My Local Biz Reviews

The Shaved Duck

2010-11-23T20:46:00.001-08:00

Recent reviews by Mike B.

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What's this?

A few new Yelp reviews.

2010-11-20T08:20:00.001-08:00

Recent reviews by Mike B.

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What's this?

My recent Yelp.com reviews

2010-11-13T11:08:00.001-08:00

Recent reviews by Mike B.

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What's this?

A birthday invitation!

2010-10-12T10:00:00.001-07:00

Hey there,

My birthday's coming up and to celebrate, I created a Birthday Wish where my friends and family can help me raise money for a cause that I care about.

It is difficult to find housing for formerly incarcerated men and women. Many landlords and most government housing programs exclude those who have been incarcerated. Project COPE has twice as many requests for housing as they have housing units. Other services are also needed to reintegrate the 5,000 formerly incarcerated individuals who annually return to Saint Louis.

"...I was in prison and you came to me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you ....sick or in prison and visit you?’ And the Holy One will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.'"

So please check out my Birthday Wish, spread the word, and make a donation if you can.

Thanks so much! I'm so lucky to have such awesome friends.

—Mike

Check it out

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Buildings/block I most want to see rehabbed.

2010-10-01T16:03:00.001-07:00

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10 Geekiest Cities in the U.S. | Online Universities

2010-08-05T08:50:00.001-07:00

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About town

2010-08-04T09:19:00.001-07:00

See the full gallery on posterous

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Roundtable article from Little House: Mary Ann's Garden

2010-06-14T12:10:00.001-07:00

A little tongue-in-cheek to the editor of the Roundtable. Enjoy!

I once again have the pleasure of writing "from Little House" article. In the past, I have been told my posts need to be edited due to length. This time, I thought I would use few words and add pictures. Since every picture is worth a thousand words.

To see the "reclaimed" Little House Garden and orchard in full, living, color, please attend our Garden Party on July 10, or stop by and stroll through any time at your leisure. We will be honoring Mary Ann McGivern, who started gardening this spot around thirty years ago. We will be raising funds for Little House and for the Downtown Teens. Send an email to mbroute66@charter.net or tekachildress@gmail.com for more information.

Peace,

Mike Baldwin

See and download the full gallery on posterous

See and download the full gallery on posterous

Posted via email from michaelbaldwin

To Copyright or Trademark?

2010-05-20T09:16:00.001-07:00

That is the question. I have filed an “intent to use” the Term: Justie to describe those who identify as being social justice oriented people. My applications are pending with the Trademark and Copyright offices.

I give credit for the idea to Megan Heeney, who mis-typed the title of a Facebook Event for Justice and Peace Shares. When I read the word Justie, I thought, that makes being social justice conscious person—a trend. In similar manner, one who enjoys good food might be called a Foodie.

We’ll see if the term catches on. What do you think?

Peace,

Justie, Mike Baldwin

Posted via email from michaelbaldwin

The Downtown Teens need summer projects. Here's how you can help: (RT)

2010-05-05T11:13:00.001-07:00

Hi friends of the Downtown Teens,

Thanks to your generosity from my last email, we were able to keep the Teens working through the end of this month with subsidies from several of you. Now I am looking for home improvement projects for the DownTown Teens for the Summer.

During the Spring we worked on the orchard next door, weeding, moving rocks and removing stumps and volunteer honeysuckle, etc. We also did a little painting and built a compost station and miscellaneous other small projects. Our big season is coming up. Once school is out, we make the program available three days a week. With a crew of 5 plus one or two adults, we can tackle a variety of projects or we can lend a helping hand to work with you on your project.

Please consider hiring the Teens for your next project. In the past, we have built fences, done landscaping and gardening, built decks, painted indoors and out, hung drywall, “gut” demolitions (and more refined disassembly), small repairs and rough carpentry. Now would be a good time for us to weatherproof your fence or deck. It is recommended after the one year, that pressure treated lumber be treated with a wood preservative and stain to extend its life. Ideally, we are looking for projects that can be completed in 1-3 days.

If a neighbor or friend mentions a project, mention the Teens. If you want to help out on some of our projects, let me know. As in the past, we will no doubt perform maintenance and improvement for people of limited income, so if you can send us a financial boost at this time, it will be gratefully acknowledged and carefully used to subsidize those projects.

We are still pursuing the nonprofit, 501(c)3 status, but for now, checks can be sent Mike Baldwin or Teka Childress at the address below. Or you can use PayPal to mbroute66@charter.net. To discuss or schedule a project, please give either of us a call. Thanks.

Peace,

Mike Baldwin & Teka Childress

314-974-7432, 314-974-2552

1538-A N. 17th Street

Saint Louis, MO 63106

Posted via email from michaelbaldwin

From CNN U.S. Intriguing people for February 26, 2010

2010-02-26T10:56:00.001-08:00

Michael Denson: "Walking the last mile with death row inmates, Michael Denson lives in a state where 87 percent of the residents support the death penalty." So begins Michelle Bearden's remarkable portrait of Denson at the uscatholic.org Web site. The Frisco, Texas, rancher founded the Catholic Death Row Ministry two decades ago, and today he finds himself spending less time with his cattle and more hours with inmates at maximum-security prisons. He told Bearden, "The general attitude is 'Let's kill them, and let's kill them as quick as we can.' I don't judge others for holding that opinion, but it doesn't work for me." Bearden reports that Denson's mother frequently wrote letters to inmates who needed pen pals. When he was 8, he asked his mother to write a letter -- on his behalf -- to convicted murderer Gary Gilmore, who killed two men in Utah and who was later executed. "Then the FBI called my mom and told her that her young son wrote this letter to Gilmore, saying he wanted the inmate to meet his dad when he went to heaven," Denson said. "My dad died when I was 5, and since it seemed certain that this man was going to die, too, I was hoping he'd look for my dad." In addition to the visits, Denson writes his own letters to prisoners and has witnessed four executions at the request of inmates or family members, according to Bearden. He is often asked how he would feel if someone murdered his child. "I would pray that God would give me the grace to forgive," Denson told Bearden. "No matter what, I still believe that only he has the right to take a life." U.S. Catholic: Walking the last mile with death row inmates

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20+-mind-blowing-social-media-statistics-revisitedhttp: //econsultancy.com/blog

2010-02-02T13:04:00.001-08:00

Posted 29 January 2010 10:07am by Jake Hird with 15 comments

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It’s around six months since I last threw out some truly mindboggling pieces of data surrounding social media. So, what’s happened between then and now?

I try to put as much information as I can into Econsultancy’s Social Media Statistics, which is part of our Stats Compendium (a truly awesome resource) but I find it’s always interesting to go back and review the old against the new.

So, I’ve collected as much as I can from my previous insane snippets of data and benchmarked it against the here and now, alongside rooting out some new stuff for you to mull over.

If six months ago, it wasn’t a compelling case to consider social media in the marketing mix, then this hopefully might change your mind...

Facebook claims that 50% of active users log into the site each day. This would mean at least 175m users every 24 hours… A considerable increase from the previous 120m.

Twitter now has 75m user accounts, but only around 15m are active users on a regular basis. It’s still a fair increase from the estimated 6-10m global users from a few months ago.

LinkedIn has over 50m members worldwide. This means an increase of around 1m members month-on-month since July/August last year.

Facebook currently has in excess of 350 million active users on global basis. Six months ago, this was 250m… meaning around a 40% increase of users in less than half a year.

Flickr now hosts more than 4bn images. A massive jump from the previous 3.6bn I wrote about.

More than 35m Facebook users update their status each day. This is 5m more than towards the end of July, 2009.

Wikipedia currently has in excess of 14m articles, meaning that it’s 85,000 contributors have written nearly a million new posts in six months.

Photo uploads to Facebook have increased by more than 100%. Currently, there are around 2.5bn uploads to the site each month – this was around a billion last time I covered this.

There are more than 70 translations available on Facebook. Last time around, this was only 50.

Back in 2009, the average user had 120 friends within Facebook. This is now around 130.

Mobile is even bigger than before for Facebook, with more than 65m users accessing the site through mobile-based devices. In six months, this is over 100% increase. (Previously 30m). As before, it’s no secret that users who access Facebook through mobile devices are almost 50% more active than those who don’t.

Okay, so now some new stuff that’s worth considering when looking at social media marketing that I’ve not included in previous posts:

There are more than 3.5bn pieces of content (web links, news stories, blog posts, etc.) shared each week on Facebook.

There are now 11m LinkedIn users across Europe.

Towards the end of last year, the average number of tweets per day was over 27.3 million.

The average number of tweets per hour was around 1.3m.

More than 700,000 local businesses have active Pages on Facebook.

Purpose-built Facebook pages have created more than 5.3bn fans.

15% of bloggers spend 10 or more hours each week blogging, according to Technorati's new State of the Blogosphere.

At the current rate, Twitter will process almost 10bn tweets in a single year.

About 70% of Facebook users are outside the USA.

India is currently the fastest-growing country to use LinkedIn, with around 3m total users.

More than 250 Facebook applications have over a million combined users each month.

70% of bloggers are organically talking about brands on their blog.

38% of bloggers post brand or product reviews.

More than 80,000 websites have implemented Facebook Connect since December 2008 and more than 60m Facebook users engage with it across these external sites each month.

Impressive stuff, but as always, take these stats with a pinch of salt. As before, no single piece of information can be used to base an online strategy upon, or be used as a forecast as to the direction a specific social media channel may take in the future - you need to fully understand your marketing and business objectives before launching off into this apparently vast space.

[Image source: thekeithhall, via Flickr. Various rights reserved]

Learn more...

For more kick-ass statistics, check out Econsultancy's Social Media Statistics Compendium. If you want to build a business case for social media, we've got that too, along with RFP guidelines to help you deal with outsourcing. There's also some top-notch data in our recent Social Media and Online PR Report and we also run our renowned Online PR & Social Media and Online Reputation Management training courses on a regular basis to help you get to grips with this complex channel.

Jake Hird is a Senior Research Analyst for Econsultancy. Follow him on Twitter, connect with him on LinkedIn or see what he's keeping an eye on via Retaggr.

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Get their compendium if you are a social media addict.

Posted via web from michaelbaldwin

Downtown Teens Need your $$$ help blog letter

2010-02-01T10:06:00.001-08:00

Dear Friends and Supporters of the Downtown Teens,

I have hesitated to send this email asking for funds for 2010, in light of the crisis in Haiti. I am sure you are all doing as much as you can to help the people of Haiti. However, we (Teka and I) are revving up the Downtown Teens for 2010 and plan to accomplish as much, if not more as previous years. To do so, we will need your help. As you can see from the report and addendum below, we had a great year in 2009—thanks mainly to a single, one-time gift of $10,000.

We are currently planning and budgeting for 2010. Please consider giving a one-time financial gift now or a monthly gift for 2010 so that we can make decisions for the coming year. Currently, Downtown Teens does not have 501c3 tax exempt status, however any checks received prior to January 31, 2010 can be credited to last year and you can receive a tax letter from PIDC. Due to my disgust with the “too big to fail” Bank bail-out, we closed our business account at Bank of America and have temporarily moved the Downtown Teens funds to a separate, but personal account at Saint Louis Community Credit Union, who do not have provision for business accounts. Thus, checks need to be made to either Teka or me. Soon, we will open a new business account for the Teens in a local, community bank or credit union that offers business accounts, once we have received our charter and tax exempt status. Then we will be able to issue tax letters for any donations after January 31, from the Downtown Teens.

Here is the summary from the past 4 years:

Stats are compiled for the 4 years of the program, beginning in 2006 to the end of 2009. Most values are rounded to the nearest $100.

FY 2006

42 Weeks

FY 2007

42 Weeks

FY 2008

42 Weeks

FY 2009

42 Weeks

PIDC jobs

$         10,800.00

$           9,400.00

$         15,600.00

$           4,700.00

Other jobs

$         11,700.00

$         16,500.00

$         13,200.00

$         29,000.00

Total $

$         22,500.00

$         25,900.00

$         29,800.00

$         33,700.00

Payroll

11,250.00

12,600.00

14,800.00

15,400.00

Avg # of weekly (P)articipants

10

9

8

8

Avg pay/P

$            1125.00

$            1400.00

$            1850.00

$            1925.00

Total Adult Mentor hours

710

720

690

700

Tools and Equipment

$1,400.00

$600.00

$800.00

$300.00

Customer Invoices

$         10,600.00

$         11,100.00

$         12,200.00

$         16,200.00

% of total

47%

43%

41%

48%

Write-off Bad debt

4700.00

Donors

$

$           3,100.00

$           4,000.00

$         10,000.00

Mike/Teka Subsidy/ Donation

$         13,300.00

$         12,300.00

$         14,400.00

$         12,500.00

Addendum to the Downtown Teen report:

2009 was a different year for the Teens. The slow economy led to several of our former teen graduates to being unemployed and not in school full-time. Coupled with a health issue I encountered in late 2008, I decided to offer temporary jobs to 4 of our graduates at $10.71/hour- $12.75/hour, less taxes. These graduates of our program ranged in age from 19-27. They were a big help on the jobs by both modeling proper behavior and skills, as well as providing some additional strength where I was lacking due to my health, which by the way is back to pre-heart attack condition! They were able to give some direction to the younger teens on the job and during our shared meals at the end of each day.

Of those four graduates, three found jobs during the course of the year as of 11/30/09. In addition, the fourth, Walter, just informed me today that he will be starting work at Dierbergs.

Since these employees were not part of the “educational” component of the Downtown Teens, they did not qualify for tax-free stipends. Instead, we paid them a living wage This tremendously added to the expenses of this year but seemed worth it.

Four of them worked for twelve hours a week for 8 weeks, three of them worked for 19 weeks, two of them worked for 27 weeks and one of them worked for 32 weeks—in exchange for rent and utilities.

I primarily employed them initially on PIDC projects—which never got reimbursed by PIDC after Teka and I left the Board, for a loss of $10,000 and on Little House Projects, which we paid out-of-pocket.

The total payroll and/or other payments:



$3072 weeks 1-8

$3168 weeks 9-19

$1536 weeks 20-27

$480    weeks 28-32

$8256 weeks 1-32

I have no idea how other graduates will fare into the coming year of 2010 or whether we will be able to manage to employ any of our graduates in 2010 with the extra burden of expense and bookkeeping. We will wait and see.

Please send donations by Mail: 1538-A N. 17^th Street, Saint Louis, MO 63106. Paypal: mbroute66@charter.net

Posted via email from michaelbaldwin

More Local Banks Embrace Growing Grassroots Effort

2010-01-29T07:13:00.001-08:00

By Shawn J. Soper, News Editor
Originally published January 29, 2010

BERLIN – With public sentiment growing against the so-called “mega-bank” financial institutions across the country, a growing movement calling for a return to the traditional values community banks offer is gaining momentum.

Large corporate banks, often chastised for their impersonal service and perceived attitude of indifference to their customers, have taken a hit as the current recession drags on, creating a groundswell of support for a return to traditional Main Street banking values. Last year, the federal government doled out billions in relief to the major corporate banks whose shaky lending practices and top-heavy corporate structures have largely been blamed for the current fiscal crisis.

Now, a significant grassroots effort to “Move Your Money,” encouraging Americans to deposit their money in stable neighborhood banks, is gaining momentum everyday as citizens are heeding the advice and closing accounts at large banks and moving their deposits to smaller institutions.

Even the federal government, which was so quick to dole out billions in bailout money to the handful or so of the top banking institutions in the country, is beginning to recognize the distinction between Wall Street and Main Street. Just last week, the House approved a crucial exemption in a regulatory reform bill, which essentially recognizes the difference between the large corporate banks and their smaller community brethren, and the Senate is expected to approve the measure.

While the mega-banks are faced with increased scrutiny and an insistence by the federal government to return to sound lending practices, the small community banks, such as the Bank of Ocean City, Calvin B. Taylor Bank, the Bank of Delmarva, Farmer’s Bank of Willards and several others in the area, have been doing it all along. As a result, more and more people are getting on the “Move Your Money” bandwagon.

“This has turned into a real grassroots effort and it’s starting to gain some momentum,” said Bank of Ocean City Executive Vice President Reid Tingle this week. “Local money is deposited and reinvested right in the community. We’re not in the business of selling off loans. The money deposited here is reinvested here.”

Taylor Bank President Ray Thompson said this week there has been some sentiment for breaking up the big corporate banks blamed in large part for the current financial crisis, and at the same time, the smaller community banks are gaining in popularity and political clout.

“There has been this movement in Congress to disassemble the mega-banks,” he said. “I really feel some of the largest banks should be disassembled. At the same time, there has been a grassroots movement to ‘move your money.’ A bunch of folks are getting together to urge citizens to get back to the traditional, more stable Main Street banks.”

As a result, the movement to go back to smaller community-based institutions is gaining momentum, largely because the faces and names behind the desks are familiar to the customers.

“The community banks are locally owned and operated,” said Thompson. “The management and the boards of directors are from right here in the community and they understand the needs of the community.”

Tingle agreed, saying the community-based banks, like his Bank of Ocean City, for example, have developed relationships with their clients over the years in sharp contrast to the cold, impersonal mega-banks.

“Most community banks serve a tighter geographic area and they know their customers’ names and faces,” he said. “It’s more about personalized service. We know who we are lending to. We know the borrower and they know us. This area is extremely fortunate to have several strong community banks.”

Traditionally, deposits made in smaller community banks are reinvested in the neighborhoods from whence they came, creating a symbiotic relationship of sorts between depositors and borrowers. The community banks serve as a middleman to ensure money deposited in the community is returned to the community.

“We have a vested interest for our customers to be successful,” said Tingle. “When the customer succeeds and does better, the whole community does better.”

Thompson agreed, saying loans to small businesses and private citizens in the community are fueled by the deposits of their neighbors and the people who support them.

“Community banks extract deposits from the local market and lend it right back into the community,” he said. “It’s all based on sound banking practices. We’re not writing exotic loans and we’re verifying income and verifying the borrowers have the ability to repay the loans. There is substantially less risk because we know our borrowers.”

For Bank of Ocean City and Taylor Bank and several others in the area, those same sound banking practices have been adhered to for over a century in the local community, and the current financial crisis has triggered a return to that.

“They’re talking about getting back to fundamentals, but the smaller community banks have never left them,” said Thompson. “We’re doing what we’ve always done – verifying income and verifying collateral to ensure the borrowers have the ability to repay the loan.”

Thompson said a return to the traditional practices of the smaller community banks offers an opportunity to turn the financial crisis around.

“We were not part of the financial crisis that erupted a couple of years ago and peaked in 2008,” he said. “We weren’t part of the problem then, but we can part of the solution now.”

For example, a common practice in the resort area is for local community banks to loan seasonal businesses start-up capital to get going again after closing up for the winter. The loans are based on solid track records of the borrowers and their ability to repay them as the season develops. The banks know their borrowers and are confident in their ability to repay the loans based on a proven track record, a partnership nearly impossible with corporate mega-banks.

“You deposit your money with us and we lend it to your neighbors who own and operate the businesses you frequent,” said Thompson. “The mega-banks don’t make loans to restaurants and seasonal businesses. Imagine what that would do to Ocean City.”

Thompson said the federal bailout of several mega-banks in the last year or so soured many customers struggling with their own personal finances, contributing to the movement to return to traditional community banks that did not receive or seek the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) funds.

“The Federal Reserve and the Treasury Department made those big banks take the money,” he said. “The local community banks were never part of that, nor did they need to be. Taylor Bank never lined up at the TARP window and we never felt the need to do so.”

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PSC staff say AmerenUE's Pure Power misleads customers about green energy - WDAF

2010-01-19T12:08:00.001-08:00

PSC staff say AmerenUE's Pure Power misleads customers about green energy

By Associated Press

11:37 AM CST, January 19, 2010

ST. LOUIS (AP) — AmerenUE's Pure Power program is under scrutiny by the Missouri Public Service Commission.
Regulators say the utility's customers don't know what they're getting when they agree to pay extra to support renewable energy development.
The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported Tuesday that PSC staff are concerned that many of the 6,000 AmerenUE customers who are paying an extra monthly fee don't know how little of it actually supports green energy.
PSC says that less than half is spent on renewable energy certificates. The rest goes to a San Francisco-based administrator's marketing, administration or profits.
The group says that at least 75 percent of the renewable energy certificates will be purchased from wind projects and at least half will be in Missouri and Illinois.

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Are you a Pure Power subscriber? What do you think?

Posted via web from michaelbaldwin

Foreign oil dependence breeds terrorism

2010-01-19T11:07:00.001-08:00

via globe-democrat.com

"Operation Free arrives at Washington University in St. Louis for a discussion on America's dependence on foreign oil."

