Featured Stories
Wildlife Society: How Collaboration Has Helped Improve Bat Research in Mexico
BETHESDA, Maryland, Oct. 6 -- The Wildlife Society, a wildlife conservation organization, posted the following news:
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WV: Nayelli Rivera Villanueva
How collaboration has helped improve bat research in Mexico
October 5, 2026
Being a field ecologist in Mexico has shaped my life in ways I never expected. Working with bats across deserts, mountains, islands, rainforests and urban landscapes has given me unforgettable memories, hard lessons and a deep sense of purpose. But no matter where I go, my heart always returns to bat caves. My life goal has always been clear: to protect bats and the
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BETHESDA, Maryland, Oct. 6 -- The Wildlife Society, a wildlife conservation organization, posted the following news:
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WV: Nayelli Rivera Villanueva
How collaboration has helped improve bat research in Mexico
October 5, 2026
Being a field ecologist in Mexico has shaped my life in ways I never expected. Working with bats across deserts, mountains, islands, rainforests and urban landscapes has given me unforgettable memories, hard lessons and a deep sense of purpose. But no matter where I go, my heart always returns to bat caves. My life goal has always been clear: to protect bats and thehabitats they depend on.
Of course, following your heart doesn't mean the path is easy. Over the years, I've faced economic, physical, logistical and even security challenges. But the challenge that has shaped me most is the socioeconomic reality of doing conservation in northern Mexico. At the Autonomous University of Nuevo Leon (UANL), I receive incredible emotional support, but fieldwork often depends on whether we can raise enough money for fuel. That's the kind of reality that forces you to be creative.
My team and I have sold stickers, shirts, mugs and even underwear with bat designs--anything that could help us afford weekend mist netting. At first, I thought the lack of funding was my biggest obstacle.
But with time, I realized something deeper--the hardest part wasn't money; it was the feeling of being alone in the conservation journey.
One of the clearest examples of this was a cave I began monitoring by myself, catching public buses and then waving on the country road. I would hike in with my gear, collect data, take notes and leave knowing that if I didn't show up, no one else would. That cave felt enormous not just physically, but emotionally. It represented both my commitment and my isolation.
But conservation has a way of teaching patience and resilience. Over time, that same cave transformed. What started as a solitary effort slowly became a collaborative one. Today, I have students completing their theses. They bring new ideas, new energy and new hope. The cave that once symbolized loneliness now represents community, growth and shared purpose.
Collaboration became the way forward. By building a team of like-minded people, we've been able to visit some of the largest bat colonies in northern Mexico, conduct free outreach in low-income communities and witness real changes in how people perceive bats. I've seen fear turn into curiosity and curiosity turn into pride. I've watched people who once avoided bat roosts become advocates for their protection. Those moments make every challenge worth it.
And the joy of seeing bats pollinating, eating insects and even drinking animals' blood is what keeps me going. It's what reminds me that conservation is not just about science; it's about connection, persistence and hope.
My biggest challenge was the lack of a team. But now, my greatest success has been building one in Monterrey in the state of Nuevo Leon, Mexico.
That's why I invite others to share their own challenges--because what feels heavy for one person can become strength for another. Conservation is not meant to be done alone. The moment we choose collaboration, everything changes.
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Learn more about Wildlife Vocalizations, and read other contributions.
Submit your story for Wildlife Vocalizations or share the submission form with your peers and colleagues to encourage them to share their story.
