Daily Archives: April 7, 2017

Want to spend your days fighting for digital rights and building a grassroots movement across the U.S.? Youre in luck! EFF is hiring.

Were expanding the grassroots advocacy team at EFF. Part of our larger activism team dedicated to defending digital liberty in the public sphere, the grassroots team focuses on outreach to campus and community groups across the country and connecting them to advocacy opportunities, training resources, community organizing best practices and guidance, and allies both nearby and across the country.

The teams signature project is the Electronic Frontier Alliance. Launched in 2016, the Alliance includes 52 autonomous local groups across the country, from small nonprofits dedicated to civil rights to campus student groups and hacker spaces. Every group in the Alliance embraces a shared set of digital liberty principles including privacy, security, access to knowledge, creativity, and freedom of expression.

Groups in the Alliance each set their own agendas and organize their own programs. EFF's grassroots team coaches them in pursuing various forms of public education (including discussion events, teach-ins, movie screenings, and interactive workshops), as well as advocacy opportunities (such as engaging policymakers at both the federal and local level, writing op-eds, and organizing the occasional protest). The team at EFF strives to inspire, coordinate, and amplify their work.

The Alliance is the grassroots wing of EFFs traditional digital advocacy strategy. Were building these connections in offline spaces to strengthen the digital rights movement beyond EFF and defend the rights of all Internet users.

EFF's grassroots team, and our work building and coordinating the Alliance, are also diversifying our community, ensuring that the digital rights movement of tomorrow engages technology users across gender, orientation, race, socio-economic background, age, political affiliation, and location.

The Activist role focuses on building local communities and support their independent efforts to defend digital rights. Every day includes opportunities to connect, encourage, inspire, and support people passionately concerned about free speech, privacy, and technology.

Sometimes those opportunities entail acting as a mentor to a student who wants to make a difference on their college campus. At other times, they involve connecting supporters seeking digital security training to others in their respective areas poised to address their needs. Others include speaking to public audiences about why free speech is vital to a functional democracy, why both values require privacy, and how individuals can meaningfully defend those values in their respective communities.

If you appreciate freedom, share our concerns about how freedom is threatened online, and enjoy facilitating workshops, hosting conference calls, speaking in public, writing articles, connecting allies to each other, and meeting with local digital rights activists to coach and guide their advocacy, youll love this job.

This position offers a chance for frequent travel and speaking engagements, so it is ideal for someone who is curious about seeing new places and eager to connect with new people. When youre in town, youll work from the funky, fun, and fabulous EFF headquarters in San Francisco, a dog-friendly environment with flexible working hours, people from all walks of life, and staff-organized communities united around everything from weekend bike rides and board games to learning Spanish and baking pies. EFF offers unparalleled benefits, including dental & vision coverage, competitive pay, and retirement savings. We also offer further assistance with housing to ensure that employees (both renters and home buyers) can afford to live in the beautiful Bay Area, as well as relocation expenses for candidates moving from elsewhere.

What are you waiting for? Apply today and help us build the future of the digital rights movement.

View post:

Dream Job Alert: Defend Digital Freedom as an EFF Activist - EFF

Mara Corts Gonzlez , El Paso Times Published 3:13 p.m. MT April 7, 2017 | Updated 3 hours ago

Autoplay

Show Thumbnails

Show Captions

Rabbi Levi Greenberg and his family, from left, Musia; his wife, Shaina; Sara; and Menachem demonstrate a Passover Seder last year in their home. The Seder itself is not allowed to be photographed.(Photo: MARK LAMBIE/EL PASO TIMES FILE)Buy Photo

Passover, considered the festival of freedom, will be celebrated by the Jewish community in El Paso starting Monday evening.

Around El Paso, families will sit together for that first Seder either at home or in community with their congregations. Some will have a Seder on Tuesday as well.

The holiday is an eight-day festival that commemorates the exodus of the Jews from Egypt after being enslaved for 400 years. Moses, the great rabbi of the Jewish people, led them out.

Rabbi Levi Greenberg, of Chabad Lubavitch synagogue, said the word "Passover" comes from what happened when God sent 10 plagues upon Egypt because the pharaohs would not release the Jewish people. The last plague killed the Egyptian firstborn but passed over the Jewish homes.

During the Seder, the faithful eat specific foods with special meaning. The matzah is the traditional unleavened bread that commemorates the bread the Jews prepared in their haste to leave Egypt.

Greenberg said "Seder" means "order" and that it is ironic that the holiday of freedomis commemorated with a dinner that is structured and rigid.

"The truth is that this expresses the true meaning of freedom. Freedom is only meaningful when coupled with responsibility and structure. Moses led the Jews out of Egypt to MountSinai, where they received the Torah and its 613 commandments. They were given a mission and empowered to fulfill it," he said.

