csmonitor--2020-09-11--How South African activists hope to integrate cities built to divide

Late last month in Cape Town , a court sided with such activists , ruling that the city must cancel the sale of a property it owned near its central business district that activists want turned into subsidized housing .
The judgment , experts say , could have a ripple effect , forcing cities to begin reversing a deeply unequal status quo .
In recent years , housing activists have begun pushing city governments to reverse that trend .
Living far from city centers is logistically complicated , and expensive , but for many South Africans , it is a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as well .
Under apartheid , these were the spaces they were allowed to access only with government permission , and often had to leave by the time the sun went down .
For decades , planners largely sidestepped it in favor of addressing an even larger issue – how to simply provide decent housing to people who had been forcibly crowded into poor , segregated communities with few public services .
But much of the government-built housing sits on the edges of cities , in places that reinforce inequalities .
When formal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the mid-1990s , their planners faced an existential puzzle : how to bring people together in cities set up to keep them apart .
The last night Sophie Rubins spent in her rusted tin shack , the first rain of spring spattered against her roof .
From her bed , she watched it slide between the gaps in the walls .
The holes were so big “ you could see the stars , ” she says , and when the water came in , it pooled on the floor , just as it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the last 30 years .
For nearly all of her life , Ms. Rubins had lived here , in a zozo – a sheet-metal shack – in a backyard in Eldorado Park .
The township on Johannesburg ’ s southern edge was built for a mixed-race and Indigenous community known in apartheid ’ s racial hierarchy as “ coloureds.
” It had few jobs or services .
Most work opportunities had always been a long bus ride away , in the “ white ” parts of town .
But this early September night @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the following morning , she was moving to the other side of the city , to a free government-provided apartment that she would own herself .
She ’ d been on a waiting list to receive it for 24 years .
“ I thought I would have this house to raise my kids , ” she says .
“ But I am still glad I will have a beautiful place to die.
” When formal segregation ended in South African cities in the mid-1990s , their planners faced an existential puzzle : How @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to divide ?
For decades , city planners largely sidestepped it altogether in favor of addressing an even larger issue – how to simply provide decent housing to people who had been forcibly crowded into poor , segregated communities with few public services .
Since the end of apartheid , the country ’ s government has built housing for millions of people like Ms. Rubin .
But many are located at the edges of cities , in places that reinforce deep inequalities , rather than shrink them .
In recent years , housing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reverse that trend and build subsidized rental housing near city centers , close to jobs and schools .
While not free , activists say this low-cost housing is a foot in the door for working-class people trying to access parts of the city from which they were once excluded .
On Aug. 31 in Cape Town , a court sided with these activists , ruling that the city must cancel the sale of a property it owned near its central business district that activists want turned into subsidized housing .
“ Unless meaningful @ @ @ @ @ @ @ redress the situation , ” the judges wrote , “ spatial apartheid will be perpetuated.
” The judgment , experts say , could have a ripple effect , forcing South Africa ’ s cities to at last begin to reverse a deeply unequal status quo .
“ It ’ s significant because for the first time a court is saying , well-placed affordable housing isn ’ t something that ’ s nice to have , it ’ s something you must have , ” says Nobukhosi Ngwenya , a junior research fellow at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Town who studies housing inequality in the city .
That goes against the tides of history , but it also cuts against the present .
The apartment Ms. Rubins moved into last week on the western edge of Johannesburg was built as part of the Reconstruction and Development Program ( RDP ) , a herculean government effort begun in the 1990s to reverse decades – in many places centuries – of segregation and Black dispossession from land .
Building on the South African Constitution ’ s mandate to provide “ adequate housing ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to provide free housing to millions who had been denied basic services and decent living conditions by the white government .
By some measures , the RDP has been a major success .
By 2018 , government had built some 3.2 million housing units , and was still delivering .
That year , approximately 13.6 % of South Africans lived in either free or state-subsidized housing .
But to cut costs , nearly all of it has been built on city peripheries , in the same kinds of marginal areas that Black , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ once confined by law .
Ms. Rubins ’ new apartment , for instance , backs up against a mine dump on the city ’ s western edge , in a rambling , low-slung neighborhood of factories and warehouses .
It costs about $ 2 – more than the country ’ s hourly minimum wage – to travel to the city center .
Distance from city centers is logistically complicated , but for many South Africans , it is a matter of injustice in more symbolic ways as well .
Under apartheid , these @ @ @ @ @ @ @ access only with government permission , and often had to leave by the time the sun went down .
“ There have been a lot of struggles for access to land in cities and towns across South Africa , and they have done a lot of good for people , ” says Mandisa Shandu , executive director of Ndifuna Ukwazi , a housing rights nongovernmental organization in Cape Town , which brought the court challenge there .
“ But one thing we ’ ve done in our fight is say that not just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ too.
” In early 2016 , Ndifuna Ukwazi heard that the city of Cape Town had sold a central site , called Tafelberg , to a local private school .
Although the sale had already gone through , the NGO brought a court case arguing that the land wasn ’ t eligible to be sold , because the city was obligated to use the resources it had to provide subsidized housing – including this parcel of land .
The case dragged on for nearly four years , until the court ’ s decision @ @ @ @ @ @ @ And the city and provincial governments were given until the end of May 2021 to present a plan to create low-cost housing in Cape Town ’ s inner city .
“ I think this judgment will have a major impact beyond Cape Town , ” says Edgar Pieterse , director of the African Centre for Cities .
“ Nationwide , it ’ s likely to give greater momentum to the social housing agenda , ” he said , referring to what in the United States is called public housing .
Even with the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one piece of the puzzle .
He says that government must find ways to make sure free and low-cost housing is built not only to put a roof over people ’ s heads , but to make South African cities more equal places to live .
In Johannesburg , for instance , the city government recently spent several years improving public transport and encouraging construction along key routes – designed to make it easier to move between neighborhoods once cleaved apart by segregationist city planning .
But when Ms. Rubins moved into her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t thinking about any of that .
A swarm of government movers in red overalls carried in her shelves and armoires , whose wooden legs were warped and bloated by 30 years of rainstorms .
She peeked out the window of her new bedroom , which overlooked a field strewn with garbage .
Her niece , June Rubins , who had moved into an apartment one floor up the week before , helped her aunt sort through the bags and boxes coming in the door .
She wondered aloud if there were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if the nearby factories might be hiring .
She hoped so , since the city center was a 30-minute drive .
“ If you ’ re desperate and God provides , you must not complain .
You must just say thank you , ” June said .
“ It ’ s a great opportunity for us , even if this place is far away .
”

Late last month in Cape Town, a court sided with such activists, ruling that the city must cancel the sale of a property it owned near its central business district that activists want turned into subsidized housing. The judgment, experts say, could have a ripple effect, forcing cities to begin reversing a deeply unequal status quo.
In recent years, housing activists have begun pushing city governments to reverse that trend. Living far from city centers is logistically complicated, and expensive, but for many South Africans, it is a matter of injustice in more symbolic ways as well. Under apartheid, these were the spaces they were allowed to access only with government permission, and often had to leave by the time the sun went down.
What does opportunity look like, or justice? That abstract question sometimes boils down to a pretty concrete answer. To housing activists in South Africa, it means being able to live in cities once designed to keep people out.
