TROOPS LAND IN BULGARIA IN SUPPORT OF ATLANTIC RESOLVE-SOUTH

FROM:  U.S. DEFENSE DEPARTMENT

U.S. Air Force members assigned to the 62nd Airlift Wing based at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington, unload two U.S. Army Stryker Combat Vehicles belonging to Eagle Troop, 2nd Squadron, 2nd Cavalry Regiment, at Burgas Airport in Bulgaria, March 30, 2015. U.S. Army photo by Sgt. William A. Tanner.

U.S. soldiers prepare to unload two Stryker Combat Vehicles belonging to Eagle Troop, 2nd Squadron, 2nd Cavalry Regiment, at Burgas Airport in Bulgaria, March 30, 2015. U.S. Army photo by Sgt. William A. Tanner. 

STATEMENT BY PRESIDENT OBAMA ON EASTER

FROM:  THE WHITE HOUSE
April 03, 2015
Statement by the President on Easter

Michelle and I join our fellow Christians around the world in observing Good Friday and celebrating Easter this weekend. With humility and awe, we give thanks for the extraordinary sacrifice that Jesus made for our salvation. We rejoice in the triumph of the Resurrection. And we renew our commitment to live as He commanded – to love God with all our heart, soul and mind, and to love our neighbors as ourselves. I look forward  to continuing our celebration on Tuesday when I host our annual Easter prayer breakfast as we remember the teachings of Jesus in our daily lives, stand with those around the world who are persecuted for their faith, and pray for peace, justice and freedom for all people.

RESTAURANT OWNER TO PAY $325,500 BACK WAGES FOR OVERTIME AND MINIMUM WAGE VIOLATIONS

FROM:  U.S. LABOR DEPARTMENT
Raymond's to pay more than $325,500 in back wages for overtime, minimum wage violations at Ridgewood and Montclair, NJ, eateries
160 workers to be compensated after federal investigation
Employer: Raymond's Ridgewood LLC, restaurant owner
Sites: Raymond's restaurants located at 101 East Ridgewood Ave., Ridgewood, N.J., and 28 Church Street in Montclair, N.J.

Investigative findings: The Northern New Jersey District Office of the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division found that 76 workers at the Montclair establishment are due $225,486 in back wages because the employer did not pay members of the kitchen staff overtime when they worked in excess of 40 hours in a workweek. The employer also failed to use the correct rate when calculating overtime for tipped workers.

At the Ridgewood location, 84 employees are due $100,048 in back wages because the company failed to pay the kitchen staff overtime when required. Investigators also found that the employer did not pay tipped workers the proper wage rate at the very beginning of their employment and improperly computed overtime for tipped employees.

"Restaurant workers who live on low wages often struggle to make ends meet, so when they aren't paid correctly, that burden is even greater," said John Warner, director of the Northern New Jersey Wage and Hour District Office. "This case reinforces the division's commitment to protect the rights of all workers, particularly those working hard in low-wage industries, as well as to hold employers accountable when they do not pay the wages required by law."
Back wages due: $325,534

NASA VIDEO: CLOUD RINGS OFF THE COAST OF CUBA

DEFENSE SECRETARY CARTER SAYS ASIA'S DEMOGRAPHICS INCREASING GLOBAL PROFILE

FROM:  U.S. DEFENSE DEPARTMENT
Carter: Demographics, Economics Boost Asia’s Global Profile
By Jim Garamone
DoD News, Defense Media Activity

WASHINGTON, April 3, 2015 – Demographic changes in Asia will make the region more important to the United States, Defense Secretary Ash Carter said at the State Department recently.

As Carter prepared to depart April 6 for his first trip to Asia as defense secretary, he reiterated that the United States is a Pacific power and will remain one, adding that this is in the best interests of Asian nations and of the United States.

Demographic trends show that Asian nations will only become more important globally in the 21st century, as Asian nations -- enjoying peace provided by American presence -- prosper and grow, Carter said. In the future, he added, no region will affect U.S. prosperity more, and it is in American interests to maintain a strong security presence in the region.

The math is inescapable, Carter said at the State Department.

“We know that 95 percent of the world’s customers live beyond our borders, and the spending power of middle-class consumers in today’s emerging markets is expected to increase by $20 trillion over the next decade,” he said.

Rising Middle-class Consumption

Just five years ago, the United States and Europe accounted for around 50 percent of global middle class consumption, and Asia accounted for about 20 percent, he said.

“Five years from now, the U.S. and European share of middle-class consumption will shrink to about 30 percent, while Asia’s will rise to 40 percent,” the secretary said. “And this trend will continue as Asia’s 570-million-strong middle class grows to about 2.7 billion consumers over the next 15 years.”

So, from an economic standpoint, Asia will become more important to American manufacturers, American jobs and American consumers. The central premise of America’s overall Asia-Pacific strategy is the recognition that, in the 21st century, no region holds more potential for growth, development and prosperity, Carter said.

