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| Today is " Juneteenth", the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States.
Today Juneteenth commemorates African American freedom and emphasizes education and achievement. It is a day, a week, and in some areas a month marked with celebrations, guest speakers, picnics and family gatherings. It is a time for reflection and rejoicing. It is a time for assessment, self-improvement and for planning the future. Its growing popularity signifies a level of maturity and dignity in America long over due. In cities across the country, people of all races, nationalities and religions are joining hands to truthfully acknowledge a period in our history that shaped and continues to influence our society today. Sensitized to the conditions and experiences of others, only then can we make significant and lasting improvements in our society.
- Juneteenth websiteThe year 2015 will mark the 150th anniversary of Juneteenth. Preparations are under way for planning for this event. Organizers encourage people to sign up on the website to help in the planning for this anniversary. | |
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| I have recently learned about the significant lack of resources for families of loved ones who have been incarcerated, families who have been left with nothing when a loved one is sentenced to jail or prison. Private companies capitalize on this, taking advantage of low income families which incur exhorbitant costs for phone calling with only one option for receiving phone calls from their loved one in jail, finding and sending money for the prisoner's commissary fund so they can purchase the items that jails will not permit families to bring to them. In many cases, too, families are separated by hundreds of miles and when they gather the resources to go visit, they are subject to treatment by personnel as if they were the criminals. Additionally, there are few facilities (those few being mostly in California) that have family friendly places for visitation, something that is desperately needed. In essence, our "justice" system contributes to a vicious cycle of poverty, lack of resources for families, children without parents, and the social stigma of having a loved one incarcerated. The way our "justice" system is devised, those that incur the brunt of the "punishment" are the families. In response to my discovery and desire to work for reform, I have created an online resource for support, Motion to Support. There is a lot of work to do in reforming the criminal justice system in the U.S. | |
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| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE UTAH ASIAN FESTIVAL DISCRIMINATES AGAINST FALUN DAFA DUE TO CHINESE INFLUENCE When Patrice Loung a practitioner of an ancient self-cultivation practice out of China, called Falun Dafa, submitted an application to this years Utah Asian Festival, she foresaw no difficulties. She and other Falun Gong practitioners had been there two years ago, to demonstrate the five, meditative exercises and to introduce the practice which is based upon the belief in the principles of "Truth, Compassion and Tolerance", and to teach people how to make oragami lotus flowers. She was surprised when not long after her application was accepted, she was sent a letter saying that Falun Gong was no longer welcome in the Festival due to some unspecified "incident". When Patrice contacted Imanuel Aswandi, in charge a booths, she was told that the Festival staff had been contacted by some "Chinese people" (she wasn't told who they were) and that they had expressed that they were offended by the presence of Falun Gong at the Festival and that the Falun Gong banners were political. In fact the only two banners shown said "Truth, Compassion, Tolerance" in Chinese characters and "Falun Dafa is Good" also in Chinese characters. Explaining this to the Festival Staff seemed to do no good. This incidence leads Falun Gong practitioners to believe that the Asian Festival, which is funded in part by the Salt Lake County ZAP program, is being influenced by either the Chinese Communist government, or by Chinese people who have been influenced by the CCP's propaganda assault on Falun Gong. ( Read more... ) | |
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| I am collecting stories and thoughts using the questions below as prompts. I plan to publish online the informal findings and anecdotal information and will not use names. This project is unfortunately inspired by personal, eye-opening, experience into the U.S. criminal justice system. If you would like to participate, please forward your answers, stories, trials and tribulations to my email: deesings@livejournal.com These are just prompts, elaboration and additional information is welcome. I am ONLY seeking information of those who have been DIRECTLY affected by incarceration. Thank you in advance for your time. ---------------------------------------- ------------- # Do you have relatives or friends who were or who currently are incarcerated? How has that changed the dynamics of our family? What challenges does your family have? What pressures? Have/Did any aspects of your life remain the same? # Is it common for people to hold stereotypes about those who have been incarcerated? Regardless of their crime? #Do/Did you feel guilt or shame about their situation? Do you feel any types of stigmas due to your loved one's incarceration? #How does/did this impact your family financially?\ ( Read more... ) | |
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| This is an update from James Mouritsen:
Jordan Halliday has consistently refused to testify before a federal grand jury that wants to know all about his friends, family, and associates in the animal rights community. Jordan has been held in jail (currently in Cache County) for more than two months (67 days, so far) because of his principled stand against coerced testimony that the government wants from him.
Today, Thursday, May 21 at 10 a.m., in Judge Campbell's Court in the Federal Courthouse at the corner of 400 South and Main Street in downtown SLC, is an open, public hearing on Jordan's "Grumbles" Motion, in which he asks Judge Campbell to release him, as he has shown that he will not change his mind about his refusal to testify. Jordan will be present, and is expected to testify.