Posted via web from michaelbaldwin

Rich Nations Call for Haiti Debt Relief

2010-01-19T07:38:00.001-08:00

PARIS Broadening the relief effort, the Paris Club of international creditors issued an appeal Tuesday for nations owed money by Haiti to cancel the debts to help reconstruction after the devastating earthquake a week ago.

A statement from the informal grouping, which meets each month in Paris and is composed of major industrialized countries, came as international agencies pressed for the provision of greater security to protect the distribution of aid in Haiti and the supply route leading from the neighboring Dominican Republic.

The Paris Club said that last July its members canceled all their claims on Haiti, at that time totaling $214 million.

Considering the financing needs that Haiti will face in reconstructing the country, Paris Club creditors call upon other bilateral creditors also to urgently provide full debt cancellation to Haiti, the statement said.

The response from creditors was not clear. The Paris Club said that Haitis public external debt, before factoring in relief offered to very poor countries, totaled $1.885 billion at the end of September 2008. The appeal came as relief efforts in Haiti were still stymied by bottlenecks and security fears.

The United Nations Security Council is expected to agree on Tuesday to send an additional 3,500 soldiers and police officers to Haiti, a move requested by Secretary General Ban Ki-moon to protect the distribution of emergency supplies and to ensure public order if post-earthquake frustrations boil over.

Thousands of American troops are being deployed in Haiti, but they are expected to concentrate on humanitarian aid, not security, said Alain Le Roy, the head of United Nations peacekeeping operations.

Aid experts say they view Haiti as a challenging environment in which to operate: even before the earthquake, a United Nations peacekeeping force was deployed there.

Greg Barrow, a spokesman for the World Food Program, said the agency an arm of the United Nations wanted a formal system in place to ensure security arrangements for the distribution of food from four hubs in Port-au-Prince, the capital, and 40 more such focal points around Haiti.

He said diesel fuel was being shipped in from neighboring Dominican Republic by road and the convoys required a security escort.

Because of the lack of security in Port-au-Prince, he said, we had to scale back some distributions, not because we werent able to reach the people but because we didnt have security.

But, he said in a telephone interview, security was not the primary obstacle to the distribution of aid.

The primary issue is the catastrophic damage to the infrastructure from ports to roads to bridges that affects the ability of all relief agencies to stream aid to survivors of the earthquake.

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It's time to do this.

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Catholic relief agencies. Please be generous.

2010-01-16T22:12:00.001-08:00

Fog in the Lou

Peace,

Mike Baldwin

See and download the full gallery on posterous

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1959 Bel Air vs. 2009 Malibu crash test

2010-01-15T14:56:00.001-08:00

</object>

Peace,

Mike Baldwin

314-974-7432

1538-A N. 17th Street

Saint Louis, MO 63106

Follow me on Twitter

LinkedIN

From: Posterous (mlbaldwin) [mailto:post@mlbaldwin.posterous.com]
Sent: Wednesday, January 13, 2010 12:56 PM
To: mlbaldwin@charter.net
Subject: Posterous | Re: Catholic relief agencies. Please be generous.

Posted via email from michaelbaldwin

Catholic relief agencies. Please be generous.

2010-01-13T10:56:00.001-08:00

The following international aid agencies are working with partner agencies and local religious leaders in Haiti and are accepting donations for victims of the Jan. 12 earthquake.
• Catholic Relief Services, the U.S. bishops’ international relief and development agency, is accepting donations by phone at 1-800-736-3467; online at www.crs.org;
or by mail to CRS, P.O. Box 17090, Baltimore, MD 21203-7090.
• The Salesians are accepting donations by phone at 1-914-633-8344; online at www.salesianmissions.org;
or by mail to Salesian Disaster Relief, Salesian Missions, P.O. Box 30, New Rochelle, NY 10802-0030.
• The Archdiocese of Miami, which has a large Haitian population, has set up a place to donate via its website,www.newmiamiarch.org
.
• Caritas Internationalis is accepting donations for Haiti at www.caritas.org
.
• Food for the Poor is also accepting donations at www.foodforthepoor.org
.
Peace,
Mike

Posted via email from michaelbaldwin

Texting Relief Funds only takes a moment: Haiti Earthquake Relief: How You Can Help:

2010-01-13T08:28:00.001-08:00

An earthquake centered near the impoverished Haitian capital of Port-au-Prince caused the collapse of several buildings and an unknown number of fatalities Tuesday. The quake measured 7.0 on the Richter scale and at least 1.8 million people live within the area where the earthquake had its highest intensity.

President Obama said on Tuesday that his "thoughts and prayers" were with the people of Haiti. "We are closely monitoring the situation and we stand ready to assist the people of Haiti," Obama said in a statement. The Obama administration said that the State Department, USAID and the U.S. military were working to coordinate an assessment of the situation and any possible assistance.

Huffington Post Impact is working to collect a comprehensive list of links and ways to get involved in relief efforts, detailed below.

NOTE: We will continually be updating this page. The best way for you to help right now is to give through one of the organizations below.

•The American Red Cross is pledging an initial $200,000 to assist communities impacted by this earthquake. They expect to provide immediate needs for food, water, temporary shelter, medical services and emotional support. They are accepting donations through their International Response Fund.

•UNICEF has issued a statement that "Children are always the most vulnerable population in any natural disaster, and UNICEF is there for them." UNICEF requests donations for relief for children in Haiti via their Haiti Earthquake Fund. You can also call 1-800-4UNICEF.

•Donate through Wyclef Jean's foundation, Yele Haiti. Text "Yele" to 501501 and $5 will be charged to your phone bill and given to relief projects through the organization.

•Operation USA is appealing for donations of funds from the public and corporate donations in bulk of health care materials, water purification supplies and food supplements which it will ship to the region from its base in the Port of Los Angeles. Donate online at www.opusa.org, by phone at 1-800-678-7255 or, by check made out to Operation USA, 3617 Hayden Ave, Suite A, Culver City, CA 90232.

Story continues below

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');}

•Ben Stiller's Stillerstrong campaign will be temporarily diverting all donations to support the Haiti relief effort.

•Partners In Health reports its Port-au-Prince clinical director , Louise Ivers, has appealed for assistance: "Port-au-Prince is devastated, lot of deaths. SOS. SOS... Temporary field hospital by us at UNDP needs supplies, pain meds, bandages. Please help us." Donate to their Haiti earthquake fund.

•Mercy Corps is sending a team of emergency responders to assess damage, and seek to fulfill immediate needs of quake survivors. The agency aided families after earthquakes in Peru in 2007, China and Pakistan in 2008, and Indonesia last year. Donate online, call 1-888-256-1900 or send checks to Mercy Corps Haiti Earthquake Fund; Dept NR; PO Box 2669; Portland, OR 97208.

•Direct Relief is committing up to $1 million in aid for the response and is coordinating with its other in-country partners and colleague organizations. Their partners in Haiti include Partners in Health, St. Damien Children's Hospital, and the Visitation Hospital, which are particularly active in emergency response. Donate to Direct Relief online.

•Oxfam is rushing in teams from around the region to respond to the situation to provide clean water, shelter, sanitation and help people recover. Donate to Oxfam America online.

•The Baptist Haiti Mission is operating an 82-bed hospital that is "overflowing with injured." Donate online to BHM and 100% of your donation will go to the relief effort.

•International Medical Corps is assembling a team of first responders and resources to provide lifesaving medical care and other emergency services to survivors of the earthquake. Donate online.

via huffingtonpost.com

The world is so much smaller with the advent of social media. Show your care and concern in just seconds, by texting relief funds to the various organizations who have set up such text lines. Then, spend a moment in prayer/meditation/thought for those most directly impacted by this natural disaster.

Posted via web from michaelbaldwin

A great bunch of people made for a great party!

2010-01-10T01:51:00.001-08:00

Thanks to all who came to Little Christmas at Little House. Pictures to follow in a few days on Facebook.
Peace,
Mike
Posted via email from michaelbaldwin

How to help the homeless in the cold - CNN.com

2010-01-08T08:37:00.001-08:00

How to help the homeless in the cold

By Jim Kavanagh, CNN

January 8, 2010 9:13 a.m. EST

Homeless people line up outside a shelter in Atlanta, Georgia, as unusually cold weather came in this week.

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

If someone is in need, call social services hot line or 911, experts say
Agencies have the necessary training and resources, they say
Gift of blanket or coat could keep someone from seeking long-term help
Respect people's right to refuse help, advocate says

(CNN) -- The weather has turned dangerously cold in much of the country, putting homeless people at high risk of injury or even death. If you encounter someone and want to help, what should you do?

The specific answer depends on the circumstances, but those who work with the homeless every day agree you generally should leave social services to the professionals.

"Most communities have some kind of crisis hot line, or the local United Way will have a 211 line," said Brian O'Malley, executive director of the Homeless Services Coalition of Greater Kansas City, in Missouri. In some cities, including New York, the hot line number is 311.

Your hot line call will prompt a local homeless services agency to dispatch outreach workers to help the person in need, said O'Malley and his counterparts in New York and Charlotte, North Carolina.

"We've been doing this work for a very long time, and what we tell people is it is better to donate funds and resources to organizations that are in the business of helping homeless people and have professionals on their staff who know how to do this," said Stephan Russo, executive director of Goddard Riverside Community Center, the lead homeless services agency in Manhattan.

via cnn.com

Or, come to Little Christmas at Little House and bring a hat, gloves, or blankets for the Winter outreach.
"If you see someone who needs a coat and you have a coat, offer it to them. I don't have a problem with that," O'Malley said. "If the person is reluctant, lay the coat on the ground and leave."

Posted via web from michaelbaldwin

Consider Becoming a Board Member of Project COPE

2010-01-06T06:51:00.001-08:00

Welcome to Project COPE

Each year, 5,000 people leave prison for St. Louis —
most with no job, no housing and no future. What happens to them next?

For nearly 25 years, Project COPE has been helping newly released men and women: matching them with teams of volunteers from Christian, Jewish or Muslim congregations in year-long partnerships; and providing transitional housing, both in St. Louis and St. Charles counties. Our low recidivism rate shows that offering practical and emotional support can help people make productive new lives.

via projcope.org

Contact me if you are interested.

Posted via web from michaelbaldwin

Why N.T. Wright is Wrong About Social Media - Julie Clawson - God's Politics Blog

2010-01-05T12:43:00.001-08:00

Why N.T. Wright is Wrong About Social Media
by Julie Clawson 01-05-2010

The Out of Ur blog recently posted a video of N.T. Wright going off on the dangers of social media. He warns that blogging and the like will stand in the way of real communication with others and he calls the popularity of social media “cultural masturbation.” Now it’s nothing new to hear some voice or other going off on modern technology, putting their own particular “it’s the end of the world as we know it” spin on the matter. And on many issues I truly love and respect N.T. Wright, so I was disappointed to hear someone so knowledgeable about history and faith jump on the “caution people about the perceived dangers of the Internet” bandwagon. Admitting the irony that his video was posted on a blog to be discussed on blogs, Facebook, and Twitter, let me just rant for a moment about why I am tired of this discussion.

Let’s just get it out of the way: The warning that Wright and others give is that social media takes people away from actual face-to-face interaction. If we spend too much time blogging and tweeting, we will reduce our time spent with huggable (Wright’s term) people. The problem is – that just isn’t true. A recent Pew Study busted that myth. It reported that, yes, about 6% of the population are isolated and asocial, but that is a number that has stayed steady since 1985 – before the widespread advent of the Internet. The study also found that people who spend time on the Internet are actually far more likely to go out and be with real live people than those who don’t use the Internet. The point – social media actually builds community, even of the huggable people sort. Not only that, but that community is actually more diverse than the communities of those who don’t use social media.

Now I admit, there is the temptation online to not present one’s true self to the world. I think using the Internet for role-playing and gaming is one thing (come on, you can freaking FLY in Second Life!), but aside from people who are already social deviants, I see most people being themselves online. For example, I recently decided to alter my blogroll to a list of people’s names. Aside from group blogs and the occasional anonymous blog, most people are known these days by their true identity and not just their blog name. That wasn’t the case when I first started blogging or interacting online. Back then, most people hid behind cute avatars and handles. Most of the blogs I read, especially those by women, were anonymous, but over the years people have moved towards being themselves by using their real name. Same thing with e-mail addresses. It used to be that everyone had some personal descriptor/alter ego as their e-mail – like JesusGirl98 or SurfrBoy123. And yes, my first email address was EponineJMG@aol.com (ah, the musical obsessed highschool girl demographic). I still cringe a bit when I sign into a site I’ve been on for a long time (like The Ooze) and have my user name be some variation of MaraJade. Back then, I assumed that the internet wasn’t real community and that I could hide behind my username, but I’ve come to realize that I have to be true to myself. And that involves using my real name and only writing the things I am not afraid to own up to.

via blog.sojo.net

So Pew Research shows Social Media builds social ties? Imagine.

Posted via web from michaelbaldwin

Population of the 20 Largest U.S. Cities, 1900–2005 — Infoplease.com

2010-01-04T19:07:00.001-08:00

United States > U.S. Cities

Population of the 20 Largest U.S. Cities, 1900–2005

The table below lists the largest 20 cities in the United States based on population for select years between 1900 to 2005.

1900 1920 1940

Rank Place Population Place Population Place Population

1. New York, N.Y. 3,437,202 New York, N.Y. 5,620,048 New York, N.Y. 7,454,995

2. Chicago, Ill. 1,698,575 Chicago, Ill. 2,701,705 Chicago, Ill. 3,396,808

3. Philadelphia, Pa. 1,293,697 Philadelphia, Pa. 1,823,779 Philadelphia, Pa. 1,931,334

4. St. Louis, Mo. 575,238 Detroit, Mich. 993,078 Detroit, Mich. 1,623,452

5. Boston, Mass. 560,892 Cleveland, Ohio 796,841 Los Angeles, Calif. 1,504,277

6. Baltimore, Md. 508,957 St. Louis, Mo. 772,897 Cleveland, Ohio 878,336

7. Cleveland, Ohio 381,768 Boston, Mass. 748,060 Baltimore, Md. 859,100

8. Buffalo, N.Y. 352,387 Baltimore, Md. 733,826 St. Louis, Mo. 816,048

9. San Francisco, Calif. 342,782 Pittsburgh, Pa. 588,343 Boston, Mass. 770,816

10. Cincinnati, Ohio 325,902 Los Angeles, Calif. 576,673 Pittsburgh, Pa. 671,659

11. Pittsburgh, Pa. 321,616 Buffalo, N.Y. 506,775 Washington, DC 663,091

12. New Orleans, La. 287,104 San Francisco, Calif. 506,676 San Francisco, Calif. 634,536

13. Detroit, Mich. 285,704 Milwaukee, Wis. 457,147 Milwaukee, Wis. 587,472

14. Milwaukee, Wis. 285,315 Washington, DC 437,571 Buffalo, N.Y. 575,901

15. Washington, DC 278,718 Newark, N.J. 414,524 New Orleans, La. 494,537

16. Newark, N.J. 246,070 Cincinnati, Ohio 401,247 Minneapolis, Minn. 492,370

17. Jersey City, N.J. 206,433 New Orleans, La. 387,219 Cincinnati, Ohio 455,610

18. Louisville, Ky. 204,731 Minneapolis, Minn. 380,582 Newark, N.J. 429,760

19. Minneapolis, Minn. 202,718 Kansas City, Mo. 324,410 Kansas City, Mo. 399,178

20. Providence, R.I. 175,597 Seattle, Wash. 315,312 Indianapolis, Ind. 386,972

1960 1980 2005¹

Rank Place Population Place Population Place Population

1. New York, N.Y. 7,781,984 New York, N.Y. 7,071,639 New York, N.Y. 8,143,197

2. Chicago, Ill. 3,550,404 Chicago, Ill. 3,005,072 Los Angeles, Calif. 3,844,829

3. Los Angeles, Calif. 2,479,015 Los Angeles, Calif. 2,966,850 Chicago, Ill. 2,842,518

4. Philadelphia, Pa. 2,002,512 Philadelphia, Pa. 1,688,210 Houston, Tex. 2,016,582

5. Detroit, Mich. 1,670,144 Houston, Tex, 1,595,138 Philadelphia, Pa. 1,463,281

6. Baltimore, Md. 939,024 Detroit, Mich. 1,203,339 Phoenix, Ariz. 1,461,575

7. Houston, Tex. 938,219 Dallas, Tex. 904,078 San Antonio, Tex. 1,256,509

8. Cleveland, Ohio 876,050 San Diego, Calif. 875,538 San Diego, Calif. 1,255,540

9. Washington, DC 763,956 Phoenix, Ariz. 789,704 Dallas, Tex. 1,213,825

10. St. Louis, Mo. 750,026 Baltimore, Md. 786,775 San Jose, Calif. 912,332

11. Milwaukee, Wis. 741,324 San Antonio, Tex. 785,880 Detroit, Mich. 886,671

12. San Francisco, Calif. 740,316 Indianapolis, Ind. 700,807 Indianapolis, Ind. 784,118

13. Boston, Mass. 697,197 San Francisco, Calif. 678,974 Jacksonville, Fla. 782,623

14. Dallas, Tex. 679,684 Memphis, Tenn. 646,356 San Francisco, Calif. 739,426

15. New Orleans, La. 627,525 Washington, DC 638,333 Columbus, Ohio 730,657

16. Pittsburgh, Pa. 604,332 Milwaukee, Wis. 636,212 Austin, Tex. 690,252

17. San Antonio, Tex. 587,718 San Jose, Calif. 629,442 Memphis, Tenn. 672,277

18. San Diego, Calif. 573,224 Cleveland, Ohio 573,822 Baltimore, Md. 635,815

19. Seattle, Wash. 557,087 Columbus, Ohio 564,871 Fort Worth, Tex. 624,067

20. Buffalo, N.Y. 532,759 Boston, Mass. 562,994 Charlotte, N.C. 610,949

1. Populations for 1900–1980 are Census figures. 2005 figures are population estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau. For 2000 Census figures, see Top 50 Cities in the U.S. by Population and Rank, 1990, 2000, and 2005.

Information Please® Database, © 2007 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Top 50 Cities in the U.S. by Population and Rank U.S. Cities Metropolitan Areas with Population of 5,000,000 or More

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U.S. Population by Region, 1990–2006 - United States > U.S. Statistics > Population

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via infoplease.com

Notice how STL drops out of the top 20 btwn 1960 and 1980. The trend is reversing, but how far can we get?

Posted via web from michaelbaldwin

Saint Louis was #4 largest city in 1910 #52 in 2000 Thanks @tlwriter

2010-01-04T18:54:00.001-08:00

Table 14. Population of the 100 Largest Urban Places: 1910

Source: U.S. Bureau of the Census

Internet Release date: June 15, 1998

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

     |                         |          |       | Density

     |                         |          |   Land| (average

     |                         |          |   area| popula-

     |                         |          |   (sq.| tion per

Rank | Place                   |Population| miles)|sq. mile)

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

   1   New York city, NY *...... 4,766,883   286.8    16,621

   2   Chicago city, IL......... 2,185,283   185.1    11,806

   3   Philadelphia city, PA.... 1,549,008   130.2    11,897

   4   St. Louis city, MO.......   687,029    61.4    11,189

   5   Boston city, MA..........   670,585    41.1    16,316

   6   Cleveland city, OH.......   560,663    45.6    12,295

   7   Baltimore city, MD.......   558,485    30.1    18,554

   8   Pittsburgh city, PA *....   533,905    41.4    12,896

   9   Detroit city, MI.........   465,766    40.8    11,416

10   Buffalo city, NY.........   423,715    38.7    10,949

11   San Francisco city, CA...   416,912    46.5     8,966

12   Milwaukee city, WI.......   373,857    22.8   16,397

13   Cincinnati city, OH......   363,591    49.8     7,301

14   Newark city, NJ..........   347,469    23.2    14,977

15   New Orleans city, LA.....   339,075   196.0     1,730

16   Washington city, DC......   331,069    60.0     5,518

17   Los Angeles city, CA.....   319,198    99.2     3,218

18   Minneapolis city, MN.....   301,408    50.1     6,016

19   Jersey City city, NJ.....   267,779    13.0    20,598

20   Kansas City city, MO.....   248,381    58.5     4,246

Note to my Kansas City fans: Kansas City was 20 in 1910 and is #42 in 2000.

Peace,

Mike Baldwin

Posted via email from michaelbaldwin

Link to Invitation from Evite

2010-01-02T21:44:00.001-08:00
Event: Little Christmas at Little House
All Tweeps and FB friends invited.
Posted via email from michaelbaldwin

[Causes] Remembering Vic Chesnutt by Hammering Health Insurers

2010-01-02T16:39:00.001-08:00

As we start 2010, let’s take a moment to remember the latest victim of the US profits-before-healthcare mantra. This time we lost someone fairly high profile, who died on Christmas day while $70,000 in debt to an Athens, Georgia hospital that had placed a lien on his house. He was supposed to be insured. Then we’ll add a bit of needed levity courtesy of a former self-described insurance industry ‘spokesjerk’ – you can actually tell him where to go.

