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Remarks of President Barack Obama -- Address to Joint Session of Congress
Remarks of President Barack Obama – As Prepared for Delivery
Address to Joint Session of Congress
Tuesday, February 24th, 2009
(en español)
Madame Speaker, Mr. Vice President, Members of Congress, and the First Lady of the United States:
I’ve come here tonight not only to address the distinguished men and women in this great chamber, but to speak frankly and directly to the men and women who sent us here.
I know that for many Americans watching right now, the state of our economy is a concern that rises above all others. And rightly so. If you haven’t been personally affected by this recession, you probably know someone who has – a friend; a neighbor; a member of your family. You don’t need to hear another list of statistics to know that our economy is in crisis, because you live it every day. It’s the worry you wake up with and the source of sleepless nights. It’s the job you thought you’d retire from but now have lost; the business you built your dreams upon that’s now hanging by a thread; the college acceptance letter your child had to put back in the envelope. The impact of this recession is real, and it is everywhere.
But while our economy may be weakened and our confidence shaken; though we are living through difficult and uncertain times, tonight I want every American to know this:
We will rebuild, we will recover, and the United States of America will emerge stronger than before.
The weight of this crisis will not determine the destiny of this nation. The answers to our problems don’t lie beyond our reach. They exist in our laboratories and universities; in our fields and our factories; in the imaginations of our entrepreneurs and the pride of the hardest-working people on Earth. Those qualities that have made America the greatest force of progress and prosperity in human history we still possess in ample measure. What is required now is for this country to pull together, confront boldly the challenges we face, and take responsibility for our future once more.
Now, if we’re honest with ourselves, we’ll admit that for too long, we have not always met these responsibilities – as a government or as a people. I say this not to lay blame or look backwards, but because it is only by understanding how we arrived at this moment that we’ll be able to lift ourselves out of this predicament.
The fact is, our economy did not fall into decline overnight. Nor did all of our problems begin when the housing market collapsed or the stock market sank. We have known for decades that our survival depends on finding new sources of energy. Yet we import more oil today than ever before. The cost of health care eats up more and more of our savings each year, yet we keep delaying reform. Our children will compete for jobs in a global economy that too many of our schools do not prepare them for. And though all these challenges went unsolved, we still managed to spend more money and pile up more debt, both as individuals and through our government, than ever before.
In other words, we have lived through an era where too often, short-term gains were prized over long-term prosperity; where we failed to look beyond the next payment, the next quarter, or the next election. A surplus became an excuse to transfer wealth to the wealthy instead of an opportunity to invest in our future. Regulations were gutted for the sake of a quick profit at the expense of a healthy market. People bought homes they knew they couldn’t afford from banks and lenders who pushed those bad loans anyway. And all the while, critical debates and difficult decisions were put off for some other time on some other day.
Well that day of reckoning has arrived, and the time to take charge of our future is here.
Now is the time to act boldly and wisely – to not only revive this economy, but to build a new foundation for lasting prosperity. Now is the time to jumpstart job creation, re-start lending, and invest in areas like energy, health care, and education that will grow our economy, even as we make hard choices to bring our deficit down. That is what my economic agenda is designed to do, and that’s what I’d like to talk to you about tonight.
It’s an agenda that begins with jobs.
As soon as I took office, I asked this Congress to send me a recovery plan by President’s Day that would put people back to work and put money in their pockets. Not because I believe in bigger government – I don’t. Not because I’m not mindful of the massive debt we’ve inherited – I am. I called for action because the failure to do so would have cost more jobs and caused more hardships. In fact, a failure to act would have worsened our long-term deficit by assuring weak economic growth for years. That’s why I pushed for quick action. And tonight, I am grateful that this Congress delivered, and pleased to say that the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act is now law.
Over the next two years, this plan will save or create 3.5 million jobs. More than 90% of these jobs will be in the private sector – jobs rebuilding our roads and bridges; constructing wind turbines and solar panels; laying broadband and expanding mass transit.
Because of this plan, there are teachers who can now keep their jobs and educate our kids. Health care professionals can continue caring for our sick. There are 57 police officers who are still on the streets of Minneapolis tonight because this plan prevented the layoffs their department was about to make.
Because of this plan, 95% of the working households in America will receive a tax cut – a tax cut that you will see in your paychecks beginning on April 1st.
Because of this plan, families who are struggling to pay tuition costs will receive a $2,500 tax credit for all four years of college. And Americans who have lost their jobs in this recession will be able to receive extended unemployment benefits and continued health care coverage to help them weather this storm.
I know there are some in this chamber and watching at home who are skeptical of whether this plan will work. I understand that skepticism. Here in Washington, we’ve all seen how quickly good intentions can turn into broken promises and wasteful spending. And with a plan of this scale comes enormous responsibility to get it right.
That is why I have asked Vice President Biden to lead a tough, unprecedented oversight effort – because nobody messes with Joe. I have told each member of my Cabinet as well as mayors and governors across the country that they will be held accountable by me and the American people for every dollar they spend. I have appointed a proven and aggressive Inspector General to ferret out any and all cases of waste and fraud. And we have created a new website called recovery.gov so that every American can find out how and where their money is being spent.
So the recovery plan we passed is the first step in getting our economy back on track. But it is just the first step. Because even if we manage this plan flawlessly, there will be no real recovery unless we clean up the credit crisis that has severely weakened our financial system.
I want to speak plainly and candidly about this issue tonight, because every American should know that it directly affects you and your family’s well-being. You should also know that the money you’ve deposited in banks across the country is safe; your insurance is secure; and you can rely on the continued operation of our financial system. That is not the source of concern.
The concern is that if we do not re-start lending in this country, our recovery will be choked off before it even begins.
You see, the flow of credit is the lifeblood of our economy. The ability to get a loan is how you finance the purchase of everything from a home to a car to a college education; how stores stock their shelves, farms buy equipment, and businesses make payroll.
But credit has stopped flowing the way it should. Too many bad loans from the housing crisis have made their way onto the books of too many banks. With so much debt and so little confidence, these banks are now fearful of lending out any more money to households, to businesses, or to each other. When there is no lending, families can’t afford to buy homes or cars. So businesses are forced to make layoffs. Our economy suffers even more, and credit dries up even further.
That is why this administration is moving swiftly and aggressively to break this destructive cycle, restore confidence, and re-start lending.
We will do so in several ways. First, we are creating a new lending fund that represents the largest effort ever to help provide auto loans, college loans, and small business loans to the consumers and entrepreneurs who keep this economy running.
Second, we have launched a housing plan that will help responsible families facing the threat of foreclosure lower their monthly payments and re-finance their mortgages. It’s a plan that won’t help speculators or that neighbor down the street who bought a house he could never hope to afford, but it will help millions of Americans who are struggling with declining home values – Americans who will now be able to take advantage of the lower interest rates that this plan has already helped bring about. In fact, the average family who re-finances today can save nearly $2000 per year on their mortgage.
Third, we will act with the full force of the federal government to ensure that the major banks that Americans depend on have enough confidence and enough money to lend even in more difficult times. And when we learn that a major bank has serious problems, we will hold accountable those responsible, force the necessary adjustments, provide the support to clean up their balance sheets, and assure the continuity of a strong, viable institution that can serve our people and our economy.
I understand that on any given day, Wall Street may be more comforted by an approach that gives banks bailouts with no strings attached, and that holds nobody accountable for their reckless decisions. But such an approach won’t solve the problem. And our goal is to quicken the day when we re-start lending to the American people and American business and end this crisis once and for all.
I intend to hold these banks fully accountable for the assistance they receive, and this time, they will have to clearly demonstrate how taxpayer dollars result in more lending for the American taxpayer. This time, CEOs won’t be able to use taxpayer money to pad their paychecks or buy fancy drapes or disappear on a private jet. Those days are over.
Still, this plan will require significant resources from the federal government – and yes, probably more than we’ve already set aside. But while the cost of action will be great, I can assure you that the cost of inaction will be far greater, for it could result in an economy that sputters along for not months or years, but perhaps a decade. That would be worse for our deficit, worse for business, worse for you, and worse for the next generation. And I refuse to let that happen.
I understand that when the last administration asked this Congress to provide assistance for struggling banks, Democrats and Republicans alike were infuriated by the mismanagement and results that followed. So were the American taxpayers. So was I.
So I know how unpopular it is to be seen as helping banks right now, especially when everyone is suffering in part from their bad decisions. I promise you – I get it.
But I also know that in a time of crisis, we cannot afford to govern out of anger, or yield to the politics of the moment. My job – our job – is to solve the problem. Our job is to govern with a sense of responsibility. I will not spend a single penny for the purpose of rewarding a single Wall Street executive, but I will do whatever it takes to help the small business that can’t pay its workers or the family that has saved and still can’t get a mortgage.
That’s what this is about. It’s not about helping banks – it’s about helping people. Because when credit is available again, that young family can finally buy a new home. And then some company will hire workers to build it. And then those workers will have money to spend, and if they can get a loan too, maybe they’ll finally buy that car, or open their own business. Investors will return to the market, and American families will see their retirement secured once more. Slowly, but surely, confidence will return, and our economy will recover.
So I ask this Congress to join me in doing whatever proves necessary. Because we cannot consign our nation to an open-ended recession. And to ensure that a crisis of this magnitude never happens again, I ask Congress to move quickly on legislation that will finally reform our outdated regulatory system. It is time to put in place tough, new common-sense rules of the road so that our financial market rewards drive and innovation, and punishes short-cuts and abuse.
The recovery plan and the financial stability plan are the immediate steps we’re taking to revive our economy in the short-term. But the only way to fully restore America’s economic strength is to make the long-term investments that will lead to new jobs, new industries, and a renewed ability to compete with the rest of the world. The only way this century will be another American century is if we confront at last the price of our dependence on oil and the high cost of health care; the schools that aren’t preparing our children and the mountain of debt they stand to inherit. That is our responsibility.
In the next few days, I will submit a budget to Congress. So often, we have come to view these documents as simply numbers on a page or laundry lists of programs. I see this document differently. I see it as a vision for America – as a blueprint for our future.
My budget does not attempt to solve every problem or address every issue. It reflects the stark reality of what we’ve inherited – a trillion dollar deficit, a financial crisis, and a costly recession.
Given these realities, everyone in this chamber – Democrats and Republicans – will have to sacrifice some worthy priorities for which there are no dollars. And that includes me.
But that does not mean we can afford to ignore our long-term challenges. I reject the view that says our problems will simply take care of themselves; that says government has no role in laying the foundation for our common prosperity.
For history tells a different story. History reminds us that at every moment of economic upheaval and transformation, this nation has responded with bold action and big ideas. In the midst of civil war, we laid railroad tracks from one coast to another that spurred commerce and industry. From the turmoil of the Industrial Revolution came a system of public high schools that prepared our citizens for a new age. In the wake of war and depression, the GI Bill sent a generation to college and created the largest middle-class in history. And a twilight struggle for freedom led to a nation of highways, an American on the moon, and an explosion of technology that still shapes our world.
In each case, government didn’t supplant private enterprise; it catalyzed private enterprise. It created the conditions for thousands of entrepreneurs and new businesses to adapt and to thrive.
We are a nation that has seen promise amid peril, and claimed opportunity from ordeal. Now we must be that nation again. That is why, even as it cuts back on the programs we don’t need, the budget I submit will invest in the three areas that are absolutely critical to our economic future: energy, health care, and education.
It begins with energy.
We know the country that harnesses the power of clean, renewable energy will lead the 21st century. And yet, it is China that has launched the largest effort in history to make their economy energy efficient. We invented solar technology, but we’ve fallen behind countries like Germany and Japan in producing it. New plug-in hybrids roll off our assembly lines, but they will run on batteries made in Korea.
Well I do not accept a future where the jobs and industries of tomorrow take root beyond our borders – and I know you don’t either. It is time for America to lead again.
Thanks to our recovery plan, we will double this nation’s supply of renewable energy in the next three years. We have also made the largest investment in basic research funding in American history – an investment that will spur not only new discoveries in energy, but breakthroughs in medicine, science, and technology.
We will soon lay down thousands of miles of power lines that can carry new energy to cities and towns across this country. And we will put Americans to work making our homes and buildings more efficient so that we can save billions of dollars on our energy bills.
But to truly transform our economy, protect our security, and save our planet from the ravages of climate change, we need to ultimately make clean, renewable energy the profitable kind of energy. So I ask this Congress to send me legislation that places a market-based cap on carbon pollution and drives the production of more renewable energy in America. And to support that innovation, we will invest fifteen billion dollars a year to develop technologies like wind power and solar power; advanced biofuels, clean coal, and more fuel-efficient cars and trucks built right here in America.
As for our auto industry, everyone recognizes that years of bad decision-making and a global recession have pushed our automakers to the brink. We should not, and will not, protect them from their own bad practices. But we are committed to the goal of a re-tooled, re-imagined auto industry that can compete and win. Millions of jobs depend on it. Scores of communities depend on it. And I believe the nation that invented the automobile cannot walk away from it.
None of this will come without cost, nor will it be easy. But this is America. We don’t do what’s easy. We do what is necessary to move this country forward.
For that same reason, we must also address the crushing cost of health care.
This is a cost that now causes a bankruptcy in America every thirty seconds. By the end of the year, it could cause 1.5 million Americans to lose their homes. In the last eight years, premiums have grown four times faster than wages. And in each of these years, one million more Americans have lost their health insurance. It is one of the major reasons why small businesses close their doors and corporations ship jobs overseas. And it’s one of the largest and fastest-growing parts of our budget.
Given these facts, we can no longer afford to put health care reform on hold.
Already, we have done more to advance the cause of health care reform in the last thirty days than we have in the last decade. When it was days old, this Congress passed a law to provide and protect health insurance for eleven million American children whose parents work full-time. Our recovery plan will invest in electronic health records and new technology that will reduce errors, bring down costs, ensure privacy, and save lives. It will launch a new effort to conquer a disease that has touched the life of nearly every American by seeking a cure for cancer in our time. And it makes the largest investment ever in preventive care, because that is one of the best ways to keep our people healthy and our costs under control.
This budget builds on these reforms. It includes an historic commitment to comprehensive health care reform – a down-payment on the principle that we must have quality, affordable health care for every American. It’s a commitment that’s paid for in part by efficiencies in our system that are long overdue. And it’s a step we must take if we hope to bring down our deficit in the years to come.
Now, there will be many different opinions and ideas about how to achieve reform, and that is why I’m bringing together businesses and workers, doctors and health care providers, Democrats and Republicans to begin work on this issue next week.
I suffer no illusions that this will be an easy process. It will be hard. But I also know that nearly a century after Teddy Roosevelt first called for reform, the cost of our health care has weighed down our economy and the conscience of our nation long enough. So let there be no doubt: health care reform cannot wait, it must not wait, and it will not wait another year.
The third challenge we must address is the urgent need to expand the promise of education in America.
In a global economy where the most valuable skill you can sell is your knowledge, a good education is no longer just a pathway to opportunity – it is a pre-requisite.
Right now, three-quarters of the fastest-growing occupations require more than a high school diploma. And yet, just over half of our citizens have that level of education. We have one of the highest high school dropout rates of any industrialized nation. And half of the students who begin college never finish.
This is a prescription for economic decline, because we know the countries that out-teach us today will out-compete us tomorrow. That is why it will be the goal of this administration to ensure that every child has access to a complete and competitive education – from the day they are born to the day they begin a career.
