Dee's 'Dotes

Single Payer Healthcare

2009-07-10T12:21:47Z

HR676 call your congresspeople, sign Bernie Sanders' petition on the legislation for Single Payer Health care.

There is also a blog called Single Payer Action for more information and up to date news on this very crucial issue.

The Green Party's platform also advocates for Single Payer Health Insurance.

It's time we the people took better action on this and stop the corporate corruption between the U.S. Government and the private insurance industry!

News of the Gaza 21

2009-07-07T11:27:52Z

While I was on vacation the past two weeks Michael Jackson, Farah Fawcett and Ed McMahon all died.

And a group of people on a humanitarian relief trip to Gaza was captured and imprisoned by the Israeli military. Now dubbed the "Gaza 21", the group included former Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney and Nobel Peace Laureate Mairead Maguire. The conditions of the The Gaza 21's release was that they each sign a statement that they broke the law by violating the Israeli blockade into Gaza, the blockade which is being labeled as a crime against humanity itself.

Which do you think got the press coverage? Not the latter,for sure.

Below is a list of links to the news about this brave group of people. (It was difficult to find news in U.S. news sources....). Up to date news can also be viewed at the Free Gaza Movement website.

Israel releases former U.S. congresswoman: group

Israel frees all but four protesters from ship: Nobel Peace laureate still held as activists vow to carry on fight against blockade of Gaza Strip

UN expert says Israeli seizure of aid ship a crime

Free Gaza! Free the Gaza 21, including Cynthia McKinney, from Israeli jail!

More headlines here....

Father's Day

2009-06-21T12:24:09Z

Juneteenth

2009-06-19T11:17:19Z

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 website

The 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.

Families of the Incarcerated

2009-06-15T11:20:42Z

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.

UTAH ASIAN FESTIVAL DISCRIMINATES AGAINST FALUN DAFA DUE TO CHINESE INFLUENCE

2009-06-13T01:42:44Z

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.

Falun Dafa was very popular in China up until 1999. Many people reported that the practice had helped the to recover from long term ailments, gain mental clarity and experience a greater sense of well being. Li Hongzhi who broght the once esoteric practice out the the public in 1992 has been nominated three times for the Nobel Peace Prince. In 1999 Jiang Zeming discovered that there were more Falun Gong practitioners then members of the Chinese Communist Party, many high level officials were even practicing. He reacted with rage and jealousy and vowed that he would "eradicate" the practice of Falun Gong. Since that time human rights lawyers (David Matis for example) estimate that at least 100 thousand have been tortured to death because of their refusal to give up their belif in truth, compassion and tolerance. The numbers may be much higher. Amnesty International reported in 2008 that "Falun Gong practitioners are being killed in custody faster and more frequently than before." Millions are being sent to slave labor camps, evicted from jobs and schools, harassed and otherwise persecuted. In ' An Independent Investigation into Allegations of organ Harvesting of Falun gong practitioners in China' David Matis and Hon. David Kilgor out line 13 pieces of evidence that prove that the Chinese government has been systematically executing Falun Gong practitioners on Demand in order to harvest their organs for profit. In November 2008, the United Nations Committee Against Torture made a strong statement on the matter, noting that an increase in organ transplant operations coincides with “the beginning of the persecution of [Falun Gong practitioners]” The CCP has spent tens of millions of dollars on a propaganda assault against Falun Gong, in an attempt to legitimize this persecution.

