Monthly Archives: June 2017

Modern slavery in Asia – The Manila Times

Posted: June 12, 2017 at 8:03 pm

IF the 2016 Global Slavery Index is accurate, two-thirds of worlds modern-day slaves are found in Asian countries, mostly victims of human trafficking. The illicit market in exploited people is so lucrative that it is said to generate over $150 billion in profits worldwidebigger than the GDP of countries like Luxembourg, Bulgaria, Hungary and Oman. This explains why human trafficking has become an endemic crime globally.

In the Asean region alone, thousands of people are trafficked from, through, or to Asean countries each year.

With a majority of Asean member states being source countries for human trafficking, it is indeed timely that the Philippines recently hosted the Asean Regional Workshop on Effective Investigation and Prosecution of Trafficking-in-Persons for Labor Exploitation, for Asean member countries to discuss the labor dimensions of trafficking in persons and how investigation and prosecution can be enhanced within the realm of criminal, labor, and civil law regimes in order to protect migrant workers from exploitation.

Trafficking in persons takes many forms. The more common modus operandi Ive encountered at the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) is the deployment of underage females as domestic workers using a genuine passport bearing the photograph, name and details belonging to another person. Once in the destination country, they are transferred or sold by their employer to new employers, sometimes in another country, where they are stripped of all identification to dissuade them from complaining or running away.

Due to the fear of being deported or physically abused, Filipino migrant workers are often left with no option but to endure the abuse. The violations would only be brought into light when the abuses become excessive and the worker is able to escape and complain.

Of course, when we talk about trafficking, the first thing that comes to mind is the Middle East. That, however, is not entirely accurate. While it is true that workers in the Asean member countries migrate to countries throughout the world, a large chunk of our regions work force migrate to other Asean member states, particularly Thailand, Brunei, Singapore and Malaysia.

Thailands economic development and location among neighboring countries with limited development and political instability has made it a magnet for several types of migrants: asylum seekers, regular labor migrants and irregular migrants. Brunei has long relied on migrant labor as a result of its small population providing a limited labor force, coupled with the fact that most workers in the oil-rich nation are employed in the public sector.

Singapores status as a regional economic powerhouse and its limited population has made it an ideal destination for migrant workers, many from Southeast Asia. In fact, foreign labor comprise around one-fourth of the city states 2.3 million-strong workforce. Despite its first-world image, Singapores labor laws are viewed by human rights advocates as quite archaic.

Domestic workers, construction workers, restaurant workers and other low- wage migrants (carrying work permits) do not enjoy the same freedoms and protection as professional and technical workers immigrating on work passes. Work permit holders reportedly cannot bring family members with them, and are barred from marrying Singaporeans. Meanwhile, domestic workers are supposedly prohibited from becoming pregnant or breaking up families.

Malaysia, on the other hand, relies on migrant workers from Indonesia, the Philippines, Vietnam and other countries (primarily Asean) to meet labor demands, particularly in areas of manufacturing, construction, agriculture and the domestic sector.

Of the approximately 400,000 domestic workers in Malaysia, more than 90 percent are Indonesian. This is a particular concern shared by many Asean member countries because of the growing number of trafficked and exploited women and girls as domestic workers.

Domestic workers are frequently excluded from formal labor protections in many Asean countries. They are often misinformed about their conditions of employment and the work required of them. They usually work very long hours, are denied rest days and freedom of movement, not provided with suitable accommodation or sleeping areas, and paid late, or less than the agreed amount, or sometimes, not at all.

Compounding the problem is that in most Asean countries, victims of trafficking are seen more as undocumented workers and illegal migrants who should be punished rather than helped. Employers who take on illegal migrants are rarely punished for keeping their workers in debt bondage or involuntary servitude.

Joining the global initiative to end this modern-day slavery, the Asean member countries have signed the Asean Convention Against Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children (ACTIP). The good news is that ACTIP has entered into force after the Philippines became the sixth Asean member state to ratify the convention last February.

ACTIP is the first regionally binding instrument on trafficking in persons, and is aimed at preventing and combating trafficking in persons, especially women and children; ensuring just and effective punishment of traffickers; protecting and assisting victims of trafficking in persons with full respect for their human rights; and promoting cooperation in the fight against trafficking in persons among the Asean member-states.

Since the fight against trafficking in persons requires inter-country and multi-sectoral collaboration, capacity-building activities like the recent regional workshop allow Asean member-states to share good practices, and more importantly, identify areas where there can be effective domestic and regional cooperation and coordination, especially since human-trafficking is mostly a transnational crime.

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John Oliver’s plan for Theresa May: send Lord Buckethead to negotiate Brexit – The Guardian

Posted: at 8:02 pm

John Oliver addressed last weeks UK election, the colorful slew of joke candidates that took on Theresa May and Jeremy Corbyn, and the forthcoming Brexit negotiations.

On Sundays episode of HBOs Last Week Tonight, Oliver began: The United Kingdom, the country thats been saying yas queen! for centuries, held a national election this week. There wasnt actually due to be one for three years, but prime minister Theresa May called it early. Its called a snap election and she did it to consolidate her power, although it dint quite work out that way.

Yes, this was a clusterfuck or, to be more precise, a crumpet-fuck, of epic proportions, Oliver said, referring to the hung parliament that emerged from last Thursdays election. Theresa May is hanging onto her job by a thread. To stay in power, shes attempting to cut a distasteful deal with the DUP, a hardline anti-gay, anti-abortion party in Northern Ireland, which has opened her up to even more criticism. Meanwhile, there are rumors of a leadership challenge from within her own party by Boris Johnson, a grown man who perpetually looks like a seven-year-old who just spun in circles for three minutes and is about to throw up.

British politics has a proud tradition of having all candidates stand together on the stage when the results are announced, Oliver explained, in reference to the many joke candidates who ran for parliament. Which means that on election night, as her party was dealt a massive blow, the prime minister had to stand on stage alongside Elmo, who got three votes, as well as Howling Laud Hope of the Monster Raving Loony party, who got 119 votes.

