Migrant's on the Margin

Britain's immigration rules do not give Romanians and Bulgarians full access to the labour market, but British laws do entitle them to compensation for injuries that are their employers' fault.

Yet the migrants' anxiety over their immigration status can deter them from making claims - a tendency that employers may be tempted to exploit.

Since their countries joined the EU in 2007, Romanian and Bulgarian citizens have had the right to work anywhere within the bloc.

However, the UK has imposed tight restrictions on their direct employment. Similar restrictions do not apply to citizens of the eight countries that joined the EU during its previous burst of expansion in 2004.

Exact numbers are hard to come by, but most Romanian and Bulgarian migrants to the UK are believed to have taken jobs in the construction and hospitality sectors.

Partly as a result of their immigration status, many of them end up working through agencies rather than being hired as employees by a company. If they are builders, they may be paid cash-in-hand.

The more "casualised" the work, the greater the likelihood that employers may endanger or exploit the workers. They may not adequately assess the risks behind a particular job, or they may neglect to provide protective equipment and training.

Workers in the building sector are particularly accident-prone, with unions estimating that 80 per cent of injuries on construction sites in the UK go unreported.

Builders often avoid reporting accidents at work because they fear losing their jobs and endangering their prospects.

According to a representative from UCATT, the UK's largest construction union, companies also prefer staff who don't make a fuss. This creates a climate where all but the most severe accidents tend to go unreported.

Remus Robu, a paralegal with Levenes, a British law firm that pursues claims arising from accidents at work, said Romanian and Bulgarian migrants needed to be better informed of their rights. They should be aware that nationality and employment status had no bearing on their eligibility for compensation or on the amounts awarded, he said.

Nor should migrants be put off by the prospect of a lengthy court case. According to Robu, most cases involving accidents at work were settled before trial, as employers did not wish to incur heavy legal costs where their liability had been established.

But while Romanians and Bulgarians may see themselves as victims of a harsh immigration policy, they have also seemed reluctant to make use of Britain's kinder laws.

Read more articles by Sorana Stanescu, and many more by award-winning journalists, on the leading English-language news site covering the Balkans; http://www.balkaninsight.com/

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Human Abnormalities

The human population has exceeded 7 billion. Unfortunately, there are many within our society dealing with human abnormalities. Some abnormalities occur at birth, while others are acquired later in life. Regardless of their unusual differences, many are still able to live a normal life. Many will try to correct their odd look with surgery, while others choose to stay the same. In fact, there are people who choose to take advantage of their abnormal conditions to make money. They often have full-time jobs working at circuses and freak shows. Their eccentric appearances certainly draw attention from the curious around the world. Here are examples of human abnormalities.

Epidermodysplasia Verruciformis: Epidermodysplasia Verruciformis is an extremely rare hereditary skin disorder. It is associated with a high risk of skin cancer. Those with the condition are susceptible to acquiring a skin virus called human papillomaviruses (HPVs). The HPV infections cause growth of scaly macules (discoloration of the skin) and papules (elevations of the skin varying in size) usually on the hands and feet. The onset of the condition occurs between the ages of 1-20. However, it is occasionally present in middle-age. Unfortunately, the condition worsens over time. Lifelong eruptions of macules and wart-like papules develop on the face, neck and body. Skin lesions are usually spread over the body.

Dede Koswara is known all over the world as "The Tree Man". He has a rare combination of conditions causing large growths to spread all over his body. His condition caused him to lose his marriage, job and independence. Dede took action to correct his extremely abnormal condition by getting surgery. The surgery was very successful. Dede was able to use hands as well as walk pain-free for the first time in over ten years. After leaving the hospital, he returned home and celebrated his amazing surgical transformation.

Diprosopus: Diprosopus is an extremely rare congenital (existing at birth) disorder. Part or all of the face is duplicated on the head. This rare condition is usually not caused from fusion or incomplete separation of two embryos. The usual cause is a protein called sonic hedgehog homolog (SHH). The protein, along with genes are a big factor in signaling facial bone patterns during embryo development. It eventually starts to excessively widen facial features as well as duplicate facial structures. The wider the face gets, the more duplication of structures. The features often look like a mirror image. Most infants born with disprosopus are stillborn. There are very few cases of survivors living past minutes or hours after birth.

