S.A.F.E.'s chalking

Elizabeth Jorgensen

Soc Mov/Dr. Kubal

4/30/14

Our group, students against fuel extraction did some chalking to raise awareness about the detrimental effects that fossil fuel extraction and burning has on our environment. We opted to do it in front of the library to ensure as many students as possible could view the statistics and pictures. We decided to make the world our focal point to catch the eye of the onlookers, and followed with statistics about fossil fuel extraction, as well as the effects it has on our climate and land. Obviously as you can tell through our pictures, there were a couple typos that had to be fixed, but luckily it was a quick and we were back on track. I think the placement and colors we used provided something interesting to look it, in my opinion inticing more students to stop and look. During the process I was surprised by how many students stopped to ask us what we were doing and it was exciting being able to spread our word. Once we were finished chalking and taking pictures, it was awesome to watch the few students that occasionally passed to take their own pictures, which I was able to catch in the final picture. It was a great experience and I'd love to do it again. 

Elizabeth Jorgensen, soc mov MW 3:30-4:45

Chalking Summary

Nadia Leon

Soc122 Mon/Wed 3:30-4:45

Chalking Summary

                The purpose of chalking around campus was to bring awareness to our cause, which is pretrial expansion. We wrote down some important statistics in the free speech area in front of the library. We chose this location because many students pass through this area, and this allows for our statistics to be viewed by a larger amount of students, which will hopefully lead to the alteration of some opinions on the matter. Something that could have been improved would be the variety of statistics that we used. If we had a broader variety, we would be able to bring more awareness, and it would be more likely that by reading the statistics someone would gain an interest in the cause. The statistics could have also been shortened so that they were easier to write and also so that they are easier for those passing by to read. Students are often in a rush while on campus and if the statistics are too long they will not take the time to stop and read them, but in contrast if they are shorter they may be more effective. Furthermore, better organization and planning of where each statistic would be written so that there was no repeating of statistics. One thing that could have also helped to make this activity more successful would be to have more communication within the group so that all members were present. This would also allow us to cover more ground on campus and spread the word more effectively. We could have also posted some flyers with more information on pretrial expansion around campus. This would also help to expand those who were exposed to our cause. This activity was altogether  a success in its execution, there could have been some improvements but with the time and supplies that we had, we were able to do the best we could.

Democracy Now Summaries #10

Nadia Leon

Soc122 Mon/Wed 3:30-4:45

Democracy Now #10

April 30^th: This episode of democracy now included and interesting story on the execution of an inmate in Oklahoma. The name of the inmate was Clayton Lockett was injected with lethal drugs that had not been tested. Due to them not being tested this prolonged his death and also made it that much more painful. He suffered more than was necessary, 13 minutes into the execution it was discovered that Lockett was still alive and breathing. The combination of the drugs did not work due to a ruptured vein that did not allow the drugs to flow. He ultimately died 30 minutes later of a heart attack. At this time, the drugs were able to spread throughout his whole body. Another inmate was scheduled to be executed but, following the botched execution of Lockett; his execution was postponed for 14 days. The secrecy of the execution drugs had previously been questioned but due to the reverse of the decision in the case, it was not pursued. Donald Sterling, owner of the NBA Los Angeles Clippers was  banned for life from the NBA, and anything associated to the Clippers. He was banned because a tape leaked out where Sterling's hatred towards African Americans was evident. He was recorded making many racial remarks. The tape was recorded and leaked by his girlfriend. Not only has he been banned from the NBA, he is also being urged to sell the team. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver states that he will do everything in his power to make sure this happens. NBA players were willing to boycott playoff games until something was done about this. They refused to participate in the games until something was done. Roger Mason Jr., one of the players, stated that the players as a group are happy that he has been banned, but that they are not yet content. They will be content once Sterling is forced to sell the team. 

Democracy Now! installment

From:  Sheila Edward, Soc. 122 MW 3:30-4:45

http://www.democracynow.org/2014/4/29/as_consumers_we_are_guinea_pigs

When consumers go into a grocery store in 2015, they should be able to tell from the package if the food contain genetically modified organisms.  Then what, what do you do?  Stop buying food?  Trust the label if it does not display any GMO information?  Is there a difference between organic and genetically modified organism?  Unless you grow your own food - if you are lucky to own a home, let alone land to grow food - then the supermarket becomes just another factory like industrial farms crank out hormone induced beef and poultry.  This is no big deal if you do not eat meat, or dairy, or wheat, flour or sugar, and if your pockets are deep enough to buy "organic" which is equally suspect.  Is this the future, where the public cannot trust the food sold in grocery stores?  Oh, that future is already here.

http://www.democracynow.org/2014/4/30/alec_in_the_news_oklahoma_punishes

The American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), keep an eye open for this group and the billionaire Koch brothers.  It has been at the back of the minds of many homeowners (but were afraid to ask) when the shoe would fall - the government passes a law to charge customers who use solar energy.  The group can be considered anti-environmental, and can expect a backlash from many if not all environmental social groups.  In fact every social movement in the world should rally against this group because not only are they anti-environment, but are the "secretive" powerhouse behind voter ID laws and other right-wing initiatives across the country.

Democracy Now! installment 5

From:  Sheila Edward, Soc. 122, MW 3:30-4:45

http://www.democracynow.org/2014/4/28/ralph_nader_on_tpp_gm_recall

General Motors is asking the government to pardon it from any legally liability for deaths due to defective GM cars by family members who want their day in court.  People get that "Old GM" and "New GM" are still responsible for tens of deaths in their families, and that once again the big corporation hide behind their political allies to shield them from their obligations to the environment and the public to not do any harm in the process of conducting their business.  The cost-benefit analysis teams are working overtime to squeeze out of the fine-print that corporations hold every public citizen to with harsh demands.  When your family members are killed due to faulty ignition switch by GM design and production people, politics go out the window.  They become everyday people who want their day in court.

http://www.democracynow.org/2014/4/28/we_need_to_end_the_fossil

Neil Young joined a protest in D.C. to save Mother Earth by way of stopping the Keystone XL pipeline that threatens the planet with bad fuel that future grandchildren will have to clean up after the mess.  The pipeline from Canada to Texas threatens the environment for the sake of making money by the corporations and government.  Once again it comes to mind the struggles that Native peoples of North America are fighting against the establishment to save the land not just for First Nations people but for the global community.  One is apt to believe that with all the talk of a global economy, the globe itself is getting lost in forest for the trees.

