Friday, December 09, 2011

Police identify gunman in Virginia Tech murder-suicide


By Rick Rothacker

BLACKSBURG, Virginia Fri Dec 9, 2011 8:27pm EST

(Reuters) - The man who shot dead a campus police officer at Virginia Tech on Thursday before killing himself was a student at a nearby university who had stolen an SUV at gunpoint the day before, officials said.

Virginia State Police on Friday identified the gunman as 22-year-old Ross Truett Ashley, a part-time student at Radford University in Radford, Va.

Ashley had entered a real estate office in Radford on Wednesday and demanded the keys to an employee's white 2011 Mercedes Benz at gunpoint.

He drove off in the vehicle and later dumped it on the campus of Virginia Tech some time before his deadly confrontation with 39-year-old Deriek W. Crouse, an officer with the Virginia Tech campus police.

The state police said they have not been able to establish any prior contact or connection between Ashley and Crouse and still do not know why the part-time student walked up to the officer and shot him before turning the gun on himself in a nearby parking lot.

The incident prompted a lockdown of the campus on Thursday and revived memories of a gunman's 2007 rampage that left 33 people dead in one of the worst shooting incidents in U.S. history.

Ballistics testing confirmed the same weapon was used in both shootings, police said.

Shortly after noon/1700 GMT on Thursday, Crouse had a vehicle stopped in a campus parking lot when he was approached by a man and fatally shot while still in his car, police said. The man then fled.

About 30 minutes later, a Montgomery County sheriff's deputy saw a man acting suspiciously in a parking lot about a half a mile/0.8 km away from the first shooting. After briefly losing sight of the man, the deputy found him dead on the ground with a handgun nearby, police said.

Police later recovered a discarded backpack on campus with clothing inside that was similar to that worn by the man seen in video taken by Crouse's patrol car.

The man apparently changed clothes on the way to the second parking lot, Virginia State Police spokeswoman Corinne Geller said at a media briefing held on Virginia Tech's campus. Police are investigating writing found on a wall near the backpack, she said.

Officials did not lift the lockdown on campus until later on Thursday afternoon because they could not immediately identify the man as the shooter and were still investigating tips from the public, Geller said. The body did not have identification on it, but police found an ID in the backpack.

Officials are still trying to determine Ashley's whereabouts before the shooting, Geller said. It's likely he is connected to a vehicle that was stolen in nearby Radford, Virginia, but police haven't confirmed that, she said.

A Virginia Tech student was driving the car that Crouse had stopped, Geller said. The student has been cooperating in the investigation.

Crouse joined the Virginia Tech police department in October 2007 and is survived by his wife, five children and step-children, and his mother and brother.

"His death is a tremendous loss to our department," Virginia Tech police chief Wendell Flinchum said at the briefing. Other departments will help patrol the campus while officers grieve, he said.

The incident evoked grim memories of April 2007 when a mentally deranged student killed 32 people and wounded 25 before committing suicide on campus about 250 miles/400 km southwest of Washington.

Virginia Tech implemented new alert systems, including text alerts sent to students' phones, after facing criticism for the schools' response to the previous shooting. The systems "worked exactly as expected," said Larry Hincker, Virginia Tech's associate vice president for university relations.

A candlelight vigil has been planned for Friday night near the memorial for the victims of the 2007 shooting.

(Writing by James B. Kelleher; Additional reporting by Matthew Ward in Portsmouth, Virginia; Editing by Bill Trott, Jackie Frank and Greg McCune)

Source

.

Profile: New Italian PM Mario Monti

New Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti boasts expertise in economics but is limited in experience in public posts, where his abilities are yet to be tested


AFP , Wednesday 16 Nov 2011
Italy
Italian Prime Minister designate Mario Monti, (Photo: Reuters).

Italy's Mario Monti, who took over as prime minister and finance minister on Wednesday, is a free market advocate who has tempered his message of "sacrifices" for Italians with a call for civil unity.
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The former European commissioner is under immediate pressure to implement painful reforms — and possibly more budget cuts — to restore Italy's credibility on the financial markets and reduce its heaving mountain of debt.

A regular church-goer, he attended mass in the famous chapel of Rome's Sapienza University on Sunday before receiving the nomination to be Italy's future premier from President Giorgio Napolitano.

After receiving the nomination, he has immediately moved to launch wide-ranging talks with political parties, trade unions, big business, as well as women's and youth associations to build consensus for the challenges ahead.

Monti has spoken of the need for "social equity" and "economic, social and civil growth" — perhaps an olive branch to unions and an attempt to counter criticism of his role as advisor to Wall Street juggernaut Goldman Sachs.

On Monday he called for: "A project of recovery and hope not only for the economy but also for the fundamental values of a true civil society."

He has also spoken about the "historic challenge" of building cohesion between northern and southern Italy as a precondition for national growth.

While there is little doubt about his abilities as an economist (Monti is an alumnus and dean of a training ground for financial elites, Bocconi University in Milan), the concern is about how he will perform in practice.

Despite his 10-year stint in Brussels, the technocrat has never held political office in Italy and faces a hard time steering through a fractious political scene with sniping from ex-premier Silvio Berlusconi's allies.

He has already shown mettle, however, by insisting that his government has to stay in power until 2013 — the scheduled date for the next general election — and calling for patience from financial markets while he puts his team together.

As European commissioner, Monti famously fined US technology giant Microsoft nearly 500 million Euros ($672 million at current exchange rates) and blocked a massive $42-billion merger between General Electric and Honeywell.

In one of his rare interviews, Monti said that former European Commission President Jacques Santer had described the economist as "unlike an Italian" in a phone call with then-Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi in 1994.

He also said that former German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder once referred to his Jesuit schooling saying: "You studied with Jesuits? Yes? Ah, that's why you elaborate, elaborate, elaborate and never concede anything!"

Born on 19 March 1943 in Varese in northern Italy, Monti graduated in 1965 and went on to teach economics in Turin and Milan in the 1970s and 1980s — a time of major social upheaval and student political militancy in Italy.

It was a time when labour market reforms and free market economists like Monti were hounded and he confessed in one of his rare interviews in 2005 to his fear of being forced to undergo "political exams" by radicalised students.

As an economics researcher, he developed the Klein-Monti model which is aimed at describing the behaviour of banks operating under monopoly circumstances.

Monti went on to study at Yale under James Tobin, the Nobel prize-winning economist and famous advocate of the "Tobin Tax" — or "Robin Hood Tax" — on global financial transactions which is currently on the international agenda.

He was the first chairman of Bruegel, a European economic policy think tank, and is on the steering committee of the Bilderberg Group, an influential association of international political and business leaders.

For all his sobriety and gravitas, Monti has confessed to one irrational superstition: he cannot walk on if he sees a black cat crossing his path out of fear of "bad luck". Perhaps a prudent concern in the tough times ahead.


