Fwd: Week of Feb 17 Democracy Now

Week Of Feb.17

Sara Hernandez

Feb.23 2014

Social Movements

 

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Sara Hernandez <minnie559@mail.fresnostate.edu>
Date: Sun, Feb 23, 2014 at 9:46 PM
Subject: Week of Feb 17 Democracy Now
To: tkubal2.2009.protest@blogger.com

Week Of Feb.17

Sara Hernandez

Feb.23 2014

Social Movements

Sara

The video “Venezuelan Protests: Another Attempt by U.S.-Backed Right-Wing Groups to Oust Elected Government?” aired on Feb 20th, they talk about the innocent people and protesters who are being killed. Venezuela has a new president Nicolas Maduro and a lot of the Venezuela people do not approve this or to what his government is doing. Maduro is taking the wrong decisions and the people are the ones suffering for them. Also talks about how the Obama is still funding the Venezuela oppositions. The other Video “Excessive Force? Migrant Shot Dead by U.S. Border Agent Near San Diego After Throwing Rock” aired on the same day, talked about the accident that an agent went trough when on duty on border patrolling. A migrant that was being chanced by the agent started throwing rocks and the agent shot twice at the migrant killing him. Personally I think fire arms shouldn’t be used at bordered patrolling. Clearly this isn’t the first time that that a migrant gets shot by a border patrol, and there is investigations going on because the usage of fire arms is going over board. The immigrants are not a big threat enough to be shot at because of rock throwing, they are just trying to escape they don’t carry fire arms so they throw rocks to defend them selves. 

Democracy Now

Evelyn Espinoza

 

I watched the “New York City’s Charter School Showdown Reignites National Debate on Privatized Education” because anything involving education catches my interest. New York City’s Mayor has impeded the use of space inside private schools from being used by private charter schools. They have also cut the funds for construction of charter schools. This is stirring up a debate especially as all those charter school supporters are speaking out against the mayor’s decisions.  Some of the debate is the effect that charter schools have on public schools and the process involved in decision making over such schools. The mayor is concerned with public schools and feels that he is not opposed to charter schools but instead of being so persistent on expanding them they should focus on public schools also. The true intentions of charter schools are being questioned and under extreme scrutiny. The other video addressed the deportations under Obama’s presidency, “’Obama is Trying to Vanish Us’: Immigrants Fight Record Deportations with Protests, Hunger Strikes.” Immigrants are standing up for themselves through civil disobedience as hundreds gather on the US and Mexico border to support undocumented individuals seeking to be allowed back into the US. There is a hunger strike going on in the detention center in Tacoma, Washington because of the pitiful amount they are paid for their labor and to improve the conditions they are being detained in and in hopes of stopping the deportations. Through the hunger strike they are attempting to shine a light on the immigration reform and hope to resolve their situation. So far as a result those on the hunger strike are being force fed through feeding tubes that seems inhumane. In class we were shown a video of an individual who volunteered to go through the process and it was very difficult to watch. 

Democracy now 4

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. 

weekly summary

Tracy Galarza

03-16-14

Weekly Discussions

 

            In the first video I watched  “Vulnerable Foreign Laborers Swindled & Exploited to Toil on U.S. Bases in Afghanistan” it dealt with the issue of human trafficking. Many men that are in desperate need of work in countries that are in poverty are being promised a better paying job by U.S military recruiters. The men are being taken to U.S military bases in Afghanistan where they are technically working to pay off money they owe to the recruiter who got into the base to work, but the money being paid to these men is barely enough to pay the debt they have. These men are ending up getting paid less than half of what they were told, and many of these men have no choice than to stay working cause they have a contract. Since they are making much less n countries such as India and other poverty countries, many of these men are easy target to recruiters. I was very surprised when watching this video; I think this is a horrible thing to do to foreign workers who have no choice than to take what they can.

