Monthly Archives: June 2020

By Ayanna Gandhi

NORTH CAROLINA North Carolina state executive leadershipfrom the state supreme court chief justice to the attorney generalsaid it was in full support here Tuesday of Gov. Roy Coopers Executive Order that demands a task force be set up to abolish racial inequity in criminal justice.

We must acknowledge racial inequities in our systems of law enforcement and criminal justice, and then work to eliminate them. This task force will address policies and procedures that disproportionately burden communities of color. Black adults are 5.9 times as likely to be incarcerated than white adults, and this task force will work to change the injustices that factor into that, said governor.

The group is led by Attorney General Josh Stein and North Carolina Supreme Court Associate Justice Anita Earls. Other members of the task force range from, but are not limited to, individuals from marginalized populations, representatives of the judicial branch, community policing advocates to state and local law enforcement agencies and justice-involved individuals.

The order would create a Center for the Prevention of Law Enforcement Use of Deadly Force within the State Bureau of Investigation; it would track statistics and improve training related to the use of force.

This task force has been assigned to developing and implementing legislative systems and orders to tackle the issue of racism in the criminal justice system. It will be asked to deliver a viable effective plan before the end of the current year, December 1 of 2020.

Secretary of the Department of Public Safety Erik Hook set new standards into place, to ensure each division has a duty to intervene policy in place. He has directed that divisions conduct policy reviews on use of force, de-escalation techniques, arrest procedures, cultural sensitivity training and internal investigation processes.

Chief Justice Earls supports the changes, noting we can stop the use of excessive force by police and we know what is needed to achieve racial equitynow is the time to put that knowledge to work. I am grateful to the Governor and the Attorney General for recognizing that the Judicial Branch has a crucial role to play in eliminating racial disparities in the criminal justice system, and I am committed to a collaborative process with meaningful community involvement to achieve those goals in short order.

State AG Stein commented that the people that the Task Force will affect will make the change that America has been needing for centuries.

The Task Force for Racial Equity in Criminal Justice will consider and implement strategies to bring about real change in the criminal justice system. For way too long, Black people have not been treated equitably in the United States. We have to fix that, said Stein. I look forward to working closely with co-chair Justice Anita Earls and the full Task Force to making North Carolina a safe place for every person, no matter who you are.

Communities of color are disproportionately affected at each stage of the criminal justice system, with national data showing the following:

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North Carolina Promises Big Step Addressing Racial Inequality in the Justice System - The Peoples Vanguard of Davis

June 4, 2020

Dear Students and Faculty

As agents of change, researchers, educators, social workers, and people working with children, youth, and families, we stand in solidarity and uplift the calls to action shared by Black Lives Matter and other movements for racial justice, radical healing, and structural change. The systemic violence, police brutality, and, specifically, the murders of Black men, women, trans, and non-binary community members has been happening continuously and across generations through multiple forms of oppression. The violence that we have collectively witnessed over the last several weeks has pushed many of us to our breaking points. In this moment, many of us are questioning how and why and what we can do to disrupt and resist these systems of terror and harm. We believe that all of us have a role to play in dismantling the systems of racialized violence and intersectional oppression whether through redistributing funds, protesting, mutual aid, spiritual work, engaging hard conversations with loved ones, and holding space for self-care, healing, rage, and grief.

We must acknowledge the on-going impacts of anti-Blackness, not only on Black communities, but on all racialized communities, and we must directly say: BLACK LIVES MATTER in Portland, in our SSW community. We must also act.

We call on our community to deepen our commitments and action in the following areas:

Over the past week, we have heard many requests from faculty, staff, and students for ways to be in community with one another. We hope to join you in creating spaces for healing, sharing strategies, and taking collective action in the days, weeks, and years ahead. In the meantime, we call on each of us to consider how we deepen our efforts to support Black healing and liberation, interrupt anti-Blackness, and advance transformative action in our own lives and work.

There are many, many resources available to you online, through the SSW, and in your community, including: places to donate to, calls to action, and educational resources for white folks, non-Black POC, and Black folks. Seek them out!

Even though we are in a particular historical moment, remember that the current violence is steeped in anti-Blackness, and has deep historical and systematic roots. Our work is ongoing and we must continue to center anti-Blackness and social justice efforts for the duration.

Here are a few resources to help get you started.

Support Black healing & liberation

Interrupt anti-Blackness

Take Action

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Letter to the editor: PSU School of Social Work - Vanguard - Psuvanguard.com

Last Friday, Deborah Gordon set foot in The Village Vanguard for the first time in almost 12 weeks.

Like countless other businesses in New York and beyond, the Vanguard an iconic basement club established by Deborahs father, Max Gordon, 85 years ago had been forced to close in response to the coronavirus. Deborah, who took over the club after the death of her mother, Lorraine Gordon, in 2018, had headed to a weekend house in Pennsylvania, weathering the pandemic from about 80 miles west of West 11th Street.

Over the course of her life, Deborah has never been away from the Vanguard this long; she reckons shes never come close. So it was very gratifying to turn the key in the locks and walk down the 15 steps the other day, and come into the place, she says, speaking by phone from the club this week.

I just sat out in the room Im kind of doing it now, just by myself and it really just felt like a little pulse going, she adds. Like a heartbeat. It feels like the city upstairs is hurt, wounded in some ways, and theres a little pulse down here in the Vanguard. Waiting, waiting, waiting.

In one sense, the club will have to wait a while longer: bars and nightclubs belong to the Phase 4 category of reopening, and New York has just entered Phase 1. But in another sense, life is returning to the wedge-shaped room, as The Village Vanguard prepares to stream live performances starting with a set by the Billy Hart Quartet this Saturday at 7 p.m. EDT (followed by a 2 p.m. Sunday matinee).