Vic Chesnutt, a folk-rocker with low-level quadriplegia due to a car accident at age 18 (his arms were partially functional, allowing him to play the guitar), died of an apparently deliberate overdose. He was 45. Chesnutt got his big break when Michael Stipe of R.E.M. discovered him and produced his first two albums. In 1996 the tribute album Sweet Relief II featured covers of his songs performed by none other than Madonna, Smashing Pumpkins, Garbage, Indigo Girls, and more. Ironically, it was precisely because Chesnutt chose to be a productive member of society, cutting 16 albums and inspiring thousands, that he was prevented from acquiring comprehensive health insurance.

He chose to fight his disability, and found a way to play guitar with only two working fingers. Because he could now earn some income, the government did not consider him to be disabled, meaning he was not eligible for Medicare. No other options were available to him either, because Vic was uninsurable in the individual market. Darn quadriplegic. His only group insurance came during his stint with Capitol Records. After that he opted for $500-a-month COBRA. When that ran out, the only coverage he could get was hospitalization insurance. Sometimes this coverage includes all hospital costs but not physician services and medications, other times it only covers room and board.

Unsurprisingly, Chesnutt was an outspoken critic of US healthcare. Still, he had no idea what to expect after two needed surgeries. Despite his insurance paying $100,000, he was sent bills for $35,000, then $50,000, then $70,000. For what, he wasn’t sure. He was a musician, not a healthcare expert. Still, he made payments until he couldn’t afford to anymore, at which point the hospital demanded payment in full. Then it filed suit against him, putting a lien on his house. The sheriff came by and tacked the notice on his door.

His Canadian bandmates couldn’t comprehend how his situation was possible in a civilized country. As he said in November, "They do feel for me, but it's something that blows their minds; there's nowhere else in the world that I'd be facing the situation I'm in right now. They cannot understand what kind of society would inflict that on their population. It's terrifying." Worse, he knew he needed more surgeries. “It seems absurd they can charge this much,” he said. “I could die tomorrow because of other operations I need that I can't afford. I could die any day now, but I don't want to pay them another nickel."

Chesnutt was admittedly a tortured genius – he attempted suicide 3-4 times through his 20’s. But depressed though he was, he soldiered on for his love of music, until US healthcare put him over the edge. Friend and filmmaker Jem Cohen put it in perspective: “Vic's death, just so you all know, did not come at the end of some cliché downward spiral. He was battling deep depression but also at the peak of his powers, and with the help of friends and family he was in the middle of a desperate search for help. The system failed to provide it." RIP, Vic, I’m sorry US healthcare failed you.

At least one of the industry’s ‘spokesjerks’ admits it. This fun video features Andy Cobb, former Blue Cross Blue Shield pitchman, telling you the truth about the US health insurance industry. Because of that, he’s obviously fired. So tell him where he should work his spokesjerk powers next. Thanks to Change.org Martin for reminding me of this enduring skewerfest.

Photo Bertrand / CC BY 2.0

Posted via email from michaelbaldwin

[Causes] Scrooge Award Goes to Goldman Sachs Subsidiary

2010-01-01T22:39:00.001-08:00

'Tis the season for lambasting companies that choose profit over relieving this country's housing crisis. This time around, the Scrooge Award goes to Goldman Sachs, whose loan collection subsidiary Litton Loan Servicing blocks attempts to modify loans while its parent company doles out massive bonuses to company executives.

According to ABC News, "With the exception of maybe AIG, no firm has come to symbolize Main Street's disgust with Wall Street practices more than Goldman. In a move that caused a global backlash, Goldman has said it expects to set aside more than $20 billion for bonuses and other forms of employee compensation and benefits at the end of the year."

Looks like a visit from the Ghost of Christmas Past is in order. Goldman Sachs was a major beneficiary of the taxpayer bailout TARP. While they've paid back the $10 billion we loaned them in this agreement, they've apparently turned a blind eye to the importance of social capital, choosing growth at the narrow bottom line and top-level incentive over the creation of sustainable communities.

Meanwhile, Litton makes it harder for families to keep their homes. "Loan servicers [like Litton] make their money on late fees, so there is a perverse incentive for them not to work out solutions," said Julia Gordon, senior policy counsel at the Washington, D.C.-based Center for Responsible Lending. "Meanwhile, there is zero incentive for them to help a family stay in their home." To date, Litton has assisted in the modification of only 12 percent of qualified client home loans. This is the worst variety of stinginess.

This holiday season, let's send a message to Goldman Sachs and other Scrooges who profit from an unhealthy and broken housing system: no more.

Image from Yahoo!

Posted via email from michaelbaldwin

Happy New Year!

2009-12-31T18:15:00.001-08:00

Posted via web from michaelbaldwin

New edition of the Roundtable from Karen House: Distributism Putting a Human Face on the Economy

2009-12-31T14:27:00.001-08:00

via karenhousecw.org

I've been reading this while home "sick". Good issue on a pertinent topic.

Posted via web from michaelbaldwin

John Mackey and the limits of “conscious capitalism” | Grist

2009-12-31T14:16:00.001-08:00

John Mackey: will the unfettered market bring him down? Photo: JOEM500, via FlickrUnder pressure from a variety of shareholders, Whole Foods founder John Mackey has surrendered his position on his company’s board of directors. He will continue serving as CEO, but will no longer be able to vote on board-level decisions.

Just before the announcement, The New Yorker ran a long and entertaining profile of Mackey by Nick Paumgarten. The two events—the publication of the New Yorker piece, quickly followed by Mackey’s board resignation—may not be coincidental. in recent years, buffeted by self-generated controversy, Mackey has sought to exert careful control over his media image. He makes a game effort with Paumagarten. “I no longer drink alcohol around journalists,” Mackey tells him. He adds: “I am not going to talk about my sex life,” even though Paumagarten had not asked.

Despite those undoubtedly wise precautions, Mackey emerges from Paumgarten’s gentle piece as a bit of a nut.

We see him engaging in new-age babble, declaring “I am self-actualizing myself” and subjecting himself to something called “the Course.” We find him behaving like a jerk, alienating underlings (“executive-retreat volleyball games had to be scrapped, owing to Mackey’s intensity and his ill-disguised scorn for less capable teammates”) and sending fellow executives into grumpy exile. Mostly, we find him justifying his Randian faith in hyper-capitalism, as zealous as a Christian’s belief in the Resurrection.

In green circles, the money shot is probably the bit about climate change—it turns out the founder of the iconic “certified organic supermarket” is a bit of a denier (don’t tell Paumgarten’s colleague Michael Specter). Paumgarten writes:

One of the books on the list was “Heaven and Earth: Global Warming-the Missing Science,” a skeptical take on climate change. Mackey told me that he agrees with the book’s assertion that, as he put it, “no scientific consensus exists” regarding the causes of climate change; he added, with a candor you could call bold or reckless, that it would be a pity to allow “hysteria about global warming” to cause us “to raise taxes and increase regulation, and in turn lower our standard of living and lead to an increase in poverty.” One would imagine that, on this score, many of his customers, to say nothing of most climate scientists, might disagree. He also said, “Historically, prosperity tends to correlate to warmer temperatures.”

In one deft paragraph, Paumgarten skewers Mackey’s unfortunate recent foray into healthcare punditry, as well as his long-time hostility to labor unions:

It sometimes sounds as if he believed that, if every company had him at the helm, there would be no need for unions or health-care reform, and that therefore every company should have someone like him, and that therefore there should be no unions or health-care reform. In other words, because he runs a business a certain way, others will, can, and should, and so the safeguards that have evolved over the generations to protect against human venality—against, say, greedy, bullying bosses—are no longer necessary. The logic is as sound as the presumption is preposterous.

I think this captures the quintessence of Mackeyism: an earnest faith, backed up by his own personal virtue, that unfettered capitalism paves the way to social utopia.

No doubt, Mackey himself is a benevolent corporate chief. The market values Whole Foods at $4 billion, yet the total value of Mackey’s Whole Foods shares is just $31 million. Nearly all founders of corporate empires manage to grab a much larger share of the loot than that. His annual salary as CEO: $1. And he has imposed a kind of austerity on his fellow execs: “No one at the company can have a salary more than nineteen times what the average team member makes,” Paumgarten reports. “On average, an S. & P. 500 C.E.O. makes three hundred and nineteen times what a production worker does.” And for Whole Foods employees, “The health and retirement benefits are relatively generous.”

Yet those policies are driven not so much by the market as by Mackey’s own personal beliefs—and the market could soon crush them. Mackey is losing control of the company. He has already ceded the right to vote on the company’s strategy by dropping his board position. Meanwhile,other, less loftily idealistic capitalists are moving in. As CEO, he’s the functionary of a corporate board he no longer dominates—one bound by law to serve not Mackey’s ideals, but rather to maximize shareholder profit. Writes Paumgarten:

Last fall, as the recession deepened, Whole Foods’ sales, and its stock, suffered badly, and the company was forced to raise capital. Leonard Green & Partners, a private-equity firm, bought seventeen per cent of the business, and got two seats on the board. Yucaipa, a firm run by the grocery billionaire and Democratic Party donor Ron Burkle, bought a seven-per-cent stake and has been looking over Mackey’s shoulder.

Thus while Mackey the capitalist ideologue does his best to take care of his workers, the capitalist sharks are circling. “We’re trying to do good. And we’re trying to make money,” Mackey tells Paumgarten. “The more money we make, the more good we can do.”

But the investors now taking control of Whole Foods are likely more interested in the money than in the good. When profits falter, the “power of conscious capitalism” (the subtitle of Mackey’s book) succumbs to the power of unfettered capitalism. If I were a Whole Foods “team member,” I’d be seriously considering starting a union to protect wages and benefits. And as a backup plan, I’d be agitating for universal healthcare.

via grist.org

"But the investors now taking control of Whole Foods are likely more interested in the money than in the good. When profits falter, the “power of conscious capitalism” (the subtitle of Mackey’s book) succumbs to the power of unfettered capitalism. If I were a Whole Foods “team member,” I’d be seriously considering starting a union to protect wages and benefits. And as a backup plan, I’d be agitating for universal healthcare."

Posted via web from michaelbaldwin

Rick Warren's Saddleback Church Asks For Urgent $900,000

2009-12-31T07:06:00.001-08:00

LAKE FOREST, Calif. — Evangelical pastor Rick Warren appealed to parishioners at his Orange County megachurch Wednesday to help fill a $900,000 deficit by the first of the year.

Warren made the appeal in a letter posted on the Saddleback Church Web site. It begins "Dear Saddleback Family, THIS IS AN URGENT LETTER."

"With 10 percent of our church family out of work due to the recession, our expenses in caring for our community in 2009 rose dramatically while our income stagnated," the letter reads.

Still, Warren said the church managed to stay within its budget, but "the bottom dropped out" when Christmas donations dropped. "On the last weekend of 2009, our total offerings were less than half of what we normally receive – leaving us $900,000 in the red for the year," the letter reads.

via huffingtonpost.com

Posted via web from michaelbaldwin

Snowy day. Wrong turn.

2009-12-30T09:36:00.001-08:00

Posted via web from michaelbaldwin

Another point of view: Al Jazeera English - GAZA: ONE YEAR ON - 'Israel resembles a failed state'

2009-12-29T10:31:00.001-08:00

via english.aljazeera.net

Posted via web from michaelbaldwin

Activists Blocked From Planned March to Support Gaza

2009-12-29T10:30:00.001-08:00

Filed at 2:10 p.m. ET

Skip to next paragraph

CAIRO (Reuters) - About 80 foreign supporters of Palestinians protested outside the French Embassy in Cairo on Monday after Egypt refused to let them to march to Gaza, witnesses said.

Some 1,400 activists from 43 countries had gathered in Cairo on Sunday to mark the first anniversary of the Israeli offensive on Hamas-ruled Gaza.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is due to hold talks in Cairo on Tuesday with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak.

The activists, several hundred of whom were from France, had asked Egypt for permission to cross into Gaza but the Interior Ministry said the march was illegal and a threat to national security.

On Sunday, about 80 activists staged a protest outside the French Embassy, surrounded by a heavy police presence. Such demonstrations are rare in Egypt but no violence broke out and no arrests were made, witnesses said.

About 30 activists managed to make their way on Sunday by public transport to Arish in northern Sinai, where they were now under house arrest, said Yvonne Ridley, a member of the Gaza Freedom March.

Eight more reached Rafah, on the border, but were later returned to Arish, Egyptian security officials said.

The activists said in a statement they were protesting against the economic blockade of the Gaza Strip and the December 2008-January 2009 Israeli military operation against Gaza in which Amnesty International said 1,400 Palestinians were killed.

"The international coalition had intended to take part in a non-violent demonstration with 50,000 Palestinians to commemorate Israel's Cast Lead operation and protest the ongoing blockade," the statement said.

Egyptian security said the Rafah border would open on January 3 for three days to allow Palestinian students, patients and those having residency visas to pass into Egypt.

Egypt also said it will allow a food and supplies convoy led by independent British Member of Parliament George Galloway to pass into Gaza, but only if lands by sea at Arish and passes through Rafah.

The convoy has been docked in the Jordanian port of Aqaba since Thursday awaiting approval from Egypt to enter via Nuweiba on the Red Sea. Egypt allowed similar convoys to enter Gaza in March and July.

Egypt has hosted talks with different Palestinian political groups to end internal disputes, mainly between the Palestinian Authority which controls the West Bank and the Islamist group Hamas which controls the Gaza Strip.

Egypt and Germany have also been mediating a possible exchange of prisoners by Hamas and Israel. (Reporting by Yusri Mohamed; Editing by Angus MacSwan)

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Kathy Kelly: Gaza Freedom March Members Gain a Small Taste of the Palestinian Experience

2009-12-29T10:29:00.001-08:00

Gaza Freedom March participants, numbering 1,360 people from 42 countries, have assembled in Cairo, Egypt, where they plan to break the Israeli imposed siege on Gaza by delivering humanitarian relief supplies, on December 31st. After passing through the Rafah border crossing which divides Egypt and Gaza, they aim to join 50,000 Palestinians in a march across the Gaza Strip, ending at the Erez border crossing which leads into Israel.

But, the Egyptian government has dispersed peaceable assemblies that the marchers organized, in Cairo, and detained activists in multiple locations. Egyptian authorities previously issued permits for public actions, but have now revoked all permits and refused permission for any members of the Gaza Freedom March to even approach the border between Egypt and Gaza. Yesterday, they broke up a gathering of people who were commemorating the 1,409 Palestinians who were killed by the Israeli military's "Operation Cast Lead" assault that began last year, December 27th, and continued for 22 days.

"We're saddened that the Egyptian authorities have blocked our participants' freedom of movement and interfered with a peaceful commemoration of the dead," said Medea Benjamin of CODEPINK, one of the March's organizers.

Benjamin added that the Gaza Freedom March participants are continuing to urge the Egyptian government to allow them to proceed to Gaza. They visited the Arab League asking for support, various foreign embassies and the Presidential Palace to deliver an appeal to President Mubarak. They are calling their supporters around the world to contact Egyptian embassies and urge them to free the marchers and allow them to proceed to Gaza.

Gaza Freedom March coordinators and participants are weighing alternative plans while continuing to call for assistance from various Embassies. Three hundred French delegation members have camped overnight at the French Embassy in Cairo and are still maintaining their presence despite being encircled by three rows of Egyptian riot police. The U.S. delegation has been unable to approach the U.S. Embassy, which was cordoned off and surrounded by police immediately after U.S. delegation members arrived in Cairo.

Hedy Epstein, an 85-year-old Holocaust survivor, from St. Louis, MO, has begun a hunger strike, in Cairo, and intends to continue her fast until the Egyptians decide to open the border.

"Despite the massive interferences, the marchers have not been deterred and will continue to advocate for the people of Gaza," writes Josh Brollier, a member of the Free Gaza March and co-coordinator of Voices for Creative Nonviolence. "Though these setbacks have been frustrating to the delegates who came to show solidarity with Palestinians, they are just a small taste of the Palestinian experience and can scarcely compare to the daily hardships imposed on the people of Gaza by the devastating Israeli siege and illegal occupation."

Books By Kathy Kelly

via huffingtonpost.com

Call your Congress persons and the POTUS and Hillary Clinton and demand the border be opened.

Posted via web from michaelbaldwin

My drink in solidarity with the #Gaza Freedom March hunger strike.

2009-12-28T08:49:00.001-08:00

Peace,
Mike

Posted via email from michaelbaldwin

For something lighter: JibJab.com Year in Review 2009

2009-12-28T07:52:00.001-08:00

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Peace,

Mike Baldwin

Posted via email from michaelbaldwin

Hunger strike commences for the #Gaza freedom March RT

2009-12-28T07:10:00.001-08:00

Our #STL Friends are on a Hunger strike: in Egypt awaiting opportunity to go to Gaza. Pray for and fast with Hedy, J’Ann and Sandra.

In solidarity with them, I have joined their hunger strike and hope you will too. We must raise public awareness of this humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Below is the most recent press release from Code Pink. Please go to their website for updates as this action progresses--and pass the word!

French Delegates Take Over the Boulevard in Front of French Embassy in Cairo

What: A contingent of several hundred French activists takes over the boulevard in front of the French embassy, demanding buses to go to Rafah
When: Sunday, December 28, late evening. A group of French activists from the solidarity group EuroPalestine take over Mourad Street, the boulevard in front of the French Embassy in Cairo, next to the Four Seasons Hotel. They occupied the street with tents for 4 hours, stopping traffic, demanding buses to take them to the Gaza strip, forcing the French Ambassador to come and negotiate on their behalf.
The French solidarity group Europalestine, part of the Gaza Freedom March, a group of 1,400 activists from 42 countries, congregated in Cairo after the Egyptian government barred their entry to the Gaza strip. The international coalition had intended to take part in a non-violent demonstration with 50,000 Palestinians to commemorate Israel’s Cast Lead operation and protest the ongoing blockade. When Egypt refused to give them permission to board buses for the Rafah crossing, the French group, over 300 strong, sprung into action, occupying Avenue Charles de Gaulle—Mourad Street—in front of the French Embassy and demanding that their ambassador take action.
Dozens of armored police transport vehicles line the far side of the boulevard. Hundreds of riot cops with Plexiglas shields are blocking the French activists in. Red water cannons sit on the other side of the street. The French activists are talking with the riot police, asking them about their professions and their children. There are on-going negotiations, but they insist that they will not leave until they have buses that will take them to Rafah. According to Olivia Zemor, the coordinator of the French group, “we are waiting for the buses, we are staying in front of the French embassy, even if it’s not comfortable, it’s much more comfortable than Gaza.” The Gaza Freedom March coordinators have put out a call to action for all to join them in front of the French Embassy.

Peace,

Mike Baldwin

Posted via email from michaelbaldwin

Leading Iran cleric condemns Ashura deaths - Yahoo! News

2009-12-27T19:33:00.001-08:00

TEHRAN (Reuters) – An opposition leader criticized Iran's hardline rulers on Monday for killing innocent people during a religious festival, a reformist website reported.

Police said five people died in Tehran when pro-reform protesters fought security forces on Sunday, the most violent clashes since a contested June 12 presidential vote sparked political turmoil across Iran.

"What has happened to this religious system that it orders the killing of innocent people during the holy day of Ashura?," moderate cleric Mehdi Karoubi, who came fourth in the election, said in a statement, the Jaras website reported.

"Why is such a holy day not respected by the rulers?"

Opposition websites said police opened fire on protesters in central Tehran. Eight people were killed in the capital and other Iranian cities when tens of thousands of opposition backers took to the streets, they said.

The deaths were the first in street protests since the immediate aftermath of the disputed June election.

Among the dead was opposition leader Mirhossein Mousavi's nephew, whose death was described as a "martyrdom" by a Mousavi ally. State TV said "unknown assailants" killed Ali Habibi Mousavi Khamene.

Police said investigations were under way into the suspicious deaths and more than 300 protesters had been arrested in Tehran.

Jaras said police shot and killed four protesters in central Tehran and that unrest had spread to other parts of Iran, including the holy city of Qom, Shiraz, Isfahan, Najafabad, Mashhad and Babol.

The reports could not be independently verified because foreign media are banned from covering protests.

The White House condemned the "unjust suppression" of civilians by the Iranian government and said the United States was on the side of protesters.

