Patients hospitalized with 2009 H1N1 influenza are evaluated to determine if antiviral drugs will be useful; some patients are not able to take the drugs that are currently available as pills or liquid and may benefit from intravenous antiviral medications.

To help meet the potential need for IV medications to combat the H1N1 virus, HHS ordered 10,000 treatment courses each from BioCryst, Roche and GlaxoSmithKline, totaling $31.5 million. The contracts allow HHS to place additional orders of up to 30,000 treatment courses with each manufacturer over two years. Roche manufactures Tamiflu; GlaxoSmithKline, Relenza, and BioCryst manufactures Peramivir.

Because there are no Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved antiviral medications that can be administered intravenously to treat influenza, the FDA issued an emergency use authorization on Oct. 23 to allow use of intravenous Peramivir, an investigational antiviral drug in the class of drugs known as neuraminidase inhibitors.

The HHS orders for intravenous oseltamivir (Tamiflu) and intravenous zanamivir (Relenza), also neuraminidase inhibitors, are predicated on FDA emergency use authorization for these medications.

FDA has not issued emergency use authorization authorizing the use of intravenous Tamiflu or Relenza. Orders for Tamiflu and Relenza are based on anticipated need of emergency use authorizations for additional IV drugs in the future. Tamiflu and Relenza are FDA-approved in the form of pills or liquid, and studies are ongoing into the use of these two drugs intravenously for hospitalized H1N1 flu patients.

The emergency use authorization for IV Peramivir allowed doctors to prescribe the drug to treat certain adults and children hospitalized with confirmed or suspected 2009 H1N1 infections. Specifically, IV Peramivir is authorized only for hospitalized adult and pediatric patients for whom therapy with an IV drug is clinically appropriate.

To authorize emergency use of any product, the FDA commissioner must determine that in an emergency, based on the totality of scientific evidence available, it is reasonable to believe that the product may be effective in diagnosing, treating, or preventing the serious or life threatening disease or condition; that the known and potential benefits of the product outweigh the known and potential risks of the product in the emergency situation, and that there is no adequate, approved, and available alternative to the product for diagnosing, preventing, or treating such serious or life threatening disease or condition.

The Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) within the HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR) will manage the contracts. BARDA supported the advanced development of IV Peramivir beginning in 2007 as part of a larger HHS initiative to develop promising new influenza medications and vaccines.

For more information on the emergency use of IV Peramivir authorized by FDA, including information for health care providers on patient eligibility, see http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/eua/. Healthcare providers can also call 1-800-CDC-INFO (1-800-232-4636). Additional information about BARDA contracts is available at https://www.medicalcountermeasures.gov/announcements.aspx

— WebWireID107185 —

— WebWireID107137 —

Scamraiders is dedicated to fighting scams and corruption, whether in the courthouse or the corner grocery. Couri's video expose is based on his extensive experience fighting corruption in New York courts.

Couri intends to post at least two videos a week on scams, corruption and related issues. Scamraiders has urged members and viewers to stay tuned for more on these issues, which millions of Americans are faced with daily.

Learn more at www.scamraiders.com.

— WebWireID106989 —

"The 'post' terms, thrown about vigorously by pundits, send out signals that the problems of our society related to gender and race have magically flown away in an unseen balloon," write the editors.

In the Fall 2009 edition, "Race, Feminism, Our Future," editors and writers take on race and feminism, two of the most provocative social, political and cultural topics of our times. The edition is a series of big-picture articles and visionary ideas.

In "Taking on Postracialism," Rinku Sen tackles the idea of postracialism and argues that just because a black man was elected President of the United States doesn't mean racial equality has been achieved. Sen says implementing policies to end racism won't erase it.

"Most Americans don't see racism as a system enabled by rules and structures," writes Sen. "They have no idea that when we lay seemingly race-neutral policies on top of the history of explicitly racist policy, the racial gap remains in place or grows."

To address racism and work toward achieving real racial justice Sen advocates re-framing the postracial discussion.

In "Birthers and Birchers: Hiding Behind Stars and Stripes," Loretta J. Ross makes a link between those who deny Obama's citizenship (birthers) and nativist, racist sympathizers (Birchers, named after members of the John Birch Society.) Ross warns that to ignore the far right allows the further spread of deceitful misinformation.

"We need to build a united human rights movement that won't allow wedge politics to divide us," writes Ross, who is the National Coordinator at SisterSong Women of Color Reproductive Health Collective and a Consulting Editor on this edition of On The Issues Magazine.

Serena Garcia, Communications Coordinator at SisterSong, also consulted on this edition.

In a unique featured artist piece, Faith Ringgold narrates a multimedia slideshow of her story quilt, "How The People Became Color Blind and We Came to America." Ringgold is well known for her vast body of work that often combines painting, quilted fabric and storytelling.

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The five men featured in the video were all held at Guantánamo for years without any meaningful opportunity to challenge their detention. They were denied their due process rights, which might have established the lack of evidence against them much earlier and spared them years of torture, abuse and imprisonment. The men were eventually released, and as they explain in the video, are now attempting to put their lives back together.

