Oops! Huckabee says Obama grew up in Kenya

Visit Now www.RemoveHunger.com | The Help Me Foundation

Mike Huckabee said Monday that President Obama's world view is most certainly colored by where he grew up.

The problem? Huckabee appears to falsely believe the president grew up in Kenya.

"I would love to know more. What I know is troubling enough," Huckabee said of the president in an interview with New York radio station WOR. "And one thing that I do know is his having grown up in Kenya, his view of the Brits, for example, very different than the average American."

Huckabee, the former presidential candidate and current Fox News host who has said he is thinking about mounting another campaign, added, "his perspective as growing up in Kenya with a Kenyan father and grandfather, their view of the Mau Mau Revolution in Kenya is very different than ours because he probably grew up hearing that the British are a bunch of imperialists who persecuted his grandfather."

A transcript and audio of the interview was circulated by MediaMatters, a liberal media watchdog group.

Obama, whose father is Kenyan, in fact grew up in Hawaii and Indonesia.

But in the interview with WOR's Steve Malzberg, Huckabee repeated his stance that he does not doubt the president was born in the United States.

"I know the Clintons…and believe me, they have lots of investigators out on him, and I'm convinced if there was anything that they could have found on that, they would have found it, and I promise they would have used it," Huckabee said.

Huckabee spokesman Hogan GIdley told CNN the comment was nothing more than a misstatement, telling CNN the former governor meant to say the President grew up in Indonesia.

However, the Mau Mau rebellion, referenced in Huckabee's comments, was an uprising in Kenya that occurred from 1952 to 1960 when an anti-colonial group, the Mau Mau, rebelled against the British in an attempt to gain independence from British rule and remove European settlers from the country.

"When the Governor mentioned he wanted to know more about the President, he wasn't talking about the President's place of birth – the Governor believes the President was born in Hawaii," Gidley said. "The Governor would however like to know more about where President Obama's liberal policies come from and what else the President plans to do to this country – as do most Americans."

Visit Now www.RemoveHunger.com | The Help Me Foundation

US freezes Libyan assets

Visit Now www.RemoveHunger.com | The Help Me Foundation

The US has frozen at least $30 billion in Libyan government assets as part of efforts to loosen besieged strongman Muammar Gaddafi’s grip on power.

The $30 billion is the largest amount ever blocked under any sanctions programme, David Cohen, Treasury Department’s acting under secretary for terrorism and financial intelligence, said announcing the freeze Monday.

American officials slapped the sanctions on Libya last Friday, and the UN Security Council unanimously adopted a resolution on Libya Saturday.

President Barack Obama met Monday with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon to discuss a variety of measures under consideration. Ban later told reporters that “further action may well be necessary”.

Gaddafi “has lost his legitimacy when he declared war on his people”, Ban said of the Libyan leader. “This is again a totally unacceptable situation. I sincerely hope and urge him to listen to the peoples’ call. That’s my message to him.”

All options are still on the table, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said at a meeting of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva.

“Gaddafi and those around him must be held accountable (for any actions) which violate international legal obligations and common decency,” she said. “Through their actions, they have lost the legitimacy to govern.”

Susan Rice, US ambassador to the UN, called Gaddafi “delusional”, adding that “when he (Gaddafi) can laugh when talking to American and international journalists while he is slaughtering his own people, it only underscores how unfit he is to lead and how disconnected he is from reality”.

The imposition of a no-fly zone over certain portions of the increasingly chaotic country is among the courses of action being contemplated, White House Press Secretary Jay Carney told reporters.

Carney indicated that exile is “certainly one option” for the Libyan leader. He also said that American officials are “actively reaching out” to Libyan opponents of the ruling regime, Carney said.

But any speculation on US assistance to the Libyan rebels is premature, Rice said, calling it “unclear at this point who will emerge as the critical opposition element. We await to see how the opposition will coalesce”.

Visit Now www.RemoveHunger.com | The Help Me Foundation

Budget 2011 At A Glance | Cheaper & Costly

Visit Now www.RemoveHunger.com | The Help Me Foundation

What’s Expensive?

Air Travel – The journey gets farther!

The finance minister has said in no uncertain terms in his budget speech that domestic air travel will be more expensive by Rs.50 and international travel to be dearer by Rs.250 on account of levy of service tax.

If you’re thinking that this is a very marginal tax on your prevailing flight costs, think twice! The above rate revision is only for the economy class fares. On travel by higher classes, it will be 10% flat extra levy.

FM’s likely Message: Travel frequently through our loss-making Railways.

Hotels & Restaurants – Skip good food and life!

The FM has made sure that he taxes the fine luxuries of life and passes a chunk out of it to the poorer section. This reminds me of the old-regime dacoits who used to loot the rich people and pass on the benefits to the under-privileged.

Hotel accommodation, in excess of declared tariff of Rs.1000 per day, and service provided by air-conditioned restaurants-cum-bars has been brought under the service tax net. The effective burden will be around 3% of the restaurant bill amount. So, you can look for family restaurants, if you want to skip this extra burden.

FM’s likely Message: Excessive liquor is injurious to health.

Branded Clothes – Don’t get Provogued!

The message from the Bengali babu is clear Gandhian in approach. Wear normal clothes, no need to go for branded ones when we have so much of undressed poverty. Though, cotton sector will continue to remain in the 4% CENVAT bracket.

Finance minister says that as part of base expansion, he proposes to levy 10% excise duty on branded garments as well as increases confessional central excise duty to 5%.