For decades, planners largely sidestepped it in favor of addressing an even larger issue – how to simply provide decent housing to people who had been forcibly crowded into poor, segregated communities with few public services. But much of the government-built housing sits on the edges of cities, in places that reinforce inequalities.
When formal segregation ended in South African cities in the mid-1990s, their planners faced an existential puzzle: how to bring people together in cities set up to keep them apart.
The last night Sophie Rubins spent in her rusted tin shack, the first rain of spring spattered against her roof. From her bed, she watched it slide between the gaps in the walls. The holes were so big “you could see the stars,” she says, and when the water came in, it pooled on the floor, just as it had every time it rained here for the last 30 years.
For nearly all of her life, Ms. Rubins had lived here, in a zozo – a sheet-metal shack – in a backyard in Eldorado Park. The township on Johannesburg’s southern edge was built for a mixed-race and Indigenous community known in apartheid’s racial hierarchy as “coloureds.” It had few jobs or services. Most work opportunities had always been a long bus ride away, in the “white” parts of town.
But this early September night was her last one here, because the following morning, she was moving to the other side of the city, to a free government-provided apartment that she would own herself. She’d been on a waiting list to receive it for 24 years. “I thought I would have this house to raise my kids,” she says. “But I am still glad I will have a beautiful place to die.”
Why We Wrote This What does opportunity look like, or justice? That abstract question sometimes boils down to a pretty concrete answer. To housing activists in South Africa, it means being able to live in cities once designed to keep people out.
When formal segregation ended in South African cities in the mid-1990s, their planners faced an existential puzzle: How do you integrate cities that were built to divide? For decades, city planners largely sidestepped it altogether in favor of addressing an even larger issue – how to simply provide decent housing to people who had been forcibly crowded into poor, segregated communities with few public services. Since the end of apartheid, the country’s government has built housing for millions of people like Ms. Rubin.
But many are located at the edges of cities, in places that reinforce deep inequalities, rather than shrink them. In recent years, housing activists have begun pushing city governments to reverse that trend and build subsidized rental housing near city centers, close to jobs and schools. While not free, activists say this low-cost housing is a foot in the door for working-class people trying to access parts of the city from which they were once excluded.
On Aug. 31 in Cape Town, a court sided with these activists, ruling that the city must cancel the sale of a property it owned near its central business district that activists want turned into subsidized housing. “Unless meaningful attempts are made by the authorities to redress the situation,” the judges wrote, “spatial apartheid will be perpetuated.”
Ryan Lenora Brown/The Christian Science Monitor View caption Hide caption Since 1994, the South African government has provided over 3 million housing units to poor South Africans, including these apartments in Fleurhof, west of Johannesburg.
The judgment, experts say, could have a ripple effect, forcing South Africa’s cities to at last begin to reverse a deeply unequal status quo.
“It’s significant because for the first time a court is saying, well-placed affordable housing isn’t something that’s nice to have, it’s something you must have,” says Nobukhosi Ngwenya, a junior research fellow at the African Centre for Cities in Cape Town who studies housing inequality in the city.
Mixed success
That goes against the tides of history, but it also cuts against the present.
The apartment Ms. Rubins moved into last week on the western edge of Johannesburg was built as part of the Reconstruction and Development Program (RDP), a herculean government effort begun in the 1990s to reverse decades – in many places centuries – of segregation and Black dispossession from land. Building on the South African Constitution’s mandate to provide “adequate housing” to every citizen, the project promised to provide free housing to millions who had been denied basic services and decent living conditions by the white government.
By some measures, the RDP has been a major success. By 2018, government had built some 3.2 million housing units, and was still delivering. That year, approximately 13.6% of South Africans lived in either free or state-subsidized housing.
But to cut costs, nearly all of it has been built on city peripheries, in the same kinds of marginal areas that Black, Asian, and mixed-race South Africans were once confined by law.
Ms. Rubins’ new apartment, for instance, backs up against a mine dump on the city’s western edge, in a rambling, low-slung neighborhood of factories and warehouses. It costs about $2 – more than the country’s hourly minimum wage – to travel to the city center.
Distance from city centers is logistically complicated, but for many South Africans, it is a matter of injustice in more symbolic ways as well. Under apartheid, these were the spaces they were allowed to access only with government permission, and often had to leave by the time the sun went down.
“There have been a lot of struggles for access to land in cities and towns across South Africa, and they have done a lot of good for people,” says Mandisa Shandu, executive director of Ndifuna Ukwazi, a housing rights nongovernmental organization in Cape Town, which brought the court challenge there. “But one thing we’ve done in our fight is say that not just access, but location must be considered too.”
Many-pieced puzzle
In early 2016, Ndifuna Ukwazi heard that the city of Cape Town had sold a central site, called Tafelberg, to a local private school. Although the sale had already gone through, the NGO brought a court case arguing that the land wasn’t eligible to be sold, because the city was obligated to use the resources it had to provide subsidized housing – including this parcel of land.
The case dragged on for nearly four years, until the court’s decision last week to cancel the sale. And the city and provincial governments were given until the end of May 2021 to present a plan to create low-cost housing in Cape Town’s inner city.
“I think this judgment will have a major impact beyond Cape Town,” says Edgar Pieterse, director of the African Centre for Cities. “Nationwide, it’s likely to give greater momentum to the social housing agenda,” he said, referring to what in the United States is called public housing.
Even with the added momentum, subsidized housing is only one piece of the puzzle. He says that government must find ways to make sure free and low-cost housing is built not only to put a roof over people’s heads, but to make South African cities more equal places to live. In Johannesburg, for instance, the city government recently spent several years improving public transport and encouraging construction along key routes – designed to make it easier to move between neighborhoods once cleaved apart by segregationist city planning.
But when Ms. Rubins moved into her new apartment last week, she wasn’t thinking about any of that. A swarm of government movers in red overalls carried in her shelves and armoires, whose wooden legs were warped and bloated by 30 years of rainstorms. She peeked out the window of her new bedroom, which overlooked a field strewn with garbage.
Her niece, June Rubins, who had moved into an apartment one floor up the week before, helped her aunt sort through the bags and boxes coming in the door.
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She wondered aloud if there were any good public schools around, or if the nearby factories might be hiring. She hoped so, since the city center was a 30-minute drive.
“If you’re desperate and God provides, you must not complain. You must just say thank you,” June said. “It’s a great opportunity for us, even if this place is far away.”


csmonitor--2020-09-11--‘We need to listen to each other’: An interracial couple finds hope in love

Since the deaths of Ahmaud Arbery , Breonna Taylor , and George Floyd , the United States has been locked in a tense standoff over race .
The surge of social justice protests this summer have created a public platform for Black Americans to share their experiences with racism and discrimination , prompting many white Americans to consider implicit bias and privilege in new ways .
Phillip and Nancy Hunt , like many interracial couples , have been grappling with these issues for years .
This is their story , as told to Tianna Faulkner .
Mr. and Ms. Hunt @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he on Chicago ’ s South Side , she in the conservative Midwest in Missouri .
But their hearts found each other .
They have been together for 22 years , married for seven .
“ We came from different environments , but we were raised the exact same way and were both heavily influenced by our grandparents , ” says Mr. Hunt .
“ We have the same values .