Fuente

Another shooting at Virginia Tech?

There shall no strange god be in thee; neither shalt thou worship any strange god.


Psalm 81

1Sing aloud unto God our strength: make a joyful noise unto the God of Jacob.

2Take a psalm, and bring hither the timbrel, the pleasant harp with the psaltery.

3Blow up the trumpet in the new moon, in the time appointed, on our solemn feast day.

4For this was a statute for Israel, and a law of the God of Jacob.

5This he ordained in Joseph for a testimony, when he went out through the land of Egypt: where I heard a language that I understood not.

6I removed his shoulder from the burden: his hands were delivered from the pots.

7Thou calledst in trouble, and I delivered thee; I answered thee in the secret place of thunder: I proved thee at the waters of Meribah. Selah.

8Hear, O my people, and I will testify unto thee: O Israel, if thou wilt hearken unto me;

9There shall no strange god be in thee; neither shalt thou worship any strange god.

10I am the LORD thy God, which brought thee out of the land of Egypt: open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it.

11But my people would not hearken to my voice; and Israel would none of me.

12So I gave them up unto their own hearts' lust: and they walked in their own counsels.

13Oh that my people had hearkened unto me, and Israel had walked in my ways!

14I should soon have subdued their enemies, and turned my hand against their adversaries.

15The haters of the LORD should have submitted themselves unto him: but their time should have endured for ever.

16He should have fed them also with the finest of the wheat: and with honey out of the rock should I have satisfied thee.




Thursday, December 08, 2011

Officials: Gunman found dead after killing Va. Tech officer

© December 8, 2011
By staff and wire reports
BLACKSBURG


A gunman killed a police officer in a Virginia Tech parking lot today and was found dead nearby in a baffling attack that sent shudders through the campus nearly five years after it was the scene of the deadliest shooting rampage in modern U.S. history.

The shooting took place on the same day Virginia Tech officials were in Washington, fighting a government fine over their alleged mishandling of the 2007 bloodbath.

Before it became clear that the gunman in today's attack was dead, the school applied the lessons learned during the last tragedy, locking down the campus and using a high-tech alert system to warn students and faculty members to stay indoors.

Virginia Tech police officer Deriek Crouse, 39, of Christianburg, was killed after pulling a driver over in a traffic stop. The gunman — who was not involved in the traffic stop — walked into the parking lot and shot the officer, Sgt. Robert Carpentieri said. Police wouldn't talk about a motive.
A law enforcement official who spoke on the condition of anonymity confirmed the gunman was dead, but wouldn't say how.

It appeared the gunman died about a quarter-mile away from the traffic stop, in another school parking lot, where officials said a man was found dead with a gun nearby. While police at a news conference wouldn't confirm the second body was the gunman, Carpentieri said "you can kind of read between the lines."

Later tonight during a press conference with the governor, state police said the second person who was found dead was spotted with a weapon on the camera that was installed in the police officer's vehicle. They still didn't want to confirm the second person was the shooter until the investigation is completed.

The mayhem began around 12:30 p.m. when a Virginia Tech police officer made what university officials described as a routine traffic stop in the Cassell Coliseum parking lot and was shot to death in front of witnesses.

The shooter fled on foot in the direction of the Cage, a Tech parking lot farther down Washington Street, the university said at an afternoon press conference. A second body was found there, also killed by a gunshot. A gun was found near the body, Tech officials said.

The Virginia Tech Police Department released a statement Thursday evening saying that Crouse, who joined Tech's police force in October 2007, is survived by his wife, five children and step-children, his mother and brother. He was an Army veteran who had also worked for the New River Valley Regional Jail and the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office.

Virginia Tech said in a news release that funeral arrangements for the patrol officer will be announced at a later time.

The shooter, who was described as a white male wearing gray sweat pants, a gray hat with neon green brim, a maroon hoodie and backpack, was not identified by officials tonight.

School officials said shortly before 4:30 p.m. there was no longer an active threat and that normal activities could resume.

Investigators were interviewing the person who was pulled over. State police were investigating whether the officer had been specifically targeted.

Lockdown instituted

The officer's shooting prompted a lockdown that lasted for hours.

As police hunted for the killer, the school applied the lessons learned nearly five years ago, warning students and faculty members via email and text message to stay indoors. It was the first gunfire on campus since 33 people were killed in the deadliest mass shooting in modern U.S. history.

The shooting today sent a shudder through campus, where students preparing for exams were suddenly told to hunker down. Heavily armed officers walked around campus as caravans of SWAT vehicles and other police cars with emergency lights flashing patrolled nearby.
"A lot of people, especially toward the beginning were scared," said Jared Brumfield, a 19-year-old freshman from Culpeper, Va., who was locked in the Squires Student Center since around 1:30 p.m. "A lot of people are loosening up now. I guess we're just waiting it out, waiting for it to be over."

The university sent updates about every 30 minutes, regardless of whether they had any new information, school spokesman Mark Owczarski said.

"It's crazy that someone would go and do something like that with all the stuff that happened in 2007," said Corey Smith, a 19-year-old sophomore from Mechanicsville, Va., who was headed to a dining hall near the site of one of the shootings.

He told The Associated Press that he stayed inside after seeing the alerts from the school. "It's just weird to think about why someone would do something like this when the school's had so many problems," Smith said.

Harry White, 20, a junior physics major, said he was in line for a sandwich at a restaurant in a campus building when he received the text message alert.

White said he didn't panic, thinking instead about a false alarm about a possible gunman that locked down the campus in August. White used an indoor walkway to go to a computer lab in an adjacent building, where he checked news reports.

"I decided to just check to see how serious it was. I saw it's actually someone shooting someone, not something false, something that looks like a gun," White said.

Campus was quieter than usual because classes ended Wednesday and students were preparing for exams, which were to begin Friday. The school postponed those tests until Saturday. The rest of the exam schedule would proceed as normal, the university said.

The student government association will hold a candlelight vigil Friday at 6:30 p.m.
Cook Counseling Center's main office in McComas Hall will be open tonight until 9 for any students needing assistance, the school announced. Counselors will be available Friday at the main office and the satellite office in East Eggleston Hall. The center will decide later if more hours are needed on Saturday.

Staff and employees may contact Value Options at 866-775-0602 or (540) 231-9331 to speak with a counselor on Friday.

Hearing on 2007 massacre

The shooting came soon after the conclusion of a hearing where Virginia Tech was appealing a $55,000 fine by the U.S. Education Department in connection with the university's response to the 2007 rampage.

The department said the school violated the law by waiting more than two hours after two students were shot to death in their dorm before sending an email warning. By then, student gunman Seung-Hui Cho was chaining the doors to a classroom building where he killed 30 more people and then himself.