Growing Populations

Roughly 7 billion people live in the world today. In 25 years, demographers estimate that number will grow to 9 billion, with much of the growth occurring in Asia, according to U.S. Census Bureau statistics and the CIA World Factbook.
China and India are the world’s two most populous countries and will remain so through 2050. Today, China has around 1.355 billion people, and India has around 1.236 billion. By 2050, officials expect India to be the most populous country in the world with 1.65 billion people, and China’s population will be 1.303 billion.

Economic progress in both countries has been building. Today, China has about 150 million people earning between $10 and $100 per day -- the amount economists calculate as putting a person in the global middle class. If the country continues its current growth, as many as 500 million Chinese could enter the global middle class over the next decade. This means that by 2030, 1 billion Chinese people could be in the economic middle class.

India’s middle class is much smaller -- about 50 million people. But economists expect India’s middle class to reach 200 million by 2020 and 475 million by 2030.

Both countries have systemic problems they need to overcome, and projections may fall short, officials said, but they added that the projections have the potential to prove accurate.

This growth is not limited to the two largest countries in Asia. Indonesia, Vietnam and the Philippines also are posed for an incredible growth in their middle classes.

Capable Militaries

From a security standpoint, Asia is home to some of the largest and strongest militaries on the globe. China, Russia, North Korea, India and Pakistan have large and capable militaries. With the exception of North Korea, the U.S. military is working to improve relations with each. American military leaders also are working with traditional allies such as South Korea, Japan, Australia, the Philippines and New Zealand to strengthen multilateral cooperation in the region.
Other nations -- Vietnam, Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand and Burma -- also are working to preserve stability in the region.

Snapshot of Military Powers

Here’s a snapshot of the various military powers in the region:

-- China spends at least 2 percent of its gross domestic product on defense and has the world’s largest armed forces, with 2.333 million active duty forces and 2.3 million reserves. Its stated defense budget is $145 billion. China has about 3,000 aircraft in its armed forces, has bought an aircraft carrier from Russia, and is building one of its own. The Chinese have more than 9,000 tanks and almost 5,000 armored fighting vehicles and are modernizing across all services.

-- South Korea spends 2.88 percent of its GDP on defense. The republic has 624,465 people on active duty and almost 3 million in the reserves. South Korea has 1,412 total aircraft and a naval strength of 166 ships. The South Korean military is extremely capable and has a defense budget of $33.1 billion.

-- Japan spends about 1 percent of its GDP on defense. There are 247,173 personnel in the Japanese Self-Defense Force, with about 58,000 active reserve personnel. The Japanese military has 678 tanks, 2,850 armored fighting vehicles, 1,613 aircraft and 131 ships. The defense budget is $41.6 billion.

-- India spends 2.43 percent of its GDP on defense. The nation has 1.325 million people under arms, with 2.1 million more in reserve status. India’s military has about 2,000 aircraft, two aircraft carriers, 202 ships, more than 6,400 tanks and 6,700 armored fighting vehicles. The Indian defense budget is $38 billion.

DOJ FILES BRIEF REGARDING HEALTH CARE FOR PRISONERS WITH GENDER DYSPHORIA

FROM:  U.S. JUSTICE DEPARTMENT
Friday, April 3, 2015
Justice Department Files Brief to Address Health Care for Prisoners Suffering from Gender Dysphoria

The Department of Justice filed a statement of interest today in the Middle District of Georgia in Diamond v. Owens, et al.  The plaintiff in that case, a transgender prisoner, alleges that the Georgia Department of Corrections failed to provide adequate care for her gender dysphoria.  The statement of interest discusses the unconstitutionality of “freeze-frame” policies, such as the policy allegedly used in the Georgia Department of Corrections.  These policies unconstitutionally prohibit treatment beyond the type of care the prisoner received in the community prior to incarceration.  Through this filing, without taking a position on the merits of the allegations, the United States stated that the Eighth Amendment mandates individualized assessment and care for gender dysphoria.

“By taking action in this case, the Justice Department is reminding departments of corrections that prison officials have the obligation to assess and treat gender dysphoria just as they would any other medical or mental health condition,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Vanita Gupta of the Civil Rights Division.  “Prisoners with gender dysphoria should not be forced to suffer needlessly during their incarceration simply because they were not receiving care, or could not prove they were receiving care, in the community.  Freeze-frame policies can have serious consequences to the health and well-being of transgender prisoners, who are among the most vulnerable populations incarcerated in our nation’s prisons and jails.”

Based on the facts as alleged, Ashley Diamond was first diagnosed with gender dysphoria as a teenager, nearly twenty years ago.  She began taking feminizing hormones, which helped her develop secondary sex characteristics and helped ease the significant physical and emotional discomfort she felt with her biological sex.  Yet, when she entered the Georgia Department of Corrections, she was not identified or referred for continuation of this treatment.  Instead, her hormone therapy was terminated and she was placed in a secure prison for men.

