Compilation Album for Haitian Relief Efforts Debuts at No. 1

1/27/2010

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When a 7.0 earthquake struck Haiti on January 12, the world witnessed the devastation it caused.  It wasn’t long for relief efforts to organize and begin doing everything they could to save the lives of as many people they could, help the wounded, and comfort anyone and everyone.  Over 50 aftershocks have been measured by the United States Geological Society; the highest was of a 5.9 magnitude.  It is estimated that near or over 200,000 people have died in this tragic disaster, and thousands more are wounded and in need of food, water, and medical attention.

George Clooney and Haitian-born rapper Wyclef Jean jumped on organizing a two-hour telethon which premiered on January 22.  It was shown on multiple channels on TV, and streamed live online.  Musicians were featured singing songs with encouraging lyrics, and actors told the stories of Haitian people while urging viewers to donate money.  Over 60 million dollars is said to have been raised, and was spread amongst various relief organizations.

The songs which were featured on last Friday’s telethon were also digitally released to continue encouraging donations be made, and the all proceeds will be donated to relief efforts as well.  The album features 20 tracks by artists such as Coldplay, Beyonce, Taylor Swift, John Legend, Jennifer Hudson, and other great artists.  

The album saw over 150,000 downloads over the weekend, and has debuted at number 1 on the Billboard 200.  This makes it the first album to reach that spot through only a digital-release.  No doubt, there will be even more purchases made and people will continue donating for many months to come.
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New Law Allows California's Low-Risk Inmates Early Release

1/26/2010

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The controversial news of the prison population reduction in California is raising some eyebrows, especially concerning whether or not it will be a safe thing to proceed in doing.  Under the state law signed Monday, nearly 6,500 inmates will be released to begin the process of reducing the overcrowding in the coming year.  The bill was signed last year as a piece of the state’s budget package.

Inmates will receive early-release credits for completing educational and vocational programs, which is a plan already being expanded upon.  More incentives for getting their GED, learning a trade, and/or becoming clean and sober will also be another change taking place, allowing convicts to have improved opportunities after release.  This will allow for inmates to be released earlier.  The number of parolees will also be reduced- after their release from prison; ex-convicts with low-level offenses, and considered to be less dangerous and less likely to commit more crimes will not be monitored, though will still be able to be searched without a warrant.

The main benefit to this is that it will allow the state to place more focus on gang members, violent felons, and sex offenders, as well as reducing the load of parolees on the agents, and provide more time for being both a cop andsocial worker.  The law will also end the automatic three-year parole of every released convict.  

The estimate of financial savings of the state is 500 million in the first year, but only time will tell if this will prove to be true.  With less monitoring, the possibility of ex-convicts committing another crime may rise due to lack of parole.  One particular statistic is applicable to this situation- over 70% of released inmates return to prison after being released.  Will this number decrease due to less attention to those considered a low-risk, or will it perhaps see decrease due to the law itself?  Once again, only time will provide us an answer to this recently debated topic.
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