This week, a survey conducted by the the National Independent Venue Association concluded that a staggering 90 percent of independent venue owners and promoters would be forced to close permanently by the fall, without substantial government funding. The addition of a lightly monetized livestream is unlikely to shift that calculus, though it counts as an encouraging development.

In any case, the Vanguard joins a handful of other prominent jazz clubs welcoming musicians back onstage, to perform for an audience online. As reported recently in The New York Times, Smalls another vital basement room, a couple blocks down Seventh Avenue South began streaming shows on June 1.

Jazz is a social music and not something that works well through Zoom or online interaction, Spike Wilner, Smalls owner, reflected in an email newsletter that day. Jazz is about real people feeling each other, communing in a groove to let a higher force work through us.

Smalls was an early adopter in the livestream game, as I chronicled in The Times in 2013 (back when webcast was the preferred term of art). In its current iteration, the Smalls livestream is free of charge, though donations to the nonprofit SmallsLIVE Foundation are encouraged. This weeks bookings include longtime house favorites like the Johnny ONeal Trio (Thursday), the Mike LeDonne Trio (Friday) and the Akiko Tsuruga Quartet (Saturday); see smallslive.com for details.

Among the other clubs venturing into this new reality is Keystone Korner Baltimore, which will host its first-ever livestream at 3 p.m. on Saturday, featuring vibraphonists Joe Locke and Warren Wolf. (A ticket for that performance, which will be available for 48 hours, is $10, and available here.)

Each livestream from The Village Vanguard will cost $7 roughly a fifth of the typical cover charge. (Jed Eisenman, longtime general manager of the club, has recalled that when he first started working there in 1981, admission on Friday and Saturday nights was $7.50.)

Billy Hart, who played his first New York gig at the Vanguard in 1960 as the drummer for singer Shirley Horn, who was booked opposite Miles Davis sees his livestreams this week as both a sign of change and a bolt of reassurance. Every time I go there, either to perform or just to listen, theres a familiarity, like Im going home, he says, speaking from his actual home, in Montclair, N.J.

The Billy Hart Quartet, with Mark Turner on tenor saxophone, Ethan Iverson on piano and Ben Street on bass, coalesced in part on the Vanguard stage, in the early 2000s; its one of a number of bands that have become synonymous with the room. (WBGO and NPR Music broadcast one of its shows there in 2009.)

Of course, over the last few months as live music in a shared physical space has become one of so many things to remember longingly the Vanguard has stayed in active circulation through its vast catalog of live recordings. In fact, there are two new additions: Esperanza Spalding and Fred Herschs Live at the Village Vanguard - Rough Mix EP, available in June as a benefit for the Jazz Foundation of America, and Gerald Claytons Happening: Live at The Village Vanguard,out on Blue NoteJuly 10.

Deborah Gordon suggests that recordings like these will inform perceptions of the Vanguard livestream, which was made possible through the efforts of Mike Larson, one of the clubs more tech-savvy managers. What are we asking an audience to do? she says, philosophically. Were asking an audience to bring their memories of being in the club Youre bringing that sense memory or that wish, because maybe youve never been here.

For his part, Hart will be bringing a sense of alert anticipation. Im trying to think about what its going to be like, he says. But on the other hand, Im going to be doing this with my guys, so well be doing it together. Well be going into this new phase together.

For more information about artist livestreams, see our Livestream Hub.

Original post:

A New Phase For the Phrase "Live at The Village Vanguard," As the Club Joins the Streaming Era - wbgo.org

What started with an employee wearing a Black Lives Matter button and the manager objecting has led to the decision by the corporate headquarters to permanently close Mr. Pickles in Davis.

The complaint by the employee led to a letter from the owner in which he said, I am not going to debate all the reasons for not supporting them, you wouldnt listen anyway. The only dialogue you are interested in is one one-sided.

He then stated, The BLM is the flip side of the KKK. Their tactics are out of the Mafia play book. He later added, You and the BLM are the aggressors here, not I.

An email from corporate on Wednesday afternoon indicated: Mr. Pickles Inc. will be issuing a public statement this afternoon. The Mr. Pickles Davis location is permanently closed.

Later on Wednesday, a brief message was posted on social media.

Mr. Pickles is a franchise network of Independently owned and operated shops. Corporate has been notified of the alarming and painful statements made by the owner of the Davis shop to his staff.

We made the decision to terminate his franchise and is now permanently closed for business. If that location ever re-opens, it will be under new ownership that upholds our corporate standards.

The incident began with an employee who wore Black Lives Matter buttons and was told that they couldnt wear them. The employee was supported by a number of co-workers and they went down to meet the owner in what was described as a non-confrontational manner last week.

The owner initially seemed opened to the discussion and strategies to address both the employees wish to publicly show support and a local call for businesses to show their support for this movement.

Other businesses were positive and supportive about displaying Black Lives Matters banners in their windows.

However, as the exchanges wore on, the owners messages became more contradictory and his letter was pointed.

In the letter, he accused the employees of coming to him with the intention of forcing your beliefs and opinions on me. He claimed, I have only acted and reacted in defense.

Later he said, I have no fear of the repercussions that may come from standing up to you. I have no fear of the BLM. He said, If Mr. Pickles Davis suffers window breakage, vandalism, or theft, I have names of the people I will hold responsible.

He said, By force, I have given in to allowing the pins. If I had this to do over again there would be no pins, no jars, no discussion of BLM in my store, you would not get an inch.

This stops now, he said with bold underline. There is no more debating.

