Why do abusers abuse? This was the central question at the conference entitled "Questions Rarely Asked About Domestic Violence", organized by Ethnic Media Services Friday, December 4th.
Abuse and violence remain in the shadows because we live in a culture of abuse of power. Not all abusers are men, to be sure. But, we must add the question of: Why do men become abusive? Or why are most abusers men?
The COVID-19 pandemic has increased the risk factors for domestic violence, a phenomenon that, according to experts, impacts 1 in 3 women and 1 in 10 men in their lifetime. This violence occurs in all ethnic groups.said psychiatrist Dr. Ravi Chandra of the American Psychiatric Association.
Christmas is possibly the most emotionally charged time of year. We feel everything from excitement and joy to sadness and longing.
The Christmas holidays are one of the most depressing times of the year for people. This phenomenon affects 20 percent of the world's population. People are apathetic, sad and very sensitive. Why does this happen?
The demand to be cheerful
We are exposed to many advertising messages and cultural traditions that seem to "require" us to be happy, in family, with peace and love.
Reality does not always coincide with this state of company and affection. Many people find themselves alone or with recent losses of loved ones, due to breakups, separations or deaths. At this time it is very likely that feelings of longing and sadness for their absence will be intensified. This situation will be magnified this year due to the ravages of the pandemic.
Cultural and commercial messages can then seem impossible to meet. Our perception of isolation, that we are not loved, or that "we are weird" is accentuated and can lead to a depressive mood.
Consumerism
Worst of all, there are people who feel obliged to adapt to a pre-established script about how the celebrations should be during these holidays.
The advertising campaigns of the consumer society seem to "pressure" us to spend significant amounts of money attending social lunches and dinners of various groups, it has also been established as a priority at this time of year to give gifts. It seems that love has to be shown with gifts and the size or cost of the gift is comparable to the intensity of love we have for that person.
Not receiving gifts or having an insufficient economy to meet these requirements, generates feelings of discomfort or inferiority.
In the circumstances we live in, many people have become unemployed, this item can become important in the reasons for unrest.
The frustration of the balance of the year
Christmas and the end of the year are times to reflect on what has been achieved during the period that has just ended. We become aware of the unachieved goals, the shortcomings, the mistakes made. Not having achieved the goals set at the beginning of the year also generates frustration, guilt, anger with oneself. They may even think that they never achieve their goals. It can represent a disappointment of oneself. This stress is caused by self-demanding and can even become somatized, generating feelings of anxiety, negativity, moodiness, eating problems and sleep disorders.
Loneliness
Being with ourselves can be pleasant or bearable, however at this time, not having someone to spend the holidays with can awaken feelings of not being loved, of abandonment, of sadness.
Childhood nostalgia
Christmas is a really happy time for children. We've all been kids at some point. It is possible to miss the magic of that time and experience a nostalgia that weighs on the heart.
Strained family relationships
Families go through difficult times in life. There may be recent deaths, family members away, separation, break-ups, problems between some of their members. Prudence and empathy are our best allies in these cases. If we do not know how to deal with emotional issues, it is best to remain silent. It is valid to show how we feel, but always taking into account how others may take it.
It is also important to talk to the children about what the environment might be like so that they are not taken by surprise, for example; this year when Grandpa died, Grandma might feel a little sad.
We can give you some guidelines about what to do or not to do depending on the specific circumstances.
What do you do if Christmas makes you sad?
But whatever the reason for your unhappiness, you should try to find out what really hurts you or why this holiday period affects you. Christmas itself is not harmful; the pain or anguish it causes you comes from some unresolved conflict of your own.
In order to give it a solution, it is important that you know what it is, because that is where you should work so that this time does not bring about anguish in your life.
Here are some tips on how to combat all these causes of sadness It is essential to remember that Christmas is not eternal, it has a beginning and an end. Therefore, put all causes of concern into perspective. Also, based on your circumstances, consider what you can do to enjoy a happy Christmas.
Sometimes a few small changes of one's own can reverse the sadness and make Christmas a quieter, more conflict-free time.
Differentiate between cultural and advertising mandates and your own desires. Be assertive! Every person has the right to live Christmas according to personal criteria.
Adjust your budget to your financial possibilities in order to avoid excessive expenses. If you feel like giving gifts you can opt for something symbolic. Affection should not be measured by money spent
Say "no" to those social events you don't want to attend. Do it assertively, without guilt, with love and respect. The smart thing to do is to choose where you want to be and with whom.