Democracy Now

The first video I watched discussed the recent release of a video involving Donald Sterling and his racist remarks towards colored people. Sterling is the owner the NBA team, the LA Clippers and has been known to have been racism for many years now. So shy now do they finally act upon it? Sterling so far has the chance of being banned from the NBA, fined several millions of dollars and would have to sell off his team. As discussed in the video, he would still be walking out on top of it all, considering he could potentially sell the Clippers for at least $800 million if not more. No real justice is served and nothing is fixed, especially the many known lives he has destroyed as he also owns multiple apartment complexes in LA where he has forced people of color out of them or has made their stay there a living nightmare. An interesting point in the video is the sport of "finger waging" and "head shaking", as a society we are quick and easily ready to do those two things, but yet we do not attack this problem at its source. The same thing can be said as stated in the video with colleges and the incidents with rape involving college athletes. These small clubs, groups, towns etc, have grown too close, protective and powerful. Allowing for outrageous crimes, known too have happened be swept under a rug with little justice or punishment. Not only that, college sports in general are based on practically slave labor as athletes get no say about there college life on campus. Being provided no health care, no spot at the table or vote and they are not paid at least an honest wage for the work they provide. While they do get scholarships, sports and classes together leave generally little time to work for any kind of income and many families can not provide a steady flow of an "allowance" to their kid. Instead, athlete are enticed with a hero and limelight like life, parties and girls which is now being pointed at as the root cause for many rape cases. 

http://www.democracynow.org/2014/4/29/secret_tape_could_oust_clippers_owner

The second video I watched discusses GMO foods. With the general question if labeling should now be done stating just how much GMO went into the making of the product. Focusing on the state of Vermont because it is very close to passing a bill requiring just that. There is also an overall argument on whether GMO based foods are healthy, detrimental or even just partially healthy for humans especially in long term usage. As until recently not much study has been done as stated in the video on these products being that the large food/seed companies like Monsanto controlled the products and research done. There has also been a rising problem now with pest and weeds harmful to crops are becoming much more resistant and harder too kill off, costing more money to take care and more chemicals too be sprayed over crops. These affect are unknown yet, but people are really starting to question it and demand research outside of the large companies. For myself I believe GMO products can serve a purpose provided they are healthy but this requires extensive research too be handled by people not controlled by the companies. But we should not stray away from a largely based naturally grown product, and it should not come too a point where like now, we are paying x2 - x3 the cost for fresh and natural grown goods. Anything genetically controlled can not be 100% good for you, but like stated in the video it has large affects not on the food and its possible health factor but on the soil, amounts of chemicals used, pest and weeds. These large food/seed GMO companies need to be held under a stricter and close lens. 

http://www.democracynow.org/2014/4/29/as_consumers_we_are_guinea_pigs

Jerrod Goertzen

Soc 122 

MW 3:30 - 4:50 pm

4/30/14

Democracy Now! installment 4

From:  Sheila Edward, Soc 122, MW 3:30-4:45

http://www.democracynow.org/special/botched_executions

The Innocence Project may be able to move forward with helping Willie Manning prove by DNA analysis any evidence of his innocence through lack of reliable physical evidence tying him to the 1992 murders of two white college students.  The aim of The Innocence Project is apply new technology to dispute convictions where ballistics evidence analysis is found to contain errors that could prove Manning and thousands of others innocent of the crimes they did not commit.  There are many inmates on death row awaiting new trials where new DNA testing procedures can mean the difference between life and death for someone who was tried and convicted because law enforcement could not find anyone else to accuse of the crime.  Not all inmates on death row are innocent, and not all are guilty of crimes putting them there.

http://www.democracynow.org/2013/4/1/prosecutor_seeks_stay_of_execution_for

This is a story regarding a man sentenced to death because he is black, based on testimony by a psychologist who testified that African Americans accused of a crime pose more of a dangerous threat to the public.  Attitudes such as this fill the prisons with minorities, Hispanics and blacks as they over-represent the majority of the criminal justice system. Yes, due to poverty, lack of education and exposure to criminal elements pose a threat to the black community, but the black community itself does no pose a threat to society, rather being locked away in these death camps where gladiator survival skills are a daily reality.  The prison system as it stands today is a greater threat to society than the young,  one-time drug offenders who are serving sentences equal to that of serial killers, murderers, serial rapist, and child molesters.

Food Insecurity, part 2

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food banks are drying up

http://www.sfgate.com/politics/joegarofoli/article/California-drought-Food-banks-drying-up-too-5416846.php

---

Chicago news on food insecurity

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DgQ8tVfP6gI

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Michelle Obama on food insecurity

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8My-iWjTBQ8

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USDA on food insecurity

http://www.ers.usda.gov/topics/food-nutrition-assistance/food-security-in-the-us/key-statistics-graphics.aspx#.U2EdaFfiiHM

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Local Data (collected by Fresno State students)

- We asked four core questions from the USDA survey on food insecurity, as part of a larger survey on community issues.

- https://www.dropbox.com/s/yxavvqi84k7kus1/food1.spv

- https://www.dropbox.com/s/bjhvwt014ykjudm/food2.spv

- https://www.dropbox.com/s/floc0abjbqtoj5t/food3c.spv

- https://www.dropbox.com/s/y742gx1qdl0l9o6/food4c.spv
__________________________________________________________________________________

Fresno-based food activism

MEAL

https://www.facebook.com/fresnomeal?hc_location=timeline
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x0arl72lIdE

http://qualitative-methods.blogspot.com/2014/04/participant-observation-fresnos-meal.html


food not bombs

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rxq6kVbdE6c

LINKS TO SURVEYS

http://16.selectsurvey.net/catishack/TakeSurvey.aspx?SurveyID=SAFE
http://16.selectsurvey.net/catishack/TakeSurvey.aspx?SurveyID=CAPE
http://16.selectsurvey.net/catishack/TakeSurvey.aspx?SurveyID=SASS
http://16.selectsurvey.net/catishack/TakeSurvey.aspx?SurveyID=START
http://16.selectsurvey.net/catishack/TakeSurvey.aspx?SurveyID=AHHH
http://16.selectsurvey.net/catishack/TakeSurvey.aspx?SurveyID=ARF

Joanna Sanchez

Soc 122 M W 3:30-4:45

Entry 7 of 9

 

This video discusses a lawsuit amongst the fire department against New York whom has been racially discriminating in their hiring practices. As the video states in 2007 90% of New York's Fire Department was white even when half of New York's population was Latinos and African Americans. In 2002 is when complaints first started to arise in the fire department. A test was given to applicants to the fire department that showed no indication of how good of a firefighter the person would become, rather African Americans would score lower than the white giving the whites and advantage. It's undeniable that racism and discrimination still is present in today's society but I was surprised to see New York being one of those societies's to support it. You would think in a city filled with such diverse cultures and people, many of the residents would become accepting to everyone's cultural background. After the 2007 lawsuit the fire department had to change their recruiting policies and a grant of almost 100 million dollars was offered to those who were impacted by the discrimination the New York Fire Department was participating in.

