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Madonna
Barack Obama
Marc Morial
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Business World Index
---AIDS Documentary by Madonna to air on December 1---
The feature documentary "I Am Because We Are", which looks at the lives of children orphaned by AIDS in Malawi, Africa, will premiere on the Sundance Channel on World AIDS Day, December 1 (Check local listings). THe documentary was written and produced by Madonna, and directed by first time filmmaker Nathan Rissman. An impoverished, landlocked country in southeastern Africa, Malawi is home to 12 million people – and over one million of them are children who have been orphaned by AIDS. Leading experts such as President Bill Clinton, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, professor Jeffery Sachs, and Dr. Paul Farmer offer memorable insight in the documentary.
---Newsweek: How to Fix the World---
"At this moment, the United States has a unique opportunity to push forward a vision that aligns its own interests and ideals with those of most of the world's major powers. But it is a fleeting opportunity," Newsweek International Editor Fareed Zakaria writes in the December 8 cover, "How to Fix the World" (on newsstands Monday, December 1). Zakaria argues that before last week's terror attacks in India, the subject of foreign policy had disappeared, overshadowed by the economic crisis. For foreign policy to receive the appropriate attention, we must hope that President Obama "does more than select a good team, delegate well, and react intelligently to the problems he will confront. He must have his administration build a broader framework through which to view the world and America's relations with it -- a grand strategy," Zakaria writes. This is a rare moment in history, when a more responsive America could help bring stability, prosperity and dignity to the lives of billions of people. "At this time and for this man, there is a unique opportunity to use American power to reshape the world. This is his moment. He should seize it." "Grand strategy sounds like an abstract concept -- something academics discuss -- and one that bears little relationship to urgent, jarring events on the ground. But in the absence of strategy, any administration will be driven by the news, reacting rather than leading," Zakaria writes. "The creation of Obama's grand strategy will need to start with an accurate appraisal of the world and the worrying aspects of the new international order, including competition for resources like oil, food, commodities and water; climate change; continued terrorist threats; and demographic shifts. These changes are taking place at every level and at great speed in the global system," Zakaria writes. "Such ferment is usually a recipe for instability. Sudden shifts can trigger sudden actions -- terrorist attacks, secessionist outbreaks, nuclear brinkmanship."
---Hate crimes---
The brutal murder of Marcelo Lucero, a Suffolk County, Long Island New York man of Ecuadoran descent, brought seven national civil rights organizations together to denounce the recent wave of brutal hate crimes against communities of color. Representatives from the National Council of La Raza (NCLR), the Asian American Justice Center (AAJC), the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights (LCCR), the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), the National Urban League, the NAACP and the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF) decried the recent spike in hate crimes both during and after the election. "In the wake of an election that sends a message to the world about freedom, it seems incongruous to raise the specter of hate in America," said Janet Murguia, President and CEO of NCLR. "Hate did not win the election, but it has certainly reared its head in local communities across the country." Karen Narasaki, President and Executive Director of AAJC said, "It is deeply disturbing to see this surge in hate crimes at a time when we should be celebrating coming together as a country and looking to the future." "Encouraged as we are to see many communities hopeful that we are headed towards an age of greater understanding, we cannot ignore the wave of hate crimes that has occurred in the wake of this historic election." The group cited FBI statistics that show hate crimes against Latinos and Asian Americans rising steadily over the past four years and a Southern Poverty Law Center report that details hundreds of incidents of hate crimes, vandalism, and threats committed since Election Day. This includes the election-night assault of Alie Kamara on Staten Island by two teenagers who shouted racial epithets and "Obama!" as they beat him. "We believe that the Justice Department has to become more aggressive in prosecuting hate crimes," said Marc H. Morial, President and CEO of the National Urban League, one of the nation's historic civil rights organizations. "As a country, we've come a long way, but there is still more change needed." Hilary Shelton, Director NAACP Washington Bureau, said "At a time when we as a nation are celebrating our demonstrated diversity as millions of Americans of every race, color, ethnicity, economic status, religion, gender, and place of national origin went to the polls in record numbers to vote for and elect Barack Obama president of the United States, there are unfortunately those who are still living in the past filled with hatred, fear and division."
---World AIDS Day---
In anticipation of World AIDS Day on Monday, December 1, the Global AIDS Alliance is calling on the incoming Obama administration to intensify the US effort against HIV/AIDS, both at home and abroad, and to resist "AIDS fatigue." Over 100 global health advocacy organizations have signed a memo to US President-Elect Obama, laying out practical and immediate steps he should take on HIV/AIDS and related issues. Carol Bergman, Acting Executive Director of the Global AIDS Alliance, stated: "We are looking forward to the President-elect's new budget for Global AIDS and hope that he will reject recent proposals that would diminish the stature of the Office of the Global AIDS Coordinator. Expanding resources for Global AIDS in the FY 2010 budget will be critical to achieving President-elect Obama's commitment to provide $50 billion over five years in the fight against the pandemic. The new budget provides an opportunity for the President-elect to signal his commitment to multilateralism by providing $2.7 billion for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. HIV/AIDS kills approximately 5,500 people each day, mostly in Africa, leaving terrible suffering in its wake and undermining economic progress in dozens of countries. Fortunately, the world is becoming much smarter about how to fight the disease. Evidence shows that comprehensive prevention works, access to treatment is saving millions of lives, and innovative ways to approach prevention and treatment hold the promise of an even more effective response.”
---Holiday shopping---
PriceGrabber.com revealed that economic conditions motivate value-driven consumers. Data from PriceGrabber.com shows that online consumers are taking advantage of promotions on popular electronics including: LCD and Plasma TV's, Blu-Ray Disc Players, Digital SLR Cameras, Laptops, and Video Game Consoles. "Prior to the Black Friday weekend, 71 percent of shoppers intended to spend less money this holiday season compared to last year and 66 percent planned to give practical gifts," said Ron LaPierre, president of PriceGrabber.com. "Thanksgiving and Black Friday traffic shows that value drives consumer spending."
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