Uganda Moves Forward With Anti-Homosexuality Laws

A recent CNN article reports Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has signed a bill into law that originally included a death penalty clause for some homosexual acts. “Uganda passed the bill in December and replaced the death penalty provision with a proposal of life in prison for ‘aggravated homosexuality,’” the article reported. This new law can put individuals into prison for up to seven years.

“The bill also proposed prison terms for anyone who counsels or reaches out to gays and lesbians, a provision that could ensnare rights groups and others providing services to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people,” CNN reports.

Museveni has said he believes homosexuality to be “disgusting” and believes Westerners brought homosexuality to his country. CNN reported the White House issued a statement Monday: "Instead of standing on the side of freedom, justice, and equal rights for its people, today, regrettably, Ugandan President Museveni took Uganda a step backward by signing into law legislation criminalizing homosexuality." Navi Pillay, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, agrees that this law institutionalizes discrimination and could result in much violence towards lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people, the article reported.

Thirty-eight African countries have made homosexuality illegal, CNN reported. Many gay people have reportedly left Uganda in fear of violence and harassment.

ClearCause Safety and Security Partner, Tim Crockett of Pioneer Consulting Group says, “When a warning or an alert is issued it should force the school or program to take action, conduct a risk assessment and take action in the best interests of the students impacted.  If they are already in the country they should either depart if safe to do so or 'shelter in place' depending on the situation. This means they need to be a little more prepared and self-sufficient than most so there isn't a 100% reliance on embassies or consulates to come to their aid.

If they have not left yet, again depending on the situation they should amend travel or itineraries to reflect the risk or cancel the trip all together. Provisions should be made to take out cancellation insurance so that any monies paid can be reimbursed in some way or travel shifted to another date if the program would allow for such.

Now as to the question about the latest ruling coming out of Uganda pertaining to LGTB rights, etc.  This is something that needs to be looked at for all destinations. While the impact is far greater in Uganda under this new law, other countries similarly carry hefty punishments for being openly gay so that question needs to be raised when looking at destinations to take study abroad programs. It is important to look at all the potential risks before booking travel and cultural sensitivities and local laws are very important.  Your group will be a guest in their country and subject to their laws regardless of whether you agree with them or not.”

It is essential all students studying abroad understand the culture of their designated country to avoid potentially dangerous and life-threatening situations. We urge you to make every possible effort to stay safe as you travel abroad! Downloading the free ASAPP checklist, getting our new ASAPP S.O.S app available on iTunes and Google Play and enrolling in the State Department's Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) are few things you can do to StaySafe.

Fully educate yourself and prepare before you select a country for study abroad – your life may depend on it!

Boost Your Travel Common Sense As You Study Abroad

Common sense in travel is essential to stay safe as you study abroad. A USA Today article alarmingly reports many travelers today don’t take basic steps to ensure the safety of themselves or their possessions as they go abroad. Some leave their hotel doors ajar when they go to dinner, some leave electronics or cell phones unattended on chairs and tables at pools or beaches and others have trouble reading airport signs, the article reported. Many are unaware of their travel insurance policies, what the emergency telephone number is in their designated country, currency conversions, and basic security.

Although traveling at times can be overwhelming, all travelers must take extra precautions to stay safe. Using your common sense as you travel is key!

Here are some tips to help keep you safe as you study abroad:

• Research your study abroad program and country!

Although this may seem obvious, many students don’t research their study abroad program before flying out to their designated country! Researching your program can give you basic information that will help you once you get there and can help you avoid any dangerous situations. Find out what housing options you may have, what roommates you’ll be living with, if there are fire alarms in your apartment or housing complex and what campus security is like.

Research your country - you need find out what the emergency telephone number is in your designated country in case of emergency. You should learn about the culture, how to dress and act appropriately and estimated currency conversions so you can plan out your finances. Is there a U.S. Embassy in your country? Do you have travel insurance yet? Where would you find the nearest hospital? Police department? Is it safe to take cabs on the street, or can you safely walk at night? These starting points can help you prepare for your immersion into a new culture.

