Committee hearing titled “The Assault on Women’s Freedoms: How Abortion Bans Have Created a Health Care Nightmare Across America.” Recently, Murray also helped lead efforts to force Republicans on the record on votes to protect access to contraception and access to IVF (twice). Murray has also led her colleagues in raising the alarm about how a second Trump administration intends to wage an all-out assault on reproductive rights and abortion access in every state, as outlined in Project 2025.
    Senator Murray’s full remarks, as prepared,  are below:
    “Donald Trump has been loudly bragging about how he ended Roe v Wade. He’s been making the outrageous claim that everyone wanted that.
    “Meanwhile, Republicans have been totally ignoring the horror and heartbreak they have unleashed. Even as women and doctors are speaking out about it every day.
    “Here in America, in the 21st century, pregnant women are suffering and even dying not because doctors don’t know how to save them, but because doctors don’t know if Republicans will let them.
    “I spoke about this at length last week, but new reporting about the tragic deaths of Amber Thurman and Candi Miller tells the story with brutal clarity. There are children in Georgia today, who are growing up without a mother because of Republicans’ abortion bans.
    “And the painful reality is—these may be among the first stories reported in such detail, but they are most certainly not the only ones. The data shows in Texas, maternal deaths skyrocketed after Republicans enacted strict abortion bans.
    “How does anyone shrug that off? How does any Republican think the chaos their bans have caused will blow over?
    “No woman is going to forget when she was sent off to miscarry alone after her doctor said—look I know your life is in danger but I am not sure I am allowed to save you right now.
    “No husband is going to forget calling 911 in a panic, after finding his wife, bloody and unconscious.
    “No child is going to forget—for a single day of their life—the mother that was taken from them by Republican bans.
    “This cruelty is unforgettable—and unacceptable. Democrats will not let it become settled status quo. Americans will not let it.
    “And that’s why, last week I introduced a simple resolution which reaffirms the basic principle that: when you go to the ER, they should be allowed to treat you; when your life is in danger, doctors should be able to do their job; when you need emergency care—including an abortion—no politician should stop you from getting it.
    “That should not be controversial. Especially if everyone who talks about protecting the life of the mother seriously means it. After all—that is what emergency care is for—saving the life of the mother.
    “I really want to emphasize that—we are talking about women whose water breaks dangerously early, or who are experiencing uncontrollable hemorrhage, sepsis, or pre-eclampsia. These are the patients we are saying doctors should treat under the basic right to emergency care…
    “Today we are going to try and pass this resolution, and we are going to see if the Senate can come together with one voice, and tell women: we want to put your health first; we want to put your life first. we want to make sure you get the care you need in an emergency.
    “It is a simple message—but sadly, it has become a necessary one.
    “Now I don’t know if Republicans are going to let us pass this or not. Republicans sometimes talk about protecting the life of the mother—but frankly they have yet to lift a finger to ensure doctors can always do that. So we’ll see where they fall today.
    “But even if they block this resolution—we are not going to stop fighting to protect women, to help everyone get the care they need, and, ultimately, to restore the reproductive rights Donald Trump ripped away.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: AI is fuelling a deepfake porn crisis in South Korea. What’s behind it – and how can it be fixed?

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sungshin (Luna) Bae, PhD student, Gender Equality Policy Special Public Officer at the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office in South Korea, Monash University

    It’s difficult to talk about artificial intelligence without talking about deepfake porn – a harmful AI byproduct that has been used to target everyone from Taylor Swift to Australian school girls.

    But a recent report from startup Security Heroes found that out of 95,820 deepfake porn videos analysed from different sources, 53% featured South Korean singers and actresses – suggesting this group is disproportionately targeted.

    So, what’s behind South Korea’s deepfake problem? And what can be done about it?

    Teenagers and minors among victims

    Deepfakes are digitally manipulated photos, video or audio files that convincingly depict someone saying or doing things they never did. Among South Korean teenagers, creating deepfakes has become so common that some even view it as a prank. And they don’t just target celebrities.

    On Telegram, group chats have been made for the specific purpose of engaging in image-based sexual abuse of women, including middle-school and high-school students, teachers and family members. Women who have their pictures on social media platforms such as KakaoTalk, Instagram and Facebook are also frequently targeted.

    The perpetrators use AI bots to generate the fake imagery, which is then sold and/or indiscriminately disseminated, along with victims’ social media accounts, phone numbers and KakaoTalk usernames. One Telegram group attracted some 220,000 members, according to a Guardian report.