"I experienced sadness in a state that I have never had, cruelty in a depth that I'd never seen in my life," Omar Deghayes tells the camera. He had graduated from law school in England and was studying the legal system in Afghanistan when he was captured and sent to Guantánamo for nearly six years. "You will not leave a similar person anymore. You will leave as broken, physically broken, psychologically broken."

Ruhal Ahmed and Shafiq Rasul grew up together in England. They went to Pakistan for a friend's wedding and took a short trip to neighboring Afghanistan where they were captured. It would be two and a half years before they could go home.

"Guantánamo Bay was hell for us," Shafiq says. But Ruhal says their friendship helped them survive the brutal experience: "Anything that happened to me I could relate to somebody that was very close to me. Being friends from a young age – who else would you want in that kind of situation?"

Back home in England, Shafiq and Ruhal say the American leaders who allowed the injustices of Guantánamo should be held accountable. But they do not hold a grudge against the American people.

"The drinks we drink, Coca Cola – it's American. We still drink it," Ruhal says. "We still go to the movies. So we don't hate Americans as American people."

Omar says he feels the same way, but he wants Americans to know exactly what happened at Guantánamo: "I want the people themselves, the people in America, the good people – which I met many of – to realize what ugly things were done to others in their names."

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GENEVA - NEW YORK - A comprehensive action plan that can save up to 5.3 million children from dying of pneumonia by 2015 is being launched today by the WHO and United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF).

Pneumonia is the biggest cause of child deaths in the world, killing 1.8 million children under five years of age every year, more than 98% of which occur in 68 developing countries. In spite of its huge toll, relatively few resources are dedicated to tackling this child killer.

The Global action plan for the prevention and control of pneumonia (GAPP) includes recommendations on what needs to be done, specific goals and targets, and estimates of what it will cost and how many lives will be saved. Its aim is to increase awareness of pneumonia as a major cause of child deaths, and it calls on global and national policy-makers, donor agencies and civil society to take immediate action to implement the plan.

"This action plan provides the strategy to prevent and control pneumonia, which today kills more children than any other illness," said Dr Margaret Chan, Director-General of WHO. "We know the strategy will work, and if it is applied in every high burden country, we will be able to prevent millions of deaths."

"Pneumonia is the leading cause of under age five mortality, killing over 4 000 children every day," said UNICEF Executive Director, Ann M. Veneman. "Effective interventions to reduce deaths caused by pneumonia must be used more widely and made more readily available for children at risk."

The release of the GAPP strategy coincides with the first Global Pneumonia Summit being held in New York City on 2 November.

The GAPP has a three-pronged vision:

* Protecting every child by providing an environment where they are at low risk of pneumonia (with exclusive breastfeeding for six months, adequate nutrition, preventing low-birth-weight, reducing indoor air pollution, and increasing hand washing);
* Preventing children from becoming ill with pneumonia (with vaccination against its causes: measles, pertussis, Streptococcus pneumoniae and Haemophilus influenzae b, as well as preventing and treating HIV in children, and providing zinc for children with diarrhoea);
* Treating children who become ill with pneumonia with the right care and antibiotics (in communities, health centres and hospitals).

The cost of implementing the GAPP by scaling up the recommended measures in the 68 high burden countries is estimated at US$ 39 billion for 2010-2015. The costs are expected to double over the six-year period, rising from an annual need of US$ 3.8 billion in 2010 to US$ 8.0 billion by 2015.

Specific targets and goals to be reached by 2015 under the GAPP strategy are to expand coverage of all relevant vaccines and exclusive breastfeeding rates to 90%, and raise the level of access to appropriate pneumonia case management to 90%. This will lead to a reduction in child pneumonia deaths by 65% and cutting the number of severe pneumonia cases in children by 25%, compared to 2000 levels.

— WebWireID106847 —

National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) is now reviewing details of the 1,990 page House bill, but the early indications are that the legislation is extremely positive on a range of top NAMI concerns.

As the debate over health care reform moves towards its final stages, NAMI will continue to advocate for a bill that meets the needs of individuals and families affected by mental illness NAMI will continue efforts to ensure that expanded health coverage for the uninsured and underinsured integrates equitable benefits for mental illness treatment.

An initial review of the House bill (HR 3962) reveals three key components critical to people living with mental illness:

1. Medicaid expansion for childless adults up to 150% of the federal poverty level (about $16,200 in annual income for individual), including individuals living with serious mental illness who currently do not qualify for Medicaid coverage in their state. These individuals are currently more likely to be uninsured and most likely to be without any health care insurance coverage at all. The House bill would insure access to lifesaving medical care for this vulnerable group.

2. Expanded coverage for the uninsured through the new health insurance "Exchange" would be required to have mental health benefits and cover those benefits at parity. This would expand the 2008 federal parity law into the individual and small group market in many states.

