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Welcome to diversityvotes.ca's news blast on this hot subject of the day.
diversityvotes.ca is devoted to pairing diverse demographics and multicultural media. Focus now: Canada 2019 Federal Elections - Diversity Empowers Democracy See New Canadian Media's latest contribution to the conversation: Multicultural Media Sound Alarm Over Fake News Follow us on the 2019 campaign trail and join our conversation on diversity in the lead up to the elections. Check out our latest Story of the Day to find out why Canadian-Filipinos are uninterested in Canadian politics: Beyond Political Rhetoric - Filipino Our in-depth reviews highlight priority election topics covered in the ethnic media such as immigration: Scheer, the Conservative Party and the Immigration Elephant in the Room Keep up with diverse community opinion with our:
Since June 1 we have processed over 2,300 stories covering 338 electoral districts (ridings) across Canada, including focused tracking of key ones - check us out to date, and stay tuned for more! For further information on diversityvotes.ca please contact: Blythe Irwin Sources Director sources@mirems.com 604-349-3080 For other great stories follow us on: Twitter: twitter.com/diversityvotes Facebook: facebook.com/diversityvotes Instagram: instagram.com/diversityvotes LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/diversity-votes
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 At MIREMS we know the value of ethnic media for organizations and decision makers who want accurate and in-depth insight about diverse communities. Projects like the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at CUNY’s Latino News Media Map are important contributions to raising awareness multilingual media that is receiving timely attention.
The Map is an interactive tool and directory of more than 600 Latino news media outlets in the US and Puerto Rico, and is no small feat. The nature of ethnic and multicultural media is that it’s volatile. Many news outlets are often started up out of necessity, by and for their multilingual community, and waves of immigration and changes in the world of news media mean keeping an up-to-date list of these sources is very difficult. The collection is impressive and will benefit from ongoing community support. Most of these publications and outlets are small operations with little consistent information available: Flipping through the map, the user sees empty fields, which hopefully will be filled by the media outlets themselves. Flipping through mediums, users see first-hand that there are more newspapers and TV outlets than radio stations, blogs, newswires and podcasts. Further research is needed to identify these more elusive sources. Raising the profile of multilingual and multicultural media as a valuable and unique source of information is important work. It invites more awareness about diverse communities into the public sphere. MIREMS supports any effort to make language barriers more transparent. MIREMS monitors multilingual media across 30 different languages in the US, Canada and worldwide. Our Canadian project, www.diversityvotes.ca explores the connection between language, community demographics and multilingual/multicultural media and its role in the upcoming 2019 October Federal election in Canada. Ethnic media opinion has played an important role in Canadian election processes and campaigns and given the current level of identity politics in the United States, may impact that contest as well. African American: Little Haiti Cultural Complex hosts National Haitian Heritage Month celebrationsAfrican American weekly newspaper South Florida Times from Fort Lauderdale, FL reports:
Haitian-Americans across Miami honor their traditions and culture during National Haitian Heritage Month of May. Throughout this month, the Little Haiti Cultural Complex hosts various events, such as Sounds of Little Haiti, Mother’s Day Celebration, Chefs of the Caribbean Celebrity Brunch and the Caribbean Market Day, which runs all month long. Haitian Heritage Month is also a time to recognize significant contributions that the Haitian community has made to this city of Miami’s prosperity and to its growth. As a culturally-expressive place steeped in the complex and rich cultural histories of the Afro-Caribbean immigrants who brought life to its area, Little Haiti has evolved into a colorful beacon in Miami’s arts communities. Throughout the years, small businesses such as record stores, kitsch bars and authentic eateries have become staples in the neighborhood, creating their own particular patchwork within the already distinct Little Haiti. The hub of this vibrant community is the iconic Little Haiti Cultural Complex, which is designed to present and preserve Afro-Caribbean cultures‚ inspire the next generation of leaders and leverage arts and culture as tools for positive transformation and sustainable community building. Once again, the Little Haiti Cultural Complex is integral for National Haitian Heritage Month celebrations, and this year, the Greater Miami Convention and Visitors Bureau’s (GMCVB) Multicultural Tourism Department joins in Haitian Heritage Month festivities as well. (10/05/19) Haitian Creole: "The United States is concerned about the crisis" Haitian Creole Radio Metropole from Port-au-Prince reports:
Haiti Special Coordinator for the State Department Kenneth Merten went on a mission to Haiti last week to assess the crisis situation. The heads of the two branches of the Haitian Parliament reported that the working session with the American diplomat focused on the political crisis. President of the Senate Lambert Joseph pointed out that important issues, including respect for the mandate of elected officials, institution building and elections, were discussed at this meeting. Preparations for the 2019 elections are one of the US government's priorities. In the last statement following the violent demonstrations in November 2018, the United States ambassador stressed the need to prepare for elections in a peaceful climate. Socio-political stability and the fight against the proliferation of weapons were also discussed. According to the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies, Gary Bodeau, foreign diplomats have expressed concerns about foreign investment in the country. The member for Delmas is very concerned about the accelerated deterioration in the living conditions of vulnerable segments of the population. (09/12/2018) ANA Multicultural Marketing and Diversity Conference inspires and encourages, and misses the mark.  MIREMS’ team attended the ANA’s Multicultural Marketing and Diversity conference earlier this month. We were eager to hear from the multicultural marketing industry’s leading experts, learn about where multicultural marketing is heading and see what companies and agencies are doing to connect with these diverse communities. Experts spoke about the importance of connecting authentically; having diversity within your organization before heading out trying to capture a diverse market; multicultural outreach as a social good; the challenges of “showing the numbers” within multicultural marketing; and above all as P&G’s Mark Pritchard famously said “if you’re not doing multicultural marketing, you’re not doing marketing.” But there was a lack of attention paid to public and media relations as a means to gain hearts and minds in diverse communities. Because of the very pervasive mantra of "if you can't count it, it doesn't exist," the fact that marketing in a diverse environment is about cross-cultural communication—a two-way street, not one-way advertising messages —is often lost due to the inability to understand cultural nuances. Disney’s Theresa Cross, Jerry Daniello, Evelyn Livermore spoke about the success of Black Panther and audience’s hunger for content that is “committed” to their community. Roger Solé from Sprint and Jose E. Velez-Silva from Comcast spoke about their respective success in Hispanic markets. These experts spoke about their successes as rewards for risk taking. They made a commitment to the community they were trying to market to and it paid off. They were making grounds in participating in cross-cultural communication's two-way street. Though leaders also spoke of how companies across the country are still hesitant to “commit” to multicultural markets as the standard tools of ROI are lost in translation. At the root of this fear is what Michael Lacorazza, Executive Vice President and Head of Integrated Marketing at Wells Fargo was talking about when he said: “If I can’t measure it, I can’t get credit for it.” While Velez-Silva and other speakers countered this notion, stressing that this fear is already out-dated: Demographic data trends show the general market/multicultural market divide will soon be a thing of the past. This difficulty in tracking ROI in multicultural markets remains one of the biggest obstacles for diverse marketing, and though there was plenty of talk about how crucial it is to be authentic in multicultural initiatives, there was no clear answer on how this can be achieved. As on-the-ground insights into multicultural communities is MIREMS’ area of expertise, we were surprised that the country’s top multicultural experts were still stumped. In our view, the best way to connect effectively with diverse communities is to pay attention to them. While data experts touted spreadsheets and heatmaps with demographics and socioeconomic statistics, few could clearly articulate which languages are spoken by people in their own neighbourhoods; what multicultural holidays are coming up this month; or how local multilingual print, web, radio and TV media was responding to their projects. We were inspired to hear companies speak about the work they’re doing internally to reflect the communities they are trying to reach, and happy to see them beginning to see the value in looking at incoming population trends. But we challenge and encourage them to put their ear to the ground and bridge the gap between multicultural marketing intent and action. Local and national ethnic media broadcasts daily, nation-wide. Punjabi, Mandarin, Spanish, Haitian-Creole, French, Arabic and on and on is heard, read and watched and engaged with by these multicultural populations. And there are few things more authentic that someone’s mother tongue. Monitoring this media solves the echoed questions of “how do I connect authentically?” and “How do I track my authentic success?” And indeed, as the multicultural market becomes less of a unique fight-for-dollars segment, this understanding will certainly pay off. The two-way street of cross-cultural communication is essential to understanding and capitalizing on a multicultural market. Asian diversity still an afterthought:
 It’s already been a week after midterm elections, but last weekend the secretary of Florida State announced a series of recounts for three races, including the U.S. Senate race between Bill Nelson and Rick Scott and the race for governor between Andrew Gillum and Ron DeSantis. The automatic recounts will take place because all of these races are within the narrow margin of 0.5 percent.