    A lack of awareness

    Despite gender-based violence causing significant harm to victims in South Korea, there remains a lack of awareness on the issue.

    South Korea has experienced rapid technological growth in recent decades. It ranks first in the world in smartphone ownership and is cited as having the highest internet connectivity. Many jobs, including those in restaurants, manufacturing and public transport, are being rapidly replaced by robots and AI.

    But as Human Rights Watch points out, the country’s progress in gender equality and other human rights measures has not kept pace with digital advancement. And research has shown that technological progress can actually exacerbate issued of gender-based violence.

    Since 2019, digital sex crimes against children and adolescents in South Korea have been a huge issue – particularly due to the “Nth Room” case. This case involved hundreds of young victims (many of whom were minors) and around 260,000 participants engaged in sharing exploitative and coercive intimate content.

    The case triggered widespread outrage and calls for stronger protection. It even led to the establishment of stronger conditions in the Act on Special Cases Concerning the Punishment of Sexual Crimes 2020. But despite this, the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office said only 28% of the total 17,495 digital sex offenders caught in 2021 were indicted — highlighting the ongoing challenges in effectively addressing digital sex crimes.

    In 2020, the Ministry of Justice’s Digital Sexual Crimes Task Force proposed about 60 legal provisions, which have still not been accepted. The team was disbanded shortly after the inauguration of President Yoon Suk Yeol’s government in 2022.

    During the 2022 presidential race, Yoon said “there is no structural gender discrimination” in South Korea and pledged to abolish the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, the main ministry responsible for preventing gender-based violence. This post has remained vacant since February of this year.

    Can technology also be the solution?

    But AI isn’t always harmful – and South Korea provides proof of this too. In 2022, a digital sex crime support centre run by the Seoul metropolitan government developed a tool that can automatically track, monitor and delete deepfake images and videos around the clock.

    The technology – which won the 2024 UN Public Administration Prize – has helped reduce the time taken to find deepfakes from an average of two hours to three minutes. But while such attempts can help reduce further harm from deepfakes, they are unlikely to be an exhaustive solutions, as effects on victims can be persistent.

    For meaningful change, the government needs to hold service providers such as social media platforms and messaging apps accountable for ensuring user safety.

    Unified efforts

    On August 30, the South Korean government announced plans to push for legislation to criminalise the possession, purchase and viewing of deepfakes in South Korea.

    However, investigations and trials may continue to fall short until deepfakes in South Korea are recognised as a harmful form of gender-based violence. A multifaceted approach will be needed to address the deepfake problem, including stronger laws, reform and education.

    South Korean authorities must also help to enhance public awareness of gender-based violence, and focus not only on supporting victims, but on developing proactive policies and educational programs to prevent violence in the first place.

    Sungshin (Luna) Bae does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. AI is fuelling a deepfake porn crisis in South Korea. What’s behind it – and how can it be fixed? – https://theconversation.com/ai-is-fuelling-a-deepfake-porn-crisis-in-south-korea-whats-behind-it-and-how-can-it-be-fixed-238217

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Why do people breach their bail? Our research shows it’s not because they’re committing more crimes

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Natalie Gately, Associate Professor, Edith Cowan University

    Shutterstock

    In Australia and most countries, everyone is innocent until proven guilty. Because of this, keeping someone in detention before trial comes with serious legal, practical and human-rights consequences, not just for the person accused but also for their family and for society.

    That’s why most people accused of a crime are usually released on bail.

    Bail is essentially a written promise where a person is released, on the agreement they return to court on a set date. It can also be granted to those who have been found or pleaded guilty while they wait for sentencing.

    Bail allows the accused to keep their job, maintain their home, and support their family, while eliminating the costs of imprisonment.

    However, bail comes with conditions that the person must follow, including curfews, regular check-ins, restrictions on whom they can talk to or where they can go, drug or alcohol testing, and staying at a specific address.

    These conditions may seem easy to understand and follow, but breaches of orders were the third most common offence in Australian courts in 2022 and 2023. They made up 10% of adult court appearances, using valuable time and resources.

    There’s a widespread belief that people on bail who breach their conditions commit more crimes – sometimes violent ones – that put others at risk and threaten public safety. This has fuelled demands for stricter bail laws or to stop granting bail altogether.

    Many also think that when someone breaches their bail conditions, it’s because they’re deliberately defying or ignoring the rules. With this in mind, we wanted to look deeper.

