2008 California Proposition 8, Aftermath
On June 28, 2013, the Ninth Circuit lifted its stay of the district court's ruling, enabling same-sex marriages to resume; minutes afterward, plaintiffs Perry and Stier became the first couple in California to legally wed under state law since the enactment of Proposition 8 in 2008, doing so at San Francisco City Hall at 4:45 PDT, with California's Attorney General Kamala Harris  officiating at the ceremony.


2008 California Proposition 8, Aftermath
There were two legal challenges made to the implementation of the ruling, both subsequently denied:


2008 California Proposition 8, Aftermath
Two petitions to this effect were filed with the California Supreme Court, by proponents (Hollingsworth v. O'Connell and Brown, July 12, 2013) and—against county policy—by a San Diego County Clerk (Dronenburg, July 19, 2013: dropped August 2 as duplicative).


2008 California Proposition 8, Aftermath
The proponents' petition challenged the state and county clerk responses to the ruling in Perry, asserting that, in their view, only two counties were affected by the ruling and other counties had no legal capacity to discretionally do likewise; that the plaintiffs, not representing a class, had their relief while others who were not plaintiffs had no change to their position within the law; and that county clerks were not in fact covered by the ruling and were therefore bound to comply with the law as it stood.


2008 California Proposition 8, Aftermath
This position was rejected by California's governor, who on legal advice ordered the change to license issuance, according to the ruling. California's Attorney General Kamala Harris noted that "state officials are obligated to govern marriage equally in all counties and that [United States District Court for the Northern District of California Chief Judge Vaughn] Walker's ruling specifically covers those officials." San Francisco's city attorney stated that it was "the most basic concepts of American law ... that a state court will not overrule the federal judiciary". Twenty-four County Clerks  stated, through their lawyer, that their role was "ultimately state supervised" and it would be unfeasible to have a "patchwork" of different marriage criteria varying between the counties of a single state.


2008 California Proposition 91
California Proposition 91 was a failed proposal to amend the California Constitution to prohibit motor vehicle fuel sales taxes that are earmarked for transportation purposes from being retained in the state's general fund. The proposition appeared on the ballot of the February primary election.


2008 California Proposition 91, Proposal
The proposition prohibits certain motor vehicle fuel sales and use taxes, that are earmarked for the Transportation Investment Fund, from being retained in the General Fund. Such taxes may be retained if the Governor issues a proclamation, a special statute is enacted by a 2/3 vote of the Legislature, repayment occurs within three years, and certain other conditions are met.


2008 California Proposition 91, Proposal
The proposition also requires repayment by June 30, 2017 of such vehicle fuel taxes retained in General Fund from July 1, 2003 to June 30, 2008. Currently, repayment is generally required by June 30, 2016.


2008 California Proposition 91, Proposal
It also changes how and when General Fund borrowing of certain transportation funds is allowed.


2008 California Proposition 91, Fiscal impacts
Increases stability of state funding for highways, streets, and roads and may decrease stability of state funding for public transit. May reduce stability of certain local funds for public transit.


2008 California Proposition 91, What a yes or no vote means
A "yes" vote on this measure means that the State would no longer be able to suspend the transfer of gasoline sales tax revenue from the General Fund to transportation. In addition, the state would be able to loan specified transportation funds, potentially including certain local transportation funds, to the General Fund for essentially short-term cash flow purposes only. The State, however, may be able to loan to the General Fund, without express time limitation for repayment, certain state funds for public transit.


2008 California Proposition 91, What a yes or no vote means
A "no" vote means the State would still be able to suspend, under certain conditions, the transfer of gasoline sales tax revenue from the General Fund to transportation. Additionally, the State would continue to be able, under certain conditions, to loan specified transportation funds to the General Fund for up to three fiscal years.


2008 California Proposition 91, Developments before election
Proponents of Proposition 91 asked voters to vote "no" on Proposition 91 because the passage of Proposition 1A in 2006 has already prevented the use of gas tax dollars from being spent for non-transportation purposes. However, an independent campaign to pass Proposition 1A has been sponsored separately by the Southern California Transit Advocates, a non-profit transit advocacy organization. Other supporters include State Senator Tom McClintock and former State Senator Bill Leonard.


2008 California Proposition 92
California Proposition 92 was Californian ballot proposition that voters rejected on February 5, 2008. It was a state initiative that would have amended Proposition 98, which set a mandate for the minimum level of funding each year for elementary and secondary schools and for the California Community Colleges.


2008 California Proposition 92, Proposal
Proposition 92 would have established a system of independent public community college districts and Board of Governors within the framework of the California Constitution. A minimum level of state funding for school districts and community college districts would have been calculated separately from the current K-14 education budget. Additionally, 10.46 percent of current Proposition 98 school funding maintenance would have been allocated to community colleges. Furthermore, community college fees would have froze at $15/unit per semester and limit future increase based upon a devised formula. Other associated budgetary allocations earmarked for the current K-14 system would also have been divided accordingly.


2008 California Proposition 92, Proposal
Proposition was projected to amount to an increase in state spending on K–14 education from 2007–08 through 2009–10—averaging about $300 million per year, with unknown impacts annually thereafter. The loss of student fee revenues would have been potentially about $70 million annually. Currently, student fees of $20/unit, go to the general fund, not to the community college where the student is enrolled.


2008 California Proposition 93
Proposition 93 was a Californian ballot proposition that sought to amend the term limits law for the California state legislature. Voters rejected it on February 5, 2008.


2008 California Proposition 93, Proposal
Between the passage of Proposition 140 in 1990 and the passage of Proposition 28 in 2012, California allows a person to serve 6 years in the California State Assembly and 8 years in the California State Senate. Proposition 93 would have changed the term limit to 12 years in both houses combined. If passed, the measure would have been the first amendment to the term limits law since Proposition 140 in 1990.


2008 California Proposition 93, Proposal
The proposition would have reduced the total number of years a person could serve in the state legislature from 14 to 12 years, while allowing current members to serve 12 years in their current house regardless of prior service. Consequently, some current members of the legislature would have been allowed to serve beyond the 14 years prescribed by current term limit laws.


2008 California Proposition 93, Proposal
The later, successful, Proposition 28 in 2012 did not apply such an advantageous set of rules to the current legislators; it kept them on the old rules rather than giving them a new set of rules better than either the old or new rules.


2008 California Propositions 94, 95, 96, and 97
Propositions 94, 95, 96, and 97 were Californian ballot propositions that sought to expand the scope of Native American gambling enterprises in California. All four propositions were approved by voters during elections on February 5, 2008


2008 California Propositions 94, 95, 96, and 97, Proposals
All propositions sought to expand Indian Gaming Compacts with individual tribes. Proposition 94 affected the Pechanga Band of Luiseño Mission Indians, Proposition 95 affected the Morongo Band of Mission Indians, Proposition 96 affected the Sycuan Band of the Kumeyaay Nation, Proposition 97 affected the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians.


2008 California Propositions 94, 95, 96, and 97, Proposals
All the propositions allowed the tribes to operate additional slot machines and changed the environmental impact assessment procedures. The propositions also made the tribes pay additional deposits into the state General Fund.


2008 California Propositions 98 and 99
California Propositions 98 and 99 were competing ballot propositions in the U.S. state of California to limit the use of eminent domain and possibly rent control. They were voted  on June 3, 2008; proposition 98 failed, while proposition 99 passed.


2008 California Propositions 98 and 99, The measures
The propositions were partly a reaction to the 2005 U.S. Supreme Court ruling in Kelo v. City of New London, which held that the power of eminent domain can sometimes be used to transfer property from one private owner to another. They addressed the issue differently, and also included other measures.


2008 California Propositions 98 and 99, The measures
Proposition 98 would have prohibited "state and local governments from condemning or damaging private property for private uses", changed litigation rules to be more friendly to property owners, and required the government to allow the original owner to repurchase the property at the original price if it ended up being put to a different use than originally stated. In addition, the proposition would have prohibited rent control and similar measures.


2008 California Propositions 98 and 99, The measures
Proposition 99 more narrowly prohibited "state and local governments from using eminent domain to acquire an owner-occupied residence [if the owner has occupied the residence for at least one year], as defined, for conveyance to a private person or business entity", subject to some exceptions. It did not prohibit rent control nor the use of eminent domain for properties other than residences occupied by the owner for over a year. The nonpartisan California Legislative Analyst's Office (which prepares analyses for the official state voter guide) concluded, "Proposition 99 would not significantly change current government land acquisition practices."


2008 California Propositions 98 and 99, The measures
If both propositions had passed, but Proposition 99 received more votes, only it, and not Proposition 98, would become law. However, this ended up not to matter as only Proposition 99 passed.


2008 California Propositions 98 and 99, Support and opposition
Proposition 98 was co-sponsored by the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association, and was also supported by landlord groups. It was opposed by tenant groups and associations of cities and redevelopment agencies, who preferred Proposition 99. By April 2008, supporters of Proposition 98 had raised $3.5 million, and opponents $6.4 million, to conduct their campaigns.


2008 California Republican presidential primary
The 2008 California Republican presidential primary was held on February 5, 2008, with a total of 173 national delegates at stake.


2008 California Republican presidential primary, Process
The delegates represented California at the Republican National Convention. There were three delegates to every congressional district and fourteen bonus delegates. The winner in each of the 53 congressional districts was awarded all of that district's delegates. The statewide winner was awarded 11 of the 14 statewide delegates, with the 3 remaining delegates assigned to party leaders. Voting in the primary was restricted to registered Republican voters.


2008 California Republican presidential primary, Polls
Early polls showed Rudy Giuliani in the lead. Polls taken closer to the primary either showed Mitt Romney or John McCain as the favored candidate.


2008 California State Assembly election
The 2008 California State Assembly elections were held on November 4, 2008. Voters in all 80 of California's State Assembly districts voted for their representative. Other elections were also held on November 4. Only five seats changed parties: one to the Republican Party and four to the Democratic Party, which maintained a majority with 51 seats.


2008 California State Assembly election
Of the 80 State Assembly districts, only about nine were considered truly competitive by political analysts.


2008 California State Assembly election, Results
Below are the final official results as reported by the Secretary of State.


2008 California State Senate election
The 2008 California State Senate elections took place on November 4, 2008. Voters in California's odd-numbered State Senate districts, a total of 20, voted for their state senators. No seats changed parties and the Democratic Party maintained its 25-seat majority, while the Republican Party held 15 seats. Other elections also took place in California on November 4.


