Peace and Love Academic Scholarship, Inc. (PALAS) awarding sixty (60) new scholarships to students in Jamaica for the 2013-2014 school year. Hon. Damion Crawford, Minister of Tourism and Entertainment and Washington D.C Attorney Patrick Campbell will deliver speaking addresses...... A total of 115 scholarships over the past 2 years.

An award ceremony for 60 new PALAS recipients will be held at the University of the West Indies-Mona Campus, Inter-Faculty Lecture Theatre (IFLT) on Saturday, August 24, 2013 commencing at 5pm JA time. 
Guest speakers are Hon. Damion Crawford, Junior Minister of Tourism and Entertainment, and Washington D.C Attorney Patrick Campbell will deliver the other speaking honors. Entertainment will be provided by reggae singer, Winsome Benjamin. 
Grace Kennedy Group and 25th Century Media will partly sponsor the event.PALAS is still accepting donation, please share and spread the word to donate: Please donate online at www.PALAS1.org or send a check payable to PALAS, P.O. Box 5461, Alpharetta GA 30023 USA.

2013-2014 PALAS Recipients (60)

Never Forget: Trayvon’s Hoodie May Be Displayed In African American History Museum (VIDEO of Trayvon minutes before he was killed)

Lonnie Bunch, the director of the National Museum of African American History and Culture, has expressing interest in procuring the hoodie worn by 17-year-old Trayvon Martin on February 26, 2012, when he was profiled, followed and ultimately shot through the heart by killer George Zimmerman, reports the Washington Post.

RELATED: George Zimmerman Busted For Speeding In Texas, Gun In Car [VIDEO]

“It became the symbolic way to talk the Trayvon Martin case. It’s rare that you get one artifact that really becomes the symbol,” Bunch said. “Because it’s such a symbol, it would allow you to talk about race in the age of Obama.” 

MSNBC’s PoliticsNation host Rev. Al Sharpton, who is largely responsible for catapulting the case to national prominence, said that he “would like to see it preserved” because it is the “first civil rights flash point” of the 21st century.

“The hoodie now represents an image of an urban street kid that either embraces or engages in street thug life,” he said. “I think it’s unfair.” Read More...

Damion Crawford, minister of state in the Ministry of Tourism and Entertainment.....Design Contest For Crafters To Boost Development

The Jamaica Intellectual Property Office (JIPO), in collaboration with the Ministry of Tourism and Entertainment, as well as theEdna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts, on Tuesday launched the Authentic Jamaica Design Competition.

Damion Crawford (left) and
Tourism Minister Wykeham McNeill.

According to the organisers of the event, the craft market has long been overlooked by governments. However, this competition signals the end of that era.

According to Damion Crawford, minister of state in the Ministry of Tourism and Entertainment, he and Dr Wykeham McNeill, tourism minister, were tired of hearing craft vendors complain about not maximising returns from their work.

According to Crawford, research done by UNESCO has revealed findings that the craft industry is the best way that persons from lower-incomebrackets of society can benefit from tourism. Read More...

The GLEANER MINUTE: Three Killed In Trelawny Crash

Three people have been confirmed dead following a motor vehicle crash in Trelawny late this afternoon. 

The crash happened on the Braco Main Road when a Toyota Coaster bus collided with a Toyota Tundra pick up. Up to a short while ago the three bodies were still at the crash site. It is reported that several people were rushed to hospital with injuries. Read More...

JAMAICA Emancipendence : 175 years after 'full free'.......

According to the popular view, emancipation from slavery in Jamaica took place on August 1, 1834, which was 179 years ago today. But there was an apprenticeship period for four years. So "full free" as it was called took place on August 1, 1838, which is 175 years ago today.

What we have in Jamaica is an "Emancipendence" celebration which covers both our emancipation on August 1 and our political independence on August 6. This is similar to the Jews whose Passover is about liberation form slavery and political independence. It seems that some people would like to bring back slavery. Today, the euphemism "human trafficking" is used, but it is nothing more than slavery, albeit in modern times. Many times when the list of missing persons is read on radio or TV some wonder if the missing persons have been enslaved.

