Re: [PDI] Farmers in India find New use for Coca cola and Pepsi

I got the India report from a health newsletter I get. But a documentary
a couple years ago on FreeSpeech Tv also showed the negative effects on
the local water supplies of poor Latin American populations etc from
deleterious practices of bottling plants run by Coke etal.

Here's another tidbit from my farm group:

Regarding teflon in our drinking water (unfortunately we also get decent
doses of pharmaceuticals drugs, fluoride and a bunch of other bad stuff
is there too)

--- On Sat, 1/17/09, wrote:

Bush Moves to Okay Toxic Teflon Pollution in Tap Water

New EWG tests find the pollutant in Washington DC tap water

Washington, D.C. - January 15, 2009 - In its final days, the Bush
administration appears poised to issue an emergency health advisory
for tap water polluted with the toxic Teflon chemical PFOA
(perfluorooctanoic acid) effectively allowing a significant level of
pollution and discouraging cleanup of PFOA contamination in tap water
in at least 9 states, according to an analysis by Environmental
Working Group (EWG).

The level of permissible PFOA contamination under the
administration' s guidance would be 10 times higher than that allowed
by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, whose
commissioner, Lisa Jackson has been tapped by incoming President
Obama to run the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). If the
Bush administration advisory is allowed to stand, it could result in
blood levels of PFOA in people nearly 10 times higher than the
current average amounts.

The millions of Americans who drink PFOA-contaminated water include
residents of Washington, D.C., according to new tests commissioned by
EWG. EWG's tests are the first to find PFOA contamination in the
city's tap water.

An internal EPA document obtained by West Virginia journalist Ken
Ward, Jr. and published yesterday on the Charleston Gazette website
shows that EPA intends to defend its relatively weak Provisional
Health Advisory as sufficient to protect people from harmful short-
term exposures to PFOA. However, people who drink PFOA-contaminated
tap water are exposed to this chemical day after day, year after
year, and studies of communities with contaminated tap water show the
chemical concentrates in human blood to levels 100 times higher than
found in the water they drink. The proposed standard ignores this
fact. The practical effect of this first-ever federal safety level
would be to sanction long-term exposures at unsafe levels under the
guise of a short term advisory.

EWG's review of water pollution studies from available scientific
literature and government dockets finds that PFOA pollutes tap water
supplies in at least 9 states and the District of Columbia, including
tap water consumed by Chicago residents and people served by 78
percent of water utilities tested by New Jersey authorities.

The full extent of PFOA contamination in water supplies nationally is
not known. EPA does not require water utilities to test for PFOA. A
lax Provisional Health Advisory, such as is now contemplated by EPA,
would discourage the agency from setting a binding drinking water
standard and requiring long-term national water testing for PFOA.

"Nobody should have to drink cancer-causing Teflon chemicals in their
tap water," said EWG Executive Director Richard Wiles. "This is
nothing more than a last-minute Bush administration bailout for PFOA
polluters, okaying dangerous levels of this Teflon chemical."

"With nearly the entire U.S. population, including young children,
exposed to this chemical, it's critical that EPA set standards to
protect health," added Wiles. "The practical effect of this guidance
will be that millions of people are exposed to unsafe levels of a
dangerous chemical in their tap water."

A study of West Virginia communities surrounding DuPont's Parkersburg
facility, conducted by a team of independent scientists as a result
of a class action settlement, shows that PFOA concentrates in human
blood, building up to approximately 100 times the levels in tap
water. EPA appears to have ignored the cumulative danger from PFOA --
a critical factor in chronic human health risks from long-term
exposures to this chemical.

EWG is a nonprofit research organization based in Washington, DC that
uses the power of information to protect human health and the
environment.

<http://www.ewg.>

gerip

urdafamily@aol.com wrote:
> Where did you find this?
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Geraldine Perry <healthadvantage@comcast.net>
> To: urdafamily@aol.com
> Sent: Tue, 13 Jan 2009 1:56 pm
> Subject: [PDI] Farmers in India find New use for Coca cola and Pepsi
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> more reasons not to drink such poisons:?
> ?
>
> http://www.indiaresource.org/campaigns/coke/2004/cokespins.html?
> ?
>
> (India is not the only country where bottling plants are destroying the
> water supply and environment, not to mention our health of course)?
> ?
>
> ?
>
> _______________________________________________?
>
> PDI mailing list?
>
> PDI@illinoisprogressives.org?
>
> http://illinoisprogressives.org/mailman/listinfo/pdi_illinoisprogressives.org?
> ?
>
> This message was sent to urdafamily@aol.com.?
>
> To unsubscribe, visit the URL above, or email webmaster@illinoisprogressives.org for assistance.?
>
>
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
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[PDI] Intergarden - networking people with garden space

RT: Intergarden: got garden space but no time? Got time but no garden
space? Split the produce! http://intergarden.ning.com/

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Re: [PDI] No more blank check bailouts

The next one is already in the works.  That's probably going to be typical of legislation out of this Congress -- "here's the money; we take no responsibility".

      Bob

-----Original Message-----
From: brojoe1@comcast.net
Sent: Sun, 18 Jan 2009 7:42 am
Subject: FW: No more blank check bailouts

--
hat do you get for all your hard work? More hardwork!
-------------- Forwarded Message: --------------
rom: "Julie Sweet, Geoghegan for Congress" <info@geogheganforcongress.com>
o: "Joseph J. Balkis" <brojoe1@comcast.net>
ubject: No more blank check bailouts
ate: Wed, 14 Jan 2009 21:05:31 +0000
Dear Supporter,

On Monday, President Bush requested the Congress to release the
second half of the $700 billion bank bailout program. And, this
time, we cannot approve the bailout without guaranteeing real
accountability and conditions—no more blank check bailouts!

That's why today Tom Geoghegan is launching a petition
[http://www.geogheganforcongress.com/?page_id=124] telling
Congress to do exactly that—ensure that the bailout money is
directed towards those who really need it and that the interests
of working Americans are protected.

Click here to sign the petition right now.
[http://www.geogheganforcongress.com/?page_id=124]

We'll deliver the petition to the House and Senate leadership.
And we'll show that we're not going to sit idly by while
hundreds–of–billions of our money gets shipped to banks without
any real accountability and oversight.
0D The petition demands three conditions are met:

Give priority–directly if possible–to help people keep their
homes. Get public interest representatives or directors on bank
boards in all of the banks receiving money. Penalize any bank
that has been hoarding money from the first bailout. Click here
to sign the petition.
[http://www.geogheganforcongress.com/?page_id=124]

Tom has been fighting for economic security for working Americans
for the last 30 years. Sign the petition
[http://www.geogheganforcongress.com/?page_id=124] and join Tom
in fighting to end the era of blank check bailouts.

Julie Sweet

Campaign Manager

Tom Geoghegan for Congress

PS If you have signature petitions to get Tom's name on the
ballot they need to be delivered by Friday, January 16th. Email
[jacob@geogheganforcongress.com] for drop off locations.

Paid for by Tom Geoghegan for Congress
[http://www.geogheganforcongress.com]

To unsubcribe from this list click here
http://tomgeogheganforcongress.cmail3.com/t/y/u/djuhul/iyulutmr/.

Attached Message

From:

Julie Sweet, Geoghegan for Congress <info@geogheganforcongress.com>

To:

Joseph J. Balkis <brojoe1@comcast.net>

Subject:

No more blank check bailouts

Date:

Wed, 14 Jan 2009 21:05:31 +0000

Dear Supporter,

On Monday, President Bush requested the Congress to release the second half of the $700 billion bank bailout program. And, this time, we cannot approve the bailout=2
0without guaranteeing real accountability and conditions—no more blank check bailouts!

That's why today Tom Geoghegan is launching a petition telling Congress to do exactly that—ensure that the bailout money is directed towards those who really need it and that the interests of working Americans are protected.
Click here to sign the petition right now.
We'll deliver the petition to the House and Senate leadership. And we'll show that we're not going to sit idly by while hundreds–of–billions of our money gets shipped to banks without any real accountability and oversight.