2008 California State Senate election
Only a single State Senate district, the 19th, was considered truly competitive by political analysts.


2008 California State Senate election, Results
The following candidates are the official results from the California Secretary of State.


2008 California Statewide Truck and Bus Rule
The California Statewide Truck and Bus Rule was initially adopted in December 2008 by the California Air Resources Board (CARB) and requires all heavy-duty diesel trucks and buses that operate in California to retrofit or replace engines in order to reduce diesel emissions. All privately and federally owned diesel-fueled trucks and buses, and privately and publicly owned school buses with a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) greater than 14,000 pounds, are covered by the regulation.


2008 California Statewide Truck and Bus Rule
Implementation was originally scheduled for January 1, 2011 but recent amendments were considered in December 2010. The rule now requires the installation of particulate matter filters beginning January 1, 2012 and replacement of older engines beginning January 1, 2015. Nearly all applicable vehicles are required to have 2010 model year or the equivalent to 2010 engines by January 1, 2023.


2008 California Statewide Truck and Bus Rule, Background
Diesel exhaust particulate matter (PM) was identified as a toxic air contaminant by the Air Resources Board in 1998 after study results showed its potential to cause cancer, premature death, and other health problems. Two years later, in September 2000, the Air Resources Board adopted the Risk Reduction Plan to Reduce Particulate Matter Emissions from Diesel-Fueled Engines and Vehicles which committed to establish retrofit requirements for in-use diesel vehicles to reduce diesel particulate matter 75 percent by 2010 and 85 percent by 2020.


2008 California Statewide Truck and Bus Rule, Background
In 2007 the Air Resources Board then adopted a State Implementation Plan (SIP) which requires heavy-duty in-use diesel trucks operating in the South Coast and San Joaquin Valley to be retrofitted to meet model year 2007 emission levels by 2014 and 2017, respectively. The State Implementation Plan was implemented to help California's Air Quality Control Regions (AQCR) meet the requirements of the Federal Clean Air Act and also aims to reduce nitrogen oxide emissions (NOx) and ozone in the state. This regulation is the next step to help the Air Resources Board achieve their goal to reduce diesel particulate matter.


2008 California Statewide Truck and Bus Rule, Background
With the new amendments in place, diesel emissions are estimated to be 68 percent lower than they would be without the regulation, and emissions of the smog-forming pollutant, nitrogen oxide, will be 25 percent lower. The regulation also aims to save lives and dollars spent on health care. The Air Resources Board estimates that the reduction in diesel emissions is expected to save 9,400 lives within the 11 year time frame and reduce health care costs, with an estimated savings between US$48 billion and $69 billion. By the time the rule is fully implemented in 2023, no truck or bus more than 13 years old will be allowed to operate in California without particulate matter and nitrogen oxide emissions controls.


2008 California Statewide Truck and Bus Rule, Background, Support
The Truck and Bus Rule is considered by the Air Resources Board and other organizations such as the Union of Concerned Scientists and the Environmental Defense Fund as a win-win for the State of California: reducing global greenhouse gas emissions, reducing fuel use, providing fuel and operating cost-savings for truck owners, and reducing smog-forming pollution, in addition to providing human health benefits.


2008 California Statewide Truck and Bus Rule, Background, Support
According to the Union of Concerned Scientists, the retrofits could reduce global warming pollution by 17 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) by 2020 and a net savings of $30,000 over the life of one long-range truck. In addition to reducing air pollution, this regulation is thought to have helped broaden and strengthen the environmental movement in California.


2008 California Statewide Truck and Bus Rule, Background, Opposition
On February 15, 2011 the California Dump Truck Owners Association (CDTOA) which changed its name to the California Construction Trucking Association (CCTA) on January 2012, filed suit against CARB, stating the Truck and Bus Rule is "unconstitutional as it is preempted by the Federal Aviation Authorization Act (FAAAA) and seeks an injunction prohibiting CARB from enforcing the rule". The FAAAA, enacted in 1994 by the U.S. Congress, "prohibits any state or any political subdivision from enacting or enforcing any regulation related to the price, route, or service of a motor carrier".


2008 California Statewide Truck and Bus Rule, Background, Opposition
The California Dump Truck Owners Association also expresses concerns about the regulation because of the costs to retrofit or replace engines and the economic impact it will have on small business owners whose livelihood relies on the income generated by their trucks. Many of the association's members work closely with the construction industry; therefore, business is already slow during this economic depression. The association has alerted the Air Resources Board that many small businesses will close down if they cannot afford to comply with the regulation.


2008 California Statewide Truck and Bus Rule, Background, Opposition
The science which supports the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Air Resources Board's conclusions about the health impacts of diesel particulate matter are also disputed. The conclusions being made to protect human health are considered "exaggerated" and not supported by other research in the field, there are also claims that the Environmental Protection Agency and the Air Resources Board did not correctly calculate all the necessary cancer risks in order to properly regulate diesel emissions.


2008 California Statewide Truck and Bus Rule, Background, Opposition
Other Key Legal Actions & Dates: On October 30, 2013 CCTA received an order from the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeal denying its motion for reconsideration of the ‘en banc’ (full court) petition to review the EPA's determination and approval of the California State Implementation Plan or SIP. This was a longshot based on the timing issues, as the SIP was ‘stealthily’ filed and approved during the litigation against CARB. Related to this is a petition directly to EPA for reconsideration of the approval of the SIP by EPA – again all ‘surreptitiously’ done during direct litigation.


2008 California Statewide Truck and Bus Rule, Background, Opposition
This challenge is more an exercise of thoroughness than legal utility. The CCTA's main legal action or FAAAA argument claim, stating that state law (CARB regulations) violates federal law is also on Appeal to the Ninth Circuit Court. The appeal of Judge England's order saying that "he no longer had authority over the case" is still pending and will be appealed ultimately to the U.S. Supreme Court. 1/16/12 – CCTA files a Notice to Appeal with the 9th Circuit Court. View Appeal


2008 California Statewide Truck and Bus Rule, Background, Opposition
201212/19/12 – Judges England renders decision. Does not address any elements of our complaint but instead states that “it cannot retain jurisdiction over this action in light of EPA’s approval of the Truck and Bus Regulation as part of California’s SIP”. EPA is now considered an indispensable party to our litigation. View Decision (130.3 kB 2013-01-17 15:57:28). 9/6/12 – Final hearing on our request for relief under the Supremacy Clause (decision pending shortly).


2008 California Statewide Truck and Bus Rule, Background, Opposition
7/19/12 – Court orders second round of supplemental briefing, at issue is whether EPA's SIP adoption makes it an indispensable party5/31/12 – Court orders supplemental briefs regarding EPA adoption of the SIP (Supplemental briefing completed by 7/12/12)5/21/12 – Court orders on its own motion the case is stayed indefinitely (MSJ still pending)2/8/12 – Eve of hearing on MSJ, matter ordered submitted without oral argument1/30/12 – Order denying preliminary injunction1/18/12 – Hearing on Summary Judgment continued to 2/9/12


2008 California Statewide Truck and Bus Rule, Background, Opposition
201112/15/11 – Hearing on preliminary injunction11/15/11 – CDTOA Motion for preliminary injunction (a secondary lawsuit)7/5/11 – CDTOA Motion for Summary Judgment (MSJ); Hearing originally set for 9/6/11, but continued to 1/26/12 to permit discovery


2008 California Statewide Truck and Bus Rule, Regulation
Section 2025 of the rule states that "The purpose of this regulation is to reduce emissions of diesel particulate matter (PM), oxides of nitrogen (NOx) and other criteria pollutants, and greenhouse gases from in-use diesel-fueled vehicles". All fleet owners, with the exception of small fleets, have three options to comply with the regulation:


2008 California Statewide Truck and Bus Rule, Regulation
These regulations apply to any business, person, federal government agency or school district that owns, operates, sells or runs vehicles operated on diesel-fuel.


2008 California Statewide Truck and Bus Rule, Regulation
The requirements of the regulation are as follows under section 2025:


2008 California Statewide Truck and Bus Rule, Fleet compliance assistance tools
In order to assist truck owners to meet the standards of the regulation, the Air Resources Board provides compliance tools on their website. An Excel spreadsheet called the “Fleet Calculator” assists owners to comply with the truck and bus rule. The owners can determine what type of compliance options may be available by inputting engine model year and emission control technology assumptions into the calculator. The tool follows regulation amendments, and a hotline has been set up for fleet owners called the Air Resources Board's Diesel Hotline.


2008 California Statewide Truck and Bus Rule, Reporting
The system utilized for reporting is the Truck Regulations Upload and Compliance Reporting System (TRUCRS). Reporting guidelines are not required until 2012, however fleets can take advantage of Agricultural Vehicle Provisions or to meet requirements for Tier 0 auxiliary engines in street sweepers. By April 29, 2011, these previously mentioned two-engine street sweepers have to start reporting hourly meter readings beginning January 1, 2011. In order to meet these guidelines, reports can be made online or in paper format. Also by April 29, 2011, those fleets that reported Agricultural Provisions in the previous year can update their January 1, 2011 odometer readings in order to qualify for Agricultural Vehicle Provisions. Annual reporting will be mandatory as of January 31, 2012.


2008 California Statewide Truck and Bus Rule, Reporting
All fleet owners may submit reporting materials using paper or electronic forms reporting annually until the expiration of requirements or until the year after Best Available Control Technology. Owner contact and vehicle information including but not limited to type, gross vehicle weight rating and model year are mandatory as a part of reporting. Engine information, verified diesel emission control strategies (VDECS), and highest available VDECS must also be submitted into reporting. Low-use vehicles, fleets claiming vehicle retirement credits, school bus fleets/sub-fleets, agricultural fleets, vehicles exempt from NOx BACT and emergency support vehicles have their own specified reporting conditions which coincide and build onto the overall reporting requirements.


2008 California Statewide Truck and Bus Rule, Reporting
All reports must submit compliance certification signed by a responsible official or a designee to confirm that the reporting is accurate prior to submission to the executive officer. If there are any changes since the last reporting, the responsible party must report it to the executive officer. These changes include vehicles that may be removed or added to the fleet or those vehicles that have recently been repowered or retrofitted. New fleet reporting for those that elect to use the Best Available Control Technology percent limits must also submit information to the executive officer. By January 31 of each year, owners must submit information regarding claiming compliance extensions for manufacturer delays including the date of purchase of verified diesel emission control strategies, date the vehicle was placed into service, the date of removal from service, and identification of vehicle that was replaced.