 

 

http://www.democracynow.org/2014/3/10/war_

 

 

 

            In the second video I watched “The Death Penalty is a Hate Crime” it dealt with a father who is against the death penalty against the former prisoner Edward Montour who killed his son. Bob Autobee, father of Eric Autobee who was beaten to death during his duty as a prisoner guard feels it is wrong to give Edward the death penalty. The original trial was opposed due to not having a jury sentence the death penalty, and now Edward is back on trial. During the first trial Bob wanted the death penalty but he has now forgave Edward and is against the death penalty being given to Edward. Bob who is mention in the video has religious, believes it is wrong to take away someone’s life away. Bob Autobee has now been trying to make a change in prisons. He has suggested having inmates wear different color uniforms to distinguish them the level of danger they can be, none of his suggestions have been considered in the prisons of Colorado. I believe Eric’s father Bob opinion in the death penalty should be considered and I thing he should pursuit in his suggestions about making a chane in the prisons of Colorado.  

 

 

http://www.democracynow.org/2014/3/5/the_death_penalty_is_a_hate

Elizabeth Jorgensen, Dem. Now Soc 122

Elizabeth Jorgensen

3/17/14

Democracy Now

“Obama Is Trying to Vanish Us”: Immigrants Fight Record Deportations with Protests, Hunger Strikes

(http://www.democracynow.org/2014/3/13/obama_is_trying_to_vanish_us)

Latino activist groups have challenged Obama and Immigration reform using a hunger strike in Washington at a detention center for their cause.Thursday March 13th marked the 6th day of the hunger strike by Immigrants fighting deportation reform issues for more than 750 people. Threats have been made by the guards at the Northwest Detention Center that they will be force fed with tubes if they continue the hunger strike protest. Individuals are fighting for better conditions at the detention centers, including better food and lower prices and higher wages. Immigration reform is being talked about but no action is being put into place which is why immigrants are uniting to take a stand in the hopes that change can be made to issues on immigration reform. Centers such as this charge the federal government 120-160$ daily per individual while paying them a dollar for up to 5 hours of work. The facilities save money as well by employing people at the detention centers into jobs that would otherwise cost them. Politically empowered undocumented individuals are taking a stand against the criminalization of immigrants, risking arrest in order to provoke change. 

War Workers: Vulnerable Foreign Laborers Swindled & Exploited to Toil on U.S. Bases in Afghanistan

(http://www.democracynow.org/2014/3/10/war_workers_vulnerable_foreign_laborers_swindled)

There are 40,000 foreign contract workers on military bases in places like Afghanistan and Iraq today risking their lives providing jobs in war zones. These individuals are usually falsely recruited and promised high wages. Military agents bring people to Afghanistan with false hope for progress. The workers are exploited with most of their life savings in order to be recruited and much work for a long time in order to make enough money to return to their country. This is a form of human trafficking that has been happening for more than 10 years and is subsidized by American taxpayers money. The lowest wage jobs are filled by people that are forced into these positions after being lied to about expectations. 90-95% of workers in India and Nepal have paid high fees in order to recruited for these jobs. Mostly men in these countries who have little job opportunities at home and wish to make money overseas fall into these false traps at military bases in Afghanistan. The companies asked to manage military bases in places such as Afghanistan subcontract out for cheaper and are then able to make money. Everyone within this system is making a profit other than workers who are trafficked in terrible conditions. U.S. law has done very little besides outlawing unreasonable recruitment fees. 

Democracy Now!

Joseph Abdul

3/16/2014

Democracy Now!: Week 7

            Democrat senators are advocating for renewable energy and against the Keystone pipeline. Republicans on the other hand disagree with the democrats and labeling them as “alarmists”. Consumers advocate Ralph Nader claims that protests, marches, picketing, etc., are not effective until congress is unified on the issue. The Keystone pipeline is already in progress; when completed, it will be a step backwards from the effort of converting the national source of energy to renewables. Many are still concerned with the rising politician interest in nuclear energy. It is an efficient but dangerous source of electricity due to the radioactive materials involved.

