Statement by the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Micheál Martin, T.D., on the crash of Afriqiyah Airlines flight 8U771

13 May 2010 05:40 Africa/Lagos

Statement by the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Micheál Martin, T.D., on the crash of Afriqiyah Airlines flight 8U771


TRIPOLI, May 12, 2010/African Press Organization (APO)/ -- Statement by the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Micheál Martin, T.D., on the crash of Afriqiyah Airlines flight 8U771:


I regret to confirm the death of an Irish citizen in the Libyan air crash today. Afriqiyah Airlines flight 8U771 was travelling from Johannesburg when it went down on approach to Tripoli International Airport this morning, Wednesday, 12 May.


Officials from my Department learned this afternoon that an Irishwoman was on the passenger list for this flight. The Irish Ambassador to Libya (who is normally based in Rome) is in Tripoli with another consular official and is in close contact with the authorities in Libya in relation to the tragic loss of this flight. Arrangements are being made to inform the family and my Department is ready to provide all possible assistance at this difficult time.


I would ask that members of the media respect the privacy of the family and friends of the deceased in order that they be given time and space to come to terms with this terrible tragedy.


I would like to extend my sympathies to all those families who have suffered a bereavement in this tragic accident.

Source: Ireland - Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Video: Connection Between Brain, Body and Sexual Desire

When it Comes to Sparking a Woman's Sexual Desire, Most Men – and Even Women – May Not Know Where to Start


Actress Lisa Rinna kicks off campaign highlighting connection between brain, body and sexual desire


Washington, D.C., May 12, 2010 /PRNewswire/ — When it comes to sex, more than half of men and women don't recognize the brain as an important female sexual organ, according to a new survey.*

“The root of a woman's desire is complex, but it is thought to start with her brain. The brain is the center for thoughts and emotions, but it is also home to a complex system of nerves, hormones and other chemicals that can affect sexual desire,” said Laura Berman, LCSW, Ph.D., and sex and relationship expert.

Interestingly, the survey revealed that women and men's feelings about sex and sexual desire are more alike than people may think, as they both agree that sexual health is important for a woman's overall health and well being. Yet, while most women surveyed would be concerned if they experienced, and most men would be concerned if their partner experienced, a decrease in sexual desire, less than half of both women and men have ever discussed these issues with their partner.

Today, the Society for Women's Health Research (SWHR), along with actress and TV personality Lisa Rinna, launched “Sex Brain Body: Make the Connection,” a new educational campaign about female sexual health, particularly about the role the brain is thought to play in female sexual desire.

“As a woman, wife and mother, I know that women’s sexual desire can fluctuate. For some women that’s normal, but for others it may be something more,” Rinna said. “Everyone is entitled to a healthy sex life. That’s why I’m encouraging women to learn more about their sexual health and the brain's potential role in desire, so they can talk more openly about it with a partner and health care provider. By visiting www.SexBrainBody.com, I want to empower women to learn more about their sexual health and better understand sexual desire.”

Experts believe that chemicals in the brain may play a role in sexual response, impacting a woman's sexual desire. Women and men surveyed believe that desire is important for a healthy sex life, and that a decline in a woman’s desire would be distressing to the woman. Yet, few people realize that a lack of sexual desire accompanied by distress might be something more than stress from a demanding career or family commitments. It may be a medical condition known as Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder, or HSDD.

By visiting www.SexBrainBody.com, women can learn more about HSDD, as well as find helpful tips for starting what may be an uncomfortable conversation with their partners or health care providers about their sexual health and any issues they may be experiencing.

“For 20 years, SWHR has provided resources and knowledge to empower women to take control of their health. We are proud to be supporting this campaign to help women understand their sexual health and give them the confidence to discuss their needs,” said Phyllis E. Greenberger, M.S.W., President and CEO of SWHR in Washington, D.C.

Survey Findings
The “Sex Brain Body: Make the Connection” survey included 1,300 women ages 30 to 55 years and 1,129 men ages 30 to 65 years. The survey was designed to explore the attitudes and behaviors of women regarding their sexual health, as well as men's perception of a woman's sexual health.

