lifesitenews--2020-07-31--Trudeau admits he at first put brake on WE Charity deal because it’d be ‘closely scrutinized’

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OTTAWA , July 31 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) — Prime Minister Justin Trudeau suggested to a House of Commons committee Thursday that he knew there would be a perception of conflict of interest if his cabinet approved a no-bid contract to oversee a $ 912 million student volunteer program to WE Charity , which has close ties to his family .
That ’ s why , when he first heard about the public service ’ s proposed deal on May 8 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the item from the cabinet agenda for further review , Trudeau said during his 90-minute online testimony .
“ Given the scale of the program , the questions that have been raised and my own commitment to youth issues , we needed more time as well .
We ( chief of staff Katie Telford ) both knew that WE Charity was known to be connected to people in our government , including myself , as I ’ d spoken at their events in the past , ” Trudeau said .
“ So we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would be closely scrutinized .
We wanted to make sure that the process and decision were the best possible in the circumstances .
So I decided to pull the CSSG ( Canada Student Service Grant ) proposal from the cabinet agenda for May 8th so that further work could be done.
” But Trudeau did not consult the ethics commissioner , nor did he recuse himself when cabinet subsequently approved the contract on May 22 , which he said was presented as a “ binary choice ” to either green-light the program overseen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ entirely .
Trudeau took a rare step for a Canadian prime minister and testified before the finance committee meeting as his minority government becomes increasingly engulfed by a scandal that implicates Finance Minister Bill Morneau and raises significant questions about WE Charity itself and its relationship with the Liberal government .
Both Trudeau and Morneau are under investigation by the ethics commissioner and both have apologized for not recusing themselves from cabinet discussions to approve a now-cancelled contract that would have seen WE Charity receive up to $ 43.5 million to administer the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ CBC .
The CSSG is part of the Liberals ’ COVID-19 economic relief efforts and was designed to give grants to students in return for volunteer hours , and has apparently been put on hold since the agreement was dissolved July 3 .
Morneau is also facing calls to resign after he told the finance committee on Tuesday that he wrote a cheque that day for $ 41,366 to reimburse WE Charity for travel expenses for two trips his family took with the organization in 2017 .
He has one daughter who works @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spoken at WE Day events on a volunteer basis , and has donated to the organization .
Several former WE Charity staffers also told CBC that they felt pressured to attend Morneau ’ s “ holiday party ” in December 2018 .
Trudeau , who has appeared at many WE events , is under fire because his mother and brother received more than $ 300,000 in the last four years to speak at WE events , and his wife Sophie Gregoire-Trudeau , a WE ambassador who hosts a WE podcast , received $ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in 2012 .
He told the committee he didn ’ t have details on how much money his family received from WE Charity over the years .
“ My mother and my brother are professionals in their own right who have engagements and have for many , many years , with many different organizations across the country , and I don ’ t have the details of their work experiences or expenses , ” he said .
The prime minister also said he had no influence over the public service decision that WE @ @ @ @ @ @ @ managing the student volunteer program .
Trudeau said he does not socialize with Craig and Marc Kielburger , the Ontario Catholic brothers who in 1995 founded Free the Children , the forerunner of today ’ s WE global “ youth empowerment movement ” that includes WE Charity , the for-profit “ social enterprise ” ME to WE , and is perhaps best known for its star-studded WE Day stadium extravaganzas for students .
As criticism of their organization intensifies in the wake of the scandal , the Kielburgers also testified for four hours @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It was revealed in early July that most of the WE Charity board of directors for Canada and the United States either resigned or were replaced in March .
Former Canadian board chair Michelle Douglas told the committee on Tuesday that the charity ’ s management refused to provide her with more financial information during massive layoffs that month , the National Post reported .
Craig Kielburger then asked her to resign and she agreed because “ I could not discharge my governance duties , ” Douglas said .
The brothers testified later @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on what level of reporting was necessary .
They contended that “ inaccurate statements ” are “ truly killing ” their organization , which admittedly has “ grown overly complex.
” WE Charity is also downplaying reports that it violated its loan covenants two years in a row , “ failing to pay back millions in bank loans despite having the assets to do so , ” the National Post reported .
The bank granted deferments because “ WE Charity had tens of millions in real estate secured against these loans.
” It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the contract not to We Charity but to We Charity Foundation , which only received charity status last year and has as its sole purpose to “ hold real estate , ” according to Global News .
“ It is absolutely shocking that the government would say that they provided a grant to WE Charity when in fact they provided the grant or funds to WE Charity Foundation — a shell corporation with no assets , no history , no record of charitable work , ” lawyer Mark Blumberg told Global News .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trudeau ’ s chief of staff Katie Telford on Thursday regarding the timeline of events , notably that Trudeau announced the student volunteer program on April 22 , and that WE Charity began incurring expenses for the program on May 5 , three days before Trudeau said he first heard about the deal and some two weeks before cabinet approved it .
Conservative political strategist Jenni Byrne was among commentators tweeting doubts about this : “ Saying he ‘ pushed back ’ against the deal because he knew what the perception would be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his defence of not committing a conflict of interest when he voted in favour of it in cabinet .
He knew the perception of being in a conflict & did it anyway , ” tweeted Toronto Sun columnist Lorrie Goldstein .
He also referred to the seeming contradictions between various testimonies as a “ like a liar ’ s picnic.
” Committee member NDP MP Charlie Angus questioned whether Trudeau understands what a conflict of interest is , tweeting : This is Trudeau ’ s third ethics investigation since he was elected prime @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dion ruled last year that the prime minister improperly pressured former attorney general Jody Wilson-Raybould to intervene in the criminal prosecution of SNC-Lavalin .
In 2017 , he was found to have breached ethics when he accepted family vacations on the Aga Khan ’ s private island .
It remains to be seen what effect the current controversy will have on the Trudeau government , but WE Charity has announced it is canceling WE Days “ indefinitely , ” pointed out Parents As First Educators ( PAFE ) president Teresa Pierre in an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ scandal may have an additional positive effect of limiting the ability of WE to engage young people in its cult-like movement for ‘ social change , ’ ” she said .
In a study published last year , two researchers at Queen ’ s University described WE Charity as a “ new secular spiritual movement , ” and it recruits young people through the 7,000 schools in Canada -- many of which are Catholic schools -- that are involved in its WE Schools program , wrote Pierre .
Moreover , performances at WE @ @ @ @ @ @ @ family values organizations over the years for their raunchy lyrics and suggestive dance routines , ” she observed Notably , Jennifer Lopez ’ s “ eyebrow-raising ‘ sex romp ’ to her song ‘ Booty ’ in 2014 that had one commentator asking whether WE Day was suitable for young children.
” LifeSiteNews has reported extensively on similar scenarios at WE Days , as well as the fact that Marc Kielburger admitted in March 2011 in a letter to the Ottawa Catholic School Board that Free the Children stocked contraceptives at their Baraka @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bishops asked Canadian and U.S. Catholics to stop funding the charity for this reason .
The brothers signed a Mother ’ s Day Manifesto in 2011 denouncing the Conservatives ’ planned funding cuts to the International Planned Parenthood Federation as a “ paternalistic refusal to offer women in Africa the same rights offered to women in Canada.
” WE Day Toronto to include lewd gay anthem rapper Macklemore performing for school children ‘ Trudeau !
Trudeau !
’ : We Day leads 16,000 youth in chant for Canada ’ s new pro-abortion prime @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but don ’ t take a stance on abortion Kielburger ’ s Free the Children board chairman a leading homosexual activist Kielburgers ’ Free the Children caught promoting abortion for Third World Free the Children manager resigns after report on his work as gay stripper