The petition demands three conditions are met:

Give priority–directly if possible–to help people keep their homes.

Get public interest representatives or directors on bank boards in all of the banks receiving money.

Penalize any bank that has been hoarding money from the first bailout.

Click here to sign the petition.
Tom has been fighting for economic security for working Americans for the last 30 years. Sign the petition and join Tom in fighting to end the era of blank check bailouts.

Julie Sweet

Campaign Manager
Tom Geoghegan for Congress

PS If you have signature petitions to get Tom's name on the ballot they need to be delivered by Friday, January 16th. Email jacob@geogheganforcongress.com for drop off locations.

Paid for by Tom Geoghegan for Congress

To unsubcribe from this list click here.

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Re: [PDI] Farmers in India find New use for Coca cola and Pepsi

Where did you find this?

-----Original Message-----
From: Geraldine Perry <healthadvantage@comcast.net>
To: urdafamily@aol.com
Sent: Tue, 13 Jan 2009 1:56 pm
Subject: [PDI] Farmers in India find New use for Coca cola and Pepsi

more reasons not to drink such poisons:?
?

http://www.indiaresource.org/campaigns/coke/2004/cokespins.html?
?

(India is not the only country where bottling plants are destroying the
water supply and environment, not to mention our health of course)?
?

?

_______________________________________________?

PDI mailing list?

PDI@illinoisprogressives.org?

http://illinoisprogressives.org/mailman/listinfo/pdi_illinoisprogressives.org?
?

This message was sent to urdafamily@aol.com.?

To unsubscribe, visit the URL above, or email webmaster@illinoisprogressives.org for assistance.?

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[PDI] Farmers in India find New use for Coca cola and Pepsi

more reasons not to drink such poisons:

http://www.indiaresource.org/campaigns/coke/2004/cokespins.html

(India is not the only country where bottling plants are destroying the
water supply and environment, not to mention our health of course)

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[PDI] opportunity to support single-payer at citizensbriefingbook.change.gov

The following item has 1330 up points as I write, and despite the typo
is #4 from the top if you search for "health":

Get the Insurance Companies out the Health Care
The reason that our country pays more for health care than anywhere
else in the world and still has poor health outcomes is that the
system is run by profit-seeking insurance companies. Health insurance
should not be a for-profit field.

There are other entries that explicitly mention single-payer.
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[PDI] WIB vigil postponed until Jan 20th

With hazardous road conditions predicted for the early morning hours, we'll postpone our Women In Black vigil until Tuesday, Jan 20th.

I'll send out a reminder in few days.

Kat

--
WomenInBlackWCS (@yahoo.com)
<http://www.google.com/calendar/embed?src=engageinactivism%40gmail.com&ctz=America/Chicago>

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[PDI] The Money Question

Dennis Kucinich broaches Constitutional money creation, and the idea the
this could be government's greatest creative opportunity:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AR2EtMteHCg&feature=channel_page

For those who still believe gold is money - or that our current money is
not debt/money created by banks with interest charged on top - please
visit the What is Money and the quotes on gold pages of my website,
which I have been adding to as I get time:
http://www.thetwofacesofmoney.com/index.php/Site/WhatIsMoney

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[PDI] A true tale of how the bankers control politicians, and what happens if pols refuse to play

Below is a link to a recent article written by Dennis Kucinich,

about his epic battle with the big, elite bankers when he was boy mayor
of Cleveland. This excellent article provides important insight into why
pols can behave as they do, and how we citizens tend to be pacified by
hanging the first scapegoat that the media, together with affiliated
allies and power mongers, trots out, rather than REALLY getting to the
root and the truth.

It is worth noting also, that Cleveland is currently particularly hard
hit by the latest "economic downturn" and defaulting mortgages. An
interview with a city councilman by Bill Moyers a few months back has
the official saying this too was on purpose and orchestrated by the big
bankers - who, BTW, have NO relation to the small community banks other
than to swallow them up.

You might recall that Dennis lost his home, his wife and almost his
life, and was run out of Cleveland after the bankers threw the city into
bankruptcy. (He was recalled 10 years later by the City Council and
given an award for his part in saving Muny Light. We have to ask
ourselves, would we be so brave or risk so much in the same situation?)

Article:
http://www.truthdig.com/report/item/20081215_rep_dennis_kucinich_on_his_battle_with_the_banks/

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[PDI] A true tale of how the bankers control politicians, and what happens if pols refuse to play

Below is a link to a recent article written by Dennis Kucinich,

about his epic battle with the big, elite bankers when he was boy mayor
of Cleveland. This excellent article provides important insight into why
pols can behave as they do, and how we citizens tend to be pacified by
hanging the first scapegoat that the media, together with affiliated
allies and power mongers, trots out, rather than REALLY getting to the
root and the truth.

It is worth noting also, that Cleveland is currently particularly hard
hit by the latest "economic downturn" and defaulting mortgages. An
interview with a city councilman by Bill Moyers a few months back has
the official saying this too was on purpose and orchestrated by the big
bankers - who, BTW, have NO relation to the small community banks other
than to swallow them up.

You might recall that Dennis lost his home, his wife and almost his
life, and was run out of Cleveland after the bankers threw the city into
bankruptcy. (He was recalled 10 years later by the City Council and
given an award for his part in saving Muny Light. We have to ask
ourselves, would we be so brave or risk so much in the same situation?)

Article:
http://www.truthdig.com/report/item/20081215_rep_dennis_kucinich_on_his_battle_with_the_banks/

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Re: [PDI] [ILProgressivesUnited] Gaza: Enough is enough

I see it just the opposite, but in general agree. I think Israel timed it to be pretty much over before he takes office, so he would not have to comment. I think they did it as a "favor" to Obama - but that is surely the wrong word.
 
It was probably all planned by his people, their people, the CIA people, the AIPAC people, the Drug Lord people, and any other people who really count.

 
 
"I have lost faith, godammit! I put my faith in the People and that was a mistake! This is a shit people! They get stolen blind by their politicians and they lick their boots. They send their kids off to die for somebody's business deal and they celebrate it like they're doing something heroic! This great and glorious people! Lazy sacks of junk food and jingo!"
 
From: "The Army of the Republic"  by Stuart Archer Cohen
 

--- On Sun, 1/11/09, mayatoddbob@aim.com <mayatoddbob@aim.com> wrote:

From: mayatoddbob@aim.com <mayatoddbob@aim.com>
Subject: Re: [PDI] [ILProgressivesUnited] Gaza: Enough is enough
To: mincam2@yahoo.com
Date: Sunday, January 11, 2009, 3:46 PM

I feel this was Israel testing Obama; you know, how the "terrorists"
were probably going to test him during this interim period and the early days of
his administration.

?

We see who got there first, and we see his non-reaction.? It is what I would
have predicted.? So much for change we can believe in.

??? Bob?

-----Original Message-----
From: Gary Kleppe <nohtml@garykleppe.org>
To: ILProgressivesUnited@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Fri, 9 Jan 2009 5:50 pm
Subject: Re: [ILProgressivesUnited] Gaza: Enough is enough

On Fri, 09 Jan 2009 17:20:49 -0600, you wrote:

> The new US Senate just passed an unrecorded resolution, by voice vote,
> supporting the continued killing of the Palestinian people in the
world's
> largest US/Israeli made concentration camp, known as Gaza. The new US
House
> is expected to do the same. Is there any question what the vote would be
if
> Greens were elected to Congress, instead of 99% of the newly elected
> Congress being members of the two corporate controlled parties?

I don't think anybody here doubts that a Congress full of Greens would
vote better than the current one.

The real question, at least for me, is whether Greens have a workable
strategy for getting elected. We can spend all day talking about what
it would be like if Greens got elected, but unless there's a viable
way of bringing that outcome about, what's the point?

__._,_.___
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MARKETPLACE

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Re: [PDI] [ILProgressivesUnited] Gaza: Enough is enough

I feel this was Israel testing Obama; you know, how the "terrorists" were probably going to test him during this interim period and the early days of his administration.