Highlights of the survey include the following:

Nearly 75 percent of women report experiencing a lack of sexual desire at least occasionally, with 20 percent reporting a lack of desire frequently
Both women and men believe a woman’s lack of desire for sex would cause distress in a relationship (78 percent women, 63 percent men); more than half of women and men say that a lack of desire would have a negative impact on their relationship
Most women (roughly 60 percent) say they would discuss low sexual desire with their health care provider, yet only 14 percent have actually done so
More women would rather discuss other health topics such as allergies, skin care, hair loss and weight issues with their health care provider than talk about their sexual health
Women are seven times more familiar with erectile dysfunction (66 percent) than Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder (HSDD) (9 percent)
About “Sex Brain Body: Make the Connection”
“Sex Brain Body: Make the Connection” is an educational campaign meant to help women recognize the potential links between the brain, the body and sexual desire, so they can better understand and address their own sexual health. The campaign is sponsored by the Society for Women’s Health Research and content was developed with the support of a sponsorship from Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc. To learn more about the sex-brain-body connection, visit www.SexBrainBody.com.

Low sexual desire is the most commonly reported female sexual complaint. Approximately one in 10 women reported low sexual desire with associated distress, which may be HSDD. HSDD is a form of female sexual dysfunction (FSD) and has been recognized as a medical condition for more than 30 years. As defined by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition, Text Revision (DSM-IV-TR), HSDD is the persistent or recurrent lack (or absence) of sexual fantasies or desire for any form of sexual activity causing marked distress or interpersonal difficulty and not better accounted for by another disorder (except another sexual dysfunction), direct physiological effects of a substance (including medications), or a general medical or psychiatric condition. Generalized, acquired HSDD is not limited to certain types of stimulation, situations or partners, and develops only after a period of normal functioning. There has been an unmet need for women as there is no FDA-approved treatment for HSDD. It can affect women of all ages and at any stage of life.

*About the Survey
A demographically representative national internet sample of 1,300 women between the ages of 30 and 55 and 1,129 men 30-65 were invited via email to participate in a 10-minute self-administered online survey. Women meeting any of the following criteria were eliminated from participating: had a full hysterectomy, currently take hormone replacement therapy, are post-menopausal and have already gone through menopause. The surveys were administered between February 8 and March 18, 2010. Data for these studies are tested for statistical difference at a confidence level of 95 percent. Data are weighted to reflect accurate representation of population.

About Society for Women’s Health Research
The Society for Women’s Health Research (SWHR), a national non-profit organization based in Washington, D.C. is widely recognized as the thought leader in research on sex differences and is dedicated to improving women’s health through advocacy, education, and research. SWHR was founded in 1990 by a group of physicians, medical researchers and health advocates who wanted to bring attention to the myriad of diseases and conditions that affect women uniquely. Women’s health, until then, had been defined primarily as reproductive health. Women were not routinely included in most major medical research studies and scientists rarely considered biological sex as a variable in their research.

About Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc., based in Ridgefield, CT, is the largest U.S. subsidiary of Boehringer Ingelheim Corporation (Ridgefield, CT) and a member of the Boehringer Ingelheim group of companies.

The Boehringer Ingelheim group is one of the world’s 20 leading pharmaceutical companies. Headquartered in Ingelheim, Germany, it operates globally with 142 affiliates in 50 countries and more than 41,500 employees. Since it was founded in 1885, the family-owned company has been committed to researching, developing, manufacturing and marketing novel products of high therapeutic value for human and veterinary medicine.

In 2009, Boehringer Ingelheim posted net sales of US $17.7 billion (12.7 billion euro) while spending 21% of net sales in its largest business segment, Prescription Medicines, on research and development.

For more information, please visit http://us.boehringer-ingelheim.com

About GfK Healthcare
GfK Healthcare (www.gfkhc.com) is the largest provider of fully integrated custom health care marketing research in the United States. With the broadest range of custom, syndicated and proprietary research offerings, paired with expertise in managed markets and sales force effectiveness, GfK Healthcare is equipped to meet a product’s needs across its life cycle, through flexible marketing research resources, responsive to clients’ evolving challenges. GfK Healthcare is part of the GfK Group.


