Various UK organisations have issued advice to businesses about what preparations to think about now, and what to do in the event that the swine flu outbreak becomes a pandemic.

These are some of their recommendations.


DEPT FOR BUSINESS, ENTERPRISE AND REGULATORY REFORM (BERR)
•Employers should make their own individual judgements about whether to stay open
•Businesses should plan for a possible outbreak as they do all health and safety issues
•Prepare a business contingency plan
•The Cabinet Office has published a leaflet: Introductory advice to staff on planning for pandemic influenza •It has also released a checklist of things businesses should be considering
•The checklist suggests firms should identify which parts of their business are critical and consider having a pool of workers who could complete such tasks if necessary, such as contractors of retirees
•Consider how they would limit face-to-face contact among employees or between employees and customers
•Think about whether you computer systems or communications equipment need upgrading to allow staff to work from home or engage with customers via video conferencing
•Get the latest information on the Department of Health's swine flu website
BUSINESS LINK
•Recommends e-mailing all staff the NHS leaflet on swine flu
•The key advice is to always carry tissues, use them to cover your mouth and nose when you sneeze and bin the tissues after one use
•Wash your hands often with soap and hot water or a sanitizer gel
•Avoid non-essential travel to Mexico and be aware of other countries having outbreaks
•Business link has a page of advice on what businesses can do to deal with swine flu
EMPLOYERS' ORGANISATIONS
•The CBI recommends that companies consider reviewing their sickness and emergency planning procedures
•It suggests firms stay across the latest medical and travel advice through the Department of Health and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office •The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) have a page of information for business travellers •They also suggest keeping up to date with the information on the World Health Organisation's website
LONDON SCHOOL OF HYGIENE & TROPICAL MEDICINE

•Consider measures to allow employees to work further apart within the workplace
•Establish clear criteria for employees returning to work - at what stage will they cease to be infectious?
•Plan for disruption to suppliers, even those providing basic facilities such as power or water
•Consider health screening for employees when they enter the office

Convido a todos os amigos leitores a visitarem a Revista Bacamarte, belíssimo projeto editorial com periodicidade mensal, já na terceira edição, com poesias, contos, art

 

  

The UN's top health official has opened a forum in Mexico on combating swine flu by saying that the spread of the virus worldwide is now unstoppable.

World Health Organization head Margaret Chan added that the holding of the meeting in Cancun showed confidence in Mexico, which has been hard hit.

The WHO says most H1N1 cases are mild, with many people recovering unaided.

As the summit opened, the UK alone was projecting more than 100,000 new cases of H1N1 a day by the end of the summer.

As the peak of the flu season approaches in South America, some areas have declared a public health emergency.

El Salvador reported its first death from swine flu, a day after Paraguay reported its first fatality.

Los Angeles police under scrutiny in Jackson death
By LINDA DEUTSCH and THOMAS WATKINS, AP
L. Michael Jackson.Investigation

The rented home of Michael Jackson seen from the air, Monday, June 29, 2009,...


LOS ANGELES — The investigation of Michael Jackson's death is widening as questions intensify about the drugs he took, the doctors who provided them and the actions of police.

Why didn't police seal the mansion where he had been living? Why were moving vans seen at the home, and were any items removed before police wrapped up their search? Why didn't they get immediate search warrants? Why did they tow away a doctor's car right after the death but not declare the home a crime scene?

Los Angeles police say proper procedures were followed based on the circumstances officers encountered when they were called to the home at 12:21 p.m. on June 25. A doctor was attending to Jackson and stayed with him when he was placed in an ambulance at 1:07 p.m. There was no sign of foul play.

Others say police should have assumed it was possible a crime occurred and taken precautions to ensure the scene was not disrupted so evidence wasn't lost or tainted.

"If I was the chief detective on the case, I would have said, 'We don't know what's going on. We should seal the scene,'" said defense attorney Harland Braun, who has represented celebrities including Robert Blake, Roseanne and Gary Busey. "You always have to think of the worst-case scenario and you have to think fast. I would have sealed the scene just because it was Michael Jackson."