Use humor and intelligence. Laughter is very healthy. Remember that many of the images of "perfect couples and families at Christmas" are unrealistic and have a commercial purpose. Christmas is one of the times of the year when conflicts between people or between families are most apparent.
Look for the good in the bad. There always is. Positivize!
Change the label. Certain situations like Christmas are neither good nor bad. It depends on how we read about them. Look for the best possible interpretation in your case.
Don't hold on to the sadness. Emotions are fleeting: as they come, they go. If you cling to sadness and feed it sad or negative thoughts, sadness settles longer and deeper in you. Keep in mind that it is okay to be sad for a while, but allow the sadness to move away little by little, just as the waves of the sea do from the shore. Remember that they "always pass". January 7 always comes and with it the end of Christmas.
If you are going to spend it with yourself, maybe enjoying some good movies, a good book or an interesting lecture on YouTube could be a good alternative.
Whether you enjoy this holiday or not depends on where you want to put your focus. If you focus on something positive, on what you do have, on what you can enjoy no matter how small, Christmas can be a time of enjoyment and joy for you.
If in spite of all your state of mind you do not recover and you feel depressed at Christmas a psychologist can help you to overcome the sadness and feel better.
Gloria Sánchez Aguilar has a degree in Psychology and works as a psychotherapist.
The administration of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris has an opportunity to take bold steps to issue executive orders and rescind the harmful actions that the Donald Trump administration has taken against immigrant workers, according to the Migration that Works organization.
The first 100 days of the incoming administration will come at a time of serious public health risks, due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the influenza season, as well as regulations that have been detrimental to migrant workers.
Migration that Works points out in the report called "Prevention of Abuse of Internationally Hired Workers" that between 700,000 and 900,000 immigrant workers enter the United States each year on a temporary work visa.
However, a large proportion are subject to a temporary work visa system that is plagued by labour abuses, including fraud, discrimination and forced labour, and they may even find themselves in difficult situations when they decide to file a complaint, because their source of income depends on it.
During the last five and a half years, more than 4,315 victims of labor trafficking with temporary work visas were reported to the National Human Trafficking Hotline in the United States, although there could be many more.
Therefore, the protection of this vital workforce must be ensured by providing specific recommendations for administrative and legislative action, as well as an immediate rollback of the xenophobic, racist and anti-immigrant rules and policies implemented by the Trump administration.
Among some of these, Migration that Works recommends rescinding all executive orders suspending immigration or prohibiting entry to workers from specific countries, as well as limitations on the Department of Labor's certifications of U and T visa applicants' cooperation with law enforcement.
Also, public charge rules and forms imposing a wealth test for immigrants and non-immigrants, as well as the rule issued by the Department of Labor freezing the wages of foreign farm workers covered by the H2A visa program, should be rescinded.
Similarly, immigration raids on workplaces, social networking data collection for immigrant and non-immigrant visa applicants, and the issuance of Social Security "no-match" letters to employers should be discontinued.
In addition, USCIS rules that temporarily grant employers more flexibility in hiring H-2A and H-2B should be reviewed to determine whether continued employment is warranted, and the Department of Labor's rule that increases current wages to protect the current H-1B workforce and avoid misclassification.
Finally, the Department of Agriculture's farm labor survey should be restored to establish H-2A25 wage rates, as well as Customs and Border Protection awards for intra-company transferees with specialized skills.
The Mexican government announced this morning the vaccination plan to be carried out in the country to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic. The announcement was made by the country's deputy health minister, Hugo López-Gatell.
The vaccine will be universally accessible and free; that is, it covers the entire population in the country.
It will start in Mexico City and in the state of Coahuila, Mexico with the health professionals who are treating patients with COVID-19.
The vaccination campaign is expected to start in the third week of December with vaccines from CanSino Biologics, of Chinese origin with an effectiveness of 97%; the American vaccine Pfizer-BioNTech, with a reported effectiveness of 95%; and, the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine, of European origin with 90% of effectiveness against the SARS-CoV-2 virus.
Mexico's President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador announced that the funds for the vaccination plan are ready, specifically 20 billion pesos, for the purchase of 34 million doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine; 77 million doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine and 35 million doses of the CanSino vaccine.
Lopez-Gatell said the goal is to reach 75% of the population over 16 years old and announced that there will be 7 stages in which the vaccination plan was divided that includes its distribution by age groups:
Health workers. In December 2020 and February 2021.
People 80 years and older. Before February 2021.
People between 70 and 79 years old. Before February 2021.
People between 60 and 69 years old. In February and April 2021.
People between 50 and 59 years old. In April and May 2021.