Article by Nayelli Rivera Villanueva
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Original text here: https://wildlife.org/wv-nayelli-rivera-villanueva/
[Category: Environment]
Patrick Quirk Named Chief Policy, Advocacy and Campaigns Officer for Save the Children
WESTPORT, Connecticut, Oct. 6 -- Save the Children, an organization that says it is giving children a healthy start in life, opportunity to learn and protection from harm, issued the following news release:
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Patrick Quirk Named Chief Policy, Advocacy and Campaigns Officer for Save the Children
WASHINGTON (Oct. 5, 2026) -- Save the Children, the leading nonprofit dedicated to improving the lives of children worldwide, today announced Patrick Quirk as its new Chief Policy, Advocacy and Campaigns Officer. In this role, Quirk will lead the organization's efforts to shape public policy, mobilize
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WESTPORT, Connecticut, Oct. 6 -- Save the Children, an organization that says it is giving children a healthy start in life, opportunity to learn and protection from harm, issued the following news release:
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Patrick Quirk Named Chief Policy, Advocacy and Campaigns Officer for Save the Children
WASHINGTON (Oct. 5, 2026) -- Save the Children, the leading nonprofit dedicated to improving the lives of children worldwide, today announced Patrick Quirk as its new Chief Policy, Advocacy and Campaigns Officer. In this role, Quirk will lead the organization's efforts to shape public policy, mobilizestakeholders and strengthen Save the Children's position as a voice for children.
At a critical moment for children in the United States and around the world, Quirk will lead Save the Children's efforts to mobilize political support for the policies and investments children need to survive, learn and be protected. Quirk will also oversee Save the Children Action Network (SCAN), the organization's political advocacy arm, which mobilizes grassroots advocates to advance policy change for children at the federal and state levels.
"The decisions policymakers make today will shape the future for millions of children," said Janti Soeripto, President and CEO of Save the Children. "Patrick has spent his career bringing people together across the aisle to tackle complex challenges and drive meaningful change. At a time when children are facing growing threats from conflict, hunger and inequality, his leadership will help strengthen our ability to advocate for children and ensure their voices are heard where decisions are made. We're very pleased to welcome him to Save the Children."
Quirk most recently served as Vice President for Global Policy and Public Affairs at UNICEF USA and previously held leadership positions at the International Republican Institute and the U.S. Department of State. Before joining government, he spent a decade designing and implementing foreign assistance programs in more than 30 countries.
"Throughout my career, I have seen firsthand how policy decisions can profoundly shape children's lives and futures," Quirk said. "Save the Children has an extraordinary legacy of delivering results for children in some of the world's most challenging circumstances while also championing the policies that help children survive, learn and thrive. I am honored to join this remarkable organization and look forward to working alongside colleagues, partners, policymakers and advocates to advance bold solutions that ensure every child has the opportunity to reach their full potential."
As Chief Policy, Advocacy and Campaigns Officer, Quirk will build on Save the Children's policy and advocacy momentum, including bipartisan victories such as the passage of the SEED Act, support for policies that expand economic opportunity for children and families in rural areas, and efforts to protect critical investments in maternal and child health and other lifesaving programs. Looking ahead to the new Congress, he will lead federal government relations, global policy alignment and advocacy campaigns focused on Save the Children's priorities, including early childhood education, food security and nutrition, and humanitarian assistance, and building relationships with new and returning policymakers. He will also provide strategic leadership for SCAN's grassroots and political advocacy efforts, helping ensure children and families remain a priority among policymakers on both sides of the aisle.
In addition to his professional leadership roles, Quirk is a Nonresident Senior Fellow with the Atlantic Council's Freedom and Prosperity Center and an Adjunct Professor at Georgetown University. His analysis has appeared in numerous leading publications, including Foreign Policy, the Financial Times, The Wall Street Journal, Los Angeles Times and NPR. He is also the author of Great Powers, Weak States, and Insurgency: Explaining Internal Threat Alliances.
Quirk earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Bates College and a Ph.D. in Political Science from Johns Hopkins University.
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Save the Children believes every child deserves a future. Since our founding more than 100 years ago, we've been advocating for the rights of children worldwide. In the United States and around the world, we give children a healthy start in life, the opportunity to learn and protection from harm. We do whatever it takes for children - every day and in times of crisis - transforming the future we share. Our results, financial statements and charity ratings reaffirm that Save the Children is a charity you can trust. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, X and YouTube.
