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About Life Alert
Life Alert Emergency Response, Inc. is the founder and leader in personal emergency response industry and has been providing services to seniors nationwide since 1987.  Their trademarked slogan, 'Help, I've fallen and I can't get up!' is ranked as the most memorable ad over the last 25 years by USA Today.  Life Alert is the first personal response service to employ two-way communication for its members and is the only company to invest over $150 million in branding and public education about personal protection.  Life Alert is the only company that former U.S. Surgeon General C. Everett Koop, M.D. endorsed; Dr. Koop has appeared in Life Alert commercials from 2004 up until his death in 2013.  www.lifealert.com

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The arrests were part of the Chinese Ministry of Public Security's nationwide operation that began in January to crackdown on food safety violations.  Authorities have arrested 904 people and have broken up 1,721 illicit facilities, workshops, and shops due to suspected sales of fake, diseased, toxic or adulterated meat. Despite these arrests the ministry stated that diners still have reason to worry.

In response, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, FDA, has taken actions to improve caution over imported foods, according to an FDA spokeswomen. The Food Safety Modernization Act (FASMA) allows the FDA to hold imported foods to the same safety standards as domestic foods.

'Fraudulent adulteration of food products can pose a threat to consumers' health and safety, and therefore food manufacturers should test their products and comply with regulations,' states Dr. Jason Dobranic, EMSL Analytical Inc.'s Vice President of Microbiology and Life Sciences. 'EMSL Analytical now offers food authenticity testing for a variety of products, including meats, to assure consumers protection against fraudulent practices in the food industry.'

For more information on EMSL's food testing services, please contact EMSL at (800) 220-3675, email info@emsl.com , or visit www.EMSL.com or www.FoodTestingLab.com.

About EMSL Analytical, Inc.
EMSL Analytical is a full service testing company providing quality lab services under the same private ownership since 1981. Including the corporate lab facility in Cinnaminson, NJ, EMSL Analytical operates over thirty laboratories nationwide in the US and Canada. The company has an extensive list of accreditations from leading organizations, as well as state and federal regulating bodies.

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Heavy clashes have been reported in Qusayr, a city near the Lebanese border, with a population of some 30,000. Between 12,000 and 20,000 people, many of them children, are thought to still be inside the city.

In recent days, hundreds of families have fled into Lebanon and various areas in Syria. UNICEF, other UN agencies and partners are providing much needed humanitarian assistance including food, clothes and hygiene kits to many of those who have been displaced.

In Hasiaa close to Homs, UNICEF and partners are supporting some 500 families made up of women, children and elderly from Qusayr and nearby villages.

They are joining an additional 1,144 families who had previously fled Qusayr where fighting has flared over the past month.

Many of the families left at night with little or no possessions. Aside from providing clothing and hygiene kits, UNICEF and partners will also start trucking in critically needed water and improve the sanitation in the coming days.

The situation is desperate. Hasiaa gets cold at night and sporadic rains have made life for children and the weakest particularly precarious as families struggle to find shelter in the area. Many have cramped into two schools, unfinished buildings and tents.

UNICEF has repeatedly called on all parties to comply with their international legal obligations and respect the sanctity of children's lives. The continued brutal violence in Syria is causing extreme human suffering and loss of life.

Since March 2011, some 4.25 million people, nearly half of them children, have been displaced inside Syria and an additional 1.5 million people have fled to neighbouring countries and are in need of humanitarian assistance.

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About UNICEF

UNICEF works in more than 190 countries and territories to help children survive and thrive, from early childhood through adolescence. The world's largest provider of vaccines for developing countries, UNICEF supports child health and nutrition, good water and sanitation, quality basic education for all boys and girls, and the protection of children from violence, exploitation, and AIDS. UNICEF is funded entirely by the voluntary contributions of individuals, businesses, foundations and governments. For more information about UNICEF and its work visit: www.unicef.org

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Meeting in Brussels, the day before the European Council focused on energy and tax fraud on 22 May 2013, the CEOs of eight European energy companies have drawn to the attention of EU leaders the urgent need to tackle the perilous situation facing the European energy sector.

CEOs of eight European energy companies (Fulvio CONTI, Gertjan LANKHORST, Gérard MESTRALLET, Ignacio GALAN, Paolo SCARONI, Peter TERIUM, Johannes TEYSSEN, Rafael VILLASECA MARCO¹) have drawn to the attention of EU leaders the urgent need to tackle the perilous situation facing the European energy sector.

Meeting in Brussels, the day before the European Council focused on energy and tax fraud on 22 May 2013, these eight energy companies agreed on a joint statement to underline the seriousness of the current challenges facing the sector and to propose appropriate policy actions. Indeed the current lack of visibility on energy policies and regulatory uncertainty will inevitably lead to an absence of energy investments with negative effects on security of supply, employment and reactivation of the European economy. The status quo is simply not an option.