Meanwhile, MIREMS’ consultants collected some important stories from various ethnic media sources regarding the election outcomes, before the governor’s race recount became official. While reporting DeSantis’ alleged victory over Gillum, Fort Lauderdale based weekly Spanish language newspaper El Sentinel named the Florida governor’s race “one of the most active electoral contests in the State of Florida.” The newspaper reported that voters in Florida decided to keep the state under Republican control, specifically under a close ally of President Donald Trump. The article focused a lot on the controversy in DeSantis' campaign, which featured racist comments, an FBI investigation and Trump as an ever-present force throughout. The Republicans' hard-line immigration policies, which include separating children from parents who crossed into the country illegally, helped galvanize liberal groups, but they also galvanized the Republican Party base. Somali: "American School Board meeting raises concerns about immigrant students" VOASomali in Washington reports: The American School Board Association held a meeting in Washington. They put immigrant students at the top of their agenda. This school boards meeting is yearly, and participants come from every state of the country. Siyad Ali, who is a member of the Minneapolis Board of Education, stated that Somali students are always criticized because they are behind in the education system compared to their white counterparts. He admitted that this specific issue is a problem among most immigrant student populations. In the meantime, he said that educators will be implementing new methods of teaching newcomers and that things are set to improve. Mr. Ali told VOA that in these kinds of meetings, the boards discuss the goals that have been achieved, the obstacles that they have encountered and the important issues worth more attention in delivering academic knowledge to eight million students in American schools. This year, multiple agendas are being pushed forward, like the problems faced by many immigrant students from Latin America, particularly Mexico, whose parents are either deported or on the verge of deportation, and the long-term affects this immigration saga has on that group of students. “As school board administrators, we do not want our schools to be hunting grounds for illegal immigrant parents,” said Mr. Ali. The meeting also widely discussed public school safety because of the recent surge in the number of school shootings. (02/11/2018) Somali: "Three men convicted of plotting to bomb Somali refugees say they were encouraged by Trump's rhetoric" Hiiraan in Ottawa, Canada reports: Three men who were convicted of plotting to bomb an apartment building that housed a mosque and dozens of Muslim Somali refugees in Kansas were encouraged by President Donald Trump's rhetoric, their attorneys said. In court documents filed this week, attorneys for Patrick Stein, Curtis Allen and Gavin Wright say the men were influenced by Trump's anti-Muslim rhetoric and Russian propaganda on social media and argue that life sentences against their clients would not deter others from committing similar crimes. "As long as the White House with impunity calls Islam 'a dangerous threat' and paints average Americans as 'victims of horrendous attacks by people that believe only in Jihad,' a mixed signal gets sent," Wright's attorneys wrote in a sentencing memorandum filed. "As long as the Executive Branch condemns Islam and commends and encourages violence against would-be enemies, then a sentence imposed by the Judicial Branch does little to deter people generally from engaging in such conduct if they believe they are protecting their countries from enemies identified by their own Commander-in-Chief," they continued. Stein, Allen, and Wright were convicted of one count of conspiracy to use a weapon of mass destruction and one count of conspiracy against civil rights by a federal jury in April. The jury also convicted Wright of lying to the FBI. Officials said the men, who were members of a militia group in Kansas, planned to detonate four parked vehicles filled with explosives outside the apartment complex in Garden City the day after the 2016 presidential election to "wake people up." Federal prosecutors argued that maximum sentences of life imprisonment were appropriate for all three men. "Their goal was not only to commit mass murder, but also to incite other groups to 'wake up' and commit other acts of violence against Muslims, against landlords who rent to Muslims, and against the U.S. government, and to spread the hateful message that Muslims should be, in the words of Defendant Stein, 'eradicated' from the United States," prosecutors said. Stein's attorneys argued that the 2016 presidential election and Trump's rhetoric played a role in the responsibility of their client, whom they described as "an early and avid supporter" of Trump, who called for a Muslim registry, closing mosques, and greater surveillance of Muslim-Americans during his campaign. (31/10/2018) Somali: "New service organization called Somali Unification Center in Minnesota" VOASomali in Washington reports:
Mohamed Ahmed Keyd, the director of the Somali Unification Center, told VOA that it is not easy to establish a new service providing organization in this DNA era. It took a lot of time and effort to come up with the idea, to show the community the importance of the services and to convince authorities to pay for the operations. The main objective of this non-profit organization is to advocate for the rights of Somali-Americans in Minnesota. The organization is aiming to address issues like legal advice, immigration, health, housing and education, which are the most useful tools for building a new generation and developing human life. This organization has a 509A2, which means this organization can participate in all the political campaigns and they can advocate on behalf of their community. They can spend one third of their finances on campaigns and they can support or oppose any new legislation. One of the benefits of this endeavor is that the Somalis in Minnesota who are becoming more established and more involved in American politics. They have the opportunity to voice their opinions. They are also able to collaborate with other political organization, and they can oppose or stop any legislation which is against the interest of their community. This organization will work hand in hand with service non-profit organizations in Minnesota. It will be complementary to other organizations rather than overlapping their services. (01/11/2018) Days before the midterm elections, ethnic media is making predictions about the outcomes of such heated races. According to MIREMS’ previous research, the minority vote is extremely important and powerful, and race and ethnicity are likely to make a big difference in 2018 election outcomes. As one of the most diverse states and the nation’s largest swing state, Florida’s demographics are key to determining the winners. MIREMS’ media consultants have been closely monitoring various ethnic media sources to convey essential opinions and predictions from different cultural communities. Spanish media, mainly El Nuevo Herald and Diario Las Americas, report that DeSantis and his campaign devoted most of his time to presenting Gillum as a radical socialist. Many voters see a strong connection to Trump as an asset for DeSantis and Florida. Both Democrats and Republicans know that the Latino community is key in this election, as 31 percent of the electorate is shared between Cubans and Puerto Ricans, and 38 percent is from other nationalities in Latin America. According to a recent report from the Pew Research Center, 837,000 Hispanics have registered as Democrats in Florida, 527,000 as Republicans and 775,000 as independents. The New York based Russian language newspaper V Novom Svete named Florida one of the states that are “up for grabs,” where the chances of both candidates are approximately equal. It predicts that the Democrats may get a majority in the lower house, but the Senate will remain under Republican control. The Democrats have a much more difficult task than the Republicans: with a score of 50 to 50, they still will not have a majority, even if both independent senators support them. The Republican vice-president gives the Republicans a majority when there is a draw in the House. The newspaper reports that even though the lower house elections are much more complicated, the goal of the Democrats is still quite achievable. It states that in the eyes of many Americans, different parties controlling the two chambers is a blessing, a situation that forces lawmakers to seek compromises. African American media sources, such as South Florida Times and Westside Gazette, mostly focused on the Amendment 4, reminding readers that one in 10 Floridians can’t vote because Florida is one of only four states where people with a previous felony conviction are permanently barred from voting. Under former Florida Governor Charlie Christ (Democrat), the Executive Clemency Board automatically restored rights of felons completing their sentences, who paid restitution with no pending charges. However, Governor Rick Scott’s Administration (Republican) eliminated those reforms. These newspapers believe that there is hope and state that Floridians can change the current situation with 60 percent of voters. Amendment 4 reached the ballot after more than 800,000 Floridians signed a citizen petition. The Chicago Crusader named African Americans a “deciding voting block” in key races across the country, including Florida. However, forecasters also predict potential Black voter dropout, which is a serious issue.  Overall, more Americans are taking advantage of absentee and early voting this year, according to The New York Times. In 22 states and Washington, D.C., early voting counts have surpassed levels of the last midterms in 2014 and in some cases is nearing the total turnout seen four years ago. Florida is among those 22 states, advancing ballots cast in 2014 by 68 percent.  The Miami Herald reports that youth voter registration went up 41 percent in Florida after the Parkland shooting. Young voters, between the ages of 18 and 29, who make up 34.22 percent of voter registrations in Florida, could also tilt this year’s midterm elections in Florida. The Harvard Poll found younger voters favored Democrats over Republicans in the battle for Congress by a 66 to 32 percent margin. MIREMS is following along with Florida’s tight race for governor as is most of the country. We’ll be sharing stories from the country’s Ethnic Media about the outcomes of the election. Stay tuned for more. Written by Lina Katrin