3. New protections for individuals that already have insurance coverage or are at risk of losing coverage. Insurance reforms included in the House bill would ensure that people with mental illness could not be denied health insurance benefits on the basis of a preexisting condition or could not be dropped from existing coverage due to their medical condition.

NAMI is encouraging voters to contact the U.S. House of Representatives and ask their Representative to support the HR 3962, the Affordable Health Care of America Act. Representatives can be reached by calling the Capitol Switchboard at (202) 224-3121.

Learn more by reading NAMI's overall principles for health reform or visit www.nami.org/policy/healthreform for more information.

About NAMI:
The National Alliance on Mental Illness is a non-partisan organization with 1100 state and local affiliates, dedicated to improving the lives of individuals and families affected by mental illness. Dedication, steadfast commitment and unceasing belief in NAMI's mission by grassroots advocates have produced profound changes.

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It's no surprise to Tubbergen traditional fundraising methods are falling short as these methods often rely heavily upon stock market performance. When the donors' investment portfolios are suffering or are in danger of suffering, donors are simply less likely to make charitable contributions. And, charities are painfully aware of this fact.

In these tough economic times, charities are now exploring new methods of fundraising, methods that get results, according to Tubbergen. They are finding these results in the patent-pending giving strategy called 'Immediate Legacy™', Tubbergen explains.

Immediate Legacy™ is one of the many topics that will be discussed at the 'Increasing Charitable Contributions in the Current Economy' workshop being held in Grand Rapids, Michigan, this month. Charities are able to explore ways to expand their budgets and exceed fundraising goals when other organizations are tightening their belt or closing their doors all together.

Charities aren't the only ones that can benefit from the Immediate Legacy™ concept, Tubbergen explains. A charitable supporter who might be able to use the Immediate Legacy™ giving method could give a donation without permanently parting with an asset and still receive a tax deduction. This means if they qualify, the donor isn't giving to charity at their family's expense—their family will be made whole.

'We are very excited that this patent-pending program can create donations even in this tough economic environment,' Tubbergen says.

Charities selected to attend the 'Increasing Charitable Contributions in the Current Economy' workshop will benefit from a strategy-building setting relevant to their unique situation, Tubbergen notes. Leaders and decision makers for non-profit charitable organizations can find out more information on how to attend and possibly receive a complimentary stay in a four star hotel along with round-trip airfare by requesting an application and more details from MNemecek@ImmediateLegacy.com. To request a DVD with additional information feel free to visit www.ImmediateLegacy.com

— WebWireID106760 —

(One of Them: A First Responder's Story by Steven M. Centore; ISBN: 0-9801274-0-8; $16.95; 208 pages; 5½' x 8½'; softcover; Worldwide Association of Disabled Veterans, Inc.)

— WebWireID106475 —

New York, Deutsche Bank's Asset Management division (DeAM) today published research which provides investors with an analysis of climate change policies and assigns a risk rating to 109 countries, states and regions based on key government mandates and supporting policy frameworks. The report, titled "Global Climate Change Policy Tracker: An Investor's Assessment" (Climate Tracker), was produced by DB Climate Change Advisors (DBCCA), DeAM's institutional climate change investment and research business, working with the Columbia Climate Center at the Earth Institute, Columbia University.

The "Climate Tracker" is the first publicly-available analysis of its kind. It incorporates results of a model prepared by Columbia Climate Center researchers that estimates the impacts on carbon emissions of each of 270 major climate policies, and aggregates them at country, regional and global levels. The "Climate Tracker" provides a risk rating of countries and regions based on their relative attractiveness to investors. It is designed to help investors identify the best risk-adjusted returns in climate change investment opportunities around the world.

The "Climate Tracker" is available online at: http://www.dbcca.com/research. Highlights of the research include the following:

* Even if current and select proposed policies were to make their maximum possible impact, emissions in 2020 would still exceed the amount needed to limit the average world temperature increase to 2 degrees C. To meet such a goal, emissions would need to be reduced further, by an amount equivalent to the current annual emissions of the U.S. economy.
* More capital is required to mobilize climate change industries, and more action by government is required to attract capital. Investors are most attracted to countries and regions with comprehensive, integrated government plans that are supported by strong incentives, such as feed-in tariffs.
* Governments must create transparent, long-term, and certain policies to attract capital. While the carbon markets may offer long term solutions, at present investors are driven by on-the-ground mandates and incentives.
* Energy efficiency could help deliver significant reductions in emissions. Since efficiency provides savings in the long-term, it is essential that governments tackle market failures to encourage capital deployment in this area.

"What investors want is Transparency, Longevity and Certainty - "TLC" - in policy regimes to mobilize capital," said Kevin Parker, Global Head of DeAM and member of Deutsche Bank's Group Executive Committee. "Many major emitters such as the US and the UK do not have enough "TLC" in their policy frameworks. Our rankings show that China has a lower risk for climate change investors, as does Germany, but the research also shows that in order to avoid catastrophic climate change, all countries will have to do more to encourage investment."