The signatories remain committed to the EU's ambition for an energy policy based on the principles of competitiveness, security of supply and sustainable development, and they also fully adhere to the need for liberalization of energy markets. We see each of these elements as preconditions for competitive energy for industrial customers and citizens. However, the reality that each of the respective energy companies has experienced, over recent years, is that EU and some national energy policies have not delivered the full expected benefits. In concrete terms, European energy companies are the subject of a perfect storm which is endangering security of supply and the transformation towards a low-carbon economy, as well as undermining their capacity to attract capital.

It is, however, not too late for a revitalized EU approach to ensure competitive energy prices and a secure supply of energy for European citizens. Concurrently, this action would serve to restore the confidence of energy companies in the attractiveness of a European energy market. It is absolutely crucial that this revamped EU approach continues to support the fight against climate change, in addition to encompassing the following fresh elements:

-An improved market design, including a European coordinated approach to capacity mechanisms in which all assets contributing to the security of supply of European customers are fairly remunerated.
-A European carbon market able to support climate-friendly technologies and in which a reliable perspective is provided, notably, by establishing ambitious but realistic and stable post-2020 greenhouse gas emissions targets.
-A more sustainable approach to the promotion of renewables so as to reduce costs for citizens and favour greater convergence between Member States.
-A strengthening of the policy framework to triggerinvestments in promising technologies, such as energy storage, new renewables, carbon capture and storage, smart grids and meters and shale gas.

The CEOs of the eight energy companies very much look forward to EU political leaders taking stock of the critical situation the energy sector is facing. They must also define a new policy direction based on the elements included in the joint statement which are centred on the contribution that investments in the energy sector make, not only in providing a secure and efficient product, but also through creating jobs and reactivating the economy in an efficient way.

¹Representing the following energy companies: ENEL, GASTERRA, GDF SUEZ, IBERDROLA, ENI, RWE, E.ON, GASNATURAL FENOSA.

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'We worked very hard to help homeowners as quickly as possible,' said Kevin Watters, Chief Executive Officer of Mortgage Banking.

The company's efforts from March 1, 2012 through April 15, 2013 included:

• Forgiving $2.9 billion in principal on first-lien mortgages
• Refinancing $3 billion of loans to underwater borrowers who were current on their mortgage
• Reducing customers' loans by an average of $121,000 in forgiving principal while modifying first mortgages
• Forgiving an average of $118,000 to facilitate a short sale for those who couldn't afford a modified payment or no longer want to stay in their homes
• Implementing all 320 servicing standards as announced in October.

"We have helped nearly 1 million homeowners in the most difficult years since the Great Depression,' Watters said. 'We have also invested in improving our processes and systems to help families achieve and sustain the American dream of homeownership.'

Chase launched initiatives to lower borrowers' interests, extend terms, defer principal and forgive principal to make monthly payments more affordable for struggling homeowners. Since 2009, Chase has:

• Reduced principal balances by $6.5 billion in first-lien modifications
• Helped nearly 1 million families avoid foreclosure
• Provided loan modifications to more than 600,000 borrowers, allowing them to stay in their homes

All consumer relief credits are subject to validation by the Office of Mortgage Settlement. Even though Chase has fulfilled its consumer relief obligation under the National Mortgage Settlement, Chase continues to work with borrowers to explore reasonable alternatives to foreclosure, including principal reduction modifications where appropriate, and to help borrowers understand and access government-based homeowners' assistance programs.

About Chase

Chase is the second-largest originator of U.S. mortgages, making $192 billion in new and refinanced mortgages in 2012. It services 7.6 million mortgages, and has modified 610,000 mortgages to help homeowners since 2008. Chase is the U.S. consumer and commercial banking business of JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE: JPM), a leading global financial services firm with assets of $2.4 trillion and operations worldwide. Chase serves millions of consumers and small businesses through more than 5,600 bank branches, 18,600 ATMs, credit cards, mortgage offices, and online and mobile banking as well as through relationships with auto dealerships. More information about Chase is available at www.chase.com.

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Washington State Governor Jay Inslee today signed into law House Bill (HB) 1200, which begins to tackle seafood fraud in the state. Oceana commends Governor Inslee as our recent seafood fraud testing found not only that 18 percent of fish sampled and sold in Seattle was mislabeled, but that seafood fraud is rampant across the nation.

"Washington state continues to lead the way on seafood consumer protection issues," said Whit Sheard, Pacific Counsel and Senior Advisor with Oceana. "This bill is a win for seafood processors, fishermen, consumers, and, ultimately, healthy and productive oceans."

