Mississippi Tornado Takes The Life Of Four

Article by Affiliate Mississippi Gazette

Jackson, MS-- Tornados leave a trail of wide spread damage with four dead and  at least 20 injured Tuesday. The tornados were reported in Louisiana and Mississippi with the heaviest damage reported in Mississippi. Several Southeastern states were issued watches and warnings. The National Weather Service office at Jackson, Mississippi, said, "During the afternoon of Dec 23, just enough ingredients came together to support numerous severe storms ahead of a cold front. Across the Lower Mississippi River Valley, peak heating contributed to decent instability in the developing warm sector in advance of the front. Sufficient low level wind shear and strong winds aloft were also in place as a decent upper low was located to our north. This helped to support organized thunderstorm activity along with quite a few supercell storms. A long lived, persistent, storm tracked across the southeastern counties (near Columbia, Mississippi to Sumrall and Laurel to Heidelberg, Mississippi line) and produced multiple tornadoes. Widespread damage occurred in southern Columbia, near Sumrall and near Laurel and areas in Marion, Jones and Clarke counties. Sadly, four confirmed fatalities occurred, with two near Columbia in Marion County and two near Laurel in Jones County. Severe storms moved out of the region by late afternoon to early Tuesday evening. The front continued to track through the area through the evening of December 23."

Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge Helps Rescued Exotic Animals Have A Better Life

Article posted by Canada Sentinel
Eureka Springs, AR-- For over 20 years, Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge has operated its wildlife sanctuary, where it cares for wild animals who have been rescued and relocated from zoos, circuses, roadside "attractions," and the cruel and foolish exotic pet industry.
Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge cares for more than 100 tigers, lions, bears, and other wildlife.

Some of the Animals include Sugar, a black bear who came to Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge in 2009 from
Greenbriar, Ark. Sugar was housed in the middle of a private
junkyard, in a cage too short for her to stand up in. It was full
of mud and filth that had built up for nearly twelve years. It
took her a little while to adjust to her new and improved living
conditions, but now she’s doing great.

Or Sierra, a three-year-old de-clawed Bengal tiger, was rescued
from Grapevine, Tex. She had been confiscated by the SPCA from
Texas about two months before and placed in Grapevine Humane
Society until Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge found her. Sierra had lived on a poor diet of dog food and was in very bad condition. During her two month stay at the Humane Society, she had gained 70 pounds just by getting a proper diet. Since Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge rescues cats for no fee,
Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge was contacted and asked to take Sierra. Because of her unhealthy diet as a cub, Sierra is about one third of the size that an adult female tiger should be. She has pigeon toes and severe scoliosis. Because of the deformities in her hips, Sierra is on a strict diet of boneless meat.

Shopping on Super Saturday

Article posted by Canada Sentinel
BENTONVILLE, Ark.--Still haven’t checked everything off your Christmas gift list? Well, you’re not alone. The world’s largest retailer conducted in-person interviews with more than 2,200 customers in Walmart stores across the U.S. on Saturday, Dec. 13 and found more than one-third plan to shop for last-minute gifts on Super Saturday, the last Saturday before Christmas.

To ensure last-minute shoppers get the gifts they want at a great price, Walmart stores will continue to receive many of the season’s hottest toys, electronics and home goods until Dec. 24. The retailer is also helping its customers get in and out quickly by creating designated areas near the front of its stores with popular last-minute gifts such as stocking stuffers, gift sets and gift cards. Customers can also choose to order from tens of thousands of items on Walmart.com by Dec. 23 and receive free same-day pickup in stores on Dec. 24.

“Over the past few years, we’ve noticed a trend in customers waiting until the last minute to finish their shopping,” said Scott McCall, senior vice president of merchandising for Walmart U.S. “While many customers start their Christmas shopping in November, the majority don’t put their lists away until Dec. 24. Our stores are ready to help customers get everything they need from top toys and electronics to stocking stuffers, cookies for Santa and the easiest present to give: the gift card.”

