Currently, a couple of countries in Europe are in danger of defaulting. The other Euro countries are in talks of bailing them out by giving them financial aid. Unless things start to change, the situation will only get worse. Everyone seems to have different opinions on what should be done but perhaps the first step is for countries to reduce spending on needless things and instead focus on the well-being of their people. Work on creating more jobs in order to naturally stimulate the economy. With every country connected to all other countries now days, it’s hard to predict what the consequences could be for the entire world from the actions of just one country.

This meeting, conducted at the Key Bridge Marriott in Arlington, Virginia, was one of the few opportunities conservative leaders will have to gather before the early primaries.

Gingrich’s formal remarks began with a brief commentary on the state of the country, a reminder of how critical this election is to the future of the United States and the posterity of those in the room, and an observation that, “If Obama is re-elected, America will be a very, very different country from the one we grew-up in.”

Interrupted numerous times by applause, Gingrich concluded his remarks by asking the audience “to be with me–not merely for me–because, if you are merely for me, that implies you can vote and go home and expect me to fix things, but for this level of change to occur, I need you working with me every step of the way to make it happen.”

Viguerie led the questioning by noting that “personnel is policy” and that in the 1970s, Ronald Reagan never went any place without being surrounded by the leaders and activists of the conservative movement.  This gave conservatives confidence that, if Reagan were elected, conservatives would follow him into the White House and Cabinet.

When Viguerie asked Gingrich for a similar commitment, the former Speaker replied, “Mine is going to be a conservative administration…This is very tough work that I will be asking people to undertake.  I’m only going to appoint people who are willing to come in to implement our agenda.”

Gingrich concluded his remarks to the uncommitted conservatives to a sustained standing ovation by saying that he expected his opponents in both the primary and the general election to go negative, but that he intended to stay positive and to run a campaign of conservative ideas and that he trusted the American people, faced with the choice between food stamps and paychecks, to choose ideas over slander and character assassination every time.

An extensive report on the meeting is available on the ConservativeHQ.com website at http://www.conservativehq.com/node/5788.

Richard A. Viguerie
ConservativeHQ.com
9625 Surveyor Court, Suite 400
Manassas, Virginia 20110
rav@conservativehq.com

Contact:  Bob Sturm, (703) 396-6974 or Ryan Rogge, (703) 396-6971
After 6 PM Eastern & on weekends,
(703) 307-8176 or (703) 674-6948

Against a backdrop of international uncertainty, including riots in many European cities, government change and continued unrest in the Middle East, an audience of institutional representatives and MEPs joined academics and business people from more than 25 countries to explore the most pressing issues facing Europe and the world today: peace and well-being.

Gianni Pittella and keynote speaker Prem Rawat were introduced by Dr. Anthony Seldon, political historian, author, journalist, and current Headmaster of Wellington College (UK). Referring to Ambassador of Peace Prem Rawat, Dr. Seldon commented, “Peace—what a wonderful country to be Ambassador for.”

Dr. Seldon then set the scene for the event by inviting the whole audience to pause for a moment of silent reflection, describing the feeling of peace as an “ineffable and indescribable experience, which is here now.”

Ambassador of Peace Prem Rawat spoke from the heart and without notes, focusing on the personal need for peace, “one day at a time, one person at a time.” He touched on the issue of conflict, pointing out that “wars happen because people lose respect for each other.” Emphasizing the human connection people have with each other, he added, “Every single being on the face of this earth is your neighbor.”

Referring to the recent low General Election turnout in one European country, Mr. Rawat commented, “Democracy is a few serving the many. Today, democracy has become the many serving the few. I’m not a politician, but I am a human being who holds very close to his heart the fundamental possibility of peace on this earth.” He said that “peace is in the heart of human beings, not in the mind of human beings” and concluded, “Peace needs to be given the chance to happen. We have tried everything else.”

Mr. Pittella and Mr. Rawat took questions from students from the Red Cross Nordic United World College, and then the EU representatives present were invited to show public commitment to peace and well-being by signing the “Pledge to Peace.” Inspired by the lectures of Prem Rawat and his message of personal peace, the Pledge to Peace was created under the patronage of Gianni Pittella. It is a call to action to do something tangible for peace in 2012 and beyond.