Oliver went on to introduce the candidate Lord Buckethead, the recipient of 249 votes in Mays Maidenhead constituency, who seemed to elicit a subtle eye-roll from the prime minister.

You can roll your eyes all you like, Theresa, Oliver quipped, but your evening just found a way to get a lot worse. And for the record, Lord Buckethead is an intergalactic space lord who ran on a platform of, among other things, the abolition of the House of Lords (except me) and stop selling arms to Saudi Arabia, start buying lasers from Lord Buckethead. And he did this all while looking like Darth Vader fucked an Amazon Echo.

Oliver went on to stress the importance of last weeks election as it pertains to the UKs forthcoming Brexit negotiations with the EU, which begin next Monday and must be completed by March 2019.

Broadly speaking, Oliver said, the question is whether the UK will have a hard or a soft Brexit. Within that hard/soft framework are decisions that will affect a lot of lives. Take immigration. There are currently 3 million EU citizens living in the UK and 1.2 million British citizens living in Europe, all of whom presumably wouldnt mind knowing where theyre going to be allowed to live and what their rights might be in just two years time.

In eight days, the UK is set to walk into a negotiation with no real leverage, no significant political mandate, and no coherent plan, Oliver said, noting that the issue of trade is fraught with difficulty, particularly since two-thirds of the UKs agricultural exports go to the European Union. I dont really have a solution to that, but I do have a proposal for Theresa May, because at this point you have basically fucked everything up and your only real chance here is to utilize the element of surprise.

So how about instead of sending a career negotiator, why not send someone that there is no way they would expect? Oliver joked. Im talking about someone bold, unafraid to call it how it is. Someone with a firm, leather-clad grasp of the issues. Someone with a bucket-list of demands and an honest, slightly muffled voice. Thats right, Im talking about the intergalactic space lord himself.

Oliver ended the monologue with a surprise visit from Lord Buckethead and a suggestion for May: If you are still prime minister by the time this show airs, I implore you, send the Dark Lord for Brussels. Is it an absurd idea? Yes. But it would not even be close to the stupidest thing that you have ever done.

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Selfie by Will Storr review me, my selfie and I in an age of ego – The Guardian

Posted: at 8:02 pm

Donald Trump, posing with a supporter, personifies the psychological and moral malady that Selfie investigates. Photograph: Chris Keane/Reuters

Infatuated with his own reflection in a pool, Narcissus pined away and died of self-love. Freud diagnosed this folly as a perversion, a neurotic choice of sterile solitude, but the warning was futile. The iPhone has mechanised narcissism and a gadget meant to facilitate communication with others has caused its most addicted users to behave like long-lost Kardashian cousins, cheesily grinning as they document their unexceptional doings.

In his book on the phenomenon, Will Storr interviews a young woman who has hundreds of thousands of selfies stored on memory cards, a hard drive and a sagging, overburdened iCloud. She frequently works through the night to edit and filter her daily quota of new images in readiness for disseminating them on social media. The unexamined life may not be worth living, but do all lives deserve to be examined in such redundant detail? Storrs informant goes on to confess that she feels most alive when slashing her flesh with a razor blade.

Storr finds no remedy for his self-dislike, and instead concludes that the self is a false divinity

Self-obsession, Storr suspects, is a reflex of self-dissatisfaction or self-dislike, a symptom of social perfectionism that pushes some of its victims towards suicide. His imposing survey traverses centuries of what we thought was progress to show how we reached this psychic dead end. Selfie begins in the tribal wilderness, locally known as Walthamstow. Here, Storr encounters a contemporary version of those alpha chimps that roared and brawled their way to dominance in the jungle: a bouncer and gangland enforcer, now meekly repentant after a religious conversion, who represents the self at its most bestial and atavistic.

The next stop is classical Greece, where the long story of the human began when Aristotle separated the individual from the rest of nature; as a consequence, the idealised self became a living work of art. Christianity then endowed the Greek body with a soul and forced it to chasten the sinful flesh. Storr, conscientiously working his way through the eras, comes to understand the process by suffering a week of medieval self-mortification in a dank Scottish monastery.

From here the book hops to blithe California. On that last frontier, western individualism arrives at its most extreme and absurd development: the old-fashioned idea of what novelists call character, a sober amalgam of virtues and defects, has here given way to the glitzy notion of personality, projected in all those self-made, self-congratulating iPhone images. Storr signs on for a course of humanistic alternative education in a yurt on a cliff beside the ocean at Big Sur and is ordered by a bossy therapist to shed his adult inhibitions and return to being the juvenile delinquent he once was. The experience, as he reports it, is hilarious but unenlightening.

Storrs final stop is in Silicon Valley, whose slick entrepreneurs transformed the computer from a bureaucratic machine into a plaything for the self and its galleries of exponentiating snapshots. Promoters babble about the Synthetic Age, predicting that we will soon evolve into a post-human species, although not everyone is ready for the future. Storr recalls a geeky genius with a scheme for biohacking our DNA. Rehearsing to play God, he devised a means of synthesising probiotics to waft away vaginal odours. He called his formula Sweet Peach, and sold it as a means of personal empowerment. But angry feminists turned on him, unready to have their private parts refreshed, and he ended by hanging himself in his lab. Rather than waiting around for the promised transformation of the universe, Storr comes home to England, where we are grubbily inured to imperfection.

Selfie is as much autobiography as cultural history. Storr was prompted to write it by a slew of personal problems, leftovers from a troubled adolescence combined with middle-aged revulsion at the lardy bib beneath his shirt, the result of weekends sunk into the sofa, surrounded by pizza boxes. He finds no remedy for his self-dislike and, instead, concludes that the self is a false divinity. Worshipping it, we ignore profounder truths. Were connected, Storr reminds us, were a highly social species. Narcissus died because he forgot he belonged to the human family.

This all-seeing book has one blind spot. Caught off guard by Trumps electoral success, Storr mentions him only briefly as a sumptuously narcissistic self-publicist with a liking for Ayn Rands neofascist fiction. The ogre with the gilded quiff, the petulantly pouting mouth and the aggressive elbows merits closer inspection: Trump personifies the psychological and moral malady that Selfie investigates.

