Sub-Sahara Africa leads global decline in new HIV cases
UNAids said that between 2001 and 2009, new HIV infections in 22 countries in the world’s worst affected region had seen a drop in new cases of more than 25%. The decrease has been credited to a greater awareness and better use of preventative measures.
 
The use of male condoms has also doubled in the past five years and many communities are embracing male circumcision, which research shows has the potential to reduce HIV infections among men by nearly 60%.
 
The report also notes that cases of HIV are increasing in Eastern Europe and Central Asia, and among gay men in developed countries at a rate of 500 new infections a day. Currently there are now 5.2 million people worldwide receiving treatment for HIV/Aids, which has helped to ensure that 200,000 fewer people died from the virus in 2008 than in 2004.
 
Many are worried that a shortfall in the funding for AIDS in 2009 could put further progress at risk. UNAIDS said an estimated $15.9 billion was available for the global AIDS response, which is $10 billion short of the estimated need.
 
UNAIDS recommends national governments allocate between 0.5 percent and 3 percent of government revenue to HIV and AIDS, depending on the prevalence of disease in their country. The report said that while domestic investments in AIDS have increased over the past decade, for a majority of the countries severely affected by the disease, those investments would not be enough to meet their needs
 
1 in 7 people in U.S. living in poverty
According to a report the Census Bureau released Thursday, the U.S. poverty rate soared to 14.3 percent in 2009, its highest level in 15 years — up from 13.2 percent in 2008.
 
The number of people in poverty nationally rose from 39.8 million in 2008 to 43.6 million in 2009 – the most in the 51 years for which poverty figures are available.
 
Meanwhile, the rate of children younger than 18 living in poverty increased from 19.0 percent to 20.7 percent – a jump of 1.4 million to a total of 15.5 million. The child-poverty rate was the highest since 20.8 percent in 1995.
 
The report also showed median household income fell to $49,777 in 2009 from $50,112 in 2008, a drop that the Census Bureau characterized as “not statistically different.”
 
Along with the rise in poverty, the report showed an increase in the ranks of the uninsured. The number of people without health coverage rose from 46.3 million in 2008 to 50.7 million in 2009.
 
The percentage of people covered by private insurance – 63.9 percent – was the lowest since 1987, the first year such data were collected.
 
5 Arrested on Alleged Threat to Pope
Five men have been arrested by anti-terrorism officers from the Metropolitan Police in London under suspicion of preparing an attack against Pope Benedict who is on a state visit to Britain.
 
The arrests follow a warning Thursday night from the head of Britain’s MI5 security service of a potential threat against the pope. The men are Algerian and are in the U.K. illegally.
 
The five men, between the ages of 26 and 50, have been taken to a central London police station as officers were searching a business in central London and homes in the north and east of the city. None of the men have been charged.
 
It is not clear whether the investigations relate to a plot against the pope himself or an element of the visit.
 
Vatican spokesman, Rev. Federico Lombardi, says the pope was informed and is not worried and remained calm. Lombardi says the Vatican has complete trust in the British police and does not consider the situation particularly dangerous.
 
The pope’s visit has drawn criticism in the mostly Protestant, highly secular Britain. His trip is also overshadowed by the Catholic Church’s clerical abuse scandal, as well as the Vatican’s stance on gay rights, abortion and contraception. 
 
The German pope was met by some 125,000 supporters at the start of his visit in Edinburgh, Scotland.  Queen Elizabeth II officially welcomed the pontiff.  This is only the second papal visit to Britain since the Church of England broke away in the 16th century. Pope Benedict is expected to conclude his trip with a beatification mass for 19th century cardinal John Henry Newman.
 
Egyptian newspaper defends doctored photo
A state run newspaper on Friday defended a decision to publish a doctored photograph putting Egypt’s president front and center at Mideast peace talks in Washington, saying it was meant to illustrate Hosni Mubarak’s key role.
 
The original photo shows President Barack Obama in the lead, flanked by the Israeli and Palestinian leaders, Mubarak and Jordan’s King Abdullah II on the red carpet as the talks got under way Sept. 1 in Washington.
 
Al-Ahram, Egypt’s oldest newspaper, altered that image in its Tuesday edition to show Mubarak in the lead, with Obama slightly behind him to his right, plastered over a broadsheet article titled “the Road to Sharm El Sheikh.” That was referring to the Egyptian Red Sea resort that hosted the second round of negotiations, which wrapped up in Jerusalem on Wednesday.
 
