U.S. Agency releases Annual Report Rome, May 03, 2013 (Zenit.org) Father John Flynn, LC | 0 hits

On Tuesday the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) released its 2013 annual report.

The state of international religious freedom is increasingly dire due to the presence of forces that fuel instability. These forces include the rise of violent religious extremism coupled with the actions and inactions of governments, stated Dr. Katrina Lantos Swett, USCIRFs Chair, on releasing the report.

The 2013 Annual Report recommends that the Secretary of State re-designate the following eight nations as countries of particular concern or CPCs: Burma, China, Eritrea, Iran, North Korea, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, and Uzbekistan. USCIRF finds that seven other countries meet the CPC threshold and should be so designated: Egypt, Iraq, Nigeria, Pakistan Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Vietnam, the report explained.

The report covers the year ending on January 31, 2013. It noted that the State Department has issued waivers for Saudi Arabia and Uzbekistan, thereby omitting any measures against those countries for their violations of religious freedom.

Moreover, there have been no new presidential actions, CPC designations, and the State Department has relied on pre-existing sanctions, the report stated.

Turning to some of the countries with particularly egregious violations of religious freedom USCIRF commented that with regard to Burma and the political reforms that have taken place, so far there is little progress in matters of faith. There continue to be severe restrictions on religious worship and education and religious groups still face many obstacles in their activities.

In China, the report commented that the government continues to perpetrate particularly severe violations of the freedom of thought, conscience, and religion or belief.

Ongoing violations

Egypt, Eritrea, and Iran also continue to severely violate religious freedom. Regarding Iran the report said that: The government of Iran continues to engage in systematic, ongoing, and egregious violations of religious freedom, including prolonged detention, torture, and executions based primarily or entirely upon the religion of the accused.

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The State of Religious Freedom

MOSCOW, May 3 (UPI) -- Russia ranked low in three media watchdog evaluations released Friday to mark World Press Freedom Day.

Reporters Without Borders, based in Paris, placed Russian President Vladimir Putin on the Predators of Freedom of Information index.

The report called the president a "control freak," who oppresses the country's grassroots movement behind anti-Kremlin protests, RIA Novosti reported. On the list with Putin are Chinese President Xi Jinping, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, Iran's Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the Italian Mafia and the head of Chechnya, Ramzan Kadyrov.

The Impunity Index by New York's Committee to Protect Journalists ranked Russia ninth.

The report criticized Russia for having 14 unsolved journalist murders since 2003. It gave praise to Russia, though, for "a general decline in deadly anti-press violence and a handful of partly successful prosecutions in journalist murders."

Russia moved from 176th to 197th on the Freedom of the Press ratings by Freedom House, a non-governmental organization in the United States. The report included Russia in the "non-free" group of countries for its control of television channels and regulations on NGOs and slander in the media.

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Russia does poorly in freedom-of-press rankings

TUCSON, Ariz., May 2, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --SynCardia Systems, Inc. (www.syncardia.com), manufacturer of the world's first and only FDA, Health Canada and CE (Europe) approved Total Artificial Heart, announced today that its Freedom portable driver, the world's first wearable power supply for the SynCardia temporary Total Artificial Heart, was named the 2013 Silver Winner amongst Assistive Devices in the Science/Medical category of the Edison Awards on April 25 in Chicago.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130502/LA06150)

"The awards demonstrate the incredible range and pace of innovation globally and across a wide variety of industries," said Frank Bonafilia, executive director of the Edison Awards. "It is important that such excellence in innovation be widely recognized and done so in the spirit of the world's greatest inventor."

Weighing 13.5 pounds, the Freedom portable driver allows stable Total Artificial Heart patients who meet discharge criteria to wait for a matching donor heart at home and in their communities instead of in the hospital. To date, the Freedom portable driver has supported 130 patients worldwide, accounting for more than 55 patient years of support.

The Edison Awards have been recognizing and honoring the best in innovations and innovators since 1987. The awards honor game-changing innovations that are at the forefront of new product and service development, marketing and human-centered design, and are one of the highest accolades a company can receive in the name of successful innovation.

Winners were judged by a panel of more than 3,000 peers, including business executives, past winners, academics and leaders in the fields of product development, design, engineering, science and medicine. Sponsors of the 2013 Edison Awards included Nielsen, Discovery Communications, McAndrews Held & Malloy, Science Channel and USA Today.