            On another note this week, GM may have ignored crucial defects in their compact cars since 2003. The problem with the ignition switches, which have contributed to at least 13 deaths, was treated as a consumer satisfaction issue. The cars would suddenly turn off leaving the driver with no power, no steering, no brakes, and no airbags. Federal regulators may have also failed to take action. For over 11 years or consumer complaints, the National Highway Safety Administration still ignored the problem, claiming that there is not enough evidence. Layers of bureaucracy prevent such serious issues from being heard by the CEO’s, according to Nader. It seems to me that GM works hand in hand with the NHSA to keep costs low. Given that there are 1.6 million vehicles with this defect, of it costs 20 dollars to fix each; GM would be looking at over $30 million. It makes sense to avoid the recall from an economic standpoint to the company. Corporate gains shouldn’t be a factor when it comes to human lives. 

Links to videos:

http://www.democracynow.org/2014/3/12/nader_on_senates_climate_stance_insanity

http://www.democracynow.org/2014/3/12/a_culture_of_timidity_ralph_nader 

Erik Guerra

Social Movements

MW 3:30- 4:45 P.M.

March 16, 2014

http://www.democracynow.org/2014/3/14/utahs_carbon_bomb_state_plots_massive

This video explains the issue of how much carbon has been released in our atmosphere. Utah has planned a project involving tar sands and oil shale despite climate concerns. Utah plans to extract tar sands and oil shale from public and private land. It is said that the region could hold up to three trillion barrels of oil. It is said that Utah is sitting on a tar sands carbon bomb. The grand canyon trust is one of the several organizations fighting Utah's plan. Utah has big deposits of oil shale and tar sands. This could amount to twenty billion barrels of oil and trillions worth of possibly development of oil. The tar sands in Alberta are being developed. Utah wants to do this as well. This can cause major climate problems. The shale oil will be extracted by strip mining. The grand canyon trust is attempting to challenge the public land that is expected to be stripped. I had bot heard of this being done in Alberta. Now that I know this is going on in U.S. Land is frightening.

http://www.democracynow.org/2014/3/14/a_slow_genocide_of_the_people

Uranium mining six miles from the grand canyon is causing devastating issues. Natives have protested against this saying that this can strain scarce water sources in the desert area. Also that uranium mining causes serious health affects. Companies in the past never properly disposed of radioactive waste piles leading to a spike in cancer rates and other illness. Environmental contamination has caused many serious issues. There are teachings by groups to support a nation wide effort to clean up uranium mines. A Navajo activist explains how an abandon uranium mine looks. It is said to look like a dirt hill. A radioactive contamination of dirt looks like regular dirt. Basically this is an invisible threat. Around this contaminated hill were houses and toys, sings of children and humans. Over one thousand abandon mines look and seem to be natural landscape. These issues must be addressed and not over looked just because larger corporations want to make money.

Democracy Now! Week of March 10th

“"Obama Is Trying to Vanish Us": Immigrants Fight Record Deportations with Protests, Hunger Strikes” aired on March 13th was about how immigrants at  at the Northwest Detention Center are going on a hunger strikes to stop the deportations that Obama's administration has allowed. The detainees have been worn by the guards that if they don't eat then they will be feed by force. They want to force feed the detainees just like in Guantanamo and its not fair because they can't have their right taken away. Like one of the hunger-striking immigrant said, we might be immigrants but we are all human beings. The only thing that these people want to go home to their families, how are the families suppose to sustain themselves if the dad is detained in a place like this. In “A War on Campus? Northeastern University Suspends Students for Justice in Palestine Chapter” was about a group or organization about the Palestinian cause that has been suspended from the university & most likely from any other university that starts a group or organization what has to do with Palestinians. Universities might be taking students freedom of speech on campus, since young jewish students and other students even faculty  are getting more involved and express support to the Palestine solidarity movement.

