Category Archives: Golden Rule

Take the train to one of the UKs main university cities and, as you near the station, theres an impressive view of a major biomedical campus with state of the art buildings and towering cranes the latter signalling continuing investment. This is a leading example of the so-called golden triangle where health, academia and the private sector co-locate, believing that this will energise and accelerate the bench to bedside translation of research into clinical practice.

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But visit the site and youll also see evidence of the golden rule at work whoever has the gold makes the rules. Here, as on many similar campuses across the UK, those shiny new buildings including the ones under construction belong, in the main, to the non-NHS occupants. In this case the major hospital at the core of the campus occupies buildings, the majority of which are 50 years old. Interestingly a shopping complex on the edge of the city, some 10 years younger, is up for sale one option is to repurpose it as a life sciences research centre.

Back on the biomedical campus the NHS trust has long-standing plans to replace itspast their sell by date facilities. But the pace and scale of these developments are governed by the NHSs Kafkaesque business case approvals process and, ultimately, the Treasurys death grip on investment the capital departmental expenditure limit (CDEL). Each government spending department has a CDEL set by the Treasury which, in the case of the Department of Health and Social Care is then allocated to NHS trusts (in future via integrated care systems).

All good if this ensures prudent management of the economy, however The most obvious problem facing the NHS relating to capital is that the annual CDEL is not currently high enough and has not been for the past decade (Rebuilding Our NHS: Why Its Time to Invest: NHS Providers). But its worse than that because even trusts with cash in the bank or with access to the proceeds of asset disposals are unable to spend beyond their CDEL limit. No wonder a councillor, hearing of how CDEL is delaying a planned NHS development in her area remarked; Its absolutely crazy, and not the right way to plan for any kind of public services.(Bedford Independent 8 June 2022).

Another trust sought to leverage the high value of its city centre sites through an innovative approach to provide new NHS facilities including space leased to life sciences and MedTech partners. This would have fostered the day-to-day, serendipitous interaction between scientists and clinicians which is seen as key to successful collaboration in facilities such as the Crick centre. But you can guess what happened when the Treasury heard about it.

Frustrations such as these are commonplace and impede the creation of golden triangles. While there is no shortage of enthusiasm, the physical realisation of collaborative models requires that the NHS can match the capital investment agility of its private sector and academic partners. Just over a year ago the government published what it described as a bold and ambitious vision for the future of clinical research delivery (The Future of UK Clinical Research Delivery) where there is a reference to breaking down barriers. Perhaps its time for someone to send the Treasury a friendly reminder.

About Lexica

Lexica is a leading specialist consultancy, supporting health and life sciences organisations in the UK and internationally with the planning, delivery, and continuous improvement of their services now and into the future.

A wholly-owned subsidiary of Guys and St Thomas Foundation Trust, formed in 2013, the company is based in London and Oxford with hubs in Bristol, Cambridge, Manchester, and Dublin. Its services include strategy and planning; property consultancy; cost management; project management; programme management; net zero transition; and infrastructure solutions.

Its current and past clients and projects include major UK and international academic health organisations and networks such as Kings Health Partners, Imperial College Healthcare Trust, and Qatar-based Hamad Medical Corporation. The team has also worked with major research institutions including The Pirbright Institute and Harwell Science and Innovation campus and on DEFRAs Science Capability in Animal Health (SCAH) programme.

Lexica is a corporate member of the Association for Project Management (APM) and is regulated by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS).

For more information visit http://www.lexica.co.uk.

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The golden triangle and the golden rule | HSJ Partners - Health Service Journal

Following a peaceful rally protesting the living conditions and abusive treatment at a rural, privately operated immigrant prison in southern Georgia, guards selected three Black men to punish, forcing them to spend a month in isolation.

The men were ordered to spend 32 days in solitary confinement for 23 hours a day. One man Garsumo Dorley, 34 was sentenced to an additional 22 days after asking to see his psychiatrist, leaving him in segregation for a total of 54 days.

Its like being an animal in a cage, said Dorley, a native of Liberia. That didnt sit right with me at all. What did I do to deserve this? What can I do in a cage? I dont know; Ive been through a lot, but thats at the top of it.

Locked up alone in a bright, concrete cell with a heavy metal door, Dorley had nothing to do. Fluorescent lighting shined most of the day, which made sleeping difficult.

While in segregation at Folkston ICE Processing Center operated by the for-profit prison corporation The GEO Group Dorley said he was also assaulted by a guard. He filed a grievance, but guards simply responded with threats like, Its on.

Another man, Michael Dufay, suffered an asthma attack and was denied an inhaler, despite repeated pleas, when the men were locked out in the sun after the protest. Dufays name has been changed in this story to protect his identity.

Maura Finn, lead attorney for the Southern Poverty Law Centers Southeast Immigrant Freedom Initiative (SIFI), which provides free legal service for immigrants detained in facilities controlled by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), said the treatment was nothing short of abuse.

