---International Arms Trade Fuelling Human Rights Abuses in Darfur, Sudan-Amnesty International will present a report revealing details of an uncontrolled international arms trade that is fuelling massive human rights abuses, including the killing, rape, torture and displacement of more than a million civilians in Darfur. The 43-page report, Sudan: Arming the Perpetrators of Grave Abuses in Darfur, identifies recent transfers of arms and accuses foreign governments of enabling the government of Sudan to arm and deploy untrained and unaccountable militias in Darfur. "It is a travesty that governments have sold arms to Sudan despite widespread reports of serious human rights abuses by the security forces," stated Dr. William F. Schulz, Executive Director of Amnesty International USA (AIUSA). "By allowing military equipment to be sent to Sudan from their countries without guarantees that they would not be used to commit such violations, they have knowingly signaled their willingness to be complicit in torture, rape and murder." The report is being presented ahead of a rare meeting of the UN Security Council in Nairobi on November 18-19. For a full copy of the report, Sudan: Arming the Perpetrators of Grave Abuses in Darfur, please contact Michelle Linder: mlinder@aiusa.org.

---New data presented for reducing bad cholesterol in African Americans----
New data presented at the American Heart Association's Annual Scientific Sessions focused on a new medication for reducing "bad" cholesterol in African Americans. Dr. Keith C. Ferdinand, an African American clinical cardiologist and medical director of the Heartbeats Life Center in New Orleans, was the lead investigator for a first-ever large-scale, Prospective Study in African Americans with High Cholesterol Levels. Dr. Ferdinand said, "As an African American physician who treats a large number of African American patients, the ARIES (African American Rosuvastatin Investigation of Efficacy and Safety) trial represents an opportunity to demonstrate the efficacy and safety of statins in this high-risk, undertreated and underserved population. ARIES is the first trial to demonstrate superiority in lowering LDL-cholesterol (bad cholesterol) in this (the African American) population using rosuvastatin (CRESTOR) compared to atorvastatin, comparing equal doses of each." ARIES is a six-week, randomized, controlled, open-label, multi-center trial designed to evaluate the efficacy of CRESTOR and atorvastatin in African Americans with elevated cholesterol. The data showed that 66 and 79 percent of the patients treated with CRESTOR 10 and 20 mg respectively reached their NCEP ATP III cholesterol goals compared to 58 and 62 percent for patients treated with atorvastatin 10 and 20 mg respectively. For more information, contact: Unnia Pettus at (202) 488-4948.

---HBCU Business Students: Call for Submissions---
With the HBCU Business Classic, a business competition for students attending Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Ford Motor Company continues its pioneering efforts to increase the success of African American entrepreneurs. Winners will receive a combined total of $100,000 in scholarships for their respective teams and schools. HOW TO ENTER: The competition is open to all HBCU students nationwide. To enter, individuals or teams of two to five students and a faculty advisor must submit a 10-page business plan via the Ford HBCU Business Web site at www.ford.com/go/hbcu. The plans must be comprised of the following main elements: type of business, product or service, pricing considerations, target market and competition, and general operations. The DEADLINE for entries is JANUARY 15, 2005. If you plan to participate, please send a note to UnityFirst.com, so that we can salute your efforts, as well as the schools that you represent. Send your contact information to: editors@unityfirst.com. We wish you the best!

---Father and son tour with Eddie Levert (O'Jays) and Gerald Levert to hit Boston, December 12 ---O'JAYS RELEASE NEW CD: IMAGINATION
GERALD LEVERT TO RELEASE NEW CD NOV. 30: DO I SPEAK FOR THE WORLD? An Evening with Father & Son Eddie Levert and Gerald Levert in concert will be held on Sunday, December 12 at 7:30 pm at the Orpheum Theatre, Boston. The talent that binds father and son Eddie Levert and Gerald Levert will be showcased this fall in a one of a kind tour that kicks off on the East Coast on November 25, stops in Boston on December 12 and continues on to the West Coast, ending in early February. The show will feature the two singers performing audience favorites including numerous hits from the O'Jays as well as Gerald's hits. Also included will be a little gospel, some blues, and tributes to legendary R&B talents Barry White and Luther Vandross. For more information or tickets, call: 617-679-0810.

---One Hundred Black Men, Inc holds tribute and benefit---
Members and supporters of One Hundred Black Men, Inc. (OHBM) recently gathered at a memorable, 25th Annual Benefit Gala. "Honoring Our Past and Celebrating Our Future" was the theme at this star-studded event which occurred at the New York Hilton Grand Ballroom. Go to UnityFirst.com for the photo of the honorees including: Dr. Johnetta Cole, President Bennett College, Baseball legend Henry L. "Hank" Aaron, entertainment icon Janet Jackson and media mogul/ philanthropist Willie E. Gary, Esq..

---First Annual Miss Juneteenth America Pageant---
The date for the 1st Annual Miss Juneteenth America Pageant will be held during the 9th Annual National Juneteenth Convention and Expo in August 2006. A meeting of the National Juneteenth Pageant Committee will be held at the 8th Annual National Juneteenth Convention and Expo, August 11-13, 2005, to discuss pageant registration fees, prizes for contestants, scholarships for pageant winners, selection of judges, etc. Please feel free to contact National Juneteenth Pageant Committee members about the pageant, which will be an annual event at our annual National Juneteenth Convention starting in 2006. For more information, send e-mail to: MyersFound@aol.com.

----Job Opportunity of the Week: Education Development Center Manager---
The Higher Education Center for Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse and Violence Prevention is the nation's primary resource center for assisting U.S. colleges and universities develop, implement, and evaluate programs and policies to reduce substance use and violence on campus. The Center operates on a multi-year contract with the U.S. Department of Education. The Center is seeking a managing director/operations manager to work directly with the Center's director in executing the activities of the Center, including deliverables management, financial management, subcontract management, intern program and support staff supervision, report preparation, and related contract operations. This individual will also work with the director and the Center's associate directors in executing special substantive assignments requested by the U.S. Department of Education. Salary will be commensurate with experience and credentials. For the full posting, go to UnityFirst.com's Job Opportunities or to apply: send email to hmermes@edc.org