One of the experts consulted by Storr refers to a dark power immensely powerful and concerned solely with pursuing its own interests at the expense of everyone else in the world. That quote is a generalised account of the ego; scarily, it also serves as a description of Trump, a puffed-up primate with a nuclear arsenal at his disposal. Storr even indirectly explains Trumps chronic mendacity: at our most crassly selfish, we act on irrational urges or fits of pique that we or brown-nosed apologists such as Sean Sphincter try to justify after the event by confabulating, inventing pretexts for our behaviour that are convenient but patently phoney.

A therapeutic industry caters to the self-esteem or self-delusion of such egomaniacs; it cossets them, Storr suggests, because their competitive frenzy masks an inner hollowness, a noisy denial of their own weaknesses or incompetences. The presidents current state of flailing mayhem could not be more pithily summed up. Trump is obsessed with winning: the worst he can say about jihadis is to insult them as losers, even when they have catastrophically succeeded in slaughtering the innocent.

Politics, for Trump, exemplifies what Storr rather awkwardly calls the gamification of human life. He viewed the presidential campaign as a game show and, after the wonky arithmetic of the electoral college awarded him the prize, assumed that he could look forward to eight years of victory laps and ego-boosting pep rallies, punctuated by recuperative spells watching alt-right rants on his panoramic TV screen. He didnt expect to be exposed to scorn rather than acclaim. Still less did he reckon on having to do an arduous and uniquely complicated job. His former life, he now complains, was easier and more enjoyable: as a celebrity, his sole obligation was self-display.

It remains to be seen whether the superego, policing quaint old-fashioned concerns such as ethics and honesty, will manage to restrain this monster. Surely Trumps permatan isnt armour-plated? On the evidence of Selfie, the world is suffering from a bad case of the DTs and we urgently need detoxing.

Selfie by Will Storr is published by Picador (18.99). To order a copy for 16.14 go to bookshop.theguardian.com or call 0330 333 6846. Free UK p&p over 10, online orders only. Phone orders min p&p of 1.99

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Qatar’s Crisis is About Freedom of Expression – EFF

Posted: at 8:01 pm

The tiny Gulf country of Qatar is in crisis. Over the past few weeks, members of the Gulf Cooperation Council have systematically sought to isolate and suffocate the country, accusing Qatar of supporting extremism, severing diplomatic ties, and calling upon their allies to do the same.

It is not only a diplomatic crisis, but a crisis for free expression in an already restrictive region. As some analysts have pointed out, the singling out of Qatar has as much to do with the countrys alleged support of terrorism as it does with neighboring countries desire to shutter Al Jazeera, Qatars flagship media organization.

Al Jazeera, a comprehensive media outlet funded by the Qatari government with several international satellite television channels, websites, and online video operations, is not exactly a beacon of free expressionit rarely reports negatively on Qatar or other Gulf countries, for examplebut it has stood strong in its reporting on the Arab region and much of the world, covering topics that other outlets often ignore.

Although the country restricts access to some websites and outlaws criticism of its rulers, it has nevertheless set itself apart as a regional media leader. Al Araby Al Jadeed (The New Arab) and Huffington Post Arabi are just two of the online media outlets to emerge from the country in recent years.

Its Gulf neighborsnamely Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE)offer a much more restrictive online environment, with each blocking numerous websites, including international media. Now, as they seek to isolate Qatar, theyre homing in on its media and using the internet as a means to an end.

It all began just a few days after President Trumps May 22 meeting with Gulf leaders in Saudi Arabia, when Qatar News Agency (QNA) published comments critical of the United States attributed to the countrys ruler, Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. Al Jazeera claimed QNA's site had been hacked, but satellite channels from the UAE and Saudi Arabia reported the comments as legitimate and subsequently blocked Al Jazeeras main website on May 24.

From there, things escalated quickly: on May 25, Egypt blocked access to Al Jazeera and other Qatari-funded news sites, and took the opportunity to also block local independent site Mada Masr. Saudi Arabia and Jordanfollowed suit by revoking Al Jazeeras license and closing its offices.

And now, under the pretext of cybercrime (a favored means of repression in the region), Qatars neighbors are seeking to prosecute anyone who speaks favorably about the country. The UAE has threatened up to 15 years in prison or debilitating fines for anyone who shows sympathy to embattled Qatar, while Bahrains Ministry of Interior announced penalties of up to five years imprisonment on their website. SaudiNews tweeted that the government of Saudi Arabia would impose up to five years imprisonment for pro-Qatar speech as well, on the grounds of the countrys 2007 cybercrime law, which bans material impinging on public order. The kingdom took their restrictions a step further, banning satellite TV from hotels to prevent visitors from watching Al Jazeera. Finally, on June 8, Al Jazeera suffered a massive cyberattack.

These restrictions, as well as restrictions on travel to and from Qatar, are pushing the embattled country into isolation and threatening the economy and livelihood of Qatars residents and citizens. But they also set a dangerous precedent in an already extremely restrictive environment for freedom of expression: the use of economic and travel sanctions to shut down a powerful media outlet and further, punish anyone who speaks out against that act.

As a media leader in the region, Qatar has an important role of providing news coverage to citizens in the Gulf and beyond. And while press freedom still has a long way to go in Qatar, further suppression of human rights by members of the GCC is not the answer. EFF condemns the Council's attempts to sever diplomatic ties with the country and silence Qatari media outlets, like Al Jazeera, under the guise of combating terrorism. Supporting Qatar's media environment, and helping it become more free, is an imperative.

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Remarks by the Vice President to the Faith and Freedom Coalition – The White House (blog)

Posted: at 8:01 pm

Omni Shoreham Hotel Washington, D.C.

THE VICE PRESIDENT: Thank you for that wonderful warm welcome. Thank you to my friend Ralph. All the distinguished guests who are here, members of Congress, our honorees, it is great to be back at the Faith and Freedom Coalition, the greatest pro-family, pro-freedom grassroots organization in the United States of America. (Applause.)