Seafood fraud occurs when consumers get something different than what they intended to purchase, and is unjust to consumers, the environment, and fishermen who utilize responsible fishing practices. Today, more than 90 percent of the seafood consumed in the U.S. is imported, but less than 1 percent of it is inspected by the government specifically for fraud.

HB 1200 begins to tackle seafood mislabeling in several ways. First, the bill requires that any fresh, frozen, or processed fish and shellfish be labeled by the common name so buyers can make an informed purchasing decision. The common names of fish are defined by the Director of the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. If a species' common name is not already defined by the Director, then the market name becomes the acceptable common name as provided in the Food and Drug Administration's guidelines.

Second, the bill specifically addresses halibut mislabeling by requiring that only the species Hippoglossus hippoglossus (Atlantic halibut) or Hippoglossus stenolepsis (Pacific halibut) can be labeled as halibut. Many lower value species of flatfish are often labeled as 'halibut,' so while consumers may order 'halibut' at a local restaurant, there is a chance they are being served species such as blueline tilefish.

Finally, the legislation requires that salmon species be labeled by their scientific or accepted common name, which is especially important in the Pacific Northwest and Alaska, where consumers face the possibility of farmed Atlantic salmon being substituted for species of wild caught Pacific salmon.

Sheard added that "Americans deserve to know more about the seafood they purchase and HB 1200 will begin to fill the gap in public awareness on this critical economic, environmental, and health issue."

HB 1200 passed both the House of Representatives and the Senate unanimously. Seafood fraud testing results conducted by Oceana in Washington State in addition to 20 other states nationwide can be accessed at http://oceana.org/en/news-media/publications/reports/oceana-study-reveals-seafood-fraudnationwide.

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In this category, the new rule designates a maximum of two award recipients, one of whom must have a producer credit. The director and/or key creative individual shall continue to be a recipient, and in the circumstance of a two-person team with shared and equal director credit, a third statuette may be awarded.

Previously announced rules changes for the 86th Academy Awards® include allowing members to see the nominated documentary shorts and foreign language films either at a theatrical screening or on DVD. Prior to the final round of voting, the Academy will provide members with DVDs of the nominated films in five categories: Foreign Language Film, Documentary Feature, Documentary Short Subject, Animated Short Film, and Live Action Short Film.

Other adjustments to the rules include standard date and other routine changes.

Rules are reviewed annually by individual branch and category committees. The Awards Rules Committee then evaluates all proposed changes before presenting its recommendations to the Academy's Board of Governors for approval.

Academy Awards for outstanding film achievements of 2013 will be presented on Oscar®

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Under the terms of the current plan, which includes the PPG asbestos settlement arrangement, all current and future personal injury claims against PPG relating to exposure to asbestos-containing products manufactured, distributed or sold by Pittsburgh Corning will be channeled to a trust for resolution. The final confirmation order will be subject to a customary appeals process and, if the confirmation order is upheld and all conditions are met, the plan of reorganization would become effective. Under the plan of reorganization, PPG and its participating insurers are to make their initial payments to the trust 30 business days after the plan becomes effective and all conditions to funding have been met.

Under the PPG settlement arrangement, PPG's obligation to the trust consists of cash payments totaling approximately $825 million to be made according to a fixed payment schedule over a period ending in 2023, about 1.4 million shares of PPG stock or cash equivalent, and surrendering its shares in Pittsburgh Corning and Pittsburgh Corning Europe. At March 31, 2013, PPG's accrued liability related to the settlement arrangement, including the pre-tax present value of the cash payments, totaled approximately $800 million of which approximately $550 million was the current portion. In addition to PPG's obligation to the trust, the company's participating historical insurance carriers are to make cash payments to the trust of approximately $1.7 billion in a series of payments ending in 2027.

PPG: BRINGING INNOVATION TO THE SURFACE.(TM)
PPG Industries' vision is to continue to be the world's leading coatings and specialty products company. Through leadership in innovation, sustainability and color, PPG helps customers in industrial, transportation, consumer products, and construction markets and aftermarkets to enhance more surfaces in more ways than does any other company. Founded in 1883, PPG has global headquarters in Pittsburgh and operates in nearly 70 countries around the world. Sales in 2012 were $15.2 billion. PPG shares are traded on the New York Stock Exchange (symbol: PPG). For more information, visit www.ppg.com.