Supporting West African Ebola Survivors

Ebola survivors, three orphans and their uncle, receiving Certificate of Medical Clearance as part of the Firestone Ebola Survivor Reintegration Program - Firestone District, Liberia, 2014


Posted by Canada Sentinel

West Africa--The case fatality rate in West Africa’s ongoing Ebola epidemic – estimates range from 60 percent to 70 percent of those hospitalized – hides a hopeful statistic:  the fact that many Ebola patients survive. There now are thousands of Ebola survivors.
In this epidemic as in past Ebola outbreaks, survivors often face stigma, income loss, and both grief and survivor guilt over the loss of family and friends. Many if not all of their possessions have been destroyed to prevent disease transmission. In some cases, families have been reluctant to accept orphaned children.
Two reports in the December 12 early release issue of CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) detail programs in Liberia and Sierra Leone to help Ebola survivors reintegrate with their communities and resume their lives. As survivors are thought to have some protective immunity to the strain of Ebola that sickened them, many survivors now work as caregivers for other Ebola patients.
“Nothing says more about the resilience of the human spirit than Ebola survivors who become role models for their communities,” said CDC Director Tom Frieden, M.D., M.P.H. “They show others that Ebola can be defeated and provide care, support, and inspiration for others stricken by this terrible disease.”
Support Services for Survivors of Ebola Virus Disease — Sierra Leone,
According to an August 2014 survey by the Sierra Leone Ministry of Health and Sanitation, CDC, and other partners, 96 percent of the general population reported at least some discriminatory attitude toward people with Ebola. This stigma discourages people from seeking Ebola testing and treatment and increases the already difficult task of contact tracing. It extends to Ebola survivors, who may be shunned by their communities.
CDC staff joined a consortium of members of the Sierra Leonean government, nongovernment organizations, and donor agencies to assess the needs of Ebola survivors. The group performed a study of three districts heavily affected by Ebola, convened a National Survivor Conference, conducted focus groups with survivors, and observed counseling sessions at a survivor wellness center.
The study found that survivors faced immediate and long-term concerns about physical and mental health, stigma, psychosocial issues including shame and survival guilt, reintegration needs, and financial needs. Despite these needs, survivors reported inadequate counseling, community reintegration, and material support.
Survivors showed great interest in contributing to the Ebola response through activities such as sharing their stories directly through radio and other broadcast media. They also expressed interest in participating in direct Ebola care and treatment support in and providing spiritual support to other Ebola patients to give them hope. Survivors said that supporting themselves with this work would help restore their own dignity.
The consortium now is coordinating financial and psychosocial support for survivors. This support includes a “survivor packet” that includes cash, bedding, clothing, and other essentials of daily living. Counselors will accompany survivors when returning to their home villages to facilitate reintegration, and trained counselors are speaking with local traditional authorities and other community members about the importance of survivor acceptance. Survivor support centers are being established at the district level, and plans are underway to integrate survivors into Ebola response activities.
Reintegration of Ebola Virus Disease Survivors into Their Communities — Firestone District, Liberia,
In August 2014, the Firestone District of Liberia, where Firestone Liberia Inc. provides health care to 80,000 residents, enrolled their first patient in a model Ebola survivor reintegration program. The program was designed to offer survivors psychosocial support as well as to lessen stigma, provide hope, and motivate community members to report suspect Ebola cases and to seek care early in the course of disease.
“Well-coordinated survivor reintegration programs help stop the spread of Ebola and heal communities,” Dr. Frieden said. “Businesses can follow Firestone’s excellent example and contribute to the effort to get to zero in this Ebola epidemic.”
From August through October, 2014, 22 patients with laboratory-confirmed Ebola recovered from their illness at the Firestone Ebola Treatment Unit (ETU). During the three days between their first negative Ebola test and a second test confirming that they were Ebola free, survivors were transferred to a recovery room in the ETU and given education and counseling.
Meanwhile, a reintegration team began preparing the survivors’ communities. The team met with the survivors’ neighbors and community leaders, emphasizing that survivors are no longer sick and are Ebola free. On the day of return, Firestone’s medical director, the ETU coordinator, and other medical staff traveled with the survivor to the community accompanied by the reintegration team, radio station personnel, and clergy. Community volunteers decorated the survivor’s home with traditional palm leaves to signify the festive occasion.
Each survivor received a “solidarity kit” including a new mattress, bedding, towels, an insecticide-treated mosquito net, soaps and toiletries, a 110-pound bag of rice, three gallons of cooking oil, toys (for children), clothing, and cash for food and personal necessities. After the reintegration ceremony, the physician-led Firestone medical team visited all survivors at home every week for three months, both for a clinical checkup and to provide social and psychological support.
No major reintegration problems have occurred to date. Reintegration ceremonies continue to be well-attended by dozens of community members, and the events have been celebratory rather than confrontational events.

Hostages Taken In Downtown Sydney Shop.

Article by David Lear with Canada Sentinel. 