The department said the email was too vague because it mentioned only a "shooting incident," not the deaths. During testimony Thursday, the university's police chief, Wendell Flinchum, said there were no immediate signs in the dorm to indicate a threat to the campus. He said the shootings were believed to be an isolated domestic incident and that the shooter had fled.
An administrative judge ended the hearing by asking each side to submit a brief by the end of January. It is unclear when he will rule.

Since the massacre, the school expanded its emergency notification systems. Alerts now go out by electronic message boards in classrooms, by text messages and other methods. Other colleges and universities have put in place similar systems.

Universities are required under the Clery Act to provide warnings in a timely manner and to report the number of crimes on campus.

During about a one-hour period today, the university issued four separate alerts.
Derek O'Dell, a third-year veterinary student at Virginia Tech who was wounded in the 2007 shooting, was shaken.

"It just brings up a lot of bad feelings, bad memories," O'Dell said. "You pray there are no more victims, and pray for the families."

O'Dell was monitoring the situation from his home a couple of miles from campus.
"At first I was just hoping it was a false alarm," he said. "Then there were reports of two people dead, and the second person shot was in the parking lot where I usually park to go to school so it was kind of surreal."

Lori Haas learned of today’s campus shooting this afternoon, shortly after she left the company of other relatives of Tech victims who attended the hearing.

“I’m sitting in my car double parked about two or three blocks from the hearing, sitting here crying,” said Haas, whose daughter was shot during the campus tragedy four years ago.
Today’s shooting also comes after gun-rights and gun-control advocates held dueling rallies at Tech on Nov. 17 over policies about carrying weapons on campus.

Heavy police response

Earlier today, as sirens blared, heavily armed police officers were seen running through the area around the roundabout at the end of Washington Street, and officers searched cars around the Cage. At the Coliseum, what appeared to be a body was covered with a cloth in a taped-off area of the parking lot. Officers there told a dozen student-age onlookers to leave for their own safety.
The campus was swarming with heavily armed officers walking around campus. Caravans of SWAT vehicles and other police cars with emergency lights flashing patrolled nearby. Students hunkered down in buildings.

"It sounds like all the systems worked pretty well," the governor said. "The students were all compliant" as soon as the warning sirens sounded on campus.

The student center was evacuated, according to the school's student newspaper, Collegiate Times. The student journalists reported that they were evacuated from their office and were reporting about the shooting on Twitter.

All Montgomery County schools also were reportedly on lockdown shortly after 2 p.m., but have since been released.

Nearby Radford University had not been locked down, but students were encouraged to avoid the Virginia Tech area. The northbound exit at a rest area on Interstate 81 near the university has been shut down for an incident, according to the Virginia Department of Transportation, but it is unknown if it is related to the shootings. State police during the afternoon news conference said they sent officers to the scene after reports of suspicious activity. The scene was still being processed at 5 p.m.

Police would not rule out a connection between the shootings and an armed robbery Wednesday in Radford, about 10 miles from Blacksburg. According to media reports, Radford police were looking for a man they considered armed and dangerous after an armed robbery at a local real estate office.

August lockdown

A report of a possible gunman at Virginia Tech on Aug. 4 set off the longest, most extensive lockdown and search on campus since the 2007 bloodbath led the university to overhaul its emergency procedures. No gunman was found, and the school gave the all-clear about five hours after sirens began wailing and students and staff members started receiving warnings by phone, email and text message to lock themselves indoors. Alerts were also posted on the university's website and Twitter accounts.

The emergency was triggered by three teens who were attending a summer program on campus and told police they saw a man walking quickly across the grounds with what might have been a handgun covered by a cloth, authorities said.

Police searched some 150 buildings on the square-mile campus and issued a composite sketch of a baby-faced man who was said to be wearing shorts and sandals, but they found no sign of him. They continued to patrol the grounds as a precaution even after the lockdown was lifted.
That incident marked the first time the entire campus was locked down since the 2007 shooting, and the second major test of Virginia Tech's improved emergency alert system. The system was revamped to add the use of text messages and other means besides email of warning students.
The system was also put to the test in 2008, when an exploding nail gun cartridge was mistaken for gunfire. But only one dorm was locked down during that emergency, and it reopened two hours later.

The Associated Press, The Roanoke Times and Virginian-Pilot staff writers Julian Walker and Lauren King contributed to this report.

____



Virginia Tech Shooting: Lockdown After Two Killed, Including a Police Officer


By CHRISTINA NG
Dec. 8, 2011

Virginia Tech University, the site of the country's worst massacre, is on lockdown after two people, including a police officer, were shot and killed on the campus.

The school said the suspect is at large and students are being told, "Stay indoors. Secure in place."

An alert on the Virginia Tech school's website said: "There is an active campus alert in Blacksburg. Everyone should seek shelter or stay where you are. Blacksburg Transit service is suspended until the alert is lifted."

Virginia Tech spokesman Mark Owczarski said a campus police officer stopped a vehicle shortly after noon today in the school's Coliseum parking lot, near McComas Hall.

"During the traffic stop. the officer was shot and killed. There were witnesses to this shooting," Owczarski said in the statement.

"Witnesses reported to police the shooter fled on foot heading toward the Cage, a parking lot near Duck Pond Drive. At that parking lot, a second person was found. That person is also deceased," he said.


Owczarski said there was a dragnet for the gunman.

VThe campus community should continue to shelter in place and visitors should not come to campus," he said.

The school is saying that the suspect is a white male wearing a gray sweatpants, a gray hat with a neon green brim, a maroon hoodie and a backpack, according to the Associated Press.

Wednesday was the school's last day of classes for the semester and today is Reading Day, a day for studying on which classes are not held. Fall semester final exams begin on Friday.

Virginia Tech was the site of the deadliest mass shooting in the United States in 2007 when Seung-Hui Cho killed 33 students, faculty members and himself during a shooting rampage on the campus. Cho was a senior in English at the school.

After the shooting at Virginia Tech, tighter security measures were instituted in schools all over the country, including new protocols for notifying students of emergencies that utilized text messages and social media sites like Twitter and Facebook.

On Wednesday, Virginia Tech officials appeared in court to attempt to block $55,000 in fines connected to the 2007 shooting, according to the Associated Press The Education Department claims that the school violated the law by waiting over two hours before notifying students via email that a students had been shot. The school argues that it acted appropriately and is being held to high standards that did not exist at the time of the shooting.




Virginia Tech Says Shots Fired on Campus

RICHMOND, Va. December 8, 2011 (AP)
Virginia Tech says gunshots have been reported on campus, and authorities are seeking a suspect.


The university said in a Thursday post on Twitter that the shots were reported at the coliseum parking lot and that people should remain inside.

The suspect is described as a white male wearing gray sweat pants, gray hat with neon green brim, maroon hoodie and backpack.

A message left with the university was not immediately returned.




