Page 16 - Pakistan Link - June 25, 2021

P16 – PAKISTAN LINK – JUNE 25, 2021 COMMUNITY
US Supreme Court Upholds Obama Era Plan, Preserves Health Care for Millions

Washington: The US Supreme “BFD” is a reference to a Warren of Massachusetts.
Court on Thursday rejected a bid comment Biden whispered into Republicans have unsuc-
by Republican-led states to over- Obama’s ear at the 2010 ACA cessfully attempted on numerous
turn Obamacare, safeguarding the signing ceremony, when he said: previous occasions to have Obam-
health insurance of millions with “This is a big fucking deal.” The acare thrown out in Congress and
the coronavirus pandemic still a remark was picked up by live mi- in the courts.
threat in much of America. crophones. Republican lawmakers said
In a 7-2 decision, the nation’s Obama said the court rul- the “ruling does not change the
highest court upheld the Afford- ing “reaffirms what we have long fact that Obamacare failed to
able Care Act (ACA), former pres- known to be true: the Affordable meet its promises and is hurting
ident Barack Obama’s signature Care Act is here to stay.” “The hard-working American fami-
health care program, ruling that principle of universal coverage has lies.” “Now, Congress must work
Texas and the other 17 states did been established, and 31 million together to improve American
not have standing in the case. people now have access to care health care,” House minority lead-
President Joe Biden, who was through the law we passed — with er Kevin McCarthy said.
Obama’s vice president when the millions more who can no longer Former president Donald
ACA was enacted, called the court be denied coverage or charged Trump had pledged to eliminate
ruling “a big win for the American more because of a preexisting con- the ACA but his efforts repeatedly
people” and those “who were in dition,” Obama said in a statement. failed and he never presented an
immediate danger of losing their Democratic lawmakers wel- alternative.
health care in the midst of a once- comed the court decision. Four of the conservative jus-
in-a-century pandemic.” “With “Thanks to the tireless ad- tices on the court — including two
millions of people relying on the vocacy of Americans across the losi, the Democratic speaker of the away from millions of Americans, appointed by Trump and Chief
Affordable Care Act for coverage, country and the work of Demo- House of Representatives. the Affordable Care Act is consti- Justice John Roberts — joined
it remains, as ever, a BFD,” Biden crats in Congress, the Affordable “Despite every desperate tutional and it’s here to stay,” said their three liberal colleagues in
said. Care Act endures,” said Nancy Pe- right-wing attack to rip health care Democratic Senator Elizabeth voting to uphold the ACA. - AFP
MPAC Congratulates Lina Khan on Her Confirmation Muslim Advocates Receives

as Commissioner of the Federal Trade Commission Gift from MacKenzie Scott

he United States Senate approved the nomina- Washington, DC: Philanthropist
tion of Lina Khan to serve as commissioner MacKenzie Scott announced last
Ton the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). Fol- Thursday that she has given away
lowing that, President Biden named her Chair of the “$2,739,000,000 in gifts to 286
FTC. The Muslim Public Affairs Council applauds high-impact organizations in cat-
this historic moment as Chairwoman Khan is the first egories and communities that have
Muslim to serve in this position and the youngest per- been historically underfunded and
son to Chair the FTC. overlooked.” Muslim Advocates was
Chairwoman Khan was previously a professor at among the recipients of these gifts.
Columbia Law School and counsel to the House Ju- Below is a statement from Muslim
diciary Committee, where she worked on a number Advocates Executive Director Far- staff, past and present—accom-
of important antitrust issues. Her work has been pub- hana Khera: plishments fueled by our donors,
lished in the Columbia Law Review, Harvard Law Re- “We thank MacKenzie Scott for allies and supporters over the years.
view, University of Chicago Law Review, and Yale Law this extremely generous gift. This Muslim Advocates helps incar-
Journal. She is a graduate of Williams College and Yale money will help further the mission cerated Muslims observe Ramadan,
Law School. Chairwoman Khan will serve as chair for of our Muslim-led organization that reunites families torn apart by the
a term of three years. We look forward to working with is accountable to the Muslim com- Muslim Ban, helps local Muslims
her on a range of issues that affect the everyday lives of munity and works to secure the overcome bigotry to build mosques
American-Muslims. rights of Muslims and all people. and cemeteries, holds Facebook and
We applaud the Biden Administration for continu- In making her announcement, other tech companies accountable
ing to fulfill its promise to make the federal government Ms Scott emphasized her commit- for anti-Muslim hate online and
more representative of the rich diversity of America. ment to equity-oriented nonprofits so much more. This gift from Ms
We would like to thank Chairwomen Maria Cantwell We look forward to even more well-qualified Mus- and her desire to support religious Scott ensures not only that this vital
(D-WA) and Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer lims contributing to all branches of the government as minorities experiencing discrimi- work continues but also that we can
(D-NY) for shepherding Chairwomen Khan’s nomina- we proceed under a President that values representation nation. With this gift, Ms Scott rec- do even more to fight anti-Muslim
tion process through the Senate Commerce Committee of all Americans. MPAC is partnering with other Mus- ognizes the tremendous work and bigotry and ensure freedom, justice
and the Senate. lim organizations to make that reality our ultimate goal. accomplishments of our dedicated and equality for all.”
IKEA CEO Jesper Brodin Started His Career in Karachi, Pakistan

