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Freedom From Religion Foundation complains about Clemson football program

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The nonprofit alleges that coach Dabo Swinney crosses the line by using his position to promote Christianity.

The Freedom From Religion Foundation sent a letter of complaint to Clemson University, citing concerns about how much religious influence coaches have on football players,according to The Greenville News.

According to the foundation, Clemson football coach Dabo Swinney has promoted a culture in the program that violates constitutional stipulations of the separation of church and state.

A spokesman for the athletic department declined to comment on the letter. Cathy Sams, the university's chief public affairs officer, said her department has not completed its review of the letter but said Swinney hasn't forced his religion onto his players.

The foundation does not plan to bring this to litigation, and according to the article, it does not want to infringe on Swinney's rights of religious freedom. However, it wants to ensure that the Clemson players are protected for instance, it wants to make sure that some players aren't given preferential treatment on the basis of religion. It also wants to make sure Swinney's position as head coach doesn't pressure athletes into becoming more religious.

"What we have observed in the records is that the football coaching staff is doing a number of things to promote Christianity to their student-athletes," foundation staff attorney Patrick Elliott said.

...

"What we'd like to see is the end of this chaplaincy position and end to Bible distributions by coaches, an end to devotionals scheduled and put on by coaches and staff. The coaches need to step back and just coach (football) and not coach in religious matters."

Under Swinney, Clemson has had an outwardly religious program,which was discussed in a Chronicle of Higher Education feature last year. According to the piece, there are Bible studies for coaches twice a week, three other devotionals each week and a voluntary chapel for players the night before each game. Star receiver DeAndre Hopkins was baptized in a livestock trough on the 50-yard line after a practice in 2012. Swinney says he is up front about his faith.

Before they ever joined the team, some of them prayed with coaches on the phone during recruiting calls. On recruiting visits, they heard from Mr. Swinney: "I'm a Christian. If you have a problem with that, you don't have to be here."

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Freedom From Religion Foundation complains about Clemson football program

Kenneth Royce (Boston T. Party) interview on the Freedom Feens radio show episode 341 – Video

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Kenneth Royce (Boston T. Party) interview on the Freedom Feens radio show episode 341
The FREEDOM FEENS is Michael W. Dean and Neema Vedadi #39;s fun #39;n #39; feisty radio show about free markets, the digital police state, self-defense, real money, act...

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Kenneth Royce (Boston T. Party) interview on the Freedom Feens radio show episode 341 - Video

Dead Space 3 – Beautiful Scenery in Free Space — X Y Z axis freedom [4K 1080p HD] – Video

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Dead Space 3 - Beautiful Scenery in Free Space -- X Y Z axis freedom [4K 1080p HD]
Can we reach 1 Like? (- -) So happy for ONE b)b Can we reach 1 Comment? (-) Can we reach 500 Subscribers?: http://youtube.com/user/SuperGame...

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Dead Space 3 - Beautiful Scenery in Free Space -- X Y Z axis freedom [4K 1080p HD] - Video

Freedom Industries Releases Spill Site Cleanup Plan

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Remediation Plan

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) -- Freedom Industries has submitted it's remediation plan for the site of the leak that happened in January.

The MCHM and PPH leak into the Elk River led to a no use ban for thousands of West Virginia American Water customers in nine counties.

The plan, developed by Pennsylvania-based Civil & Environmental Consultants, addresses the environmental conditions at the spill site.

According to a press release from the WVDEP, the plan includes a summary of water quality sampling and remedial measures that Freedom Industries has already implemented at the spill site. The plan also provides a schedule of activities, including site characterization and remediation of impacted soils and groundwater, which will begin once tank removal on the property's northern end, where much of the contamination occurred, is complete.

Tank 396, which leaked the chemicals, is located on the northern end of the Freedom site, according to the DEP. Preliminary information has indicated that the primary flow path of the chemicals from Tank 396 was to the north, where a culvert pipe and cobble fill provided the transport mechanism from the secondary containment area to the Elk River.

It is noted in the plan that remedial options described are preliminary and "presumptive" in nature and can change based on information obtained as part of the site characterization. According to the plan, "Despite these variables, it is important to note that the remedial options ultimately selected will be designed to achieve the overall objective of remediating the site to eliminate current and future threats to human health and the environment related to the MCHM release."

Freedom Industries will submit a final remedial investigation report once enough information is available to clearly identify the extent of environmental impacts at the site.

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Freedom Industries Releases Spill Site Cleanup Plan

Algeria: Pre-election clampdown exposes gaping holes in human rights record

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Mounting curbs on freedom of expression in the run-up to Algerias upcoming elections underscore disturbing shortcomings in the countrys overall human rights record, said Amnesty International in a new briefing published today.

Moves to silence critics and quash social unrest are at the forefront of a number of human rights concerns highlighted by the organization ahead of Algerias presidential elections on 17 April, when President Abdelaziz Bouteflika, in power since 1999, is controversially seeking a fourth term. Other challenges include shortcomings in laws that facilitate torture and ill-treatment, and fail to adequately protect women from gender-based violence as well as prevailing impunity for past abuses.

Algerian authorities strategy has been to nip in the bud any attempt to challenge them or their record. With the upcoming elections, they are up scaling the clampdown and showing they will not tolerate public criticism at any level, said Nicola Duckworth, Amnesty Internationals Senior Director of Research.

There appears to be a concerted effort by the Algerian authorities to seize control of the narrative in the run-up to the elections by tightening their stranglehold on freedom of expression. A lack of open debate and restrictions on the right to criticize or protest to express social grievances or political demands cast doubt over the upcoming elections.

Several foreign journalists have yet to be granted visas to cover the elections and international human rights groups such as Amnesty International have been withheld visas to the country for years.

The state of emergency was lifted in Algeria in 2011, yet restrictions continue to be imposed on freedom of expression, association and assembly. Although it is an oil-rich country, social and economic unrest fuelled by corruption, the rising costs of living, high unemployment and lack of access to housing has continued. The Algerian authorities have largely responded to such protests by forcibly dispersing them, as well as harassing and arresting demonstrators and trade union activists.

Despite a ban on demonstrations in Algiers, following an initial crackdown in early March the authorities have not forcibly dispersed peaceful protests in the capital which were held under heavy security.

However, the authorities continue to target Algerians, including journalists who stray from the official, pro-Bouteflika narrative. In one harrowing recent example, the wife of a journalist who had covered opposition protests was assaulted by three individuals in plain clothes believed to be members of the security forces. They reportedly threatened her at gunpoint and demanded that her husband stop criticizing the authorities on Facebook, before scalding her with hot water.

Last month security forces raided Al-Atlas TV, a private TV station which had criticised the authorities in its broadcasts. It was shut down and forced off air on 12 March 2014. Under current laws, only state-sanctioned media are fully licensed, with private channels granted temporary licenses that can be revoked with little warning.

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Algeria: Pre-election clampdown exposes gaping holes in human rights record


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