MIREMS works to make diverse voices accessible by providing translated summaries of web, print, ratio and TV news, advertising and advertorials. Polish: "Beer saved a suicidal man" Polish source Dziennik Zwiazkowy from Chicago reports: Beer has always brought people closer to each other, but it can even save a life - as a beer truck driver found out when he saw a man from Chicago, ready to jump from a bridge in Minnesota. When they saw the man, two truck drivers called 911, and one of them named Kwame Anderson started to talk to the man, who refused any form of help until the driver offered him to talk about his problems over a six-pack of Coors Light - the beer brand he was delivering. The Saint Paul police congratulated Anderson on the heroic attitude that saved the Chicago’s man life - with the help of beer. (21/08/2018) African American: "Coca-Cola plays its part in plastics fight with ‘reverse’ vending machines" African American source from Baton Rouge, Louisiana reports: Coca-Cola has teamed up with theme park operator Merlin Entertainments to launch a new breed of reverse vending machine, which offers discounts in exchange for plastic bottles over the summer. It is hoped the tech will incentivise families to recycle after the soft drink giant commissioned research that established 64% of Britons would recycle while out and about if rewarded for their good deed. Jon Woods, general manager of Coca-Cola Great Britain, said: “This is just one of the actions that we’re taking to play our part in achieving a World Without Waste. We buy more recycled plastic in the UK than any other company and we are in the process of doubling the recycled plastic in all our bottles from 25 per cent to 50 per cent by 2020. "We’re also running television campaigns encouraging people to recycle, putting clear recycling messages across all of our packs and we’re supportive of new interventions, such as deposit return schemes, to see if they improve recycling rates.” Last year Coca-Cola launched its sustainable packaging strategy, which led to clearer on-pack recycling messaging on its bottles. (25/07/2018) Spanish: "The war 'against drugs', the inquisition of the twentieth century?" Alejandro A. Tagliavini writes for Miami's El Nuevo Herald: The author says that the war on drugs was similar to the inquisition and wars of the last century, saying that capitalism was a driving force and that 200,000 have died in Mexico alone in the war on drugs. As Canada legalizes Cannabis, cannabis companies like Tilray have shot up in the stock exchange. The multinationals of soft drinks and alcoholic beverages have great interest in these cannabis companies, such as Constellation Brands - manufacturer of Corona beer - which ended up paying $3,8 billion for 38 percent of Canopy Growth. Coca-Cola and Diageo are evaluating cannabis investments. Peter Thiel, founder of PayPal and owner of Tilray, invested in a factory of cupcakes made with cannabis, Goodship, and in cosmetics made with the same ingredient, Marley Natural. This boom is happening despite recreational consumption being prohibited - except in states like California. There is a conviction that this restriction will be lifted. Canada is legalizing marijuana use in October, following the steps of Uruguay. There are great expectations that the US will be next. Many specialists affirm categorically that cannabis produces very serious side-effects, so that we shouldn't encourage its consumption but minimize it and monitor those people who consume it. And for this nothing worse than war, nothing worse than the violence that always ends up aggravating things, making it clear that it is not necessary for the authorities to be effective. Quoting the winner of the Second World War, the Vatican is still alive and has great authority in the world, while the USSR and the Berlin Wall have disappeared without war. In the future, the war "against drugs" will probably be seen as the inquisition of the 20th century. (02/10/2018) South Asian: "Coca-Cola earnings climb amid rising cost pressures" South Asian source from Los Angeles Siliconeer reports: Cola reported higher profits Wednesday following a stronger soda performance in its home North American market, where it recently enacted price increases due partly to US tariffs on aluminum. Net profit at the soda giant jumped 69 percent to $2.3 billion following lower tax expenses. Revenues fell 12 percent following the sale of bottling assets to franchisees. Results were boosted in North America after Coca-Cola revamped its Coke Zero brand and introduced new flavors of Diet Coke, as well as smaller package sizes of soda and other beverages. The moves were in response to eroding consumer demand for conventional carbonated drinks due to health and obesity concerns in the US and other markets. “Consumers are buying more beverages but they are buying it because of diversity,” chief executive James Quincey said on a conference call. (25/07/2018) Spanish: "This is what happens to a child's body every time you give them Coca-Cola" El Diario, a Spanish source from New York reports:
Coca-Cola is not recommended for children. If Coca-Cola is harmful for an adult, it can be even worse for a child. Any pediatrician, dental care worker and anyone with common sense knows that the drink can cause serious damage to a child's body. Still, sodas are part of the daily diet of thousands of families around the world and some babies even drink pop or sugary drinks in their bottle. The pharmacist Niraj Naik, known for contributions on nutrition on 'The Renegade Pharmacist,' described the effects of a can of Coca-Cola on the body. In the first 10 minutes, the body gets ten teaspoons of sugar, 100% of the daily requirement for an adult. So much sugar makes it more likely a child will become obese. The aspartame in the sugar-free version is also potentially harmful to children under 3. After 20 minutes, the sugar rush causes a spike in insulin, which can contribute to insulin resistance. At 40 minutes, the caffeine causes a higher blood pressure and heart rate. At 45 minutes, the body produces dopamine, which produces effects similar to heroine. At 60 minutes, the phosphoric acid combines with magnesium, zinc and calcium in the intestines, which leeches minerals out of the body and can cause bones and teeth to become weaker in a child. After an hour, the sugar low can make the person irritable. (13/08/2018) MIREMS works to make diverse voices accessible by providing translated summaries of web, print, ratio and TV news, advertising and advertorials. African American: "P&G's Marc Pritchard: 'We are reinventing the agency models to get the best creativity'"  Baton Rouge's Weekly African American source The Drum reports: P&G chief marketing officer Marc Pritchard says the company's new dedicated agency – which will break ground by bringing talent from competing holding groups together under one roof – will improve not just the company's bottom line but also its creative output. The 'People First' agency will operate from P&G’s New York office, led by Andrea Diquez, chief executive of Publicis Groupe's Saatchi & Saatchi. It will combine Publicis talent with that of WPP and Omnicom to work on P&G's North American fabric care brands including Ariel, Tide and Gain. Speaking to The Drum in the wake of the shock announcement, Pritchard reveals how the model came to be – and how he anticipates it will function. "What we are now doing is reinventing the agency models so we can get the absolute best creativity and do it in a way that will grow our brands and the business of our agencies as well," he says. "We see this as a joint value creation opportunity." (10/04/2018) Chinese: "Facebook and Instagram outlined the steps they have taken to prevent drug sales" New York's Chinese web source World Journal reports: There are a lot of hashtags relating to painkillers, opioids and addiction, among others. Thousands of pictures show people being addicted to these drugs, showing off their party life, etc. Users can find drugheads and their posts easily - this is Instagram's algorithm for ads. Next to these ads, there are posts from brands including Target, Chase, P&G, et cetera. (27/09/2018) African American: "P&G – not the first brand to attempt WTF trademarking" The Drum a weekly African American source from Baton Rouge reports:
Procter & Gamble’s attempt to connect with a millennial audience by trademarking acronyms such as WTF, LOL and NBD has raised eyebrows, but the practice of laying brand claim to everyday slang is not as unusual as it may seem. P&G has filed to trademark LOL (laugh out loud), WTF (what the fuck), NBD (no big deal) and FML (fuck my life). Initially reported in AdAge, the news has drawn the attention of global outlets such as the BBC and Bloomberg, which have questioned if owning such colloquialisms will really entice a younger customer base. David Born, director of entertainment licensing firm Born Licensing, agrees that P&G’s interest in the acronyms is driven by a millennial targeting strategy that a number of brands are actively undertaking. "This also appears to be the reason why we are seeing emojis almost everywhere we turn, whether on products or in advertising,” he said. “We recently worked with Just Eat who licensed emojis as part of their Real Reviews campaign, and have a number of other advertisers that have shown interest in using emojis as a way to communicate with their target audience." (24/08/2018) MIREMS works to make diverse voices accessible by providing translated summaries of web, print, ratio and TV news, advertising and advertorials. Spanish: "Walt Disney donates $ 1 million to help those affected by Hurricane Michael"  Orlando's Spanish source Noticias Ya reports: The Walt Disney company is contributing $ 1 million to help in the restoration efforts in the Gulf Coast region of Florida and other areas affected by Hurricane Michael. The donation will support disaster response and recovery efforts through the Florida Disaster Fund administered by the Florida Volunteer Foundation. "Families and communities affected by this devastating hurricane need our help as they begin to rebuild," said Robert A. Iger, President and CEO of The Walt Disney Company. In addition to the Disney donation, the contributions of Disney employees to eligible aid and recovery organizations will be matched dollar-for-dollar by Disney employees: a program of the Walt Disney Company Foundation. Disney works continuously with numerous nonprofit organizations in emergency preparedness efforts, including sharing information to save lives with families before and during emergencies, having supplies ready to respond to natural disasters and providing resources to activate large-scale responses in the event of a disaster. (05/10/2018) Chinese: "Disneyland plans to get rid of benches" Chinese source World Journal in New York reports: Disneyland California said in its latest statement that, due to the large number of visitors per day, they plan to get rid of benches to address the problem of overcrowding. The move received a lot of criticism from visitors. Twitter user @BenPaddon tweeted: "I love Disneyland, but thanks to the bench removal I can no longer attend without also renting a wheelchair or scooter. So this means I just won't be going." (29/09/2018) Russian: "Walt Disney World tickets will now be priced differently" New York's Russian source, America RU, reports: Representatives of the Walt Disney World Resorts in Florida unveiled on Monday a new rate plan, according to which the admission to the park may fluctuate depending on the time of day and season. Starting on October 16, the price of a one-day ticket to the amusement park will vary from $109 to $129. Representatives of Walt Disney World said that the new price will be based on demand - it will be highest during peak times of the day and during the holiday season. These changes are designed to simplify the booking process, give guests more opportunities to purchase tickets to the park and help them plan their vacation, informed a Disney park press release. Those who want to buy tickets will also get access to an interactive online calendar that shows the price level depending on the date. (25/09/2018) South Asian: "Netflix stock tops Disney in market value for first time" South Asian source in Houston, The Jago Times reports: Netflix’s stock market value ballooned to a record $153 billion on Thursday and eclipsed Walt Disney Co for the first time, making it the world’s most valuable entertainment company, following a monumental shift by viewers away from cinemas and cable television. Lifted by a blitz of original programs and 125 million global subscribers, some of whom have given up cable television packages, Netflix’s stock has surged 80 percent so far in 2018, more than any other company in the S&P 500. Since Netflix’s initial public offer in 2002, when it was a mail-order DVD service, its shares have surged nearly 33,000 percent. It has also become a must-own stock for Wall Street investors, alongside Apple, Amazon.com, Alphabet, and Facebook. Netflix’s stock was up 2.3 percent on Thursday, at $352.90, in line with the median price target of analysts covering the Los Gatos, California company, according to Thomson Reuters data. The most optimistic analyst price target would put Netflix’s stock market value at $182 billion. (25/05/2018)  MIREMS works to make diverse voices accessible by providing translated summaries of web, print, ratio and TV news, advertising and advertorials. Spanish: "Walmart vs. Amazon: Which one has the best prices on products for your home?"  An opinion piece in Spanish source from New York El Diario says: To be honest, we always face the dilemma of where to buy our home appliances and look at the same product in different places to find the cheapest price for what we need. The article lists ten common items for the home found at Walmart and on Amazon. Most products have similar price levels at both places, but where there is a difference, Walmart is usually cheaper. At Amazon, customers can get free shipping within two days by becoming Amazon Prime members, while Walmart has free two-day shipping on purchases over $35. At Walmart, customers can also shop online and pick the product up at the store the same day. A high-definition TV screen was significantly cheaper at Walmart. A deep fryer, Rubbermaid containers and a Roomba robot vaccum had the same prices. A sofa bed was slightly cheaper at Walmart. (16/08/2018) Russian: "Tariff war with China: how does it threaten the average consumer? Walmart on the battlefield" Russian source from New York, V Novom Svete reports: On Monday, September 24, the next round of sanctions against China entered into force. It introduced additional tariffs on Chinese exports worth $200 billion. Walmart, America’s largest retailer, openly addressed President Donald Trump’s administration, expressing concern about the consequences of the so-called “tariff war” with China. The company said that the new duties will affect the prices for goods, taxes and, ultimately, the overall development of the trading network. Walmart's “tariff list” was based on the original list of the Office of the US Trade Representative, published in July of this year. It listed over 6,000 items of Chinese-made goods for which tariffs are supposed to be raised. On June 15, Donald Trump announced the introduction of 25 percent trade duties on Chinese goods. According to the president, this measure was taken “in the light of China’s theft of intellectual property and technology, as well as other unfair trade practices.” A letter from the Walmart corporation did not achieve its goals - on the contrary, the list of goods for which they raised tariffs only increased from $50 to $200 billion. However, for the first time, such a large trading company came out openly against raising tariffs. “As the largest retailer in the United States and a major buyer of US-manufactured goods, we are very concerned about the implications of these tariffs for our business, our customers, our suppliers, and the US economy as a whole. This round of sanctions could affect a significant amount of general consumer goods that are not easy to replace,” stated Walmart. Walmart has published a list of products for which higher duties have been announced and for which, accordingly, prices will rise. (28/09/2018) African American: "Home Depot volunteers renovate home for local veteran" Orlando, Florida's African American source the Orlando Advocate reports: On Saturday, Oct. 20, The Home Depot Foundation partnered with Code H.O.R.S.E. to transform the home of Russell Wilfong, a three-year U.S. Air Force veteran who served in Vietnam. Wilfong is recovering from a recent surgery, and is in need of assistance with various repairs to improve his home’s accessibility. Volunteers replaced floors, repainted rooms and updated the bathroom vanity to ensure Wilfong’s home is safe and accessible for the veteran and his daughter, who lives with him. More than 10 members of Team Depot, The Home Depot’s associate-led volunteer force, completed the work on their day off. This project in Yalaha, Fla. was part of The Home Depot’s eighth annual Celebration of Service campaign to improve the homes and lives of U.S. military veterans and their families. Since 2011, The Home Depot Foundation has transformed more than 40,000 homes and facilities for veterans across the country. Giving back to veterans is personal to The Home Depot, as more than 35,000 of the company’s associates have served in the military. (23/10/2018) Russian: "Socially oriented businesses" New York's Russian V Novom Svete reports: Dozens of leading US companies intend to make it easier for their employees to participate in the upcoming November 6 elections. Many companies have cooperated to open a website called “Time to Vote”. No production meetings have been scheduled for this Tuesday, workers will be paid for the time they need to go to the polls, and those wishing to vote on absentee ballots will receive instructions on how to do this. Among the 140 companies participating in the initiative are Walmart, Levi Strauss, Dick's Sporting Goods, Lyft and PayPal. A total of 44% of US companies will give employees time to get their civic right. “The Americans fought and died for the right to vote, so how can we, business leaders, not help to make this right come true?” wrote Chip Berg, President and General Manager of Levi Strauss. (25/10/2018) Italian: "American prison strike did not lead to tangible improvements" Italian source La Voce di New York reports: Working in prison is considered a privilege for inmates, as it gives them the possibility to learn a trade they may be able to use when they get out, but the very low pay is an issue that reminds us of the historical exploitation that benefitted the status quo. As part of the strike, a social media campaign was organized, as well as a promotional video, rallies, phone calls to prisons and detention centers, as well as protest letters to companies that notoriously