Abuse

Anthony J. Parkinson, Former Urbix EVP & Advisory Board Chair, Launches New Sustainable Ventures

Retrieved on: 
Monday, January 22, 2024

PHOENIX, Jan. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Following his instrumental role in guiding Urbix, Inc. to a landmark $32 million equity investment in October 2023, Anthony J. Parkinson, strategic business consultant, and senior mentor is directing his attention towards fresh and impactful ventures.

Key Points: 
  • Having successfully steered Urbix, Inc., a Mesa-based graphite processor, through financial milestones, Parkinson now explores projects in water treatment, energy recovery, and long-duration energy storage.
  • This transition coincides with Urbix's recent closure of a substantial $32 million equity investment.
  • A key figure at Urbix since 2016, Parkinson played a pivotal role in shaping the company's trajectory.
  • Urbix, known for creating advanced anode material for electric vehicle batteries, has seen significant growth under Parkinson's contributions as Vice-Chairman, Executive Vice-President, and Chairman of the Advisory Board.

Domestic violence: criminalising coercive control in France could bring more justice to victims

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, January 17, 2024

Over the last decade in many European countries, legislators, magistrates, government ministers, law enforcement agencies, lawyers and service providers have recognised that prevailing approaches to domestic violence were failing and have adopted the new model of “coercive control” to reframe domestic violence as a crime against rights and resources rather than as an assault.Criminalising coercive controlDrawing on interviews with several hundred French professionals, victims, service providers and academics, the Chandler-Vérien French parliamentary mission on domestic violence tasked by Prime Minister Borne with improving the judicial treatment of domestic violence stressed the urgency of translating coercive control into law and called on coercive control to be at the core of future information campaigns and professional training.

Key Points: 


Over the last decade in many European countries, legislators, magistrates, government ministers, law enforcement agencies, lawyers and service providers have recognised that prevailing approaches to domestic violence were failing and have adopted the new model of “coercive control” to reframe domestic violence as a crime against rights and resources rather than as an assault.

Criminalising coercive control

  • Drawing on interviews with several hundred French professionals, victims, service providers and academics, the Chandler-Vérien French parliamentary mission on domestic violence tasked by Prime Minister Borne with improving the judicial treatment of domestic violence stressed the urgency of translating coercive control into law and called on coercive control to be at the core of future information campaigns and professional training.
  • We believe that enacting a coercive control offence in France would be a significant advance in the equality agenda.

Coercive control: a “liberty crime”

  • Coercive control has been referred to as a “liberty crime” because of the experience of entrapment it produces, analogous to being held hostage.
  • The rights infringed upon include autonomy, dignity and self-determination, even more so when victims have a disability.


current domestic-violence laws have failed to hold perpetrators accountable and to protect victims, mainly women and children;
the lack of social control and legal sanctions encourages aggravation and recidivism, creating a revolving door in French courts and prisons;
victims confront situations that more closely resemble captivity than an assault.

A system of impunity

  • The French state’s High Council for Equality has found that the conviction rate for perpetrators of domestic violence amounted to a “true system of impunity”.
  • The gap between the current criminalisation of domestic violence and its reality as experienced by victims can erode trust in the justice system.
  • The conviction rate of perpetrators and the number of domestic homicides in France reflect the perpetrators’ lack of accountability.

Surveillance, isolation, intimidation, control, personalised credible threats

  • In most cases, violence and/or sexual abuse is accompanied by intimidation, isolation, control tactics, and personalised credible threats.
  • These begin in the house and can extend to every activity, including work, and involve children, other family members and unrelated others, including professionals, as spies, informants or co-victims.
  • Because perpetrators aim to monopolise all the resources and privileges available in a relationship or family space, their adult partner is usually their primary target.
  • But any person who is seen as obstructing this monopoly is likely to be targeted as a secondary victim, including children, grandparents, siblings, friends, neighbours, coworkers, as well as law and social services professionals.

What about the children?

  • Coercive control of women by men is the most important cause of violence against children and child homicide outside war zones.
  • This often occurs after a separation, in the context of legal proceedings relating to the child’s custody and parental rights or during visiting rights.