The Davis Chamber sent out a statement this week, not related specifically to this incident, but stating, The senseless deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, Tony McDade, and far too many others are heartbreaking, and have generated renewed attention on the urgent need to address longstanding inequities and injustices in America toward African Americans and all people of color.

We at the Davis Chamber of Commerce strongly condemn acts of racial injustice and are committed to be part of the fight against racism, the Chamber stated. Furthermore, we recognize the tremendous costs of systemic discrimination and believe that significant actions must be taken by the business community to advocate and work for diversity, equity, and inclusion in our society and in our economy.

Phone calls to the employee on Wednesday were not returned, and efforts to reach the company or the local owner were also unsuccessful.

David M. Greenwald reporting

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Davis Mr. Pickle's Permanently Closed after Owner Calls BLM 'the Flip Side of the KKK' - The Peoples Vanguard of Davis

President Muhammadu Buhari

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is alarmed by the reported shooting and security breaches within the precincts of the Presidential villa following a reported degenerated squabble among family members and officials of the Buhari Presidency.

Disclosing this in a statement signed by Kola Ologbondiyan, National Publicity Secretary, the party said it was deeply worried that the protracted spat between the First Lady, Aisha Buhari, and aides of President Muhammadu Buhari has now degenerated into violent combats, raids and free use of firearms within the Presidential villa.

The party described as distressing, the report that a members of Mr. Presidents family were at scene of the assault against one of President Buharis aides, during which the First Ladys security details were alleged to have resorted to the use of firearms.

READ ALSO: AfDB: Adesinas travails betray naivety in the world of realpolitik

Our party is disturbed by such ugly situation in the Buhari Presidency, which has already heightened apprehensions in the public space over the apparent failure of security architecture and central command system in the presidency leading to such reckless and irresponsible breaches.

The chaotic situation in the Presidential villa only points to the failure by President Buhari to provide a leadership that can guarantee orderliness in governance and effectively ensure the security of our nation.

The PDP notes that such leadership failure at the highest level has further exposed why our nation has been bedeviled by myriads of security and economic problems under President Buharis watch in the last five years.

More worrisome is that the Buhari Presidency had failed to speak out on the frightening situation so as to reassure Nigerians and douse the tension in the polity; especially at this critical time when our nation is facing serious security challenges.

The PDP therefore calls on President Buhari to take immediate steps to restore order in his Presidency and shield our security system from the division and power tussle among persons close to him.

Our party also demands for an immediate inquest into the security breaches as well as the alleged violation of COVID-19 ban on inter-state travels by officials and relations of Mr. President, which was reported to be part of the immediate causes of latest disturbances in the Presidential villa.

Furthermore, the PDP urges the National Assembly to save the nation by wading into the persistent infighting in the Buhari Presidency especially as those in charge of the Presidential villa has not demonstrated the required capacity to engender the needed orderliness for productive governance.

Vanguard

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Shooting in the Villa: PDP alarmed, charges Buhari to speak out - Vanguard

Akinwumi Adesina

After rain comes sunshine; after darkness comes the glorious dawn. There is no sorrow without its alloy of joy; there is no joy without its admixture of sorrow. Behind the ugly terrible mask of misfortune lies the beautiful soothing countenance of prosperity. So, tear the mask was one of Obafemi Awolowos memorable, quotations.

Life is full of labyrinths, challenges and exciting moments but however deep the sun shines, there is always a little glimpse of dark spots.

Adesinas chequered life, certainly could not be different fromlifes, alloyed fundamental principles.

There is however, no gain saying the fact, that Akin Adesina has a sweet destiny, and a date with history.

A brief chronicle of his life, tells the story. Akin was born to a Nigerian farmer, in Ibadan, Oyo State on the 6th of February,1960, attended a village primary school, and also attended Baptist High School Ejigbo, Osun State, after which, he attended the great University of Ife. He graduated from the department of Agricultural Economics, Faculty of Agriculture, with a first class honours in 1981. In the history of the faculty,established on the 22nd of September,1962, he was the first student of the faculty, to be awarded this distinction.

The University of Ife, established by an Act of Parliament of the Western Region in 1961, under the premiership of Chief Samuel Ladoke Akintola, admitted its first set of 244 students in September, 1962, with 5 faculties, of which Agriculture faculty, was one.

The University took off at the current site of the North Campus of the Ibadan Polytechnic, that was then known as the Nigerian College of Arts, Science and Technology with Professor Oladele Ajose as its first Vice chancellor.

In 1967, the University moved to its permanent site in Ile Ife on the 130,000 Acres of land donated by the people of Ile-Ife and the Ooni of Ife Oba Titus Martins Tadeniawo Adesoji Aderemi, then Governor of the Western Region.

The Ife Campus, adjudged as the most beautiful campus in Africa, designed by the Israeli Architect Arieh Sharon together with a team of Nigerian Architects, including Lagos based Architect- A. A Egbor, between the 1960s and 1980s, gave Ife the beauty, the elegance and the picturesque sceneries, that made the University a great haven for learning and culture.

This was the University that trained Akin Adesina, from where he graduated at an early age of 21 years.

Interestingly, the vice chancellor of the University that moved the University to the Ile-Ife campus in 1967, Professor Hezekiah Adedumola Oluwafemi Oluwasanmi, and was its Vice Chancellor until 1975, was also a Professor of Agricultural economics and made the faculty of Agriculture, Ile-Ife where he also taught, a great citadel of Agricultural Research and Training. He attracted a lot of resourceful Professors to the Faculty of Agriculture.

Hezekiah Oluwasanmi,was succeeded by another great Development Economist -Prof Ojetunji Aboyade,between 1975 and 1978. Aboyade, who was ViceChancellor, against his personal wish and desire, having heard of his appointment, on the radio, on his way to Ibadan, from Lagos, taught Economics.