When Ms. Diamond requested treatment during her incarceration, she was evaluated by Department medical personnel who confirmed Diamond’s gender dysphoria and recommended reinstatement of hormone therapy and other clinically-indicated treatments.  However, department officials continued to deny this treatment, telling Diamond that she was ineligible for treatment pursuant to the department’s policy.  Because the department did not properly identify Diamond’s gender dysphoria at intake and refer her for treatment at that time, she was, and continues to be, denied necessary medical care.

The facts alleged in this case indicate that the Department of Corrections relied on its freeze-frame policy to deny Diamond the care recommended by the department’s own physicians, in violation of the Eighth Amendment.  As stated by the Justice Department in its filing, “[t]wo things are clear from the record in this case: one, the generally accepted standards for treatment of gender dysphoria require treatment decisions be individualized; and two, Ms. Diamond did not receive individualized care.”

LABOR SECRETARY PEREZ VISITS SEATTLE TO LAUNCH 'LEAD ON LEAVE' TOUR

FROM:  U.S. LABOR DEPARTMENT
What's New
'Lead on Leave' Tour Launches in Seattle

 At a visit to Molly Moon's Homemade Ice Cream shop U.S. Secretary of Labor Thomas E. Perez discusses paid leave with Molly and Seattle Mayor Ed Murray.
Kicking off the "Lead on Leave — Empowering Working Families Across America" tour on April 1 in Seattle, U.S. Secretary of Labor Thomas E. Perez was joined by Seattle Mayor Ed Murray, working mom Sydney Marino, small business owners and a senior representative from the Microsoft Corporation to shine a spotlight on the issue of paid family leave. The first stop was Molly Moon's Homemade Ice Cream shop, a small business that on April 1 began offering its employees up to 12 weeks of paid family leave. After some talk and frozen refreshment, Perez joined a roundtable discussion on how paid-leave policies can help support families and businesses. "Paid leave isn't just pro-family, it's pro-business. It's the right thing to do and the smart thing to do," he said. "Companies that voluntarily offer family-friendly policies benefit from greater worker morale and productivity. Those companies are able to recruit and retain the best talent, and that helps the bottom line."

DROUGHT AND THE BABOONS

FROM:  NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION
Born during a drought: Bad news for baboons
Findings have implications for human health

The saying "what doesn't kill you makes you stronger" may not hold up to scientific scrutiny.

After the plains of southern Kenya experienced a severe drought in 2009 that took a terrible toll on wildlife, researchers looked at how 50 wild baboons coped with the drought, and whether the conditions they faced in infancy played a role.

The semi-arid savanna of southern Kenya usually receives an average of 14 inches of rain a year--akin to much of Nebraska or Kansas--but in 2009 it fell to five inches, less than the Mojave Desert.

The year before wasn't much better: rainfall in 2008 dropped to half normal levels.

Grasslands withered

The grasslands the animals depend on for food dried up and watering holes disappeared, leaving many animals starving or weak from hunger.

"We lost 98 percent of the wildebeest population, 75 percent of the zebra population and 30 percent of the elephant population," said Susan Alberts, a biologist at Duke University. "It was impossible to go anywhere without smelling death."

Most baboons made it, but the drought left them underweight and many females stopped ovulating.

In a forthcoming paper in the journal American Naturalist, the researchers compared two groups of females--one group born during low rainfall years, the other born during normal rainfall years.

Born in a drought

All females in the study were adults by time of the 2009 drought, but those born in lean times fared worse in 2009 than those born in times of plenty, the researchers found.

"This study demonstrates lifetime fertility reductions for baboons born during stressful conditions or to low-ranking mothers," said George Gilchrist, program director in the National Science Foundation's (NSF) Division of Environmental Biology, which funded the research along with NSF's Divisions of Integrative Organismal Systems and Behavioral and Cognitive Sciences.

"These 'disadvantaged' early life experiences are linked with less resilience to stressful conditions experienced as adults."

During the 2009 drought, baboons born during low rainfall years were 60 percent less likely to become pregnant, whereas pregnancy rates dipped by only 10 percent for females born during normal rainfall years.

Drought babies born to higher-status mothers were less affected by the 2009 event.

"It might be that baboons born to higher-ranked moms have better access to food, or suffer lower levels of social stress," Alberts said.

Implications for human health

The findings also help explain why people who are malnourished in early childhood go on to have higher rates of obesity, diabetes and heart disease as adults.

Some researchers argue that human babies conceived or born in lean times are programmed for food shortages later in life.

They develop a "thrifty metabolism," aimed at storing fat and conserving energy in order to survive starvation.