Democracy Now! Summary

Angelina Garcia

SOC 122 MW 3:30-4:45

3/16/14

Word Count: 456

 

            This week on Democracy Now! I watched and read about a story titled, “Caught in the Crossfire: U.S. – Mexico Border Militarization Threatens Way of Life for Native Tribe.” It is about the militarization of the U.S.- Mexico border and its effects on the Tohono O’odham Nation. The Tohono O’odham Nation, also known as the desert people, are 28,000 people who live on a reservation that encompasses both sides of the border. The reservation is about the size of the state of Connecticut and is federally recognized. The program begins with Amy Goodman introducing guests while on location in Flagstaff, Arizona. She introduces Alex Soto who is a member of the Tohono O’odham Nation, an organizer with O’odham Solidarity Across Borders, and a member of a hip-hop act called Shining Soul. Soto talks about how checkpoints, drones, and surveillance of the community are interfering with the traditional practices of the Tohono O’odham Nation; these things even prevent family and friends from seeing each other. He goes on to describe how the Tohono O’odham land is now divided between the U.S. and Mexico with vehicle barriers. Soto says, “I’ve seen the changes due to the current immigration policies that are acted out by the U.S. government. And now it’s to the point where we have vehicle barriers. But the current push for comprehensive immigration reform is now pushing towards a Berlin Wall-like scenario in my community right now.” He goes on to talk about his hip-hop music, describing it as being in the spirit of Public Enemy and NWA. Klee Benally is introduced and talks about his work with media and indigenous youth in a program called Outta Your Backpack Media Collective. The program ends with a mention of the documentary “A Thumbprint on Mother Earth.”

http://www.democracynow.org/2014/3/14/caught_in_the_crossfire_us_mexico

            The next story that I watched/read also featured Klee Benally. It was called “’A Slow Genocide of the People’: Uranium Mining Leaves Toxic Nuclear Legacy on Indigenous Land.” This article talks about the Diné tribe’s protest of the reopening of a mine six miles from the Grand Canyon. A company called Energy Fuels Resources is looking to reopen the mine for uranium mining; this mining could lead to the scarcity of water. Benally talks about the battle between the Diné and the corporate colonization of their resources. He says: “The geopolitics here are rooted in racism. They’re rooted in the corporate greed that we continue to face today.” Benally goes on to talk about the EPA’s failure to do any meaningful inventory on the threats of the toxic mines. He also talks about the climate change and its effect on the indigenous people. Caribou migrations and rising waters are having a negative effect on the native people, displacing people and depopulating villages.

http://www.democracynow.org/2014/3/14/a_slow_genocide_of_the_people

 

Weekly Discussion

Alejandro Aguirre

March 16, 2014

SOC 122 – M/W 3:30 PM

Kubal

 

Weekly Discussion

 

      In Democracy Now’s story, Caught in the Crossfire: U.S.-Mexico Border Militarization Threatens Way of Life for Native Tribe, Alex Soto, a member of the rap duo Shining Soul, talks about the increase of militarization and patrolling of the Mexican-U.S border and its unjust effects on people who cross it – or attempt to cross it. Soto explained that when he was younger, there was little to no patrolling and militarization along the border. He mentioned that 9/11 was most likely an influence for this enforcement. Soto also discusses how patrol men sometimes ask unnecessary questions like where the crossers are coming from and whom among the commuters look  suspicious. Rather, he says that they are actually supposed to ask only for citizenship. From a certain perspective, Soto explained that this sudden and high enforcement of patrolling and militarization is equivalent to the genocide of any race that attempts to cross this border.