Media Contacts:
Mary Coyle
212-880-5258
mary.coyle@ogilvypr.com
Jo Parrish
202-496-5008
jo@womenshealthresearch.org
Lara Crissey
203-798-4740
lara.crissey@boehringer-ingelheim.com

Secure Mobile Wallet Solutions at AITEC Banking & Mobile Money West Africa Conference

12 May 2010 11:00 Africa/Lagos



CellTrust Corporation Showcases SecureSMS Messaging and Secure Mobile Wallet Solutions at AITEC Banking & Mobile Money West Africa Conference

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., May 12 /PRNewswire/ -- CellTrust Corporation, the world's largest provider of SecureSMS for mobile phones (www.celltrust.com), announced today the company will showcase its SecureSMS messaging solution in the Mobile Money Hub at the AITEC Banking & Mobile Money West Africa conference, May 11-12, 2010 in Lagos, Nigeria. The company will also highlight the special features of its data-based and menu driven Secure Mobile Wallet.


CellTrust's SecureSMS platform has gained a strong foothold in Africa. The platform will enable banks and even other payment system providers to meet the stringent, new transmission channel security requirements of the Central Bank of Nigeria. In February of this year CellTrust launched its SecureSMS Mobile Banking and Payment Pilot for the African region through its partnership with Maxim-Pro Ltd. (www.maxim-pro.com), based in Lagos, Nigeria, to provide consumers the ability to make secure mobile cash transfers, payments and securely access other microfinance banking products.


"CellTrust's secure mobile banking platform is gaining significant momentum in Africa, where banks are cracking down on fraud and enforcing new security requirements for mobile financial management," said Sean Moshir, Chairman and CEO of CellTrust. "CellTrust's Secure Mobile platform brings significant value to the financial industry, as well as consumers in Africa, providing a secure and simple way to transfer money and make payments."


CellTrust SecureSMS provides end-to-end privacy on the mobile device via a highly encrypted, tamper-proof process while enabling message sizes up to 5,000 characters. CellTrust SecureSMS Appliance is the first global enterprise appliance to offer secure SMS communication for Handset to handset and enterprise applications to handsets with highly encrypted end to end security in compliance with HIPAA, FISMA, and Sarbanes-Oxley, ensuring that information is kept private and only delivered to the intended recipient. CellTrust's award winning SecureSMS(TM) Appliance and Gateway reaches 200+ countries and over 800 carriers.


About CellTrust Corporation


CellTrust is a leading provider of secure mobile messaging and applications. CellTrust's patent pending SecureSMS Gateway(TM) featuring the SecureSMS(TM) Appliance and a suite of mobile applications provide advanced secure mobile messaging and information management across 200+ countries and over 800 carriers. CellTrust ensures the secure and trusted exchange of information on mobile devices to the financial services, healthcare, government, education, energy, information technology, marketing, and travel, among other global industries. For more information about CellTrust's Global, African, North American and Australian operations: www.celltrust.com www.africa.celltrust.com www.celltrust.com.au


Media Contact:
Lora Friedrichsen
Global Results Comms (GRC) for CellTrust
+1 949-608-0276
celltrust@globalresultspr.com


Source: CellTrust Corporation

CONTACT: Media, Lora Friedrichsen of Global Results Comms (GRC),
+1-949-608-0276, celltrust@globalresultspr.com, for CellTrust


Web Site: http://www.celltrust.com/

Releases displayed in Africa/Lagos time 12 May 2010

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Flooding in the South

Gordon Brown Bows Out and David Cameron becomes New PM of UK

Happy Birthday to Quenn Inih Ebong, the First Lady of Nigerians Report

Gordon Brown Bows Out and David Cameron becomes New PM of UK




Gordon Brown, the former PM of the United Kingdom

Without much ado, Gordon Brown bowed out for David Cameron who moved into 10 Downing Street Tuesday as the New British Prime Minister and marking the end of the 13 years reign of the Labour Party.


