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!
Posted in Uncategorized
Tagged corporate control, government corruption, health insurance, human rights, privitization
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.
Posted in Uncategorized
Tagged crimes against humanity, gaza, humanitarian aid, israel
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.
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.
Posted in Uncategorized
Tagged families, incarceration, u.s. criminal justice system
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.
Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized
Tagged asian festival, falun dafa, falun gong, torture, Utah
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?
Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized
Tagged corporate control, criminal justice system, families, incarceration
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.
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.
Posted in Uncategorized
Tagged afghanistan, defense budget, iraq, military industrial complex, u.s. domination, war
Deanna Dee-Dee Taylor 