"Carbon markets may provide policy support to investors in the long term. However, for the foreseeable future, investors will be focused on mandates and incentives," said Mark Fulton, Global Head of Climate Change Investment Research at DeAM. "We believe that appropriately-designed and budgeted feed-in tariffs have demonstrated their ability to deliver scale."

About Deutsche Bank
Deutsche Bank -NYSE: DB- is a leading global investment bank with a strong and profitable private clients franchise. A leader in Germany and Europe, the bank is continuously growing in North America, Asia and key emerging markets. With 78,896 employees in 72 countries, Deutsche Bank competes to be the leading global provider of financial solutions for demanding clients creating exceptional value for its shareholders and people. http://www.db.com/

About Deutsche Asset Management
With approximately $613 billion in assets under management globally (as of 30 March 2009), Deutsche Bank's Asset Management division is one of the world's leading investment management organizations, not just in size, but in quality and breadth of investment products, performance and client service. The Asset Management division provides a broad range of investment management products across the risk/return spectrum.

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This follows a detailed review of Nestlé's palm oil supply chain. Under its policy on Environmental Sustainability, Nestlé has pledged to give preference to suppliers who strive to improve the efficiency and sustainability of their operations and use of resources.

The Company uses palm kernel oil for some of its confectionery and dairy products, but it is not a major raw material used. It also buys processed palm oil and processed oil mixes which often comes from multiple sources. However, Nestlé does not use crude palm oil nor has any direct links to the palm oil plantations and continues to work with suppliers to investigate the traceability of all possible sources of any palm oil used.

Over the last few years, Nestlé has been closely associated with the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO), an international non-profit association founded in 2004 to promote the growth and use of sustainable palm oil. Nestlé has now applied for full corporate membership of the RSPO, strengthening its efforts to find an effective multi-stakeholder solution to combat the environmental threat caused by the planting of palm oil plantations in South East Asia. Indonesia and Malaysia produce almost 90% of global supply of palm oil, and in total, global production is about 42 million tonnes. Nestlé uses 0.7% of the global supply (320,000 tonnes).

Palm oil, which is used in producing household items such as soap and detergent, and even for animal feeding and energy generation, is also used as a material from which biofuels are produced. Nestlé has repeatedly spoken out against the production of such fuels from materials used for food.

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Berlin, Germany, Mastering the most urgent challenges of the 21st century will require close cooperation between the scientific community, governments and business. For this reason, the Max Planck Society and Siemens have invited prominent scientists, policymakers and business leaders from around the world to Berlin to take part in the Future Dialogue conference. The aim of the event, which is being organized in cooperation with The Economist, is to provide answers to the question: How can science, business and governments cooperate to solve the problems caused by climate change, shifting demographics and increasing urbanization?

'What we need above all is knowledge about global connections and changes,' underscores Professor Peter Gruss, President of the Max Planck Society. 'For example, if we don't understand the factors associated with climate change, we won't be able to respond with appropriate policies or technologies. Take today's climate models, for instance. Unlike their predecessors, they are not merely extended weather forecasts. The latest models take into account factors such as the carbon balance of the terrestrial and marine biospheres. Max Planck scientists have made major contributions in this area.' Targeted research expenditures have an enormous impact over the long term, providing tremendous impetus for a country's innovative strength and economic clout. Siemens President and CEO Peter Löscher noted, 'Siemens will play a pioneering role in cooperating with governments and the scientific community to master the tremendous challenges ahead, particularly during times of economic crisis. Whether we're talking about the intelligent energy networks of the future or technologies for environmental and climate protection, healthcare or electromobility, Siemens will accelerate the development and marketing of solutions that address the entire array of challenges.'

At the Future Dialogue conference, leading scientists and political and economic decision-makers will join a select international audience to discuss current constraints to cooperation between the scientific community, business and governments. During various panel sessions, participants will explore new ways to foster cooperation and consider what kind of framework governments and society must provide to facilitate this process. More than 300 senior business leaders, scientists and policymakers are expected to participate, including Dennis L. Meadows, co-author of The Limits to Growth; Joschka Fischer, Germany's former Minister of Foreign Affairs; Lord Nicholas Stern, who examines climate change from an economic point of view; Khaled Awad, Director of Masdar City, a planned 'zero-emissions' city; and U.S. star architect and urban planner Daniel Libeskind. The opening address will be delivered by Meadows, who is also from the U.S.

The event will be a forum for discussing crucial issues such as global warming, the provision of improved healthcare worldwide and increasing urbanization. As Peter Gruss notes, 'Independent basic research is the indispensible cornerstone for the development of innovative solutions – because truly new products and processes cannot be generated from old knowledge. More in-depth knowledge and a better understanding of the processes of nature are the foundation for future innovations. For example, if we understand how plants adapt to unfavorable environmental conditions such as overly saline soils or droughts, we can apply our knowledge of these characteristics to crops, helping safeguard food supplies for the nine billion people who will inhabit the earth in the future.'