Wednesday, December 07, 2011

Signs Of Our Coming Saviour And The End Of Time!



Volume XXX Issue XII December 2011
Last Trumpet Ministries, PO Box 806, Beaver Dam, WI 53916
Fax: 920-887-2626 Internet: http://www.lasttrumpetministries.org/





Signs Of Our Coming Saviour And The End Of Time!



"In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. And God said, Let there be light: and there was light. And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness. And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day."

Genesis 1:1-5



"And I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke: The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and notable day of the Lord come: And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved."

Acts 2:19-21



"And the angel which I saw stand upon the sea and upon the earth lifted up his hand to heaven, And sware by him that liveth for ever and ever, who created heaven, and the things that therein are, and the earth, and the things that therein are, and the sea, and the things which are therein, that there should be time no longer: But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets."

Revelation 10:5-7




In this issue of the Last Trumpet Newsletter, we will thoughtfully consider the events of this present time as we move ever closer to the great and notable day of our Lord's return. From the moment our Almighty God summoned his creative power and first spoke the universe into existence, mankind has been on a journey through millenniums, centuries, decades, and years. As a method to track our existence, God gave us a marked off piece of eternity known as time. With the year of 2011 coming to a conclusion, we are drawing closer and closer to that beautiful last day which we are told of in Revelation 10 when "there should be time no longer."

This truly has been an amazing year. We have seen signs in the heavens, earthquakes, pestilences, record-breaking weather, an increase in knowledge, a prevalent spirit of blasphemy, wars, rumors of wars, unrest, riots, and social distemper around the globe. The signs of our coming King and Saviour are all around us, and while the majority of the world's population will continue to scoff at our beliefs, we, the children of God, know in our hearts through faith that Jesus is coming soon.

Although Christians are often criticized for believing in the Biblical doctrine of the end of days and the eventual destruction of the planet earth, many scientists also believe the world will be destroyed someday. What they cannot agree on is how and when it will happen. Some hypothesize that global warming or nuclear war will destroy the planet. Others say that the end of the world as we know it will occur when the sun burns out billions of years from now. Yet, there are others who do not push the world's demise off to such an extreme distance. According to an April 2011 report, two leading astronomers from Scotland, Lord Martin Rees and Professor John Brown, believe there is a fifty percent chance that the world could end within ninety years. (1)

One potential threat that the astronomers spoke of is an asteroid colliding with the earth. It is interesting to note that our planet had at least two close calls with asteroids this year. On June 27, 2011, an asteroid, which has now been dubbed 2011 MD, passed within 7,430 miles of the earth's surface or 32 times closer than the distance of the moon. (2) Another asteroid, known as 2005 YU55, passed within 202,000 miles of the earth's surface on November 8, 2011. If 2005 YU55 had struck the earth, experts believe it would have caused a 4,000-megaton blast and a 7.0-magnitude earthquake. If it had landed in the ocean, it could have formed a 70 foot tsunami. (3) It is believed that this particular asteroid will pose no threat to earth for at least one hundred years. However, they project a similar asteroid will pass by the planet in 2028. (4)

Despite the fact that scientists usually push doomsday scenarios way off into the future, their predictions present a dark, cold, and hopeless end to the human race. As Christians, we know this world will not be around forever, but we also understand that God is going to give us "a new heavens and a new earth wherein dwelleth righteousness." If we will fully embrace His promises and put our trust in Him, we have nothing to fear. If you have not yet fully given your heart to God, I encourage you to do so now.

A Rapid Spiritual Reorientation In America!

In I Timothy 4:1, the Apostle Paul warns, "Now the spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils." We are now living in a time when Christian churches are being infected with false doctrines and apostasy. Meanwhile, a militant and vocal faction of atheists are rising up to attack the faith of God's people. Paganism is also on the rise and becoming more and more widespread.

A notable example of unclean religion in America today is the Ebenezer Lutheran Church in San Francisco, California. On November 11-13, 2011, this so-called "Christian" church held its fifth annual "Faith and Feminism Conference." The services featured meditations led by a pagan priestess, known as Lorean Vigne, who embraces the Egyptian goddess Isis. Explaining her beliefs, Ms. Vigne stated, "I personally see Isis as Mother Nature, and that she encompasses everything with her wings. She's a winged goddess. She encompasses any other goddess from any culture." (5) Earth worship is the central theme of paganism. The Apostle Paul addressed this directly in Romans 1:25, when he wrote of those who "changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator." There is something seriously wrong with any church that would allow a pagan priestess to perform her rituals at their services.

My father warned us for years that paganism and witchcraft had infiltrated the churches and that the false religions of paganism, such as Wicca and druidism, were growing at an astonishing pace. According to Michael York, a religious scholar from Bath Spa University in the United Kingdom, paganism is "one of the fastest growing religions in the world." (6) Thomas Horn, author of the book God's Ghostbusters, also claims that paganism is on the rise. "In the United States alone, there are now more than two hundred thousand registered witches and as many as eight million unregistered practitioners of 'the craft,'" Horn said. (7) Ed Hubbard, co-founder of the online website, Witch School, stated, "There is such a rapid spiritual reorientation in America occurring that the need for thousands of Wiccan teachers over the course of the next decade will be required to meet the demand for basic teachings. Because of Wicca's liberating beliefs and useful skills, people want to understand and embrace it and learn how to awaken their inner abilities." (8) The number of pagan practitioners in the United States is reportedly doubling every thirty months. According to a 2009 article published in the Digital Journal, paganism is on pace to become the third largest religion in America in 2012. (9)

The United States Of Sodom!

Although supporters of "gay marriage" often claim that Jesus never spoke of homosexuality, He did specifically state in Matthew 19:6-8, "But from the beginning of the creation God made them male and female. For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and cleave to his wife; And they twain shall be one flesh: so then they are no more twain, but one flesh." There is no mention of a woman cleaving to another woman or a man being one flesh with another man. Jesus did, however, warn us in Luke 17 that the last days would be similar to the conditions of the city of Sodom in the days of Lot where homosexuality was widespread. Thus, the growing support we are now seeing for the homosexual movement is actually a confirmation of Biblical prophecy and another sign that we are living in the end times.