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Original text here: https://www.savethechildren.org/us/about-us/media-and-news/2026-press-releases/patrick-quirk-named-chief-policy-officer
[Category: Sociological]
Millions of federal dollars newly available to help Georgia build wildlife crossings
WASHINGTON, Oct. 6 [Category: Environment] -- Environment America issued the following news release:
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Millions of federal dollars newly available to help Georgia build wildlife crossings
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[ATLANTA, GA] -- The U.S. Department of Transportation has begun accepting applications for the final round of funding from the current Wildlife Crossing Pilot Program. The program, which will end if Congress doesn't reauthorize it in the next transportation bill, is making $80 million in grants available to help states plan and build wildlife crossings.
"Georgia is home to incredible wildlife, but
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WASHINGTON, Oct. 6 [Category: Environment] -- Environment America issued the following news release:
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Millions of federal dollars newly available to help Georgia build wildlife crossings
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[ATLANTA, GA] -- The U.S. Department of Transportation has begun accepting applications for the final round of funding from the current Wildlife Crossing Pilot Program. The program, which will end if Congress doesn't reauthorize it in the next transportation bill, is making $80 million in grants available to help states plan and build wildlife crossings.
"Georgia is home to incredible wildlife, buttoo many die on roads just trying to move through their native habitat. Governor Kemp and the state Department of Transportation should jump on this opportunity to make their roads safer for wildlife and drivers," said Alex Foster, Conservation Associate with Environment Georgia. "With no guarantee that Congress will renew the Wildlife Crossing Pilot Program, now could be the state's last best chance to secure federal funding for wildlife crossings."
In 2024, the Georgia Department of Transportation reported approximately 24,000 wildlife vehicle collisions. That year, those accidents claimed 15 lives and injured 1,180 people.
Wildlife crossings - including overpasses, underpasses, culverts, bridges, and fencing - keep habitat connected and can reduce wildlife-vehicle collisions by up to 97%.
"In Georgia and across America, roads and highways have fragmented wildlife habitats, endangering iconic creatures including black bears, eastern indigo snakes, and diamondback terrapins. Wildlife crossings are a tried and tested solution," added Alex Foster. "With the future of the federal Wildlife Crossing Pilot Program uncertain, we hope Georgia takes advantage of these funds."
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Original text here: https://environmentamerica.org/media-center/release-millions-of-federal-dollars-newly-available-to-help-georgia-build-wildlife-crossings/
Einstein Researchers Discover Why 'Zombie Cells' Accumulate With Age
BRONX, New York, Oct. 6 -- The Albert Einstein College of Medicine issued the following news release:
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Einstein Researchers Discover Why "Zombie Cells" Accumulate with Age
Nature Aging findings point to a key role for chaperone-mediated autophagy and suggest ways to clear cells that damage the immune system
October 5, 2026
As we grow older, our bodies accumulate "zombie cells"--living cells that have stopped dividing or functioning normally--but linger in our tissues, contributing to chronic inflammation and age-related diseases. A new study led by Albert Einstein College of Medicine
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BRONX, New York, Oct. 6 -- The Albert Einstein College of Medicine issued the following news release:
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Einstein Researchers Discover Why "Zombie Cells" Accumulate with Age
Nature Aging findings point to a key role for chaperone-mediated autophagy and suggest ways to clear cells that damage the immune system
October 5, 2026
As we grow older, our bodies accumulate "zombie cells"--living cells that have stopped dividing or functioning normally--but linger in our tissues, contributing to chronic inflammation and age-related diseases. A new study led by Albert Einstein College of Medicineresearchers and published today in Nature Aging helps explain why these cells, formally known as senescent cells, become increasingly difficult to eliminate. The research also points to a potential strategy for helping the body rid itself of these cells.
In experiments with mice, the researchers found that declining activity in a cellular recycling process called chaperone-mediated autophagy (CMA) impairs both zombie cells and the immune cells responsible for removing them. Restoring this recycling process reduced senescent-cell buildup and lessened the severity of lung fibrosis, a disease tightly connected to senescence.