2008 California Statewide Truck and Bus Rule, Exhaust retrofits
Operators of diesel vehicles and equipment must install Diesel Emission Control Strategies (DECS) to new and existing engines in order to comply with the regulation. DECS are technology-based retrofits that reduce pollutants from diesel exhaust before they are released into the air. A commonly used DECS technology is the diesel particulate filter which serves as a substitution for an engine's original factory muffler. All Diesel Emission Control Strategies must be verified and approved by the Air Resources Board to ensure proper particulate matter and nitrogen oxide reductions will be met.


2008 California Statewide Truck and Bus Rule, Health impacts
Diesel truck emissions include smog-forming nitrogen oxide and are the largest source of diesel particulate matter which is known to cause harm to the lungs, the immune system, the heart and cardiovascular system, and the developing brain. Seventy percent of California's risk for cancer from airborne toxics in 2000 was attributed to diesel particulate matter. In 2004 it was estimated that premature death rates from diesel pollution would supersede the death rates from homicides that year. It is projected that reducing emissions today would prevent 11,000 premature deaths and 16,000 hospital admissions by 2020. The cost-benefit analysis of reducing diesel pollution concluded with the results that small costs of pollution cleanup can drastically cut health-related costs, such as reduced hospitalization.


2008 California Statewide Truck and Bus Rule, Health impacts
The areas of California with the highest health related risks in exposure to diesel pollution are those that are the most densely populated air basins. Half of California's diesel pollution illnesses occur in the South Coast. 45% of the State's population resides here, and they breathe 30% of particulate matter and nitrogen oxide (NOx). The South Coast's projected cost of health impacts is totaled at $10.2 billion per year. The San Francisco Bay Area is the second most highly affected region in California taking in 17% of the state's diesel pollution. The estimated health related costs for the Bay Area are $3.7 billion per year.


2008 California elections
The California state elections, November 2008 were held on November 4, 2008 throughout California. Among the elections taking place were those for the office of President of the United States, all the seats of California's delegation to the House of Representatives, all of the seats of the State Assembly, and all of the odd-numbered seats of the State Senate. Twelve propositions also appeared on the ballot. Numerous local elections also took place throughout the state.


2008 California elections, United States House of Representatives
All 53 seats of the United States House of Representatives in California were up for election. Before and after the election, 34 seats were under Democratic control and 19 were under Republican control.


2008 California elections, California State Senate
The California State Senate is the upper house of California's bicameral State Legislature. There are a total of 40 seats and only the 20 odd-numbered ones were up for election. The Democratic Party maintained a majority of 25, with the remaining 15 seats under the control of the Republican Party. Neither party lost or gained any seats.


2008 California elections, California State Assembly
The California State Assembly is the lower house of California's State Legislature. All 80 seats were up for election every two years. Before the election, the Democrats controlled 48 seats, while the Republicans controlled 32. After the election, the Democrats increased its majority to 51, while the Republican minority shrank to 29. A total of five seats changed parties: four to the Democrats and one to the Republicans.


2008 California elections, Propositions, Proposition 1A
Proposition 1A is a bond measure to fund the California High-Speed Rail line from Los Angeles to San Francisco.


2008 California elections, Propositions, Proposition 2
Proposition 2 is an initiative statute regarding standards for confining farm animals.


2008 California elections, Propositions, Proposition 3
Proposition 3 is an initiative statute that authorizes children's hospital bonds and grants.


2008 California elections, Propositions, Proposition 4
Proposition 4 is an initiative constitutional amendment regarding waiting periods and parental notification before termination of a minor's pregnancy.


2008 California elections, Propositions, Proposition 5
Proposition 5 is an initiative statute regarding nonviolent offenders, sentencing, parole, and rehabilitation.


2008 California elections, Propositions, Proposition 6
Proposition 6 is an initiative statute regarding criminal penalties and public safety funding.


2008 California elections, Propositions, Proposition 8
Proposition 8 is an initiative constitutional amendment that would ban same-sex marriage in California.


2008 California elections, Propositions, Proposition 9
Proposition 9 is an initiative constitutional amendment and statute that deals with the criminal justice system, victims' rights, and parole.


2008 California elections, Propositions, Proposition 10
Proposition 10 is an initiative statute that authorizes bonds for alternative fuel vehicles and renewable energy.


2008 California elections, Propositions, Proposition 11
Proposition 11 is an initiative constitutional amendment and statute that deals with redistricting.


2008 California elections, Propositions, Proposition 12
Proposition 12 is a bond measure that would assist veterans with buying property.


2008 California wildfires
The 2008 California wildfire season was one of the most devastating since the turn of the 21st Century. While 6,255 fires occurred, about two-thirds as many as in 2007, the total area exceeded that of the previous years, far exceeding the total area of each year prior to 2007. Throughout the year, 1,593,690 acres (6,449.4 km2) of land were burned.


2008 California wildfires
By July 5, 2008, 328 wildfires were burning, and those fires were only 81% contained. For the first time since 1977, the US military helped with ground-based firefighting, when Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger dispatched 400 California National Guard troops, including Chief Medical Officer Susan Pangelinan, to manage fire lines. He said the number of fires had stretched the state's fire-fighting resources thin. "One never has resources for 1,700 fires. Who has the resources for that?" Schwarzenegger said, adding, "Something is happening, clearly. There's more need for resources than ever before... it's fire season all year round."


2008 California wildfires, Fires
Below is a list of all fires that exceeded 1,000 acres (400 ha) during the 2008 fire season. The list is taken from CAL FIRE's list of large fires.


2008 California wildfires, Summer fires
The  Summer 2008 fires were a concentrated outbreak of wildfires during the late spring and summer of 2008. Over 3,596 individual fires were burning at the height of the period, burning large portions of forests and chaparral in California, injuring at least 34 individuals and killing 32. The majority of the fires were started by lightning from dry thunderstorms on June 20, although some earlier fires ignited during mid-May. International aid from Greece, Cyprus, Chile, Argentina, Brazil, Australia, Canada, Mexico, and New Zealand helped fight the fires.


2008 California wildfires, Summer fires
The first of the wildfires was the Big Horn Fire, which ignited on May 13. Three other minor wildfires ignited subsequently, but were extinguished by May 17. On May 20, the Avocado Fire ignited in Fresno County, only to be extinguished 2 days later. On May 22, 2008, the human-caused Summit Fire broke out in the Santa Cruz Mountains, which became the first major fire.


2008 California wildfires, Summer fires
On July 5, 2008, California Governor Schwarzenegger commented that "I've been driving up and down the state of California going to all the various fires, and you can imagine, this state is very prepared for fire, but when you wake up one morning and have 500 fires across the state, it was a real shock to me... only to find the next morning there were 1,000 fires, and the next morning 1,400 fires, and then 1,700 fires igniting over 14 days."


2008 California wildfires, Summer fires
The Gap Fire near Goleta in Santa Barbara County burned 8,357 acres (3,382 ha). The fire was contained on July 29, after several weeks of activity.


2008 California wildfires, Summer fires
By July 11, 2008, it was reported that a total of 793,483 acres (321,111 ha) was burned, a total exceeding the initial estimate of 510,000 acres (210,000 ha) burned by the October 2007 California wildfires. On July 12, 2008, the area burned reached 801,726 acres (324,447 ha), exceeding the estimated 800,000 acres (320,000 ha) burned by the 2003 California wildfires, making the Summer 2008 wildfires the greatest wildfire event in Californian history, in terms of burned area. On that date 20,274 personnel had been committed to fight the fires. Total resources included 467 hand crews, 1,503 engines, 423 water tenders, 291 bulldozers, 142 helicopters, 400 soldiers and numerous air tankers. The fire was responsible for the deaths of 23 individuals.


2008 California wildfires, Summer fires
On July 25, a blaze sparked by target shooting broke out in Mariposa County, in the Sierra Nevada foothills of central California. By the following day, the Telegraph Fire had gone from 1,000 acres (400 ha) to 16,000 acres (6,500 ha), and within days had destroyed 21 homes in the community of Midpines. Residents were evacuated from approximately 300 homes that were immediately threatened, with an additional 4,000 homes placed on standby for evacuation in Midpines, Greeley Hill, and Coulterville.


2008 California wildfires, Summer fires
During August, wildfire activity began to diminish, although there were still hundreds of wildfires still burning. On August 29, wildfire activity had largely ended, although three more wildfires ignited after September 1, beginning with the Gladding Fire. On September 10, the Colony Fire was 100% contained, ending the last of the Summer 2008 California wildfires. The Summer 2008 wildfires burned a total of 1,162,197 acres (4,703.24 km2) between May 2008 and September 2008, comprising the vast majority of burned land by wildfires in California in 2008.


2008 California wildfires, Summer fires
In total, the Summer 2008 wildfires burned a total of 1,161,197 acres (469,920 ha), which accounts for 84% of the total area burned during the 2008 wildfire season. In addition, the Summer 2008 fires cost over $92.38 million (2008 USD) to fight.


2008 California wildfires, Summer fires
The Basin Complex Fire in the Ventana Wilderness became the third largest wildfire in California's history based on size (until it was surpassed in size by the 2013 Rim Fire), and also the second-costliest wildfire to extinguish in U.S. history.


2008 California wildfires, Summer fires, Weather
The fires broke out after three years of below-normal rainfall dehydrated much of California's forests and woodlands, making them prone to wildfires. Spring 2008 for California was the driest on record for many locations; for example, San Francisco registered only 0.67 inches (17 mm) of rain out of a normal of 5.18 inches (13 cm) from March to May. As vegetation turned into bone-dry tinder in early June, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger declared a statewide drought for the first time in 17 years.


2008 California wildfires, Summer fires, Weather
Dry thunderstorms and lightning, rarely seen on the California coastline in June, rolled onshore on the weekend of June 20–21. The storm unleashed 25,000 to 26,000 dry lightning strikes across Northern and Central California, igniting more than 2,000 fires. The number of wildfires skyrocketed in the days after the thunderstorms and high daily daytime temperatures of over 120 °F (49 °C) dramatically increased the various fires' growth. The same thunderstorms also caused fires in Oregon.


2008 California wildfires, Summer fires, Weather
A heat wave commenced on July 7, with temperatures in inland locations, such as the Central Valley soaring above 115 °F (46 °C). Lake Berryessa recorded a high temperature of 126 °F (52 °C), prompting weather agencies like the National Weather Service to issue high fire danger warnings. These near to record-breaking temperatures concerned many firefighters, who feared that the high heat, low humidity, and high-elevation winds could make firefighting more strenuous.