Egyptian bloggers and activists said the photo was unprofessional and called it an example of the regime’s deception of its own people. Critics also said the photo was an attempt to distract attention from the fact that Egypt’s role in the Mideast peace process has waned.
 
The newspaper’s editor-in chief, Osama Saraya, lashed out at critics in an editorial Friday, pointing out the original photo was published the day the talks began and the doctored version was only meant to illustrate Egypt’s leading role in the Mideast peace process, not to change the story.
 
Saraya accused critics of launching a smear campaign against Al-Ahram, which was first published in 1876. The newspaper has enjoyed the widest circulation in Egypt but has faced a growing challenge in recent years by a new breed of private publications and the Internet.
 
It is not unusual for Egyptian newspapers to retouch pictures of senior officials to improve their appearance or light.
 
Woman admits acid attack was self-inflicted
A woman gained sympathy from around the world after disclosing her story of an apparent brutal acid attack.  Now, she admits it was self-inflicted.
 
Bethany Storro, 28, told police in Portland, Oregon that just after 7 p.m. on August 30 a black woman with a ponytail had walked up to her, said, “Hey, pretty girl, want something to drink?” and then threw acid in her face. A composite sketch of the assailant was drawn, and police devoted the full resources at their disposal to apprehending the assailant.
 
Her horrific endeavor gained even further attention after she recounted the details of her “attack” at a news conference, whilst covered in bandages, with her parents by her side. Then, not even a week later, in Mesa, Ariz., Storro’s plight seemed to spawn a copycat incident. A female stranger threw acid in the face of 41-year-old Derri Velarde. She was burned severely.
 
After investigating, police discovered a number of discrepancies in her story. The splash pattern of the hydrochloric acid her skin seemed more consistent with rubbing on than being thrown on. She claimed that her eyes were spared because she had on sunglasses, eventually prompting police to question why she was wearing them in the evening. Once pressured by investigators, Storro confessed the injuries were self-inflicted.
 
Vancouver Police Chief Clifford Cook said he did not know Storro’s motive, but added the 28-year-old was “very remorseful.”
 
Subsequently, Bethany Storro now faces charges for filing a false police report and donations made towards her recovery will be returned.
 
 
 
~Nailah Ellis Timberlake

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The Drug Enforcement Administration is seeking to hire Ebonics translators as private contractors to help with undercover drug investigations.

The Center for Applied Linguistics defines Ebonics as, “a dialect used by many African Americans in certain settings and circumstances that contrasts with other dialects in terms of its grammar, pronunciation, and vocabulary.”

The DEA is looking for nine translators who are fluent in Ebonics to help interpret and transcribe wiretapped conversations of suspects under investigation and eventually be able to testify in court regarding the cases.

Special Agent Michael Sanders told reporters that, “the DEA’s position is, it’s a language form we have a need for…it’s a language form that DEA recognizes a need to have someone versed in to conduct investigations.” Sanders added that the translators would work in the agency’s Southeast Region which covers Washington D.C., Georgia, Louisiana, Florida; and the Caribbean.

Ebonics became a hotly debated topic in 1996 when a California school district passed a resolution recognizing Ebonics as the primary language of African American children with the goal of incorporating Ebonics in order to improve academic performance. At the time, critics believed that legitimizing Ebonics would lend to teachers not taking Black students seriously and lead to poor performance from students in urban settings.

Critics worry about the accuracy of an ‘experts; knowledge of a language that isn’t taught in schools and is widely regarded as controversial.

H. Samy Alim, a Stanford linguistics professor who specializes in black language and hip-hop culture, told the Associated Press that the DEA’s request for an Ebonics translator highlights a serious issue. “It seems ironic that schools that are serving and educating black children have not recognized the legitimacy of this language. Yet the authorities and the police are recognizing that this is a language that they don’t understand,” he said. “It really tells us a lot about where we are socially in terms of recognizing African-American speech.”

Sanders said there is nothing “racial” about the job, and described white rapper Eminem as “one of the best speakers of Ebonics there ever was.”

John Braugh, the Chairman of the Linguistic Society of America’s public relations committee told ABC News that,  ”They probably want reliable expertise to make sure they’ve got an accurate interpretation for what is said.” He continued, “Because there’s the perception in many minds that you don’t need a translator, people believe they’ve understood something when they haven’t.”

