American Indian graduate fined $1,000 /\ Shale gas supply to boost India-US relationship

American Indian graduate fined $1,000 for wearing a feather on her mortarboard
ATMORE (Alabama): An American Indian student says she's being fined $1,000 for wearing a feather on her mortarboard when she graduated from high school in south Alabama in late May.

Chelsey Ramer tells WPMI-TV that she feels like she's being discriminated against by her alma mater, Escambia Academy in Atmore.

The 17-year-old is part of the Poarch Band of Creek Indians, and she says she wore a feather at graduation last month to honor her heritage.

The school now is making Ramer pay a $1,000 fine to get her diploma and official transcript. She's accused of violating school policy.

A school contract says students and staff are not allowed to wear extra items during graduation unless they're approved in advance by the administration.

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Shale gas supply to boost India-US relationship

The US government’s decision to allow export of liquefied natural gas (LNG) to countries, which do not have a free-trade agreement with that country, is good news for India. The policy shift was apparent when the US department of energy allowed a Texas facility to export LNG. The US has the world’s largest reserve of LNG, made possible by new drilling technologies. Though Japan, which has invested heavily in Texas, will be the immediate beneficiary, India too can look forward to tapping the US’ LNG potential, given its status as a non-FTA country. Since India has always been on the lookout for new energy sources to meet its ever-increasing demand for power, the US decision should be seen as a godsend.