benefit from low paid prison labor to sell their products, such as Walmart, Starbucks, Victoria Secret, AT&T and others. (20/10/2018) South Asian: "Walmart trims profit forecast as it touts investment push" South Asian source in Los Angeles Siliconeer reports: Walmart trimmed its full-year earnings forecast on Tuesday following the major acquisition of India’s online retailer Flipkart and vowed to plow ahead with more investment in the battle for retail market share with Amazon. Walmart, which completed its $16 billion acquisition of a 77 percent stake in Flipkart in August, projected that comparable sales growth at US stores next year — fiscal 2020 — would be 2.5 percent to 3.0 percent. Walmart, which also signaled that sales growth at US stores could slow modestly next year, said heavy investment was needed to meet customer expectations in a fast-changing retail environment. Investors appeared to buy that view, bidding shares higher after early weakness. “A business that won’t invest won’t last,” Walmart Chief Financial Officer Brett Biggs said during a presentation for investors and analysts. “The payoff from past investments is paying for new investments.” Chief Executive Doug McMillon said the company hoped to return to the robust profit margins of the past but added that investment was needed to position Walmart for the longer term. He said opportunities could come up unexpectedly and that he was open to more deals. “If something came up in China, even with what’s going on politically, we would consider it,” he said, alluding to the US-China trade conflict that has led to tariffs. (16/10/2018) African American: "Black-owned bottled water brand makes history as the first to be sold at Walmart" Dallas' African American Dallas Weekly reports: For the first time in history, Walmart is selling a Black-owned bottled water brand on its shelves. It's called Live Alkaline Water, and it is 100% natural alkaline water that is bottled at the source from a natural underground spring, an aquifer, and a mineral rock bed that lies 800 feet below the ground. The company is based in Jacksonville, Florida, but the water comes from a family-owned spring in North Carolina that has been passed down for generations. The quality and high PH balance of the water has been tested and certified by the state of North Carolina, as well as the University of North Carolina in Greensboro. Dr. Creer told First Coast News, "I called... many Walmarts, and finally we got a hold of one who allowed us to do a presentation." Soon after, they presented their business plan to a local Walmart... and to their surprise, the regional manager was there and decided to give them a chance. And they had every right to be excited because not only did they become the first Black-owned bottled water brand to be sold by Walmart, but their product sold out within just one month! Walmart has since reordered, and plans to continue selling their water and possibly adding the product to more stores across the country. (09/07/2018) Chinese: "Walmart cuts 2019 earnings outlook" New York's Chinese source World Journal reports: Walmart cut its 2019 earnings outlook, citing the Flipkart acquisition. Walmart cut its earnings outlook on Tuesday, as it had previously warned it would do, citing the impact of its acquisition of Indian e-commerce company Flipkart. The company also said e-commerce growth will be less robust next fiscal year, as it's still fighting to win more shoppers online. (17/10/2018) 
MIREMS works to make diverse voices accessible by providing translated summaries of web, print, ratio and TV news, advertising and advertorials. Russian: "Big cuts"  San Fransisco's Russian source Kstati reports: Wells Fargo, the third largest bank in the United States, headquartered in San Francisco, will lay off 26,000 employees over the next three years, or about 10% of employees. This was stated by the Chief Executive Officer of Wells Fargo, Tim Sloan. Currently, the bank employs about 265,000 people. The cuts will affect employees from a variety of Bank branches. Since 2015, Wells Fargo has been shaken by a number of serious scandals. Bank employees opened millions of fake bank accounts for customers to get good premiums. In addition, Wells Fargo was implicated in imposing car insurance on customers, although they did not need it. (14/10/2018) South Asian: "Buffett says US, China will avoid acting ‘extremely foolish’ on trade, defends Wells Fargo" South Asian source in Houston, Texas, The Jago Times reports: Billionaire Warren Buffett said on Saturday it is unlikely that the United States and China will come to loggerheads on trade, and he thinks the countries will avoid doing “something extremely foolish.” Buffett, 87, and his longtime partner and fellow billionaire Charlie Munger, 94, also took pointed questions on Wells Fargo & Co, politics, guns, healthcare and their investment choices from shareholders, journalists and analysts at the Berkshire meeting in Omaha, Nebraska. Buffett defended Wells Fargo and its chief executive, Tim Sloan, in response to a question asking when Berkshire would ditch the bank, one of its largest common stock holdings. Many shareholders applauded the question. He said the bank committed the “cardinal sin” of incentivizing employees into “kind of crazy conduct,” for which US regulators imposed $1 billion in fines last month for lending abuses. “Wells Fargo is a company that proved the efficacy of incentives, and it’s just that they had the wrong incentives,” said Buffett. But he maintained that the bank is not “inferior” as an investment or morally to its main banking rivals. Berkshire owned $25.2 billion of Wells Fargo stock as of March 31, down 14 percent from the year-end as a series of scandals weighed on the bank’s reputation. Wells Fargo investors gave strong backing to the bank’s directors and executives on Tuesday, indicating confidence in its overhauled leadership to rebound.(06/05/2018) Polish: "One billion dollar penalty for the Wells Fargo bank" Chicago's Polish source Dziennik Zwiazkowy reports: The Wells Fargo bank, based in San Francisco, was fined $1 billion for illegal banking practices on fees related to mortgage and car loans. This is the highest punishment in the US financial sector since the start of the Trump presidency. The bank was also obliged to return money to the affected customers as soon as possible. (20/04/2018)  Infographic from Language Lines Solutions. Spanish: "Wall Street falls after hike in US bond yields" Miami's El Nuevo Herald reports: Stock prices fell on Thursday after the rise in US interest rates shook world markets. Investors sold securities of technology and internet companies and the Nasdaq compound posted its biggest loss in three months. The solid reports on hiring and the industrial sector have caused bond prices to fall during the last two days, as brokers bet that the US economy will continue to grow at a pace close to today's. Sameer Samana, a strategist for the Wells Fargo Investment Institute, said that after months of positive economic data, brokers market bonds are selling because they have decided that yields are at a level too low to get a good profit for your investment. (04/10/2018) African American: "Wells Fargo increases its commitment to Black home buyers" African American source The Dallas Post Tribune reports: In 2017, Wells Fargo announced a commitment to create 250,000 African American homeowners by 2027. In addition to lending $60 billion for home purchases over that 10-year period, the banking giant has committed to increase the diversity of its sales team, particularly African American home mortgage consultants. Further, bank officials said they’ve dedicated $15 million for initiatives focused on home buyer education and counseling for Black families. This commitment is only part of the efforts that Wells Fargo has made over the past year to show that it values customers of color, said Cerita Battles, the senior vice president and head of retail diverse segments at Wells Fargo Home Mortgage. By the end of 2017, Wells Fargo reported that it helped 23,161 African American families with $5.7 billion in home loans, which was a significant increase over the previous year and 99.7 percent of the bank’s first-year goal, despite a falling mortgage market, Battles said. The bank also dedicated more than $1.8 million in grants to support home buyer education and counseling for African American audiences, exceeding its first-year goal. Battles said the majority of support from that work comes primarily from three areas of the Wells Fargo Housing Foundation, including the National Housing Grant Program, the Homeownership Counseling Grant Program, and down payment assistance grants through NeighborhoodLIFT. “We are also supporting new initiatives like HomeFree-USA’s Center for Financial Advancement Program, which will offer financial education and expose students to the mortgage industry as a career option on the campuses of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs),” Battles said. “And, the future holds great promise as we have several improvements that have been put in place for 2018, including doubling the amount of money dedicated to NeighborhoodLIFT.” (26/04/2018)  MIREMS works to make diverse voices accessible by providing translated summaries of web, print, ratio and TV news, advertising and advertorials. Russian: "2018 Toyota C-HR: Corolla 'on drugs'"  Russian print source from Chicago, Chicago News reports: Previously, everything was simple. Take for example the Toyota Celica or even the existing Tundra! Now everything is turning into a set of abbreviations, especially in the Corolla department. Despite such bold decisions in terms of colours/forms, the company is taking the right steps to keep attention on its cars on the market. In such a crowded segment of the compact crossover, you need to offer not only the minimum price but also originality. The 2-litre