These men Black men were dehumanized simply for asking to be treated and spoken to with respect, Finn said. Dorley and Dufay were punished in a way akin to torture, especially for those suffering from mental illness. ICEs refusal to help Dufay or provide medical assistance was not only egregious but dangerous. Sadly, this alarming abuse of individuals in ICE custody is the rule rather than the exception.

In fact, another ICE facility in Georgia Irwin County Detention Center, also privately operated was closed in May 2021 after human rights groups exposed medical abuse against migrant women and other abuses as well. And earlier this month, the SPLC and other human rights organizations filed an administrative complaint against Stewart Detention Center, also in Georgia, alleging a pattern of sexual assault by a male nurse and retaliation against women who reported it.

The protest at Folkston took place on April 1. Dorley and Dufay were among 15 men who sat in the yard while a peaceful rally took place outside the facilitys fences.

Afterward, the men seated on the lawn considered returning inside. Instead, they refused to leave after a guard with a reputation for demeaning immigrants began to insult them. Then they were locked out for nearly three hours in the hot sun and denied food and water.

On April 17, a five-person extraction team went to Dorleys cell, even after he told the guards he would willingly go to solitary confinement. Dorley said the team entered his room, slammed the door and tackled him.

I tried to tell them I would go with them, but they wouldnt listen, Dorley said. They twisted my arms, cuffed my wrists and ankles. Afterward, I was bruised all over, I couldnt open my jaw.

A doctor later diagnosed Dorley with temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder, a problem with the joint that connects the jawbone to the skull.

Dufay and Dorley suspect that anti-Black racism is at the heart of why they were singled out.

When [the guards] punish people, they punish people like me, a Black man, Dufay said. Everybody talks to the officers, but if youre Black, you get written up and taken to solitary, just like that.

For Dorley, it has been hard to cope with the constant barrage of racist insults that guards hurl at him.

I dont know if this is a Black thing or what, but the way people talk to you in here is disgusting, Dorley said. We should all treat each other with respect and care. But the guards talk to you any way they want.

The facility is also rife with threats to the safety of the people held there.

The food they give us is spoiled, Dufay said. The milk is spoiled. The rice they serve, they often cover it in gravy to hide that it is spoiled. There is mold on the walls and in the air vents. There is no sanitation going on in there. If we have white officers, they talk to us like we are animals. They have the nastiest stuff to say to us, which is why we stayed in the yard.

Indeed, a recent report from the Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General details how the immigrant prison didnt meet standards for facility conditions, medical care, grievances and segregation, among other problems. In addition, Folkston has compromised the health, safety and rights of detained individuals by exposing them to unsanitary conditions, such as torn mattresses; water leaks; mold growth and water damage; mold and debris in the ventilation system; and inoperable toilets.

Further, the report notes that ICE inconsistently responds to requests and grievances. And when COVID-19 hit, Folkston didnt begin administering vaccines until April 2021, months after the vaccine became available.

If someone in there got COVID-19, I could die, Dufay said. Theres no sanitizer, no bleach, nothing you can use to clean the place properly. It tells me that they dont care about us or what weve got going on.

Before he was detained, Dorley lived in Atlanta for 12 years doing event marketing. He loved his job, but hes been locked up for 10 months.

Dorley and his parents fled Liberia in 2010, due to continuing violence following the countrys long civil war. His 8-year-old son, his girlfriend, his six siblings and his parents all live in the U.S.

What keeps Dorley sane, he said, is his family. They know the real Dorley the father, the son, the brother, the friend.

I know none of this will define the person I am, he said. But Im not a number. Im a student. I go to church. I work. Im an honest person. I pay my taxes. Im not a bad person; I just want to live my life peacefully. I love people. I dont want to hurt anyone, and I dont want anyone to hurt me. Be around me for a little bit of time, and youll know who I am.

The SPLCs Maura Finn said that despite all he has been through, Dorley has managed to keep his head up, but his punishment was undeserved.

Dorley continues to advocate for himself and others, Finn said. He deserves to live with dignity and respect outside of a cage.

Dorley lives by the Golden Rule: If you believe in God, you treat people how they should treat you, he said.

The fact that he and two other Black men were held in solitary confinement simply for protesting while non-Black asylum seekers who protested at the same time were not proves that there is something off regarding protocol at Folkston.

You cant treat people differently, he said. If you want to make things fair, make an example out of everybody. But to punish only Black men? Youre showing what you are: a racist.

Top picture: Detained immigrants play soccer behind a barbed wire fence at the Irwin County Detention Center in Ocilla, Georgia, on Feb. 20, 2018. The facility was closed in May 2021 after human rights groups exposed medical abuse against migrant women and other abuses. (Credit: Reuters)

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'Akin to Torture': For-profit immigrant prison singles out Black men after peaceful protest - Southern Poverty Law Center

The long-awaited Elkhart County 4-H Fair is coming to an end. For many this is the highlight of their year. If you show animals, you eat, drink, work and sleep fair week. For others of us, Senior Citizens Day or Childrens Day will satisfy our fair hunger. I did revel in finally being able to attend my hometown farm show three years ago in PA after many, many years.