Whether the Jackson probe turns into a criminal investigation hinges on what evidence emerges involving the drugs. Charges could be brought if authorities determine Jackson had been overly prescribed medications, if he had been given drugs inappropriate for his medical needs, or if doctors knowingly prescribed Jackson medications under an assumed name.

It's still not known what caused Jackson's death at age 50. The pop star went into cardiac arrest in his bedroom and his personal physician, Dr. Conrad Murray, performed CPR while an ambulance was called, according to Murray's lawyers. Murray has spoken to police and authorities say he is not a suspect, though his actions have come under scrutiny because his own lawyers acknowledge it may have taken up to a half-hour for an ambulance to be summoned.

An autopsy was conducted but results are not expected for several weeks. The Jackson family had a second autopsy performed and those results also are pending.

On Wednesday, The Associated Press learned Los Angeles police asked the Drug Enforcement Administration to assist in the investigation.

DEA agents participated in the investigation of the 2007 overdose death of Anna Nicole Smith at a Florida hotel. California Attorney General Jerry Brown investigated her former boyfriend and two of her doctors.

Brown handed the investigation over to the Los Angeles district attorney's office, which filed charges of conspiring to provide Smith with prescription drugs.

Brown said the suspects broke the law because Smith was a "known addict." The former boyfriend and doctors denied the charges.

The DEA also probed whether painkillers found in actor Heath Ledger's system after his death last year were obtained illegally. Federal prosecutors did not charge anyone.

Jean Rosenbluth, a University of Southern California law professor, said the agency's involvement in the Jackson case suggests authorities are looking into whether drugs came from out of state. Murray lives in Las Vegas and is licensed to practice in Texas, Nevada and California.

Federal drug regulations include controls over whether and how frequently a doctor can write prescriptions over the phone, and DEA agents could be looking to see if these rules were broken, Rosenbluth said.

"You can't just get on the phone and continue to prescribe something for someone without having seen them for a long period of time," she said.

Jackson had a well-known history of using prescription medications, especially painkillers. Following his death, Cherilyn Lee, a registered nurse who had worked for Jackson, told the AP she repeatedly rejected his demands for the drug Diprivan, also known as Propofol. It's a potent anesthetic used in operating rooms and it would be highly unusual to have it in a private home.

Uri Geller, a former Jackson confidant, said he tried to keep Jackson from abusing painkillers and other prescription drugs, but others in the singer's circle kept him supplied.

"When Michael asked for something, he got it," Geller said in a telephone interview from his suburban London home.

Jackson had multiple doctors and many others like Geller who came in and out of his life. Which people are being interviewed by police is unclear because the LAPD has said virtually nothing about the probe.

"I am not going to make any comments on the investigation," Commander Patrick Gannon, the designated police spokesman on the Jackson case, said by e-mail Thursday.

Any evidence would be turned over to the district attorney's office, which has final say on criminal charges.

One of the key questions is why it took four days for police to issue a search warrant and remove medications from Jackson's home.

Although the home wasn't declared a crime scene, police did tow Murray's car the evening of the death to look for potential evidence.

Vernon J. Geberth, former commanding officer of the Bronx Homicide Task force in New York, said police should have known they were dealing with an extraordinary situation.

"If it's a high-profile person, you have to do more than you would do ordinarily," he said.

Still, Geberth, who now acts as a private forensic consultant, said he believes the LAPD acted appropriately.

"Having a doctor present altered the equation. It was not a homicide scene. It was an emergency medical scene," he said.

Police spokesman Lt. John Romero declined to comment when asked if the LAPD was reviewing its handling of the investigation.

Rosenbluth said if the case ends up as a criminal prosecution, any defense attorney would seize on the LAPD's failure to immediately seal Jackson's home.

"If you can get even one juror think, I don't know, maybe somebody fiddled with the medicine before the police came in and collected it, that's reasonable doubt," she said. "All that the defense attorney needs is one juror."

Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Since the founding of TakingITGlobal in 1999, I have been incredibly inspired by my interactions with thousands of young change makers from all around the world. Through my Masters Research on youth-led action in an international context along with exposure to other studies and international conferences examining the role of today's generation of youth as change agents, I have gained an important observation. My observation is that I have seen the emergence of Six Archetypes of Youth Change Makers, which provide a glance at the roles young people are taking on in the process of creating change.