engine 144 hp paired with a CVT gearbox, which helps to get adequate fuel economy figures - 27MPG in the city and 31MPG on the highway. It has a weight of about 3,300 pounds, which is enough (in terms of power) for the chassis (and this is what the competitor HR-V has big problems with). However, there is still a lot of noise from the motor and the road in the cabin. You will find that the 12v car outlet is only in the armrest and if you are using a Desch camera or a radar detector, the cable will have to be “pulled” through the entire cabin. Worst of all, the armrest does not even have holes for the same cable. The machine still opens and starts with a key. The rear seats are not exactly designed for adult passengers. There is not much luggage space (as it may seem) and not enough space in width for comfortable long trips in the rear because of the low roof and body shape. (03/06/2018) Spanish: "Toyota must remove 2.4 million defective cars around the world" Spanish source from Orlando, Florida Noticias Ya reports: Toyota is recalling about 2.4 million hybrid cars worldwide that could stop while driving. The Japanese automaker said the recall affects about 807,000 Toyota Prius cars in the US. Toyota says that the defect occurs in rare situations, and has the result that the vehicle cannot enter a fail-safe driving mode in response to certain failures of the hybrid system. When this happens, the vehicle can lose power and stop. The automaker did not say if this had caused any accidents, injuries or deaths. Customers will be notified when their cars can be repaired, and dealers will apply a software repair for the Prius free of charge. (05/10/2018) Polish: "Changes to NAFTA have not ended the threat of tariffs on cars from the EU" Online Polish source from Chicago, Dziennik Zwiazkowy reports: The changes in the NAFTA agreement negotiated on Sunday will allow Mexico and Canada to avoid the threat of higher US tariffs on cars. However, such a threat has not disappeared from products exported to the US from EU countries. Both trade unions and car companies are not enthusiastic about the adoption of the USMCA agreement. The new agreement provides for an increase in wages for employees in the Mexican automotive industry so that they will be equal with wages in the US in this sector - 40 percent higher than the current average salary in Mexico. Such an increase in salaries will, of course, increase the cost of production in Mexico and may result in the exit of car manufacturers from this country. The USMCA agreement is also not a solution for such large manufacturers as Toyota USA, which imports the most important components to cars manufactured in the US from Japan and other countries. (03/10/2018) Chinese: "Toyota is recalling more than 1 million of its hybrid vehicles worldwide over a potential fire risk" New York's Chinese source World Journal reports: Toyota announced a recall of around 1.03 million vehicles produced between June 2015 and May 2018. Of the 1.03 million, 554,000 are in Japan, 217,000 in North America and 219,000 in Europe. Russian: "By its 50th anniversary, the Toyota Corolla has become even safer" Russian source from Detroit, 7 Days Detroit reports: The Toyota Corolla has always been considered a win-win for those who are looking for a reliable and safe car at a reasonable price. After all, 43 million buyers cannot be wrong. The Japanese automaker decided to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Corolla, making it even more attractive and safer. In 2017, Corolla borrowed from the Prius, its environmentally friendly sister, the package of active safety tools Toyota Safety Sense P. In addition to a camera and a laser tracking system for road traffic, the car is equipped with a collision warning and pedestrian detection system with automatic braking, adaptive cruise control, a road marking tracking system and a rear-view camera. Also this year, a control system for "dead" zones was added. The Corolla received 5 stars again from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and was named exclusively safe by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. Its main characteristics are a four-cylinder engine with a displacement of 1.8 litres, 132 hp and 128 Nm torque. The car accelerates to 96 km / h in 10 seconds. Toyota knows what Corolla customers like best: comfort, reliability, economy. And they gave customers a great gift. (26/06/2018) 
Somali: The care of rheumatoid arthritis in Somali patients may be subject to implicit bias Somali source Hiiraan from Canada reports:
Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic inflammatory disease that can affect people of all ethnicities. There are no published studies that attempt to identify disease-specific characteristics of Somali immigrants. In this paper, Paul Waytz, MD, Andrew Forsberg, BA, and Abdi Mohamed, MBA, attempt to better categorize various aspects of rheumatoid arthritis int the Somali population. A database of 40 Somali patients with rheumatoid arthritis was compiled. Several cultural differences and other potential barriers emerged, including the possibility of implicit bias. Minnesota is home to the largest Somali population in the world outside of Somalia or refugee camps, with a population now approaching 40,000 residents by conservative estimates. The majority live in the Twin Cities. The current Minnesota population also reflects a substantial number of second-generation Somalis. During this review, it quickly became apparent that socio-cultural factors played an important role in the evaluation and management process, a role that might well be associated with implicit bias. The study demonstrates that the population of Somalis with RA is 98% female, distinctly different from the standard reported percentages of nearly 3:1, female to male. Furthermore, implicit bias may be just as unacceptable and harm just as much if not more than explicit bias. One of the authors suggests that one might also wonder if underlying reasons like financial issues, image, self-esteem, or the social expression of masculinity associated with the stress and mental health status of immigrants contributes to the observed disparity. Physician education and self-reflection are essential to solving serious problems with healthcare delivery. (16/10/2018). Miami's El Nuevo Herald reports: The election of the governor in Florida: a microcosm of US polarization  A charismatic black Democrat against a white, anti-immigrant Republican: Florida's run for governorship in the mid-term elections is a microcosm of polarized US policy, and perhaps a sign of what could happen in 2020. The Democrat is Andrew Gillum, a charismatic mayor who could become the first black governor. The opponent is Ron DeSantis, cut from the same populist cloth as Donald Trump. Both candidates are up against minor scandals already, and the polls have them in a tie. They represent two very different ends of the ideological spectrum. And Florida's diverse population encapsulates the divisions of current US policy. The generational changes in voting patterns are seen clearly in this race. DeSantis has been endorsed by Trump, but "the Hispanics always have an ace up their sleeve." The "Puertorican Factor" is explained, discussing the large number of new Puerto Ricans in Florida whom DeSantis is chasing for votes—acknowledging that the Cubans in Florida helped Trump win the state. (05/10/2018) MIREMS is following Florida's race for governor as told by the State and the Country's multilingual and multicultural media. Bringing unique and valuable voices to the debate.
People of color are expected to make up a majority of the US population by 2044, according to American Progress Action, but particularly now race and ethnicity make a big difference in election outcomes. One-third of Florida’s registered voters are nonwhite, so for candidates trying to win in the Sunshine State—where the electorate might be the most diverse in the nation—demographics could be the key to determining the winners of the 2018 elections for US Senate and governor. As people from all over the world are pouring into Florida, the state’s voting population is changing and becoming more diverse. Florida’s registered voters are 64 percent white, 16 percent Hispanic, and 13 percent black, although Hispanics have lower turnout, and black voters have higher turnout, making them about equal.  In Florida, democratic registered voters are 48 percent white, 29 percent black and 17 percent Hispanic. Among Republican registered voters, 83 percent are white, 1 percent black and 11 percent Hispanic. It turns out that Democrats are losing votes due to non-Hispanic white voters, while Republicans are not in favor among minority voters, particularly Hispanics (Hispanics in Florida accounted for 4.3 million (8 percent) of the U.S. Hispanic population). Currently, the parties are about even in Florida, with 37 percent of voters registered as Democrats, 35 percent as Republicans and 28 percent not registered in a party. Florida’s largest media market in terms of registered voters is the Tampa Bay market (24% of all registered voters), followed by the Miami market (21%). In Miami-Dade, 72 percent of registered Republican voters are Hispanic.  There are 36 races for governor this year. According to the New York Times article, not one of the Republican candidates is black or Hispanic, while Democrats this year have nominated black, Hispanic and Native American candidates in Florida, Arizona, Georgia, Idaho, Maryland and elsewhere. Andrew Gillum, Florida’s governor candidate from the Democratic party, tweeted on Sept. 20: “Our country’s diversity is our strength, and immigrants are so important in Florida.” In the meantime, several Republican leaders have come forward saying that some prospective minority candidates don’t want to defend President Trump for his offensive language on race or don’t want to be aligned with his party.