I didn ’ t see color .
We just really connected.
” They don ’ t have children together , but have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s ex-wife is African American and Mrs. Hunt was previously in another interracial relationship .
Growing up , both Mr. and Mrs. Hunt were both taught not to hate people who didn ’ t look like them .
In raising their own children , discussions are more nuanced .
They talk more overtly about race and Black history .
The children , a black daughter and a bi-racial son , are encouraged to explore their racial identities but also to define themselves in other ways , apart from race .
The children @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and have enabled them to get to know people like themselves , as well as other cultures .
Learning about each other ’ s families and cultures is one of the things that Mrs. Hunt has most enjoyed about being in an interracial relationship .
Outside the home , the couple is always alert to the possibility that others may not be welcoming of their family .
They pick where they go carefully and try to surround themselves with like-minded people as much as possible .
Fortunately , their community has been welcoming @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is pretty friendly to interracial couples , ” says Mrs. Hunt .
“ It ’ s a liberal city .
It ’ s accepted here.
” But being an interracial couple also comes with its challenges , particularly when traveling .
“ One time we stopped in a restaurant in a suburb of Chicago , ” says Mr. Hunt .
“ The stares , the looks , that vibe , it was a little uncomfortable.
” When the couple was visiting Atlanta a few years ago , a baggage claim worker at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that he didn ’ t see many interracial couples in the area .
Once on a trip to visit Mrs. Hunt ’ s parents , the couple was stopped by police in Jackson , Arkansas .
The encounter made her a “ little nervous.
” But for her husband , the incident felt more ominous .
“ Being with Phillip made me understand what privileges I had that I hadn ’ t even recognized in the past .
I know I ’ m treated differently because I am white , ” said Mrs. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Black people have that white people don ’ t , even with a basic traffic stop for example .
I fear for my son , husband , and daughter.
” Growing up in a small rural area , Ms Hunt didn ’ t know anyone Black until after she left home as a young adult .
Mr. Hunt ’ s childhood experience was the exact opposite .
“ Growing up in Chicago , everything I saw was Black , ” says Mr. Hunt .
“ I moved to Iowa .
I didn ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ didn ’ t set out to only date black women .
I wasn ’ t raised to hate.
” But society hasn ’ t embraced the idea of their union quite as readily and the stereotypes that people have about interracial couples take a toll .
“ A stereotype I can ’ t stand is the one where people say a Black man is with a white woman for money , ” says Mr. Hunt .
“ A stereotype I don ’ t like is that I ’ m considered being weak for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ says Mrs. Hunt .
Such stereotypes and biases can be particularly difficult to deal with when they come from family .
Mr. Hunt has had to explicitly tell some of his family members , “ If you are going to be a part of my life , accept it or keep it moving .
Accept me and accept my wife.
” Mrs. Hunt has dealt with family members posting hurtful messages on social media .
“ We got into a big argument , ” she says .
“ It was very hurtful to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other black cousins.
” Despite these differences , the families have been able to gather together with minimal conflict .
“ We don ’ t allow it to be a problem , ” says Mr. Hunt .
“ I ’ m just not going to allow it.
” Mrs. Hunt has sent a similar message to her family .
“ I tell my family to respect my husband and to keep their feelings to themselves , ” she says .
“ Our extended family doesn ’ t get together too much , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ searching for hope , they look no further than each other .
Their love is a testament to the possibility for the future .
Mrs. Hunt hopes that more people can learn to see value in diversity and accept cultural differences as positives rather than negatives .
“ We need to listen to each other , ” says Ms. Hunt .
“ My hope is that we can accept and believe people when they say they experience something different.
” She hopes that others will feel as free to love whomever they want @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ We ’ re not advocates for interracial relationships , ” said Ms. Hunt .
“ We ’ re just two people who love each other .
”

Since the deaths of Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, and George Floyd, the United States has been locked in a tense standoff over race. The surge of social justice protests this summer have created a public platform for Black Americans to share their experiences with racism and discrimination, prompting many white Americans to consider implicit bias and privilege in new ways. Phillip and Nancy Hunt, like many interracial couples, have been grappling with these issues for years. This is their story, as told to Tianna Faulkner.
Mr. and Ms. Hunt grew up in vastly different worlds; he on Chicago’s South Side, she in the conservative Midwest in Missouri. But their hearts found each other. They have been together for 22 years, married for seven.
“We came from different environments, but we were raised the exact same way and were both heavily influenced by our grandparents,” says Mr. Hunt. “We have the same values. I didn’t see color. We just really connected.”
They don’t have children together, but have children from previous relationships. Mr. Hunt’s ex-wife is African American and Mrs. Hunt was previously in another interracial relationship.
Growing up, both Mr. and Mrs. Hunt were both taught not to hate people who didn’t look like them. In raising their own children, discussions are more nuanced. They talk more overtly about race and Black history. The children, a black daughter and a bi-racial son, are encouraged to explore their racial identities but also to define themselves in other ways, apart from race. The children’s schools are also very diverse and have enabled them to get to know people like themselves, as well as other cultures.
Learning about each other’s families and cultures is one of the things that Mrs. Hunt has most enjoyed about being in an interracial relationship.
Outside the home, the couple is always alert to the possibility that others may not be welcoming of their family. They pick where they go carefully and try to surround themselves with like-minded people as much as possible. Fortunately, their community has been welcoming.
“De Moines, Iowa, is pretty friendly to interracial couples,” says Mrs. Hunt. “It’s a liberal city. It’s accepted here.”
But being an interracial couple also comes with its challenges, particularly when traveling.
“One time we stopped in a restaurant in a suburb of Chicago,” says Mr. Hunt. “The stares, the looks, that vibe, it was a little uncomfortable.”
When the couple was visiting Atlanta a few years ago, a baggage claim worker at the airport felt the need to point out that he didn’t see many interracial couples in the area.
Once on a trip to visit Mrs. Hunt’s parents, the couple was stopped by police in Jackson, Arkansas. The encounter made her a “little nervous.” But for her husband, the incident felt more ominous.
“Being with Phillip made me understand what privileges I had that I hadn’t even recognized in the past. I know I’m treated differently because I am white,” said Mrs. Hunt. “There are experiences that Black people have that white people don’t, even with a basic traffic stop for example. I fear for my son, husband, and daughter.”
Growing up in a small rural area, Ms Hunt didn’t know anyone Black until after she left home as a young adult. Mr. Hunt’s childhood experience was the exact opposite.
“Growing up in Chicago, everything I saw was Black,” says Mr. Hunt. “I moved to Iowa. I didn’t have any radical thinking. I didn’t set out to only date black women. I wasn’t raised to hate.”
But society hasn’t embraced the idea of their union quite as readily and the stereotypes that people have about interracial couples take a toll.
“A stereotype I can’t stand is the one where people say a Black man is with a white woman for money,” says Mr. Hunt.
“A stereotype I don’t like is that I’m considered being weak for being with a Black man,” says Mrs. Hunt.
Such stereotypes and biases can be particularly difficult to deal with when they come from family. Mr. Hunt has had to explicitly tell some of his family members, “If you are going to be a part of my life, accept it or keep it moving. Accept me and accept my wife.”