This is a greater reason to celebrate the anniversary of our emancipation. Not only should we celebrate, but we should also be taking the steps necessary to protect our emancipation just as we should protect Jamaica's political independence.

Jamaica spent a lot of money last year for our 50th anniversary celebration of political independence. In these hard times we could not replicate that with an equally fantastic celebration of our 175th anniversary of 'full free'. But we should still be mindful of the gains made by our national heroes and others. Read more: 

 

3 Nutrients To Help You Sleep Better

I'm not sure exactly when it happened, but the U.S. seems to have become a nation obsessed with pills. If something doesn't work right, no worries, there's a pill for that.

So when we have trouble sleeping, naturally, we go see the doctor for a prescription. Who cares that we might try to sleepwalk our way behind the wheel of a car? At least we're sleeping, right? Wrong!

If you ask me, prescriptions, especially those with severe and dangerous side effects, should always be a last resort.

There could be many reasons for not sleeping well, and stress often plays a role, but quite a few studies have shown that getting the right nutrients can help you get a good night's rest. Why not try eating right, before popping an Ambien?

Here's a look at three common sleep problems that have been linked to vitamin or mineral deficiencies:

Trouble getting to sleep: Magnesium plays a key role in the bodily function that regulates sleep. Insomnia is one of the symptoms of magnesium deficiency, and in fact, a 2006 analysis in the journal Medical Hypothesis suggests that such a deficiency may even be the cause of most major depression and mental health problems. Read More...

IN JAMAICA: Partying To Debt - Sprint Financial Services Sees More Patrons Taking Loans For Events

Partygoers attending some of the priciest events this summer will once again be able to benefit from loans being offered by one lending agency expressly for this purpose.

A section of the crowd at
 last year's Smirnoff XClusive,
 one of the events at
Smirnoff Dream Weekend

Sprint Financial Services started offering loans to patrons attending some of the most expensive parties in the west of the island in 2012 and is doing the same this year.

Founder and CEO of the company, Christopher Barrett, pointed out that the number of persons accessing these loans is on the increase.

"An increase is putting it mildly. It has actually more than doubled since then. As a matter of fact, even throughout the year for all the other little expensive parties for which happen, people take out loans. This is the time of year when it is a little more than usual," Barrett said.

He added that ATI (not on this year) and Dream Weekend were among the most popular parties for which individuals take out loans for.

Barrett mentioned that persons can get loans for any kind of party costing more than $6,500 per person. He also said that persons have between either one or two months to repay the loan at 6.5 per cent per month and that no collateral was necessary. Read More...

Abuse Files Reveal Priest Had Sex With Over 100 Boys: Los Angeles Catholic Church Sex Abuse Files Released Including Files On Ruben Martinez Who Abused 100 Boys

LOS ANGELES -- Hundreds of pages of secret church files released Wednesday shed light on the troublesome careers of a dozen religious order priests, brothers and nuns accused of sexually abusing children while working in the nation's largest Roman Catholic archdiocese.

The files include one case of a priest who later admitted to having sexual contact with more than 100 boys while serving in several Southern California parishes for years.

The papers, which were released under the terms of a $660 million settlement agreement reached in 2007, are the first glimpse at what religious orders knew about the envoys they posted in Roman Catholic schools and parishes around the Los Angeles area. The archdiocese itself released thousands of pages under court order this year for its own priests who were accused of sexual abuse, but the full picture of sex abuse in Los Angeles remained elusive without the religious orders' records. Several dozen more files are expected to be released by the fall. Read More...

REPORT: LIFETIME BAN FOR NEW YORK YANKEES ALEX RODRIQUEZ (A-ROD)

(Photo: Jeff Blake, USA TODAY Sports)

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

• Yankees slugger would appeal with case heard by independent arbitrator
• Some players will not be suspended for lack of evidence
• Rodriguez scheduled to play in rehab game on Friday.

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Commissioner Bud Selig is prepared to levy a lifetime suspension on New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez, while suspending about eight others before the weekend, two people with knowledge of the negotiations told USA TODAY Sports.

The people were unauthorized to speak publicly because no announcement is expected until Thursday or Friday.