The Canadian Prime Minister said he knew that with his ties to the charity, the selection ‘would be closely scrutinized’
PETITION: Break up Big Tech tyrants and defend free speech! Sign the petition here.
OTTAWA, July 31, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) — Prime Minister Justin Trudeau suggested to a House of Commons committee Thursday that he knew there would be a perception of conflict of interest if his cabinet approved a no-bid contract to oversee a $912 million student volunteer program to WE Charity, which has close ties to his family.
That’s why, when he first heard about the public service’s proposed deal on May 8, he “pushed back” and pulled the item from the cabinet agenda for further review, Trudeau said during his 90-minute online testimony.
“Given the scale of the program, the questions that have been raised and my own commitment to youth issues, we needed more time as well. We (chief of staff Katie Telford) both knew that WE Charity was known to be connected to people in our government, including myself, as I’d spoken at their events in the past,” Trudeau said.
“So we knew that the selection of WE Charity would be closely scrutinized. We wanted to make sure that the process and decision were the best possible in the circumstances. So I decided to pull the CSSG (Canada Student Service Grant) proposal from the cabinet agenda for May 8th so that further work could be done.”
But Trudeau did not consult the ethics commissioner, nor did he recuse himself when cabinet subsequently approved the contract on May 22, which he said was presented as a “binary choice” to either green-light the program overseen by WE Charity, or reject it entirely.
Trudeau took a rare step for a Canadian prime minister and testified before the finance committee meeting as his minority government becomes increasingly engulfed by a scandal that implicates Finance Minister Bill Morneau and raises significant questions about WE Charity itself and its relationship with the Liberal government.
Both Trudeau and Morneau are under investigation by the ethics commissioner and both have apologized for not recusing themselves from cabinet discussions to approve a now-cancelled contract that would have seen WE Charity receive up to $43.5 million to administer the Canada Student Service Grants program, reported CBC.
The CSSG is part of the Liberals’ COVID-19 economic relief efforts and was designed to give grants to students in return for volunteer hours, and has apparently been put on hold since the agreement was dissolved July 3.
Morneau is also facing calls to resign after he told the finance committee on Tuesday that he wrote a cheque that day for $41,366 to reimburse WE Charity for travel expenses for two trips his family took with the organization in 2017.
He has one daughter who works for WE Charity and another who has spoken at WE Day events on a volunteer basis, and has donated to the organization. Several former WE Charity staffers also told CBC that they felt pressured to attend Morneau’s “holiday party” in December 2018.
Trudeau, who has appeared at many WE events, is under fire because his mother and brother received more than $300,000 in the last four years to speak at WE events, and his wife Sophie Gregoire-Trudeau, a WE ambassador who hosts a WE podcast, received $1,400 to speak at a WE Day in 2012.
He told the committee he didn’t have details on how much money his family received from WE Charity over the years.
“My mother and my brother are professionals in their own right who have engagements and have for many, many years, with many different organizations across the country, and I don’t have the details of their work experiences or expenses,” he said.
The prime minister also said he had no influence over the public service decision that WE Charity was the only organization capable of managing the student volunteer program.
Trudeau said he does not socialize with Craig and Marc Kielburger, the Ontario Catholic brothers who in 1995 founded Free the Children, the forerunner of today’s WE global “youth empowerment movement” that includes WE Charity, the for-profit “social enterprise” ME to WE, and is perhaps best known for its star-studded WE Day stadium extravaganzas for students.
As criticism of their organization intensifies in the wake of the scandal, the Kielburgers also testified for four hours before the committee earlier this week.
It was revealed in early July that most of the WE Charity board of directors for Canada and the United States either resigned or were replaced in March. Former Canadian board chair Michelle Douglas told the committee on Tuesday that the charity’s management refused to provide her with more financial information during massive layoffs that month, the National Post reported.
Craig Kielburger then asked her to resign and she agreed because “I could not discharge my governance duties,” Douglas said.
The brothers testified later that day that they and Douglas disagreed on what level of reporting was necessary. They contended that “inaccurate statements” are “truly killing” their organization, which admittedly has “grown overly complex.”
WE Charity is also downplaying reports that it violated its loan covenants two years in a row, “failing to pay back millions in bank loans despite having the assets to do so,” the National Post reported.
The bank granted deferments because “WE Charity had tens of millions in real estate secured against these loans.”
It also has emerged that the Liberals awarded the contract not to We Charity but to We Charity Foundation, which only received charity status last year and has as its sole purpose to “hold real estate,” according to Global News.
“It is absolutely shocking that the government would say that they provided a grant to WE Charity when in fact they provided the grant or funds to WE Charity Foundation — a shell corporation with no assets, no history, no record of charitable work,” lawyer Mark Blumberg told Global News.
NDP and Conservative committee members also grilled Trudeau’s chief of staff Katie Telford on Thursday regarding the timeline of events, notably that Trudeau announced the student volunteer program on April 22, and that WE Charity began incurring expenses for the program on May 5, three days before Trudeau said he first heard about the deal and some two weeks before cabinet approved it.
Conservative political strategist Jenni Byrne was among commentators tweeting doubts about this:
So @telfordk is saying that @JustinTrudeau announced a $1b program with no thought on how it would be administered. Then the public service spent 16 days developing said policy with no political input or briefing. Anyone who has worked in Govt knows that would never happen — Jenni Byrne (@Jenni_Byrne) July 30, 2020
Conservative commentators likewise greeted Trudeau’s testimony with some skepticism.
“Saying he ‘pushed back’ against the deal because he knew what the perception would be if it was approved is devastating to his defence of not committing a conflict of interest when he voted in favour of it in cabinet. He knew the perception of being in a conflict & did it anyway,” tweeted Toronto Sun columnist Lorrie Goldstein.
He also referred to the seeming contradictions between various testimonies as a “like a liar’s picnic.”
It's like the liar's picnic:
“I think it speaks to his heart and that’s why I’m inspired and hopeful to see what will emerge,” said Craig Kielburger, who has known Trudeau for more than a decade and considers him a friend. https://t.co/ItfAlJKVQY https://t.co/J1MwNJVj6G — Lorrie Goldstein (@sunlorrie) July 31, 2020
Globe and Mail columnist Andrew Coyne tweeted:
Trudeau’s argument, summarized: I had to violate the conflict of interest laws or the program would not have gone ahead. — Andrew Coyne (@acoyne) July 30, 2020
Committee member NDP MP Charlie Angus questioned whether Trudeau understands what a conflict of interest is, tweeting:
The Kielburger brothers carefully cultivated their relationship with @JustinTrudeau.
They hired his family and embedded themselves with @Bill_morneau.
And yet when asked if he understood this was a conflict of interest the PM wouldn't answer.https://t.co/khKr3xlODy — Charlie Angus NDP (@CharlieAngusNDP) July 30, 2020
This is Trudeau’s third ethics investigation since he was elected prime minister in 2015. Ethics commissioner Mario Dion ruled last year that the prime minister improperly pressured former attorney general Jody Wilson-Raybould to intervene in the criminal prosecution of SNC-Lavalin. In 2017, he was found to have breached ethics when he accepted family vacations on the Aga Khan’s private island.
It remains to be seen what effect the current controversy will have on the Trudeau government, but WE Charity has announced it is canceling WE Days “indefinitely,” pointed out Parents As First Educators (PAFE) president Teresa Pierre in an email to supporters.
Thus the “scandal may have an additional positive effect of limiting the ability of WE to engage young people in its cult-like movement for ‘social change,’” she said.
In a study published last year, two researchers at Queen’s University described WE Charity as a “new secular spiritual movement,” and it recruits young people through the 7,000 schools in Canada — many of which are Catholic schools — that are involved in its WE Schools program, wrote Pierre.
Moreover, performances at WE Days “have been repeatedly criticized by family values organizations over the years for their raunchy lyrics and suggestive dance routines,”she observed
Notably, Jennifer Lopez’s “eyebrow-raising ‘sex romp’ to her song ‘Booty’ in 2014 that had one commentator asking whether WE Day was suitable for young children.”
LifeSiteNews has reported extensively on similar scenarios at WE Days, as well as the fact that Marc Kielburger admitted in March 2011 in a letter to the Ottawa Catholic School Board that Free the Children stocked contraceptives at their Baraka medical clinics in Kenya. The Kenyan bishops asked Canadian and U.S. Catholics to stop funding the charity for this reason.
The brothers signed a Mother’s Day Manifesto in 2011 denouncing the Conservatives’ planned funding cuts to the International Planned Parenthood Federation as a “paternalistic refusal to offer women in Africa the same rights offered to women in Canada.”
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lifesitenews--2020-07-31--Trudeau govt launches ‘voluntary’ COVID contact tracing app to keep Canadians ‘safe and healthy’

PETITION : No to mandatory contact tracing and government surveillance for the coronavirus !
Sign the petition here .
OTTAWA , Ontario , July 31 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) – Justin Trudeau ’ s Liberal government announced today a previously promised national coronavirus contact-tracing smartphone application that for now will be used by Canadians on a “ voluntary ” basis .
The Canadian Prime Minister said the free app named “ COVID Alert ” is designed to serve as a tool to help “ limit the spread of COVID-19.
” “ While we have made good progress over the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ very serious threat to the health of Canadians .
As we continue to gradually restart our economy , innovative technologies like this new app will help us keep our families and communities safe and healthy , ” Trudeau said in a press release about the COVID Alert app .
The app will be first available to residents of Ontario to use , with the eventual goal being to bring other provinces and territories “ on board in the coming weeks and months.
” Canada ’ s new national COVID-19 tracing app was promised @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Doug Ford had been urging for a national application for some time as well .
In June , Trudeau first announced that his government would be rolling out a “ Made in Canada ” free national coronavirus contact-tracing smartphone application to Ontario residents to test before going nationwide .
It was promised to be made available starting July 2 but was delayed .
“ COVID Alert ” was developed by the Ontario government , BlackBerry , and Shopify , as well as the federal agency the Canadian Digital Service .
In the government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ app , Ford said he is “ proud ” of the “ Ontario-made app.
” “ I am proud of the fact that this Ontario-made app will now be available to individuals and families right across the country .
It will be another powerful tool to help us stop the spread of this deadly virus and keep people healthy and safe .
I encourage everyone to download it onto your handheld device .
It is free , easy to use , and the responsible thing to do , ” Ford said .
According @ @ @ @ @ @ @ app is available for download in the Apple App Store or the Google Play Store , and “ assigns a random code to a user ’ s device that pings other users of the app via Bluetooth when they are within a range of approximately two metres.
” “ If they test positive for the virus , users can choose to upload their random codes to a central server located in Canada .
Once uploaded , the random codes are stored on the server for 15 days , after which they are automatically @ @ @ @ @ @ @ able to download “ COVID Alert , ” the app will only give a user an alert if they have been in close contact with an individual who tested positive in a province or territory that has the app integrated into its testing system , which is currently only Ontario .
The federal government press release states that “ COVID Alert ” is a collaboration between “ Health Canada , the Canadian Digital Service , the Province of Ontario , and Innovation , Science and Economic Development Canada.
” The news release goes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ undergone a “ security assessment ” by BlackBerry as well as the Canadian Centre for Cyber Security , saying that all “ data provided to the app will be securely stored and protected.
” When first announced in June , Trudeau said the app would be “ completely voluntary .
It will be up to individual Canadians to decide whether to download the app or not , but the app will be most effective when as many people as possible have it.
” Today , he again stated this same message to reporters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be clear , this app is n't mandatory , ” adding `` It 's completely voluntary to download and to use . ''
Alberta was the first Canadian province to launch a voluntary coronavirus contact tracing application in May , the Alberta Health Services ( AHS ) ABTraceTogether app .
At the time , Jay Cameron , a lawyer for the Alberta-based Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms ( JCCF ) , told LifeSiteNews that the legal group is keeping a close eye on government-issued contact tracing apps .
“ We are watching carefully @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and government comfort with accessing and utilizing personal data , ” Cameron said .
Cameron also told LifeSiteNews in May that observing people via a smartphone app constitutes a search .
“ Monitoring someone ’ s whereabouts using their cell phones is , of course , a search , ” Cameron said .
Jill Clayton , Alberta ’ s information and privacy commissioner , raised concerns about the AHS ABTraceTogether app , saying the Alberta government ’ s coronavirus smartphone contact tracing application does indeed run “ a security risk ” for users @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Alberta Premier Jason Kenney suggested the reason the app could not be fixed properly for Apple users was that the federal government had told Apple and Google not to work with Alberta or “ other provincial governments on improving the Trace Together app.
” The Privacy Commissioner of Canada also today released a statement in which he put his support behind the COVID Alert app .
“ Canadians can opt to use this technology knowing it includes very significant privacy protections , ” said Daniel Therrien , privacy commissioner of Canada , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will “ use it .
”