Progeria: Progeria is a rare genetic abnormality that occurs in children. The physical signs and symptoms give them a look of premature old age. The disorder is so rare it only occurs in one in every eight million live births. Those born with Progeria usually live only to their teens and early twenties. Infancy is usually the time when children develop their first symptoms. Low body weight for a child's age is an early symptom. Following infancy, additional symptoms occur around 18-24 months. Symptoms include limited body growth, hair loss on head and body, pinched nose, small jaw and small face. As the child ages, their condition causes wrinkled skin, loss of eyesight, kidney failure and heart problems. Their bones become fragile like an elderly person. They also begin to lose body fat and muscle. Leon Botha was (4 June 1985-5 June 2011) one of the world's oldest survivors of Progeria. He became a full-time painter after graduating high school. He also became a hip hop artist and DJ in South Africa. He never let his abnormal condition stop him from achieving his dreams.

Regardless if we have abnormalities or not, we all have our own look that makes us unique. Unfortunately, human abnormalities can set one apart from others. Their eccentric differences often draw attention which often leads to them being teased and laughed at. Some even have a difficult time finding a normal job. It is amazing that many still stay resilient in not letting their unusual looks hinder their desire to live a normal life.

For more interesting information on human abnormalities, visit human oddities. If you have a general interest in oddities visit oddities store Oneshotvariety online.

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Emergency Preparedness: Hurricanes And Wildfires - Are You Ready?

This past summer has been filled with emergencies and natural disasters. In Colorado there was the Waldo Canyon fire which destroyed close to 350 homes. The Western United States has been a tinderbox for nearly a decade now with near drought conditions. Year after year. So it's no wonder that the number of wildfires has far exceeded normal.

Then recently everybody has heard of hurricane Isaac and the damage and destruction that caused. Natural disasters and emergencies such as wildfires and hurricanes cause temporary loss of housing and create conditions that are difficult to cope with. They are made even more difficult if you're not prepared for them and to be honest, most people aren't.

Many people actually do prepare for emergencies. Emergency preparedness and disaster planning have been on the minds of many for the last few years. The drought out west caused fire departments and homeowners to do vegetation abatement around homes to mitigate the effects of a wildfire.

In the Waldo Canyon fire for example, many homeowners were given 15 minutes to get out of their homes. Many of them were not allowed to return for as long as two weeks. Some of them lost their homes forever. If you do some planning you can actually take some of the sting out of an emergency.

Fifteen minutes to leave your home doesn't give you any time to prepare food for your family. Shelter is almost always available somewhere but food isn't. Emergency food supplies are available in a wide choice of configurations that can provide for a family of four up to a year. Most of them have a 25 year shelf life and are easy to store and transport.

When there is an emergency, law enforcement, fire department and all manner of first responders are busy doing other things-they don't have time to help you. So the more you know, the better off you're going to be in protecting yourself and even your neighbors to help get them through the emergency.

There is a written resource that we recommend authored by a retired fire department captain who speaks from experience. He shows you how to survive nine crises that usually follow disasters.

There are things that homeowners can do for emergency preparedness and disaster planning. They include stockpiling an emergency food supplies and knowing what to do when disaster strikes. And for many people in the U.S. who live in floodplains or drought stricken areas, it is not a question of if an emergency will occur but when.

Emergency Food supplies can feed a family of four for one month with 120 meals. There are other food choice options too.

The Self Reliance Disaster Handbook guides you through nine different crises that follow disasters.

The Home Security Superstore is one of the oldest and largest independent distributors of high quality home security, surveillance, spy, self-defense, survival and safety products. We carry a wide range of self-defense products including tasers, stun guns, pepper sprays and other nonlethal weapons that can save your life in the event of an attack.

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Is Occupy Wall Street Dead?