http://www.democracynow.org/2014/3/19/black_latino_firefighters_in_new_york

This second video discuses another issue in the state of New York. Their police department is in a controversial issue that targeted Muslim communities.  A so called "Demographic Unit" in the police department was sending out South Asian or Arabian detectives to watch the every move of some Muslim people. From spying on them in mosques to eavesdropping on conversations in restaurants, barbershops, and gyms.   As the video claims they began this unit in 2003 two years after the 9/11 attacks. After all the years of collecting data the demographic unit never discovered anything that led to clues of terrorism or anything like that. It's sad how Americans target specifically one religious group of people just because of an incident that occurred. Yes 9/11 was a catastrophic disaster and many innocent people died but not all Muslims are terrorist. It is a bad stereotype that is carried heavily in society to judge Muslims as terrorist or potential killers but they are not all the same.

http://www.democracynow.org/2014/4/16/new_york_drops_police_unit_that

Jatinder Sandhu - Democracy Now

Jatinder Sandhu

Soc 122

4-27-2014

Democracy now

http://www.democracynow.org/2014/4/23/resegregation_of_american_students_new_report

The US Supreme Court upheld a ban on affirmative action which desegregated schools. This article goes into depth of the impacts of affirmative action and the progress that has not been made to equalize school districts. The report concludes that segregation is different but still exists in today's schools. It targets almost exclusively poor black and latino students. In 2007 Chief Justice Roberts struck down a case which desegregated schools in Seattle and Louisville. These schools wanted to maintain integration and were basically forced not to. The case has been made that due to segregation minorities, black and brown students have an inferior education than their white student counterparts. This segregation is heavily imposed in the southern states. It's almost as if Brown v Board of Education never happened down there. It is not just segregation based off of color it is also segregation based off income. Schools with poor students are left disadvantaged from the lack of fund provided. This in turn gives students a far inferior education than they deserve. Some of these schools have a 99% black or brown attendance. This is not just a minority population of schools, it has become the majority and that is the real issue. The Supreme Court decision furthers this divide and makes all the progress made during the civil rights movement nothing.

 

http://www.democracynow.org/2014/4/24/muslim_americans_accuse_fbi_of_placing

A group of Muslims are suing the US government because they claim they were forced into becoming FBI informants. The government purposefully put them on no-fly lists so they would agree to become informants. The list of people on the no-fly lists tops over 700,000 as of now. The case of Naveed Shinwari is something repeated by many other Muslim Americans. Naveed Shinwari went on a religious trip over seas. When she attempted to return she was forcibly interrogated on her return trip by FBI agents. The agents demanded they tell her everything she had done in order to return to her home, in America. Naveed Shinwari suspects that this was illegal and is suing to have her name taken off the no-fly list. It is a question of if the no-fly list is even constitutional. Naveed Shinwari wasn't a person trying to come into America, she was a US citizen. The system is broken fundamentally, any agent can name any person and nominate that person to the No fly list. This allows for too much leeway and too much abuse of authority and power.

This question isn't just about being forcibly stopped. The issue at hand is being on a list at all. These people have not committed a crime, they have not done anything wrong. They are constantly being watched, constantly being harassed. It also puts these people in a bind. You cannot just say you are not a terrorist, you have to prove it. To this date there hasn't been one person allowed off the list. Once you're on it, you seem to be on it for life. 

democracy discussion

Crystal Gutierrez

Soc. Movements 

Mon./Wed. 3:30pm

Jim Crow in the Classroom: New Report Finds Segregation Lives on in U.S. Schools

http://www.democracynow.org/2014/4/23/resegregation_of_american_students_new_report

     

Segregation is still going on in U.S. public schools and it has been reported that school integration has never been completely established. Although actions of segregation have changed over time, they still remain harmful towards the people who are being treated unfairly. Some people think that segregation doesn't still go on in schools; however, it occurs in ways that aren't easily noticed but still very harmful. In Tuscaloosa segregation still exists, students experience segregation as if Brown V. Board of Education never happened.

"Silenced" Film Explores the Human Toll of Obama's Crackdown on National Security Whistleblowers 

http://www.democracynow.org/2014/4/24/silenced_film_explores_the_human_toll

"Silenced" is about seeing how far someone would go to expose the truth. There are three national whistleblowers who work hard towards revealing the truth that really goes on. The three national whistleblowers are people who use to work for the government; Jesselyn Radack, Thomas Drake, and John Kiriakou and they fight to expose what the government tries to hide. As they try to educate people what is really going on in America, the government fights back. Radack, Drake, and Kiriakou all undergo comebacks from the government; the government feels threatened by them so they attack them to keep them quiet. 

democracy now

Charges Dismissed Against Blackwater Guard; Soldier Accused of Murdering Iraqi Teens

A former Blackwater guard has been acquitted for his criminal charges of firing the opening shots that led to a mass murder of 14 Iraqi civilian teens, including a nine year old boy. The judge, however, only dismissed the charges of Nicholas Slatten because a federal appeals court ruled that the charges had been filed after the statute of limitations had expired. In spite of this, prosecutors could now look for new charges before the June trial of three other Blackwater guards in the case. This decision only comes after an Army sergeant faced a possible court martial for the killing of two unarmed boy in Iraq in 2007. This week during a preliminary hearing, military prosecutors stated that Michael Barbera had shot and killed the two brothers who were only herded cattle. Additionally, the prosecutors stated that the two brothers posed no threat; therefore there was no need for them to be shot at in the first place. An earlier investigation that took place in 2009 actually found a letter received by Barbera. The letter was a letter of reprimand about accusations of a cover up.

http://www.democracynow.org/2014/4/25/headlines

Navy Reassigns Ex-Blue Angels Commander After Sexual Harassment Claim

Captain Gregory McWherter, a commander of the Navy's Blue Angels, has been reassigned after a sexual harassment charge has been filed against him. The former commander of an eminent flight squad is being investigated on statements that he supervised over extensive sexual harassment of an individual. Last week, the Navy broadcasted that they have relieved Captain Gregory McWherter from his most recent assignment s an executive officer on a base in the state of California. A military document was emailed on accident to an editor at The Washington Post which actually showed that an ex-squad member filed a complaint against Captain McWherter last month. McWherter is the most recent in a series of investigations of senior commanders who are being faced with sexual assault and sexual harassment charges in the military.

http://www.democracynow.org/2014/4/25/headlines      

-Alyssa Abayari

democracy now

Omar Ruiz

Social Movement

Democracy Now

 

Jim Crow still lives 60 years after Brown v. The Board of Education, how sad and bothersome is that. According to Nikole Hannah-Jones, there is still a racialized K-12 system and that black and brown students tend to be in schools where they are receiving inferior education, with less rigorous curriculum. By no means, they do not receive classes that will help them in college such as advanced physics, high level math and such. In addition to that, they are more likely to be taught by inexperienced teachers. The black, brown and white students, they each receive a different kind of education. Then when they go to college they are taught that race no longer matters but when it comes to the college educational system they can clearly see that the blacks or any kind of minorities are at the disadvantage because in grade school they did not get the same level of education as the others.