Already, we have made an historic investment in education through the economic recovery plan. We have dramatically expanded early childhood education and will continue to improve its quality, because we know that the most formative learning comes in those first years of life. We have made college affordable for nearly seven million more students. And we have provided the resources necessary to prevent painful cuts and teacher layoffs that would set back our children’s progress.
But we know that our schools don’t just need more resources. They need more reform. That is why this budget creates new incentives for teacher performance; pathways for advancement, and rewards for success. We’ll invest in innovative programs that are already helping schools meet high standards and close achievement gaps. And we will expand our commitment to charter schools.
It is our responsibility as lawmakers and educators to make this system work. But it is the responsibility of every citizen to participate in it. And so tonight, I ask every American to commit to at least one year or more of higher education or career training. This can be community college or a four-year school; vocational training or an apprenticeship. But whatever the training may be, every American will need to get more than a high school diploma. And dropping out of high school is no longer an option. It’s not just quitting on yourself, it’s quitting on your country – and this country needs and values the talents of every American. That is why we will provide the support necessary for you to complete college and meet a new goal: by 2020, America will once again have the highest proportion of college graduates in the world.
I know that the price of tuition is higher than ever, which is why if you are willing to volunteer in your neighborhood or give back to your community or serve your country, we will make sure that you can afford a higher education. And to encourage a renewed spirit of national service for this and future generations, I ask this Congress to send me the bipartisan legislation that bears the name of Senator Orrin Hatch as well as an American who has never stopped asking what he can do for his country – Senator Edward Kennedy.
These education policies will open the doors of opportunity for our children. But it is up to us to ensure they walk through them. In the end, there is no program or policy that can substitute for a mother or father who will attend those parent/teacher conferences, or help with homework after dinner, or turn off the TV, put away the video games, and read to their child. I speak to you not just as a President, but as a father when I say that responsibility for our children's education must begin at home.
There is, of course, another responsibility we have to our children. And that is the responsibility to ensure that we do not pass on to them a debt they cannot pay. With the deficit we inherited, the cost of the crisis we face, and the long-term challenges we must meet, it has never been more important to ensure that as our economy recovers, we do what it takes to bring this deficit down.
I’m proud that we passed the recovery plan free of earmarks, and I want to pass a budget next year that ensures that each dollar we spend reflects only our most important national priorities.
Yesterday, I held a fiscal summit where I pledged to cut the deficit in half by the end of my first term in office. My administration has also begun to go line by line through the federal budget in order to eliminate wasteful and ineffective programs. As you can imagine, this is a process that will take some time. But we’re starting with the biggest lines. We have already identified two trillion dollars in savings over the next decade.
In this budget, we will end education programs that don’t work and end direct payments to large agribusinesses that don’t need them. We’ll eliminate the no-bid contracts that have wasted billions in Iraq, and reform our defense budget so that we’re not paying for Cold War-era weapons systems we don’t use. We will root out the waste, fraud, and abuse in our Medicare program that doesn’t make our seniors any healthier, and we will restore a sense of fairness and balance to our tax code by finally ending the tax breaks for corporations that ship our jobs overseas.
In order to save our children from a future of debt, we will also end the tax breaks for the wealthiest 2% of Americans. But let me perfectly clear, because I know you’ll hear the same old claims that rolling back these tax breaks means a massive tax increase on the American people: if your family earns less than $250,000 a year, you will not see your taxes increased a single dime. I repeat: not one single dime. In fact, the recovery plan provides a tax cut – that’s right, a tax cut – for 95% of working families. And these checks are on the way.
To preserve our long-term fiscal health, we must also address the growing costs in Medicare and Social Security. Comprehensive health care reform is the best way to strengthen Medicare for years to come. And we must also begin a conversation on how to do the same for Social Security, while creating tax-free universal savings accounts for all Americans.
Finally, because we’re also suffering from a deficit of trust, I am committed to restoring a sense of honesty and accountability to our budget. That is why this budget looks ahead ten years and accounts for spending that was left out under the old rules – and for the first time, that includes the full cost of fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan. For seven years, we have been a nation at war. No longer will we hide its price.
We are now carefully reviewing our policies in both wars, and I will soon announce a way forward in Iraq that leaves Iraq to its people and responsibly ends this war.
And with our friends and allies, we will forge a new and comprehensive strategy for Afghanistan and Pakistan to defeat al Qaeda and combat extremism. Because I will not allow terrorists to plot against the American people from safe havens half a world away.
As we meet here tonight, our men and women in uniform stand watch abroad and more are readying to deploy. To each and every one of them, and to the families who bear the quiet burden of their absence, Americans are united in sending one message: we honor your service, we are inspired by your sacrifice, and you have our unyielding support. To relieve the strain on our forces, my budget increases the number of our soldiers and Marines. And to keep our sacred trust with those who serve, we will raise their pay, and give our veterans the expanded health care and benefits that they have earned.
To overcome extremism, we must also be vigilant in upholding the values our troops defend – because there is no force in the world more powerful than the example of America. That is why I have ordered the closing of the detention center at Guantanamo Bay, and will seek swift and certain justice for captured terrorists – because living our values doesn’t make us weaker, it makes us safer and it makes us stronger. And that is why I can stand here tonight and say without exception or equivocation that the United States of America does not torture.
In words and deeds, we are showing the world that a new era of engagement has begun. For we know that America cannot meet the threats of this century alone, but the world cannot meet them without America. We cannot shun the negotiating table, nor ignore the foes or forces that could do us harm. We are instead called to move forward with the sense of confidence and candor that serious times demand.
To seek progress toward a secure and lasting peace between Israel and her neighbors, we have appointed an envoy to sustain our effort. To meet the challenges of the 21st century – from terrorism to nuclear proliferation; from pandemic disease to cyber threats to crushing poverty – we will strengthen old alliances, forge new ones, and use all elements of our national power.
And to respond to an economic crisis that is global in scope, we are working with the nations of the G-20 to restore confidence in our financial system, avoid the possibility of escalating protectionism, and spur demand for American goods in markets across the globe. For the world depends on us to have a strong economy, just as our economy depends on the strength of the world’s.
As we stand at this crossroads of history, the eyes of all people in all nations are once again upon us – watching to see what we do with this moment; waiting for us to lead.
Those of us gathered here tonight have been called to govern in extraordinary times. It is a tremendous burden, but also a great privilege – one that has been entrusted to few generations of Americans. For in our hands lies the ability to shape our world for good or for ill.
I know that it is easy to lose sight of this truth – to become cynical and doubtful; consumed with the petty and the trivial.
But in my life, I have also learned that hope is found in unlikely places; that inspiration often comes not from those with the most power or celebrity, but from the dreams and aspirations of Americans who are anything but ordinary.
I think about Leonard Abess, the bank president from Miami who reportedly cashed out of his company, took a $60 million bonus, and gave it out to all 399 people who worked for him, plus another 72 who used to work for him. He didn’t tell anyone, but when the local newspaper found out, he simply said, ''I knew some of these people since I was 7 years old. I didn't feel right getting the money myself."
I think about Greensburg, Kansas, a town that was completely destroyed by a tornado, but is being rebuilt by its residents as a global example of how clean energy can power an entire community – how it can bring jobs and businesses to a place where piles of bricks and rubble once lay. "The tragedy was terrible," said one of the men who helped them rebuild. "But the folks here know that it also provided an incredible opportunity."
And I think about Ty’Sheoma Bethea, the young girl from that school I visited in Dillon, South Carolina – a place where the ceilings leak, the paint peels off the walls, and they have to stop teaching six times a day because the train barrels by their classroom. She has been told that her school is hopeless, but the other day after class she went to the public library and typed up a letter to the people sitting in this room. She even asked her principal for the money to buy a stamp. The letter asks us for help, and says, "We are just students trying to become lawyers, doctors, congressmen like yourself and one day president, so we can make a change to not just the state of South Carolina but also the world. We are not quitters."
We are not quitters.
These words and these stories tell us something about the spirit of the people who sent us here. They tell us that even in the most trying times, amid the most difficult circumstances, there is a generosity, a resilience, a decency, and a determination that perseveres; a willingness to take responsibility for our future and for posterity.
Their resolve must be our inspiration. Their concerns must be our cause. And we must show them and all our people that we are equal to the task before us.
I know that we haven’t agreed on every issue thus far, and there are surely times in the future when we will part ways. But I also know that every American who is sitting here tonight loves this country and wants it to succeed. That must be the starting point for every debate we have in the coming months, and where we return after those debates are done. That is the foundation on which the American people expect us to build common ground.
And if we do – if we come together and lift this nation from the depths of this crisis; if we put our people back to work and restart the engine of our prosperity; if we confront without fear the challenges of our time and summon that enduring spirit of an America that does not quit, then someday years from now our children can tell their children that this was the time when we performed, in the words that are carved into this very chamber, "something worthy to be remembered." Thank you, God Bless you, and may God Bless the United States of America.
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Obama on Education
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THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
___________________________________________________________________________
For Immediate Release September 8, 2009
REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT
IN A NATIONAL ADDRESS TO AMERICA'S SCHOOLCHILDREN
Wakefield High School
Arlington, Virginia
12:06 P.M. EDT
THE PRESIDENT: Hello, everybody! Thank you. Thank you. Thank you, everybody. All right, everybody go ahead and have a seat. How is everybody doing today? (Applause.) How about Tim Spicer? (Applause.) I am here with students at Wakefield High School in Arlington, Virginia. And we've got students tuning in from all across America, from kindergarten through 12th grade. And I am just so glad that all could join us today. And I want to thank Wakefield for being such an outstanding host. Give yourselves a big round of applause. (Applause.)
I know that for many of you, today is the first day of school. And for those of you in kindergarten, or starting middle or high school, it's your first day in a new school, so it's understandable if you're a little nervous.
I imagine there are some seniors out there who are feeling pretty good right now -- (applause) -- with just one more year to go. And no matter what grade you're in, some of you are probably wishing it were still summer and you could've stayed in bed just a little bit longer this morning.
I know that feeling. When I was young, my family lived overseas. I lived in Indonesia for a few years. And my mother, she didn't have the money to send me where all the American kids went to school, but she thought it was important for me to keep up with an American education. So she decided to teach me extra lessons herself, Monday through Friday. But because she had to go to work, the only time she could do it was at 4:30 in the morning.
Now, as you might imagine, I wasn't too happy about getting up that early. And a lot of times, I'd fall asleep right there at the kitchen table. But whenever I'd complain, my mother would just give me one of those looks and she'd say, "This is no picnic for me either, buster." (Laughter.)
So I know that some of you are still adjusting to being back at school. But I'm here today because I have something important to discuss with you. I'm here because I want to talk with you about your education and what's expected of all of you in this new school year.
Now, I've given a lot of speeches about education. And I've talked about responsibility a lot.
I've talked about teachers' responsibility for inspiring students and pushing you to learn.
I've talked about your parents' responsibility for making sure you stay on track, and you get your homework done, and don't spend every waking hour in front of the TV or with the Xbox.
I've talked a lot about your government's responsibility for setting high standards, and supporting teachers and principals, and turning around schools that aren't working, where students aren't getting the opportunities that they deserve.
But at the end of the day, we can have the most dedicated teachers, the most supportive parents, the best schools in the world -- and none of it will make a difference, none of it will matter unless all of you fulfill your responsibilities, unless you show up to those schools, unless you pay attention to those teachers, unless you listen to your parents and grandparents and other adults and put in the hard work it takes to succeed. That's what I want to focus on today: the responsibility each of you has for your education.
I want to start with the responsibility you have to yourself. Every single one of you has something that you're good at. Every single one of you has something to offer. And you have a responsibility to yourself to discover what that is. That's the opportunity an education can provide.
Maybe you could be a great writer -- maybe even good enough to write a book or articles in a newspaper -- but you might not know it until you write that English paper -- that English class paper that's assigned to you. Maybe you could be an innovator or an inventor -- maybe even good enough to come up with the next iPhone or the new medicine or vaccine -- but you might not know it until you do your project for your science class. Maybe you could be a mayor or a senator or a Supreme Court justice -- but you might not know that until you join student government or the debate team.
And no matter what you want to do with your life, I guarantee that you'll need an education to do it. You want to be a doctor, or a teacher, or a police officer? You want to be a nurse or an architect, a lawyer or a member of our military? You're going to need a good education for every single one of those careers. You cannot drop out of school and just drop into a good job. You've got to train for it and work for it and learn for it.
And this isn't just important for your own life and your own future. What you make of your education will decide nothing less than the future of this country. The future of America depends on you. What you're learning in school today will determine whether we as a nation can meet our greatest challenges in the future.
You'll need the knowledge and problem-solving skills you learn in science and math to cure diseases like cancer and AIDS, and to develop new energy technologies and protect our environment. You'll need the insights and critical-thinking skills you gain in history and social studies to fight poverty and homelessness, crime and discrimination, and make our nation more fair and more free. You'll need the creativity and ingenuity you develop in all your classes to build new companies that will create new jobs and boost our economy.
We need every single one of you to develop your talents and your skills and your intellect so you can help us old folks solve our most difficult problems. If you don't do that -- if you quit on school -- you're not just quitting on yourself, you're quitting on your country.
Now, I know it's not always easy to do well in school. I know a lot of you have challenges in your lives right now that can make it hard to focus on your schoolwork.
I get it. I know what it's like. My father left my family when I was two years old, and I was raised by a single mom who had to work and who struggled at times to pay the bills and wasn't always able to give us the things that other kids had. There were times when I missed having a father in my life. There were times when I was lonely and I felt like I didn't fit in.
So I wasn't always as focused as I should have been on school, and I did some things I'm not proud of, and I got in more trouble than I should have. And my life could have easily taken a turn for the worse.
But I was -- I was lucky. I got a lot of second chances, and I had the opportunity to go to college and law school and follow my dreams. My wife, our First Lady Michelle Obama, she has a similar story. Neither of her parents had gone to college, and they didn't have a lot of money. But they worked hard, and she worked hard, so that she could go to the best schools in this country.
Some of you might not have those advantages. Maybe you don't have adults in your life who give you the support that you need. Maybe someone in your family has lost their job and there's not enough money to go around. Maybe you live in a neighborhood where you don't feel safe, or have friends who are pressuring you to do things you know aren't right.
But at the end of the day, the circumstances of your life -- what you look like, where you come from, how much money you have, what you've got going on at home -- none of that is an excuse for neglecting your homework or having a bad attitude in school. That's no excuse for talking back to your teacher, or cutting class, or dropping out of school. There is no excuse for not trying.
Where you are right now doesn't have to determine where you'll end up. No one's written your destiny for you, because here in America, you write your own destiny. You make your own future.
That's what young people like you are doing every day, all across America.
Young people like Jazmin Perez, from Roma, Texas. Jazmin didn't speak English when she first started school. Neither of her parents had gone to college. But she worked hard, earned good grades, and got a scholarship to Brown University -- is now in graduate school, studying public health, on her way to becoming Dr. Jazmin Perez.
I'm thinking about Andoni Schultz, from Los Altos, California, who's fought brain cancer since he was three. He's had to endure all sorts of treatments and surgeries, one of which affected his memory, so it took him much longer -- hundreds of extra hours -- to do his schoolwork. But he never fell behind. He's headed to college this fall.
And then there's Shantell Steve, from my hometown of Chicago, Illinois. Even when bouncing from foster home to foster home in the toughest neighborhoods in the city, she managed to get a job at a local health care center, start a program to keep young people out of gangs, and she's on track to graduate high school with honors and go on to college.