The Freedom portable driver is CE approved for use in Europe and undergoing an FDA-approved Investigational Device Exemption (IDE) clinical study in the U.S.

CAUTION The Freedom portable driver is an investigational device, limited by United States law to investigational use.

About the SynCardia temporary Total Artificial HeartSynCardia Systems, Inc. (Tucson, AZ) is the privately-held manufacturer of the world's first and only FDA, Health Canada and CE approved Total Artificial Heart. Originally used as a permanent replacement heart, the SynCardia Total Artificial Heart is currently approved as a bridge to transplant for people suffering from end-stage heart failure affecting both sides of the heart (biventricular failure). There have been more than 1,100 implants of the Total Artificial Heart, accounting for more than 300 patient years of life.

Similar to a heart transplant, the SynCardia Total Artificial Heart replaces both failing heart ventricles and the four heart valves, eliminating the symptoms and source of end-stage biventricular failure. Unlike a donor heart, the Total Artificial Heart is immediately available at SynCardia Certified Centers. It is the only device that provides immediate, safe blood flow of up to 9.5 liters per minute through each ventricle. This high volume of safe blood flow helps speed the recovery of vital organs, helping make the patient a better transplant candidate.

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SynCardia's Freedom® Portable Driver Selected as Silver Winner at Edison Awards

3 May 2013 Last updated at 03:14 ET

World Press Freedom Day celebrates its 20th anniversary on Friday. It was first officially proclaimed during the UN General Assembly in 1993.

The theme for 2013 is Safe to Speak: Securing Freedom of Expression in All Media, a focus that includes securing a free and open internet.

Here bloggers from across the globe reflect on their work in the light of press freedom day.

Juanita Leon is a journalist and writer who blogs for the news website she founded - La Silla Vacia (The Empty Chair).

I have a blog about politics in Colombia. I blog because I like the freedom provided by the internet to investigate and write what you find, without having to work for someone else.

In many areas of Colombia press freedom is still just an aspiration

I care about public issues in Colombia, and specifically how power is exercised. Why? Because I think that part of having power in Colombia means that you can choose what is said about you - and what is kept secret. I want to break that.

We haven't really found a commercial business model for bloggers in Colombia yet, and still depend in great part on international co-operation. But we feel we have had the freedom to tell everything we know, which is great.

I wouldn't say that it is a privilege that every Colombian has. In Bogota we are a lot more protected. In many areas of Colombia still under the control of illegal groups or under the intimidation of corrupt politicians or armed officials, press freedom is still just an aspiration.

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Bloggers on World Press Freedom Day

Punnany Massif: Szabadon (Na-Na-Na) / Freedom song (Na-Na-Na) Official Sziget Festival Anthem
5-12. August, Budapest http://www.sziget.hu http://www.szigetfestival.com http://facebook.com/SzigetFestival.

By: szigetofficial

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Punnany Massif: Szabadon (Na-Na-Na) / Freedom song (Na-Na-Na) Official Sziget Festival Anthem - Video

A leading Australian journalism law professor and freedom of the press advocate will give New Zealands inaugural UNESCO World Press Freedom Day lecture at AUT University on Friday.

Professor Mark Pearson, professor of journalism and social media at Griffith University near Brisbane, will be speaking on the theme "Press freedom, social media and the citizen", at the university on May 3, observed globally as media freedom day.

The public address is being hosted by AUTs Pacific Media Centre and supported by the New Zealand National Commission for UNESCO and the School of Communication Studies.

The international theme for the UNESCO World Press Freedom Day is "Safe to speak: Securing freedom of expression in all media".

"This broadens the debate," says Professor Pearson, who publishes a high profile blog on media law and free media issues, Journlaw.com.

"It opens the way for an exploration of the libertarian origins of press freedom and the advent of social media and citizen journalism at a time when we are looking for new models of media responsibility and ethics - beyond a social responsibility model - some of which embrace cultural and religious notions of truth and story-telling."

Professor Pearson is the author of the popular textbook The Journalists Guide To Media Law, which has run to four editions, and Blogging and Tweeting Without Getting Sued. He is also the Australian correspondent of the Paris-based media freedom advocacy group

Reporters Sans Frontieres (Reporters Without Borders) and is on the editorial board of the New Zealand-based Pacific Journalism Review.

The public address is being hosted by AUTs Pacific Media Centre and supported by the New Zealand National Commission for UNESCO and the School of Communication Studies.