Mrs. Hunt has dealt with family members posting hurtful messages on social media. “We got into a big argument,” she says. “It was very hurtful to me, my son, and his other black cousins.”
Despite these differences, the families have been able to gather together with minimal conflict. “We don’t allow it to be a problem,” says Mr. Hunt. “I’m just not going to allow it.”
Mrs. Hunt has sent a similar message to her family.
“I tell my family to respect my husband and to keep their feelings to themselves,” she says. “Our extended family doesn’t get together too much, but our parents get along fine.”
When searching for hope, they look no further than each other. Their love is a testament to the possibility for the future. Mrs. Hunt hopes that more people can learn to see value in diversity and accept cultural differences as positives rather than negatives.
“We need to listen to each other,” says Ms. Hunt. “My hope is that we can accept and believe people when they say they experience something different.”
Get stories that
empower and uplift daily. By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy Already a subscriber? Log in to hide ads.
She hopes that others will feel as free to love whomever they want as she and her husband have.
“We’re not advocates for interracial relationships,” said Ms. Hunt. “We’re just two people who love each other.”


csmonitor--2020-09-11--Oregon wildfire intensifies as Northern California fire wanes

Deadly wildfires in heavily populated northwest Oregon were growing , with hundreds of thousands of people told to flee encroaching flames , while residents to the south tearfully assessed their losses .
The number of people evacuated statewide because of fires had climbed to an estimated 500,000 – more than 10 % of the 4.2 million people in the state , the Oregon Office of Emergency Management reported late Thursday .
One fire approached the city of Molalla , triggering a mandatory evacuation order for the community of about 9,000 people located 30 miles south of Portland .
A police @ @ @ @ @ @ @ loudspeaker blaring “ evacuate now.
” Inmates were being moved from a women ’ s prison less than a mile from Interstate 5 in Portland ’ s southern suburbs “ out of an abundance of caution , ” the Oregon Department of Corrections said .
With two large fires threatening to merge , some firefighters in Clackamas County , which includes Molalla , were told to disengage temporarily because of the danger .
Officials tried to reassure residents who abandoned their homes , and law enforcement said patrols would be stepped up to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said on Twitter : “ To be clear , your firefighters are still working hard on the wildfires in Clackamas County .
They are taking a ‘ tactical pause ’ to allow firefighters to reposition , get accountability & evaluate extreme fire conditions.
” Meanwhile residents of the small Oregon town of Phoenix , near the California state line along Interstate 5 , walked through a scene of devastation after one of the state ’ s many wildfires wiped out much of their community .
A mobile home park , houses , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on charred ground .
Many of the residents were immigrants , with few resources to draw on .
Artemio Guterrez stood helplessly next to his pick-up , surveying the rubble of his mobile home .
His children sat quietly in the truck bed and waited for him to salvage what he could .
He was able to find a ceramic pot with a smiley face on it , some charred miniature houses from a Christmas-themed village , and a cross that formed when two pieces of glass melted together .
Mr. Guterrez , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been at work at a vineyard nearby when he saw thick smoke spreading through Rogue River Valley .
He raced home just in time to snatch his kids from the trailer park where they live alongside dozens of other Mexican families .
They got out with just the clothes on their back .
“ I ’ m going to start all over again .
It ’ s not easy but it ’ s not impossible either .
You have to be a little tough in situations like this , ” said Mr. Guterrez @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mother ’ s funeral in Mexico .
Entire mobile home parks with many units occupied by Mexican immigrants who worked in nearby vineyards or doing construction were reduced to ash in Phoenix and nearby Talent .
“ We ’ re kind of like a family .
We ’ ve known each other for years , since we came here or even before then , ” Mr. Guterrez said of his neighbors at Talent Mobile Estates .
“ We ’ re living day by day.
” Meanwhile , a Northern California wildfire that destroyed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s deadliest blaze of the year with 10 people confirmed dead – and the toll could climb as searchers look for 16 missing people .
The North Complex fire that exploded in wind-driven flames earlier in the week was advancing more slowly Friday after the winds eased and smoke from the blaze shaded the area and lowered the temperature , allowing firefighters to make progress , authorities said .
However , the smoke made for poor visibility and fire helicopters couldn ’ t fly Thursday .
In most parts of the state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ danger because of hot , dry weather or gusty winds were lifted .
Only a day or two earlier , the North Complex fire tore through Sierra Nevada foothills so quickly that fire crews were nearly engulfed , locals fled for their lives to a pond , and the town of Berry Creek , population 525 , was gutted .
More than 2,000 homes and other buildings had burned in the fire , which began several weeks ago as a lightning-sparked collection of blazes northeast of San Francisco .
The final toll is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ assessment teams planned to begin a methodical search of the burned areas on Friday .
Among those unaccounted for were Sandy Butler and her husband , who had called their son to say they were going to try to escape the flames by finding shelter in a pond .
“ We ’ re still hoping and praying for good news , ” said Jessica Fallon , who has two children with the Butler ’ s grandson and considers them her own grandparents .
“ Everything is replaceable , but not my grandparents ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ everything than those two .
They kind of held the family together.
” Ms. Fallon said she ’ d been peppering hospitals with phone calls in search of her grandparents .
There was no word of them late Thursday night .
The speed and ferocity of the fire astonished observers , even those who remembered a blaze only two years earlier that killed some 85 people and devastated the town of Paradise , a few miles away from the current blaze .
Residents jammed the main road out of town on Wednesday amid @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lifted an evacuation warning for Paradise on Thursday but authorities urged people to remain alert .
A crew fighting the fire was overrun by flames Wednesday when winds shifted and its members escaped with only minor injuries after deploying emergency shelters .
It was the second time in two days that firefighters in California had to take the rare last-ditch effort to save their lives .
“ It ’ s a historic season on top of a historic season that replaced a historic season .
We just keep setting new precedents , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said Sean Norman , a battalion chief with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection .
Oregon Governor Kate Brown said more than 900,000 acres – greater than the size of Rhode Island – have burned in Oregon in the past three days – nearly double the territory that burns in a typical year .
Oregon officials were shocked by the number of simultaneous fires , which stood at 37 Thursday , according to the state Office of Emergency Management .
In Washington , wildfires have scorched nearly 937 square miles .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ herself lucky .
Her house was spared and she escaped with her cat , Louie .
“ You could see the flames .
You could hear things popping – gas tanks and propane tanks exploding , ” she said .
“ I have my house .
I have my life .
I have my cat and I have my job – and right now , that ’ s all I need.
” This story was reported by The Associated Press .
Brian Melley reported from Los Angeles .
Andrew Selsky reported from Salem @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Antczak in Los Angeles ; Sara Cline in Salem ; Nick Geranios in Spokane , Washington ; and Lisa Baumann in Seattle contributed to this report .

Deadly wildfires in heavily populated northwest Oregon were growing, with hundreds of thousands of people told to flee encroaching flames, while residents to the south tearfully assessed their losses.
The number of people evacuated statewide because of fires had climbed to an estimated 500,000 – more than 10% of the 4.2 million people in the state, the Oregon Office of Emergency Management reported late Thursday.
One fire approached the city of Molalla, triggering a mandatory evacuation order for the community of about 9,000 people located 30 miles south of Portland. A police car rolled through the streets with a loudspeaker blaring “evacuate now.”