And Jazmin, Andoni, and Shantell aren't any different from any of you. They face challenges in their lives just like you do. In some cases they've got it a lot worse off than many of you. But they refused to give up. They chose to take responsibility for their lives, for their education, and set goals for themselves. And I expect all of you to do the same.
That's why today I'm calling on each of you to set your own goals for your education -- and do everything you can to meet them. Your goal can be something as simple as doing all your homework, paying attention in class, or spending some time each day reading a book. Maybe you'll decide to get involved in an extracurricular activity, or volunteer in your community. Maybe you'll decide to stand up for kids who are being teased or bullied because of who they are or how they look, because you believe, like I do, that all young people deserve a safe environment to study and learn. Maybe you'll decide to take better care of yourself so you can be more ready to learn. And along those lines, by the way, I hope all of you are washing your hands a lot, and that you stay home from school when you don't feel well, so we can keep people from getting the flu this fall and winter.
But whatever you resolve to do, I want you to commit to it. I want you to really work at it.
I know that sometimes you get that sense from TV that you can be rich and successful without any hard work -- that your ticket to success is through rapping or basketball or being a reality TV star. Chances are you're not going to be any of those things.
The truth is, being successful is hard. You won't love every subject that you study. You won't click with every teacher that you have. Not every homework assignment will seem completely relevant to your life right at this minute. And you won't necessarily succeed at everything the first time you try.
That's okay. Some of the most successful people in the world are the ones who've had the most failures. J.K. Rowling's -- who wrote Harry Potter -- her first Harry Potter book was rejected 12 times before it was finally published. Michael Jordan was cut from his high school basketball team. He lost hundreds of games and missed thousands of shots during his career. But he once said, "I have failed over and over and over again in my life. And that's why I succeed."
These people succeeded because they understood that you can't let your failures define you -- you have to let your failures teach you. You have to let them show you what to do differently the next time. So if you get into trouble, that doesn't mean you're a troublemaker, it means you need to try harder to act right. If you get a bad grade, that doesn't mean you're stupid, it just means you need to spend more time studying.
No one's born being good at all things. You become good at things through hard work. You're not a varsity athlete the first time you play a new sport. You don't hit every note the first time you sing a song. You've got to practice. The same principle applies to your schoolwork. You might have to do a math problem a few times before you get it right. You might have to read something a few times before you understand it. You definitely have to do a few drafts of a paper before it's good enough to hand in.
Don't be afraid to ask questions. Don't be afraid to ask for help when you need it. I do that every day. Asking for help isn't a sign of weakness, it's a sign of strength because it shows you have the courage to admit when you don't know something, and that then allows you to learn something new. So find an adult that you trust -- a parent, a grandparent or teacher, a coach or a counselor -- and ask them to help you stay on track to meet your goals.
And even when you're struggling, even when you're discouraged, and you feel like other people have given up on you, don't ever give up on yourself, because when you give up on yourself, you give up on your country.
The story of America isn't about people who quit when things got tough. It's about people who kept going, who tried harder, who loved their country too much to do anything less than their best.
It's the story of students who sat where you sit 250 years ago, and went on to wage a revolution and they founded this nation. Young people. Students who sat where you sit 75 years ago who overcame a Depression and won a world war; who fought for civil rights and put a man on the moon. Students who sat where you sit 20 years ago who founded Google and Twitter and Facebook and changed the way we communicate with each other.
So today, I want to ask all of you, what's your contribution going to be? What problems are you going to solve? What discoveries will you make? What will a President who comes here in 20 or 50 or 100 years say about what all of you did for this country?
Now, your families, your teachers, and I are doing everything we can to make sure you have the education you need to answer these questions. I'm working hard to fix up your classrooms and get you the books and the equipment and the computers you need to learn. But you've got to do your part, too. So I expect all of you to get serious this year. I expect you to put your best effort into everything you do. I expect great things from each of you. So don't let us down. Don't let your family down or your country down. Most of all, don't let yourself down. Make us all proud.
Thank you very much, everybody. God bless you. God bless America. Thank you. (Applause.)
END
12:22 P.M. EDT
Our Passion is to reach our individual and collective potential-Always!
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
___________________________________________________________________________
For Immediate Release September 8, 2009
REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT
IN A NATIONAL ADDRESS TO AMERICA'S SCHOOLCHILDREN
Wakefield High School
Arlington, Virginia
12:06 P.M. EDT
THE PRESIDENT: Hello, everybody! Thank you. Thank you. Thank you, everybody. All right, everybody go ahead and have a seat. How is everybody doing today? (Applause.) How about Tim Spicer? (Applause.) I am here with students at Wakefield High School in Arlington, Virginia. And we've got students tuning in from all across America, from kindergarten through 12th grade. And I am just so glad that all could join us today. And I want to thank Wakefield for being such an outstanding host. Give yourselves a big round of applause. (Applause.)
I know that for many of you, today is the first day of school. And for those of you in kindergarten, or starting middle or high school, it's your first day in a new school, so it's understandable if you're a little nervous.
I imagine there are some seniors out there who are feeling pretty good right now -- (applause) -- with just one more year to go. And no matter what grade you're in, some of you are probably wishing it were still summer and you could've stayed in bed just a little bit longer this morning.
I know that feeling. When I was young, my family lived overseas. I lived in Indonesia for a few years. And my mother, she didn't have the money to send me where all the American kids went to school, but she thought it was important for me to keep up with an American education. So she decided to teach me extra lessons herself, Monday through Friday. But because she had to go to work, the only time she could do it was at 4:30 in the morning.
Now, as you might imagine, I wasn't too happy about getting up that early. And a lot of times, I'd fall asleep right there at the kitchen table. But whenever I'd complain, my mother would just give me one of those looks and she'd say, "This is no picnic for me either, buster." (Laughter.)
So I know that some of you are still adjusting to being back at school. But I'm here today because I have something important to discuss with you. I'm here because I want to talk with you about your education and what's expected of all of you in this new school year.
Now, I've given a lot of speeches about education. And I've talked about responsibility a lot.
I've talked about teachers' responsibility for inspiring students and pushing you to learn.
I've talked about your parents' responsibility for making sure you stay on track, and you get your homework done, and don't spend every waking hour in front of the TV or with the Xbox.
I've talked a lot about your government's responsibility for setting high standards, and supporting teachers and principals, and turning around schools that aren't working, where students aren't getting the opportunities that they deserve.
But at the end of the day, we can have the most dedicated teachers, the most supportive parents, the best schools in the world -- and none of it will make a difference, none of it will matter unless all of you fulfill your responsibilities, unless you show up to those schools, unless you pay attention to those teachers, unless you listen to your parents and grandparents and other adults and put in the hard work it takes to succeed. That's what I want to focus on today: the responsibility each of you has for your education.
I want to start with the responsibility you have to yourself. Every single one of you has something that you're good at. Every single one of you has something to offer. And you have a responsibility to yourself to discover what that is. That's the opportunity an education can provide.
Maybe you could be a great writer -- maybe even good enough to write a book or articles in a newspaper -- but you might not know it until you write that English paper -- that English class paper that's assigned to you. Maybe you could be an innovator or an inventor -- maybe even good enough to come up with the next iPhone or the new medicine or vaccine -- but you might not know it until you do your project for your science class. Maybe you could be a mayor or a senator or a Supreme Court justice -- but you might not know that until you join student government or the debate team.
And no matter what you want to do with your life, I guarantee that you'll need an education to do it. You want to be a doctor, or a teacher, or a police officer? You want to be a nurse or an architect, a lawyer or a member of our military? You're going to need a good education for every single one of those careers. You cannot drop out of school and just drop into a good job. You've got to train for it and work for it and learn for it.
And this isn't just important for your own life and your own future. What you make of your education will decide nothing less than the future of this country. The future of America depends on you. What you're learning in school today will determine whether we as a nation can meet our greatest challenges in the future.
You'll need the knowledge and problem-solving skills you learn in science and math to cure diseases like cancer and AIDS, and to develop new energy technologies and protect our environment. You'll need the insights and critical-thinking skills you gain in history and social studies to fight poverty and homelessness, crime and discrimination, and make our nation more fair and more free. You'll need the creativity and ingenuity you develop in all your classes to build new companies that will create new jobs and boost our economy.
We need every single one of you to develop your talents and your skills and your intellect so you can help us old folks solve our most difficult problems. If you don't do that -- if you quit on school -- you're not just quitting on yourself, you're quitting on your country.
Now, I know it's not always easy to do well in school. I know a lot of you have challenges in your lives right now that can make it hard to focus on your schoolwork.
I get it. I know what it's like. My father left my family when I was two years old, and I was raised by a single mom who had to work and who struggled at times to pay the bills and wasn't always able to give us the things that other kids had. There were times when I missed having a father in my life. There were times when I was lonely and I felt like I didn't fit in.
So I wasn't always as focused as I should have been on school, and I did some things I'm not proud of, and I got in more trouble than I should have. And my life could have easily taken a turn for the worse.
But I was -- I was lucky. I got a lot of second chances, and I had the opportunity to go to college and law school and follow my dreams. My wife, our First Lady Michelle Obama, she has a similar story. Neither of her parents had gone to college, and they didn't have a lot of money. But they worked hard, and she worked hard, so that she could go to the best schools in this country.
Some of you might not have those advantages. Maybe you don't have adults in your life who give you the support that you need. Maybe someone in your family has lost their job and there's not enough money to go around. Maybe you live in a neighborhood where you don't feel safe, or have friends who are pressuring you to do things you know aren't right.
But at the end of the day, the circumstances of your life -- what you look like, where you come from, how much money you have, what you've got going on at home -- none of that is an excuse for neglecting your homework or having a bad attitude in school. That's no excuse for talking back to your teacher, or cutting class, or dropping out of school. There is no excuse for not trying.
Where you are right now doesn't have to determine where you'll end up. No one's written your destiny for you, because here in America, you write your own destiny. You make your own future.
That's what young people like you are doing every day, all across America.
Young people like Jazmin Perez, from Roma, Texas. Jazmin didn't speak English when she first started school. Neither of her parents had gone to college. But she worked hard, earned good grades, and got a scholarship to Brown University -- is now in graduate school, studying public health, on her way to becoming Dr. Jazmin Perez.
I'm thinking about Andoni Schultz, from Los Altos, California, who's fought brain cancer since he was three. He's had to endure all sorts of treatments and surgeries, one of which affected his memory, so it took him much longer -- hundreds of extra hours -- to do his schoolwork. But he never fell behind. He's headed to college this fall.
And then there's Shantell Steve, from my hometown of Chicago, Illinois. Even when bouncing from foster home to foster home in the toughest neighborhoods in the city, she managed to get a job at a local health care center, start a program to keep young people out of gangs, and she's on track to graduate high school with honors and go on to college.
And Jazmin, Andoni, and Shantell aren't any different from any of you. They face challenges in their lives just like you do. In some cases they've got it a lot worse off than many of you. But they refused to give up. They chose to take responsibility for their lives, for their education, and set goals for themselves. And I expect all of you to do the same.
That's why today I'm calling on each of you to set your own goals for your education -- and do everything you can to meet them. Your goal can be something as simple as doing all your homework, paying attention in class, or spending some time each day reading a book. Maybe you'll decide to get involved in an extracurricular activity, or volunteer in your community. Maybe you'll decide to stand up for kids who are being teased or bullied because of who they are or how they look, because you believe, like I do, that all young people deserve a safe environment to study and learn. Maybe you'll decide to take better care of yourself so you can be more ready to learn. And along those lines, by the way, I hope all of you are washing your hands a lot, and that you stay home from school when you don't feel well, so we can keep people from getting the flu this fall and winter.
But whatever you resolve to do, I want you to commit to it. I want you to really work at it.
I know that sometimes you get that sense from TV that you can be rich and successful without any hard work -- that your ticket to success is through rapping or basketball or being a reality TV star. Chances are you're not going to be any of those things.
The truth is, being successful is hard. You won't love every subject that you study. You won't click with every teacher that you have. Not every homework assignment will seem completely relevant to your life right at this minute. And you won't necessarily succeed at everything the first time you try.
That's okay. Some of the most successful people in the world are the ones who've had the most failures. J.K. Rowling's -- who wrote Harry Potter -- her first Harry Potter book was rejected 12 times before it was finally published. Michael Jordan was cut from his high school basketball team. He lost hundreds of games and missed thousands of shots during his career. But he once said, "I have failed over and over and over again in my life. And that's why I succeed."
These people succeeded because they understood that you can't let your failures define you -- you have to let your failures teach you. You have to let them show you what to do differently the next time. So if you get into trouble, that doesn't mean you're a troublemaker, it means you need to try harder to act right. If you get a bad grade, that doesn't mean you're stupid, it just means you need to spend more time studying.
No one's born being good at all things. You become good at things through hard work. You're not a varsity athlete the first time you play a new sport. You don't hit every note the first time you sing a song. You've got to practice. The same principle applies to your schoolwork. You might have to do a math problem a few times before you get it right. You might have to read something a few times before you understand it. You definitely have to do a few drafts of a paper before it's good enough to hand in.
Don't be afraid to ask questions. Don't be afraid to ask for help when you need it. I do that every day. Asking for help isn't a sign of weakness, it's a sign of strength because it shows you have the courage to admit when you don't know something, and that then allows you to learn something new. So find an adult that you trust -- a parent, a grandparent or teacher, a coach or a counselor -- and ask them to help you stay on track to meet your goals.
And even when you're struggling, even when you're discouraged, and you feel like other people have given up on you, don't ever give up on yourself, because when you give up on yourself, you give up on your country.
The story of America isn't about people who quit when things got tough. It's about people who kept going, who tried harder, who loved their country too much to do anything less than their best.
It's the story of students who sat where you sit 250 years ago, and went on to wage a revolution and they founded this nation. Young people. Students who sat where you sit 75 years ago who overcame a Depression and won a world war; who fought for civil rights and put a man on the moon. Students who sat where you sit 20 years ago who founded Google and Twitter and Facebook and changed the way we communicate with each other.
So today, I want to ask all of you, what's your contribution going to be? What problems are you going to solve? What discoveries will you make? What will a President who comes here in 20 or 50 or 100 years say about what all of you did for this country?
Now, your families, your teachers, and I are doing everything we can to make sure you have the education you need to answer these questions. I'm working hard to fix up your classrooms and get you the books and the equipment and the computers you need to learn. But you've got to do your part, too. So I expect all of you to get serious this year. I expect you to put your best effort into everything you do. I expect great things from each of you. So don't let us down. Don't let your family down or your country down. Most of all, don't let yourself down. Make us all proud.
Thank you very much, everybody. God bless you. God bless America. Thank you. (Applause.)
END
12:22 P.M. EDT
Thursday, September 03, 2009
Global7 the new Millennial Renaissance Vision for the Globe
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An Educational, Economical, Ecological, Energy and Enterprise Convergence!
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Give us this day our daily... Catholic church issues prayer for faithful to say before sex
By Simon Caldwell
Last updated at 1:06 PM on 03rd September 2009
Roman Catholic couples are being encouraged to pray together before they have sex.
A book published by a prominent Church group invites those setting out on married life to recite the specially-composed Prayer Before Making Love.
It is aimed at 'purifying their intentions' so that the act is not about selfishness or hedonism.