People between 40 and 49 years old. In May and June 2021.
Population under 40 years of age. From June 2021 and before March 2022
Mexico's Foreign Minister, Marcelo Luis Ebrard Casaubón, said that early access to vaccines was also due to early integration into COVAX, which, according to the World Health Organization -WHO-, aims to "accelerate the development and manufacture of vaccines against COVID-19 and ensure fair and equitable access to them for all countries of the world". In addition, he highlighted the importance of integrating Mexico into the Gavi Vaccine Alliance -Gavi-, the Coalition for the Promotion of Innovations for Epidemic Preparedness -CEPI-.
The minister confirmed that out of 9 potential COVID-19 vaccine candidates, approximately 50 million doses have already been set aside, including vaccines developed by Inovio, Moderna, CureVac, Merk-Themis, Oxford-AstraZeneca, the University of Hong Kong, Novavax, Clover-BioPharma, and the University of Queensland-CLS.
In addition, he noted that the Mexican Ministry of Health will be able to decide on a total of 18 vaccines as long as phase three trials are completed and approved.
For the first time in Redwood's history, four new members of the City Council took virtual action on Monday night, December 7, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, which has resulted in thousands of infections and deaths in the state of California.
Thus, Jeff Gee for District 1, Lissette Espinoza-Garnica for District 3, Michael Smith for District 4, and Alicia Aguirre for District 7, were sworn in tonight to serve the city, after winning the local elections last November 3rd.
The virtual ceremony, in which one by one, the Council took up the position; although it was not as big as in past years, it was emotional, as new members joined the table, making the Council one of the most diverse in the county.
During her speech as the new Redwood City Councilor, Alicia Aguirre, from District 7, referred to feeling honored by the position and expressed her excitement and eagerness to work hand in hand with her colleagues to advance the challenges facing the city today, such as equity and COVID-19, in addition to working for the Latino community, which is facing serious problems due to the virus.
Councilwoman Lissette Espinoza-Garnica, District 3, decided to give her message in English and Spanish, and in it she recalled that she did not imagine that she would be running for Council last summer, since she had just been fired from her job at a nursery school because of the COVID-19 pandemic and was only working as a part-time caregiver for her grandmother, who lives with her family.
However, she said she felt inspired to run for office, as she felt that her voice and those of her community were not being heard and represented in local government.
She thanked all those who supported her during her campaign and the voters, whom she said she hopes to thank "by making meaningful decisions that reflect what our community really wants and needs.
"This is a beginning for a new representation for voices that have not been seen or heard at the table, and perhaps even creating a new table, I look forward to working with the council and residents to make this city a city for all," he concluded.
Jeff Gee, new Alderman for District 1, congratulated his colleagues and noted that in these times of pandemic there is much work to be done, such as keeping communities safe during this public health emergency, as well as seeking to keep small businesses viable and supporting the most vulnerable.
He said that housing for all, economic recovery and investment in infrastructure and transportation are some of the challenges facing the entire community.
"As our city grows and becomes more diverse, we need to work on initiatives that promote equity, diversity and inclusion. I look forward to working together and ensuring that the actions we take as a Council are representative of the residents. There is a way and a way for all of us to participate," she said.
Michael Smith, a councilman for District 4, gave thanks and said he was honored by the trust placed in him to serve in the position he was given today, and pledged to devote his time and energy "to raising the voices of all those who have been left behind before.
"I cannot commit to perfection over the course of the next four years, but I pledge to do my best to fulfill the promises I have made over the past few months. I look forward to working with each of you, especially those who have a more prosperous, more inclusive vision of a better Redwood for all," he said.
Finally, the city's mayor, Diane Howard, congratulated the new four councilmen, welcomed them to the local government, and said that, on behalf of all her colleagues, she looks forward to working with each and every one of them.
After the swearing-in and speeches of the new councillors, it was decided that Giselle Hale would be the new Deputy Mayor of Redwood, a task that will culminate in 2021, as she will act as interim due to the departure of Deputy Mayor Shelly Masur.
It is worth noting that on this day two city councilors said goodbye to their positions: Ian Bain, who has served Redwood for over 15 years, and Janet Borgens, who served from 2015 to 2020, as well as Deputy Mayor Shelly Masur, who could not hold back tears as she said goodbye to her team and thanked them for all their support, as well as her family.
Christian Carlos. With information from Pamela Cruz. Peninsula 360 Press [P360P].
"Throughout this pandemic, we have leveraged California's talent pool to combat this virus and that includes working with tech innovators like Apple and Google," said Gavin Newsom, governor of California.
