Today’s Legislature News Articles in local papers:
Deseret News
Huntsman nixes 3 bills, 4 budgetary line items: The vetoes include road funds, parent rights bills
March 23
1918
The trial of 101 Wobblies (members of the Industrial Workers of the World or IWW) began in Chicago, for opposition to World War I. In September 1917, 165 IWW members were arrested for conspiring to hinder the draft, encourage desertion, and intimidate others in connection with labor disputes. The trial lasted five months, the longest criminal trial in American history to date. The jury found them all guilty. The judge sentenced IWW leader “Big Bill” Haywood and 14 others to 20 years in prison; 33 were given 10 years, the rest shorter sentences. They were fined a total of $2,500,000 and the IWW was shattered as a result. Haywood jumped bail and fled to Russia, where he remained until his death 10 years later.
“Big Bill” Haywood on right
Here are some photos of the protest on March 20th in front of the Grand America Hotel, where 1600 Oil Executives gathered for an annual convention. The Grand America is owned by Sinclair Oil owner Earl Holding. AAttending the conference were executives of Exxon Mobil, Chevron, Conoco-Philips.
Orrin Hatch also attended the conference and was a speaker.
As far as corporate buy-outs go, this week and last have been a real bummer for me.
First I heard about the Body Shop selling out to Loreal, which has been attacked in the past by The Body Shop’s founder for employing only “sexy” women for its sales counters.
I have enjoyed buying products from the Body Shop because of the values the corporation embraces:
The company’s founder,
Anita Roddick, says she didn’t “sell out” and will remain with the company as consultant. But a lot of people are angry and won’t shop at Body Shop anymore.
Then I read on The Vegetarian LJ Community about Tom’s of Maine selling out to Colgate-Palmolive!
There are a number of criticisms and praises of the Colgate-palmolive company. Tom’s of Maine is the toothpaste that I use again because of its company values and natural ingredients. The company has a Statement of Beliefs that has driven its company:
Statement of Beliefs
Now with this buy-out, however, I don’t know what will happen to those set of beliefs or the credibility of the product. One article quoted one of the founders as saying that they “wouldn’t be around forever” and wanted to “find a good home for the company.”
What about the employees? Couldn’t it have been arranged to designate the employees as the heirs?
It disappoints me greatly to see these respectable, responsible businesses selling out to larger corporations.
Needless to say, I’m unhappy with this Deseret News headline:
New nuclear threat for Utah? Britain may be creating, testing weapon in West.
There is suspicion that Britain’s sub-critical test at the Nevada Test site last month (named “Krakatau” on Feb 23) is leading to further testing there.
Let me get this straight (A—GAIN):
U.S. – nukes o.k.
Iran – nukes not o.k.
Britain – nukes o.k.
India – nukes o.k.
Korea – nukes not o.k.
Iraq – nukes not o.k.
Israel – nukes o.k.
France – nukes o.k. (french fries….not)
There’s something wrong with this picture.
Kevin Rohrer, spokesman for the National Nuclear Security Administration’s Nevada Site, told the Deseret Morning News that nothing in the test was designed “to help develop a new weapon.”
But Steve Erickson, director of the Citizens Education Project in Utah and a longtime opponent of nuclear testing in Nevada, believes the British press reports — and is worried by them, and about U.K.-U.S. mutual defense agreements that allow testing in Nevada.
“We have never fielded a brand-new design for a warhead without nuclear testing it first,” Erickson said.
“They’ve crossed a crucial threshold with that last test,” Erickson added. “With it, we charge that they have moved into weapon development as opposed to stockpile sustainment. . . . Why are we doing this to help the British?”
Erickson worries that underground nuclear tests could occur again, but not the open-air tests that led to cancer downwind in Utah. Congress later apologized for those tests and created a compensation fund for some downwind cancer victims.
The Times of London, however, quoted unnamed British defense officials saying they figured they would need to develop new warheads without full nuclear testing because of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty. They said they instead likely would have to depend on “subcritical” tests coupled with analysis by supercomputers.
How is this keeping in adherence to the Non-Proliferation Treaty????
The Deseret News states that “underground tests are safer” (but can still leak radiation).
SAFER FOR WHAT AND FOR WHOM???? There is no such thing as a safe nuclear test. No matter the form of the test, it is UNSAFE FOR OUR PLANET.
Rich Wyman, Utah musician and songwriter, participated in the planning for the September 24 Salt Lake Demonstration.
Recognizing a need for a peace group to become active in Park City, about 40 miles east of Salt Lake where he lives, Rich formed the Park City People for Peace and Justice.
The new PPJ organized a demonstration on Sunday, March 19 to protest the Iraq Occupation on the third anniversary of the Iraq Invasion. About 35 people demonstrated, according to the Park Record article.
Wyman quoted Dwight D. Eisenhower about freedoms, charged that the administration is hiding the costs of the war and claimed that the U.S. commits war crimes.
“It’s hard not to be angry and demand justice,” Wyman said.
Hugh O’Neill, who lives in Red Pine, was livid with the administration, telling the crowd that the war has been conducted with “dishonesty.”
“I’m so mad, I’m willing to die for it,” he said.
He indicated he comes from New Hampshire and said people there adhere to the ‘live free or die’ motto.
“I am mad as hell and I’m not going to take it anymore,” O’Neill said.
Paddy Wood, a clergy member, talked about religious underpinnings to the war and said “all the paths to God are good.”
“We need to think and pray with one mind and one heart for our country,” she said.
Kudos to Rich and the folks in Park City – keep going and never give up!
Articles appearing in today’s News about Utah Legislature
Salt Lake Tribune
Huntsman vetoes 3 more bills: Measures potentially unfair, unconstitutional, he says
Breaking: Huntsman vetoes bonding, parental control bills (includes links to other articles about the governor’s bill-signing)
Deseret News
Huntsman nixes 3 bills, 4 budgetary line items: The vetoes include road funds, parent rights bills
Stadium-funding options limited? Legislature wanted hotel tax funds used, Horiuchi says
March 22
1621
The Pilgrims and Massasoit Indians agree on a league of friendship.
1873
Slavery is abolished in Puerto Rico.
1974
The Equal Rights Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was passed by Congress. The amendment, giving women full equality under law, was never ratified by the required 3/4 of the 50 states.
I’ll be posting a few photos later today or tomorrow about the protest aginast the Oil Executives Annual Conference in Salt Lake yesterday.
KCPW, local public radio station, covered the event:
Peace Activists Protest Big Oil Conference – includes audio clip in which Julian Hatch, the Desert Greens Green Party of Utah U.S. Senate Candidate, is interviewed.
Highly respected County Council Member Cort Ashton, the incumbent Republican in the Salt Lake County Race in which I am seeking election, has decided not to seek re-election.
Ashton cites “wearing too many hats” as the reason for not running again. Ashton is the VP of a private title company, has a family, and is active in the LDS church.
There are two other candidates who will compete for the Republican slot, Jeff Allen (who wins the endorsement of Ashton) and former state legislator Russell Cannon. Nate Hendricks is running on the Democrat ticket along with me on the Desert Greens Green Party of Utah ticket.
I have to say this for Mr. Ashton: One of the reasons that made him realize he was too busy, was that
After lengthy County Council meetings, he notes nonpolitical business often forces him to log up to 100 miles in his car. Kudos to Mr. Ashton for being environmentally responsible!
Two articles appeared in today’s Utah papers:
Ashton withdraws from race: 4 hopefuls left for S.L. County Council
Ashton won’t seek re-election to council–Too busy: County chairman is endorsing political newcomer Republican Jeff Allen
Deanna Dee-Dee Taylor 