Mr. Pittella explained, “the Pledge to Peace is based upon the founding principles of the European Union, the core principles of the Lisbon Treaty 2009, and the Charter of Fundamental Rights. It promotes the development of peace and peace education to enhance the well-being of its peoples.”

After the Pledge to Peace was signed by Mr. Pittella and Mr. Rawat, the first signatory was Linda Pascotto, President of The Prem Rawat Foundation. The Foundation promotes Prem Rawat’s message of peace and his vision of addressing fundamental human needs so that people everywhere can live with dignity, peace and prosperity.

Founding signatories of the Pledge included UN Peace Day creator, Jeremy Gilley from England; Mr. Seemanto Roy, son of Subrata Roy Sahara, Chairman of the Sahara Group in India; and the Honorable Nicolo Cristaldi MEP (Italy) and Mayor of Mazara Del Vallo, Sicily, who had recently invited Mr. Rawat to speak on the topic of peace in that region. Each took a few moments to explain to the audience why they were adding their names to the document, and their own projects in service of peace. Their signatures were followed by those of representative dignitaries from across Europe.

The Secretariat for the Peace and Well-being conference was provided by Associazione Percorsi.

The President of Ukraine saluted the consolidation of the political parties represented in the Ukrainian parliament. He supported the opinions voiced by the members of the opposition about the new law securing democratic and transparent elections in Ukraine.

The new law was voted in by 366 members of the parliament (out of 404 present at the session). After the voting numerous MPs noted that the new legal document would prevent the falsification of the results of the elections.

“Today’s decision is a victory of the opposition,” declared Ruslan Knyazevych who headed the parliamentary commission responsible for the draft law. “We got a law that virtually nullifies the chance of mass falsification and distortion of the people’s will,” he emphasized. MP Sergiy Mishchenko of Batkivshchyna (Notably, Yulia Tymoshenko is one of the leaders of the party.) reckoned that the MPs were choosing between a falsified election and a transparent electoral system.

The new election law reestablished mixed electoral system in Ukraine with election threshold set at 5 percent. The ruling parliament has been elected through proportional vote with 3 percent threshold. According to the new electoral system, 225 MPs being elected through party lists and 225 MPs – through single-member constituencies.

The new law establishes that no blocks of political parties are allowed to participate in the elections. The document also stipulates for the exclusion of the option of not supporting any party or candidate.

The newly signed election law is based on a draft law elaborated by a work group formed by the President of Ukraine. The Venice Commission provided expertize for that draft.

A majority rule was used in Ukraine since the declaration of its independence in 1991 and till the introduction of the mixed electoral system in 1997. The Ukrainian parliament adopted a proportional electoral system in 2006 only to make new changes in five years.

The report reveals how proposals on land use and forestry advanced by industrialized countries (the so-called REDD measures) will reduce economic growth in developing countries and increase the likelihood that efforts to regulate global emissions will fail.

World Growth Chairman Ambassador Alan Oxley released the following statement:

“With all parties in virtual agreement that the Kyoto vision of globally mandated controls on emissions of is now dead, industrialized economies are now pushing developing countries to adopt programs to reduce growth in their forestry and agriculture sectors, and restructure their economies as ‘low carbon economies.’

“The World Growth report reveals how these strategies will reduce economic growth, and illustrates this with a case study of Indonesia.

“Most disturbing is the strategy advanced by environmental activists and some leading industrialized economies that developing countries should cease further conversion of forest land to other productive uses, such as plantations and food production.

“This strategy will simply reduce productive activity and economic growth and does nothing for conservation. Most forested developing countries have already earmarked large areas of forest for conservation, leaving ample forest land for productive uses.

“Furthermore, research has shown that global emissions from forestry have been significantly overstated and are uncertain at best.

“Already, industrialized countries have pledged over US$5 billion to entice developing countries to adopt REDD strategies. While this money is unlikely to eventuate because the global financial crisis, the offer of the aid money has given the REDD program a credibility it does not deserve.