Forward-Looking Statements
This news release contains certain statements about PPG Industries, Inc., that are 'forward-looking statements' within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These matters involve risks and uncertainties as discussed in PPG's periodic reports on Form 10-K and Form 10-Q and its current reports on Form 8-K filed from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

The forward-looking statements contained in this news release include statements about the outcome of the appeals process, PPG's and its participating historical insurance carriers' obligations under the final confirmation order, the amount and timing of any payments into the trust, and all other statements in this news release that are not historical facts. Without limitation, any statements preceded or followed by or that include the words 'targets,' 'plans,' 'believes,' 'expects,' 'intends,' 'will,' 'likely,' 'may,' 'anticipates,' 'estimates,' 'projects,' 'should,' 'would,' 'could,' 'positioned,' 'strategy,' 'future,' or words, phrases or terms of similar substance or the negative thereof, are forward-looking statements.

These statements are based on the current expectations of the management of PPG and are subject to uncertainty and to changes in circumstances and involve risks and uncertainties, including those listed in the paragraph above, that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in such forward-looking statements. In addition, these statements are based on a number of assumptions that are subject to change. However, it is not possible to predict or identify all such factors. Consequently, while the list of factors presented here is considered representative, no such list should be considered to be a complete statement of all potential risks and uncertainties. Unlisted factors may present significant additional obstacles to the realization of forward-looking statements.

Forward-looking statements included herein are made as of the date hereof, and PPG undertakes no obligation to update publicly such statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances.

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Bringing innovation to the surface is a trademark of PPG Industries Ohio, Inc.

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"Canada has a world-class food safety system and our Government is committed to taking real steps to make it even stronger," said Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz. "This Action Plan is one of the steps our Government is taking to ensure that our system continues to provide safe food for Canadian families today and in the future."

Through the Action Plan, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) will launch a number of significant food safety enhancements over the next two years. Most notably, the CFIA will work with consumer groups and industry to develop new regulations that will bring into force the Safe Food for Canadians Act, passed in November 2012.

As a first step, the CFIA is strengthening some of its beef safety rules and has implemented new mandatory requirements that will strengthen the control of E. coli in federally-registered beef plants.

Also, by July 2, 2013, federally-registered plants that produce mechanically tenderized beef cuts, such as steaks or roasts, will be required to label those products as tenderized and with cooking instructions.

While these actions are specific to federally-registered plants, Health Canada also intends to propose broader mandatory labels to identify beef that has been mechanically tenderized at retail outlets like supermarkets. This voluntary practice has been in place since 2012.

This spring, the CFIA will launch a review of the food regulations in Canada that will need to be revised in order to bring the Safe Food for Canadians Act into force. It is expected this work will take up to two years. Active consumer and stakeholder engagement in the process will be important to the success of efforts to bring the new legislation into force.

Consumer groups and stakeholders will have that opportunity at an upcoming food safety regulatory forum in June.

For more information on the Action Plan, visit the CFIA's website at www.inspection.gc.ca/safefood.

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The Forgiveness Project, founded by Marina in 2004, was born from her need to restore the balance from the language of retaliation that dominated politics and the media in the lead up to the war in Iraq: 'I was a journalist with a small voice and I thought 'I need to do something'.'
A striking story of reconciliation in a local paper prompted Marina to start collecting stories of forgiveness and reconciliation with a photographer who she was working and travelling with at the time. Their work was eventually shown as an exhibition called 'The F word – images of forgiveness'.

'The Forgiveness Project uses story telling, real stories of victims and perpetrators of crime and violence, to explore the concepts of forgiveness and reconciliation. The very broadest aim is to inspire people to consider alternatives to revenge, retaliation and resentment. If you hear other people's stories it stimulates an inquiry into yourself.'

Beyond exhibitions worldwide, annual lectures, and story telling sessions in schools, the Forgiveness project runs a victim empathy restorative justice programme in prisons, facilitated by ex-offenders and victims of crimes. It encourages prisoners to explore concepts of forgiveness and reconciliation in a framework that fosters greater accountability and responsibility. Marina said: 'Restorative justice is looking at how we can mend relationships that have been broken with the community, with the family, between victim and offender.'

'So what is forgiveness?' asked Marina. Exploring various definitions, she finally came up with her own: 'Forgiveness is about coming to terms with things that you cannot change. Making peace with them.'

She then took the participants through various existing conceptions of forgiveness, based on stories of people presented by the Project.
She mentioned the vision supported by faiths like Islam and Judaism of forgiveness as a social contract, a moral relationship between self and other. This 'contract' required the perpetrator to be identified and to make repentance before the victim could forgive.

She then explored the relationship between forgiveness and justice, explaining how some people think that justice must come first. Marina warned of the close relationship between justice and revenge but also said: 'Some people need to be in prison. You have to respect the laws of the land.'

But the most accepted notion of forgiveness, she said, is that it is an act of self-healing. There she gave the example of a father who drank to forget the death of his daughter in the Oklahoma bombing of 1995. One day he realised: 'I have to do something different because what I'm doing isn't working.' That is how his path towards forgiveness began.