2008 California wildfires, Summer fires, Contributing factors
John Juskie, a National Weather Service science officer, was quoted in June 2008 in the Los Angeles Times stating "in historic terms, we're at record dry levels." The spring of 2008 not only broke the record for least inches of rainfall, at 0.17 of an inch, it represented less than one-third of the previous record low of 0.55 of an inch of rainfall in 1934.


2008 California wildfires, Summer fires, Contributing factors
A record lack of rainfall, severely dry vegetation and uncharacteristically windy weather combined to create tinderbox conditions across Northern California. In most areas of Northern California, the grasses and brush were as dry in June as they normally would be in October. Moisture content was less than 2%, compared with about 40% normally for this time of year, fire officials stated. In addition, "no one has seen a springtime like this with the winds," Juskie said.


2008 California wildfires, Smoke and air quality
Air quality in northern and central California deteriorated as a result of smoke from the wildfires, especially in the Central Valley from Bakersfield in the southern San Joaquin Valley section to Redding in the northern Sacramento Valley section.


2008 California wildfires, Smoke and air quality, Northern California
From June 21 to June 27, much of Northern California was covered in a thick blanket of smoke, which reduced visibility and turned the sky yellow and the Moon red.


2008 California wildfires, Smoke and air quality, Northern California
Some areas endured record levels of air pollution, along with hazardous concentrations of particulate matter. These smoky and hazy conditions prompted health officials to issue air quality advisories and warnings, as particulate matter reached unhealthy levels in the North Bay on June 25. In the San Francisco Bay Area, the Bay Area Air Quality Management District urged the elderly and people with respiratory problems to stay indoors. In spite of the warnings, health officials noted a jump in the number of people with eye and throat irritation.


2008 California wildfires, Smoke and air quality, Northern California
The bad air quality also forced the cancellation of the 100-mile (161 km) Western States Endurance Run, the first in the race's 31-year history. Air quality began to improve on June 28, followed by decreased smoke and improved visibility a day later. By June 30, residents in the Sacramento Valley saw blue skies and good air quality, as a result of onshore winds and the Delta breezes.


2008 California wildfires, Smoke and air quality, Northern California
However, air quality in Oregon degraded as plumes of smoke drifted northward instead of concentrating in the Central Valley.


2008 California wildfires, Smoke and air quality, Spare the Air
Hazy conditions returned on July 7, along with high temperatures over 100 °F (38 °C) in the Central Valley. The heat and smoke combined forced public health officials and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to issue "Spare the Air" advisories and an emergency plan for heat waves, respectively. Air quality districts issued another Spare the Air day for July 8, July 9, and July 10, as calm wind conditions in Northern California failed to blow away the smoke from the wildfires. Smoky conditions continued into late August, when most of the wildfires were extinguished. The smoke from the fires finally began to disperse on September 10, after the last of the wildfires was fully contained.


2008 California wildfires, Smoke and air quality, Health Impact
A paper in the American Journal of Respiratory Cell and Molecular Biology studied a group of adolescent rhesus macaque monkeys that were exposed during infancy to smoke from northern California wildfires in 2008. They found that monkeys exposed to wildfire smoke as infants had "significantly reduced inspiratory capacity, residual volume, vital capacity, and functional residual capacity per unit of body weight." There was also a trend of reduced total lung capacity in animals exposed to wildfire smoke as infants. Adolescent monkeys exposed to wildfire smoke as infants were also found to have a lessened PBMCs responses to TLR Ligands. TLR5 has been linked with the asthma phenotype experimentally and in human subjects. An important finding in the study was that monkeys over 200 miles away from the combustion were still found to have significant immune and respiratory changes.


2008 California wildfires, Smoke and air quality, Health Impact
The findings were consistent with many other human group studies and suggest that children who underwent the same experience as the monkeys in the study have a high chance of exhibiting similar health problems but, that because normal development of rhesus monkeys is accelerated compared to human children the relative impact of this amount of wildfire smoke exposure might differ.


2008 California wildfires, November Fires
The month of November saw a large number of fires, around 2,151, which began burning across Southern California on November 13, with 4 of them becoming major wildfires. At least 400 houses and 500 mobile homes were destroyed. According to USA Today, these wildfires combined with those from October 2007 and the Summer of 2008 were the worst group of wildfires that California had experienced in two decades.


2008 California wildfires, November Fires
Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa told residents, "If you wait until the fire gets there you have waited too long, this fire can be on you in a moment's notice." California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger declared a state of emergency in Santa Barbara, Los Angeles, and Orange Counties. Governor Schwarzenegger described the conditions contributing to the fires as a "perfect storm," including strong Santa Ana and sundowner winds, with gusts reaching 80 miles per hour (129 km/h), as well as high temperatures, low humidity, and dry conditions.


2008 California wildfires, Fatalities
During the season, the National Interagency Fire Center reported 13 firefighter fatalities while battling wildfires. Nine were killed in a helicopter crash, while others died of a heart attack, a falling tree, and an entrapment. In all, 32 people were killed by the wildfires.


2008 California's 12th congressional district special election
California's 12th congressional district special election, 2008 occurred on April 8, 2008. California's 12th congressional district was vacated following the death of Democrat Tom Lantos on February 11, 2008. The special election was called by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger to fill the vacancy for the remainder of Lantos's term ending on January 3, 2009. The special election took the form of an open primary. Another election would have taken place on June 3 had no candidate received a majority.


2008 California's 12th congressional district special election
Democrat Jackie Speier won a majority of the votes in the open primary and therefore won the election.


2008 California's 12th congressional district special election, Candidates
The following individuals appeared in the certified list of candidates and the certified list of write-in candidates published by the California Secretary of State, and were thus eligible to receive votes in the special primary election.


2008 Cambodian general election
General elections were held in Cambodia on 27 July 2008. The result was a victory for the ruling Cambodian People's Party, which won 90 of the 123 seats.


2008 Cambodian general election, Background
Prime Minister Hun Sen announced the planned date of the elections on 30 May 2007, saying that the date of 27 July 2008 had been decided on because it was a holiday and because it fell exactly five years after the previous elections. While the ruling Cambodian People's Party was expected to retain its majority, FUNCINPEC was considered likely to fall behind the two major opposition parties, the Sam Rainsy Party and the Sangkum Jatiniyum Front Party. The newly founded Human Rights Party was also expected to make an impact.


2008 Cambodian general election, Campaign
By the deadline of 12 May 2008, only twelve parties had registered for the elections, only half of the 23 parties which contested the 2003 elections and a third of the 39 in the 1998 elections. Ten of those parties fielded candidates in all of Cambodia's 24 provinces and municipalities, while the remaining two fielded candidates in only nine and seven provinces, respectively. Ten parties were approved, one was asked to submit more documents and subsequently approved and one was denied registration.


2008 Cambodian general election, Campaign
In early July, the Khmer Anti- Poverty Party and the Society of Justice Party decided to form a political alliance, and the Khmer Republican Party also stated it was willing to make alliances.


2008 Cambodian general election, Conduct
The EU observing mission stated that based on the provisional results, the lead of the CPP was so large that there would have to be very large-scale fraud in order to call the CPP's victory into question. They still criticised the disenfranchisement of a large number of voters, but lauded the improvement over the 2003 elections; on the whole, however, the election fell short of international standards.


2008 Cambodian general election, Results
Preliminary results from CPP sources indicated that the CPP had won 58.3% of the vote and 91 seats, whilst the SRP had won 21.9% of the vote and 26 seats, with the Human Rights Party on three seats, the NRP on two and FUNCINPEC with one. NGOs and other supervising bodies stated that the distribution was more likely 70 for CPP and 50 for SRP.


2008 Cambodian general election, Aftermath
Prime Minister Hun Sen claimed victory the day after the elections, The stand-off with Thailand over the Preah Vihear Temple was widely seen as a successful attempt of the ruling CPP to garner more support. Analysts expected the CPP to increase its majority; as the constitution was amended to remove the need for a two-thirds majority to govern, requiring the more common simple majority instead, it was considered likely that the CPP would be able to govern without a coalition partner.


2008 Cambodian general election, Aftermath
The CPP announced it would retain its coalition with the severely diminished FUNCINPEC, but ordered its leaders Keo Puth Rasmey and his wife Princess Arun Rasmey to stand down and let army general Nhek Bun Chhay take over; he would be the first non-royal to lead FUNCINPEC.


2008 Cambodian general election, Aftermath
The SRP, HRP and NRP threatened to boycott the first parliamentary session unless the irregularities were investigated; the PM replied that in that case, the opposition's seats would be redistributed between CPP and FUNCINPEC.


2008 Cameroonian anti-government protests
The 2008 Cameroon protests were a series of violent demonstrations in Cameroon's biggest cities that took place from 25 to 29 February 2008. The protests followed on the heels of a strike by transport workers, who were opposing high fuel prices and poor working conditions. Further political turmoil had been caused by President Paul Biya's announcement that he wanted the constitution to be amended to remove term limits; without such an amendment, he would have to leave office at the end of his term in 2011.


2008 Cameroonian anti-government protests
Large groups of youths, whom the opposition Social Democratic Front (SDF) political party and the government blame one another for organising, took to the streets of Douala, Yaoundé, Bamenda, and other major cities, looting and vandalising property. The government sent in troops to crack down on the unrest, and protesters and troops alike were killed. The official government tally is that 40 people were killed, but human rights groups claim that the total is closer to 100. Government figures place damage to property at tens of billions of francs CFA (15.2 million euros or US$23.4 million).


2008 Cameroonian anti-government protests
In response to the protests, President Biya reduced the cost of fuel, raised salaries of civil servants and military personnel, reduced the duties paid on cement, and suspended duties on essential goods such as cooking oil, fish, and rice. Government forces also claimed to have arrested more than 1,600 people, including government officials, and to have prosecuted 200. Human rights groups and defense attorneys, on the other hand, claimed that more than 2,000 people had been arrested in Douala alone and decried the trials as overly swift, secretive, and severe. The government has also cracked down on artists, media outlets and journalists it accuses of threatening national stability.


2008 Cameroonian anti-government protests, Causes
The protests grew out of a strike by the urban transport union, which consists of bus, taxi, and lorry drivers. The union was angered over the rise in fuel prices and poor working conditions in Cameroon; so they scheduled a strike for 25 February 2008. Further unrest was fomented in response to generally high cost of living in Cameroon, high unemployment among youths, and President Paul Biya's proposal that the constitution be amended to abolish term limits on the presidency and allow him to run in the 2011 election. Biya has been president of Cameroon since 1982.