 

http://www.democracynow.org/2014/4/23/resegregation_of_american_students_new_report

 

The racism has not stopped, and even with the fact that we have a black president that does not change anything. It gives us hope, but not much progress has progressed. Donald Sterling, the owner of Los Angeles Clippers basketball team made a racism comment to her girlfriend about taking public pictures with minorities and that drew a lot of attention from all over the country that even the President Obama, had something to say about it.  How is it possible for a man who owns a basketball team and has  hundreds of people under his payroll and the majority of them are black people, and they bring millions of dollars to his pocket every day for the whole NBA season. How can somebody be ignorant and insensitive about the color of one's race? How can a small-minded man would focus on the color of one's skin? That just beats me.

 

http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nba/clippers/2014/04/27/donald-sterling-racist-comments-adam-silver-los-angeles-out/8333175/

weekly summaries

Tracy Galarza

04-27-14

 

 

            In the first video I watched "Former Drone Operators Reveal Air Force Plays Key Role in Secret CIA Assassination Campaign" it deals with drones strikes of the CIA that are being made by those who are part of the air force. The base of the air force unit is located in the Nevada dessert. A documentary is made to show how this is affecting many Americans in the air force. Many of them say that the CIA tries to cover what is happening, when a video is released to the public about the CIA drone strikes occurring in Pakistan. In the film that was released many U.S air force Americans give their opinions and feelings when flying these drone strikes. I think it is very unfortunate for these men who are part of the air force because most of the time they are ordered to kill someone without knowing why they are doing it.

 

http://www.democracynow.org/2014/4/17/former_drone_operators_reveal_air_force

 

 

 

            The second video I watched "New York Drops Police Unit that Spied on Muslims, But Will It End Broader Profiling & Surveillance?" talks about New York City's Demographic unit. New Yorks City police department is now disbanding this spy unit which was used to spy on Muslims and Muslim communities. This spying unit would target Muslims and at times many of them were being recorded when being questioned about their feeling towards the United States drone strikes. After years of doing this evidence has shown that not one single terrorist was pointed out. This seemed to lead to profiling Muslims instead. I think it is a good thing that New York City has got rid of this spying unit because we are wasting money on those spies going after innocent people. I believe we are also discriminating those who are Muslim by having spy units like these.

 

http://www.democracynow.org/2014/4/16/new_york_drops_police_unit_that

Article Summary #10/Landon Clow

Article Summary #10

Landon Clow

4/24/14

The first article from the previous week that I found to be extremely interesting was, "Fixing the Electoral College: New York Join Pack to Elect President by Popular Vote." The article tackles the issue of how the current United States voting system is no longer efficient in regards to electing the president of the United States of America. For many years politicians have only focused on certain states because of how the electoral college system works. After the Al Gore, George W. Bush dilemma of Bush winning the electoral college system but lost the popular vote. Since the 2000 election there has been a push for a system in which the population vote would determine who wins the presidency. New York and nine other states have come together to argue that who ever whens the popular vote receives the electoral college points of the state. A ever growing issue is that states that are usually guaranteed to go democrat or republican leave out the votes of those who oppose the views of the state. The new system would make every vote count in that a president would be elected by the people if America rather than the state of a citizen.

The second article from the last week continues the coverage of the Russia, Ukraine crisis. Within "We are not Beginning a New Cold War, We are Well Into It," a professor named Stephen Cohen who studies Russian History has a very interesting take on the situation in Russia. The professor was one of the very few to foreshadow Ukraine splitting up into two halves. Recently, the east side of Ukraine have killed three pro Russia individuals, and made an attempt to take over a military base. Cohen had stated previously that the violence will continue regardless of the stance the United States takes. He also has been disappointed in how the United States media has covered the crisis in that they are using this situation to demonize Putin rather than reporting the actual events taking place. Although Putin is not innocent, the professor states that the European Union has played a bigger part than most people are willing to admit. 

http://www.democracynow.org/2014/4/17/we_are_not_beginning_a_new

http://www.democracynow.org/2014/4/17/fixing_the_electoral_college_new_york

Democracy Now

The first video I watched discusses the issue of segregation and prejudice being still very much integrated into our society despite peoples beliefs that it no longer exist. Some critics even believe that it is even much worst today then it was back in earlier times, it is no longer just about color but about income too. This is eating away the center of our society especially when it comes too education. We are reverting back to schools being segregated once more, where the majority of the white and blacks are separated between different school, but also wealthier class families from lower income families. So we are now seeing schools where this study was done with the majority of the students being black but also coming from low income families, all stuck together in a school that does not get the resources it needs to really provide a good education. As apposed to other school where the majority are white now but with wealthier colored students as well grouped together in a school with lots of money, support, faculty and educational materials to thrive. Though it is clear and evident people still deny the idea of segregation and prejudice is happening still today. Simply ignoring the fact does not make it go away, that is what the author wishes to send as a message. This issue of race and income inequality needs too be addressed, discussed, debated and in the process too hopefully come out with a solution. 

http://www.democracynow.org/2014/4/23/resegregation_of_american_students_new_report

The second video I watched ties into the first video as it discusses the 1964 World Fair protest that occurred in the fight for Civil Rights. Many people feel it was a victory, that we solved the problem, but did we really? As shown in the video above, inequality in race and income are even more of a problem now then they were before. This video though discusses Velma and Norman Hill involvement in the Civil Rights movement along with the hardships and victories that came along with it. These people had too fight against some very powerful people in the day but they did it while also enduring dangerous situations such as death threats from the general population. People spent years sweating, bleeding and fighting for a cause but yet up too today has proven no good is getting us closer to really ending inequality of race and income that we have. What does this say about social movement and there effectiveness though, that something even as large as the Civil Rights movement has proven to solve little in this country in the long run so far. 

http://www.democracynow.org/2014/4/25/protesting_the_1964_world_s_fair

Jerrod Goertzen

Soc 122

Mon/Wed 3:30 - 4:50 pm

Democracy Now 10

Tabitha Arambula

April 27, 2014

Soc 122

Democracy Now 10

Toms River: How a Small Town Fought Back Against Corporate Giants for Toxic Dumping Linked to Cancer Wednesday April 23^rd

            This story was about a town, Toms River in New Jersey, who fought against childhood cancer that was linked to air and water pollution. There was a book about this and it won the Pulitzer prize for general non-fiction. There were two residents who shared their stories about how their child was diagnosed with cancer, and how their whole lives changed. The first story about michael was really sad. He had cancer and his tumor was pushing his spine out. When the mother said she would mix the baby formula with the tap water I was shocked because I don't think that tap water is good for babies, and so she believes that the reason why her son, michael got cancer was because of the Toms River tap water. Dan Fagin is the author of the book, Toms River, and he decided to do the book because he was an environmental reporter, which is a newspaper. And he was very interested in the cancer patterns in long island, and trying to interpret those patterns. And in Toms River, had really good science being done, so he went and did a story.  He talked about the chemical plant in Toms River in 1953. They started with dyes, and it turned out that making dyes made more hazardous waste material and the company would either bury it underground or put it in the water. Linda, The mother of Michael, made a map of the kids in Toms River and she kept track of the cases and she wanted to know what was going on, but they had told her that there was nothing wrong.