“Development economists have regularly pointed out that developing countries should not implement costly measures to reduce emissions until they have acquired the wealth to afford the cost.  Until industrialized economies accept this reality, efforts to negotiate a new global strategy to manage the impact of global warming will continue to fail.”

Click here to read the report, Restricting Growth: The Impact of Industrialized Country Climate Strategies on the World’s Poor.

To speak with World Growth’s experts or find out more about its work, please email media@worldgrowth.org or call +1-866-467-7200.

World Growth is an international non-governmental organization established to expand the research, information, advocacy, and other resources to improve the economic conditions and living standards in developing and transitional countries. At World Growth, we embrace the age of globalization and the power of free trade to eradicate poverty and create jobs and opportunities. World Growth supports the production of palm oil and the use of forestry as a means to promote economic growth, reduce poverty and mitigate greenhouse gas emissions. World Growth believes a robust cultivation of palm oil and forestry provides an effective means of environmental stewardship that can serve as the catalyst for increasing social and economic development. For more information on World Growth, visit www.worldgrowth.org.

PRB’s “Post-Recession Update on U.S. Social and Economic Trends,” by Linda A. Jacobsen and Mark Mather, finds that while the unemployment rate in November 2011 fell to 8.6% — down from the rate of 9.9% in November 2009 — the pace of job growth is slower than in previous recoveries, and disparities among racial/ethnic groups remain. “At 14.3%, the unemployment rate for blacks in October 2011 was almost double the rate of 7.6% for whites,” says Jacobsen, vice president of Domestic Programs at PRB.

The report explores the economic downturn’s disproportionate impact on young adults, particularly young men.  In 2010, nearly one in five men (19%) ages 25 to 34 was idle (neither working nor attending school), representing a 5 percentage point increase since 2007. “The rising number of young adults living with their parents, often disconnected from work and school, may lead to further declines in marriage, family formation, and childbearing,” says Mark Mather, associate vice president of Domestic Programs at PRB.

Major findings include:

• The poverty rate rose to 15.1% for 2010, up from 13.2% in 2008, a rate not seen since 1993. The poverty gap between children and elderly widened since the onset of the recession; child poverty reached 22% in 2010, a level more than double that of the elderly.
• The racial/ethnic homeownership gap has widened after narrowing for two decades: In 2010, about 73% of non-Hispanic whites were homeowners, compared with 47% of Latinos and only 44% of blacks.
• Americans continued to see their wealth decline between 2008 and 2010 as the median home value dropped $17,600 from $197,500 to $179,900; home values fell the most for Hispanics, 21 percent across this period.
• College enrollment rates among 18-to-24-year-olds held steady or slightly increased between 2008 and 2010: Enrollments for blacks and Hispanics increased, although they still lag behind those of Asian Americans and non-Hispanic whites.
• Marriage rates have fallen among all racial and ethnic groups, and for both men and women. There is a growing marriage gap between young adults with a high school diploma or less, and those with at least a bachelor’s degree.
• The recession appears to be influencing birth rates: U.S. total fertility rate (average number of births per woman) fell from 2.12 children in 2007 to 2.01 in 2009, and may be as low as 1.93 for 2010, according to preliminary estimates.

This analysis is based on data from the U.S. Census Bureau (American Community Survey, Current Population Survey, and Decennial Census), the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, and the National Center for Health Statistics.

The Population Reference Bureau informs people around the world about population, health, and the environment, and empowers them to use that information to improve the well-being of current and future generations.

Contact: Ellen Carnevale, 202-939-5407; ecarnevale@prb.org

WASHINGTON, Dec. 8, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — The Wilson Center’s Canada Institute has launched a major initiative to measure the progress of yesterday’s “Beyond the Border” agreement unveiled by President Barack Obama and Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper.

The long-awaited Agreement’s objective is to guard the long-term economic well-being and security of Americans and Canadians by easing border congestion, enhancing security, and improving the largest trading relationship in the world, which at $1.8 billion in goods and services trade daily, maintains 8 million jobs in the United States.

“I am pleased that The Wilson Center will actively monitor the Action Plan announced by President Obama and Prime Minister Harper,” said Jane Harman, president, director, and CEO of the Wilson Center. “The process to solve mutual security, intelligence, and law enforcement challenges, as well as trade and economic security, must remain open. The Wilson Center’s Canada Institute aims to be at the forefront of the discussion on this process.”