With this, an app will be launched that will help smartphone users to stop the spread of COVID-19 through exposure alerts, which will let them know when they have come into contact with someone who has tested positive.
Such technology was developed in April 2020, but until now, the California government had the technology offered by Apple and Google. The company based in Cupertino, led by Tim Cook stated that:
Those of us at Apple and Google believe there has never been a more important time to work together to bring solutions to one of the world's most pressing problems. Through close cooperation and collaboration with developers, governments and public health providers, we hope to harness the power of technology and help countries around the world reduce the spread of COVID-19 and accelerate its return to our everyday lives.
In California, new digital tool will be called CA Notifywill be officially launched on Thursday, December 10. "When combined with other actions such as the use of masks and physical distancing, CA Notify can help curb the transmission of COVID-19," said Dr. Mark Ghaly, director of the U.S. Health and Human Services Agency (CHHS).
CA Notify will be covered under the privacy scheme promoted by Apple:
"Privacy, transparency and consent are paramount in this journey and we will integrate that functionality in consultation with relevant stakeholders. We will publicly disclose information about our work so that others can analyze it," Apple said earlier this year.
Ghaly added, "This technology is another way Californians can take proactive steps to keep themselves, their loved ones and their communities safe.
Notably, the state launched a pilot program in September for students, staff and faculty at the University of California, San Diego and San Francisco, and expanded to include five other campuses in mid-November.
Due to the privacy focus of CA NotifyIt is not possible to estimate how many students, faculty, staff and patients have enabled the application, but it is estimated that more than 250,000 people are using the technology as part of the pilot.
The 2019-2020 season of the National Basketball Association (NBA) began with a record number of foreign players. 133 professionals arrived from the 30 franchises of the National Basketball Association. Specifically, 45 countries feed the famous league. The first places are occupied by Canada for contributing 21 players, a country that, in addition, maintains a team like the Toronto Raptors competing in the top category, France 12 and Australia with nine.
The United States stands out for its excellence in the "blast sport" and is known for having the best league in the world. Before the 1980s, European players were rare in American basketball, but today one of the best players comes from Slovenia, Luka Doncic.
On June 18, 1985, the draft which selects the best talent from local universities had the peculiarity of having a team of scouts who had travelled to the old continent to look for league recruitment options. As far back as I can remember, Golden State made their first selection in this style with Japan's Yasutaka Okayama, while the Boston Celtics acquired Greek sensation Panagiotis Giannakis.
There's no shortage of Hispanics on the list. Juan Toscano earned a spot on the Golden State Warriors' roster after participating in the league's summer recruiting program. He has dual Mexican and U.S. citizenship, and his father is Puerto Rican and his mother is from Michoacán.
He signed a contract this year, his position is forward and he plays with number 95, for being the street where he grew up. Toscano Anderson also won the National Professional Basketball League title in Mexico in 2018 with Fuerza Regia.
Pau Gasol was born in Barcelona, Spain, in 1980 and has become one of the best foreigners to have played in the NBA. He has dominated by his quality and quantity of victories both by team and individuals and, together with his brother Marc Gasol, who signed this cycle with the Los Angeles Lakers, they will be the first family duo to stand out in the most winning franchise in the history of the Association.
Globalization has also reached Africa, where some of the biggest names in the NBA today come from. Giannis Antetoukoumpo, a Greek of Nigerian origin, is the star of the East in the league, where he has led the table with the Milwaukee Bucks. In the same conference, he shares the spotlight with Joel Embid, from the 76th Philadelphia team, and Paskal Siakam, champion with the Toronto Raptors in 2019.
Rui Hachimura, born in Toyama, Japan, of Beninese/Japanese descent, is a member of the Washington Wizards, as well as playing for his home country. He plays as a forward and power forward. He is recognised for his efforts against discrimination and prejudice faced by the mixed-race community, saying "I'm Japanese, but I'm half Japanese and half black. I love being like that, I'm very proud to be half African and half Japanese. He also learned English through rapping, PlayStation and Netflix, he says.
Of course, basketball does not discriminate on the basis of language. Four other representatives who play in different NBA franchises come from Brazil. They are Cristiano Felicio, who plays for the Chicago Bulls, Raul Neto, who plays for Philadelphia 76, Nene Hilario, who plays for the Houston Rockets, and Bruno Caboclo, who plays for the Memphis Grizzlies.
The Italians who stand out in the NBA are Marco Belinelli, who is part of the San Antonio Spurs, Danilo Gallinari of the Oklahoma City team and Nicolo Melli, a member of the New Orleans Pelicans, who also represents his country's national team.