 

Jim Crow in the Classroom: New Report Finds Segregation Lives on in U.S. Schools Wednesday April 23^rd

This story was about how US schools are still segregated. Black and Latino students are being removed or separated from everyone else. One in three black students goes to a scholl that looks like Brown V. Board of Education never happened, says, Nikole Hannah Jones. She is the author of Segregation Now. The Supreme Court has backed a ban on race as a factor in college admissions. Race should not matter when you look at US schools. We still have a racialized K-12 system and that black and brown students are in schools that are getting inferior education. They have a less rigorous curriculum, and are less likely to have access to advanced courses that will help them in the future. And when they get to college, race doesn't matter. The 1954 ruling of Brown v Board of education said separate but equal. But either way white students have more access to better resources like textbooks, classes, etc. in Tuscaloosa, they wanted to further segregate black students and they did, but Ernestine Tucker as a member of the board thought this was criminal and that they would see the damage they have done in the next 50 years. She also talked about how there are all black schools and hoe they don't experience race diversity but economic diversity. The poorest are with the poor and they don't have the same resources as other students in the same neighborhood. Governor George Wallace wanted segregation forever, and that isn't what happened. There are no more white school but the apartheid schools are 99% black or brown and although we have tried to do the separate but equal on schools, we have not yet been successful on that either.

Hey students! Our group, S.A.F.E. (students against fuel extraction) had an emergency and has to move up our protest of fossil fuel extraction, from tomorrow at 9am to today at 4pm. I'm sorry for the super late notice but if anybody could attend we would love the support!

Hope to see you guys there :)

-S.A.F.E. 

Elizabeth Jorgensen, soc mov MW 3:30-4:45 4/26

Elizabeth Jorgensen

Dr. Kubal/soc. mov

4/25/14

Jim Crow in the Classroom: New Report Finds Segregation Lives on in U.S. Schools

http://www.democracynow.org/2014/4/23/resegregation_of_american_students_new_report

Issues of racial discrimination within the school system are still very prevalent social problems, resulting in inequalities of educational levels and federal funding for minority students within 1st-12th grade. Brown vs. Board of Education's ruling in 1954 prohibited racial discrimination within educational systems and eliminated separate but equal rights within public schools. Despite this ruling, still today we have not eliminated issues revolving how we allocate our resources to schools depending on race. Schools that have higher numbers of white students and teachers still receive higher funding than other schools, perpetuating the inequality issues that these schools face. Focus has been put on conducting research in areas such as the South, analyzing the integration levels of students and funding levels to see how they correlate to the success levels of students. This area has the highest levels of african american students, and makes it an easy target to begin this investigation. 

Earth Day Special: "Fierce Green Fire" Documentary Explores Environmental Movement's Global Rise

http://www.democracynow.org/2014/4/22/earth_day_special_fierce_green_fire

Earth Day began in 1970 and is honored every year as a day of action by society. This year  it's focus was put on climate change and issues revolving Co2 emissions. The show publicized the documentary released called a Fierce Green Fire, analyzing the history of social movements within the environmental field and its evolution from its' introduction in 1970 to now. There is still a high correlation between nitrogen dioxide pollution and racial groups. On average people of color are exposed to 38% higher levels of pollution resulting in 7,000 more deaths per year from heart disease. This type of exposure to pollutants was much more prevalent in the years first following earth day's 1st celebration, and issues revolving the residents affected by the Love Canal during the 70's and the dangerous chemicals exposed to the land and air, resulting in higher levels of birth defects amongst other growing biological issues. Environmental issues will continue to rise along with our climate until we as a society choose to address all issues revolving the pollution that results from our use of non renewable energy sources. 

Democracy Now

Andrea Garcia 

Social Movements

4/25/2014 

M,W 3:30-4:45pm 

For this weeks assignment we had to look into two articles in Democracy Now that had to relate to the media. Two articles I found most interesting for this week was the first one called "Marshall Island Sues U.S, Other Nuclear powers for Failure to Disarm". The article started off describing the Marshall Island suing the U.S. and eight other countries, accusing them of failing to meet for nuclear disarmament. The small island accused the nine countries of flagrant violations of international law, saying they are trying to upgrade nuclear arsenals instead of trying to reduce them. The Marshall Island chain was subject of 67 nuclear tests between the 1940's and 1950's, which have left lasting health and environmental impacts on the island. Concerns like this are especially alarming because it's our environment and people we are harming, for the mere reason of testing nuclear weapons because there are no other locations available to tests these weapons. Through recent understanding of what nuclear bombs have an affect on the environment is chemicals tend to never die away and are always going to be seeping through our water, air, food, animals and all that has a last effect on humans as well because the Marshall Island is a place of residency for many people living or settling down in that island.

Another article I found interesting was called "Brown University Under Fire for Letting Accused rapist Who Strangled Victim Back on Campus". This article was interesting because the issue of sexual assault on college campuses worldwide have always been a huge issue. The university is taking heat for allowing a student who allegedly raped and strangled a classmate and is returning to campus after a one-semester suspension. The victims name was Lena Sclove, she said her assaulter was found for sexual misconduct by the university panel and be allowed back on to the campus in the fall. The victim was bedridden for two months due to trauma injuries and was forced to take medical leave and lost a semester of at the university. Now that the victim is able to return back to campus the rapist is also allowed to come back. This is not the only case were a Ivy League University is taking heat, other universities such as Columbia and Harvard have filed complaints accusing their schools of violating federal law by failing to protect their students and not punishing the perpetrators.       

Democracy Now

Evelyn Espinoza

 

The video titled "Jim Crow in the Classroom: New Report Finds Segregation Lives on in U.S. Schools" explained the segregation that remains in schools and discussed reasons behind the desegregated school system. Nikole Hannah Jones did a study and titled it "Segregation Now: Investigating America's Racial Divide" where she studied Tuscaloosa's schools. She found that black and Latino students are removed and isolated and she states that it seems as is if Brown v. Board of Education never happened. Sadly she found that black and brown students are receiving inferior education that lack preparation for college. Once in college where there is more diversity the minorities are competing with whites that have had a far better advantage in their early education years.  I can clearly see the cycle of poverty that this leads to and is never ending because of where they live and in Nikole's study it doesn't even really matter if your in a poor neighborhood but simply because of your race you get a lack or education and go on to college and lack the skills needed so how can you really succeed and compete. May lead to low graduation rates and high drop out rates and fail to escape the cycle poor minorities get tangled and placed in.  What was interesting was what she found about federal court orders and shaped the south into integration but as the federal loosely oversees districts they begin to segregate once again. In the case of Tuscaloosa she saw this when the schools were split up and created two integrated and one that was entirely black. People may say this happens naturally because of where people reside but she found that white students actually live within the all black school district but do not attend. The second video was about the prestigious Ivy League schools that were built by slaves that were brought from Africa. The time these schools were being built coincides with the time period in which slave trade was popular.

