UN Press release issued 12/ 14/ 17
A draft Security Council resolution reiterating the special status of Jerusalem — and rejecting any attempts to declare Israel’s capital or to establish an embassy there — would likely be submitted as early as Monday, the Permanent Observer for the State of Palestine told the Palestinian Rights Committee today.
On the heels of the announced United States recognition of the city as Israel’s capital, Riyad H. Mansour briefed the Committee on a series of urgent meetings convened by the group of Arab Foreign Ministers, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and others in the wake of the 6 December announcement by the President of the United States. Thanking those States that had requested the recent emergency Security Council meeting on the matter, he described the decision by the United States as reckless and irresponsible.
Noting that previous Council resolutions made clear that all such unilateral actions relating to Jerusalem were “null and void”, he said the city was widely viewed as a final status issue that the parties must deal with at the level of peace talks. Egypt’s Permanent Representative had been working in recent days to begin drafting a resolution reflecting the principled position of the 14 Council members that were opposed to the United States decision, he said. Consultations on that text were under way and could be “in blue” by tomorrow evening for possible adoption on Monday, he added.
Emphasizing that the draft would reaffirm previous Council resolutions, he emphasized that it “will not name names” nor condemn any single Member State. The text would instead declare any action aimed at changing the legal status of Jerusalem to be null and void, and call upon all States to refrain from placing their embassies in the city. Expressing hope that the single country that had “created the problem in the first place” would abstain from voting on the draft, he said it was nevertheless unlikely, adding that its delegation would probably cast a veto against it.
He went on to state that on 19 December, the General Assembly was slated to vote on a draft resolution submitted by its Third Committee (Social, Humanitarian, Cultural) relating to the situation of the Palestinian people living in occupied East Jerusalem. “Help us to cross 180 votes in support of that draft resolution,” he said, noting that its adoption would mark a major step in defending the rights of the Palestinian people as well as the status of Jerusalem.
Turkey’s representative then briefed the Committee on the outcome of an emergency OIC summit convened in Istanbul on 13 December to address the announcement by the United States. Leaders in attendance had adopted resolutions, a declaration and a communiqué, while also condemning Washington’s unilateral decision. The communiqué called upon the Security Council to assume its responsibility to reaffirm Jerusalem’s legal status, end the occupation of Palestinian land and implement all Council resolutions on the Palestinian question. The Summit had also declared East Jerusalem the capital of the State of Palestine and invited all countries to recognize it as such, he said, stressing that the General Assembly must take up the issue if the Council failed to act.
Several delegates then took the floor to express their solidarity with the Palestinian people and their rejection of the unilateral decision by the United States regarding Jerusalem. Many urged Washington to rescind the decision, underlining the need to preserve Jerusalem’s special legal status and to establish a State of Palestine on the basis of the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.( read more on link source)
Senator Murray’s Statement on Vote to Roll Back Net Neutrality Rules
Press release issued 12/ 14/ 17(link source)
(Washington, D.C.) – Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) released the following statement:
“Despite the pleas of millions of Americans, President Trump’s FCC voted to change the internet as we know it, and turn it into yet another money-making tool for large corporations. This move is shameful and wrong, and I encourage the many, many people affected by today’s decision—from students and families, to small business owners and the next generation of innovators—to keep fighting back. We will not forget who and what comes first in the Trump/Republican agenda.”
Cantwell Responds to FCC Net Neutrality Decision with Legislation to Block Repeal of Open Internet Rules
Press release issued 12/ 14/ 17 (link source)WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA), a senior member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Technology, and 15 of her Senate colleagues joined together to announce their plan to introduce a Congressional Review Act (CRA) resolution that would undo today’s action by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to undermine the free and open internet and thus restore the 2015 net neutrality rules.
“Today’s decision threatens our booming innovation economy,” said Senator Cantwell. “It’s impossible to know where the next big companies will come from, which makes an open and free internet all the more important to innovators, entrepreneurs and job creators – especially in the tech-driven Pacific Northwest.”