In 1973, studies indicated that 70 percent of the American people felt that homosexuality was "always wrong." However, by the year 2010, only 44 percent of Americans surveyed held that same belief. The younger generation has been shown to be far more supportive with only 26 percent of those surveyed under the age of thirty stating that homosexuality was "always wrong." Conversely, the poll found that 63 percent of participants over the age of seventy believed it is wrong to be a homosexual. (10)

Young people have been indoctrinated for years at public schools to accept homosexuality. The lifestyle is also portrayed positively in popular culture through music, movies, and television. One such example is the 2008 hit song by Katy Perry entitled "I Kissed a Girl." In the song, Ms. Perry repeatedly proclaims, "I kissed a girl and I liked it." To date, the song is the 10th best selling single of the 21st century, and it has sold over 4,131,000 copies in the United States. The song was even nominated for a Nickelodeon 2009 Kids' Choice Award. (11)

The homosexual agenda has also continued to rapidly seep into the churches. In October 2011, fifty-six year-old Scott Anderson became the first ever homosexual man to be ordained as a Presbyterian minister. Speaking at his ordination ceremony in Madison, Wisconsin, Anderson said, "To the thousands of Presbyterians who have worked and prayed for almost 40 years for this day, I give thanks. And I give thanks for those who disagree with what we're doing today yet know that we are one in Jesus Christ." The audience in the packed out church gave the man a standing ovation, prompting Elder Doug Poland to say, "That was very atypical of Presbyterians. Usually our hands are in our laps." (12)

Many Methodist ministers have also proclaimed their support for homosexuality with more than one thousand of them pledging to support same-sex marriages. However, the Council of Bishops for the denomination was not pleased with this development. In November 2011 they issued a statement reaffirming the religious group's ban on gay marriages. (13)

In the coming years, Christians, especially young Christians, are going to face an enormous amount of pressure to condone the homosexual lifestyle. We are already close to the tipping point wherein more people support the lifestyle than those who do not. I urge everyone reading this newsletter to hold fast to your Bible-based convictions.

A Spirit Of Defiance In America!

Since December 2010 much of the world has been swept up in a spirit of revolution. In countries such as Tunisia and Egypt, entire government regimes have been toppled. In recent months we have been warned that protests and riots could reach the United States as the people seethe with anger over high unemployment and a disparity in the distribution of wealth. On September 17, 2011, a new movement, known as Occupy Wall Street, began in New York City. The movement has been in full-swing for over two months now, and what I have learned about these protests and the other related protests in places around the United States and the world is quite alarming.

If you visit the official website of the Occupy Wall Street movement, you will be greeted with their logo of a clenched fist. The clenched fist has long been a symbol of socialism and communism, and it is sometimes referred to as the "red salute." Underneath the fist are the words, "The revolution continues worldwide." According to a reporter who went to visit the protest site in New York City first hand, the camp, which had been established at Zucotti Park, featured banners and posters of revolutionaries such as Karl Marx, Vladimir Lenin, Chairman Mao, and Che Guevara. (14) It has become increasingly clear that this group is hell-bent on toppling capitalism in the United States and replacing it with a socialist system.

In the last issue of the Last Trumpet Newsletter, I mentioned some of the groups, such as the Communist Party USA and the American Nazi Party, who have expressed support for Occupy Wall Street. Since that time, the list of supporters has grown to include even more radical and subversive groups. Amongst them are the Revolutionary Communist Party, the Black Panthers, Socialist Party USA, International Bolshevik Tendency, International Socialist Organization, Marxist Student Union, Party for Socialism and Liberation, White Revolution, the terrorist group Hezbollah, and many others. (15)

The Occupy Wall Street movement consists of a mixed multitude. In fact, according to their website, they are a "leaderless resistance movement with people of many colors, genders and political persuasions." Further describing themselves, they state, "The one thing we all have in common is that We Are The 99% that will no longer tolerate the greed and corruption of the 1%." (16) What their actual demands and goals are is unclear, because it seems that each member has his own unique set of demands and goals. It is worthwhile to note that despite billing themselves as a "non-violent" movement, 31 percent of protestors who were surveyed stated they would support violence to "advance their agenda" according to a report by the Wall Street Journal. (17)

The movement has already sparked violence in many places. There are numerous reports of sexual assault at Occupy encampments around the country, including Occupy Philadelphia, Occupy Dallas, Occupy Cleveland, Occupy Baltimore, and the original protest site of the Occupy Wall Street camp at Zucotti Park in Manhattan. (18) As of this writing, many of the camps have now been shut down by the police, and throughout the United States, over 4,000 arrests have been made since the movement began. (19)

On November 17, 2011, Occupy Wall Street staged its "day of action." On this day, approximately 30,000 protestors descended upon New York City and attempted to disrupt the New York Stock Exchange on Wall Street. (20) Protestors made an effort to block workers from reaching their jobs in the area by forming human chains and yelling, "Wall Street's closed!" Some workers were forced to charge their way through the protestors who were determined to stop them. The ensuing chaos prompted one woman to say, "This is horrible. I'm waiting for the tanks to come rolling in." (21)

If the Occupy Movement should fail to die out, we might actually see tanks rolling down the streets of American cities. Authorities have already shown a propensity to respond harshly to civil disobedience. Only God knows for sure what will happen, but if this movement continues to grow, we may soon see martial law in the United States. We need God's protection now more than ever, and I pray that He will protect all of his children throughout these tumultuous times.

The Growing Threat Of Gang Violence!

While the many protests occurring around the United States could potentially break out into massive demonstrations of violence at any time, another issue is already plaguing the nation. There are now an estimated 1.4 million gang members in America, which is a 40 percent increase since 2009. An FBI report has now surfaced indicating that gang members have infiltrated every branch of the U.S. military. According to the report, "Through transfers and deployments, military-affiliated gang members expand their culture and operations to new regions nationwide and worldwide, undermining security and law enforcement efforts to combat crime. Gang members with military training pose a unique threat to law enforcement personnel because of their distinctive weapons and combat training skills and their ability to transfer these skills to fellow gang members." (22)

Sadly, gang violence is on the rise nationwide. On November 4, 2011, CBS News reported that bus drivers in Detroit, Michigan, were refusing to drive their buses after one of the drivers was senselessly attacked by a group of teenagers the previous day. "Our drivers are scared, they're scared for their lives. This has been an ongoing situation about security. I think yesterday kind of just topped it off, when one of my drivers was beat up by some teenagers down in the middle of Rosa Parks and it took the police almost thirty minutes to get there, in downtown Detroit," said Henry Gaffney, spokesperson for the bus drivers' union. (23)

In Denver, Colorado, police have warned citizens to exercise caution while visiting the downtown area at night because there have been sixteen assaults since August 1, 2011, perpetrated by groups of young people in their teens and early twenties. "If you can, avoid confrontation at all costs. You don't know what's going to happen. And contact police," said Denver Police Detective John White. (24)

Another disturbing trend is an attack on elderly people by gangs for sport. A video recently surfaced which showed an elderly man waiting to catch a train in Chicago. A young man approached the older man while his friends were laughing and cheering him on. The young man then punched the elderly man and knocked him out cold, much to the delight of his cohorts. (25) A similar incident occurred in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, when 84 year-old Jim Shea was brutally attacked by a gang of young thugs as he was out taking a walk. After hitting him with in the back of the head, the assailants continued to beat him for several minutes. "There was only one I really saw well because he came back to kick me. The others spent a great deal of time laughing," said Mr. Shea as he described the attack. He further went on to say, "I think it was just to get the old geezer. They were some bad kids with rancid souls." (26)

More Threats Of War!