n By Riaz Haq
CA cent Bloomberg TV interview, he cotton in the training of more than
esper Brodin, CEO of Holland- revealed that he learned after being 4,000 farmers to cope with the es-
based Ingka Group, started hired that he was the only applicant sence of organic cotton production
Jhis 25-year career working for for the job. He attributes this aspect standards.
Ikea in Karachi, Pakistan in 1995. of his selection to the fact that the In recent years, Pakistan has
Ikea does not operate its store in mid-1990s was a turbulent period in started exploring the use of hemp
Pakistan but the company sourc- Karachi. He was soon promoted to as a more sustainable fiber for use in
es home textiles from the South the position of regional manager for textiles. At last year’s Kingpin Show
Asian country. Today, Ikea is a ma- Southeast Asia. In 1999, he assumed online, Karachi-based Artistic Mil-
jor global retailer of home furnish- the role of assistant to Ikea founders liners presented its Bio Vision 2.0
ings with worldwide sales of over Ingvar Kamprad and then to Anders collection that is based on guide-
$40 billion. Like any other ma- Dahlvig, who was CEO at that time. lines set by the Ellen MacArthur
jor retailer, it is responding to its Before being appointed CEO of In- Foundation’s Jeans Redesign, featur-
customers’ demand for products gka Group, he was managing direc- ing biodegradable fibers that pro-
produced in a sustainable way in tor at IKEA of Sweden/Range and vide optimal recovery, according to
terms of their impact on the envi- Supply, which is responsible for the Sourcing Journal. The mill’s circular
ronment and the people involved development of the product range focus is also displayed in its Circular
in the supply chain. and supply chain of the IKEA brand. involved. continue over the integrity of its cer- Blue New collection, which is made
The top six Pakistani suppli- tification. of 100 percent recycled cotton and
Who is Jesper Brodin? Ikea Supply Chain ers to Ikea are Al-Karam, Yunus, In 2017, World Wildlife Fund uses post-consumer, pre-consumer
Jesper Brodin is the chief exec- Ikea sources home textiles from Gul Ahmad, Mustaqim Dying and (WWWF) Pakistan, in collabora- and industrial waste.
utive officer (CEO) of Ingka Group Pakistan. Home textile products Printing, Indus Home and Nishat tion with C&A Foundation and Lahore-based US Denim’s latest
that owns IKEA, a global retail range from bedsheets and towels Textiles. In addition to these man- Agriculture Extension Department collections also focus on sustainabil-
stores chain with worldwide revenue to draperies and rugs. Ikea is ac- ufacturers, Ikea also manages the (AED), started the organic cotton ity and feature recycled and biode-
of over $40 billion. He was born in tively managing its global supply production of organic non-GMO project under the National Organic gradable fibers. Its Reborn product
Gothenburg, Sweden. chain in response to its customers’ cotton produced in Pakistan and Program (NOP) in two major phas- is “sustainable from every angle”
Brodin started his career as demand for sustainable products supplied to these mills. Organic cot- es: Certification for the validation and uses recycled cotton, elastane
IKEA’s purchasing manager in Ka- both in terms of their impact on the ton makes up less than 1% of global of using no pesticides and approval and polyester; aniline-free dyestuff;
rachi, Pakistan, in 1995. In a re- environment as well as the people cotton production, and concerns of land for cultivation of organic and water-safe dyeing methods.
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