    We spoke to 230 police detainees about what led to their bail breaches. The results were surprising: very few (just 11%) breached by committing new offences.

    Instead, most explained their breaches happened because of things beyond their control.

    Homelessness

    A fixed residential address is a fundamental condition for getting bail.

    However, many of our participants shared that becoming homeless or returning to homelessness was common for them. Some said they left the address they provided because of family tensions:

    I’m meant to stay at my sister’s house under my bail conditions, it’s for my curfew […] she kicked me out because we had an argument. Now I’ve breached my conditions and have nowhere to go.

    It’s well known that chronic homelessness makes it tough to comply with bail conditions, and we found the same. A detainee told us:

    It was an honest mistake and a mix-up of the days.

    Another said:

    I was homeless at the time I was meant to go to court and dealing with a lot.

    A third person told us:

    I’m homeless and I’ve got bigger issues than going to court. I’m living in a tent in the park at the moment with no job.

    The mental stress meant people focused on meeting basic needs such as food and shelter, which took priority over following bail conditions.

    Family responsibilities

    Participants also shared their personal responsibilities of caring for sick children, parents or other dependants. This often prevented them from attending court or reporting. One person told us:

    I’m my nan’s carer […] I needed to look after her and my brother wasn’t there. I couldn’t go to court or make it. I’m the one who washes her and does everything for her […]

    Family commitments clashing with reporting requirements led to feelings that the system was stacked against them and they had few options but to breach.

    Work commitments

    Employment often interfered with reporting on time and attending court.

    I have to report Monday, Wednesday and Friday but I’m a truck driver. I have no problems with coming in to report, but I couldn’t make it because I was working. When I went in to report, they arrested me […]

    Keeping a job is crucial for financial and housing stability. Having a stable job also deepens community connections to reduce the chances of getting involved in criminal activity.

    Procedural barriers

    When these kinds of everyday issues derailed compliance, many said they had tried to let the court, police or their lawyer know, either before or right after they missed reporting in or a court date but were faced with an inflexible system.

    For some, even when they did manage to get through, they were told that by not reporting or attending court they had already breached their bail and a warrant would be issued for their arrest. A study participant told us:

    I told them (the police) that I’d been kicked out (of the nominated accommodation) and wasn’t there and they locked me up here. I’ve got an extra charge now because I breached bail and probably won’t get let back out tomorrow. It wasn’t in my control. I was meant to be doing my medical to start work on the mines too tomorrow, so I won’t be working there now.

    We recommend considering of the complexities of bailees’ lives when setting bail. More flexible reporting conditions for when “life happens” will reduce charge pile ups and pressures on the criminal justice.

    Natalie Gately received funding from Western Australian Office of Crime Statistics and Research for this project.

    Suzanne Rock received funding from Western Australian Office of Crime Statistics and Research for this project.

    – ref. Why do people breach their bail? Our research shows it’s not because they’re committing more crimes – https://theconversation.com/why-do-people-breach-their-bail-our-research-shows-its-not-because-theyre-committing-more-crimes-239198

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI USA: CONGRESSMAN BISHOP ANNOUNCES $116,349 NSF GRANT TO MERCER UNIVERSITY FOR MATERIAL SCIENCE RESEARCH THAT CAN HELP MANY INDUSTRIES

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Sanford D Bishop Jr (GA-02)

    MACON, Ga. – Congressman Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. (GA-02) is pleased to announce that Mercer University has been awarded $116,349 in federal funds through the National Science Foundation (NSF) for research equipment that will help advance material science research and teaching.

    “I am glad to see the National Science Foundation helping support research that can have broad applications across several industries,” said Congressman Bishop. “Mercer University faculty and students are part of our country’s best and brightest. They will use this grant for precision tools to conduct cutting edge research that advances American manufacturing which adds to our economic strength and supports our national security.”

    “The ultra-high accuracy digital microscope acquisition will promote multidisciplinary research for developing antimicrobial-coated materials. It will facilitate surface investigations on polymers and composites used in the automotive, marine, construction and aerospace industries and evaluate the benefits of coatings applied onto their surface,” said Dr. Dorina Mihut, Associate Professor at Mercer University. “Understanding and preventing erosion and abrasion is a serious concern for a variety of industries, including aerospace and the oil and gas industry. The digital microscope will facilitate fundamental studies of erosion, abrasion and their effects on materials’ surfaces.”