Then Marina asked: 'How do you forgive when someone shows no remorse but also when the offence has been so extreme and barbaric?' The answer she gave, based on another story, was through 'finding empathy for someone who is imprisoned in their tormented, distorted mind; trapped with a brain that wants to do harm.'

Exploring the impact of forgiveness on the perpetrator, Marina told the story of the founding member of the largest racist skinhead organisation in the world who was astounded when people started reaching out to him including survivors of the Holocaust from the local synagogue. This made the difference.

Finally, bringing this down to ordinary relationships, Marina shared her personal feeling: 'The more I work in this area, and the more I live, and the more I see relationships around me tumbling, […] the more I think forgiveness is the oil of personal relationships. And it's designed for us to be able to co-exist because we as human beings have expectations and when those are not met, we get disappointed. And when we get disappointed, we can either go down the blame and punishment route or we go down the empathy and forgiveness route.'

A participant shared his own story of forgiveness after having seen his parents being killed for being the children of religious leaders in a Marxist revolution, and after being jailed himself for nine years. He shared how in prison he had had nobody to listen to but his inner voice, which led him to forgiveness: 'I realised there is a reward for everything,' he said. 'The reward for forgiving is peace and tranquillity.'

Marina concluded: 'Forgiveness is risky, it's messy, it's difficult, it's costly, it's unpredictable, but it's actually transformative. Forgiveness is a journey. It's not a destination, it's a process. In some cases you move in and out. Every case is different. There is no right or wrong.'

And answering another question, she said: 'All studies on forgiveness show that having a forgiving nature has a good impact on our mental and physical health. We'd be crazy not to give it a go.'

http://www.youtube.com/watch?list=PLWy0ze-3blCKTzODm92qhe4TcTntsLUXv&v=Fc9DQNpwcng

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To help individuals contemplating bankruptcy avoid costly mistakes, Charlotte County, Florida attorney, Mark Martella, has created a Free Special Report on the 'Seven Biggest Mistakes People Make Before Filing Bankruptcy and How to Avoid Them.' The Report can be requested and downloaded immediately by visiting http://www.martellalaw.com.

At a recent seminar, Martella stated that 'Many people costs themselves thousands of dollars by delaying getting information on bankruptcy and making decisions that put them in a worse position by taking the wrong actions. My goal with this Free Special Report is to educate the public so that they can hopefully avoid these mistakes and be in a better position to get a fresh start after receiving a bankruptcy discharge.'

Knowledge is power. A consumer can start their education by visiting http://www.martellalaw.com.

By reading the Special Report, a consumer will learn things like: why one should not take money out of a 401K to pay off a car; why one should not borrow from the equity in a home to pay off credit cards; and why one should not do a short sale on investment real estate. This informative Free Special Report is available at http://www.martellalaw.com .

Contact:
Mark Martella, Esq.
mark@martellalaw.com
941-206-3700

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New global report reveals homophobic discrimination and violence is endemic in many countries around the world

- International LGBT2020 Homophobia Report reveals widespread homophobia, violence and harassment of LGBT people in countries all over the world
- Most LGBT people globally are not out at work due to fears of harassment and bullying
- Over half of LGBT people in most countries believe that there are issues of homophobia and transphobia in their own workplace

The Hague, Netherlands (OUTNOW) - May 17, 2013 -- Data released from the world's largest research program into the lives of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people has revealed the extent to which LGBT people suffer harassment, discrimination, refusal of goods and services and violence because of their sexuality.

The LGBT2020 study measures these data on a global scale for the very first time.

 The findings released in conjunction with IDAHO day (The International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia which is held annually on the 17 May, give the clearest picture to date about the widespread levels of harassment and discrimination that LGBT people face on a daily basis in countries right around the world.

The 'Out Now Global LGBT2020 Homophobia Report' http://www.outnowconsulting.com/media/1332/Idaho-discrimination-report-global-V7.pdf  research was conducted by the worldʼs leading LGBT consulting firm Out Now Global as part of the 'Out Now Global LGBT2020 Study'.

This groundbreaking project is the largest global research project into the lives of LGBT people that has ever been undertaken, and to date the LGBT2020 study has collected data in 12 languages from almost 100,000 LGBT respondents in 21 countries around the globe on a variety of topics, include workplace and discrimination issues.



Countries sampled during 2012 for the LGBT2020 research report include: Argentina, Australia, Austria, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Ecuador, France, Germany, India, Ireland, Israel, Japan, Mexico, Netherlands, Peru, Poland, Turkey, United Kingdom, United States, Uruguay. (Those in bold are included in the report released by Out Now for 2013 IDAHO Day.)