"The meaning of Passover is essentially the same for Jews all over the world. We remember our past redemption and look forward to the ultimate redemption, when all of humanity will live in peace and tranquility," he added.

Rabbi Royi Shaffin, who has been at Congregation B'Nai Zion for nine months, is excited about celebrating his first Passover in the desert.

"The weather is verysimilar to the weather in the Middle East and the weather wherethe story of the exodus of Egypt takes place. El Paso and Jerusalem are on the same latitude lines, so it makes it very interesting," he said.

Shaffin said the idea of celebrating freedom is something that everyone can relate to.

"It is something that is definitelyon a lot of people's minds. We understand that freedom has to be safeguarded in our world constantly and we have to make sure there is freedom from the outside oppressors, as well as safeguardwithin the society. That is how and why God created humans:to be free. Slavery is an unnatural state of being and the Passover holiday reminds of the importance of our freedom and human dignity."

Shaffin added that he would like to wish everyone a happy holiday, whether they are celebrating Passover or Easter.

"As we enter spring and we celebrate and enjoy the weather, we should be grateful for life and freedom and have a positive and tolerant attitude and look forward to good things in the future."

Mara Corts Gonzlez may be reached at546-6150;mcortes@elpasotimes.com;@EPTMaria on Twitter.

Make plans

Congregation B'Nai Zion will have a Passover community Seder at 6 p.m. Tuesdayat805 Cherry Hill Lane. Cost: $25 for adults, $15 for children 12 and younger, free for children under 5. RSVP by Monday. Information:833-2222.

Chabad Lubavitch will havea Community Seder at 7:30 p.m. Monday at6615 Westwind Drive. Information: 584-8218.

Temple Mount Sinaiwill have a Community Seder at 6 p.m. Tuesdayat 4408 N. Stanton St. Cost: $25for adults, $15for youths ages 6-12, children younger than 5 free. Active military are guests. RSVP to 532-5959.

Read or Share this story: http://www.elpasotimes.com/story/news/religion/2017/04/07/jewish-community-celebrates-freedom-passover/100123862/

Here is the original post:

Jewish community celebrates freedom with Passover - El Paso Times

SIGN UP FOR OUR NEWSLETTER

I voted for Brexit what it is with me, Id rather be a poor master than a rich servant, the 84-year-oldGoing in Stylestar told Sky News, adding that his support for Britains independence wasnt about the racism, immigrants or anything, it was about freedom.

Last week, theUnited Kingdomofficially filed to leave the European Union. Caine, a London-born, two-time Oscar-winner, said politics is always chaotic.

In politics youre always going into areas youve never been before, so youre going to get lost and then youre going to find your way, and then itll be alright, he said of Europes historic vote.

Caine is currently promoting his last filmGoing in Style,which follows three lifelong friends who rob a bank after it stops paying out their pensions.

Im playing Brian Reader, who when he did that robbery was 73, Caine said. I knew I was going to get a phone call, I said to my wife heres my next part, I think.

And if you were wondering, dont expect the 84-year-old star to stop acting anytime soon.

People always say are you going to retire? and of course the movie business retires you, Caine said, adding You get paid a fortune for kissing the most beautiful women in the world, not a bad job is it?

Caine isnt the only British celebrity to have revealed he voted for Brexit.

Last month,Roger Daltrey, founder and lead singer of the English rock bandThe Who, reiterated his support for Britains independence from the European Union.

We are getting out, and when the dust settles I think that itll be seen that its the right thing for thiscountryto have done, thats for sure,Daltreytold NME.

Follow Jerome Hudson on Twitter@jeromeehudson

Read the original:

Michael Caine: I Voted Brexit for 'Freedom' - Breitbart News

The United States-based group Freedom House says democracy dropped in more than half of the countries it studied last year.

Freedom House rated the health of democracy in 29 countries in Central and Eastern Europe as well as in Central Asia. All 29 were once under Communist Party rule.

The findings are part of a new report called Nations in Transit 2017.

This is the second-largest drop in democracy ratings in the 22-years Freedom House has produced the report. The group blames the drop on the rise of populism. It noted that leaders in some countries are openly attacking democracy.

FILE: A man holds a poster of Hungarian Premier Viktor Orban that reads "What have I done again" during a protest by opposition parties against Orban's policies on migrants in Budapest, Hungary, Oct. 2, 2016.

Concerns about Hungary and Poland

The report says Hungary, led by Prime Minister Viktor Orbn, now has the lowest rating of any country in Central Europe.

Nate Schenkkan works for Freedom House in New York. He spoke to VOA on Skype.

When we talk about populism in Central Europe, Orbn is the first name. He has created a kind of model for member states, even of the European Union, to reject democracy.