?

We see who got there first, and we see his non-reaction.? It is what I would have predicted.? So much for change we can believe in.

??? Bob?

-----Original Message-----
From: Gary Kleppe <nohtml@garykleppe.org>
To: ILProgressivesUnited@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Fri, 9 Jan 2009 5:50 pm
Subject: Re: [ILProgressivesUnited] Gaza: Enough is enough

On Fri, 09 Jan 2009 17:20:49 -0600, you wrote:

> The new US Senate just passed an unrecorded resolution, by voice vote,
> supporting the continued killing of the Palestinian people in the world's
> largest US/Israeli made concentration camp, known as Gaza. The new US House
> is expected to do the same. Is there any question what the vote would be if
> Greens were elected to Congress, instead of 99% of the newly elected
> Congress being members of the two corporate controlled parties?

I don't think anybody here doubts that a Congress full of Greens would
vote better than the current one.

The real question, at least for me, is whether Greens have a workable
strategy for getting elected. We can spend all day talking about what
it would be like if Greens got elected, but unless there's a viable
way of bringing that outcome about, what's the point?

__._,_.___
Messages in this topic (2) Reply (via web post) | Start a new topic

Messages | Files | Photos | Links | Database | Polls | Members | Calendar

MARKETPLACE

>From kitchen basics to easy recipes - join the Group from Kraft Foods

Change settings via the Web (Yahoo! ID required)
Change settings via email: Switch delivery to Daily Digest | Switch format to Traditional
Visit Your Group | Yahoo! Groups Terms of Use | Unsubscribe

Recent Activity

Visit Your Group

Yahoo! News

Get it all here

Breaking news to

entertainment news

Special K Group

on Yahoo! Groups

Join the challenge

and lose weight.

Yahoo! Groups

Going Green Zone

Find Green groups.

Find Green resources.

.

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[PDI] Local/sustainable/safe food to the rescue [Fwd: FW: Joel Salatin in Goshen Jan. 20!!!]

From my co-op leader -

Joel Salatin to be in Goshen Indiana on Tuesday January 20, discussing
local/sustainable/safe food. More info below.

gerip

-------- Original Message --------

//

//

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I suspect that many of you may already know about this. I just found
out from Allen Bontrager. Joel Salatin will be in Goshen on Tuesday,
January 20th before he travels on to Columbus, IN for a two-day grazing
conference I'm attending.

Those on yahoogroups boards will not be able to get the attached flyer.
If you want a copy of the flyer, email me off board at
svsiemers@embarqmail.com <mailto:svsiemers@embarqmail.com>.

I'm including a link to Polyface Farms, where you can learn more about
what Joel Salatin has done. He is a fascinating man who lives what he
preaches.

http://tinyurl.com/3pw3b6

Susan Siemers

From: Farmers Market [mailto:millracemarket@hotmail.com
<mailto:millracemarket@hotmail.com>]
Sent: Thursday, January 01, 2009 7:52 PM
To: svsiemers@earthlink.net <mailto:svsiemers@earthlink.net>
Subject: RE: Salatin talk

Hi Susan -

Thanks for your interest in the upcoming CSP-sponsored event "Local Food
to the Rescue: An Evening with Joel Salatin". I suspect that this
presentation will be quite different from Joel's presentation in
Columbus, with this one highlighting the importance of demonstrating and
promoting a "local/sustainable/safe" food supply to our customers.

The event will be held in the old Goshen Theater (the venue is now home
to a church ministry) - at 6:30 pm Tuesday, January 20th. See the
attached flyer.

Tickets are $20 each. You may purchase them in person at the Goshen
Farmers Market on either of the two Saturday mornings before the event
(the 12th or the 19th), or you can send a check made payable to:

Community Sustainability Project, Inc.
P.O. Box 1031
Goshen, IN 46527

Please include a return address, just to make sure we get your tickets
to the right mailbox.

We look forward to seeing you on the 20th.

David Green, Mgr.
Goshen Farmers Market

212 W. Washington St.
Goshen, IN 46526
(574) 533-4747

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Also: to remind- pick from 2 great conferences on Jan. 21-22, the
Midwest Organic Production and Marketing Conference and Trade Show, held
in conjunction with the Indiana Horticulture Congress, at the Adam's
Mark Hotel in Indianapolis; and the grazing conference in Columbus
Indiana, Joel Salatin keynote speaker and a leader at several of the
breakout discussion groups. Joel Salatin owns and operates Polyface
Farms. Follow this link for more about him and his work.
http://www.polyfacefarms.com/
Here's a link to the brochure for the grazing conference:
http://www.agry.purdue.edu/ext/forages/pdf/2009HOAGC.pdf

Why these 2 conferences were scheduled in different places instead of
together? It would have been great to have them both accessible since
there likely will be a great deal of overlap among the participants.

--
Charlotte Wolfe
Prairie Winds Farm
21439 Osborne Rd.
Lakeville, IN 46536
574-291-9943
www.prairiewindsnaturefarm.com <http://www.prairiewindsnaturefarm.com/>

Have you read Barbara Kingsolver's book "Animal Vegetable Miracle?"

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[PDI] Money Summit at CCUU Saturday, January 17

Please distribute:

There will be a free program on understanding and confronting the
economic crisis next Saturday, January 17, from 1-4 p.m. at
Countryside Church, 1025 North Smith Street in Palatine, IL.

The first half of the program brings expert speakers to tell us about
the economic situation - how we got here and where things are headed.

The second half of the program will be facilitated open discussion.
Bring your issues and ideas so we can brainstorm together.

Program details and press release are online at
http://better-day.info

- hal
_______________________________________________
PDI mailing list
PDI@illinoisprogressives.org
http://illinoisprogressives.org/mailman/listinfo/pdi_illinoisprogressives.org

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[PDI] Testing web outreach features.

I'm in the process of developing a synchronized, multi-platform posting
process that will allow e-mails to this list to run out to our blog, our
Twitter account, our Yahoo Group, and eventually a Facebook Profile
among others. Discussion directed at the list should update multiple
platforms around the web - giving us a greater reach for the same
effort. These posts will also go out our podcast/RSS feed as well. We'll
cover far more ground with the same effort - and hopefully pull in many
new members for it. Time will tell. This post is the first test of this
system.

Regards,

Dan Stafford
Co-Chair, PDI
http://www.illinoisprogressives.org
http://progressivedemocratsofillinois.blogspot.com/
@pdillinois (Twitter)
http://progressivesofillinois.ning.com/
http://feeds.feedburner.com/PDI-Cast

PS: Gary - we might want to post this access list to our home page or
contacts page.

_______________________________________________
PDI mailing list
PDI@illinoisprogressives.org
http://illinoisprogressives.org/mailman/listinfo/pdi_illinoisprogressives.org

This message was sent to aquarianm.pd-il@blogger.com.
To unsubscribe, visit the URL above, or email webmaster@illinoisprogressives.org for assistance.

"Why Are You A Progressive" Interview series:

PDI will soon be conducting a series of weekly interviews of area Progressives. We are seeking suggestions for a standardized questionnaire to use during the sessions. Interviews will be recorded and distributed in both video (Youtube) and MP3 formats. For suggestions to be considered for the question list, please post to our forum discussion at http://progressivesofillinois.ning.com/ .

We look forward to introducing you to many of your fellow Progressives around the State over the next two or three years.

Regards,

Dan Stafford
Co-Chair, PDI

Major Web 2.0 Outreach Program Underway...

Major Web 2.0 Outreach Program Underway...(DS) I've created an 18-point comprehensive and fully synchronized outreach plan for PDI. The list items have been distributed to three key members of the group. I've already implemented items 5 & 7. (5 is modified, blog updates Twitter account. This will not need to be updated by the direct PDI discussion lists, as they post to the blog, and it will relay.)

01/08/2009 Meeting notes

Attending: Gary, Paul, Art, Dan.