Since it is fair week, I decided to look up the word fair in my NKJV concordance and Bible. In so doing I found some fair lessons for us during fair week.

Lesson #1 Husbands always be captivated by your wife. The Song of Solomon has been a great puzzle to many over the years. After reading it, you might wonder how this book slipped into Gods canon. Many try and rationalize that it is an allegory of Jesus love for his bride, the church. I never could accept that when in reality it is a song expressing King Solomons love for his first (unfortunately not his last, as he later collected 700 plus 300 other women) wife, the Shulamite girl. The book is filled with romantic and sensuous verbiage of his love and desire for her. This book is Gods blessing and endorsement of marital (only) romance and sexual love. Thank you, Lord. It is so descriptive that one young man thought he had committed the unpardonable sin by reading it during boring church services.

Some 13 times in this love song, Solomon calls the Shulamite fair or beautiful and gives very unique descriptions of her beauty. He refers to her as my fair one, fairest among women, fair as the moon, fair and pleasant and all fair. So, guys, how do you let your wife know how much you adore, cherish, love, desire and appreciate her and mean it? Yes, as we all get older our looks change but our love should grow and mature. Our attitude should always be when you have the best, why think of the rest. If only Solomon had learned that.

Lesson #2 Never think God is not fair. Many folks have a big problem with God on this issue. Since none of us are God, there are many questions that we will never have answers to this side of heaven. We all need to come to the conclusion that life is not fair but God is gracious and fair.

In Ezekiel 18:25-29, the nation of Israel was insistent that the way of the Lord is not fair. However, God replied that his ways indeed are fair while their ways definitely were not. Who would you believe? Israel was perplexed that God would actually forgive and let live outright wicked sinners after they repent and turn to him. On top of that, when formerly righteous and good people revert toward sin and rebellion against God, they would be punished and even suffer death in some cases. Unfair.. or is it?

If God only acted on the basis of fairness and justice, how many of us would be forgiven of our sins? You got it right none of us, as we have all sinned and fallen short of Gods glory (Romans 3:23). Furthermore, the wages we all deserve for a life of sin is eternal death or spiritual separation from God in hell (Romans 6:23). So praise the Lord. He is gracious (giving us what we do not deserve) and merciful (not giving us what we do deserve) when we repent, turn from our sins and trust in Jesus Christ alone (John 3:16; 14:6) for forgiveness and eternal life.

In Jesus parable, the elder brother thought his father was not fair or right in forgiving his prodigal brother. He like the Pharisees and Ezekiels Israel thought God owed them for being righteous. The truth was all were inwardly sinful and in just as much need of forgiveness as the wayward son (Luke 15:11-32). Praise God that he is fair. Anyone and everyone who comes to him for forgiveness will never, ever be cast out, rejected or sent away empty-handed (John 6:37). Do it today.

Lesson #3 Employers, be fair to all your employees. Slavery was prominent in the New Testament world. The Apostle Paul gave many instructions to believing servants and masters. Ironically, he never advocated rebellion or overthrow. In Colossians 4:1 he exhorts Christian masters to give their servants what is just and fair, knowing you also have a Master in heaven. Slaves had no rights and were at the mercy of their masters with whippings and worse for small offenses. For those who believed on Jesus, everything changed from how servants served to how their masters treated them. In short, be just and fair, God is watching you.

Today we have employers and employees, and the message is the same. Employees, give your best effort to your masters (Colossians 3:23-24) and employers, treat all your servants fairly (Colossians 4:1). Jesus put it this way: Therefore whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets (Gods Word) (Matthew 7:12). We call it the Golden Rule, unlike the revised version of He who has the gold has the rule. Many think we have the gold so we can treat you however we want. Wrong. Yes, many employees deserve to be fired. Yes, sometimes business changes and workers have to be let go. Just remember the true Golden Rule, and that your master in heaven is looking for you to be just, fair, kind and impartial (Ephesians 6:9) like he is. Remember that he gives and he takes away blessing and business.

I trust you all have had a wonderful fair experience this week. God bless you as you take to heart these fair lessons from God.

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Bob Kulp is the pastor of Grace Brethren Church, 24775 C.R. 20 East (Mishawaka Road), Elkhart, 574-875-5271.

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PASTOR'S PEN: Fair times in the Bible | News | goshennews.com - Goshen News

Jack Ciattarelli| Special to the USA TODAY Network

Teen sex in the age of social media

Teens are being exposed to more explicit sexual imagery than ever via social media, but this generation of teens is having less sex than prior generations

NorthJersey.com

When it comes to sex education for our youngest students, what is age-appropriate and what is not?