The Prime Minister said the free app named ‘COVID Alert’ is designed to serve as a tool to help ‘limit the spread of COVID-19.’
PETITION: No to mandatory contact tracing and government surveillance for the coronavirus! Sign the petition here.
OTTAWA, Ontario, July 31, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) – Justin Trudeau’s Liberal government announced today a previously promised national coronavirus contact-tracing smartphone application that for now will be used by Canadians on a “voluntary” basis.
The Canadian Prime Minister said the free app named “COVID Alert” is designed to serve as a tool to help “limit the spread of COVID-19.”
“While we have made good progress over the past few months, COVID-19 remains a very serious threat to the health of Canadians. As we continue to gradually restart our economy, innovative technologies like this new app will help us keep our families and communities safe and healthy,” Trudeau said in a press release about the COVID Alert app.
The app will be first available to residents of Ontario to use, with the eventual goal being to bring other provinces and territories “on board in the coming weeks and months.”
Canada’s new national COVID-19 tracing app was promised by Trudeau months ago. Ontario Premier Doug Ford had been urging for a national application for some time as well.
In June, Trudeau first announced that his government would be rolling out a “Made in Canada” free national coronavirus contact-tracing smartphone application to Ontario residents to test before going nationwide.
It was promised to be made available starting July 2 but was delayed.
“COVID Alert” was developed by the Ontario government, BlackBerry, and Shopify, as well as the federal agency the Canadian Digital Service.
In the government press release about the launch of the app, Ford said he is “proud” of the “Ontario-made app.”
“I am proud of the fact that this Ontario-made app will now be available to individuals and families right across the country. It will be another powerful tool to help us stop the spread of this deadly virus and keep people healthy and safe. I encourage everyone to download it onto your handheld device. It is free, easy to use, and the responsible thing to do,” Ford said.
According to the government press release, the app is available for download in the Apple App Store or the Google Play Store, and “assigns a random code to a user’s device that pings other users of the app via Bluetooth when they are within a range of approximately two metres.”
“If they test positive for the virus, users can choose to upload their random codes to a central server located in Canada. Once uploaded, the random codes are stored on the server for 15 days, after which they are automatically deleted.”
Although anyone in Canada is able to download “COVID Alert,” the app will only give a user an alert if they have been in close contact with an individual who tested positive in a province or territory that has the app integrated into its testing system, which is currently only Ontario.
The federal government press release states that “COVID Alert” is a collaboration between “Health Canada, the Canadian Digital Service, the Province of Ontario, and Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada.”
The news release goes on to say that the app has undergone a “security assessment” by BlackBerry as well as the Canadian Centre for Cyber Security, saying that all “data provided to the app will be securely stored and protected.”
When first announced in June, Trudeau said the app would be “completely voluntary. It will be up to individual Canadians to decide whether to download the app or not, but the app will be most effective when as many people as possible have it.”
Today, he again stated this same message to reporters, saying, “I want to be clear, this app isn't mandatory,” adding “It's completely voluntary to download and to use.”
Alberta was the first Canadian province to launch a voluntary coronavirus contact tracing application in May, the Alberta Health Services (AHS) ABTraceTogether app.
At the time, Jay Cameron, a lawyer for the Alberta-based Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms (JCCF), told LifeSiteNews that the legal group is keeping a close eye on government-issued contact tracing apps.
“We are watching carefully and remain concerned about the slippery slope and government comfort with accessing and utilizing personal data,” Cameron said.
Cameron also told LifeSiteNews in May that observing people via a smartphone app constitutes a search.
“Monitoring someone’s whereabouts using their cell phones is, of course, a search,” Cameron said.
Jill Clayton, Alberta’s information and privacy commissioner, raised concerns about the AHS ABTraceTogether app, saying the Alberta government’s coronavirus smartphone contact tracing application does indeed run “a security risk” for users of Apple devices.
Earlier in July, Alberta Premier Jason Kenney suggested the reason the app could not be fixed properly for Apple users was that the federal government had told Apple and Google not to work with Alberta or “other provincial governments on improving the Trace Together app.”
The Privacy Commissioner of Canada also today released a statement in which he put his support behind the COVID Alert app.
“Canadians can opt to use this technology knowing it includes very significant privacy protections,” said Daniel Therrien, privacy commissioner of Canada, in the statement, adding that he will “use it.”
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lifesitenews--2020-07-31--Fauci endorses eye goggles, face shields, calls for masking every flu season

PETITION : Support pastors fighting against oppressive state mandates !
Sign the petition here .
July 31 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) – Americans should add eye protection to their new facewear loadout when going out in public , the Trump administration ’ s controversial COVID-19 adviser said Wednesday in an interview .
`` If you have goggles or an eye shield , you should use it , '' National Institute of Allergy & Infectious Diseases director Dr. Anthony Fauci told ABC News Chief Medical Correspondent Dr. Jennifer Ashton this week .
`` You have mucosa in the nose , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also have mucosa in the eye .
Theoretically , you should protect all the mucosal surfaces.
” He acknowledged the eyewear was not formally recommended yet , but gave it his strong personal recommendation .
Fauci also suggested that masking should morph from a temporary emergency measure to a permanent seasonal practice : `` It is inevitable that we 're going to have some degree of flu .
I 'm hoping that the wearing of masks and other coverings are going to not only protect us against COVID-19 , but also help protect @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Coronavirus Response Coordinator Dr. Deborah Birx echoed Fauci ’ s endorsement of face shields the next day in an interview with Fox & Friends , arguing that whereas the mask is to protect others from what the wearer expels , a face shield “ would decrease the ability for them to touch their eyes and spread the virus as well as those droplets coming towards them.
” She also attempted to put a “ fun ” spin on face shields , stressing that “ you can decorate them.
” The past month has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and state governments requiring individuals to wear masks in public spaces , with a few localities going so far as to encourage residents to report neighbors for noncompliance or even mandate masks in private homes , despite the fact that the science is less certain than many pundits and politicians are .
A “ pooled ( so-called ‘ meta- ’ ) analysis of 10 controlled trials assessing extended , real-world , non-health-care-setting mask usage revealed that masking did not reduce the rate of laboratory-proven infections with the respiratory virus influenza , ” Dr. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ The findings from this unique report — published May 2020 by the CDC ’ s own ‘ house journal ’ ‘ Emerging Infectious Diseases ’ — are directly germane to the question of masking to prevent COVID-19 infection and merit some elaboration.
” Accordingly , Fauci and Birx ’ s latest advice is not sitting well with conservatives skeptical of the broader lockdown regime : “ Worrying about others wearing a mask is like worrying about others wearing a seatbelt or condom , ” wrote Breitbart ’ s John Nolte .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a fascist country under the premise of safety .
And here ’ s Fraud Fauci preparing us to become timid and afraid , preparing us to be scared to leave our home during the sniffle season , preparing us to do anything the government demands for our own good.
” Nolte pointed out that Fauci has changed his tune dramatically since March , when declared that “ people should not be walking around with masks , ” because “ it ’ s not providing the perfect protection that people think that it is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : people keep fiddling with their mask and they keep touching their face.
” Nolte added that he himself does wear a mask , and has done so since before Fauci supported them , but only because his wife ’ s medical situation makes her especially at risk .
“ If it was just me , I ’ d be hoping to catch the corona just to get it over with , ” he said .