A half-hour documentary, Media Freedom in the Pacific, commissioned by the International Federation of Journalists will also be screened and speakers include Professor Judy McGregor, head of AUTs School of Social Sciences, and Tim McBride for UNESCO New Zealands communications committee.

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Journalism law professor to give World Press Freedom Day lecture

JACKSON, MS (Mississippi News Now) -

The Freedom Riders Pilgrimage is making stops in the Magnolia State to remind the public about the sacrifices made to achieve voting rights.

The pilgrimage made a stop at the Medgar Evers Statue in Jackson Tuesday morning.

The Freedom Riders are visiting cities and sites where voting rights workers were murdered during the 1960s.

Activistshope this pilgrimage will help peopleunderstand the importance of supporting Section5 of the Voting Rights Act.

"Our young people know so little about this history so the right to vote is taken for granted, but as the supreme court considers whether or not to declare section five unconstitutional, which is the heart of the voting rights act, it is critical that our young people and our elders recognize the great sacrifices for the right to vote and remind ourselves and our children that the struggle for the right to vote continue and we will not stop until it is secured," activist Faya Toure said.

Before heading to Alabama, the group will visit Tougaloo and areas in Philadelphia.

Copyright 2013 MSNewsNow. All rights reserved.

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Freedom Riders make stops in MS for voting rights

People carry an image of Cuba's president Raul Castro at the May Day parade in Havana's Revolution Square May 1, 2013. REUTERS/Enrique De La Osa (CUBA - Tags: POLITICS) (ENRIQUE DE LA OSA)

GENEVAThe Castro government's easing of foreign travel restrictions on Cubans has not led to greater freedoms on the island, a leading dissident said on Wednesday.

Elizardo Sanchez said 19 opposition activists had been allowed to leave since a new exit policy was introduced on January 14. Dozens more would go in the next few weeks, he said.

But the Communist government, in power since 1959, was keeping strict control on dissident voices at home, he said.

"They calculate it will be freedom of expression for people outside

Elizardo Sanchez, spokesman for the independent Cuban Commission on Human Rights, talks to reporters during his arrival at Laura Pollan house in Havana October 15, 2011. REUTERS/Enrique De La Osa ( Enrique de la Osa / Reuters)

A total of 92 political prisoners were currently held in Cuban jails, which the International Committee of the Red Cross has not been allowed visit since 1989, he said. A further 350 were held in short-term detention on political grounds.

Sanchez is president of the Havana-based independent Cuban Commission of Human Rights and for years has been one of the most prominent opposition figures tolerated by the government.

President Raul Castro has introduced some economic and other reforms since taking over Cuba's leadership from his brother Fidel in 2008 but they have stressed it will not stray from the revolutionary path.

Sanchez, who said he had spent nearly 12 years in jails and was on his first foreign trip in more than a decade, said he worried he would face reprisals when returned to Cuba in June.

Excerpt from:

Freedom of speech still elusive for Cubans despite easier travel

By Stephanie Nebehay

GENEVA (Reuters) - The Castro government's easing of foreign travel restrictions on Cubans has not led to greater freedoms on the island, a leading dissident said on Wednesday.

Elizardo Sanchez said 19 opposition activists had been allowed to leave since a new exit policy was introduced on January 14. Dozens more would go in the next few weeks, he said.

But the Communist government, in power since 1959, was keeping strict control on dissident voices at home, he said.

"They calculate it will be freedom of expression for people outside Cuba but the voices will not be reproduced in Cuba. They control all communications, radio, newspaper, local and international television, and access to Internet," Sanchez said.

A total of 92 political prisoners were currently held in Cuban jails, which the International Committee of the Red Cross has not been allowed visit since 1989, he said. A further 350 were held in short-term detention on political grounds.

Sanchez is president of the Havana-based independent Cuban Commission of Human Rights and for years has been one of the most prominent opposition figures tolerated by the government.

President Raul Castro has introduced some economic and other reforms since taking over Cuba's leadership from his brother Fidel in 2008 but they have stressed it will not stray from the revolutionary path.

Sanchez, who said he had spent nearly 12 years in jails and was on his first foreign trip in more than a decade, said he worried he would face reprisals when returned to Cuba in June.

But he said: "Every day there are more human rights activists in Cuba. The good thing is that they are active inspite of fear of reprisals."