Gary & Paul had to leave before meeting business began due to we held the meeting one week later than usual, and they had a conflict with the monthly DuPage Democratic Committee meeting.

Art & Dan continued discussion in the hopes that other members would make it late, but they did not.

Dan presented to Art the proposed web outreach strategy outline to use integrated Web 2.0 applications for a greatly enhanced online presence.

Meeting adjourned with all business carried over to February, 2009 meeting.

[PDI-Steering] Progressives of Illinois social network created on Ning.com

http://progressivesofillinois.ning.com/

This network will require fine tuning over time, but I think it will help us grow PDI.

I've spent most of the last week researching web 2.0 applications, web marketing techniques, and social applications on the web. This is for personal reasons as well as to help PDI reach out, and I am sure it will help us over time.

I am working on a cohesive online marketing plan for PDI. It is our best return for the investment of only time, effort, and intelligence.

I will be doing my best to coordinate use of our blog on Blogger.com, our social net on Ning.com, and our home page & e-mail lists.

Gary - I'll need to have some phone or IM time with you on strategy for this effort.

---------------------------------------

On that note, starting tomorrow, I'm going to kick into high gear for the Economy conference segment. Hal, I'll get with you on that early next week.

Regards All, and happy New Year.

Dan

PDI Thursday meeting reminder 01/08/2009 *This Thursday*

All,

Just a reminder that PDI will meet this Thursday, 01/08/2009 from 7pm-9pm CST.

Location: International House Of Pancakes
Intersection of Butterfield Road / Illinois Route 56 & Naperville Road,
2 miles North of I-88, Northeast corner of the intersection
Wheaton, IL

Directions: 815-483-8878, (630) 690-2344

Street address: 167 Danada Sq E

Map

Our meeting agenda to date includes:

1. Status on last meeting bullet list items:

(A 1. Revamp e-mail lists a) action b) steering c) open discussion. New contacts to action list, bounce to discussion for debate.

(A 2. Build meet agend via e-mail on steering list.

(A 3. Focus on economy, health care, and ERIC conferences in 2009.

(A 4. Monthly Craigslist ad for new member outreach.

(A 5. Form additional district PDA chapters to co-meet with PDI, and regularly invite existing chapters.


2.  Township Caucuses

------------------------------------------------------
The agenda will remain open for additional items from the steering committee or member requests through 10:00am on the day of the meeting.

Regards, and we look forward to seeing You there.

Dan Stafford (aqmstaffo@mailbag.com)
Co-Chair, PDI
http://www.illinoiprogressives.org

A Better Day - (3rd annual Progressive Fest Illinois) Saturday, September 20th 9a-4:30p

http://www.better-day.info/

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Palatine Conference Fosters Grassroots Efforts Toward Peace, Justice, Sustainability.

Palatine, IL - September 3, 2008 - When it comes to the large problems facing humanity, how can one person make a difference? A Better Day 2008 offers answers by bringing together distinguished speakers, activists, and community organizers for a day. The public is invited to learn and discuss the issues, make connections, and get involved in any of dozens of social benefit groups.

A Better Day 2008 takes place Saturday, September 20, from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at Countryside Church Unitarian Universalist, 1025 N. Smith Street, Palatine, Illinois.

This open, non-partisan event offers three tracks of activity: speakers, an exhibit of local organizations, and breakout sessions in the church classrooms. Jim Kenney of Common Ground will give the morning keynote, “Peace is Possible”. Other speakers will address social and economic justice, sustainable living, support for our veterans, and ways of dealing with our differences. Exhibitors in the conference hall will include environmentalists, advocates for economic reform and social justice, and local peace groups.

Programs will emphasize personal involvement. Program Committee member Kat Doyle says, "We want to tell everyone, you can do something! Working with other people for a good cause is a great way to make friends, discover skills you never knew you had, and just have fun."

A Better Day 2008 is sponsored by the Adult Faith Development Council of Countryside Church Unitarian Universalist, Palatine, Illinois.

Contact:
Hal Snyder, M.D.
A Better Day 2008 Program Committee
224-678-6188
hal@better-day.info
http://www.better-day.info

What Is A Better Day?

• A one-day grassroots gathering about peace, justice, and the environment.
• A chance to network with people who are concerned about the way things are going and are determined to make a difference.
• A day of learning about the issues from organizers who are at the forefront on matters of global and interfaith fellowship, social justice, and sustainability.
• But most of all - a day to kick-start your participation in any of twenty or more local action groups - or if you are already involved, a chance to make new connections and reach out to the community.

A Better Day was inspired by Fighting Bob Fest, the annual Wisconsin extravaganza that brings thousands of fired-up progressive speakers, organizers, and rabble-rousers to Baraboo every September.

Morning Session

9:00-9:30 Doors Open, Registration

9:30-10:00 Opening

• Rev. Hilary Landau-Krivchenia: Welcome
• Hal Snyder: Getting the Most Out of the Day

10:00-10:45 Keynote by Jim Kenney: Peace is Possible Common Ground

11:00-12:00 Health and Education, Social Justice

• 11:00-11:20 Melanie Schikore Andina: Social Justice Through the Arts
• 11:30-11:50 Victoria Weiley: Living Within Your Means; Means Simply......Living

Lunch Break - 12:00-1:30

Afternoon Session

1:30-2:30 Sustainability

• 1:30- 1:50 Bruce Bendix: Defining a Sustainable Future Eco Squared Consulting
• 2:00- 2:20 Jay Womack & Paul Sorci : Green Roof Wight & Company

2:30-3:30 Supporting Our Veterans

• 2:30- 2:50 Dirk Enger: Our Veterans; Our Community Midwest Shelter for Homeless Veterans
• 3:00- 3:20 Christopher France: Understanding PTSD Iraq Veterans Against the War

3:30-4:15 Panel: Dealing With Our Differences

• Vid Axel - Non-Violent Communication Living Action
• Jay Becker O'Neil World Can't Wait
• Catherine Caporusso Chicago Area CodePINK, Northwest suburban NOW

4:15 Closing by Rev. Hilary Landau-Krivchenia: Taking A Better Day Forward

Groups Working to Make a Difference

We hope you'll use A Better Day as a chance to network. Joining a social benefit organization is a great way to make new friends and discover your hidden talents. We are opening Atherton Hall to tables for more than 20 organizations.

We expect members or official representatives from the
following:

• Students for Animal Defense (College of DuPage)
• Greater Chicago Caucus
• Citizen Action/Illinois
• Social Action Committee, CCUU
• Green Sanctuary Committee, CCUU
• National Organization for Women – Northwest Suburban Chapter
• Northwest Suburban Peace & Education Project
• Chicago Area Code Pink
• Working Families Win
• Holistic Moms Network
• Sierra Club – Northwest Suburbs Region
• ACLU
• A+ Illinois
• Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights
• Illinois Coalition for Justice, Peace, & the Environment
• World Can't Wait
• League of Women Voters
• Iraq Veterans Against the War
• Illinois League of Conservation Voters
• Common Ground
• Illinois Maternal & Child Health Coalition
• Alliance for the Great Lakes
• Midwest Shelter for Homeless Veterans

Getting the Word Out

Invitation (updated 9/02)

Mindmap (updated 8/29)

Registration form (save $2 by registering in advance at CCUU)

What is A Better Day? (updated 8/29)

Help Us Publicize the Event!

About US:

The team behind A Better Day arose from the joining of two groups.

For two years, 2006 and 2007, some of us helped organize the Illinois Progressive Fest in Big Rock, Illinois to bring together progressive candidates and activists working to put people before profits and restore the social contract in our government. In 2008 we formed the Progressive Fest Illinois (PFI) committee to work on non-partisan annual events going forward.

The Adult Faith Development Council of CCUU (Countryside Church Unitarian Universalist) in Palatine includes persons dedicated to uplifting the human spirit and working with organizations in the community to promote peace, justice, and sustainability.

email: info@better-day.info · media contact: Hal Snyder 224-678-6188

Both groups were interested in bringing together speakers, activists, and the public for a day of learning and networking. We decided to pool our efforts to bring you A Better Day.