Throughout his tenure as Vice Chancellor, he was always seen, moving from one class to the other, teaching, in his impeccable suit and bow tie. He was Adesinas teacher. Akin must have, probably, borrowed his dress sense from Ojetunji Aboyade.

Akin Adesina proceeded to the Purdue University, in Indiana, United States of America for further studies and obtained his Ph. D in Agricultural Economics at the age of 28 years, in 1988.

In 1984, he had returned briefly to Nigeria to get married to Grace and begat, miserly, two children- Rotimi and Segun.

At the age of 24, when he got married, some of his contemporaries, were still enjoying the boisterousness of a youthful age. Back in Indiana, with his wife, he cofounded a Christian Fellowship group with another couple.

In Purdue University, he won the Outstanding PhD thesis for his research work. Between 1990 and 1995, Akin, served as a senior economist at West African Rice DevelopmentAssociation (WARDA) in Bouake, Ivory Coast.

He also worked at the Rockefeller foundation, since winning a fellowship from the foundation, as a senior scientist.

From 1999 to 2003, Akin was the representative for the Southern African Area.He was also between 2003 to 2008 an associate director, for food security.

A golden fish has no hiding place. Adesina became the Nigerian Agricultural Minister, between 2010 and 2015 and was named Forbes African Man of the Year for his reform of Nigerian Agriculture.

He introduced some spectacular innovations that brought transparency to the Agribusiness, and supply chain; and made the Ministry, farmer friendly. He was almost extinguishing his term as the Nigerian Agriculture Minister, when on the 28th of May 2015, he was elected the President of the African development bank (AfDB) and began his tenure in Office on the 1st of September 2015. The tenure would extinguish in August 2020.

In September 2016, Adesina was appointed by the United Nations Secretary General- Ban Ki-moon as a member of the lead group of the scaling up nutrition movement and was also in 2017, awarded the 2017 world food price.

These intimidating credentials are certainly enough to make his life and career, enviable. The African Development Bank was founded in 1964, with a major mandate to fight poverty and to improve living conditions on the African continent, through the promotion of investment in public and private capital projects and programmes, that are beneficial to the African Continent.

Although, originally meant for African countries, but, non African Countries were allowed to join the board.

The largest shareholder of the bank is Nigeria, with 8.2% and following it, is the United States of America with 6.6% .

All member countries have representatives on the Governing Board.

Despite Nigerias strength, Akin Adesina became the first Nigerian, to occupy the position of President of the African Development Bank, and the 8th elected President.

In the share structure of the Board, African Nations control60% while non African Nations, control 40%

Former Nigerian President, Alhaji Shehu Shagari as if a star gazer, fought against the inclusion of non African nations, in the share holding structure of the AfDB and predicted, that the AfDB, may one day, be thrown into the belly of the imperialist nations.

The reality of the prediction in 1982 by President Shehu Shagari, has now dawned on us, following the unopposed bid of Dr. Akin Adesina to be elected as President, for the 2nd term of office, that would commence on the 1st of September 2020 andthe power plays, subterfuges, manipulations, that even bothers, on outright gangsterism, to prevent Adesinas second term bid.

As a build up to the power play and in an attempt to prevent the 2nd term tenure of Adesina; on the 19th of January,2020, a group within the bank,constituted itself as whistle-blowers and petitioned the committee headed by Takum Yano- the institutions Japanese Executive Director, to demand investigations into 16 allegations against Dr.Adesina.

It alleged breaches of the code of conduct of elected officers of the Bank by Dr.Adesina. On February 7, the committee, formally, dispatched a copy of the Petition to Adesina and demanded his response.

On February 10 and March 10 respectively, having responded to these petitions through his legal counsel,the committee refused legal representation, but rather,asked Adesina, to personally respond.

On the 8th of April, Adesina sent a 260 page memorandum, that highlighted his responses to all the allegations.

He said the Petition was nebulous, malicious, and made mala fide.

A splinter group of the petitioners, had said, they were being manipulated by a group of non regional executive directors, especially, Mr.Steven Dowd, the US nominee of the Board,to discredit Adesinas candidacy for re-election.

Mr.Dowd represents the United States at the Bank. Interestingly, Mr.Steven Dowd is also a personal friend of the President of the world bank-Mr.David Malpass, whose views are certainly not in sync with Adesinas African development agenda.

Their allegations, were certainly, a truck load of bunkum, according to Akin Adesinas response.

For example, in the allegations, a Nigerian Mr.Ezeonwa was allegedly found guilty of sexually harassing a colleague, and this sin was visited on Adesina as part of the charges.

The allegations also queried how Victor Oladokun a colleague of Adesina at the University of Ife, found his way to the African Development Bank.

Adesina had said that the purpose for the allegations were not to report fraud or corruption, but an orchestrated ploy by America, to demolish Adesina and prevent his second term in office.

The committee that investigated the allegations, found Adesina, not guilty of all the allegations.

America was not pleased with the outcome of this investigation and instead asked for an independent investigation, as against the Rules of the Bank.The AfDB is the key institution in the continent for trade and investment. To Steven Dowd,China is out pacing the US in investing in Africa, and that this must be curtailed, by the United States.

The U.S President Donald Trump and the U. S Treasury secretary Steven Munchinare ready allies in these operations to demolish Adesina and also prevent Chinas further incursion, into Africas development strides.

To the U. S, China is a relentless adversary, that has captured a vast territory of Africa in cheap loans.But Adesina said-, if China is present in Africa, why is the U.S. absent?