~Nailah Ellis Timberlake

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During a White House Iftar dinner celebrating Ramadan, President Barack Obama showed his support for a Muslim community center and mosque near ground zero by stating that, “as a citizen, and as the President, I believe that Muslims have the same right to practice their religion as everyone else in this country.”

The proposed $100 million dollar Cordoba House also known as the Park51 proposal, will be a 13 story mosque and Islamic cultural center 2 blocks away from the site of the Sept. 11 attack on the World Trade Center that killed nearly 3,000 people. Daisy Khan, Executive Director of the American Society for Muslim Advancement (ASMA) who founded the project along with her husband, Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf, hopes that it will represent the “voices of American Muslims in and will honor members of other communities who came together in support and collaboration with the Muslim community on September 11 and its aftermath.” She also hopes that the project will fight “Islamophobia” that has become prevalent in the years following the September 11^th attacks. In an interview with the Washington Post, Khan said, “There is too much at stake, constitutional rights, the development of the Muslims here, how the world is watching the United States. We tell people America upholds religious freedom. We should not compromise those values.”

According to White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs, President Obama did not want to “get involved in local decision-making” at first but after much criticism, he decided to weigh in on the debate. He stated, “This is America, and our commitment to religious freedom must be unshakable. The principle that people of all faiths are welcome in this country, and will not be treated differently by their government, is essential to who we are.” He continued, “Al Qaeda’s cause is not Islam — it is a gross distortion of Islam,” and “In fact, Al Qaeda has killed more Muslims than people of any other religion, and that list includes innocent Muslims who were killed on 9/11.”

Governor David Paterson suggested moving the project further away from the trade center site. “My suggestion was that one of those solutions might be to find an area that’s in lower Manhattan that serves the catchment area of the Muslim community that’s growing that they would like to serve and, at the same time, would not be so close to Ground Zero that it seems to offend many people that live there and many people that don’t.” In addition to his suggestion, Governor Patterson went as far as offering state assistance for any relocation. Paterson plans to meet with developers in the following days to talk about the concerns of those still hurt and angry over the Sept. 11 attacks.

Mayor Michael Bloomberg weighed in on the debate after the city’s Landmark Preservation Commission unanimously voted not to extend landmark status to the building on Park Place where the mosque and community center is planned. In a speech, he called it an important a test of the separation of church and state and questioned the idea of government attempting to deny private citizens the right to build a house of worship on private property based on religion and that, “This nation was founded on the principle that the government must never choose between religions, or favor one over another.” He continued, “Let us not forget that Muslims were among those murdered on 9/11 and that our Muslim neighbors grieved with us as New Yorkers and as Americans. We would betray our values – and play into our enemies’ hands – if we were to treat Muslims differently than anyone else.”

Former Mayor Rudy Giuliani who led New Yorkers through the aftermath of the September 11^th attacks, recognized the rights of the Cordoba Initiative to build the Mosque but called on the Imam behind the project to drop it or move it to another location stating, “This project is divisive. This project is creating tremendous pain to people who have already paid the ultimate sacrifice,” on NBC’s “Today” show. He continued, “The reality is that right now, if you are a healer, you do not go forward with this project,” said Giuliani. “If you’re a warrior, you do.”

Many Americans have voiced their disappointed with Obama’s support of the Mosque near Ground Zero. A Gallup Poll released last week found 37% of Americans disapprove of Obama’s comments supporting Muslims’ right to build the mosque whereas 20% approve. The fact that Obama has supposed the initiative has called into question his own religious beliefs. In a Time Magazine poll released this week, 24% of Americans said they think President Obama is a Muslim, an increase since last year. White House spokesman Bill Burton responded by making it clear that President Obama is Christian. “He prays every day. He communicates with his religious adviser every single day. There’s a group of pastors that he takes counsel from on a regular basis.” The fact that Obama has supposed the initiative has called into question his own religious beliefs. As the 9^th anniversary of the September 11^th attacks nears, the national controversy over the Ground Zero Mosque debate will surely continue with Obama certainly feeling the backlash.