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No freedom of speech in Cuba despite easier foreign travel: activist

HOUSTON, May 1, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --Pennzoil is proud to announce the second year of its relationship with Tim McGraw as the presenting sponsor of his Two Lanes Of Freedom 2013 Tour. As part of the continued relationship, expanded activations will be introduced to further unify the passion that fans have for both cars and music.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130501/NY05132)

"One of the feelings I think you take away from my new album is the freedom you get out on the open road, and I really wanted to take my fans on a ride from the time the album starts to the very last track. The same goes for the tour," explained McGraw. "It just made sense to team up with Pennzoil again for another summer. They are great partners and I know they have a lot of stuff planned for the fans out on the road."

Pennzoil will be taking the relationship to the next level by introducing new programs for fans that include access to exclusive content from McGraw. One program will provide a behind-the-scenes view leading up to the tour, as well as an original video series that will share an insider's look at the connection between Americans' love of cars and music. Additionally, Pennzoil is putting the spotlight on fans as they will have the chance to be featured in a special edition VEVO live music video for a song from Tim's latest album, TWO LANES OF FREEDOM, by submitting their favorite images and videos via social media.

"Cars and music go hand-in-hand and who better to drive that message than car enthusiast and country music superstar Tim McGraw," said Bree Sandlin, Pennzoil Global Brand Manager. "His tour and album were inspired by freedom and acceleration, making it a perfect fit for the Pennzoil brand, which stands for the love of cars."

As part of Pennzoil and McGraw's shared love of cars, Pennzoil enlisted the superstar to personally customize a new 2013 Challenger SRT. McGraw drove the creative direction of the car, from the exterior paint inspired by the TWO LANES OF FREEDOM album art, down to the fine details of the interior including his autograph hand-stitched in the front seats.

This one-of-a-kind car will go on tour with Tim McGraw and will be on display at each tour stop where fans can watch an exclusive behind-the-scenes video of the step-by-step customization process, both at the show and online. Fans will also have the chance to win this special-edition vehicle through the Four Wheels to Freedom promotion running May 1st through July 31st.

To stay up-to-date on the latest Pennzoil activities, for exclusive looks at Tim McGraw content and to enter in the Four Wheels to Freedom sweepstakes, visit pennzoil.com/timmcgraw. Be sure to 'Like' the official Pennzoil Facebook Page (www.facebook.com/Pennzoil) and follow Pennzoil on Twitter (www.twitter.com/Pennzoil).

About Pennzoil

At Pennzoil, we're car people. We love cars and the role they play in our lives. Some of our most cherished memories are made possible by cars. That's why we tirelessly pursue the latest advances in oil technology - to provide car lovers just like us with state-of-the-art motor oils. At Pennzoil, motor oil is our passion, but cars are our way of life.Not just oil. Pennzoil.

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Pennzoil® And Tim McGraw Renew Relationship With Two Lanes Of Freedom 2013 Tour

Freedom House, an independent watchdog dedicated to expanding freedom around the world, has released its annual report on global press freedom ahead of World Press Freedom Day on Friday. Media and press freedom have declined in several areas across the globe.

Just one out of six people across the globe enjoyed a free press last year. Freedom House President David Kramer says the global decline in press freedom is a huge concern.

"A free press is critical to any country's democratic development. It acts as a check and balance. It acts as a check on corruption. It promotes transparency. It promotes good government, and so a free press is indispensable," Kramer said.

The report says the percentage of people enjoying a free media environment fell to its lowest point in more than a decade due to repression by authoritarian regimes, political instability and threats from radical Islamists.

Mansour Ali is a reporter in the tribal areas of Pakistan, one of 64 countries the group says is "unfree" for media.

"Security is the foremost problem, because just two days ago my colleague was injured in a suicide attack and another was killed," Ali said.

Mali, once Africa's freest media environment, suffered the year's biggest decline in press freedom. It slid from a "free press" nation to one of 70 "partly free" countries following a military coup and the capture of its northern half by Islamist militants.

In Europe, Greece also slid into the partly free category. Its economic troubles led to widespread staff cuts in the media and closures.

In the Middle East, Libya and Tunisia retained gains in press freedom won during the Arab Spring revolts. But in Egypt the media environment declined and is now described as unfree.

Karin Karlekar of Freedom House, says many factors are behind Egypt's decline.