And I am very honored to have the opportunity to help wrap up what I hear has been a great, great week in Washington, D.C. and be able to speak at this 2017 Road to Majority Policy Conference. You know, normally its my job to bring greetings from my boss, but I know you already heard from him on Thursday. (Applause.) And let me tell you, what you saw two days ago is what I see every single day: a leader with broad shoulders and a big heart, a believer, and an unapologetic champion of the God-given liberties enshrined in the Constitution of the United States, the 45th President of the United States of America, President Donald Trump. (Applause.) Thanks to the support of the Faith and Freedom Coalition, last November President Trump won a historic victory. More counties than any President since Ronald Reagan -- 30 of 50 states, states no Republican had carried in a generation. President Donald Trump turned the blue wall red, and we thank you for the support that made that possible. (Applause.) As the Good Book says: If you owe debts, pay debts. If honor, then honor. If respect, then respect. And Im really here just to pay a debt of gratitude to all of you who helped elect a President who is fighting every day to restore freedom in the country and to make this country great and strong once again. The President said it on Thursday, but its worth repeating -- the Faith and Freedom Coalition knocked on 1.2 million doors, made 10 million phone calls, sent out 22 million pieces of mail, distributed 30 million voter guides, and most importantly you elected one President who will never stop fighting for the values and ideals that make this nation great. (Applause.) And as we look out across this room, we see more friends than we can count; people that Ive known for years; people Ive stood together with in my days in the Congress, my days as a governor. Weve fought the good fight in this movement together. And so before I go on let me just take a moment to say how humbling it is for me to stand before my friends of so many years as the 48th Vice President of the United States of America. Thank you, thank you for giving my little family the opportunity to serve. (Applause.) And speaking of my family, on Thursday night, we celebrated the 32nd anniversary of my marriage to the most wonderful woman in the world. (Applause.) Faith and grace and immense patience. Would you all welcome my wonderful wife, Karen Pence, the Second Lady of the United States of America? (Applause.) It really is remarkable to think about everything the Faith and Freedom Coalition has achieved since your founding in 2009. In just eight years youve built chapters in all 50 states, brought together more than 1.7 million members and grassroots activists. And theres a lot of reason for your success. Because while this group may be young, the values you stand for are timeless. But let me express a special thanks to a man who made tonight possible, a leader Ive known for many years who literally has devoted his life to defending his extraordinary talents and his entire life to defending faith and freedom in America, ladies and gentlemen, would you just give a rousing round of appreciative applause to Ralph Reed. (Applause.) This whole room is filled with patrons and patriots, all people -- each of one of you that has made an extraordinary difference in the life of this country, and I know youll continue. But its a particular joy for me tonight to be a part of a celebration of someone who deserves that description more than maybe anyone else Ive ever met in this movement, the recipient of the Winston Churchill Lifetime Achievement Award, my mentor and my friend, Dr. James Dobson. (Applause.) I have long held the view that I dont think less of people who think more highly of me than I think of myself. (Laughter.) And throughout my public career, as hes been in the lives of so many men and women in public life, and in ministry, and in business, Dr. James Dobson has been a source of counsel and encouragement to me and my family all along the way. Dr. Dobson, the truth is this award doesnt actually do you justice. Youve done more for faith and freedom in your lifetime than, as Ralph just said, any one person could do in 10 lifetimes. Although I do think that its probably mostly due to the fact that you married way up. (Laughter.) Would you all give Shirley Dobson another big round of applause? She is an amazing woman, and amazing lady. (Applause.) From the heart I have to tell you, Dr. Dobson, your faith, your matchless voice on the airwaves, the enormous body of written work that you've created in a lifetime has inspired millions. And not only is your country grateful, but I say with confidence: Great is your reward. Youve made an eternal difference in the lives of millions. (Applause.) Ladies and gentlemen, one more time for Dr. James Dobson. Would you mind? This truly is a gathering of consequence, of conviction, and courage. Let me echo what the President said to you just two days ago. He acknowledged that all of you fought hard -- and you fought hard for him and now rest assured, I see it every day, he is fighting hard for all of you. (Applause.) Even before he took his oath of office, President Trump has been keeping his promise to the men and women gathered here and all those you represent across this country. For starters, our President I believe has assembled one of the strongest conservative Cabinets in the history of the United States of America. (Applause.) How about U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley? (Applause.) How about Secretary of Defense Jim Mad Dog Mattis? (Applause.) And how about the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, Dr. Ben Carson? (Applause.) That's the A-Team. And since day one, this President has taken decisive action to make this country great again. President Trump told you on Thursday and I can tell you its true that he will in his words battle for every American who has lost a job, for every family who has lost a loved one, for every American of faith who has lost their rights and lost their freedom. That's exactly what hes done. Our President has been busy since the first day of this administration, rolling back big government, slashing through red tape. In fact, this President has signed more bills into law rolling back federal regulations and red tape than any President in American history. (Applause.) Hes unleashing American energy and unburdening American businesses. Hes putting America back to work, and hes fighting every day to put America First, which was on full display just last week, when President Donald Trump pulled the United States of America out of the Paris climate accord. (Applause.) Its amazing to think that international deal the last administration entered into would have cost 6.5 million jobs in this country in the next 25 years, imposed incredible burdens on the American people while at the same time allowing countries like China and India to get off virtually scot-free. In his decision, the President put American workers first. He put Americas future first. And I promise you that President Donald Trump will always put America First! (Applause.) This President also knows that security is the foundation of our prosperity. That's why President Trump has been standing without apology for the men and women of law enforcement and those who protect our borders. (Applause.) Hes rebuilding our military and restoring Americas place in the world. Hes been standing with our allies and standing up to our enemies. And if the world knows nothing else, the world will know this, under President Donald Trump, America stands with Israel. (Applause.) And this President has been keeping faith with the Constitution of the United States and the God-given liberties enshrined there. Just last month, I had the great privilege to stand beside President Trump as he signed an executive order to help strengthen and restore that most fundamental right from the First Amendment of the Constitution, the freedom of religion. (Applause.) Speaking from the Rose Garden, President Trump declared in his words that the federal government will never, ever penalize any person for their protected religious beliefs. (Applause.) And he directed our Department of Justice to ensure the freedom of religion of every American is protected. And our President began to ensure that the pulpits of America would be free, as well, to start the process to roll back the Johnson Amendment because free speech shouldnt stop at the doors of our churches, synagogues, and places of worship. (Applause.) Just rest assured, President Trump is going to continue to fight to ensure that every American has the freedom to follow the dictates of their conscience, and to add their voices and their values to the beautiful tapestry of our American life. And this President has also stood strongly on the world stage with those who are persecuted for faith around the globe. Under President Donald Trump, America has made it clear: This nation condemns persecution of any faith in any place at any time, and we will confront it with all of our abilities in the world. (Applause.) Protecting and promoting religious freedom is a foreign policy priority of this administration. And President Trump will fight every day for this fundamental right, at home and abroad. You know, its the greatest privilege of my life to serve as Vice President, as well, to a President who is so committed to protecting our most cherished freedoms. But honestly, I couldnt be more proud to stand shoulder to shoulder with a President who stands without apology for the sanctity of human life. (Applause.) And its not just been words, its been deeds. In one of the very first acts in office, President Trump reinstated the Mexico City Policy banning public funding of abortion providers abroad, and last month our President expanded that policy to cover nearly $9 billion in American foreign aid. (Applause.) And it was my great honor with my wife at my side to have the President personally send me to be the first Vice President ever to speak at the annual March for Life. (Applause.) He signed also into law legislation that will empower states to withhold federal funding from abortion providers, and Im humbled to say that at the Presidents direction, I had the opportunity to cast the tie-breaking vote in the United States Senate. (Applause.) And when President Donald Trump signs the bill to repeal and replace Obamacare, we will defund Planned Parenthood once and for all. (Applause.) And when it comes to those God-given liberties, theres one more thing this President has done. As a candidate for President, this President made a commitment to appoint strong conservatives to our federal courts and to the highest court in the land. He made a pledge, particularly when it came to Supreme Court, that he would nominate a jurist in the mold of the late and great Justice Antonin Scalia. And