Things go awry, the thinking goes, only when the environments they experienced as infants and as adults don't match, such as when a child conceived in famine grows up and eats an excess of cheeseburgers, said paper co-author Amanda Lea, a biologist at Duke.

But the baboon fertility study lends support to another idea, namely that kids who don't get enough to eat during their first year of life are simply less resilient as adults than their counterparts.

"The data suggest that early adversity carries lifelong costs," said co-author Jenny Tung, a biologist at Duke.

"It's bad to be born in bad times, but with the right social or economic environment, that can be mitigated," Alberts added.

Jeanne Altmann of Princeton University is also a co-author of the paper.

In addition to NSF, the National Institute on Aging in Bethesda, Md.; Duke University; Princeton University; and the Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research supported the research.

-- Cheryl Dybas, NSF
-- Robin Ann Smith, Duke University
Investigators
Jenny Tung
Susan Alberts
Related Institutions/Organizations
Duke University

READOUT PRESIDENT OBAMA'S CALLS WITH MIDDLE EAST LEADERS

FROM:  THE WHITE HOUSE
April 03, 2015
Readout of the President’s Calls with King Hamad al Khalifa of Bahrain, Amir Sabah al Sabah of Kuwait, Amir Tamim al Thani of Qatar, and Crown Prince Mohammed al Nahyan of the United Arab Emirates

The President today spoke with King Hamad al Khalifa of Bahrain, Amir Sabah al Sabah of Kuwait, Amir Tamim al Thani of Qatar, and Crown Prince Mohammed al Nahyan of the United Arab Emirates. With each the President shared details of the political framework reached between the P5+1, the EU, and Iran on a Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action regarding Iran’s nuclear program. He highlighted that nothing is agreed until everything is agreed, and the months ahead will be used to finalize the technical details for a lasting, comprehensive solution that verifiably ensures the peaceful nature of Iran’s nuclear program. He also reiterated the United States’ enduring commitment to work with partners to address Iran’s destabilizing activities in the region. The President invited the leaders of the Gulf Cooperation Council to join him at Camp David this spring to further these consultations.

WEEKLY ADDRESS: REACHING A COMPREHENSIVE AND LONG-TERM DEAL ON IRAN

NASA VIDEO: NOCTILUCENT CLOUD SIGHTINGS

U.S. CONGRATULATES PEOPLE OF SENEGAL ON THEIR INDEPENDENCE DAY

FROM:  U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT
On the Occasion of the Republic of Senegal's National Day
Press Statement
Washington, DC
April 3, 2015

On behalf of President Obama and the people of the United States, I congratulate the people of Senegal on the 55th anniversary of your independence on April 4.

As President John F. Kennedy said when your first President, Leopold Senghor, visited Washington, D.C., the United States and Senegal are “sisters under the skin.”

Our nations are united in the conviction that our core principles - democracy, respect for rule of law, and individual liberties - will guide us toward a future of peace and prosperity.

The United States applauds your ongoing role in promoting democracy, justice, and security throughout the region. Your support of Operation United Assistance was indispensable to the global Ebola crisis relief effort, which saved thousands of lives.

On this day of celebration, I wish all Senegalese a joyous anniversary. I look forward to building on our strong partnership in the years to come.

WHITE HOUSE VIDEO: HAPPY 5TH BIRTHDAY, WEST WING WEEK

4 INDICTED FOR ROLES IN INTERNATIONAL COUNTERFEIT CURRENCY OPERATION HEADQUARTERED IN UGANDA

FROM:  U.S.  JUSTICE DEPARTMENT
Thursday, April 2, 2015
Four Charged in International Uganda-Based Cyber Counterfeiting Scheme

A federal grand jury in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, has indicted four people in connection with an international counterfeit currency operation headquartered in the African nation of Uganda, announced U.S. Attorney David J. Hickton for the Western District of Pennsylvania.

The indictment, returned on April 1, 2015, charges Ryan Andrew Gustafson, 27, aka “Jack Farrel” aka “Willy Clock,” a U.S. citizen currently incarcerated in Kampala, Uganda, Zackary L. Ruiz, 18, aka “Mr. Mouse,” of Las Vegas, Nevada, Jeremy J. Miller, 30, aka “Sinner,” of Seattle, Washington and Michael Q. Lin, 20, aka “Mlin” aka “Mr. Casino,” of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, with conspiracy and counterfeiting acts committed within and outside of the U.S. from December 2013 until December 2014.

“Today we announce the dismantling of an international cyber conspiracy in which Ugandan-made counterfeit Federal Reserve Notes were being advertised, bought and sold through online criminal forums then passed in coffee shops and corner stores in neighborhoods across our country,” said U.S. Attorney Hickton.  “Working cooperatively with law enforcement partners in the U.S. and abroad, we were able to quickly infiltrate and disrupt this counterfeit trafficking network and limit losses.”