All are invited to show support and solidarity with this brave young man in his principled stand. There will be a legal, civil, demonstration outside, beginning approximately 930am. All who wish to attend the hearing, in Judge Campbell's court, beginning at 10am, are welcome.
Contact James Mouritsen, Ljames121@hotmail.com or 801 809-1630 with further questions. | |
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| Here is status of the Iraq-Afghanistan-Pakistan war supplemental bill for the remainder of 2009.
According to a report I received from a constituent who talked with Maine Rep. Chellie Pingree's Military Legislative Assistant, Eric Hansen, the bill is in the House Appropriations Committee now and that it would likely be voted on in the House of Representatives as early as next week.
President Obama had requested $83 billion for the war supplemental but House Democrats have added $9.3 billion to that request to bring the supplemental to now stand at $94.2 billion.
According to Hansen Rep. Pingree would vote on the supplemental and he said that she wants to first "see what form the bill takes" before deciding on her vote. He said that the Congresswoman was wanting to see if bench marks and timelines were included in the bill. So far Obama has not submitted any timelines on ending the Afghanistan occupation.
Hansen said that the war supplemental will also include funds for economic assistance to the governments of Afghanistan and Pakistan. He talked about "soft power" options being important like moving some Pakistan funds from the Pentagon to the State Department's control for diplomatic purposes and for expansion of counter-insurgency capabilities.
Hansen also said that Rep. Pingree was seriously considering signing on as a co-sponsor to a bill presented by Rep. Jim McGovern (D-MA) that would "require the Secretary of Defense to submit a report to Congress outlining the United States exit strategy for United States military forces in Afghanistan participating in Operation Enduring Freedom."
As of today the cost of the war in Afghanistan to American taxpayers has been more than $172 billion and the Iraq war has cost more than $656 billion.
It is important to remember that Obama has also already requested $130 billion for war funding for fiscal year 2010.
Please make a call immediately to your member of your state Congressional delegation. Urge them to vote against any more war funding. | |
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| Kevin Zeese, an attorney from Maryland, not only spoke out for single payer health care reform yesterday, but was arrested for doing so. Zeese was among the 8 doctors and attorneys arrested at yesterday's Senate Finance Committee "roundtable" on Healthcare Reform in the U.S. Zeese has written an article about the event at OpEd News. According to Zeese, constituents of members of the committee had been voicing their desire (via email, telephone) to have single payer healthcare on the table at this meeting. The answer? A resounding "NO". It will not be on the table. Zeese is Executive Director of the Campaign for Fresh Air and Clean Politics (www.FreshAirCleanPolitics.net) whose projects include Voters for Peace (www.VotersForPeace.US., True Vote (www.TrueVote.US and www.TrueVoteMD.org) and Climate Security (www.GlobalClimateSecurity.org). He is also president of Common Sense for Drug Policy (www.csdp.org). Press release with additional links to video: ( Read more... ) | |
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| I keep getting forwarded memos from the state about the Swine Flu, or H1N1 virus, due to my position as an educator. These are my thoughts on the swine flu: I do not want at all to diminish the seriousness of A H1N1, and I know that as a public institution we need to be aware of public health issues, however I believe that there are other contagious diseases just as serious that we never get memos about, yet they occur all year long. Typically schools are not shut down until a certain percentage of the population is known to have been infected. Upon examining the CDC site, for example, I looked at just one week, week 14, of pneumonia and influenza season in the U.S.: http://www.cdc.gov/flu/weekly/weeklyarchives2008-2009/weekly14.htm in which it was reported that: During week 14, 7.8% of all deaths reported through the 122-Cities Mortality Reporting System were due to P&I. This percentage is equal to the epidemic threshold of 7.8% for week 14.I have not taken the time to investigate the weeks prior to this, however the CDC reports that an average of 36,000 people die EACH YEAR from influenza: http://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/disease/us_flu-related_deaths.htmPerhaps it is the relative number of incidents that is causing alarm? My son was having flu like symptoms yesterday and today. He tried to call in sick, but his employer told him he had to come to work and that being "sick" wasn't an excuse for missing. So he went to the doctor. At the doctor's office, everyone, including patients in the waiting room ,was wearing masks. The doctor concluded that my son has a general virus and nothing to worry about at this time, but tested him for swine flu anyway. He reported to work as commanded by his supervisor. Once there, he reported the outcome of his visit to the doctor and when he mentioned that he had been tested for swine flu, he was ordered to go home immediately. So it wasn't good enough that my son had a virus that could infect everyone, but the thought of possibly having the swine flu virus was enough to make him go home. So really, what is the "epidemic" here? ######################################## ##3 Influenza A H1N1 (Swine Flu) Utah Public Health Situation Report 5/1/2009 UDOH operations center (801) 535-0113 (0800-1700 hours) Call 211 after hours Note: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have updated the name of the virus to Influenza A H1N1 (Swine Flu) Status summary as of Friday, May 1: ( Read more... ) | |