MIREMS is following along with Florida’s tight race for governor as is most of the country. We’ll be sharing stories from the country’s Ethnic Media about the race. Stay tuned for more. Written by Lina Katrin Muslim-American women seek to represent changing face of US in Congress A daily Somali source from Ottawa, Canada Hiiraan reports:
A very late election night victory rally in Michigan for candidate Rashida Tlaib on August 7, followed a week later by an election night victory rally in Minnesota for candidate Ilhan Omar, marked an inflection point in American politics. The two, both Democrats, are the first Muslim-American women to win a congressional primary election. With at most token opposition in the November 6 general election, they are virtually assured of seats in the U.S. House of Representatives next January. Their historic breakthrough comes as a record number of Muslim-Americans have entered national politics, in part to protest the Trump administration’s immigration and border security policies, including an executive order upheld by the Supreme Court restricting travelers from five majority-Muslim countries. Tlaib is the daughter of Palestinian immigrants who left the West Bank in the 1970s to settle in Detroit, where Tlaib was born and raised. Omar was born in Somalia, but fled to a refugee camp in Kenya before reaching the large Somali community in Minneapolis. Once elected, she would succeed Keith Ellison, the first Muslim-American to be elected to Congress as well as the first member of Congress born on the African continent. Both women come from families shaped by war and have dealt with hostility and bigotry toward their religion from both political parties. They are part of a progressive wing of the Democratic Party hoping to take control of the House in the November midterm elections. Tlaib and Omar say they are determined to have a voice in the national debate over immigration, border security and election integrity, among a multitude of issues that have captured their interest. (25/09/2018) Since the 1990s Somalis have been seeking refuge and setting up a new life in the chilly streets of Minneapolis, Minnesota. Minnesota’s StarTribune calls the neighborhood of Cedar-Riverside—also known as Little Mogadishu—“the Somali capital of America.” In 2015 150,000 Somali’s were living in the US—mostly in Minneapolis, Washington and Ohio—and as a result the community’s ethnic media has grown and publishes regular unique content that’s of value to not only the community but others in the area. MIREMS’ special report on stories from the Somali community are cross-culturally translated by MIREMS consultants who are on the ground in these communities; translating more than just words but feelings and nuance.  Source: 2012 American Community Survey Tukwila and SeaTac located in Washington Market for Small Businesses are scheduled for Closure VOA Somali reports from Washington: Cross-cultural translation: Two markets called Tukwila and SeaTac, which are primarily owned by Somali people, are going to be closed. The closure of these markets is not something only Somalis will be facing, because the entire markets vicinity will be placed under redevelopment. The closure time for Tukwila market has already been finalized and it is set to be close by the end of this year. As the Seattle municipality promised, the government will be compensating business owners for the losses that these businesses will be facing. However, the closure of SeaTac has not been finalized yet and the owners of these businesses are trying to save the market. Ali Dhel is one of the owners of these businesses and a frontrunner of the campaign against the closure. He said he is not sure of the size of the premises that Somali businesses like Halal meat stores, grocery stores, furniture stores, restaurants, wedding halls and clothes shops occupy. When Mr. Dhel was asked why the government wants to redevelop this area, he stated that 60 percent of the occupants that live in this area are east Africans and Muslims. This area was redeveloped not too long ago and this market is a shopping area for many customers primarily from the above-mentioned communities, whether they live far or close to the market. He added that the government is claiming that the location will be redesigned for a new train station and more developed houses, but the reality is that they want to get rid-off the east African, Muslim and low-income people and create a new space for big, wealthy companies. Our goal is to convince the Seattle municipal government to develop the area not only for wealthy companies, but for both small businesses and big corporations. Abdulkadir Aden, who is also a local business owner, said “although the owners of these businesses were offered a chance to participate in the bids for the land and houses, the low-income residents will not be successful against the big companies. What is also obvious is that the Seattle municipal government’s mindset is against the notion of keeping these small businesses in a prime area of the city.” (29/08/2018). Muslims celebrate the Beginning of the Islamic Calendar New Year and Ashura Day VOA Somali radio reported:
Cross-cultural translation: This [sic. last] week, Muslims are celebrating the new Islamic calendar year (Hijri). The Hijri calendar is being celebrated by all Muslim people around the world. The beginning of the Islamic calendar year is regarded as one the most meaningful days of the year for Muslims around the world because they fast on the tenth day of the New Year called Ashura so that they will be rewarded by Allah. Dr. Hassan Albasri, a Somali professor at the Al-Ahqaf University in Yemen, explained what the new Islamic calendar year and Ashura Day means to Muslims around the world. He said that the Islamic calendar year is a unique sign for Muslims. Whereever they live, Muslims can follow the calendar and figure out what religious holidays and rituals take place at different times. It dictates the obligations and orders from Allah on Islamic practices. Based on the Hijri calendar, Sept. 20, 2018 is Ashura day, the first day of the first month of the Islamic calendar year. All Muslims are fasting on Ashura day. Sheikh Abdulrahman, a Somali scholar who lives in Saudi Arabia, said that Prophet Mohamed saw Jewish people in Mecca fasting on Ashura day once. The messenger asked them why they were fasting. They told him that it is Ashura day, which is when Allah gave victory to Prophet Musa and saved the Israelites from the tyranny of the Pharaoh. Then the Prophet Mohamed himself started to fast from that day on and ordered his companions to do the same. (14/09/2018) More than 10,000 illegal Haitian migrants in the US Radio Metropole and Loop Haiti in Port-au-Prince report: Translated Summary: The US Department of Homeland Security revealed in its annual report that more than 10,000 Haitians live illegally in the United States. 10,558 Haitians who obtained a visa or a residence permit for the United States have never returned to Haiti, according to the report published for fiscal year 2017-2018. For the fiscal year, all the countries included in the report have a total of 628,799 people in the US in an irregular situation. Haiti occupies the 12th place (10,558), behind several developed countries including the United Kingdom, Brazil, China, France, Spain and Germany. Haitians and nationals of 14 other countries violate US migration laws by remaining in the US without authorization at the end of their residence permit or visa, for a total of more than 256,000 nationals (excluding Mexico and Canada). According to American legislators, mass deportations could destabilize the region, trigger a new wave of unauthorized immigration and jeopardize American foreign policy objectives. (10/08/2018) Migration issues are at the forefront of our discourse, and this report highlights the challenges to America's immigration system that reach beyond the US-Mexico border. By monitoring news coming from affected communities—written and spoken in their mother tongue—decision makers are more informed, and better equiped to do their decision making.
In our opinion: Nicaraguans should keep TPS protectionPublished by El Nuevo Herald, a Spanish source serving Miami and South Florida Translated Summary: "In the face of the crisis in Nicaragua, the US House of Representatives approved last week a resolution drafted by Representative Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, who condemns the violence in the Central American country and is asking for sanctions against individuals linked to the government of President Daniel Ortega. Ros-Lehtinen also highlighted another problem that the crisis has aggravated. “If we are going to say that the situation in Nicaragua is terrible, then why are we going to deport so many Nicaraguans when we are saying that the country is in political chaos?" she asked. She is right. Nicaragua has suffered the worst political crisis with a heavy dose of violence since the rebellion that toppled dictator Anastasio Somoza in 1979. The last thing that Nicaraguans who had TPS need is to be sent back to a country afflicted by months of violent confrontations and a weakened economy. TPS must be maintained for Nicaraguans."
MIREMS chooses a story from our daily advisory reports to share on our blog. These cross-cultural translation summaries are a first hand look at what ethnic and multilingual media are reporting on across the country. Canadian immigration options available to people in US - Hindi Source: CMR FM 101.3 Voice Radio Hindi, a radio show based in Toronto, Canada.
