RPCV safe after Terrorist Attack RPCV Gina Abercrombie-Winstanley, the U.S. consul general in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia survived Monday's attack on the consulate without injury. Five consular employees and four others were killed. Abercrombie-Winstanley, the first woman to hold the position, has been an outspoken advocate of rights for Arab women and has met with Saudi reformers despite efforts by Saudi leaders to block the discussions.

Gina Abercrombie-Winstanley, a senior U.S. advisor to the U.S. delegation at the 55th General Assembly, said that the United States strongly supports UNRWA and its work on behalf of the Palestinian refugee community



Gina Abercrombie-Winstanley, a senior U.S. advisor to the U.S. delegation at the 55th General Assembly, said that the United States strongly supports UNRWA and its work on behalf of the Palestinian refugee community

VIOLENCE COSTING PALESTINIAN ECONOMY $10 MILLION A DAY
(UN agency asks for $311 million to aid refugees in 2001)

By Judy Aita
Washington File United Nations Correspondent

December 5, 2000

United Nations -- As a result of the violence in the Occupied Territories, the Palestinian economy has suffered income losses of more than $500 million and about 40 percent of the Palestinian workforce is unemployed, a senior U.N. official reported December 5.

[Excerpt]

At U.N. headquarters in New York December 4 donor countries pledged $38.5 million for the regular budget of the U.N. Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA). They also pledged an additional $22 million for an emergency appeal issued in November.

The pledges, however, fell far short of the $311 million the agency said it needs to provide services to more than 3.8 million Palestine refugees in 2001.

The United States, one of the major contributors to UNRWA, said that it was not able to specify a pledge at the meeting because of continuing budget negotiations in Washington.

Gina Abercrombie-Winstanley, a senior U.S. advisor to the U.S. delegation at the 55th General Assembly, said that the United States strongly supports UNRWA and its work on behalf of the Palestinian refugee community.

"The United States commends UNRWA for its extraordinary efforts these past few weeks to assist the refugees during the recent rounds of violence," Abercrombie-Winstanley said.

"In October the United States responded to UNRWA's first emergency appeal for funds to purchase medical supplies. We encourage the donor community to look favorably upon UNRWA's most recent appeal for funds to provide medicines, blankets, and emergency cash and food baskets," she said. "The U.S. calls on the international community to demonstrate its support for the welfare of the Palestinian refugee community through strong financial commitments to UNRWA's core programs."

"UNRWA's efforts on behalf of the refugees play a vital role not only towards the welfare of the Palestinian community, but also in support of the international community's efforts to promote an end to the violence between the parties and towards finding a just and lasting peace," Abercrombie-Winstanley said.

(The Washington File is a product of the Office of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)

When this story was posted in December 2004, this was on the front page of PCOL:

Is Gaddi Leaving? Rumors are swirling that Peace Corps Director Vasquez may be leaving the administration. We think Director Vasquez has been doing a good job and if he decides to stay to the end of the administration, he could possibly have the same sort of impact as a Loret Ruppe Miller. If Vasquez has decided to leave, then Bob Taft, Peter McPherson, Chris Shays, or Jody Olsen would be good candidates to run the agency. Latest: For the record, Peace Corps has no comment on the rumors.

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December 4, 2004: This Week's Top Stories Correction: PC to get 3.6% Budget increase 3 Dec What if Chris Matthews interviewed Bob Dylan? 3 Dec Bellamy addresses mine-free summit 2 Dec Donna Shalala says Protect families from HIV 1 Dec RPCV mentioned as candidate to head NAACP 1 Dec Bill Moyers wins Environmental Citizen Award 1 Dec RPCV is designer of Humane Trophies 1 Dec RPCV Chris Matthews interviews RPCV Chris Shays 30 Nov RPCV Bruce Anderson is town muckraker 30 Nov Tony Hall calls for more pressure on Sudan 30 Nov Peace Corps Census up for Second Straight Year 29 Nov Peace Corps gets chance in Mexico: 28 Nov more top stories...

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The Birth of the Peace Corps UMBC's Shriver Center and the Maryland Returned Volunteers hosted Scott Stossel, biographer of Sargent Shriver, who spoke on the Birth of the Peace Corps. This is the second annual Peace Corps History series - last year's speaker was Peace Corps Director Jack Vaughn.

Vote "Yes" on NPCA's bylaw changes Take our new poll. NPCA members begin voting this week on bylaw changes to streamline NPCA's Board of Directors. NPCA Chair Ken Hill, the President's Forum and other RPCVs endorse the changes. Mail in your ballot or vote online (after Dec 1), then see on how RPCVs are voting.

Charges possible in 1976 PCV slaying Congressman Norm Dicks has asked the U.S. attorney in Seattle to consider pursuing charges against Dennis Priven, the man accused of killing Peace Corps Volunteer Deborah Gardner on the South Pacific island of Tonga 28 years ago. Background on this story here and here.

Your vote makes a difference Make a difference on November 2 - Vote. Then take our RPCV exit poll. See how RPCV's are voting and take a look at the RPCV voter demographic. Finally leave a message on why you voted for John Kerry or for George Bush. Previous poll results here.

Kerry reaches out to Returned Volunteers The Kerry campaign wants the RPCV vote. Read our interview with Dave Magnani, Massachusetts State Senator and Founder of "RPCVs for Kerry," and his answers to our questions about Kerry's plan to triple the size of the Peace Corps, should the next PC Director be an RPCV, and Safety and Security issues. Then read the "RPCVs for Kerry" statement of support and statements by Dr. Robert Pastor, Ambassador Parker Borg, and Paul Oostburg Sanz made at the "RPCVs for Kerry" Press Conference. RPCV Carl Pope says the key to winning this election is not swaying undecided voters, but persuading those already willing to vote for your candidate to actually go to the polls. Take our poll and tell us what you are doing to support your candidate. Finally read our wrap-up of the eight RPCVs in Senate and House races around the country and where the candidates are in their races.

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