The Dreamer

The Dreamer is the driver behind new ideas. Dreamers are often the first to articulate a long-term vision for the future and think big. It is the sense of aspiration, optimism and imagination of dreamers that drive progress, innovation and change.

The Megaphone

The Megaphone is a vocal advocate for change. Megaphones are very focused on delivering the message and will campaign tirelessly and work hard to lobby for a message to be heard. They inspire action through their words and help to shift priorities on the agenda.

The Spark Plug

The Spark Plug is a catalyst and has a gift for networking and connecting people. The Spark Plug is able to foster collaborations and bring many different organizations and individuals together in dialogue, convincing diverse interest groups to come together for a common goal.

The Task Master

The Task Master is often behind the scenes making things happen and is sometimes the under-rated player within a group or organization. Often, it is the Task Master who literally keeps things together by turning ideas into manageable tasks with actionable timelines. Task Masters are practical, objective-oriented individuals.

The Sherpa

The Sherpa serves as a guide who provides mentorship, insight and training through peer education. Sherpas are natural educators with a strong interest in learning and sharing knowledge. Sherpas value hands on experiences and are able to draw upon the expertise and resources of those they encounter.

The Storyteller

The Storyteller is often the documenter of an organization and its projects, preparing short stories, interviews, blogs, webcasts newsletters and more. Storytellers become a vehicle for spreading inspiration and sharing of best practices through identifying patterns and strengthening movements through recognizing exceptional individuals.

Fabiana Uchinaka
Do UOL Notícias, Em São Paulo

Cerca de 50 mil estrangeiros que vivem irregularmente no Brasil há alguns anos poderão ser anistiados a partir desta quinta-feira (2). O Projeto de Lei 1664, que foi aprovado no Congresso em junho e sancionado hoje pelo presidente Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, beneficia os imigrantes que entraram no país até 1º de fevereiro de 2009 e vale tanto para quem chegou legalmente, mas ficou por período maior que o concedido no visto de entrada, quanto para quem cruzou a fronteira na clandestinidade.

Durante a cerimônia, o presidente também assinou o encaminhamento ao Congresso do projeto para uma nova lei de estrangeiros, que deve substituir a legislação vigente, de 1980. O Ministério da Justiça lançou ainda a eCertidão, que permitirá a expedição via internet de certidões negativas de naturalização e agilizará as consultas, que antes levavam anos.

Segundo o secretário nacional de Justiça, Romeu Tuma Júnior, o objetivo da regularização é trazer para a legalidade e garantir cidadania para essas pessoas, que vivem em condições precárias, são vítimas de tráfico humano e, muitas vezes, acabam em trabalho escravo ou degradante, sem qualquer assistência.

A resolução, pleiteada há anos por grupos ligados aos Direitos Humanos e aos segmentos afetados, contribui para que os imigrantes tenham acesso ao mercado de trabalho com as mesmas garantias legais dos brasileiros: carteira assinada, saúde pública, educação gratuita, acesso ao sistema bancário e ao crédito e o direito de ir e vir dentro do território.

"A anistia significa ter documento de identidade, carteira de trabalho, direitos trabalhistas -- trabalho de oito horas, hora extra, férias e salário maior que o mínimo vital. E, caso isso não seja cumprido, significa poder ir à Justiça. Significa também acesso a escola pública, carteira de motorista, conta bancária, CPF. Significa poder abrir uma empresa. Significa se sentir uma pessoa dentro do Brasil e isso é tudo", resume o advogado Grover Calderón, presidente da Associação Nacional de Estrangeiros e Imigrantes no Brasil (ANEIB).

Esta é a quarta vez que o Brasil concede o benefício a estrangeiros que já moram no país - houve anistias em 1980, 1988 e na última, em 1998, quase 40 mil pessoas foram legalizadas.

