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"Developing best practices for sharing information and risk mitigation strategies requires long-term cultural change. But collaborating and investing in the best technology available can improve the cyber ecosystem's ability to learn, resulting in stronger protection for everyone," -- Mauricio Sabena










LET'S TEAM UP — The U.S. will partner with Indo-Pacific countries in a $25 million effort to boost cybersecurity in the region. The Digital Connectivity and Cybersecurity Partnership will "improve partner countries' digital connectivity and expand opportunities for U.S. technology exports," Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said during a U.S. Chamber of Commerce event. Pompeo said the effort will "build partners' cybersecurity capacity to address common threats." The new partnership is a stab by the Trump administration to counter China's economic diplomacy program. [POLITICO's Morning Cybersecurity, July 31, 2018]










SCIENCE












EDUCATION DEPARTMENT BEGINS PILOT PROGRAMS FOR TEXTBOOKS, CYBERSECURITY: The Education Department is set to begin taking applications today for two new pilot programs — in open textbooks and cybersecurity — that were ordered up by Congress in the omnibus government spending law, H.R. 1625 (115), earlier this year.
— The Trump administration is now carrying out a $5 million competitive grant program to encourage colleges to create free online textbooks, commonly known as open textbooks. Department officials said in a notice last week that they're especially interested in funding grants that involve textbooks for career and technical education courses - as well as "technology-based strategies, such as artificial intelligence and adaptive learning ... to provide personalized learning experiences."

— The department is also gearing up to award $1 million to help community colleges improve their cybersecurity programs. Those applicants must work with the National Science Foundation's Advanced Technological Education Program. The department estimates it will give out up to 10 awards worth about $99,000 each. Benjamin Wermund has more. [Morning Education, July 30, 2018]

NEXT WEEK IN SCHOOL SAFETY: A White House commission studying the issue will hold its third "listening session" in Cheyenne, Wyo. Federal officials will hear from representatives of state and local governments during the daylong event, in addition to members of the public. Previous listening sessions have been held in Washington, D.C., and Lexington, Ky. The Trump administration launched the Federal Commission on School Safety following the school shooting in Parkland, Fla., that left 17 people dead. Details.
— "We are thrilled the U.S. Department of Education chose Wyoming as one of four locations for these public listening sessions," Wyoming state schools chief Jillian Balow said in a statement. "Important conversations are happening at the local, state, and federal level about school safety and security, and it's our privilege to assist educators and communities in keeping students safe and supporting them in every way that we can."

— Did the Education Department hear critics? The National Disability Rights Network recently sent DeVos a letter raising concerns that the D.C. and Kentucky listening sessions were publicized only 24 hours in advance. The advocacy group for individuals with disabilities asked for at least one week's notice so interested members of the public can fully participate. The upcoming Wyoming session was publicized with nearly one week's notice. [POLITICO's Morning Education, August 2, 2018]



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This summer has brought record-breaking heat waves across the United States once again. In July alone, 41 heat records have been set. And if we don’t take strong climate action to avert climate chaos, next year -- and each year after that -- could be even worse.
These extreme temperatures pose an especially high risk to workers who are exposed to extreme heat, like farmworkers and others that work outdoors. Their jobs put them at risk of heat exhaustion, which can escalate to heat stroke -- and even death.
To make things worse, many employers deny workers access to water, shade and rest breaks. This increases the avoidable risk of heat-related illness. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration could require these employers to put worker safety first -- but we need your help to push it to act!
Heat stress can affect everyone exposed to hot temperatures -- from workers laboring outside in the hot sun to those who lack ventilation indoors.
Some of the workers who are most exposed to extreme heat are those who make our food system work. For instance, farmworkers spend hours outside every day. Many of these workers are pregnant women, elderly people, and even children. This makes them particularly vulnerable to heat stress.
The solution is simple: provide access to water, shade, and rest breaks. But employers are more concerned with maximizing their profits -- even if it means limiting protections for workers. These employers won’t voluntarily take steps to protect their workers from extreme heat. So, we need OSHA to step in and force them to prioritize their workers over profit.
Safe jobs and a truly sustainable food system aren’t only about reducing emissions and stopping the use of pesticides. They’re about protecting the health and safety of the people on the front lines of these fights -- like farmworkers and everyone else who works along the food chain.
Protecting these workers from the impacts of climate change is an important step toward that end. Already, three states have implemented basic protective heat standards for their workers. But the federal government is dragging its feet.
Enough is enough. No worker anywhere in the U.S. should suffer heat stroke or lose their life because they didn’t have access to shade or water at work. It’s time for OSHA to step up and protect these workers NOW.
Add your name: Stop employers from denying their workers access to shade, water, and breaks!

Standing with you,
Lisa Archer,
Food and technology program director,
Friends of the Earth [July 28, 2018]



NATURE & OUTDOORS   








DEMOCRATIC PARTY





LEARNING OUR LESSON — The DNC won't make the same mistake twice. Two years after its lax security practices changed the course of a presidential campaign, the committee "has instilled a complete culture change" regarding cybersecurity, the organization promised in a memo sent over the weekend to political consultants, reporters and other "interested parties." "The Russian military attacked our democracy in 2016 and we know they'll be back," the memo said. "That's why the DNC is providing guidance and technical assistance to states to prevent future hacks." The party committee talked up its use of encrypted messaging apps, its transition to a more secure email platform, its anti-phishing training and its "mandating immediate and timely software updates on all work devices."

In June 2017, the DNC hired former Uber and Twitter executive Raffi Krikorian to lead an overhaul of its technology and digital security practices, and in January it brought in former Yahoo Chief Information Security Officer Bob Lord as its chief security officer. Lord previously helped Yahoo recover from a pair of devastating data breaches, one of which, according to a Justice Department indictment , was the work of Russian intelligence officers. "In addition to working to safeguard DNC systems, this team is providing state parties with technical assistance and advice on the best safety precautions to take as we approach the midterm elections," the DNC said in its memo. "DNC staff works with state parties and candidates if they see suspicious behavior or potential attacks." [POLITICO's Morning Cybersecurity, July 30, 2019]



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DONOHUE: BUSINESS COMMUNITY URGES MORE ENGAGEMENT WITH ASIA: U.S. Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Tom Donohue warned Monday that U.S. businesses are losing market share in the Indo-Pacific and urged the Trump administration to push back against an uptick in non-tariff barriers and economic nationalism to forge new deals in the region.
"When we stop pursuing these deals — when we stand still on trade — we inevitably fall behind," Donohue said at the same Chamber event, which ran all day Monday. "If we don't get busy inking more deals and opening back up to the region, we'll be left on the outside looking in."
Acknowledging the challenges that China specifically presents, Donohue supported the administration's steps to challenge Beijing's state capitalist model but noted that the Trump administration should be working in concert with its allies and take steps to "avoid self-harm."

"Unilateral actions, without the support of our allies, will only weaken our own negotiating hand by squandering international goodwill," he said. "That doesn't mean we shouldn't be tougher and smarter than we've been in the past — and it doesn't mean we can't try new things. It simply means we need to stay true to who we are — and who we were founded to be." [Morning Trade, July 31, 2018]



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SOUTH AMERICA




BRAZIL




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