    Dr. Mihut added, “It will also significantly expand faculty and students’ experimental participation to multiple research projects and training from mechanical, biomedical, environmental, and civil engineering, broadening the participation of underrepresented groups.”

    The National Science Foundation is an independent federal agency that invests 25% of federal funding into American universities to drive innovation and advancement of the sciences.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: CONGRESSMAN BISHOP ANNOUNCES $387,750 IN FEDERAL FUNDS TO MERCER UNIVERSITY TO HELP TREAT DRUG ADDITION

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Sanford D Bishop Jr (GA-02)

    MACON, Ga. – Congressman Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. (GA-02) is pleased to announce that Mercer University has been awarded $387,750 in federal funds by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) through its Drug Abuse and Addiction Research Programs for biochemistry research that will help address the opioid epidemic and the additional complications arising from illicit contamination with fentanyl and xylazine.

    “I am pleased that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is supporting the amazing research being done at Mercer University,” said Congressman Bishop. “Through the tireless efforts of faculty and staff to better understand the biochemistry of illicit drugs, we can develop new ways to treat addiction and help prevent drug abuse.”

    “The widespread adulteration of fentanyl with xylazine has worsened the ongoing U.S. opioid epidemic, as the addition of xylazine causes new clinical consequences, including severe skin necrosis,” said Dr. Nader H. Moniri, Ph.D., Associate Dean for Research at Mercer University College of Pharmacy and Co-Principal Investigator of the study. “This NIH grant is vital for advancing the understanding of how xylazine use destroys skin tissue at a molecular level. By investigating these processes, we aim to identify pathways for developing more effective treatments and interventions.”

    Xylazine is a non-opiate sedative, analgesic, and muscle relaxant only authorized in the United States for veterinary use according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. It is not currently a controlled substance under the U.S. Controlled Substances Act. According to the Drug Enforcement Administration, the prevalence of xylazine is increasing, spreading beyond the traditional white-powder heroin markets in the northeastern United States where it has been seen for several years.

    The research supported by this grant will help better understand how xylazine affects individuals. The findings may be helpful in developing clinical treatments to counteract the negative effects seen with illicit use of the drug or substances contaminated with it.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: REPS. CLARKE AND BROWN HOLD PRESS CONFERENCE TO ANNOUNCE UTERINE CANCER STUDY LEGISLATION

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Yvette D Clarke (9th District of New York)

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

    September 24, 2024

    MEDIA CONTACT: 

    e: jessica.myers@mail.house.gov

    c: 202.913.0126

    Washington, DC — Today, Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke (NY-09) and Congresswoman Shontel Brown (OH-11) held a press conference on Capitol Hill to announce their joint legislation, the Uterine Cancer Study Act. This bill would require the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the National Institute of Health (NIH) to coordinate and conduct a study on the relationship between hair straighteners and uterine cancer. 

    Recent studies have discovered that women who have used chemical hair straightening products are at higher risk for uterine cancer than those who have not – risks associated with and particularly higher in Black women.

    This study is vital to preserving the lives of those impacted by: 

    • Reviewing significant findings and recommendations from other studies regarding the relationship between hair straighteners and uterine cancer.
    • Considering the impacts on women and other individuals at risk of uterine cancer.
    • Disaggregating the results of the study according to whether the hair straighteners contain dyes or coloring, bleach highlights, or perms.
    • Determining whether the FDA should impose additional testing requirements on manufacturers of hair straightening products.
    • Focusing on the increased incidences of such cancer among women of color. 

    “Like many other Black women who have used hair straightening products, I was unaware of the potential connection and harmful impacts these chemicals would have on our overall health – putting me and other women of color at a higher risk for uterine cancer, the most common cancer related to the female reproductive system,” said Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke. “We need more research to fully understand the relationship between perms and uterine cancer. This legislation will address the detrimental effects of chemicals within hair straighteners on women’s health and hopefully, lead the FDA towards requiring manufacturers to test for cancer-causing chemicals.”

    “The research supported by the Uterine Cancer Study Act is sorely needed to identify environmental and chemical factors contributing to the racial disparities associated with uterine cancer. By investigating the connection between those factors and cancer, we can create a path toward more informed choices and better health outcomes for Black women. I am proud to join Congresswoman Clarke and champion this vital legislation,” said Congresswoman Shontel Brown.