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World Press Freedom Declines

NKorea sentences American to 15 years labor NKorea sentences American to 15 years labor North Korea says an American detained for nearly six months has been sentenced to 15 years of "compulsory labor" for crimes against the state.More >> An American detained for nearly six months in North Korea has been sentenced to 15 years of "compulsory labor" for unspecified crimes against the state, Pyongyang announced Thursday.More >> First residents move into Montgomery's new Plaza at Centennial Hill development First residents move into Montgomery's new Plaza at Centennial Hill development

Updated: Wednesday, May 1 2013 11:28 PM EDT2013-05-02 03:28:31 GMT

Updated: Wednesday, May 1 2013 11:21 PM EDT2013-05-02 03:21:52 GMT

Updated: Wednesday, May 1 2013 11:02 PM EDT2013-05-02 03:02:29 GMT

Freedom Riders for Voting Rights will arrive in Montgomery Wednesday afternoon, ending a two-day pilgrimage across Mississippi and Alabama. Their journey will culminate on the steps of the Alabama State Capitol, where they say they'll hold a news conference to discuss the continuing struggle for voting rights. Since Tuesday, they have beentraveling by bus to ten sites where someone fighting for the Voting Rights Act of 1964 was killed.

The pilgrimage is called "Never Again, Never Forget". It was planned in response to the current US Supreme Court caseShelby County, Alabama v. Holder, et al., an Alabama case that seeks to strike down Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act. It's a provision that requires states with a history of discrimination at the polls to get federal permission before making any changes in how they conduct elections, no matter how small. Shelby County attorneys argue that times have changed and the law is outdated, so this provision should be taken out. The Freedom Rider's want to keep Section 5 in place. They are making this Pilgrimage to make their voices heard.

"We wantto send a message to the Supreme Court that we want section 5 of the Voting Rights Act kept alive. We want it kept because it is the pre-clearance section. We need to send a message to the President, to the Congress, and to the Supreme Court that we will not be silent when they are trying to take away voting rights." said Mayor Johnny Ford of Tuskegee.

The Supreme Court 's decision is expected sometime in May or June. The bus rides were organized by member organizations of the National Coalition of Leaders to Save Section 5. Their news conference is expected at 4:00 Wednesday afternoon.

Copyright 2013 WSFA 12 News. All rights reserved.

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Freedom Riders send Voting Rights message to US Supreme Court

MC Ruin ft Fallin beats - Freedom - (EDITED)
NEW REMAKE!!

By: volcomstoner44

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MC Ruin ft Fallin beats - Freedom - (EDITED) - Video

NCGE - Freedom Is What We Do
Song: The Cell by C2C from the album Tetra. If you like the song, please consider buying it from iTunes! We are the New Conglomerate Golden Eagles, and this ...

By: TheRealBeerai

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NCGE - Freedom Is What We Do - Video

Freedom Park //hapo Museum: Official opening by Deputy President Motlanthe
Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe official opened the Freedom Park //hapo Museum as part of the Freedom Month celebrations on 22 April 2013.

By: GovernmentZA

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Freedom Park //hapo Museum: Official opening by Deputy President Motlanthe - Video

Pro-democracy supporters in Hong Kong sing and shout slogans during a January protest. Chinese leaders and the state-run media are now speaking often of the Chinese dream, though there's no real consensus on what it means.

Pro-democracy supporters in Hong Kong sing and shout slogans during a January protest. Chinese leaders and the state-run media are now speaking often of the Chinese dream, though there's no real consensus on what it means.

"What is your Chinese dream?"

With Chinese leaders and the state-run media now talking about the notion of the Chinese dream, we posed this question on our NPR Weibo account. In China, Weibo is the equivalent of Twitter. Within several hours, we received more than 100 replies.

Looking over the first 100 answers, 13 mentioned the word "freedom," including LuP whose Chinese dream was that free people would be able to live their lives freely.

For those seeking more freedom, Ziweixiong offered an ironic solution: emigration.

Taking that even further, Kongyijun summarized his Chinese dream as becoming an American.

Others invoked China's Constitution, which has become an acceptable way of hoping that the government will respect the rule of law.

One prominent figure who responded this way was Liu Xiaoyuan, a lawyer who has some 88,000 followers on Weibo and is the legal adviser to dissident artist Ai Weiwei. Liu said his dream was realizing what is in the constitution.

Bushuobukuai521 dreams that there will be no corruption and that society will become fairer.