Being concerned that the Utah Asian Festival was (perhaps unwittingly) cooperating with the CCP to import the persecution of Falun Gong onto US soil, Patrice and other Falun Gong practitioners decided to contact the US government. They met with a Mary Maughanat Sen. Bennat's office who has supported the group in the past. They also met with Jennifer Scott a district director for Congressman Jason Chaffets, she
suggest contact the capitol to check where the funding of Asian Festival comes from. Then a Falun Gong Rep. contacted Linda Odo of the Utah Dep. of Asian Affairs, and reported that she was very kind and open, but since her department no longer funds the Festival there was little she could do. So Falun Gong practitioners contacted Victoria Bournes, the Program Manager of the Salt Lake County ZAPprogram. They hoped that the county could help since both Mayor Ralph Becker and Mayor Peter Cooron have written proclamations in support of Falun Gong. The Falun Gong rep. who spoke to her reported that though Ms. Bournes listened to what she had to say, she didn't seem very concerned about it and Bournes stated that there was much that she could do to help. After continued discussions with the Asian Festival no changes were happening. Euncie Jones the festival chair, promised to arrgange a meeting with Falun Gong practitioners, but never followed through with those promises. Finally after the topic of possible litigation was brought up, members of the Asian Festival decided to change their story. Instead of saying that the Falun Gong banners were political they said that Falun Gong had broken rules by having banners on stage at all when demonstrating their exercises. When asked about this Patrice said that they asked were not told of this rule before hand; more ever, they had asked permission from one of the staff before putting up the banners. She reports that when they were asked to take them down because they where covering some of the sponsers, they did so immediately, so when they were actually on stage there were no banners. The pictures on the following website can verify this. http://www.clearwisdom.net/emh/articles/2007/6/14/86764.html

The Asian Festival Staff has stood their ground in discriminating against Falun Gong. They now say that there is no room, even though they had previously accepted the application. Falun Gong practitioners plan to be on the public sidewalk out side of the Festival holding their banner which says "Falun Dafa is Good" They hope that the Asian Festival staff will keep their latest agreement to meet with them after the festival, in,order to clear up this issue before next year. In a conversation with Mr. Aswandi, he said that Practicioners are not allowed to talk about the persection of Falun Gong to anyone at the festival or distribute any flyers with any information about the persection of Falun Gong. Robin Kemmer a Utah Falun Gong practicioner, quotes David Matis in saying "If these things are "political", then all moral human activity is 'political'"

Collecting stories of the impacts on families of the incarcerated - please contribute

2009-06-02T11:49:17Z

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?\

#What kind of support, if any, did you receive from the system where your loved on is incarcerated?

# How difficult is/was it for your family to reach out for help?

# What are ways that Becky demonstrates that she values her family?

# Does/Did the loved one's incarceraton and its challenges affect relationships in your immediate and/or extended family? How?

# What strengths do/did you have to draw upon to deal with your situation?

# What kinds of resources that might help others facing a similar situation would you recommend?

# Have you had or do you know someone who's had a loved one incarcerated?

# What impact did this have on their family?

# What did it do to their mental health, their financial stability, their marriage, their family?

# What role can families, churches and the community play to help people who are undergoing this kind of crisis?

# How many hardships would you be willing to endure, and for how long? Would you wait until your loved one was released from prison?

# Would you be willing “wait it out”? Why or why not?

# Do you think families with incarcerated loved ones should be assisted in any way by the government? If so, how should the government help these families?

# With over 2 million people in prison in the United States, the number of families enduring similar hardships is increasing. Do you think this special population should be ignored and left to fend for themselves?

# Do you feel there should be more information in the general public about the hardships these families face?

# What can communities do to assist the families of the incarcerated?

# Would you be willing to help out a family in need?

# Do you think a prisoner should be transferred to the state where their family resides?

Free Jordan - hearing Thurs 5/21 10am - Fed. Ct

2009-05-21T11:07:55Z

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.

Happy Mother's Day!

2009-05-10T12:17:07Z

Julian Ward Howe's Mother's Day Proclomation

War Supplemental Vote Early Next Week

2009-05-08T10:43:08Z

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.