UNREST ACROSS IRAN

The killings showed that the confrontation between the opposition and the clerical establishment had entered a volatile phase, in which the security forces appeared determined to stamp out the pro-reform movement.

The disputed re-election of hardline President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has plunged Iran into its biggest internal crisis since the 1979 Islamic revolution, exposing deepening divisions in its ruling elite and setting off a wave of protests that the opposition says left over 70 people dead.

Officials say the death toll was half that number.

The post-election turmoil has also made Iranian officials unable to resolve a dispute over Iran's nuclear program, which the West fears is a cover to build bombs. Iran denies this.

Authorities had strongly warned the opposition to avoid using the two-day Shi'ite Muslim Tasoua and Ashura festival over the weekend to revive protests against the clerical establishment.

This year's Ashura coincided with the seventh day of mourning for leading dissident cleric Grand Ayatollah Hossein Ali Montazeri, who died a week ago at the age of 87 in Qom.

A spiritual patron of Mousavi's movement, he was a fierce critic of the hardline clerical establishment.

(Editing by Jon Boyle)

via news.yahoo.com

Posted via web from michaelbaldwin

Facebook | Anniversary of the Gaza War

2009-12-27T11:48:00.001-08:00

Anniversary of the Gaza War
The seige still continues!

Host:
Instead of War

Type:
Causes - Rally

Network:
Global

Date:
Sunday, December 27, 2009

Time:
7:00pm - 8:00pm

Location:
Corner of Grand and Lindell

City/Town:
Saint Louis, MO

Description

On Dec. 27th last year, Israel began their military offensive, Operation Cast Lead, on the people of Gaza. During their three week war on the occupied Gaza Strip, Israel killed more than 1,400 Palestinians, injured more than 5,000, and destroyed 4,000 buildings causing an estimated $2 billion in damage to civilian infrastructure.
The war continues in Israel's illegal blockade of the Gaza Strip, denying 1.5 million civilians their right to food, clean water, electricity, and other necessities of life. Since the end of the three week military offensive in January, Israel has allowed only 41 truckloads of construction materials into the Gaza Strip. Thousands of truckloads of reconstruction materials are needed to rebuild the tens of thousands of homes, businesses, schools, mosques and other buildings destroyed and damaged during the war. As a result, thousands of Gaza residents are still living in tents, and the Strip’s economy remains in ruins.
Meanwhile, the United States is scheduled to provide Israel with $30 billion of weapons at taxpayer expense over the coming decade. At a time when millions of people in the US are being turned out of their homes due to foreclosures, why are we giving Israel billions of dollars to destroy Palestinian homes?
As we vigil, three St. Louisians are on their way to Gaza for the Gaza Freedom March, (ahttp://www.gazafreedommarch.) Most recent news has indicated that officials are going to refuse to allow the thousands of activists march.
Please join us as we stand in solidarity with the people of Gaza!

via facebook.com

Posted via web from michaelbaldwin

Elie Wiesel: Go with Us to Gaza! An Appeal to the Nobel Peace Laureate

2009-12-26T22:52:00.001-08:00

Elie Wiesel: Go with Us to Gaza! An Appeal to the Nobel Peace Laureate

December 5th, 2009 Posted by Mark Chmiel



In his 1986 address upon receiving the 1986 Nobel Peace Prize, Holocaust survivor Elie Wiesel pointed out that, during the Holocaust, “the world did know and remained silent. And that is why I swore never to be silent whenever and wherever human beings endure suffering and humiliation. We must always take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the tormented. Sometimes we must interfere. When human lives are endangered, when human dignity is in jeopardy, national borders and sensitivities become irrelevant.”

Yet, on one of the great issues of our time, the Israel-Palestine conflict, Mr. Wiesel has not abided by the moral maxims he championed in the above address. For example, in the second volume of his memoirs, he admitted, “Indeed, I can say in good faith that I have not remained indifferent to any cause involving the defense of human rights. But, you may ask, what have I done to alleviate the plight of the Palestinians? And here I must confess: I have not done enough….In spite of considerable pressure, I have refused to take a public stand in the Israeli-Arab conflict. I have said it before: since I do not live in Israel, it would be irresponsible for me to do so.”

In recent years, we the undersigned have traveled to the Israeli-occupied Palestinian territories—the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and Gaza Strip—and have seen for ourselves the disturbing, heart-breaking, and outrageous effects of Israel’s domination and aggression against the Palestinian people, aided and abetted by the U.S. government and armaments corporations. December and January mark the one-year anniversary of Israel’s attack, which is described by the Goldstone Report of the United Nations as “a deliberately disproportionate attack designed to punish, humiliate and terrorize a civilian population.”

In the spirit of Mr. Wiesel’s call to interference, three people from the Metro area –Hedy Epstein, a Holocaust survivor; Sandra Mansour, a Palestinian activist; and J’Ann Allen, a grandmother and wife of a retired military officer—will leave for Gaza on December 26^th to join over a thousand people from approximately 40 countries on the Gaza Freedom March [http://www.gazafreedommarch.org/]. Along with 50,000 Palestinians in Gaza, they will march to call attention to the ever-worsening humanitarian crisis there.

Hedy, Sandra, and J’Ann call on Mr. Wiesel to join them and bear witness to the suffering, humiliation, and torment caused by Israel’s indiscriminate violence:

Let us go, Mr. Wiesel, and listen to the lamentations of Palestinian parents who have lost their children, and the children who are now orphans;

Let us go, and stand amid the desolate ruins everywhere the eye can see—of destroyed homes, hospitals, clinics, factories, mosques, and schools;

Let us go, and interview a few of the tens of thousands of still homeless men, women, and children;

Let us go, and listen to the doctors’ heart-rending accounts of the misery and maiming inflicted on civilians by the munitions of the Israel Defense Forces;

Let us go, and walk with the farmers among their destroyed fields, greenhouses, and groves;

Let us go, Mr. Wiesel, and make eye contact with the Gazans who daily battle hunger and daily fight despair due to Israel’s inhumane siege.

Let us refuse neutrality. Let us not be silent.

May more of us be willing to turn the following words of Mr. Wiesel into concrete deeds of solidarity and witness: “When human lives are endangered, when human dignity is in jeopardy, national borders and sensitivities become irrelevant.”

Seeing is believing,

J’Ann Allen, Center for Theology and Social Analysis; adjunct instructor, Forest Park Community College

Anna Baltzer, Jewish American human rights advocate; author of Witness in Palestine

Barakat Barakat, SLU undergraduate

Sharifa Barakat, SLU alum, 2009

Mark Chmiel, Center for Theology and Social Analysis; adjunct professor, Saint Louis University

Hedy Epstein, Holocaust survivor; author of Remembering Is Not Enough; SLU alum

Daanish Faruqi, Graduate student, Washington University

Dianne Lee, Center for Theology and Social Analysis; professor, Forest Park Community College

Sandra Mansour, Georgetown University, Graduate School alum

Kelly McBride, Graduate student, American University at Cairo; SLU alum, 2006

Matthew Miller, Graduate student, Washington University

Angie O’Gorman, Legal Services of Eastern Missouri, Immigration Law Department; adjunct professor, Saint Louis University

Nima Sheth, SLU medical student; SLU alum, 2008

Magan Wiles, MFA student, University of Tennessee; SLU alum, 2004

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via bookofmev.com

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More on the St. Louis, MO Gaza Freedom Marchers.

2009-12-26T22:46:00.001-08:00

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Why I raised the last question. Head of Catholic Charities resigns - STLtoday.com

2009-12-26T21:15:00.001-08:00

Head of Catholic Charities resigns

By Tim Townsend

ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH

12/24/2009

The president of Catholic Charities resigned last week — the second of the organization's leaders to quit within the last year and the latest in an exodus of officials to leave the nonprofit since the fall of 2008.
The St. Louis Archdiocese did not announce publicly that Monsignor Mark Ullrich had resigned Dec. 15, but archdiocesan spokeswoman Elizabeth Westhoff confirmed the move Wednesday, and provided a statement from St. Louis Archbishop Robert Carlson.
Carlson said Ullrich "submitted his resignation to me with the request to return to parish work full time."
Ullrich did not return a call to his residence at the Cathedral Basilica seeking comment. The 57-year-old priest had replaced Catholic Charities' previous president, Thomas Mulhearn, in March. At the time Ullrich was the nonprofit's spiritual director. Ullrich also served as Catholic Charities' associate director in the 1980s.

via stltoday.com

Posted via web from michaelbaldwin

Time for grassroots Catholic Charitable Org? Where Most Needed: St. Louis Bishop Reins in Catholic Charities

2009-12-26T21:12:00.001-08:00

St. Louis Bishop Reins in Catholic Charities

A takeover of the charity's development office by the archdiocese leads to resignation of the board chair and at least three other board members.

The St. Louis Post Dispatch reports that acting St. Louis bishop Robert Herman has taken over the fund raising for the local Catholic Charities organization ("Bishop Robert Hermann locks horns with Catholic Charities officials," Tim Townsend, November 4, 2008). As a result, development director Dan Shasserre, board chair Kelley O'Malley and three other board members have resigned.

The paper reported that the memo outlining the change referred to an impasse between the charity board and the two previous bishops, Justin Rigali (now archbishop of Philadelphia) and Raymond Burke (now prefect of the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura in Rome). The memo suggested that board members who were not comfortable with the reorganization should resign.

James Gunn, one of the former board members was blunt about his reaction to the change, saying that the archdiocese officials "want to be able to solicit people for their own purposes," adding, "The social ministry of the church is not nearly as important to them as their far-right conservative Catholic agenda."

It is not surprising that the article discussing the reorganization in the local Catholic newspaper, the St. Louis Review, didn't mention the board resignations ("Efforts with Catholic Charities aimed at improving stewardship," Joseph Kenny, November 8, 2008.) .

We have previously reported that Archbishop Burke sought to implement a highly centralized accounting system for Catholic parishes ("St. Louis Archdiocese to Centralize Parish Accounting," January 13, 2007). The reorganization of Catholic Charities fund raising appears to be consistent with an overall policy of greater centralization and concern that everyone presenting themselves as Catholics present a single view.

But what puzzles me is whether this is something that is happening only in St. Louis, or whether it is just that the St. Louis Post Dispatch has been more willing to give prominence to stories relating to the local archdiocese.

St. Louis has been a frequent location of Catholic controversy over the past few years:

The ongoing excommunication of member of the lay board of St. Stanislaus Kostka church who have refused a demand from the archdiocese to turn over control of the church property ("Two more St. Stan's members excommunicated," Tim Townsend, October 11, 2008).

Criticism by former Archbishop Burke of an appearance by Sheryl Crowe at a 2007 fund raising event for the Cardinal Glennon Children's Medical Center. Ms. Crowe is an outspoken advocate of choice and campaigned for a Missouri constitutional amendment to promote stem-cell research. (YouTube video of Archbishop Burke's statement).

Criticism by former Archbishop Burke of statements by St. Louis University basketball coach Rick Majerus in favor of choice and of stem cell research (Archbishop Burke addresses Catholic identity, St. Louis Review, February 8, 2008).

So much so that Archbishop Burke made a point of countering claims that he was kicked upstairs with his Vatican appointment in an interview with the Italian Catholic newspaper Avvenire (the same interview in which he described the Democratic party as the "party of death" for its positions on—you guessed it—choice and stem cell research.)

via wheremostneeded.org

Still wondering if there is any interest in starting a new, separate from centralized archdiocesan control, Catholic charitable organization. Anyone?

Posted via web from michaelbaldwin

Sisters savor benefit of 'mindful eating' - STLtoday.com

2009-12-26T20:56:00.001-08:00

Sisters savor benefit of 'mindful eating'

From left, sisters Elisa Ryan, Lois Castillon, and Mary Lapping hold apples during opening prayerful meditation at the Franciscan Sisters of Our Lady of Perpetual Help headquarters in Kirkwood.

By Georgina Gustin

ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH

12/25/2009

KIRKWOOD -- Most meditation is silent. A solitary act of turning inward. But sometimes, it's communal — and comes with a little crunch.
At the Franciscan Sisters of Our Lady of Perpetual Help headquarters, about 90 people kicked off the Christmas season — a time of cookie trays, fruitcake and eggnog — with a prayer of sorts.

The group of lay people and sisters gathered in a room, each holding an apple slice. They were asked to focus on the slice as they listened to an essay read aloud on "mindful eating," written by a venerated Buddhist monk. Then, they were told to take a bite. They were encouraged to savor the moment. Slowly.

And the crunching of crisp apples broke through the quiet.

Great thoughts for the Holiday binge eating frenzy. Slow down, savor, reflect.

Posted via web from michaelbaldwin

Books not Bombs: Pennies for Peace, My Charity of Choice for this Christmas

2009-12-24T11:11:00.001-08:00

Welcome to Pennies for Peace, an international service-learning program with tens of thousands of participants around the globe. Pennies for Peace gives you the tools to open your world and empower communities through education in Pakistan and Afghanistan!

The Pennies for Peace service-learning program includes: a K-12 curriculum, linked to standards with an assessment tool; an implementation guide; fact sheets; printable maps, postcards, stickers & poster components; remarkable videos that open the world of Pennies for Peace; and much more!

By participating in Pennies for Peace you make a positive impact on a global scale, one penny at a time. While a penny is virtually worthless, in impoverished countries a penny buys a pencil and opens the door to literacy. Join Pennies for Peace and give lasting hope to children half a world away!

Pennies for Peace receives Mom’s Choice Award

Pennies for Peace is the 2009 recipient of the Mom’s Choice Award!

The Mom’s Choice Awards® is known for establishing the benchmark of excellence in family-friendly media, products and services. This annual competition recognizes authors, inventors, companies, parents and others for their efforts in creating quality family-friendly media products and services.

For more information, visit www.momschoiceawards.com

Three Cups of Tea
The #1 New York Times Bestseller Three Cups of Tea: One Man’s Mission to Promote Peace, One School At A Time, by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin, recounts the journey that led Greg Mortenson, Central Asia Institute co-founder, from a failed attempt to climb Pakistan’s K2 to successfully establish dozens of schools, and promote girls’ education in rural Afghanistan and Pakistan. Visit www.threecupsoftea.com for more information.

Stones into Schools

Stones into Schools: Promoting Peace with Books, Not Bombs, in Afghanistan and Pakistan, by Greg Mortenson will be released on December 1, 2009. In this dramatic first-person narrative, Greg Mortenson picks up where Three Cups of Tea left off in 2003, recounting his relentless, ongoing efforts to establish schools for girls in Afghanistan; his extensive work in Azad Kashmir and Pakistan after a massive earthquake hit the region in 2005; and the unique ways he has built relationships with Islamic clerics, militia commanders, and tribal leaders even as he was dodging shootouts with feuding Afghan warlords and surviving an eight-day armed abduction by the Taliban. He shares for the first time his broader vision to promote peace through education and literacy, as well as touching on military matters, Islam, and women—all woven together with the many rich personal stories of the people who have been involved in this remarkable two-decade humanitarian effort. Visit www.stonesintoschools.com for more information.

via penniesforpeace.org

Read Three Cups of Tea and support Books not Bombs

Posted via web from michaelbaldwin

Things will be better after the revolution! RT

2009-12-22T16:15:00.001-08:00

If too big to fail and mandated purchase of health insurance and failed cap and trade and no action in Copenhagen and a never ending war on Terror and lobbyists speaking louder than citizens and lack of equal rights for same sex couples … doesn’t drive us to revolt, what will?

Things will be better after the revolution. But when is the revolution?

The Great Melting Pot is beginning to be the Great Boiling Over Pot. Frustration over failed policies and failed attempts at fixing failed policies has gone beyond simmer to near boiling and no one is watching the pot. I welcome a revolution. The tyranny of taxation without representation has now been replaced by the tyranny of the Corporate State.

We needn’t have feared that our President was a Nazi or Communist or Socialist. We needn’t have feared that Banks would fail or that Derivatives would be illegal, nor that Insurance companies would be driven from existence, since we are all supporters of Corporatism.

Corporatism and their lobbyists have played other special interest groups with fear and money. They have convinced many Americans that Corporations need to rule the land. They use money as puppet strings both for our elected officials and for leaders of special interest groups like Tea Partiers. Wake up America and throw off the shackles and strings and vote for what is best for us as a nation, not what is best for our corporations.

I have said over and over again recently that I am tired of hearing these words: “it’s the best we can get” and/or “we should take what we can get”, as if we need to have our demands met with a doling out of favors from our elected public servants. How long will we grovel for what we want instead of voting for those who support what we want. When we ask we are not asking of our elected officials, we are asking of ourselves. We don’t need their approval, we need their compliance to our demands.

Peace,

Mike Baldwin

Posted via email from michaelbaldwin

Sandra Tamari: Why I'm Going to Gaza - Come with us to Gaza! Please RT

2009-12-22T15:27:00.001-08:00

Sandra Tamari: Why I'm Going to Gaza

At a sending ceremony held Monday evening in St. Louis, Sandra Tamari offered the following reflections on her reasons for going to Gaza. Sandra used the pseudonym, Sandra Mansour, in the appeal to Elie Wiesel out of fear of being barred from future travel to Israel. She's changed her mind and wants to use her real name in connection with the Gaza Freedom March.

Why I’m going to Gaza
Because Palestine keeps me up at night
Because my kids are a "demographic threat"
Because I am not taken seriously because I am a Palestinian
Because anyone who does take me seriously is called an anti-semite
Or a self-hating Jew
Because I can’t imagine the anguish of the people there--
and because I can
Because I’ve lived comfortably for too long
Because an ice storm that cuts off electricity for a week leaves me
crazy and being a refugee for 61 years is too long
Because living comes from feeling deep hurt and love and not from
Christmas presents
Because suffering makes us real
Because my community loves me
Because my family loves me
Because I love….
I am going because I belong to a strong and committed humanistic
tradition: Palestinian: Ghassan Kanafani, Mahmoud Darwish, Edward
Said, Suheir Hammad; and Quaker: Lucretia Mott, Walt Whitman, Rufus
Jones.
Because others would do it for me
I am going to Gaza because Hedy is going...and she helps me tell
Palestinians that Jews are not devils or angels, they are human beings
I am going to Gaza because J'Ann is going and she helps me tell
Palestinians that Americans are not devils or angels, they are human
beings;
and I know they will hold hands with those with broken souls and mourn with them
And finally because you, dear people, will be here waiting when we
return to listen to us, to cry with us and to help us know what to do
with our grace and our burden.

via palestine.ctsastl.org

3 Saint Louisans are leaving on December 26 to join the Gaza Freedom March. This is the latest email information:
Dear Friend of CTSA,
Here are two important updates regarding the Gaza Freedom March.
1. Hedy Epstein and others from Egypt and Gaza will be on DEMOCRACY NOW! Thursday speaking about the upcoming Gaza Freedom March. You can listen to the program live between 7 and 8AM CST at http://www.democracynow.or.
2. Egypt has denied permission to the 1350 people from more than 40 countries to march from Cairo to the Gaza border. Details and a request for your action follow.
-------------------------
Please read and please, please take the actions outlined in this update from the Gaza Freedom March organizers. Please do this NOW and help us get to Gaza. Every call, every e-mail counts and will make this historic March possible. Please DO NOT let us down. Instead, CALL
- SEND e-mails, as often as you can. Send copies of your letters and emails to your Congresspeople and Senators.
Peace,
Hedy
Gaza Freedom March
UPDATE
December 21, 2009
We are determined to break the siege
We all will continue to do whatever we can to make it happen
*
*
Using the pretext of escalating tensions on the Gaza-Egypt border, the Egyptian Foreign Ministry informed us yesterday that the Rafah border will be closed over the coming weeks, into January. We responded that there is always tension at the border because of the siege, that we do not feel threatened, and that if there are any risks, they are risks we are willing to take. We also said that it was too late for over 1,300 delegates coming from over 42 countries to change their plans now. We both agreed to continue our exchanges.
Although we consider this as a setback, it is something we've encountered-and overcome--before. No delegation, large or small, that entered Gaza over the past 12 months has ever received a final OK before arriving at the Rafah border. Most delegations were discouraged from even heading out of Cairo to Rafah. Some had their buses stopped on the way. Some have been told outright that they could not go into Gaza. But after public and political pressure, the Egyptian government changed its position and let them pass.
Our efforts and plans will not be altered at this point. We have set out to break the siege of Gaza and march on December 31* against the Israeli blockade*. We are continuing in the same direction.
Egyptian embassies and missions all over the world must hear from us and our supporters (by phone, fax and email)** over the coming crucial days, with a clear message: Let the international delegation enter Gaza and let the Gaza Freedom March proceed.
Contact your local consulate here:
http://www.mfa.gov.eg/MFA_
Portal/en-GB/mfa_websits/

Contact the Palestine Division in Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Cairo Ahmed Azzam, tel +202-25749682 Email: ahmed.azzam@mfa.gov.eg
In the U.S., contact the Egyptian Embassy, 202-895-5400 and ask for Omar Youssef or email omaryoussef@hotmail.com
*You signed on to join the the Gaza Freedom March, that was the first step. Now call the Egyptian embassy and ask your elected official to call on your behalf. Contact your local media/press to tell them you are going to Gaza. Then pack your bags and come to Cairo ready to march with our brothers and sisters in Gaza. *
We look forward to seeing you all in the coming week.
The GFM Steering Committee
/
/
/* /* Sample text
I am writing/calling to express my full support for the December 31,
2009 Gaza Freedom March. I urge the Egyptian government to allow the 1,300 international delegates to enter the Gaza Strip through Egypt.
The aim of the march is to call on Israel to lift the siege. The delegates will also take in badly needed medical aid, as well as school supplies and winter jackets for the children of Gaza.
Please, let this historic March proceed.
Thank you.
--
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Metro tax heads back to ballot in St. Louis County - STLtoday.com

2009-12-22T13:10:00.001-08:00

Metro tax heads back to ballot in St. Louis County

By Phil Sutin

ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH

12/22/2009

CLAYTON — Metro officials say they will cut half of the agency's transit service in Missouri if St. Louis County voters reject a half-cent sales tax on April 6.
The St. Louis County Council on Monday formally put that tax proposal on the ballot, allowing voters to decide whether to provide about $75 million a year to allow Metro to restore service cuts and expand the system. The vote was 4-3.
St. Louis County voters narrowly defeated a half-cent transit tax in November 2008.
Robert Baer, president and chief executive officer of the transit agency, said half the money from the tax would go to restore service and operate the agency and half for transit expansion.

via stltoday.com

Also check out this website for comments: http://www.nextstopstl.org/

Posted via web from michaelbaldwin

My Year without a car: Aesthetics of Public Transportation

2009-12-22T12:33:00.001-08:00

I hosted a friend from Baltimore over the past weekend. In keeping with my plan to not use a car for transit, we used Metro to get around and show her the city.