O principal objetivo da medida é conseguir tirar os imigrantes de situações de trabalho abusivas, mas, desta vez, a proposta do governo brasileiro também embute uma intenção de marcar posição diante das últimas polêmicas envolvendo imigrantes brasileiros maltratados e detidos no exterior.Anistia: procedimentos
1. Entrar com o pedido de residência provisória em até 180, na Polícia Federal
2. Apresentar comprovante de entrada
no país (ou, para os clandestinos, algum documento que comprove que a pessoa mora no Brasil)
3. Apresentar uma declaração de que não responde a processo criminal ou de que
não tenha sido condenado criminalmente, no Brasil ou no exterior
4. Pagar a taxa para expedição da Carteira de Identidade de Estrangeiro (R$ 31,05) e
a taxa de registro (R$ 64,68)

O secretário Tuma Júnior explica: "Ao contrário dos países da Europa e dos Estados Unidos, queremos dar um tratamento completo, mostrar que não aceitamos a criminalização da imigração e que ela deve ser vista como uma questão humanitária, uma irregularidade, não um crime. É uma resposta direta a esses países".

Como proceder
Com a anistia, o estrangeiro irregular tem 180 dias (a partir da publicação da lei) para entrar com pedido de residência provisória, que vale por dois anos, sem que qualquer represália seja aplicada ou multa cobrada por conta da situação de ilegalidade. Normalmente, o estrangeiro só recebe o visto quando casa com um brasileiro, tem um filho brasileiro ou quando tem pais brasileiros.

Os interessados na regularização devem ir a uma delegacia da Polícia Federal, como acontece para a retirada de passaporte, e apresentar um comprovante de entrada no país (ou, para os clandestinos, algum documento que comprove que a pessoa mora no Brasil, como documentos médicos, comprovante de aluguel, etc.), e uma declaração de que não responde a processo criminal ou de que não tenha sido condenado criminalmente, no Brasil ou no exterior.

A taxa para expedição da Carteira de Identidade de Estrangeiro (CEI) será de R$ 31,05 e a taxa de registro será de R$ 64,68.

Três meses antes do fim da validade do registro provisório, o estrangeiro poderá requerer o visto permanente, conforme regulamento a ser definido pelo governo. Para isso, precisará comprovar também profissão ou emprego lícito, bens suficientes para a sua manutenção e de sua família, ausência de dívidas fiscais ou antecedentes criminais e não ter saído do país por mais de 90 dias consecutivos durante o período de residência provisória.

Taxas altas e medo de extradição
Apesar de esperarem ansiosas pelo benefício, as entidades que representam os imigrantes temem que as altas taxas, que juntas somam quase R$ 100, a necessidade de documentos que comprovem emprego, que impede que os explorados sejam beneficiados, e a falta de divulgação entre as pessoas que têm pouco acesso à informação virem um entrave para o sucesso da anistia.

"Quem está sendo explorado, que tem quatro ou cinco filhos, não tem condições de pagar a taxa, que é por pessoa. Só os empresários têm. Se não mudarem isso, só vão beneficiar os patrões", ressalta o diretor de migração do Centro de Apoio ao Migrante, Paulo Ylles. O Ministério da Justiça diz que, por enquanto, não haverá qualquer tipo de isenção das taxas.

Rosita Milesi, do Instituto Migrações e Direitos Humanos, conta que na primeira anistia (1980) houve confusão nas informações sobre o registro provisório e muitos estrangeiros irregulares que se apresentaram à Polícia Federal foram autuados com multa e notificados a deixarem o país. O medo de uma "armadilha" também impede que os ilegais façam uso da anistia.

O secretário Tuma Júnior explica que "as pessoas têm medo, por estarem irregulares, de serem mandadas de volta ou punidas, têm medo de enfrentar os patrões, que criam empecilhos para o registro dos imigrantes. Agora elas terão fôlego para denunciar situações de abuso". Segundo ele, a taxa cobrada para emissão de carteira de identidade é obrigatória por lei para qualquer estrangeiro, mas o projeto de anistia prevê que apenas 25% se aplique neste momento, ou seja, cerca de R$ 100.

Outro ponto criticado por Ylles é a demora no processo de regularização. "Desejamos que a anistia aconteça com mais agilidade, porque, antigamente, a entrega dos documentos chegava a demorar mais de dois anos", conta.

Syria has scrapped a law limiting the length of sentences handed down to men convicted of killing female relatives they suspect of having illicit sex.

Women's groups had long demanded that Article 548 be scrapped, arguing it decriminalised "honour" killings.

Activists say some 200 women are killed each year in honour cases by men who expect lenient treatment under the law.

The new law replaces the existing maximum sentence of one year in jail with a minimum jail term of two years.

Justice Minister Ahmad Hamoud Younis said the change was made by the decree of President Bashar al-Assad, following a recent increase in "wife-killings... on the pretext of adultery".

The new law says a man can still benefit from attenuating circumstances in crimes of passion or honour "provided he serves a prison term of no less than two years in the case of killing".

The legislation covers any man who "unintentionally" kills his wife, sister, daughter or mother after catching her committing adultery or having unlawful sex. It also covers cases where the woman's lover is killed.

A court in the Indian capital, Delhi, has ruled that homosexual intercourse between consenting adults is not a criminal act.

The ruling overturns a 148-year-old colonial law which describes a same-sex relationship as an "unnatural offence".

Homosexual acts were punishable by a 10-year prison sentence.

Many people in India regard same-sex relationships as illegitimate. Rights groups have long argued that the law contravened human rights.

The court said that a statute in Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code, which defines homosexual acts as "carnal intercourse against the order of nature" and made them illegal, was an "antithesis of the right to equality".

Dozens of baby girls in southern China have reportedly been taken from parents who broke family-planning laws, and then sold for adoption overseas.

An investigation by the state-owned Southern Metropolis News found that about 80 girls in one county had been sold for $3,000 (£1,800) to foreigners.

The babies were taken when the parents could not pay the steep fines imposed for having too many children.

 