Al Gore's Climate Challenge Speech

Robert Parry | The Bushes and Hitler's Appeasement

Robert Parry | The Bushes and Hitler's Appeasement
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/051908M.shtml
Robert Parry, of Consortium News: "To this day - as President Bush showed by mocking the long-forgotten Sen. Borah and then wielding the Nazi 'appeasement' club against Barack Obama and other Democrats - the assumption remains that the bubble will continue to protect the Bush family name. However, the evidence from dusty archives suggests that the Bush family went way beyond appeasement of Adolf Hitler to aiding and abetting the Nazis."

My Trip To The 2008 Chicago Green Festival

For starters, I got off to a late start - one of my oldest friends was in town after a couple of years in Spain, so we were out together visiting and shooting pool until close to 1:00 am, by the time I got to bed the night before, it was close to 03:00.

At any rate, I got up late in the morning and started planning my itinerary in the festival guide.
(You can see more about the Green Festivals all over the country at www.greenfestivals.org )

Embedded here is a photo slide show from my trip to the fest. (Uses shockwave flash)




For those of you who may not be able to view the slideshow, there is a web album of the photos here: http://picasaweb.google.com/AquarianM/2008ChicagoGreenFestivalAtNavyPier

A few highlights:


The main fest exhibit area - about four football fields, I'd guess.


Yours truly at the fest:


The Chicago Skyline as seen from Navy Pier:



The Navy Pier Ferris Wheel after dark - this is around 200 feet tall:



I stopped in and watched the first hour of the Patchamama Alliance's
symposium entitled "Awakening The Dreamer" first off in one of the 3rd floor lecture rooms. You can check out an electronic version on their site, I believe. It was an interesting synthesis of the bigger picture formed by sustainable economy, energy, ans society. I'd recommend it.

After wards, I roamed the booths checking things out.

I picked up some organic lime shea butter at the Trillium Organics booth for my wife Saren - she loves the stuff for skin lotion, and says there's nothing better out there.

I also got her a four ounce pump spray aluminum bottle of citrus eucalyptus spray as an organic bug repellent from Blissoma aromatherapy.

For our friend Jim, I got a note pad made out of Mr. Ellie Pooh paper. This paper is a soft, fibery, acid-free paper made from...elephant dung from Sri Lanka. Apparently, the elephants in Sri Lanka trample the farmers' crops, and so they get upset and shoot them. One way the farmers can make up the elephant damage is by making paper products out of their pooh. According to the brochure, each one produces around 500 lbs of the stuff per day, and it's all veggie and almost pre-processed perfectly for paper making.

To note, there were several other types of treeless paper at the fest; one was made from some kind of bush in Nepal that you can take most of the leaves from each year, and it grows back.

For My wife and I both, I got some red African bush tea, otherwise known as Rooibos. It is of course organic, and caffeine-free. It also tastes very nice. I'm drnking a cup as I type this for you. I got it from Eco Teas.

For myself, I picked up a set of authentic Tibetan prayer flags.



According to the label, the tradition is that you hang them outside in the breeze with a specific event in mind, such as the birth of a child, the beginning of a journey, etc. The prayers written on the flags are prayers of prosperity and success. It is believed that the prayers are carried away on the winds. As the flags become weathered and the prayers can no longer be read, the prayers are believed to have been delivered.

I also stopped by Calvert Funds to get some advice on setting up an IRA that does socially responsible investing. They're going to work out an appointment for ,me to come into their office (which is right in my train station) and look over what I can do.

All in all, I really wish I could have stayed longer.

Now as to getting to the fest, since it was on a Saturday and I got out late, I had to drive downtown - I have a night-limited parking pass for one of the ramps downtown, but on the weekends I can be in there around the clock. However, my parking space is at least four miles, possibly five, from Navy Pier. I walked. There and back. On the return journey, it was after dark and raining. Not horribly hard, but a constant medium-light rain. Needless to say, by the time I got back to the truck, I was pretty damp. (Just so you know, my pickup is V6 and 2
two-wheel drive. I'm 6'6" and 330 lbs, so I can't fit in the majority of smaller vehicles. )

Altogether, it was a great and happy day.

Regards,

Dan

Republican Albert Howard & Democrat Dennis Kucinich need donations for NH hand count TODAY!!

Donations to the Howard's count can be made here ^[9]. Donations to Kucinich's count can be made here ^[10]

- The BRAD BLOG - http://www.bradblog.com -

'Send Lawyers, Peace and Money': New Hampshire Election Contests Get Technical, Testy Before They Even Begin

Election Integrity Experts Converge and Join Both Republican and Democratic Candidates in Quest for Transparency

New Hampshire Secretary of State Questioned About Documentation, Poll Records and Diebold Memory Cards...

Posted By Brad Friedman On 15th January 2008 @ 04:27 In Diebold/Premier, Election Irregularities, Election 2008, BlackBoxVoting.org, New Hampshire, Dennis Kucinich, Harri Hursti, Albert Howard | 13 Comments

By Brad Friedman from Sacramento...

Election Integrity experts from around the country have been converging on the Granite State over the last several days, in preparation for "historic" state-wide hand counts of New Hampshire's Primary Election ballots, The BRAD BLOG ^[1] has learned. Counts of votes in both the Democratic and Republican side will begin in earnest this Wednesday, as long as the two contesting candidates deliver certified checks by 3pm on Tuesday, in an amount determined on Monday by Secretary of State William M. Gardner.

The battle for transparency and accountability on the ground, where some 80% of the state's ballots were tallied only by error-prone, hackable Diebold optical-scan voting machines, without human audit or spot-check of any kind, in last week's first-in-the-nation Primary, is already growing heated on both sides of the aisle, and even inside the statehouse as of Monday.

While representatives from each of the contestants have reportedly been working together on several aspects of the two separate counts --- each claiming to have requested the hand-counts in order to help answer questions about anomalous reported results --- what has become immediately clear, during our interviews with several members involved in the challgenges, as well as Election Integrity advocates now in New Hampshire and elsewhere, is that these election challenges may not likely mirror the partial recount in 2004, held at the request of then-Presidential candidate Ralph Nader.

As a two-page request for a detailed list of ballot and voting machine-related public documents and records, obtained by The BRAD BLOG ^[1], as submitted on Monday to Gardner by the previously obscure Republican candidate Albert Howard made clear, the battle for integrity and transparency in post-election challenges, may have finally caught up with the technical sea-changes in voting equipment that have overtaken the American election system over the last several years.

Due to extraordinary complexities in the ever more complicated computer systems, scanners, tabulators, record sets, databases and proprietary programming that have now been employed by election administrators across the country, the once simple task of examining and recounting paper ballots --- where they still exist, as they do in New Hampshire --- has grown exponentially more technical and confusing.

Early word on the ground in New Hampshire's capitol city of Concord, along with concerns from candidates, surrogates and election experts alike, suggests that these "recounts" could be like no other, in the history of the country...

kUCINICH-PAUL NEXT FALL??

Of course, the Poo-Poo Sayers will poo-poo the poop out of THIS...

Left-right ticket
San Diego Union Tribune, United States - Nov 26, 2007
It's unlikely very many voters spend an inordinate amount of time pondering the identity of Dennis Kucinich's running-mate. But just in case, ...

All things Dennis The Plain Dealer - cleveland.com, OH - 1 hour ago CNN-youtube Republican debate in St. Petersburg, Fla., Dennis Kucinich will try to grab the media spotlight for at least a few minutes. ...

Kucinich suggests a Republican running mate
The Plain Dealer - cleveland.com, OH - Nov 26, 2007
Acworth, NH -- Call it the liberal-libertarian ticket, where left meets right and Democrat Dennis Kucinich picks Republican Ron Paul to be his vice ...