President Olusegun Obasanjo,Nigerias former President and statesman, hasalerted his fellows in the comity of Africas ex presidents, to stand up and defend Adesina against subterranean influences and control of the AfDB. He said- if we do not rise up and defend the AfDB,this might mean the end of the bank as the governance will be high jacked away from Africa.

The allure of Africa, is certainly its natural resources and its 1.3 trillion dollars purchasing power. President Mohammedu Buhari, at a recent meeting with the AFDB President Akinwunmi Adesina at the Presidential Villa, Abuja on the 2nd of June,2020, promised support for Adesina.

The President, in his statement further said-Nigeria stands solidly behind Akinwunmi Adesina in his re-election bid, as the President of the African Development Bank(AfDB). We would work with all the leaders and stakeholders in AfDB to ensure that he is re-elected on the strength of his achievements during his term.

He further said- In 2015, when you were to be elected for the first term,I wrote to all African leaders,recommending you for the position, I didnt say because you were a PDP Minister and I belonged to the APC,so I would withhold my support President Muhammadu Buhari has said it all. Wishing this great man of the world Akinwunmi Adesina a successful re-election.

Hon Femi Kehinde, legal practitioner and former Member, House of Representatives, National Assembly Abuja, represented Ayedire/Iwo/Ola-Oluwa Federal Constituency of Osun State. (1999-2003)

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The Travails of Akinwumi Adesina - Vanguard

tells government to adopt educational technologiesFile photo: Cross session of students in a classroom with a teacher, EmeraldField Schools, Calabar, Cross River [Only used for the purpose of illustration]By Ike Uchechukwu Calabar

The Nigerian Medical Association, Cross River stare Chapter has kicked against plans by government to commence a trial resumption of three public schools in the state

Vanguard learned that each of the three public schools will open in three Senatorial Districts across the state on June 16, 2020.

The association gave the warning in a press release jointly signed by its Chairman, Dr Agam Ayuk and the Secretary, Dr Ezoke Epoke on Saturday in Calabar and made available to Vanguard.

The release stated that to the medical community, there was a lack of evidence to ascertain the actual Covid-19 status and disease burden in the state due to the unacceptable low number of tests carried out.

The Association insists that the quick resumption of schools, despite genuine reasons, has the potential of significant disease outbreak among students.

They however, advocates for the adoption of educational technologies to provide remote learning opportunities and educational programmes for students in public schools in the interim.

According to the release, the technology which is currently being implemented by private schools should be encouraged until a national policy is introduced on the unified resumption of schools by the Federal Government.

The declaration by the Cross River Government on a trial resumption of three public schools in each of the three Senatorial Districts in the state to commence on June 16, 2020, is alarming.

The gross under-testing for COVID-19 in Cross River is a significant public health concern. The COVID-19 tests breakdown by states as at June 10, 2020, released by NCDC revealed that Cross River has carried out only nine tests using the NCDC Molecular Laboratory. The Association continues to advocate for upscaling of COVID-19 testing in the state.

The Association uses this medium to appeal to both the federal and state governments to expedite plans for accreditation of Dr Lawrence Henshaw Memorial Hospital, Calabar, a Bio-Safety Level Three Laboratory and University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, Calabar, as testing centres for COVID-19, they said.

NMA further explained that the accreditation of these centres will not only upscale testing in the state but will also reduce the turn around time for COVID-19 tests.

The Association insists that the increasing report of flu-like symptoms, respiratory symptoms and loss of smell/taste in various hospitals and the state metropolis is an indication of potential community transmission of an undetected disease fitting the epidemiological pattern of COVID-19.

Recent research published in Nature Medicine in the United Kingdom revealed: loss of smell (anosmia) was a stronger predictor than a fever for COVID-19 prompting recommendations on self-isolation if detected.

We call on the Presidential Taskforce on COVID-19 through the Federal Ministry of Health and Nigerian Centre for Disease Control, state government and all stakeholders to critically appraise the COVID-19 status of the State.

The COVID-19 infection curve is still on the rise and yet to peak in the country. The lack of adherence to infection prevention strategies like social distancing, use of face mask, hand and respiratory hygiene at this crucial time is worrisome. We, therefore, call on all residents in Cross River to sustain infection prevention measures, the released said.

The Association lauded the state government for the production of Personal Protective Equipment, mask, face shield and gowns by the garment factory, thereby advocating for quality control measures to validate their safety for use in hospital settings.

NMA joined the state government in calling on the Federal Government and the private sector to support the laudable project that has the potential of guaranteeing the availability of personal protective equipment in the country.

The expeditious recruitment of Doctors and other health workers by the Cross River Government through the Civil Service Commission with advert dated April 27, 2020, to meet the potential health challenges is desirable.

The concomitant increase in health needs of the public in line with the lifting of bans on interstate movement and domestic flight shortly makes the recruitment imperative.

We wish to reiterate the urgent implementation of 100 per cent Consolidate Medical Salary Structure and Consolidated Health Salary Structure as the only means of retaining this critical workforce in the state Civil Service.

The Association and her members remain committed to working with the state and the Federal Government to fight the COVID-19 pandemic, the release said.

Vanguard News Nigeria

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COVID-19: Cross River NMA warns against planned resumption of schools - Vanguard

The Super Eagles of Nigeria line-up at France 98 World Cup. PHOTO: EMPICS SPORTBy Temisan Amoye,

Growing up in the 90s as a young boy, it was almost impossible not to be consumed by the football craze in Nigeria. It always felt like there was a mini-curfew anytime Super Eagles were playing, a goal from our boys and the nation would erupt in unison.

Entertainment on the pitch was rivalled by that off it, the Dr Rafiu Ladipo led-supporter club never disappointed, dishing out tunes that created an incredible atmosphere.