Message: The Roman Catholic church encourages couples to pray before sex to remind themselves that intercourse is a selfless act, not driven by hedonism
The prayer, which appears in the Prayer Book for Spouses, implores God 'to place within us love that truly gives, tenderness that truly unites, self-offering that tells the truth and does not deceive, forgiveness that truly receives, loving physical union that welcomes'.
It adds: 'Open our hearts to you, to each other and to the goodness of your will.
'Cover our poverty in the richness of your mercy and forgiveness. Clothe us in true dignity and take to yourself our shared aspirations, for your glory, for ever and ever.'
The 64-page book has been published by the London-based Catholic Truth Society.
Marital advice: The prayer book
The group has close links to the Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales.
The Rt Rev Paul Hendricks, who is the Auxiliary Bishop of Southwark and sits on the charity's board, said he thought the prayer's inclusion was 'brave but good'.
'I suppose it is a bit idealistic but it is recognising that God is at the heart of the marriage relationship between husband and wife,' he said.
'It is important for the Church to affirm the value of marriage and family life and I suppose this is a particular way of doing that.'
'Perhaps it is something that has not been tried, certainly for a while - I can't remember seeing something like that before.'
The book contains prayers for every stage of marriage and family life, including engagement, planning for parenthood, pregnancy and caring for children and elderly parents.
The prayers, written by a variety of authors, are interspersed with Catholic teaching on the meaning of marriage and family.
The book pushes the message that marriage should be exclusive and life-long and condemns abortion.
It criticises 'those who, in our times, consider it too difficult, or indeed impossible, to be bound to one person for the whole of life, and those caught up in a culture that rejects the indissolubility of marriage and openly mocks the commitment of spouses to fidelity'.
It adds: 'It is a fundamental duty of the Church to reaffirm strongly the doctrine of the indissolubility of marriage.'
Places:
London,
Wales,
United Kingdom
Organisations:
Catholic Church,
Roman Catholic Church
Comments (222)
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I think this prayer is stunningly beautiful, and properly recognizes the sexual act as it is intended by God: an act of complete giving, rather than "getting" or taking. The mindset of most in our modern culture, especially men, is one of unbridled lust in which women are reduced to objects of pleasure who can be "consumed."
That is a mindset very much at odds with how God intends us to think, very much at odds with the magnificent beauty of God's gift of our sexuality. Kudos to the writer and promulgators of this prayer. May it lead many couples closer to each other and to God.
- Eddie_K, Rochester, NY, 03/9/2009 13:53
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Over the years I've often prayed for a chubby. Once I prayed she'd be gone when I awoke too. Not much more though.
- tenletters, usa, 03/9/2009 13:34
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I propose a toast to all the couples like us, whose exclusive, indissoluable, monogamous sex is still as earth-shaking, sheet-ripping, and window-rattling as ever, even after 25 years of joyfully bangin' away.
- Indiana Joe, Indiana USA, 03/9/2009 12:15
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I think it's a nice prayer full of nice thoughts, even if the thought of saying it just as your peelinging clothes off is a bit dumb. The folks who pretend there is something absurd about what it says are just being hateful. Now, the photo is a different story. It is intentionally silly, but harmless.
- Indiana Joe, Indiana, USA, 03/9/2009 12:13
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If people believe that this is a good thing and couples practice it themselves, then there cannot be anything wrong with it, as it is harmless and doesn't affect anyone else, so we have no reason to laugh or joke about it.
However, we don't have any reason not to joke about it either. We can always rely on some nutty religious group ready to provide some amusement and leave themselves open to all sorts of comments. Thanks must go to the Catholic Truth Society for a good laugh. Never heard of them before but at least they made the papers.
- John, Macclesfield, 03/9/2009 11:31
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The Pope isn;t demanding this. Don't be such a dolt. What is the "controversy" about prayer? Sex is sacred.
I find some of the prayer ideas here funny, though (chill out roxane).
- Liz, Houston, TX, 03/9/2009 07:18
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The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline.
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Football legend Matthew Le Tissier admits his part in attempted £10,000 match-fixing scam
'Young lady, I am sorry for molesting you': Doctor's alleged apology after waking up in same bed as woman who collapsed Jaycee Lee Dugard's father vows to kill the 'sick animal' who held her captive for 18 years
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Give us this day our daily... Catholic church issues prayer for faithful to say before sex
By Simon Caldwell
Last updated at 1:06 PM on 03rd September 2009
Roman Catholic couples are being encouraged to pray together before they have sex.
A book published by a prominent Church group invites those setting out on married life to recite the specially-composed Prayer Before Making Love.
It is aimed at 'purifying their intentions' so that the act is not about selfishness or hedonism.
Message: The Roman Catholic church encourages couples to pray before sex to remind themselves that intercourse is a selfless act, not driven by hedonism
The prayer, which appears in the Prayer Book for Spouses, implores God 'to place within us love that truly gives, tenderness that truly unites, self-offering that tells the truth and does not deceive, forgiveness that truly receives, loving physical union that welcomes'.
It adds: 'Open our hearts to you, to each other and to the goodness of your will.
'Cover our poverty in the richness of your mercy and forgiveness. Clothe us in true dignity and take to yourself our shared aspirations, for your glory, for ever and ever.'
The 64-page book has been published by the London-based Catholic Truth Society.
Marital advice: The prayer book
The group has close links to the Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales.
The Rt Rev Paul Hendricks, who is the Auxiliary Bishop of Southwark and sits on the charity's board, said he thought the prayer's inclusion was 'brave but good'.
'I suppose it is a bit idealistic but it is recognising that God is at the heart of the marriage relationship between husband and wife,' he said.
'It is important for the Church to affirm the value of marriage and family life and I suppose this is a particular way of doing that.'
'Perhaps it is something that has not been tried, certainly for a while - I can't remember seeing something like that before.'
The book contains prayers for every stage of marriage and family life, including engagement, planning for parenthood, pregnancy and caring for children and elderly parents.
The prayers, written by a variety of authors, are interspersed with Catholic teaching on the meaning of marriage and family.
The book pushes the message that marriage should be exclusive and life-long and condemns abortion.
It criticises 'those who, in our times, consider it too difficult, or indeed impossible, to be bound to one person for the whole of life, and those caught up in a culture that rejects the indissolubility of marriage and openly mocks the commitment of spouses to fidelity'.
It adds: 'It is a fundamental duty of the Church to reaffirm strongly the doctrine of the indissolubility of marriage.'
Places:
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Organisations:
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I think this prayer is stunningly beautiful, and properly recognizes the sexual act as it is intended by God: an act of complete giving, rather than "getting" or taking. The mindset of most in our modern culture, especially men, is one of unbridled lust in which women are reduced to objects of pleasure who can be "consumed."
That is a mindset very much at odds with how God intends us to think, very much at odds with the magnificent beauty of God's gift of our sexuality. Kudos to the writer and promulgators of this prayer. May it lead many couples closer to each other and to God.
- Eddie_K, Rochester, NY, 03/9/2009 13:53
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Over the years I've often prayed for a chubby. Once I prayed she'd be gone when I awoke too. Not much more though.
- tenletters, usa, 03/9/2009 13:34
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I propose a toast to all the couples like us, whose exclusive, indissoluable, monogamous sex is still as earth-shaking, sheet-ripping, and window-rattling as ever, even after 25 years of joyfully bangin' away.
- Indiana Joe, Indiana USA, 03/9/2009 12:15
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I think it's a nice prayer full of nice thoughts, even if the thought of saying it just as your peelinging clothes off is a bit dumb. The folks who pretend there is something absurd about what it says are just being hateful. Now, the photo is a different story. It is intentionally silly, but harmless.
- Indiana Joe, Indiana, USA, 03/9/2009 12:13
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If people believe that this is a good thing and couples practice it themselves, then there cannot be anything wrong with it, as it is harmless and doesn't affect anyone else, so we have no reason to laugh or joke about it.
However, we don't have any reason not to joke about it either. We can always rely on some nutty religious group ready to provide some amusement and leave themselves open to all sorts of comments. Thanks must go to the Catholic Truth Society for a good laugh. Never heard of them before but at least they made the papers.
- John, Macclesfield, 03/9/2009 11:31
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The Pope isn;t demanding this. Don't be such a dolt. What is the "controversy" about prayer? Sex is sacred.
I find some of the prayer ideas here funny, though (chill out roxane).
- Liz, Houston, TX, 03/9/2009 07:18
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Friday, August 21, 2009
Hepatitis Pandemics and its therapeutics!
Global7 the new Millennial Renaissance Vision for the Globe
Dear Patriotic global citizens and Friends of African Union and Ethiopia:
The Epidemiology of Hepatis Series of liver infections that range from A to E and more is not well celebrated inthe Infectious Disease or Global Public Health Expert communities like the most fashionable and rather exotic H1N1, HIV pandemics, Malaria and Tuberculosis epidemics and yet kills more people and is highly infectious.
The African and South East Asian Continents are the major targets of this fatal disease spectrum.
Please find attached what the experts say on how to treat one small variant the Hepatitis C infection.
Who knows some day, we might solve this tragic disease too.
Let me know if you appreciate such scientific communications that afflict a fairly high proproton of our populations
For the record, here is one such Expert Commentary!
Dr B
Retreating chronic hepatitis C with daily interferon alfacon-1/ribavirin after nonresponse to pegylated interferon/ribavirin: DIRECT results.
Bacon BR, Shiffman ML, Mendes F, et al.
Hepatology. 2009;49:1838-1846.
Expert Commentary Capsule Summary
Consensus Interferon/Ribavirin Retreatment for Peginterferon/Ribavirin Nonresponders Beneficial for Select Group of Patients With Low Baseline Fibrosis Scores and Interferon Sensitivity
Richard K. Sterling, MD, MSc, FACP, FACG
Posting Date: May 01, 2009
Professor of Medicine
Associate Chair of Education and Training
Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition
Virginia Commonwealth University
Richmond, Virginia
Patients chronically infected with hepatitis C who fail to respond to first-line peginterferon/ribavirin therapy represent an underserved population, as optimal management of these individuals to prevent disease progression remains to be defined.
One of the many management strategies proposed for nonresponders is treatment with interferon alfacon-1 or consensus interferon
. The current study by Bacon and colleagues[1] tested the antiviral efficacy of consensus interferon plus ribavirin in nearly 500 previous peginterferon/ribavirin nonresponders (Capsule Summary).
Overall, sustained virologic response (SVR) rates in this trial were low, reaching only 7% for patients who received consensus interferon 9 µg/day and 11% for patients who received consensus interferon 15 µg/day.
These results are fairly disappointing, although not unexpected. The investigators enrolled a very difficult–to-treat population with several unfavorable treatment characteristics. For example, nearly 20% of the study population was black, approximately 25% had cirrhosis, more than 50% had steatosis, and nearly 80% had a < 2 log10 decline in HCV RNA in response to previous therapy—that is, a clearly defined group of previous peginterferon/ribavirin nonresponders.
The investigators conducted several subanalyses to tease apart various groups of nonresponders who may attain more benefit from consensus interferon/ribavirin retreatment than others.
As has been seen in other studies,[2] patients who had a partial response to previous peginterferon/ribavirin treatment (> 2 log10 IU/mL decrease in HCV RNA) were the most responsive to retreatment with consensus interferon/ribavirin.
In this population of patients, SVR rates for the 9-µg/day and 15-µg/day doses of consensus interferon were 11% and 23%, respectively. Although the numbers were small, those who achieved a complete response at Week 12 were more likely to achieve SVR (13/16 [81%] in the 9-µg/day group and 14/22 [64%] in the 15-µg/day group).
The investigators also found that patients with lower fibrosis scores responded better to treatment than those with higher fibrosis scores (SVR for fibrosis stage F0-F3 vs F4 with the 15-µg/day dose: 13.0% vs 4.5%).
This finding has been observed in other trials that included treatment-experienced patients.[3] When patients were classified according to fibrosis score and the level of response to previous peginterferon/ribavirin, the investigators found that patients with low fibrosis scores (F0-F3) and a previous reduction in HCV RNA > 2 log10 IU/mL attained SVR rates of 30% or greater with consensus interferon 15 µg/day.
The authors stated that 72% to 84% of patients received at least 80% of the cumulative consensus interferon dose, but adherence to ribavirin was not reported. It is important to note that the investigators had very strict criteria for ribavirin dose modification in response to anemia.
For patients who experienced a drop in hemoglobin < 10 g/dL, the dose of ribavirin was reduced from 1000-1200 mg/day to 600 mg/day, which probably represents the lower threshold of therapeutic efficacy.
No growth factor support was allowed. Therefore, depending on how many patients required ribavirin modification, this aspect of the treatment protocol may have attenuated the response rates that could have been achieved had smaller increments in ribavirin dose reduction been employed.
It is unclear what probability of response is sufficient or reasonable to warrant putting a patient through the expense, the adverse events, and the inconvenience of retreatment, and this should be considered on an individualized basis.
As such, the results of this study suggest that there may be specific subgroups of patients with a previous nonresponse to peginterferon/ribavirin who might benefit from retreatment with consensus interferon/ribavirin—namely, those who had a partial response to previous peginterferon/ribavirin and do not have cirrhosis.
Unfortunately, these are not the patients in dire need of such treatment. It is those individuals with unfavorable characteristics—cirrhosis, steatosis, high HCV RNA, and black race—for whom disease control is needed most urgently.
Preliminary results from studies of novel specifically targeted antiviral therapies for HCV (STAT-C) suggest that these agents may produce higher response rates than currently available options when used as part of a retreatment regimen.
References
1. Bacon BR, Shiffman ML, Mendes F, et al. Retreating chronic hepatitis C with daily interferon alfacon-1/ribavirin after nonresponse to pegylated interferon/ribavirin: DIRECT results. Hepatology. 2009;49:1838-1846.
2. Jacobson IM, Gonzalez SA, Ahmed F, et al. A randomized trial of pegylated interferon alpha-2b plus ribavirin in the retreatment of chronic hepatitis C. Am J Gastroenterol. 2005;100:2453-2462.
3. Jensen DM, Marcellin P, Freilich B, et al. Re-treatment of patients with chronic hepatitis C who do not respond to peginterferon-alpha2b: a randomized trial. Ann Intern Med. 2009;150:528-540.
Link to the original abstract
--
Belai Habte-Jesus, MD, MPH.
Corporate Director & Chair of Professional Advisory Bodies
Professional Competency & Quality Audit
Globalbelai7@gmail.com
Our Passion is to reach our individual and collective potential-Always!
Belai Habte-Jesus, MD, MPH
Global Strategic Enterprises, Inc. 4 Peace & Prosperity
Win-win synergestic Partnership 4P&P-focusing on
5Es: Education+Energy+Ecology+Economy+Enterprises
www.Globalbelai4u.blogspot.com; Globalbelai@yahoo.com
V: 571.225.5736; C: 703.933.8737; F: 703.531.0545
Our Passion is to reach our Individual and Collective Potential
Dear Patriotic global citizens and Friends of African Union and Ethiopia:
The Epidemiology of Hepatis Series of liver infections that range from A to E and more is not well celebrated inthe Infectious Disease or Global Public Health Expert communities like the most fashionable and rather exotic H1N1, HIV pandemics, Malaria and Tuberculosis epidemics and yet kills more people and is highly infectious.
The African and South East Asian Continents are the major targets of this fatal disease spectrum.
Please find attached what the experts say on how to treat one small variant the Hepatitis C infection.