PETITION: Support pastors fighting against oppressive state mandates! Sign the petition here.
July 31, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) – Americans should add eye protection to their new facewear loadout when going out in public, the Trump administration’s controversial COVID-19 adviser said Wednesday in an interview.
“If you have goggles or an eye shield, you should use it,” National Institute of Allergy & Infectious Diseases director Dr. Anthony Fauci told ABC News Chief Medical Correspondent Dr. Jennifer Ashton this week. “You have mucosa in the nose, mucosa in the mouth, but you also have mucosa in the eye. Theoretically, you should protect all the mucosal surfaces.” He acknowledged the eyewear was not formally recommended yet, but gave it his strong personal recommendation.
Fauci also suggested that masking should morph from a temporary emergency measure to a permanent seasonal practice: “It is inevitable that we're going to have some degree of flu. I'm hoping that the wearing of masks and other coverings are going to not only protect us against COVID-19, but also help protect us against influenza.”
White House Coronavirus Response Coordinator Dr. Deborah Birx echoed Fauci’s endorsement of face shields the next day in an interview with Fox & Friends, arguing that whereas the mask is to protect others from what the wearer expels, a face shield “would decrease the ability for them to touch their eyes and spread the virus as well as those droplets coming towards them.” She also attempted to put a “fun” spin on face shields, stressing that “you can decorate them.”
The past month has seen an explosion of both private businesses and state governments requiring individuals to wear masks in public spaces, with a few localities going so far as to encourage residents to report neighbors for noncompliance or even mandate masks in private homes, despite the fact that the science is less certain than many pundits and politicians are.
A “pooled (so-called ‘meta-’) analysis of 10 controlled trials assessing extended, real-world, non-health-care-setting mask usage revealed that masking did not reduce the rate of laboratory-proven infections with the respiratory virus influenza,” Dr. Andrew Bostom of Brown University wrote. “The findings from this unique report — published May 2020 by the CDC’s own ‘house journal’ ‘Emerging Infectious Diseases’ — are directly germane to the question of masking to prevent COVID-19 infection and merit some elaboration.”
Accordingly, Fauci and Birx’s latest advice is not sitting well with conservatives skeptical of the broader lockdown regime:
Where is his face shield? https://t.co/OiVN637r4f — Jordan Schachtel (@JordanSchachtel) July 31, 2020
“Worrying about others wearing a mask is like worrying about others wearing a seatbelt or condom,” wrote Breitbart’s John Nolte. “But here we are, turning into a fascist country under the premise of safety. And here’s Fraud Fauci preparing us to become timid and afraid, preparing us to be scared to leave our home during the sniffle season, preparing us to do anything the government demands for our own good.”
Nolte pointed out that Fauci has changed his tune dramatically since March, when declared that “people should not be walking around with masks,” because “it’s not providing the perfect protection that people think that it is. And often there are unintended consequences: people keep fiddling with their mask and they keep touching their face.”
Nolte added that he himself does wear a mask, and has done so since before Fauci supported them, but only because his wife’s medical situation makes her especially at risk. “If it was just me, I’d be hoping to catch the corona just to get it over with,” he said.
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lifesitenews--2020-07-31--New study: Coronavirus lockdowns don’t save lives

July 31 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) – Draconian lockdowns of the type adopted in many American states are less effective at combating COVID-19 than strategies more narrowly targeted at those most in danger , according to a study of 10 different nations released this week by the conservative Heritage Foundation .
The comparative analysis looks at the responses to the coronavirus outbreak employed by the United States , Germany , Australia , New Zealand , South Korea , Italy , Iceland , Norway , Sweden , and Iran .
It first found that while the U.S. leads the free @ @ @ @ @ @ @ China ’ s numbers are believed to be higher , but there are serious doubts as to the credibility of the authoritarian regime ’ s official data ) , and has suffered 200 time the daily deaths of North Korea since June 1 despite having one-fourteenth the population density .
However , it also cautioned that the comparison was potentially misleading , as the U.S. consists of 50 different states which have adopted a range of different responses , and that U.S. cases and deaths are both “ highly concentrated in a few @ @ @ @ @ @ @ For example , New York was America ’ s most hardest-hit state , thanks in part to Democrat Gov .
Andrew Cuomo forcing nursing homes to take in COVID-19 patients , despite elderly residents ’ heightened vulnerability to the virus .
Internationally , the study found : “ Some countries that eschewed lockdown policies and relied on more targeted approaches , such as South Korea and Iceland , have experienced outcomes even better than those that have relied on the more severe lockdown approach , ” while the “ fact that Australia and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ approached the COVID-19 pandemic so differently , yet had similar outcomes , suggests that alternatives to the most restrictive forms of lockdowns have merit , even in the short run.
” “ Specifically , Australia had 13,595 COVID-19 cases ( 0.0534 % of its population ) and 139 deaths ( 0.000546 % of its population ) , while New Zealand had 1,556 cases ( 0.0323 % of its population ) and 22 deaths ( 0.000457 % of its population ) , ” authors Andy Vanderplas and Kevin Dayaratna write .
“ However , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ forecast to increase to 9.2 % by December , while Australia ’ s is expected to increase to 7.6 % over this same time period.
” Both nations responded to their outbreaks by recommending “ social distancing , ” restricting entry to the country by foreign nationals and employing smartphone apps for contact tracing .
But Australia “ has encouraged schools to remain open for in-person classes as much as possible ” and allowed “ important industries , such as construction and mining ” to keep operating , whereas New Zealand ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ restrict New Zealanders ’ economic freedom and travel.
” In another instructive comparison , “ South Korea permitted much of its economy to remain open , choosing instead to engage in aggressive testing and isolating the infected , ” yielding “ 13,979 cases and 298 deaths ( 0.0272 % and 0.000579 % of its population , respectively ” as of July 22 .
By contrast , “ Italy pursued a strict lockdown policy , ” and by the same date “ had 245,590 cases and 35,097 deaths ( 0.406 % and 0.058 % @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” “ Maintaining a strong economy and protecting public health are not mutually exclusive , ” the authors conclude .
“ Focusing on hot spots , protecting the elderly and most vulnerable , utilizing isolation centers to prevent the virus from spreading , taking advantage of contact tracing , and engaging in appropriate testing are policies lawmakers should consider in the coming months.
” The lockdowns across the United States , which have been mandated at the state level but are based in large part on recommendations by the Trump administration , have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ economy and other aspects of public health , thanks to Americans being temporarily forbidden from working in “ non-essential ” jobs , which yields anxiety , as well as the mental and emotional fallout from prolonged social isolation .
“ We ’ re seeing , sadly , far greater suicides now than we are deaths from COVID , ” U.S. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention director Dr. Robert Redfield acknowledged this month .
“ We ’ re seeing far greater deaths from drug overdose that are above excess that we had as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from COVID .
”

July 31, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) – Draconian lockdowns of the type adopted in many American states are less effective at combating COVID-19 than strategies more narrowly targeted at those most in danger, according to a study of 10 different nations released this week by the conservative Heritage Foundation.
The comparative analysis looks at the responses to the coronavirus outbreak employed by the United States, Germany, Australia, New Zealand, South Korea, Italy, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, and Iran.
It first found that while the U.S. leads the free world in confirmed cases per capita (China’s numbers are believed to be higher, but there are serious doubts as to the credibility of the authoritarian regime’s official data), and has suffered 200 time the daily deaths of North Korea since June 1 despite having one-fourteenth the population density.
However, it also cautioned that the comparison was potentially misleading, as the U.S. consists of 50 different states which have adopted a range of different responses, and that U.S. cases and deaths are both “highly concentrated in a few, mostly heavily populated, areas.” For example, New York was America’s most hardest-hit state, thanks in part to Democrat Gov. Andrew Cuomo forcing nursing homes to take in COVID-19 patients, despite elderly residents’ heightened vulnerability to the virus.
Internationally, the study found: “Some countries that eschewed lockdown policies and relied on more targeted approaches, such as South Korea and Iceland, have experienced outcomes even better than those that have relied on the more severe lockdown approach,” while the “fact that Australia and New Zealand, two similar countries, approached the COVID-19 pandemic so differently, yet had similar outcomes, suggests that alternatives to the most restrictive forms of lockdowns have merit, even in the short run.”
“Specifically, Australia had 13,595 COVID-19 cases (0.0534% of its population) and 139 deaths (0.000546% of its population), while New Zealand had 1,556 cases (0.0323% of its population) and 22 deaths (0.000457% of its population),” authors Andy Vanderplas and Kevin Dayaratna write. “However, New Zealand’s unemployment level is forecast to increase to 9.2% by December, while Australia’s is expected to increase to 7.6% over this same time period.”
Both nations responded to their outbreaks by recommending “social distancing,” restricting entry to the country by foreign nationals and employing smartphone apps for contact tracing. But Australia “has encouraged schools to remain open for in-person classes as much as possible” and allowed “important industries, such as construction and mining” to keep operating, whereas New Zealand’s Alert Levels 3 and 4 “highly restrict New Zealanders’ economic freedom and travel.”
In another instructive comparison, “South Korea permitted much of its economy to remain open, choosing instead to engage in aggressive testing and isolating the infected,” yielding “13,979 cases and 298 deaths (0.0272% and 0.000579% of its population, respectively” as of July 22. By contrast, “Italy pursued a strict lockdown policy,” and by the same date “had 245,590 cases and 35,097 deaths (0.406% and 0.058% of its population, respectively).”
“Maintaining a strong economy and protecting public health are not mutually exclusive,” the authors conclude. “Focusing on hot spots, protecting the elderly and most vulnerable, utilizing isolation centers to prevent the virus from spreading, taking advantage of contact tracing, and engaging in appropriate testing are policies lawmakers should consider in the coming months.”
The lockdowns across the United States, which have been mandated at the state level but are based in large part on recommendations by the Trump administration, have come with severe consequences for both the economy and other aspects of public health, thanks to Americans being temporarily forbidden from working in “non-essential” jobs, which yields anxiety, as well as the mental and emotional fallout from prolonged social isolation.
“We’re seeing, sadly, far greater suicides now than we are deaths from COVID,” U.S. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention director Dr. Robert Redfield acknowledged this month. “We’re seeing far greater deaths from drug overdose that are above excess that we had as background than we are seeing the deaths from COVID.”
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lifesitenews--2020-07-31--New survey: People less likely to support abortion pill when they learn how it works