he did just that when he nominated and we confirmed Justice Neil Gorsuch to the Supreme Court on the United States of America. (Applause.) So weve been busy, folks. But as the President likes to say, thats just what we call a good start. (Laughter.) Truth is, we got a lot of work to do, make no mistake about it. Before this summer, job one is were going to work with this Congress -- the men and women in Republican majorities -- and we will repeal and replace Obamacare. (Applause.) I bet I dont have to tell the Faith and Freedom Coalition members and supporters why this failed law has got to go. Just last month, our administration released a new study proving that Obamacare has made health insurance unaffordable for millions of Americans. In just four years -- get this -- Obamacare as more than doubled the average health insurance premiums on the individual markets. In some states, theyre up nearly 200 percent. President Obama promised that Americans would save up to $2,500 on their premiums, but the average premium cost today is nearly $3,000 a year more for Americans than it was in 2013. And its only going to get worse because premiums are spiking by double digits next year and the choices are plummeting. Obamacare is in a death spiral and more and more insurance companies are bailing on this failed law every single day. States across America lost 83 insurers in 2017 alone. In fact, at this very moment, a third of American counties and five whole states only have one choice of insurance company under Obamacare, meaning they essentially have no choice. And come next year, tens of thousands of Americans or more wont have any insurance coverage at all. Just this week, more than 13,000 people in Ohio learned that theyll have no Obamacare coverage next year. In Missouri, 25 counties may be without Obamacare plans. And in Iowa, where I was just about a week ago, it looks like, very soon, 94 of the 99 counties could have no Obamacare to choose from, leaving tens of thousands of working families, small businesses, and family farmers without access to healthcare coverage they need. And folks, remember, its not just the statistics. Were talking about real people in the midst of a real healthcare crisis. Good people, like Julie Champine, who I met with today in Wisconsin. I had the privilege to chat with her on my visit to Milwaukee. Julies been buying health insurance for her family on the individual market since 2004. Shes really a great lady to talk to -- great family, has worked hard in business, she and her husband together. But Julie confided in me, she has some health issues. And health insurance is vitally important to her. Now Julie said she wanted to believe that when President Obama promised her that she could keep her plan, she could keep her doctor that it was true. But it just wasnt. Julie lost her familys health plan. She told me she lost her doctor. And ever since Julies been forced to buy health insurance on the Obamacare exchange, and the simple truth is, as she told me today with emotion in her voice, she just -- she cant afford it. In 2016 alone, Julies Obamacare plan cost more than $9,000 in premiums with a deductible of $13,000. Late last year, she found out her premiums were going to go up by another $2,600 this year. Folks, Julies Obamacare plan cost more than her mortgage and she cant even afford to use it. In fact, because of Obamacare, Julie told me that she actually chose, last Christmas, to stop paying for health insurance for three months just so she could afford Christmas presents for her kids and grandkids. Folks, thats just plain wrong. No American should ever have to choose between paying for their health insurance and providing for their families. Its heartbreaking. (Applause.) She basically said, under Obamacare, we have no hope. But I looked her in the eye, put my hand on her shoulder, and I said, Julie, help is on the way. (Applause.) You know, the truth is, Julie is the face of Obamacares failures but she is the face of tens of millions of Americans who are living proof that Obamacare is collapsing and taking the American people down with it. You know, youd have to be blinded by partisanship to believe otherwise. And unfortunately, theres a lot of people who are blinded by partisanship. And you can find all of them in the Democrat minority in the House and Senate here in Washington, D.C. (Applause.) I mean, look, theyre the ones who gave us Obamacare, and now they wont lift a finger to help us rescue the American people from the mess they made. Thats why we need this road to majority -- to keep the pressure on the Congress and help President Trump and Congress finish what we started. And I promise you, President Trump will not rest, will not relent until we rescue the American people from the disaster of Obamacare and give our country the world-class healthcare the American people deserve. (Applause.) Thats a promise. And after we repeal and replace Obamacare, were going to keep right on going. Were going to roll our sleeves up working with this Congress. Before the end of this year, were going to pass the biggest tax cut since the days of Ronald Reagan. (Applause.) Were going to cut taxes across the board for working families, small businesses, and family farms. This President is going to make the American tax code simpler, flatter, and fairer for everyone. You know, theres an old joke about the tax code. They say its 10 times the size of the Bible with none of the good news. (Laughter and applause.) Well, heres some real good news: Were going to put more money in taxpayers pockets and give American families and American business the relief they need to grow. (Applause.) And were not going to stop there. Under the Presidents leadership, were going to continue to rein in wasteful government spending, restore fiscal responsibility to Washington, D.C., and with Betsy DeVos as Secretary of Education, were going to expand educational choices so every child in America has access to a world-class education regardless of their income, regardless of their area code. (Applause.) Most important of all, this President will continue to stand up for and stand with the brave men and women who protect our freedom and our way of life every day. (Applause.) Now, Karen and I are the proud parents of a lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps. (Applause.) And as a parents of a member of our armed forces, I tell you what, I couldnt be more proud to serve with a President who is so committed to the men and women of the Armed Forces of the United States of America. President Trump is the best friend the Armed Forces of the United States will ever have. (Applause.) You know, today, we received a heartbreaking reminder of the risks that our service men and women face in the defense of freedom. As I traveled to Wisconsin this afternoon, I was informed that three American soldiers were killed and one wounded in a terrible attack in Afghanistan. The Bible tells us that no greater love has a man than this, than he should lay down his life for his friends. Let me say from the heart, when heroes fall, Americans grieve. And tonight, our thoughts and prayers are with the families of these American heroes. We honor their service, their sacrifice, and we always will. (Applause.) We honor them by remembering, but we also honor them by ensuring that those that they left behind in uniform have the resources and training to accomplish their mission. And I want to promise you, President Donald Trump will not rest and will not relent until we rebuild our military, restore the arsenal of democracy, and once again give our soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines, and Coast Guard the resources and the training they need to accomplish their mission and come home safe. (Applause.) The supplemental budget that Congress just put on the Presidents desk had the largest increase in military spending in the last 10 years. And the budget that the President submitted to the Congress for next year has the largest increase in defense spending since the administration of President Ronald Reagan. Were going to rebuild our military. (Applause.) And with that strong support, I would report to you our armed forces are in the fight. Theyre taking the fight to terrorists on our terms, on their soil. And ISIS is on the run. And under this Commander-in-Chief, we will hunt down and destroy ISIS at its source so that it can no longer threaten our people, our allies, or our very way of life. As the President said, this bloodshed must end -- this bloodshed will end. (Applause.) Men and women of the Faith and Freedom Coalition, President Donald Trump is a man of his word. And hes a man of action. And I promise you, whatever the national media is spending its time talking about on any given day -- (laughter) -- President Donald Trump will never stop fighting to make America safe again, to make America prosperous again. He will stay in the fight, and I know you will too. You know, all of you have helped our President get this far, and I really just came tonight to say thanks, and to be here when you honored my friend. I want to thank you for everything youve done. But make no mistake about it, the harder work -- maybe the most important work -- is in front of us, not behind us. (Applause.) From this day forward, President Trump needs every ounce of your energy, your enthusiasm, your conviction, your time, your talent, and your treasure. But we also need, maybe, one other thing in these divided times. In these times of widening challenges at home and abroad, seemingly unknowable threats, and also a time of uncharacteristic division in America, I know youre the right people for me to encourage to do one more thing. And that is pray for America. (Applause.) And Im not -- you know, on this one, Im not so much talking about praying for a cause or praying for an issue. Im always very moved by what President Abraham Lincoln said in his time when he was asked whether he believed that God was on the side of the Union Army. President Lincoln responded memorably. He said, rather than considering whether God is on our side, I think its better for us to consider whether we are on Gods side. So why dont we just pray for America, for all the people of America, and for the future of this great land. (Applause.) And when you pray, pray with confidence. Because I truly do believe that those ancient words, spoke millennia ago and enshrined in the hearts of every American. Words that have seen the people of this country through trials much greater than those that we face today. That if His people, who are called by His name, will humble themselves and pray, Hell do like Hes always done in the long and storied history of this land. Hell hear from heaven, and Hell heal this land. This one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. (Applause.) Thank you. God bless you and God bless the United States of America. END