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Chinese Dreams: Freedom, Democracy And Clean Air

NEWPORT BEACH, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Green Automotive Company (www.thegreenautomotivecompany.com) (GACR) announced today that its subsidiary, Newport Coachworks Inc., has completed tooling and is starting production on its new FREEDOM 40 bus.

Newport Coachworks new generation vehicle line is built using the M2 Freightliner platform that is very popular in the high end shuttle segment of the market. It incorporates many technological improvements including certain key components being made out of lighter, stronger material.

Newport Coachworks President Carter Read: Tooling for each vehicle line that our Company produces is a challenging process because we are incorporating new innovations in each line. Thanks to our close collaboration with our American suppliers, we have found new ways to increase considerably the performance of existing technology and deliver unique products that are of superior quality and give full satisfaction to our customers. Our aim is to become a leading company in our sector thanks to technological innovation, a strong partnership with our local suppliers and excellent customer service.

Said Fred Luke, President Green Automotive, The FREEDOM 40 bus is another vehicle line for which Newport Coachworks has standing orders, meaning as these buses are produced and delivered, the Company should experience a corresponding increase in revenue.

Stakeholders can visit Newport Coachworks production facility in Riverside, California, on the Open day organized by the company on the 4th of May.

To confirm your presence, go to http://www.thegreenautomotivecompany.com/.

About Green Automotive Company

Green Automotive Companyis a state-of-the-art niche vehicle design, engineering, manufacturing, and sales company, driving innovation in the use of cutting edge zero and low emission technologies. Our 3 main divisions areLiberty Electric Cars Ltd,Newport Coachworks Inc.andGoinGreen Ltd. Green Automotive Companyshares are traded on the OTC QB under the symbol"GACR".For further info, visitwww.thegreenautomotivecompany.com.

Forward Looking Statements - This release includes forward-looking statements. Such statements are based on management's current expectations and are subject to certain factors, risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results, events and performance to differ materially from those referred to or implied by such statements. For a copy of the Companys full statements regarding forward-looking statements please click here: Safe Harbor Statement Green Automotive Company.

Originally posted here:

Newport Coachworks in Production on New FREEDOM 40’ Bus Line

OVERALL, Pakatan Rakyat (PR) Members of Parliament (MPs) who were voted in in 2008 demonstrated much stronger support for the establishment of a Freedom of Information (FOI) Act compared with Barisan Nasional (BN) MPs.

PR MPs, who were approached for The Nut Graphs MP Watch project, also showed better understanding of what a FOI Act is about. Fewer PR MPs confused freedom of information with freedom of speech and media freedom compared with BN MPs.

BN: Umno

Umno MPs appeared divided on the issue of freedom of information. Out of the 24 MPs who responded to the question, Would you support a Freedom of Information Act? Why or why not?, eight were very supportive of enacting a FOI Act. Three flatly refused the idea, while the rest either did not state their stand on the issue clearly, or confused freedom of information with freedom of speech. Two MPs refused to comment.

Those who supported a FOI Act generally believed that the rakyat has the right to information, and that freedom of information would ensure greater government transparency and accountability.

Datuk Seri Azmi Khalid (Padang Besar) said the Official Secrets Act (OSA) should be abolished to allow for more transparency. Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin (Rembau) said having a FOI Act would increase government transparency and accountability as well as reduce corruption across the board. But he cautioned that private information and information that would jeopardise national security or criminal investigations should remain confidential.

In stark contrast, MPs like Datuk Hasan Malek (Kuala Pilah) and Datuk Abu Bakar Taib (Langkawi) said there was no need for a FOI Act because existing laws such as the OSA were sufficient to regulate the flow of information.

At least four Umno MPs, including Datuk Bung Moktar Radin (Kinabatangan) and Datuk Ronald Kiandee (Beluran), confused the concept of freedom of information with freedom of speech.

Additionally, seven other Umno MPs were ambiguous on the issue. Datuk Ismail Kasim (Arau), for example, opined that the Malaysian public was not yet mature enough to handle certain information. Datuk Razali Ibrahim (Muar) cautioned that a FOI Act may be abused by certain quarters with ill intentions.

BN: MCA, MIC and other component parties

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MPs and Freedom of Information

Tanger Outlet customers and employees will soon be seeing the South Strabane Township shopping complexs first and only public transit stop.