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| Solidarity Forever! Origin of Solidarity Forever: SOLIDARITY FOREVER (RALPH CHAPLIN) (1915) Tune: "Battle Hymn of the Republic" PLAY MIDI FILE (13 KB) IN BACKGROUND Any copyrighted material on these pages is used in "fair use", for the purpose of study, review or critical analysis only, and will be removed at the request of copyright owner(s). "Solidarity Forever" is the most popular union song on the North American continent. If a union member knows only one union song it is almost sure to be this. It has become, in effect, the anthem of the American labor movement. Ralph Chaplin, the famous poet, artist, writer, and organizer for the Industrial Workers of the World, wrote "Solidarity Forever" on January 17, 1915. That day, while lying on the rug in his living room, he scribbled stanza after stanza. The idea had come to him earlier while he was in West Virginia helping the coal miners in the great Kanawha Valley strike. Little did he dream then that song would live on after all his other work was forgotten. Chaplin recalls: "I wanted a song to be full of revolutionary fervor and to have a chorus that was singing and defiant." Edith Fowke and Joe Glazer, eds., Songs of Work and Protest, New York, NY, 1973, p. 13. When the union's inspiration through the workers' blood shall run, There can be no power greater anywhere beneath the sun; Yet what force on earth is weaker than the feeble strength of one, But the union makes us strong. CHORUS: Solidarity forever, Solidarity forever, Solidarity forever, For the union makes us strong. Is there aught we hold in common with the greedy parasite, Who would lash us into serfdom and would crush us with his might? Is there anything left to us but to organize and fight? For the union makes us strong. It is we who plowed the praries; built the cities where they trade; Dug the mines and built the workshops, endless miles of railroad laid; Now we stand outcast and starving midst the wonders we have made; But the union makes us strong. All the world that's owned by idle drones is ours and ours alone. We have laid the wide foundations; built it skyward stone by stone. It is ours, not to slave in, but to master and to own. While the union makes us strong. They have taken untold millions that they never toiled to earn, But without our brain and muscle not a single wheel can turn. We can break their haughty power, gain our freedom when we learn That the union makes us strong. In our hands is placed a power greater than their hoarded gold, Greater than the might of armies, magnified a thousand-fold. We can bring to birth a new world from the ashes of the old For the union makes us strong. | |
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| Tim DeChristopher, the U of U student who successfully shut down the auction of public land for oil drilling in Utah via a creative direct action maneuver, will be arraigned next week in Federal Court. Here are details about an event to support DeChristopher:
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Tim DeChristopher Arraignment Rally! 10:45am - 12noon, Library Plaza, 200 East 400 South, SLC We’re looking for 1,000 pals to join us in Salt Lake City at the Federal Courthouse to show Brett Tolman, Jim Matheson, Ken Salazar and President Obama that we are serious about a Peaceful Uprising. We will not remain silent as they attempt to persecute Tim for standing up for the Truth. We stand in solidarity. Renowned Climatologist James Hansen to speak at rally in support of Tim DeChristopher SALT LAKE CITY — James Hansen, one of the world’s leading scientists studying climate change, will speak at a rally in support of Tim DeChristopher on Tuesday, April 28, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Salt Lake City library plaza. The event is built around DeChristopher’s arraignment at 11:45 a.m. at the Frank E. Moss Courthouse in Salt Lake City. The University of Utah student is facing two felony charges for his nonviolent disruption of an illegitimate oil and gas lease auction of public land in Utah last December. Even though a federal court and Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar rescinded the auction because of its illegitimacy, Brett Tolman, the United States attorney for Utah, has decided to charge DeChristopher with two felonies, which could mean up to 10 years in prison.Renowned Climatologist James Hansen to speak at rally in support of Tim DeChristopher The following is a schedule of the events with Hansen and DeChristopher: Monday, 6 p.m.: Hansen talks with Radioactive, KRCL’s public affairs program.
Monday, 7:30 p.m.: Hansen will speak at U of U’s Social and Behavioral Science auditorium
Tuesday, 11 a.m.: Rally begins with speakers and music at the SLC Library Plaza.
Tuesday, 11:30 a.m.: March to Frank E. Moss Courthouse for DeChristopher’s arraignment.
Tuesday, about noon: Hansen will speak at rally for DeChristopher at the SLC Library Plaza.
Tuesday, 6 p.m. Hansen will speak at Utah Valley University in the library auditorium. www.peacefuluprising.org | |
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| Earth Jam will be held this weekend, April 25-26, at Liberty Park in Salt Lake City. It's a great festival nearing its 20th year and this year looks to be even bigger and better. It's a family event, so please bring everyone to the park to honor the earth. Here is a promotional video for the event. | |
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