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Remarks by the Vice President to the Faith and Freedom Coalition - The White House (blog)

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VP leads Freedom Day rites – Inquirer.net

Posted: at 8:01 pm

VP Leni Robredo leads the flag raising ceremony and wreath laying during the 119th Independence day celebration held at Rizal Park in Manila. also in photo from left: Rene Escalante NHCP, Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada, Executive Sec Salvador Medialdea and DFA Sec Rene Cayetano Jr. INQUIRER PHOTO/JOAN BONDOC

Tired and not feeling well, President Duterte skipped his first Independence Day rites at Rizal Park in Manila on Monday.

In his stead, Vice President Leni Robredo led the flag-raising and wreath-laying at the monument of national hero Jose Rizal.

Foreign Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano said the President was not feeling well after visiting on Sunday afternoon soldiers wounded in the fighting in Marawi City and then condoling later in the evening with the families of the slain Marines.

You know that the President has been working 24/7meeting the troops, meeting the commandersand then late last night visiting the wounded and those who died, Cayetano told reporters at Rizal Park. Its nothing to worry about its just that hes not feeling well, tired and lacking in sleep.

I dont have the full details but I received the call around 5:30 this morning and I talked to his people and inquired and was told that theres no problem. Hes OK but tired and doesnt feel that well. Its better to rest, he said.

Mr. Duterte went to Villamor Air Base after arriving in Manila from Mindanao to condole with the families of eight of the 13 Marines who were slain in Marawi on Friday. He then went to the Philippine Marines headquarters in Fort Bonifacio to visit the wake of two other Marines killed in Marawi.

Palace event canceled

Last week, Malacaang canceled the traditional Independence Day vin dhonneur reception at the Palace so that Mr. Duterte could attend to pressing matters in Mindanao.