My spouse and I met her at the airport. Ninety-six pounds of luggage later, we boarded the Metrolink bound for the Civic Center Bus Depot to catch the #74 to my home. Though it was a struggle, it wasn’t bad. We got some stares, but mostly we received helpful suggestions. This friend had not ridden public transit in the United States, so could only compare our Saint Louis BiState/Metro to European systems. Soon she knew to ask for a transfer upon boarding. I use a 30-day pass.

Three of us then, took off for the evening to eat and explore the city. Earlier, I purchased two all-day Metro passes. One for T and one for our guest. These cost $7.50 each. In Kansas City, by comparison, they cost $3.00 each. We headed south on the #30 Soulard to the Civic Center Bus Stop (CCBS). Where we were met with a chorus of helpful suggestions as to the best way to get to Soulard via Metro. Even though we had planned our trip, we took the suggestion offered by a more experienced rider. Our guest was surprised at the friendliness of Saint Louisans, especially transit riders. Many, of course, also knew T and greeted her personally. After eating, we walked around the neighborhood like tourists. We then boarded a #30 Soulard and returned home to North city. The next day only two of us ventured out via Metro. We had a good time seeing the Arch, Central Business District, and parts of the Central West End. It was very cold and we did a lot of walking from bus stops to our eventual destinations, but all in all, it was a fine way to see the city.

Sunday, we returned to the airport. It was then, I noticed more than ever how unattractive much of the Metrolink corridor to the airport appeared. My friend didn’t comment, but it made me wonder why we were taking this route; for two reasons. First, it is not along any business corridor after Delmar Station. Second, it is ugly. From my perspective, most public transit should aim to get people near businesses and employment centers. Running a line up Natural Bridge or Page or even alongside I-170 makes more sense to me. I guess it is time for me to try to understand how routes are planned, especially those that are made permanent--with tracks.

Reporting live from the #32.

Peace,

Mike Baldwin

See and download the full gallery on posterous

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Been thinking about these remarks since a friend mentioned them last night: Remarks by the President in Address to the Nation on the Way Forward in Afghanistan and Pakistan | The White House

2009-12-21T19:25:00.001-08:00

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release

December 01, 2009

Remarks by the President in Address to the Nation on the Way Forward in Afghanistan and Pakistan

Eisenhower Hall Theatre, United States Military Academy at West Point, West Point, New York

8:01 P.M. EST

THE PRESIDENT: Good evening. To the United States Corps of Cadets, to the men and women of our Armed Services, and to my fellow Americans: I want to speak to you tonight about our effort in Afghanistan -- the nature of our commitment there, the scope of our interests, and the strategy that my administration will pursue to bring this war to a successful conclusion. It's an extraordinary honor for me to do so here at West Point -- where so many men and women have prepared to stand up for our security, and to represent what is finest about our country.

To address these important issues, it's important to recall why America and our allies were compelled to fight a war in Afghanistan in the first place. We did not ask for this fight. On September 11, 2001, 19 men hijacked four airplanes and used them to murder nearly 3,000 people. They struck at our military and economic nerve centers. They took the lives of innocent men, women, and children without regard to their faith or race or station. Were it not for the heroic actions of passengers onboard one of those flights, they could have also struck at one of the great symbols of our democracy in Washington, and killed many more.

As we know, these men belonged to al Qaeda -- a group of extremists who have distorted and defiled Islam, one of the world’s great religions, to justify the slaughter of innocents. Al Qaeda’s base of operations was in Afghanistan, where they were harbored by the Taliban -- a ruthless, repressive and radical movement that seized control of that country after it was ravaged by years of Soviet occupation and civil war, and after the attention of America and our friends had turned elsewhere.

Just days after 9/11, Congress authorized the use of force against al Qaeda and those who harbored them -- an authorization that continues to this day. The vote in the Senate was 98 to nothing. The vote in the House was 420 to 1. For the first time in its history, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization invoked Article 5 -- the commitment that says an attack on one member nation is an attack on all. And the United Nations Security Council endorsed the use of all necessary steps to respond to the 9/11 attacks. America, our allies and the world were acting as one to destroy al Qaeda’s terrorist network and to protect our common security.

Under the banner of this domestic unity and international legitimacy -- and only after the Taliban refused to turn over Osama bin Laden -- we sent our troops into Afghanistan. Within a matter of months, al Qaeda was scattered and many of its operatives were killed. The Taliban was driven from power and pushed back on its heels. A place that had known decades of fear now had reason to hope. At a conference convened by the U.N., a provisional government was established under President Hamid Karzai. And an International Security Assistance Force was established to help bring a lasting peace to a war-torn country.

Then, in early 2003, the decision was made to wage a second war, in Iraq. The wrenching debate over the Iraq war is well-known and need not be repeated here. It's enough to say that for the next six years, the Iraq war drew the dominant share of our troops, our resources, our diplomacy, and our national attention -- and that the decision to go into Iraq caused substantial rifts between America and much of the world.

Today, after extraordinary costs, we are bringing the Iraq war to a responsible end. We will remove our combat brigades from Iraq by the end of next summer, and all of our troops by the end of 2011. That we are doing so is a testament to the character of the men and women in uniform. (Applause.) Thanks to their courage, grit and perseverance, we have given Iraqis a chance to shape their future, and we are successfully leaving Iraq to its people.

But while we've achieved hard-earned milestones in Iraq, the situation in Afghanistan has deteriorated. After escaping across the border into Pakistan in 2001 and 2002, al Qaeda’s leadership established a safe haven there. Although a legitimate government was elected by the Afghan people, it's been hampered by corruption, the drug trade, an under-developed economy, and insufficient security forces.

Over the last several years, the Taliban has maintained common cause with al Qaeda, as they both seek an overthrow of the Afghan government. Gradually, the Taliban has begun to control additional swaths of territory in Afghanistan, while engaging in increasingly brazen and devastating attacks of terrorism against the Pakistani people.

Now, throughout this period, our troop levels in Afghanistan remained a fraction of what they were in Iraq. When I took office, we had just over 32,000 Americans serving in Afghanistan, compared to 160,000 in Iraq at the peak of the war. Commanders in Afghanistan repeatedly asked for support to deal with the reemergence of the Taliban, but these reinforcements did not arrive. And that's why, shortly after taking office, I approved a longstanding request for more troops. After consultations with our allies, I then announced a strategy recognizing the fundamental connection between our war effort in Afghanistan and the extremist safe havens in Pakistan. I set a goal that was narrowly defined as disrupting, dismantling, and defeating al Qaeda and its extremist allies, and pledged to better coordinate our military and civilian efforts.

Since then, we've made progress on some important objectives. High-ranking al Qaeda and Taliban leaders have been killed, and we've stepped up the pressure on al Qaeda worldwide. In Pakistan, that nation's army has gone on its largest offensive in years. In Afghanistan, we and our allies prevented the Taliban from stopping a presidential election, and -- although it was marred by fraud -- that election produced a government that is consistent with Afghanistan's laws and constitution.

Yet huge challenges remain. Afghanistan is not lost, but for several years it has moved backwards. There's no imminent threat of the government being overthrown, but the Taliban has gained momentum. Al Qaeda has not reemerged in Afghanistan in the same numbers as before 9/11, but they retain their safe havens along the border. And our forces lack the full support they need to effectively train and partner with Afghan security forces and better secure the population. Our new commander in Afghanistan -- General McChrystal -- has reported that the security situation is more serious than he anticipated. In short: The status quo is not sustainable.

As cadets, you volunteered for service during this time of danger. Some of you fought in Afghanistan. Some of you will deploy there. As your Commander-in-Chief, I owe you a mission that is clearly defined, and worthy of your service. And that's why, after the Afghan voting was completed, I insisted on a thorough review of our strategy. Now, let me be clear: There has never been an option before me that called for troop deployments before 2010, so there has been no delay or denial of resources necessary for the conduct of the war during this review period. Instead, the review has allowed me to ask the hard questions, and to explore all the different options, along with my national security team, our military and civilian leadership in Afghanistan, and our key partners. And given the stakes involved, I owed the American people -- and our troops -- no less.

This review is now complete. And as Commander-in-Chief, I have determined that it is in our vital national interest to send an additional 30,000 U.S. troops to Afghanistan. After 18 months, our troops will begin to come home. These are the resources that we need to seize the initiative, while building the Afghan capacity that can allow for a responsible transition of our forces out of Afghanistan.

I do not make this decision lightly. I opposed the war in Iraq precisely because I believe that we must exercise restraint in the use of military force, and always consider the long-term consequences of our actions. We have been at war now for eight years, at enormous cost in lives and resources. Years of debate over Iraq and terrorism have left our unity on national security issues in tatters, and created a highly polarized and partisan backdrop for this effort. And having just experienced the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression, the American people are understandably focused on rebuilding our economy and putting people to work here at home.

Most of all, I know that this decision asks even more of you -- a military that, along with your families, has already borne the heaviest of all burdens. As President, I have signed a letter of condolence to the family of each American who gives their life in these wars. I have read the letters from the parents and spouses of those who deployed. I visited our courageous wounded warriors at Walter Reed. I've traveled to Dover to meet the flag-draped caskets of 18 Americans returning home to their final resting place. I see firsthand the terrible wages of war. If I did not think that the security of the United States and the safety of the American people were at stake in Afghanistan, I would gladly order every single one of our troops home tomorrow.

So, no, I do not make this decision lightly. I make this decision because I am convinced that our security is at stake in Afghanistan and Pakistan. This is the epicenter of violent extremism practiced by al Qaeda. It is from here that we were attacked on 9/11, and it is from here that new attacks are being plotted as I speak. This is no idle danger; no hypothetical threat. In the last few months alone, we have apprehended extremists within our borders who were sent here from the border region of Afghanistan and Pakistan to commit new acts of terror. And this danger will only grow if the region slides backwards, and al Qaeda can operate with impunity. We must keep the pressure on al Qaeda, and to do that, we must increase the stability and capacity of our partners in the region.

Of course, this burden is not ours alone to bear. This is not just America's war. Since 9/11, al Qaeda’s safe havens have been the source of attacks against London and Amman and Bali. The people and governments of both Afghanistan and Pakistan are endangered. And the stakes are even higher within a nuclear-armed Pakistan, because we know that al Qaeda and other extremists seek nuclear weapons, and we have every reason to believe that they would use them.

These facts compel us to act along with our friends and allies. Our overarching goal remains the same: to disrupt, dismantle, and defeat al Qaeda in Afghanistan and Pakistan, and to prevent its capacity to threaten America and our allies in the future.

To meet that goal, we will pursue the following objectives within Afghanistan. We must deny al Qaeda a safe haven. We must reverse the Taliban's momentum and deny it the ability to overthrow the government. And we must strengthen the capacity of Afghanistan's security forces and government so that they can take lead responsibility for Afghanistan's future.

We will meet these objectives in three ways. First, we will pursue a military strategy that will break the Taliban's momentum and increase Afghanistan's capacity over the next 18 months.

The 30,000 additional troops that I'm announcing tonight will deploy in the first part of 2010 -- the fastest possible pace -- so that they can target the insurgency and secure key population centers. They'll increase our ability to train competent Afghan security forces, and to partner with them so that more Afghans can get into the fight. And they will help create the conditions for the United States to transfer responsibility to the Afghans.

Because this is an international effort, I've asked that our commitment be joined by contributions from our allies. Some have already provided additional troops, and we're confident that there will be further contributions in the days and weeks ahead. Our friends have fought and bled and died alongside us in Afghanistan. And now, we must come together to end this war successfully. For what's at stake is not simply a test of NATO's credibility -- what's at stake is the security of our allies, and the common security of the world.

But taken together, these additional American and international troops will allow us to accelerate handing over responsibility to Afghan forces, and allow us to begin the transfer of our forces out of Afghanistan in July of 2011. Just as we have done in Iraq, we will execute this transition responsibly, taking into account conditions on the ground. We'll continue to advise and assist Afghanistan's security forces to ensure that they can succeed over the long haul. But it will be clear to the Afghan government -- and, more importantly, to the Afghan people -- that they will ultimately be responsible for their own country.

Second, we will work with our partners, the United Nations, and the Afghan people to pursue a more effective civilian strategy, so that the government can take advantage of improved security.

This effort must be based on performance. The days of providing a blank check are over. President Karzai's inauguration speech sent the right message about moving in a new direction. And going forward, we will be clear about what we expect from those who receive our assistance. We'll support Afghan ministries, governors, and local leaders that combat corruption and deliver for the people. We expect those who are ineffective or corrupt to be held accountable. And we will also focus our assistance in areas -- such as agriculture -- that can make an immediate impact in the lives of the Afghan people.

The people of Afghanistan have endured violence for decades. They've been confronted with occupation -- by the Soviet Union, and then by foreign al Qaeda fighters who used Afghan land for their own purposes. So tonight, I want the Afghan people to understand -- America seeks an end to this era of war and suffering. We have no interest in occupying your country. We will support efforts by the Afghan government to open the door to those Taliban who abandon violence and respect the human rights of their fellow citizens. And we will seek a partnership with Afghanistan grounded in mutual respect -- to isolate those who destroy; to strengthen those who build; to hasten the day when our troops will leave; and to forge a lasting friendship in which America is your partner, and never your patron.

Third, we will act with the full recognition that our success in Afghanistan is inextricably linked to our partnership with Pakistan.

We're in Afghanistan to prevent a cancer from once again spreading through that country. But this same cancer has also taken root in the border region of Pakistan. That's why we need a strategy that works on both sides of the border.

In the past, there have been those in Pakistan who've argued that the struggle against extremism is not their fight, and that Pakistan is better off doing little or seeking accommodation with those who use violence. But in recent years, as innocents have been killed from Karachi to Islamabad, it has become clear that it is the Pakistani people who are the most endangered by extremism. Public opinion has turned. The Pakistani army has waged an offensive in Swat and South Waziristan. And there is no doubt that the United States and Pakistan share a common enemy.

In the past, we too often defined our relationship with Pakistan narrowly. Those days are over. Moving forward, we are committed to a partnership with Pakistan that is built on a foundation of mutual interest, mutual respect, and mutual trust. We will strengthen Pakistan’s capacity to target those groups that threaten our countries, and have made it clear that we cannot tolerate a safe haven for terrorists whose location is known and whose intentions are clear. America is also providing substantial resources to support Pakistan’s democracy and development. We are the largest international supporter for those Pakistanis displaced by the fighting. And going forward, the Pakistan people must know America will remain a strong supporter of Pakistan’s security and prosperity long after the guns have fallen silent, so that the great potential of its people can be unleashed.

These are the three core elements of our strategy: a military effort to create the conditions for a transition; a civilian surge that reinforces positive action; and an effective partnership with Pakistan.

I recognize there are a range of concerns about our approach. So let me briefly address a few of the more prominent arguments that I've heard, and which I take very seriously.

First, there are those who suggest that Afghanistan is another Vietnam. They argue that it cannot be stabilized, and we're better off cutting our losses and rapidly withdrawing. I believe this argument depends on a false reading of history. Unlike Vietnam, we are joined by a broad coalition of 43 nations that recognizes the legitimacy of our action. Unlike Vietnam, we are not facing a broad-based popular insurgency. And most importantly, unlike Vietnam, the American people were viciously attacked from Afghanistan, and remain a target for those same extremists who are plotting along its border. To abandon this area now -- and to rely only on efforts against al Qaeda from a distance -- would significantly hamper our ability to keep the pressure on al Qaeda, and create an unacceptable risk of additional attacks on our homeland and our allies.

Second, there are those who acknowledge that we can't leave Afghanistan in its current state, but suggest that we go forward with the troops that we already have. But this would simply maintain a status quo in which we muddle through, and permit a slow deterioration of conditions there. It would ultimately prove more costly and prolong our stay in Afghanistan, because we would never be able to generate the conditions needed to train Afghan security forces and give them the space to take over.

Finally, there are those who oppose identifying a time frame for our transition to Afghan responsibility. Indeed, some call for a more dramatic and open-ended escalation of our war effort -- one that would commit us to a nation-building project of up to a decade. I reject this course because it sets goals that are beyond what can be achieved at a reasonable cost, and what we need to achieve to secure our interests. Furthermore, the absence of a time frame for transition would deny us any sense of urgency in working with the Afghan government. It must be clear that Afghans will have to take responsibility for their security, and that America has no interest in fighting an endless war in Afghanistan.

As President, I refuse to set goals that go beyond our responsibility, our means, or our interests. And I must weigh all of the challenges that our nation faces. I don't have the luxury of committing to just one. Indeed, I'm mindful of the words of President Eisenhower, who -- in discussing our national security -- said, "Each proposal must be weighed in the light of a broader consideration: the need to maintain balance in and among national programs."

Over the past several years, we have lost that balance. We've failed to appreciate the connection between our national security and our economy. In the wake of an economic crisis, too many of our neighbors and friends are out of work and struggle to pay the bills. Too many Americans are worried about the future facing our children. Meanwhile, competition within the global economy has grown more fierce. So we can't simply afford to ignore the price of these wars.

All told, by the time I took office the cost of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan approached a trillion dollars. Going forward, I am committed to addressing these costs openly and honestly. Our new approach in Afghanistan is likely to cost us roughly $30 billion for the military this year, and I'll work closely with Congress to address these costs as we work to bring down our deficit.

But as we end the war in Iraq and transition to Afghan responsibility, we must rebuild our strength here at home. Our prosperity provides a foundation for our power. It pays for our military. It underwrites our diplomacy. It taps the potential of our people, and allows investment in new industry. And it will allow us to compete in this century as successfully as we did in the last. That's why our troop commitment in Afghanistan cannot be open-ended -- because the nation that I'm most interested in building is our own.

Now, let me be clear: None of this will be easy. The struggle against violent extremism will not be finished quickly, and it extends well beyond Afghanistan and Pakistan. It will be an enduring test of our free society, and our leadership in the world. And unlike the great power conflicts and clear lines of division that defined the 20th century, our effort will involve disorderly regions, failed states, diffuse enemies.

So as a result, America will have to show our strength in the way that we end wars and prevent conflict -- not just how we wage wars. We'll have to be nimble and precise in our use of military power. Where al Qaeda and its allies attempt to establish a foothold -- whether in Somalia or Yemen or elsewhere -- they must be confronted by growing pressure and strong partnerships.

And we can't count on military might alone. We have to invest in our homeland security, because we can't capture or kill every violent extremist abroad. We have to improve and better coordinate our intelligence, so that we stay one step ahead of shadowy networks.

We will have to take away the tools of mass destruction. And that's why I've made it a central pillar of my foreign policy to secure loose nuclear materials from terrorists, to stop the spread of nuclear weapons, and to pursue the goal of a world without them -- because every nation must understand that true security will never come from an endless race for ever more destructive weapons; true security will come for those who reject them.