David Cameron, the new PM of the United Kingdom

David Cameron who is 43 years old is the youngest British Prime Minister since 1812 and the first to lead a coalition government for seven decades

Mr. Cameron, the leader of the Conservative Party will head the coalition government with the Liberal Democrats.

You can read more on the Mail Online.

I ignored the British elections, because I do not have much interest in British politics. My heart beats more for America and I reported the last U.S. Presidential Campaign and Election 24/7 and the detailed reports have resulted in my new book that is a historical documentary of the circumstances and events surrounding the phenomenal emergence of Barack Obama from 2007 to his nomination and election as the first ever black President of the United States of America.


I wish the new PM of the United Kingdom a better reign and I hope Mr. Cameron loves immigrants.


~ By Ekenyerengozi Michael Chima

Victims of Jihad Will March at Times Square Terror Attack Site

11 May 2010 23:37 Africa/Lagos



Victims of Jihad Will March at Times Square Terror Attack Site

NEW YORK, May 11 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The following event advisory is being issued by Human Rights Coalition Against Radical Islam:


Time: 4:45
Place: 42nd St and 7th Ave, Manhattan


On Tuesday, May 11 in Times Square, the Human Rights Coalition Against Radical Islam (HRCARI) will hold a protest, rally, and march against radical Islam in the vicinity of the site of the failed Times Sq bombing. HRCARI is a rainbow coalition of Hindus, Sikhs, Christians from Sudan, Egypt and Iraq, moderate Muslims and Jews -- who are victims and targets of radical Islam around the globe.


Charles Jacobs, a HRCARI board member, said, "We are demanding that the media and elected officials stop the politically correct obfuscation of the investigation of the Times Square bomber. The people who seek our destruction are not "lone wolves," and this incident was not a "one-off," as Janet Napoletano, chief of Homeland Security misinformed us. Those who want to kill us are not simply unhappy people with mortgage delinquencies and bad marriages. They are warriors for radical Islam and are intent on imposing Koranic rule upon this free nation. We demand "Stop the Politically Correct Cover Up!"


Bhupinder Singh Bhurji, a Sikh whose NAMDHARI SIKH FOUNDATION is part of HRCARI said, "Radical Islamists are killing people in India, trying to dominate that nation. And here too they come with violence against "infidels." We are "infidels united," standing together, brown, black and white, against this epoch's fascist movement.


Narain Kataria, a Hindu who was driven away by Islamists from Pakistan to India 60 years ago said, "Radical Islamists wiped out Hindus and Sikhs in Pakistan who were 25% of their population in just 60 years, driven away 350,000 Hindus from Kashmir in India and are now targeting United States.


Arish Sahani, HRCARI board member said, "Mayor Bloomberg's first concern was preventing an outbreak of prejudice against Muslims. His primary concern should be the safety of New Yorkers. Americans are not biased against all Muslims. We are angry at the radicals who attack us. No one is trying to kill Muslims here. It's radical Muslims who are trying to blow up the city."


HRCARI, has held several demonstrations in New York, notable for their extraordinary banners depicting jihadist attacks on "infidels" from London to Mumbai, from Nigeria to Tel Aviv showing that from 9/11 to Aug 2009 alone, Islamists killed 75,038 , injured 115, 255 in 11,961 attacks across 20+ countries.


Source: Human Rights Coalition Against Radical Islam

CONTACT: Charles Jacobs, Human Rights Coalition Against Radical Islam,
+1-617-835-3584

Wall Street 2: Money Never Sleeps at 63rd Cannes Film Festival

Michael Douglas is back in his Oscar®-winning role as one of the screen’s most notorious villains, Gordon Gekko. Emerging from a lengthy prison stint, Gekko finds himself on the outside of a world he once dominated. Looking to repair his damaged relationship with his daughter Winnie, Gekko forms an alliance with her fiancé Jacob (Shia LaBeouf). But can Jacob and Winnie really trust the ex-financial titan, whose relentless efforts to redefine himself in a different era have unexpected consequences.