Health care reform roundtable didn't include Single Payer Health Care

2009-05-07T11:08:07Z

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:

***YOUTUBE VIDEOS OF Demonstration at bottom

For Immediate Release
May 5, 2009

Contact: Russell Mokhiber, Single Payer Action, (202) 468-8868, russellmokhiber at gmail.com
Katie Robbins, Healthcare-NOW! (330) 618-6379, healthcarenow08 at gmail.com
Margaret Flowers, M.D., Physicians for a National Health Program – Maryland chapter, (410) 591-0892, nose1 at aol.com
Kevin Zeese, ProsperityAgenda.us, (301) 996-6582, kzeese at earthlink.net

*Doctors protest exclusion of single-payer at Senate Finance Committee*

WASHINGTON – Doctors and other advocates of a national single-payer health system – also known as an improved Medicare for All – directly confronted senators at a Senate Finance Committee “roundtable” on health reform today.

One-by-one, eight single-payer advocates in the audience stood up during the opening comments of the hearing and asked why single-payer experts were being excluded from the proceedings. They each spoke out in turn until they were removed from the committee hearing room, one-by-one, by U.S. Capitol police.

The doctors and others said that a publicly funded, privately delivered single-payer system is the only solution to the crisis plaguing our nation’s non-system of health care, noting that single-payer national health insurance would guarantee coverage for everyone and contains costs.

Despite polling that shows a clear majority of public and physician support for a single-payer system, Sen. Max Baucus (D-Mont.), chair of the Senate Finance Committee, has stated on multiple occasions that single payer is “off the table” of health reform.

Today’s round table, the second of three, consisted of 15 witnesses with no single-payer advocates among them. By contrast, several witnesses have direct ties to the for-profit, private health insurance industry.

The doctors and activists were dressed in black, which they said was in memory of the 22,000 people who die every year due to lack of health insurance. They represented a coalition of single-payer advocacy organizations including Physicians for a National Health Program (PNHP), Healthcare-NOW, Single Payer Action, Private Health Insurance Must Go, the Campaign for Fresh Air and Clean Politics, Prosperity Agenda, and Health Care for the Homeless.

“Health insurance administrators are practicing medicine without a medical license,” said Dr. Margaret Flowers, co-chair of Maryland chapter of PNHP. “The result is the suffering and death of thousands of patients for the sake of private profit. The private health insurance industry has a solid grip on patients, providers and legislators. It is time to stand up and declare that health care is a human right.”

Much to the frustration of Baucus, the multiple disruptions demanding single-payer be on the table set the tone for the second of three roundtables on Health Reform by the Senate Finance Committee.

Katie Robbins, assistant national coordinator of Healthcare-NOW, said: “The current discussion on health reform is political theater at its best. Our elected officials are hosting these events to go through the motions of what developing effective national health policy should look like. There is a big difference between getting health policy experts in the room and the witnesses here today who would profit the most from reform. That difference means our hard-earned dollars will go to further insurance industry profits, not to guarantee health care to the American people.”

“It’s a pretty spectacular display of raw political power,” said Russell Mokhiber of Single Payer Action. “The health insurance industry demands that not one of the 15 people who testified today shall be a single-payer advocate. And the industry gets what it wants. It’s time for the American people to storm the gates and demand – put single payer on the table.”

Single payer is successfully implemented in the United States’ own Medicare system providing comprehensive care to the elderly, as well as in many of the best health care systems in the world. A single-payer system, as embodied in legislation H.R. 676 and S. 703, would provide guaranteed, quality care to all Americans with no increase in U.S. health spending.

The single-payer advocates said they will continue to use direct actions and nonviolent civil disobedience to urge the inclusion of a publicly funded, privately delivered system.

Other methods of communication with elected officials have failed in delivering the demand for single-payer national health care as evidenced by the exclusion of single-payer advocates from official hearings on health reform.

###

Healthcare-NOW! is a national grassroots advocacy organization in support of single-payer national health care with a network of activists in 42 states. More information can be found at www.healthcare-now.org

Single Payer Action is a nonprofit activist fueled organization. Find out more at http://www.singlepayeraction.org

Maryland Chapter Physicians for a National Health Program is a chapter of Physicians for a National Health Program, a nonprofit research and education organization of 16,000 physicians, medical students and health professionals who support single-payer national health insurance. More information can be found at http://www.md.pnhp.org

Prosperity Agenda includes single payer national health care as one of the policy changes needed to create an economy that benefits all Americans, not just the wealthiest. http://www.prosperityagenda.us Prosperity Agenda is an economic justice project associated with The Campaign for Fresh Air & Clean Politics (http://www.FreshAirCleanPolitics.net).