FM’s likely Message: Get the shirt stitched with your long-forgotten local tailor.

Crude Oil – Change undesired!

The country’s custodian of financial matters refused to tinker with the customs and excise duties on petroleum products. This comes at a time when the global crude oil prices have ballooned on account of the political crisis in the Middle-East.

The FM left the customs duty on crude oil unchanged at 5%, and that on petrol and diesel untouched at 7.5%. Undoubtedly, this ambiguity in the fuel-cost management has left the OMCs bleeding what with petrol prices remaining under-priced by Rs.2.25 a litre and diesel losses standing at little over Rs.10 per litre.

FM’s likely Message: Such hiccups ought to remain in coalition politics.

Stationery – Need to sharpen the ink!

On one hand, the government wants to render education as a universal right across the country. But, contrastingly, he taxes the stationery items used by school children – such as text-books, note-books, ball pen ink, geometry boxes, pencil, sharpeners and whatever you can think about.

All the above items which were earlier exempt from excise duty have now been brought under the levy of 1% CENVAT credit facility. Moreover, even the paper used in printing the text-books and note-books will attract excise duty now.

FM’s likely Message: Read and write, but with blunt pencils.

What’s Cheap?

Mobile Phones – Keep Chatting!

The recent fuss revolving around cheap mobile phones and connections certainly seems to have raised awareness amongst the government on how universal and important the wireless communication has become.

The FM has extended the concession regime for the components that goes into manufacture of mobile handsets for one more year. In fact, not just phones; even other electronic items such as refrigerators and LED lights have become cheaper in this budget.

FM’s likely Message: Please talk more and bailout our ailing telecom sector!

Hybrid Vehicles – Going fuel-efficient way!

Overall speaking, the Union Budget 2011 has been a positive one for the automobile sector. The government has retained excise duty at 10% on all small cars, two wheelers and three wheelers.

Apart from that, FM has expressed desire to launch National Mission for hybrid and electric vehicles. He has also halved the excise duty to 5% on hybrid kits for conversion of vehicles running on fossil fuels to hybrid category.

FM’s likely Message: We can’t raise diesel prices, so please shift to green vehicles.

Housing Loans – Living with the Society!

Pranab’da has provided 1% interest subsidy on home loans of upto Rs.15 lakh against the current levels of Rs.10 lakh. This means that the sops are gradually moving towards the more realistic, low-cost housing prices of upto Rs.25 lakh range.

Thus, the loans for affordable home category have got cheaper. But, it would be more of Tier 2 and 3 cities which will be more beneficial of these low-cost housing schemes. In metro cities, it is hard to find houses below Rs.25 lakh range.

FM’s likely Message: It’s only for poor people, not middle class population.

Sanitary Napkins & Diapers – Wipe your stuff well!

A survey says that 68% of Indian rural women can’t afford sanitary napkins. The FM has reduced the excise duty on sanitary napkins, baby and clinical diapers to 1% from 10% in the Union Budget 2011.

So, are you satisfied with the balancing act of Pranab’da?

Visit Now www.RemoveHunger.com | The Help Me Foundation

How Nonprofits Can Get Corporate Sponsors

www.RemoveHunger.com | The Help Me Foundation

Are you running short of funds to make your event a grand success? Do you intend to raise funds for your event? Do you want to learn the dos and don’ts while approaching sponsors? Then look at the below tips to get sponsored for your event. 

Dos and Don’ts while approaching your sponsors

• Write down the list of network you already have.

• Approach the sponsors with an open mind. There could be initial rejections. But you need to pursue your objectives. 

• Be a good listener. Be mentally prepared for initial rejections. Initial rejections must raise your determination to work harder and smarter in raising the funds rather than getting dejected.

• Show them the benefits of sponsoring your event. Sell yourself. Working on such fund raising activities enhances your image and over a period of time you stand out from pack.

• Tell sponsors about your methodology of projecting and presenting their company.

• Take an appointment with potential sponsors and go with group of volunteers as it demonstrates your credentials.

• Approach if you have any references as it makes your task easier and enhances your credentials. 

• Show your sponsors if there are any tax breaks. 

• You need to be good at negotiation skills. Getting sponsorship needs lot of leg work and ground work. It requires patience and persuasive skills. 

• Don’t give false information in a hurry to raise funds. Be transparent in your approach as that builds your credibility. 

It is not that you are struggling to raise funds. In fact, the companies also look for right events to promote their brands and to have their presence felt in the market. It is win-win for both sponsors and the event hosts. 

Getting sponsorship is more challenging if you don’t represent a big company. Get inspired from previous volunteers who raised funds and move forward. The entire exercise enhances your negotiation skills and leadership skills. Indeed, it is a great learning experience to raise funds for your event.

www.RemoveHunger.com | The Help Me Foundation

EARTHQUAKE IN NEW ZEALAND

www.removehunger.com

It has been reported that NEW ZEALAND is being hit by an earthquake today and reportedly 65 people were killed in this earthquake.The 6.3 magnitude earthquake hit the country's second-largest city around lunchtime, collapsing buildings and sending bricks and other heavy debris toppling into busy city streets.It was the second earthquake that hit the country within last five months .

Christchurch one of Mayor Bob Parker declared a state of emergency and ordered people to evacuate the city center. Troops were deployed to help people get out and to throw up a security cordon around the stricken area.

www.removehunger.com