    “Beauty standards for years demanded that our hair be straight, but we can’t help the way it grows out of our heads,” said Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman. “Chemical hair straighteners have been linked to a variety of harmful hormone-related health outcomes — including higher instances of uterine cancer. Despite this, we still know very little about the long-term health risks that these products pose. That’s why my sister, Rep. Clarke’s bill to study the relationship between these hair products and uterine cancer is so important. We need to equip ourselves with the information to make safe choices. I strongly encourage the House to pass this crucial legislation.”

    “A recent NIH study stated that more than 4% of women with uterine cancer reported use of chemical straighteners, compared to the 1% of women who did not use these products,” said Congressman Gregory W. Meeks. “Chemical relaxers have long been a part of Black Beauty and Hair Care; as a result, these purported adverse health effects disproportionately impact Black women. We need to deploy all of our available federal resources to better study and understand the real health implications on women of color. As a husband and father, I am proud to co-sponsor the Uterine Cancer Study Act of 2024.”

    “Black women have been systematically left out of conversations and decisions about their own health. Women of color and our unique experiences have historically been underrepresented in research, leading to adverse health outcomes,” said Congresswoman Robin Kelly. “We cannot allow the status quo to continue. I’m proud to co-sponsor the Uterine Cancer Study Act to address the gap in knowledge between uterine cancer and hair products. Black women deserve to take care of our hair without being exposed to toxic ingredients that increase our already heightened risk of cancer.”

    “A woman’s uterus is a sacred place. It should be the source of new birth, joy, and family, not pain or suffering. I am calling on Congress to accelerate the research on Uterine Cancer, to find out why women of color experience it at elevated rates and to discover treatments and preventative care. Let’s not politicize women’s health. We’re all in this together,” said Congresswoman Alma Adams.

    “As a Black woman, I understand how deeply rooted hair care is in our community. Many of us were introduced to hair straighteners as young girls, unaware of the risks, said Congresswoman Beatty. Now, it’s vital that we investigate the troubling relationship between these products and uterine cancer. The Uterine Cancer Study Act of 2024 will bring critical research and coordination to uncover the dangers and push for solutions that can save lives. Our community deserves answers, and this bill is a vital step to protecting ourselves and our daughters,” said Congresswoman Joyce Beatty.

    “Let’s prioritize research to better understand and diagnose uterine cancer. Uterine bleeding and uterine pain should not be categorically dismissed as normal,” said Sateria Venable, CEO, The Fibroid Foundation.

    “Women of color are being sold hair straighteners that should come with a cancer warning. We now know that women who have used chemical hair straightening products are at higher risk for uterine cancer than those who have not. However, more research is needed to understand this connection better, and the Uterine Cancer Study Act of 2024 will make determining how environmental factors contribute to these racial disparities a federal priority. Women of color’s health and livelihood need—and deserve—nothing less,” said Christian F. Nunes, National President, National Organization for Women.

    “We want to thank Congresswoman Yvette Clarke and Shontel Brown for their leadership in introducing the Uterine Cancer Study Act of 2024. Black women are at higher risk of uterine cancer, and comprehensive action is needed so that we know definitively why this is the case. We support efforts that improve research and education on uterine cancer and believe Black women should be partners in the research process,” said Zsanai Epps, DrPH, MPH, CHES, Senior Director, Reproductive Justice Initiatives, Black Women’s Health Imperative.

    “As the Executive Director of the Mississippi Black Women’s Roundtable, I commend Brooklyn Congresswoman Yvette Clarke and her colleagues for championing the Uterine Cancer Study Act 2024. This legislation promises crucial advancements in addressing the disparities in uterine cancer research and care, particularly affecting Black women, and we fully endorse its passage,” said Tomika Anderson, Executive Director, Mississippi Black Women’s Roundtable.

    The Uterine Cancer Study Act is co-sponsored by Reps. Adams, Beatty, Blunt Rochester, Cherfilus-McCormick, Crockett, Don Davis, Fletcher, Foushee, Holmes Norton, Kelly, Lee, Lofgren, McBath, McClellan, Meeks, Plaskett, Sewell, Stanford, T Carter Sr., Tonko, Velázquez, Watson-Coleman, N. Williams, Wilson, and Wasserman Schultz.

    The Uterine Cancer Study Act is endorsed by the Black Women’s Health Imperative, Society for Women’s Health Research, National Organization for Women, The Fibroid Foundation, The White Dress Project, Mississippi Black Women’s Roundtable, MANA – A National Latina Organization, National Coalition on Black Civic Participation, Pro-Choice North Carolina, Sisters in Loss Foundation, National Women’s Health Network.

    Read the full bill text here.

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    MIL OSI USA News –