The Washington County Transportation Authority plans to add the stop to all but its earliest morning runs beginning Wednesday.

The stop will be in the parking lot adjacent to the walkway to the Brooks Brothers and Calvin Klein stores.

Its good news, I think, said Sheila Gombita, executive director of the Washington County transportation agency.

The first stop at Tanger Outlets on the McDonald-Canonsburg trip to Washington will be at 9:15 a.m., and approximately every 90 minutes thereafter, with the last stop on that run at 4:45 p.m.

The Washington to Canonsburg-McDonald run will make its first stop at Tanger Outlets at 10:35 a.m., with its last Tanger stop at 6:05 p.m.

Wednesday also marks the beginning of the third and final year of the Freedom Line pilot program, which has a variety of funding sources.

Decisions are to be made within the next four to five months as to where were going to go with it. We plan to try and look for a local match. Ride it now, and that way it will continue, Gombita said.

The stop at the shopping complex, which opened in August 2008, came about through requests from both Tanger employees and people who wanted to take the bus to shop there.

With the addition of Tanger Outlets comes the subtraction of a stop at the Meadowbrook housing plan in North Strabane Township, due to lack of ridership.

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Freedom bus line adds stop at Tanger Outlets

In front of the statue. The Veterans of the Mississippi Civil Rights Movement is the host. Learn more about the pilgrimage to sites where civil rights workers were slain.

Momentum appears to be growing for the Freedom Riders for Vot-ing Rights Never Forget, Never Again Pilgrimage in Mississippi on April 30 and in Alabama on May 1. Co-sponsoring organizations have grown to 17.

The Pilgrimage is one in a series of activities organized to support Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act because its constitutionality is being challenged by Shelby County, Alabama. A large rally was held at the U.S. Supreme Court when they heard oral arguments in the Shelby case on February 27, and was followed by a Freedom Rider stop and rally in Richmond, Charlotte, Greenville, Atlanta, Birmingham and Mont-gomery. The Veterans of the Mississippi Civil Rights Movement, Inc., filed a brief to the Supreme Court to uphold the constitutionality of Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

A Pilgrimage was also conducted on April 4 at the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., monument in Atlanta. April 4th is the day that Dr. King was murdered.

The Freedom Riders will be met by Mississippi co-sponsors for stops in Jackson at the Medgar Evers Library and Statue for a press conference. The Freedom Riders will then drive by the Evers home that is presently under construction. The pilgrimage will proceed to Tougaloo College, Woodworth Chapel, where they will join with civil rights activists, students and the general public for a memorial service honoring mar-tyrs of the Voting Rights Movement. In the afternoon, they will journey to Philadel-phia to honor the memory of the James Chaney, Andrew Goodman, Michael Schwerner, Henry Hezekiah Dee and Charles Eddie Moore. The bus will leave Mississippi for Alabama where they will meet Bernard Lafayette, who was the Director of the Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committees (SNCC) Alabama Voter Registration Project. Lafayette was slated to be assassinated on the same day as Medgar Evers.

The Pilgrimage will make stops in Marian, Alabama where Jimmie Lee Jackson was killed, in Selma where Rev. James Reeb was killed, in Lowndes County where Jonathan Daniels and Viola Liuzzo were killed, and in Tuskegee where Sammy Younge was killed. The Pilgrimage will end with a rally at the Ala-bama State Capitol in Montgomery, Alabama.

Leading up to the Pilgrimage in Jackson on April 29, a caravan of cars will travel to Liberty, Mississippi where Herbert Lee and Louis Allen were killed and to Hattiesburg where Vernon Dahmer was killed. They will meet up with the Freedom Riders bus in Jackson on April 30.

The co-sponsoring organizations include: Alabama New South Coalition Alabama Democratic Conference Ancient Africa, Enslavement and Civil War Museum Bridge Crossing Jubilee, Inc. Mississippi State Conference of the NAACP Mississippi Student Justice Alliance Mississippi Workers' Center for Human Rights National Action Network National Coalition of Leaders to Save Section Five (NCLSS) National Coalition on Black Civic Participation National Policy Alliance National Voting Rights Museum and Institute Rainbow PUSH Coalition Save Ourselves Summit Southern Christian Leadership Conference Veterans of the Mississippi Civil Rights Movement, Inc. World Conference of Mayors Women of Will

The public is cordially invited to meet the Pilgrimage at each stop.

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Freedom Riders Pilgrimage Stop