Its a question a lot of New Jersey parents are asking these days after a couple of sample lesson plans triggered a firestorm of controversy and debate about New Jerseys public school curriculum and the role of parents in education.

First, some background. In 2019, Gov. Phil Murphy signed a law requiring that students learn about the societal contributions of the LGBTQ community. With the goal of promoting inclusivity, the new lesson plans became known as the LGBTQ curriculum. In 2021, at the height of the pandemic, when people were distracted and there was little to no public input, Murphy signed into law a requirement that the public school curriculum promote diversity. Among other things, the lesson plans would speak to gender identification and sexual orientation, starting in kindergarten.

In between those two enactments, New Jerseys unelected State Board of Education released, with no comment whatsoever from the governor, new sex education learning standards, which included students identifying oral, vaginal and anal sex by eighth grade and common human sexual development and the role of hormones (e.g., romantic and sexual feelings, masturbation, mood swings, timing of pubertal onset) by fifth grade.

As I said to the governor during the first gubernatorial debate last fall, There are certain things best taught at the kitchen table between parents and children. His response was to mock the kitchen table.

No doubt, we need a more inclusive community, where bigotry, bullying and hate are never tolerated. We can achieve that by teaching our youngest students the Golden Rule, the power and beauty of diversity, mutual respect, tolerance and the American ideal that we are all created equal. Thats a mainstream lesson plan all parents would wholly embrace and children of any age can grasp.

As for the new sex education standards, as a sixth grader, I remember attending with my father an evening presentation, provided by my public school district. My mom did the same with my sister when she was in fifth grade. The presentation spoke to the bodily and emotional changes adolescents experience. The subject matter was age-appropriate for students and empowering for parents.

When I tell that story, some people say,Times have changed, Jack. Yes, they have. But then again, some things should not. Parents have responsibilities. Its not the job of the school district to replace parents. Partner, yes. Replace, never.

Whats troubled school districts is that the state has not issued guidance the kind that would result from robust public discussion amongst all stakeholders on how to implement the inclusivity and diversity curriculum and meet the new sex education standards. Highly controversial sample lesson plans offered by extreme progressive advocacy groups have only made things worse.

More perspective from Jack CiattarelliHow can New Jersey best invest its budget surplus? Here are some ideas

Progressives are adamant, believing kindergartners should be taught gender identification and sexual orientation that its acceptable for a 5-year-old biological female to be told by her teacher that its OK to identify as a boy. On the other side are those making accusations about grooming kids, an extremely serious charge potentially criminal levied with scant proof.

What cannot be overlooked is the potential conflict were creating in children. Teachers are role models and mentors. If parents do not support and reinforce whats being taught, students will experience a terrible conflict, feeling forced to choose between the most influential people in their young lives.

Traveling the state, my experience has been the vast majority of parents are troubled by the new curriculum and sex education standards. Theyre also angered by being falsely accused of being anti-LGBTQ simply because they disagree with what they view as an age-inappropriate subject matter. The same goes for a great many teachers, whose morale has never been lower, and would-be teachers who are choosing a different career path.

Parents want the public school curriculum to be relevant, but more than anything, they want all subject matter to be age-appropriate. They want a say on how sensitive subject matter should be taught. And they want transparency. What they dont want is to opt out their children from valuable school time, especially when theyre paying the highest property taxes in the nation. I agree on all counts.

The good news is school board meetings are, once again, well-attended by concerned parents, and school districts have some flexibility in meeting the new requirements, though some districts haverejected them outright.

This is important. We need to get it right.The only thing more important than what we teach our children is what parents should teach, what schools should teach and what is and isnt age-appropriate.

Jack Ciattarelli, the 2021 Republican nominee for New Jersey governor and a likely 2025 gubernatorial candidate, is a regular contributor to the opinion pages of USA TODAY Network New Jersey publications.

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When is it right to start sex education for NJ's youngest students? | Ciattarelli - NorthJersey.com

Oliver Hermanus

Photo: Franco Origlia/Getty Images

The 79th Venice International Film Festival is breaking an important rule to include South African flair.

The line-up for the annual festival, announced on Tuesday, boasts an impressive mix of red-carpet-friendly, star-studded features and compelling, politically-charged dramas and documentaries.

And among the notable international titles selected for out of competition screenings is South African director Oliver Hermanus' latest film, Living.

The film premiered at the 2022 Sundance Film Festival in January to five-star reviews.

"A director rising into the highest ranks and an actor at the peak of his powers are the keys to this mesmerising melodrama set in London in the 1950s," Kevin Maher wrote for The Times after watching the film.

Living is an adaptation of the 1952 Japanese drama Ikiru. It follows Mr Williams (Bill Nighy), a civil servant who has become a small cog in the bureaucracy of rebuilding post-WWII England, as he learns that he has a terminal illness. He goes on a quest to find some meaning in his dull life.