"In older animals, age-related changes in both senescent cells and the immune cells responsible for removing them allow these zombie cells to accumulate and play a role in disease," said study leader Ana Maria Cuervo, M.D., Ph.D., distinguished professor of developmental & molecular biology and of medicine, the Robert and Renee Belfer Chair for the Study of Neurodegenerative Diseases, and co-director of the Institute for Geroscience at Einstein. "By restoring cellular recycling, we may be able to help the body's own defenses clear these cells more effectively."
When Cellular Recycling Falters
Dr. Cuervo is one of the world's leading authorities on CMA, a process that enables the body's cells to remove and recycle damaged or unnecessary proteins. CMA involves specialized "chaperone" molecules that selectively target unwanted proteins for digestion.
In earlier research, Dr. Cuervo discovered that CMA activity declines with age. More recently, she and her colleagues have shown that reduced CMA activity allows cellular "garbage" to accumulate in neurons and other cells. This buildup contributes to Alzheimer's and other neurodegenerative diseases as well as vascular and metabolic conditions such as atherosclerosis and diabetes.
In the new study, Dr. Cuervo and her team investigated whether declining CMA contributes to the accumulation of senescent cells that can disrupt healthy tissue function as we age. Most of the study's experiments were conducted in mice, while analyses of human lung tissue provided evidence that the findings may also be relevant to people.
Revealing CMA's Wound-Healing Role
Zombie cells can sometimes be useful. During wound healing, for example, some injured cells enter a senescent state in which they release substances that recruit other cells to help with tissue repair. Normally, these zombie cells are soon cleared away by macrophages, essential immune cells that fight infection, clear dead cells, and regulate inflammation and tissue repair.
To investigate CMA's role in wound healing, the researchers used mice whose macrophages had been genetically altered to lack CMA. Compared with control mice, these mice accumulated more zombie cells at wound sites and their wounds healed more slowly. The findings indicate that CMA in macrophages is important for clearing senescent cells that can interfere with tissue repair.
Zeroing in on "Zombification"
Scientists can create zombie cells in the laboratory by exposing body cells to drugs that stop them from dividing. When researchers "zombified" fibroblasts--cells found in connective tissue--from young and old mice, they found striking differences in CMA activity.
Cells from young mice increased their CMA activity as they became senescent. By contrast, cells from old mice failed to increase their already low CMA activity. This failure had major consequences: Certain proteins inside the senescent cells were not properly broken down through CMA. As a result, these cells secreted undigested toxic substances that made nearby healthy cells more likely to turn into zombies and interfered with macrophages' ability to recognize and remove them. Additionally, the researchers found that CMA activity in older animals' macrophages was lower than that in younger animals, reducing their ability to engulf and eliminate senescent cells.
Needed: A New Strategy for Senescent Cells
Ever since scientists discovered that zombie cells help drive the aging process, researchers have been developing so-called senolytic drugs to eliminate them. However, the new findings suggest that testing these drugs in cells taken from young animals and made senescent in the laboratory may not fully capture how they will work in older bodies. The results point to another approach: using a compound that both activates CMA to reduce the harmful effects of zombie-cell secretions and restores macrophages' ability to recognize and engulf zombie cells.
The researchers had previously developed such a compound: a small-molecule CMA activator called CA77.1. Experiments involving aged mice showed that five months of daily oral treatment with CA77.1 reduced the buildup of zombie cells in several organs and reduced signs of inflammation and fibrosis. In a separate experiment, treating macrophages isolated from aged mice with CA77.1 restored their ability to engulf particles to levels comparable to those of macrophages from young mice.
Potential for Helping People
The next step was determining whether their findings could be relevant to a human disease associated with aging. A logical candidate was idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), in which scar tissue progressively builds up in the lungs, making it increasingly difficult to breathe. People with IPF have a median survival of only three to five years after diagnosis.