We'll have to use diplomacy, because no one nation can meet the challenges of an interconnected world acting alone. I've spent this year renewing our alliances and forging new partnerships. And we have forged a new beginning between America and the Muslim world -- one that recognizes our mutual interest in breaking a cycle of conflict, and that promises a future in which those who kill innocents are isolated by those who stand up for peace and prosperity and human dignity.

And finally, we must draw on the strength of our values -- for the challenges that we face may have changed, but the things that we believe in must not. That's why we must promote our values by living them at home -- which is why I have prohibited torture and will close the prison at Guantanamo Bay. And we must make it clear to every man, woman and child around the world who lives under the dark cloud of tyranny that America will speak out on behalf of their human rights, and tend to the light of freedom and justice and opportunity and respect for the dignity of all peoples. That is who we are. That is the source, the moral source, of America’s authority.

Since the days of Franklin Roosevelt, and the service and sacrifice of our grandparents and great-grandparents, our country has borne a special burden in global affairs. We have spilled American blood in many countries on multiple continents. We have spent our revenue to help others rebuild from rubble and develop their own economies. We have joined with others to develop an architecture of institutions -- from the United Nations to NATO to the World Bank -- that provide for the common security and prosperity of human beings.

We have not always been thanked for these efforts, and we have at times made mistakes. But more than any other nation, the United States of America has underwritten global security for over six decades -- a time that, for all its problems, has seen walls come down, and markets open, and billions lifted from poverty, unparalleled scientific progress and advancing frontiers of human liberty.

For unlike the great powers of old, we have not sought world domination. Our union was founded in resistance to oppression. We do not seek to occupy other nations. We will not claim another nation’s resources or target other peoples because their faith or ethnicity is different from ours. What we have fought for -- what we continue to fight for -- is a better future for our children and grandchildren. And we believe that their lives will be better if other peoples’ children and grandchildren can live in freedom and access opportunity. (Applause.)

As a country, we're not as young -- and perhaps not as innocent -- as we were when Roosevelt was President. Yet we are still heirs to a noble struggle for freedom. And now we must summon all of our might and moral suasion to meet the challenges of a new age.

In the end, our security and leadership does not come solely from the strength of our arms. It derives from our people -- from the workers and businesses who will rebuild our economy; from the entrepreneurs and researchers who will pioneer new industries; from the teachers that will educate our children, and the service of those who work in our communities at home; from the diplomats and Peace Corps volunteers who spread hope abroad; and from the men and women in uniform who are part of an unbroken line of sacrifice that has made government of the people, by the people, and for the people a reality on this Earth. (Applause.)
This vast and diverse citizenry will not always agree on every issue -- nor should we. But I also know that we, as a country, cannot sustain our leadership, nor navigate the momentous challenges of our time, if we allow ourselves to be split asunder by the same rancor and cynicism and partisanship that has in recent times poisoned our national discourse.

It's easy to forget that when this war began, we were united -- bound together by the fresh memory of a horrific attack, and by the determination to defend our homeland and the values we hold dear. I refuse to accept the notion that we cannot summon that unity again. (Applause.) I believe with every fiber of my being that we -- as Americans -- can still come together behind a common purpose. For our values are not simply words written into parchment -- they are a creed that calls us together, and that has carried us through the darkest of storms as one nation, as one people.

America -- we are passing through a time of great trial. And the message that we send in the midst of these storms must be clear: that our cause is just, our resolve unwavering. We will go forward with the confidence that right makes might, and with the commitment to forge an America that is safer, a world that is more secure, and a future that represents not the deepest of fears but the highest of hopes. (Applause.)

Thank you. God bless you. May God bless the United States of America. (Applause.) Thank you very much. Thank you. (Applause.)

                                   END                  8:35 P.M. EST

via whitehouse.gov

What do you think?

Posted via web from michaelbaldwin

Deconstructing the Obama Just War Theory: "Remarks by the President at the Acceptance of the Nobel Peace Prize" | The White House

2009-12-21T19:11:00.001-08:00

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release

December 10, 2009

Remarks by the President at the Acceptance of the Nobel Peace Prize

Oslo City Hall
Oslo, Norway

1:44 P.M. CET

THE PRESIDENT: Your Majesties, Your Royal Highnesses, distinguished members of the Norwegian Nobel Committee, citizens of America, and citizens of the world:

I receive this honor with deep gratitude and great humility. It is an award that speaks to our highest aspirations -- that for all the cruelty and hardship of our world, we are not mere prisoners of fate. Our actions matter, and can bend history in the direction of justice.

And yet I would be remiss if I did not acknowledge the considerable controversy that your generous decision has generated. (Laughter.) In part, this is because I am at the beginning, and not the end, of my labors on the world stage. Compared to some of the giants of history who've received this prize -- Schweitzer and King; Marshall and Mandela -- my accomplishments are slight. And then there are the men and women around the world who have been jailed and beaten in the pursuit of justice; those who toil in humanitarian organizations to relieve suffering; the unrecognized millions whose quiet acts of courage and compassion inspire even the most hardened cynics. I cannot argue with those who find these men and women -- some known, some obscure to all but those they help -- to be far more deserving of this honor than I.

But perhaps the most profound issue surrounding my receipt of this prize is the fact that I am the Commander-in-Chief of the military of a nation in the midst of two wars. One of these wars is winding down. The other is a conflict that America did not seek; one in which we are joined by 42 other countries -- including Norway -- in an effort to defend ourselves and all nations from further attacks.

Still, we are at war, and I'm responsible for the deployment of thousands of young Americans to battle in a distant land. Some will kill, and some will be killed. And so I come here with an acute sense of the costs of armed conflict -- filled with difficult questions about the relationship between war and peace, and our effort to replace one with the other.

Now these questions are not new. War, in one form or another, appeared with the first man. At the dawn of history, its morality was not questioned; it was simply a fact, like drought or disease -- the manner in which tribes and then civilizations sought power and settled their differences.

And over time, as codes of law sought to control violence within groups, so did philosophers and clerics and statesmen seek to regulate the destructive power of war. The concept of a "just war" emerged, suggesting that war is justified only when certain conditions were met: if it is waged as a last resort or in self-defense; if the force used is proportional; and if, whenever possible, civilians are spared from violence.

Of course, we know that for most of history, this concept of "just war" was rarely observed. The capacity of human beings to think up new ways to kill one another proved inexhaustible, as did our capacity to exempt from mercy those who look different or pray to a different God. Wars between armies gave way to wars between nations -- total wars in which the distinction between combatant and civilian became blurred. In the span of 30 years, such carnage would twice engulf this continent. And while it's hard to conceive of a cause more just than the defeat of the Third Reich and the Axis powers, World War II was a conflict in which the total number of civilians who died exceeded the number of soldiers who perished.

In the wake of such destruction, and with the advent of the nuclear age, it became clear to victor and vanquished alike that the world needed institutions to prevent another world war. And so, a quarter century after the United States Senate rejected the League of Nations -- an idea for which Woodrow Wilson received this prize -- America led the world in constructing an architecture to keep the peace: a Marshall Plan and a United Nations, mechanisms to govern the waging of war, treaties to protect human rights, prevent genocide, restrict the most dangerous weapons.

In many ways, these efforts succeeded. Yes, terrible wars have been fought, and atrocities committed. But there has been no Third World War. The Cold War ended with jubilant crowds dismantling a wall. Commerce has stitched much of the world together. Billions have been lifted from poverty. The ideals of liberty and self-determination, equality and the rule of law have haltingly advanced. We are the heirs of the fortitude and foresight of generations past, and it is a legacy for which my own country is rightfully proud.

And yet, a decade into a new century, this old architecture is buckling under the weight of new threats. The world may no longer shudder at the prospect of war between two nuclear superpowers, but proliferation may increase the risk of catastrophe. Terrorism has long been a tactic, but modern technology allows a few small men with outsized rage to murder innocents on a horrific scale.

Moreover, wars between nations have increasingly given way to wars within nations. The resurgence of ethnic or sectarian conflicts; the growth of secessionist movements, insurgencies, and failed states -- all these things have increasingly trapped civilians in unending chaos. In today's wars, many more civilians are killed than soldiers; the seeds of future conflict are sown, economies are wrecked, civil societies torn asunder, refugees amassed, children scarred.

I do not bring with me today a definitive solution to the problems of war. What I do know is that meeting these challenges will require the same vision, hard work, and persistence of those men and women who acted so boldly decades ago. And it will require us to think in new ways about the notions of just war and the imperatives of a just peace.

We must begin by acknowledging the hard truth: We will not eradicate violent conflict in our lifetimes. There will be times when nations -- acting individually or in concert -- will find the use of force not only necessary but morally justified.

I make this statement mindful of what Martin Luther King Jr. said in this same ceremony years ago: "Violence never brings permanent peace. It solves no social problem: it merely creates new and more complicated ones." As someone who stands here as a direct consequence of Dr. King's life work, I am living testimony to the moral force of non-violence. I know there's nothing weak -- nothing passive -- nothing naïve -- in the creed and lives of Gandhi and King.

But as a head of state sworn to protect and defend my nation, I cannot be guided by their examples alone. I face the world as it is, and cannot stand idle in the face of threats to the American people. For make no mistake: Evil does exist in the world. A non-violent movement could not have halted Hitler's armies. Negotiations cannot convince al Qaeda's leaders to lay down their arms. To say that force may sometimes be necessary is not a call to cynicism -- it is a recognition of history; the imperfections of man and the limits of reason.

I raise this point, I begin with this point because in many countries there is a deep ambivalence about military action today, no matter what the cause. And at times, this is joined by a reflexive suspicion of America, the world's sole military superpower.

But the world must remember that it was not simply international institutions -- not just treaties and declarations -- that brought stability to a post-World War II world. Whatever mistakes we have made, the plain fact is this: The United States of America has helped underwrite global security for more than six decades with the blood of our citizens and the strength of our arms. The service and sacrifice of our men and women in uniform has promoted peace and prosperity from Germany to Korea, and enabled democracy to take hold in places like the Balkans. We have borne this burden not because we seek to impose our will. We have done so out of enlightened self-interest -- because we seek a better future for our children and grandchildren, and we believe that their lives will be better if others' children and grandchildren can live in freedom and prosperity.

So yes, the instruments of war do have a role to play in preserving the peace. And yet this truth must coexist with another -- that no matter how justified, war promises human tragedy. The soldier's courage and sacrifice is full of glory, expressing devotion to country, to cause, to comrades in arms. But war itself is never glorious, and we must never trumpet it as such.

So part of our challenge is reconciling these two seemingly inreconcilable truths -- that war is sometimes necessary, and war at some level is an expression of human folly. Concretely, we must direct our effort to the task that President Kennedy called for long ago. "Let us focus," he said, "on a more practical, more attainable peace, based not on a sudden revolution in human nature but on a gradual evolution in human institutions." A gradual evolution of human institutions.

What might this evolution look like? What might these practical steps be?

To begin with, I believe that all nations -- strong and weak alike -- must adhere to standards that govern the use of force. I -- like any head of state -- reserve the right to act unilaterally if necessary to defend my nation. Nevertheless, I am convinced that adhering to standards, international standards, strengthens those who do, and isolates and weakens those who don't.

The world rallied around America after the 9/11 attacks, and continues to support our efforts in Afghanistan, because of the horror of those senseless attacks and the recognized principle of self-defense. Likewise, the world recognized the need to confront Saddam Hussein when he invaded Kuwait -- a consensus that sent a clear message to all about the cost of aggression.

Furthermore, America -- in fact, no nation -- can insist that others follow the rules of the road if we refuse to follow them ourselves. For when we don't, our actions appear arbitrary and undercut the legitimacy of future interventions, no matter how justified.

And this becomes particularly important when the purpose of military action extends beyond self-defense or the defense of one nation against an aggressor. More and more, we all confront difficult questions about how to prevent the slaughter of civilians by their own government, or to stop a civil war whose violence and suffering can engulf an entire region.

I believe that force can be justified on humanitarian grounds, as it was in the Balkans, or in other places that have been scarred by war. Inaction tears at our conscience and can lead to more costly intervention later. That's why all responsible nations must embrace the role that militaries with a clear mandate can play to keep the peace.

America's commitment to global security will never waver. But in a world in which threats are more diffuse, and missions more complex, America cannot act alone. America alone cannot secure the peace. This is true in Afghanistan. This is true in failed states like Somalia, where terrorism and piracy is joined by famine and human suffering. And sadly, it will continue to be true in unstable regions for years to come.

The leaders and soldiers of NATO countries, and other friends and allies, demonstrate this truth through the capacity and courage they've shown in Afghanistan. But in many countries, there is a disconnect between the efforts of those who serve and the ambivalence of the broader public. I understand why war is not popular, but I also know this: The belief that peace is desirable is rarely enough to achieve it. Peace requires responsibility. Peace entails sacrifice. That's why NATO continues to be indispensable. That's why we must strengthen U.N. and regional peacekeeping, and not leave the task to a few countries. That's why we honor those who return home from peacekeeping and training abroad to Oslo and Rome; to Ottawa and Sydney; to Dhaka and Kigali -- we honor them not as makers of war, but of wagers -- but as wagers of peace.

Let me make one final point about the use of force. Even as we make difficult decisions about going to war, we must also think clearly about how we fight it. The Nobel Committee recognized this truth in awarding its first prize for peace to Henry Dunant -- the founder of the Red Cross, and a driving force behind the Geneva Conventions.

Where force is necessary, we have a moral and strategic interest in binding ourselves to certain rules of conduct. And even as we confront a vicious adversary that abides by no rules, I believe the United States of America must remain a standard bearer in the conduct of war. That is what makes us different from those whom we fight. That is a source of our strength. That is why I prohibited torture. That is why I ordered the prison at Guantanamo Bay closed. And that is why I have reaffirmed America's commitment to abide by the Geneva Conventions. We lose ourselves when we compromise the very ideals that we fight to defend. (Applause.) And we honor -- we honor those ideals by upholding them not when it's easy, but when it is hard.

I have spoken at some length to the question that must weigh on our minds and our hearts as we choose to wage war. But let me now turn to our effort to avoid such tragic choices, and speak of three ways that we can build a just and lasting peace.

First, in dealing with those nations that break rules and laws, I believe that we must develop alternatives to violence that are tough enough to actually change behavior -- for if we want a lasting peace, then the words of the international community must mean something. Those regimes that break the rules must be held accountable. Sanctions must exact a real price. Intransigence must be met with increased pressure -- and such pressure exists only when the world stands together as one.

One urgent example is the effort to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons, and to seek a world without them. In the middle of the last century, nations agreed to be bound by a treaty whose bargain is clear: All will have access to peaceful nuclear power; those without nuclear weapons will forsake them; and those with nuclear weapons will work towards disarmament. I am committed to upholding this treaty. It is a centerpiece of my foreign policy. And I'm working with President Medvedev to reduce America and Russia's nuclear stockpiles.

But it is also incumbent upon all of us to insist that nations like Iran and North Korea do not game the system. Those who claim to respect international law cannot avert their eyes when those laws are flouted. Those who care for their own security cannot ignore the danger of an arms race in the Middle East or East Asia. Those who seek peace cannot stand idly by as nations arm themselves for nuclear war.

The same principle applies to those who violate international laws by brutalizing their own people. When there is genocide in Darfur, systematic rape in Congo, repression in Burma -- there must be consequences. Yes, there will be engagement; yes, there will be diplomacy -- but there must be consequences when those things fail. And the closer we stand together, the less likely we will be faced with the choice between armed intervention and complicity in oppression.

This brings me to a second point -- the nature of the peace that we seek. For peace is not merely the absence of visible conflict. Only a just peace based on the inherent rights and dignity of every individual can truly be lasting.

It was this insight that drove drafters of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights after the Second World War. In the wake of devastation, they recognized that if human rights are not protected, peace is a hollow promise.

And yet too often, these words are ignored. For some countries, the failure to uphold human rights is excused by the false suggestion that these are somehow Western principles, foreign to local cultures or stages of a nation's development. And within America, there has long been a tension between those who describe themselves as realists or idealists -- a tension that suggests a stark choice between the narrow pursuit of interests or an endless campaign to impose our values around the world.

I reject these choices. I believe that peace is unstable where citizens are denied the right to speak freely or worship as they please; choose their own leaders or assemble without fear. Pent-up grievances fester, and the suppression of tribal and religious identity can lead to violence. We also know that the opposite is true. Only when Europe became free did it finally find peace. America has never fought a war against a democracy, and our closest friends are governments that protect the rights of their citizens. No matter how callously defined, neither America's interests -- nor the world's -- are served by the denial of human aspirations.

So even as we respect the unique culture and traditions of different countries, America will always be a voice for those aspirations that are universal. We will bear witness to the quiet dignity of reformers like Aung Sang Suu Kyi; to the bravery of Zimbabweans who cast their ballots in the face of beatings; to the hundreds of thousands who have marched silently through the streets of Iran. It is telling that the leaders of these governments fear the aspirations of their own people more than the power of any other nation. And it is the responsibility of all free people and free nations to make clear that these movements -- these movements of hope and history -- they have us on their side.

Let me also say this: The promotion of human rights cannot be about exhortation alone. At times, it must be coupled with painstaking diplomacy. I know that engagement with repressive regimes lacks the satisfying purity of indignation. But I also know that sanctions without outreach -- condemnation without discussion -- can carry forward only a crippling status quo. No repressive regime can move down a new path unless it has the choice of an open door.

In light of the Cultural Revolution's horrors, Nixon's meeting with Mao appeared inexcusable -- and yet it surely helped set China on a path where millions of its citizens have been lifted from poverty and connected to open societies. Pope John Paul's engagement with Poland created space not just for the Catholic Church, but for labor leaders like Lech Walesa. Ronald Reagan's efforts on arms control and embrace of perestroika not only improved relations with the Soviet Union, but empowered dissidents throughout Eastern Europe. There's no simple formula here. But we must try as best we can to balance isolation and engagement, pressure and incentives, so that human rights and dignity are advanced over time.

Third, a just peace includes not only civil and political rights -- it must encompass economic security and opportunity. For true peace is not just freedom from fear, but freedom from want.

It is undoubtedly true that development rarely takes root without security; it is also true that security does not exist where human beings do not have access to enough food, or clean water, or the medicine and shelter they need to survive. It does not exist where children can't aspire to a decent education or a job that supports a family. The absence of hope can rot a society from within.

And that's why helping farmers feed their own people -- or nations educate their children and care for the sick -- is not mere charity. It's also why the world must come together to confront climate change. There is little scientific dispute that if we do nothing, we will face more drought, more famine, more mass displacement -- all of which will fuel more conflict for decades. For this reason, it is not merely scientists and environmental activists who call for swift and forceful action -- it's military leaders in my own country and others who understand our common security hangs in the balance.

Agreements among nations. Strong institutions. Support for human rights. Investments in development. All these are vital ingredients in bringing about the evolution that President Kennedy spoke about. And yet, I do not believe that we will have the will, the determination, the staying power, to complete this work without something more -- and that's the continued expansion of our moral imagination; an insistence that there's something irreducible that we all share.

As the world grows smaller, you might think it would be easier for human beings to recognize how similar we are; to understand that we're all basically seeking the same things; that we all hope for the chance to live out our lives with some measure of happiness and fulfillment for ourselves and our families.

And yet somehow, given the dizzying pace of globalization, the cultural leveling of modernity, it perhaps comes as no surprise that people fear the loss of what they cherish in their particular identities -- their race, their tribe, and perhaps most powerfully their religion. In some places, this fear has led to conflict. At times, it even feels like we're moving backwards. We see it in the Middle East, as the conflict between Arabs and Jews seems to harden. We see it in nations that are torn asunder by tribal lines.

And most dangerously, we see it in the way that religion is used to justify the murder of innocents by those who have distorted and defiled the great religion of Islam, and who attacked my country from Afghanistan. These extremists are not the first to kill in the name of God; the cruelties of the Crusades are amply recorded. But they remind us that no Holy War can ever be a just war. For if you truly believe that you are carrying out divine will, then there is no need for restraint -- no need to spare the pregnant mother, or the medic, or the Red Cross worker, or even a person of one's own faith. Such a warped view of religion is not just incompatible with the concept of peace, but I believe it's incompatible with the very purpose of faith -- for the one rule that lies at the heart of every major religion is that we do unto others as we would have them do unto us.

Adhering to this law of love has always been the core struggle of human nature. For we are fallible. We make mistakes, and fall victim to the temptations of pride, and power, and sometimes evil. Even those of us with the best of intentions will at times fail to right the wrongs before us.