Inmates were being moved from a women’s prison less than a mile from Interstate 5 in Portland’s southern suburbs “out of an abundance of caution,” the Oregon Department of Corrections said.
With two large fires threatening to merge, some firefighters in Clackamas County, which includes Molalla, were told to disengage temporarily because of the danger. Officials tried to reassure residents who abandoned their homes, and law enforcement said patrols would be stepped up to prevent looting.
The local fire department said on Twitter: “To be clear, your firefighters are still working hard on the wildfires in Clackamas County. They are taking a ‘tactical pause’ to allow firefighters to reposition, get accountability & evaluate extreme fire conditions.”
“We haven’t abandoned you,” the fire officials said.
Meanwhile residents of the small Oregon town of Phoenix, near the California state line along Interstate 5, walked through a scene of devastation after one of the state’s many wildfires wiped out much of their community. A mobile home park, houses, and businesses were burned, leaving twisted remains on charred ground.
Many of the residents were immigrants, with few resources to draw on.
Artemio Guterrez stood helplessly next to his pick-up, surveying the rubble of his mobile home. His children sat quietly in the truck bed and waited for him to salvage what he could. He was able to find a ceramic pot with a smiley face on it, some charred miniature houses from a Christmas-themed village, and a cross that formed when two pieces of glass melted together.
Mr. Guterrez, a single father of four, had been at work at a vineyard nearby when he saw thick smoke spreading through Rogue River Valley. He raced home just in time to snatch his kids from the trailer park where they live alongside dozens of other Mexican families. They got out with just the clothes on their back.
“I’m going to start all over again. It’s not easy but it’s not impossible either. You have to be a little tough in situations like this,” said Mr. Guterrez, who had just returned from his mother’s funeral in Mexico. Entire mobile home parks with many units occupied by Mexican immigrants who worked in nearby vineyards or doing construction were reduced to ash in Phoenix and nearby Talent.
“We’re kind of like a family. We’ve known each other for years, since we came here or even before then,” Mr. Guterrez said of his neighbors at Talent Mobile Estates. “We’re living day by day.”
California firefighters make progress
Meanwhile, a Northern California wildfire that destroyed a foothill hamlet has become the state’s deadliest blaze of the year with 10 people confirmed dead – and the toll could climb as searchers look for 16 missing people.
The North Complex fire that exploded in wind-driven flames earlier in the week was advancing more slowly Friday after the winds eased and smoke from the blaze shaded the area and lowered the temperature, allowing firefighters to make progress, authorities said.
However, the smoke made for poor visibility and fire helicopters couldn’t fly Thursday.
In most parts of the state, red flag warnings of extreme fire danger because of hot, dry weather or gusty winds were lifted.
Only a day or two earlier, the North Complex fire tore through Sierra Nevada foothills so quickly that fire crews were nearly engulfed, locals fled for their lives to a pond, and the town of Berry Creek, population 525, was gutted.
More than 2,000 homes and other buildings had burned in the fire, which began several weeks ago as a lightning-sparked collection of blazes northeast of San Francisco. The final toll is expected to be much higher. Damage assessment teams planned to begin a methodical search of the burned areas on Friday.
Among those unaccounted for were Sandy Butler and her husband, who had called their son to say they were going to try to escape the flames by finding shelter in a pond.
“We’re still hoping and praying for good news,” said Jessica Fallon, who has two children with the Butler’s grandson and considers them her own grandparents. “Everything is replaceable, but not my grandparents’ lives. I’d rather lose everything than those two. They kind of held the family together.”
Ms. Fallon said she’d been peppering hospitals with phone calls in search of her grandparents. There was no word of them late Thursday night.
The speed and ferocity of the fire astonished observers, even those who remembered a blaze only two years earlier that killed some 85 people and devastated the town of Paradise, a few miles away from the current blaze.
Residents jammed the main road out of town on Wednesday amid falling ash and red skies. Authorities lifted an evacuation warning for Paradise on Thursday but authorities urged people to remain alert.
A crew fighting the fire was overrun by flames Wednesday when winds shifted and its members escaped with only minor injuries after deploying emergency shelters. It was the second time in two days that firefighters in California had to take the rare last-ditch effort to save their lives.
“It’s a historic season on top of a historic season that replaced a historic season. We just keep setting new precedents, and then we keep destroying them,” said Sean Norman, a battalion chief with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.
Oregon reels from simultaneous fires
Oregon Governor Kate Brown said more than 900,000 acres – greater than the size of Rhode Island – have burned in Oregon in the past three days – nearly double the territory that burns in a typical year. Oregon officials were shocked by the number of simultaneous fires, which stood at 37 Thursday, according to the state Office of Emergency Management. In Washington, wildfires have scorched nearly 937 square miles.
Back in Phoenix, Marty Curtis considered herself lucky. Her house was spared and she escaped with her cat, Louie.
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“You could see the flames. You could hear things popping – gas tanks and propane tanks exploding,” she said. “I have my house. I have my life. I have my cat and I have my job – and right now, that’s all I need.”
This story was reported by The Associated Press. Brian Melley reported from Los Angeles. Andrew Selsky reported from Salem, Oregon. Associated Press writers John Antczak in Los Angeles; Sara Cline in Salem; Nick Geranios in Spokane, Washington; and Lisa Baumann in Seattle contributed to this report.


csmonitor--2020-09-13--Afghan peace talks: Face-to-face negotiations launched

Afghanistan ’ s warring sides started negotiations for the first time , bringing together the Taliban and delegates appointed by the Afghan government Saturday for historic meetings aimed at ending decades of war .
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo attended the opening ceremony in Qatar , where the meetings are taking place and where the Taliban maintain a political office .
The start of negotiations was the latest in a flurry of diplomatic activity by the Trump administration ahead of the U.S. presidential election in November .
“ Each of you carry a great responsibility , ” Mr. Pompeo @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an opportunity to overcome your divisions . ''
While Saturday 's opening was about ceremony , the hard negotiations will be held behind closed doors and over a number of sessions .
But following a meeting with the Taliban on Saturday in Doha , Washington 's peace envoy Zalmay Khalilzad said the U.S. and every Afghan would like to see a deal “ sooner rather than later.
” The sides will be tackling tough issues in the negotiations , which will include the terms of a permanent cease-fire , the rights of women @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tens of thousands of Taliban fighters and militias loyal to warlords , some of them aligned with the government .
Khalilzad said a quick , permanent cease-fire is unlikely , but held out hope for a gradual reduction in violence until both sides are ready to end their fighting .
Mistrust runs deep on both sides , he said .
The Afghan negotiation teams are also expected to discuss constitutional changes and power sharing during their talks .
Subsequent rounds of negotiations could be held outside Doha .
Germany is among the countries @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seemingly mundane issues like the flag and the name of the country — the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan or the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan , as the Taliban 's administration was known when it ruled — could find their way onto the negotiation table and roil tempers .
Among the government-appointed negotiators are four women , who have vowed to preserve women 's rights in any power-sharing deal with the hard-line Taliban .
This includes the right to work , education and participation in political life , all denied to women when the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Taliban were ousted in 2001 by a U.S.-led coalition for harboring Osama bin Laden , the architect of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on America .
No women are on the Taliban 's negotiation team , led by their chief justice Abdul Hakim .