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Recently, Supermodel Naomi Campbell went from the Catwalk to the Courtroom to testify in war crimes court in the trial of former Liberian president Charles Taylor, 62, who is accused of funding and enabling rebels during Sierra Leone’s 10 year civil war. As the first African leader to be tried before an international tribunal, Taylor is being accused of supplying weapons to rebels in exchange for rough diamonds, also known as ‘blood diamonds,’ that were mined in the war ravaged country. Taylor is being charged with 11 war crimes including murder, rape, sex enslavement and the recruitment of child soldiers which resulted in the murder of an estimated 150,000 people.

The prosecution hopes to link the diamonds that Campbell received after attending a dinner in honor of South African President Nelson Mandela in Pretoria, South Africa, in 1997 to Taylor who was overheard offering them to her as a gift at the event. Campbell told The Hague tribunal that after dinner, two men knocked on her door and gave her a pouch of what she described as “dirty looking pebbles.” Campbell claims that she didn’t know the stones were valuable or that they were from Taylor. If the prosecution can prove the gift came from Taylor, they’ll prove that he had blood diamonds in his possession, a claim that he vehemently denies.

There has been some contradictory testimony from those who were also in attendance for the dinner. Actress Mia Farrow, testified that the next morning at breakfast, Campbell recounted the events of the previous evening saying that she had been awakened by some men sent by Charles Taylor and they had given her a huge diamond. Farrow’s testimony corroborates a statement given to prosecutors by Campbell’s former agent, Carole White who said the model and the dictator were “mildly flirtatious” at dinner. White said the gift of the diamonds had been discussed over dinner and that Taylor said he would send some men back with the gift for Campbell. White said that Campbell was initially excited to receive the gift but was later disappointed when the diamonds arrived unpolished.

In a statement released last week by Jeremy Ractliffe, the former director of Nelson Mandela’s children’s charity, he confirmed that he received “three small uncut diamonds” from Campbell on Sept. 26, 1997. “I took them because I thought it might well be illegal for her to take uncut diamonds out of the country,” said Ractliffe, “Naomi suggested they could be of some benefit to the Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund, but I told her I would not involve the NMCF in anything that could possibly be illegal.” Ractliffe ended up keeping them and turned them over to the South African police last Thursday.

Charles Taylor was the President of Liberia from 1997 to 2003 where he reigned as a corrupt and brutal leader. He was overthrown and went into exile to Nigeria in 2003, but was later arrested and charged with war crimes and crimes against humanity in Sierra Leon in March 2006. No verdict is expected until 2011.

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Persevering in an ongoing charge to revitalize the Harlem community’s commitment to living healthy lives, the Central Harlem Health Revival (CHHR) will hold its 5th annual Central Harlem Health Revival on Saturday, September 18; Saturday, September 25 and Sunday, September 26. Festivities held at various Harlem locations on these two weekends will include an obesity conference, a youth health conference, a health walk and the annual health festival. All events are free and open to the public. A full schedule of events and submission guidelines for contests and youth programs can be found at www.centralharlemhealthrevival.org.

“Autumn is a time when we tend to fall back into our regular routines. We at CHHR challenge the community this Autumn to fall into a healthier routine. Don’t simply hit the restart button and yield to the automatic pilot. Make a real effort to jump start, or ramp up your commitment to truly making health a habit,” said Patricia Butts, Central Harlem Health Revival Co-Chair. “Dying of preventable diseases in high numbers is not acceptable. We can live healthy and be active, even on a budget. We are inviting the community to come to our events and find out how to live healthy abundant lives and then pass on healthy habits to their children. We can Make Health our Habit,” said Mrs. Butts.

Central Harlem Health Revival events are specifically designed to combat high rates of stroke, pulmonary disease, diabetic complications, cardiovascular disease, HIV/AIDS and the devastating impact these illnesses have on the Harlem community. Over the past five years CHHR has tested over 300 residents and is aiming to test over 500 at this year’s health festival. “CHHR shares in the philosophy that if healthcare is left alone to physicians and other healthcare professionals like myself, it is doomed to fail,” explains Dr. Olajide Williams, Director of the Stroke Initiatives, Harlem Hospital Center and CHHR Co-Chair. “We are all stakeholders. Through CHHR activities such as these being planned, including health screenings and focused health education, communities take responsibility for their health, and join the fight against health disparities,” stated Dr. Williams.

