Category Archives: unions

The Economic War of Israel

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Edward Teller has one of the best posts up I’ve seen on the situation in Israel. There are ways of waging war that don’t require planes dropping bombs…

Max Blumenthal explains in the 2nd video  how control of food is tantamount to control of people.   A poignant point he makes was the destruction of the herds of Buffalo to starve out the Native Americans.  They were forced to adopt the grain-based diet including fry bread, which we now know is very unhealthy, especially if one is gluten intolerant.  As Blumenthal highlights, the Native Americans now have issues with diabetes.  I would go a step further and say this also may be linked to alcoholism….as I believe there is a link with diet and alcoholism.

Henry Kissinger’s words flashed in my mind as Blumenthal spoke of the Israelis destroying chickens, and other livestock so that the Palestinians could not provide for themselves.   More quotes of Henry Kissinger.

I skipped over the first video to see his take on the market.   When I viewed it, I was stunned, to say the least.  American rightwing talking points about President Obama not being a U.S. citizen, of being a Muslim, and calling him a n***er, etc.  Wow.  Just wow.   And the gal who said she was “politically aware” but didn’t know who Benjamin Netanyahu was? For real?

The Yes Men

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It is a continual source of amusement and awe at the stuff I come across looking up other stuff.

For instance, the Yes Men — an activist group against the Bhopal disaster,

We never hear that part of the information Wikileaks leaked is about the stuff done by corporations.

Note at the bottom where Dr. Ingrid Eckerman, a member of the International Medical Commission on Bhopal, has been denied a visa to India since 2008. Incredible that someone trying to help the people damaged by this disaster is denied access.

This may be why (from the link to the IMC wiki page):

The IMCB publicly condemned Union Carbide and reiterated the company’s full liability not only for responsibility in causing the deadly gas leak, but also for the confounding role of its behaviour with respect to pre-accident preventive and exposure mitigating efforts, and the timely and effective application of the appropriate medical measures at the time of the accident. This included the lack of transparency about the composition of the gases released, resulting in the absence of rational methods of care and planning resulting in loss of sight and in some cases life, and creation of suspicion and conflict among professionals and the population. There was also a lack of emergency preparation which would have made the public and professionals aware of the potential toxins inside the plant and how to respond to an accident.

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Fracking came to mind with the mention of lack of transparency about the composition of the toxins released.  Remember the nurse who was sickened because they refused to tell her what chemicals she was dealing with? This from American Nurses association for information on toxins and their effects.   Take note of the UNIONS strength in numbers at calling attention to this and demanding transparency.

More reasons why they don’t want people to know what’s in it—

It is now well known that persistent and chronic gas-related health effects are present in the Bhopal population.[3][4][5] However, the full spectrum of effects is yet to be defined, especially in those exposed as children or in utero, and as manifested in survivor reproductive health.[6][7] There has been a lack of systematic collection of relevant information in these reproductive effects, and also with respect to cancer development or other chronic illnesses as sequelae of the gas exposure.

Recent investigations have shown that local well water has become contaminated by the improper storage of a large amount of hazardous waste in the facility, or on its grounds.[8] This toxic waste is especially hazardous to those still suffering the effects of direct exposure to the gas.

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See, if you don’t know what’s in it, you can’t connect the symptoms to the chemical that caused it.  Kind of like genetically modified organisms, eh?  If people don’t know what’s in their food, they can’t connect ill health to it.

A trojan horse…and another part of a horse…on DN

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Democracy Now had a couple of noteworthy segments up this morning–

Another *cough* fair trade deal that is characterized as NAFTA on steroids.  Great.  /snark

…because Clinton’s NAFTA didn’t do enough to destroy this country….one can only wonder at the forced GMO seeds  upon these countries–forced vaccination–and other unconstitutional actions that will affect us, as well.  We don’t live in a vacuum–what goes around comes around…

See previous post on how much influence corporations have on our government, and the ramifications of that influence.  The public loses its representation….and yet, we’re still taxed.