The insurgent movement has said it accepted a woman 's right to work , go to school and participate in politics but would not accept a woman as president or chief justice .
Deeply conservative members of the government-appointed High Council for National Reconciliation , which is overseeing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ca n't serve in either post .
At the opening ceremonies , there was some sign of Taliban changes in attitudes .
Several Taliban jostled to to take photographs of leader Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar as he addressed the ceremony .
Photography was banned during the Taliban rule as being against Islam .
Baradar said the Taliban envisioned an Islamic system that embraces all Afghans , without elaborating .
He also urged patience as the negotiations proceeded , urging both sides to stick with the talks even in the face of problems .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but the request is that the negotiations move forward with a lot of patience , with a lot of attention , and it should be continued with such kind of attention , ” he said .
“ We want to give them ( people of Afghanistan ) this assurance that with full honesty we continue the Afghan peace negotiation , and we try for peace and tranquility , we will pave the ground in Afghanistan.
” Abdullah Abdullah , who heads Kabul 's High Council for National Reconciliation , said in his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to agree on every detail , but should announce a humanitarian cease-fire .
Both sides will be “ peace heroes ” if negotiations bring about a lasting peace that protects Afghanistan 's independence and leads to a system based on Islamic principles that preserves the rights of all people , said Abdullaah.. Pompeo warned that their decisions and conduct will affect both the size and conduct of U.S. assistance .
He encouraged the negotiators to respect Afghanistan ’ s rich diversity , including women and ethnic and religious minorities .
He said that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ political system is theirs to make , the U.S. has found that democracy and rotation of political power works best .
“ I can only urge these actions .
You will write the next chapter of Afghan history , ” he said .
Pompeo spoke the day after the 19th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks .
He said the U.S. will never forget the 9/11 , and that America welcomes the Taliban commitment not to host terrorist groups , including al-Qaida , which was responsible for the carnage .
The intra-Afghan negotiations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Washington signed with the Taliban on Feb. 29 .
At that time the deal was touted as Afghanistan 's best chance at peace in 40 years of war .
Yet Abdullah noted that since that agreement was reached , 1,200 people have been killed and more than 15,000 wounded in attacks across the country .
The United Nations has urged a reduction of violence and criticized civilian casualties on both sides .
The current talks had been originally expected to begin within weeks of the signed agreement between the Taliban and the U.S @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Afghan government balked at releasing 5,000 Taliban prisoners , which was stipulated in the deal as a sign of good faith ahead of the negotiations .
The Taliban were required to release 1,000 government and military personnel in their custody .
Political turmoil in Kabul further delayed talks as Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and his rival in controversial presidential polls the year before , Abdullah Abdullah , squabbled over who won , with both declaring victory .
The Taliban refusal to reduce the violence further hindered the start of talks .
Still @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Afghanistan does not hinge on the success of the talks .
Washington 's withdrawal is contingent on the Taliban honoring commitments to fight terrorist groups , in particular the Islamic State affiliate in Afghanistan , and ensure that Afghanistan can not again be used to attack America or its allies .
“ The Taliban have work to do .
We see progress , but they have work to do , ” said Khalilzad .
“ We have a timetable which is that withdrawal should be completed if the conditions are met by the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ refused to give specific of the guarantees citing security reasons , but the withdrawal of U.S. troops has already begun .
President Donald Trump has said tha '' t by November , about 4,000 soldiers will be in Afghanistan , down from 13,000 when the deal was signed in February .
All troops will be gone by April if Taliban fulfill their commitment to fight terrorists .
“ Washington ’ s goals are very simple : It wants intra-Afghan talks happening as soon as possible , because these give the White House political @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said Michael Kugelman , deputy director of the Washington-based Wilson Center 's Asia program .
“ Trump likely wants a peace deal before the election , so that he can garner political benefits galore and pitch himself as a Nobel Peace Prize candidate .
But presumably even he realizes it ’ s wildly unrealistic to expect a deal so soon .
These types of negotiations tend to be measured in years , not weeks.
” The talks in Doha follow the Trump administration-brokered recognition of Israel by two Gulf Arab nations - Bahrain @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in August .
Gannon reported from Islamabad .
Associated Press Writer Rahim Faiez in Kabul , Afghanistan contributed to this report

Afghanistan’s warring sides started negotiations for the first time, bringing together the Taliban and delegates appointed by the Afghan government Saturday for historic meetings aimed at ending decades of war.
United States Secretary of State Mike Pompeo attended the opening ceremony in Qatar, where the meetings are taking place and where the Taliban maintain a political office. The start of negotiations was the latest in a flurry of diplomatic activity by the Trump administration ahead of the U.S. presidential election in November.
“Each of you carry a great responsibility,” Mr. Pompeo told the participants. “You have an opportunity to overcome your divisions."
While Saturday's opening was about ceremony, the hard negotiations will be held behind closed doors and over a number of sessions. But following a meeting with the Taliban on Saturday in Doha, Washington's peace envoy Zalmay Khalilzad said the U.S. and every Afghan would like to see a deal “sooner rather than later.”
The sides will be tackling tough issues in the negotiations, which will include the terms of a permanent cease-fire, the rights of women and minorities, and the disarming of tens of thousands of Taliban fighters and militias loyal to warlords, some of them aligned with the government.
Mr. Khalilzad said a quick, permanent cease-fire is unlikely, but held out hope for a gradual reduction in violence until both sides are ready to end their fighting. Mistrust runs deep on both sides, he said.
The Afghan negotiation teams are also expected to discuss constitutional changes and power sharing during their talks. Subsequent rounds of negotiations could be held outside Doha. Germany is among the countries offering to host future negotiations.
Even seemingly mundane issues like the flag and the name of the country – the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan or the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, as the Taliban's administration was known when it ruled – could find their way onto the negotiation table and roil tempers.
Among the government-appointed negotiators are four women, who have vowed to preserve women's rights in any power-sharing deal with the hard-line Taliban. This includes the right to work, education, and participation in political life, all denied to women when the Taliban ruled Afghanistan for five years.
The Taliban were ousted in 2001 by a U.S.-led coalition for harboring Osama bin Laden, the architect of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on America.
No women are on the Taliban's negotiation team, led by their chief justice Abdul Hakim. The insurgent movement has said it accepted a woman's right to work, go to school, and participate in politics but would not accept a woman as president or chief justice.
Deeply conservative members of the government-appointed High Council for National Reconciliation, which is overseeing the talks, also hold that women can't serve in either post.
At the opening ceremonies, there was some sign of Taliban changes in attitudes. Several Taliban jostled to to take photographs of leader Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar as he addressed the ceremony. Photography was banned during the Taliban rule as being against Islam.
Mr. Baradar said the Taliban envisioned an Islamic system that embraces all Afghans, without elaborating. He also urged patience as the negotiations proceeded, urging both sides to stick with the talks even in the face of problems.
“The negotiation process may have problems, but the request is that the negotiations move forward with a lot of patience, with a lot of attention, and it should be continued with such kind of attention,” he said. “We want to give them [people of Afghanistan] this assurance that with full honesty we continue the Afghan peace negotiation, and we try for peace and tranquility, we will pave the ground in Afghanistan.”