Breaking the film festival's golden rule

While Hermanus has been praised for his stunning work, the South African director has received another, more unconventional form of recognition for the film's success.

Living is the only film this year breaking the Venice Film Festival's usual rule that all titles eligible for selection must be world premieres.

According to the festival's regulations on the website, "Only films presented as world premieres that were completed after 11 September 2021; have not had any form of commercial distribution or exhibition on the Internet; and that have neither been previously screened to the public and/or the press nor been presented at any other International film festival or cinematographic event, including those in the country of origin" are eligible.

Hermanus, who is currently on holiday in Greece, told News24:

"I'm so excited to return to The Venice Film Festival with my latest offering: Alberto Barbera and his team's championing of my work has been the defining time for me as a filmmaker. In 2015 Venice changed the course of my career when I was invited to premiere the first ever South African film to compete for the Golden Lion with The Endless River. I've since returned with MOFFIE in the Orizzonti competition in 2019, another unforgettable moment."

The director added that Venice has been his "creative home" for most of his career and that he is honoured to return "on the shoulders of a team of creative giants," which include "Bill Nighy, Aimee Loud Wood, Alex Sharp, Tom Burke in our cast and of course our amazing screenwriter, Sir Kazuo Ishiguro".

Hermanus' next project, a new World War I film titled The History of Sound, is also already generating buzz.

Set to star in the upcoming project are two of the UK's biggest TV stars right now, Emmy-winner Josh O'Connor (known for his role as Prince Charles in The Crown) and Bafta-winner Paul Mescal (who played Connell Waldren in the hit series Normal People).

READ MORE |SA filmmaker Oliver Hermanus to direct new film starring Josh O'Connor and Paul Mescal

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Oliver Hermanus' Living to screen at Venice Film Festival - breaking a rule in the best way possible - News24

Donating your experience and labor to charitable groups is a good way to build community and even improve your health

Craig Coleman of Springfield, Vermont, believes that volunteering is a way to live the Golden Rule. He certainly acts on that belief, volunteering with Meals on Wheels, Senior Solutions, Volunteers in Action (VIA), and the Vermont Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired, which honored the 76-year-old Coleman with its President's Award earlier this year.

Volunteering, he says, has deepened his spirituality and allowed him to express his personal faith.

Coleman exemplifies the millions of older Americans who donate their time to serving others. According to AmeriCorps' most recent survey, 30.7% of boomer-age Americans (those 56 to 74 years old) and 36.4% of GenXers (aged 40 to 55) volunteered in 2019, contributing about four billion hours of service to their chosen causes.

Giving Is Good for Your Health

"Older Americans give community organizations consistent support and those served feel comfortable with trusted community members," says Atalaya Sergi, director of AmeriCorps Seniors.

At the same time, a growing body of research suggests that older adult often reap significant mental and physical health benefits by volunteering, including lower mortality rates, increased strength and energy, lower rates of depression and fewer physical limitations.

"Volunteering adds more years to your life and life to your years."

"Volunteering adds more years to your life and life to your years," Sergi says.

Carnegie Mellon University researchers found that older adults who volunteered were less likely to develop high blood pressure (which contributes to heart disease and stroke) than those who didn't volunteer. A 2021 article in the scientific journal Aging, Neuropsychology, and Cognition reports that volunteering was associated with better working memory and improved cognition among 91 volunteers aged 65 to 75.

"We like the term do good, feel good meaning service to others helps others and their communities but also helps the volunteer," says Cathy Aliberti, director of the Green Mountain Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP), a program of AmeriCorps Seniors. "Our volunteers are age 55 or older, with an average age of 74. They have the time, experience, and drive to volunteer and help their communities. It is a reason to get up and ready for the day. There is a wellness benefit by engaging with others."

Caring Before and After COVID-19

Naturally, volunteering has changed a bit in the last few years. Before COVID exploded, about one-fourth of Americans aged 65 or over volunteered, logging twice the number of hours than those aged 16 or younger, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data.

Many nonprofits struggled during the pandemic as fundraising events were canceled and donations fell. But the Points of Light Organization reports that 95% of surveyed persons truly want to be involved in their community in some way. There is a strong interest in working with nonprofits that will address long-term issues arising from COVID, such as food insecurity and health care.

"The pandemic wasn't the start of changes in volunteering, but it did accelerate changes," says Rachel Kestner, vice president of marketing at Volunteer Match. "Some organizations had embraced virtual volunteers particularly for board membership and skills-based projects while others had to adapt to survive."

Remote volunteer work grew considerably in March 2020, when COVID lockdowns began. A Volunteer Match survey found that the number of virtual volunteer opportunities jumped 32% in that one month; they rose another 12% by the end of May 2020.