 

http://www.democracynow.org/2014/4/23/resegregation_of_american_students_new_report

 

http://www.democracynow.org/2013/11/29/ebony_and_ivy_the_secret_history

 

surveys

http://16.selectsurvey.net/catishack/TakeSurvey.aspx?SurveyID=ARF

http://16.selectsurvey.net/catishack/TakeSurvey.aspx?SurveyID=AHHH

http://16.selectsurvey.net/catishack/TakeSurvey.aspx?SurveyID=START

http://16.selectsurvey.net/catishack/TakeSurvey.aspx?SurveyID=CAPE

http://16.selectsurvey.net/catishack/TakeSurvey.aspx?SurveyID=SASS

http://16.selectsurvey.net/catishack/TakeSurvey.aspx?SurveyID=SAFE

David Baltierra Students Deploy Riot.

Democracy Now

Evelyn Espinoza

 

"Earth Day Special: "Fierce Green Fire" Documentary Explores Environmental Movement's Global Rise" was a video dealing with the history of the environmental movement. I found the facts that are being highlighted this year for Earth Day are the research that connects pollution and social inequalities. Other data was found on wildfires that have increased because of the drought and the hot temperatures. The history of the environmental movement goes back to what John Adams stated about raw sewage going into the Hudson River.  Housewives because of the damage Hooker Chemical Corporation caused interestingly led one of the first battles over a toxic waste dump. Today in one of my classes we were discussing the difference in crime in the street versus crime in the suites. The instructor actually gave a lecture on the very topic that was discussed in the video. The Hooker Chemical Corporation was dumping toxic chemicals into the land that had a school and a community nearby. Once the residents realized the amount of chemicals that were in the area and the birth defects and illness that were because of the chemical waste, they were outraged and demanded to be relocated. My instructor wanted to make a point on how such CEO's of corporations aren't seen as criminals and don't get harsh punishment for what acts they commit. The second video I saw was revealing that the U.S government built a twitter program to use to protest Cuban president Fidel Castro. This was strategically built to deceive and manipulate Cubans to join not knowing it was a UD program. Information was collected from them to then introduce political propaganda to inspire Cubans to free themselves from Castro's dictatorship. Immediately following the controversies the White House Press Secretary Jay Carrey defended their actions and described the program as a way to empower Cubans to gather information and strengthen their civil society.

http://www.democracynow.org/2014/4/22/earth_day_special_fierce_green_fire

http://www.democracynow.org/2014/4/4/is_usaid_the_new_cia_agency

 

 

Re: social movement class (resubmitted assignment)

Actually I was just now trying to grade them, but they were not submitted properly.  Can you please submit them to the correct address?  Here it is:

"tkubal2 2009 protest" <tkubal2.2009.protest@blogger.com>

---

From: "Fabiola Reyes" <fabiolareyes1@mail.fresnostate.edu>
To: "Timothy Kubal" <tkubal@csufresno.edu>
Sent: Tuesday, April 22, 2014 8:18:21 PM
Subject: Re: social movement class (resubmitted assignment)

okay thank you. 

On Tue, Apr 22, 2014 at 7:51 PM, Timothy Kubal <tkubal@csufresno.edu> wrote:

yes

---

From: "Fabiola Reyes" <fabiolareyes1@mail.fresnostate.edu>
To: "Timothy Kubal" <tkubal@csufresno.edu>
Sent: Tuesday, April 22, 2014 7:15:31 PM
Subject: social movement class (resubmitted assignment)

Hello Dr Kubal, this is Fabiola Reyes. Last night I resubmitted my assignments from social movements class did you receive them ?  

Democracy Now 9

Democracy Now 9

Cynthia Davila

04-22-2014

Today I read on democracy now about the hundreds killed in South Sudan for a rebel attack in the U.N. And Ukraine having a truce that falters as armed groups remain. The United Nations said that the death toll from the rebel attack is in the hundreds in South Sudan. Men were hunted down by rebel militants. Oil is being overran in the town of Bentiu by women and children. Tons of bodies were found in the streets and they counted about 400 dead with hundreds wounded. It was said that "Over 500 civilians, including many wounded, were extracted from Bentiu Hospital and other places, while thousands were escorted as they walked to the UNMISS base." After the clash erupted between the troops, supporters, and government, more than millions of people fled their homes. United Nations warned about a million people that South Sudan is at risk of famine. Scary to think about and very dangerous to me. Also, the international deal to contain conflicts in Ukraine is stuck in between two sides that are taking blame. Serve ral government building ms have seized over the past two weeks and pro-Russian separatists are taking control. Russia is said to be help by the United States to be responsible and impose new sanctions within a few days if the separatists don't withdraw. Russia was rebuffed by the United States calls which said that Ukraine wants to rein in militants to blame for a deadly attack on a separatists checkpoint over this past weekend. Jen Paaki also notes that he asked Russia to demonstrate an equal level of commitment to the Geneva agreement in both it's rhetoric actions and overall actions. Ukraine also put forward a amnesty bill for separatists to give up their personal buildings and weapons. 

Event #3

Cynthia Davila

Professor Kubal

04-22-2014

Tabling as a tactic for March Fourth for March 4th. 

I attended an event on campus to spread the awareness about criminal justice along with other groups that shared their social movement. The tabling tactic on campus was to raise awareness about our social movement and pre-trail expansion. I feel the the tabling tactic is perfect to engage the public to support and even join our social movement and raise awareness to the issue. As I say at the table I realized how many people actually take the time out to support what we are fighting for along with giving us their input and sharing awareness and spreading the word themselves. Having a table out on campus is a great way to spread awareness of course because so many people pass by the table and even if it's just a glance, they see that someone is trying to make a difference and hopefully will eventually take action on their own. Planning the event was very simple because my professor set it all up for us, our group just needed to bring along information on what exactly my C.A.P.E group is trying to get out of this process along with advertising it with a poster board. We also had people come and sign their name and put an email because they are  interested in what we are fighting for and want to make an impact also. Not only do we try to have people be involved and get a bigger group to support our social movement, but we try to connect to people in a way that they feel our social movement needs to be noticed. Overall my group got more people involved than I thought and since I have never experienced that before, I was so happy with the outcome because many people were supportive and also very interested in our social movement just as much as we were. 