But we do not have to think that human nature is perfect for us to still believe that the human condition can be perfected. We do not have to live in an idealized world to still reach for those ideals that will make it a better place. The non-violence practiced by men like Gandhi and King may not have been practical or possible in every circumstance, but the love that they preached -- their fundamental faith in human progress -- that must always be the North Star that guides us on our journey.

For if we lose that faith -- if we dismiss it as silly or naïve; if we divorce it from the decisions that we make on issues of war and peace -- then we lose what's best about humanity. We lose our sense of possibility. We lose our moral compass.

Like generations have before us, we must reject that future. As Dr. King said at this occasion so many years ago, "I refuse to accept despair as the final response to the ambiguities of history. I refuse to accept the idea that the 'isness' of man's present condition makes him morally incapable of reaching up for the eternal 'oughtness' that forever confronts him."

Let us reach for the world that ought to be -- that spark of the divine that still stirs within each of our souls. (Applause.)

Somewhere today, in the here and now, in the world as it is, a soldier sees he's outgunned, but stands firm to keep the peace. Somewhere today, in this world, a young protestor awaits the brutality of her government, but has the courage to march on. Somewhere today, a mother facing punishing poverty still takes the time to teach her child, scrapes together what few coins she has to send that child to school -- because she believes that a cruel world still has a place for that child's dreams.

Let us live by their example. We can acknowledge that oppression will always be with us, and still strive for justice. We can admit the intractability of depravation, and still strive for dignity. Clear-eyed, we can understand that there will be war, and still strive for peace. We can do that -- for that is the story of human progress; that's the hope of all the world; and at this moment of challenge, that must be our work here on Earth.

Thank you very much. (Applause.)

END
2:20 P.M. CET

via whitehouse.gov

I would be interested in a conversational or written deconstruction of this speech. Please share your thoughts in the comments section. I will be doing so as well.

Posted via web from michaelbaldwin

My Year without a car: Class and (lack of ) independence are two barriers to using public transit.

2009-12-18T08:30:00.001-08:00

During my year without a car, I have discovered some mental barriers to using public transit. Perhaps you know of some too and can tell me about them. Living without a car led me to the acquisition of a moped/scooter. Despite not having a car, a definite class and independence issue, I was still able to feel morally superior and maintain some of my independence. Last Friday, the scooter broke down and I had to take the Natural Bridge bus back home, carrying my helmet with me.

As soon as I boarded the bus, people seeing my helmet, asked me why if I had a cycle, did I ride the bus. When I explained the scooter broke down and would need repairs, there seemed to be some sympathy for me. They realized that I was now relegated to the lower-class of public transit dependants. I had lost my modicum of independence as well. Why does it seem like such a loss? The loss is one of freedom—independence from the public transit schedule and herd. Despite not having a car, I was still relatively independent. If I wanted to get somewhere on time and directly, I was able to hop on the scooter and go. Now, I must plan further ahead and time my commute by public transit according to its quirks.

Why is class such an issue in Saint Louisan's use of public transportation, but seemingly not such a big deal elsewhere? When I lived in Chicago, I had a car which I used a few times a year—mostly to drive home to Kansas City. When I was in the D.C./Baltimore area, many people used public transportation as well. I was discussing this with friends over dinner recently. Many of them had similar stories about their choice to eschew gasoline dependant transportation altogether and ride bicycles. The image of a bike rider for commuting purposes is not a positive one in Saint Louis, yet.

One nice thing about public transportation is the opportunity to see things around you very differently. Take a look at my recent photos.

Peace,

Mike Baldwin

See and download the full gallery on posterous

Posted via email from michaelbaldwin

Final wish list item: Philco PC | Desktop | Gear

2009-12-16T15:06:00.001-08:00

via likecool.com

Posted via web from michaelbaldwin

The Copenhagen Wheel, just in time for COP15

2009-12-16T15:02:00.001-08:00

via likecool.com

This site has many cool items.

Posted via web from michaelbaldwin

Why Progressives Might Want To Kill The Health Care Bill

2009-12-16T14:40:00.001-08:00

via huffingtonpost.com

Posted via web from michaelbaldwin

Drone attacks may be expanded in Pakistan - Give Back the Peace Prize!

2009-12-16T11:50:00.001-08:00

via latimes.com

This is NOT good news! Give back the Peace Prize!

Posted via web from michaelbaldwin

FDL Action » Russ Feingold Says LieberCare Was What Obama Wanted All Along

2009-12-16T11:28:00.001-08:00

Russ Feingold Says LieberCare Was What Obama Wanted All Along
By: Jane Hamsher Wednesday December 16, 2009 9:47 am

It’s pretty laughable that people think Lieberman is “killing” health care when he’s delivering up the Senate Finance Committee bill the White House negotiated.

Russ Feingold concurs:

Sen. Russ Feingold (D-Wis.), among the most vocal supporters of the public option, said it would be unfair to blame Lieberman for its apparent demise. Feingold said that responsibility ultimately rests with President Barack Obama and he could have insisted on a higher standard for the legislation.

“This bill appears to be legislation that the president wanted in the first place, so I don’t think focusing it on Lieberman really hits the truth,” said Feingold.

via fdlaction.firedoglake.com

Posted via web from michaelbaldwin

FDL Action » White House “Irritated” With Howard Dean, Not Joe Lieberman--WTH!?!

2009-12-16T11:26:00.001-08:00

via fdlaction.firedoglake.com

What the Hell? See also Russ Feingold: Liebercare is what Obama wanted all along.
Chant with me: NO OPTION? NO MANDATE!

Posted via web from michaelbaldwin

The Twelve Days of Christmas: not a secret Catholic Catechism song.

2009-12-15T17:34:00.001-08:00

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The Twelve Days of Christmas

Claim: The song "The Twelve Days of Christmas" was created as a coded reference to important articles of the Christian faith.

FALSE

Example: [Collected via e-mail, 1998]

You're all familiar with the Christmas song, "The Twelve Days of Christmas" I think. To most it's a delightful nonsense rhyme set to music. But it had a quite serious purpose when it was written.
It is a good deal more than just a repetitious melody with pretty phrases and a list of strange gifts.
Catholics in England during the period 1558 to 1829, when Parliament finally emancipated Catholics in England, were prohibited from ANY practice of their faith by law - private OR public. It was a crime to BE a Catholic.
"The Twelve Days of Christmas" was written in England as one of the "catechism songs" to help young Catholics learn the tenets of their faith - a memory aid, when to be caught with anything in writing indicating adherence to the Catholic faith could not only get you imprisoned, it could get you hanged, or shortened by a head - or hanged, drawn and quartered, a rather peculiar and ghastly punishment I'm not aware was ever practiced anywhere else. Hanging, drawing and quartering involved hanging a person by the neck until they had almost, but not quite, suffocated to death; then the party was taken down from the gallows, and disembowelled while still alive; and while the entrails were still lying on the street, where the executioners stomped all over them, the victim was tied to four large farm horses, and literally torn into five parts - one to each limb and the remaining torso.
The songs gifts are hidden meanings to the teachings of the faith. The "true love" mentioned in the song doesn't refer to an earthly suitor, it refers to God Himself. The "me" who receives the presents refers to every baptized person. The partridge in a pear tree is Jesus Christ, the Son of God. In the song, Christ is symbolically presented as a mother partridge which feigns injury to decoy predators from her helpless nestlings, much in memory of the expression of Christ's sadness over the fate of Jerusalem: "Jerusalem! Jerusalem! How often would I have sheltered thee under my wings, as a hen does her chicks, but thou wouldst not have it so..."
The other symbols mean the following:
2 Turtle Doves = The Old and New Testaments
3 French Hens = Faith, Hope and Charity, the Theological Virtues
4 Calling Birds = the Four Gospels and/or the Four Evangelists
5 Golden Rings = The first Five Books of the Old Testament, the "Pentateuch", which gives the history of man's fall from grace.
6 Geese A-laying = the six days of creation
7 Swans A-swimming = the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit, the seven sacraments
8 Maids A-milking = the eight beatitudes
9 Ladies Dancing = the nine Fruits of the Holy Spirit
10 Lords A-leaping = the ten commandments
11 Pipers Piping = the eleven faithful apostles
12 Drummers Drumming = the twelve points of doctrine in the Apostle's Creed

Origins: Two common forms of modern folklore are claims that familiar old bits of rhyme and song (such as the nursery rhyme "Ring Around the Rosie") encode "hidden" meanings which have been passed along for centuries, and claims that common objects of secular origin particularly objects associated with Christmas (such as the candy cane) were deliberately created to embody symbols of Christian faith. Here we have an article that combines both these forms and posits that a mirthful Christmas festival song about romantic gift-giving actually originated as a coded catechism used by persecuted Catholics.
Some versions of this piece do not specifically mention Catholicism or England. In these alternate versions, the song "The Twelve Days of Christmas" is said to have been developed by Christians who could not openly practice their faith because they lived in societies where Christianity was forbidden. Locating a place in the western world where the practice of Christianity was banned during the last several centuries is difficult enough, but trying to discern the usefulness of a Christmas song as a method of preserving tenets of Christianity in a society where the practice of Christianity itself was outlawed is truly a mind bender, since in such a society all facets of Christmas celebrations would surely be banned as well. Therefore, our discussion here will concentrate on the claim that "The Twelve Days of Christmas" was the creation of Catholics living England after the Anglican Reformation.
The history of the development of the Anglican Church and the relationship between Anglicans and Catholics in England over the subsequent centuries is a complex subject which could not be done justice in anything less than a lengthy and detailed discourse. (For an overview of the topic, we recommend the entry on "England [Since the Reformation]" in The Catholic Encyclopedia.) In short, the era under discussion begins with King Henry VIII's (1509-1547) break with the Catholic Church

in Rome and his establishment of the Anglican Church. In 1558, Henry's Catholic daughter Mary I died, and her non-Catholic half-sister Elizabeth I took the throne; the following year the Act of Uniformity abolished "the old worship," and the open practice of Catholicism was forbidden by law until Parliament passed the Catholic Emancipation Act in 1829. However, it is not accurate to say that, without exception, anyone caught practicing Catholicism (or possessing material indicating adherence to Catholicism) at any time during this 270-year period was immediately imprisoned or executed. The state's toleration of Catholicism waxed and waned with the political exigencies of the times, and during some periods Catholics were treated more leniently than others. (As an interesting side note, we should mention that during the Puritan Commonwealth of 1649-1660, legislation banning the celebration of Christmas in England by anyone, Anglican or otherwise, was enacted, although these laws were overturned with the restoration of the monarchy in 1660.)
Two very large red flags indicate that the claim about the "secret" origins of the song "The Twelve Days of Christmas" is nothing more than a fanciful tale, similar to the many apocryphal "hidden meanings" of various nursery rhymes:

There is absolutely no documentation or supporting evidence for this claim whatsoever, other than mere repetition of the claim itself.

The claim appears to date only to the 1990s, marking it as likely an invention of modern day speculation rather than historical fact.
Moreover, several flaws in the proffered explanation argue compellingly against it:

The key flaw in this theory is that the differences between the Anglican and Catholic churches were largely differences in emphasis and form which were extrinsic to scripture. Although Catholics and Anglicans used different English translations of the Bible (Douai-Reims and the King James version, respectively), all of the religious tenets supposedly preserved by the song "The Twelve Days of Christmas" (with the possible exception of the number of sacraments) were shared by Catholics and Anglicans alike: Both groups' Bibles included the Old and New Testaments, both contained the five books that form the Pentateuch, both had the Four Gospels, both included God's creation of the universe in six days as described in Genesis, and both enumerated the Ten Commandments. A Catholic might need to be wary of being caught with a Douai-Reims Bible, but there was absolutely no reason why any Catholic would have to hide his knowledge of any of the concepts supposedly symbolized in "The Twelve Days of Christmas," because these were basic articles of faith common to all denominations of Christianity. None of these items would distinguish a Catholic from a Protestant, and therefore none of them needed to be "secretly" encoded into song lest their mention betray one as a Catholic.
Conversely, none of the important differences that would obviously distinguish a Catholic from a Protestant is mentioned here. A Catholic would have good reason not to possess or reveal anything that would indicate his allegiance to the Pope or his participation in the sacrament of penance (also known as Confession), but nothing of that nature is encapsulated in the explanation of the symbolism supposedly to be found in "The Twelve Days of Christmas."

If "The Twelve Days of Christmas" were really a song Catholics used "as memory aids to preserve the tenets of their faith" because "to be caught with anything in writing indicating adherence to the Catholic faith could get you imprisoned," how was the essence of Catholicism passed from one generation to the next? The mere memorization of a song with coded references to "the Old and New Testaments" in no way preserves the contents of those testaments. How was this preservation of content accomplished if possessing the testaments in written form was forbidden? Did Catholics memorize the entire contents of the Bible? Obviously not, and there was no reason to do so: Since Catholics and Anglicans both used the Old and New Testaments, possessing their contents in written form did not expose one as a Catholic, and thus there was no need to cloak common Biblical concepts through the use of mnemonic devices. There was no reason why "young Catholics" could not be openly taught about the Four Gospels, or the eleven faithful apostles, or the Ten Commandments.

The utility of a Christmas song as a surreptitious means of memorizing a catechism would be quite limited, as its use would obviously be restricted to Christmastime. How was the supposedly forbidden catechism taught to children throughout the rest of the year? Where are the other rhymes and songs with similar hidden meanings that Catholics would had to have used for their catechism throughout the rest of the year?

There are no obvious relationships between the concepts to be memorized and the symbols used to represent them in "The Twelve Days of Christmas." In what way do "eight maids a-milking" remind one of the Eight Beatitudes? How are "nine ladies dancing" supposed to bring the Nine Fruits of the Holy Spirit to mind? (Yes, some interpreters have attempted to explain these relationships, but their explanations are so contrived and convoluted as to be beyond the grasp of the children who were supposed to be the primary beneficiaries of this alleged catechism song.) Without any obvious relationships between the symbols and the concepts they symbolize, this song is no more useful as a "memory aid" than simply memorizing the numbers one through twelve would be.

As one would expect to find in a folkloric explanation (rather than a factual one), there is a great deal of variation in the list of religious tenets supposedly symbolized in the song. The three French hens represent the three "theological virtues" (faith, hope, and charity), or the Holy Trinity, or the three gifts the Magi brought for the infant Jesus. The four calling birds are the Four Gospels, or the four major Old Testament prophets (Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and Daniel), or the four horsemen of the Apocalypse. The five golden rings are the five books of the Pentateuch, or the five decades of the rosary, or the five obligatory sacraments of the Church. A song genuinely used as a "memory aid" would be expected to have a standard, fixed form, not variation upon variation.
What little has been offered in support of this claim is decidedly unconvincing. This piece is often attributed to Fr. Hal Stockert, and in his explanation on a page from the web site of the Catholic Information Network, he wrote:
I found this information while I was researching for an entirely unrelated project which required me to go to the Latin texts of the sources pertinent to my research. Among those primary documents there were letters from Irish priests, mostly Jesuits, writing back to the motherhouse at Douai-Rheims, in France, mentioning this purely as an aside, and not at all as part of the main content of the letters.
So where is the information gleaned from these letters? As Fr. Stockert explained to syndicated religion writer Terry Mattingly in 1999:
"I've got all kinds of people writing me demanding references for my work," he said. "I wish I could give them what they want, but all of my notes were ruined when our church had a plumbing leak and the basement flooded." Meanwhile, he said, his copy of the original article is on "a computer floppy disk that is so old that nobody has a machine that can read it, anymore."
What we do know is that the twelve days of Christmas in the song are the twelve days between the birth of Christ (Christmas, December 25) and the coming of the Magi (Epiphany, January 6). Although the specific origins of the song "The Twelve Days of Christmas" are not known, it possibly began as a Twelfth Night "memory-and-forfeits" game in which the leader recited a verse, each of the players repeated the verse, the leader added another verse, and so on until one of the players made a mistake, with the player who erred having to pay a penalty, such as a offering up a kiss or a sweet. This is how the song was presented in its earliest known printed version, in the 1780 children's book Mirth Without Mischief. (The song is apparently much older than this printed version, but we do not currently know how much older.) Textual evidence indicates that the song "The Twelve Days of Christmas" was not English in origin, but French. Three French versions of the song are known, and items mentioned in the song itself (the partridge, for example, which was not introduced to England from France until the late 1770s) are indicative of a French origin.
It is possible that "The Twelve Days of Christmas" has been confused with (or is a transformation of) a song called "A New Dial" (also known as "In Those Twelve Days"), which dates to at least 1625 and assigns religious meanings to each of the twelve days of Christmas (but not for the purposes of teaching a catechism). In a manner somewhat similar to the memory-and-forfeits performance of "The Twelve Days of Christmas," the song "A New Dial" was recited in a question-and-answer format:

What are they that are but one?
We have one God alone
In heaven above sits on His throne.
What are they which are by two?
Two testaments, the old and new,
We do acknowledge to be true.
What are they which are but three?
Three persons in the Trinity
Which make one God in unity.
What are they which are but four
Four sweet Evangelists there are,
Christ's birth, life, death which do declare.
What are they which are but five?
Five senses, like five kings, maintain
In every man a several reign.
What are they which are but six?
Six days to labor is not wrong,
For God himself did work so long.
What are they which are but seven?
Seven liberal arts hath God sent down
With divine skill man's soul to crown.
What are they which are but eight?
Eight Beatitudes are there given
Use them right and go to heaven.
What are they which are but nine?
Nine Muses, like the heaven's nine spheres,
With sacred tunes entice our ears.
What are they which are but ten?
Ten statutes God to Moses gave
Which, kept or broke, do spill or save.
What are they which are but eleven?
Eleven thousand virgins did partake
And suffered death for Jesus' sake.
What are they which are but twelve?
Twelve are attending on God's son;
Twelve make our creed. The Dial's done.

(Using ordinary objects to represent biblical concepts is a common device, as exemplified by the several popular recordings of Deck of Cards.)
"The Twelve Days of Christmas" is what most people take it to be: a secular song that celebrates the Christmas season with imagery of gifts and dancing and music. Some misinterpretations have crept into the English version over the years, though. For example, the fourth day's gift is four "colly birds" (or "collie birds"), not four "calling birds." (The word "colly" literally means "black as coal," and thus "colly birds" would be blackbirds.) The "five golden rings" refers not to five pieces of jewelry, but to five ring-necked birds (such as pheasants). When these errors are corrected, the pattern of the first seven gifts' all being types of birds is re-established.
Nonetheless, plenty of writers continue to expound upon "the beauty and truly biblical and spiritual meanings locked away in this wonderful song that puts Christ into Christmas where he doesn't appear to be." Perhaps those who consider this tale to be "beautiful" and "inspirational" (despite its obviously dubious truthfulness) should consider its underlying message: That one group of Jesus' followers had to hide their beliefs in order to avoid being tortured and killed by another group of Jesus' followers. Of all the aspects of Christianity to celebrate at Christmastime, that doesn't sound like a particularly good one to emphasize.
Last updated: 15 December 2008

The URL for this page is http://www.snopes.com/holidays/christmas/music/12days.asp
Urban Legends Reference Pages 1995-2009 by Barbara and David P. Mikkelson.
This material may not be reproduced without permission.
snopes and the snopes.com logo are registered service marks of snopes.com.

Sources:

Butler, William S. and L. Douglas Keeney. Secret Messages.

New York: Simon & Schuster, 2001. ISBN 0-684-86998-5 (p. 116-117).

Dearmer, Percy. The Oxford Book of Carols.

London: Oxford Univ. Press, 1928.

Grant, Leigh. Twelve Days of Christmas: A Celebration and History.

New York: Harry N. Abrams, 1995. ISBN 0-8109-3881-2.

Mattingly, Terry. "A Christmas Mystery 12 Days Worth."

22 December 1999 [syndicated column].
Mattingly, Terry. "A Christmas Mystery -- 12 Days Worth."
22 December 1999 [syndicated column].
-->

McKellar, Hugh D. "The Twelve Days of Christmas."

The Hymn. October 1994 (pp. 30-32).

Nissenbaum, Stephen. The Battle for Christmas.

New York: Vintage Books, 1997. ISBN 0-679-74038-4.

Opie, Iona and Peter. The Oxford Dictionary of Nursery Rhymes.

New York: Oxford University Press, 1997. ISBN 0-19-860088-7 (pp. 470-471).

via snopes.com

Just wanting to clear up the 10 year tradition of sending emails with misinformation about this lovely, secular holiday song.
I especially love the last few lines of this article.

Posted via web from michaelbaldwin

Kill the Senate Health Care Bill. Then work like Hell to replace every so-called Democrat who stood in the way of true reform.