Max Blumenthal has written an insider’s view of Israel.   Prime Minister Netanyahu asserts he has the U.S. where he wants us.  He is still trying to drum up fear of the Iranians having a nuclear weapon…but methinks it’s more a fear that if the U.S. no longer sees Iran as a threat, they won’t be giving the bucks to Israel.

I’m glad he was on DN–because we get a picture of the rightwingers of Israel who are racist against not only the Palestinians, but Africans as well.  It’s chilling how they think of the Africans as a cancer on their society.   No wonder the rightwingers in America like Israel so much–they have so much in common.

Funny how we don’t hear that from the mainstream media, eh?

A picture flashed in my head when he said the youth march through the streets.  It’s unnerving how much that is like the Nazis.

I’m also glad that Blumenthal makes the point that there are peacemakers amongst the warhawks, as well, who are against what is happening, but perhaps feel powerless to do anything about it.  (sounds familiar, eh?)  I think this is true of every nation–that there are many unheard voices that are against violence and war but never get to speak out.

 

Education under fire

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It is really hard to read all the news on Education.  It is depressing to no end.

Some of the bad news:

Disability scandal involving a charter school, with a scheme diverting $$$ towards their own pockets.  What is really sad is these mentally challenged children are viewed by these people with $$ in their eyes–just like the medical profession.  These children will receive the minimal of instruction to optimize the profit margin.

The moral and spiritual bankruptcy of corporate reformers.

The magical Michelle Rhee.

Arne Duncan blasts “armchair pundits”….just like John Kerry…a politician that thinks the public’s opinion doesn’t matter.  Duncan degrades the public as no-nothings not worth his time.  He ignores that educators are among the public who are speaking out against corporate profiteering of public schools.

Here’s a post disputing Bill Gates’ *cough* facts.  (hat tip Diane Ravitch)

Does anybody else see the irony of Gates, a college dropout, deliberately being deceptive on the numbers of college graduates in the U.S.?  Not only is he a hypocrite, but a lying one at that….

And again, it bears repeating over and over that a college degree is no guarantee of a job.  And there are those who do not want a degree but still need to be paid a living wage.

Gates’ money torpedoing public education through devious means.  $173 MILLION.   What a creep.

Heckuva job, reformers!

Indianapolis schools ground zero.  Yep.

This is just too, too ridiculous.  We have no toilet paper, but gee whiz, we have a shiny new sports arena!!

America to the highest bidder

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…while the nooz is busy distracting the American public with “shutting down the government” nonsense….America is quietly being sold to the highest bidder while taxpayers foot the bill.  Warning: probably not the thing to read while you’re eating.

 

Mark Fiore’s Cartoon of the nasty business:

 

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More dark money in government associated with the Kochs.   More here.   Further proof that the rich are not being taxed enough if they have this kind of money to throw around.

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Latest on the Raw Milk Wars.

Again, a person has a right to decide what goes into their body.  Right to Privacy.

A dairy farmer in my area told me that he drank raw milk every morning.  This was before my own education on it, and I was aghast that he would risk his health drinking unpasteurized milk.  Haha.  He was one wise man.

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Poverty and school performance

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Diane Ravitch mentions a link to Noel Hammitt’s blog on the correlation between poverty and how well a student does in school.  She taught Noel as a student undergrad.

Note:  Noel Hammitt has copyrighted this material, but kindly allows liberal use of it as long as copyright is noted.

The first chart is stunning in how the “F” grade corresponds with the kids in poverty.  Again–they are trying to blame teachers for something that is out of their control–and the biggest factor in how well a child does in school….poverty.

From this chart it appears that there is a powerful pattern in the relationship between the concentrations of poverty in schools and the assigned letter grades for schools. However, we should note that for four years Louisiana put out a report that highlighted High-Poverty High Performing Schools, which suggested that there are, perhaps, many schools that defy this pattern. After carefully examining the lists, which reported higher numbers of schools each succeeding year, with 56 schools in the 2011 release, we noted that many of the schools actually had a lower percentage of students qualifying for free meals than the state average. In addition, most of the schools were magnet schools or schools where Gifted/Talented programs were masking lower test scores for other groups of students in the schools.  Finally, there were schools like Lake Forest Elementary, in New Orleans, that had extensive application and testing procedures that eliminated low-scoring students from the schools.  We also noted that there were no schools that had been on the list every year. Not one school out of over 1300 schools in the state that had overcome the challenges of poverty every year.