Overturning the net neutrality rules threatens the principles that built America’s booming internet economy and opens the door for cable companies and internet service providers to start slowing down and blocking content, applications or websites, without consequences.
CRA resolutions allow Congress to overturn regulatory actions at federal agencies with a simple majority vote in both chambers. In accordance with the Congressional Review Act, the Senators will formally introduce the resolution once the rule is submitted to both houses of Congress and published in the federal register. The CRA resolution of disapproval would rescind FCC Chairman Ajit Pai’s action and fully restore the Open Internet Order. Congressman Mike Doyle (D-Penn.) plans to introduce a CRA resolution in the House of Representatives.
AG FERGUSON ANNOUNCES LAWSUIT TO COME ON NET NEUTRALITY
Press release issued 12/ 14/ 17 (link source)SEATTLE — Attorney General Bob Ferguson released the following statement on today's Federal Communications Commission vote to repeal net neutrality.
"Yesterday I sent a letter to the FCC asking them to delay their vote gutting net neutrality. Unfortunately, they did not.
"Today, I am announcing my intention to file a legal challenge to the FCC’s decision to roll back net neutrality, along with attorneys general across the country.
"We are 5-0 against the Trump Administration because they often fail to follow the law when taking executive action. There is a strong legal argument that with this action, the federal government violated the Administrative Procedure Act — again.
"We will be filing a petition for review in the coming days.
"Allowing internet service providers to discriminate based on content undermines a free and open internet. Today’s action will seriously harm consumers, innovation and small businesses.
"I was proud to stand with Gov. Inslee yesterday when he announced that Washington state will step up to protect consumers in light of this disappointing federal action. I commend him for his leadership and look forward to continuing to work with him to that end."
PAGE 2: Weekly Agricultural Report
USDA BLOG: In Conversation with #WomeninAg: Catherine Gill
Every month, USDA shares the story of a woman in agriculture who is leading the industry and helping other women succeed along the way. This month, we hear from Catherine Gill, the Executive Vice President of Investor Relations and Communication at Root Capital. Root Capital is an agricultural impact investor that grows rural prosperity in poor, environmentally vulnerable places in Africa and Latin America by lending capital, delivering financial training, and strengthening market connections for small and growing agricultural businesses. ( read more from link source)Farmers Keeping Nutrients on the Field, Out of Streams
USDA blog post 12/ 13/ 17 (link source)Clean water is a priority for all of us. When farmers manage nutrients, they are also helping to minimize the runoff of nutrients into local streams and rivers.
Farmers rely on two major nutrients in fertilizer — nitrogen and phosphorus — to help crops grow. When excess fertilizer leaves the field and enters local waterways in surface water runoff, those nutrients cause algae in the water to bloom much faster than it would under normal conditions. The algae eventually breaks down, and the bacteria involved in decomposition deplete oxygen in the water to unhealthily low levels. Ultimately, fish and other aquatic organisms often die as a result of this oxygen depletion. This process is called eutrophication.
Voluntary Conservation is Part of the Solution.
Working with the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), farmers apply a system of conservation strategies to keep valuable fertilizer on their land and out of nearby waterways. Filter strips move row crop operations away from streams and function as collection centers for nutrient runoff. Cover crops reduce soil erosion and hold nutrients in place. No-till practices also reduce soil erosion and improve field-level water infiltration capacity.
According to David Brandt — a corn, wheat, and soybeans producer in Carroll, Ohio — those last two practices make all the difference.
“Innovative farmers are working to improve air and water quality across the country,” says Brandt, “and what we’re doing with cover cropping and no-till is really working.”
Brandt has been using no-till practices since 1971 and cover cropping since 1978. “If every farmer in the United States cover cropped, we’d see even more nutrients held in-field. That really matters when we’re thinking about water quality. When a raindrop falls, we need to be able to control it.”
Brandt’s message is clear: Conservation practices are good for his land, the environment around him, and his bottom line. “We need to educate as many people as we can, farmers and non-farmers alike. The work we do here really makes a difference, and that’s something to be proud of.”