Russell Mokhiber,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G5vhTtxad30

Margaret Flowers, MD & Katie Robbins
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1zOShsL4UJo

Carol Paris, MD
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RdIUcrVxGwA

Mark Dudzic
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r1nl32aAh7M

Adam S
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I26EkvnjZuQ

Pat Salomon, MD & Kevin Zeese
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iDHJH7W-ZEo

H1N1 Virus: What is REALLY the "epidemic"?

2009-05-02T00:21:26Z

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.htm

Perhaps 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:

Utah:
Public health is reporting:
0 confirmed 9 probable cases of H1N1 (4 more than 4/30)
Influenza-like illness, as reported by sentinel providers, is
currently at 0.65%, below the outbreak level of 1.72%.

6 cases from Summit County
2 cases from Salt Lake County
1 case from Weber-Morgan Health District

U.S. and World:
The World Health Organization (WHO) is reporting the following world
situation for swine influenza and the CDC for the U.S.:
· Worldwide 363 confirmed cases (197 more than 4/30)
· United States 141 confirmed cases 1 death
o This is 32 cases more than 4/30
o Cases detected in 19 states ? eight more than yesterday
o The death was in a 22 month old child in Texas
· Mexico 156 confirmed cases9 deaths* (130 more than 4/30)
· Canada 34 confirmed cases 0 deaths (21 more than 4/30)
· Spain 13 confirmed case 0 deaths (9 more than 4/30)
· United Kingdom 8 confirmed cases 0 deaths (3 more than 4/30)
· New Zealand 3 confirmed cases 0 deaths
· Germany 3 confirmed cases 0 deaths
· Israel 2 confirmed cases 0 deaths
· Austria 1 confirmed case 0 deaths
· Switzerland 1 confirmed case 0 deaths (1 more than 4/30)
· Netherlands 1 confirmed case 0 deaths (1 more than 4/30

CDC reports:
· They have not yet developed a severity index. The US case fatality
rate is 0.7% and the world case fatality rate is 2.8%.
· There is NO ASSOCIATION between H1N1 illness and swine. There is no
increase in illness in swine.
· Findings indicate that transmission in Mexico involves
person-to-person spread with multiple generations of transmission.

* The WHO only reports confirmed deaths. There are many deaths that
are being attributed by the media to this outbreak. This situation
report will only reflect cases that are confirmed.

Alert phase:
The WHO alert phase was increased to level 5: Human-to-human spread of
the virus into at least two countries in one WHO region. While most
countries will not be affected at this stage, the declaration of Phase
5 is a strong signal that a pandemic is imminent and that the time to
finalize the organization, communication, and implementation of the
planned mitigation measures is short.

Travel Advisories:
At this time, the CDC recommends that U.S. travelers avoid all
nonessential travel to Mexico. The WHO is not advocating restricting
travel.

Public Health Activities:
Guidance:
Several new interim guidance documents have been published by the CDC:
· School Dismissal and Childcare Facilities
· Alert for Institutions of Higher Education
· HIV Infected Adults and Adolescents
· Clinician Guide Pregnant Women
· Guidelines for Submission of Tissue Specimens for Pathologic
Evaluation of Influenza Virus Infections
· Biosafety Guidelines for Lab Workers
· Flight Crews Arriving from Affected Areas
· Psychological Support for Essential Workers During a Pandemic
Several new guidance documents have been published by the Utah
Department of Health:
· Clinician Guidance on Who and When to Consider Prophylaxis
· Infection Control Guidance on Patient Care (Confirmed or Suspect
Cases) in Healthcare Setting

Things You Can Do to Stay Healthy:
Community Activities:
· Be aware that community-level ?social distancing? or ?keeping our
distance? from each other will lessen the spread of flu.
· When the disease enters a community, social distancing measures such
as school closures, teleworking, etc. may be recommended as a means of
limiting spread.