Who knows some day, we might solve this tragic disease too.
Let me know if you appreciate such scientific communications that afflict a fairly high proproton of our populations
For the record, here is one such Expert Commentary!
Dr B
Retreating chronic hepatitis C with daily interferon alfacon-1/ribavirin after nonresponse to pegylated interferon/ribavirin: DIRECT results.
Bacon BR, Shiffman ML, Mendes F, et al.
Hepatology. 2009;49:1838-1846.
Expert Commentary Capsule Summary
Consensus Interferon/Ribavirin Retreatment for Peginterferon/Ribavirin Nonresponders Beneficial for Select Group of Patients With Low Baseline Fibrosis Scores and Interferon Sensitivity
Richard K. Sterling, MD, MSc, FACP, FACG
Posting Date: May 01, 2009
Professor of Medicine
Associate Chair of Education and Training
Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition
Virginia Commonwealth University
Richmond, Virginia
Patients chronically infected with hepatitis C who fail to respond to first-line peginterferon/ribavirin therapy represent an underserved population, as optimal management of these individuals to prevent disease progression remains to be defined.
One of the many management strategies proposed for nonresponders is treatment with interferon alfacon-1 or consensus interferon
. The current study by Bacon and colleagues[1] tested the antiviral efficacy of consensus interferon plus ribavirin in nearly 500 previous peginterferon/ribavirin nonresponders (Capsule Summary).
Overall, sustained virologic response (SVR) rates in this trial were low, reaching only 7% for patients who received consensus interferon 9 µg/day and 11% for patients who received consensus interferon 15 µg/day.
These results are fairly disappointing, although not unexpected. The investigators enrolled a very difficult–to-treat population with several unfavorable treatment characteristics. For example, nearly 20% of the study population was black, approximately 25% had cirrhosis, more than 50% had steatosis, and nearly 80% had a < 2 log10 decline in HCV RNA in response to previous therapy—that is, a clearly defined group of previous peginterferon/ribavirin nonresponders.
The investigators conducted several subanalyses to tease apart various groups of nonresponders who may attain more benefit from consensus interferon/ribavirin retreatment than others.
As has been seen in other studies,[2] patients who had a partial response to previous peginterferon/ribavirin treatment (> 2 log10 IU/mL decrease in HCV RNA) were the most responsive to retreatment with consensus interferon/ribavirin.
In this population of patients, SVR rates for the 9-µg/day and 15-µg/day doses of consensus interferon were 11% and 23%, respectively. Although the numbers were small, those who achieved a complete response at Week 12 were more likely to achieve SVR (13/16 [81%] in the 9-µg/day group and 14/22 [64%] in the 15-µg/day group).
The investigators also found that patients with lower fibrosis scores responded better to treatment than those with higher fibrosis scores (SVR for fibrosis stage F0-F3 vs F4 with the 15-µg/day dose: 13.0% vs 4.5%).
This finding has been observed in other trials that included treatment-experienced patients.[3] When patients were classified according to fibrosis score and the level of response to previous peginterferon/ribavirin, the investigators found that patients with low fibrosis scores (F0-F3) and a previous reduction in HCV RNA > 2 log10 IU/mL attained SVR rates of 30% or greater with consensus interferon 15 µg/day.
The authors stated that 72% to 84% of patients received at least 80% of the cumulative consensus interferon dose, but adherence to ribavirin was not reported. It is important to note that the investigators had very strict criteria for ribavirin dose modification in response to anemia.
For patients who experienced a drop in hemoglobin < 10 g/dL, the dose of ribavirin was reduced from 1000-1200 mg/day to 600 mg/day, which probably represents the lower threshold of therapeutic efficacy.
No growth factor support was allowed. Therefore, depending on how many patients required ribavirin modification, this aspect of the treatment protocol may have attenuated the response rates that could have been achieved had smaller increments in ribavirin dose reduction been employed.
It is unclear what probability of response is sufficient or reasonable to warrant putting a patient through the expense, the adverse events, and the inconvenience of retreatment, and this should be considered on an individualized basis.
As such, the results of this study suggest that there may be specific subgroups of patients with a previous nonresponse to peginterferon/ribavirin who might benefit from retreatment with consensus interferon/ribavirin—namely, those who had a partial response to previous peginterferon/ribavirin and do not have cirrhosis.
Unfortunately, these are not the patients in dire need of such treatment. It is those individuals with unfavorable characteristics—cirrhosis, steatosis, high HCV RNA, and black race—for whom disease control is needed most urgently.
Preliminary results from studies of novel specifically targeted antiviral therapies for HCV (STAT-C) suggest that these agents may produce higher response rates than currently available options when used as part of a retreatment regimen.
References
1. Bacon BR, Shiffman ML, Mendes F, et al. Retreating chronic hepatitis C with daily interferon alfacon-1/ribavirin after nonresponse to pegylated interferon/ribavirin: DIRECT results. Hepatology. 2009;49:1838-1846.
2. Jacobson IM, Gonzalez SA, Ahmed F, et al. A randomized trial of pegylated interferon alpha-2b plus ribavirin in the retreatment of chronic hepatitis C. Am J Gastroenterol. 2005;100:2453-2462.
3. Jensen DM, Marcellin P, Freilich B, et al. Re-treatment of patients with chronic hepatitis C who do not respond to peginterferon-alpha2b: a randomized trial. Ann Intern Med. 2009;150:528-540.
Link to the original abstract
--
Belai Habte-Jesus, MD, MPH.
Corporate Director & Chair of Professional Advisory Bodies
Professional Competency & Quality Audit
Globalbelai7@gmail.com
Our Passion is to reach our individual and collective potential-Always!
Belai Habte-Jesus, MD, MPH
Global Strategic Enterprises, Inc. 4 Peace & Prosperity
Win-win synergestic Partnership 4P&P-focusing on
5Es: Education+Energy+Ecology+Economy+Enterprises
www.Globalbelai4u.blogspot.com; Globalbelai@yahoo.com
V: 571.225.5736; C: 703.933.8737; F: 703.531.0545
Our Passion is to reach our Individual and Collective Potential
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Global7 the new Millennial Renaissance Vision for the Globe
Our Passion is to reach our individual and collective potential!-Always!
Dear friends:
I own all the three versions of G, 3G and 3GS Iphones for my home, cell and business connections.
Naturally, I am very invested in the Iphone enterprise and would want to ensure its connectivity and future developments
This hackers and jailbreakers should not be allowed to mess up my tranquil world. However, the question is this a monopoly protectionism venture killing competition the mother of invention or just an issue of the bottom lines.
Watch this space as the terrorist and drug dealers that includes the physicians nowadays could come up with all sorts of tricks to tarnish our tranquil life with iPhones.
Let us watch the space.
Dr B
Jailbreaking Iphones could trigger Apocalypse
Sky falling claims Apple
By Stewart Meagher
Thursday, 30 July 2009, 12:58
APPLE IS CONTINUING in its efforts to make jailbreaking its precious handsets illegal by spouting all sorts of nonsense about the untold damage which could be done if hackers are allowed to circumvent the Iphone's locked-down operating system.
The men in grey suits at the Cupertino Campus have even gone so far as to suggest that dastardly drug dealers will take full advantage of the unlocked device and turn all of our children into crack-addled dropouts.
Quite how making hacked handsets illegal would stop drug dealers – a social group not generally known for their law-abiding qualities – from carrying out their business is beyond us.
It's actually quite a surprise that Apple hasn't played the terrorist card in its running legal game of cat and mouse with the Electronic Frontier Federation, an organisation which battles big corporations for consumer rights.
The EFF claims that current hacks like pwnage, developed by a group of 'hobbyists' known as the Iphone Dev Team, do not contravene current DCMA rulings and that users should be able to use their phone on whichever network and install whatever software they like. Apple, which takes a 30 per cent cut of all software revenues, and a nice chunk from every airtime contract, not surprisingly, disagrees.
Apple is also claiming that hacking the handset's exclusive chip identification (ECID) could cause chaos by allowing multiple handsets to operate with the same identity. These deadly dopplegangers could, according to Apple, confuse mobile communications cells to the point that they will shut down, leading to the kind of post-apocalyptic communications nightmare frequently seen in Hollywood movies.
We're not certain how teenage girls not being able to text each other about their new boyfriend/shoes/dental work will adversely impact society as we know it, but maybe Steve Jobs knows something we don't.
However, this also raises the question of why the ECID is open to hacking at all, even on a phone which has undergone some nefarious jiggery pokery. That would be like hackers being able to spoof the MAC ID of a network interface card which, as far as we can tell, can't be done. If the Iphone ECID can be spoofed by software, then that's a serious design flaw in the handset.
Maybe that's why Apple is so keen to stop undesirables poking about in the innards of its ubiquitous cash cow. Meanwhile, the EFF maintains that the only change made to the Iphone's system by the most popular jailbreaking method is to circumvent the way the boot ROM checks the digital signature of an application, and that the only thing that hurts is Apple's monopoly, and consequently its bottom line. µ
Our Passion is to reach our individual and collective potential!-Always!
Dear friends:
I own all the three versions of G, 3G and 3GS Iphones for my home, cell and business connections.
Naturally, I am very invested in the Iphone enterprise and would want to ensure its connectivity and future developments
This hackers and jailbreakers should not be allowed to mess up my tranquil world. However, the question is this a monopoly protectionism venture killing competition the mother of invention or just an issue of the bottom lines.
Watch this space as the terrorist and drug dealers that includes the physicians nowadays could come up with all sorts of tricks to tarnish our tranquil life with iPhones.
Let us watch the space.
Dr B
Jailbreaking Iphones could trigger Apocalypse
Sky falling claims Apple
By Stewart Meagher
Thursday, 30 July 2009, 12:58
APPLE IS CONTINUING in its efforts to make jailbreaking its precious handsets illegal by spouting all sorts of nonsense about the untold damage which could be done if hackers are allowed to circumvent the Iphone's locked-down operating system.
The men in grey suits at the Cupertino Campus have even gone so far as to suggest that dastardly drug dealers will take full advantage of the unlocked device and turn all of our children into crack-addled dropouts.
Quite how making hacked handsets illegal would stop drug dealers – a social group not generally known for their law-abiding qualities – from carrying out their business is beyond us.
It's actually quite a surprise that Apple hasn't played the terrorist card in its running legal game of cat and mouse with the Electronic Frontier Federation, an organisation which battles big corporations for consumer rights.
The EFF claims that current hacks like pwnage, developed by a group of 'hobbyists' known as the Iphone Dev Team, do not contravene current DCMA rulings and that users should be able to use their phone on whichever network and install whatever software they like. Apple, which takes a 30 per cent cut of all software revenues, and a nice chunk from every airtime contract, not surprisingly, disagrees.
Apple is also claiming that hacking the handset's exclusive chip identification (ECID) could cause chaos by allowing multiple handsets to operate with the same identity. These deadly dopplegangers could, according to Apple, confuse mobile communications cells to the point that they will shut down, leading to the kind of post-apocalyptic communications nightmare frequently seen in Hollywood movies.
We're not certain how teenage girls not being able to text each other about their new boyfriend/shoes/dental work will adversely impact society as we know it, but maybe Steve Jobs knows something we don't.
However, this also raises the question of why the ECID is open to hacking at all, even on a phone which has undergone some nefarious jiggery pokery. That would be like hackers being able to spoof the MAC ID of a network interface card which, as far as we can tell, can't be done. If the Iphone ECID can be spoofed by software, then that's a serious design flaw in the handset.
Maybe that's why Apple is so keen to stop undesirables poking about in the innards of its ubiquitous cash cow. Meanwhile, the EFF maintains that the only change made to the Iphone's system by the most popular jailbreaking method is to circumvent the way the boot ROM checks the digital signature of an application, and that the only thing that hurts is Apple's monopoly, and consequently its bottom line. µ
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Bitish Scientist claims to have created Human Sperm!
Global7 the new Millennial Renaissance Vision for the Globe
Our Passion is to reach our individual and collective potential-Always!
British scientists claim to create human sperm
SATURDAY, 11 JULY 2009
British scientists claimed Wednesday to have created human sperm from stem cells but other experts questioned their data.
Researchers at Newcastle University and the NorthEast England Stem Cell Institute say they used a new technique to derive what they described as sperm cells from embryonic stem cells. Stem cells have the potential to become any cell in the body.
Newcastle research leader Karim Nayernia said in a statement Wednesday that the technique would allow researchers to study how sperm develops and possibly help develop treatments for infertile men.
The research was published Wednesday in the journal Stem Cells and Development.
But many other British experts cast doubt on the research. They also said the sperm cells created in the laboratory were clearly abnormal.
"I am unconvinced from the data presented in this paper that the cells produced by Professor Nayernia's group from embryonic stem cells can be accurately called 'spermatazoa," said Allan Pacey, a senior lecturer in andrology at the University of Sheffield.
Pacey said in a statement that the sperm created by Nayernia did not have the specific shape, movement and function of real sperm.
Azim Surani, a professor of physiology and reproduction at the University of Cambridge said the sperm produced by the Newcastle team were "a long way from being authentic sperm cells."
Nayernia said the cells "showed all the characteristics of sperm," but his group's intention was simply to "open up new avenues of research" with their early findings, rather than using the sperm to fertilize eggs.
Robin Lovell-Badge, a stem cell expert at the National Institute of Medical Research said that despite the questions raised, Nayernia and colleagues may have made some progress in obtaining human sperm from embryonic cells.
Nayernia said creating embryos from lab-manufactured sperm is banned by British law.
Some lawmakers said provisions should be made to allow sperm derived from stem cells to be tested as part of potential fertility treatments.
Our Passion is to reach our individual and collective potential-Always!
British scientists claim to create human sperm
SATURDAY, 11 JULY 2009
British scientists claimed Wednesday to have created human sperm from stem cells but other experts questioned their data.
Researchers at Newcastle University and the NorthEast England Stem Cell Institute say they used a new technique to derive what they described as sperm cells from embryonic stem cells. Stem cells have the potential to become any cell in the body.
Newcastle research leader Karim Nayernia said in a statement Wednesday that the technique would allow researchers to study how sperm develops and possibly help develop treatments for infertile men.
The research was published Wednesday in the journal Stem Cells and Development.
But many other British experts cast doubt on the research. They also said the sperm cells created in the laboratory were clearly abnormal.
"I am unconvinced from the data presented in this paper that the cells produced by Professor Nayernia's group from embryonic stem cells can be accurately called 'spermatazoa," said Allan Pacey, a senior lecturer in andrology at the University of Sheffield.
Pacey said in a statement that the sperm created by Nayernia did not have the specific shape, movement and function of real sperm.
Azim Surani, a professor of physiology and reproduction at the University of Cambridge said the sperm produced by the Newcastle team were "a long way from being authentic sperm cells."
Nayernia said the cells "showed all the characteristics of sperm," but his group's intention was simply to "open up new avenues of research" with their early findings, rather than using the sperm to fertilize eggs.
Robin Lovell-Badge, a stem cell expert at the National Institute of Medical Research said that despite the questions raised, Nayernia and colleagues may have made some progress in obtaining human sperm from embryonic cells.
Nayernia said creating embryos from lab-manufactured sperm is banned by British law.
Some lawmakers said provisions should be made to allow sperm derived from stem cells to be tested as part of potential fertility treatments.