“The early and aggressive application of traditional and cyber investigative expertise and the cooperation and assistance of numerous domestic and international law enforcement agencies in this case led to the quick and efficient identification of conspirators in a widespread cyber-based counterfeiting network,” said Special Agent in Charge Eric P. Zahren of the U.S. Secret Service Pittsburgh Field Office, “but as importantly, minimized financial losses in the U.S. and elsewhere, consistent with our charge to protect our currency, our commerce and, ultimately, our communities.”

According to the indictment, in late December 2013, Gustafson created his own dark web website called Community-X, which was dedicated to the manufacturing, selling, buying, distribution and passing of counterfeit Federal Reserve Notes (FRNs), which he claimed to have manufactured.  The website contained forums where members discussed the counterfeit bills and shared tips on how best to pass, ship and distribute counterfeit FRNs.

In September 2014, Gustafson redesigned this website into two different sites, a Community-X HQ site, with controlled access and a Community-X Recruitment Center site, which was accessible to the public.  Gustafson, Ruiz and Miller were active members of both sites.  Lin was only a member of the Recruitment Site.

Gustafson and others allegedly sold these counterfeit FRNs to purchasers in the U.S.  From December 2013 through February 2014, an associate of Gustafson sent DHL packages containing these counterfeit FRNs to individuals in the U.S.  After February 2014, Gustafson had the counterfeit FRNs smuggled into the U.S. by hiding the counterfeit FRNs in glued together pages of fake charity pamphlets.

The indictment alleges that Ruiz, Miller and Lin had varied levels of roles and responsibilities as participants in the conspiracy.  In particular, the indictment alleges that Ruiz and others unpacked the counterfeit FRNs, that Ruiz, Miller and others treated the counterfeit FRNs to prepare them for passing and used the U.S. Postal Service to mail the treated FRNs to re-shippers and to purchasers and that Lin was a purchaser of the FRNs, who offered a guide on how to pass the counterfeit notes through casinos.

The indictment alleges more than $1.4 million in counterfeit FRNs have been seized and passed worldwide, both overseas and in the U.S. as part of this scheme.

Gustafson was charged by Ugandan authorities on Dec. 16, 2014, with conspiracy, possession of counterfeit, selling/dealing in counterfeit and unlawful possession of ammunition. He is presently on trial in Uganda on their charges.

The law provides for a maximum total sentence of five years in prison, a fine of $250,000, or both, on the conspiracy count; a maximum total sentence of 20 years in prison, a fine of $250,000, or both, on the conspiracy to commit money laundering count; and a maximum total sentence of 20 years in prison, a fine of 250,000, or both, on each of the passing and receiving counterfeit money counts.  Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.

U.S. Attorney Hickton commended numerous agencies and organizations for conducting the investigation leading to charges in this case, including the U.S. Secret Service in Pittsburgh, Los Angeles, California, Seattle, Washington, Las Vegas, Nevada, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Charlotte, North Carolina, Raleigh, North Carolina, Baltimore, Maryland, Minnesota, Miami, Florida, Washington, D.C., Cincinnati, Ohio, Denver, Colorado, Phoenix, Arizona, Rome, Italy, Pretoria, South Africa and the Criminal Investigative Division in Washington, D.C., the U.S. State Department, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service in Pittsburgh, Seattle, Las Vegas, Philadelphia and Charlotte, the Federal Bureau of Investigation – Pittsburgh Division, Homeland Security Investigations in Pittsburgh, Baltimore and Cincinnati, U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the National Cyber-Forensics & Training Alliance.

CDC WARNS OF SPREAD OF MULTIDRUG-RESISTANT INTESTINAL ILLNESS IN U.S.

FROM:  CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION
Multidrug-resistant Shigellosis Spreading in the United States
New infections emphasize the importance of using antibiotics wisely

International travelers are bringing a multidrug-resistant intestinal illness to the United States and spreading it to others who have not traveled, according to a report released today by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Shigella sonnei bacteria resistant to the antibiotic ciprofloxacin sickened 243 people in 32 states and Puerto Rico between May 2014 and February 2015. Research by the CDC found that the drug-resistant illness was being repeatedly introduced as ill travelers returned and was then infecting other people in a series of outbreaks around the country.

CDC and public health partners investigated several recent clusters of shigellosis in Massachusetts, California and Pennsylvania and found that nearly 90 percent of the cases tested were resistant to ciprofloxacin (Cipro), the first choice to treat shigellosis among adults in the United States. Shigellosis can spread very quickly in groups like children in childcare facilities, homeless people and gay and bisexual men, as occurred in these outbreaks.

“These outbreaks show a troubling trend in Shigella infections in the United States,” said CDC Director Tom Frieden, M.D., M.P.H. “Drug-resistant infections are harder to treat and because Shigella spreads so easily between people, the potential for more – and larger – outbreaks is a real concern.  We’re moving quickly to implement a national strategy to curb antibiotic resistance because we can’t take for granted that we’ll always have the drugs we need to fight common infections.”