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We note that although the private schools seem to have an advantage on the scores, they enroll very few special education students, and they get to select their students.

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NAEP scores can be useful checks against a natural tendency of states, districts, and schools to focus on teaching to the test, because NAEP assessments are much more difficult to game or teach to than state level tests. An example of this can be found in states where 90 percent or more of students receive passing scores in their state at the basic level, when only 20 or 30 percent of their students are passing NAEP at the Basic Level.

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I think this last quote is really important for the non-teacher to understand what is going on with testing.  As we have learned, tests can be manipulated in that the teacher is forced to teach so the children can pass the test so the schools will not be penalized either by closing them or denying them their federal tax dollars through programs such as Race to the Bottom…er, I mean, Top….so the assessment is muddied.  The national assessment appears to circumvent that and gives a true picture of how the children are doing.

Noel notes that a child in poverty can also make high grades–he emphasizes that one should understand this and not have low expectations of these children.  I agree.  The problem isn’t that the child is not capable….but they have so many obstacles to overcome every day that get in the way.

Finally, the biggest point of the paper is that just because a school is called “failing” doesn’t necessarily mean that the kids and teachers are stoopid.  Again, parents and the public need to  ask how that school was assessed, is poverty  a huge problem with the students?

Saving the local farm

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This posted from the organic farmers group:

From: “Lindsey Lusher Shute, National Young Farmers Coalition” <info@youngfarmers. org>
  Date: September 24, 2013 12:51:34 PM CDT
  Subject: National Day of Action to Save Local Farms
  Help us mobilize to change FDA food safety rules.
 
 
  Dear Supporter,
 
  The FDA’s proposed food safety rules—written for large, corporate farms—threaten to shut down small farms and cut off America’s access to local food. Think: waiting nine months to harvest after manure application or grazing; water testing once a week; spending $5k-35k extra to comply. The list goes on and on.
 
  We have only a little over a month to submit comments to the FDA and win new rules that will protect food safety, local farms and organic agriculture.
 
  On Sunday, October 20th, we ask you to join a National Day of Action to Save Local Farms. To make it a success, we need you to sign up to host a letter writing party, tell us how the new rules will affect your farm and help us spread the word! Get started now:
 
  The FDA will only consider personal responses to their draft rules – no form letters or petitions – so we need you to help us deliver a huge stack of hand written letters to DC.
 
  Sign up now to host a letter writing party! All you have to do is gather your friends and neighbors to sit down and write to the FDA on or around October 20th. When you sign up to host we’ll mail you posters, plain language summaries of the rules for reference, ideas about how to respond, and some party planning advice. We’re also available to help you troubleshoot, reach NYFC’s network and talk through the details on two upcoming Google Hangouts.
 
  Visit the Food Safety action page or contact Tracy at tracy@youngfarmers. org to get more info and to sign up.
 
  To help NYFC respond to the FDA as a network and to help everyone understand how the rules will affect real farms, we need your input.
 
  Please take a few minutes now to take our farmer survey.
 
  Let’s work together to ensure the Food Safety rules protect a healthy food system, not compromise it.
 
  Events
 
  PROVIDENCE, RI: Young Farmer Nights Farm Tour – September 24th
  Join other young farmers for a tour of City Farm in Providence, RI. Contact youngfarmernight@ gmail.com for details.
 
  ARUNDEL, ME: Southern Maine Young Farmers Coalition Kick-off Mixer! – September 28th
  Come learn how to build a high tunnel at Frinklepod Farm at 12pm and join us for a potluck celebration with Allagash beer, Green Bee Soda, live music, a bonfire and fellow young farmers! 5pm at Neverdun Farm in Arundel. Click here for more info.
 