He doesnt feel giving a toast while soldiers are dying and evacuees are in provinces surrounding Marawi, Cayetano said.

As you know, the target was to liberate Marawi today, June 12, but as you can see yourselves the problem is complex and there are so many developments but we hope to resolve this once and for all, he added.

The heroism of government troops who died battling terrorists in Marawi was extolled in separate celebrations in Kawit, Cavite province, where the nations independence from Spain was proclaimed 119 years ago, and at Barasoain Church in Malolos, Bulacan province, which hosted the assembly that established the first Philippine Republic in 1899.

Modern Katipuneros

Many lives have been lost in the fighting, Sen. Panfilo Lacson said at the Aguinaldo Shrine in Kawit. I would like to honor our countrys modern-day Katipuneros: the soldiers and policemen, who day and night offer their lives in the name of public service to protect peace and our safety against criminality and other plagues of the society.

Lacson said that fighting for the country did not end when President Emilio Aguinaldo declared independence in 1898. He said freedom should not be a mere chapter of history but something that had to be protected for the sake of generations to come.

He told reporters he would also support a move by Cavite representatives to declare March 22, the birth date of Aguinaldo, a national holiday.

On the Barasoain Church grounds in the City of Malolos in Bulacan province, Sen. Loren Legarda led a moment of silence as a wreath was offered for the soldiers, policemen and civilians killed in the fighting with Islamist terrorists in Marawi.

Legarda said it was fitting to dedicate the Independence Day celebration to those who have invested their lives for freedom.

In his speech at Pinaglabanan Shrine in San Juan City, Sen. Sonny Angara called for unity in the face of the Marawi conflict.

Theres a mix of sadness in todays celebration of our Independence Day upon hearing the 11 p.m. news that 58 soldiers and policemen have died due to the clashes in Marawi City, he said, adding he hoped that the conflict in Mindanao would soon be resolved.

Seeds of revolution

The Battle of Pinaglabanan in August 1896 resulted in the great losses to Andres Bonifacio and the Katipunan but it lit the fire and planted the seeds of revolution that eventually resulted in the proclamation of independence in 1898.

In the morning, the Philippine flag was raised simultaneously in San Juan City and other historical parts of the country.

Let us unite so that our prayers would reach the citizens, that amid the violence and turmoil, they will be safe and that our police and soldiers would gain the strength and courage to keep fighting for our flag, Angara said.

In Angeles City in Pampanga province, Mayor Edgardo Pamintuan urged Filipinos to pray for peace in Marawi and for the eternal repose of the fallen troops.

During a dramatization of the countrys revolutionary struggles for freedom, local artists performed a skit about the clashes between government troops and terrorists in Marawi.

In her Independence Day message, Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno urged the Filipino people to remember those who have fought for and continue to fight for our countrys freedom and sovereignty.

Sereno skipped the flag-raising ceremony and Independence Day rites at the Bonifacio Monument in Caloocan City as she attended the preliminary conference of the oral arguments on the three petitions challenging President Dutertes martial law proclamation in Mindanao, according to Theodore Te, the Supreme Court spokesperson.

The judiciary pays homage to all Filipino heroes, draws inspiration from them, reflects with sorrow on the fallen in Marawi and renews its commitment to the people to defend their freedoms, Sereno said.

We celebrate the valor of our fallen heroes present and past, all of who sacrificed lives and wealth, safety and comfort, she added.

Just and humane

In his first Independence Day message as foreign secretary, Cayetano said the Philippines remained in good standing in the international community as the country faced threats of terrorism and crimes.

He insisted that the country would pursue an independent foreign policy while the Duterte administration continued the fight for freedom from poverty, crime, illegal drugs and corruption.

He also hailed the more than 10 million Filipino workers who labored overseas to provide for their families at home.

As a nation, we Filipinos on bended knees implore the aid of Almighty God to guide us to maintain a just and humane society, especially amid the threats of international terrorism and international crimes, Cayetano said, without mentioning the militarys campaign to dislodge terrorists entrenched in Marawi.

At the same time, we stand tall as Filipinos as the Philippines is a responsible and respected member of the community of nations, he said.

Last week, 32 countries from Europe expressed deep concern over extrajudicial killings related to the antidrug campaign and urged the government to allow the UN special rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, Agnes Callamard, to investigate without preconditions or limitations. WITH REPORTS FROM MARICAR CINCO, MARLON RAMOS, DONA Z. PAZZIBUGAN, JODEE A. AGONCILLO, CARMELA REYES-ESTROPE, VILLAMOR VISAYA JR. AND TONETTE OREJAS

Subscribe to INQUIRER PLUS to get access to The Philippine Daily Inquirer & other 70+ titles, share up to 5 gadgets, listen to the news, download as early as 4am & share articles on social media. Call 896 6000.

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VP leads Freedom Day rites - Inquirer.net

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No attack on freedom of press, says Venkaiah Naidu – Hindustan Times

Posted: at 8:01 pm

The NDA government believes in freedom of press as it wants a vibrant media for betterment of democracy, union information and broadcasting minister M Venkaiah Naidu said on Monday.

We will never compromise on press freedom. The government will never interfere except when the issue relates to national security, unity and integrity of the country and the established social order comes under threat, he said.

The Modi government has come under fire over the recent CBI raids on the homes and head offices of Delhi-based NDTV. Many journalists have termed the incident as muzzling the press freedom.

You can see how much criticism the government faces from the media. Even the prime minister is criticised, but the government never meddles with it, Naidu said.

He said a Delhi-based national daily never hesitates to write worst on Narendra Modi.

But we have not reacted, he said, adding giving a political colour to the NDTV case is unfortunate.

Rejecting allegations of attack on freedom of press in the NDTV case, the BJP leader said, The ongoing investigation against NDTV is in no way an attack on press freedom. It will be better if they (NDTV) cooperate with the ongoing probe.

The Union minister was here to attend a Sabka Saath Sabka Bikas programme.

Is it wrong if there is a probe on an allegation against management or owner of a media company? Shouldnt an allegation be probed? he asked.