However, if innovative approaches are to be turned into reality. a positive awareness must be cultivated in society. How can the ongoing support of governments and the general public be secured as we tackle the challenges ahead? This is one of the questions that will be addressed at the conference during three parallel sessions in the afternoon. Sustainable success can be achieved only if society, the scientific community and high-level policymakers all support innovation – and its translation into marketable solutions. As Siemens CEO Löscher remarked, 'The international cooperation during the financial and economic crisis has impressively demonstrated the global community's capacity for concerted action when addressing a major challenge. We must make every effort to follow this encouraging example of worldwide cooperation among representatives of business, science and government as we join forces to overcome the tremendous challenges ahead. Fundamental research and its translation into innovative, marketable technologies and products must go hand-in-hand,' stated Löscher. There are already impressive examples of how scientists, business leaders and policymakers can cooperate to help turn innovations into marketable products. That's why the various discussion forums at the Future Dialogue conference will focus not only on analyzing the status quo but also on providing realistic, forward-looking answers to the most urgent questions of the 21stcentury.

The Max Planck Society (MPG) is Germany's most renowned research organisation. It was founded in 1948 as the successor organisation to the Kaiser Wilhelm Society, which had been in existence since 1911. Today, the Max Planck Society operates 80 institutes and research facilities, as well as 54 graduate schools in cooperation with universities. More than 20,400 people work and carry out research at the Max Planck Society, including 4,900 scientists. Every year, 12,000 junior scientists and guest scientific researchers contribute to the work of the institutes. Max Planck Institutes are regarded as among the best research institutes worldwide because they produce internationally outstanding fundamental research and also excellent scientists - and both with an efficient use of resources. The Max Planck Society's budget for 2009 amounts to €1.3 billion. Further information can be found on the Max Planck Society's website at www.mpg.de.

Siemens AG(Berlin and Munich) is a global powerhouse in electronics and electrical engineering, operating in the industry, energy and healthcare sectors. The company has around 430,000 employees (in continuing operations) working to develop and manufacture products, design and install complex systems and projects, and tailor a wide range of solutions for individual requirements. For over 160 years, Siemens has stood for technical achievements, innovation, quality, reliability and internationality. In fiscal 2008, Siemens had revenue of €77.3 billion and a net income of €5.9 billion (IFRS). Further information is available on the Internet at: www.siemens.com.

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'Thousands of women and their families are impacted by breast cancer,' Secretary Sebelius said. 'We are fighting for health reform that will help improve treatment for women with breast cancer and doing all we can to encourage women to take the simple steps that can help prevent this disease.'

The new report highlights the problems in the health care status quo that significantly impact women who are diagnosed with breast cancer or are breast cancer survivors. The report notes:

* Breast cancer is the second leading type of cancer among women. The disease will affect one in eight American women during their lifetime, with treatment costs totaling $7 Billion in 2007.
* Breast cancer patients with employer-based insurance had total out-of-pocket costs averaging $6,250 in 2007, higher than out-of-pocket spending for patients with asthma, diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), or high blood pressure.
* Breast cancer patients, even when in remission, are unlikely to find meaningful insurance coverage in the individual insurance market. A full 11 percent of individuals with any cancer said they could not obtain health coverage in the individual insurance market.

'Today, breast cancer patients incur thousands of dollars in debt, and breast cancer survivors struggle to get the affordable care they need,' Sebelius added. 'Health insurance reform will bring costs down, make care more affordable and prevent insurance companies from discriminating against breast cancer survivors.'

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To learn more and find ways you can take action to support mental health funding, visit NAMI at: http://www.nami.org/template.cfm?Section=Top_Story&template=/ContentManagement/ContentDisplay.cfm&ContentID=88095&lstid=809
About NAMI:
The National Alliance on Mental Illness is a non-partisan organization with 1100 state and local affiliates, dedicated to improving the lives of individuals and families affected by mental illness. Dedication, steadfast commitment and unceasing belief in NAMI's mission by grassroots advocates have produced profound changes.
Additional Web Resources:
The National Alliance on Mental Illness: http://www.nami.org/
NAMIWalks: http://www.nami.org/walks
NAMI Advocate Magazine – talk with President Obama: http://www.nami.org/obama

— WebWireID106381 —

According to the World Trade Center Medical Working Group of New York City's 2009 Annual Report on 9/11 Health, long-term medical and mental health problems continue to rise in the terrorist attack victims. The report also underscores the urgent need for increased special federal funding for medical services and additional research. [http://home.nyc.gov/html/om/pdf/2009/pr418-09_report.pdf]

'It's critically important to sickened 9/11 heroes and heroines that they are not forgotten as the majority of them still don't have the proper health care and struggle with medical insurance companies,' says Steven M. Centore, author of One of Them: A First Responder's Story.

