WI Web Staff
Pepco Providing Free Trees to Md., District Customers
Tuesday, 26 March 2013 22:23 Published in Local
Third Year of Partnership with the Arbor Day Foundation
In its third year as an Arbor Day Foundation partner, Pepco is providing 2,000 free trees to customers in Maryland and the District of Columbia through the Energy-Saving Trees program.
Launched as a pilot initiative in 2011, the Energy-Saving Trees program conserves energy and reduces household electricity bills through strategic tree planting. Pepco customers can reserve their free trees today at www.arborday.org/pepco.
"The Energy-Saving Trees program saves money and the environment," said Thomas H. Graham, president, Pepco Region. "More than $380,000 in energy savings within 20 years is a substantial benefit to our customers and the region."
Within seconds of accessing the website, an online tool helps Pepco customers find the most strategic location for planting and estimates the annual savings that will result from the tree.
The Arbor Day Foundation calculates that the 2,000 trees are estimated to produce more than $380,000 in energy savings within 20 years. Customers can reserve up two trees per household and the program will continue until all 2,000 trees are reserved.
In exchange for the free trees, customers are expected to care for the trees and plant them in the location provided by the online tool. The two-to-four-foot trees will be delivered directly to the customer at an ideal time for planting.
The Energy-Saving Trees online tool was created by the Arbor Day Foundation and the Davey Institute, a division of the Davey Tree Expert Co., and uses peer-reviewed scientific research from the USDA Forest Service's i-Tree Software to calculate estimated benefits.
For more information and updates, visit www.pepco.com, follow us on Facebook and Twitter at PepcoConnect, and download our mobile app at www.pepco.com/mobileapp.
Minister Warns Polygamy Could Follow Gay Marriage Bans
Tuesday, 26 March 2013 22:02 Published in Local
A local critic of same-sex unions has warned that in the event the Supreme Court rules to strike down gay marriage bans, polygamy would follow.
Bishop Harry Jackson, a minister at Hope Christian Church in Beltsville, Md., who waged a vigilant fight against the District's gay marriage mandate and a similar effort last year in Maryland, said during a recent interview on the Christian Broadcasting Company's CBN Newswatch, that he believes conservatives could win at the Supreme Court.
"I think we can win it," Jackson said. "I think the real issue is the religious liberty issue and the issue of whether we can practice marriage as we believe it on an ongoing basis. Remember that if same-sex marriage is allowed to be mandated by fiat, if you will, at the Supreme Court level for all of America, then, right behind it, polygamy and many other forms of marriage will automatically sweep the land within just a matter of a few years." Meanwhile, on
Meanwhile on Wednesday, as the Supreme Court justices considered a provision that defines marriage as between a man and a woman for the purpose of deciding who can receive a range of federal benefits, some of the jurists who weighed-in the previous day on the meaning of marriage, wondered aloud if the court had moved too fast to address whether gay and lesbian couples have a constitutional right to marry.
While Justice Sonia Sotomayor said there may be value in letting states continue to experiment, Justice Anthony Kennedy – who holds the decisive vote on a closely divided court -- voiced sympathy for the children of gay and lesbian couples.
"There's some 40,000 children in California that live with same-sex parents," he said, as the justices debated during Tuesday's landmark hearing, the state's Proposition 8, which banned same-sex marriage. "They want their parents to have full recognition and full status. The voice of those children is important."
If the justices choose to rule broadly, they could overturn Prop 8 and in doing so invalidate every other restriction on gay marriage in the country, according to Fox News.
Justice Kennedy also spoke of uncertainty about the consequences for society of allowing same-sex marriage. "We have five years of information to pose against 2,000 years of history or more," he said, speaking of the long history of traditional marriage and the brief experience allowing gay men and lesbians to marry in some states.
Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr. warned that the court should not move too fast.
"You want us to step in and assess the effects of this institution, which is newer than cellphones and/or the Internet?" he said.
Many of the questions directed to Charles J. Cooper, a lawyer for opponents of same-sex marriage, concerned whether there was any good reason to exclude same-sex couples from the institution.
Justice Elena Kagan, for instance, asked how letting gay and lesbian couples marry harmed traditional marriages. "How does this cause and effect work?" she asked.