Kucinich hit for eyeing Paul as VP
Jewish Telegraphic Agency - New York,NY,USA
Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio) for saying he was considering Rep. Ron Paul (R-Texas) as his running mate. The National Jewish Democratic Council in a statement ...
See all stories on this topic

Dennis Kucinich: C'mon, You'll Miss Him When He's Gone
Reason Online - Los Angeles,CA,USA
Kucinich are friends and there is a lot of mutual respect," Paul communications director Jesse Benton said in an e-mail when asked whether a running-mate ...

Who Will Fill This World?

Who Will Fill This World?

I sit in the grey rainlight wondering,
Amidst clouds of pillowed steel,
Reading my peers and feeling,
I breathe in the angst like burned steel in this air,
Feeling a tentative green ghost waiting to be born,
A future we might yet bear to fruition,
A whiff of hope drifting up from my cup,
Of ginger-peach iced tea.

When you remember everything good in life,
Isn't it the moment someone you cherished cradled you,
Stroked your hair or hummed gently holding your hand?

What I know is that using anger like a tool burns you,
From the inside out it eats you alive,
It doesn't matter if you're an entire culture or a lonely heart,
It will make you its breakfast lunch and dinner,
As surely as this world spins 'round the sun -
I've seen it happen with my own two eyes.

We were great as a nation and as a people,
At those moments we were most filled with these things -
Dreams, hope, inspiration, compassion, vision.

What I know is that love fills you,
Feeds you and nourishes you and gently guides you,
And if you want to revere the past and those who went before,
Let their angers subside and yours as well,
Get closer to your ghosts in the memory of those moments that glow,
When they dreamed and loved and accomplished,
Give your ghosts a real future -
By dreaming and loving and accomplishing.

Tearing down takes moments,
Building up is always the real work.
What is it you birth?
Who will fill this world?

AquarianM

By: Daniel A. Stafford
© 08/18/2007

Words are the mind's bridge - it's connection to all the universe.
Love is the heart's bridge - it's connection to all other souls.
Loving words can work miracles.

---

08/17/2007 PDI-Cast

PDI-Cast08172007.mp3
30 Years without Elvis...

08/16/2007 PDI-Cast podcast

PDI-Cast08162007.mp3
Progressive Fest Illinois is coming soon.

Podcast awaiting Ourmedia upload from Internet Archive...

Well, the podcast is on its way - I found that you could use Ourmedia for web-hosting our feed free of space and bandwidth restrictions and at no cost.

!However!, it can take up to 24 hours for the media file to cross-reference from the Internet Archive to Ourmedia - which HAS to happen before I can link the podcast into our blog feed here on this blog.

As soon as the cross-reference completes, I'll publish the 'cast. *Mental note: get the stuff submitted to Internet Archive the day BEFORE you want it up on the web.*

Dan

PDI-Cast will soon be back - and REALLY podcast.

I'll have the first installment of PDI-Cast posted here at the PDI blog by this morning late. This time, I have a much better idea how to get it out to the podcast world. (I have a nice, Progressive mentor helping me and pointing me to many, many great podcasting resources. Thank you, Jenny!!!)

This will be a rough 1st edition, not advance-written or practiced, so bear with me. The 'cast will get better with time.

I'm also working on tools to allow other members to collaborate on producing new shows going forward.

We'll also in time have the option of recording the show from a Skype free webcast conference call at some point in the future, which will also allow us to bring on guests from around the web, and do online interviews and more.

Eventually, we can add our own musical theme, sound effects, and other items.

A video-cast may even be possible, but we need to learn to walk and trot before we start running marathons.

The subject of the 08/16/2007 will of course be Progressive Fest Illinois. What better way to kick off the 'cast?

While you're waiting for me to get this podcast published, try downloading the free Golden Ear - an easy to use old-school style podcast receiver; styled to look like an retro radio and designed to be as easy to use. (Other podcast clients and software are available HERE - there are feed-readers for all sorts of devices and operating systems available.)

I'll be looking forward to working with my fellow Co-Chair, Hal on some of our upcoming podcasts very soon.

This is going to be great fun!

Dan

DAN RATHER REPORTS' to Present Conclusive Evidence of Touch-Screen Voting Machine Failures

Source: http://www.bradblog.com/?p=4949

BLOGGED BY John Gideon ON 8/12/2007 7:12PM

'DAN RATHER REPORTS' to Present Conclusive Evidence of Touch-Screen Voting Machine Failures

Hour-Long Special This Tuesday Night to Expose Startling New Information, Including Filipino Sweatshops Where Faulty ES&S Systems Are Produced

VIDEO PREVIEW: Workers Paid Less Than $2.50 Per Day, Quality Control Consists of 'Shaking the Machine to Check for Loose Screws'...

Guest Blogged by John Gideon, VotersUnite.Org

HD Net has announced the content of this Tuesday's "Dan Rather Reports": An hour-long investigative special report dedicated to the failures of touch-screen voting and the companies that make them. Horribly. Here's a piece of their recent media release, and a video preview is posted below...

DALLAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--HDNet:

What: This Tuesday, DAN RATHER REPORTS presents conclusive evidence of the failure of touch screen voting machines across the country. The episode, “The Trouble with Touch Screens,” is an entire hour devoted to new information on this story. From scientists involved in testing the equipment to manufacturers in third-world countries who shipped these defective voting machines to the United States, DAN RATHER REPORTS will present new information showing that these defective machines may have altered the outcome of multiple elections.

When: Dan Rather Reports “The Trouble with Touch Screens” will air Tuesday, August 14 at 8:00 p.m. ET. The program also airs at 11:00 p.m. ET to accommodate west coast prime time.

This is on HD Net so not everyone is going to be able to see it live but there will surely be copies on-line a day or two after the episode airs, if not sooner.

In the startling preview clip (posted below) notice that the only test performed on the ES&S iVotronic Direct Recording Electronic (DRE) touch-screen voting machines by the people who manufacture the machines in the Philippines is a "shake test" to ensure there were no loose pieces left in the machines. These people who make $2.10 to $2.50 a day and work in what amounts to a sweat shop where cats, rats, and snakes were removed from the basement by the truckload.

And the American who was dispatched to deal with problems at the factory back in 2001 admits that the touch-screens failed and "bubbled" as far back as then. But what has been done about it since?

The machines made by ES&S may not have any screws loose, but the folks who think this is any way to run a democracy certainly do!

A preview clip of the first segment of Rather's report follows...

Updated PFI 2007 Flier

Download a fresh copy of the 2007 PFI Flier here:

http://www.whizzyrds.com/PFI-Flyer-2007-002.pdf

We're at it again! Progressive Fest Illinois is going to rock...

Progressive Fest Illinois will be held at the Marvel Davis farm again this year, Sunday, October 14th from 09:00-18:00. (9:00am-6:00pm)

So far we have Merv Collins for music - and we'll try to get more smaller local bands in between, I think Merv is doing a larger lunch-time set.

Christine Cegelis will be out at PFI this year speaking on Progressive Politics in Illinois and the state thereof around 1pm. (Speaking of your GREAT local speakers...)

Also, we have Mark Burger - Sustainable Living - 2 p.m. (President of Illinois Solar Energy Association, www.illinoissolar.org. )

Additionally, my fellow PDI Co-Chair, Dr. Hal Snyder will speak on Healthcare For All of Us. Time TBD.

We also are looking to have a Progressive Poetry Open Mic somewhere in the line-up. Feel free to e-mail me at "aqmstaffo-at-mailbag.com" if you're a poet and interested in signing up! (We'll also want you to register as an attendee at the PDI website.

At this time, we are still issuing press releases and invitations as well, so be looking here for more news on the upcoming Fest, and expect it to keep getting better year-after-year, because we are sticking to our convictions on bringing this Fest to Illinois Progressives yearly from now on.

Also, please note, attendance is free, but we would really appreciate it if you would pre-register at www.illinoisprogressives.org . Registering helps us gage potential attendance, and therefore pull in better speakers.

Organizations looking to table at the event, we are requesting a flat $35.00 tabling fee to help fund the Fest.

PDI will also accept donations from attendees, however, as we are not yet incorporated, we cant offer you a tax deduction - just the knowledge that your donation will help us continue to grow this wonderful networking and spirit-lifting event.