2008 Cameroonian anti-government protests, Causes
On 23 February, an unauthorised protest of several hundred Cameroonians in the Douala suburb of Newtown, opposing Biya's proposed constitutional reforms, was broken up by police who allegedly turned tear gas and water cannons on the demonstrators, killing at least one. Conditions in Douala were peaceful the following day until that evening, when gunfire was heard near Douala International Airport.


2008 Cameroonian anti-government protests, Causes
According to Hamidou Yaya Marafa, Minister of State, Minister of Territorial Administration and Decentralisation, the Cameroonian government learned in January that the Social Democratic Front (SDF), the main opposition to the ruling Cameroon People's Democratic Movement (CPDM) political party, had formulated a plan they dubbed "Operation Kenya" to bring instability to Douala, Cameroon's biggest city and chief port. In response, the government indefinitely banned street demonstrations in the Littoral Province, where Douala is located.


2008 Cameroonian anti-government protests, Causes
Undeterred, SDF leaders met at the Bamenda home of party chairman John Fru Ndi in late January, government officials claim, with the aim of organising street demonstrations across the country. Marafa says that the SDF planned to have members from both the government and civil sectors participate in the protests. Meanwhile, the SDF allegedly offered training to young people in how to stage an effective street demonstration.


2008 Cameroonian anti-government protests, Causes
Fru Ndi and the SDF have rejected the government's claims, citing several peaceful SDF-led protests in the past. Fru Ndi told the government to look at their own policies as the cause of the unrest. Fru Ndi said that he had information that implicated government officials with "[manipulating] the State apparatus and its information system" in a bid to deflect attention from their own corruption.


2008 Cameroonian anti-government protests, Protests
The protests began on 25 February 2008 in Douala. Because of the transport strike scheduled for that day and general fear, the streets were empty of all traffic but the transport used by government forces. Heavy gunfire was reported that morning, and youths burnt cars, tyres, and vegetation to block off major roads and bridges; the city was filled with plumes of smoke. Meanwhile, groups of young people looted and vandalised property, including petrol stations and a retail store. Reports on national radio said that a finance ministry building, a town hall, and other government structures were aflame. IRIN reported seeing a firefight between protesters and police at the airport and witnessing victims of gunshot wounds in the city. Police responded with widespread arrests.


2008 Cameroonian anti-government protests, Protests
On 26 February, the government agreed to a reduction in petrol prices of 6 francs CFA (less than 1 US¢) per litre, and the transport union called off its strike that night. The head of the taxi union, Jean Collins Ndefossokeng, told Radio France International that "it is no longer a good time for the strike with the current vandalism." Nevertheless, violence had already gotten out of hand by this point and continued.


2008 Cameroonian anti-government protests, Protests
By 2 February, the protests had spread to other Cameroonian cities. Government figures show that the protests eventually spread to 31 municipal areas in five of Cameroon's ten provinces: the Centre, Littoral, Northwest, Southwest, and West. Marafa claims that the SDF collected and transported youths between hot points, including Bafoussam, Bamenda, Douala, and Yaoundé. Government forces allegedly stopped such convoys outside major cities on 25 and 27 February.


2008 Cameroonian anti-government protests, Protests
Witnesses reported heavy gunfire in Yaoundé on 27 February. One resident reported rioters looting and burning a market. The government flooded the streets of the capital with soldiers. Demonstrators threw stones and erected flaming barricades. Government forces responded with tear gas. Troops were stationed throughout the city and at petrol stations, and barricades were set up. Similar methods were used in other cities, and troops in Douala used water cannons. Meanwhile, looting and burning continued in Douala, where witnesses reported victims of gunshot wounds lining the streets.


2008 Cameroonian anti-government protests, Protests
According to a BBC reporter, troops confronted about 2,000 demonstrators on a bridge in Douala, and some 20 individuals fell into the river.


2008 Cameroonian anti-government protests, Protests
In Kumba, demonstrators marched with posters demanding Biya's resignation and for the government to reduce the cost of fuel and petroleum products. In Bamenda, some reportedly targeted boarding schools, where the nation's elite send their children. The protesters, reportedly armed with bottles of petrol, rocks, and sticks, threatened to burn the school down unless the students came with them, possibly for use as human shields against government forces. One boarding school reported that 200 teenage boys were taken by the protesters but the rest of the children were allowed to stay.


2008 Cameroonian anti-government protests, Protests
Reports indicate that similar scenarios took place at other schools. Most of the children managed to escape back to the school or their parents' home. Others broke into the Social Affairs Delegation and stole 4 millionfrancs CFA. The government accused the mayor of the Njombe-Penja Council of leading a group of demonstrators in an attack on a gendarme station in his town. The mayor was later suspended for this act and for alleged mismanagement of council funds.


2008 Cameroonian anti-government protests, Protests
Meanwhile, the government reports that two Italians in Cameroon were kidnapped in Douala as part of the violence. They were brought to Bamenda, where their kidnappers demanded ransom. They were eventually let go unharmed, and no ransom was paid. A report from The Associated Press, on the other hand, says that the victims were one Croatian woman and one Italian woman and that a Croatian newspaper has stated that a ransom was indeed paid.


2008 Cameroonian anti-government protests, Aftermath
The government of Cameroon has held three press conferences regarding the crisis. The latest was on 10 March 2008. On 27 February, President Biya made a rare appearance on state-owned television. He accused "certain politicians", whom he dubbed "apprentice sorcerers in the shadows" with fomenting unrest and attempting to orchestrate a coup d'état.


2008 Cameroonian anti-government protests, Aftermath
On 27 February, the government reduced fuel costs. On 7 March, Biya declared a rise in pay of 15 percent for civil service employees to take effect 1 April and suspended duties paid on basic commodities such as cooking oil, fish, and rice. He also raised the pay of military personnel. The government reduced the custom duty paid on cement from 20 to 10 percent to address a shortage of building materials. It also announced plans to look at bank and telephone charges.


2008 Cameroonian anti-government protests, Aftermath
The government claimed to have arrested more than 1,600 people and to have found 200 guilty of looting and destruction of property with sentences of six months to three years. Human rights groups assert that the actual number of arrests is much higher, with as many as 2,000 arrests in Douala alone, due in part to an apparent randomness to the arrests of both youths who did and did not participate in the demonstrations. As of 26 March 2008, 800 accused were reportedly being held in Douala Central Prison and the government had charged 1,000 to 1,500 citizens.


2008 Cameroonian anti-government protests, Aftermath
Such organisations and the Cameroon Bar Council spoke out against the trials, deeming them summary and secretive, with extreme sentences. A lawyer in Yaoundé claimed that defendants were being given no time to prepare a defence, and a lawyer in Douala said there was evidence the detainees had been beaten and tortured. According to one report, the defendants are tried en masse (one trial had more than 150 defendants), and defence attorneys are not alerted beforehand whom they will be asked to represent nor given access to police reports and files.


2008 Cameroonian anti-government protests, Aftermath
On 5 March, Jean-Michel Nintcheu, chairman of the SDF in the Littoral Province, was arrested in Douala on charges of violating the government ban on public demonstrations. On 7 March, Nintcheu announced that the SDF was calling off demonstrations in the Littoral Province due to "the recent upheavals that rocked many parts of the province, occasioning deaths and destruction of property." Another SDF leader was arrested at the airport attempting to travel to Europe. He was accused of being the mastermind of the demonstrations.


2008 Cameroonian anti-government protests, Aftermath
Some semblance of normalcy had returned to Cameroon's cities by 8 March, with traffic jams and people going about their daily business. However, Cameroonians report that the government reprisals and fear of another uprising have created a "climate of terror" in the country.


2008 Cameroonian anti-government protests, Aftermath
International media watchdog groups have claimed that the government has heavy-handedly censored the press in Cameroon and intimidated journalists with methods that include beatings and confiscation of equipment. As of 8 March, three media outlets had been shut down by the government, which claimed the moves were in the interest of "stability and social order".


2008 Cameroonian anti-government protests, Aftermath
As of 10 March, troops were reportedly searching homes in Kumba for property stolen from Les Brasseries du Cameroun, a brewery, and Transformation Reef Cameroon, a logging company. The Post newspaper, located in Buea, claims that the troops "torture and arrest" anyone in possession of allegedly stolen beverages or computer equipment. If the home is clear of such items, the troops are said to destroy radio and TV equipment. Some residents accuse the soldiers of raping women and stealing money. One man reportedly committed suicide rather than face arrest after troops allegedly found 25 crates of stolen beverages in his home on 6 March.


2008 Cameroonian anti-government protests, Aftermath
Despite the protests, the National Assembly voted to change the Constitution to remove term limits on 10 April 2008. Given the CPDM's control of the National Assembly, the change was overwhelmingly approved, with 157 votes in favor and five opposed; the 15 deputies of the SDF chose to boycott the vote in protest, denouncing it as a "constitutional coup". The change also provided for the President to enjoy immunity from prosecution for his actions as President after leaving office.


2008 Cameroonian anti-government protests, Deaths and damages
As of 10 March 2008, official government figures put the number of deaths at 40, which includes both government security personnel and civilians. Marafa said that total included those who had been injured and later died. He placed 30 of the deaths in Douala alone, with two dead in Yaoundé and eight in the Northwest, Southwest, and West provinces combined.


2008 Cameroonian anti-government protests, Deaths and damages
On 7 March, the Maison des Droits de L'Homme (House of Human Rights, MDH), a Cameroonian human rights organisation affiliated with the International Federation of Human Rights, claimed the death total was "more than 100". The government denied these figures. According to Madeleine Affite, an MDH member, in one incident alone, 18 people died in Douala. Government forces had protesters trapped on the Wouri River bridge, and people jumped into the river in desperation. Affite says that local fishermen who witnessed the incident have been told by government agents to keep quiet.


2008 Cameroonian anti-government protests, Deaths and damages
In another incident, a reported 20 demonstrators were killed in Douala when government forces fired on them. She also claimed that the government has ordered morgues not to release bodies of victims to keep the scale of the deaths caused in the protests a secret. Afité claims that the bans extend to photographing the remains or publishing the results of autopsies of those who died in the protests.


2008 Cameroonian anti-government protests, Deaths and damages
According to the government, during the demonstrations, protesters vandalised and sacked bars, bakeries, government buildings, industrial sites, 33 petrol stations, pharmacies, sales kiosks, security stations, and vehicles. The government estimates the damage caused by the protests at tens of billions of francs CFA (15.2 million euros or US$23.4 million). Government spokesman Marafa claimed that Cameroon had taken a blow to both its economy and its reputation. Finance Minister Johnson Kum Ofon of Meme division estimated the damages to Kumba alone at 695 million francs CFA (US$1.7 million or 1.1 million euros), more than the total amount allotted for infrastructural improvements for 2008.


2008 Cameroonian anti-government protests, Deaths and damages
On 12 April 2008, opposition SDF leader John Fru Ndi called for a national day of mourning for 21 April 2008 to commemorate those who died during the protests and the "death of democracy" in Cameroon due to the April 2008 amendments to the constitution to allow the president to run for more than two terms.


2008 Campbell Fighting Camels football team
The 2008 Campbell Fighting Camels football team represented Campbell University in the 2008 NCAA Division I FCS football season as a member of the Pioneer Football League (PFL). The 2008 season was the first in which Campbell fielded a team. The Fighting Camels were led by head coach Dale Steele and played their home games at Barker–Lane Stadium. Campbell  finished the season 1–10 overall and 0–8 in PFL play to place last.


2008 Campeonato Argentino de Rugby
The 2008 Campeonato Argentino de Rugby  was won by the selection of Buenos Aires that beat in the final the selection of Tucumàn.


2008 Campeonato Argentino de Rugby, "Campeonato"
The eight Team participating were divided in due pools of 4. The first two of each pool admitted to semifinals, the last to play-out for relegation ("Finale descenso")


2008 Campeonato Argentino de Rugby, "Campeonato", Pool 2
(*) The second place was assigned according to the number of tries scored (Rosario 6, Santa Fè 3, Salta 1)


2008 Campeonato Argentino de Rugby, "Campeonato", Final
Tucuman 15.Lucas Barrera Oro, 14.Aníbal Terán, 13.Ezequiel Faralle, 12.Agustín Vallejo, 11.Sebastián Ponce, 10.Diego Mas (60' Nicolás Sánchez), 9.Diego Ternavasio, 8.Agustín Guzmán ( 79' Rafael Garrido), 7.Nicolás Centurión, 6.Ignacio Haustein ( 56' Juan Pablo Lagarrigue), 5.Gabriel Pata Curello (capt), 4.Carlos Casares, 3.Bruno Cuezzo, 2.Ramón Vidal, 1.Felipe Betolli (61' Juan Ávila) Buenos Aires: 15. Federico Serra Miras, 14. Agustín Gosio, 13. Juan Ignacio Gauthier, 12. Hernán Senillosa, 11. Pablo Gómez Cora (capt. ), 10. Santiago Fernández ( 53` Benjamín Urdapilleta)), 9. Francisco Albarracín, 8. Alejandro Abadie, 7. Facundo López ( 55'Juan Pablo Mirenda), . 6. Alejandro Campos, 5. Felipe Aranguren, 4. James Stuart ( 53`Nahuel Neyra), 3. Francisco Lecot (53' Federico Sánchez), 2. Pablo Gambarini ( 64` Agustín Costa Repetto), 1. Gonzalo Begino


2008 Campeonato Baiano
The Campeonato Baiano 2008 is the 104th edition of the Campeonato Baiano. Vitória won the competition.


2008 Campeonato Baiano, Format
The 12 teams play in double round-robin in 22 rounds. The top 4 qualify for the Final Stage, the bottom team is relegated.


2008 Campeonato Baiano, Format
The 4 teams play in double round-robin in 6 rounds. The winners of Final Stage is the champions. The top 3 teams (except the clubs of Série A and Série B) qualify for the Série C.


2008 Campeonato Baiano, Standings
* For offending the referee, Fluminense de Feira was punished with the loss of 6 points.


2008 Campeonato Brasileiro Sub-20
The Campeonato Brasileiro Sub 20 2008 (Under-20 Brazilian Championship) was the 3rd edition of the annual tournament organized by FGF, the Rio Grande do Sul State Football Federation. Only players 20 years old or younger are allowed to play. The competition was contested by all teams on the Campeonato Brasileiro Série A 2008, except from Vasco and São Paulo, which were replaced by Corinthians and Juventude. It began on December 8 and the final match was played on December 21, 2008.


2008 Campeonato Brasileiro Sub-20
The matches were played at four stadiums: Passo D'Areia and PUC Sport Stadium in Porto Alegre; Morada dos Quero-Queros in Alvorada; and Municipal Farroupilha in Alegrete.


2008 Campeonato Brasileiro Sub-20
After reaching the final for the second time in history, Grêmio won its first title. They have beaten city rivals Internacional in the semifinal match and then, in the final match, they came back from a 0-1 score against Sport to win the tournament.


2008 Campeonato Brasileiro Série A
The 2008 Campeonato Brasileiro Série A was the 52nd edition of the Campeonato Brasileiro Série A. It began on May 8 and ended on December 7. For the first time, one club has won the championship three times in a row. Also, São Paulo has been crowned the biggest winner in the history of the competition, winning it six times since its establishment in 1971.


2008 Campeonato Brasileiro Série A, Format
For the sixth season, the championship was contested in a double round-robin system. The team with most points has been declared champions. Also, the tournament was a qualifier to other South American competitions:


2008 Campeonato Brasileiro Série A, Format
By winning the Copa do Brasil, Sport already qualified for Copa Libertadores 2009 First Stage and cannot qualify for the Copa Sudamericana 2009. Also, Internacional qualified for the Copa Sudamericana 2009 by winning the 2008 edition.


2008 Campeonato Brasileiro Série B
The Campeonato Brasileiro Série B, namely the second level of Brazilian football league system, was contested by 20 teams in 2008. Giants Corinthians played Série B for the first time after its poor season in Série A in 2007. Also, former Série A champions Bahia returned from Série C.


2008 Campeonato Brasileiro Série B
The tournament started on May 9 and Corinthians begun defeating CRB 3-2 in São Paulo. Due to its tradition and huge number of supporters, Corinthians attracted most of the attention from the media. The club won the first six matches and never left the top of the table. Promotion came on round 32 - six matches before the end of season - after defeating Ceará 2-0 in São Paulo. They were crowned champions two rounds later, beating Criciúma 2-0 as visitors.


2008 Campeonato Brasileiro Série B
Avaí was the second team to reach Série A as they defeated Brasiliense 1-0 on Round 35. One week later, Santo André also reached promotion after their 3-2 win as visitors against Ceará. Finally, Barueri completed the G4 (as the group of  promoted teams are called) on Round 37 after beating América de Natal 3-0 at home.


2008 Campeonato Brasileiro Série B
On the other side of the table, CRB's poor record caused the club relegation on Round 33. Gama saw their hope comes to an end three weeks later. In the last round, on November 29, Criciúma and Marília could not scape as Fortaleza and América de Natal won their last matches and managed to stay out of the bottom four.


2008 Campeonato Brasileiro Série B
Vila Nova and former Brazilian international Túlio was the top scorer of the competition with 24 goals in the age of 39 years.


2008 Campeonato Brasileiro Série C
In 2008, the Campeonato Brasileiro Série C, the third division of the Brazilian League, was contested by 64 clubs, four of which qualified to the Série B. For the second time in history, Atlético Goianiense were crowned Série C champions. Following them, former Série A champions Guarani were also promoted, along with Campinense and Duque de Caxias. The new, revamped 20-club round robin Série C in 2009, will be contested by the clubs which finished from 5th to 20th this season, plus the four relegated from Série B 2008.


2008 Campeonato Brasileiro Série C, Competition format, First stage
The 64 teams play in 16 groups of four. Within each group, the four teams play a double round robin, i.e. they play each other in home and away matches, totalling six matchdays. The two best ranked teams in each group qualify to the Second Stage.


2008 Campeonato Brasileiro Série C, Competition format, Second stage
The 32 teams qualified from the First Stage play in eight groups of four. Within each group, the four teams play a double round robin, i.e. they play each other in home and away matches, totalling six matchdays. The two best ranked teams in each group qualify to the Third Stage.


2008 Campeonato Brasileiro Série C, Competition format, Third stage
The 16 teams qualified from the Second Stage play in four groups of four. Within each group, the four teams play a double round robin, i.e. they play each other in home and away matches, totalling six matchdays. The two best ranked teams in each group qualify to the Final Stage.


2008 Campeonato Brasileiro Série C, Competition format, Final stage
The eight teams qualified from the Third Stage are put together in a single group. They play a double round robin, i.e. they play each other in home and away matches, totalling fourteen matchdays. The four best ranked teams are automatically promoted to the Série B in 2009.


2008 Campeonato Brasileiro Série C, Competition format, Teams
Sorted by state. Each state federation has its own criteria to indicate a club to this tournament. Only teams which do not take place in Série A and Série B are being considered.


2008 Campeonato Brasileiro Série C, Competition format, Teams
1 State Championship winners Trem withdrew. 2 State Championship runners-up Rio Bananal withdrew. 3 2007 Taça Minas Gerais champions Ituiutaba and runners-up Tupi qualified via Campeonato Mineiro. 4 Ypiranga withdrew. 5 2007 Copa FGF winners Caxias qualified via Campeonato Gaúcho. 6 Ulbra withdrew and no other team was interested in the vacancy.


2008 Campeonato Brasileiro Série C, Qualification to Série C 2009
In 2009, Série C will have a new format and the number of teams will be reduced from 64 to only 20 clubs. Teams finished from 5th to 20th are qualified to next season, meanwhile the ones finished from the 21st-place will have to qualify via state competitions to play Série D in 2009.


2008 Campeonato Carioca
This Campeonato Carioca was the 108th edition of football of FFERJ (Federação de Futebol do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, or Rio de Janeiro State Football Federation). It stated play on January 19 and ended on May 4, 2008. The tournament was expanded from twelve to sixteen teams. Flamengo won the title for the 30th time, América was relegated (having been in the first tier since 1908), along with the recently promoted Cardoso Moreira.


2008 Campeonato Catarinense
The 83rd season of the Campeonato Catarinense will begin on January 16, 2008, and ended on May 4, 2008.


2008 Campeonato Catarinense, Format
The winner of the third stage is crowned the champion. The champions and the runner up qualify to Copa do Brasil 2009 and the champions qualify to Campeonato Brasileiro Série C 2008. The tree teams with the worst positions are release to Divisão Especial 2008.