 

http://www.democracynow.org/2014/3/14/caught_in_the_crossfire_us_mexico

 

In A Slow Genocide of the People: Uranium Mining Leaves Toxic Nuclear Legacy on Indigenous Land, Democracy Now brings activist Klee Benally to talk about the environmental harm uranium mining has on indigenous land, its inhabitants, and tourists. Benally shares that this mining has lead to a spike in cancer diagnoses. This should not be a surprise, considering the estimate of 10,000 abandoned uranium mines – that have also not been cleaned – within the vicinity. Benally perceived this to be a “slow genocide of the indigenous people”. What is also unfortunate is that miners were not told of the lethal potential of uranium in both respects (proximity and nuclear warfare production). With respect to proximity, the uranium is leaking into the water and land. This applies to both public and private property. There was a 10-year legal battle with the victims about the uranium spilling on their sacred land, but lost  because they are [unjustifiably] not guaranteed protection of religion by the courts. Perhaps the scariest fact Benally shared with Democracy Now is that the U.S. government has checked the water supply to determine whether or not it is safe to drink, but never returned to this community with the results.

 

http://www.democracynow.org/2014/3/14/a_slow_genocide_of_the_people

 

Article Summary

Article Summary # 5

Landon Clow

3/13/14

In the article "XL Dissent: 398 Youth Arrested at Anti-Keystone XL Pipeline Protest at White House," it details the vast amounts of college students who gathered to stop Obama from passing the Keystone Pipeline. The 398 arrested college students were from all over the country with a total of 80 colleges that were involved. Their goal was to gather at the White House in "hasmat suits", and carried signs that said " Keep your oil out of my soil." Once the group of young protesters reached the front of the White House, they put on a demonstration that had students laid out on a black tarp, and attacking as if they had been killed due to the implantation of the XL Tar Sands Oil Pipeline. The article continues to say after the students were arrested, many of them chained themselves to the White House fence to slow down the arrest process. One of the main emphasis Democracy Now pointed out was that the students protest may be the largest youth environment protest in a generation. After reading the article what stood out to me was the passion these college students have in that they are willing to get arrested to fight a injustice in society. 

The other article is called I found interesting was  "The Death Penalty is a Hate Crime." This article entails a father whose son was killed by a prisoner. Bob Autobee's son was a prison guard at the time the inmate Edward Montour was said to have beaten Bobs son to death. At the time of his sons death he was in favor for Edward Montour to be killed via death penalty, but after years passing has since decided to be against the death penalty all together. Bob Autobee now describes the death penalty as a hate crime and feels that death if his sons killer would be a crime against humanity. The judge of the case differs in that he dis aloud Mr. Autobee to speak about how the jury should sentence the man. This article shines a light on the social injustice of the death penalty. For many people the idea of killing someone because  they took the life of another seems barbaric and cruel. The article shows that even though his son has been killed by the inmate, Mr. Autobee is willing to fight for what he thinks is a crime against humanity. 

http://www.democracynow.org/2014/3/3/xl_dissent_398_youth_arrested_at

http://www.democracynow.org/2014/3/5/the_death_penalty_is_a_hate

soc 121. democracy now

Montana Abortion Provider Whose Clinic Was Destroyed by Vandal: "We’re Disappearing"

In Kalispell, Montana, a healthcare office that provided abortions has been forced to close after being vandalized. All Families Healthcare is just 1 of 4 clinics that provided abortion in the state of Montana. The facility closing means that residents of this area now have to travel two hours in order to get an abortion. The person who vandalized the facility made sure to destroy everything in the office. This person damaged the plumbing and heating systems, stabbed holes in the walls, smashed medical equipment and computers, broke every glass object, and smashed the owners framed family pictures before stabbing holes through their faces. The person who vandalized this office was very meticulous about destroying everything that was in that office. Luckily, the person who did this was caught. He was a 24 year old man whose mother serves on the board of an anti-choice crisis pregnancy center. Acts of violence against U.S. abortion providers has reached more than 6,000 reports over recent decades.  