Abdullah Abdullah, who heads Kabul's High Council for National Reconciliation, said in his remarks that the sides do not need to agree on every detail, but should announce a humanitarian cease-fire.
Both sides will be “peace heroes” if negotiations bring about a lasting peace that protects Afghanistan's independence and leads to a system based on Islamic principles that preserves the rights of all people, said Mr. Abdullah.
Mr. Pompeo warned that their decisions and conduct will affect both the size and conduct of U.S. assistance.
He encouraged the negotiators to respect Afghanistan’s rich diversity, including women and ethnic and religious minorities. He said that while the choice of Afghanistan’s political system is theirs to make, the U.S. has found that democracy and rotation of political power works best.
“I can only urge these actions. You will write the next chapter of Afghan history,” he said.
Mr. Pompeo spoke the day after the 19th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks. He said the U.S. will never forget the 9/11, and that America welcomes the Taliban commitment not to host terrorist groups, including Al Qaeda, which was responsible for the carnage.
The intra-Afghan negotiations were laid out in a peace deal Washington signed with the Taliban on Feb. 29. At that time the deal was touted as Afghanistan's best chance at peace in 40 years of war.
Yet Mr. Abdullah noted that since that agreement was reached, 1,200 people have been killed and more than 15,000 wounded in attacks across the country. The United Nations has urged a reduction of violence and criticized civilian casualties on both sides.
The current talks had been originally expected to begin within weeks of the signed agreement between the Taliban and the U.S.
But delays disrupted the timeline. The Afghan government balked at releasing 5,000 Taliban prisoners, which was stipulated in the deal as a sign of good faith ahead of the negotiations. The Taliban were required to release 1,000 government and military personnel in their custody.
Political turmoil in Kabul further delayed talks as Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and his rival in controversial presidential polls the year before, Mr. Abdullah, squabbled over who won, with both declaring victory.
The Taliban refusal to reduce the violence further hindered the start of talks.
Still the complete withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan does not hinge on the success of the talks.
Washington's withdrawal is contingent on the Taliban honoring commitments to fight terrorist groups, in particular the Islamic State affiliate in Afghanistan, and ensure that Afghanistan cannot again be used to attack America or its allies.
“The Taliban have work to do. We see progress, but they have work to do,” said Mr. Khalilzad. “We have a timetable which is that withdrawal should be completed if the conditions are met by the end of April.”
The U.S. has refused to give specific of the guarantees citing security reasons, but the withdrawal of U.S. troops has already begun. President Donald Trump has said that by November, about 4,000 soldiers will be in Afghanistan, down from 13,000 when the deal was signed in February. All troops will be gone by April if Taliban fulfill their commitment to fight terrorists.
“Washington’s goals are very simple: It wants intra-Afghan talks happening as soon as possible, because these give the White House political cover for an imminent withdrawal,” said Michael Kugelman, deputy director of the Washington-based Wilson Center's Asia program.
“Trump likely wants a peace deal before the election, so that he can garner political benefits galore and pitch himself as a Nobel Peace Prize candidate. But presumably even he realizes it’s wildly unrealistic to expect a deal so soon. These types of negotiations tend to be measured in years, not weeks.”
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The talks in Doha follow the Trump administration-brokered recognition of Israel by two Gulf Arab nations – Bahrain on Friday and the United Arab Emirates in August.
This story was reported by The Associated Press. AP writer Rahim Faiez in Kabul, Afghanistan contributed to this report.


csmonitor--2020-09-14--Monday Sunrise Briefing: W. Coast wildfires or 'climate fires'?

Millions of West Coast residents stayed indoors this weekend as dense smoke from more than two dozen major wildfires enveloped cities from Los Angeles to Seattle .
President Donald Trump blamed poor forest management , while three Democratic governors pointed to climate change .
“ These are not just wildfires , these are climate fires , '' Washington Gov .
Jay Inslee said Sunday on ABC 's “ This Week . ''
In parts of Oregon , air quality was so poor it exceeded the limits of the monitoring equipment .
More than 16,000 fire fighters got some reprieve as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Oregon , but southern Oregon and northern California experienced windy conditions Sunday that fanned the flames .
Better weather is forecast for Monday .
The death toll reached 35 Sunday , mostly in Oregon and California .
In Oregon , the fires have forced tens of thousands of people out of their homes .
The president is scheduled to visit California Monday for a fire briefing .
Meanwhile , residents of New Orleans and Bermuda prepped for the arrival of hurricanes .
Tropical storm Sally threatens to reach hurricane strength Monday , reaching @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 5 a.m. Monday , the eye of Hurricane Paulette was over Bermuda , bringing storm surge and 90 mph winds .
With 18 named storms so far , this has been the fourth most active hurricane season on record , tied with the 1969 and 2019 seasons .
2 .
On the Afghan road to peace .
Taliban and Afghan officials launched peace talks Saturday to end decades of war .
No one expects progress to be quick .
The Afghan negotiation teams face tough issues , including a permanent cease-fire and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fighters and warlord militias .
The Afghan government ’ s team includes four women , who vow to preserve women 's right to work , education , and participation in political life , all denied to women when the Taliban ruled Afghanistan .
Separately , the U.S. continues to draw down its troops , from 13,000 in February to about 4,000 by November , said President Donald Trump .
3 .
NFL shift on racial justice .
As the pro football season opened , NFL teams Sunday displayed an array of symbolic gestures @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the most dramatic was the orchestrated start of the Seattle Seahawks-Atlanta Falcons game : At the kick off , every player on both teams dropped to one knee where they stood - and the game stopped for 10 seconds .
Some teams stayed in the locker room during the national anthem .
Some sang the Black anthem “ Lift Every Voice and Sing.
” Some held moments of silence .
“ To be clear — we were not protesting the flag , the anthem , or the men and women who wear the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ The timing of this action is meant to highlight that the presence , power and oppression of racism remains inconsistent with the unity and freedoms of what it means to be an American.
” Leadership change .
Japan 's parliament is scheduled to officially name their new prime minister today , replacing Shinzo Abe , who announced his resignation last month .
On Monday , the Liberal Democratic Party voted internally to elect Yoshihide Suga as the leader of their party .
The LDP holds the majority in parliament .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Academy of Country Music Awards , which was postponed from April and moved from Las Vegas to Nashville , will feature performances by Kane Brown , Luke Bryan , Miranda Lambert , Luke Combs , and many more .
The show begins at 8 p.m .
ET .
Let the voting begin .
Early , in-person voting for the 2020 U.S. presidential election begins today in Minnesota .
Other states will soon follow .
A monumental opening .
The Washington Monument is scheduled to reopen after a three-year renovation project , including work @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Endurance test .
The 24 Hours of Le Mans sports car race begins today .
It ’ s been held annually since 1923 near the town of Le Mans , France .
Tick Tock , TikTok .
President Trump set a Sept. 20 deadline for a U.S. company to buy the popular Chinese-owned video app .
Microsoft bowed out Sunday , after the owner of TikTok reportedly picked Oracle as its preferred suitor .
Forget the fake eyelashes and muscle shirts .
If you want to be seen as more attractive , try @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a strong correlation between doing good and looking good .
“ Poets and philosophers have suggested the link between moral and physical beauty for centuries , ” says study coauthor Sara Konrath , an associate professor of philanthropic studies at the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy at Indiana University .
