Frans de Waal: Moral behavior in animals. The Limits to Union: Same-Sex Marriage and the Politics of Civil Rights (Ron Cooper) North Carolina Amendment 1: Voters Weigh Gay Marriage Ban (Becky Adams) North Carolina voters go to the polls Tuesday to decide whether to add a measure banning gay marriage, civil unions and domestic partnerships to the state's constitution, in addition to the state's statutory prohibition against recognition of same-sex marriage. The text of the amendment reads, "Marriage between one man and one woman is the only domestic legal union that shall be valid or recognized in this state. " The state legislature passed the measure last September, placing it on the ballot.
North Carolina is the only southern state not to have a gay marriage ban in its constitution. The amendment could have legal consequences going beyond its intended goal to ban same-sex marriage. The Huffington Post's Lila Shapiro reported that the amendment could change how courts deal with child custody issues, visitation rights and end-of-life arrangements for same-sex couples. The measure appears headed for passage. Rural areas support the amendment by larger margins than urban ones. Homosexuals Shouldn't 'Force' Gay Marriage in Scotland, Says George Michael (Anna Crews) July 20, 2012|11:13 am During a radio interview in Scotland, entertainer George Michael stated that civil partnerships already offer same-sex couples the "same rights" as married couples, leaving to question the need to redefine marriage.
Scotland is vying to become the first U.K. nation to pass legislation legalizing same-sex marriage, although the Scottish government has seen opposition by the Catholic Church and the Church of Scotland. Currently, Scotland allows for same-sex civil partnerships, but there is an increasingly vocal aspect of Scottish society that it focused on fully recognizing marriage for gay couples, BBC reported.
"Civil registration partnerships are legally correct. They give people the same rights as people in marriage … But I don't believe in forcing it and I think it will fail if you force churches who don't believe in it to have gay marriage ceremonies," Michael, who is openly homosexual, explained. Follow us Get CP eNewsletter ›› Are mainstream and social media ignoring famine in the Horn of Africa? « Conversations for a Better World.
Thursday, August 25th, 2011 - 4 comments Ten million people in the Horn of Africa have been affected by the worst drought the region has faced in 60 years. The U.N. estimates that 640,000 children are acutely malnourished. In the last three months 29,000 children under five have died due to the drought and famine. Ten million. Six-hundred and forty thousand. Twenty-nine thousand. Numbers likes these– gigantic, overwhelming do not just creep up on you. The international community largely ignored early warning signs of the crisis until the United Nations formally declared a “famine” in the region on July 20, 2011. An August 1, 2011 New York Times article, “Off Media Radar – Famine Garners Few Donations” written by Stephanie Strom, links limited media coverage of the drought crisis to record low fundraising, despite strong efforts on the part of relief organizations.
Whatever the reason – this disaster is being perpetuated by inaction. What do think? Abortion rights are under attack, and pro-choice advocates are caught in a time warp (Christopher Hotaling) In the nearly four decades since the Supreme Court ruled that women have a fundamental right to decide to have an abortion, the opposition to legal abortion has increased dramatically. Opponents use increasingly sophisticated arguments - focusing on advances in fetal medicine, stressing the rights of parents to have a say in their minor children's health care, linking opposition to abortion with opposition to war and capital punishment, seeking to make abortion not illegal but increasingly unavailable - and have succeeded in swinging public opinion toward their side.
Meanwhile, those of us in the abortion-rights movement have barely changed our approach. We cling to the arguments that led to victory in Roe v. Wade. Abortion is a private decision, we say, and the state has no power over a woman's body. Those arguments may have worked in the 1970s, but today, they are failing us, and focusing on them only risks all the gains we've made. The "pro-choice" brand has eroded considerably.
Some Employers Asking Job Seekers for Facebook Passwords (Heather Savage) Companies want Facebook, Twitter passwords? Ebru Today - Jackie Guzda on Employers Asking for Facebook Passwords. Why I Eat Meat (And Why You Should, Too) - (Stephen Biernesser) News/Culture >> Browse Articles >> Food Writing Featured Author: Jacky Hayward Jacky is an omnivorous eater, food writer, social media nerd, and the founder of Jilli Ice Cream. She currently lives in San Francisco and maintains a blog called OmniEater, which she started in response to the large number of vegetarians and vegans she’s encountered in San Francisco and because of her belief in the importance of omnivorous consumption.
To read what else she’s up to, go to her website Most mornings, Jacky starts her day with a glass of raw milk, a cup of Kona coffee, and two to three pieces of buttered, sour dough toast. You can follow Jacky on twitter @jackyhayward and friend her on Chef’s Blade here I started writing about food because I was tired of vegetarians and vegans telling me I should stop eating meat all together as my carnivorous consumption was inhumane and contrary to humanities’ evolution as a species. Of course, it’s a lot more complicated than this. Animal Legal Defense Fund (Kelly Magoffin) Social Media a Path to Online Gambling (Brent Cinalli)
It’s been six years since the US Congress outlawed “illegal online gambling” without ever defining what the term meant. Congress did say what it wasn’t however: it is not illegal for a state to license online gambling provided that the games are conducted solely inside a state’s boundaries. There are as many as 20 states considering legalization of online gambling in some form, and there is at least some interest in legalizing some gambling at the federal level. Casino and resort operators are waiting around for any of these laws. Many are preparing for what they believe will be the inevitable approval of online gambling by using social media to build their brands and spark interest among potential gamblers. Facebook Inc. International Gaming Technology Inc. Both Ceasars, which owns the ‘World Series of Poker’ brand and MGM have also applied for licenses in Nevada. It’s still early days, but there’s plenty of money on the table. Paul Ausick.