Cooper said that "the state's interest and society's interest in what we have framed as 'responsible procreation' is vital."
Theodore B. Olson, who represented the ban's challengers, said California's ban on gay marriage "walls off gays and lesbians from marriage, the most important relationship in life."
(Sources: The New York Times, Foxnews.com, On Top magazine)
"Stopping the Pipeline to Prison and Ending the Prison Industrial Complex Through Education, Jobs and Justice," is the theme of the Friday, March 29 "Silent March and Call to Action," designed to increase national awareness of the disproportionate rates of arrests and incarceration of African Americans.
Led by the historic Metropolitan AME Church (MAMEC) and its Mighty Men of Metropolitan, in partnership with the NAACP-DC, the Metropolitan Washington AFL-CIO, and others, the Silent March is a passionate plea to build coalitions across the nation to put an end to the "Pipeline to Prison" and violence that plagues African American communities.
"African Americans are being imprisoned at four times the rate of other American citizens, largely because of a lucrative 'pipeline to prison system' fueled by a voracious multi-billion dollar 'prison-industrial' complex, and a biased criminal justice system that singles out African American people for prosecution," said the Rev. Ronald E. Braxton, MAMEC senior pastor.
The one-mile march begins at 1 p.m., from MAMEC where it will proceed to Freedom Plaza in downtown D.C. The march will also take place during a time when many Christians around the world will celebrate Good Friday, symbolizing the crucifixion of Jesus Christ.
A March 25 press conference was held at MAMEC to announce the event.
In addition to Braxton, other participants included Michael Eric Dyson (author, radio host and professor of sociology at Georgetown University) and Courtney Stewart, chairman, "The Reentry Network for Returning Citizens."
"The community needs to see the faces of those who are most affected, have been targeted and disenfranchised as a result of the school to prison pipeline," said Stewart. "Ex-offenders] don't have any money, we don't make laws, we don't control the media and many of us can't vote therefore are eliminated from the political process...so it is up to our faith leaders to support us and send a message to the public and city officials."
Dyson added that, subjecting people to the 'life sentence' of a criminal record in order to fill prisons and feed a greedy prison industry has earned America a 'gold medal.
"We're number one in the number of people we put into prison," said Dyson. "This 'cradle to prison' mentality assaults our humanity and is a shame to us as a people and as a nation."
Former President William "Bill" Clinton will deliver the commencement address at Howard University (HU) on Saturday, May 11, on the Upper Quadrangle of the main campus.
"We are thrilled that President Clinton has agreed to deliver this year's Commencement address," Sidney Ribeau, HU president, said in a March 26 statement. "As a preeminent leader, humanitarian and advocate, his extraordinary global work and commitment to public service will inspire the class of 2013 as they prepare to make their mark on the world."
William Jefferson Clinton was the first Democratic president in six decades to be elected twice – first in 1992 and then in 1996.
Under his leadership, the country enjoyed the strongest economy in a generation and the longest economic expansion in U.S. history, including the creation of more than 22 million jobs.
FAIRFAX, VA -- Last month's inaugural Soul Train Cruise lived up to the iconic television show's legacy as "the hippest trip," as the sold-out ship returned to port filled with ecstatic travelers calling the voyage "one of the best in the history of all cruises."
Anchored by an incredible array of concerts by the most iconic acts in R&B history -- including Patti LaBelle, The O'Jays, Kool and the Gang, Jeffrey Osborne, and Russell Thompkins Jr. & The New Stylistics -- the Soul Train Cruise was also host to exclusive activities and events.
Wine tasting with Jeffrey Osborne, dancing until dawn as special guest DJ Biz Markie spun the hits, stepping up to the legendary Soul Train Line, and playing classic Soul Train games such as the Scramble Board, filled the days and nights.
The cruise was highlighted by the screening of the documentary. "The Hippest Trip in America,?" hosted by Tony Cornelius, the son of founder Don Cornelius, and a Soul Train producer. Tony later joined in panel discussions about his father and the impact his vision had on popular culture throughout the world and multiple generations.