In the United States, most Shigella is already resistant to the antibiotics ampicillin and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole. Globally, Shigella resistance to Cipro is increasing. Cipro is often prescribed to people who travel internationally, in case they develop diarrhea while out of the United States. More study is needed to determine what role, if any, the use of antibiotics during travel may have in increasing the risk of antibiotic-resistant diarrhea infections among returned travelers.

“The increase in drug-resistant Shigella makes it even more critical to prevent shigellosis from spreading,” said Anna Bowen, M.D., M.P.H., a medical officer in CDC’s Waterborne Diseases Prevention Branch and lead author of the study. “Washing your hands with soap and water is important for everyone. Also, international travelers can protect themselves by choosing hot foods and drinking only from sealed containers.”

VA FACT SHEET ON HERBICIDES LIKE AGENT ORANGE

FROM:  U.S. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS
Facts About Herbicides
Herbicide-sprayed areas and unsprayed areas

Agent Orange is a blend of tactical herbicides the U.S. military sprayed from 1962 to 1971 during Operation Ranch Hand in the Vietnam War to remove trees and dense tropical foliage that provided enemy cover.

More than 19 million gallons of various “rainbow” herbicide combinations were sprayed, but Agent Orange was the combination the U.S. military used most often. The name “Agent Orange” came from the orange identifying stripe used on the 55-gallon drums in which it was stored.

Heavy sprayed areas included forests near the demarcation zone, forests at the junction of the borders of Cambodia, Laos, and South Vietnam, and mangroves on the southernmost peninsula of Vietnam and along shipping channels southeast of Saigon.

The U.S. Department of Defense developed these tactical herbicides specifically to be used in “combat operations.” They were not commercial grade herbicides purchased from chemical companies and sent to Vietnam. Tactical herbicides also were used, tested, and stored in areas outside of Vietnam.

Learn how Veterans may have been exposed to Agent Orange and other herbicides during military service, including outside Vietnam.

Agent Orange active ingredients and characteristics

The two active ingredients in the Agent Orange herbicide combination were equal amounts of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) and 2,4,5-trichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4,5-T), which contained traces of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD).

The dioxin TCDD was an unwanted byproduct of herbicide production. Dioxins are pollutants that are released into the environment by burning waste, diesel exhaust, chemical manufacturing, and other processes. TCDD is the most toxic of the dioxins, and is classified as a human carcinogen by the Environmental Protection Agency.

Agent Orange dries quickly after spraying and breaks down within hours to days when exposed to sunlight (if not bound chemically to a biological surface such as soil, leaves and grass) and is no longer harmful.

THE BRAIN FRONTIER

FROM:  NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION
Exploring the unknown frontier of the brain

James L. Olds, head of NSF's Directorate for Biological Sciences and the Shelley Krasnow University Professor of Molecular Neuroscience at George Mason University describes why and how NSF-funded researchers are working to understand the healthy brain
April 2, 2015

To a large degree, your brain is what makes you... you. It controls your thinking, problem solving and voluntary behaviors. At the same time, your brain helps regulate critical aspects of your physiology, such as your heart rate and breathing.

And yet your brain--a nonstop multitasking marvel--runs on only about 20 watts of energy, the same wattage as an energy-saving light bulb.

Still, for the most part, the brain remains an unknown frontier. Neuroscientists don't yet fully understand how information is processed by the brain of a worm that has several hundred neurons, let alone by the brain of a human that has 80 billion to 100 billion neurons. The chain of events in the brain that generates a thought, behavior or physiological response remains mysterious.

Why the big mystery? The brain is the most complex known biological structure in the universe. When researchers do figure out how it works, they will accomplish perhaps the greatest scientific achievement in recorded human history.

The search for a theory

Neuroscientists all over the world are working to develop an overarching theory of how a healthy brain works. Similar to the way the Big Bang theory offers one possible explanation for the cosmos and helps guide research on the origins of the universe, a theory of healthy brain function would offer a possible explanation of how the brain and the entire nervous system work and would help guide neuroscience research.

A theory of healthy brain function may also help to explain how injuries and diseases disrupt brain function and thereby help researchers identify new directions for research on traumatic brain injuries and brain diseases.

More knowledge about healthy brain function may also help inspire the development of smart technologies that mimic some of the human brain's unparalleled capabilities. If supercomputers--which can each annually consume millions of dollars' worth of electricity as well as huge amounts of cooling water--could match the brain's energy efficiency and processing power, their massive energy consumption would plummet, and science and innovation would leap forward.

Neuroscientists have made some progress toward understanding the brain. They have identified brain regions that regulate particular functions, including speech and motor function, and they can recognize structural and functional changes that occur in the brain throughout an animal's life span.