In November 2011 the International Atomic Energy Agency, or IAEA, issued a report indicating that they believe Iran has been working on the development of nuclear weapons. (27) In response to the report, Barack Obama has threatened to enact more sanctions against Iran. However, the nations of China and Russia have opposed such measures. "Any additional sanctions against Iran will be interpreted by the international community as a means of changing the regime in Tehran. This approach is unacceptable to us, and Russia does intend to review this proposal," stated Deputy Foreign Minister Gennady Gatilov of Russia. Hong Lei, the spokesperson for the foreign ministry in China, was quoted by AFP as saying that sanctions "cannot fundamentally solve the Iran issue." (28)

The sanctions already in place against Iran have proven to be more ineffective than world leaders had hoped partly because nations, such as China, do not strictly enforce them. "The Chinese-Iranian relationship has, in fact, been deepening over the last few years. The Chinese government not only dilutes the sanctions in the United Nations Security Council by sort of providing Iran with diplomatic cover, but it doesn't enforce the sanctions it even does agree to in the Security Council," said Michael Singh, a former senior director for Middle East affairs at the National Security Council. (29) Mr. Singh also claims that China has been assisting Iran with its nuclear program. "Chinese companies have been found supplying Iran with critical parts like carbon fiber, for example, for its centrifuges. In addition, China has been involved in Iran's ballistic missile program -- which remember, is part of a nuclear weapons program according to the IAEA reports," Singh said. (30) It is worthwhile to note that China is the largest supplier of arms to Iran. China also built a missile plant in Iran last year. (31)

With tensions mounting between Israel and Iran, it seems as though the Middle East is now a powder keg waiting to explode. In the wake of the controversy surrounding the IAEA report, rumors are now swirling that Israel may attack Iran before the end of the year. (32) Regarding the possibility of an attack against Iran, Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu stated, "We will make every effort to recruit the international community. Nonetheless, Israel would like to make clear that all options are on the table." Other Israeli politicians, such as Zevulun Orlev, spoke in support of an attack against Iran. "The state of Israel cannot allow itself to live under a nuclear threat from a state whose leaders declare openly that they plan to destroy us," Orlev stated. Commenting further, Orlev said, "If the world does not act, we cannot sit with our hands folded. However, we cannot talk about how to attack, because if the State of Israel reaches the conclusion that it will do what it will do, no one needs to know about it." (33)

In response to the possibility that Israel may launch an attack against Iran, U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta has warned there may be "unexpected consequences." "To go beyond (sanctions and diplomacy) raises our concerns about the unintended consequences that could result. ... There are going to be economic consequences to that, that could impact not just our economy but the world economy," Panetta said. (34) Meanwhile, Iran has responded to the threats by claiming they have 30,000 trained Syrian and Palestinian men waiting to infiltrate Israel and carry out suicide missions. (35) Iran has also been running military exercises designed to improve its ability to protect its airspace and nuclear facilities. (36)

2011 - A Disastrous Year!

The year of 2011 continues to be an active year for earthquakes, even as it draws to a close. Recent significant quakes include a 6.0-magnitude quake in New Zealand on November 18, a 6.3-magnitude quake in Indonesia on November 14, a 5.6-magnitude quake in Turkey on November 9, a 6.9-magnitude quake in Japan on November 8, a 5.5-magnitude quake in Afghanistan on November 7, and a 5.6-magnitude earthquake in Oklahoma on November 6, which was the most powerful temblor ever recorded in the state. (37) Sadly, nearly 17,000 people have lost their lives due to earthquakes so far this year. (38)

From the swarm of tornadoes that struck earlier in the spring to the endless drought in the southern regions and the costly cleanup of Hurricane Irene, the United States was greatly battered and beaten by disasters in 2011. In fact, Barack Obama has declared disasters eighty-nine times as of late October. This is a new record. (39) The disasters have also been the costliest on record, with events that exceeded a billion dollars in damages occurring fourteen times so far this year. (40)

One state that has been hit particularly hard this year is Oklahoma. "Since January, we've been setting records. People are just kind of amazed and shocked," said Rick Smith, a meteorologist for the National Weather Service. In the early months of the year, they experienced their coldest temperature ever at 31 degrees below zero Fahrenheit. The state also set a new record for the most snow in a 24-hour period at 27 inches and recorded a hailstone six inches in diameter. As mentioned earlier, the earthquake of November 6 was the most powerful ever recorded in state history, and it was just one of thirty-two earthquakes that struck in a single week. When an Oklahoma City television station asked a preacher what he thought of all the record-breaking disasters and weather, he replied, "I think it's pointing up to the end of time." (41)

In closing, I wish to thank all of you for your continued support of this ministry. It takes a great deal of faith to carry on in the face of so much uncertainty, yet I know that God is with us and He will carry us through any adversity we may encounter. With this issue, we will be closing out the year 2011. It is the first full year without my beloved father, Pastor David J. Meyer, at the helm. I miss him tremendously every day, and I am sure many of you do as well. In the coming months we plan to release more recordings of my father's work, and we are hopeful that we can release a collection of his sermon transcripts at some point in the following year. Please remember to send in your renewal form enclosed with this newsletter to ensure that you do not miss a single issue of the Last Trumpet in 2012. We at Last Trumpet Ministries will endeavor to do the very best job we can with the tasks we have been assigned in an effort to assist our readers to watch and pray as we eagerly await our Savior's return. If you have any prayer requests, please feel to send them our way. Our intercessors always give each request individual attention, and we have seen and experienced answered prayers. Grace and peace be unto you in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.