• Sign up for the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP)

The STEP program allows the State Department to assist you in case of an emergency. They can help you if your passport is stolen or lost, in case of natural disasters and in contacting you in case of national crisis. STEP will provide you country-specific information, fact sheets, travel alerts and travel warnings. Why wouldn’t you take advantage of this amazing program? We promise you won’t regret it.

• Get travel insurance!

Buy StuCard travel insurance - for about $1 a day with toll free help 24x7! StuCard’s multi-trip travel insurance is underwritten by Travel Guard, the premier travel insurance company in the U.S. with over 25 years of experience and 6 million travelers every year. It covers any person traveling for a trip organized by an educational institution or club.

• Get the ASAAP checklist and ASAAP SOS apps!

Download our ASAAP checklist to fully prepare for your trip before  you depart. The checklist covers over 50 safety checkpoints every student sound fulfill before traveling overseas. The checklist requires students to provide emergency phone numbers, emergency contacts and U.S. Embassy contact information for their country. Other checkpoints include instructions on how to dial the U.S. while abroad, the country’s emergency number and State Department travel warnings. Housing checkpoints include residential locks, fire safety, number of roommates, security and location of housing to police stations, hospitals and other safety points. Other checkpoints cover travel clinics, immunizations, travel insurance, monthly budgets and more.

Check out our new ASAPP SOS app. It's  free, available from the Apple Store and Google Play! You can choose your destination country in the app’s settings, and can notify local emergency services or authorities depending on the geographic locale after an SOS alert is triggered. The SOS app also has a “follow me” feature which enables the student to self-select emergency contacts. This feature is perfect for students traveling in foreign countries to let their loved ones know where they are. In an emergency, the student simply presses the SOS shield on the app to send a panic alert containing a link to their GPS location to select emergency contacts via text message and email. These can optionally be posted to Facebook and Twitter. Once the SOS is activated, the student is automatically prompted to call the authorities with the correct three-digit number.

These tips will help you boost your common sense as you study abroad in new countries and cultures! We promise you won’t regret it. Travel smart and stay safe.

Bowdoin College Students Create Amazing Reflections on Study Abroad Experiences

Although this photograph might not catch your attention at first glance, the story behind the image will intrigue you. Bowdoin College student Andi Noble took this photograph as she studied abroad in Peru. Her inscription next to her photograph reads, “Despite the desert heat [of Peru], I continue to wear long pants to avoid calling unwanted attention to myself in the form of piropos [or catcalls from men]. …I have never experienced living in a society where women such as myself are so blatantly objectified, and it just doesn’t feel right.”

This image is part of an amazing collection of photographs entitled Exposure that Bowdoin College students have created to reflect on their study abroad experiences. Exposure is a photo-journaling project made up of 62 images, taken in 15 different countries by 22 Bowdoin students during study abroad trips in 2012 and 2013. It is currently on display in Smith Union’s Lamarche Gallery at Bowdoin College until Feb. 28.

Bowdoin’s International Programs and Off-Campus Study directors created Exposure to help students find new ways to reflect on their time spent studying abroad and share their stories with the Bowdoin community. Throughout the past eighteen months, students studying abroad received email prompts to help them reflect throughout their semester. Prompts focused on first impressions, everyday routines, feelings of discomfort and reflections.

Bowdoin student Lizzy Hamilton describes a portrait of her in a Peruvian kitchen with a little boy, “In my family [in Peru], I live with an older woman, and her grandson is often in the house. We play board games together and I taught him how to bake chocolate chip cookies.”

The article reported dozens of photos poured in from around the world. Portraits and selfies, composed scenes, candids, color and black & white. Students used SLR cameras and flip phones. Some photos were blurry and some incredibly real. Some photos followed the prompt, and others interpreted it differently.

“It is important to find ways of sharing the small things, because study abroad can’t be summed up in one story or one image,”  Curator Abigail Geringer said.

One of Bowdoin’s International Programs and Off-Campus Study directors said she was struck by the relatively small moments she viewed in some of the photographs. “When you think everything about a study abroad trip is so big,” she said, “it’s interesting to see the normalcy in the photos.”