Last year on September 17th about 1,000 people set up camp in Zuccotti Park to express their frustration with the system they believed broke the promise of the American dream. The people who joined this protest and those who expanded it to other cities captured the attention of the media, academics and Congress, causing them to wait with bated breath to see what this new movement would do. However, almost a year later, the mainstream media considers Occupy to have fizzled out. The question now is, "is Occupy dead?" I believe that the answer is "no."

The media claims that Occupy failed because there was no underlying message, so when authorities tore the encampments down, the movement also collapsed (1). However, even though the original protestors had different reasons for converging on Wall Street, they seemed to agree that the place that once symbolized the ideals of class mobility and equality of opportunity had come to represent the source of their destruction. Occupy became a platform for the "99%" to voice their discontent with (among other things) the lack of jobs for those who desperately wanted them, the corporate influence on politics, and the unfair compensation of members of the "1%." The tents that the protestors erected symbolized their reclaiming of property that was intended to be for the people whose labor created it - not for those who bought it. The encampments reflected the shared belief among the protesters that there was something deeply wrong with the United States (2).

The media latched onto Occupy because it was theatrical and, therefore, filmable; however, when the authorities across the country dismantled the encampments, the news stations lost their ability to record the story of the new movement. It is fairly simple to document a movement when it is in almost every state and is doing something "newsworthy" such as violating ordinances and societal norms by setting up encampments in parks and other public areas. But when that movement's physical expression is mostly gone and only the ideas remain, the mainstream cameras can no longer capture it (2).

So where does Occupy stand? The mainstream media has judged Occupy's success by comparing it to the Arab Spring and, by those standards, has determined it has failed. However, because the issues that gave Occupy shape and energy still exist, it follows that this new movement is not dead but, instead, changing or solidifying its form (1). Last fall, Occupy created its political shape and gained support by using Facebook, Tumblr and Twitter. Much like in the Arab Spring, the Internet served an important role in creating the messages of Occupy. But unlike the Arab Spring, the goals of Occupy were never to tear down the existing government and start from scratch; instead, the objectives were to change the existing system. The standard for comparison of these two movements is erroneous, and the use of this standard has led people to conclude that Occupy has failed.

There are at least three differences between the movements. The media has pointed to economic disparity as a triggering factor for both Occupy and the Arab Spring; however the inequality of wealth in the US has not risen to the level of that which ignited the Arab Spring. Another difference is that Occupy protesters had a constitutional right to voice their concerns, whereas the "rebels" in the Arab Spring did not. In addition, Occupy protesters were able to set up tents and document it on their smartphones in comparative safety while the Arab Spring protesters were being killed by the thousands by their own governments for daring to demand the liberties that the Occupiers enjoyed (2). The differences do not diminish the significance of Occupy, but they do explain why, when comparing these two movements, the media has concluded that Occupy failed. In short, Occupy did not produce the immediate headlines seen in the Arab Spring.

The issue is that some people do not recognize that although these movements occurred around the same time, they were caused by different factors, occurred in different political environments and, therefore, will behave differently. Occupy is, in some ways, more complicated than the Arab Spring because it is more difficult to determine, and agree upon, what about the US needs to change. Because various groups that compose Occupy have different goals, it will take time for a primary goal to emerge around which the entire movement can rally. Furthermore, because this movement seeks to reform the current government as opposed to replace it with an entirely new system, the change will take place over a longer period of time.

In order to discover its unifying message as well as the best way to achieve its central goal, Occupy would do best to return to where it garnered most of its support: the Internet. If Occupiers brought their concerns, goals and proposed courses of action to the Internet, there would be a process of natural selection where the strongest and most persuasive ideas would survive and evolve. The benefit of returning to forums and social media sites would be that people would be forced to work together to create and objectively evaluate goals and plans. Instead of the loudest or most well connected people's beliefs gaining sway, the ideas would be evaluated on their merits. The lack of tangible action that would occur during this time of discussion would be worth the result of having a well-articulated message that would set out clear objectives as well as tactics for achieving them.