There were pro-democracy protests in Hungary last Sunday.

Two days later, Hungarys government press office reacted to the Freedom House report. It said freedom of the press fully prevails in Hungary. Every political opinion can find room and be published in the Hungarian press. And it said, Hungarian citizens can exercise their democratic rights in free elections.

The report also criticized the leader of Polands ruling Law and Justice Party, Jaroslaw Kaczynski. It said that populist leaders in both Poland and Hungary had attacked constitutional courts and sought to weaken the system of checks and balances.

The Freedom House said the spectacular breakdown of democracy in these countries should serve as a warning about the fragility of the institutions that are necessary for liberal democracy."

Health of democracy in Russia

Russia had one of the reports lowest ratings. Yet Freedom House says a highly developed civil society continues to exist there, along with some independent media.

Russian President Vladimir Putin, left, lays flowers at a place near the subway station in St.Petersburg, Russia, Monday, April 3, 2017. A bomb blast tore through a subway train deep under Russia's second-largest city, killing more than 10 people.

But a former Russian central bank official disagrees. Sergey Aleksashenko now works at the Brookings Institution, in Washington, D.C. He spoke to VOA on Skype.

We say that there was some freedom of Internet. But if you move that 80 percent of (the) Russian population that receives news from television, and there is no, any television news station that is not controlled by the government, then OK, you may argue there is some freedom. Of course, there is. But its not the freedom, its not the freedom of information and in my personal view, its a serious misjudgment of whats going on in Russia.

Democracy in other areas

In the Balkans, the democracy scores for four countries dropped over the past year. Two improved: Montenegro and Croatia.

Sergey Aleksashenko said Balkan countries should not be compared to Western Europe. He noted they have had to create systems, governmental and state cultures since the end of Communist rule. He said that is not an easy process.

FILE: Supporters of detained opposition politician Omurbek Tekebayev, the leader of the Ata Meken (Fatherland) party, hold a rally in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, Feb. 26, 2017.

Freedom House once again described Kyrgyzstan as a Consolidated Authoritarian Regime. The country had been removed from the classification after competitive parliamentary elections in 2011.

The report said corruption in Eurasia dropped in five of the 12 countries, but reached new lows in Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.

Freedom House pointed to progress in Ukraine, Romania and Kosovo. It said the Romanian government dealt with problems in the voting process during its 2015 elections. And it said both Ukraine and Kosovo enacted minor structural reforms. But the group said the two countries face obstacles that could stop the progress.

Im Anne Ball.

VOAs Mariama Diallo reported this story from Washington. Christopher Jones-Cruise adapted her report for Learning English. George Grow was the editor.

We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section, or visit our Facebook page. _______________________________________________________________

prevail v. to be or become effective

checks and balances n. a system that prevents one part of the government from controlling too much power

spectacular adj. causing wonder or excitement

fragility adj. something easily broken or destroyed

norms n. average; normal value

shallow adj. having little depth

tap into v. to use something in a way that leads to good results

obstacle n. barrier

Read this article:

Freedom House: Democracy Ratings Drop in Many Countries - Voice of America

New York Times

Hungary's Assault on Freedom New York Times After muzzling a free press and shutting down civil society groups, the government of Prime Minister Viktor Orban of Hungary has trained its repressive sights on academic freedom. On Tuesday, the Parliament approved legislation designed to shut down ... and more »

See the original post:

Hungary's Assault on Freedom - New York Times

Android Central

Canada's Freedom Mobile is finally getting the phones and coverage it needs to compete Android Central Back when Freedom Mobile was called Wind Mobile, it was seen by the Big Three Canadian carriers as a pest that wouldn't go away. Now that Shaw Communications owns the company, and is growing its LTE network in major cities around the country, ...

Read more from the original source:

Canada's Freedom Mobile is finally getting the phones and coverage it needs to compete - Android Central

Elizabeth City dedicated Veterans Park on Friday to remember, honor, and thank all who have fought for the United States of America.

My hope is that this Veterans Park stands as an eternal symbol of peace, hope and sacrifice and heals the minds and bodies of those who have given so much, said U.S. Coast Guard Cmdr. Bruce Brown, the keynote speaker for Fridays dedication ceremony.

The recently completed park is at the edge of the downtown waterfront at the corner of Elizabeth and Water streets, and positioned prominently next to the Pasquotank River Bridge linking the city with Camden County. The park features a boardwalk, the flags of all the military branches and the flag for prisoners of war, and, in its center, a stone monument containing the words May Freedom Fly and a thanks to all area veterans for their service beneath the U.S. and North Carolina state flags.

Fridays dedication ceremony drew about 100 people, including members of Veterans of Foreign Wars 6060, the Patriot Guard Riders, other veterans groups, various city and Pasquotank County officials, and members of the public.