Tuesday, July 07, 2009
Global7 the new Millennial Renaissance Vision for the Globe
I. OVERVIEW OF EXPERIENCE
1.1 Visionary leadership for win-win synergistic partnerships for success. Dr Habte-Jesus has a well developed and proven leadership skills built on strategic visioning, effective communication, efficient implementation strategies and strong team-building efforts to realize a win-win synergistic partnership for success.
1.2 Public Health & Strategic Management Consulting. Dr Habte-Jesus is a public health physician and Strategic Management Consultant with technical expertise in risk assessment, emergency planning, strategic management, with well developed experience in leadership development, multi-cultural empowerment, health and human services, business development, resource generation, health information systems, marketing.
1.3 Quality Improvement & Patient Safety leadership. As Corporate Director for Professional Services and Quality Improvement for over 12 home health agencies scattered through out the United States: (California, Colorado, District of Columbia, Pennsylvania and Virginia,) Dr Habte-Jesus has promoted all aspects of quality improvement and patient safety both within Human Touch Group of HHAs and externally. As the key person in charge of Quality Improvement and Audit, Dr Habte-Jesus has initiated and promoted all the professional accreditation processes with the Joint Commission and the respective state and District health regulatory authorities. Dr Habte-Jesus has competent knowledge and experience in clinical medicine, public health and health services management with a deep knowledge and expertise in the area of Quality management and organizational re-structuring to promote change in compliance with changing patient and environment of care needs. He has well developed expertise in systems and processes, re-design, human factors engineering, the various process improvement methodologies and related activities of quality improvement, risk assessment, option appraisal and decision making. He has developed a unique CORT Analysis package that deals with Organizational Challenges, Opportunities, Risks and Threat Analysis supported with Option Appraisal system that considers Nine series of Options and Alternatives while making potentially risky decisions in volatile and high security challenge environment.
1.4 Organizational leadership, design and re-engineering. Dr Habte-Jesus has extensive organizational design, re-engineering expertise with well developed tools and managerial ability to collaboratively plan, organize, and direct the activities of others. As Chair of the Governing Board of Human Touch and the Professional Advisory Body, Dr Habte-Jesus, has well developed interpersonal skills to interact effectively with organizational leadership, Board members, government officials, clinical and managerial leaders in health care organizations, and others within and outside the organization and United States. He has excellent written and verbal communication skills necessary to effectively present information and ideas effectively in articles, proposals, position papers, and presentations. .
1.5
1.6 Strategic Management Enterprises. He has extensive experience in Strategic Management Enterprises towards multicultural community empowerment, leadership of strategic management enterprises, business development, continuous quality improvement, public health, clinical medicine, epidemiology, health information systems. He has specialized expertise in risk assessment, business planning, budget forecasting, tracking and controlling costs, expertise in international health and global health and medicine with specialty in preventing, managing and controlling infectious diseases, research; program development, planning, implementation and evaluation.
1.7 Multicultural Community empowerment. He has well developed expertise in multicultural community empowerment in health and human services as well as the development and promotion of small businesses and non profit organizations that empower community leadership. He has competent written and spoken communication skills with extensive experience in results/performance oriented management, qualitative and quantitative research, business development/management, with excellent interpersonal and organizational skills supported with expertise in organizational leadership, clinical and epidemiological research, strategic marketing, fund raising, health promotion, teaching and multicultural multimedia hosting & comprehensive health promotion radio and television programming and broadcasting experience.
1.5 Practical leadership and training experience. He has proven track record of leadership supported by
highly developed organizational and interpersonal skills and training expertise in the area of good governance, win-win synergistic partnerships, health and human services with policy and program development, epidemiology, evaluation and participatory strategic planning and management expertise in health, education, human resources, youth development, mental health, mental retardation, and tropical medicine and infectious diseases, home health hospice services as well as public health prevention services.
1.6 Excellent track record of leadership. He is visionary, highly driven, detail and results oriented, self-motivated, team player and highly inspired to solve problems in the short and long term. He believes in developing win-win synergistic partnership among multicultural communities via business enterprises. He has worked as executive officer, director and senior manager with several health and human service institutions in Africa, Asia, Europe and here in North America. His summary experience and additional areas of expertise include:
Visionary leadership and participatory management, empowering civil societies and multicultural communities.
Good governance and globalization and empowering civil societies.; resource development and management
Health Sector Reform and Research: Private, Public and HMO, Managed Care, home health and hospice care.
Strategic Planning, evaluation and sustainable development, policy development and evaluation, extensive qualitative and quantitative analysis, epidemiological research and publication, epidemiology, women’s health, youth development, pediatrics, mother and child health, public speaking, coaching and publications.
Global Health Promotion and prevention and management of Tropical Medicine & Hygiene and Infectious Diseases Management & Control
Reproductive health, STI/HIV/PTSD and Child development, health, population and nutrition, prevention and early intervention programs, i.e. TB, Malaria, HIV/STD, etc.
Quality assurance, (CQI) evaluation and managing change, Good Practice and Policy and Procedures, Business Plans and Strategies
Managing Change, Behavioral research, multicultural holistic and integrated health enterprises
Behavioral Science, Mother and Child Health, mental health and mental retardation services, Regional Minority Health, HIV/AIDS Services
Managing a LifeStarts at community empowerment zones at East Capitol Center for Change
Resource Generation Expertise. Grant Reviewer/Evaluator, Business plan, contract negotiation, strategic multimedia communication, teaching and multicultural community empowerment radio broadcasting, conference planning/chairing and dissemination of evidence based information.
1.7 Visionary Leadership Skills and expertise. His visionary leadership skill is based on character, integrity, commitment, compassion and with win-win synergistic partnership and team building expertise. He has excellent interpersonal and communication skills with qualitative and quantitative research, health information systems, clinical evaluation, continuous quality improvement and quality assurance expertise, teaching, policy and business development, program management, marketing, strategic planning, visioning, and negotiation skills.
1.8 Multi-Media Computer/Internet Communications. Highly developed written and spoken communication skills with competency in Health Information Systems as well as Microsoft Vista Ultimate Office 2007, 2003, 2000, Power Point, Excel, Corel WordPerfect 9 Suite, Epi-Info, Mednotes, Medisoft, VisiTrack, HomeSolutions, CDC Wonder, SAS, SPSSX, Harvard Graphics, Multi-media Internet communication and contract development and negotiation skills.
Broadcasting & Multi-Media Expertise. Excellent skills in vision, voice and data presentation using television, radio and print media: program development, marketing and production and broadcasting. He is fluent in English, Amharic, and Oromifa languages with working knowledge of French, Arabic, Hindi and Tigrinya.
Research Interests. The role of Multi-media in changing individual and group behavior, Corporate Governance; Global Climate Change, Managing Change, Health Promotion and Disease Prevention; Innovative Enterprise Promotion, Security, Peace and Prosperity; Fair and Free Market System for sustainable development and prosperity
II. EDUCATIONAL/RESEARCH AND ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS
2.1 Academic Merit Scholarship: Master of Public Health. Master of Public health for medical doctors (1986); International Merit Scholarship with special commendation for research, University of Leeds, School of Public Health, United Kingdom, Great Britain. Concentration in epidemiology, health services research, management sciences population, and nutrition, mother and child health with a focus on international medicine and infectious diseases.
2.2 Academic Merit Scholarship: Medical Doctor. (1983) General medicine training with specialty in public health and child development and survival, Christian Medical College and Hospital, Vellore, South India, University of Madras.
2.3 Awards: Distinction for Dissertation. “Evaluation of Mother and Child Health Services in Developing and Developed Countries with a Retrospective Infant and Perinatal Morbidity and Mortality Studies.” September 1986.
2.4 Academic Awards: The Bausch & Lomb Honorary Science Award- for the Best Outgoing Student, May 1972
2.5 Service Achievement Awards: Certificate of Distinguished Achievement, LifeStarts @ East Capitol Center for Change, Sep 2003.
2.6 Service Achievement Awards: Bitwoded of the Imperial Solomonic Crown Without Borders, May 2000
2.7 Ambassador for Peace, Universal Peace Federation, Seoul, South Korea, February 2006
III. MANAGEMENT, ADMINISTRATION & TECHNICAL EXPERTISE
Sample achievements over the last five years
3. 1. Director of Professional Services Continuous Quality Improvement and Strategic Business Development, Corporate Office: Human Touch, Inc, 100 N Washington, St, Suite 410, Falls Church, Virginia, 22046; T: 703.531.05340, P: 703.531.0540
1.1 Responsibilities. Lead the development and expansion of Home Health Care, Home Hospice and Wellness and Rehabilitation Center in the Metropolitan Washington DC area, California, Colorado, Pennsylvania and Virginia states managing 12 Home Health Care Agencies. Lead in the need and risk assessment research, development of quality improvement protocol and strategic business development for the expansion and productivity of staff by developing management training and supervision of staff in establishing the centers. Developed a strategy for professional human resource development that included staff recruitment, retention, performance evaluation and promotion. Provide leadership in Continuous Quality Improvement protocol and compliance with the Joint Commission on the Accreditation of Health Care Organizations protocol as well as federal and state standards by developing qualitative and quantitative tools for measuring performance and results.
1.2 Achievements. Developed a series of Nine thriving Home Health Care agencies in the Metropolitan Washington DC, Denver Colorado and Allentown, Pennsylvania in eastern and central parts of the USA. . Made the appropriate risk assessment for acquisition, business development and prepared the necessary certification and accreditation documents with appropriate staff recruitment, training and performance management tools and quality assurance protocol.
Re-organized and centralized the management, marketing, intake and billing process as well as the Continuous Quality Improvement Protocol of the different organizations under one roof and developed protocols, strategies and templates for growth and expansion Organized Organizational Policy and Procedure with all the human resources and clinical as well as management information and marketing strategies. Developed the Joint Commission Accreditation Strategy and Implemented all the leadership standards including Infection Control Policy and Procedure and trained skilled professionals on how to deal with infections such as MRSA (Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus) infections in the home care setting. Accessing health information systems such as Med soft, Visitrack and Scan health (HomeSolutions.net) soft wares for managing patient information.
3. 2 Clinical Program Director, Carl Vogel Center, 1012, 14th Street, NW, Suite 700, Washington, DC 20005; Ph: 202 638 0750 ext 18, Fax: 202 638.0749; E-mail: rogramdirector@carlvogelcenter.org
2.1. Responsibilities. Lead and manage a team of medical doctors, psychologist, mental health specialist, HIV Specialists, medical nutritional therapists, mental health specialists, case managers an marketing/outreach workers. Develop key result areas, set up primary medical HIV clinic, certificate of need, Medicaid/Medicare eligibility, Clinical policies and procedures, HIV work plan, Continuous Quality Improvement, Medical Record System (Med Soft and Mednotes), integrated and comprehensive system of care, clinical personnel issues, manage and chair weekly Clinical Management Team Meetings and Multi-Disciplinary Case Conferences, medical billing system and HIPPA compliance.
2.2. Achievement. Organized and set up a functioning HIV Primary Medial Care System with appropriate secondary and tertiary referral systems. Developed and submitted Certificate of Need for Primary Medical Care Developed a business proposal for HRSA Capacity Building Grant, developed organizational network for improved governance for board development, MIS and financial accounting system that synchronizes with clinical care protocol, medical records, billing and continuous quality improvement protocol for Primary HIV Care (Prevention, Early Intervention, Therapy and Rehabilitation, etc).
3.3. Director, Comprehensive Care II, Inc. October 2003+ @ 337 Delafield Place, NW, Washington, DC 20011, Voice: 202 291 2586; Fax: 202 291 3104; e-mail: Globalbelai@yahoo.com
3.1. Responsibilities. Direct a team of over 40 professionals including doctors, psychologists, nurses, social workers, case managers, and qualified mental health professionals, residential counselors to provide an individualized care plan that includes habilitation and behavior support plan (ISP, BSP) for over 30 consumers of wide range of age groups and behavioral challenges with a mix of disabilities from mild to profound residing in 6 homes in Washington DC.
3.2. Accomplishments. Undertook a comprehensive needs assessment and SWOT analysis that looks at the strength, weakness, and opportunities and threats both at internal and external environments. Developed an extensive five years Human Care Agreement for Residential and Respite Services with appropriate budget and negotiated with the Government of the District of Columbia, DHS/Mental Retardation/Developmental Disabilities Administration. Directed a team of professionals to ensure a highly organized services that allowed the re-certification of six group homes with appropriate compliment of health and human services for ICFMR facilities. Prepared regular monthly training with an up-to-date training manual to professionals on a holistic approach in improving the safety and well being of consumers with mental health and mental retardation challenges.
3.4 4 Director of Strategic Development & Quality Assurance -Human Touch, Inc. May 2002 4600 King Street, Suite 4R, Alexandria, VA, 22302, Voice: 703 379 2526; Fax: 703 379 5010.
4.1. Responsibilities. Responsible for strategic marketing, business development and organization of the marketing and business development of a health and human services agency providing home health care services to vulnerable communities who cannot access primary and secondary care services due to physical limitations. Initiated and developed free standing home health care, home hospice and wellness and rehabilitation outpatient centers in the Metropolitan Washington DC area.
4.2. Achievements. Undertook a comprehensive needs assessment and proposal development towards improving the internal and external market share of the agency towards establishing a strong presence in the Northern Virginia and Washington DC area. Developed successful proposals and presentations for a Certificate of Need Application for Home Health Care, Home Hospice Care and Capitol Wellness and Rehabilitation Centers in the Metropolitan Washington DC area. and made several contacts that yielded profitable contracts with health providers, insurance agencies such as Aetna, Care First, Blue Cross Blue Shield, MAMSI, Options, National Capital Health Care and other agencies.
IV. SAMPLE SELECTED BOOKS, ARTICLES, PUBLICATIONS,
AWARDS & PRESENTATIONS
1. Habte-Jesus, Belai et.al: Evaluation of Mother and Child Health Services in Developing and
Developed Countries- Evaluating the Global Burden of Childhood Morbidity and Mortality with Perinatal Mortality Studies on work done between 1977-1986, University of Leeds, United Kingdom, Great Britain., September 1986.
2. Habte-Jesus, Belai, et.al: North East Thames Regional Health Authority: Good Practice Policy
Guidelines for higher Specialties (Neurology and Neurosciences, Cardiology and Cardio-thoracic Services, East Nose and Throat, Ophthalmology, Oral and Dental Services, Renal Services, Accident and Emergency, Pediatrics and Genetic Services, etc. (Work done between 1988-1993). London, England, United Kingdom, Great Britain.
3. Habte-Jesus, Belai, et al, (Clapp & Mayne, inc) Interactive Communication Diary—A flexible
health information system to assist patient-provider communication with appropriate data sets for
institutional, patient – physician health information communication system. A Proposal for NIH
Funded Innovative Small Business Research Grant. June 1997.
4. Habte-Jesus, Belai: Presenter at the National Council for International Health 24th Annual
Conference: The impact of HIV on future work force- Building Strategic Alliances, Washington,
DC. July 1997.
5. Habte-Jesus, Belai: Presenter “Education for Empowerment in the 21st Century Development” at
African Institute for Education and Development Inc, July 1996
6. Habte-Jesus, Belai: Letter of Advocacy to Bill Clinton, President of the United States regarding US
Africa Policy: Re: Pre-empting the Impending Rwanda Genocide: July 1997.
7. Habte-Jesus, Belai: Protocols for Evaluating HIV/AIDS Prevention Programs in Washington
DC May 1996.