Central Harlem Health Revival 5th Anniversary Festivities

Saturday, September 18
Obesity: It’s a Family Affair (ages 12+)
9:30a.m. – 2:30p.m.
Thurgood Marshall Academy
200 West 135th Street
New York, NY 10030

Obesity: It’s a Family Affair – This day long conference promotes the importance of healthy eating and physical activity. Workshops will give people of all ages tools they can use to make informed decisions on healthy eating and living. The day will also feature The Healthy Harlem Recipe Contest, which will show that healthy food can be tasty and affordable. Highlights will include performances by the winners of The Fat Truth: A Youth Essay, Poster and Spoken Word Contest for youth ages 12 -21, as well as games, workshops, raffles and youth skits. Special guests appearances.

Saturday, September 25
Youth Health Celebration
9:30a.m. – 4:30p.m.
Minisink Townhouse/ NYC Mission Society
646 Lenox Avenue
(at 142nd Street)
New York, NY 10037

Youth Health Celebration – In-depth workshops will expose youth to the realness of diabetes, STDs, stroke, unplanned pregnancy and unhealthy relationships. Forums on sexting, cyber bullying, peer pressure, puberty and hygiene will also be held as CHHR aims to empower the lives of Harlem youth. Community resources offer free information on childcare, college readiness, financial literacy, job training and mentorship. Screenings for HIV, blood pressure, diabetes, cholesterol, and vision will also be provided for youth and parents. Live entertainment, special guests, raffle prizes, refreshments and giveaways will also be included. The event is free and open to the public, but registration is required.
Visit http://chhryouthhealth.eventbrite.com to register.

Sunday, September 26
Health Walk – It’s A Health Thing!
2:00p.m.
Starts at 126th Street and Adam Clayton Powell, Jr., Blvd.

5th Anniversary Health Festival
Festival directly follows walk
Jackie Robinson Park
Entrance at 148th Street and Bradhurst Avenue

Health Walk – It’s A Health Thing! & 5th Anniversary Health Festival– All of the community is invited to the flagship event of the 5th Anniversary festivities, the Health Walk and Health Festival. Registrants of the walk and organizations will walk from 126th Street between Frederick Douglass and Adam Clayton Powell, Jr. Boulevards to Jackie Robinson Park. As participants walk The Ephesus Seventh Day Adventist Starlighters Pathfinder Club Band will lead the walk and play to encourage participants to keep walking towards a healthier lifestyle. (There was to be another band. I’ll check on it today and if so will get the name.) Once walkers arrive at Jackie Robinson Park there will be entertainment, games and free health screenings. For those who want or require it, festival participants can be chaperoned through the festival by specialists called “Patient Navigators.” As Patient Navigators accompany a participant to festival areas they will offer one-on-one information and answer health questions specific to participant’s needs.

About Central Harlem Health Revival
The Central Harlem Health Revival was created in 2006 by The Office of Minority Health of the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene and the Borough of Manhattan Ecumenical Advisory Group (BMEAG) to address the magnitude of the disparity in the quality of the health and health care of Central Harlem residents compared with New York City as a whole. CHHR aims to promote a spiritual renewal in the Harlem community’s commitment to living healthy lives. CHHR partners with houses of worship and community organizations, hospitals, and universities to plan and implement the CHHR Revival at the end of each September, while offering other health-driven activities occurring throughout the year. CHHR revival events are specifically designed to empower community residents to truly manage their health and to combat the high rates of preventable diseases and their devastating impact on the Harlem community.

Co-chairs of Central Harlem Health Revival: Mrs. Patricia Butts, First Lady, Abyssinian Baptist Church; Dr. Kristie Lancaster, Associate Professor of Nutrition, NYU, and member Canaan Baptist Church of Christ; Dr. Olajide Williams, Director of the Stroke Initiatives, Harlem Hospital Center; and Nana Aboagye, Director, Office of Minority Health, NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.

Funded in part by Council Member Inez E. Dickens, 9th Council District, Speaker Christine Quinn and the New York City Council. Central Harlem Health Revival Sponsors: AARP, Abyssinian Baptist Church, Alzheimer’s Association, American Cancer Society, Bioscrip Pharmacy, Canaan Baptist Church, Church of St. Charles Borromeo and the Chapel of the Resurrection Roman Catholic Church, Church of St. Charles Borromeo and the Chapel of the Resurrection Roman Catholic Church Health Promotion Committee, Columbia University School of Nursing, Convent Avenue Baptist Church, Denny Moe’s Superstar Barbershop, Ephesus Seventh-Day Adventist Church, Harlem Health Promotion Center, Harlem Hospital Center, Harlem Hospital’s Walk it Out, Mother AME Zion Church, The Mount Sinai Medical Center, New York City Mission Society, Northern Manhattan Perinatal Partnership, Inc, The City Mission Society, The Healthy Sisterhood Inc., The Helen B. Atkinson Health Center, The ISIAH Project, The New York City Council and The New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene Office of Minority Health, Weight 2 Go and New York Road Runners.