Personal Activities:
· Stay home from school, work, and other social gatherings when you
are ill. Stay home for 7 days or until your symptoms go away,
whichever is longer. *NEW*
· Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue or your elbow when you cough
or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
· Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you
cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hands cleaners are also effective.
· Consider developing a family emergency plan as a precaution. This
should include storing extra food, medicines, facemasks, and other
essential supplies.

Happy May Day (the real Labor Day)

2009-05-01T13:46:55Z

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.

Tim DeChristopher News

2009-04-29T10:52:04Z

I was all ready to attend the rally with Tim DeChristopher yesterday, but work got crazy and I couldn't leave. Here are some links to the event:

We are Bidder 70 - One Utah

Accused saboteur pleads not guilty- Downtown SLC » NASA climate scientist joins march, calls U. student's act extremely important
- Salt Lake Tribune

DeChristopher pleads not guilty after marching with supporters - Deseret News

Environmental activist pleads not guilty to disrupting auction - KSL TV

Arraignment Support Info and photos - Facebook

Tim DeChristopher Arraignment Rally

2009-04-24T11:00:32Z

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

Earth Jam this weekend

2009-04-24T10:46:01Z

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.

Happy Earth Day!

2009-04-22T10:42:17Z

Things you can do:

Watch Earth Day TV

Find Earth Day Events

Learn about the History of Earth Day (Earth Day will be 40 years old next year!)

Participant in Earth Day, 1970.
Photo: EPA History Office

Call the Capitol switchboard at 202 224-3121 and tell your member of Congress to support the Markey climate bill

Tell Obama and Congress that you support a revenue-neutral carbon tax

A Billion Acts of Green

Make the NO COAL CALL

War Taxes

2009-04-15T13:35:12Z

Today is the day that the U.S. Government says is the deadline for filing the annual income tax. Even though there is a new president, there is and will still be too much of our money spent on the military industrial complex.

The National War Tax Resistance Coordinating Committee (NWTRCC) is an organization that advocates for withholding the portion of one's income tax that is spent on war. It is a coalition of groups from across the U.S., formed in 1982 to provide information and support to people involved in or considering some form of war tax resistance (WTR). Each year there are actions planned all around the country - view today's actions here.

Several years ago Tom and I were in D.C.on April 15th and partiicpated in an action at the IRS building there. People gathered to collectively present a giant (I mean giant in the physical sense!) check for their portion of taxes spent on war to a non-profit organization. Very clever and creative.

National War Tax Resistance Coordinating Committee

The Rev. Billy Tallen on Green Party Watch Radio

2009-04-14T02:27:56Z

The good Reverend will join us here at Green Party Watch Radio for a very special program. Tuesday, April 14th at 5pm he will join us for a conversation about his campaign for Mayor of New York City on the Green Party ticket, the ideas behind the Church of Life After Shopping, what it’s like being the subject of a Morgan Spurlock film and answers the question, what would Jesus buy?

Green Party Watch Radio Tuesday, April 14, 2009

SL Tribune article: Grants foster technology use in Utah classroomsQwest Foundation

2009-03-28T13:51:20Z

The school where I teach (City Academy) is featured in this article. The photos are from my school - Tom is in one of them.

Article: http://www.sltrib.com/business/ci_12014617
Gallery of photos:
http://www.sltrib.com/portlet/article/html/render_gallery.jsp?articleId=12014617&siteId=297&startImage=2

Grants foster technology use in Utah classroomsQwest Foundation » Money is
intended to spur innovative teaching.