It’s the stories that make these photographs come alive. Watch the video made about Exposure to hear amazing stories from 22 students who studied abroad across the world. How can you find ways to reflect on your study abroad experience?

Travel Warning for Somalia Continues - No U.S. Embassy in Somalia At This Time

A serious U.S. State Department travel warning continues to warn U.S. citizens to avoid all possible travel to Somalia. U.S. citizens must understand there is no U.S. Embassy or other formal U.S. diplomatic presence in Somalia at this time, heightening the seriousness of the situation.

“Consequently, the U.S. government is not in a position to assist or effectively provide services to U.S. citizens in Somalia.  In light of this and continuous security threats, the U.S. government recommends U.S. citizens avoid all travel to Somalia,” the warning reads.

According to the state department website, terrorist operatives and armed groups within Somalia have made it clear they plan to attack Somali authorities, the African Union Mission in Somalia and other non-military targets.

“Kidnapping, bombings, murder, illegal roadblocks, banditry, and other violent incidents and threats to U.S. citizens and other foreign nationals can occur in any region of Somalia.  In addition, there is a particular threat to foreigners in places where large crowds gather and westerners frequent, including airports, government buildings, and shopping areas. Inter-clan and inter-factional fighting can flare up with little or no warning. This type of violence has resulted in the deaths of Somali nationals and the displacement of more than one million people,” the warning reports.

U.S. citizens also should not sail close to the coast of Somalia, as pirate attacks have become frequent. Merchant vessels, fishing boats and recreational craft all risk pirate attacks close to the Horn of Africa, the warning reads. In February 2011, Somali pirates killed four American citizens aboard their boat. “If transit around the Horn of Africa is necessary, it is strongly recommended that vessels travel in convoys, maintain good communications contact at all times, and follow the guidance provided by the Maritime Security Center – Horn of Africa (MSC-HOA).  You should consult the Maritime Administration’s Horn of Africa Piracy page for information on maritime advisories, self-protection measures, and naval forces in the region.”

The travel warning strongly advises all U.S. citizens in Somalia enroll in Smart Traveler Enrollment Program and the U.S. Embassy in Nairobi, Kenya. The U.S. Embassy in Nairobi is located on United Nations Avenue, Gigiri, Nairobi, Kenya; telephone (254)(20) 363-6000; after-hours emergencies (254)(20) 363-6170. U.S. citizens traveling by sea in high threat areas are urged to inform MSC-HOA by emailing POSTMASTER@MSCHOA.ORG, with the subject line 'Yacht Vessel Movement.'

Sochi Athletes Feel Safe Competing in Olympic Games

Despite prior safety concerns, many Sochi Olympic athletes report feeling safe as they compete in this year's winter games! Athletes from all over the world have confidently traveled to Russia to make history in the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics.

"As far as safety over here, I'm looking at it from the standpoint of a soldier," said U.S. bobsled member Dallas Robinson, as reported by ABC News. "A lot of our soldiers are in combat zones where there's hundreds of thousands of people who don't want them there, people that are headhunting. We're in an area where there's hundreds of thousands of people protecting us.”

An estimated 100,000 police, agents and army troops are enforcing security at the winter olympics, after the U.S. State Department warned Americans to be cautious in traveling to Sochi to watch the games. Athletes were advised to not wear team-issued uniforms outside of the game venues, as it could make them target to predators in Sochi. However, American skeleton athlete John Daly believes he is safe wearing red, white and blue outside of the Olympic stadiums, ABC news reported.

"(Security) is top notch. I don't think there's going to be an incident at all and if I didn't feel confident I wouldn't have my family come over. I'm glad they're here. I know they're safe and I've got full trust in Russia,” he said, as reported by ABC.

The LA Times reported skeleton racer Noelle Pikus-Pace brought her husband and two small children to Sochi with her. "Of course we had concerns leading up to the Games," she said, as reported by LA Times. "But once we got here and to the place where we were staying, we felt very safe and there haven't been any issues."

Speedskater Emily Scott also said things are running smoothly in Sochi now. "Honestly, everyone's been so nice, so polite," Scott said. "I haven't felt unsafe in any sort of way,”  she said, as reported by the LA Times.