Report: Local Police in California Using "StingRay" Spy Devices

Newly revealed documents show that police in California are covertly using powerful devices that allow them to collect location and other data from cell phones. The device that allows police to do this is known as the StingRay. The StingRay poses as a cell tower and intercepts real-time data from cell phones in a given radius. Although their use in other federal agencies was known, new records found by News10 in Sacramento show StingRays are in wide use by police in California. In fact, this device was used to make 19 arrests in 2009 alone. This device has also been used in Miami according to News10. This device was used by the Miami-Dade police in order to monitor protesters at an upcoming World Trade Conference. They used the StingRay in order to obtain names and telephone numbers of everyone that was near the event.

http://www.democracynow.org/2014/3/14/headlines#3149

 

-Alyssa Abayari

Ashley Acord's summaries derived from "Democracy Now!" for week 3/10-3/16

Ashley Acord

SOC Movements Mon. /Wed. 3:30-4:45pm

Dr. Kubal

Summaries derived from “Democracy Now!” for week 3/10-3/16

This week I read two articles on the “Democracy Now!” website that are related, and therefore correlated, to the CIA spy scandal. The first titled "CIA Spies and Tortured Lies" was mostly just informing of the accused action of the CIA, and the other article titled “Obama Backs Release of CIA Torture Report, But Stays Clear of Senate Row” was about our president Barrack Obama’s stance and reaction to the allegations.

The National Security Agency and other U.S. intelligence agencies have been conducting a mass global surveillance. The main target of the surveillance was and is the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence. The committee was fashioned after the Watergate scandal immersed the Nixon administration. The Committee, led by Idaho Democratic Sen. Frank Church, conducted a comprehensive investigation of abuses by U.S. intelligence agencies, of everything from spying on anti-war protesters to the assassination of foreign leaders. Thus began the modern era of congressional and judicial oversight of U.S. intelligence.

 The recent conflict being circulated through the news and tabloids surrounds the Intelligence Committee report on this notorious U.S. government program. Panel chair Senator Dianne Feinstein has amenably alleged the CIA of spying on Senate staffers and taking material from their computers as part of an effort to undercut the extensive report on the agency’s torture and rendition program. The report has yet to be relinquished but purportedly documents far-reaching mistreatments and a cover-up by CIA executives. At the White House, Obama said he will push for declassifying the report. He has responded to this situation by announcing that he has worked with the Senate committee so that the report that they are putting forward is well informed. He stated in an interview that, “I am absolutely committed to declassifying that report as soon as the report is completed. In fact, I would urge them to go ahead and complete the report, send it to us. We will declassify those findings so that the American people can understand what happened in the past, and that can help guide us as we move forward."

This week’s public quarrel between CIA-loyalist Feinstein and that agency might briefly upset the existing state of affairs, but they will make up. Sadly, it disguises a graver problem: the untold story of the United States’ secret policy of torture and kidnapping. Feinstein and other senators have pursued the open access of the 6,300-page document. Press reports and a speech Feinstein made on the Senate floor this week brought awareness that Intelligence Committee staffers were given access to CIA documents at a secure CIA facility, somewhere outside of CIA headquarters. Feinstein described the scene: “The CIA started making documents available electronically to the committee staff at the CIA leased facility in mid-2009. The number of pages ran quickly to the thousands, tens of thousands, the hundreds of thousands, and then into the millions. The documents that were provided came without any index, without organizational structure. It was a true ‘document dump’ that our committee staff had to go through and make sense of.”

                The Senate Select Committee on Intelligence does not yet know if these documents were provided to the Intelligence Committee staff from a CIA whistle-blower, we do not yet know—but a key document surfaced, called the “Internal Panetta Review,” presumably named after Leon Panetta, the director of the CIA at the time. Feinstein said in her floor speech, “What was unique and interesting about the internal documents was ... their analysis and acknowledgement of significant CIA wrongdoing.” This “Internal Panetta Review” specifically contradicts the CIA’s own written testimony to the Intelligence Committee. Yes, the CIA was caught in a lie.