The results highlight several key global trends for LGBT people among findings that are relatively consistent across the various countries tested, including the countries in the LGBT2020 study not included in this new report. These data reveal the prevalence of homophobia, which is still endemic and appears to be culturally ingrained in societies globally.



The new 'Out Now Global LGBT2020 Homophobia Report' highlights that discrimination, harassment and violence is occurring to LGBT people because of their sexuality all over the world, and shows that even in the most progressive western countries not everyone who identifies as being either LGB or T is able to be completely 'out' or open about their sexuality either at work, with friends or with family.

The research also reveals that more than 50% of respondents tested believe there are problems of varying degrees of severity for LGBT people in their own workplace. 

While these findings highlight the extent of discrimination and harassment of LGBT people they may only reveal part of the problem.

The research shows that even in a country as socially progressive as the Netherlands for example, the percentage of LGBT people who are able to be out to everyone at work (65%), with family (77%) and with their friends (83%) is not total showing that issues in coming out are real and affect interpersonal relationships across society. This ability to be 'out' drops to just 17% (at work), 21% (with family) and 26% (with friends) in Japan, where cultural norms make it far more 'unacceptable' for LGBT people to be open about their sexuality or gender identity. 



The new LGBT2020 homophobia figures reveal the true lack of visibility for LGBT people in society, particularly in the workplace, where even in a country as reportedly accepting as the Netherlands -  more than one in every three (35%) of all LGBT respondents feel that they are unable to completely be themselves with their colleagues at work. 



This lack of visibility because of reluctance amongst many LGBT people to come out about their sexuality or gender identity is explained by another finding of the research.

There is a very real threat that out and open LGBT people risk harassment, discrimination and violence - both verbal abuse and physical assaults - in the societies in which they live, all over the world due to their sexuality or gender identity. 

The 'Out Now Global LGBT2020 Homophobia Report' shows that there is a particular lack of visibility (known as 'being in the closet') for LGBT people globally which is especially prevalent in certain countries including Japan, Turkey, Mexico, France and Brazil. With fewer visible 'out' LGBT people in these countries the actual levels of homophobia could be far higher than reported as people who feel unable to be out are often adopting this tactic as part of a strategy to minimise homophobic and transphobic incidents against themselves.



There is a strong correlation with how out people are in a particular country in their places of work, with how well they feel LGBT people generally are treated in the workplace, indicating that countries where people are less likely to be out at work are also those countries where LGBT respondents feel LGBT people in the workplace are treated poorly. 

Issues of homophobia and transphobia are not defined by levels of development within nations.

The findings of the new 'Out Now Global LGBT2020 Homophobia Report' show that countries such as the USA, UK, Canada, France and Germany (amongst others) all have significant cultural issues affecting how open LGBT people can be in all levels of society, and respondents from these countries also report worryingly high levels of harassment, violence and discrimination which they suffer because of their sexuality or gender identity.



In the USA for example, 59% of respondents believe that there are issues of concern to them regarding how LGBT people are currently treated while at work, which may go some way to explaining why only 44% of LGBT respondents from the USA are out to everyone in the workplace.Similarly in the UK, only 52% of respondents said that they felt able to be 'out to everyone' at work, and 15% of respondents indicated that they had suffered harassment in the workplace during the past year. 

It appears that no matter where LGBT people live in the world today, too many still run very real daily risks of suffering harassment, bullying, violence and intimidation solely on the basis of their sexual orientation.

Ian Johnson, CEO of Out Now was keen to add context to the research. "The findings of this 'Out Now Global LGBT2020 Homophobia Report' show that we have a long way to go in achieving a society which is truly welcoming and accepting of sexual and gender diversity," Johnson said. "Out Now hopes this data goes some way to helping highlight the very real problems of homophobia and transphobia which many LGBT people encounter every day, in all parts of the world. Of course one of the most important things we say at Out Now is that averages mask diversity. There is no such thing as a 'typical' LGBT person. There are just individuals. At Out Now one of our touchstones is that 'LGBT' spells people. People around the world living diverse lives - yet all having at least one characteristic that unites them - being a member of the minority group within societies known as LGBT".

Joel Bedos from the IDAHO Committee said: "The Out Now Global LGBT2020 Study will no doubt provide renewed momentum for companies to increase their commitment to Human Rights for all, irrespective of sexual orientation and gender identity or expression - not only within their companies, but within the societies at large that they live and work in. By supporting local LGBT advocates who work every day to fight against stigma and discrimination, companies are proving vital in implementing a core component of their broader corporate social responsibility."