Love for football wasnt restricted to Super Eagles, whenever top teams played, Nigerians were glued to their TV screens.

One popular term of that era i couldnt seem to shake and understand was German machines. I couldnt understand Nigerians referring to the German mens national football team as machines.

I later reckoned it had to do with something about the efficiency and effectiveness of the team, despite not parading a similar number of superstars like their Brazilian, Dutch, Argentine counterparts.

The 8-0 thrashing of Saudi Arabia at the Korea/Japan World Cup, furthered my interest in Germany. As my football scope widened, my interest in the German National Team, morphed into German league, The Bundesliga.

There is no dispute that despite being among the Top 5 European leagues, the Bundesliga lags behind its English and Spanish Counterparts in terms of spending power, superstar attraction and publicity. But for what it lacks in glitz, exorbitant wages, it has in abundance incredible coaching and talent development.

The sustained careers of Phillip Lahm, Robert Lewandowski, Manuel Neuer, Thomas Muller, Toni Kroos, David Alaba, Sami Khedira and a host of others at a top-class level, and the rising careers of Jadon Sancho, Timo Werner, Dayot Upamencano, Kai Havertz, Marcus Thuram, Serge Gnabry is a testament to the meticulous effort and hard work invested into developing future stars in Germany.

The case of Bayerns Thomas Muller is particularly interesting. Despite his lack of flair, dribbling, and imposing presence on the pitch, the world cup golden boot winner has continued to wow spectators and fans since he first came into the limelight.

For all the lack of skill, Muller possesses incredible technique and tactical mind, where his movement on and off the ball, ability to interpret spaces has created a goal-scoring and creating menace for opposing teams. A result of talent and detailed management.

To achieve the success it has, the Germans had to experience failure and humiliation on the world stage, which spurred the implementation of reforms, that yielded great results so far.

Back in 1996, German National team coach Berti Vogts ( remember him? ) called on the DFB (German Football Association) to focus on youth development. But those recommendations were going to wait, the Germans had just triumphed on enemy territory, winning Euro 96 on English soil. The Euro success dampened any enthusiasm for radical change, i mean it wasnt broken, why fix it?

But a shock 3-0 mauling at the hands of a Davor Suker-inspired Croatia at Quarter-Finals of France 98 sent wake up calls, leading to discussions for reforms. Further calamity in Euro 2000 helped hasten the implementation of these reforms.

The results of the reforms were an increased number of coaches to help to enable youngsters to get adequate attention and training through football clinics. A wider scouting network was created, to ensure the most remote areas were covered, leaving nothing to chance, if there was talent, it would be found.

Also, starting from 2002-2003 season, the German Football League comprising the Bundesliga and 1. Bundesliga made it a requirement for all its 36 teams to run academies in order to qualify for an operating licence. The DFB also introduced a special uniformed licence for youth coaches, to ensure an acceptable level of competence.

To paint a picture of how the Germans strive for excellence, UEFA sets a minimum 240 hours of study for its UEFA Pro Licence, In England 256 hours of study is required to obtain the same licence, but at the highly selective Hennes Weisweiler Akademie in Germany, 815 hours of study, and a 15-page dissertation detailing your unique footballing philosophy is required to obtain the equivalent of the Pro licence.

Possession isnt enough, the licence has to be renewed every couple years, through participation in ongoing courses, so as to ensure the holder is up to date.

Bayern great Jupp Huynckes and current coach Hansi Flick, Liverpools Jurgen Klopp, Germanys Joachim Low, PSGs Thomas Tuchel, RB Leipzigs Julian Nagelsmann, and Norwichs Daniel Farke are all graduates of this prestigious academy.

The buzz around German coaches makes more sense when you realise the efforts invested in moulding the modern-day coach. The benefits of an extra five hundred hours have helped create some of the most tactically astute managers in world football. Nagelsmanns Leipzig masterclass against Mourinhos Spurs, in the UEFA Champions League group clash, will go down as one of the highlights of this seasons campaign.

One area that paints a clear picture of how meticulous the Germans are is the coaching licence requirements. To coach in the Bundesliga and its lower divisions, the 1. Bundesliga and 2. Bundesliga, a UEFA Pro Licence is required. In comparison, in England, only the Premier League requires a UEFA Pro Licence.

Also, club academies are required to have at least two UEFA Pro Licence holders among its coaching staff, with most academies having more than the minimum required. There is a better chance of being coached by a Pro Licence holder in a German football academy, than in the English Championship (Second Division) where merely commencing studies for a Pro Licence is enough to see you through.

It also helps that these managers have no qualms putting their faith in youth. Tuchel, Nagelsmann, Flick have all coached academy teams, an experience which has made them more open to the idea of fielding youngsters. Thomas Muller under Klinsmann at Bayern, Ousmane Dembele excelled under Tuchel at Dortmund, Alexander-Arnold and Christian Pulisic under Klopp, Alphonso Davies under Flick at Bayern, Sule under Nagelsmann at Hoffenheim are major examples.

Nickas Sule, Max Meyer, Timo Werner, Thomas Muller had all made 100 senior caps while still eligible for the U21 teams. The 2019-2020 season has seen U21 players clock more game time in the Bundesliga than in Spain and England.

A decade ago, it would have been unthinkable for top British talents to dump England and move abroad for development, But the likes of Jadon Sancho, Ademola Lookman, Reece Oxford, Ethan Ampadu and Nat Phillips have all flocked to the arch-rival and are beginning to reap the rewards.

The rapid rise of Sancho in just three years helps paint a picture of the possibilities for youngsters coming through the ranks. With latest England rising star, 16-year-old Birmingham midfielder, Jude Bellingham tipped to follow the Sancho route to Dortmund this summer.