Samuel David Meyer

Acknowledgements
01. STV, April 19, 2011, By STV, http://news.stv.tv.
02. Tecca.com, June 27, 2011, By Mike Wehner, http://tecca.com.
03. CNN, November 8, 2011, By CNN Wire Staff, http://cnn.com.
04. Tecca.com, November 3, 2011, By Mike Wehner, http://tecca.com.
05. World Net Daily, October 29, 2011, By Joe Kovacs, http://wnd.com.
06. CNN, October 31, 2011, By Susanne Garguilo, http://cnn.com.
07. Digital Journal, October 26, 2011, By John Thomas Didymus, http://digitaljournal.com.
08. Ibid.
09. Digital Journal, February 18, 2009, By Carol Forsloff, http://digitaljournal.com.
10. HealthDay, October 10, 2011, By HealthDay, http://news.yahoo.com.
11. Wikipedia Article, "I Kissed a Girl," http://wikipedia.org.
12. Associated Press, October 9, 2011, By Dinesh Ramde, Milwaukee, WI.
13. Star Tribune, November 14, 2011, By Rose French, http://startribune.com.
14. The New American, November 18, 2011, By William F. Jasper, http://thenewamerican.com.
15. PJ Media, October 31, 2011, By PJ Media, http://pjmedia.com.
16. Occupy Wall Street Website, November 18, 2011, By OccupyWallSt, http://occupywallst.org.
17. The Wall Street Journal, October 18, 2011, By Douglas Schoen, http://wsj.com.
18. National Review, November 18, 2011, By Penny Nance, http://nationalreview.com.
19. OccupyArrests.com, List of Arrests, http://occupyarrests.com.
20. Occupy Wall Street Website, November 18, 2011, By OccupyWallSt, http://occupywallst.org.
21. CBS News, November 17, 2011, By CBS News, New York, NY.
22. Business Insider, October 22, 2011, By Robert Johnson, http://businessinsider.com.
23. CBS News, November 4, 2011, By CBS News, Detroit, MI.
24. KDVR News, November 17, 2011, By Tammy Vigil, Denver, CO.
25. Chicago Tribune, November 11, 2011, By Deanese Williams-Harris, http://chicagotribune.com.
26. Philly.com, October 20, 2011, By Stephanie Farr, http://philly.com.
27. Reuters News Service, November 11, 2011, By Fredrik Dahl, Vienna, Austria.
28. AFP, November 12, 2011, By Stephen Collinson, http://afp.com.
29. Fox News, November 10, 2011, By Eric Shawn and Ben Evansky, http://foxnews.com.
30. Ibid.
31. The Washington Times, November 2, 2011, By Bill Gertz, http://washingtontimes.com.
32. The Daily Mail, November 10, 2011, By Tim Shipman, http://dailymail.co.uk.
33. The Jerusalem Post, November 16, 2011, By Lahav Harkov, http://jpost.com.
34. Fox News, November 18, 2011, By Jennifer Griffin, http://foxnews.com.
35. Ynet News, November 11, 2011, By Dudi Cohen, http://ynetnews.com.
36. Associated Press, November 19, 2011, By Associated Press, Tehran, Iran.
37. Wikipedia, "Earthquakes in 2011," http://wikipedia.org.
38. Ibid.
39. ABC News, October 28, 2011, By Amy Bingham, http://abcnews.go.com.
40. Huffington Post, November 20, 2011, By Paul Yeager, http://huffingtonpost.com.
41. Reuters News Service, November 10, 2011, By Steve Olafson, Oklahoma City, OK.

Special Note: A new tribute website for Pastor David J. Meyer can now be accessed at http://pastormeyer.org/.

Comments regarding this newsletter or topic suggestions may be submitted to editor@lasttrumpetnewsletter.org.
If you would like to submit a prayer request, you may send email to prayer@ltmmail.org or mail it to our postal address.

.

Tuesday, December 06, 2011

‘Gay Rights Are Human Rights, And Human Rights Are Gay Rights’



Sec. of State Hillary Rodham Clinton spoke in Geneva today before an U.N. audience; Where she announced the State Dept. new 'Global Equality Fund'.


FAA administrator Randy Babbitt quits in wake of DUI


By Terry Maxon/Reporter
tmaxon@dallasnews.com | Bio
4:11 PM on Tue., Dec. 6, 2011 | Permalink


Administrator Randy Babbitt of the Federal Aviation Administration resigned Tuesday, three days after he was arrested in Virginia on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol.

Here's Babbitt's statement released by the FAA on Tuesday afternoon:

"Today I submitted my resignation to Secretary Ray LaHood and it has been accepted. Serving as FAA Administrator has been an absolute honor and the highlight of my professional career. But I am unwilling to let anything cast a shadow on the outstanding work done 24 hours a day, 7 days a week by my colleagues at the FAA. They run the finest and safest aviation system in the world and I am grateful that I had the opportunity to work alongside them. I am confident in their ability to successfully carry out all of the critical safety initiatives underway and the improvements that the FAA has planned. I also want to thank Secretary LaHood for his leadership and dedication to the safety of the traveling public."
Babbitt has flown as a pilot at Eastern Airlines and was president of the Air Line Pilots Association before working as an aviation consultant. He was named the top person at FAA in June 2009 by Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood.

Although Babbitt was arrested Saturday night, LaHood didn't find out until Monday afternoon. According to the DOT on Monday, Babbitt then requested a leave of absence.

No word yet on his replacement. Deputy Administrator Michael Huerta was named Monday as acting administrator after Babbitt was put on leave.





Obama issues presidential memo establishing global LGBT rights strategy

UPDATED BREAKING NEWS:




(Editor's note: This is a breaking news story that will be updated as new information arrives.)

WASHINGTON -- President Barack Obama on Tuesday morning issued a history-setting presidential memorandum that sets new federal policy and strategy on global LGBT rights.

"Our deep commitment to advancing the human rights of all people is strengthened when we as the United States bring our tools to bear to vigorously advance this goal," Obama said in the memo.

Gay rights groups immediately praised the Obama administration's commitment to LGBT equality around the world.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton illuminated the new strategy in a remarkable speech about LGBT rights in recognition of Human Rights Day (Dec. 10) in Geneva today. "It should never be a crime to be gay," Clinton said, in reference to efforts in places like Nigeria and Uganda where the governments are trying to criminalize homosexuality.

"Today I want to talk about the work we have left to do to protect one group of people whose Human Rights are still denied in too many parts of the world today. In many ways they are an invisible minority. They are arrested, beaten, terrorized, even executed. Many are treated with contempt and violence by their fellow citizens while authorities empowered to protect them look the other way or too often even join in the abuse. They are denied opportunities to work and learn, driven from their homes and countries and forced to suppress or deny who they are to protect themselves from harm. I am talking about gay, lesbian, bisexual and trance gender people. Human beings born free and given bestowed equality and dignity who have a right to claim that which is now one of the remaining Human Rights challenges of our time. I speak about this subject knowing that my own country's record on Human Rights for gay people is far from perfect until 2003 it was still a crime in parts of our country."

Clinton also repeated her mantra: "Gay rights are Human Rights, and Human Rights are gay rights."

"The Obama Administration has made a tremendous difference in the lives of LGBT people in the United States and this new strategy helps to extend that presidential leadership across the globe," said HRC President Joe Solmonese, who met with Secretary Clinton earlier today in Geneva. "There is no question that the administration's record of advancing equality for LGBT people has been enhanced by the leadership of Secretary Clinton who consistently underscores the simple truth that LGBT rights are human rights."

Obama's presidential memo is the first-ever global LGBT strategy plan issued by any American government. The memo orders all government agencies involved in foreign affairs to promote LGBT human rights across the world and encourage the decriminalization of LGBT people and the humane treatment of LGBT refugees and those requesting asylum.