Centore, who is a 9/11 first responder, a federal employee and a Navy veteran, details his own battles with medical insurance companies and the federal government in his book—battles that have made his many 9/11-related health problems all the more painful to deal with.

Mayor Michael Bloomberg released the Annual Report on 9/11 Health, which was based on recent medical and environmental research.

'We will do whatever is needed to take care of those who came to our aid after the city's darkest day,' said Mayor Bloomberg.

Appointed by the mayor two years ago, The World Trade Center Medical Working Group is comprised of health experts in the fields of science, medicine and government. Its aim is to examine and analyze research findings on health impacts caused by the September 11 attack.

'It's eight years after the attack and 9/11 victims continue to fight for the government's attention and help,' adds Mr. Centore. 'They put their own health, their own lives and the futures of their families on the line when the nation needed them, and they deserve respect for their sacrifices.'

Mr. Centore has appeared at congressional hearings to fight for the rights of the thousands of first responders. In his book he details his own personal account of his experience at Ground Zero on 9/11.

To learn more about how you can help or to buy the nationally acclaimed book One of Them: A First Responder's Story, visit www.SteveCentore.com or www.wadv-oneofthem.com. The book is also available on Borders.com, Target.com, Amazon.com and BarnesandNoble.com.

For more information about One of Them: A First Responder's Story, contact Steven M. Centore directly at Scentore@yahoo.com.

WORLDWIDE ASSOCIATION OF DISABLED VETERANS, INC. and author Steven M. Centore chose Arbor Books, Inc. (www.ArborBooks.com) to design and promote One of Them: A First Responder's Story. Arbor Books is an internationally renowned, full-service book design, ghostwriting and marketing firm.

— WebWireID106305 —

The letter calls on the Department of Justice to reconsider Mr. Birkenfeld's case and 'take action to prevent one of the worst setbacks in international law enforcement history.'

The letter, linked here, states in part:

As estimated by the U.S. Senate Subcommittee on Permanent Investigations, $5-7 trillion dollars in U.S. 'taxpayer' assets are hidden in offshore accounts. Annually, the treasury loses over $100 billion in revenue due to these illegal accounts. These accounts provide sanctuary for the worst criminal elements in our society. They are safe havens for people who profit from selling heroin in our inner cities or who bribe our elected leaders. As recognized under international treaties signed by the United States, bank secrecy is the handmaiden of corruption. These international treaties recognize that corruption undermines the rule of law and threatens human rights around the world

Denying Mr. Birkenfeld whistleblower status, and sending him off to a long prison term, radically undermines the ability of the U.S. government to detect, prosecute and prevent illegal off-shore banking practices. Without exaggeration, on the day Mr. Birkenfeld enters a federal penitentiary, every criminal using offshore secret banks to hide their ill-gotten gain will celebrate. The Department of Justice will, unintentionally, be party to a well-publicized worldwide event that will send a chill down the spine of any international banker who, like Mr. Birkenfeld, feels guilty about the practices they participate in and wants to help stop these insidious practices that undermine the rule of law.

Will the Department of Justice imprison the international banker who had the courage to voluntarily step forward and blow the whistle on one of the world's most powerful corporations? Or will the Department of Justice use the Bradley Birkenfeld case as an historic opportunity to promote whistleblowing in the fight against corrupt international banks?

In urging the Attorney General to conduct this review, the public interest leaders stated the following:

Lindsey M. Williams, Advocacy Director, National Whistleblowers Center 'This case is about more than just Mr. Birkenfeld – it is about every international banker with critical information about the thousands of secret offshore bank accounts held by rich and powerful Americans who are illegally hiding their income. Putting Mr. Birkenfeld in jail serves no purpose and undermines anti-corruption efforts.'

Jesselyn Radack, Homeland Security Director, Government Accountability Project 'Birkenfeld gave the Justice Department its entire historic case against UBS on a silver platter. It thanked him by letting all the Swiss bad actors go free and prosecuting the whistleblower (Birkenfeld) -- an American.

Danielle Brian, Executive Director, Project on Government Oversight: "This case sends a clear message to those considering reporting wrongdoing to DOJ: don't bother. "

***

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:

Lindsey M. Williams
National Whistleblowers Center
(202) 342-1903
lmw@whistleblowers.org

Dylan Blaylock
Government Accountability Project
(202) 457-0034 ext. 137
dylanb@whistleblower.org

Jake Wiens
Project On Government Oversight
(202) 347-1122
jwiens@pogo.org

— WebWireID106285 —

Experts estimate that as many as 1.5 to 4 million LGBT individuals are age 60 and older. Agencies that provide services to older individuals may be unfamiliar or uncomfortable with the needs of this group of individuals. The new Resource Center for LGBT Elders will provide information, assistance and resources for both LGBT organizations and mainstream aging services providers at the state and community level to assist them in the development and provision of culturally sensitive supports and services. The LGBT Center will also be available to educate the LGBT community about the importance of planning ahead for future long term care needs.