When the researchers examined lung samples of patients with IPF, they found markedly reduced CMA activity, raising the possibility that a CMA-boosting drug might help against lung fibrosis. They tested CA77.1 in a mouse model of the disease and obtained promising results: Treatment begun early after lung injury reduced the severity of lung fibrosis as well as signs of cellular senescence and inflammation.
"Our research connects two major drivers of aging--declining CMA and cellular senescence--and shows for the first time how their interaction allows senescent cells to evade clearance by the immune system in old organisms," said Dr. Cuervo. "We've also found that instead of trying to kill zombie cells, we may be able to restore their interaction with the immune system so that the body can clear them naturally. The next challenge is determining whether this approach can eventually be developed into a safe treatment for age-related diseases in people."
The paper, "Decline of chaperone-mediated autophagy in aging impairs macrophage clearance of senescent cells" (DOI: 10.1038/s43587-026-01240-w) was supported by the NIH National Institute on Aging, the Hevolution Foundation, the Freedom Together Foundation and the Rainwaters Foundation. First author Rebecca Sereda conducted the research as a graduate student in Dr. Cuervo's laboratory at Einstein co-mentored by Dr. Susmita Kaushik, and involved researchers from two additional Einstein laboratories and three external collaborating laboratories. The work grew out of an Einstein Hevolution Partnership Award led by Dr. Cuervo.
Other Einstein study authors were Kristen Lindenau, Antonio Diaz, Zhaohui Liu, Olaya Santiago-Fernandez, Rabia R. Khawaja, Ronald Cutler, Mericka McCabe, Felipe Vilicich, Bhakti Chavda, Yair Botbol, Evripidis Gavathiotis, Simone Sidoli, and Susmita Kaushik.
Addition authors were: Jazmin Calyeca, Natalia Del Pilar Vanegas, Hu Chen, Ana L. Mora, and Mauricio Rojas, of Ohio State University; Sylvere Durand, Fanny Aprahamian, and Guido Kroemer, of the Centre de Recherche des Cordeliers and Gustave Roussy; and Toren Finkel, of the University of Pittsburgh.
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Albert Einstein College of Medicine has a portfolio of intellectual property related to this research and is seeking licensing partners able to further develop and commercialize this technology. Interested parties can contact the office of biotechnology and business development.
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Original text here: https://montefioreeinstein.org/news/2026/10/05/einstein-researchers-discover-why-zombie-cells-accumulate-age
[Category: Health Care]
Children's Health Defense Issues Commentary: Georgia's Largest Healthcare System Will Fire Employees Who Refuse Flu Vaccine
FRANKLIN LAKES, New Jersey, Oct. 6 -- Children's Health Defense, an organization that says it restores and protects the health of children by eliminating exposures to environmental toxins, issued the following commentary by Brenda Baletti, senior reporter for The Defender:
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Georgia's Largest Healthcare System Will Fire Employees Who Refuse Flu Vaccine
Employees of Georgia's largest healthcare system have until Nov. 1 to get the flu vaccine or an approved exemption, or they will be suspended without pay. If suspended employees don't submit proof of vaccination by 4 p.m. Nov. 15, they will
... Show Full Article
FRANKLIN LAKES, New Jersey, Oct. 6 -- Children's Health Defense, an organization that says it restores and protects the health of children by eliminating exposures to environmental toxins, issued the following commentary by Brenda Baletti, senior reporter for The Defender:
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Georgia's Largest Healthcare System Will Fire Employees Who Refuse Flu Vaccine
Employees of Georgia's largest healthcare system have until Nov. 1 to get the flu vaccine or an approved exemption, or they will be suspended without pay. If suspended employees don't submit proof of vaccination by 4 p.m. Nov. 15, they willbe fired. According to the Emory Healthcare website, the mandate applies to all employees, including contractors and remote workers.
October 5, 2026
Employees of Georgia's largest healthcare system have until Nov. 1 to get the flu vaccine or an approved exemption, or they will be suspended without pay. If suspended employees don't submit proof of vaccination by 4 p.m. Nov. 15, they will be fired.