For additional information, visit www.centralharlemhealthrevival.org.

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After a two-year investigation, a four-member bipartisan House investigative panel concluded that Rep. Charles B. Rangel (D-NY) was in violation of ethics rules of the House of Representatives. Rangel’s 40-year legacy is in jeopardy of being tarnished as the scandal of a public trial looms in the horizon.

Charges against Rangel allege that while he was the Chair of the House Ways and Means Committee, he solicited donations from people with business before the committee, and that he improperly used his position to preserve a tax loophole worth more than half a billion dollars benefiting a firm which pledged $1 million towards the Charles B. Rangel Center for Public Service at City College of New York. Rangel also allegedly sent improper letters on congressional letterhead to over 100 foundations, requesting gifts of $30 million for the Rangel Center.

He’s also being accused of failing to pay taxes on rental income for his Caribbean home in the Dominican Republic, as well as receiving four rent stabilized apartments below market value, which he used as his campaign offices. The panel also alleges that he did not properly disclose more than $600,000 in income and assets. In total, Rangel was hit with 13 ethics charges that he vehemently denies.

In the midst of the House ethics committee’s accusations, Rangel is currently seeking a 21st term representing New York’s 15th District in Harlem, with no plans to withdrawal from the race. Many democrats are pushing for Rangel to resign for fear that the scandal will affect their ability to retain their control in the House. The public trial before the House ethics committee is not expected to start until after the September 14^th primary, which may help Rangel win reelection and divert attention away from the scandal as he campaigns in Harlem, but Democrats fear that a public trial in the midst of midterm elections will give Republican opponents fodder to use against them.

Many supporters believe that with 40 years of service, Rangel’s popularity will win him another term. Rangel faces four fairly unknown opponents, including forerunner state assemblyman Adam Clayton Powell IV, who lost to Rangel in 1994, and whose father lost his seat to Rangel back in 1960. The others are Joyce Johnson, Vince Morgan, and Jonathan Tasini.

President Obama weighed in last week, hinting that Rangel may want to avoid a public scandal. “I think Charlie Rangel served a very long time and served his constituents very well, but these allegations are very troubling,” he told CBS, “I’m sure that what he wants is to be able to end his career with dignity. And my hope is that it happens.”

In a written statement prepared by Rangel’s legal team and submitted to the House Committee on Standards of Official Conduct stated, “Congressman Rangel did not dispense any political favors, he did not intentionally violate any law, rule or regulation, and he did not misuse his public office for private gain.” If the bipartisan panel finds Rangel guilty, he could face censure, a fine or even expulsion from the House.

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International female empowerment organization, United Initiatives for Peace (UIP), is returning to Haiti to implement a 8 day summer camp  and enrichment program for 100 girls within the Port Au-Prince area. The camp, “Bel Kan”  which translates to “beautiful camp” in Creole, will be facilitated by 20 qualified volunteers from across the United States and will be directed by UIP founding director Diesa Seidel. “Bel Kan” is sponsored through individual donations, volunteers, UIP fundraisers and Diesa’s “Run for Haiti” (San Diego Marathon) as well as through partnerships with Religious Youth Services (RYS) and The Haitian Academy.  
 
The origins of this venture come from Diesa Seidel’s January 2010 volunteering trip to Haiti. During this experience, she survived the now infamous 7.2 magnitude earthquake that claimed over 300,000 lives and displaced countless others. Diesa has since pledged to host the annual summer camp, Bel Kan, for girls who have suffered in the wake of the catastrophic earthquake.  The camp will offer sports, art, and dance activities as well as life skills and the traditional American favorite camp snack Smores. “Our vision is to create a deeper sense of peace, joy, and stability through a fun and interactive summer camp. Nobel Peace prize winner Albert Schweitzer once said that “beauty will change the world”, and that is our hope for Bel Kan.”
 