Our Numbers Tell the Story.
Approximately 300 million acres of land across the United States are used for cultivated crop production. That’s almost three areas the size of California, managed by farmers and landowners with production goals similar to David Brandt’s.
Nationwide, conservation practices on croplands play a critical role in improved water quality. Modeling efforts show that national cropland conservation practices implemented from 2003 to 2006 decrease edge-of-field nitrogen losses by 3.8 billion pounds per year and edge-of-field phosphorus losses by 584 million pounds per year relative to if no conservation practices were in use.
If you were to put those nutrients on a train, you’d have enough nitrogen and phosphorus to fill nearly 21,000 train cars stretching 237 miles – a distance further than Washington, DC to New York City - per year.1
In terms of fertilizer, nitrogen savings alone account for about 927 million dollars’ worth of anhydrous ammonia held in-field annually.2
Mr. Brandt is unsurprised by these findings, citing less than 100 pounds of soil lost per acre from his fields each year. “We need to get this information out there,” he says. “We need to show the numbers to tell the story.” (read more from link source)
Don’t Get Roasted by Foodborne Illnesses this Winter
USDA blog posted 12/ 13/ 17 (link source)The holidays are all about sharing, having fun and, of course…food!!! I bet you will agree that a good holiday get-together always includes delicious traditional dishes or special recipes.
If you are hosting a holiday party this winter, you have probably already started thinking about treating your guests to a delectable menu. There are endless recipes and traditional holiday dishes that will reappear or make a debut at your dinner table; however, foodborne illnesses should not be part of the feast. While food is something to look forward to this season, foodborne illnesses is not.
If you decide that your side dishes will have the company of a delicious roast, such as turkey, ham or lamb, each of them need to be cooked properly to kill harmful bacteria that may be present. The only way to be sure that meat and poultry is safe to eat is by cooking it to the recommended internal temperature, measured by a food thermometer.
For help in the kitchen with approximate cooking times to use in meal planning, visit USDA’s Holiday Roasting Chart . For reasons of personal preference, consumers may choose to cook meat to higher temperatures. By following this chart, you can accomplish a safe and delicious holiday meal for all your guests.
Consumers with questions about food safety can call the USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at 1-888-MPHotline (1-888-674-6854) or chat live with a food safety specialist in English or Spanish at AskKaren.gov, available from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET, Monday through Friday. AskKaren also provides food safety information 24/7.
USDA Highlights $40 Million in Infrastructure Investments in Rural Communities
Press release issued 12/ 14/ 17 (link source)WASHINGTON, Dec. 14, 2017 – Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue today highlighted U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) investments in Fiscal Year 2017 that will help construct or improve infrastructure and boost economic growth in rural communities.
“USDA is focused on improving rural America’s infrastructure,” Perdue said. “Investments such as the ones I’m highlighting today will improve the quality of life, create jobs, grow our economy and foster prosperity in rural areas.”
In Fiscal Year 2017, USDA used funding from the Community Facilities Direct Loan Program to invest more than $40 million in 31 projects to repair, enhance or build infrastructure. These investments were for projects such as surface transportation, aviation, ports, water and storm water resources, energy production and generation, and electricity transmission. They will benefit nearly 265,000 residents.
The investments are supporting projects in Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Iowa, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, North Carolina, New Jersey, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Vermont and Wyoming. ( read more from link source)
PAGE 3: LOCAL MEETINGS AND AGENDA HIGHLIGHTS
CLALLAM COUNTY COMMISSION MEETINGS
Clallam County work session agenda highlight items
1) Review of the 2018 Affordable Housing and Homeless Housing and Assistance Funds Request for Proposal summary and Homelessness Task Force recommendations
2) Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) Region 6 introduction of new Director Larry Phillips and WDFW Lands 20/20 proposal for the County, fishing guide fees and halibut fishing 2018
3) Discussion on agreement with Clallam County Economic Development Corporation
(see full agenda)
Clallam County Commission regular meeting highlight items
1) Letter of support for Clallam County Transportation Coalition to be identified as the Accessible Community Advisory Committee for Clallam County
The Clallam County Transportation Coalitíon will present the work initiated in the Governor's Committee on Dlsability Town Hall meeting in December 2016. The focus is coordinating transportation options for individuals with disabilities and special needs throughout Clallam County.