REPORT CAN BE DOWNLOADED FREE-OF-CHARGE AT http://www.outnowconsulting.com/media/1332/Idaho-discrimination-report-global-V7.pdf THIS LINK

Media contact:
Darren Cooper, Out Now darren.cooper@OutNowConsulting.com

About Out Now:

http://www.outnowconsulting.com 

Established in 1992, Out Now is the world's leading LGBT marketing organization and has for two decades been relied upon by many of the world's leading brands, organisations and tourism bodies for specialized gay and lesbian marketing insight and expertise. Services include research, training, strategy and communications. Out Now clients include IBM, Toyota, Citibank, German National Tourist Office, TUI, Lufthansa, Berlin Tourism Marketing, Vienna Tourist Board, Visit Manchester, Stockholm Visitors Board and Lloyds TSB Banking Group.

About IDAHO:

http://dayagainsthomophobia.org/about/

The International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia (IDAHO) was created in 2004 to draw the attention of policymakers, opinion leaders, social movements, the public and the media to this issue.It is not one centralised campaign; rather it is a moment that everyone can take advantage of to take action.

The date of May 17th was specifically chosen to commemorate the World Health Organization's decision in 1990 to declassify homosexuality as a mental disorder.

The International Day against Homophobia and Transphobia is now celebrated in more than 100 countries, in all world regions and in places as diverse as Australia, Iran, Cameroon or Albania.

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IOTC member states agreed on important measures for the management of tuna fisheries and other vulnerable species such as white-tip sharks, which are not to be retained and need to be released unharmed if possible, while purse seiners can no longer set around whale sharks and cetaceans.

One very positive outcome was the adoption of a proposal by the Maldives with regard to interim target and reference points, and a framework for management decisions to be taken in response to changes in stock status.

A reference point is a benchmark value that helps managers decide how the fishery is performing and is often based on an indicator such as fishery stock size or the level of fishing. Fisheries scientists conduct a fishery stock assessment to provide estimates of a fishery stock size and fishing mortality over time. Reference points serve as a standard to compare those estimates based on our understanding of the biological characteristics of the targeted species.

"This is an important step towards the implementation of full harvest control rules and paves the way for the development of management tools essential for a sustainable fishery", said Dr Wetjens Dimmlich, Indian Ocean Tuna Coordinator for WWF's Smart Fishing Initiative.

"WWF welcomes the increasing involvement of Indian Ocean coastal developing states in conservation proposals, demonstrating an awareness of the need to responsibly manage tuna fisheries in the region," Dr Dimmlich added.

"Negotiation and successful adoption of the Maldives proposal for the management of tunas in the Indian Ocean is indeed a giant leap forward in the history of IOTC.

"We are now confident and convinced that together we can make IOTC an effective tuna Regional Fisheries Management Organisation", said Dr Hussain R Hassan, the Maldives Minister of State for Fisheries and Agriculture, and head of the Maldives' delegation.

WWF looks forward to continuing work in cooperation with the Maldives Government and other developing coastal states in the region to improve the management and conservation of tuna stocks.

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Pahrump, Nev. -- PETA is urging the Pahrump Regional Planning Commission (RPC) to vote on May 15 to deny notorious animal abuser Mike Casey a permit to keep four chimpanzees and a monkey in Pahrump. PETA's letter comes just a month after Nye County revoked a similar permit from big-cat exhibitor Karl Mitchell. As PETA explains in its letter, after Casey unlawfully kept dangerous animals in Clark County for at least two years without the requisite permit, the county denied his permit application and ordered him to remove the primates permanently. Like Mitchell, Casey has a long history of abusing exotic animals and ignoring the law. At the May 15 meeting, a PETA representative will speak against any move to issue a permit to him.

"Nevada is at last starting to crack down on animal exploiters, and Nye County can continue that progress by denying a permit to a man who has been seen kicking and punching chimpanzees," says PETA Foundation Director of Captive Animal Law Enforcement Delcianna Winders. "PETA hopes Nye County will stand up for animal welfare and public safety by not allowing another animal abuser to set up shop in Pahrump."

According to sworn eyewitness testimony and U.S. Department of Agriculture records, Casey has a history of physically abusing chimpanzees—including kicking and punching them, striking them with wooden rods, and dousing them with hot water—and of confining them in dark and squalid conditions. In its letter, PETA points out that Casey's ownership of exotic animals places his neighbors at risk, as chimpanzees are powerful animals who are known to lash out—particularly when they are abused and denied everything that is natural and important to them. Casey bred and sold Travis, the "pet" chimpanzee who was killed by police after ripping a woman's face off, and Timmy, who was killed after attacking a sheriff's deputy, and Casey even had his own face disfigured in a similar attack. Several chimpanzees have escaped from his properties over the years, including last year, multiple privately owned chimpanzees escaped in Las Vegas, where he had disregarded permit requirements for years.