By Steven Oberbeck

The Salt Lake Tribune

Lara Dean of Lincoln Elementary in Salt Lake City soon will be using a "Smart Board" to help her teach second- through sixth-grade students who are having trouble learning mathematics.

Language arts instructor Colin Haakeson at East High School has secured a digital camera that students learning English are using to create documentary films about ways to improve the school.

Within the next several weeks, Sheila Cody's and Gareth Orr's students at City Academy Charter School will be operating a WeatherBug tracking station so they can monitor weather, and feed their data to other schools and a television station.

Similarly, Brenda Hurlburt of Bryant Middle School will be using a classroom set of graphing calculators and temperature probes to aid in the teaching of algebra.

All have one thing in common: They have received Teacher & Technology grants from the Qwest Foundation to help them secure equipment to improve their students' learning experiences.

"We have about 800 ELL students, (or English Language Learners), at East High," said Haakeson. "The digital camera (allows) those who are participating to go out among their fellow students and practice English by conducting interviews and listening to the answers."

The Smart Board, or computerized white board, at Lincoln will provide a way to collectively engage students in learning mathematical concepts, Dean said.

"It is a way to incorporate technology into the classroom. There are graphics available to enhance the lessons, and everyone can see what you're doing. The kids think it is a magical board, and when I've seen [Smart Boards] in use, the students couldn't wait to take their turn."

Cody said the WeatherBug station on the roof of City Academy Charter School will allow students to conceive, design and perform their own experiments. She is hopeful the generated data -- temperature, humidity, wind speed -- will help make student projects "better and deeper."
In her grant application, Hurlburt pointed out that 75 percent of Bryant Middle School's students come from families with low incomes and 65 percent are minorities.

"Many of our students are unfamiliar with this type of equipment (graphing calculators) and are intimidated by it," she wrote, adding that having it available in a safe and friendly environment will help students address that gap.

The Qwest Foundation's Teacher & Technology Grant Program was launched three years ago, said Jerry Fenn, Qwest Communication's Utah president. And its goal is to help teachers use technology in innovative ways.

He said the program has enhanced the foundation's mission of awarding grants aimed at generating high-impact and measurable results through community-based programs.

In each of the past three years, the foundation has awarded $50,000 in Teacher & Technology grants throughout Utah ranging from $400 to $2,500.

"We try to make sure we're getting a good cross section of the state," Fenn said. "There are a lot of who have come up with some very creative ways to use technology to help their students."

* steve@sltrib.com*
Photos from the SL Tribune Photo Gallery:

Jim Urquhart/The Salt Lake Tribune City Academy science teacher Shelia Cody checks the WeatherBug readings on Friday. The new WeatherBug weather monitoring system was partly paid for by a grant from the Qwest Foundation.

Jim Urquhart/The Salt Lake Tribune Building manager Tom King looks at the new WeatherBug monitoring equipment on Friday at City Academy in Salt Lake City. The weather monitoring equipment was partly paid for by a grant from Qwest.

im Urquhart/The Salt Lake Tribune The new WeatherBug equipment keeps tabs on the weather from the roof of City Academy in Salt Lake City. The weather monitoring equipment was partly paid for by a grant from Qwest.

Hard economic times and cost of tuition making college education further from reality for some

2009-03-28T12:26:07Z

Higher education was not exempt from the figurative slash of the knife in its budget this year by the Utah legislature.

Lawmakers cut 9% from higher education’s funding, resulting inemployee furloughs and layoffs and higher tuition for students pursuing their education at Utah colleges. It is anticipated that future years will see even more cuts to higher education budgets.

While some students are grateful that the tuition hikes did not go any higher than they did (ranging anywhere from 4% to 9.5% in Utah’s colleges), there are many students who are working their way through college and barely making it with current tuition costs. These hikes will make it even more difficult for these students to attain their goals during this time of economic hardships when their employment situations will not see relative pay increases to match their now rising cost of attending post secondary institutions.

Utah needs to examine tuition-free programs for students, particularly those with low incomes, like other states do, such as Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New Mexico, and West Virginia.