Translated Summary: An immigration consultant on the show said there are many programs through which people in the United States may be eligible to immigrate to Canada. However, every pathway, whether temporary or permanent, requires a plan to immigrate. People in the US with legal status can come to Canada through the Working Holiday Visa. Individuals in the US between 18 and 30 years of age can qualify under this program. They can get a work permit for up to 12 months. US nationals can also get a work permit under NAFTA. This program usually does not require a candidate to have an LMIA-based job offer. An intracompany transfer is an option as well. The consultant said that many of her clients have immigrated to Canada through the Express Entry, Quebec immigration program and Provincial Nomination Programs. Originally aired July 06 2018 A huge upset was won by a young, progressive, Latina woman in New York. The otherwise under-reported race saw Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s budget of $300,000 face off against veteran Democrat Joe Crowley—whose budget was ten times that. Her victory stunned the nation, and Ocasio-Cortez has credited her success with hard work on the ground level.  Ocasio-Cortez's reaction the moment she saw she won the primary. Her win led many publications to comment on the importance of connecting with minority communities as primaries heat up ahead of November’s elections. An analysis by Harry Enten for CNN said “Democratic candidates need to appeal to minority voters with increasingly urgency.”
“In Ocasio-Cortez's case, she was a Latina woman running in a district where over two-thirds of citizens of voting age were nonwhite,” says Enten. This sentiment was echoed around the country, and is something that MIREMS knows well. In a diversifying nation, the voices of all are important and worth listening to. However, many criticising the race or shocked by the victory have leaned on the fact that she won by demographics alone. Ocasio-Cortez and the data say otherwise. An article in the Spanish source El Diario out of New York quoted Steve Romalewski with the City University of New York (CUNY) Graduate Center saying “that the idea that changing demographics led to the victory was not corroborated. Most of her votes did not come from predominantly Hispanic areas, although that would have been expected.” Reporting from The Intercept says more than just majority-minority districts made the difference for Ocasio-Cortez, but neighborhoods with changing demographics. Whatever the magic ingredient for Ocasio-Cortez’s win, MIREMS continues to pay attention to multicultural and multilingual media on the ground reporting in our communities. Making these voices accessible to decision makers—even future decision makers—is MIREMS' mandate.  From Time: "Due to the power of the image [of the young girl crying at the border upon being separated from her mother], which appeared as critics from across the political spectrum attacked President Trump’s now-reversed policy of separating children from parents who are being detained for illegally entering the United States, TIME’s editors selected Moore’s photograph to create a photo illustration, including Trump, to make the July 2, 2018, cover of the magazine." Chaos clamors in the background of audio clips broadcast on TV and radio stations. Often the sound of children shouting and wailing. Images of children crying through fences and chains. There were grieving parents, it was a picture of despair. It is uncertain what exactly moved the millions of Americans over the past two weeks from complacency to outrage. But it worked, and last week Trump issued an executive order to stop the practice of familial separation at the border. The practice of full prosecution, however, remains unchanged. There has been plenty of back and forth and lots of blame laid across the aisle of Congress over what is undoubtedly an immigration mess. How to deter without detaining. A longstanding question with no clear answer. MIREMS has been paying close attention to migration issues at the US-Mexico border since October 2017, and the Canada-US border for over 20 years. Our previous reports looked at the Safe Third Country Agreement, the implications of changes in DACA and TPS in the US and Canada and more. The newfound outrage that suddenly gripped many Americans had been commonplace for Spanish-speaking and other immigrant and minority news sources and populations, especially in Southern states like Texas, Florida and Los Angeles for many months—even years—now. This outrage, fuelled by reports of high numbers of children being separated from their parents with policies, previously in place but rarely enforced until recently, eventually poured over into mainstream media and spurred President Trump to make an executive order, canceling the family separation policy. Looking at editorials and opinion pieces, piercing words expressed concerns for “humanity” and condemned “children in cages.” MIREMS examined reports from these sources to see what editors, writers and hosts had to say. Reports like that of Prothom Alo a Bengali source out of New York saying “2,000 minors have been separated from their families at the U.S. border during the last six weeks due to Trump's anti-immigration policies. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents have become stricter in the recent days.” Mirabel Hastings, an avid advocate for better treatment of migrants at the southern border condemned Trump’s family separation policy in a column in Miami’s El Nuevo Herald saying “Trump's family separation is perhaps the most cruel manifestation of a government which is morally bankrupt at all levels.” VOA Creole Radio reported on protests against family separation in New Jersey, noting attendees issue with Attorney General Jeff Sessions quoting the bible to justify family separation “a situation that not only bothers Democrats but also creates unease among Republicans.” An editorial in Los Angeles’ Spanish online source La Opinion called family separation “cruel, ineffective and potentially in conflict with the constitution” back in early June. A subsequent editorial in La Opinion called Trump’s executive order “a sham.” Saying that signing the order “continues the farce. The systematic dehumanization of immigrants by the President and his supporters is responsible for this cruelty.” “When people are described as "animals", when they are said to "infest" as if they were insects when it is said that parents are "criminals" who hide behind minors, when they are said to be invaders, it becomes permissible to treat them in this way. The collective rejection of the brutality of dividing families is good news. The bad news is that the mistreatment of immigrants will not stop.” -La Opinion In Miami, El Nuevo Herald voiced similar opinions in an editorial. Trump “thrives on chaos and uncertainty, and unfortunately, we cannot be sure that he really wanted to put out the flames when he signed an executive order to stop the separation of immigrant families on the border between Mexico and the US.” The editorial added that “Trump thought that separating immigrant families was a step to get funding for a border wall. His failed political strategy has caused a human tragedy.”
It is always interesting when a moment or a policy can grip the attention of a whole nation so swiftly, calling for unprecedented action such as an executive order from the President, which undermines the Republicans' stance on the immigration battle that they’re fighting problems created by congress and congress alone. By listening to the media representing those most affected by these laws and decisions, policymakers and business leaders can actively become more informed and therefore make better decisions on the ground. The immigration battle is certainly far from over, but this moment in time shows the power media has to influence change.
The population in Texas has an obiously high proportion of Hispanics and Latinos. Close proximity to the border, and a long history of migration makes some communities in the state feel more a part of Mexico than the US at times.
The diversity in Texas reaches further, though, and is a part of life in cities throughout the state. From Fort Bend County to Dallas, the ethnic and linguistic diversity is present. 
A large contibutor to this diversity is immigration. As of 2015, 4.7 million immigrants made up 17 percent of the state's population. The top country of origin for immigrants is Mexico, with 55.1 percent of immigrants. However, the second country is not even in Latin or Central America. Five percent of immigrants in Texas are from India. Followed by El Salvador (4.3 percent), Vietnam (3.7 percent), and China (2.3 percent).
These higher immigration rates have a direct impact on language spoken at home. According to the 2009-2013 American Housing survey, of the nearly 24 million people in Texas five years or older, 65 percent speak only English at home. The other 35 percent speak more than 160 languages combined. 
35 percent of Texans speak a language other than English at home.
The share of Asian immigrants to Texas has more than doubled, from 17.3 percent in 2005 to 40.4 percent in 2013, which helps explain the high numbers of Vietnamese and Chinese speakers.
What is really important about these numbers is their distribution. Asian migrants have not dispersed across the state in equal numbers; they've largely settled in the state’s big metropolitan areas, like Harris, Dallas, Tarrant and Travis counties. Dallas is the 10th most diverse county in the country. In Fort Bend County, which has been called the most ethnically diverse county in America, the school district is charged with educating children who speak up to 100 different languages at home. Only 17 percent of the Fort Bend Independent School District’s student population is white. Asians and Middle Eastern students make up a quarter of the student population; of the remaining students, half are black and half are Hispanic. 17.5 percent of the county’s population is Asian—107,000 people. Interestingly, Fort Bend county is also the wealthiest county in the state, with a median household income of $95,389. The most common foreign languages in Fort Bend County are Spanish (110,683 speakers), Chinese (24,334 speakers), and Urdu (14,015 speakers). Compared to other places, Fort Bend County has an impressive number of Urdu speakers, as well as Gujarati speakers (6,510), and Hindi speakers (10,205). Some other notable population concentrations for language and diversity in Texas:
We can’t help wondering who will the citizens among them vote for - Ted Cruz or Beto O’Rourke? It will depend who can reach out to them with a message that resonates. |
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