All the best, and check back weekly for an updated list of speakers and events!!

Dan Stafford
Co-Chair,
PDI (http://www.illinoisprogressives.org)

The Sources of Terror...

Countdown Special Comment: Death of Habeas Corpus: “Your words are lies, Sir.”

Countdown Special Comment: Death of Habeas Corpus: “Your words are lies, Sir.”

By: John Amato @ 6:30 PM - PDT

Keith Olbermann has been calling it like it is. His "Special Comments" are indeed special because no other talking head outside of Cafferty is willing to step up to the plate and say what needs to be said on 24/7. "Your words are lies, Sir." They are lies, that imperil us all.' Sounds about right to me.

Video - WMV Video - QT

Olbermann: And lastly, as promised, a Special Comment tonight on the signing of the Military Commissions Act and the loss of Habeas Corpus.

We have lived as if in a trance. We have lived… as people in fear.

And now — our rights and our freedoms in peril — we slowly awake to learn that we have been afraid… of the wrong thing.

Therefore, tonight, have we truly become, the inheritors of our American legacy. For, on this first full day that the Military Commissions Act is in force, we now face what our ancestors faced, at other times of exaggerated crisis and melodramatic fear-mongering:

(Read the rest of this story…)

Filed Under: Countdown/Keith Olbermann
Trackback | Permalink | Comments | Spotlight | EMail This Post

October 18th, 2006

Quoting Vanity Fair on Yellowcake - "Ruthless Relentlessness"

Quoting Vanity Fair on Yellowcake - "Ruthless Relentlessness"

"In addition, Vanity Fair has found at least 14 instances prior to the 2003 State of the Union in which analysts at the C.I.A., the State Department, or other government agencies who had examined the Niger documents or reports about them raised serious doubts about their legitimacy-only to be rebuffed by Bush-administration officials who wanted to use the material. "They were just relentless," says Wilkerson, who later prepared Colin Powell’s presentation before the United Nations General Assembly. "You would take it out and they would stick it back in. That was their favorite bureaucratic technique-ruthless relentlessness.""Just another reason to end Catastrophic Conservatism - so we can have Consistent Constitutionality

Open Letter Sent to States Urging Emergency Paper Ballot Plans and Procedures for November Election

BLOGGED BY Brad ON 10/12/2006 1:03PM

Open Letter Sent to States Urging Emergency Paper Ballot Plans and Procedures for November Election

Urgent Plea Mailed to 50 State Governors, Sec's of State and Election Directors Signed by Broad Coalition of Election Integrity Advocacy Orgs, Congressional Members, Elections Officials, Computer Scientists, Civil Rights Attorneys and Journalists

Initial Federal Effort Calling for Back-Up Paper Ballots Now Moves to States, Citizens Asked to Join the Call!

An urgent letter has been sent today to the Governors, Secretaries of State and State Election Directors of all 50 states urging them to immediately create and implement plans and procedures for allowing the use of Emergency Paper Ballots at every local jurisdiction during this November's general election.

The missive, signed by a broad coalition of more than 50 Election Integrity Advocate groups, congressional members, elections officials, computer scientists, attorneys and journalists comes on the heels of Federal legislation recently introduced in both the U.S. House and Senate. Those bills, which were not brought up for a vote before Congress adjourned for the Election Recess, called for funding to states who implement plans to provide Emergency Paper Ballots. The legislation was introduced in the wake of recent primary elections around the country where voters were unable to cast a vote due to failure, malfunction, or other inability of electronic voting systems.

The two-page letter [PDF] (also posted in full at the end of this article) was signed by individuals such as: Sen. Barbara Boxer, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Sen. John Kerry, Rep. Rush Holt, Leon County, FL Supervisor of Elections Ion Sancho, OH elections attorney Cliff Arnebeck and University of Iowa computer scientist Doug Jones. Organizations signed on include: Common Cause, VerifiedVoting.org, VotersUnite.org, BlackBoxVoting.org, VoterAction.org, National Coalition on Black Civic Participation, MoveOn.org, TrueMajorityAction.org and many other national, state and local Election Integrity advocate groups.

"No legally registered voter should ever be told to 'come back later,' or be forced to use a provisional ballot simply because a voting system is unavailable to them at the time they are able to vote," the letter reads. "It is imperative that an ample supply of Emergency Paper Ballots be made available to account for any unforeseen circumstance."

The letter continues, "All voters must have the option to vote on an Emergency Paper Ballot if necessary and all such ballots must be counted as regular — not provisional — ballots."

As well, it's pointed out that some states already have certain procedures required by law to ensure that registered voters are allowed to vote, in the event that primary balloting procedures break down. Officials are urged to check those requirements and otherwise "draft, establish and publicize your own state's common-sense plans for Emergency Paper Ballots at every polling place this Nov. 7th, so that every election official, poll worker, and voter may be crystal clear on the procedures for utilizing such measures."

The movement calling on states to create Emergency Paper Ballot plans began just three weeks ago when The BRAD BLOG first called on the U.S. Congress to introduce and pass legislation in order to ensure that legally registered voters would not be turned away from the polls without being allowed to vote, as has been the case for thousands of voters in a number of states this year due to voting machines that failed to start up, were misprogrammed, failed during voting or, in some cases, hadn't been brought to polling places at all until several hours after polls were to have opened.

Many voters were either told to "come back later" or given Provisional Ballots, which are not counted as normal ballots on Election Night and frequently not counted at all.

Legislation for Emergency Ballots was introduced the following week in the U.S. Senate by Senators Boxer, Christopher Dodd, Russ Feingold and Kerry. A matching House version was filed the next day by Rep. Rush Holt and co-sponsored by 28 other House members. As well, Feingold and Kerry introduced a "Sense of the Senate" resolution calling for same, but that effort was also never brought up for a vote on the floor before the recess.

The letter, drafted by this journalist along with a number of other signatories, was sent to all recipients via return-receipt requested certified mailing this morning by VelvetRevolution.us. [DISCLOSURE: The BRAD BLOG is a co-founder of VR.]

With the failure of Congress to pass such crucial legislation prior to this November's important general election, the effort now moves to the State and Local level. Organizations and individuals are called on to contact their State and Local Elections officals to assure that plans are in place to accommodate any and all unforeseen circumstances.

Alluding to Americans who have fought for and defended the right to vote in the past, and indeed to this day around the globe, the letter concludes: "Our vote is our precious franchise. We believe it is worth defending, and worth the effort to guarantee that that right remains assured and inviolate."

Progressive Democrats of America (PDA), one of the initial signatories, has created an online petition for citizens to urge their Secretaries of State and Governors to ensure such plans and procedures are created and implemented immediately. Take action by clicking here…

The open letter, sent to all State Governors, Secretaries of State and State Election Directors calling for Emergency Paper Ballot plans and procedures and signed by 55 organizations and individuals, can be downloaded here [PDF]. It also follows below in full…

October 11, 2006

Honorable Governor, Secretary of State & State Election Director:

As you likely know, many legally registered American voters across the country were turned away from polling places without being able to cast a ballot this year. In state after state, voters were unable to exercise their franchise simply because electronic voting systems malfunctioned, suffered programming problems, or were otherwise unavailable for use.

We are sure you'll agree that should never happen in this country. No legally registered voter should ever be turned away from the polls without being allowed to vote on Election Day in America. No legally registered voter should ever be told to "come back later," or be forced to use a provisional ballot simply because a voting system is unavailable to them at the time they are able to vote. It is imperative that an ample supply of Emergency Paper Ballots be made available to account for any unforeseen circumstance.

Common-sense legislation for Emergency Paper Ballots at the polling place this November was recently filed in both the U.S. House and Senate. The proposed legislation would have:

• Mandated that voters be given a paper ballot upon request
• Required election officials to post information announcing and confirming that right at each polling place, and
• Mandated that all such paper ballots be counted as regular, not provisional, ballots.