About United Initiatives for Peace
United Initiatives for Peace (UIP) is a 501©3 tax exempt global non-profit organization that offers empowerment programs for females through sports (basketball) and the arts. UIP promotes higher education, experiential & creative learning, health & recreation, and community involvement & service work as tools of enrichment to strengthen the lives of young women. For additional information on the United Initiatives for Peace and their efforts, please visitwww.unitedinitiatives.org.

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A fashionable way to give back! QVC, Kelly Ripa, and Kim Kardashian  came together on Saturday, July 31st to increase awareness over ovarian cancer, an  illness that can “disguise itself” without symptoms. Kelly and Kim joined forces for a special PSA which built momentum for a Super Saturday shopping event. The exclusive sale, which was previously only available to Hamptons’ tastemakers and celebrities, reached QVC’s more than 98 million U.S. households, allowing shoppers throughout the country to get designer styles at half the manufacturer’s suggested retail  price, with net proceeds benefitting the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund  (OCRF).

As part of this great cause, Ripa and Kardashian donned disguises and  encouraged fans on Facebook to do the same. Viewers had the opportunity to create a disguise poster and share with their friends. They could also win a trip to NYC to attend a star-studded QVC fashion party, meet and greet the Kardashians as well  as attend the live QVC fashion show!

For more information, visit the following sites:

Shop Super Saturday at QVC:
http://bit.ly/QVCSuperSat

Facebook contest:
http://bit.ly/DisguiseYourself

Video PSA:
http://dai.ly/SuperSaturdayPSA

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“Bed of Fire” is a new movie by independent producer/director Tracy L.F. Worley that debuted and was well-received at the DMV International Film Festival at the Goethe Institut, Washington DC this June.

The 55-minute narrative is described as “a long overdue, hard look at the dangerous consequences of miscellaneous sexual encounters, and placing trust in the wrong people.” The film focuses on the HIV/AIDS epidemic, an issue all too prevalent in the African-American community. The film’s primary goal is to “explore the nonchalance of a sexual society, and its consequences – deception, disease, betrayal, and sometimes death – across sexual orientation.”

African-Americans are 12.8 % of the U.S. population; they also represent 45 % of all people infected each year with HIV. As a sub-section, African-American women represent 66 % of all new HIV cases each year among women; 46 % of gay and bisexual African-American men have contracted HIV, compared to 21 % of Caucasian counterparts. In addition, African-American teenagers make up only 15 % of the U.S. teen population, but they account for 68 % of all new AIDS cases among teens.

The film’s producer and director, Tracey Worley, was an HIV/AIDS counselor in the early ‘90’s, and recalls that at the time, the idea of HIV prevention was a big deal. “Everyone was giving out condoms,” said Worley. “We thought we could fight it, but when you look at it 15 years later, it’s the same or worse. We’ve become immune to the notion of HIV being out there.”

According to a new report presented at the International AIDS Conference by the Center for Disease Control, 2.1 % of heterosexuals living in poor, urban cities in the United States are infected with HIV.

The United Nations considers an overall HIV prevalence of more than 1 % a “generalized epidemic.”

In an interview with reporters, Dr. Jonathan Mermin, director of the CDC’s Division on HIV/AIDS Prevention, stated, “There is nothing biological that has caused African-Americans to have such a disproportionate rate of HIV infection. It’s the social, it’s the economic, it’s the epidemiological environment in which people live.”

Worley, who received her bachelor’s from Syracuse University and a master’s in fine arts and film from Howard University, felt that the subject matter was one that people tend to push aside. “We look at Magic [Johnson] and say ‘oh he’s fine.’ But he has the financial resources to be fine. Medication isn’t as expensive as it used to be, but there’s a segment of the community that doesn’t have the resources to pay for the medicine, so it was important for me to address it the way that I did.”

In a statement released by the CDC, Kevin Fenton, M.D., Ph.D., director of the CDC’s National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention said, “this study reveals a powerful link between poverty and HIV risk, and a widespread HIV epidemic in America’s inner cities. In this country, HIV clearly strikes the economically disadvantaged in a devastating way.”