“I feel very comfortable that the International Olympic Committee, the USOC and the Russian government are doing everything they can to assure our safety,” said Minnesota’s own John Shuster, the U.S. curling team skip and three-time Olympian, as reported by MinnPost. “I actually feel pretty good about it.”

No matter how safe you may feel as you travel, you will need safety tools to help you avoid dangerous situations you will inevitably encounter overseas. ClearCause has many tools and tips that can help you have the time of your life as you travel safely! Download the free ASAAP SOS app, check out some of our favorite safety apps and gadgets, and use the ASAAP checklist to start preparing now to stay safe as you travel!

Apps You Need to Stay Safe As You Study Abroad

Check out our favorite apps to stay safe as you travel!

ASAAP S.O.S. App by ClearCause 
The revolutionary app provides students traveling in more than 18 countries with the ability to notify emergency contacts, services or help with only one touch. The free ASAPP SOS app is available on the Apple App Store and Google Play and enables youth and students to choose their destination country in its settings. The student is then given the option to notify local emergency services or authorities depending on the geographic locale after an SOS alert is triggered. (Example: in the United Kingdom, the app will prompt a user to dial 112 or 999 instead of 911).

The SOS app also has a “follow me” feature, available for a small optional monthly fee, which enables the student to self-select emergency contacts, which could be parents, program, insurance company, peers, etc. The follow-me feature tracks the GPS on students’ smart phones, in real time, whenever they want to make others aware of their location. This feature is perfect for students traveling in foreign countries to let their loved ones know where they are. One touch of the “I’m Safe” button will let concerned parents, for example, know the student is safe.

In an emergency, the student simply presses the SOS shield on the app to send a panic alert containing a link to their GPS location to select emergency contacts via text message and email. These can optionally be posted to Facebook and Twitter. Once the SOS is activated, the student is automatically prompted to call the authorities with the correct three-digit number.

“Most people do not know what number to call when a crisis strikes in a foreign country,” said Hill. “Our SOS app automatically prompts the user with the correct number, simultaneously alerting pre-defined contacts to let them know they need help.”

Download the ASAAP S.O.S. app now at the Apple App Store or Google Play! It could save your life.

SayHi 
SayHi is an amazing app that instantly translates language, voice to voice, to break down language barriers as you travel abroad. It’s like putting an interpreter in your pocket! This app can translate over 100 languages on the spot just by speaking into your phone.

Languages featured on this app include English (USA), English (UK), English (Australia), Spanish (Spain), Spanish (USA), Spanish (Mexico), French (France), French (Canada), German, Italian, Japanese, Mandarin (China), Mandarin (Taiwan), Cantonese, Korean, Dutch, Norwegian, Swedish, Danish, Portuguese (Portugal), Portuguese (Brazil), Polish, Russian, Arabic (UAE), Arabic (Saudi), Arabic (Egypt), Finnish, Greek, Hungarian, Indonesian, Slovak, Turkish, Czech, Hebrew (no voice), Malay (no voice), Romanian (no voice), Vietnamese (no voice), Basque, Catalan, Hindi (no speech), and Thai (no speech). The Premium feature unlocks even more languages and more dialects that can help you as you travel.

Simple user interface allows users to quickly change languages without having to scroll through deep sub-menu’s in the app itself. There are both female and male voice options, and you can even adjust the speed of the voice talking back to you for clear communication. Just one tap on the app clears your conversation! Simple and easy to use.

Users can also look up translations for words and phrases by just using your voice. Save translations in your favorites and history for quick, easy access! You can edit your translation if need be. Conversations can be shared by email, text, Facebook or Twitter. Find SayHi in the Apple App Store or find out more information on the app’s website!

My Medical 
My Medical is a record-keeping app to keep your personal medical information safe as you travel. Instead of carrying around paper records or various electronic systems that hold bits of your medical history, this app stores it all right on your phone in one place.

The app offers auto-completion and auto-suggestions for medical jargon, including prescription drug names, vaccinations, life support options, laboratory units and more.