The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

Dave Chappelle has built a reputation for ‘punching down’ on trans people – and now he’s targeting disabled people

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, January 17, 2024

Chappelle recalls being “very disappointed” at having to pretend to be speaking to Kaufman, when he could clearly see it was Carrey.

Key Points: 
  • Chappelle recalls being “very disappointed” at having to pretend to be speaking to Kaufman, when he could clearly see it was Carrey.
  • “That’s how trans people make me feel.” Whether or not non-transgender people find it funny, it is a joke that stabs at the fundamental insecurity of being trans.
  • It takes the stance of biological essentialism: that people have innate and intractable traits by virtue of their biology.

Mirroring prejudice

  • Chappelle is either unaware or just doesn’t care that the term is decades out of date.
  • It slips into mockery when, bereft of understanding, it does nothing more than mirror prejudice.
  • He says:
    there’s probably a handicap in the back right now ’cause that’s where they make them sit.
  • there’s probably a handicap in the back right now ’cause that’s where they make them sit.
  • Instead, it seems he embraces being an “equal opportunity” offender who mocks disability as a defence for his long-running transgender jokes.

The impacts of mockery

  • His jokes rely on prevailing disgust about transgender bodies and increasingly politicised insistence that transgender people are not real women or men.
  • These views shared in popular culture are coming to inform anti-trans policy in healthcare, education and the justice system.
  • As the majority of the general population do not know a trans person, the media has significant influence over perceptions of trans people.
  • Throughout four Netflix specials, Chapelle has made no effort to understand the object of his jokes or the impact of his mockery on their daily lives.


The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

Newly-Published Spiritual Memoir Helps Women Accept Help And Feel Supported Amid Struggles With Bullying, Abortion, Sexual Abuse, And More

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, January 9, 2024

Despite daily bullying and fights she faced on 14th Parkwood and Swan Street, White handled her problems herself.

Key Points: 
  • Despite daily bullying and fights she faced on 14th Parkwood and Swan Street, White handled her problems herself.
  • Amid her five abortions before she turned 21, White’s life was a constant battle with abuse and sexual habits.
  • Her life continued to change as she sought God’s plan for her life and listened intently to His voice.
  • “I believe this book will be an inspiration to teen girls who might be going through or have gone through struggles such as abortion, sexual abuse, bullying, and sexual habits,” White asserts.

Forter Announces Next Generation Solution to Block Policy Abuse from Checkout to Post-Purchase

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, January 11, 2024

NEW YORK, Jan. 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Forter, the Trust Platform for digital commerce, today announced the launch of its next generation Abuse Prevention solution that empowers merchants to identify and block abuse through custom, self-service policies and simulations.

Key Points: 
  • However, many merchants are either unaware of the magnitude of their abuse problem or how to most effectively block serial abusers without negatively impacting trustworthy customers.
  • For example, merchants may want to curb abuse of their returns policy, but also allow known, good customers to receive instant refunds for their returns.
  • Forter has expanded its Abuse Prevention solution to include Policy Builder, a capability that provides merchants with more visibility into and control over their policies.
  • "Policy abuse is a multi-billion-dollar problem, but the industry's legacy solutions stop abuse at the expense of customer experience and lifetime value," said Michael Reitblat, chief executive officer and co-founder, Forter.

OSC announces Seniors Expert Advisory Committee members for 2024

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, January 10, 2024

TORONTO, Jan. 10, 2024 /CNW/ - The Ontario Securities Commission (OSC) today announced the membership of its Seniors Expert Advisory Committee (SEAC) for the 2024 term.

Key Points: 
  • TORONTO, Jan. 10, 2024 /CNW/ - The Ontario Securities Commission (OSC) today announced the membership of its Seniors Expert Advisory Committee (SEAC) for the 2024 term.
  • First launched in 2016, SEAC has provided valuable insights on and contributions to OSC initiatives supporting seniors, including the development and implementation of the OSC Seniors Strategy.
  • Members provide diverse perspectives on issues and challenges facing older investors, drawing on their expertise in sectors including financial services, law, law enforcement, academia, medicine and seniors' advocacy.
  • The OSC would like to thank former SEAC members Alexis Wenzowski, Harold Geller, James (Jim) Turner, Kavina Nagrani and Keith Sjorgen for their service and contributions.

