SAMAA TV cameraman loses life on duty

Journalists For International Peace expressed grave concern and sorrow over the killing of Senior cameraman SAMAA TV Channel , Malik Arif on Friday in the blast that took place at Civil Hospital, Quetta.

Malik Arif had been in the field of journalism for the past 30 years. He had jeopardized his life on countless occasions to bring the best coverage of events to the public. He was courageous by nature and would always take initiative in covering events. He demonstrated his courage at the Civil Hospital, Quetta Friday also, where he lost his life.

Malik Arif belonged to Sialkot but was currently residing in Makangi Road, Quetta. He had been working with SAMAA for the past two years.

Arif joined PTV in 1975 as a light man and was then promoted to camera man. He raised his voice for the release of media personnel in the Zia-ul Haq regime in 1978; went to Kandahar in 1994 for coverage, where he was kidnapped. He was released two months later. He is survived by 4 sons, a daughter and a widow.

President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani, Interior Minister Rehman Malik, MQM Chairman Altaf Hussain and Sindh Minister for Tourism Shazia Marri have expressed great sorrow on Malik Arif's death.

Khyber Union of Journalists have demanded the security of journalists while lamenting the death of Malik Arif.

Media persons covering the Sindh Assembly meeting protested on the death of Malik Arif and injury of other media persons. They wore black bands on their arms while performing their duties. Journalists For International and its thousands of members all over the world are praying for his departed soul ,

Iftikhar Chaudri
President
Journalists For International Peace
Islamabad Pakistan

During an interview on KING 5 Morning News

Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus answers questions about the current status of the Navy and Marine Corps during an interview on KING 5 Morning News in Seattle, Wash., April 14, 2010. Mabus is on a three-day visit to the Northwest. (DoD photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Kevin S. O'Brien, U.S. Navy/Released)

Gates and Silva Luján in a Museum

Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates and Colombian Minister of National Defense Gabriel Silva Luján tour la Quinta de Bolívar, a museum dedicated to political leader Simón Bolívar, in Bogota, Colombia, April 15, 2010. (DoD photo by Master Sgt. Jerry Morrison, U.S. Air Force/Released)

Fast inshore attack craft exercises

The guided-missile destroyer USS Laboon (DDG 58) conducts fast inshore attack craft exercises in the Atlantic Ocean April 12, 2010, in support of exercise Joint Warrior 10-1. The semi-annual event encompasses multinational and multi-warfare exercises designed to improve interoperability between allied navies and prepares participating crews to conduct combined operations during deployment. (DoD photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Darius Jackson, U.S. Navy/Released)

Gates in Lima, Peru

Peruvian officials greet Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates upon his arrival in Lima, Peru, April 13, 2010. Gates is on a four-day trip to South America. (DoD photo by Master Sgt. Jerry Morrison, U.S. Air Force/Released)

Treads water with Sailors

Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy Rick West, lower right, treads water with Sailors in a submarine escape trainer at the Naval Submarine School on Naval Submarine Base New London, Conn., April 9, 2010. (DoD photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Jennifer A. Villalovos, U.S. Navy/Released)

A Letter from Amnesty International USA

Linda Coale died of an embolism a week after giving birth via c-section. The hospital failed to tell her the warning signs even though she was high risk. Our record is abysmal - half the maternal deaths in this country (USA) are preventable. Don't be silent. Take action.

Wed, Apr 14, 2010 at 3:56 AM

Dear Rector,

Linda Coale, a healthy, vibrant 35-year-old woman, gave birth to a baby boy, Benjamin, by c-section in September 2007.

One week later, she died following a blood clot.

Neither the infant welcome packet nor her discharge papers contained detailed information about warning signs and symptoms of serious blood clots (deep vein thrombosis), even though Linda was at high risk because of her pregnancy combined with her age and the surgery.

The packet did contain information on how to acclimate a pet to a new baby.

"I know you can 'what if' until the end of the world, but knowing Linda was once an Emergency Medical Technician, if those discharge papers had said it could be a sign of a blood clot, in my heart of hearts I believe that she would have acted on it," said Linda's twin sister, Lori.


"My parents had to bury a child," Lori added.

Pregnant women and new mothers like Linda are falling through huge gaps in our maternal health care system.

All women, including Linda, have a right to a safe childbirth, yet women in the United States are at greater risk of maternal death than those in forty other countries.

It's time to do something about this silent killer. Contact Congress today.

We are in a maternal health care crisis. More than two women die every day from pregnancy-related causes. Severe complications are up 25 percent, now over 34,000 each year. The situation for pregnant women of color is even more acute.

We have slipped dangerously backward.

Amnesty International traveled all over the country to capture and share stories like Linda's. Our Deadly Delivery report documents discrimination and egregious systemic failures. It reveals an inexcusable failure to defend a woman's right to a safe birth.

Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius has the authority to dramatically improve conditions for pregnant women and reduce maternal mortality in the U.S. Our government has the obligation to protect pregnant women and guarantee a health care system that ensures their rights universally and equitably.

Contact your Representative to help press Secretary Sebelius into action.

It's astonishing that the US has fallen into this crisis when we spend so much on health care. The way out requires a strong, loud push now to set the solution in motion.

Please stand up today so that we can save lives by protecting women's human rights.


Sincerely,

Sameer Dossani
Director, Demand Dignity Campaign
Amnesty International USA