For more information, please visit PETA.org.

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Life After Debt reached number 1 on Amazon's best seller list in the Finance category with an average 4.4 star review rating.
 
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For More Information
 
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About The Author: Rob is a veteran Financial Consultant with a career spanning over 20 years who has personally helped thousands of clients with debt problems and is the owner of Crown Financial Solutions.

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The move demonstrates that there is growing opposition to Arctic oil drilling amongst the Indigenous communities who will be most affected by the industrialisation of their territories and would feel the first impacts of an oil spill.

"This conference is an indication of where the world is going,' said Bill Erasmus, Dene National Chief and international vice-chair of the Arctic Athabaskan Council, which is a permanent participant at the Arctic Council. 'People are worried about the land, regardless of their backgrounds or professions, and people are getting together because of their concern.' Erasmus said he plans to take this message to the Arctic Council Foreign Minister's meeting on May 15 in Kiruna.

On the eve of the Arctic Council meeting, 70 people from seven Arctic states attended the conference, 'The Peoples' Arctic: Unified for a Better Tomorrow', the second such conference hosted by the Save the Pechora Committee and Greenpeace, meant to connect Indigenous communities from around the Arctic and foster better relationships between Indigenous Peoples and environmental groups.

The Joint Statement of Indigenous Solidarity for Arctic Protection[1] was drafted last August at the first annual Arctic Indigenous Peoples' conference, which was held in Usinsk, Russia. Twenty-two Russian Indigenous representatives and organisations signed on to the declaration at the time, including RAIPON, also a permanent participant on the Arctic Council, as well as an Inuit hunter from Greenland and an organisation from Nigeria. In the months following the conference, the Alaska Inter-Tribal Council and the EU-Russia Civil Society Forum also signed on.

Following two days of presentations on a variety of topics such as the impact of resource extraction and climate change on Indigenous communities, 15 more groups and individuals signed on to the statement, including the Arctic Athabaskan Council, the Dene Nation, the Assembly of First Nations in the Northwest Territories, the Youth Council of Sami Parliament in Sweden, Avataq (the environmental organisation in Greenland), The Indigenous Peoples Secretariat, the mayor of one Alaskan city and several other Indigenous organisations. A full list of signatories and the text of the statement can be found here.

'When the foreign ministers of the Arctic Council meet tomorrow here in Kiruna, it will be in the shadow of this declaration and of these powerful Indigenous Peoples, who have just gathered here to join forces to protect their homelands,' said Kumi Naidoo, executive director of Greenpeace International, who attended the conference. 'With this declaration, the Indigenous Peoples of the Arctic are sending a very clear signal to the Arctic Council to protect the Arctic against dirty oil business, but instead the Council is using its power to issue a toothless oil spill response agreement that isn't worth the paper it's printed on. The Arctic Council needs to stop wasting time and resources on useless documents that do nothing to hold government or industry accountable, go back to its initial mandate of Arctic protection and listen to the original inhabitants of this land."

[1] the full text of the declaration, including the names of the 40 signatories can be found at http://www.greenpeace.org/international/Global/international/publications/polar/2013/IndigenousSolidarityStatement.pdf

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'Fire and building safety are extremely important issues for us and we put a lot of effort and resources within this area. H&M has for many years taken the lead to improve and secure the safety of the workers in the garment industry. With this commitment we can now influence even more in this issue. We hope for a broad coalition of signatures in order for the agreement to work effectively on ground', says Helena Helmersson, Head of Sustainability H&M.

The Accord, designed for a five-year period, is a pragmatic step towards addressing improved fire and building safety in the RMG Industry and will add to H&M's already existing extensive and strict requirements on the suppliers. In order to make an impact and be sustainable it would need a broad coalition of brands and align with Government, Industry Associations and Trade Unions agreed National Action Plan, to reach the whole industry of approximately 5,000 factories. H&M appreciates ILO playing a vital part as coordinator.

H&M plays an active role in improving fire safety in Bangladeshi garment factories. In 2011, H&M introduced an education to increase fire safety awareness amongst suppliers and their employees. Based on a study that was conducted in 2011, the concern of lapsed fire safety licenses was raised with the Government of Bangladesh.

H&M also requires that all the supplier factories conduct electrical assessments in their factories, and H&M has offered to share these costs with them. H&M believes that this work will become an integrated part of the implementation program that follows the Accord.

'Our strong presence in Bangladesh gives us the opportunity to contribute to the improvement of the lives of hundreds of thousands of people and contribute to the community's development. By being on site, put demands on manufacturers and work for continuous improvements, we can slowly but surely contribute to lasting changes', says Helena Helmersson.

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