Democracy Now 8

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Cynthia Davila <cynthiadav95@mail.fresnostate.edu>
Date: Sunday, April 13, 2014
Subject: Democracy Now 8
To: "tkubal2.2009.protest@blogger.com" <tkubal2.2009.protest@blogger.com>

Democracy Now 8

Cynthia Davila

I read a couple articles and the first one I read was about president Obama paying a tribute to the civil rights movement. On Thursday president Johnson was also paid by Obama. This took place at the Johnson presidential library in Austin, Texas. The passage of social programs such as Medicare and the voting rights act of 1965 was hailed by Obama. The voting rights act of 1965 was taken away by the Supreme Court. On July 2, 1964 it was the 50th anniversary since Johnson signed the landmark Civil Rights Act. Outside of the library, the statue Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Was chained by immigrants who were also chained to it from the rights activists group and were protesting the Obama administrations records for the deportation of immigrants. 2/3 of immigrants committed minor infractions such as traffic violations or had no criminal record at all. The other subject that I learned about was about the U.N. Approving 12,000 members force for Central African Republic. The approvement of the development of a 12,000 member peacekeeping force was approved by the United Nations Security Council. Violence has been between Christians and Muslims which have sparked tears of genocide causing thousands to be killed and hundreds or thousands displaced in months if fighting eachother. The Christians carried out revenge by killing following abuses by Muslim rebels who had the power in a coup last March. The country's foreign minister praised the U.N.'s resolution to intervene took place on Thursday. On Tuesday, about 30 people were killed when a Christian militia attacked a town of rebels in a rural area North if the capital of Bangui. It seems as it it's a fude and rivalry that will be very difficult to regain it's composure and cause peace between the two. 

Democracy Now 7

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Cynthia Davila <cynthiadav95@mail.fresnostate.edu>
Date: Sunday, April 6, 2014
Subject: Democracy Now 7
To: "tkubal2.2009.protest@blogger.com" <tkubal2.2009.protest@blogger.com>

Democracy Now 7

Cynthia Davila 

2 topics that I learned over this week were about an AP Photographer that was shot dead by an Afghan Police Officer. She was an Associated Press photographer and her colleague had been wounded. Her name was Anja Niedringhaus at the age of 48, died instantly. This attack took place bear the Pakistani border. It seemed to be the first time ever that a police office killed a foreign journalist on purpose. Anja and her colleague were traveling with other election workers to reliever ballots ahead of the Saturday's presidential election. She was a veteran German photographer who served for a team that won a prize in 2005 for photographing the Iraq war. She was also previously hit by a sniper bullet while working, blown out of car by an explosive, and bombed mistakenly with other journalists. Seemed to me that Anja went through a lot in her life and all just because she was a veteran photographer. Who would've known it's so dangerous! 

The other topic that I found interesting this week was about ACLU suing solitary confinement of hunger strikers at immigration jails. Legal groups including ACLU of Washington are suing to block them from retailing against the immigrant hunger strikers. This is all taking place at the Northwest Detention Center in Washington. The activists say that 20 hunger strikers and supporters are long solitary confinement at the prison which is ran by the for-profit GEO group. Last month, about 750 prisoners were on the hunger strike demanding better conditions and an end to record depictions. This seems to be a huge problem and I can see why and I feel that the strikers have a good protest taking place and will soon to be getting bigger and bigger once immigrant hunger strikes at other jails in the Northwest. 

Democracy Now 6

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Cynthia Davila <cynthiadav95@mail.fresnostate.edu>
Date: Thursday, March 27, 2014
Subject: Democracy Now 6
To: "tkubal2.2009.protest@blogger.com" <tkubal2.2009.protest@blogger.com>

Democracy now 6

Cynthia Davila 

3-27-14

This week the 2 topics I learned about were talking about an Egyptian general that was resigned to clear run for presidency and the other was about bin laden's son-in-law who was confirmed in terrorism trial. 

Starting with the Egyptian General who was resigned, he stepped down to pave the way of his candidacy in the upcoming presidential elections. Abdel Fattah el-Sisi led the coup that was first democratically elected president. Mohamed Morsi had overseen the crackdown that left hundreds of people dead and thousands of people behind bars. Sisi had a very strong base of support and was already expected to win. Yesterday, one person was killed near Egypt's Cairo University in an ongoing protest against the sentencing of over 500 Muslim Brotherhood members to death. 900 additional Brotherhood members were then ordered to stand trial on charges of terrorism and murder. Personally I don't really understand the reasoning for all of the 900 behind bars and the others that lost their lives but I find it very interesting that it was all through protests. 

The other topic I learned about was about the son-in-law of Osama. He was convicted on charges of conspiring to kill Americans. During testimony, Sulaiman Abu Ghaith, described the meeting with bin laden inside a cave in Afghanistan just hours after the attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. He denied having prior knowledge though and Ghaith's court-appointed lawyers and said his appearance in videos were threatening the US but doesn't prove his involvement in actual plots. Lastly, during the trial, the court had rejected the testimony from alleged 9/11 plotted Khalid Sheikh Mohammed that Abu Ghaith had no role in al-Qaeda's violent operations. He now faces a sentence of up to life in prison. No matter what I completely support and agree that he should be in jail not only because he is related to Osama but because he could cause harm to the US when his father-in-law had no problem doing so. 

x

xxxx

Democracy Now 5

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Cynthia Davila <cynthiadav95@mail.fresnostate.edu>
Date: Wednesday, March 19, 2014
Subject: Democracy Now 5
To: "tkubal2.2009.protest@blogger.com" <tkubal2.2009.protest@blogger.com>

Democracy 5 

03-19-14

Cynthia Davila 

The two topics that I learned about on democracy now were about the UN panel having enough evidence to indict Syrian combatants for War crimes and France banning Monsanto GM corn. In the first topic, the United Nations investigators have expanded their list of suspected war criminals from both sides of Syria's civil war. Paulo Pinheiro the panel chair and Carla Del Ponte the inquiry member said they've collected enough evidence to indict. Carla Del Ponte says, "I just say as former prosecutor that I would be glad to be prosecutor of this office of the prosecutor, because the commission have collected a lot of evidence that can be used tomorrow to prepare an indictment," which errands that she agrees with the incident and she is ready and prepared to support It. I think that's great that they finally have enough evidence to stop war crimes. 

The second topic that I heard was about France and how they have banned the agribusiness giant Monsanto's genetically modified corn ahead of the season annually of sowing maize. The corn is the only diversity allowed in the European Union. Although, France has long attempted to ban all the GM crops, causing threats to health and the environment. After I read that, I further examined why they have been banned and according to the editor of Buzzflash at Truthout, it says, "The sale, use and cultivation of varieties of maize seed from the line of genetically modified maize MON 810(...) is banned in the country until the adoption, on the one hand, of a final decision, and secondly, of (EU) community action" showing that the annual sowing of maize in France gets under way in the second half of March. I will continue to research that topic because it seems very interesting to me they banned corn because it is a sign of firm opposition to modified seeds. 

