“The Eastern Shield”, a 700 km defense project near Poland’s eastern border, aims to boost state resilience and protect against armed invasion. Experts, however, debate its effectiveness.
Day: September 7, 2025
Okan the bear needed a salad detox afterwards.
The man is understood to have been in the water for almost two hours and was spotted by the crew of the Waterford-based Irish Coast Guard helicopter, Rescue 117.
The Girl Scouts of the USA (GSUSA) maintains a neutral stance on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, yet individual troops have faced backlash over fundraising initiatives related to the issue. A notable controversy erupted in late 2023 and early 2024 involving a Girl Scout troop in St. Louis, Missouri, that opted to sell bracelets to raise funds for Palestinian children affected by ongoing hostilities, reports 24brussels.
The troop’s leadership, predominantly of Palestinian and Middle Eastern descent, took this action in response to the humanitarian disaster unfolding in Gaza due to the violent conflict between Israel and Hamas. They donated proceeds to the Palestinian Children Relief Fund, a U.S.-based organization that provides medical and humanitarian aid.
Historical context of Girl Scouts and Israel
This organization reflects the diversity of the U.S. population, featuring Scout groups organized by religious affiliation. Israeli Scouts promote non-violent coexistence and interfaith dialogue among Jewish, Muslim, Christian, and Druze communities. The shared Scout missions emphasize unity and serve the community, aligning with the programs of the Israel Boy and Girl Scouts Federation that foster intercultural communication.
Jewish girls and leaders have participated in the U.S. Girl Scouts since its inception, contributing to the preservation of Jewish culture through special badges, kosher cookies, and community services celebrating that heritage. The bonds formed between Jewish communities in the U.S. and Israel underscore a history focused on youth empowerment, leadership, inclusivity, and multicultural understanding, rather than explicit political endorsement.
In subsequent years, fundraising activities related to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict triggered significant scandals within the GSUSA framework. One troop in St. Louis, rather than selling cookies, sought to raise funds for children in Gaza through handmade bracelets.
However, the Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri warned the troop, citing the organization’s policy requiring council approval for fundraising initiatives. The council insisted that the troop remove all references to Girl Scouts in their fundraising activities and halt the sale of bracelets, claiming violations of policy regarding non-Girl Scout fundraising events. The troop members and parents felt that their humanitarian efforts were unjustly politicized, leading the group to disband, asserting that the Girl Scouts failed to empower girls in making positive changes in the world.
While the national GSUSA did permit a temporary exception for charitable fundraising tied to the Israel-Gaza conflict from October 2023 to January 2024, they emphasized that normal policies limit fundraising to Girl Scout-approved causes.
Girl Scouts’ national policies on fundraising and political activities
All fundraising by Girl Scout councils and troops must align with the organization’s goals and values. The Girl Scout Cookie Program is a primary avenue encouraged for fundraising. Any fundraising outside of these approved channels requires local Girl Scout council approval in advance.
Funds raised are meant solely for Girl Scouting activities; individual troops or members do not possess ownership over raised funds, which belong to the Girl Scout council. Nonetheless, individual members are permitted to support outside causes, provided they do not represent themselves as official Girl Scouts.
The GSUSA clearly states it does not participate in political campaigns or endorse candidates. Activities interpreted as political advocacy, such as rallies or distributing petitions, are prohibited under the Girl Scout name. Although GSUSA typically avoids involvement in politically sensitive matters, it does allow regulated humanitarian fundraising in extreme situations, contingent on proper council approval.
Local councils oversee troop compliance with political activity and fundraising regulations, offering guidance and enforcing adherence. Troops that violate these rules may face warnings or disciplinary actions, potentially leading to revoked council support.
Perspectives from troops and community members
The fallout from the fundraising scandal involving Girl Scout Troop 149 in St. Louis revealed deep emotional and cultural repercussions among troops, parents, and the wider community.
Troop commander Nawal Abuhamdeh, a first-generation Palestinian Muslim American, articulated the decision to shift from cookie sales to fundraising for children affected by the Gaza conflict. The troop comprised girls from diverse backgrounds—Pakistani, Indian, Somali, Syrian, Palestinian, and Jordanian—all impacted by the region’s humanitarian crises. Many troop members reportedly experienced distress over their perceived inability to effect change.