2) Contract with WA State Department of Commerce for the FFY 2017 Violence Against Women STOP Grant Program for $16,417 to reimburse law enforcement training and equipment specific to the scope of the grant
Renewal contract with Washington State Dept of Commerce, Community Services & Housing Division, Office of Crime Victims Advocacy, for the FFY 20L7 Violence Against Women STOP Grant Program in the amount of $16,417 to split between the Sheriff's Office, Port Angeles and Sequim Police
Departments. The funding is used to reimburse training and equipment expenses related to crimes involving adult or youth victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence, and or stalking.
3) Resolution appointing Teresa Marchi as acting Treasurer for Clallam County
The Treasurer has vacated her office before the end of her elected term. According to Clallam County Policy, the Board of County Commissioners must adopt a Resolution authoräing the Ïreasurer's Chief Deputy to serve as Acting Treasurer until an Interim Treasurer is named following the process outlined in Clallam County Ordinance Section 3.32.
( see full agenda)
CITY COUNCIL MEETING AGENDA HIGHLIGHTS
1) Update on Engineering Options for 8th Street Bridge Protective ScreeningsAt the December 5th meeting, the City Council directed City staff to continue the engineering analysis of protective options for both short-term and long-term solutions. City staff, working with Sargent Engineers, has diligently researched protective alternatives, including options presented by our citizens and local professionals.
2) Proposed Adjustments to 2018 Utility Rates
On December 31, 2017 the Electric, Water, Wastewater and Stormwater rates will expire. In addition, although rates are approved through 2019 for the Solid Waste Collections, these rates need to be revised based on current expenditure forecasts contained in the 2018 Budget.
In spite of significant rate pressures for 2018, the City as able to keep the majority of utility rates stable, with nominal increases overall. Revised rates for all of these utilities are being presented for review and recommendation for adoption by the City Council. The recommendation is for approval of just a one year rate revision (2018).
Recommendation: 1. Open the second public hearing on the recommended Electric, Water, Wastewater, Stormwater and Solid Waste Collections utility rate ordinance amendments. 2. Conduct the second reading of the ordinance. 3. Adopt the ordinance approving the rate changes to be implemented beginning January 1, 2018 and eliminating the previously approved 2019 rates for Solid Waste Collections.
3) PA Harbor Cleanup/Environmental Issues
Seventh Amendment to PSA with Integral Consulting
Early in 2012, the Department of Ecology (DOE) released a harbor sediment investigation report. Based on that report, DOE subsequently notified the City that it is one of several entities potentially liable for some portion of the contaminants in the harbor. The City did not then, and does not now, have on staff anyone with the knowledge and expertise needed to adequately analyze and respond to all the technical and scientific harbor cleanup issues.
So, the City Council authorized an agreement with Integral Consulting to provide technical expertise on issues arising from the City’s role as a PLP in the western harbor cleanup project initiated by DOE. Integral Consulting is a firm with the acknowledged capability, knowledge, and expertise to provide the range of required analysis and advice required for the harbor cleanup process. To date, the issues have focused on the preparation of a remedial investigation and feasibility study (RI/FS) and on claims against the City’s former insurance carriers. Substantial progress has been made on both.
(See full agenda)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
He's in your corner
Daily Bible Verse: And Mary said: “My soul magnifies the Lord, And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior. For He who is mighty has done great things for me, And holy is His name.
Luke 1:46-47, 49 NKJV
Free bible studies (WBS)
Learn english using the bible as text (WEI)
(Join us in worship every Sunday starting at 10:30AM Church of Christ)