Democracy now 4

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Cynthia Davila <cynthiadav95@mail.fresnostate.edu>
Date: Sunday, March 16, 2014
Subject: Democracy now 4
To: "tkubal2.2009.protest@blogger.com" <tkubal2.2009.protest@blogger.com>

Democracy Now 4

Cynthia Davila 

March 16, 2014

Reading democracy now this week was very interesting! There was a story about a plan that went missing this past week. There is currently still no sign of the Malaysia airlines plane. It was carrying 239 people and disappeared in a route to China. It was said that 2 communications systems on the plane could have shut down 14 minutes apart. There were also some unknown sources said the military radar data. The plane was supposedly flown hundreds of miles off course toward Indians Andaman Islands. Our country have sent out the U.S.S. Kidd to the Indian Ocean to aid the search. I am completely shocked about this news because I don't understand how a plane so big, carrying so many people, can just disappear without leaving any signs. My friend told me about it today and when I heard I complete shocked because I have never heard of anything like that since the missing of Amelia. It is very sad and I hope they atleast have a trace or where it could've gone soon. Another event that I found interesting was about a McDonald's worker who sued over wage theft in 3 different states. They have filed a series of lawsuits in 3 states accusing McDonald's and franchises that they were stealing their wages through a range of illegal practices. Workers at McDonald's accusations are being forced to work while off the clock, having hours deleted for their time cards and being denied meal and rest breaks! Lawyers say the suits could impact more than 30,000 workers and in my opinion I think that is completely unfair and too much. I want to know what illegal practices could possibly cause such a big problem because it is getting out of hand. 

Democracy Now 3

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Cynthia Davila <cynthiadav95@mail.fresnostate.edu>
Date: Friday, March 7, 2014
Subject: Democracy Now 3
To: "tkubal2.2009.protest@blogger.com" <tkubal2.2009.protest@blogger.com>

Cynthia Davila

March 7, 2014 

Sociology 

Democracy Now 3

The 2 topics that I covered this week on democracy now were very interesting. The first one was about how the senate rejected independent oversight on sexual assault. They rejected a action that would have moved the hold of military sexual assault cases outside of the secures of command. Kirsten Gillibrand, the Democratic Senator, led a campaign to be able to strip military commanders of authorities over sexual harassment and assault. The reason for this is in favor of an independent military prosecutor. Democrats joined with the republicans to defeat that proposal and I feel like I would be one of those democrats also but then again it shows a report of 26,000 sex crimes within the ranks in 2012. In conclusion, Senator Gillibrand paid tribute to the military sexual assault victims who stepped up and came forward to the lobby congress. I think it's crazy how people would give up their uniform and place in the military to believe in so strongly that they do need to be seen and help the system. 

The other topic I learned about was about a Colorado prisoner who avoided death penalty with backing of victim's father. He is a Colorado prisoner that drew a huge shock over the efforts of his victim's father to spare his life. The Colorado prisoner, Edward Montour was facing execution for the 2002 killing of prison guard Eric Autobee. Thursday, Montour entered a plea deal that will sentence him to life in prison instead of death! Bob Autobee, the father of Eric entered a statement asking the jury to not impose the death penalty because it was too cruel of a punishment and it just shows Edward how lucky he is and that there are nice people out there that could save you within seconds although he killed his son. I feel like that Bob is a blessing, what he did is really incredible. 

Democracy Now 2

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Cynthia Davila <cynthiadav95@mail.fresnostate.edu>
Date: Sunday, March 2, 2014
Subject: Democracy Now 2
To: "tkubal2.2009.protest@blogger.com" <tkubal2.2009.protest@blogger.com>

Cynthia Davila 

March 2, 2014

Democracy Now! #2

As I was watching democracy now, 2 topics really caught my attention. The first one was about 42 people who lost their life in Baghdad, Iraq bombing. On Thursday, there was a motorcycle that was rigged with explosives that blew up in Sadr City, Baghdad. It blew up near a secondhand market with a bunch of people around. About 51 people were injured. In the same city, there was a different encounter that killed 5 civilians and wounded 14 by a bomb that was planted on a minibus. It is also said that in Iraq over all this year, so far there were more than 1,650 people killed. This year has barely began and it is completely shocking to me to see such a high number of people that have passed away over planted bombs. The group of people that continue to do this need to be stopped. I hate war and I can't help but wish there was nothing but peace everywhere, especially in Iraq because my cousin is currently fighting for our country in Iraq and it breaks my heart to hear people dieing there because it terrifies me that I could lose him in war.

The second topic that I really found interesting was about Bank America contesting $2.1 billion fine! It was sought by Obama's administration consisting over damaged mortgages that was sold by the unit of the bank countrywide. It is said that Bank of America is fighting the fine against them. The argument will be based on the amount of profit that it has made. The amount of profit was made by selling the flawed loans, which was said to be nothing. I find it very interesting because overall the economy right now is in a tough struggle and for the bank to be going through such a hassle right now is very frustrating. My bank is Bank of America and it really bothers me that I even had to find out that they are going through a fine struggle at this moment. 

Democracy Now! 1

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Cynthia Davila <cynthiadav95@mail.fresnostate.edu>
Date: Friday, February 14, 2014
Subject: Democracy Now!
To: "tkubal2.2009.protest@blogger.com" <tkubal2.2009.protest@blogger.com>

Cynthia Davila

Professor Kubal

February 11, 2014

Sociology

Democracy Now!

As I read Democracy Now, I found a couple topics that were very interesting. The first case study that caught my attention I would say was about the 3-year-old girl from Kabul that has been diagnosed with polio, since the last case of the disease in Afghanistan capital since 2001 when the U.S. was invaded.  It was said that the disease paralyzed the young girl. Last year there were 14 polio cases reported all in Afghanistan. There has been a vaccination campaign in Kabul sent out by the Afghan Health Ministry to try to get rid of this disease before it spreads or anyone else gets it. I found this very sad because the girl who was diagnosed with this disease is too young and not only that but doesn't deserve to be paralyzed at such a young age.

The second topic that I enjoyed learning about was on the OWS (Occupy Wall Street) Activist Cecily McMillan who faces up to seven years in prison for alleged assault of cop. The trial takes place in New York City and is underway from her 2012 arrest due police brutality. She reported that she suffered a seizure while being arrested. When she made an appearance on Democracy Now, she had bruises on her ribs and seemed to be limping. She had a hand-shaped bruise over her right breast. While on the show, she stated, "I ended a 40 hour stay in jail and ended up with all these bruises. I mean, that's- I have an open case, so I cant talk more about it, I'm sure you can tell that it would be difficult for me to remember some things. But I have these."

She faces up to seven years in prison being charged for second-degree assault. Police say she hit an officer in the head with her elbow but her attorney, Martin Stolar, pretty much says she was defending herself because someone was grabbing her right breast from behind. She didn't realize it was an officer. I personally found this topic interesting because I believe it is wrong for her to get such a high sentence for defending herself while someone inappropriately grabbed her.