She examined three separate studies that looked at how people - from teenagers to older adults - viewed attractiveness as it relates to giving .
The findings indicate that we innately understand that true beauty rests in character traits , not physical appearances @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a beauty treatment , try volunteering or donating .
“ Our findings suggest that beauty products and procedures may not be the only way to enhance an individual ’ s attractiveness , ” Prof. Konrath says , according to an Indiana University press release .
“ Perhaps being generous could be the next beauty trend.
” Start your week with a recent story that inspired Monitor readers : In tonight ’ s Daily Edition , watch for our story about how art galleries have shifted their approach , and some are thriving during @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Monitor ’ s selected stories from Friday 's subscription-only Daily Edition : • Is the economy running fast or slow ?
It depends where you look .
• ‘ Belarus will never be the same again ’ : How protests are changing expectations • Where are the Black geoscientists ?
Diversity call highlights eco-justice .
• In superheated Arab world , there are AC haves and have-nots • From ‘ I Am Woman ’ to ‘ Get on Up ’ : Movies that hit the right note You have unlimited access to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ value our hopeful and respectful approach , please consider subscribing .
This is a beta test - an experiment with an early Monday morning news update .
Please give us your feedback via the link below and let us know what you think .
Thank you !

Millions of West Coast residents stayed indoors this weekend as dense smoke from more than two dozen major wildfires enveloped cities from Los Angeles to Seattle. President Donald Trump blamed poor forest management, while three Democratic governors pointed to climate change. “These are not just wildfires, these are climate fires," Washington Gov. Jay Inslee said Sunday on ABC's “This Week." In parts of Oregon, air quality was so poor it exceeded the limits of the monitoring equipment. More than 16,000 fire fighters got some reprieve as cooler, wetter air moved over northern Oregon, but southern Oregon and northern California experienced windy conditions Sunday that fanned the flames. Better weather is forecast for Monday. The death toll reached 35 Sunday, mostly in Oregon and California. In Oregon, the fires have forced tens of thousands of people out of their homes. The president is scheduled to visit California Monday for a fire briefing.
Meanwhile, residents of New Orleans and Bermuda prepped for the arrival of hurricanes. Tropical storm Sally threatens to reach hurricane strength Monday, reaching the Gulf Coast early Tuesday. At 5 a.m. Monday, the eye of Hurricane Paulette was over Bermuda, bringing storm surge and 90 mph winds. With 18 named storms so far, this has been the fourth most active hurricane season on record, tied with the 1969 and 2019 seasons.
2. On the Afghan road to peace. Taliban and Afghan officials launched peace talks Saturday to end decades of war. No one expects progress to be quick. The Afghan negotiation teams face tough issues, including a permanent cease-fire and the disarming of tens of thousands of Taliban fighters and warlord militias. The Afghan government’s team includes four women, who vow to preserve women's right to work, education, and participation in political life, all denied to women when the Taliban ruled Afghanistan. Separately, the U.S. continues to draw down its troops, from 13,000 in February to about 4,000 by November, said President Donald Trump.
Why We Wrote This Good morning! Welcome to your Monday, September 14, 2020, sunrise briefing. Here are three news events from this past weekend (while you may have been water skiing, knitting, and enjoying an offline life). Also, what to look for in the news this week.
3. NFL shift on racial justice. As the pro football season opened, NFL teams Sunday displayed an array of symbolic gestures in support of racial justice. Perhaps the most dramatic was the orchestrated start of the Seattle Seahawks-Atlanta Falcons game: At the kick off, every player on both teams dropped to one knee where they stood - and the game stopped for 10 seconds. Some teams stayed in the locker room during the national anthem. Some sang the Black anthem “Lift Every Voice and Sing.” Some held moments of silence. “To be clear — we were not protesting the flag, the anthem, or the men and women who wear the uniform,” said the Indianapolis Colts. “The timing of this action is meant to highlight that the presence, power and oppression of racism remains inconsistent with the unity and freedoms of what it means to be an American.”
Danielle Parhizkaran-USA TODAY Sports NPSTrans toppic View caption Hide caption Naomi Osaka of Japan celebrates with the 2020 U.S. Open tennis championship trophy after her winning match against Victoria Azarenka of Belarus in the women's singles final in New York Saturday, Sept. 12, 2020.
Look Ahead
Tuesday, Sept. 15
Democracy in action. Delaware holds state primary elections.
Wednesday, Sept. 16
Leadership change. Japan's parliament is scheduled to officially name their new prime minister today, replacing Shinzo Abe, who announced his resignation last month. On Monday, the Liberal Democratic Party voted internally to elect Yoshihide Suga as the leader of their party. The LDP holds the majority in parliament.
The best of Country. The 55th annual Academy of Country Music Awards, which was postponed from April and moved from Las Vegas to Nashville, will feature performances by Kane Brown, Luke Bryan, Miranda Lambert, Luke Combs, and many more. The show begins at 8 p.m. ET.
Friday, Sept. 18
Let the voting begin. Early, in-person voting for the 2020 U.S. presidential election begins today in Minnesota. Other states will soon follow.
Saturday, Sept. 19
A monumental opening. The Washington Monument is scheduled to reopen after a three-year renovation project, including work on the elevator and security systems.
Endurance test. The 24 Hours of Le Mans sports car race begins today. It’s been held annually since 1923 near the town of Le Mans, France.
Tick Tock, TikTok. President Trump set a Sept. 20 deadline for a U.S. company to buy the popular Chinese-owned video app. Microsoft bowed out Sunday, after the owner of TikTok reportedly picked Oracle as its preferred suitor.
Generosity Watch
Matthew Robertson/The Morning News via AP View caption Hide caption State Rep. Terry Alexander and Narzhio the Artist join volunteers painting a Black Lives Matter street mural on Barnes Street in Florence, S.C., Sunday morning, Sept. 6, 2020.
Forget the fake eyelashes and muscle shirts. If you want to be seen as more attractive, try a little generosity.
New research finds a strong correlation between doing good and looking good.
“Poets and philosophers have suggested the link between moral and physical beauty for centuries,” says study coauthor Sara Konrath, an associate professor of philanthropic studies at the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy at Indiana University. She examined three separate studies that looked at how people - from teenagers to older adults - viewed attractiveness as it relates to giving.
The findings indicate that we innately understand that true beauty rests in character traits, not physical appearances. If you want to give yourself a beauty treatment, try volunteering or donating.
“Our findings suggest that beauty products and procedures may not be the only way to enhance an individual’s attractiveness,” Prof. Konrath says, according to an Indiana University press release. “Perhaps being generous could be the next beauty trend.”
Hidden gem
Start your week with a recent story that inspired Monitor readers:
Back to School: In-person, outside.
Sneak preview
In tonight’s Daily Edition, watch for our story about how art galleries have shifted their approach, and some are thriving during the pandemic.
Get stories that
empower and uplift daily. By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy Already a subscriber? Log in to hide ads.
Finally, check out the Monitor’s selected stories from Friday's subscription-only Daily Edition:
You have unlimited access to all our pandemic coverage. If you value our hopeful and respectful approach, please consider subscribing.
This is a beta test - an experiment with an early Monday morning news update. Please give us your feedback via the link below and let us know what you think. Thank you!