Store emergency contacts, health insurance information, doctor contact information and other information on My Medical to keep it safe.  Photographs, lab work, x-rays and other extra files have a place within My Medical to attach them to your records. Add a picture of a pill next to your medication reminder, or keep a copy of your insurance card next to a provider’s contact information!

This app can also import medical contacts from your address book in one tap. Doctor’s appointment and upcoming lab tests can also be automatically added into My Medical from your calendar. Users can even set alarms directly in the app for important reminders! The app also has a range of common test result templates that help you track tests results. All information can be exported to a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet, emailed or printed right from the app.

All data that is stored in My Medical is stored right on your device, not on remote servers. This means your information is secure! You may require a password to view your confidential information through the app. In case of emergency, EMS workers can easily get your emergency instructions from My Medical, if need be.

Find My Medical in the Apple App Store or on Google Play to keep your medical information secure and all in one place!

XE Converter
The XE Converter app converts every world currency with live proprietary currency rates and charts, and it’s free! The app stores the last updated currency rates and works even without Internet, so you can use it on the go.

Users can find every world currency and precious metals on the XE Converter app, and live proprietary rates refresh every minute. This app can simultaneously monitor up to ten currencies and calculates prices with the currency converter.

The app is easy to use - users can just shake their phone to reset rates. Currency symbols can be turned on or off. You can set the frequency of rate updates and pin your base currency to the top, for easy use.

This app has received 20+ million downloads and has been the app of the week on iTunes. It’s been featured by BBC, the LA Times, CNN and The Travel Channel!  Download this app on the Apple App Store or on Google Play.

Google Translate
The Google Translate app translates text between more than 70 languages. English, Arabic, Catalan, Chinese, Croatian, Czech, Danish, Dutch, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Hebrew, Hungarian, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Malay, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Russian, Slovak, Spanish, Swedish, Thai, Turkish, Ukrainian and Vietnamese are just some of the languages this app can translate between.

One of the amazing things about Google Translate is that you can speak, type, write or take a picture of text and the app will translate it all! No internet connection is needed, so you can use this app at any time. You can save translations and access them later from any device.

Google Translate could be essential for communication and ease of mind as you study abroad. The app is available both on the Apple App Store and Google Play.

Racial Discrimination Can Kill in Study Abroad

Racial discrimination turns deadly in recent study abroad horror stories. B.A. honors student Nido Taniam was only twenty years old when he was killed in an altercation with shopkeepers in India, a Tribune article reported. Nido was studying at Jalandhar’s Lovely Professional University in Delhi when his life was cut short.

“Nido died on Thursday, a day after he was thrashed by some shopkeepers in South Delhi’s Lajpat Nagar market following an altercation allegedly triggered by their comments on his blonde hair,” a Tribune article reported. Nido was allegedly beaten to death.

After hearing of their fellow student’s death, North-East students at LPU started to hold meetings to address the issue of discrimination.  “I have also been a victim of racial discrimination,” another student from LPU said, as reported by the Tribune. “Though I avoided responding to the remarks, I know it hurts and it is difficult to maintain one’s cool at times...We are deeply anguished at the way our friend has been treated.”  Hundreds of furious students have taken to the streets of the national capital to protest against this recent hate crime, a Zee news article reported.

Tragically, Nido is not the only student at LPU who has fallen victim to racial discrimination. The article reported another student died on campus after being hit by a Sudanese boy in April 2011. An African student from LPU was attacked in April 2012, and is still comatose. The university is attempting to combat these racial clashes by installing cameras all over campus and employing more security, the article reported.

Gabriella Chongloi, a Japanese research scholar from English and Foreign Language University, has experienced discrimination in India. “Just a few days ago, I was visiting a friend's house and there were a bunch of kids playing outside. When I passed by them, they shouted, "Hello Japanese!" Now, I was so taken aback I didn't know how to react, so I just laughed it off. But this shows the subtle racism and ignorance that's prevalent in the society," says the scholar, as reported in a Times of India article.

All students planning to study abroad should be aware of the potential racial discrimination they may face. To prepare for this, download the ASAAP checklist, look into the free ASAAP S.O.S app available on iTunes and Google Play and our favorite helpful safety gadgets to help you staysafe as you travel abroad.