“Canada is key to doubling exports,” President Obama noted in his press conference with Harper, adding that U.S. trade with Canada was key to creating American jobs.

The two-part agreement details plans to integrate cross border law enforcement, create a common set of customs requirements, and establish a “one-stop shopping” window for Canadian and American importers and exporters.

The Wilson Center program will provide outreach to key stakeholders, build a united cross-border consensus in favor of continued progress, and provide evidence-based research that initial efforts are paying off.

“For Beyond the Border to be successful we need an informed public discussion of the progress on how it relates to public, private, and civil society interests,” says David Biette, director of the Canada Institute.

The Canada Institute will work with a variety of businesses, groups, and associations to support the Beyond the Border Action Plan and enhance the economic, security, and political cross-border relationships between the United States and Canada.

For more information contact:
David Biette, Director, Canada Institute
202-691-4133
david.biette@wilsoncenter.org

Laura Dawson, Public Policy Scholar, Canada Institute
202-691-4326
laura.dawson@wilsoncenter.org

The Canada Institute of the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars promotes a free flow of ideas and policy options for deepening understanding, communication, and cooperation between the United States and Canada by engaging policymakers and members of the scholarly, business, and not-or-profit communities in creative dialogue.
www.wilsoncenter.org/canada

The Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars is the living, national memorial to President Wilson, established by Congress in 1968 and headquartered in Washington, D.C. The Center establishes and maintains a neutral forum for free, open, and informed dialogue. It is a nonpartisan institution, supported by public and private funds and engaged in the study of national and world affairs.
www.wilsoncenter.org

Contact: Drew Sample
Phone: (202) 691-4379
drew.sample@wilsoncenter.org

Canada Institute
Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars
One Woodrow Wilson Plaza
1300 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20004-3027
t. 202-691-4301
f. 202-691-4001
Email: canada@wilsoncenter.org
www.wilsoncenter.org/canada

LOS ANGELES, Dec. 8, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — Californians for Population Stabilization (CAPS) has launched a TV campaign in Los Angeles calling for lower levels of legal immigration and temporary foreign workers until Californians are working again.  The ads are launching as President Obama continues to allow more than 1 million legal immigrants and temporary workers a year to come to America and take jobs despite the country’s highest unemployment levels since the Great Depression.

Marilyn DeYoung, Chairwoman of Californians for Population Stabilization, commented, “President Obama had no problem circumventing Congress and invoking Executive Privilege to suspend deportation of 300,000 illegal aliens.  Maybe it’s time he used his Executive Privilege to help unemployed Americans?  He needs to reduce tomorrow’s legal immigration so Californians here today can get back to work.”

In Los Angeles, the unemployment rate is currently more than 11% but several areas of California have topped 16% within the last year.  The national unemployment rate is around 9%.

More legal immigrants settle in California than any other state in the country.  Additionally, the Los Angeles metropolitan area is second only to New York in highest number of legal immigrants settled annually.  Yet, at a time when millions in California can’t find jobs, the Federal Government continues to flood California with legal immigrants and temporary foreign workers.  The policy is having a particularly insidious effect on states like California, where the state has been forced to borrow $40 million a day from the Federal Government to pay unemployment benefits.

“Even if you haven’t lost your job, you’re paying a price for the flood of legal immigration.  It’s coming out of your paycheck in the form of unemployment benefits for our fellow Californians,” commented Marilyn DeYoung, Chairwoman of Californians for Population Stabilization.  “But you can’t blame legal immigrants.  Blame our country’s leaders for continuing policies that are simply antiquated, stale, out of touch and unrealistic.”

Recent studies by the Pew Hispanic Center and Northeastern University of Boston indicate that new immigrants are landing American jobs while Americans are losing jobs.  African Americans, Hispanic Americans and new immigrants have been disproportionately affected by the bad economy, with unemployment rates twice, even three times unemployment rates of the general population.

For more information about CAPS or to view the CAPS LEGAL TV commercial, please visit www.CAPSweb.org.