One of the most anticipated Out of Competition films at the 63rd Cannes Film Festival is Oliver Stone’s Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps, the sequel to his 1987 Academy Award-winning film Wall Street. Famous actor Michael Douglas returned to reprise his role as Gordon Gekko, but Shia LaBeouf is not actually another Charlie Sheen of the first Wall Street. The film is highly rated as one of the seven films to watch out for at the prestigious film fiesta. Supple magazine will join others at the Cannes on Friday where the Publisher Hope Obioma Opara is already expected to promote our inaugural Eko International Film Festival (EKOIFF) as we prepare to host the film world in the mega city of Lagos this summer.

World Council of Churches (WCC) Letters Team To Visit Nigeria

11 May 2010 13:46 Africa/Lagos

WCC Living Letters team to visit Nigeria


ABUJA, May 11, 2010/African Press Organization (APO)/ -- A Living Letters team of the World Council of Churches (WCC) will pay a solidarity visit to Nigeria from 15-20 May 2010.


The ecumenical team will visit one of the most conflict-affected areas, in and around the city of Jos in the Central Plateau State, a region where several hundred people were killed in inter-ethnic clashes in recent months.


They will also meet heads of churches in the capital city Abuja, as well as leading Muslim personalities involved in peace and reconciliation efforts in the country. Meetings with President Goodluck Jonathan and with the governor of the Central Plateau State, Jonah Jang, are scheduled.


Nigeria is the most populous and largest oil-producing country of Africa. Since its independence, the country has gone through a succession of military and civilian regimes marked by corruption, violence, and human rights abuses. In 1999, elections brought back a more stable government. Economically, Nigeria has remained a poor country, as the oil revenues only benefit the ruling minority. For many years, the WCC has supported the Ogoni people, indigenous to the oil-rich Niger Delta, in their struggle against the exploitation and environmental degradation caused by oil companies.


During the past years, Nigeria has been affected by ethnic and religious conflicts. Recent developments showed that social, economic, tribal and cultural causes were at the root of the tensions that erupted in various parts of the country. Poverty, corruption and mismanagement are the underlying factors that are fuelling conflicts, and sadly resulting in gross human rights violations.


Living Letters are small ecumenical teams visiting a country to listen, learn, share approaches and to help confront challenges in order to overcome violence and promote and pray for peace. They are organized in the context of the WCC's Decade to Overcome Violence as a preparation for the International Ecumenical Peace Convocation in 2011.


The WCC Living Letters delegation to Nigeria will be composed of:


Bishop Dr Robert Aboagye-Mensah, vice-president of All Africa Conference of Churches (AACC), and member of the WCC Central Committee, Ghana;


Rev. Dr Volker Faigle, Evangelical Church in Germany (EKD);


Rev. Dr Johnson Mbillah, general adviser, Programme for Christian-Muslim Relations in Africa (PROCMURA), Ghana/Kenya;


Ms Mbari Kioni, director of advocacy at the AACC, Kenya;


Archbishop Daniel Okoh, Organisation of African Instituted Churches (OAIC), Nigeria;


Mr Arne Saeveras, Norwegian Church Aid (NCA), Norway;


Mr Jan Guehne, Mission 21, Switzerland/Germany/Nigeria;


Ms Outi Vasko, Orthodox Church of Finland, WCC Central Committee and Executive Committee member;


Dr Mathews George Chunakara, director, Commission of the Churches on International Affairs,World Council of Churches;


Dr Nigussu Legesse, programme executive for Africa, World Council of Churches.


The WCC team will be joined by WCC Central Committee members from Nigeria.


Source: World Council of Churches (WCC)

Survey Shows High Level of Engagement From Global Scholarly Community

10 May 2010 05:01 Africa/Lagos


Thomson Reuters Academic Reputation Survey Shows High Level of Engagement From Global Scholarly Community

Nearly one third of responses came from Asia

PHILADELPHIA and LONDON, May 10 /PRNewswire/ -- Thomson Reuters, the authority on research analytics and decision support citation data for more than half a century, today announced preliminary results of its Academic Reputation Survey. The survey not only received responses from professional scholars from every corner of the world, but also an excellent breadth of results across different subject areas.