With a budget of $15,000 and a crew of four people, “Bed of Fire” began production in January 2009, wrapping this past October with the final edit being completed in December. The film was shot in 11 days by Cassandra L. Riddick, with actors and crew who were primarily from Maryland and the District of Columbia; they include Kimberly Roane, Joel Gregory, Shannon Moxley Jones, and Ransom Rellic. Tika Junéja wrote the screenplay, and it was co-directed by Junéja and Derwin Whitehead. Tracy L.F. Worley is also the executive producer.

“’Bed of Fire’ brings a different twist to the story of a love triangle,” says Worley. “There’s a group that’s not thoughtful about their actions and what they’re doing and that’s who we’re trying to address in this movie.”

“The characters in the movie have resources to do something, like take care of their physical health, but they don’t,” Worley states..”They act like they don’t care or that it can’t touch them. That’s who we’re targeting in this film.”

“Bed of Fire” has been entered in various upcoming film festivals and Worley hopes that there is a market for her film in the educational and medical fields. The soundtrack CD, “Bed of Fire”, will be released on Deception Entertainment Records in 2010, and will feature music by the Dreamcatchers, Ransom Rellic, and Kimberly Roane.

For more information go to www.bed-of-fire-the-movie.com.

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NBC Universal’s (NBCU) Kendra Carter, Director of Talent Diversity Initiatives, announced last Thursday that acclaimed actor-comedian Ken Jeong (NBC’s “Community,” “The Hangover”) will be the spokesperson for NBCU’s 2010 “Stand-up for Diversity” comic search and will be the host of the event’s finale showcase.

The national search seeks to find the funniest comics of diverse backgrounds and will be holding open calls in three major U.S. markets. The most promising diverse stand-up comedians will be awarded a talent holding deal with NBCU, along with other opportunities to be announced later this year.

“I’m honored to be a part of ‘Stand-up for Diversity,’” said Jeong. “I’m excited that NBC Universal is making huge strides to further their diversity efforts.”

The highly anticipated talent search begins in New York City on June 28th, followed by auditions in San Antonio on August 1st and San Francisco on September 13th. The search will culminate in Los Angeles with a final industry showcase in early December. The promising showcase will present the entire industry with a first look at the nation’s freshest comedic talent as selected by NBCU.

“NBCU is excited to enter its seventh year of ‘Stand-up for Diversity,’” said Carter. “Through this initiative, comedians have been able to launch new career milestones. Since the inception of the program, many participating comics have gone on to sign with top Hollywood managers, agents, and met with leading casting executives. Top ‘Stand-up for Diversity’ finalists also had the opportunity to perform at the National Association of Campus Activities (NACA) and have booked hundreds of college appearances through NBCU’s established partnership with NACA.”

“Being a finalist of NBC’s ‘Stand-up for Diversity’ definitely opened many doors and presented me with opportunities,” said Ian Edwards, the top finalist of the event’s 2004 launch. Since being named a top finalist of the first-ever NBC diversity showcase, Edwards has made appearances on “Late Night with Conan O’Brian,” “Bad Boys of Comedy,” “Live @ Gotham,” written for the “Boondocks,” Comedy Central’s “Chocolate News,” and also was a cast member on “PUNK’D.”

This year’s “Stand-up for Diversity” tour kicks off in New York City on June 28th with an open call at Comix Comedy Club, located at 353 West 14th Street, where auditions will begin promptly at 10 a.m. The first 100 comedians will have the opportunity to perform a one-minute stand-up set. Based upon their performance, a select group of semi-finalists will have a chance to perform live at the NBCU showcase the following evening where industry executives are invited to attend.

The process will repeat itself in each city, and the audience response will be a factor in determining which comic (or comics) will be selected for the “Best of Stand-up for Diversity” finale in Los Angeles.

Open calls and showcases will be held at the following locations:

NEW YORK CITY
Comix Comedy Club
Auditions: Monday, June 28th (10 a.m.-1 p.m.)
Showcase: Tuesday, June 29th (8 p.m.)

SAN ANTONIO
Laugh Out Loud Comedy Club
Auditions: Sunday, August 1st (10 a.m.- 1 p.m.)
Rivercenter Comedy Club
Showcase: Monday, August 2nd (8 p.m.)

SAN FRANCISCO
The Punchline
Auditions: Monday, September 13th (10 a.m.- 1 p.m.)
Showcase: Tuesday, September 14th (8 p.m.)

Prospective participants and audiences can check for details online at www.standupnbc.com or www.diversecitynbc.com.

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