2008 Campeonato Catarinense, Participating teams
¹ Divisão Especial 2007 Champion ² Divisão de Acesso 2007 Champion


2008 Campeonato Catarinense, Second stage
*  Atlético de Ibirama was punished, because of the "fall-fall", realized in the game Atlético x Avaí. The scores were changed from 2x0 to 3x0.


2008 Campeonato Catarinense, Third stage
* In Criciúma, because the Criciúma have better Punctuation in the two stages (Stage 1 points + Stage 2 points).


2008 Campeonato Ecuatoriano de Fútbol Serie A
The 2008 Campeonato Ecuatoriano de Fútbol de la Serie A (known as the 2008 Copa Pílsener Serie A for sponsorship reasons) was the 50th season of the Ecuadorian Serie A, Ecuador's premier football league. The three-stage season ran from February 8 and December 7.


2008 Campeonato Ecuatoriano de Fútbol Serie A
Deportivo Quito became the league champion on December 3 by defeating Macará 2-1 in Latacunga. It is Deportivo Quito's 3rd title, and first in 40 years.


2008 Campeonato Ecuatoriano de Fútbol Serie A, Format
The format for 2008 was new, but similar to the 2007 Serie A. The season was composed of three stages:


2008 Campeonato Ecuatoriano de Fútbol Serie A, Format
The format for the First Stage remained the same. The twelve teams competed against each other in a double round-robin format playing each opponent once at home and once away. The top-four teams at the end of the stage qualified to the Liguilla Final. The top-three teams earned bonus points for the Liguilla Final (3, 2, & 1 point[s] respectively) The top-team of the stage qualified to the last Ecuadorian spot in the 2008 Copa Sudamericana.


2008 Campeonato Ecuatoriano de Fútbol Serie A, Format
The format for the Second Stage changed. The twelve teams were divided into two groups of six, where they played within their groups in a double round-robin tournament. The winner of the each group qualified to the final two spots in the Liguilla Final. If a team who has already qualified for the Liguilla Final manages to qualify again by winning their group, the last spots for the Liguilla Final went to the highest positioned team(s) in the Aggregate Table who have not already qualified.


2008 Campeonato Ecuatoriano de Fútbol Serie A, Format
The top-team of each group received one bonus point for the Liguilla Final (if a team who earned bonus points from the First Stage finishes last in their group, they will lose their bonus points for the Liguilla Final). At the end of this stage, the two teams with the fewest points in the aggregate table were relegated to the Serie B for the 2009 season.


2008 Campeonato Ecuatoriano de Fútbol Serie A, Format
The format for the Liguilla Final remained the same. The six qualified team competed in a double round-robin tournament. The winner of this stage was crowned the champion of the Copa Pílsener Serie A. The champion will qualified to the 2009 Copa Libertadores Second Stage, while the runner-up and third-place finisher qualify to the First Stage (this slight change from other years is due to the fact that the defending Copa Libertadores champion is an Ecuadorian team).


2008 Campeonato Ecuatoriano de Fútbol Serie A, Teams
The number of teams for the Serie A expanded this season from 10 to 12. Imbabura was the only team relegated at the end of the 2007 season by accumulating the fewest points in the aggregate table. Universidad Católica, ESPOLI, and Técnico Universitario were promoted as 2007 Serie B winner, runner-up, and third-place finisher, respectively. All the new teams have previously played in the Serie A.


2008 Campeonato Ecuatoriano de Fútbol Serie A, First stage
The first stage ran from February 8 to July 13.


2008 Campeonato Ecuatoriano de Fútbol Serie A, Second stage
The second stage was played between July 19, 2008, and September 27, 2008.


2008 Campeonato Ecuatoriano de Fútbol Serie A, Liguilla Final
The Liguilla Final was played between October 19, 2008 and December 7, 2008. The top team qualifies directly to the 2009 Copa Libertadores Second Stage, with the runner-up and third-place finisher qualifying to the First Stage (LDU Quito already has a berth into the Second Stage of the 2009 Copa Libertadores as the defending tournament champion).


2008 Campeonato Gaúcho
The 88th season of the Campeonato Gaúcho kicked off on January 19, 2008. The competition began with 16 clubs divided into two groups. Even before the end of first stage, Guarany and 15 de Novembro were already relegated. Holders Grêmio had an early exit after being defeated by Juventude at homeground. Once again, the two biggest clubs of Rio Grande do Sul would not meet at the final. Internacional set a new record: the highest score in a final match, after beating Juventude 8-1 at Beira-Rio Stadium. That was the 38th title in the history of the club.


2008 Campeonato Gaúcho
The tournament qualified both finalists to the Copa do Brasil (Brazil Cup) - Grêmio is also qualified based on CBF ranking criteria. As Internacional will play Série A and Juventude, Série B this season, the semifinal losers, Internacional of Santa Maria and Caxias qualified for the Série C (3rd level of National championship).


2008 Campeonato Gaúcho, Quarterfinals
First Leg: 29 and 30 March Second Leg: 5 and 6 April


2008 Campeonato Gaúcho, Semifinals
First Leg: 13 and 15 April Second Leg: 20 April


2008 Campeonato Mineiro
The 2008 Campeonato Mineiro de Futebol do Módulo I was the 94th season of Minas Gerais's top-flight professional football league. The season began on January 27 and ended on May 4. Cruzeiro won the title for the 35th time.


2008 Campeonato Paulista
The 2008 Campeonato Paulista de Futebol Profissional da Primeira Divisão - Série A1 was the 107th season of São Paulo's top-flight professional association football league. The competition began on January 16 and ended on May 4. Palmeiras won their 22nd title with a 6–0 victory on aggregate in the finals over Ponte Preta.


2008 Campeonato Pernambucano
The Campeonato Pernambucano 2008 is the 94th edition of the Campeonato Pernambucano. The competition was won by Sport.


2008 Campeonato Pernambucano, Format
The Campeonato Pernambucano is divided into two rounds: Taça Tabocas e Guararapes (Tabocas and Guararapes Cup) and Taça Confederação do Equador (Confederation of the Equator Cup). In 2008, they will have two different formats.


2008 Campeonato Pernambucano, Format
The Tabocas and Guararapes Cup consists of two stages. In the first, the twelve teams are divided into three groups (by geographic criteria) and play with the other teams of the same group. After six rounds, the teams will be redistributed in other three groups (by technical criteria) and, again, play with the other teams of the same group. At the end of the 12 rounds, the team with the best campaign will be declared winner of this Cup.


2008 Campeonato Pernambucano, Format
The Confederation of the Equator Cup consists of two groups of six teams each, playing against each other twice. On Group G, the participating clubs are the six teams with the best campaigns on the first Cup. On Group H the participating clubs are the six teams with the worst campaigns on the first Cup. The Cup winner will be the team with the best campaign after the 10th round of the Group G. The two worst campaigns after 10 rounds of Group H will be relegated to the following year's second level.


2008 Campeonato Pernambucano, Format
The Campeonato Pernambucano will be decided in two extra matches between the winner of the two Cups. If a club win the two cups it is declared as the Campeonato Pernambucano 2008 champions.


2008 Campeonato da 1ª Divisão do Futebol
Statistics of Campeonato da 1ª Divisão do Futebol in the 2008 season.


2008 Camping World Indy Grand Prix at the Glen
The 2008 Camping World Indy Grand Prix at the Glen was the tenth round of the 2008 IndyCar Series season and took place on July 6, 2008 at the 3.370-mile (5.423 km) Watkins Glen International road course in Watkins Glen, New York. The race was won by Ryan Hunter-Reay, who took the lead from Darren Manning on lap 52. The victory was Hunter-Reay's first in IndyCar competition, and the first for Rahal Letterman Racing since 2005.


2008 Camping World RV 400
The 2008 Camping World RV 400, was the twenty-eighth race of the 2008 NASCAR Sprint Cup season and the second race in the ten-race Chase for the Sprint Cup. The 400 miles (640 km) race was held on Sunday, September 21 at the 1 mile (1.6 km) Dover International Speedway in Dover, Delaware, the city that serves as state capital of the First State. ABC telecast the race beginning at 1 PM US EDT and MRN along with Sirius Satellite Radio provided radio coverage starting at 1:15 PM US EDT.


2008 Camping World RV 400, Qualifying
Jeff Gordon took the pole, with Mark Martin starting alongside.


2008 Camping World RV 400, Qualifying
Failed to qualify: Chad Chaffin (#34), Johnny Sauter (#08), Stanton Barrett (#50).


2008 Camping World RV 400, Race Recap
Hard times continued for the top seed in the Chase, Kyle Busch, finished dead last and fell from eighth to 12th in the Chase. Roush Fenway Racing swept the top three spots as Greg Biffle, who had been winless entering the Chase, won his second straight race, winning last week in New Hampshire. Teammates Matt Kenseth and Carl Edwards followed Biffle.


2008 Camping World RV 400 presented by Coleman
The 2008 Camping World RV 400 presented by Coleman, was the twenty-ninth race of the 2008 NASCAR Sprint Cup season and also served as the third race in the 2008 Chase for the Sprint Cup.Jimmie Johnson of Hendrick Motorsports won the race.


2008 Camping World RV 400 presented by Coleman, Summary
The 400.5 miles (644.5 km) race, not to be confused with the Camping World RV 400 at Dover, Delaware, was held on September 28 at the 1.5 miles (2.4 km) Kansas Speedway in Kansas City, Kansas. ABC carried the race beginning at 1 pm US EDT and MRN along with Sirius Satellite Radio had radio coverage starting at 1:15 pm US EDT.


2008 Camping World RV 400 presented by Coleman, Qualifying
Juan Pablo Montoya claimed the pole position for the race; however, in post-race inspection, he was disqualified and placed 43rd because of illegal shock absorbers with a higher than usual gas pressure. As a result, Jimmie Johnson, who finished second in the qualifying, was awarded the pole position.


2008 Camping World RV 400 presented by Coleman, Race recap
The top three drivers the Chase finished 1-2-3 as Johnson beat Carl Edwards and Greg Biffle. This race was well known for its spectacular finish between Jimmie Johnson and Carl Edwards, where Edwards charged into the inside of Johnson in turn 3. The turn was too wide, causing Edwards' car to not turn completely at full speed, and hit the wall, where Johnson passed him. Johnson ducked to the apron and Edwards followed, but Johnson beat him by two car lengths.


2008 Canada Cup of Curling
The 2008 Strauss Canada Cup was held February 27 to March 2 at the Interior Savings Centre in Kamloops, British Columbia. The men's champion was Kevin Koe and the women's champion was Stefanie Lawton.