Thousands of responses were received in six subject areas: engineering and technology; physical sciences; life sciences; clinical, preclinical and health; social sciences; and arts and humanities. Nearly one third of these responses came from Asia, including a strong representation from China and Japan.


"We're particularly pleased with the number of responses from the Asia Pacific region," said Jonathan Adams, director of research evaluation at Thomson Reuters. "As other surveys have been criticized for over-representing North America and Europe, we took particular care to better balance regional representation."


To help control for language and translation bias the Academic Reputation Survey was offered in eight languages: Japanese, Simplified Chinese, Spanish, French, German, Brazilian Portuguese, European Portuguese and English.


"Interestingly, country affiliation did not always predict language usage," Adams added. "For example, many United States-based participants took the survey in Chinese -- illustrating a highly mobile global academic community."


The Academic Reputation Survey is part of the Thomson Reuters Global Institutional Profiles Project. The initiative will create data-driven profiles of globally significant research institutions -- combining reputational feedback, scholarly outputs, citation patterns, funding levels, and faculty characteristics across disciplines in one comprehensive database. The dataset can be packaged and analyzed to different specifications, giving organizations custom information for evaluating and benchmarking their performance and supporting efforts to secure research funding. The data gathered for the Global Institutional Profiles Project will also help inform the Times Higher Education's influential World University Rankings.


Thomson Reuters will continue to analyze and release detailed results of the Academic Reputation Survey in the coming months. For more information and resources, please visit http://science.thomsonreuters.com/globalprofilesproject.


Thomson Reuters


Thomson Reuters is the world's leading source of intelligent information for businesses and professionals. We combine industry expertise with innovative technology to deliver critical information to leading decision makers in the financial, legal, tax and accounting, healthcare and science and media markets, powered by the world's most trusted news organization. With headquarters in New York and major operations in London and Eagan, Minnesota, Thomson Reuters employs more than 50,000 people and operates in over 100 countries. Thomson Reuters shares are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX: TRI) and New York Stock Exchange (NYSE:TRI) . For more information, go to www.thomsonreuters.com.


Source: Thomson Reuters

CONTACT: Susan Besaw, Manager, PR & Communications, Healthcare & Science
of Thomson Reuters, +1-215-823-1840, susan.besaw@thomsonreuters.com


Web Site: http://thomsonreuters.com/

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To Mama Africa With Love

Wishing all Mothers a Very Happy Mother's Day


A typical African mother with her child.

To Mama Africa With Love
Dedicated to the memory of my beloved mother.


African mothers are the most hardworking mothers on earth.


In Africa, we see how much burden African mothers bear at home, on the farm and in the market. They are great mothers, farmers and traders. They sacrifice so much for the love of their precious children. I knew how much my beloved mother of blessed memory Gladys Eke suffered as a grass widow during the Nigerian civil war, doing her best to protect and save her precious children without the presence and support of her husband our father. She lost three of her six children to kwashiorkor and still carried on until the end of the war as I have recalled in Memories of a Refugee Child. She worked hard to take care of us even after she lost her husband a decade and three years later.


I was a strict vegetarian for over 12 years and she was the only one who could cook for me until her last day on earth. She was very fond of me and both of us loved to sit down and discuss the experiences and lessons of life as we watched passersby in front of our first residence on Obalende Road in Obalende on the Lagos Island and later in front of our second place of abode, the old Morocco Ville bungalow on the Bajulaiye road in Shomolu, Lagos. She always took me along to the popular markets in Lagos such as Iddo, Itafaji, Jankara, Sandgrouse, Obalende, Oyingbo, Ajegunle Boundary and Mushin to teach me how to shop. She taught me how to change diapers and how to sew on her old Singer sewing machine and she also taught me how to cook. I cherish all these sweet memories of my sweet mother. I cannot mention all the great things my beloved mother had to endure and did as a poor African mother who wanted the best for her children. The unforgettable golden memories of my beloved mother are enshrined in my heart.


~ Ekenyerengozi Michael Chima


Wishing all Mothers a Very Happy Mother's Day

Read the following contributions The First Lady of the United States of America Michelle Obama and anotehr from a friend.