Annie Erwinski, 76, volunteered as an RSVP driver in southwestern Vermont before COVID. She currently grocery shops for people who are unable to do it for themselves, and she knits hats and makes lap quilts for residents at the local veterans home.

"I like to keep involved," she says. "Retirement can be pretty boring and it's a good way to stay in touch with other people. I have met really interesting and amazing people through volunteering."

How Can You Help?

Opportunities to volunteer are plentiful, Kestner says. "There are so many ways to give back and everyone has something to give. Volunteers are needed for things as simple as writing letters, visiting with people and talking on the phone."

"Retirement can be pretty boring and it's a good way to stay in touch with other people."

She adds that if you feel overwhelmed by the state of the world, "getting involved in causes like the environment, social justice and health care access can help you feel connected to people who are out there making a difference."

Education and the arts were hit hard by the pandemic and to rebuild these institutions can be a way to move forward and regain some sense of control. You could begin by contacting local nonprofits or find a position through organizations such as VolunteerMatch that connect willing volunteers with nonprofits.

Here are a few other places to look for volunteer opportunities:

Canine CompanionsBreed or raise Labrador and golden retrievers as service dogs for people with disabilities.

Habitat for HumanityBuild houses for families in need. Care-A-Vanners travel in RVs to rebuild disaster areas.

National Park ServiceAggregates opportunities at national parks and other recreation sites all over the U.S.

Points of LightA database of volunteer opportunities throughout the world.

AmeriCorps Seniors Openings in local communities, from being a foster grandparent to building playgrounds.

USOThis nonprofit's 30,000 volunteers support military service members and their families.

International Volunteer HQFor a fee, arranges volunteer work abroad in fields like construction, conservation and teaching.

Originally posted here:

Time and Talent to Spare? Consider Volunteering - Next Avenue

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.A local doctor said he is seeing patients who have symptoms of monkeypox.

Dr. Bob Wallace, a family practice physician at Love the Golden Rule in St. Pete, said he has seen about six patients presenting symptoms of monkeypox.

"I had my first patient with symptoms this week. We actually have had six patients that we've had to refer them to the health department who have been exposed to a known monkeypox case. This patient had fever, headache, tiredness and had not yet developed a rash. We were able to get him vaccinated immediately," said Dr. Wallace.

According to the CDC, monkeypox is part of the same family of viruses as smallpox. Monkeypox is rarely fatal. Symptoms may include: fever, headache, muscle aches, swollen lymph nodes, chills, exhaustion and a rash that looks like pimples or blisters.

The illness typically last 2-4 weeks. It is spread by direct contact with the infected person or by contaminated items like utensils, bedding and clothing.

RELATED: As monkeypox cases rise, advocates say so is the stigma surrounding it

"Were working with the health department. Theyre actually seeking sites right now that will be vaccination distribution centers. Weve not completed that process," Dr. Wallace said.

The United States is reporting the most cases of any other country in the globe. More than 3,400 cases have been reported in the United States with at least 2 children becoming infected with the virus, according to the CDC.

Florida is reporting at least 270 cases.

"This virus is much less contagious than COVID 19. It requires real, close physical contact between individuals to transmit so its continuing to grow, but its growing at a much slower rate than like a respiratory virus," said Dr. Thomas Unnasch, a distinguished professor with USF Health.

The CDC said two vaccines are licenses by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and are available for preventing monkeypox. CDC recommends that the vaccine be given within 4 days from the date of exposure for the best chance to prevent the onset of the disease.

The CDC said antiviral drugs and vaccines developed to protect against smallpox may be used to prevent and treat monkeypox virus infection.

If you believe you may have been exposed to monkeypox, contact your local health department.

For more information visit the Florida Department of Health here.

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St. Pete doctor sees a handful of patients exposed to monkeypox - ABC Action News Tampa Bay

The world is in turmoil. After two years of an atrocious pandemic that turned the world economy upside down, a merciless war on Europes doorstep has thrown it into turmoil. Is it the destiny of humanity to be swept away by violence? Is there a way out? Is there any hope? Architect Roberto Kohanoff, a Siloist humanist who has been working tirelessly for nonviolence for more than half a century, reflects with us on this point.

By Isabel Lazzaroni

How do you see the present moment?The Earths evolutionary process is accelerating. Like every organism, the Earth is also in process. This is how it allowed the development of increasingly complex life and then the development of the most evolved species until we reach todays homo sapiens. And this homo sapiens is able to think, feel and act in an increasingly conscious way. In fact, reaching the development of consciousness will be the most advanced step in this evolutionary process, which is proceeding faster and faster.

And what are the consequences of this acceleration?Historians who have defined what is known as megahistory (an attempt to explain history in maximum temporal and spatial scales, according to the definition of the Mendocino historian Gabriel Peralta) locate a moment towards the end of this decade that they call a moment of singularity. At that moment, due to the speed of change, all current human learning will become obsolete. Then, as a species, we will have to find inspiration to be able to respond to the worlds conflicts with a response that is characteristic of a new species. We might even say a response that goes beyond the homo sapiens that we still are.