"As Americans, we understand that no one should be made a criminal or subject to violence or even death because of who they are, no matter where they live," Solmonese said. "Today's actions by President Obama make clear that the United States will not turn a blind eye when governments commit or allow abuses to the human rights of LGBT people."

Mara Keisling, executive director of the National Center for Transgender Equality, applauded Clinton's speech and the White House's commitment to global LGBT rights.

"Secretary Clinton spoke about LGBT rights at the UN in Geneva and expressed a strong U.S. position in support of respect and fair treatment of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people worldwide, making a case that ensuring our human rights is a basic responsibility of the United States and the world," Keisling said. "Concurrently, President Obama released a Presidential Memorandum directing all federal agencies abroad to promote and protect the human rights of LGBT people in U.S. diplomacy and foreign assistance work.The National Center for Transgender Equality applauds their continued leadership in this area."

Kate Kendell, executive director of the National Center for Lesbian Rights, was also impressed by today's developments.

“Hearing the United States Secretary of State speak passionately about ending violence and discrimination against LGBT people throughout the world left me with a lump in my throat and tears in my eyes. To imagine what the world would be like if the vision Secretary Clinton laid out were to come to pass, is to imagine a world of such deep and enduring humanity that any dream can be realized," Kendell said.

"Between the initiatives outlined in the President’s memo, and the visionary speech of Secretary Clinton, it seems possible that my children could grow up in a world where LGBT people are no longer terrorized or victimized based on their sexual orientation or gender identity. It seems possible that LGBT people could become, as the Secretary put it, `free and equal in dignity and rights' around the world. This is a day to remember, and one that will mark the beginning of a new era in the international recognition of our community.”

Presidential Memorandum -- International Initiatives to Advance the Human Rights of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Persons

MEMORANDUM FOR THE HEADS OF EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENTS AND AGENCIES

SUBJECT: International Initiatives to Advance the Human Rights of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Persons

The struggle to end discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) persons is a global challenge, and one that is central to the United States commitment to promoting human rights. I am deeply concerned by the violence and discrimination targeting LGBT persons around the world whether it is passing laws that criminalize LGBT status, beating citizens simply for joining peaceful LGBT pride celebrations, or killing men, women, and children for their perceived sexual orientation. That is why I declared before heads of state gathered at the United Nations, "no country should deny people their rights because of who they love, which is why we must stand up for the rights of gays and lesbians everywhere." Under my Administration, agencies engaged abroad have already begun taking action to promote the fundamental human rights of LGBT persons everywhere. Our deep commitment to advancing the human rights of all people is strengthened when we as the United States bring our tools to bear to vigorously advance this goal.

By this memorandum I am directing all agencies engaged abroad to ensure that U.S. diplomacy and foreign assistance promote and protect the human rights of LGBT persons. Specifically, I direct the following actions, consistent with applicable law:

Section 1. Combating Criminalization of LGBT Status or Conduct Abroad. Agencies engaged abroad are directed to strengthen existing efforts to effectively combat the criminalization by foreign governments of LGBT status or conduct and to expand efforts to combat discrimination, homophobia, and intolerance on the basis of LGBT status or conduct.

Sec. 2. Protecting Vulnerable LGBT Refugees and Asylum Seekers. Those LGBT persons who seek refuge from violence and persecution face daunting challenges. In order to improve protection for LGBT refugees and asylum seekers at all stages of displacement, the Departments of State and Homeland Security shall enhance their ongoing efforts to ensure that LGBT refugees and asylum seekers have equal access to protection and assistance, particularly in countries of first asylum. In addition, the Departments of State, Justice, and Homeland Security shall ensure appropriate training is in place so that relevant Federal Government personnel and key partners can effectively address the protection of LGBT refugees and asylum seekers, including by providing to them adequate assistance and ensuring that the

Federal Government has the ability to identify and expedite resettlement of highly vulnerable persons with urgent protection needs.

Sec. 3. Foreign Assistance to Protect Human Rights and Advance Nondiscrimination. Agencies involved with foreign aid, assistance, and development shall enhance their ongoing efforts to ensure regular Federal Government engagement with governments, citizens, civil society, and the private sector in order to build respect for the human rights of LGBT persons.

Sec. 4. Swift and Meaningful U.S. Responses to Human Rights Abuses of LGBT Persons Abroad. The Department of State shall lead a standing group, with appropriate interagency representation, to help ensure the Federal Government's swift and meaningful response to serious incidents that threaten the human rights of LGBT persons abroad.

Sec. 5. Engaging International Organizations in the Fight Against LGBT Discrimination. Multilateral fora and international organizations are key vehicles to promote respect for the human rights of LGBT persons and to bring global attention to LGBT issues. Building on the State Department's leadership in this area, agencies engaged abroad should strengthen the work they have begun and initiate additional efforts in these multilateral fora and organizations to: counter discrimination on the basis of LGBT status; broaden the number of countries willing to support and defend LGBT issues in the multilateral arena; strengthen the role of civil society advocates on behalf of LGBT issues within and through multilateral fora; and strengthen the policies and programming of multilateral institutions on LGBT issues.

Sec. 6. Reporting on Progress. All agencies engaged abroad shall prepare a report within 180 days of the date of this memorandum, and annually thereafter, on their progress toward advancing these initiatives. All such agencies shall submit their reports to the Department of State, which will compile a report on the Federal Government's progress in advancing these initiatives for transmittal to the President.

Sec. 7. Definitions. (a) For the purposes of this memorandum, agencies engaged abroad include the Departments of State, the Treasury, Defense, Justice, Agriculture, Commerce, Health and Human Services, and Homeland Security, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the Millennium Challenge Corporation, the Export Import Bank, the United States Trade Representative, and such other agencies as the President may designate.

(b) For the purposes of this memorandum, agencies involved with foreign aid, assistance, and development include the Departments of State, the Treasury, Defense, Justice, Health and Human Services, and Homeland Security, the USAID, the Millennium Challenge Corporation, the Export Import Bank, the United States Trade Representative, and such other agencies as the President may designate.

This memorandum is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.

The Secretary of State is hereby authorized and directed to publish this memorandum in the Federal Register.

BARACK OBAMA




Source

Obama Condemns Income Inequality

BULLY PULPITObama Condemns Income InequalityMandel Ngan / AFP / Getty Images


President Obama channeled some 99 percent populism in a big speech on economic inequality, saying that it is at the worst level since the Great Depression and that it’s a “make or break moment for the middle class." Invoking Theodore Roosevelt, Obama said that a free market is not “a free license to take whatever you want from whoever you can.” Switching to campaign mode, he contrasted his stance with the Republicans, whom he compared to the Gilded Age elites that opposed Roosevelt and “thought massive inequality and exploitation was just the price of progress.” Obama also threatened to veto any attempt by congressional Republicans to weaken the new consumer-protection panel.

Read it at Talking Points Memo

December 6, 2011 3:51 PM