Journalists and academics have criticized Occupy for not having a central message; however the inclusive nature of this new movement has also been what has drawn many to it. Selecting the strongest ideas would result in less favored ones falling by the wayside, potentially causing some people to leave the movement. Nevertheless, the benefit of having a clear direction and purpose would outweigh any loss in participation; and it is likely that if Occupy were to have a strong message, more people would become involved, bringing to it additional momentum and resources.

This lull in mainstream activity is not a sign that Occupy is dead, but more likely that it is incubating on the Internet in social media sites, forums and discussion groups, preparing to manifest in a stronger and more focused form.

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National Water Research Institute Publishes Third Edition of UV Water Disinfection Guidelines

As the most recent conference of the International Ultraviolet Association (IUVA) convened on Aug. 12-14, 2012 in Arlington, Virginia, a notable event in UV water technology took place. The National Water Research Institute (NWRI) chose the conference "Moving Forward: Sustainable UV Solutions to Meet Evolving Regulatory Challenges" to release the third edition of the Ultraviolet Disinfection Guidelines for Drinking Water and Water Reuse. NWRI is a non-profit organization that was created by a group of California water and wastewater agencies in 1991 to collaborate on research projects and activities that promote innovation and solutions to water supply and resource challenges. The original UV guidelines were published by NWRI in 1993.

These widely accepted guidelines were developed by leading engineers and scientists in the field of UV technology, and recently revised by two of its contributing authors: Robert W. Emerick, Ph.D., P.E., of Stantec Consulting Services and George Tchobanoglous, Ph.D., P.E., NAE, of the University of California, Davis. Dr. Emerick was responsible for the first permitted unfiltered drinking water UV disinfection facility in the U.S. Dr. Tchobanoglous is an internationally renowned expert on water and wastewater treatment and solid waste management.

Among those who peer reviewed the third edition revisions were Karl G. Linden, P.D., of the University of Colorado at Boulder, and Brian Bernados, P.E., of the California Department of Public Health.

This publication is designed for state, federal, and municipal agencies responsible for UV disinfection systems in drinking water and water reuse and water utilities that deploy the technology. Adoption of the guidelines is at the discretion of federal, state, and municipal authorities. Currently, the California Department of Public Health is using theses standards, and so are others across the United States.

Jeff Mosher, Executive Director of NWRI, spoke about the guidelines at the IUVA 2012 Americas Conference. He said, "Because of its advantages, demand for UV is growing, based in part on the use of recycled water to meet water supply needs." Mosher added, "The UV Guidelines are the most commonly used reference by regulators, water and wastewater agencies, design engineers, and equipment manufacturers to ensure the efficacy of UV installations."

The 100-page guidelines are available online at http://www.nwri-usa.org/uvguidelines.htm. The UV guidelines are designed to be dynamic and will be updated as new UV technologies emerge. This resource is not a planning manual for design of UV disinfection systems - that is the responsibility of the design engineer and manufacturer. The UV guidelines recommend the use of adequate filtration to remove secondary affluents prior to UV disinfection and do not purport to cover the effectiveness of these types of methods or systems in the guidelines. The guidelines include a standard for measurement of water cleanliness after UV disinfection takes place.

Some, though not all, of the highlights of the new edition include:

- Standardized protocol for spot-checking performance bioassays, which replaces velocity profiles
- Standardized UV dose-response relationship
- Revisions to Chapter 3: Protocols
- All reclamation systems must undergo tests that demonstrate disinfection is consistent with design intent.

This short introduction to the third edition of these guidelines is intended to spark the interest of experts in the water industry and the public for further review and analysis. The IUVA members and supporters were honored that NWRI chose the conference to release this new, noteworthy edition of Ultraviolet Disinfection Guidelines for Drinking Water and Water Reuse.

Deborah Martinez is the Executive Director of the International Ultraviolet Association (IUVA) in Washington, D.C. She provides leadership, strategic guidance and management for the daily operations of IUVA. The International Ultraviolet Association brings together scholars, scientists, industry and government leaders to keep interested individuals up-to-date in the latest UV Water disinfection technology. Visit http://www.iuva.org/.

