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Quote of the Day. "We can live in fear and make bad policy based on fear, or we can have some backbone and make policy based on what really helps our communities. [Still,] I worry about it. I say a rosary every day." Patricia L. Caruso, director of the Michigan Department of Corrections,on the growing trend by states to reduce prison populations by expanding parole programs and early releases in order to save money, with the risk that some will commit new crimes. (New York Times)
FAITH IN THE NEWS
Democratic leaders working to win over abortion opponents for health-care reform "As President Obama makes his final plea for a health-care overhaul, Democratic leaders in Congress are embarking on a delicate strategy to win over abortion opponents, a gambit that could determine whether the legislation becomes law." Bishops offer help with Senate "The Roman Catholic bishops signaled Thursday that if agreement is reached with House leaders on anti-abortion language, the church would work to get the votes needed to protect the provisions in the Senate -- and thereby advance the shared goal with Democrats of health care reform. "
Clergy Spread Message of Hope and Blessings for Complete Census Count "Besides spreading the word of God, religious leaders at some local churches will this month begin spreading the word to their parishioners that participation in the Census is important, and that they can trust that the forms they fill out will not be used against them."
Study says blogs a growing but largely untapped influence on religion "Blogs are a growing but still relatively underutilized influence on today's religious discourse, according to a study of the religious blogosphere by the Social Science Research Council."
Churches Unveil Plan to Ease Plight of Black Men "Three historic black denominations on Wednesday unveiled a new national plan aimed at keeping their young males out of prison and in school and church."
NEWS AT HOME
Unemployment. Jobless rate remained at 9.7 percent in February, stats say "Another 36,000 jobs were lost in February, but manufacturers added jobs for the second straight month, the Bureau of Labor Statistics said in its monthly job report Friday." Payrolls in U.S. Fell 36,000; Unemployment at 9.7% "The jobless rate in the U.S. held at 9.7 percent in February and employment declined less than forecast, even as severe winter weather forced some employers to temporarily close."
Jobs. House passes $15 billion jobs bill "After stalling briefly, the Democrats' jobs agenda regained momentum on Thursday as the House passed one measure designed to boost employment and the Senate pressed forward on a more ambitious bill that is expected to come to a vote next week." House Adopts $15 Billion Plan to Spur Job Creation "The House on Thursday approved a $15 billion measure intended to spur job creation by granting tax breaks to businesses that hire workers, as Democrats, bracing for new jobless figures, tried to show that Congress was doing something about stubborn unemployment."
Health Care. Obama intensifies health-care efforts "An aide to President Obama urged lawmakers on Thursday to make substantial progress on his health-care plan before he leaves on a foreign trip in mid-March, as Obama summoned wavering House Democrats to the White House for a private sales pitch." Obama Takes Health Care Deadline to Democrats "President Obama, beginning a full-court press for his health care overhaul, met Thursday with insurance industry executives and House Democrats as party leaders on Capitol Hill struggled to figure out whether they could meet the president's timetable for enacting legislation within a few weeks." Pressure mounts for/against healthcare bill "As President Obama pushes for a prompt up or down vote on his health initiative, lobbyists and activist groups on both sides of the issue have launched grass-roots and high-dollar advertising campaigns on the roughly two dozen members of Congress who may be the final swing votes on the controversial issue."
Immigration. Obama looking to give new life to immigration reform "Despite steep odds, the White House has discussed prospects for reviving a major overhaul of the nation's immigration laws, a commitment that President Obama has postponed once already."
Finance Reform. Senate reins in finance reform "The Senate is scaling back President Obama's plans to reform the financial system, enraging critics who wanted to see the government do a better job protecting consumers and preventing banks from growing too big to fail."
Education Cuts Protests. Thousands protest California education cuts "A day of passionate protest against education funding cuts attracted thousands of demonstrators Thursday to mostly peaceful rallies, walkouts and teach-ins at universities and high schools throughout California and the nation." California Students Protest Education Cuts "Angered by increases in tuition and cuts in state financing, thousands of students, parents and faculty members protested across California on Thursday at colleges, universities and even elementary schools to plead for help with the state's education crisis."