Other Girl Scout leaders and community members expressed sorrow over Troop 149’s disbandment. California troop leader Tasneem Manjra criticized the national GSUSA for its heavy-handed approach, questioning the organization’s commitment to inclusive principles. A petition with over 100 troop leaders’ signatures called for an apology to Troop 149, a public acknowledgment of the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, and assurances that future fundraising efforts would not attract punitive measures. Manjra warned that boycotts of cookie sales could arise if the organization failed to address these grievances.
Public and community reactions
The Girl Scouts leadership faced backlash from supporters of Troop 149, who alleged the organization stifled a vital humanitarian initiative. Abuhamdeh contended that her troop was unfairly targeted for its outreach to help children suffering in the conflict.
Following their separation from the Girl Scouts, many community members praised the troop for their activism, boosting support for their fundraising efforts. The petition calling for a public statement on the Gaza humanitarian crisis and reassurances against penalizing similar future initiatives received widespread backing, threatening a boycott of Girl Scout cookies should the organization not respond appropriately.
In summary, while GSUSA does not declare a pro- or anti-Israel position, the challenges of navigating politically sensitive fundraising initiatives among Girl Scout troops in the context of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict have become increasingly evident. The organization strives for impartiality, focusing on the welfare of every child and community without taking sides in geopolitical disputes.
In one DC neighborhood after federal intervention, the notion of more authority is a mixed bag [deltaMinutes] mins ago Now
Warner Bros.
- Spike Lee’s first showing of “Malcolm X” happened to be during the 1992 LA Riots.
- Lee praised Warner Bros. execs for staying through the screening amid the city’s chaos.
- “I could never forget that day,” Lee told Business Insider.
Spike Lee’s 1992 epic, “Malcolm X,” a biopic starring Denzel Washington as the controversial Black Nationalist leader, is known around Hollywood for the battles Lee had with the movie’s studio, Warner Bros. The movie was even temporarily shut down over budgetary concerns, leading celebrities like Oprah Winfrey, Prince, and Michael Jordan to make donations to resolve the issue.
But despite Lee’s contentious relationship with the studio during the production process, there’s one moment he’ll always be grateful to them for.
In a recent interview with Business Insider, Lee recalled screening a cut of “Malcolm X” for the then-heads of Warner Bros., Terry Semel and Bob Daly, on the day the LA Riots began.
“The day we flew out to LA to screen the four-hour cut, it turned out, while we were screening the film, the uprising happened,” Lee said.
In March 1991, the country was in shock when a video surfaced showing four Los Angeles police officers beating Rodney King, a Black man, during his arrest. The officers went to trial and on April 29, 1992, were acquitted, sparking six days of rioting throughout Los Angeles that led to looting, fires, thousands of injuries, and 63 people dead.
AP Photo/Mark Elias
“I could never forget that day,” Lee said of showing the movie on the day the riots broke out.
“And to Terry and Bob’s credit, they stayed throughout the whole four-hour screening. They could have easily said, ‘Spike, I’m sorry, the city is in flames, and we gotta get home.’ So, no matter what our differences were, making that movie, I have to give respect to both of them because they stayed throughout the full four-hour cut. I thank them for that.”
“Malcolm X” will always be linked to the horrific incident that led to the riots, as Lee put the camcorder footage of King being beaten over the film’s opening credits.
“We recorded one of Malcolm’s speeches, and we brought Denzel in, and he recorded the speech, and we put that over the savage beating of Rodney King and then used the score from the great Terence Blanchard,” Lee said of how he changed the opening during post-production to include the King footage.
Seven months after the riots, Warner Bros. released “Malcolm X,” which would go on to earn two Oscar nominations (best actor for Washington and best costume design). Out of the five times Lee has worked with Washington, the legendary director calls Washington’s performance in “Malcolm X” the peak of their collaborations.
“That’s the one,” he said.
Lee’s latest movie, “Highest 2 Lowest,” starring Washington, is available now on Apple TV+.
Read the original article on Business Insider
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