The survey , commissioned by Live Action and conducted by the Polling Company , Inc. , assessed the attitudes of a representative sample of Americans , 95 percent of whom are registered voters .
The survey found that , when given information about the abortion pill and how it affects women and children , Americans are much more likely to oppose the drug than support it .
The abortion pill is a drug called mifepristone ( most commonly sold as the brand Mifeprex ) and works by blocking the pregnancy hormone progesterone , causing a developing child to die of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have been killed by the abortion pill , and 24 women ’ s deaths have been recorded through 2018 .
The abortion pill can lead to maternal death via severe blood loss , infection , or an undiagnosed ectopic pregnancy .
In fact , it is four times more dangerous for women than surgical abortion .
Before watching an informational video about how the abortion pill works ( available here ) , 45 percent of respondents said they supported availability of the drug , and 31 percent said they did not .
After @ @ @ @ @ @ @ respondents who favored the drug ’ s availability had dropped to 39 percent and the percentage who opposed the drug ’ s availability increased to 42 percent – a total swing of 17 percentage points .
More women than men shifted their opinion against availability of the abortion pill , with a notable swing of 29 percentage points among suburban women .
When those who changed their minds were asked an open-ended question about why , the top two responses were seeing information about prenatal development and understanding that the abortion pill works @ @ @ @ @ @ @ baby .
In the survey ’ s messaging series , respondents were asked whether individual facts about the abortion pill made them more likely or less likely to support the abortion pill .
Results of this section revealed that respondents were much more likely to oppose the abortion pill based on each piece of information .
For example , 54 percent of respondents said that the potential removal of FDA regulations , which would place women at risk of undiagnosed ectopic pregnancy and make the drug available to minors and others , would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ drug , while this information made only 18 percent of respondents more likely to support it .
Lila Rose , Founder and President of Live Action , said that the survey results are crucial to informing the pro-life movement ’ s next steps toward the goal of seeing the abortion pill banned in the U.S. : Live Action ’ s survey confirms that accurate medical information on the procedure and prenatal embryology shifts hearts and minds away from the abortion pill .
And accurate medical information is exactly what the abortion industry doesn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to have .
While the abortion industry plots to expand the abortion pill at the expense of children ’ s and women ’ s lives , human rights groups and medical associations are working to sound the alarm and stop the bloodshed .
Every American needs to know what this deadly drug does to children and women .
Live Action ’ s survey takes the pulse on the American public and provides a blueprint for our next steps to stop the killing and ban the drug .
Learn more about the abortion pill @ @ @ @ @ @ @ report , written in consultation with the American Association of Pro-Life OB/GYNS ( AAPLOG ) .
Find survey results here .
Medical associations , pro-life groups to FDA : Ban the abortion pill now Police investigating murder of 28-week-old baby after mom took abortion drugs

More women than men shifted their opinion against availability of the abortion pill, with a notable swing of 29 percentage points among suburban women. When those who changed their minds were asked an open-ended question about why, the top two responses were seeing information about prenatal development and understanding that the abortion pill works by killing a human life or a baby.
WASHINGTON, D.C., July 31, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) – Yesterday, national pro-life organization Live Action released survey results revealing Americans’ views toward the abortion pill.
The survey, commissioned by Live Action and conducted by the Polling Company, Inc., assessed the attitudes of a representative sample of Americans, 95 percent of whom are registered voters. The survey found that, when given information about the abortion pill and how it affects women and children, Americans are much more likely to oppose the drug than support it.
The abortion pill is a drug called mifepristone (most commonly sold as the brand Mifeprex) and works by blocking the pregnancy hormone progesterone, causing a developing child to die of starvation. More than 3.7 million children have been killed by the abortion pill, and 24 women’s deaths have been recorded through 2018. The abortion pill can lead to maternal death via severe blood loss, infection, or an undiagnosed ectopic pregnancy. In fact, it is four times more dangerous for women than surgical abortion.
Before watching an informational video about how the abortion pill works (available here), 45 percent of respondents said they supported availability of the drug, and 31 percent said they did not. After watching the video, the percentage of respondents who favored the drug’s availability had dropped to 39 percent and the percentage who opposed the drug’s availability increased to 42 percent – a total swing of 17 percentage points.
More women than men shifted their opinion against availability of the abortion pill, with a notable swing of 29 percentage points among suburban women. When those who changed their minds were asked an open-ended question about why, the top two responses were seeing information about prenatal development and understanding that the abortion pill works by killing a human life or a baby.
In the survey’s messaging series, respondents were asked whether individual facts about the abortion pill made them more likely or less likely to support the abortion pill. Results of this section revealed that respondents were much more likely to oppose the abortion pill based on each piece of information. For example, 54 percent of respondents said that the potential removal of FDA regulations, which would place women at risk of undiagnosed ectopic pregnancy and make the drug available to minors and others, would make them less likely to support the drug, while this information made only 18 percent of respondents more likely to support it.
Lila Rose, Founder and President of Live Action, said that the survey results are crucial to informing the pro-life movement’s next steps toward the goal of seeing the abortion pill banned in the U.S.:
Live Action’s survey confirms that accurate medical information on the procedure and prenatal embryology shifts hearts and minds away from the abortion pill. And accurate medical information is exactly what the abortion industry doesn’t want women and the public to have. While the abortion industry plots to expand the abortion pill at the expense of children’s and women’s lives, human rights groups and medical associations are working to sound the alarm and stop the bloodshed. Every American needs to know what this deadly drug does to children and women. Live Action’s survey takes the pulse on the American public and provides a blueprint for our next steps to stop the killing and ban the drug.
Learn more about the abortion pill by reading Live Action’s investigative report, written in consultation with the American Association of Pro-Life OB/GYNS (AAPLOG). Find survey results here.
RELATED:
Medical associations, pro-life groups to FDA: Ban the abortion pill now
Police investigating murder of 28-week-old baby after mom took abortion drugs
Leaked email shows UK health authority aware of 2 maternal deaths connected to DIY abortion pills
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lifesitenews--2020-07-31--Medical associations, pro-life groups to FDA: Ban the abortion pill now

URGENT PETITION : Tell the Supreme Court to overturn Roe v. Wade !
Sign the petition here .
WASHINGTON , D.C. , July 31 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) – This week 23 human rights groups , including two medical associations , demanded that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration ( FDA ) Commissioner Stephen Hahn exercise his authority under 21 CFR § 2.5 to ban the abortion pill as an imminent danger to public health .
On July 13 , 2020 , an Obama-appointed federal judge ruled in favor of the abortion industry ’ s request that the in-person @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Evaluation Mitigation Strategy ( REMS ) be blocked during COVID-19 .
The abortion lobby argued that the requirement that women be prescribed the abortion pill in a healthcare setting is an “ undue burden ” to abortion access during COVID-19 , but has openly acknowledged that it considers REMS “ medically unnecessary ” and has been campaigning for its removal for years .
The signatories include the leadership of the American College of Pediatricians , American Association of Pro-Life Obstetricians and Gynecologists , Live Action , Students for Life of America , Samaritan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ B. Anthony List .
In their letter , delivered to Commissioner Hahn , the pro-life organizations argued : “ This rogue judicial activism is a gross breach of the separation of powers , undermining the FDA ’ s statutory authority to regulate drug safety , while recklessly endangering American women and preborn children .
The FDA must fight back.
” The drug , mifepristone ( most commonly sold under the brand name “ Mifeprex ” ) blocks the pregnancy hormone progesterone , resulting in starvation of a developing child in the womb .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ serious that the FDA placed the drug under REMS .
The REMS for Mifeprex requires that women attend an in-person consultation at a qualified facility where the drug is dispensed by a certified provider .
At this in-person visit , the woman must be given patient information materials that alert her to potential risks such as hemorrhage and infection ( which are potentially life-threatening ) , and a missed ectopic pregnancy diagnosis , which can also be fatal .
Lila Rose , Founder and President of Live Action , said that mifepristone should @ @ @ @ @ @ @ place , and that a ban on the abortion pill is long overdue .
“ Mifepristone was not designed to heal an illness or manage symptoms of a disease ; rather , it was designed to kill children , ” said Rose .
“ Mifepristone is not medicine or healthcare.
” “ When the FDA approves drugs , it analyzes whether the risks of the drug outweigh its benefits .
There are no benefits to mifepristone .
The ‘ successful ’ outcome of mifepristone ingestion is a dead child , and the possible @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
It is a grave injustice that the FDA approved mifepristone for U.S. distribution under Bill Clinton twenty years ago , and it is twenty years past time that our elected and appointed federal leaders take the necessary action to ban this catastrophic drug within U.S. borders .
Stop the killing .
Ban the drug .
”