According to the Emory Healthcare website, the vaccine mandate applies to all employees, including contractors and remote workers.
Employees suspended for missing the first deadline, Nov. 1, 11:59 p.m., will not be allowed to use their paid time off.
COVID-19 shots are not mandated, but employees are "encouraged to engage in shared decision-making with their provider" on whether or not to get the vaccine.
A spokesperson for the healthcare system said the requirement is intended to protect patients and staff and to encourage everyone to get vaccinated.
Dr. Sherika Newman of Doctor in the Family, a physician-led patient advocacy and health consulting service in Atlanta, told CBS News that flu vaccine requirements are common in healthcare.
"Asking health care providers or people who interact with patients to take the flu vaccine early every year is what we always mandate so that we are protecting ourselves from spreading viruses to vulnerable populations," Newman said.
She said everyone should get vaccinated, not just healthcare workers, although only healthcare workers will lose their jobs if they don't get the vaccine.
Cleveland Clinic: 2024-2025 flu shot increased risk of getting the flu
Flu vaccine effectiveness can vary, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which cites studies since 2009-10 showing effectiveness between 19% and 60%. The major factors influencing vaccine effectiveness are a person's age and health and how well the vaccines match the circulating virus strains.
According to a Cleveland Clinic study published last year, people who received a flu vaccine formulated for the 2024-25 flu season had a 27% higher risk of getting the flu than those who didn't get the vaccine.
It wasn't the first study to find that flu vaccines could actually increase the risk of becoming ill.
A 2023 study co-authored by Dr. Anthony Fauci acknowledged that "viruses replicating in the respiratory mucosal environment continue to present a particular challenge for developing effective vaccines with strong protection."
"The flu shot has never really prevented transmission of the flu and in some years (i.e., last year) the efficacy of preventing the flu is actually negative," said Brian Hooker, Ph.D., chief scientific officer at Children's Health Defense. "Flu would blow through a vaccinated population with nearly the same ease as it would an unvaccinated population."
A 2012 peer-reviewed study published in Clinical Infectious Diseases showed that children who received the flu vaccine were at significantly increased risk of contracting non-flu respiratory virus infections.
Moderna's mRNA flu shot added to the mix this year
According to the CDC's FluView vaccination chart, as of Sept. 26, flu cases were at "minimal" levels across almost all 50 U.S. states, including Georgia.
Flu season typically begins in October and ends in May, with highest transmission rates in December and February.
The CDC recommends flu shots for people age 6 months and older, assuming they have no medical conditions that make vaccination risky.
Flu shot formulations differ each year based on information about which strains may circulate that year. The formulations aren't tested for safety or efficacy before they're distributed to the public.
In March, vaccine advisers to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommended trivalent vaccines to protect against two influenza A and one influenza B viruses.
In the past, most flu vaccines were made from a flu virus grown in eggs, and then inactivated and made into a vaccine. Or, they were made from recombinant protein vaccines, which have pieces of the flu pathogen that the immune system learns to recognize and fight.
This year, Moderna's controversial mRNA flu shot, mFLUSIVA, approved in June, is also available for people age 50 and over.
Number of healthcare workers getting flu, COVID vaccines declining
Manufacturers say they will produce up to 135 million doses of flu vaccine for the U.S. market this flu season.
In recent years, many healthcare workers have been resisting flu shot mandates and declining the shot.
For example, record numbers of frontline health workers in the U.K. refused the flu vaccine in 2024-25.
Rates of U.S. healthcare workers who take the COVID-19 and flu shots have also been declining in recent years.
Numbers are lowest among health professionals who work in nursing homes. In the 2024-25 flu season, only about 42% of those workers got the shot, compared with about 81% of workers in acute care hospitals.