 ATLANTA, GA: Southeast Young And Beginning Farmer Alliance Lunch Mixer – September 28th
  Join us for a series of monthly post-market lunches on Saturdays. The first one is at the Wrecking Bar Brewpub in Atlanta, GA.
 
  FRANKFORT, KY – Kentucky Beginning Farmers Conference- October 5th
  A one-day statewide event for beginning farmers, including workshops, great food, and networking opportunities. Stay tuned for more details!
 
  OKANOGAN, WA: Washington Young Farmers Mixer – October 6th
 Fourth annual WAYFC Mixer, to be held at Filaree Farm, in Okanogan, WA. Details to be released soon. Visit the Washington Young Farmers Coalition website for more information.
 
  BURLINGTON, VT Vermont Young Farmers Coalition Tractor Maintenance Workshop and Mixer at the Intervale Center – October 6th
  Join VYFC in gathering for a tractor maintenance workshop and mixer. Starts at 3pm. Email Brittany at bdooling@uvm. edu to get involved.
 
  SEBASTOPOL, CA: North Coast Young Farmers Guild Meeting – October 8th
  Join other farmers from the North Coast for the monthly Guild meeting at GrowKitchen, 245 Ferguson Rd. Sebastopol, CA.
 
  JOHNSTON, RI: Young Farmer Nights Farm Tour – October 10th
  Join other young farmers for a tour of Tour of Freedom Food Farm in Johnston, RI. Contact youngfarmernight@ gmail.com for details.
 
  PALISADE, CO: Beginning Farmers and Ranchers of Mesa County Hoe Down and Harvest Party – October 13th
  An end of season celebration with the Beginning Farmers and Ranchers of Mesa County! Food donated by Field to Fork CSA and Roan Creek Ranch. Wine provided by Mesa Park Vineyards. Apples for bobbing, pumpkins for picking. Live music, fun and games. Contact Brooke at pricebrooker@ aol.com for more info.
 
  WILLITS, CA: Mendocino County Young Farmers Guild Meeting – October 15th
  Get together with other young farmers in Mendocino County for this inaugural guild meeting! At the Willits Grange Hall.
 
  AUSTIN, TX: Texas Young Farmers Coalition Meetup – October 16th
  Blackstar Coop. Come join us for our monthly- 3rd Wednesday farmer meetup! Beers and conversations abound. Contact info@texasyoungfarm ers.org for more info.
 
  AUSTIN, TX: Texas Young Farmers Coalition Farm Tour – October 19th
  Join us as we head to A+S Farm and Ranch for a skill building workshop on sheep. Sean will cover grazing,processing and shearing topics among others. Contact info@texasyoungfarm ers.org for more info.
 
  JAMESTOWN, RI: Young Farmer Nights Farm Tour – October 22nd
  Join other young farmers for a chicken processing training with Pat’s Pastured at Windmist Farm, Jamestown, RI. Contact youngfarmernight@ gmail.com for details.
  CONNECTICUT: Farmland Access and Affordability Forum – October 25th
  The purpose of the forum is to brainstorm strategies to address farmland access and affordability in Connecticut and to engage an expanded coalition of key individuals, businesses, organizations and agencies in developing a common agenda around these issues. For more information contact Susan Mitchell, New Connecticut Farmers Alliance, at smitchell123@ yahoo.com.
 
  SOUTH CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA: Young Farmers Mixer – October 26th
  In the Harrisburg area, details TBA. Contact Emily at emilycgb@gmail. com to get involved!
 
  SONOMA COUNTY, CA: Sonoma County Young Farmers Guild Meeting – October 27th
  Get together with other young farmers in Sonoma County for this inaugural guild meeting!
 
  FALKVILLE, AL: Alabama Sustainable Agriculture Network Young and Beginning Farmer Potluck – October 27th
  Join other young and beginning farmers for ASAN’s potluck! Click here for more info.
 