And what will happen then?Then, conflicts arising from the old strategies of social ordering, which are based on the use of violence, or on the belief that more violence can do away with the violence we assign to the enemy, will end up hurting both those who receive violence and those who exercise it. It is simple: we are in a closed system, as a consequence of the acceleration I spoke of earlier, which leads to concentration. And in a closed system, violence comes back to the perpetrator.

Is it necessary to overcome violence?Of course, it is. Faced with this panorama, the new evolutionary step that the human species has to take is the strong expansion of consciousness. And here, the latest research carried out by neuroscience comes to our aid. Neuroscientists explain that learning is accelerated when it is more empathic. This means because they have proven it that both children and adults learn better behaviours, which lead to increased adaptation, through good treatment. The great novelty is this: if one brings peace in oneself and brings it to others, the paradigm shift will be implemented quickly. This will be possible because the fine communications network that now covers the entire planet will allow for an instantaneous change or in a very short time of those old organisational structures (or old strategies of social ordering).

How does one bring peace in oneself?Peace in oneself is achieved by spreading by example the most ancient of procedures, already recommended by different spiritualities, religions and philosophies, which was called and is still called the Golden Rule. In its Western or Judeo-Christian version, this rule says: love thy neighbour as thyself. In its most extreme definition, it reads: love your enemy, he is you. And it has been redesigned as: learn to treat others as you want to be treated. In the practical version of the Golden Rule, according to Silo, it is: look for the good side of your enemy.

Then, when you see the futility that more violence cannot end violence, that learning will emerge for everyone, the learning that with inner peace you can achieve peace in the world.

Is this possible?This requires the renunciation of the use of violence between countries and regions, but also between communities, between friends, between family members and with oneself.If there is one nature in human beings, it is the capacity for change. No species on Earth has undergone such great change and acceleration of change as the human being. And the violence that seems to be human is a primitive inheritance. But, as strong as that heritage is the heritage of the growing capacity for cooperation that is leading us to a new civilisation, the first that involves the whole Earth, the first that is universal.

Link:

How do we get out of the global crisis? Interview with Roberto Kohanoff - PRESSENZA International News Agency

Parenting. It is a challenging, sometimes difficult to impossible job, but in the end, may be the most gratifying work Mom and Dad will ever accomplish because parents prepare their children to become the leaders of tomorrow.

Do you remember when No meant NO? It didnt mean yes. It didnt even mean maybe. No meant no.

My brothers and I knew when Mom said no, she meant it. No amount of pleading moved her to change her mind. Embarrass her in public? There were consequences. But she was always respectful about discipline. (Other kids in the neighborhood complained to their parents that the Thomas kids never got disciplined, but that wasnt true. It was just not publicly given.)

Mom spoke softly when all was calm and easy, just conversation. Before you do something, you stop to consider your consequences. Are they things you can live with if you have to? And, Treat others the way you want to be treated. That is the Golden Rule. You dont have to make everyone your best friend, but be kind to others. She taught us to respect others and to respect ourselves. She taught us responsibility and accountability. She set our boundaries and reinforced them with discipline if/when we crossed a line. We were clear about the expectations she had for us and none of us wanted to disappoint her or cause her one moments embarrassment. Respect. I guess you could call it purposeful parenting.

July is Purposeful Parenting Month. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services explains purposeful parenting as active and engaged parenting to build strong families. Further, positive parenting techniques open discussions, define goals and set clear expectations and boundaries around behavior. There should be rules, chores and interaction with others.

As challenging as it can be to find enough hours in the day when you have to earn a paycheck to provide for the family often long hours parents need to be present, in the moment, with their daughters and sons, teaching them, not just with words, but with actions. Parents need to live what they preach. And to spend a little time with each child talking, playing, laughing, sharing building a trustful relationship you both can count on throughout your lives. Daily.

The state of Ohio offers a lot of information valuable to families at https:boldbeginning.ohio.gov. Parents are encouraged to think about what they want for their children as they grow up and embark on adulthood, to be all that they can be. The first goal is to meet each childs most basic needs:

Bodily needs: breathing, water, food, and sleep.

Safety: the need to feel safe and secure.

Love: the need to feel accepted and valued.

Do you know toxic stress can affect the growth and function of the brain? Parenting doesnt require hovering. Recall the stories of parents following their child to school, hiding around corners, leaping behind trees and hedges so their child didnt know they were following? They wanted to foster their childs independence, but felt a burning need to protect the child from threats of harm. The goal is teaching children to feel capable and safe on their own.

There are six parts to purposeful parenting. Please check out the details at the Bold Beginnings! website. Other resources are found at purposefulparentingllc.com and drphil.com. Dr. Phil provides 7 Tools for Purposeful Parenting. The concept has been around for a long time.