Related articles in The Defender
* Breaking: Moderna's mRNA Flu Vaccine Gets Unanimous Thumbs-Up Despite Risks, Low Efficacy (https://childrenshealthdefense.org/defender/breaking-moderna-mrna-flu-vaccine-unanimous-thumbs-up-risks-low-efficacy/)
* 'Deeply Concerning': This Year's Flu Shots Led to 27% Higher Risk of Flu (https://childrenshealthdefense.org/defender/flu-shots-27-percent-higher-risk-influenza-2024-2025-season/)
* HHS Tells CDC to Yank 'Wild to Mild' Flu Vaccine Ad Campaign, Shift Focus to 'Informed Consent' (https://childrenshealthdefense.org/defender/hhs-tells-cdc-remove-wild-to-mild-flu-vaccine-ad-campaign-informed-consent-focus/)
* Guillain-Barre Syndrome Associated With 17 Vaccines, Including COVID and Flu Shots (https://childrenshealthdefense.org/defender/guillain-barre-syndrome-covid-flu-vaccines/)
* Healthcare Workers Reject COVID, Flu Shots Amid 'Tremendous Erosion of Trust' in Health Agencies (https://childrenshealthdefense.org/defender/healthcare-workers-reject-covid-flu-shots-health-agencies/)
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Brenda Baletti, Ph.D., is a senior reporter for The Defender. She wrote and taught about capitalism and politics for 10 years in the writing program at Duke University. She holds a Ph.D. in human geography from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a master's from the University of Texas at Austin.
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Original text here: https://childrenshealthdefense.org/defender/emory-healthcare-georgia-flu-vaccine-mandate-fire-employee-refusal/
[Category: Health Care]
CAIR-CA, CPHB Urge Reporting of Anti-Muslim Bullying During National Bullying Prevention Month
WASHINGTON, Oct. 6 -- The Council on American-Islamic Relations posted the following news release:
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CAIR-CA, CPHB Urge Reporting of Anti-Muslim Bullying During National Bullying Prevention Month
October 5, 2026
The California chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-CA), along with its Center for the Prevention of Hate and Bullying (CPHB), today recognized National Bullying Prevention Month by highlighting the ongoing prevalence and impact of bullying on Muslim students and offering informative resources to students and parents.
National Bullying Prevention Month takes
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Oct. 6 -- The Council on American-Islamic Relations posted the following news release:
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CAIR-CA, CPHB Urge Reporting of Anti-Muslim Bullying During National Bullying Prevention Month
October 5, 2026
The California chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-CA), along with its Center for the Prevention of Hate and Bullying (CPHB), today recognized National Bullying Prevention Month by highlighting the ongoing prevalence and impact of bullying on Muslim students and offering informative resources to students and parents.
National Bullying Prevention Month takesplace annually in October and serves as a time to educate and raise awareness about bullying. As part of the month-long observance, students and adults are encouraged to educate themselves on the impact of bullying and promote inclusivity.
CAIR-CA's 2025 bullying report found that half of Muslim students surveyed in California expressed feeling a lack of safety, belonging, and emotional comfort at school. Of the students who experienced bullying, 67% did not report it to school staff members. When bullying goes unreported, students are at a significant risk of their academic achievement, mental well-being, and sense of belonging in school being impacted.
In a statement, CPHB Program Manager Bayanne Kanawati said:
"Bullying continues to be a prevalent issue affecting Muslim students in 2026, whether they're in grade school or college. School administrators must immediately address instances of bullying to prevent a larger negative impact and foster safe school environments that promote the well-being of all children. We also strongly encourage parents and students to understand the protections available to them and urge students to speak up when incidents arise."
CAIR-CA and CPHB continue to work with students, families, educators, and schools to address the growing threat of unreported bullying to student safety and well-being, and provides a number of resources:
* For educators and schools: CPHB offers a wide range of trainings tailored to a community or institution's specific needs. Trainings range from building cultural competency, supporting Muslim students, and responding to hate and bias incidents.
