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Obama’s Iran Nuclear Deal wins majority in US Congress: All you need to know about the deal

Sep 3, 2015 by Marian Dumitri Leave a Comment

American President Barack Obama obtained sufficient votes in Congress to keep alive the Iran nuclear agreement. This was after the deal gathered a minimum number of congressional votes required to uphold any kind of disapproval resolution passed by lawmakers.

Democratic Senator Barbara Mikulski opined that deals are usually not flawless particularly one negotiated with the Iranian government. In her opinion, the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action is the best step available to keep Iran from acquiring atomic weapons. Hence, she will vote for this deal.

What is the Iran nuclear deal?

The deal is between Iran and the world powers. As per the deal, the former would redesign, convert and decrease its nuclear facilities. Iran would also adhere to the Additional Protocol for the lifting of all atomic weapons-related economic sanctions.

Which countries are in the Iran nuclear deal?

Apart from Iran, the countries involved in the deal include the permanent members of the United Nations Security Council (The United States, China, The United Kingdom, Russia and France), Germany, as well as the-the European Union.

What’s in the nuclear deal?

The deal involves measures by both world powers/organizations and Iran. They are listed below.

Actions by world powers

Remove all sanctions in place within a short time of a final accord.
Restore earlier sanctions if Iran does not comply as per IAEA reports and inspection.
The European Union will lift banking and energy sanctions.
America will remove sanctions against local and foreign companies engaged in business with Iran.
All United Nation resolutions imposing sanctions on Iran will be cancelled.

Actions by Iran

Not enrich uranium over 3.67% purity (useful just for civil use and nuclear power generation).
Decrease stockpile of enriched uranium to not over 300 kilograms 3.67 percent enriched uranium for 15 years.
Arak facility will be altered so as to generate a minimal amount of plutonium.
Permit inspectors to access all its nuclear facilities as well as its supply chains (Military sites excluded).

Why is Obama’s Iran nuclear deal good?

The nuclear deal accommodates the energy requirements of Iran as well the concerns of the world community regarding Iran’s pursuit of atomic weapons development. A lot of work went on in reaching this agreement. Instead of deploying sanctions, taking military action a peaceful and acceptable agreement has been reached.

Presently the Iran nuclear deal has been more or less accepted by the US government and lawmakers.

Barack Obama: 50 years after ‘bloody Sunday in Selma’ but our March is not yet finished

Mar 8, 2015 by Karla Fetrow Leave a Comment

Thousands of people including President, Barack Obama, gathered to reenact a march across the Edmund Pettus Bridge in commemoration of the regrettable history of segregation now known as ‘Bloody Sunday’. Obama commemorated the 50th anniversary by telling thousands of people in attendance that the march was not yet over, but the end was in sight.

The commemoration came into being after Alabama state troopers beat and gassed peaceful protesters who were demonstrating in the bridge to promote black voting rights on March 7, 1965. The day of commemoration is not enough according to Obama to repay the hefty debt paid by marchers who were brutally beaten on that fateful day.

Coverage of the Bloody Sunday event in 1965 triggered national outrage prompting Congress to pass landmark Voting Rights Act of 1965 which mandated federal oversight of elections for states known of discrimination.

Looking back at the history of black Americans is a painful experience for many people but the resonating tone at the Selma reenactment served as motivation in spearheading efforts to promote equality. Participants at the event were able to learn the culture that was once divided by the superficial difference in skin color.

Even though, stories of segregation in the state years ago continue to paint pages of modern history books, many people in attendance remained moved by the speeches of solidarity. Nations leader’s activists and celebrities were in Selma commemorating the historic event. The mood in the crowd was of unity with leader after leader calling for talks focused on how to move America forward away from the forces of racism and discrimination based on skin color.

Current Selma residents who live beyond the national poverty level were on the other hand left asking whether after the dignitaries left, the town with 82% black will change for the better, or it will fade away. Many black residents say they live in divisive society where discrimination is still a sting with true change yet to be seen.

President Obama, Brooke Axtell and Katy Perry in Grammy push on domestic violence

Feb 9, 2015 by Karla Fetrow Leave a Comment

Katy Perry teamed up with the US President Barack Obama and a domestic violence survivor Brooke Axtell to push the issue of domestic violence at the Grammys. Just before Perry’s performance, Obama appeared surprisingly on an overhead screen to urge fans to raise their voices against violence against women.

The President expressed that nearly one in five American women suffer rape or attempted rape with more than one in four women experiencing some sort of domestic violence. Obama said this is not okay and it needs to stop.

Following Obama’s speech, Axtell came on the stage and shared her experience with an abusive ex in a moving speech. The speech followed Katy Perry’s performance of By the Grace of God. In a fitted white dress, superstar Perry went on to describing an experience with suicidal thoughts at the final hour of the music industry’s biggest night at a Los Angeles arena.

In a distressing story, Axtell described how a meaningful conversation with a near one saved her life. She told that her ex started abusing her after a year of passionate romance.

Katy Perry invited Brooke Axtell, a domestic violence survivor and activist, to open her performance of “By the Grace of God” at the Grammys. Brooke Axtell took to the stage and told her harrowing story. When he threatened to kill her, she realized that she needed to escape. She revealed the situation to her mother and she encouraged her to approach a local domestic violence shelter. Axtell told, “This conversation saved my life.”

Axtell, in an interview with Salon, said that it was thrilling to get a chance to raise the issue of domestic violence in front of such a large audience. Our collaboration for the Grammys is an intimate way to up bring this devastating trauma and show our support for those in abusive relationships.

Obama administration proposes $215 million for precision medicine database project

Feb 2, 2015 by Charles Omedo Leave a Comment

The director of the National Institutes of Health (NIS) and the director of the National Cancer Institute (NCI) have outlined their plans for a master database that comprises the whole-genome sequencing of over one million people in what could cost the Obama administration $215 million.

The project is part of the precision medicine campaign of the Obama government, and it follows after what is already happening in the UK to perfect a more personalized medical care that is reliant on the body of individual histories in the huge database. Researchers will take a deep dive into the biology of each participant, characterizing their cell populations, proteins, metabolites, RNA and DNA, performing whole-genome sequencing when money permits. These data will be paired with behavioral details and linked to electronic health records.

This project will allow for the researching and creation of target drugs, and it will improve drug discovery. This database project will utilize existing resources and new studies to accumulate data on the behavior, health, and biology of over a million people; and it will piggyback on other similar projects to prevent duplication of data.

This precision medicine database project comes with technical and financial challenges. The NIH has received $130 million for a 1-million-person database; while the UK gave out $150 million for its 100,000 Genomes Project. The NIH will be utilizing the $130 million by making use of data from other existing studies as well as piggybacking on others. NIH director Francis Collins however cited interoperability as a potentially stumbling block.

Obama’s budget proposal also includes $5 million to help develop interoperability standards and data security systems. The NCI and FDA will also be receiving $70 million and $10 million respectively – and this is what makes up the total $215 million for the whole project. NCI will use its money to study the genomic drivers of cancer, while the FDA is tasked with developing a new approach to regulation of next-generation sequencing (NGS) technologies.