2008 Canada Cup of Curling, Women's, Teams
*Karla Sparks temporarily replaced Schraeder and played lead, with Carter and Simons moving up their positions.


2008 Canada Cup of Curling, Qualifying
The Four qualifying positions in both the men's and women's events were held December 12–16, 2007. The men's qualifier was held at the Ottawa Curling Club and Rideau Curling Club in Ottawa while the women's qualifier was held at the Saville Sports Centre in Edmonton.


2008 Canada listeriosis outbreak
The 2008 Canadian listeriosis outbreak was a widespread outbreak of listeriosis in Canada linked to cold cuts from a Maple Leaf Foods plant in Toronto, Ontario. There were 57 total confirmed cases, resulting in 22 deaths.


2008 Canada listeriosis outbreak, Origin and spread
Listeriosis is an infection caused by the bacterium Listeria monocytogenes. The outbreak originated from lines 8 and 9 of the Maple Leaf Foods Bartor Road facility (Establishment No. 97B) in Toronto, Ontario. There were about 220 possibly contaminated products, each stamped with the code "97B" near the "Best before" date. Since the bacteria travelled through deli meats, which are cooked (and as a result are usually free of pathogens), the contamination likely occurred during packaging. The outbreak was first noticed in July 2008 when regular surveillance  detected an increase in cases reported. Federal inspectors usually spent less than 5 hours a day at the plant in the months before the outbreak of the illness, sometimes as little as 70 minutes.


2008 Canada listeriosis outbreak, Response from Maple Leaf Foods
Maple Leaf Foods had instituted a voluntary recall before the outbreak was linked to their plant; upon confirming the link, they expanded the recall to all products from the Bartor Road facility. In a press conference, President and CEO of Maple Leaf Foods Michael McCain stated, "Tragically, our products have been linked to illness and loss of life. To those people who are ill, and to the families who have lost loved ones, I offer my deepest and sincerest sympathies. Words cannot begin to express our sadness for their pain."


2008 Canada listeriosis outbreak, Response from Maple Leaf Foods
Officials from Maple Leaf believe that the outbreak originated sometime in July 2008 on line 8 or line 9 of the North York facility. Regardless, the entire plant underwent intense sanitation, which began August 21. About 80 workers were involved in the cleanup, with additional outside experts and microbiologists supervising the operation. They used peroxyacetic acid, quaternary ammonium compound, isopropyl alcohol, refrigeration gel and a granular compound to disinfect the parts of the apparatuses. About 600 employees were to attend a four-hour training session on Listeria and on cleanliness, and about 250 employees were laid off while the plant was being cleaned.


2008 Canada listeriosis outbreak, Response from Maple Leaf Foods
The recall reportedly cost the company $20 million, about ten times the original estimate.


2008 Canada listeriosis outbreak, Political responses
Ontario Premier  Dalton McGuinty credited the discovery of the outbreak to an early-warning system implemented after the 2003 SARS outbreak in Toronto. Canadian Health Minister Tony Clement stated that he expected the number of cases to rise with time, since the bacteria have a lengthy incubation period.


2008 Canada listeriosis outbreak, Political responses
Minister of Agriculture Gerry Ritz stated at a news conference: "Let me state on behalf of the government that our thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends of those that are affected [...] And of course, I'd like to reiterate that our highest priority continues to be making sure that Canadian families' food supply is safe."


2008 Canada listeriosis outbreak, Political responses
On the federal political level, there was a debate on the privatization of food inspection. A cabinet document leaked earlier in the year outlined a plan to save money at the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) by shifting federal meat inspectors into an oversight role and leaving companies to implement their own methods. Liberal leader Stéphane Dion was harshly critical and drew comparisons to the 2000 Walkerton tainted water tragedy and the privatization of propane inspection, which he blamed for the 2008 Toronto explosions.


2008 Canada listeriosis outbreak, Political responses
Gerry Ritz responded that the CFIA had added 200 inspectors since the Conservatives came to power, adding, "As opposed to having our inspectors standing line by line, they'll have a more oversight role within the plant itself [...] We're trying to build a better mousetrap here." New Democratic Party agriculture critic Alex Atamanenko said he strongly opposed the apparent privatization plans. The NDP claimed that policy changes first put in place by the Liberals and then continued under the Conservative government were to blame for the outbreak.


2008 Canada listeriosis outbreak, Political responses, Gerry Ritz comments
On September 17, 2008, Agricultural Minister Gerry Ritz made national news when comments he made on an August 30, 2008 conference call with government officials were made public. Ritz was quoted as saying, "This is like a death by a thousand cuts. Or should I say cold cuts." Then, when told of a death in Prince Edward Island, Ritz said, "Please tell me it's (Liberal MP) Wayne Easter." Ritz apologized for his remarks, but various groups called for his resignation.


2008 Canada listeriosis outbreak, Political responses, Gerry Ritz comments
New Democratic Party Leader Jack Layton responded by saying, "Canadians are dying because of the mismanagement of our government... there should absolutely never be that kind of humour.... It illustrates the government is not taking this matter as seriously as they should." A spokesman for Prime Minister Harper released a statement saying Ritz's comments were tasteless and completely inappropriate. Stephen Harper refused to seek Ritz's resignation.


2008 Canada listeriosis outbreak, Class-action lawsuits
Four separate class-action lawsuits were filed in Ontario, Quebec, Saskatchewan, and British Columbia. The lawsuit in Ontario claimed damages of $350 million. All lawsuits were filed by Merchant Law Group.


2008 Canada listeriosis outbreak, Class-action lawsuits
The lawsuits were settled in December 2008 for $27 million.


2008 Canada listeriosis outbreak, Class-action lawsuits
All the cheques to claimants were mailed on the afternoon of February 3, 2012.


2008 Canada listeriosis outbreak, Class-action lawsuits
A court order for a "Pro Rata Reduction to all entitlements" was ordered, meaning thatall claims were delivered at 93.04% of the original agreement. Claimants had until August 1, 2012to cash their cheques.


2008 Canada rugby union tour of Europe
The 2008 Canada rugby union tour of Europe was a series of matches played in November 2008 in Europe by Canada national rugby union team. Canadian won only the first match against Portugal, and lost the other three.


2008 Canadian Championship
The 2008 Canadian Championship (officially the Nutrilite Canadian Championship for sponsorship reasons) was the first edition of the Canadian Championship – Canada's domestic cup competition. The soccer tournament took place in the cities of Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver from May to July, 2008.


2008 Canadian Championship
The tournament consisted of a home and away series between each team for a total of six games. Participating teams were the Montreal Impact, Toronto FC, and the Vancouver Whitecaps. The winner of the tournament, Montreal, gained entry into the qualifying round of the 2008–09 CONCACAF Champions League, where they played against the Nicaraguan representative Real Estelí in a home and away series to determine entrance to the group stages.


2008 Canadian Championship
The Montreal Impact were awarded the Voyageurs Cup trophy as winners of the tournament, the seventh occasion it had been presented.


2008 Canadian Championship, Media coverage
The 2008 Canadian Championship was broadcast by the CBC. Games were broadcast on CBC Bold and online at CBC Sports. Nigel Reed and Jason de Vos  provided commentary for the games.


2008 Canadian Figure Skating Championships
The 2008 Canadian Figure Skating Championships took place from January 16 through 20th, 2008 at the Pacific National Exhibition in Vancouver, British Columbia. They were the figure skating competition which determine the national champions of Canada. The event was organized by Skate Canada, the nation's figure skating governing body. Skaters competed at the senior and junior levels in the disciplines of men's singles, women's singles, pair skating, and ice dancing. The results of this competition were used to pick the Canadian teams to the 2008 World Championships, the 2008 Four Continents Championships, and the 2008 World Junior Championships.


2008 Canadian Grand Prix
The 2008 Canadian Grand Prix (formally the Formula 1 Grand Prix du Canada 2008) was a Formula One motor race held on 8 June 2008 at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, Montreal, Quebec, Canada. It was the 7th race of the 2008 Formula One season. The 70-lap race was won by Robert Kubica for the BMW Sauber team after starting from second position. Kubica’s teammate  Nick Heidfeld finished second with David Coulthard third in a Red Bull; taking the final podium of his F1 career. Lewis Hamilton, who started from pole position, failed to finish the race, retiring on lap 19 after crashing into the back of Kimi Räikkönen's Ferrari car in the pit lane.


2008 Canadian Grand Prix
Kubica's win promoted him into the lead of the Drivers' Championship for the first time in his career, overtaking Hamilton, Räikkönen and Massa. Massa and Hamilton tied for second place, four points behind Kubica, while Räikkönen was fourth. In the Constructors Championship, BMW passed McLaren for second position, three points behind Ferrari. As of 2021, this is the last victory for a BMW-powered car.


2008 Canadian Grand Prix, Report, Background
The Grand Prix was contested by 20 drivers, in ten teams of two. The teams, also known as "constructors", were Ferrari, McLaren-Mercedes, Renault, BMW Sauber, Honda, Force India, Toyota, Red Bull Racing, Williams and Toro Rosso.


2008 Canadian Grand Prix, Report, Background
Before the race, McLaren driver Lewis Hamilton led the Drivers' Championship, with 38 points, ahead of Ferrari's Kimi Räikkönen, on 35 points and his teammate Felipe Massa on 34 points. BMW driver Robert Kubica was fourth, ahead of Kubica's teammate Nick Heidfeld in fifth. In the Constructors Championship, Ferrari were leading on 69 points; 16 points ahead of McLaren with 53 points; BMW were a further point behind them in third.


2008 Canadian Grand Prix, Report, Background
Ahead of the race, the organizers unveiled a new paddock and media center facilities at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve. Also the site where Robert Kubica crashed in the previous year's race was modified. The wall on which Kubica crashed was moved closer to the track to decrease angle of impact. Additionally, debris fencing was put on the wall to prevent any hazard to cars on the other side of the wall.


2008 Canadian Grand Prix, Report, Practice and qualifying
Three practice sessions were held before the Sunday race—two on Friday, and a third on Saturday. The Friday morning and afternoon sessions each lasted 90 minutes. The third session was held on Saturday morning and lasted an hour. The Friday practice session started in wet conditions which resulted in most of the drivers venturing out in the latter half of the hour, some of them, such as Lewis Hamilton, emerging only during final minutes of the session. Ferrari's Felipe Massa recorded the fastest lap in this session, followed by Robert Kubica and Heikki Kovalainen.