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Hurricane Preparedness and Evacuation Tips

If you live in an area where there is a possibility of a hurricane coming onshore you need to know how to prepare for these storms. Unlike a tornado, these storms have enough warning time for the citizens in their path to prepare. The following tips will help you to prepare your family for the stormy days ahead.

Prepare an Evacuation Plan
The number one thing that you need to do before a hurricane strikes is have an evacuation plan ready. These plans are best made when there is not a storm threatening you.

• Plan where you will go in the event that the storm comes inland in your area.
• Decide who will be driving the vehicles that you are taking
• Decide which family members will be riding in which vehicles
• Make plans for carrying your pets with you
• Have emergency rations packed. Make one person responsible for packing the emergency rations in the vehicles.
• Have a check-list of things that need to be done before you evacuate so you can make sure you have everything you need

Packing Emergency Rations in Advance
It is a good idea that you keep a container packed with the emergency rations you would need during an evacuation. Pack these items in a container that is waterproof and has a good lid. Keep them in one place in the house and make sure everyone knows where they are located. Assign the job of placing these rations into the vehicle to one family member. Practice what you would do if ordered to evacuate so the person in charge of these rations can be familiar with their responsibility.

Things to pack in the box:

• A flashlight and batteries for the flashlight

• Enough water for everyone that will be evacuating to have drinking water for at least three days

• Non perishable food products. Pack enough for each person to have adequate food rations for three days

• Blankets and pillows

• Food for your pet

• At least three changes of clothing for each person

• Non prescription first aid medications like aspiring, Tylenol, allergy medications, bandages for minor cuts, antibiotic ointment, teething gel for infants, etc.

• Prescription medications for each person. The pharmacy will generally refill your prescriptions even if it is not time when a storm like this is threatening your area.

• Emergency cash

• Toiletries like shampoo, deodorant, toothpaste, and feminine hygiene products.

• Your important documents like passports, deeds to land, titles to vehicles, birth certificates and professional licenses.

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The Last Cattle Drive of Oliver Loving and Charles Goodnight

Many people have heard of the famous cattleman Oliver Loving and the just as famous Texas Ranger Charles Goodnight. It has even been rumored that the movie "Lonesome Dove" was loosely based on these two great men and the last cattle drive they ever went on.

Oliver Loving was born in Kentucky back in 1812. He was a farmer in Muhlenberg County until the time that he decided to move his family to the Republic of Texas. In Texas he had 639.3 acres of land that stretched across the counties of Collin, Dallas, and Parker. By the time 1857 rolled around he had increased his land holdings to 1000 acres and he was raising cattle on that land.

Because the cattle were needed in other parts of the country Loving began to drive them out of Texas with the aid of his son William. He drove his cattle up the Shawnee trail to Illinois where he received a profit of $36 per head. This encouraged him to repeat the drive yearly and to allow William to drive herds for neighbors as well.

In 1866 Loving heard that there was a great need for cattle in Fort Sumner, New Mexico. He combined cattle with that of his friend and neighbor Charles Goodnight and they traveled the trail to deliver cattle to Fort Sumner. This route to Fort Sumner would eventually be called the Goodnight-Loving Trail.

The next year,Loving and Goodnight set out to Fort Sumner on another drive. This second drive to Fort Sumner would prove to be a bad decision for Loving. From the beginning the trip was plagued with foul weather and threats on Indian attacks. The cattleman were on guard and edgy. A few days before they reached Fort Sumner Loving and a scout were sent on ahead of the rest. Loving promised Goodnight that he and Wilson (the scout) would travel under the cover of darkness, but being impatient Loving reneged on this promise and traveled during the day.

The daytime travel drew the attention of some Comanche and Loving and Wilson were attacked. At the very beginning of the attack Loving was caught off guard and injured seriously. The two cattlemen sought refuge under an embankment and fought the Indians off from this position. Loving knew that they would have to help if they were going to survive so he sent Wilson to get help.

Loving remained under the embankment defending his position for several days, he had little to no food, and he lost a lot of blood. When the Indians left him he made his way in the direction of Fort Sumner, where a Mexican family found him and took him the rest of the way. His wounds developed gangrene, and he died a short time later.

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