* For parents: CPHB recently published a toolkit designed to help parents navigate the public school system, build relationships with their child's school, advocate for their child, and understand what to do when concerns arise. The toolkit is currently available in English, Dari, and Pashto, and will soon be translated to Arabic. Additional resources include an email template for contacting school administrators about incidents and a guide to filing a Uniform Complaint Procedure, making the reporting and escalation process easier to navigate for parents.
* For students: Know Your Rights resources are available to grade school and college students outlining the various protections students have under law. CAIR offices also host in-person workshops to educate students on what bullying is and how to respond.
CAIR-CA and CPHB urge students, families, and educational institutions to report incidents when they happen, to not allow hate to go unnoticed, and to foster educational environments where all students feel safe, welcomed, and supported. Click here to report an incident to CAIR-CA's Civil Rights department.
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CAIR-CA is the California chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation's largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam, protect civil rights, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
The Center for the Prevention of Hate and Bullying is a special project of CAIR-CA. The CPHB is dedicated to combating hate, bias, discrimination, and bigotry through training, advocacy, community partnerships, education, and research.
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Original text here: https://www.cair.com/press_releases/cair-ca-cphb-urge-reporting-of-anti-muslim-bullying-during-national-bullying-prevention-month/
[Category: Sociological]
CAIR Texas Defends MSAs Against SBOE Member's Baseless Claims
WASHINGTON, Oct. 6 -- The Council on American-Islamic Relations posted the following news release:
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CAIR Texas Defends MSAs Against SBOE Member's Baseless Claims
October 5, 2026
The Texas chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR Texas) today condemned the State Board of Education member Brandon Hall's call to bar Muslim Student Associations from public universities.
In a Sept. 28 interview with The Dallas Express, Hall repeated various anti-Muslim conspiracy theories, falsely labeling the MSA a "front organization for the Muslim Brotherhood" and urging Texans to demand
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Oct. 6 -- The Council on American-Islamic Relations posted the following news release:
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CAIR Texas Defends MSAs Against SBOE Member's Baseless Claims
October 5, 2026
The Texas chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR Texas) today condemned the State Board of Education member Brandon Hall's call to bar Muslim Student Associations from public universities.
In a Sept. 28 interview with The Dallas Express, Hall repeated various anti-Muslim conspiracy theories, falsely labeling the MSA a "front organization for the Muslim Brotherhood" and urging Texans to demandthat public universities stop the groups from operating.
The Dallas Express acknowledged that it had not independently established any evidence of foreign control of, or ties to, the MSA chapters targeted by Hall.
Muslim Student Associations have served college students across the United States since 1963. North Texas universities including the University of North Texas, Texas Christian University, Southern Methodist University and the University of Texas at Dallas describe their chapters as offering religious, educational, social and charitable programming.
The U.S. Supreme Court has held that public colleges may not deny recognition to student groups because officials disagree with their views and may not shut religious student groups out of campus spaces open to others.
The State Board of Education oversees K-12 public education. It has no authority over Texas universities or their student organizations.
Muslim students in Texas face hostility on campuses. On Oct. 30, 2025, a man disrupted a University of Houston MSA prayer gathering, shouted anti-Islamic remarks and threw a Quran into a bonfire. The same individual reportedly had targeted Muslim student groups at other Texas universities. CAIR-Houston called on law enforcement to investigate the incident as a possible hate crime.
Words like Hall's follow students onto campus by emboldening that hostility. Families sending their children to college have concerns centered around, harassment and hazing to drugs and sexual assault. Students gathering for prayers and feeding thousands of Houstonians are not of concern.
"From organizing food distributions and charitable initiatives to creating opportunities for interfaith dialogue and civic engagement, Muslim students contribute to the well-being of their entire campus communities," said Nimrah Riaz, chair of MSA National. "These students are not outsiders to campus life. They are leaders, volunteers and classmates who are helping shape a more connected and compassionate future. Their work deserves recognition and support, not suspicion based on their religious identity."
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Original text here: https://www.cair.com/press_releases/cair-texas-defends-msas-against-sboe-members-baseless-claims/
[Category: Sociological]