Regulators, Academia, And Industry Join Forces To Discuss the Future Of Digital Assets at Cornell Convenes

Retrieved on: 
Friday, January 5, 2024

The product of this discussion is the Cornell Convenes: Toward a New Bretton Woods Report ("Report"), a cross-industry whitepaper reflecting nuanced opinions from the different participants' perspectives.

Key Points: 
  • The product of this discussion is the Cornell Convenes: Toward a New Bretton Woods Report ("Report"), a cross-industry whitepaper reflecting nuanced opinions from the different participants' perspectives.
  • In the past year, the conversation around digital assets, CBDCs, and the future of payments has heated up worldwide.
  • Some countries in this global laboratory of different economic approaches provide clear guidance to encourage innovation in the financial sector.
  • Additionally, Cornell will continue to offer Cornell Convenes events; the next one will be held in spring 2024.

GrayMatters Health Launches New FDA-Cleared Self-Neuromodulation PTSD Therapy in the United States

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, January 4, 2024

HAIFA, Israel, Jan. 4, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- GrayMatters Health (GMH), developer of digital self-neuromodulation therapies for mental health care, announces the official launch of Prism for PTSD in the United States. Prism for PTSD is currently being used to treat patients at two centers, with additional clinics in various phases of readiness.

Key Points: 
  • Prism for PTSD Digitizes Brain Activity Associated with PTSD, Giving Patients Skills to Address Symptoms
    HAIFA, Israel, Jan. 4, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- GrayMatters Health (GMH) , developer of digital self-neuromodulation therapies for mental health care, announces the official launch of Prism for PTSD in the United States.
  • Prism for PTSD is currently being used to treat patients at two centers, with additional clinics in various phases of readiness.
  • 13 million Americans struggle with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) following assault, abuse, military combat, illness, accident, or natural disasters.
  • Prism for PTSD utilizes an amygdala-based biomarker since research has shown that PTSD is associated with hyper-activity of the amygdala.

"Gifts of the Season" Totaling $60,000 Presented to Nonprofits in Pennsylvania

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, January 3, 2024

GREENSBURG, Penn., Jan. 3, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The FirstEnergy Foundation has granted surprise "Gifts of the Season" totaling $60,000 to eight local Pennsylvania nonprofits that are working to make lives better in communities served by FirstEnergy Corp. (NYSE: FE) subsidiaries Met-Ed, Penelec and West Penn Power.

Key Points: 
  • The recipients of this year's gifts are organizations that provide support services to underserved and vulnerable individuals of all ages across Pennsylvania.
  • They include:
    Easterseals Eastern Pennsylvania ($6,667) – Easterseals Eastern Pennsylvania provides services to more than 3,600 children and adults with physical and cognitive disabilities, autism, and other social, sensory and developmental delays.
  • The agency's services and support help ensure children and adults with disabilities can live, learn, work and play in their communities.
  • Central Pennsylvania Food Bank MilitaryShare ($10,000) – The Central Pennsylvania Food Bank provides nutritious and nourishing food to veterans and their families through its MilitaryShare program.

Inspiring True Stories about the Journey from Felon to Faithful

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, January 3, 2024

PHOENIX, Jan. 3, 2024 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Dedicating more than 20 years to ministry, Norman O. Christianson, Scribe has opened his doors to women who have endured hardship, helping them to overcome their past. He shares some of their stories in "The Fourth Watch: A Woman's Journey."

Key Points: 
  • He shares some of their stories in "The Fourth Watch: A Woman's Journey."
  • Christianson shares how he and his wife, Elizabeth, have spent the 20 years ministering to women who have suffered from addiction, abuse, or have been incarcerated.
  • All the stories shared in "The Fourth Watch" are true, shared with Christianson by the women who experienced them.
  • In addition to the stories of the women he has helped, Christianson also shares some stories of his own.