Sydney, Australia--Police have responded to a downtown Opera House after a call of a reported hostage situation. Police could be seen with weapons drawn at the Lindt Chocolat Café in Sydney, according to one witness. The scene unfolded in the city's financial district where some of the hostages could be seen holding a Shahada flag. Update: Lone Hostage taker among three killed in Sydney cafe siege. New South Wales police commissioner says there were 17 hostages total involved in the Sydney.

Offshore Lessons on the Volvo Ocean Race

Article by  Agathe Armand  Photo by Amory Ross/Team Alvimedica/Volvo Ocean Race

It has been a long leg for Team Alvimedica, and a slow, never-ending finish at sunset, in Abu Dhabi waters.

The Turkish/American boat did lead the race early on, stopped to assist Team Vestas Wind when their competitors hit a reef north of Mauritius, resumed racing and caught up with Team SCA and MAPFRE.

But they were finally overtaken by the Spanish team and ended the leg in a painful drift across the Gulf.

Ainhoa Sanchez/Volvo Ocean Race

“This leg has had its ups and downs and we definitely need to work on our consistency,” admits Charlie Enright, the skipper.

“But we’ve got a good plan in place and we’ll work on the best way to achieve it.”

For the youngest crew in the race, this leg was all about learning. Learning about the race – four of them are rookies, learning about their boat, learning about their performance at sea.

“We’ve had a lot of time together and conversations naturally evolved from the fun things to our performance,” explains Amory Ross, the Onboard Reporter.

“We’re happy about boat speed. We know we’re competitive in a straight line; we just need to know where to point the bow. It’s not a personal problem or a chemistry issue. Our greatest attribute is we’re a young group of guys looking to improve.”

They’ve learned about the reality of the race too, and its ruthlessness.

“The Vestas incident is something that will stick with us for a long time,” sighs Mark Towill, who admits feeling “a bit mentally drained.”

Having suspended racing for 9.5 hours to provide assistance to the blue boat, the Alvimedica guys can now apply for redress.

“And we’ve just been bleeding miles to MAPFRE these past days,” adds Mark. “Yes, a little down, but excited to wrap this up and prepare for the next leg.”

Ainhoa Sanchez/Volvo Ocean Race

Charlie and his eight teammates are now looking forward to debriefing properly in Abu Dhabi. Some are heading home; others are staying in the Emirates before the next leg.

“Part of us want to start Leg 3 tomorrow,” concludes the 30-year old skipper, “but it will be good to have some time to rest and reflect. We’re excited about where we are. It’s just a matter of refining some small things.”

Team Alvimedica finish time: 13 29 23 UTC / Elapsed time: 024d 21h 29m 23s

UN declares ‘Every day is Human Rights Day’

Article Credit UN/OHCHR

The universal reach of human rights should not be restricted to one day alone but extended to every day of the year, top United Nations officials declared today as they marked Human Rights Day – an annual UN-backed event commemorating the date on which the General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. 

Spearheaded by the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), this year's observance – celebrated under the banner of Human Rights 365 – encompasses the idea that “every day is Human Rights Day” and that “each one of us, everywhere, at all times is entitled to the full range of human rights.”

We declare that human rights are for all of us, all the time: whoever we are and wherever we are from; no matter our class, our opinions, our sexual orientation.

“On Human Rights Day we speak out,” Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon proclaimed in his message. “We declare that human rights are for all of us, all the time: whoever we are and wherever we are from; no matter our class, our opinions, our sexual orientation.” 

“Violations of human rights are more than personal tragedies,” Mr. Ban continued. “They are alarm bells that may warn of a much bigger crisis. 

The Secretary-General explained that as a result of those “alarms,” his Human Rights Up Front campaign – launched in 2013 – sought to anticipate violations before they degenerate into mass atrocities or war crimes while advancing the struggle against injustice, intolerance and extremism. 

The initiative includes training UN staff on the world body's core purpose of promoting respect for human rights; providing Member States with the information needed to respond to human rights violations; and ensuring that UN personnel around the world are more attuned to situations where there is a risk of serious human rights abuses and are equipped for the responsibilities that such potential crises entail. 

The strategy also includes achieving more Organizational coherence by strengthening engagement with the General Assembly, the Security Council and the Geneva-based UN Human Rights Council and providing earlier and more streamlined support to teams on the ground before a crisis emerges; and better organization of human rights staff so that they can identify risks of serious violations of human rights that could lead to atrocities. 