Armenian Genocide. Over Turkish protests, House panel calls killing of Armenians 'genocide' "A congressional committee voted Thursday to label as 'genocide' the Ottoman-era slaughter of Armenians, shrugging off a last-minute warning from Obama administration officials that it would alienate Turkey, a key U.S. ally." House panel narrowly passes recognition of Armenian genocide "Sponsors of a long-debated congressional resolution to officially recognize the Armenian genocide cleared a key hurdle by a one-vote margin Thursday, but face a tough battle ahead to bring the measure before the House." Turkey condemns US 'genocide' vote "Turkey has recalled its ambassador from the U.S. and condemned a Washington panel's move to declare the killing of Armenians by Ottoman forces in the first world war a 'genocide.'"
NEWS AROUND THE WORLD
Chile. Rebuilding Chile 'to take years' "Chile's reconstruction will take 'three to four years' as the country recovers from the earthquake that killed some 800 people, its president has said." Poor are the last to get aid in Concepción "Class war has broken out in the city that bore the brunt of the Chilean earthquake and tsunami and the wave of looting that followed. Aid has just arrived in Concepción but it is the rich who are being fed first." Setting Chile's Past Aside, a City Welcomes Soldiers "They may have arrived a couple of days late, and carrying a painful legacy from Chile's past, but to an emotional Álvaro Ramírez, the presence of some 6,000 troops here on the streets of Chile's second largest city was a godsend."
Iraq-UK Commission. Iraq invasion was right decision for right reasons, says Brown "Gordon Brown today defended the invasion of Iraq but said he regretted that he had not been able to persuade the US to take postwar planning 'seriously enough' to ensure a 'just peace.'" Iraq war was 'right', says Brown "Prime Minister Gordon Brown has said the 2003 war was 'right,' as he gives evidence to the UK's Iraq inquiry."
Iraq-Election. In Iraq, Early Vote Is Marred by Attacks "Iraq opened its polls early on Thursday for hundreds of thousands of soldiers and police officers responsible for protecting the country's electorate, and they came under assault themselves." Defying bombers, Iraqi security forces vote en masse "The early voting highlighted three mainstays of an Iraqi Election Day: the resilience of voters, in this case the nation's beleaguered security forces; sectarian-laced allegations of electoral fraud; and the determination of militants to disrupt the process." Iraq election: Sunnis set to make mark "Religious tolerance and political plurality are not yet selling points in this almost exclusively Sunni province, which feels it has lost more in post-Saddam Iraq than any of the country's 17 other governorates. But this time around, there is a feeling among Anbaris that they have more to lose by staying home again than they do by turning up to vote."
Afghanistan-Military. US Afghan general gets more power "The commander of US forces in Afghanistan, Gen Stanley McChrystal, is to be given expanded authority over US and Nato forces, officials say." Afghan mission turning a corner, Petraeus says "General David Petraeus, the head of U.S. Central Command, has suggested that Canada is poised to draw down its forces in Afghanistan just as momentum is building toward a decisive victory over the Taliban."
Afghanistan-Political. Departing U.N. envoy has strong words for Afghan government "The departing U.N. envoy to Afghanistan said Thursday that the nation's leaders must 'clean up their own house' and warned that U.S.-led military operations must not jeopardize political efforts toward reconciliation with the Taliban." Departing U.N. Envoy Urges Political Solution in Afghanistan "The departing head of the United Nations mission in Afghanistan, Kai Eide, warned Thursday that if negative trends were not reversed, there would be little that could restore peace in the country, and he called for balancing the military strategy with political efforts."
OPINION
The power of nonviolence (Ziad AbuZayyad, Haaretz) "Disseminating a culture of passive resistance against the oppression and atrocities of the occupation is the most efficacious method for fighting it: It should be promulgated and its circle expanded.
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