2009-12-15T13:36:00.001-08:00

I’m mad as hell and not going to take it anymore. Between the robber baron banks and insurance companies and their bedfellows the paid-off Congress, we have lost control of our finances and futures.

In disgust, I removed my meager funds from one of the bailed-out banks—Bank of America and put it in a Credit Union. It was a small, token step toward sanity. I could not in conscience allow the banks to use the seven trillion dollar line of credit from the Federal Reserve and my federal taxpayer guaranteed deposits to speculate any longer. No housing and no products were made by those gamblers. Then, they paid themselves more bonuses, bigger and better than before the bail-outs.

On the same line, I risked being uninsured for the past thirty years. I could not in conscience give my money to Insurance companies who discriminate against those most in need. I had a heart attack during my time of un-insurance. The bill for my care (which was paid in-full) was less than what I would have spent in premiums over those years. But, with the looming threat of mandated insurance by the front-running Presidential candidates, last year coupled with my spouse’s pleas, I acquiesced to getting insurance this past year. Despite my pre-existing condition, I was able to qualify under the plan provided by my spouse’s employer. I know I was fortunate to get the insurance, however, I still have regrets about the decision to do so. I still looked for the day of true insurance reform. That day still has not dawned. And now, may not in my lifetime. It has been over thirty years since Democrats controlled a voting majority in the House and Senate and had a Democrat in the White House. Can we wait another thirty plus years for this opportunity again? What we are being offered instead of reform is mandated, privately paid to private insurance company monopoly coverage. This is legal racketeering!

I will not go in peace! I will protest this tyranny! I will do all in my power to see that these so-called Democrats, who were elected on promise of Healthcare Reform, Financing Reform, Economic Reform, and a Peace Economy, who have now stood in the way of true reform, are replaced with those who hear and understand the cry of the people: Don’t Tread On Me!!!

Posted via email from michaelbaldwin

Not local, but they have hard-to-find teas like Houjicha. Rishi Tea: Organic Fair Trade Tea

2009-12-10T13:46:00.001-08:00

via rishi-tea.com

Good prices too.

Posted via web from michaelbaldwin

Progress doesn't always come easy | National Catholic Reporter

2009-12-10T10:56:00.001-08:00

Progress doesn't always come easy

Dec. 10, 2009
By Mary Ann Walsh

Accountability

Sr. Mary Ann Walsh
Printer-friendly versionSend to friendPDF version
Commentary

Recent talk about the Catholic church's role in politics reminds me of two great moments in church social teaching in the United States: the New Deal and the Civil Rights eras.

Both moments found the church embroiled in controversy, with strident cries that it did not belong in the public arena. The eventual rewards for the church's role were huge for society, but came at a cost for the church.

The same, unfortunately, remains true today.

A leading figure of the New Deal era was Monsignor John Augustine Ryan (1865-1945), who headed the social action department of the U.S. bishops' National Catholic Welfare Council, the predecessor of today's U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. Critics pejoratively referred to him as "Monsignor New Deal" for his social action efforts, which included fighting to establish a living wage and authoring the 1919 "Program for Social Reconstruction" -- essentially, an outline for what would become Franklin Roosevelt's New Deal.

What Ryan and the church sought in the early 20th Century seemed radical then, though it is commonplace today. He agitated across the board as he applied the church's social teaching and theology to the ills he saw about him and worked to remedy some of them.

Ryan is now a hero in social teaching lore, but he didn't reach such heights without making foes, both inside and outside of the church.

The Civil Rights movement of the 1960s saw church leaders speak out against racism and discrimination, most dramatically in Selma, Ala. During a series of marches in Selma in 1965, Catholics from 44 dioceses were among the peaceful protesters on and after Bloody Sunday, when police attacked marchers with ropes and whips as horrified Americans watched on TV.

Among the marchers was the Rev. John Cavanaugh, the former president of the University of Notre Dame, who stood with priests and nuns as they walked alongside Protestant ministers and rabbis. The presence of these religious figures put off those who would have preferred that the men and women of the church had stayed home and prayed instead of disquieting everyone with their peaceful march

via ncronline.org

read on for Sr. Mary Ann Walsh's take on the Health Care Reform and abortion.

Posted via web from michaelbaldwin

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights

2009-12-10T09:56:00.001-08:00

PREAMBLE

Whereas recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world,

Whereas disregard and contempt for human rights have resulted in barbarous acts which have outraged the conscience of mankind, and the advent of a world in which human beings shall enjoy freedom of speech and belief and freedom from fear and want has been proclaimed as the highest aspiration of the common people,

Whereas it is essential, if man is not to be compelled to have recourse, as a last resort, to rebellion against tyranny and oppression, that human rights should be protected by the rule of law,

Whereas it is essential to promote the development of friendly relations between nations,

Whereas the peoples of the United Nations have in the Charter reaffirmed their faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person and in the equal rights of men and women and have determined to promote social progress and better standards of life in larger freedom,

Whereas Member States have pledged themselves to achieve, in co-operation with the United Nations, the promotion of universal respect for and observance of human rights and fundamental freedoms,

Whereas a common understanding of these rights and freedoms is of the greatest importance for the full realization of this pledge,

Now, Therefore THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY proclaims THIS UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS as a common standard of achievement for all peoples and all nations, to the end that every individual and every organ of society, keeping this Declaration constantly in mind, shall strive by teaching and education to promote respect for these rights and freedoms and by progressive measures, national and international, to secure their universal and effective recognition and observance, both among the peoples of Member States themselves and among the peoples of territories under their jurisdiction.

^ Top

Article 1.

All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.

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Article 2.

Everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration, without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status. Furthermore, no distinction shall be made on the basis of the political, jurisdictional or international status of the country or territory to which a person belongs, whether it be independent, trust, non-self-governing or under any other limitation of sovereignty.

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Article 3.

Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person.

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Article 4.

No one shall be held in slavery or servitude; slavery and the slave trade shall be prohibited in all their forms.

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Article 5.

No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.

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Article 6.

Everyone has the right to recognition everywhere as a person before the law.

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Article 7.

All are equal before the law and are entitled without any discrimination to equal protection of the law. All are entitled to equal protection against any discrimination in violation of this Declaration and against any incitement to such discrimination.

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Article 8.

Everyone has the right to an effective remedy by the competent national tribunals for acts violating the fundamental rights granted him by the constitution or by law.

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Article 9.

No one shall be subjected to arbitrary arrest, detention or exile.

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Article 10.

Everyone is entitled in full equality to a fair and public hearing by an independent and impartial tribunal, in the determination of his rights and obligations and of any criminal charge against him.

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Article 11.

(1) Everyone charged with a penal offence has the right to be presumed innocent until proved guilty according to law in a public trial at which he has had all the guarantees necessary for his defence.

(2) No one shall be held guilty of any penal offence on account of any act or omission which did not constitute a penal offence, under national or international law, at the time when it was committed. Nor shall a heavier penalty be imposed than the one that was applicable at the time the penal offence was committed.

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Article 12.

No one shall be subjected to arbitrary interference with his privacy, family, home or correspondence, nor to attacks upon his honour and reputation. Everyone has the right to the protection of the law against such interference or attacks.

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Article 13.

(1) Everyone has the right to freedom of movement and residence within the borders of each state.

(2) Everyone has the right to leave any country, including his own, and to return to his country.

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Article 14.

(1) Everyone has the right to seek and to enjoy in other countries asylum from persecution.

(2) This right may not be invoked in the case of prosecutions genuinely arising from non-political crimes or from acts contrary to the purposes and principles of the United Nations.

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Article 15.

(1) Everyone has the right to a nationality.

(2) No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his nationality nor denied the right to change his nationality.

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Article 16.

(1) Men and women of full age, without any limitation due to race, nationality or religion, have the right to marry and to found a family. They are entitled to equal rights as to marriage, during marriage and at its dissolution.

(2) Marriage shall be entered into only with the free and full consent of the intending spouses.

(3) The family is the natural and fundamental group unit of society and is entitled to protection by society and the State.

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Article 17.

(1) Everyone has the right to own property alone as well as in association with others.

(2) No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his property.

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Article 18.

Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance.

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Article 19.

Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.

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Article 20.

(1) Everyone has the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and association.

(2) No one may be compelled to belong to an association.

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Article 21.

(1) Everyone has the right to take part in the government of his country, directly or through freely chosen representatives.

(2) Everyone has the right of equal access to public service in his country.

(3) The will of the people shall be the basis of the authority of government; this will shall be expressed in periodic and genuine elections which shall be by universal and equal suffrage and shall be held by secret vote or by equivalent free voting procedures.

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Article 22.

Everyone, as a member of society, has the right to social security and is entitled to realization, through national effort and international co-operation and in accordance with the organization and resources of each State, of the economic, social and cultural rights indispensable for his dignity and the free development of his personality.

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Article 23.

(1) Everyone has the right to work, to free choice of employment, to just and favourable conditions of work and to protection against unemployment.

(2) Everyone, without any discrimination, has the right to equal pay for equal work.

(3) Everyone who works has the right to just and favourable remuneration ensuring for himself and his family an existence worthy of human dignity, and supplemented, if necessary, by other means of social protection.

(4) Everyone has the right to form and to join trade unions for the protection of his interests.

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Article 24.

Everyone has the right to rest and leisure, including reasonable limitation of working hours and periodic holidays with pay.

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Article 25.

(1) Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and of his family, including food, clothing, housing and medical care and necessary social services, and the right to security in the event of unemployment, sickness, disability, widowhood, old age or other lack of livelihood in circumstances beyond his control.

(2) Motherhood and childhood are entitled to special care and assistance. All children, whether born in or out of wedlock, shall enjoy the same social protection.

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Article 26.

(1) Everyone has the right to education. Education shall be free, at least in the elementary and fundamental stages. Elementary education shall be compulsory. Technical and professional education shall be made generally available and higher education shall be equally accessible to all on the basis of merit.

(2) Education shall be directed to the full development of the human personality and to the strengthening of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. It shall promote understanding, tolerance and friendship among all nations, racial or religious groups, and shall further the activities of the United Nations for the maintenance of peace.

(3) Parents have a prior right to choose the kind of education that shall be given to their children.

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Article 27.

(1) Everyone has the right freely to participate in the cultural life of the community, to enjoy the arts and to share in scientific advancement and its benefits.

(2) Everyone has the right to the protection of the moral and material interests resulting from any scientific, literary or artistic production of which he is the author.

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Article 28.

Everyone is entitled to a social and international order in which the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration can be fully realized.

^ Top

Article 29.

(1) Everyone has duties to the community in which alone the free and full development of his personality is possible.

(2) In the exercise of his rights and freedoms, everyone shall be subject only to such limitations as are determined by law solely for the purpose of securing due recognition and respect for the rights and freedoms of others and of meeting the just requirements of morality, public order and the general welfare in a democratic society.

(3) These rights and freedoms may in no case be exercised contrary to the purposes and principles of the United Nations.

^ Top

Article 30.

Nothing in this Declaration may be interpreted as implying for any State, group or person any right to engage in any activity or to perform any act aimed at the destruction of any of the rights and freedoms set forth herein.

via un.org

Posted via web from michaelbaldwin

My year without a car

2009-12-10T07:50:00.001-08:00

My year without a car started in the Summer of 2009. We once were a two-car household. One car was given away just before our other car died a sudden death after 15years of age. I was not fazed by the lack of a car, at first. I had my 49cc scooter to fall back on. That was Summer. In came a rainy Fall and the loss of the independence of my own four-wheel, enclosed, transportation was starting to weigh on me. I began taking the Metro busses and Metrolink to get around on those rainy days when I could not avoid an appointment or other excursion away from my home office. Therein was the problem. I would have to plan my trips by public transit, early in the morning and leave at least an hour before I was due at a destination which was only fifteen minutes from home, by car. Why does it take so long to go so close?

BiState/Metro offers an interesting array of complicated and convoluted bus routes. Many bear the name of a major traffic artery and a route number. What makes it interesting is that though they may be named after a city thoroughfare, they do not necessarily stay on that street. They may take long and winding detours down other streets finally coming about where they again merge back on their original route named street. This seems cumbersome and difficult to remember. Does one take the Kingshighway bus to get to North Broadway? Intuitively, the two streets, running roughly parallel should not intersect. What happened to the days of busses running on a grid, up and down and back and forth on the same street over and over again, with some consistency of timing?

Peace,

Mike Baldwin

Posted via email from michaelbaldwin

Gay to Straight

2009-12-08T21:22:00.001-08:00

</object><p style="font-size:11px; font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #999; margin-top: 5px; background: transparent; text-align: center; width: 420px;">Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy</p>

Posted via email from michaelbaldwin

Rachel Maddow spars with gay ‘cure’ movement leader

2009-12-08T21:16:00.001-08:00

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Thoughts?

Posted via web from michaelbaldwin

The Catholic Key Blog: Bishop John Wester Challenges Senate, Obama to Allow Undocumented Immigrants Health Coverage

2009-12-08T19:47:00.001-08:00

Salt Lake City Bishop John C. Wester has a guest column today at Politics Daily urging President Obama and the Senate to follow the House’ lead and allow undocumented immigrants to purchase coverage in the proposed new health exchanges. Bishop Wester also serves as chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops' Committee on Migration.

As I post this, his article has only been up a couple of hours at Politics Daily and has already received more than 120 mostly negative comments from people who mostly did not read what he actually said. Bishop Wester, who I’ve known for decades as a good and holy, solidly pro-life and orthodox pastor, is not pulling something out of left-field here. He is asking only that undocumented immigrants be allowed to purchase coverage with their own money, and he has some very good moral and policy reasons for making that argument.

Politics Daily has given permission to the USCCB for diocesan sites to post the column in its entirety. Here it is:

The Truth About Immigrants and Health Care

By Bishop John Wester

Representative Joe Wilson's now infamous "you lie" shout out to President Obama during his health care speech to Congress was featured in the press as an unprecedented breach of protocol.

Much less has been reported about the subject of the rant: keeping undocumented persons from accessing health care.

With the passage of health care legislation, a majority of the House of Representatives shouted back. The House bill permits undocumented persons to use their own money to purchase coverage in the new health care exchange.

This is contrary to the stated positions of not only Rep. Wilson, but also the U.S. Senate and the Obama administration. A closer examination of the merits of the House position should convince them that, in this case, sound public policy should trump divisive politics.

With 12 million undocumented persons in the country, someone is going to need a doctor. While close to 4 million already have health care through employer-based plans, millions of others are dependent upon community clinics, emergency rooms, and the generosity of medical personnel who believe health care is a human right, not a privilege.

Although uninsured immigrants use emergency rooms much less than U.S. citizens, the cost of their care ultimately falls upon American taxpayers, either through higher insurance rates or tax money paid directly to providers. Permitting the undocumented to use their own money to purchase coverage would help alleviate some of this fiscal and financial burden on Americans.

It also would help Americans afford their own coverage. A study by the Kaiser Foundation concluded that immigrants are younger and healthier than average Americans and are less likely to access health care and drive up costs, keeping prices lower for everyone. By letting the undocumented buy into the exchange, the risks and costs of the new health care system would be spread out among more participants.

Given a chance, they will participate. The reality is that undocumented immigrants want to pay their way, as they do with taxes, Social Security payments, and health care contributions. Why not let them? A recent study found that 84 percent of undocumented Mexican immigrants in California offered employer-based coverage accepted it and paid for a portion of the costs.

Even for legal immigrants, Congress has yet to write the right prescription. Both the Senate and House bills fail to lift the ban, imposed in the welfare reform legislation of 1996, which prevents working but poor legal immigrants from enrolling in Medicaid for five years. Legal immigrants, who are on a path to become U.S. citizens, should be eligible for programs for which they pay taxes.

Including immigrants in health care reform would help make health care affordable to all and make us a healthier nation. It also would make coverage accessible to the most vulnerable among us. Is that not the point of health care reform? To their credit, a majority of the U.S. House of Representatives thinks so.

In the end, the debate over immigrants and health care is really a debate about another affliction ailing our nation: the broken U.S. immigration system. In truth, without a legalization program and other reforms, our elected officials will continue to be faced with policy choices that treat U.S. citizens and immigrants differently but weaken the nation as a whole.

President Obama and Congress would be wise to include immigrants in health care reform and then enact immigration reform legislation, so that we are finally rid of the vitriolic immigration debates which have sullied our public discourse and confused our public policy decisions.

Until that time, breaches of protocol and political gamesmanship may continue to define the issue of immigration, to the detriment of all Americans. And immigrants could be left standing in the waiting room, asking for a doctor's appointment that may never come.

The writer is the Catholic bishop of Salt Lake City, Utah, and chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops' Committee on Migration.

via catholickey.blogspot.com

Posted via web from michaelbaldwin

Cathedral of Immaculate Conception.

2009-12-08T09:59:00.001-08:00

Posted via web from michaelbaldwin

Toward a Single-payer system to buck the greed.

2009-12-07T15:57:00.001-08:00

Just Amazing

Commentary By Ron Beasley

In the middle of a health care debate does this make a lot of sense?
Aetna Forcing 600,000-Plus To Lose Coverage In Effort To Raise Profits

Health insurance giant Aetna is planning to force up to 650,000 clients to drop their coverage next year as it seeks to raise additional revenue to meet profit expectations.

In a third-quarter earnings conference call in late October, officials at Aetna announced that in an effort to improve on a less-than-anticipated profit margin in 2009, they would be raising prices on their consumers in 2010. The insurance giant predicted that the company would subsequently lose between 300,000 and 350,000 members next year from its national account as well as another 300,000 from smaller group accounts.

"The pricing we put in place for 2009 turned out to not really be what we needed to achieve the results and margins that we had historically been delivering," said chairman and CEO Ron Williams. "We view 2010 as a repositioning year, a year that does not fully reflect the earnings potential of our business. Our pricing actions should have a noticeable effect beginning in the first quarter of 2010, with additional financial impact realized during the remaining three quarters of the year."

Is it really a good move to demonstrate such greed and hubris when you are already under attack? Will this make it more difficult for the blue dogs and even some Republicans to oppose a strong public option?

Of course this is being driven by the real problem which is not addressed in any of the current health care legislation - rising costs.

via newshoggers.com

What do you think?

Posted via web from michaelbaldwin

	1900		1920		1940
Rank	Place	Population	Place	Population	Place	Population
1.	New York, N.Y.	3,437,202	New York, N.Y.	5,620,048	New York, N.Y.	7,454,995
2.	Chicago, Ill.	1,698,575	Chicago, Ill.	2,701,705	Chicago, Ill.	3,396,808
3.	Philadelphia, Pa.	1,293,697	Philadelphia, Pa.	1,823,779	Philadelphia, Pa.	1,931,334
4.	St. Louis, Mo.	575,238	Detroit, Mich.	993,078	Detroit, Mich.	1,623,452
5.	Boston, Mass.	560,892	Cleveland, Ohio	796,841	Los Angeles, Calif.	1,504,277
6.	Baltimore, Md.	508,957	St. Louis, Mo.	772,897	Cleveland, Ohio	878,336
7.	Cleveland, Ohio	381,768	Boston, Mass.	748,060	Baltimore, Md.	859,100
8.	Buffalo, N.Y.	352,387	Baltimore, Md.	733,826	St. Louis, Mo.	816,048
9.	San Francisco, Calif.	342,782	Pittsburgh, Pa.	588,343	Boston, Mass.	770,816
10.	Cincinnati, Ohio	325,902	Los Angeles, Calif.	576,673	Pittsburgh, Pa.	671,659
11.	Pittsburgh, Pa.	321,616	Buffalo, N.Y.	506,775	Washington, DC	663,091
12.	New Orleans, La.	287,104	San Francisco, Calif.	506,676	San Francisco, Calif.	634,536
13.	Detroit, Mich.	285,704	Milwaukee, Wis.	457,147	Milwaukee, Wis.	587,472
14.	Milwaukee, Wis.	285,315	Washington, DC	437,571	Buffalo, N.Y.	575,901
15.	Washington, DC	278,718	Newark, N.J.	414,524	New Orleans, La.	494,537
16.	Newark, N.J.	246,070	Cincinnati, Ohio	401,247	Minneapolis, Minn.	492,370
17.	Jersey City, N.J.	206,433	New Orleans, La.	387,219	Cincinnati, Ohio	455,610
18.	Louisville, Ky.	204,731	Minneapolis, Minn.	380,582	Newark, N.J.	429,760
19.	Minneapolis, Minn.	202,718	Kansas City, Mo.	324,410	Kansas City, Mo.	399,178
20.	Providence, R.I.	175,597	Seattle, Wash.	315,312	Indianapolis, Ind.	386,972

Date:	Sunday, December 27, 2009
Time:	7:00pm - 8:00pm
Location:	Corner of Grand and Lindell
City/Town:	Saint Louis, MO

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