BRENNAN: Crackdown shows tide has turned on MLB dopers 

Rodriguez, according to his attorney, David Cornwell, will appeal any suspension, regardless of the severity. The other players are expected to receive 50-game bans, and most are considering accepting the discipline without appealing,  Read More...

Ridin' Dirty: Cops Stop George Zimmerman For Speeding, Find Gun In His Car (VIDEO)

UPDATE 6:30 PM EST

Robert Zimmerman, Jr., George Zimmerman's brother has released a statement regarding George's traffic stop and his need to carry a gun.

George Zimmerman

Read more: 

Children To Get Therapy After Witnessing Murder At Church - 5-Y-O Girl Shot Twice, Hospitalised

Members of the Victim Support Unit will be heading to a section of Bull Bay, St Andrew, later today to offer counselling to children who witnessed a brazen daylight murder while attending Bible school.

The altar did not save the man, Chad Telfer, from the deadly attack. A five-year-old girl who was also shot and injured during the incident is currently in hospital.

The Gleaner understands that the children were attending Vacation Bible School at the Church of God of Prophecy, when gunmen chased and shot a man who sought refuge on the church compound.

The shooting took place some minutes after noon when the children were on their lunch break, according to pastor at the church, Conrad Atkinson. Read More...

Court says INDECOM has power to arrest cops ... Buju appeals judge ruling ... Police await DNA test to confirm priest's body ... IN SPORTS: West Indies in tough pool 'B' (VIDEO)

Sumfest Sizzles ... With Smoking-Hot Performances

Damian 'Junior Gong' Marley
 gave a scintillating performance
at Reggae Sumfest International Night
 2 at Catherine Hall in Montego Bay

Symbolic of the Lion of Judah, Damian 'Jr Gong' Marley, blazed on stage, myriad flashing lights, bass pounding music and fiery backdrop videos heralding nothing short of an electrifying performance, closing the curtains on Reggae Sumfest 2013.

Marley signalled his intention very early in his performance, staking claim that for the third time in three years he had come to take the number-one position on International Night 2.

Combined, Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights and no other artistes on the 21st anniversary festival ignited the Catherine Hall venue with such precision, energy and vibrancy, without even lighting a matchstick. Read More...

10 Black child geniuses you should know...including, By the age of 7, Loiseau spoke French, Creole, Spanish, Mandarin, Arabic and Russian. She also plays the harp, clarinet, violin, drums, guitar and piano.

Stephen Stafford

Mabou Loiseau

If you only watched the evening news or depended on pop culture to paint a picture of young Blacks, you would probably think that the majority of Black youngsters were only ambitious about sports and music – or caught up in crime and debauchery.

However, the face of Black success isn’t limited to the fields that are occupied by Jay-Z, Beyonce and LeBron James. There are a multitude of young Blacks who are achieving at a high level in science, math, classical music, chess and other knowledge-based areas and preparing to change society. Read More...

Surveillance Video Catches White Police Informant Planting Crack On Black Business Owner....Could have gotten 25 years imprisonment for being set up.

NEWS10 ABC: Albany, New York News, Weather, Sports

How many other Black men are in prison because of such practices?

AFRICANGLOBE – The Black male owner of a head-shop selling tobacco products in Scotia, New York seems to have been the victim of a police informant’s set-up. Surveillance video from Dapp City Smoke Shop shows an unnamed White man in a leather jacket pull what appears to be crack cocaine out of his pocket and place it on the counter. The paid, confidential informant for the Schenectady County Sheriff’s Office then photographs the drugs as “evidence.”

Head-shop owner Donald Andrews was charged with felonies — criminal sale and criminal possession of a controlled substance — that could have put him behind bars for 25 years. Forced to close his store, Andrews had spent three weeks in county jail before his lawyer insisted the grand jury view the surveillance footage.  On April 25, after authorities saw the tape, charges were dropped. Read More...