"There are no benefits to mifepristone. The ‘successful’ outcome of mifepristone ingestion is a dead child, and the possible side-effects are an injured or dead woman," commented Live Action's Lila Rose.
URGENT PETITION: Tell the Supreme Court to overturn Roe v. Wade! Sign the petition here.
WASHINGTON, D.C., July 31, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) – This week 23 human rights groups, including two medical associations, demanded that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Commissioner Stephen Hahn exercise his authority under 21 CFR § 2.5 to ban the abortion pill as an imminent danger to public health.
On July 13, 2020, an Obama-appointed federal judge ruled in favor of the abortion industry’s request that the in-person requirement of the FDA’s Risk Evaluation Mitigation Strategy (REMS) be blocked during COVID-19. The abortion lobby argued that the requirement that women be prescribed the abortion pill in a healthcare setting is an “undue burden” to abortion access during COVID-19, but has openly acknowledged that it considers REMS “medically unnecessary” and has been campaigning for its removal for years. The signatories include the leadership of the American College of Pediatricians, American Association of Pro-Life Obstetricians and Gynecologists, Live Action, Students for Life of America, Samaritan’s Purse, and the Susan B. Anthony List.
In their letter, delivered to Commissioner Hahn, the pro-life organizations argued: “This rogue judicial activism is a gross breach of the separation of powers, undermining the FDA’s statutory authority to regulate drug safety, while recklessly endangering American women and preborn children. The FDA must fight back.”
The drug, mifepristone (most commonly sold under the brand name “Mifeprex”) blocks the pregnancy hormone progesterone, resulting in starvation of a developing child in the womb. Mifepristone also poses risks to women so serious that the FDA placed the drug under REMS. The REMS for Mifeprex requires that women attend an in-person consultation at a qualified facility where the drug is dispensed by a certified provider. At this in-person visit, the woman must be given patient information materials that alert her to potential risks such as hemorrhage and infection (which are potentially life-threatening), and a missed ectopic pregnancy diagnosis, which can also be fatal.
Lila Rose, Founder and President of Live Action, said that mifepristone should never have been approved in the first place, and that a ban on the abortion pill is long overdue.
“Mifepristone was not designed to heal an illness or manage symptoms of a disease; rather, it was designed to kill children,” said Rose. “Mifepristone is not medicine or healthcare.”
“When the FDA approves drugs, it analyzes whether the risks of the drug outweigh its benefits. There are no benefits to mifepristone. The ‘successful’ outcome of mifepristone ingestion is a dead child, and the possible side-effects are an injured or dead woman. It is a grave injustice that the FDA approved mifepristone for U.S. distribution under Bill Clinton twenty years ago, and it is twenty years past time that our elected and appointed federal leaders take the necessary action to ban this catastrophic drug within U.S. borders. Stop the killing. Ban the drug.”
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lifesitenews--2020-07-31--Offering our sufferings for God’s greater glory

Formerly Heart to Heart with Mother Miriam , Mother Miriam Live brings you inspiration and solutions for life ’ s @ @ @ @ @ Miriam is a Catholic nun on a mission to bring hope to a world that @ @ @ @ @ let her share that hope and joy with you !
To tune into Mother Miriam @ @ @ @ @ Facebook page here every Monday to Friday at 10am .

To help keep this and other programs on the air, please donate here.
Watch Mother Miriam's Live originally aired in lent and re-aired on 7.31.2020. In today’s episode, Mother Miriam speaks about Saint Paul’s sufferings and how we can properly dispose ourselves to fasting.
You can tune in daily at 10 am EST/7 am PST on our Facebook Page.
Subscribe to Mother Miriam Live email updates here.


lifesitenews--2020-07-31--Police investigating murder of 28-week-old baby after mom took abortion drugs

URGENT PETITION : Tell the Supreme Court to overturn Roe v. Wade !
Sign the petition here .
July 31 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) – Pro-lifers have been warning for several years that the rise of “ at-home abortions ” ( also morbidly known as “ do-it-yourself ” or “ DIY ” abortions ) would come with serious consequences .
Earlier this month , the American pro-life organization Live Action released an extensive investigation into the dangers of the abortion pill , noting , among other side-effects , that complications can include “ severe cramping , contractions , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Drug Administration ( FDA ) notes that women taking the abortion pill should be aware that bleeding could last an average of nine to 16 days , with up to eight percent experiencing bleeding for a month .
FDA statistics cited by Live Action ’ s report also note that the abortion pill has thus far caused “ 24 maternal deaths ” between 2000 , when it was approved , and 2018 .
In total , the abortion pill has resulted in or contributed to over 1,000 hospitalizations—and over 4,000 so-called “ total @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has turned abortion activists into full-time RU-486 pushers , the body count is rising—while the media almost totally ignore the inevitable consequences .
A story today out of the United Kingdom by the Daily Mirror highlights just how gruesome those consequences can be .
Police in the Midlands ( in central England ) have launched a murder investigation into the death of a newborn after the mother took abortion drugs that were mailed to her .
They are also looking into two other cases of babies being aborted at 28 weeks , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s abortion limit of 24 weeks .
Additionally , the Care Quality Commission ( CQC ) , an executive non-departmental public body of the Department of Health and Social Care , has begun examining at-home abortions and has thus far identified up to seven other cases , indicating an “ escalating risk ” with taking abortion drugs at home .
According to the Sun Online , several mothers needed emergency hospital treatment—and “ [ t ] he website also reports that two women died in the North West after early medical abortions in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Nigel Acheson , CQC ’ s Deputy Chief Inspector of Hospitals , speaking to the Mirror : “ We are aware of a small number of serious incidents who have accessed early medical abortion have suffered complications .
We have followed up directly with the providers concerned , and continue to work closely with NHS England and Improvement , the Department of Health and Social Care and the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists to ensure the appropriate safeguards are in place to protect women accessing this service.
” To summarize : Some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pregnancy , thus killing a child whom it is still illegal to kill in the U.K. ( Under British law , before 24 weeks , abortion is healthcare and after 24 weeks , abortion is murder . )
Additionally , two women thus far have died , likely as a result of taking abortion drugs , and others have been hospitalized .
The Sun Online assured readers that “ thousands of women ” have taken the abortion pill safely , which both ignores the fact that the abortion pill is lethal for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cold comfort to those who have lost a loved one to a drug the abortion industry insists is not dangerous .
This trend is just beginning .
The U.K. changed the rules surrounding at-home abortions in April , allowing women to procure abortion drugs by mail and abort their babies at home .
These laws are set to last until 2022 , and women can abort up until the tenth week of pregnancy using abortion pills until then .
They are supposed to utilize “ telemedicine ” —consulting with a physician via phone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , after which a kit with the necessary abortive drugs can be mailed to their homes .
There are no reports as of yet indicating whether doctors signed off on the drugs that were used to kill late-term babies in the womb .
But we do know that these tragic stories are just beginning .
Jonathon ’ s new podcast , The Van Maren Show , is dedicated to telling the stories of the pro-life and pro-family movement .
In his latest episode , he interviews Rob Hoogland , who was ordered by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ boy or face “ family violence ” charges .
Hoogland ’ s daughter was undergoing testosterone treatment against his wishes after being convinced by her school counselor that she was a boy .
To top it off , Hoogland couldn ’ t even share his story or seek help outside his lawyers due to a gag order placed on him by the court .
You can subscribe here and listen to the episode below :

URGENT PETITION: Tell the Supreme Court to overturn Roe v. Wade! Sign the petition here.
July 31, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) – Pro-lifers have been warning for several years that the rise of “at-home abortions” (also morbidly known as “do-it-yourself” or “DIY” abortions) would come with serious consequences. Earlier this month, the American pro-life organization Live Action released an extensive investigation into the dangers of the abortion pill, noting, among other side-effects, that complications can include “severe cramping, contractions, and heavy bleeding.” The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) notes that women taking the abortion pill should be aware that bleeding could last an average of nine to 16 days, with up to eight percent experiencing bleeding for a month.
FDA statistics cited by Live Action’s report also note that the abortion pill has thus far caused “24 maternal deaths” between 2000, when it was approved, and 2018. In total, the abortion pill has resulted in or contributed to over 1,000 hospitalizations—and over 4,000 so-called “total adverse events.” As the coronavirus pandemic has turned abortion activists into full-time RU-486 pushers, the body count is rising—while the media almost totally ignore the inevitable consequences.
A story today out of the United Kingdom by the Daily Mirror highlights just how gruesome those consequences can be. Police in the Midlands (in central England) have launched a murder investigation into the death of a newborn after the mother took abortion drugs that were mailed to her. They are also looking into two other cases of babies being aborted at 28 weeks, which is four weeks after the U.K.’s abortion limit of 24 weeks.
Additionally, the Care Quality Commission (CQC), an executive non-departmental public body of the Department of Health and Social Care, has begun examining at-home abortions and has thus far identified up to seven other cases, indicating an “escalating risk” with taking abortion drugs at home. According to the Sun Online, several mothers needed emergency hospital treatment—and “[t]he website also reports that two women died in the North West after early medical abortions in the last few weeks.”
According to Nigel Acheson, CQC’s Deputy Chief Inspector of Hospitals, speaking to the Mirror: “We are aware of a small number of serious incidents who have accessed early medical abortion have suffered complications. We have followed up directly with the providers concerned, and continue to work closely with NHS England and Improvement, the Department of Health and Social Care and the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists to ensure the appropriate safeguards are in place to protect women accessing this service.”
To summarize: Some women are taking abortion drugs late in pregnancy, thus killing a child whom it is still illegal to kill in the U.K. (Under British law, before 24 weeks, abortion is healthcare and after 24 weeks, abortion is murder.) Additionally, two women thus far have died, likely as a result of taking abortion drugs, and others have been hospitalized. The Sun Online assured readers that “thousands of women” have taken the abortion pill safely, which both ignores the fact that the abortion pill is lethal for the child in question and will surely be cold comfort to those who have lost a loved one to a drug the abortion industry insists is not dangerous.
This trend is just beginning. The U.K. changed the rules surrounding at-home abortions in April, allowing women to procure abortion drugs by mail and abort their babies at home. These laws are set to last until 2022, and women can abort up until the tenth week of pregnancy using abortion pills until then. They are supposed to utilize “telemedicine”—consulting with a physician via phone or video—who will prescribe them the pills, after which a kit with the necessary abortive drugs can be mailed to their homes. There are no reports as of yet indicating whether doctors signed off on the drugs that were used to kill late-term babies in the womb.
But we do know that these tragic stories are just beginning.
Jonathon’s new podcast, The Van Maren Show, is dedicated to telling the stories of the pro-life and pro-family movement. In his latest episode, he interviews Rob Hoogland, who was ordered by a judge to call his daughter a boy or face “family violence” charges. Hoogland’s daughter was undergoing testosterone treatment against his wishes after being convinced by her school counselor that she was a boy. To top it off, Hoogland couldn’t even share his story or seek help outside his lawyers due to a gag order placed on him by the court. You can subscribe here and listen to the episode below:
Follow Jonathon Jonathon Van Maren is a public speaker, writer, and pro-life activist. His commentary has been translated into more than eight languages and published widely online as well as print newspapers such as the Jewish Independent, the National Post, the Hamilton Spectator and others. He has received an award for combating anti-Semitism in print from the Jewish organization B’nai Brith. His commentary has been featured on CTV Primetime, Global News, EWTN, and the CBC as well as dozens of radio stations and news outlets in Canada and the United States. He speaks on a wide variety of cultural topics across North America at universities, high schools, churches, and other functions. Some of these topics include abortion, pornography, the Sexual Revolution, and euthanasia. Jonathon holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in history from Simon Fraser University, and is the communications director for the Canadian Centre for Bio-Ethical Reform. Jonathon’s first book, The Culture War, was released in 2016.
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lifesitenews--2020-07-31--Trump to mobilize military to deliver COVID vaccine to millions ‘very, very quickly’

WASHINGTON , D.C. , July 31 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) – Amid growing concerns about the safety and efficacy of a COVID-19 vaccine , President Donald Trump has announced his administration is “ all set to march when it comes to the [ coronavirus ] vaccine , ” with a military general overseeing the logistics of delivering the still-in-development product .
“ I think you ’ re going to see something that ’ s going to be spectacular , ” Trump said on Thursday .
“ The FDA has approved things at a rate that ’ s a tiny @ @ @ @ @ @ @ during another administration.
” “ We are way ahead on vaccines , way ahead on therapeutics .
And when we have it , we ’ re all set up with our platforms to deliver them very , very quickly , ” he added .
Based on “ a senior administration official , ” Politico reported that “ distribution of any coronavirus vaccine will be a ‘ joint venture ’ between the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [ CDC ] , which typically oversees vaccine allocation , and the Department of Defense.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Department of Defense “ is handling all the logistics of getting the vaccines to the right place , at the right time , in the right condition , ” , the CDC is tasked with tracking any side effects , as well as “ some of the communications through the state relationships [ and ] the state public health organizations.
” On May 15 , President Trump had launched “ Operation Warp Speed ” in order to fast-track the development of a coronavirus vaccine , bringing together “ the best of American @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the United States government , and the excellence and precision of the United States military.
” “ Its objective is to finish developing and then to manufacture and distribute a proven coronavirus vaccine as fast as possible , ” Trump explained .
“ In addition , it will continue accelerating the development of diagnostics and breakthrough therapies.
” At the time , he said the military would help in distributing the vaccine across the country , which has a population of some 300 million .
“ When a vaccine is ready , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , truck , and soldier required to help distribute it to the American people as quickly as possible , ” Trump said .
“ We have the mightiest military in the long history of humankind .
We have the best and most devoted workers ever to walk the face of the Earth .
And now we ’ re combining all of these amazing strengths for the most aggressive vaccine project in history.
” Trump clarified that there will be no mandatory vaccinations , saying that the new vaccine would be for those “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ adding , “ Not everyone is going to want to get it.
” Even though the President vowed to keep any coronavirus vaccine voluntary , observers have questioned the wisdom of fast-tracking the development .
Environmental lawyer Robert F. Kennedy Jr. pointed out during an online debate on July 23 that key parts of testing are being skipped .
“ The Moderna vaccine , which is the lead candidate , skipped the animal testing altogether , ” Kennedy said .
It was also tested on only “ 45 people .
They had a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ medium-dose group of 15 people , and a low growth group of 15 people.
” “ In the low-dose group , one of the people was so sick from the vaccine they had to be hospitalized , ” he explained .
“ That ’ s six percent .
In the high-dose group , three people got so sick they had to be hospitalized .
That ’ s twenty percent.
” In spite of these significant problems , “ they ’ re going ahead , and making two billion doses of that vaccine.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus vaccine is that it ’ s tested not on “ typical Americans , ” but a carefully selected group of people who don ’ t suffer from certain conditions .
“ They use what they call exclusionary criteria , ” Kennedy said .
“ They are only giving these vaccines in these tests that they ’ re doing to the healthiest people.
” “ If you look at their exclusionary idea criteria : You can not be pregnant , you can not be overweight , you must have never smoked a cigarette @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you must have no respiratory problems in your family , you can ’ t suffer asthma , you can ’ t have diabetes , you can ’ t have rheumatoid arthritis or any autoimmune disease .
There has to be no history of seizure in the family .
These are the people they ’ re testing the vaccine on.
” He asked , “ What happens when they give them to the typical American ?
You know , Sally Six-Pack and Joe Bag of Donuts who ’ s 50 pounds overweight and has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ any other medicine … that had that kind of profile in its original phase-one study would be [ dead on arrival ] .
” “ No medical product in the world would be able to go forward with the profile that Moderna has , ” he reiterated .
During yesterday ’ s statements on being ready to deliver a coronavirus vaccine very quickly , Trump mentioned several vaccine developers by name , calling them “ great companies ” that are “ doing very well.
” Kennedy , however , is skeptical of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ convicted serial felon [ s ] .
” “ In the past 10 years , just in the last decade , those companies have paid 35 billion dollars in criminal penalties , damages , fines , for lying to doctors , for defrauding science , for falsifying science , for killing hundreds of thousands of Americans knowingly.
” “ It requires a cognitive dissonance , ” Kennedy commented , “ for people who understand the criminal corporate cultures of these four companies to believe that they ’ re doing this in every @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they ’ re not doing it with vaccines.
” Other observers have also raised ethical and moral questions about a vaccine that is developed by using a cell lines harvested from aborted babies .
A LifeSiteNews petition saying no to mandatory vaccinations has garnered more than 736,000 signatures and can still be signed here .

Trump said that a military general is overseeing the logistics of delivering the vaccine once it is developed.
PETITION: No to mandatory vaccination for the coronavirus! Sign the petition here.
WASHINGTON, D.C., July 31, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) – Amid growing concerns about the safety and efficacy of a COVID-19 vaccine, President Donald Trump has announced his administration is “all set to march when it comes to the [coronavirus] vaccine,” with a military general overseeing the logistics of delivering the still-in-development product.
“I think you’re going to see something that’s going to be spectacular,” Trump said on Thursday. “The FDA has approved things at a rate that’s a tiny fraction of what it would … take during another administration.”
“We are way ahead on vaccines, way ahead on therapeutics. And when we have it, we’re all set up with our platforms to deliver them very, very quickly,” he added.
Based on “a senior administration official,” Politico reported that “distribution of any coronavirus vaccine will be a ‘joint venture’ between the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], which typically oversees vaccine allocation, and the Department of Defense.”
While, according to the official, the Department of Defense “is handling all the logistics of getting the vaccines to the right place, at the right time, in the right condition,”, the CDC is tasked with tracking any side effects, as well as “some of the communications through the state relationships [and] the state public health organizations.”
On May 15, President Trump had launched “Operation Warp Speed” in order to fast-track the development of a coronavirus vaccine, bringing together “the best of American industry and innovation, the full resources of the United States government, and the excellence and precision of the United States military.”
“Its objective is to finish developing and then to manufacture and distribute a proven coronavirus vaccine as fast as possible,” Trump explained. “In addition, it will continue accelerating the development of diagnostics and breakthrough therapies.”
At the time, he said the military would help in distributing the vaccine across the country, which has a population of some 300 million.
“When a vaccine is ready, the U.S. government will deploy every plane, truck, and soldier required to help distribute it to the American people as quickly as possible,” Trump said. “We have the mightiest military in the long history of humankind. We have the best and most devoted workers ever to walk the face of the Earth. And now we’re combining all of these amazing strengths for the most aggressive vaccine project in history.”
Trump clarified that there will be no mandatory vaccinations, saying that the new vaccine would be for those “who want to get it,” adding, “Not everyone is going to want to get it.”
Even though the President vowed to keep any coronavirus vaccine voluntary, observers have questioned the wisdom of fast-tracking the development.
Environmental lawyer Robert F. Kennedy Jr. pointed out during an online debate on July 23 that key parts of testing are being skipped.
“The Moderna vaccine, which is the lead candidate, skipped the animal testing altogether,” Kennedy said. It was also tested on only “45 people. They had a high-dose group of 15 people, a medium-dose group of 15 people, and a low growth group of 15 people.”
“In the low-dose group, one of the people was so sick from the vaccine they had to be hospitalized,” he explained. “That’s six percent. In the high-dose group, three people got so sick they had to be hospitalized. That’s twenty percent.”
In spite of these significant problems, “they’re going ahead, and making two billion doses of that vaccine.”
Another problem with the testing of the coronavirus vaccine is that it’s tested not on “typical Americans,” but a carefully selected group of people who don’t suffer from certain conditions.
“They use what they call exclusionary criteria,” Kennedy said. “They are only giving these vaccines in these tests that they’re doing to the healthiest people.”
“If you look at their exclusionary idea criteria: You cannot be pregnant, you cannot be overweight, you must have never smoked a cigarette, you must have never vaped, you must have no respiratory problems in your family, you can’t suffer asthma, you can’t have diabetes, you can’t have rheumatoid arthritis or any autoimmune disease. There has to be no history of seizure in the family. These are the people they’re testing the vaccine on.”
He asked, “What happens when they give them to the typical American? You know, Sally Six-Pack and Joe Bag of Donuts who’s 50 pounds overweight and has diabetes.”
Kennedy stressed several times that “any other medicine … that had that kind of profile in its original phase-one study would be [dead on arrival].”
“No medical product in the world would be able to go forward with the profile that Moderna has,” he reiterated.
During yesterday’s statements on being ready to deliver a coronavirus vaccine very quickly, Trump mentioned several vaccine developers by name, calling them “great companies” that are “doing very well.”
Kennedy, however, is skeptical of these companies, referring to them as “convicted serial felon[s].”
“In the past 10 years, just in the last decade, those companies have paid 35 billion dollars in criminal penalties, damages, fines, for lying to doctors, for defrauding science, for falsifying science, for killing hundreds of thousands of Americans knowingly.”
“It requires a cognitive dissonance,” Kennedy commented, “for people who understand the criminal corporate cultures of these four companies to believe that they’re doing this in every other product that they have, but they’re not doing it with vaccines.”
Other observers have also raised ethical and moral questions about a vaccine that is developed by using a cell lines harvested from aborted babies.
A LifeSiteNews petition saying no to mandatory vaccinations has garnered more than 736,000 signatures and can still be signed here.
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lifesitenews--2020-07-31--Trader Joe’s refuses to bend knee to woke petition demanding removal of ‘racist’ branding

MONROVIA , CA , July 31 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) ― A popular chain of American supermarkets has resisted “ woke ” demands to change the names of some of its products that some critics consider “ racist.
” In the wake of a well-publicized petition demanding that Trader Joe ’ s change some of its product packaging , and reports that the company would do so , last week the company announced that it would not comply .
“ We want to be clear : we disagree that any of these labels are racist , ” Trader Joe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ We do not make decisions based on petitions , ” the announcement continued .
“ We make decisions based on what customers purchase , as well as the feedback we receive from our customers and Crew Members .
If we feel there is need for change , we do not hesitate to take action.
” The company explained that its decision , decades ago , to use such product names as “ Trader Giotto ’ s ” “ Trader José ’ s , ” and “ Trader Ming ’ s ” was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for other cultures.
” It also cited the name of its “ Avocado ’ s Number ” guacamole as a reference to a mathematical concept .
Trader Joe ’ s stated also that they “ constantly reevaluate ” their decisions for the sake of their business .
All their products were reviewed a couple of years ago , they said , and they had eliminated names and products that weren ’ t doing well .
“ It ’ s kind of what we do , ” said the business .
More recently , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ light-hearted names for their products “ are largely viewed in exactly the way they were intended—as an attempt to have fun with our product marketing.
” “ We continue our ongoing evaluation , and those products that resonate with our customers and sell well will remain on our shelves , ” Trader Joe ’ s affirmed .
The teenage activist who wrote the petition , Briones Bedell , stated in the petition that the food store needed to “ remove racist branding and packaging from its stores.
” Renowned human rights activist Ayaan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ yesterday , saying that its announcement was a “ silver lining on the horizon.
” “ Looks like Trader Joe 's is taking the lead in showing corporations how to stand up to the woke mob , ” she remarked .
Author and mathematician James Lindsay also remarked that the company provided a good example .
“ Trader Joe 's showing the world how it 's done , ” he posted to Twitter .
Steve Skojec , the editor of popular Catholic online magazine OnePeterFive , celebrated the company ’ s courage .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ : Trader Joe ’ s isn ’ t as stupid or craven as you were led to believe , ” he tweeted .
Skojec ’ s remark elicited a testimony that the company is also a good employer .
“ I worked for Trader Joe ’ s for five years and loved a lot about the job , ” wrote Michelle Mitsui of Hobart , Indiana .
“ It was retail , so sometimes it was boring , and sometimes customers were jerks , but they paid us well , and we got @ @ @ @ @ @ @ like people .
I love Trader Joe ’ s. ” Petition writer Bedell noted the contrast between Trader Joe ’ s refusal to change and an earlier admission of error .
Bedell cited a statement made on July 17th by a spokeswoman for Trader Joe ’ s that the company was changing its branding .
San Francisco online newspaper SFGate quotes Kenya Friend-Daniels , Trader Joe ’ s director of public relations , as saying : While this approach to product naming may have been rooted in a lighthearted attempt at inclusiveness , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the opposite effect— one that is contrary to the welcoming , rewarding customer experience we strive to create every day .
With this in mind , we made the decision several years ago to use only the Trader Joe 's name on our products moving forward .
Since then , we have been in the process of updating older labels and replacing any variations with the name Trader Joe 's , and we will continue to do so until we complete this important work .
At this time , I don ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to have the work completed very soon .
Packaging for a number of the products has already been changed , but there ’ s a small number of products in which the packaging is still going through the process .
Bedell seemed confused by the contrast between Trader Joe ’ s statement and that of its spokeswoman .
“ Given the contradictory nature of these statements , we ask that Trader Joe ’ s clarify which ethnically branded products will be modified , ” she wrote .
The high school senior objects to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s by Joe Coloumbe because his vision for the store was inspired by a 1919 travel book and a Disney ride she deems “ exoticism at its worst .
”

'We want to be clear: we disagree that any of these labels are racist'
PETITION: Support priest who was suspended for calling out the Black Lives Matter organization! Sign the petition here.
MONROVIA, CA, July 31, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) ― A popular chain of American supermarkets has resisted “woke” demands to change the names of some of its products that some critics consider “racist.”
In the wake of a well-publicized petition demanding that Trader Joe’s change some of its product packaging, and reports that the company would do so, last week the company announced that it would not comply.
“We want to be clear: we disagree that any of these labels are racist,” Trader Joe’s wrote to its customers.
“We do not make decisions based on petitions,” the announcement continued.
“We make decisions based on what customers purchase, as well as the feedback we receive from our customers and Crew Members. If we feel there is need for change, we do not hesitate to take action.”
The company explained that its decision, decades ago, to use such product names as “Trader Giotto’s” “Trader José’s,” and “Trader Ming’s” was a light-hearted way of showing “appreciation for other cultures.” It also cited the name of its “Avocado’s Number” guacamole as a reference to a mathematical concept.
Trader Joe’s stated also that they “constantly reevaluate” their decisions for the sake of their business. All their products were reviewed a couple of years ago, they said, and they had eliminated names and products that weren’t doing well.
“It’s kind of what we do,” said the business.
More recently, their clientele had assured them that the light-hearted names for their products “are largely viewed in exactly the way they were intended—as an attempt to have fun with our product marketing.”
“We continue our ongoing evaluation, and those products that resonate with our customers and sell well will remain on our shelves,” Trader Joe’s affirmed.
The teenage activist who wrote the petition, Briones Bedell, stated in the petition that the food store needed to “remove racist branding and packaging from its stores.”
We demand that Trader Joe’s remove racist branding and packaging from its stores. The grocery chain labels some of its ethnic foods with modifications of “Joe” that belies a narrative of exoticism that perpetuates harmful stereotypes. For example, “Trader Ming’s” is used to brand the chain’s Chinese food, “Arabian Joe” brands Middle Eastern foods, “Trader José” brands Mexican foods, “Trader Giotto’s” is for Italian food, and “Trader Joe San” brands their Japanese cuisine.
Renowned human rights activist Ayaan Hirsi Ali praised the business on Twitter yesterday, saying that its announcement was a “silver lining on the horizon.”
“Looks like Trader Joe's is taking the lead in showing corporations how to stand up to the woke mob,” she remarked.
Author and mathematician James Lindsay also remarked that the company provided a good example.
“Trader Joe's showing the world how it's done,” he posted to Twitter.
Steve Skojec, the editor of popular Catholic online magazine OnePeterFive, celebrated the company’s courage.
“May I have your attention please: Trader Joe’s isn’t as stupid or craven as you were led to believe,” he tweeted.
Skojec’s remark elicited a testimony that the company is also a good employer.
“I worked for Trader Joe’s for five years and loved a lot about the job,” wrote Michelle Mitsui of Hobart, Indiana.
“It was retail, so sometimes it was boring, and sometimes customers were jerks, but they paid us well, and we got health insurance, and they treated us like people. I love Trader Joe’s.”
Petition writer Bedell noted the contrast between Trader Joe’s refusal to change and an earlier admission of error. Bedell cited a statement made on July 17th by a spokeswoman for Trader Joe’s that the company was changing its branding.
San Francisco online newspaper SFGate quotes Kenya Friend-Daniels, Trader Joe’s director of public relations, as saying:
While this approach to product naming may have been rooted in a lighthearted attempt at inclusiveness, we recognize that it may now have the opposite effect— one that is contrary to the welcoming, rewarding customer experience we strive to create every day. With this in mind, we made the decision several years ago to use only the Trader Joe's name on our products moving forward. Since then, we have been in the process of updating older labels and replacing any variations with the name Trader Joe's, and we will continue to do so until we complete this important work. At this time, I don’t have an exact date but we expect to have the work completed very soon. Packaging for a number of the products has already been changed, but there’s a small number of products in which the packaging is still going through the process.
Bedell seemed confused by the contrast between Trader Joe’s statement and that of its spokeswoman.
“Given the contradictory nature of these statements, we ask that Trader Joe’s clarify which ethnically branded products will be modified,” she wrote.
The high school senior objects to the very founding of Trader Joe’s by Joe Coloumbe because his vision for the store was inspired by a 1919 travel book and a Disney ride she deems “exoticism at its worst.”
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