Finally, underpinning all these activities will be better information management on threats and risks to populations for planning operational activities and for sharing with Member States. 

In his statement issued for the Day, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein, echoed Mr. Ban's appeal and underscored the power of the Universal Declaration to “change the world.” 

“Human rights are not country-specific. They are not a reward for good behaviour or particular to a certain era or social group. They are the inalienable entitlements of all people, at all times and everywhere, 365 days a year,” affirmed Mr. Zeid. 

As part of its celebration of the Day, the OHCHR has launched a social media campaign encouraging the public to explain on a six-second Vine post why year-round human rights matter. The Vine videos will then be collected and published together on OHCHR's Storify account. 

“The UN Human Rights Office stands with the millions of people around the world whose voices are denied,” Mr. Zeid continued, as he called on the public to join OHCHR “via social media or in person.” 

“Together, we must demand what should be guaranteed: our human rights, universal, indivisible, inalienable, for everyone, 365 days a year.”

Number of seafaring migrants surges

Risking their lives to reach Europe from North Africa, a boatload of people, some of them likely in need of international protection, are rescued in the Mediterranean Sea by the Italian Navy. Photo: UNHCR/A. D’Amato

Amid record high numbers of global migrant arrivals by sea, the international community is steadily losing focus on saving lives and intensifying its efforts to deny foreigners access to asylum, the United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR) has warned ahead of a Geneva-based forum devoted to protecting sea-bound migrants.

“This is a mistake, and precisely the wrong reaction for an era in which record numbers of people are fleeing wars,” António Guterres, the UN’s High Commissioner for Refugees, said today in a press release. “Security and immigration management are concerns for any country, but policies must be designed in a way that human lives do not end up becoming collateral damage.”

According to estimates from coastal authorities and data points collected by the UN, at least 348,000 people have risked seafaring journeys worldwide since the beginning of 2014 as they flee conflicts and poverty. Europe, facing conflicts to its south in Libya, east in Ukraine, and southeast in Syria and Iraq, is currently seeing the largest number of sea arrivals with 207,000 people crossing the Mediterranean to reach its shores – almost three times the previous known high of about 70,000, registered in 2011.

However, the UN agency noted, there are at least three other major sea routes in use today both by migrants seeking better economic opportunities and asylum seekers escaping conflict. In the Horn of Africa, some 82,000 people crossed the Gulf of Aden and Red Sea between 1 January and the end of November, leaving Ethiopia and Somalia for countries in the Arabian Peninsula. In Southeast Asia, meanwhile, an estimated 54,000 people have undertaken sea crossings, departing Bangladesh or Myanmar and heading to Thailand, Malaysia, or Indonesia. And, in the Caribbean, 2014 has seen almost 5,000 people take to boats as they escape the clutches of poverty and explore asylum options in the neighbouring countries.

In addition to the difficulties of these journeys which often stretch across multiple borders and over thousands of kilometres, many of those migrating along these maritime corridors succumb to trafficking and smuggling networks coordinated by international organized crime. As the flow of migrants continues to swell, the UN said, many governments were finding themselves “unable to either stem the flow or stop people dying along the journey.” 

“You can’t stop a person who is fleeing for their life by deterrence, without escalating the dangers even more,” Mr. Guterres continued. “The real causes have to be addressed, and this means looking at why people are fleeing, what prevents them from seeking asylum by safer means, and what can be done to crack down on the criminal networks who prosper from this, while at the same time protecting their victims.”

“It also means having proper systems to deal with arrivals and distinguish real refugees from those who are note,” he said. 

Mr. Guterres’ words come as UN officials from its humanitarian and human rights agencies prepare to gather at UNHCR’s 2014 High Commissioner’s Dialogue in Geneva – an informal policy discussion forum whose focus this year is “Protection at Sea.”

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein, who was also in attendance at the UNHCR event, similarly cautioned that as wealthy nations continue to guard themselves from migrant arrivals and asylum seekers, they also risk transforming into xenophobic “gated communities.” 

“Unilateral attempts to close borders are almost certainly futile, and the response cannot just lie in aggressive, and often counterproductive, anti-smuggling plans,” affirmed Mr. Zeid in a press release. 

“When migrants are left to drift for weeks without access to food and water; when ships deliberately refuse to rescue migrants in distress; when children in search of family reunification are detained indefinitely, denied education and care, or returned to perilous situations – these are grave human rights violations.”