The LGBT Resource Center will help community-based organizations understand the unique needs and concerns of older LGBT individuals and assist them in implementing programs for local service providers, including providing help to LGBT caregivers who are providing care for an older partner with health or other challenges.

The Administration on Aging will award a single Resource Center grant at approximately $250,000 per year, pending availability of funds. Eligible entities will include public-private nonprofit organizations with experience working on LGBT issues on a national level. The funding announcement for the Resource Center will be made available on the following website very soon. http://www.aoa.gov/AoARoot/Grants/Funding/index.aspx

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WASHINGTON, DC - GENEVA - Reversing a downward trend, immunization rates are now at their highest ever and vaccine development worldwide is booming, according to a new assessment released today by the World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF and the World Bank.

The State of the World's Vaccines and Immunization reports that more infants are being immunized today than ever before - a record 106 million in 2008 - according to new data. At the same time, its authors are calling on donor nations to address a funding gap that leaves millions of children still at risk, particularly in the poorest nations and communities, where preventable diseases take their deadliest toll.

The release of new evidence of success in the overall global immunization effort takes place just as many nations are conducting pandemic influenza A (H1N1) immunization campaigns, underscoring the unparalleled role of vaccines in preventing communicable diseases and the challenges of reaching the most vulnerable communities.

"The influenza pandemic draws attention to the promise and dynamism of vaccine development today," said Dr Margaret Chan, Director-General, WHO. 'Yet it reminds us once again of the obstacles to bringing the benefits of science to people in the poorest nations. We must overcome the divide that separates rich from poor - between those who get life-saving vaccines, and those who don't."

Leading officials from international agencies warn that life-saving vaccines, now common in wealthy countries, still do not reach an estimated 24 million children who are most at risk. At least an additional US$ 1 billion per year will be needed to ensure that new and existing vaccines will be delivered to all children in the 72 poorest countries.

"Worldwide measles deaths fell by 74% between 2000 and 2007, and vaccinations played an important part in that decline," said Ann M. Veneman, Executive Director, UNICEF. 'Such progress must inspire new efforts to immunize children around the globe against life-threatening diseases."

The report states that the reversal of the downward trend was in great part due to the efforts of developing countries, who made good use of support from the GAVI Alliance - a vaccine-financing partnership that includes WHO, UNICEF, the World Bank and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Since 2000, this has increased the introduction of new and underused vaccines, which now reach more than 200 million children in developing countries.

Experts report that at least 120 vaccines - a record number - are now available against deadly diseases. Over the last few years, scientists in academia and at pharmaceutical companies, many in public-private partnerships created with support from governments and philanthropy, have developed new life-saving vaccines for meningococcal meningitis, rotavirus diarrhoea, pneumococcal disease, and human papillomavirus (HPV). In addition, over 80 new products are in late-stage clinical testing, including more than 30 that target diseases for which no vaccine currently exists. At the same time, a significant number of vaccine candidates, including ones targeting diseases such as HIV/AIDS, malaria, tuberculosis and dengue, are moving through the research pipeline.

The report also notes that the global vaccine market has tripled over the last eight years, reaching more than US$17 billion in revenue. Rising demand for vaccines via United Nations procuring agencies and a renaissance in vaccine discovery and development have fueled industry's renewed focus on vaccines. Significantly, manufacturers in developing countries are now meeting 86 % of the global demand for traditional vaccines, such as those protecting against measles, whooping cough (pertussis), tetanus and diphtheria.

"We have seen a dramatic turnaround in the availability of vaccines in even the poorest countries," said Graeme Wheeler, Managing Director, World Bank Group. "Yet the international community, together with the countries themselves must ensure that new and existing technologies actually reach the most vulnerable populations, especially children."

The cost of delivering vaccines to those that need them is increasingly an issue that is only partially solved by financing partnerships such as GAVI. Middle income countries are not eligible for GAVI assistance, yet they are home to 30 million children and 2 billion people, a large number of whom live on less than US $2 a day. Even at greatly reduced prices, the cost of new vaccines for pneumococcal disease, rotavirus diarrhoea and HPV are individually greater than the cost of all other traditional vaccines combined.

"Vaccines are an incredible tool to control disease in all countries and are still a very smart buy in health and economic terms," said Dr Fred Were, National Chairman of the Kenya Paediatric Association. 'Practicing in my country, we still unfortunately see a lot of illness and death from vaccine-preventable diseases. If this can be reduced we will have more resources and time to focus on other health issues."

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Geneva, Switzerland, The World Economic Forum today launches the Davos Debates in India to coincide with its India Economic Summit, held in New Delhi on 8-10 November. The Forum invites the global community to share its thoughts on whether India can harness its huge potential effectively at http://youtube.com/davos. Internet users should answer the following question: Can India become a superpower?

To gather different perspectives, a street survey in collaboration with one of India's leading broadcasters will capture viewpoints from the general public in the coming weeks. During the Summit, a dedicated video corner will allow more than 700 industry, government and thought leaders to reply to the videos submitted by the YouTube community. The best videos will become part of the discussions at the 2009 India Economic Summit.