  AUSTIN, TX: First Annual Moontower Agricultural Coop Harvest Party – November 9th
  Grab your ticket and join farmers and farmer friends alike for a dinner and homebrew beer feast. Other events include Farmer Olympics and a panel discussion involving inspiring people in the Texas farming and food community. Contact info@texasyoungfarm ers.org for more info on tickets.
 
  In Solidarity,
 
  Lindsey, Wes, Sophie, Kate, Eleanor, Tracy & Debbie
 
 
  follow on Twitter | friend on Facebook | follow on Google Plus
 
  Copyright © 2013 National Young Farmers Coalition. All rights reserved.
 
NATIONAL YOUNG FARMERS COALITION
  PO BOX 292, Tivoli, New York 12583

Teachers Stand up for their right to be heard

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…much as they are being silenced in the national discussion, the teachers and parents of Montclair, New Jersey, were going to be heard..

Look— everyone knows you don’t mess with New Jersey.  tough birds…we need some of you here in Indiana…..

 

The reality that you don’t hear about…

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…that the folks on food stamps can also be adjunct professors.  This has got to be one of the most sobering stories I’ve heard yet.  What the mainstream media won’t tell you is that college educated WORKING people are also in dire straits because the top 1% are taking it all for themselves, as we see in this case.

Note the comment where some administrator in a hospital gave herself a 90k bonus while paying low wages.

And other comments are blasting the university for her extremely low un-livable wages.   Good God.

Many ask why she didn’t have Medicare/Soc. Security at her age?  The article doesn’t tell us, but I’m going to go out on a limb and say she was probably making too much money as a professor for Social Security.  I don’t know about Medicare, but assuming they also have limits on how much they will pay for certain conditions, and if this was the second time that Margaret Mary had cancer, she had probably reached those limits.

They also ask the question of her being on assistance (food stamps, I presume?) .  Ooookay.  Um, let me explain something to those who think that food stamps are some sort of panacea–they’re NOT.  Even if she got food stamps, which we don’t know by this article, it still would not be enough.   Jaysus H., $10,000 a year?  That is less than a $1,000 per month, before taxes.    Who can survive on that??

Here’s the op-ed from Daniel Kovalik, who may have been the last person to talk to her.  What huge indignity for her (and anyone else who has to beg for food or medical care).

And here again we have the fight against unions for teachers…and a glaring point of why we need unionized teachers, because the administrators have their priorities in the wrong places (themselves and athletics):

While adjuncts at Duquesne overwhelmingly voted to join the United Steelworkers union a year ago, Duquesne has fought unionization, claiming that it should have a religious exemption. Duquesne has claimed that the unionization of adjuncts like Margaret Mary would somehow interfere with its mission to inculcate Catholic values among its students.

This would be news to Georgetown University — one of only two Catholic universities to make U.S. News & World Report’s list of top 25 universities — which just recognized its adjunct professors’ union, citing the Catholic Church’s social justice teachings, which favor labor unions.

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What is truly, truly, incredible was the heartless act of the university in calling the police after it was discovered she was sleeping in her office because her electricity was shut off.  Yeah, because Jesus would have tossed her out on her ass, too. /very snarky.
Lastly, let’s take a moment to acknowledge that Margaret Mary was a woman….women are more likely to be in poverty than men.

Statistically, women in America are more likely to be poor than men in all racial and ethnic backgrounds. With over 37 million people living in poverty, over half of them are adult single women. Surprisingly so, women in the U.S. are further behind in comparison to women in other areas of the world. This could be all connected to the gender wage gap, with women earning less money than their male counterparts, and the often expensive responsibility of raising children.

In a report entitled Living Below the Line: Economic Insecurity and America’s Families, lead authors Shawn McMahon and Jessica Horning found that 45 percent of American families live on incomes that fail to provide the basic economic security required to support their basic needs. In just four years, the overall financial insecurity rate rose from 38 percent to 45 percent with an increase in poverty of White children and unmarried couples. Children of color were also found at risk of economic security with more than three-quarters of Black children and three-quarters of Hispanic children facing poverty in their households.

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