He said the allegations against the NDTV were made way back in 2011-12 when Narendra Modi was in Gujarat.

The allegation was made when Manmohanji was the Prime Minister, Chidambaram a minister and Rahul Gandhi was managing the government, he said.

Meanwhile, a group of journalists here staged a demonstration during Naidus visit.

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No attack on freedom of press, says Venkaiah Naidu - Hindustan Times

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Gay equality and abortion laws ‘a threat’ to religious freedom, argues Family Council of WA – The West Australian

Posted: at 8:01 pm

Laws on abortion, euthanasia and gay equality are increasingly undermining religious freedom, a family values group has warned.

The Family Council of WA, representing the Salvation Army and a dozen other action groups, has raised major concerns about proposed laws it claims are a direct threat to basic rights.

In its submission to a Federal inquiry into freedom of religion, the council cites proposed changes to abortion laws in Victoria and Tasmania that would force medical practitioners opposed to abortion to make referrals to doctors prepared to carry out the procedure.

It also raises concerns about WA Premier Mark McGowans support of the controversial Safe Schools anti-bullying program, claiming the scheme pressures students into accepting homosexuality as normal.

The concept of freedom of religion and belief, of individuals and organisations, has been the basis of Western civilisation for centuries, the submission says.

These rights are increasingly threatened, even eliminated, by relentless governmental legislative action.

The council argues that governments allowing and encouraging Safe Schools Coalition materials in their schools are blatantly in breach of provisions in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

It also suggests proposed legislation dealing with physician-assisted suicide clearly contravenes freedom of religion and belief because it lacks an option for doctors to abstain from ending the life of a terminally ill patient on the basis that they have a conscientious objection.

In its submission, Public Health Association of Australia says discussion of the right to freedom of religion must acknowledge the tensions that exist between religion and the rights of women, female children and people of diverse gender and sexuality.

The right to freedom of religion may be limited, the association says. It is recommended that discrimination against women, female children and people who are not heteronormative in sexuality or gender be prohibited even where that discrimination is grounded in religious belief.

The inquiry has also heard from gay marriage opponents worried Christian-run businesses may be prosecuted or sued for refusing to provide services for same-sex weddings.

Former High Court judge Michael Kirby last year backed Mr McGowan in taking over funding of the Safe Schools initiative, arguing schools have a legal responsibility to ensure gay students were protected from bullying.

Making the pre-election pledge, Mr McGowan said the policy was designed to right an historical wrong.

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Gay equality and abortion laws 'a threat' to religious freedom, argues Family Council of WA - The West Australian

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Mutual trust will help ensure freedom In the Pacific – Los Angeles Times

Posted: at 8:01 pm

I am an immigrant to the United States born in South Korea. My parents fled the North to escape communism. I understand the important relationship that exists between the United States and Korea. It is a history that is forged in blood and sacrifice.

During the Korean War, about 140,000 South Koreans and more than 35,000 Americans gave their lives to stop the spread of communism and bring freedom to all Koreans.

After the war, the United States continued to aid Korea with financial and military assistance that helped with Koreas post-war recovery. The U.S. continues to support Korea to this day. Nearly 30,000 Americans are stationed in South Korea, risking their lives every day to defend freedom on the peninsula.

North Koreas unstable communist dictator, Kim Jong-un, continues to test ballistic missiles, increasing the threat to the Republic of Korea and freedom in the Pacific.

Of course the previous American presidential administrations laissez-faire attitude toward North Koreas belligerence are in part to blame for making us more vulnerable to its increasing threats.

The constant threat of North Korea, not only to the U.S. national security but to our allies in the Pacific, is becoming more concerning. North Korea poses a physical threat to our allies, Japan and the Republic of Korea.

Dealing with an unhinged oppressive leader is not something unfamiliar to the United States. However, the previous administrations diminishing of the number of troops and military funding, increasingly aggressive actions and changes in leadership there are cause to be anxious. The scandal and impeachment of President Park Geun-hye and recent election of President Moon Jae-in in the South have created an even greater concern with the instability of the region. The change in leadership in the South and the reckless aggression in the North is a dangerous combination for our regional allies.

Therefore, it is now more important than ever to ensure our alliances in the area continue to be strong. We cant afford to allow either Japan or the Republic of Korea to be threatened by such unpredictable power in the region.

The United States is resolved to remain loyal to its longtime allies. It is even more important for Koreans to understand what is on the table and to trust the United States. We understand the importance and the great mutual advantages of our alliance.

Ranked as the 11th largest economy in the world, the Republic of Korea has continued to grow as a global power. Once a recipient of U.S. aid, in 2010 the Republic of Korea became a member of the Development Assistance Committee and officially moved from an aid recipient to a donor; managing to become an official democracy and global power in only a few short decades.

Now is not the time to create greater turmoil with South Korea, which is still unstable from its latest election. However, it is important the new leaders understand the people of the United States will not be patient and complacent when it comes to matters of security. If forced, the United States could be put in the position to take preemptive action against the North.

Both Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and Vice President Mike Pence have shared after their visits to Korea the continual use and testing of ballistic missiles by the North is unacceptable, and the new leadership in the South should understand the United States wants to see immediate change concerning the North.

As Pence stated during his trip to the Demilitarized Zone, the alliance between the Republic of Korea and the United States is ironclad. Our loyalties will always remain with our allies in the Pacific. In return, it is their loyalty we will need in order to ensure our mutual protection, safety and continued freedom.

Surfside resident MICHELLE STEEL serves on the Orange County Board of Supervisors.

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Mutual trust will help ensure freedom In the Pacific - Los Angeles Times

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The Technology And Telecommunications Sectors And Trump’s Crucial Second 100 Days – Forbes

Posted: at 8:01 pm


Forbes
The Technology And Telecommunications Sectors And Trump's Crucial Second 100 Days
Forbes
Is it possible to keep federal government regulators' hands off the technology sector? We're in the middle of president Donald Trump's second "100 Days," and there were a number of executive actions aimed at rolling back "job-killing regulations ...

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The Technology And Telecommunications Sectors And Trump's Crucial Second 100 Days - Forbes

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