"CIA Spies and Tortured Lies"

http://www.democracynow.org/blog/2014/3/13/cia_spies_and_tortured_lies

 

“Obama Backs Release of CIA Torture Report, But Stays Clear of Senate Row”

http://www.democracynow.org/2014/3/13/headlines#3132

 

 

 

Democracy Now!

For this weeks assignment for my class SOC 122 Social Movements we had to look up two articles in which they had to cover issues about the media and activism in the world. The two articles in which I decided to choose were “Montana Abortion Provider Whose Clinic Was Destroyed by Vandal: “Were Disappearing”. The article started by discussing the issue that occurred in the “All Families Healthcare”, a healthcare office were they provide abortions in Kalispell, Montana, was forced to close their doors due to property being destroyed maliciously by the vandal. Owner Susan Cahill reported that the vandal raided through the office stabbing holes in the walls, smashed medical equipment and computers, broke every glass object, destroyed the plumbing and heating systems, ripped plants, smashed framed photos of Susan Cahill family members before stabbing holes in their faces. Susan Cahill knows how important this healthcare facility is to the community, in order for those that need an abortion, now have to travel up to two hours to Missoula for an abortion. Abortions make up to ten percent of the services Susan provides in her family practice. The suspect has been arrested and charged with felony burglary in the attack. In the reports it shows that he is a twenty-four year old male whose mother works on the anti-choice crisis pregnancy center as a board member.

The next article in which I also found interesting that also relates to the other article was “Michigan: Anti-Choice” Rape Insurance” Law Goes into Effect”. In Michigan the “ Rape Insurance” law has gone into effect, the law consists of companies covering abortion, including in cases of rape, unless consumers purchase a separate rider.  The riders will be available in some employer-provided plans; people buying their own insurance can no longer obtain coverage for abortion. I believe this should be available to all insurance companies, rape is a very serious issue and many companies don’t want to cover this because it mainly affects women in general. Michigan is the ninth state to restrict abortion coverage in private insurance plans.    

Democracy Now

Omar Ruiz

Immigration System

With all of the deportation and immigration issues going on, i am conflicted with the fact what is right, what is the law, and with moral righteousness. in some ways we know that those who enter the country illegally is wrong period, but at the same time we know that they have the right intentions coming to the country to find a better life and a better future for their children. Under Obama, there has been about 2 million deportees and the list will only grow longer. Whether the deportations were legally or not, i can only think how the families would be affected financially and emotionally. It is difficult and in no way it is all of Obama's fault. The immigration issue has been a difficult task to complete because it has been ongoing for years. The injustice in this issue is that how much the president gets the blame for this and how much do the deportees are at fault for their deportation and why do Obama is the scapegoat. Facts are facts, they must be looked at it before pointing the finger.  From a public perspective a deportation can be seen solely as an emotional problem.

http://www.democracynow.org/2014/3/13/obama_is_trying_to_vanish_us

We all are well aware that Obama has talked about fixing the immigration issues for the past 5 years saying "it is time to heed the call of business leaders, labor leaders, faith leaders, law enforcement, and fix our broken immigration system." Knowing numerous people immigrating to the United States by the rules makes one cringe knowing that a lot of money, emotions, energy, hopes, and dreams were wasted if the Government decides to grant the illegal immigrants free entrance to the country. We are well aware that it is 5 years, 5 years are too long, but there must be a better solution than to just decide to grant a quick fix to this issue. one might not know a solution as of now, but as President, Obama must come up with something before this issue goes on for his whole presidency. 

http://www.democracynow.org/2014/1/29/five_years_of_the_same_rhetoric

social movements mon/wed 3:30pm

Crystal Gutierrez

Social movements Mon./Wed

March 14, 2014

A War on Campus? Northeastern University Suspends Students for Justice in Palestine Chapter

http://www.democracynow.org/2014/3/13/a_war_on_campus_northeastern_university

   A group of students from the Northeastern University that are involved in justice for Palestine have recently been put under disciplinary because of their actions. The Students for Justice in Palestine group has been suspended until next year, so now they are not able to meet at the university and the university has also stopped providing funds for the group. Though this group is working towards justice for Palestinians, they have been accused of going against the universities policies and that is why they have been suspended. Max Geller, one of the students involved in the group, stated that the administration no longer felt that they could control the group’s actions and that was the last option they had. He said they were just handing out flyers and soon after the police got called. There were claims that made it seem like this group was breaking rules and according to administration they were; however, in my opinion handing out flyers isn’t a good reason for the police to be called.