Apart from the coaching and scouting methods, the multi-racial society and relatively relaxed immigration laws have contributed to young talents finding a home in Germany. The mens national teams comprising players of Ghanian, Turkish, Polish, Syrian descent helps paint a clear picture of a relatively tolerant and liberal society.

Over time a growing American presence has shown that the US football system has identified the Bundesliga as the ideal destination for development. Schalke midfielder Weston Mckennie, Bremens Josh Sargent, Bayerns Chris Richards, Leipzigs Tyler Adams, Dortmunds Gio Reyna, son of former Man City, USA captain Claudio Reyna have continued the trend of Americans moving to Germany to develop.

It also really helps that no work permit is required to gain a residency permit for athletes in Germany, as long as the individual meets the requirements of being 16 years or older, securing a paid contract with the club, and being recognised by relevant sports body as an athlete. Football Manager players fully understand the frustration of signing some South American wonderkid to your Premier League club, but cant use him because of failure to secure a work permit. There are no such issues managing a German team.

Combine the aforementioned with the fact that the press in Germany plays a more helpful role by being more responsible and professional in its dealings, in comparison with some of its colleagues from elsewhere, you have a near-perfect environment with less pressure for any player to develop into what his potential holds.

Over the coming years, it should be no surprise when the likes of Bayerns Joshua Zirkzee, Bayers Moussa Diaby and Kai Harvetz, Leipzigs Dayot Upamencano, Herthas Arne Maier become household names.

For lasting success to be attained, talent isnt enough, a solid foundation to build upon is needed, and that is what Germany offers to young, talented footballers.

Theres a couple of things Nigeria can pick from the German model. Recently there have been calls for Super Eagles boss Gernot Rohr, to patronise the local Nigerian Professional Football League for players, which i think is the wrong discussion to be having, we should be discussing on real efforts and reforms we can embark on to develop our local football.

The South Africans and our North African counterparts dont have the selection issue discussion because they have a more developed football system than ours. It is easy to select home-grown players when you have a well-developed football league system.

There are no doubt incredibly talented players and tactically sound coaches in the NPFL but the lack of proper facilities, administration, coaching methods and training facilities will always work against them realizing their full potential.

The national team is coming up against, at least equally talented players, who have been exposed to advanced coaching and training methods, better training facilities, better welfare. I think it makes sense to select players who have also been exposed to such conditions to help the team in the interim.

Just like Man City did in the Shinawatra and early Mansour era, where the club went about splashing the cash on any player who could help improve their standing until a proper and progressive recruitment strategy was put in place.

We dont need to invent some magic winning formula, The Germans have shown the way, fortunately, there is no penalty for copying.

To develop and maintain a proper football system in Nigeria, the revamping of the National Institute of Sports would go a long way. Chief Segun Odegbami wrote a sorry piece on the decline of the sports institute.

We can replicate the success of the Hennes Weisweiler Akademie through the NIS. There are lots of budding young Nigerians with deep tactical mind and interest, that would benefit massively from such an institution.

The ripple effect will be local clubs being managed by new-generation coaches and administrators, equipped with the latest skill to leave their distinct mark in football.

I like to think Nigerians would prefer, and benefit in the long term, should the N27bn earmarked for NASS renovation, be used to revive and upgrade the NIS into a modern sporting institute amongst other pressing development projects. At least, sports brings joy to Nigerians and improves the image of the nation globally.

Creation of a comprehensive scouting plan and coaching clinic will help discover and nurture young talents scattered across the country. There are tons of incredibly talented Nigerians displaying their talents from estate pitches to under bridges, but unfortunately, theres no one to see them. What chance does a boy in Ilella, Sokoto or girl in Bomadi, Delta have of being discovered?

After discovery, coaching clinics will help train the potential youngsters and give them an introduction to structured football. A massive boost for those unattached to clubs. I imagine the coaches in training (NIS) could be of immense benefit in such clinics.

As always, there is the issue of corruption which will always be a hindrance to achieving wholesale progress. Recently we were re-inundated with tales of Pay-to-play schemes in the national team, combine that with the number of Nigerian sports officials involved in corrupt schemes, it paints a picture of how deep corruption runs in the system.

In a system where money, personal interest instead of skill could be a deciding factor for selection, you can only wonder the incredible talents who have been passed over, and the possible ripple effects.

Germany has massively reaped the benefit of its reforms, the 2014 World Cup victory, the general performance of the team in tournaments, and the steady development of talent is an indicator of a functioning system. In any football tournament, across all age grades and sexes, the German national team, always emerge as strong favourites.

For a football crazy, youth dominated country, it is time to move past round of 16 qualifications as an achievement. To have any hope of achieving that, deliberate steps need to be taken, and fortunately, our German egbons have created a successful blueprint that can help guide Nigeria towards developing and maintaining a functioning football system.

Vanguard

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How Germany revolutionised football, and what Nigeria can learn - Vanguard

Families impacted by police murder from across the country travel to Las Vegas to stand with local families who have lost their loved ones at the hands of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department

Press Release At 5PM on Saturday, June 6, 2020, at JammyLand, 1121 S. Main Street, a press conference featuring families impacted by police murder from New York, California, Seattle, Atlanta, St. Louis, MO, and North Carolina will join Las Vegas families impacted by police murder to refocus on local efforts for justice and accountability while standing in solidarity with the George Floyd family, all families impacted by police murder, and the #BlackLivesMatter movement. Following the press conference, at 6PM, families will march to 920 Events at 920 S. Commerce St., where they will memorialize their loved ones as the community bears witness.