Our children grow up so quickly. Even when parents think their offspring arent listening, they are. And in their childrens adult years they may well say, You thought I wasnt listening, but I was. And they are watching, following in your footsteps. What are your plans for them? What are their interests, the things they need to know and understand to become healthy, happy, productive adults?

Family Recovery Center offers mental health services as well as addiction services. The goal is for the health and well-being of all. For more information about the education, prevention and treatment programs for substance abuse and related behavioral issues, contact the agency at 964 N. Market St., Lisbon; phone, 330-424-1468; or email, info@familyrecovery.org. Visit the website at familyrecovery.org. FRC is funded in part by the Columbiana County Mental Health and Recovery Services Board.

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What can you do?

How many times have you said that to yourself of late?

The world, to put it bluntly, is a mess.

Theres rampant inflation, soaring energy prices, a crippling drought, record high temperatures, runaway gun violence, the seemingly unending scourge of COVID-19, the whole Jan. 6 debacle, something called monkeypox, a baby formula shortage, the battle over abortion rights, the brutal war in Ukraine, and the list goes on and on.

Its enough to make the average person throw up their hands and say, what can you do?

But that, rather than a desperate admission of the average persons impotence in the face of global crises, is a fair question.

What can you do?

You can start by simply being nice. Smile at a stranger, say hi, make a connection. Human beings are certainly far from perfect, in fact we are the source of all the worlds woes, but we are the best hope we have. Its not like we can sit back and let the animals run things. We saw how badly that turned out in the Planet of the Apes movies.

And artificial intelligence? Please. Unless your Siri is way smarter than mine Ill take my chances with the flesh and blood brand of smarts, thanks.

What can you do?

Follow the rules. Not just the big ones, like the 10 Commandments or the Golden Rule, but all of them. Dont run that red light. Dont roll through that stop sign. Dont turn without signaling. Dont speed. OK, dont speed too much, anyway.

Go out of your way to do something for somebody else. Or dont even go out of your way, do something simple. Hold the door for somebody, for instance. Pick up a piece of trash on the sidewalk. Put your shopping cart in the corral thingie in the store parking lot. Offer someone your seat in the waiting room if they are older and less mobile than you.

You have no idea what anybody else is going through. You dont know the burden they may be carrying, the pain they may be feeling, the hurt they may be harboring. They are not coming from the same place you do. Nobody is. We each are on our own path.

What can you do?

Dont judge. Dont stick up your nose if you dont approve of someone elses choices. As long as they are not hurting you, how they live their lives is none of your business.

The Bible is filled with admonitions about judgment. My favorite comes in Matthew 7:3, Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brothers eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye. In other words, worry about your own life before you think about meddling in someone elses. Each of us has more faults than we can shake a plank at.

Be kind. Ive heard of killing someone with kindness but as far as I know nobodys died from it yet. Offer to help a neighbor, a friend, a stranger, with something big or small. And smile, darn you, smile.

Dont label people. Dont pigeon-hole them. Our world is divisive enough without ordinary citizens contributing to that schism. Red or blue, black or white, gay or straight, conservative or liberal, carnivore or vegan. In the big scheme of things, none of that really matters. We are all human beings, with the same basic wants and needs.

What can you do?

You can pray, certainly, if youre a mind to, but not everyone is. I wish they were. I wish everyone believed as I do, but they dont. In fact, belief in God has dropped to a new low in America, with only 81% of Americans responding to a recent Gallup poll expressing a belief in the Almighty. Thats the lowest figure since the Gallup folks first asked the question in 1944. I guess those of us who do believe just need to pray harder.

Respect everyone. Be sensitive to peoples feelings. Listen and be empathetic. Dont look down on anyone. Love everybody.

Will doing all of that help solve the worlds problems? No, of course not. But it just may make someones day better, and if you have made someone elses life somehow easier you, my friend, have had a pretty darn good day.

What can you do? A lot, as it turns out. Now go out and do it.

Mullin is an award-winning writer and columnist who retired in 2017 after 41 years with the News and Eagle. Email him at janjeff2002@yahoo.com or write him in care of the Enid News & Eagle at PO Box 1192, Enid, OK, 73702.

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Mullin is an award-winning writer and columnist who retired in 2017 after 41 years with the News & Eagle. Email him atjanjeff2002@yahoo.comor write him in care of the Enid News & Eagle at PO Box 1192, Enid, OK, 73702.

The News & Eagle has traditionally published personal opinions of writers and readers through editorials, columns and letters to the editor on its Opinion Page. The opinions shared are those of the writers and not the newspaper.

Submit your opinion for publication to editor@enidnews.com. Find out more about submitting letters to the editor at https://www.enidnews.com/opinion/.

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COLUMN: What can you do in the face of the world's travails? - Enid News & Eagle