Dear Friend,

There's no way I could ever measure all that my own mother has done for me. She is my rock. She pushes me to be the best professional, mother, wife and friend I can be.

As a mother myself, I've come to realize that being a mom isn't always easy and that no one can do it alone.

My husband understands the many challenges facing today's mothers and their families. His Administration has taken steps to level the playing field and ease the burden.

The first bill the President signed into law was the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act to ensure that no women face the same discrimination and injustices that Lilly did after 20 years on the job. When women make less money than men for the same work, families have to work harder just to get by.

The President signed an Executive Order creating the first-ever White House Council on Women and Girls to ensure that all Federal agencies take women and girls into account in their daily work and to ensure that our daughters have the same opportunities as our sons.

Through the Let's Move! Initiative and the President's Task Force on Childhood Obesity, we're helping to provide parents with the knowledge and tools they need to make healthy choices for their children and teach their children to make healthy choices for themselves.

This week, we are celebrating Women's Health Week to promote steps women and girls can take to lead longer, healthier and happier lives.

Mother's Day is about showing our gratitude for the mothers and mother figures who have influenced our lives. The President and I would like to extend our warmest Mother's Day wishes to all of the mothers, grandmothers, aunts, sisters and friends who have inspired a child.

Happy Mother's Day!

Michelle Obama



Lee Strobel tells about a mother from Costa Mesa, California who told about the day her three-year old son was on her heels wherever she went. She was having trouble doing her routine chores.

"Whenever I stopped to do something and turned back around I would trip over him," she said. "Several times I suggested fun activities to keep him occupied, but he would just smile and say, 'That's alright Mommy I'd rather be in here with you.' He continued to follow me and after the fifth trip, my patience wore thin and I asked him why he was following me constantly."

He said, "My Sunday school teacher told me to walk in Jesus' footsteps but I can't see him so I'm walking in yours."

The greatest way we can teach our children about and show our loved ones the love of Jesus is through the example of how we live, and how we model his love in our everyday life.

The Apostle Paul said, "Be followers of me, even as I also am of Christ."1

Suggested prayer, "Dear God, please help me to so live that people, especially my children (and loved ones), will see Jesus in me and will want to follow in my footsteps and have Jesus in their life too. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully in Jesus' name, amen."

1. 1 Corinthians 11:1 (KJV).

Pampers Says Rumors About New Dry Max Diaper as "Completely False."

Pampers Says Rumors About New Dry Max Diaper as "Completely False."


Summary: Pampers describes rumors about its new Dry Max diaper as "completely false."


Jodi Allen, Vice President for Pampers, said, "For a number of weeks, Pampers has been a subject of growing but completely false rumors fueled by social media that its new Dry Max diaper causes rashes and other skin irritations. These rumors are being perpetuated by a small number of parents, some of whom are unhappy that we replaced our older Cruisers and Swaddlers products while others support competitive products and the use of cloth diapers. Some have specifically sought to promote the myth that our product causes 'chemical burns.' We have comprehensively and thoroughly investigated these and other claims and have found no evidence whatsoever that the reported conditions were in any way caused by materials in our product. Independent physicians, highly respected in the field, have analyzed our data and have confirmed our conclusions."


This week we have shared these findings, and other detailed safety information, with the Consumer Product Safety Commission, and we welcome its involvement in reviewing these claims and helping to educate parents on the true causes of diaper rash. At Pampers, we want to reassure all parents that the materials used in the new diaper are not new -- they are the same type used in our previous products -- and do not and cannot cause so-called chemical burns or other serious skin conditions."


We have encouraged these parents who have contacted us to speak with their own pediatricians about the true nature and cause of these problems. To date, there have been in excess of two billion diaper changes using the new product, with only a handful of rash complaints, none of which were shown to be caused by the type of materials in our product. In fact, we have received fewer than two complaints about diaper rash for every one million diapers sold, which is average for our business and does not deviate from the number of calls we received prior to Dry Max. We will continue to work hard to educate parents on the facts surrounding this story, as well as defend the integrity of our product from false and misleading information."