Amongst families present include the cousin of Seattle Police homicide victim, Charleena Lyles, Katrina Johnson, sister of Woodland Police homicide victim, Michael Barrera, Marissa Barrera, and brother of NYPD police homicide victim Delrawn Small, Victor Dempsey, who originated the call for solidarity amongst all families impacted by police violence and for families to step up in leadership in this national movement against police terrorism. Locally impacted families include the family members of Byron Williams, Rafael Olivas, Rex Wilson, Keith Childress, Jr., Joseph Justin, and police abuse survivors Cristina Paulos, Jesus Carvajal, and Lauri Benson, the mother of police shooting victim, Nathan Benson, who remains incarcerated without the proper medical care he needs to heal from his shooting wound from 2013.

For too long the struggle of families whose loved ones have been killed by the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department have gone unnoticed and unrecognized; their loved ones immediately criminalized by the LVMPD and local media outlets that regurgitate falsified police narratives, turning away any opportunity for the community to be engaged and for the family to garner community support.

As we have learned in far too many cases, the community plays an integral role in the delivery of justice (or lack thereof) . Every year 1000-1500 new families across the nation are inducted into a cohort forced to live with the all too devastating reality of state-sponsored terrorism. Most of these killings receive little to no media attention, creating a complete absence of support, leaving the family stigmatized and isolated. On the other hand, the few nationally-known cases receive all of the publics attention only for families to be tokenized and exploited for one of the most traumatic events of their lives.

This weekend this collective of families will share their experience, strength and necessary wisdom for these challenging and transformative times.

*The families of Nicholas Heyward, Jr., Alberta Spruill, Stephon Clark, Cornelius Kat Davis, Charlie Salinas, Vincent Vermin Valenzuela, Jayvis Benjamin, Mauricio Barron, Santino Trevino, and Keith Trudell will also be present.

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Families of police murder victims and police brutality survivors unite in Las Vegas - The Peoples Vanguard of Davis

Tom Hiddleston as Coriolanus. Photograph: Johan Persson

Neither regularly staged nor loved by many (apart from T. S. Eliot apparently), Coriolanus is the ugly duckling of Shakespeares history plays.

No matter how much imagination you pour into the vessel, the cracks are almost always visible.

Unless youre a fan of the minutiae of 5th-century Roman politics and I cant say I am Caius Marcius Coriolanus may be new to you.

Dear old Will dramatises the life of this proud general, from his unprecedented rise to his subsequent, if rather predictable, fall from power.

The play can be summed up in one quote: You are too absolute. So there you have it, no need for any more conversation, goodnight!

Tom Hiddleston is the aristocratic and unbendable protagonist his performance stern, layered and impressive, wolf-like and clear.

The rest of the star-studded cast are equally deserving of praise.

Deborah Findlay as Coriolanus mother Volumnia is all storm and fury, the classic conniving highborn Roman woman.

Mark Gatiss playing the senator Menenius is as close as the play gets to comic relief and lightens the blood-soaked drama immensely (thank goodness).

Helen Schlesinger and Elliot Levey bring up the vanguard as silver-tongued tribunes.

Josie Rourkes directing brings many shades out of the cast and is equally gritty and deft.

The set at the Donmar is limited, and the choice of keeping it bare, with a brick wall at the back and a reliance on thin potable set pieces and projection, is understood if a bit underwhelming.

Lucy Osbornes choices fail at times to conjure up the world of ancient Rome, or another recontextusied one. The senate scenes feel more like a local villages council meetings. The effect is vaguely ancient and vaguely modern, with admittedly nice use of colour.

Osbornes costumes again are semi-modern, which does sometimes produce a blended aesthetic but doesnt quite work is this piece. Nevertheless, the layered leather jerkins are things of beauty.

Battles are devilishly hard to create in a small space and all the tricks of the trade are pulled out of the hat, to some avail.

The fight choreography of Richard Ryan is swift and brutal and one of the highlights of a play which spends most of the time throwing its characters into sword fights with one another. But the cramped space and lack of theatrical signposts makes for a forgettable physical sense.

Literary scholar A. C. Bradley once said that this play is built on the grand scale, but its the grandness that is lacking in this production.

There is blood, anger, pride and the eventual catharsis within the play and in this rendition, famous actors, punchy action and political turmoil.

The disconnect is somewhere deeper within the piece and maybe hear me out down to the bard himself.

Is perhaps Coriolanus the male counterpart to Cymbeline? If you havent seen the latter, be warned.

The issue stems from Coriolanus himself, the quintessential posh mummys boy. Unlike the other tortured heroes of Shakespeare plays, such as Cleopatra, Hamlet, Lear, we get no window into the soul of this deeply flawed human.

The character is unprotected from the cruel winds of fate and audience apathy. The pain and bloodshed caused by his shocking lack of self-control and militarism is a nice warning on the evils of male arrogance, but at over three hours long, the stony armour of the character becomes a seawall that we beat ourselves against, without ever producing a crack.

Coriolanus is available to watch right now on the National TheatresYouTube channel

To support the theatre through the coronavirus crisis, donate atnationaltheatre.org.ukor text NTATHOME 10 to 70085 to give 10

The coronavirus outbreak sadly means the Hackney Citizen is unable to print a monthly newspaper for the first time in its 12-year history.

At a time when independent and trusted news is more important than ever, this was an incredibly difficult decision to have to make.

Without print advertising, our major source of income, a one-off donation from anyone who can afford it will help our small team keep the website and social media feeds running through this unprecedented crisis.

When Hackneyand the wider world has fought off this virus and we return to some semblance of normality, the print edition will be back.

Find out how you can donate

Thanks in advance for your support, and stay safe.

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Coriolanus, National Theatre Live on YouTube, stage review: 'Famous actors, punchy action and political turmoil' - Hackney Citizen