The UN rights chief pointed out that policies that seek to “stamp out migration” do not decrease the numbers of would-be migrants but, instead, “exacerbate the dangers they endure” creating zones of lawlessness and impunity. As a result, he continued, nations were encouraged to establish accessible corridors for legal migration and discourage the current “siege mentality” fanned by a growing number of populist politicians and leaders. 

“Ultimately, unless they can access safe and regular migration channels, desperate people may continue to brave the perils of the sea in search of protection, opportunity and hope. In their place, we would probably do the same. And perhaps only this recognition of our common humanity can guide us to make the right choices in response,” he concluded.

Vestas from the air

Article by  Jon Bramley Photo Credit NCG Operations Room Ð MRCC Mauritius
This graphic picture shows the stricken Team Vestas Wind lying in a reef in a remote Mauritius archipelago of St Brandon after being grounded there at the weekend.
The team and race organisers are now working out the best way to recover the Volvo Ocean 65 in the Indian Ocean.
Neil Cox, shore manager of the Danish team, said: “The photo paints a pretty graphic picture of what’s going on out there. The picture tells a 1,000 words.”
He said his focus was still the security of the nine members of the crew.
“We have still got nine guys sitting on what is basically a sand pit out in the middle of the Indian Ocean.
“They are still the priority. It’s a peace of mind to know they’re all safe and doing everything they can out there with the boat right now.” Cox said that sail ropes, fluids, electronics and hardware had been taken off the boat.
The nine-strong crew abandoned ship in the early hours of Sunday morning after the collision at 19 knots at 1510 GMT the previous day and waded through knee-deep water to a dry position on the reef.
They were picked up from there at daylight by a coastguard rib and taken to the nearby Íle du Sud.
The islet has very little communications with the outside world and the crew are awaiting transportation back to Mauritius. This is expected to happen within the next 24 hours.
The National Coast Guard of the Maritime Rescue Co-operation Centre (MRCC) of Mauritius took the pictures as part of its usual operations after such an incident.
The crew have received food packages via an airdrop from a coastguard plane. It confirmed that all were uninjured in the collision.

Worlds AIDS Day Reminds People That AIDS Is Still A Destructive Pandemic

Article by Canada Sentinel.
Vancouver-Today is World AIDS Day which is held on 1 December each year and is an opportunity for people worldwide to unite in the fight against HIV, show their support for people living with HIV and to commemorate people who have died. World AIDS Day was the first ever global health day and the first one was held in 1988. Scientific advances have been made in HIV treatment but there is still 100,000 people still currently living with HIV in the UK and globally an estimated 34 million people have HIV. More than 35 million people have died from the virus, making it one of the most destructive pandemics in history. World AIDS Day is an opportunity for you to learn the facts about HIV and put your knowledge into action. To learn more about World AIDS Day CLICK HERE

Vestas Wind Makes Plans To Abandon Ship After Running Aground In The Indian Ocean.

Article by The Canada Sentinel. Photo by Ainhoa Sanchez/Volvo Ocean Race
Volvo Ocean Race Team Vestas Wind informed Race Control that their boat was grounded on the Cargados Carajos Shoals, Mauritius, in the Indian Ocean today. Race Officials told us, "Fortunately, no one has been injured. We are in contact with the boat to establish the extent of the damage and ensure the crew is given the support needed to enable it to deal with the situation." Team Alvimedica has arrived at the site and is in radio contact with Team Vestas Wind. The plan is for this vessel to assist in abandoning the boat as soon as possible after daylight tomorrow. Both rudders were reported broken by the Team Vestas Wind crew. The team also reported water ingress in the stern compartment.

The Volvo Ocean 65 has watertight bulkheads in the bow and the stern. The remaining part of the boat is intact including the rig. The Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) in Reunion Island is aware of the problem and, if needed, there is a a coastguard station on Isle de Sud, approximately 1.5 km from the boat, which has a RIB available.

Missing 13 year old found safe behind false wall in Georgia home.

Article by  The Canada Sentinel.
After four years, a missing 13 year old boy was found by police in a home in Jonesboro, Georgia, according to officials.  Police in Clayton County made the discovery Saturday morning. Police were on their second visit to the home after a tipster gave information to the police about the possible whereabouts of the boy who was behind a false wall in a linen closet.  Five people at the home were arrested, including the boy's father and stepmother. They have been charged with false imprisonment, cruelty to children and obstruction according to officials.

Update: A Clayton County judge has denied bond for the couple accused of hiding the boy.