With luxurious vacation amenities ranging from lavish meals to deluxe accommodations, The Soul Train Cruise was such an unprecedented success, that Entertainment Cruise Productions and StarVista Entertainment/Time Life will launch two additional voyages within the next 12 months.
Soul Train Cruise Fall will depart on Oct. 5 from San Diego, Calif., and Soul Train Cruise 2014 will depart on Feb. 23, from Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. Cabins are available now at www.SoulTrainCruise.com or by calling (toll free) 1 855 SOUL TRAIN (768-5872).
More than 300 black women from 10 states recently traveled to the nation's capital to urge congressional representatives to pass policies and programs that empower black and underserved families – particularly single mothers and the working-poor.
Among issues addressed by the women, who had the opportunity to visit the offices of their congressional leaders, were public education, gun violence.
"We must make sure that our faces are a part of the debate and dialogue," Rep. Yvette Clarke (D-NY) said. "We are known for doing what we have to do to keep it moving. Women -owned businesses are creating jobs. They train and employ those who have been shunned by society."lence and the creation of jobs with livable wages.
The women also met with Rep. Hank Johnson (D-GA), Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI), Rep. John Conyers (D-MI), and others, as part of the second annual Black Women's Roundtable Women of Power Summit.
Summit speakers included Dr. Gail Christopher, W. K. Kellogg Foundation; Elizabeth Powell, American Postal Workers Union; Dr. Lorretta Johnson, American Federation of Teachers; Becky Pringle, National Education Association; Judith Browne-Dianis, Advancement Project; Diane Babineaux, International Association of Machinists & Aerospace Workers; Dr. Judith Moore, Sisters Saving Ourselves Now; Rev. Marcia Dyson, Women's Global Initiative, Dr. Julianne Malveaux, economist; Felicia Davis, UNCF Building Green Initiative; Lori George Billingsley, Coca-Cola Refreshments; and Clayola Brown, A. Philip Randolph Institute.
The meetings with leaders were followed by a congressional briefing featuring Rep. Yvette Clarke (D-NY).
"We must make sure that our faces are a part of the debate and dialogue," Rep. Yvette Clarke (D-NY) said. "We are known for doing what we have to do to keep it moving. Women owned businesses are creating jobs. They train and employ those who have been shunned by society."
Rep. Moore applauded President Barack Obama's signing of an expanded Violence Against Women Act. "Violence against women is a pandemic disease," said Moore. "As Vice President Joe Biden would say, 'this is a big deal.'"
Melanie L. Campbell, convener of Black Women's Roundtable, addressed the purpose of visits.
"As my mentor, Dr. Dorothy I. Height often said, black women get the job done. We see the problems tearing at the fabric of our community every day so we knew that we needed to kick off our conference up here on Capitol Hill to let our legislators know that we have an agenda and we intend to make sure our voices are heard."
Campbell, president and CEO of the National Coalition on Black Civic Participation, added that, "I'm looking in the audience at women of power who turned out thousands of people to the polls."
Meanwhile,mMany of the Summit participants have played significant roles registering and mobilizing more than one million voters in national and local elections since the Unity Voter Empowerment Campaign started more than a decade ago.
"Our folks in Alabama can't afford to make a mud pie," said Shelia Tyson, convener of Alabama Black Women's Roundtable. "We came here on a song and a prayer to let these lawmakers know that our people are hurting. They're loosing jobs and homes. We've got hospitals closing. We can't keep watching dissention and lengthy filibusters in DC. Black families need help now or we need to elect new leaders."
Ward 8 Council member Marion Barry will deliver his annual State of the Ward address at 6 p.m., Thursday, March 28 at Matthews Memorial Baptist Church, 2616 Martin Luther King Ave., in Southeast.
"Hope Restored and Building on Real Transformation" is the theme.
Refreshments will be served, and to RSVP, please call 202-698-1668 or karnold @dccouncil.us.
Following a recent delay dispatching an ambulance to an injured District police officer, Fire Chief Ken Ellerbe has come under attack, with at least three firefighters calling for his termination.
Two of the three firefighters requested anonymity for fear of retaliation. But all three admit they've butted heads with, and have been unfairly disciplined by Ellerbe, according to a WJLA report.