Under the theme, 'India's Next Generation of Growth', the World Economic Forum celebrates 25 years of collaboration and active engagement in India. As a result of over two decades of close partnership with India, the annual India Economic Summit is regarded as the most effective platform for formulating an agenda to further India's growth.

The plenary sessions at the India Economic Summit will be streamed live on Livestream, and key quotes from the sessions will be tweeted live on the Forum's Twitter stream, allowing a worldwide audience to follow the discussions.

Launched at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2008 in Davos, Switzerland, the Davos Debates on YouTube have engaged world leaders such as Kofi Annan, Secretary-General, United Nations (1997-2006); Shimon Peres, President of Israel; Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Prime Minister of Turkey; Henry Kissinger and Mohammad Yunus, among many others, to reply directly to the YouTube community. In January 2009, 24-year old Colombian student Pablo Camacho was chosen for the best video entry and was invited, all expenses paid, to the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2009 in Davos-Klosters, Switzerland, as a citizen reporter.

The Forum has hosted similar Davos Debates at its regional meetings in South Africa, Jordan and South Korea, with the notable participation of South African President Jacob Zuma and H.M. Queen Rania Al Abdullah of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan.

Note to Editors:

For information on the Summit go to the Forum's website: http://www.weforum.org/india2009
Key sessions will be streamed live on Livestream http://livestream.com/worldeconomicforum
Videos of the plenary sessions will be also available on YouTube http://www.youtube.com/worldeconomicforum#p/a
All Press Releases are at http://www.weforum.org/pressreleases
Watch webcasts from India: http://www.weforum.org/india2009/webcasts
Join the Davos Debates in India (link http://youtube.com/davos)
Download free high-resolution photos from Flickr: http://www.weforum.org/india2009/photos
Follow the Forum on Twitter http://twitter.com/davos
Twitter users should use the hashtag #India09 for all tweets about the event. The short URL is http://tr.im/India09
The official host broadcasters for the India Economic Summit are New Delhi Television (NDTV)

The World Economic Forum is an independent international organization committed to improving the state of the world by engaging leaders in partnerships to shape global, regional and industry agendas.

Incorporated as a foundation in 1971, and based in Geneva, Switzerland, the World Economic Forum is impartial and not-for-profit; it is tied to no political, partisan or national interests (http://www.weforum.org)

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The IOC now has the possibility to attend all UN General Assembly meetings, where it can take the floor and thus promote sport at a new level. The list of UN observers is exclusive and features states, intergovernmental organisations and independent and non-governmental bodies, for instance, the International Committee of the Red Cross.

'This is a huge recognition of the role sport can play in contributing to a better and more peaceful world', said IOC President Jacques Rogge. 'The Olympic values clearly match the UN's philosophy. Today's decision further strengthens the partnership between the IOC and the UN system' he added. The IOC already works with a wide array of UN specialised agencies and organisations around the world to benefit young people and communities.

Rogge thanked Mario Pescante, IOC Vice-President and Chairman of the IOC International Relations Commission, who, through the Italian government, was instrumental in putting the proposal for an IOC observer seat on the table. On behalf of the IOC President, Mario Pescante was on the spot in New York today, where he was joined by IOC members Anita DeFrantz and HSH Prince Albert II, Sovereign Prince of Monaco, who, as Head of the Monegasque delegation at the UN General Assembly, took the floor and said: 'In inviting the International Olympic Committee to take part in its work, the General Assembly recognises the symbol of a Movement that defends an ideal of human progress and promotes a peaceful society and one which is concerned with preserving human dignity.'

The UN General Assembly today also adopted the Olympic Truce Resolution for the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Games, which will take place from 12 to 28 February and from 12 to 21 March 2010 respectively. Through this Resolution, the UN invites its member States to observe and promote peace before, during and after the Games in order to protect the interests of athletes and sport in general, and to contribute, through sport, to the search for peaceful and diplomatic solutions to the world's conflicts.

Entitled 'Building a peaceful and better world through sport and the Olympic ideal', the Resolution was introduced by Canada on behalf of the IOC. The document also refers to the Youth Olympic Games which will take place for the first time from 14 to 26 August 2010 in Singapore, and which aim to inspire young people around the world to participate in sport and adopt and live by the Olympic values.

IOC President Jacques Rogge said: 'The widespread support for this resolution speaks not only for its symbolic value, but also for its practical potential. Today the IOC and its member organisations undertake various initiatives at the local, national, regional and world levels to promote and strengthen a culture of peace based on the spirit of the Olympic Truce - often in collaboration with UN agencies and other partners'.

A great example for a local project is the grassroots programme recently created by the Vancouver organisers (VANOC), which aims to extend the Olympic values of friendship and respect through an open invitation to 'Make Your Peace'. Initiatives will encourage individuals to create everyday peace at home, schools, work, and in the community, based on the belief that lasting peace starts at the local level.

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