Globalization and the openness to preserve the spectacle of the world's best basketball league are once again confronting the ideals, not only of the communities, which are extremely united in this sport, of African Americans, but also of those who feel the stave as the landing strip for those who seek success in foreign lands.
A new home confinement order went into effect in Bay Area counties on Sunday night and Monday morning to try to limit the spread of COVID-19.
The order went into effect at 10:00 p.m. on Sunday in Contra Costa, Santa Clara and San Francisco counties.
At 00:01 am in the city of Berkeley and the rest of Alameda County.
Marin County will go into lockdown Tuesday at noon.
The six jurisdictions announced on Friday the regional order to require most non-essential businesses to close all internal and external operations.
Temporary closures include outdoor restaurants, playgrounds, aesthetics, museums, zoos, cinemas, and wineries, breweries and bars.
Shops and malls will be allowed to operate indoors with a capacity of 20 percent and without eating or drinking in the shops.
A state order announced Thursday will add such restrictions if a specific region of California reached the 15 percent limit of availability in intensive care units, a number that has already been reached by California and the San Joaquin Valley regions.
Health officials from all six jurisdictions decided to comply with the state government's requirements, even though the availability of the ICU in the Bay Area did not exceed the 15 percent availability barrier; as of this Sunday, the remaining 24.1 percent of the ICU occupancy was accounted for.
So far, the order does not cover other counties in the region.
The restrictions will remain in force at least until January 4.
Due to the health contingency for COVID-19 and given that San Mateo County is on purple alert - the highest risk - for the new SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus, this time the new Redwood City Councilmen should be welcomed virtually this Monday, December 7 at 7:00 p.m. local time.
Join us to celebrate and recognize outgoing Council Members 12/7 at 7 p.m. The newly elected City Councilmembers will be installed at the same meeting. All are welcome to stay for the entirety of the meeting.
The ceremony also includes a recognition of outgoing Councillors Ian Bain, Janet Borgens, and Shelly Masur who, in turn, will receive and welcome to the new members of the CouncilDistrict 7, Alicia Aguirre; District 3, Lissette Espinoza-Ganica; District 1, Jeff Gee; and District 4, Michael Smith.
The event will take place virtually via the Zoom remote conference platform at redwoodcity.zoom.us with invitation code 963 2830 9893.
It is worth reminding the community that Redwood City Council votes in all other districts will be held until 2022.
San Francisco-based food innovation company East Just Inc. announced that, after a rigorous review process, its lab-grown chicken was approved for sale in Singapore, which could mark the beginning of a new food in the future.
In a statement the company said that this process is the first regulatory concession at the global level that allows the use of real meat grown directly in a laboratory for human consumption from animal cells.
This breakthrough for the industry builds on Singapore's reputation as a world leader in business, technology and culinary innovation, and emphasizes the country's dedication to entrepreneurial solutions that promote sound environmental management.
According to Eat Just co-founder and CEO Josh Tetrick, "Singapore has for many years been a leader in innovation, from information technology to biological products, and is now a world leader in building a healthier and safer food system.
This regulatory approval, he said, "will be the first of many in Singapore and in other countries. In partnership with the agricultural industry and forward-thinking policymakers, companies like ours can help meet the increased demand for animal protein as our population grows.
It should be noted that the role of cultured meat in creating a safer global food supply has been widely documented, and has even led to an increase in the application of animal cell culture technology for the development of food products in the last decade.
Meat production has increased dramatically in recent years. For example, in 2019 production was estimated at just over 335 million tons, while by 2050 consumption is expected to increase by more than 70 percent.
In addition, public health crises related to conventional meat consumption patterns require much safer, more efficient and less environmentally damaging ways to meet growing consumer demand.
According to safety and quality validations by the Singapore Food Agency, the cultured chicken met the standards for poultry meat, with an extremely low microbiological content and significantly cleaner than conventional chicken.
The analysis also showed that cultured chicken contains a high protein content, a diversified composition of amino acids, a relatively high content of healthy monounsaturated fats and is a rich source of minerals.
And although at the moment this product is significantly more expensive than conventional chicken, as production increases it will be even cheaper than the chicken we are used to buying in supermarkets.
This is a much more sustainable way of meeting the future food needs of the population, since this way of growing meat requires 99 percent less land and up to 96 percent less water.
Thus, the company takes a further step towards the small-scale commercial launch of its new Good Meat brand, details of which will be made known in the future.