More recently, neuroscientists have developed game-changing tools for visualizing and analyzing parts of the brain in unprecedented detail. These tools provide the first detailed glimpses of the brain and are thrusting neuroscience forward, much as the first powerful telescopes provided the deep glimpses into the universe and thrust astronomy forward many years ago.

BRAIN Power

Building on these and other recent innovations, President Barack Obama launched the Brain Research through Advancing Innovative Neurotechnologies Initiative (BRAIN Initiative) in April 2013. Federally funded in 2015 at $200 million, the initiative is a public-private research effort to revolutionize researchers' understanding of the brain.

A co-leader of the initiative, the National Science Foundation (NSF) is working to reveal how a healthy brain works. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technology, bionic limbs and laser eye surgery were all grounded in early NSF-funded fundamental research, and fundamental research on the healthy brain may lead to equally profound advances.

NSF will spend about $48.48 million on awards in 2015 supporting the BRAIN Initiative, part of approximately $106.44 million in awards we will provide for all "Understanding the Brain" research across a range of neuroscience and cognitive science topics. With that support, our research teams are tackling the mysteries of the brain from varied angles.

For example, NSF is funding collaborations among:

Computer scientists, cyberinfrastructure experts and biologists to create a cyberinfrastructure to store and manage the huge volumes of data--"Big Data”--generated by brain studies. (For some perspective, consider that if nanoscale images of one human brain were stored in a stack of 1 terabyte hard drives, the stack would reach to the moon, or beyond!)

Engineers, materials experts and physicists to develop new materials needed to invent new probes for monitoring and manipulating the brain.

Physicists, mathematicians and computer scientists to build models that can help reveal and predict the complex neural activities that drive thoughts and behavior.

Social and behavioral scientists and physicists to improve the resolution of functional magnetic resonance imaging of the brain to help explain how social and physical environments alter the brain.

Biologists, physicists, chemists and engineers to study the nervous systems of many species, from simple organisms to complex vertebrates.
In addition, NSF awarded $10.8 million in Early Concept Grants for Exploratory Research (EAGERs) to 36 teams--most of which are collaborative and multidisciplinary in nature--to support the development of new technologies that will help answer a critical question: How do circuits of neurons generate behaviors and enable learning and perception?

An EAGER team from the University of North Carolina School of Medicine is improving a new kind of microscope to simultaneously view individual neurons firing in two or more different regions of a brain at the same time. This microscope will enable researchers to see in detail, for the first time, how different areas of the brain team up to process information.

Taking an entirely different tack, researchers at the new $25 million NSF-funded Center for Brains, Minds & Machines at MIT are investigating human intelligence and the potential for creating intelligent machines. As researchers learn how to build those machines, they will likely also advance humanity's understanding of human intelligence.

Big innovations from basic research

If history is any guide, these and other fundamental brain-research projects will have important applications. For example, researchers around the world are currently studying diseases such as post-traumatic stress disorder, Parkinson's disease and schizophrenia with a powerful new tool called optogenetics.

Optogenetics, which was developed with partial funding from NSF, enables researchers to selectively turn on and off individual neurons in living animals by exposing them to light. The development of optogenetics was made possible, in part, by earlier NSF-funded research on light sensitivity in algae that was conducted purely out of curiosity about the survival strategies of algae and without any knowledge that it would eventually be pivotal to the seemingly far-flung field of brain research. (Optogenetics is explained in a short video, Biodiversity: A Boon for brain research.)

Viewers of the 2014 World Cup saw another important application of fundamental brain research: The first kick of the games was performed by a person with paraplegia wearing an exoskeleton. The development of this exoskeleton built upon NSF-funded research on how neurons are involved in motor learning--research that began nearly twenty years ago.

Across government and across the nation, hopes are high that additional, fundamental neuroscience research will lay the groundwork for continued advances that will help society take additional strides forward.

-- James L. Olds, National Science Foundation
-- Lily Whiteman,

STATE DEPARTMENT STATEMENT ON RECENT VIOLENCE AGAINST CIVILIANS IN SYRIA

FROM:  U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT
Recent Violence Against Civilians in Syria
Press Statement
Marie Harf
Acting Department Spokesperson, Office of the Spokesperson
Washington, DC
April 3, 2015

The United States strongly condemns attacks this week against Syrian civilians, who continue to suffer from both the Asad regime and violent extremist groups. Fighting between regime forces and an alliance of Islamist-oriented forces, including the al-Qa’ida-affiliated al-Nusra Front, and airstrikes by the Asad regime on Idlib city reportedly killed more than 100 civilians, significantly damaged hospitals, and displaced an estimated 30,000 people. Activists reported that ISIL massacred over 40 people in Mabuja in Hama province – reportedly Ismailis and Alawites, including women and children. Regime bombings of the town killed additional inhabitants and inflicted further damage.