Developed in consultation with veterans, the park has been a long-desired project for the city. As Brown put it, the park is offered as a place of reflection, gratitude and even grieving for those who have served and even died for their country. The nation has and will continue to rely on veterans in a world thatstrives for peace but falls short of it, he said.

Mayor Joe Peel also spoke briefly at Fridays ceremony, thanking military veterans and also city officials for bringing a long-awaited project to fruition.

This project has been 11 years in the making, Peel said.

Even once the city decided to locate the park next to the bridge, it had to wait until the N.C. Department of Transportation finished the Camden Causeway bridge replacement, Peel explained. City staff explained in interviews Friday that contractor Archer Western used the space as a staging area during construction. That delayed the parks development but also meant DOT paid the city for use of the space.

With almost $50,000 from DOT, plus the city tapping tourism-related funds, the park was completed for about $70,000, City Manager Rich Olson and Assistant City Manager Angela Cole estimated. Olson also noted the city handled the project entirely in house.

The new director of the Elizabeth City-Pasquotank Parks and Recreation Department, Dexter Harris, thanked his predecessor, Bobbi White, plus parks and recreation employees, for their work on the project.

Councilwoman Anita Hummer, councils mayor pro tem, also spoke at Fridays ceremony, saying the park should serve as a daily reminder about veterans and their sacrifices.

Veterans interviewed Friday gave the park good marks.

Retired Naval Chief Petty Officer Richard Thomas and retired Naval Lt. Cmdr. Franklin Gates both praised the park, as did former VFW Post 6060 Cmdr. Allen Alger. Alger also said he felt it appropriate the city relocated aPeace Pole monument from Waterfront Park to Veterans Park.

Current VFW 6060 Cmdr. Ken Sandridge was absent Friday, but his wife, quartermaster Monica Sandridge, called the park gorgeous and said she feels it adds to the respect the city already shows veterans.

The ceremony also included a rifle salute and the playing of taps for fallen veterans. The events master of ceremonies was David Twiford, of Twifords Funeral Home.

See more here:

May Freedom Fly: City dedicates Veterans Park - The Daily Advance

Ever since the American Health Care Act stalled out, Republicans have been trying to kick start the reform again. On Thursday, Speaker Ryan backed a proposal to create a $15 billion federal high-risk pool for people with pre-existing conditions.

It's the first official change to the bill so far, one that Ryan is confident will bring the divided GOP conference closer to the finish line. The amendment's author, Rep. Gary Palmer of Alabama, agrees and is encouraging his Freedom Caucus colleagues to get on board.

"I think this bill has become demonstrably better since the day it was first introduced," Palmer said during an interview with the Washington Examiner. "And I'm hoping that the Freedom Caucus will find a way to get to yes."

Modeled after a successful program instituted in the state of Maine, Palmer predicts that a national risk sharing program would reduce premiums and keep those with pre-existing conditions covered. "It's a way to make good on some promises that we made," he explains. According to a new study commissioned by the Foundation for Government Accountability, Palmer has reason to be optimistic.

That report predicts that premiums could drop by between 12 and 31 percent while simultaneously reducing the number of uninsured by as many as 2.2 million.

In broad strokes, here's how it would work. First the program identifies individuals who are driving up the cost of premiums because of pre-existing conditions. Then, unbeknownst to that enrollee, federal dollars subsidize their insurance while allowing the company to underwrite them as if they were healthy.

The program is not dissimilar to Obamacare's reinsurance program, which attempted to help insurance companies recoup high costs. And despite that likeness, Republican leadership hopes it will bridge a longstanding divide inside the conference.

Centrists complained that the GOP Obamacare overhaul doesn't do enough to protect those with preexisting conditions. At the same time, conservatives said it didn't do enough to repeal the law. The risk sharing program presumably would allow Republicans to repeal more of Obamacare without leaving the sick more vulnerable.

The idea enjoys widespread support inside the conference, according to Palmer, who's "hoping that when we get back from Easter, we'll be ready to do something." But while Freedom Caucus Chairman Mark Meadows, R-N.C., welcomed the change, he insisted more changes were in order.

Also from the Washington Examiner

"It was planned as a one-strike mission," Sen. Ben Cardin, of Maryland.

04/07/17 8:39 PM

Splitting with Meadows, Palmer plans to vote for the bill. "For those not there yet, I say keep working," he explained. "But at some point everyone's going to have to put their card in the slot and make decision. I'd be comfortable telling someone to push the yes button."

Philip Wegmann is a commentary writer for the Washington Examiner.

Read the rest here:

Rep. Gary Palmer hopes risk-sharing program can help Freedom Caucus 'push the yes button' - Washington Examiner