Unfortunately, legislators were unable to pass this important measure before adjourning for the Election Recess. Now the responsibility for this vital democratic process must rest on the States and Counties to ensure that millions of Americans will be able to cast their ballots in the general election on November 7th.

Many of your state's citizens and polling places will be using new electronic voting systems for the first time. Such systems have already caused unforeseen problems this year, resulting in disenfranchised voters from Maryland to California, from Texas to Indiana to many other states and counties around the union.

In Maryland, the Governor recently called for Emergency Paper Ballots statewide after catastrophic problems in their recent primary. In Texas and Arkansas, election officials wisely instructed their counties to have Emergency Paper Ballots on hand during runoff elections after thousands were unable to vote during primaries, or when voting machine companies failed to program balloting systems properly.

In America, in 2006, such occurrences should never have happened, and we write to you hoping that you will take every measure to ensure they do not happen anywhere in your state this November.

Therefore, we, the undersigned groups and individuals, strongly urge you to make contingency plans and procedures to ensure that every legally registered American voter can vote in the upcoming general election. All voters must have the option to vote on an Emergency Paper Ballot if necessary, and all such ballots must be counted as regular — not provisional — ballots.

We hope that your state and every county therein will take careful, yet aggressive measures to institute plans for ample Emergency Paper Ballots, to be made available in every voting jurisdiction.

Several states have laws in place requiring the use of emergency paper ballots for voters if voting equipment is unavailable or has malfunctioned. Many more states and counties, however, do not have such provisions. In addition, many poll workers are unaware of such state laws and elections code.

So many Americans have fought and died in this country and around the world — and indeed, are fighting today – in the defense of our most basic freedoms, to ensure the right to freely cast a vote and thus determine the consent of the governed in this great democracy. Our vote is our precious franchise. We believe it is worth defending, and worth the effort to guarantee that that right remains assured and inviolate.

We urge you to please take this opportunity to draft, establish and publicize your own state's common-sense plans for Emergency Paper Ballots at every polling place this Nov. 7th, so that every election official, poll worker, and voter may be crystal clear on the procedures for utilizing such measures.

With Great Respect,

The Undersigned

ORGANIZATIONS 51CapitalMarch.com AUDIT-AZ BlackBoxVoting.org Broward Election Reform Coalition Citizens for Election Integrity Minnesota Citizens for Legitimate Government Coalition for Peace Action, Princeton NJ Coloradoans for Voting Integrity Common Cause Democrats.com Election Defense Alliance (EDA) Election Reform Network Florida Fair Elections Coalition Georgians for Verified Voting Iowans for Voting Integrity Las Vegas, NM Peace and Justice Center MoveOn.org Political Action National Coalition on Black Civic Participation National Committee for Voting Integrity National Election Data Archive NetworkOfCitizens.org New Yorkers for Verified Voting Ohio Honest Elections Campaign Palm Beach Coalition for Election Reform Progressive Democrats of America (PDA) SAVE Our Votes: Secure, Accessible, Verifiable Elections for MD Solarbus.org TrueMajorityAction.org

TrueVoteMD United Voters of New Mexico Valley Grassroots for Democracy VelvetRevolution.us VerifiedVoting.org VotePA VoterAction.org VotersUnite.org VoteTrustUSA Voting Matters [New Mexico] Wake Up and Save Your Country We Do Not Concede INDIVIDUALS Clifford O. Arnebeck, Jr, election attorney, OH John C. Bonifaz, voting rights attorney, Boston Sen. Barbara Boxer Bob Fitrakis, Ph.D, J.D. Brad Friedman, investigative journalist Bruce Funk, County Clerk, Emery County, UT Sarah Granger, computer security consultant Rush Holt, Member of Congress Douglas W. Jones, computer scientist, U. of Iowa Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. Sen. John Kerry Prof. Mark Crispin Miller, NYU Freddie Oakley, Yolo County, CA, Clerk/Recorder Ion Sancho, Supvsr. of Elections, Leon County, FL Barbara Simons, retired, IBM Research

1st Annual Progressive Fest Illinois

ANNOUNCING THE LONGHOUSE COALITION

by Carol Wolman

ANNOUNCING THE LONGHOUSE COALITION

A BROOMSTICK REVOLUTION

The Bush junta has stolen two presidential elections, and now has dismantled the most basic rights of citizens under the guise of "fighting the war on terror". Our country, our heritage, our Constitution has been taken over by ruthless people, who care only about power and money.



The shameful "Military Tribunal" bills passed by Congress last week shows that its members, of both parties, are utterly craven and corrupt. The Democrats could have organized a Senate filibuster of the bills that Gitmo-ize us all, but they didn't even try. Both parties are in league with the "devil in the White House", to quote Hugo Chavez.



We need a clean sweep in Congress this November, getting rid of all the incumbents who are not actively opposing the tyranny being imposed upon us. We need to vote in true Representatives of "we the people", who will make it the first order of business to impeach Bush and Cheney.



This is our very last chance to remain a free people.



The Longhouse Coalition is collecting all candidates for Congress, of whatever party, who will serve the people rather than the super-rich. Our members are Democrats, Independents, Greens. We are up and running. We will not split the "left", as we are reserving seats for good incumbents and candidates. With Creator's help, we'll replace this rotten Congress of pandering politicians with a group of people who are dedicated to peace, freedom, and the wellbeing of "we the people".



The Solidarity Movement in Poland was able to replace the oppressive Communist regime with a people's government, that was put into office peacefully and legally, through the electoral process.



Our situation is identical. A core group of 6 internet activists have been planning the Longhouse Coalition for a year, and worked tirelessly to put it into effect. The bandwagon is rolling! Many people are now working together to recruit candidates, both on the ballot and write-ins. Our numbers are growing rapidly.



To learn details, go to http://groups.yahoo.com/group/longhouse_coalition_info/

The files there contain our platform, an introduction to our strategy, list of member candidates- all of whom have endorsed the platform-, a list of seats we have reserved for candidates who have not yet joined, and other important information



Some highlights of the platform:

1) IMPEACH BUSH AND CHENEY

2) Peace- leave Iraq and Afghanistan, support UN peacekeeping forces, uphold international peace treaties like the Geneva Conventions and the Nonproliferation Treaty, defund the military.

3) Environment- join the Kyoto treaty, switch to clean, renewable energy, clean up pollutants, get rid of toxics.

4) Land- return a portion (30-45%) of National Forests to Native Americans to redress a historic wrong, change the tax structure to favor small farmers over agribusiness.

5) "Moral issues" - prochoice- make birth control more available, legalize all natural substances.



This is a battle for life, for survival of a habitable planet. We can no longer ignore global warming and the threat of nuclear war. It's a spiritual battle, has to be if we are to avoid the literal Armageddon, nuclear holocaust, with which the warmongering plutocrats keep threatening us. The organizers of the Longhouse Coalition are in constant prayer to our Creator.



We are thankful that Creator has blessed us with a Constitution that safeguards human rights and dignity, and enables us to live in peace. We are using the tools given us by the Founding Fathers- the right of any citizen to run for Congress, and the right of the people to impeach members of the Executive Branch who commit high crimes and misdemeanors. What we are doing is peaceful, legal and democratic.



Where does the name come from? The Longhouse was the meeting place of the Iroquois Federation, where they made their laws. Ben Franklin attended many of their meetings, and brought the principles of Iroquois government to the Constitional Convention. The emphasis on human equality and protection of basic people's rights in our Constitution come from the original Longhouse, or Haudenosaunee. In fact, "we the people" is a Native American, not a Europen concept- England and European countries were still ruled by kings and aristocrats in 1776. Thus our Congress is a direct descendant of the Longhouse.



To learn more, email us at LonghouseCoalition@yahoo.com with your questions, comments, assistance.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/eastbayimpeach

Carol S. Wolman, MD is a psychiatrist in Northern California. A lifelong peace activist, she has written extensively on the psychology of our times. She is actively working to impeach Bush and Cheney, and suggests you join or form a local group at http://impeachbush.meetup.com/ She is running for Congress as a nonpartisan write-in candidate in CA district 1.

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