8. Habte-Jesus, Belai, et.al. Initiating Roll Back Malaria, Lessons learned from USAID Malaria
Prevention and Control Program, Academy for Educational Development and USAID, Africa Bureau, March 1997.
9. Habte-Jesus, Belai: Innovative Community AIDS Education for African American Men and
Women with a focus on the special needs of women, July 1997.
10. Habte-Jesus, Belai et. al: Health Needs Assessment of African-Born Residents in the
Washington, DC, Metropolitan Area, ECDC, August 1999.
11. Habte-Jesus, et. al: Healthy Tomorrows Partnership for Children, A collaboration Program of the
DC Linkage and Tracking System, Office of Maternal and Child Health Systems Development
Initiative and the American Academy of Pediatrics: Accessing a “Primary Health Care Home
through Case Management, May 1994.
12. Habte-Jesus, et. al: Parenting Education as a foundation for prevention and early intervention
of future PVO Child Survival Program, December 1996.
13. Habte-Jesus, Belai, et. al. Cradle to Grave Health Care Reform n the USA: An idea whose time
has come. The White House Health Care Reform Task Force, April 1993
14. Habte-Jesus, Belai. A holistic approach in improving the safety and well being of consumers
with mental health and mental retardation challenges, September 2004
15. Habte-Jesus, et. al. Capacity Building Initiative for HIV Primary Care Services with a focus on
Infrastructure development via improved Governance, MIS/Financial System and
Continuous Quality Improvement System, April 2005.
16. Habte-Jesus, Belai, “Empowering civil societies series” - Shifting Paradigm of Global Good
Governance, the changing role of stakeholders and advocates, Diaspora Dialogue IV, George
Washington University Law School, May 2005- Chaired the conference as well as prepared key note
address.
17. Habte-Jesus, Belai, et. al; Organizing Global Partnership for Peace, Democracy and Prosperity
by Empowering Civil Societies Across the Globe to combat poverty and global terrorism.. July 2005
18. Habte-Jesus, Belai, et. al. Multicultural community empowerment via Multi-Media Broadcast
Network. Weekly Empowerment Radio Broadcasts; on 1390 AM: Immune wise living series
addressing cradle to grave optimal health issues from spiritual, emotional, psychological and
physical health perspective, Began in 1996 and ongoing. Host of “Voice of the Patriots”, focusing
on the synergy of Education, Ecology and Economy for win-win cross cultural partnerships-
Millennial Renaissance Network of Hager-Fikir Multi-Cultural Communications, Inc.
19. Habte-Jesus, Belai, Institutional Challenges of Good Governance, Globalization and
Millennium Development Goals in 21st Century Transitional Economies, the experience of the
Horn and Ethiopia. Ethiopia: Beyond the Current Crisis Symposium at Washington Times Building,
Wednesday, 14 December 2005: 15:00-18:00 Hrs organized by Voice of the Patriots, Voice of Reason,
United Press International, Ambassadors for Peace Program& World Media Association.
20. Habte-Jesus, Belai, et. Al; Unique lessons in developing modern primary care centers in the
Metropolitan Washington, DC area. January 2000.
21. Habte-Jesus, Belai, et, al,. Lessons from establishing modern home health services and
accreditation with Joint Commission on Health Organizations. September 2004
22. Habte-Jesus, Belai, et, The experience of developing modern home hospice services in the
Metropolitan Washington DC area. March 2005
23. Habte-Jesus, Belai, et.al., The unique experience of developing a modern primary health care
center and outpatient rehabilitation facility in the Metropolitan Washington, DC area. December
2006.
24. Habte-Jesus, Belai, et.al, Managing Global Climate Change Series with Millennial Renaissance
Transformation Agenda Series, www.Globalbelai4u.blogspot.com
V. KEY SAMPLE POSITIONS HELD OVER THE PAST 20 YEARS
1. Director- Strategic Business Development & Continuous Quality Improvement- Human Touch 2005+
2. Director -Community of Hope Health Services & Community Medical Care Health Services- 2000+
3. Director of Community Health Center- Non Profit Clinic Consortium, www.npcclinics.org,
4. Director of Health Services @ Ethiopian Community Development Council 1999 - 2000
5. Consultant trainer at Lutheran Social Services of the National Capital Area 1998 - 1999
6. Consultant USAID-Africa Bureau and Academy for Educational Development, 1997 - 1998
7. Senior Public Health Advisor, Clap & Mayne, Inc. 1997 - 1998
8. Executive Director of Professional Network Group, 1511 K Street, NW, Suite 949; 1995 - 1997
9. Consultant with Basics Partnership for Child Survival Health Inc. 1996 - 1997
10. Administrator of Family and Maternal Enhancement of Koba Associates, Inc 1994 - 1995
11. Assistant Director, At-risk Children (0-8) -DC Commission of Public Health 1993 - 1994
12. Lecturer -Master of Public Health Program, George Washington University Hospital, DC 1993 - 1995
13. CEO, Global Research and Development Enterprises, Washington, DC 1993+
14. Manager, Health Services Development, NE Thames Regional Health Authority, UK 1989 -1993
15. Lecturer & Public health manager, St. Mary’s Hospital, SW Thames Regional Health Authority 1988/89
16. Coordinator, Kent Council on Addiction, South East Thames Regional Health Authority, 1987/88
17. Senior Fellow and Residence at the William Harvey Hospital, Ashford, Kent, England 1986/87
18. Research Fellow at Master of Public Health Program, University of Leeds, UK. 1985 -1986
19. Senior Resident at St Joseph Hospital New Delhi and Christian Medical College, Vellore. 1984 -1985
20. Medical Education and Residency Program, Christian Medical College, Vellore. 1977 -19 84
21. Premedical education and national development campaign, Haile Sellassie University. 1973 - 1977
VI. SELECTED AWARDS AND DISTINCTIONS
1. Best outgoing student at Bedenno Elementary School (First in each class in each grade (1-8) 1964 - 72
2. Haile Selassie I Gold Medal for Distinction in Ethiopian School Leaving Certificates- 1972
3. The Bausch & Lomb Science Award for the Best Outgoing Student of Class of 72
(First in each class in each Semester for grades 9-12.) 1972
4. Merit Scholarship to undertake Pre-Medical Studies at Haile Sellassie I University- 1973-1976
5. Merit Scholarship to study medicine by the Indian Council for Cultural Relations- 1976-1985
6. Merit Scholarship- Advanced Degree of Public Health for Medical Doctors, University of Leeds 1986
7. Fellow of Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene 1986
8. Fellow of the Royal Society of Public Health, London, England. 1986
9. Highest Commendations for MPH thesis: Evaluating Global Mother and Child Health Services, 1986
10. Founder and CEO of Global Strategic Enterprises, Inc 1993
11. Grand Cross of St Mary of Zion Order- Imperial Order of Solomonic Crown without Borders, 2001
12. Grand Cross Lion of Judah Order. Imperial Order of Solomonic Crown Without Border s, 2000+
13. Grand cross of the Imperial Order of Menelik, Order of Solomonic Crown Without Borders 2000+
14. Chancellor of Imperial Solomonic Enterprises& Bitwoded of the Imperial Solomonic Crown Without Borders 2000+
15. Board Member, Immigration and Refugee Services of America, Mental Health Initiatives 1999
16. Board Member, DC Care Consortium of Providers serving HIV/AIDS populations, 2000+
17. Board Member, Community Medical Care- Non Profit Clinic, DC 2000
18. Advisory Board Member, Ethiopian American Constituency Foundation 2005
19. Ambassador for Peace, Universal Peace Federation, Oct 2005 2005
20. Host of “Voice of the Patriots” A Global Multicultural Broadcasting Corporation 2005
21. Host of “African Horizon” Ethiopian Broadcasting Service Television Network 2007
22. Advisory Board Member of National Association for Home Care & Home Hospice Medical Equipment 2007
I. OVERVIEW OF EXPERIENCE
1.1 Visionary leadership for win-win synergistic partnerships for success. Dr Habte-Jesus has a well developed and proven leadership skills built on strategic visioning, effective communication, efficient implementation strategies and strong team-building efforts to realize a win-win synergistic partnership for success.
1.2 Public Health & Strategic Management Consulting. Dr Habte-Jesus is a public health physician and Strategic Management Consultant with technical expertise in risk assessment, emergency planning, strategic management, with well developed experience in leadership development, multi-cultural empowerment, health and human services, business development, resource generation, health information systems, marketing.
1.3 Quality Improvement & Patient Safety leadership. As Corporate Director for Professional Services and Quality Improvement for over 12 home health agencies scattered through out the United States: (California, Colorado, District of Columbia, Pennsylvania and Virginia,) Dr Habte-Jesus has promoted all aspects of quality improvement and patient safety both within Human Touch Group of HHAs and externally. As the key person in charge of Quality Improvement and Audit, Dr Habte-Jesus has initiated and promoted all the professional accreditation processes with the Joint Commission and the respective state and District health regulatory authorities. Dr Habte-Jesus has competent knowledge and experience in clinical medicine, public health and health services management with a deep knowledge and expertise in the area of Quality management and organizational re-structuring to promote change in compliance with changing patient and environment of care needs. He has well developed expertise in systems and processes, re-design, human factors engineering, the various process improvement methodologies and related activities of quality improvement, risk assessment, option appraisal and decision making. He has developed a unique CORT Analysis package that deals with Organizational Challenges, Opportunities, Risks and Threat Analysis supported with Option Appraisal system that considers Nine series of Options and Alternatives while making potentially risky decisions in volatile and high security challenge environment.
1.4 Organizational leadership, design and re-engineering. Dr Habte-Jesus has extensive organizational design, re-engineering expertise with well developed tools and managerial ability to collaboratively plan, organize, and direct the activities of others. As Chair of the Governing Board of Human Touch and the Professional Advisory Body, Dr Habte-Jesus, has well developed interpersonal skills to interact effectively with organizational leadership, Board members, government officials, clinical and managerial leaders in health care organizations, and others within and outside the organization and United States. He has excellent written and verbal communication skills necessary to effectively present information and ideas effectively in articles, proposals, position papers, and presentations. .
1.5
1.6 Strategic Management Enterprises. He has extensive experience in Strategic Management Enterprises towards multicultural community empowerment, leadership of strategic management enterprises, business development, continuous quality improvement, public health, clinical medicine, epidemiology, health information systems. He has specialized expertise in risk assessment, business planning, budget forecasting, tracking and controlling costs, expertise in international health and global health and medicine with specialty in preventing, managing and controlling infectious diseases, research; program development, planning, implementation and evaluation.
1.7 Multicultural Community empowerment. He has well developed expertise in multicultural community empowerment in health and human services as well as the development and promotion of small businesses and non profit organizations that empower community leadership. He has competent written and spoken communication skills with extensive experience in results/performance oriented management, qualitative and quantitative research, business development/management, with excellent interpersonal and organizational skills supported with expertise in organizational leadership, clinical and epidemiological research, strategic marketing, fund raising, health promotion, teaching and multicultural multimedia hosting & comprehensive health promotion radio and television programming and broadcasting experience.
1.5 Practical leadership and training experience. He has proven track record of leadership supported by
highly developed organizational and interpersonal skills and training expertise in the area of good governance, win-win synergistic partnerships, health and human services with policy and program development, epidemiology, evaluation and participatory strategic planning and management expertise in health, education, human resources, youth development, mental health, mental retardation, and tropical medicine and infectious diseases, home health hospice services as well as public health prevention services.
1.6 Excellent track record of leadership. He is visionary, highly driven, detail and results oriented, self-motivated, team player and highly inspired to solve problems in the short and long term. He believes in developing win-win synergistic partnership among multicultural communities via business enterprises. He has worked as executive officer, director and senior manager with several health and human service institutions in Africa, Asia, Europe and here in North America. His summary experience and additional areas of expertise include:
Visionary leadership and participatory management, empowering civil societies and multicultural communities.
Good governance and globalization and empowering civil societies.; resource development and management
Health Sector Reform and Research: Private, Public and HMO, Managed Care, home health and hospice care.
Strategic Planning, evaluation and sustainable development, policy development and evaluation, extensive qualitative and quantitative analysis, epidemiological research and publication, epidemiology, women’s health, youth development, pediatrics, mother and child health, public speaking, coaching and publications.
Global Health Promotion and prevention and management of Tropical Medicine & Hygiene and Infectious Diseases Management & Control
Reproductive health, STI/HIV/PTSD and Child development, health, population and nutrition, prevention and early intervention programs, i.e. TB, Malaria, HIV/STD, etc.
Quality assurance, (CQI) evaluation and managing change, Good Practice and Policy and Procedures, Business Plans and Strategies
Managing Change, Behavioral research, multicultural holistic and integrated health enterprises
Behavioral Science, Mother and Child Health, mental health and mental retardation services, Regional Minority Health, HIV/AIDS Services
Managing a LifeStarts at community empowerment zones at East Capitol Center for Change
Resource Generation Expertise. Grant Reviewer/Evaluator, Business plan, contract negotiation, strategic multimedia communication, teaching and multicultural community empowerment radio broadcasting, conference planning/chairing and dissemination of evidence based information.
1.7 Visionary Leadership Skills and expertise. His visionary leadership skill is based on character, integrity, commitment, compassion and with win-win synergistic partnership and team building expertise. He has excellent interpersonal and communication skills with qualitative and quantitative research, health information systems, clinical evaluation, continuous quality improvement and quality assurance expertise, teaching, policy and business development, program management, marketing, strategic planning, visioning, and negotiation skills.
1.8 Multi-Media Computer/Internet Communications. Highly developed written and spoken communication skills with competency in Health Information Systems as well as Microsoft Vista Ultimate Office 2007, 2003, 2000, Power Point, Excel, Corel WordPerfect 9 Suite, Epi-Info, Mednotes, Medisoft, VisiTrack, HomeSolutions, CDC Wonder, SAS, SPSSX, Harvard Graphics, Multi-media Internet communication and contract development and negotiation skills.
Broadcasting & Multi-Media Expertise. Excellent skills in vision, voice and data presentation using television, radio and print media: program development, marketing and production and broadcasting. He is fluent in English, Amharic, and Oromifa languages with working knowledge of French, Arabic, Hindi and Tigrinya.
Research Interests. The role of Multi-media in changing individual and group behavior, Corporate Governance; Global Climate Change, Managing Change, Health Promotion and Disease Prevention; Innovative Enterprise Promotion, Security, Peace and Prosperity; Fair and Free Market System for sustainable development and prosperity
II. EDUCATIONAL/RESEARCH AND ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS
2.1 Academic Merit Scholarship: Master of Public Health. Master of Public health for medical doctors (1986); International Merit Scholarship with special commendation for research, University of Leeds, School of Public Health, United Kingdom, Great Britain. Concentration in epidemiology, health services research, management sciences population, and nutrition, mother and child health with a focus on international medicine and infectious diseases.
2.2 Academic Merit Scholarship: Medical Doctor. (1983) General medicine training with specialty in public health and child development and survival, Christian Medical College and Hospital, Vellore, South India, University of Madras.
2.3 Awards: Distinction for Dissertation. “Evaluation of Mother and Child Health Services in Developing and Developed Countries with a Retrospective Infant and Perinatal Morbidity and Mortality Studies.” September 1986.
2.4 Academic Awards: The Bausch & Lomb Honorary Science Award- for the Best Outgoing Student, May 1972
2.5 Service Achievement Awards: Certificate of Distinguished Achievement, LifeStarts @ East Capitol Center for Change, Sep 2003.