(cross-posted to Utah Legislature Watch)

Language of lobbyist bill in question

2009-03-28T12:15:01Z

HB345, a bill that was passed in the 2009 Utah Legislative session, prevents former Utah Lawmakers from returning t othe Legislator as paid lobbyists for one year.

Well, sort of.

Turns out that the Utah Lt. Governor’s office has interpreted the language of the bill in such a way that allows former lawmakers to still be able to return on behalf of him/herselfor a business with which he/she is associated, unless the “primary activity” of the business is lobbying or governmental relations.

This loophhole has bill sponors and advocates up in arms.

“I hope that this sends a signal to those legislators who are lobbying in 2009 and sat on this floor last year,” Rep. Christine Johnson (D-SLC) told fellow House members in February, “that they understand that it’s the will of the Legislature and the will of the people to have a cooling off period.” The bill’s primary sponsor, Rep. Brad Dee, R-Washington Terrace, doesn’t believe the bill is fatally flawed. He’s surprised at how the Lt. Governor’s Office interpreted the bill and said he plans to discuss it with Herbert.

“If I need to tighten the language, I’ll do it. I’m passionate about it,” Dee said. “It wasn’t a feel-good bill — it had some teeth in it and got it done.”

Sen. Greg Bell, R-Fruit Heights, sponsored HB345 on its rough ride through the Senate.”I tried to make it crystal clear that what was prohibited was the garden variety contract lobbyist,” Bell said, “those guys in the hall who are there for three different businesses.”

Quotes from Salt Lake Tribune article

Amazingly, 71 or 75 Utah House members signed on HB345, which leaves me wondering if this loophole glared out at some who chose to keep silent while the bill got passed.

I anticipate this issue taking on a legal challenge.

(Cross-posted to Utah Legislature Watch)

Where is everyone?

2009-03-22T12:42:17Z

Where is the rage? "Hundreds" of demonstrators? It seems as though since Obama has been elected people have let down their guard. At our regular vigil in Salt Lake City not long ago a bus driver pulled up and shouted out "Obama won, why are you still out here?" There's still a war, there are still injustices, there is still corporate control and domination. Now, more than ever, we need to hit the streets and demand an end to all of this!

Request for paperless notifications generates more paper

2009-03-13T23:40:28Z

Several days ago I signed up for paperless account statements from the Utah Retirement Systems. Two days later I received SIX letters in the mail from URS - one for each action that I took on the site to sign up for paperless notifications (my username, my password, verification of signing up for paperless, etc.).

Now in the past I received one quarterly statement through throughout the year. Now that I have received SIX letters from URS, it will take 1 1/2 years to see any savings from signing up for paperless notifications.

KEEP JORDAN FREE - HEARING FRI 3/13 830AM

2009-03-13T01:34:29Z

Despite two indictments last week [http://deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,705288986,00.html] in the case they are questioning Jordan about, the feds are pushing forward with their effort to lock up local activist Jordan Halliday for his refusal to answer grand jury questioning about his acquaintances in the animal rights community. On Friday March 13, 2009 at 830am, after a brief closed door hearing, Judge Tena Campbell will hear arguments why Jordan Halliday is right to continue to resist the questions of the grand jury, in the Frank E. Moss Federal Courthouse, at the corner of Main Street and 400 South in Salt Lake City.

Although there is very little anyone can do if the judge decides to sanction Jordan for his refusal to speak to investigators, a huge show of public support in the courtroom will help, if for no other reason then to let this brave 21 year old know he is not alone when he has the courage to stand up to wrongful persecution for exercising his protected Constitutional freedoms. The hearing is FRIDAY MARCH 13 8:30 a.m., in Judge Campbell's courtroom in the Federal Courthouse, Main Street and 400 South. Feel free to bring signs or displays of your frustration to rally OUTSIDE the courthouse. Inside the courthouse, of course, strict rules of behavior apply, and no outbursts or public statements are allowed.