Shark Attack Study Announced: Politics of Bite Incidents Under Review
February 6, 2010 – 11:44 am | Comments Off

http://www.underwatertimes.com/news.php?article_id=09102634517
Washington, D.C. lobbyist Christopher Neff will commence a doctoral program in Sydney, Australia on March 1st to study the politics of shark attacks. The first of its kind doctoral study will look at the impact …

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Australian ABC News: US Congress vote allows gays in military
June 26, 2010 – 11:06 pm | Comments Off

US Congress vote allows gays in military

http://www.abc.net.au/pm/content/2010/s2912535.htm

MARK COLVIN: The US military doesn’t officially allow gay people to serve.

Instead they run an unofficial policy known as ‘Don’t Ask Don’t Tell’ for gay and lesbian service people.

But now the United States Congress is on the verge of repealing Don’t Ask Don’t Tell.

It was a major election promise of the President Barack Obama.

But opponents of the change accuse President Obama of destabilising the military for the sake of a liberal social agenda.

Michael Edwards has this report.

MICHAEL EDWARDS: At the moment, the United States military takes a harsh line on homosexuals within its ranks.

If they admit to being or are discovered to be gay, they are dismissed from service.

It’s called the ‘Don’t Ask Don’t Tell’ law. But in what is being seen a big victory for homosexual rights the United States House of Representatives has voted to repeal the law.

Democratic representative Patrick Murphy was the chief sponsor of the amendment.

PATRICK MURPHY: When I served in Baghdad, my team did not care whether a fellow soldier was straight or gay. We cared if they could fire their M4 assault rifle, or run a convoy down ambush alley. Could they do their job, so that everybody in our unit would come home safely?

With our military fighting two wars, why on earth will we tell over 13,500 able body Americans that their services are not needed?

This policy hurts our national security and it has cost the American taxpayer over $US1.3 billion already on this unjust policy.

MICHAEL EDWARDS: It’s estimated that 60,000 homosexual men and women serve in the United States military.

‘Don’t Ask Don’t Tell’ was introduced during Bill Clinton’s presidency but President Obama made a campaign pledge to get rid of it.

Chris Neff is from the Palm Centre at the University of California a think tank which monitors the impact of ‘Don’t Ask Don’t Tell’.

He describes the vote as a massive step forward for both homosexual rights and the US military.

CHRIS NEFF: It makes a huge difference. Not needing to lie everyday as a condition of service and adding that additional pressure to you if you’re being deployed to Iraq or Afghanistan; you know and being able to write a note to you loved one.

Under the previous policy, if you wrote a note to a loved one from Afghanistan, that could be a cause for discharge. Now, you’ll be protected and you’ll have support mechanisms from the military.

MICHAEL EDWARDS: But the battle isn’t completely over. It has yet to pass the United States Senate and there’s still significant opposition to the repeal among the military’s senior commanders.

Republicans accuse President Obama of using the law to ram through a liberal social agenda at the expense of the United States military. They want Congress to wait until a Pentagon study into the effects of repealing the law is completed.

Chris Neff says there’s long-standing resistance to having openly gay people in the military. But he says most active service men and women have no problem serving with homosexuals.

CHRIS NEFF: Seventy five per cent of US service members when they were surveyed, said they already knew or suspected someone who was gay in their unit and it wasn’t a problem for them.

So we already know that gays are serving and they’re serving openly in units; the difference is that now, they don’t have to worry about losing their job for it.

MICHAEL EDWARDS: The Senate is presently debating the bill.

MARK COLVIN: Michael Edwards.

Huffington Post: What Does Victory on Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell Look Like?
June 26, 2010 – 10:46 pm | Comments Off
Huffington Post: What Does Victory on Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell Look Like?

What Does Victory on Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell Look Like?
by Christopher Neff
There has never been a law and policy quite like ‘don’t ask, don’t tell.’ It is uniquely bad, which is saying something for Washington. …

Shark Attack Study Announced: Politics of Bite Incidents Under Review
February 6, 2010 – 11:44 am | Comments Off
Shark Attack Study Announced: Politics of Bite Incidents Under Review

http://www.underwatertimes.com/news.php?article_id=09102634517
Washington, D.C. lobbyist Christopher Neff will commence a doctoral program in Sydney, Australia on March 1st to study the politics of shark attacks. The first of its kind doctoral study will look at the impact …

Just e-neff news daily blog
February 5, 2010 – 7:47 pm | Comments Off
Just e-neff news daily blog

 

Sunday: June 27
Trying to get caught up on updates … but all is well
My university work (uni) is good. Working on a journal article at the moment on the 2009 Australian “Summer of …

DADT News: Top Defense Officials Seek to End ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’
February 5, 2010 – 12:18 pm | Comments Off
DADT News: Top Defense Officials Seek to End ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’

WASHINGTON — The nation’s top two defense officials called Tuesday for an end to the 16-year-old “don’t ask, don’t tell” law, a major step toward allowing openly gay men and women to serve in the …

66,000 LGBs Serving in U.S. Military
January 26, 2010 – 5:11 pm | Comments Off
66,000 LGBs Serving in U.S. Military

An estimated 66,000 gay, lesbian, and bisexual service members are currently serving in the U.S. military, according to a new study released Tuesday. By Michelle Garcia An estimated 66,000 gay, lesbian, and bisexual service members …

EXPERTS PREVIEW OBAMA’S OPTIONS ON “DON’T ASK, DON’T TELL”
January 26, 2010 – 12:34 pm | Comments Off
EXPERTS PREVIEW OBAMA’S OPTIONS ON “DON’T ASK, DON’T TELL”

EXPERTS PREVIEW OBAMA’S OPTIONS ON “DON’T ASK, DON’T TELL”
The Palm Center today shared its analysis of President Obama’s likely options as he is expected to address the “don’t ask, don’t tell” law and policy during …

DADT News: Wash Post – Gays, lesbians should be able to serve openly in the military
December 26, 2009 – 9:15 pm | Comments Off
DADT News: Wash Post – Gays, lesbians should be able to serve openly in the military

SLOWLY BUT SURELY, the groundwork continues to be laid for the overdue demise of “don’t ask, don’t tell.” The latest move came on Dec. 22 when Rep. Jim Moran (D-Va.) and 95 House colleagues sent …

My 5 Key Talking Points on DADT Repeal in 2010
December 25, 2009 – 5:31 pm | Comments Off
My 5 Key Talking Points on DADT Repeal in 2010

For Hill staffers and DADT Policy stakeholders: I wanted to pass on my 5 top talking points for the upcoming 2010 DADT debate on repeal. If you would like additional resources just let me know. …

DADT News: Congress Pressures Pentagon on Eve of DADT Debate
December 24, 2009 – 7:06 pm | Comments Off
DADT News: Congress Pressures Pentagon on Eve of DADT Debate

Congress Pressures Pentagon on Eve of DADT Debate

From the Palm Center – SANTA BARBARA, CA, December 22, 2009 – Today, ninety-six members of Congress sent a letter to Defense Secretary Robert Gates requesting all 2009 …

DADT News: Dems want temporary ‘don’t ask’ immunity
December 24, 2009 – 6:03 pm | Comments Off
DADT News: Dems want temporary ‘don’t ask’ immunity

Dems want temporary ‘don’t ask’ immunity
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Frustrated by the lack of action to overturn the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy, Democrats in Congress are calling for at least temporary immunity so …