2.6 Service Achievement Awards: Bitwoded of the Imperial Solomonic Crown Without Borders, May 2000
2.7 Ambassador for Peace, Universal Peace Federation, Seoul, South Korea, February 2006
III. MANAGEMENT, ADMINISTRATION & TECHNICAL EXPERTISE
Sample achievements over the last five years
3. 1. Director of Professional Services Continuous Quality Improvement and Strategic Business Development, Corporate Office: Human Touch, Inc, 100 N Washington, St, Suite 410, Falls Church, Virginia, 22046; T: 703.531.05340, P: 703.531.0540
1.1 Responsibilities. Lead the development and expansion of Home Health Care, Home Hospice and Wellness and Rehabilitation Center in the Metropolitan Washington DC area, California, Colorado, Pennsylvania and Virginia states managing 12 Home Health Care Agencies. Lead in the need and risk assessment research, development of quality improvement protocol and strategic business development for the expansion and productivity of staff by developing management training and supervision of staff in establishing the centers. Developed a strategy for professional human resource development that included staff recruitment, retention, performance evaluation and promotion. Provide leadership in Continuous Quality Improvement protocol and compliance with the Joint Commission on the Accreditation of Health Care Organizations protocol as well as federal and state standards by developing qualitative and quantitative tools for measuring performance and results.
1.2 Achievements. Developed a series of Nine thriving Home Health Care agencies in the Metropolitan Washington DC, Denver Colorado and Allentown, Pennsylvania in eastern and central parts of the USA. . Made the appropriate risk assessment for acquisition, business development and prepared the necessary certification and accreditation documents with appropriate staff recruitment, training and performance management tools and quality assurance protocol.
Re-organized and centralized the management, marketing, intake and billing process as well as the Continuous Quality Improvement Protocol of the different organizations under one roof and developed protocols, strategies and templates for growth and expansion Organized Organizational Policy and Procedure with all the human resources and clinical as well as management information and marketing strategies. Developed the Joint Commission Accreditation Strategy and Implemented all the leadership standards including Infection Control Policy and Procedure and trained skilled professionals on how to deal with infections such as MRSA (Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus) infections in the home care setting. Accessing health information systems such as Med soft, Visitrack and Scan health (HomeSolutions.net) soft wares for managing patient information.
3. 2 Clinical Program Director, Carl Vogel Center, 1012, 14th Street, NW, Suite 700, Washington, DC 20005; Ph: 202 638 0750 ext 18, Fax: 202 638.0749; E-mail: rogramdirector@carlvogelcenter.org
2.1. Responsibilities. Lead and manage a team of medical doctors, psychologist, mental health specialist, HIV Specialists, medical nutritional therapists, mental health specialists, case managers an marketing/outreach workers. Develop key result areas, set up primary medical HIV clinic, certificate of need, Medicaid/Medicare eligibility, Clinical policies and procedures, HIV work plan, Continuous Quality Improvement, Medical Record System (Med Soft and Mednotes), integrated and comprehensive system of care, clinical personnel issues, manage and chair weekly Clinical Management Team Meetings and Multi-Disciplinary Case Conferences, medical billing system and HIPPA compliance.
2.2. Achievement. Organized and set up a functioning HIV Primary Medial Care System with appropriate secondary and tertiary referral systems. Developed and submitted Certificate of Need for Primary Medical Care Developed a business proposal for HRSA Capacity Building Grant, developed organizational network for improved governance for board development, MIS and financial accounting system that synchronizes with clinical care protocol, medical records, billing and continuous quality improvement protocol for Primary HIV Care (Prevention, Early Intervention, Therapy and Rehabilitation, etc).
3.3. Director, Comprehensive Care II, Inc. October 2003+ @ 337 Delafield Place, NW, Washington, DC 20011, Voice: 202 291 2586; Fax: 202 291 3104; e-mail: Globalbelai@yahoo.com
3.1. Responsibilities. Direct a team of over 40 professionals including doctors, psychologists, nurses, social workers, case managers, and qualified mental health professionals, residential counselors to provide an individualized care plan that includes habilitation and behavior support plan (ISP, BSP) for over 30 consumers of wide range of age groups and behavioral challenges with a mix of disabilities from mild to profound residing in 6 homes in Washington DC.
3.2. Accomplishments. Undertook a comprehensive needs assessment and SWOT analysis that looks at the strength, weakness, and opportunities and threats both at internal and external environments. Developed an extensive five years Human Care Agreement for Residential and Respite Services with appropriate budget and negotiated with the Government of the District of Columbia, DHS/Mental Retardation/Developmental Disabilities Administration. Directed a team of professionals to ensure a highly organized services that allowed the re-certification of six group homes with appropriate compliment of health and human services for ICFMR facilities. Prepared regular monthly training with an up-to-date training manual to professionals on a holistic approach in improving the safety and well being of consumers with mental health and mental retardation challenges.
3.4 4 Director of Strategic Development & Quality Assurance -Human Touch, Inc. May 2002 4600 King Street, Suite 4R, Alexandria, VA, 22302, Voice: 703 379 2526; Fax: 703 379 5010.
4.1. Responsibilities. Responsible for strategic marketing, business development and organization of the marketing and business development of a health and human services agency providing home health care services to vulnerable communities who cannot access primary and secondary care services due to physical limitations. Initiated and developed free standing home health care, home hospice and wellness and rehabilitation outpatient centers in the Metropolitan Washington DC area.
4.2. Achievements. Undertook a comprehensive needs assessment and proposal development towards improving the internal and external market share of the agency towards establishing a strong presence in the Northern Virginia and Washington DC area. Developed successful proposals and presentations for a Certificate of Need Application for Home Health Care, Home Hospice Care and Capitol Wellness and Rehabilitation Centers in the Metropolitan Washington DC area. and made several contacts that yielded profitable contracts with health providers, insurance agencies such as Aetna, Care First, Blue Cross Blue Shield, MAMSI, Options, National Capital Health Care and other agencies.
IV. SAMPLE SELECTED BOOKS, ARTICLES, PUBLICATIONS,
AWARDS & PRESENTATIONS
1. Habte-Jesus, Belai et.al: Evaluation of Mother and Child Health Services in Developing and
Developed Countries- Evaluating the Global Burden of Childhood Morbidity and Mortality with Perinatal Mortality Studies on work done between 1977-1986, University of Leeds, United Kingdom, Great Britain., September 1986.
2. Habte-Jesus, Belai, et.al: North East Thames Regional Health Authority: Good Practice Policy
Guidelines for higher Specialties (Neurology and Neurosciences, Cardiology and Cardio-thoracic Services, East Nose and Throat, Ophthalmology, Oral and Dental Services, Renal Services, Accident and Emergency, Pediatrics and Genetic Services, etc. (Work done between 1988-1993). London, England, United Kingdom, Great Britain.
3. Habte-Jesus, Belai, et al, (Clapp & Mayne, inc) Interactive Communication Diary—A flexible
health information system to assist patient-provider communication with appropriate data sets for
institutional, patient – physician health information communication system. A Proposal for NIH
Funded Innovative Small Business Research Grant. June 1997.
4. Habte-Jesus, Belai: Presenter at the National Council for International Health 24th Annual
Conference: The impact of HIV on future work force- Building Strategic Alliances, Washington,
DC. July 1997.
5. Habte-Jesus, Belai: Presenter “Education for Empowerment in the 21st Century Development” at
African Institute for Education and Development Inc, July 1996
6. Habte-Jesus, Belai: Letter of Advocacy to Bill Clinton, President of the United States regarding US
Africa Policy: Re: Pre-empting the Impending Rwanda Genocide: July 1997.
7. Habte-Jesus, Belai: Protocols for Evaluating HIV/AIDS Prevention Programs in Washington
DC May 1996.
8. Habte-Jesus, Belai, et.al. Initiating Roll Back Malaria, Lessons learned from USAID Malaria
Prevention and Control Program, Academy for Educational Development and USAID, Africa Bureau, March 1997.
9. Habte-Jesus, Belai: Innovative Community AIDS Education for African American Men and
Women with a focus on the special needs of women, July 1997.
10. Habte-Jesus, Belai et. al: Health Needs Assessment of African-Born Residents in the
Washington, DC, Metropolitan Area, ECDC, August 1999.
11. Habte-Jesus, et. al: Healthy Tomorrows Partnership for Children, A collaboration Program of the
DC Linkage and Tracking System, Office of Maternal and Child Health Systems Development
Initiative and the American Academy of Pediatrics: Accessing a “Primary Health Care Home
through Case Management, May 1994.
12. Habte-Jesus, et. al: Parenting Education as a foundation for prevention and early intervention
of future PVO Child Survival Program, December 1996.
13. Habte-Jesus, Belai, et. al. Cradle to Grave Health Care Reform n the USA: An idea whose time
has come. The White House Health Care Reform Task Force, April 1993
14. Habte-Jesus, Belai. A holistic approach in improving the safety and well being of consumers
with mental health and mental retardation challenges, September 2004
15. Habte-Jesus, et. al. Capacity Building Initiative for HIV Primary Care Services with a focus on
Infrastructure development via improved Governance, MIS/Financial System and
Continuous Quality Improvement System, April 2005.
16. Habte-Jesus, Belai, “Empowering civil societies series” - Shifting Paradigm of Global Good
Governance, the changing role of stakeholders and advocates, Diaspora Dialogue IV, George
Washington University Law School, May 2005- Chaired the conference as well as prepared key note
address.
17. Habte-Jesus, Belai, et. al; Organizing Global Partnership for Peace, Democracy and Prosperity
by Empowering Civil Societies Across the Globe to combat poverty and global terrorism.. July 2005
18. Habte-Jesus, Belai, et. al. Multicultural community empowerment via Multi-Media Broadcast
Network. Weekly Empowerment Radio Broadcasts; on 1390 AM: Immune wise living series
addressing cradle to grave optimal health issues from spiritual, emotional, psychological and
physical health perspective, Began in 1996 and ongoing. Host of “Voice of the Patriots”, focusing
on the synergy of Education, Ecology and Economy for win-win cross cultural partnerships-
Millennial Renaissance Network of Hager-Fikir Multi-Cultural Communications, Inc.
19. Habte-Jesus, Belai, Institutional Challenges of Good Governance, Globalization and
Millennium Development Goals in 21st Century Transitional Economies, the experience of the
Horn and Ethiopia. Ethiopia: Beyond the Current Crisis Symposium at Washington Times Building,
Wednesday, 14 December 2005: 15:00-18:00 Hrs organized by Voice of the Patriots, Voice of Reason,
United Press International, Ambassadors for Peace Program& World Media Association.
20. Habte-Jesus, Belai, et. Al; Unique lessons in developing modern primary care centers in the
Metropolitan Washington, DC area. January 2000.
21. Habte-Jesus, Belai, et, al,. Lessons from establishing modern home health services and
accreditation with Joint Commission on Health Organizations. September 2004
22. Habte-Jesus, Belai, et, The experience of developing modern home hospice services in the
Metropolitan Washington DC area. March 2005
23. Habte-Jesus, Belai, et.al., The unique experience of developing a modern primary health care
center and outpatient rehabilitation facility in the Metropolitan Washington, DC area. December
2006.
24. Habte-Jesus, Belai, et.al, Managing Global Climate Change Series with Millennial Renaissance
Transformation Agenda Series, www.Globalbelai4u.blogspot.com
V. KEY SAMPLE POSITIONS HELD OVER THE PAST 20 YEARS
1. Director- Strategic Business Development & Continuous Quality Improvement- Human Touch 2005+
2. Director -Community of Hope Health Services & Community Medical Care Health Services- 2000+
3. Director of Community Health Center- Non Profit Clinic Consortium, www.npcclinics.org,
4. Director of Health Services @ Ethiopian Community Development Council 1999 - 2000
5. Consultant trainer at Lutheran Social Services of the National Capital Area 1998 - 1999
6. Consultant USAID-Africa Bureau and Academy for Educational Development, 1997 - 1998
7. Senior Public Health Advisor, Clap & Mayne, Inc. 1997 - 1998
8. Executive Director of Professional Network Group, 1511 K Street, NW, Suite 949; 1995 - 1997
9. Consultant with Basics Partnership for Child Survival Health Inc. 1996 - 1997
10. Administrator of Family and Maternal Enhancement of Koba Associates, Inc 1994 - 1995
11. Assistant Director, At-risk Children (0-8) -DC Commission of Public Health 1993 - 1994
12. Lecturer -Master of Public Health Program, George Washington University Hospital, DC 1993 - 1995
13. CEO, Global Research and Development Enterprises, Washington, DC 1993+
14. Manager, Health Services Development, NE Thames Regional Health Authority, UK 1989 -1993
15. Lecturer & Public health manager, St. Mary’s Hospital, SW Thames Regional Health Authority 1988/89
16. Coordinator, Kent Council on Addiction, South East Thames Regional Health Authority, 1987/88
17. Senior Fellow and Residence at the William Harvey Hospital, Ashford, Kent, England 1986/87
18. Research Fellow at Master of Public Health Program, University of Leeds, UK. 1985 -1986
19. Senior Resident at St Joseph Hospital New Delhi and Christian Medical College, Vellore. 1984 -1985
20. Medical Education and Residency Program, Christian Medical College, Vellore. 1977 -19 84
21. Premedical education and national development campaign, Haile Sellassie University. 1973 - 1977
VI. SELECTED AWARDS AND DISTINCTIONS
1. Best outgoing student at Bedenno Elementary School (First in each class in each grade (1-8) 1964 - 72
2. Haile Selassie I Gold Medal for Distinction in Ethiopian School Leaving Certificates- 1972
3. The Bausch & Lomb Science Award for the Best Outgoing Student of Class of 72
(First in each class in each Semester for grades 9-12.) 1972
4. Merit Scholarship to undertake Pre-Medical Studies at Haile Sellassie I University- 1973-1976
5. Merit Scholarship to study medicine by the Indian Council for Cultural Relations- 1976-1985
6. Merit Scholarship- Advanced Degree of Public Health for Medical Doctors, University of Leeds 1986
7. Fellow of Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene 1986
8. Fellow of the Royal Society of Public Health, London, England. 1986
9. Highest Commendations for MPH thesis: Evaluating Global Mother and Child Health Services, 1986
10. Founder and CEO of Global Strategic Enterprises, Inc 1993
11. Grand Cross of St Mary of Zion Order- Imperial Order of Solomonic Crown without Borders, 2001
12. Grand Cross Lion of Judah Order. Imperial Order of Solomonic Crown Without Border s, 2000+
13. Grand cross of the Imperial Order of Menelik, Order of Solomonic Crown Without Borders 2000+
14. Chancellor of Imperial Solomonic Enterprises& Bitwoded of the Imperial Solomonic Crown Without Borders 2000+
15. Board Member, Immigration and Refugee Services of America, Mental Health Initiatives 1999
16. Board Member, DC Care Consortium of Providers serving HIV/AIDS populations, 2000+
17. Board Member, Community Medical Care- Non Profit Clinic, DC 2000
18. Advisory Board Member, Ethiopian American Constituency Foundation 2005
19. Ambassador for Peace, Universal Peace Federation, Oct 2005 2005
20. Host of “Voice of the Patriots” A Global Multicultural Broadcasting Corporation 2005
21. Host of “African Horizon” Ethiopian Broadcasting Service Television Network 2007
22. Advisory Board Member of National Association for Home Care & Home Hospice Medical Equipment 2007
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