We also condemn and are deeply concerned by ISIL’s attacks this week against the besieged Yarmouk Palestinian refugee camp in southern Damascus. Since advancing into Yarmouk on April 1, ISIL – with the support of al-Nusra Front – has violently clashed with other armed groups, putting the remaining 18,000 civilians in the area at severe risk. Yarmouk’s inhabitants have already suffered from the regime’s violence and have lived under siege for nearly two years, deprived of desperately needed essentials, including food and medical relief.

These tragic events illustrate the terrible toll the war has taken on Syrian civilians and reaffirm the need for a political solution to end the conflict and alleviate the suffering of the Syrian people. The United States reiterates that all forces must cease unlawful attacks on civilians and comply with international law. Those who are responsible for these and other atrocities against the civilian population must be held accountable.

LABOR SECRETARY PEREZ ISSUES STATEMENT ON MARCH EMPLOYMENT SITUATION REPORT

FROM:  U.S. LABOR DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Statement of US Labor Secretary Perez on March employment numbers

WASHINGTON — U.S. Secretary of Labor Thomas E. Perez issued the following statement about the March 2015 Employment Situation report released today:

"The economy added 126,000 new jobs in March (129,000 in the private sector), extending the longest streak of private sector job growth on record to 61 consecutive months, with 12.1 million jobs created over that time. The unemployment rate held steady at 5.5 percent. Long-term unemployment fell to 1.6 percent, down 0.7 percentage points from a year ago. Average hourly earnings increased by 7 cents for all private-sector employees, contributing to a 2.1 percent increase in nominal hourly wages over the last 12 months.

"While March's numbers aren't as robust as we've seen over the last year, overall trends remain solid, and there is every reason to be optimistic about our economic trajectory going forward. We've made incredible strides since the depths of the Great Recession, but there's more work to do to make sure every person can benefit from this recovery. There's more to do to strengthen and grow our middle class.

"The Obama administration continues to make strong investments that will give people the in-demand skills required to succeed in 21st century jobs; by contrast, the Congressional majority's budget would mean 2.2 million fewer people in 2016 alone receiving job training and employment services. A new public-private initiative called TechHire is giving Americans pathways to well-paying IT jobs, which are currently available in the hundreds of thousands. And today, the president is announcing new steps to drive growth in clean energy and train 75,000 workers, including many veterans, for solar jobs.

"Wage growth remains the unfinished business of this recovery. While Wall Street employees are collectively taking home billions of dollars just in bonuses, minimum wage workers haven't had a raise since 2009. Even as many states and localities take action on this issue, we still need Congress to put partisanship aside and raise the federal wage floor.

"And to help working families, we also need to expand access to paid leave, so that no one has to lose a paycheck in order to take care of a sick child or spouse. This week we kicked off a nationwide tour — Lead on Leave: Empowering Working Families Across America — to highlight best practices from employers and state and local governments, raising awareness about the need nationwide for paid leave and other flexible workplace policies.

"These steps are essential to an agenda based on middle-class economics, where everyone has the chance to succeed. As we celebrate the progress of the last few years, we have to do more to ensure the rising tide lifts every boat. Working together, we can do more to expand opportunity and create an economy that works for everyone."

PRESIDENT OBAMA'S STATEMENT ON PASSOVER

FROM:  THE WHITE HOUSE
April 03, 2015
Statement from the President on Passover

Michelle and I send our warmest greetings to all those celebrating Passover in the United States, in the State of Israel, and throughout the world.

Tonight, for the seventh year, I’ll hold a Seder in the White House, and we’ll join millions of Jewish families as we retell one of humanity’s great stories of liberation.  The Exodus was neither easy nor quick.  The Israelites’ journey to freedom required them to choose faith over fear and courage over complacency.  Above all, it required the works of an awesome God, who led them out of bondage with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm.

The story of the Exodus – the signs and wonders that appeared when hope seemed lost, the Jewish people’s abiding belief that they would one day reach the Promised Land –  has inspired countless generations over the years.  It inspired Jewish families to hold fast to their faith, even during times of terrible persecution.  It inspired young Civil Rights leaders as they marched across an Alabama bridge in search of their own Promised Land, half a century ago.

And it continues to inspire us today.  Tonight, my family will read the passage of the Haggadah that declares we must see ourselves as though we personally were liberated from Egypt.  The Exodus reminds us that progress has always come slow and the future has always been uncertain, but it also reminds there is always reason for hope.

Like the Israelites who Moses led out of slavery long ago, it is up to us to never lose faith in the better day that lies ahead.  In our own country, we can continue our march toward a more perfect union.  Around the world, we can seek to extend the miracles of freedom and peace, prosperity and security, to more of God’s creation.  And together, we can continue the hard but awesome work of tikkun olam, and do our part to repair the world.

From my family to yours, Chag Sameach.