"I think he should be terminated," firefighter Robert Alvarado, a constant critic of Ellerbe, said in an interview. "The apparatus fleet is in complete disarray. . . "If we had another terrorist attack on the District of Columbia, we are not prepared to handle it."
In the case of the injured police officer, nearly 20 minutes passed before an ambulance arrived. Because none were available from D.C., the officer was assisted by a Prince George's County unit. That action launched an investigation in Ellerbe's department. However, the report resulting report placed much of the blame on rank-and-file personnel rather than the fire chief.
"We know that we are at a tipping point in terms of providing service to the community," Ellerbe said in an earlier interview. He has also stated publically, that money and lives could be saved if he could transition firefighter shifts from 24 to 12 hours, and redeploy overnight ambulances to busier call times.
(Source: WJLA)
Chinua Achebe, the Nigerian author and towering man of letters died on Thursday in Boston. He was 82.
His agent in London said Achebe – who'd used a wheelchair since a car accident in Nigeria in 1990 left him paralyzed from the waist down -- died after a brief illness.
Chinua Achebe (pronounced CHIN-you-ah Ah-CHAY-bay) achieved worldwide acclaim with his first novel, "Things Fall Apart." The 215-page book, published in 1958 when Achebe was 28, would become a classic of world literature and required reading for students, selling more than 10 million copies in 45 languages.
The story was inspired by the history of Achebe's own family, part of the Ibo nation of southeastern Nigeria, a people victimized by the racism of British colonial administrators and then by the brutality of military dictators from other Nigerian ethnic groups.
"Things Fall Apart" gave expression to Achebe's first stirrings of anti-colonialism and a desire to use literature as a weapon against Western biases. As if to sharpen it with irony, he borrowed from the Western canon itself in using as its title a line from Yeats's apocalyptic poem "The Second Coming."
"In the end, I began to understand," Mr. Achebe later wrote. "There is such a thing as absolute power over narrative. Those who secure this privilege for themselves can arrange stories about others pretty much where, and as, they like."
Achebe's political thinking evolved from blaming colonial rule for Africa's woes to frank criticism of African rulers and the African citizens who tolerated their corruption and violence. Indeed, it was Nigeria's civil war in the 1960s and then its military dictatorship in the 1980s and '90s that forced Mr. Achebe abroad.
In his writing and teaching Mr. Achebe sought to reclaim the continent from Western literature, which he felt had reduced it to an alien, barbaric and frightening land devoid of its own art and culture. He took particular exception to "Heart of Darkness," the novel byJoseph Conrad, whom he thought "a thoroughgoing racist."
(Source: The New York Times)
In an ongoing effort to strengthen ties and increase trade and investment with one of the world's fastest-growing economies, Victor L. Hoskins, the District's deputy mayor for Planning and Economic Development, has embarked on a nine-day mission to China.
The mission is follows up to the China trip Hoskins took in June with Mayor Vincent Gray, other city administrators and officials from the private sector, including representatives from Howard University and the University of the District of Columbia.
"Last year, I took part in a similar trade trip to strengthen our business relationships with several cities across China, and I am proud that Deputy Mayor Hoskins will continue that overseas economic-development work to ensure that the District continues to diversify our economy," said Mayor Gray. "As we work to increase the District's profile in the global marketplace, this trip will focus on securing foreign direct investment, attracting technology companies and building academic partnerships."
Hoskins is leading the business-development mission to promote investment, trade, and education opportunities for the District in China.
The delegation will stop in:
• Beijing, where District representatives will meet with government officials, sovereign wealth funds, universities and technology companies;
• Shanghai, where the District will meet with government officials, the local chamber of commerce, and potential investors; and
• Suzhou, where university officials will visit The George Washington University's new satellite campus and learn from its academic expansion efforts.
The trip is meant to continue building on the relationships that have emerged between many District-based businesses, academic institutions, individuals and their Chinese counterparts.
While there, Hoskins and the delegation will work on attracting foreign direct investment into the District, inviting Chinese high-tech companies to open research and development facilities in the District, and establishing new partnership agreements between D.C.-based education institutions and China-based universities.
Featured Poll
ADVERTISMENT
ADVERTISMENT