"Obama Is Trying to Vanish Us": Immigrants Fight Record Deportations with Protests, Hunger Strikes

http://www.democracynow.org/2014/3/13/obama_is_trying_to_vanish_us

   Many people are beginning to fight against deportations by striking to show that they won’t give in so easily. At the border in between the U.S. and Mexico, there has been several people who are gather there to help fight for those people who are seeking to enter the U.S. again. There are also many many people in Washington who are participating in a hunger strike. President Obama has been given the nickname “Deporter in Chief” and not in a jokingly manner. There are hundreds of people against the deportation of immigrants and now they are beginning to react through civil disobedience. The people on hunger strikes have also stopped eating because they are seeking better food and lower prices in prison, as well as striking against deportations. So many people are starting to get more involved and fighting against deportations and the acts of civil disobedience are just going to increase. 

Charter Schools

Democracy Now 5

Tabitha Arambula

March 13, 2014

 

"Giving Hypocrisy a Bad Name": NSA-Backing Senate Intel Chair Blasts CIA for Spying on Torture Probe (Wednesday March 12th)

 

The CIA had been secretly spying on the Senate Intelligence Committee. They would use computers and the CIA would spy on what they would see. The CIA was hacking into the computers. They were playing keep away. They would listen to personal phone calls. After 9-11 everything changed. The president said that regardless of the situation, they were going to get "justice". They got prisoners and tortured them. General Michael Hayden violated the rights by wiretapping. This was then called enhanced interrogation techniques for torture, although the information given is unreliable because the torture is harsh, they were forced to say what they wanted to hear. Since the CIA had computers and the senate would use them, the senate started seeing that some of the documents were disappearing. The CIA was holding onto a report that was done over a year ago, and the senate said it was theirs and that if they wanted to publish it they should.

 

New York City’s Charter School Showdown Reignites National Debate on Privatized Education Thursday March 13th

 

The Green Dot Public School is really a charter school. Charter schools affect public schools. Although Steve Barr says that it is a different way of teaching students, and it works. Charter schools are made for personal gains. The pay is unfair. The chancellor is getting paid less than others. Charter school leaders always give promises, but it always leads to problems. The public school system is not a simple problem to fix. Charter schools are a movement for Steve Barr. When you find a good school you want to replicate it but how? Parents are desperate to find good schools and they will. They may think that charter schools are the sure for cancer, and public schools are like the stepchild. Charters schools are able to choose the students that get in and kick off students that have disabilities, and test scores are low. They have the privileged kids with no problems and then they compare the schools. This hurts public schools even more.

Fwd: Multi-Issue Protest

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From: "Michelle Bower" <mj9bower@gmail.com>
To: tkubal@csufresno.edu
Sent: Thursday, March 13, 2014 12:13:27 PM
Subject: Multi-Issue Protest

Pictures :)

Re: S.A.F.F.E.

Correction:

(Students Against Fossil Fuel Extraction) 

On Fri, Mar 7, 2014 at 1:59 PM, Ashley Acord <ashleyacord86@mail.fresnostate.edu> wrote:

Good afternoon! We are the S.A.F.F.E.(students against fossil fuel divestment). We welcome and encourage you to add your thoughts and opinions about Fossil Fuel Divestment and our Environment by taking our brief survey. 

http://16.selectsurvey.net/catishack/TakeSurvey.aspx?SurveyID=74KK9p2

Thank you to all that incorporate this into their schedules.

- S.A.F.F.E.