Europa en los años 20 moviò a los jòvenes de la generaciòn perdida  , a viajar desde Nueva York , por la opciòn  de que en Parìs se vivia bien con poco dinero  . En la novela " Parìs es una fiesta " refleja el entorno de la generaciòn perdida  . El escritor Robert E . Spiller , en su historia de la literatura norteamericana  : " Nacidos en su mayorìa en la dècada final del siglo anterior  , y criados en los años en que la naciòn alcanzaba su madurez como potencia mundial ,  estuvieron muy dispuestos  a considerarse perdidos cuando en el momento de llegar a hombres se veìan hundidos en lo que parecìa el colapso de la civilizaciòn occidental " . Estos jòvenes perdidos han visto nacer el nazismo , el socialismo , el facismo . Han reido con Buster Keaton , Harold LLoyd  . Bailan charleston . Los escritores màs relevantes son Theodore Dreiser , Sherwood  Anderson , Sinclair Lewis y Gertubre Stein  , Dashiell Hammet  . Los màs conocidos escritores de la generaciòn perdida , son Ernest Hemingway  y Francis Scott Fitzgerald , y con su obra  El derrumbe " , señala lo complicado que es ser escritor despuès de la Primera guerra mundial . Gertrude Stein , en su salòn de la rue de fleurus se convirtiò en una mama grande de escritores como  Hemingway . Miss Stein habìa llegado a Parìs antes de la Primera guerra mundial , concentrando en torno a su librerìa  una nutrida cantidad de artistas y intelectuales , fascinado ante la tolerancia que emanaba la americana. Nacida en 1870 . en una familia pudiente . Estudiò medicina , al poco tiempo abandono la Universidad  . Su hermano Leo influyò en su decisiòn de ir a Parìs . Leo descubriò el mìtico departamento en el 27 de la fure de fleurus que su hermana hizo tan famoso .La metiò en el conocimiento de la pintura moderna a travès de Cezzane , Gaugin , Renoir y Toulouse - Lautrec . Picasso y Matisse fueron asiduos visitantes a las tertulias que se realizaban los sàbados por la tarde , como tambièn lo fueron  los poetas Guillaume Apollinaire y Max Jacob . Gertubre Stein escribiò su primer libro " three lives " en 1908 . En 1933 publica  " Autobiografìa de Alice B Toklas " .  En 1930 publica " Dix Portraits " , ilustrado por Picasso . El poeta  y crìtico Ezra Pound , fue uno de los primeros en llegar a Parìs , desde Inglaterra , donde habìa pasado los años de guerra . Habìa llegado a la conclusiòn de que " Londres estaba muerto " , escribiò a William Carlos William en 1920 . Tambièn llegò el escritor Sherwood Anderson en 1921 , habìa publicado  " Winesburg Ohio " , que da iniciò a su fama literaria . En 1921 llega Hemingway  y Francis Scott Fitezgerald , "el  golden boy "de la generaciòn perdida  . Scott provenìa de una familia arribista y de poco dinero , pero logro ser educado en exclusivos colegios en Newman Academy de Boston y en la Universidad de Princeton . En 1920 publica  " A este lado del paraiso " con 24 años . El escritor chileno Luis Dominguez en un ensayo sobre la obra del escritor : " Su ser irreflexivo , romàntico , actor de sì mismo , que  parece zambullirse a ojos cerrados en al sociedad , para salir a flote con una leyenda , casi  y ese otro , su ser lùcido ,  casi cruel consigo mismo , que no espera piedad para sì por muy mal que ande sino que la se clama o continùa reclamàndola para los otros " . El escritor junto con su esposa Zelda  Sayre derrocharon el dinero , hasta comprarse un Roll Royce  . Otros escritores vivian sumidos en la miseria y que fueron protegidos por Sylvia Beach , llamada por Hemingway Madame Shakespeare , por ser la dueña de la elegante librerìa  " Shakespeare Company " . La librerìa se abriò en 1919 en la rue dupuytren . El escritor Hemingway entrò a la librerìa , sin dinero . Sylvia fue amable con el escritor y le presto algunos libros . En 1920 conociò al escritor irlandès James Joyce , que fue un asiduo visitante en su librerìa . En 1914 , Joyce escribìa su obra cumbre " Ulises " que terminarìa en 1921 . En 1918 aparecen fragmentos de Ulises en Lihe Review   de Nueva Yrok , que fue acusada de obscena . Sylvia financio la publicaciòn de Ulises y James  Joyce acepto encantado . En 1922 el libro estuvo listoa cuando el escritor cumplio sus 40 años . Natalie Clifford Barney , dueña de un salòn cultural de la generaciòn perdida , por su caracter irreverente y  inquieto  . En 1909 , la Clifford Barney  , habìa adquirido un apartamenteo en la rue jacob , donde estuvo el salòn , todos los viernes . Asistìan escritores  de la talla de Paul Valery , Colette , Rilke  . El poeta Ezra Pound fue su gran amigo . La colonia literaria llamado el barrio , en el centro de Montparnasse , existia cuatro cafès : " La Coupole " " Le select" " La rotonda"  " Le dome"  . En 1925 , los criticos literarios comentadon de la escuela de la rotonde , para referirse  a la nueva corriente de la literatura americana . Entre idas y venidas , de Nueva York a Parìs , Scott terminò su segunda novela " Los bellos y malditos " , en 1922 . en 1925 , publica  " El gran Gatsby     2 , y T.S . Eliote cree que es " El primer paso de la novela norteamericana desde Henry James " . En la primavera , en 1925 , Scott conoce a Hemingway en Parìs  . Es el encuentro entre la fragilidad y la rudeza . Hemingway , con novelas como Fiesta ( 1926 ) , Adiòs a las armas (1929)  , Por quièn doblan las campanas (1940) ,  El viejo y el mar (1952)  .  Aquellos escritores de la generaciòn perdida , compartieron los sueños y un dìa lo perdieron aquella etapa que fue tan breve como el ladrido de un perro de una comarca vecina . Solo quedo el pasado de que la vida literaria fue un hermoso sueño narrativo , en el atardecer , en las calles de Parìs .

 

 

MARIETTA MORALES RODRÌGUEZ

 

 

Voy a detener el tiempo…

Con el roce de tu boca…

Y con tus ojos en mi espejo

Detendré tu reflejo

Para envolverlo en un susurro…

Ya siento el murmullo,

Ágil en tu reacción...

No te veo pero mi corazón

Predice tu reacción

A mis palabras locas.

 

 

     

 

 

                      Autor/a: reisel (Jennifer concha)