PALAS 55 new scholarships for 2013-14 school year. Award ceremony on Saturday, August 24 2013. Guest speakers Hon. Damion Crawford and Attorney Patrick Campbell. Please donate today at www.PALAS1.org

Bishop, Desmond Tutu Would Prefer Hell Over A Homophobic Heaven

Desmond Tutu

Desmond Tutu denounced religions that discriminate against LGTB-identified people by making some very strong statements during the United Nations' launch of its gay-rights program in Cape Town this Friday, reports AFP. He leaves no doubt about his opinions regarding LGTB rights, declaring: I would not worship a God who is homophobic and that is how deeply I feel about this. He added: "I would refuse to go to a homophobic heaven. No, I would say sorry, I mean I would much rather go to the other place."  Read More...

RulaBrownNetwork (RBN): 13 Reasons to Drink Green Tea

RulaBrownNetwork (RBN): 13 Reasons to Drink Green Tea: 13 Reasons to Drink Green Tea Green tea really is a superfood extraordinaire.  Thanks to a potent plant nutrient called epigallocatechin...

Brutal Bolt - Usain, Weir star at London Diamond League meet

LONDON, England (AFP) — Olympic champion and world record holder Usain Bolt stormed to victory in the 100m at the London Diamond League meeting yesterday as he returned to his brutal, stunning best.

The Jamaican superstar warmed up for his World Championships bid in Moscow next month by sparkling in front of a packed crowd at the London Olympic Stadium. He won in a season best 9.85sec despite making a lacklustre start and performed a lap of honour in front of a packed 60,000 crowd. Returning to the scene of his golden Olympic treble a year ago, the fastest man on earth blew his rivals away with at the Anniversary Games event.

American Michael Rodgers (9.98) and Jamaica’s Nesta Carter (9.99) also dipped under 10 seconds.

“I love coming here. The fans give you so much energy and this is what makes me run faster,” said Bolt. Read more: 

 

CRICKET LOVELY CRICKET: Pakistan snatch last ball win over WI in first T20

Sunil Narine (right) of the
 West Indies being run out
 by Pakistan’s Mohammad Irfan during
 the first T20 international
at Arnos Vale Sports Complex,
 St Vincent, yesterday.

 

KINGSTOWN, St Vincent (CMC) — Debutant Zulfiqar Babar struck a six off the last ball with Pakistan needing one run for victory to secure a sensational two-wicket win over the West Indies in the first of their two-match Twenty/20 International series at the Arnos Vale Playing Field here yesterday.

Chasing 153 for victory, Pakistan were helped by Man-of-the-Match Shahid Afridi, who blazed 46 off 27 balls with four fours and two sixes, and the day's other debutant Umar Amin, who topscored with 47 off 41 balls with nine boundaries. Pakistan ended the 20 overs on 158 for eight in reply to West Indies 152 for seven.

After losing Nasir Jamshed, caught by Lendl Simmons for six off Shannon Gabriel, and Ahmed Shehzad, who held out to Kieron Pollard at long on off Samuel Badree for three, the left-handed Amin played with fluent authority and propped up the early part of the Pakistani innings. Afridi then took over to give the innings the final impetus that took Pakistan to their exciting finish. When Amin went stumped by Charles off Marlon Samuels, Pakistan were 86 for five, but Afridi played positively from the moment he stepped to the crease and was severe on anything short delivered by the West Indian bowlers. Read more: 

Shelly Ann clocks world leading 10.77 in 100m semi; loses final

MONTEGO BAY, St James -- After running a world Leading 10.77 seconds in the semi-finals of the women’s 100m, defending World Champion Shelly-Ann Fraser Pryce was fourth in the finals in 10.94 seconds on today’s final day of the two day London Diamond League at the Olympic Stadium.

Fraser Pryce, who also won the Olympic 100m title on the same track a year ago, appeared to have backed off in the final as she wrapped up her preparations for the IAAF World Championships set to start in two weeks in Moscow, Russia. Kerron Stewart was sixth in 11.02 seconds as Nigeria’s Blessing Okagbare won in an African Record 10.79 seconds ahead of American Barbara Pierre (10.85) seconds and Trinidad’s Kelly-Ann Baptiste- {10.93) seconds. Schillionie Calvert also ran in the first round of the 100m clocking 11.32 seconds but failed to advance. Read more: