June/July'16 Volume XXXIV, No.3 20 Pages Published by the Peace & Justice Network pjnsjc.org Priceless & Free
Protesting American privilege at home and abroad
Peter Bloom them would be to dismiss the experiences of many who have questioned Sanders or the tactics of his supporters. It Even as Sanders "path to victory" increasingly narrows, is also significant to recognize that as Sanders mentions, the the passion for his candidacy grows in intensity. Recent majority of his movement has been incredibly non-violent. victories in Indiana and Oregon reflect the continuing "Within the last few days there have been a number of desire for a progressive alternative to Clinton and Centrist criticisms made against my campaign organization," said Democrats. It also reveals a hardening divide in the Party Sanders. "Party leaders in Nevada, for example, claim that and beyond between those who want real "revolution" and the Sanders campaign has a ‘penchant for violence.’ That is those who are content with "reform." These divisions have nonsense. Our campaign has held giant rallies all across this increasingly spilled over from campaign rhetoric to more country, including in high-crime areas, and there have been forceful protest and agitation. The recent upheaval at the zero reports of violence." Still to merely condemn without Nevada caucus highlights the extreme frustrations and context is to perpetuate a different type of violence. It is to be actions of Sanders supporters who feel disenfranchised by a willfully blind to the institutional ways Democratic elites are supposedly "rigged" system. Reports include vandalism and alienating outside voices demanding genuine as opposed to now verbal threats to those considered to be Clinton allies. surface level change to the Party and nation. As Sanders declared Tuesday, "Our campaign of course The unrest in Nevada, for instance, was spurred by believes in non-violent change and it goes without saying underhanded activities by the local DNC to ensure that that I condemn any and all forms of violence, including the Clinton was awarded a majority of the delegates. This echoes personal harassment of individuals." What does too often go a primary filled with credible charges of voter suppression and unsaid though is how the rightful condemnation of popular perhaps even fraud from Arizona to New York to Illinois. The violence masks the larger violence perpetuated by those with irritated screams are in response to the deeply felt "silencing" power. In this case, the legitimate critique of the actions of a of their voices by Party elites and the mainstream media. few Sanders delegates is hiding the just as real present and Yet this justified critique also hides another more imminent future threat posed by the Democratic establishment to many danger. It is that these citizens are trying desperately to resist within America and many more around the world. a status quo that has and will do dramatic violence to them and those they care about. The protest against Clinton in East A growing revolution LA exemplifies this clear and present threat. Underneath From the very beginning, Sanders has called his the hyperbolic claims of elderly women and children being PAID Postage Postage campaign a "political revolution." It is a phrase that verbally assaulted was a more frightening reality. It was that Stockton, CA Stockton, Permit No. 488 Permit No. traditionally evokes images of violent barricades and radical many of the protestors inside and outside the rally were there Nonprofit Org. U.S. U.S. Org. Nonprofit confrontations with authority. For Sanders and his supporters to condemn Clinton’s active role in legitimizing a military it has meant less guerrilla warfare or the protests of the coup in Honduras producing an oligarchic government square, and more a populist electoral movement against responsible for the death of indigenous protestors and the the "billionaire class" and for social democracy. The events repression of women and LGTB rights. It was a direct shaming in Nevada have raised questions over just how peaceful and of the Party by “Latinos” against Clinton’s own previous democratic this "revolution" actually is. Democratic leaders brutal anti-immigration policies and Obama’s continued use and many mainstream party members have charged Sanders’ of deportations. campaign of having a "violent streak." This follows months of accusations that so-called "Bernie Bros" have aggressively Making choices attacked Clinton supporters online using misogynistic There is a risk that in calling out the most extreme aspects language traditionally disavowed by progressives (and of Sanders supporters, the extremism of Clinton’s brand of vehemently by the candidate himself). Even worse, these Centrism will be dangerously covered up. What does it say if actions are perceived to be connected to protestors who the localized violence in a Nevada caucus room trumps the interrupted a Trump Rally in March and yelled expletives global violence of a candidate who has advocated disastrous at those leaving a Clinton rally in Los Angeles earlier this military interventions from Iraq to Libya? Should there be month. In the face of such actions Democratic leaders have more worry for a protest at a rally than for the millions of lives "put pressure" on Sanders to more forcefully condemn such ruined by an economic crisis by a financial sector that Clinton violence. If anything, though, this anger only seems to be did little to resist and that continues to support her? growing. "The Dems new fear," according to CNN, is that It is to once again draw a clear line of whose safety and the "Sanders revolt could upend the [national] Democratic wellbeing is important and whose is not. That the murder convention" in July. It appears that what was once a peaceful of Honduran activist Berta Cáceres matters little, while the "revolution" could blossom into a full blown rebellion. "booing" of Senator Barbara Boxer is a serious incident that must be strongly decried. The reversion to violence and Protecting the establishment threat by progressives backing Sanders is inappropriate and There is clearly a need to reject unacceptable violence, death threats, harassment and misogyny. To simply ignore ContinueD ON PAGE 6
SAVE THE DATES CONTENTS Single payer now p3 June 22-24 Restore the Delta organizing (p 19) Tunnels need stopping p5 Trade and transparency p9 June 25 DeltaFusion Festival, Victory Park (p 19) April 24 Earth Day Festival, Angels Camp (p 20) Trade and transparency p9 Tunnels need stopping p5 the long GOP trail p17 Supporting clean power locally p20 Peace & Justice Network & Justice Peace County of San Joaquin 4123 Box P.O. CA 95204 Stockton, 209/467—4455 2 CONNECTIONS, JUN/JUL 2016
Movement continues CONNECTIONS Editors Editor: Bruce Giudici, 786- in the form of money directed is somehow more idealistic "impractical," "idealistic," or 3109; [email protected] Letter to allies' campaigns will raise and vocal than in the past. worst of all "socialist." Young Layout: Luis Gonzalez, all boats. With the narrative Social media and liberal people now judge ideas more [email protected] of this huge head start, Hillary late-night talk shows that on their merits than on the Proofreader: Debbie Cousyn Bruce Giudici smaller field. As the primaries began as the presumptive instantly expose hypocrisy labels placed upon them by Ad Rep: Vacant lurched on with marginal leader regardless of how the provide a common space their elders. Climate change, Distribution Coordinators: candidates remaining in Deane and Marcia Savage, campaign went. Big money where discussion connects humane health care and 209-242-2254 One could say that the field, Trump was able to facilitated the narrative - the dots. Whether we have a peaceful co-existance with Citizens United has resulted claim victory with the same Distribution Site: Peace & as she won primaries in President Sanders or not, as each other is the foundation Justice Center, 231 Bedford in both the Trump and Hillary 30-35% anti-establishment conservative southern states with President Obama, the for a truly sustainable world, Rd, Stockton finale. In Trump's case, the crowd that has always existed Democrats no longer have a destination is secondary - the one in which our young Distributors: Suzy Arnett, Republican field began with in the Republican field - only chance of winning. And yet... journey primary. people will create. Harold Bell, Vic Berncorff, 17 mediocre candidates, this time, it was enough to Antoinette Celle, Caly Chin, many of whom were able to win. The movement Movements sweep up So, the process continues Lee Christensen, Daniel Fong, remain in the contest because continues. Fallout from the and force decisions that - with healthy signs of growth Catherine Hourcade, Christie of Citizen United-enabled In Hillary's case, the Kelley, Catherine Mathis, John Bush recession - whether from were unthinkable prior. where it is needed. Keep the Minnehan, Heather Ryan, funding. The persistance of a money advantage has paid Occupy, Black Lives Matter, The process of this election ball moving down the field - Deane and Marcia Savage, large field allowed Trump to for superdelegates who or the Sanders campaign has shown that voters can we may score one or two this Richard Slezak, Julie Vaughn, win repeatedly with a small are assuredly going to be - provides fertile ground be energized and by ideas year. Happy summer. Patrick Wall, plurality that would not have rewarded once Hillary is for a new generation that previously dismissed as Deadline: 7th of each month been enough to win with a elected president. Paybacks (except Aug & Dec) Circulation: 8,000 CONNECTIONS is a Unmask big money campaign monthly publication of the Peace & Justice Network of San Joaquin County. The views expressed in Connections are those of the authors and are not necessarily manipulation: Disclose Act now! endorsed by the Network. News, articles, letters and calendar items Senator and leave a message that you represents Walnut Creek and The CA Disclose Act AB governments from raising fees - even should be sent to the Peace & want them to vote YES on AB 700 Antioch areas (916) 651-4007 Justice Network, P.O. Box 4123, 700 sponsored by the California on polluters- without 2/3 vote. With the Ca Disclose Act. Give them your Stockton, CA 95204. The editor Xlean Money Campaign is the AB 700, voters would have clearly reserves the right of final decision name, address and zip code so they For other senators you can look STRONGEST political ad disclosure seen that the three largest funders on copy. Call (209) 467—4455 for know you are a constituent! them up at: www.Senate.ca.gov/ more information. PJN is on the bill in the nation. California Clean of Prop. 26 were Chevron, Philip For any questions or inquiries senators internet: http://www.pjnsjc.org Money Campaign is a non-partisan, Morris, and Anheuser-Busch! Prop. 26 passed with 52.5% of the vote. about the local California Clean non-profit organization that has Our State representatives Might 3% have voted differently if Campaign or the Disclose Act call: been fighting the dominance of Big do NOT always vote in our best they knew who really paid for the Suzy Arnett 209 639-4191 Money in politics for over 13 years. interests. If you want to find out if ads? AB 700 will require the three tors: your representative is representing This is the year to do something Local Sena largest funders of $50,000or more you well go to: about special interests literally of ballot measure ads and ads about Cathleen Galgiani (D) District www.couragescore.gov/california- buying our government. AB 700 has candidates by outside groups to be 5 represents Stockton and state-assembly-courage-score for already passed the Assembly on an shown clearly and unambiguously Modesto areas (916) 651-4005 assembly members and www. Peace & Justice so viewers can see who's actually overwhelming bipartisan vote of 60- Tom Berryhill (R) District 8 couragescore.gov/california-state-senate- funding them. 15 and now is in the Senate. Authored Network represents Oakdale, Fresno, and courage-score for you state senator. In 2010, despite near-universal by Assemblymembers Jimmy Gomez Board of Directors and Marc Levine. Jackson areas (916) 651-4008 opposition from editorial boards Sen. Galgiani and Sen. Roth Chair: Richard Blackston The Senate will be a harder and trailing badly in the polls Anthony Cannella (R) District 12 both have earned F!!! Check it out!!! Vice-Chair: lift, but not impossible if our State Prop. 26 passed- after $18 million represents Ceres, Merced, and Then call and ask them WHY?? Christie Kelley in ads by "Stop Hidden Taxes." Senators are aware their constituents Salinas areas (916) 651-4012 Treasurer: Deane Savage Since then, Prop 26 has had huge WANT them to pass the bill! Secretary: Cathy Mathis Steven Glazer (D) District 7 effects by preventing state and local Please CALL or write your State Members—at—large: Margie Brown, Daniel Fong, Tenaya Ledeux, Paula Leveck, Daniel Berrigan, a leader of peaceful opposition Bruce Giudici Organizational members: 89.5 Stone Soup Radio (Cathy to Vietnam War, inspired a generation of activists Mathis), Fathers & Families (Jim Walsh), Puentes (Richard Blackston), Single Payer San Betty Medsger That is what Berrigan said in May, 1968 as disobedience and resistance many years ago. Joaquin (Suzy Arnett), CARA he and his brother, the late Philip Berrigan, and ______(Jerry Bailey) Daniel Berrian was many things – Jesuit priest, seven other activists, most of them nuns and Source: The Intercept 5/6/16 https://theintercept.com/ poet, teacher, fine cook, good listener, radical priests, burned draft files they had just removed “The Peace and Justice thinker, antiwar activist, pacifist. And, for his from the draft board in Catonsville, Maryland, and Network is a nonprofit educational organization opposition to the Vietnam war, he was considered waited for police to arrive to arrest them. These committed to the visiVon an enemy of both state and church. Of everything words appear in Berrigan’s most famous writing, of a world in which the he wrote, including more than forty books, these The Trial of the Catonsville Nine, a play based on the equality of all persons is words stand out as the most memorable and transcript of the trial. It has been staged throughout achieved, basic needs are most emblematic of his life: “Our apologies, the world. met, conflict is resolved good friends, for the fracture of good order, the When Berrigan’s sister-in-law, Elizabeth nonviolently, and the burning of paper instead of children, the angering McAllister, read those words at his funeral mass earth’s resources are of the orderlies in the front of the charnel house. today, the more than 1,000 people in attendance at shared responsibly for We could not, so help us God, do otherwise . . . St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Greenwich the well—being of all her How many must die before our voices are heard, Village responded with a thunderous and sustained inhabitants and all future generations.” how many must be tortured, dislocated, starved, standing ovation. They had come from near and maddened . . . When, at what point, will you say far to say farewell. For many of them, these words no to this war?” he spoke at Catonsville had moved them into civil CONNECTIONS, JUN/JUL 2016 3 2,000+ doctors declare: "It's time for single payer to be back on the table"
Deirdre Fulton
Despite limited advances provided by the Affordable Care Act, the U.S. healthcare system remains "uniquely wasteful" and profit-driven, leaving tens of millions without any insurance and even more underinsured. As a result, say leading physicians, "the right to medical care remains a dream deferred." In an effort to finally realize that dream, thousands of medical professionals across the country have signed onto the "Physicians' Proposal for Single-Payer Health Care Reform," calling for a publicly financed, single-payer National Health Program (NHP) that would cover all Americans for all medically necessary care. The plan, unveiled Thursday in the /American Journal of Public Health/, aims to "remedy the persistent shortcomings of the current health caresystem," reads an accompanying editorial. It comes as the 2016 presidential race has thrust the issue of healthcare back into the national spotlight, and while the proposal is non-partisan, it hews closely to Bernie Sanders' call for Medicare-for-All. Drafted by a working group of 39 physicians and endorsed by more than 2,231 other physicians and 149 medical students, the proposal "would save enough on administrative overhead to provide comprehensive coverage to the uninsured and to upgrade coverage for everyone else, thus requiring no increase in total health spending," according would fully offset the costs of covering the uninsured and Supporting Gaffney's claim, a separate study published to Physicians for a National Health Program (PHNP), which upgraded coverage for everyone else, e.g. full coverage of in the May 2016 issue of /Monthly Review/ finds that the is backing the effort. prescription drugs, dental care and long-term care. Savings Affordable Care Act's neoliberal approach to expanding would also be redirected to currently underfunded health health insurance has in fact failed in other countries such Under the proposal, according to PHNP: priorities, particularly public health. as Colombia, Chile, and Mexico, where corporate profits • Patients could choose to go to any doctor and hospital. • The "single payer" would be in a strong position to have soared, the safety net of public hospitals and clinics has Most hospitals and clinics would remain privately owned negotiate lower prices for medications and other medical deteriorated, and health costs have increased. and operated, receiving a budget from the NHP to cover all supplies, yielding additional savings and reining in costs. "We can continue down this harmful path—or even worse, operating costs. Physicians could continue to practice on a take an alternative, ‘free-market’ route that would compound fee-for-service basis, or receive salaries from group practices, "Our nation is at a crossroads," said Dr. Adam Gaffney, our problems—or we can embrace the long-overdue remedy hospitals or clinics. a Boston-based pulmonary disease and critical care specialist that we know will work: the creation of a publicly financed, • The program would be paid for by combining current who co-chaired the working group that produced the nonprofit, single-payer system that covers everybody," said sources of government health spending into a single fund with proposal. "Despite the passage of the Affordable Care Act Dr. Steffie Woolhandler, a co-author of the single-payer modest new taxes that would be fully offset by reductions six years ago, 30 million Americans remain uninsured, an editorial and proposal who is a professor of public health in premiums and out-of-pocket spending. Co-pays and even greater number are underinsured, financial barriers to at the City University of New York's Hunter College and deductibles would be eliminated. care like co-pays and deductibles are rising, bureaucracy is lecturer at Harvard Medical School. • The single-payer program would save about $500 growing, provider networks are narrowing, and medical costs "Today we're saying we must quickly make that shift," billion annually by eliminating the high overhead and profits are continuing to climb." Woolhandler said. "Lives are literally at stake." of insurance firms, and the massive paperwork they inflict on As a result, Gaffney continued, "Caring relationships are ______hospitals and doctors. increasingly taking a back seat to the financial prerogatives of Source: Common Dreams 5/5/16 http://www.commondreams.org/ • The administrative savings of the streamlined system insurance firms, corporate providers, and Big Pharma." Majority of Americans want 'Medicare for All' system Lauren McCauley insurance abuses, our healthcare behind their support. Last week, At the same time, 73 percent months to come." For his part, system remains a profit-focused, Clinton "took a step left," as the New of Democrats and Democrat- Trump has vowed as president Bernie Sanders' call to replace bureaucratic nightmare for far too York Times put it, with the suggestion leaning voters prefer replacing the to repeal the ACA and replace it the Affordable Care Act (ACA) with many people," Jean Ross, registered that as president she would offer a ACA with a federal program while with a series of healthcare reforms a single-payer healthcare system is nurse and co-president of National public option for people above 79 percent of those voters would based on "free market principles." a policy that a strong majority of Nurses United, told Common Dreams a "certain age." Notably, when opt to keep the standing system. The results are based on telephone Americans agree with, according by email. the results were broken down by However, Gallup found that those surveys with 1,549 adults between to a new Gallup survey released on Speaking to the Gallup survey party affiliation, Gallup foundwho favor both a federally run May 6 and 8. Gallup estimates a Monday. Fifty-eight percent of all findings, Ross added: "What the that 41 percent of Republican and national healthcare system and the 3-point margin of error. U.S. adults favor replacing the ACA Bernie Sanders campaign has Republican-leaning voters prefer ACA, when given a choice, "come ______with a federally-funded healthcare demonstrated is a broad, national the public option compared to just down on the side of the Sanders- Source: Common Dreams 5/16/16 http://www.commondreams.org/ program, such as Sanders' Medicare longing for a more humane health 16 percent who would want to keep type proposal." for All. This is compared with 48 care system that treats health the ACA. "This may reflect either "The general idea of a single percent who prefer to keeping care as a human right not based that Republicans genuinely think payer system seems to play well Obama's healthcare system in on ability to pay, or your age, a single-payer system would be with the majority of Americans," place, a policy which has been gender, race, or where you live." good for the country, or that they Gallup states, which is something a cornerstone of Democratic The 185,000-member union has view any proposal to replace the both Clinton and the presumptive frontrunner Hillary Clinton's endorsed the Vermont senator, ACA ("Obamacare") as better than Republican nominee Donald campaignplatform. "While the ACA citing his single-payer healthcare keeping it in place," the pollsters Trump "will need to keep in mind curbed some of the most egregious plan as one of the key reasons state. as they debate healthcare in the 4 CONNECTIONS, JUN/JUL 2016 Those who wage peace can't count on the media for support than one-third." -- in the process, perhaps interfering with ...Returning to Perhaps this is something to think Clinton's efforts to woo Republicans -- at about as we watch and read the "news": the least establishes the point that elections are United States' quiet, background war, having about values. Even a point this wan and the opening burned through a few trillion dollars so far miniscule represents progress compared to and resulted in perhaps 2 million deaths, recent presidential races, though, alas, hardly question continues unchecked and unquestioned even sufficient to turn the Democrats into the party as it perpetuates terror, the very thing it's that eschews perpetual war or stands up to the purporting to eliminate. This war is not only Big Money and the interests of the corporate 'Who rules the wrecking lives well beyond the national zone elite. of awareness, it's arguably contributing to, if This is the logical progression to not causing, the economic chaos roiling the cynicism, something that worries me as much world?'... political status quo in this election season. as anything else about American democracy. Shhhh. Don't tell anyone. So once again I quote Chomsky: "Returning Robert C. Koehler Our news purveyors purport to analyze to the opening question 'Who rules the the mood and will of the electorate via polls world?' we might also want to pose another And the race goes on. So does the war, and apparently secret access to conventional question: 'What principles and values rule but you'd never know that the one had wisdom, which somehow links the collective the world?' That question should be foremost anything to do with the other. Even when public mind with the nation's political movers in the minds of the citizens of the rich and the mainstream media trouble themselves to and shakers, e.g.: "For Sanders," according to powerful states, who enjoy an unusual legacy acknowledge that the primary season remains CNN, "West Virginia offers a chance to leap of freedom, privilege, and opportunity thanks open on the Democratic side, that Bernie back into the political spotlight and confound to the struggles of those who came before Sanders -- and his millions of supporters -- hardening conventional wisdom that he is an them, and who now face fateful choices as to are still in the race, the Bernie revolution is afterthought in the race . . ." how to respond to challenges of great human never portrayed as addressing foreign policy But at least this tidbit of information import." and the still-failing, still-catastrophic war on keeps Hillary's challenger alive. Much of the The point I'm struggling to make is that terror. Yet the war is there, shredding the election coverage has already moved well democracy isn't easy. Peace isn't easy. Those national economy as it shreds much of the past what's left of the primary season to the who wage peace have to do so independent Middle East and, indeed, the whole planet. general election, where Hillary Clinton's of global political and economic structures, Noam Chomsky, in his new book Who primary task is deciding whether to reach and independent of much of the mainstream Rules the World?, quoting terrorism specialists out blatantly to Republican voters who hate media. What principles and values rule the Peter Bergen and Paul Cruickshank, says the Donald Trump or continue doing her best to world? This question is so easily belittled Iraq War "generated a stunning sevenfold appease Bernie supporters so that they won't by those who are troubled by it, so easily increase in the yearly rate of fatal jihadist go Green or stay home. dismissed from coverage and discussion of attacks, amounting to literally hundreds of Sanders' vow to stay in the race through the presidential race. additional terrorist attacks and thousands of the entire primary season and, even if he fails ______civilian lives lost; even when terrorism in Iraq to win enough delegates to be nominated, Source: Buzzflash at Truthout 5/12/16 http://truth-out.org/buzzflash and Afghanistan is excluded, fatal attacks in to fight for the insertion of progressive the rest of the world have increased by more values into the Democratic Party platform Amid embrace of endless war, report shows epic US failure to assist refugees Nika Knight Syrian refugee resettlement goal a full tenfold complete lack of certainty as to how long the when it was first announced. process may take in any particular case in the Only 1,736 Syrians have been resettled Indeed, the Human Rights First U.S. resettlement system, and the specter of within U.S. borders—fewer than one-fifth of report characterized the administration's disappearing into an adjudication delay of the country's stated goal—in the seven months resettlement goal as "a modest pledge given indefinite duration even after the interview, since Secretary of State John Kerry's original the scale of the Syrian refugee crisis and the contribute to refugees' despairing of the announcement in capacity of the United States." process." September of last year. "The United Prior to the Secretary of State's The report also describes the tragic case States cannot lead by example unless announcement, the U.S. had resettled a of an 11-month-old infant who died in a the administration meets this year's very mere 1,500 Syrian refugees since the start of Jordanian refugee camp because U.S. officials modest goal and sets a more meaningful and the Syrian war in 2011, as Common Dreams did not process his refugee application fast ambitious goal for next year," said Eleanor reported. enough for him to have the heart surgery Acer, senior director for refugee protection at "The delays, advocates argue, are a result he desperately needed. Indeed, as more and the human rights non-profit to theNew York of inefficiencies in the asylum adjudication more European nations adopt policies hostile Times on Tuesday. system, insufficient staffing to vet would-be to migrants and the EU-Turkey deal deports Germany, Canada, and Brazil have all refugees and the often lengthy security checks and detains refugees, the consequences of resettled far more Syrian refugees than the that Syrians are required to undergo as part of such failures to take in asylum seekers are United States, despite those countries' smaller their application," the Times wrote. increasingly dire."Words can hardly capture populations and even though it is U.S. foreign The U.S. refugee resettlement process is the U.S. response to the Syrian refugee crisis, policy that has been characterized by many plagued by backlogs and can sometimes take at least any words I can think of," as Noam observers as largely responsible for the flood years, the Human Rights First report says, Chomsky lamented. of global migration in the first place. prompting widespread despair: "In some ______And as millions are displaced around cases, one or more members of a family that Source: Common Dreams 5/11/16 http:// www.commondreams.org/ the world, U.S. treatment of refugees has was waiting for resettlement consideration been decried and condemned by many — have decided to risk the dangerous trip including prominent White House officials, to Europe as they believe their family who urged President Obama to increase his can't survive for another year or two. The CONNECTIONS, JUN/JUL 2016 5 Shallow water: solving mysteries of Delta Islands purchase Tim Stroshane Klamath dam removal to benefit salmon habitat. In Klamath, he said, “good, well- The headline for Water Deeply’s intentioned people managed to actually interview this week with Public Policy form a compromise.” Dr. Mount does not Institute of California scholar-celebrity Jeff think so highly of Delta folks, a populace Mount, “The Mysteries of Delta Islands Sale” conscious of unrelieved threats to its region’s about the recent Delta islands purchase by water and economic future, but not resigned the Metropolitan Water District of Southern to fate.“The opponents of the tunnels have California, took us aback for its seeming offered nothing that seems even remotely naïveté from an acknowledged expert on the viable,” he also told Water Deeply. Delta and California water politics. Mr. Gleason’s views are prophetic in light of California Department of Water Resources. Dr. Mount ignores the fact that, last To Delta folks, it is obvious what MWD’s purchase of the five Delta islands. So in a legal sense, “the end result of year Delta farmers, when they could have Metropolitan Water District wants by Mr. Gleason believed that the this new Water Plan will be exactly the same flexed their senior water rights instead purchasing five islands here (Chipps, Webb, proposed State Water Project would create as if all of Southern California were to be voluntarily reduced their water use by 25 Bouldin, Holland, and Bacon): greater unprecedented litigious water grabs aimed physically uprooted and set down at Tracy percent to help with the drought. The Delta control over the destiny of its export supplies at northern California water, especially (i.e., next to Delta). In short, the length of the Watermaster found the program worked from the Delta. What’s so mysterious about the Delta. The project would set up a “new aqueduct between the Tracy Pumping Plant well. And in recent years, the Environmental that? hydrology” in which “for the first time in is immaterial since the South will…be sitting Water Caucus issued multiple editions of a The point about control was succinctly history the South will become directly and next to the Delta with a right to receive water sustainable water plan for California. argued in 1960 by an aging water lawyer legally interested in the water resources of the out of the Delta (through its ‘water contract’ We take as a backhand compliment that named Walter Gleason, whom most of us Central Valley and the water rights (existing with the State),” wrote Mr. Gleason. Dr. Mount feels that “Delta interests are very have never heard of. Mr. Gleason toiled in and prospective),” he wrote. This is the legal reality behind Dr. well organized.” We try harder because we major Central Valley water litigation for most Prior to the State Water Project, southern Mount’s statement that “the Metropolitan have to, and because we were warned. “It’s of his near-40-year career. By 1960, he knew California “might as well be in Mexico Water District doesn’t do anything that isn’t dangerous if [Met] ratepayers start saying from experience the changing landscape of insofar as any present ability to take on or in its best interests.” After talking himself out this is a mistake,” Dr. Mount concluded of state water policy and law. interfere with any water or water rights in of the costly nature of developing some of the islands purchase to Water Deeply. We at State Senator Stephen P. Teale, then Northern California [is] concerned,” he the islands either for agriculture or natural Restore the Delta could not agree more. chair of the state senate interim committee continued. But with southern California habitat, Dr. Mount says of MWD’s purchase, on water projects, published an opinion by having a direct interest in Delta export affairs “I gotta think it’s relative to the tunnels” for Tim Stroshane is a policy analyst Mr. Gleason just days before the November because of the Banks Pumping Plant near Tunnels alignment acquisition, staging, and with Restore the Delta 1960 election that narrowly ushered in the Tracy, Mr. Gleason maintained that no vested spoils storage. ______State Water Project. (The project’s bond water rights in northern California (which he Asked whether he thinks the tunnels Source: Restore the Delta 5/12/16 www. defined as water north of the Tehachapis) are will be built, Dr. Mount hopes some kind of restorethedelta.org Restore the Delta, 42 N. Sutter referendum won by a threadbare margin of Street, Suite 506, Stockton, CA 95202 174,000 votes.) While it was too little too late, safe from predation by either MWD or the “deal” will appear as recently occurred with There’s a better solution than Delta Tunnels 1. Strengthen the existing • Reduce the amount of water dependent permanent crops, of-art fish screens are installed storage of sudden or intense rains Delta levees water taken from the Delta, let’s return to the requirement by the water takers as promised. on public business and residential Strengthening existing Delta & Retire toxic farmland that field crops dependent on Further studies could be conducted properties across our communities. levees is a far more efficient and Delta “surplus” water are left to see if reconfiguring the existing We need to provide incentives • California needs to acknowledge cost effective way to ensure water uncultivated during dry periods. pumps at their current location, or to homeowners and industry users the over subscription of the reliability for the state and preserve It makes no sense to jeopardize another location that allows fresh to switch to drought-resistant water system, and start a true environmental and economic farming on prime Delta farmland water to flow through the Delta, landscaping, crops, or technology. accounting that determines how stability to the greater Delta, as levees and surrounding areas to subsidize would provide benefits to fisheries. Incentives to help farmers save much water is really available. protect water supply and quality. irrigation of impaired lands on the water by installing drip irrigation Upgrade costs for robust levees are • Water exports of safe yields west side of the San Joaquin Valley 4. Increase reliance on local everywhere can reduce agricultural $2-4 billion according to the Delta should only happen during wet that by the nature of being irrigated water supply and improve water use from 80% to 60%. Protection Commission. In stark periods, not dry periods. pollute vast quantities of ground water capture & storage These investments are crucial contrast, the CA Water Fix Delta and surface water. California needs to fix and to making our water systems more tunnels could cost $60 billion when • Investments need to be upgrade its local water and reliable and must be prioritized. interest, administration, research, made to retire drainage- 3. Increase natural flows wastewater systems. We need to The development and installation operation, and maintenance fees impaired agricultural lands of fresh water through the remove old plumbing and replace of more efficient and innovative are taken into account to the $17 in the Central Valley. Delta it with low-flow options andtechnologies can also create more billion construction cost. Water that flows to the ocean implement new devices that tell reliable jobs. Cities across California The levees will need Instead of destroying the is not wasted. It is what gives life to users how much water they’re using. are planning to diversify their rehabilitation even if the CA Water Delta to feed the water demands of fisheries that support the ocean food In addition, 10-20% of municipal water supply sources because local Fix Delta tunnels were built, as billionaires’ mega-farms and desert chain. Fresh water flows are critical water supplies are lost through water sources are the most cost effective there is $20 billion in infrastructure developments, let’s end the myth of to the survival of this state’s salmon main breaks; we should invest in the and reliable. Besides submerging (railroads, gas lines, power facilities, “surplus” water. fishery, as salmon migrate from the installation of wireless underground cities in debt, the Delta tunnels public highways), and 4 million Let’s retire toxic lands that estuary’s watersheds, through the systems that track these breaks for would threaten to undermine these people in the Delta who need do not drain properly and that are bay to the sea, and also help to flush fast repair. Most importantly, we important local investments because protection. Recent studies by the unsuitable for farming. Much of out pollutants. should prioritize funds to repair and it would increase dependence on Delta Protection Commission Delta water goes to dry, polluted The State Water Board and upgrade aging underground water outside water exports from the indicate that if a hypothetical land that drains into rivers. Retiring State and Federal fishery agencies delivery systems, which would gain Delta estuary, which is already catastrophe were to occur, 80% of these lands would save hundreds have repeatedly stated that Delta over 500,000 acre feet of water oversubscribed. Furthermore, the the cost and 100% of the loss of life of thousands of acre-feet per year outflows must be significantlyannually. tunnels would fail to make more would occur within the Delta. in water. We could do this by increased if the estuary’s historic We need to invest in new water for the system. buying out these farms and helping fisheries are going to survive. infrastructure that capture, recycle, ______2. Follow advice of state their owners convert the land to Extra water can be exported and store water locally. Installing Source: Restore the Delta 51716 42 N. Sutter experts: profitable solar or wind energy through the existing pumps if state- cisterns can result in the capture and Street, Suite 506 • Stockton, CA 95202 • production. Rather than planting (209) 475-9550http:restorethedelta.org 6 CONNECTIONS, JUN/JUL 2016 US bombs a hospital: no big deal states unambiguously that “civilian hospitals organized to give care to the wounded and sick, the infirm and maternity cases, /may in no circumstances be the object of attack,/ but "No one should shall at all times be respected and protected by the Parties to the conflict.” Criminal negligence may be involved rather be satisfied with than criminal intent, but that would still be a crime. Yet Army General John Campbell, the commander of U.S. forces in Afghanistan, insists, “The label ‘war crimes’ this internal is typically reserved for intentional acts — /intentionally/ targeting civilians or /intentionally/ targeting protected investigation." objects.” “Typically” is a slippery word. One might conclude from Campbell’s words that U.S. military personnel right up Phyllis Bennis the chain of command are indeed “typically” liable for war crimes when they, just for example, order the bombing of The Pentagon just made it official: No war crime was heavily populated cities to force regime change, or a drone committed when a U.S. plane attacked the Doctors Without attack on someone from the kill-or-capture list despite his Borders hospital in Kunduz, Afghanistan last year, killing 42 nephew being at his side. But in fact U.S. military personnel patients and health workers and injuring many more. At least, are virtually never charged with war crimes. that’s the conclusion of its own investigation — nearly all of And despite the years of brutal U.S. assaults launched which remains classified. in the name of the global war on terror, there is still nothing No war crime, despite the U.S. military having full “typical” about an attack on a civilian hospital whose location knowledge of the hospital’s location before the bombing. was well known to the military, whose staff was desperately No war crime, despite desperate hospital staffers calling calling to try to stop the bombing, and who lost at least 14 military liaison officers while the rampage was underway. No doctors and other staff, 24 patients, and four caretakers in the war crime, despite their calls being routed without response attack. So regardless of whether it’s true — or acceptable — that through layers of lethal bureaucracy for an hour or more as “typical” war crimes involve specific intent, that is certainly the deadly bombing continued. not a requirement for determining what a war crime is. No war crime, says the Pentagon. The 16 military On May 3, the United Nations Security Council personnel involved all will face some kind of administrative unanimously approved a resolution reaffirming member consequence, but none of them will be court-martialed. The states’ obligations to protect hospitals, the sick, and the 16 do not, apparently, include the top strategists of the U.S. wounded in war zones. Given recent years’ escalation of war in Afghanistan — nor anyone responsible for creating or demanding since the attack took place last October. attacks on hospitals and clinics — from Israel’s 2014 assault approving the system for responding to desperate calls from The press release from U.S. Central Command quotes on Gaza, to last year’s Kunduz bombing, and last week’s civilians being slaughtered by U.S. warplanes. Nor anyone Army General Joseph Votel, the current Centcom commander. attack on a Doctors Without Borders hospital in Aleppo, whose job it is to be sure that the U.S. military doesn’t violate “The fact this was unintentional, an unintentional action, which killed at least 50 people — such a resolution is urgently the Geneva Conventions’ prohibitions on things like attacking takes it out of the realm of actually being a deliberate war needed. hospitals. crime against persons or protected locations,” the general Quite likely the devastating attack on the hospital at We don’t know for sure, because the vast majority of the insists. “That is the principal reason why we do not consider Kunduz was in fact a war crime. Possibly it wasn’t. But there’s official report on the Kunduz hospital assault was redacted this to be a war crime.” no reason in the world for anyone to accept that an internal — blacked out — so no one without top security clearance General Votel can consider whatever he likes, but he Pentagon investigation — in which almost all of the 3,000 page could read even the Pentagon’s own assessment of what doesn’t get to re-write international humanitarian law on his report remains classified — is somehow sufficient to determine happened. Apparently Congress, the press, and the public own. Some war crimes do include specific intent — a charge the answer. An independent, international investigation are all supposed to be satisfied with the explanation that the of genocide, for instance, requires the perpetrator’s intention is crucially required. Letting the Pentagon investigate itself cause was “a combination of human errors, compounded by to destroy, in part or in whole, a racial, ethnic, religious, or simply isn’t good enough. process and equipment failures.” The official write-up adds other group. Other war crimes, however — including violating ______that “fatigue and high operational tempo also contributed” the Geneva Conventions — do not require that kind of specific Source: Foreign Policy In Focus 5/3/16http://fpif.org/ to the “fog of war” — that old standby for excusing large-scale intent. (Criminal law has a similar distinction. Some crimes, attacks on civilians. like assault or battery, are based on a particular action; a No one should be satisfied with this internal investigation. separate crime is committed when there is assault with intent There’s an urgent need for an independent, international to kill.) investigation, as Doctors Without Borders has been In this case, the 4th Geneva Convention, Article 18, Protesting American privilege at home and abroad
Continued FROm FIRST PAGE on big-money campaign contributions and be a party with worst excesses of this rebellion for a committed democratic limited participation and limited energy." revolution that will challenge the global destruction aided counter-productive. Yet it is different than the reactionary Right now those committed to real economic and social and abetted by the establishments of both major parties. It is a assaults of a Trump rally in its desire to breakdown rather than justice are too often confronted with an even more difficult firm protest against American privilege at home and abroad. reinforce existing racial and economic privilege. However, it choice. It is too engage in sporadic violent acts or to accept is also stands in stark contrast to the less overtly violent but the "hidden violence" of the status quo. And all to commonly Peter Bloom is a lecturer in the Department of People ultimately potentially more destructive rallies of Clinton. It the progressive ends of these tactics are betrayed by their and Organisations at the Open University. He has published is to vocally support a candidate who admirably promises to deplorable means. The political revolution called for by widely on issues of 21st century democracy, politics and "break down" the very social and economic barriers that she Sanders and activists across the country offers a different economics in both scholarly journals and in publications and her allies have helped to build and preserve. way. It is to create a democratic and inclusive system of including the Washington Post, The New Statesman, Roar, In his statement against the violence in Nevada, Sanders governance that upholds the rights and dignities of all – not Open Democracy, The Conversation and Common Dreams. proclaimed: "The Democratic Party has a choice. It can open just elites and their supporters. It is also an opening to go His book, Authoritarian Capitalism in the Age of Globalization, its doors and welcome into the party people who are prepared beyond the borders of America to join and show solidarity will be released next year. to fight for real economic and social change – people who are with a growing international movement of citizens and ______willing to take on Wall Street, corporate greed and a fossil activists on every continent fighting for real economic, social Source: Common Dreams 5/18/16/http://www.commondreams.org/ fuel industry which is destroying this planet. Or the party can and environmental progress. choose to maintain its status quo structure, remain dependent What is needed is a radical condemnation of the CONNECTIONS, JUN/JUL 2016 7 White House Hiroshima visit puts spotlight on nuclear hypocrisy Nadia Prupis to his successor, he has launched the most-costly upgrade to the U.S. nuclear arsenal ever." The Rev. Robert Moore, CFPA executive director, The White House said Tuesday that President Barack And while Obama received many accolades for being noted in a statement on Tuesday that Obama's visit "has great Obama's historic trip to Hiroshima should not be seen as the first sitting U.S. president to visit the memorial, peace symbolic significance, especially following the president's an apology to victims of the 1945 U.S. atomic bombing of and anti-nuclear groups like the Coalition for Peace Action inspirational speech calling for a world without nuclear Japan, doubling down on what anti-nuclear advocates say was (CFPA) and the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) called weapons in Prague in 2009." already a hypocritical gesture. Press secretary Josh Earnest for the visit to serve as a long-awaited springboard for action, "Remembering the utter horror and destruction wreaked told reporters during a press conference that if people see rather than an occasion to make a speech. by a relatively small nuclear weapon, compared to today's Obama's visit as an apology, "they'll be interpreting it "[T]he president must do more than give another nuclear weapons, is crucial to generating the global will to wrongly." beautiful speech about nuclear disarmament. The world move toward abolishing such weapons worldwide. But we "The president intends to visit to send a much more needs—indeed, is desperate for—concrete action," said UCS can't get that result just with lofty speeches; concrete actions forward-looking signal for his ambition of realizing the goal of physicist Lisbeth Gronlund, outlining some of the immediate are needed," Moore said. a planet without nuclear weapons," Earnest said. However, as steps the president can take, including: Kevin Martin, the president of Peace Action, added, "At Pulitzer Prize-winning national security and military reporter • Scale back his plans to spend more than $1 trillion this point, it’s not enough to repeat the words Obama has Mark Thompson wrote for /Time/ on Tuesday, Obama's building a new generation of nuclear warheads, missiles, said several times since his historic Prague speech calling for supposed anti-nuclear mission "may get lost" amid his $348 bombers, and submarines and cancel the new nuclear-armed the abolishment of nuclear weapons. Obama must announce billion atomic arsenal upgrade. cruise missile, which is destabilizing and unneeded. actions he will take in the his remaining months as president Thompson wrote: "President Obama will end his • Reduce the U.S. deployed strategic arsenal by a third, that will actually bring the world closer to being free of Presidency pretty much the same way he began it: with a which is a level the Pentagon agrees is adequate to maintain nuclear weapons." call to the world to rid itself of nuclear arms—this time at security. ______Hiroshima, the site of the first atomic weapon used in war. Too • Remove U.S. land-based nuclear missiles from their Source: Common Dreams 5/11/16 http://www.commondreams.org/ bad he did so little to reach that goal during the intervening current hair-trigger status and eliminate the option in U.S. seven years. Instead of bequeathing a smarter nuclear arsenal war plans of launching them on warning. Obama is bullish on war, no matter how you spin it and have resulted in hundreds of then, more than 25,000 bombs have couple of soundbites saying it’d be civilian deaths. These strikes cause been dropped in Iraq, Syria, Libya nice if Congress passed one (while blowback and stoke anti-American and elsewhere. also making clear it won’t make a hatred in virtually every country For a reluctant warrior, difference either way). they fly in, and many former Obama also has smashed records Whoever the next president is, officials say the program does more for selling weaponry and arms to there’s little chance he or she uses harm than good. our Middle East “allies”, many of these powers less. Donald Trump But it’s not just drones. whom continue to wage their own is an unpredictable maniac who Instead of being straightforward wars of destruction. One of those denounces military interventions with the public, his administration wars, Saudi Arabia’s, has thrown in one breath and promises them hides behind secrecy and word Yemen into chaos and strengthened in the next. Hillary Clinton, a gymnastics in all facets of its war al-Qaida, which has, in turn, led to longtime favorite of the neocon policy, keeping the number of exact Obama sending US troops back crowd even before Trump became number of troops in the Middle into the country. The timetable on the Republican nominee, has East hidden from the public, and that fight? “Short term”, a Pentagon supported virtually every aggressive re-defining words like “combat” spokesman said last week. US military action in the past 15 and “boots on the ground” and This is not to say Obama’s years and has already promised “civilians” to mask how much wars are completely comparable to more military intervention than Trevor Timm merely redefined it. In some ways, killing is really going on. his predecessors’, including those Obama. he has fought them in a far more Even the word “end” has lost of George W Bush – his Iraq war Rather than being remembered Barack Obama has now been aggressively than any president all meaning. Obama declared remains the most calamitous foreign as the reluctant warrior, pushed at war longer than any president before him, just with different tools. the “end” of the Iraq war in 2011 policy mistake of our generation. into war by circumstance, there is in United States history, as the Gone are the battalions of tens only to start sending troops back. And with each passing year, despite far more likelihood Obama will be New York Times pointed out on of thousands of soldiers, torching In Afghanistan, he didn’t even the fact that no one wants to admit remembered as the opposite: the Sunday. Barring some sort of peace everything in their paths. Obama’s go through that formality. While it, the Afghanistan war inches closer president who cemented the forever miracle in the next six months, he wars are fought with special he declared the Afghanistan war to the same. war mentality and architecture that will be the only president who ever forces, drones and other high-tech over in 2014, thousands of troops But at least Bush fought his wars has continually expanded, and that served two full terms in office while weaponry that, he argues, lead to continue to fight, and sometimes with authorization from Congress, tragically shows no signs of slowing. constantly being at war. And given fewer die, inside the country to this day. something that Obama has refused how he has transformed how the American deaths. But they There is no definite timetable for to do with his war on Isis, despite Trevor Timm is a co- founder and the executive US fights overseas, his wars will pose the same dangers to world when they will leave, if ever. the constitution requiring it. likely continue long after he leaves How many troops are in each Maybe this isn’t solely the Obama director of the Freedom peace that the wars in Vietnam and of the Press Foundation. office. country exactly? Well as the Times administration’s fault. Congress Iraq once did, while making them He is a writer, activist, points out, we don’t know, since has shown itself to be cowardly Anytime the media writes about far easier to fight. and legal analyst Obama and war, it’s apparently a Obama’s hallmark has been the Pentagon refuses to say. We do in upholding its constitutional who specializes in free rule that the author must mention drone strikes, which he has used know that there are at least tenfold responsibility, content with the speech and government that Obama supposedly fights his to bomb at least seven countries more troops in Iraq now than there president taking all the blame when transparency issues. wars more reluctantly than his since becoming president. For were in the latter half of 2014, when things go wrong. But the Obama ______predecessors. But in many contexts, all the talk of their precision and Obama went on television and said administration has continually Source: The Guardian 5/17/16 http:// www.theguardian.com/ this is misleading. Obama hasn’t pin-pointedness, though, drones that the US would be conducting refused to put forth its own plan for attempted to avoid war; he has regularly kill additional people “limited” airstrikes there. Since an Isis war authorization beyond a 8 CONNECTIONS, JUN/JUL 2016 Clinton says: no lame duck TPP vote In response to a questionnaire released Sierra Club: If elected President, trade agreements don’t weaken American today by the Oregon Fair Trade Campaign, would you oppose holding a vote consumer safety standards and that imports Secretary Hillary Clinton stated for the first on the TPP during the ‘lame duck’ comply with our rules. And I’ll fight against time that she opposes a vote on the Trans- session before you take office? any proposals that undermine worker rights. Pacific Partnership trade deal during the lame duck session of Congress at the end of Secretary Clinton: I have said I Sierra Club: Do you believe the TPP this year. She also frontlined a commitment oppose the TPP agreement – and that does enough to address climate change? to “ensure that our trade policy supports, means before and after the election.” rather than undermines, our climate policies. Secretary Clinton: I do not. As In response, Sierra Club Executive Director Sierra Club: Do you believe the president I will ensure that our trade policy Michael Brune released the following rules that govern international trade supports, rather than undermines, our statement: “The Trans-Pacific Partnership should reflect the views and needs of policies to reduce emissions at home and would be a disaster for working families, working people on issues such as jobs, encourage climate action abroad. I know communities, and our climate, and we wages, the environment, human rights, there is concern among environmental applaud Secretary Clinton for opposing a vote consumer safety and access to medicine? groups that the ISDS provisions in the TPP on the toxic deal before and after the election. could be used to undermine U.S. efforts Secretary Clinton recognizes what climate Secretary Clinton: I’ve laid out a to cut carbon pollution and take action on activists and millions of Americans across the three-part test for any trade agreement to climate change. And again, with respect to country have made clear: trade policy must earn my support: it must (1) create American the flawed ISDS provisions in TPP, I believe not undermine climate action. It is so critical jobs, (2) raise wages, and (3) improve our we need to have a new paradigm for trade for the next Administration to strongly and national security. My approach to trade agreements that doesn’t give special rights to explicitly oppose any trade rules that allow would be to establish and enforce fair rules corporations, but not to workers and NGOs. polluters to challenge climate protections in so that our workers compete on a level private tribunals. The Sierra Club is eager to playing field and countries don’t race to the For more info, read the Sierra work with current and future leaders to build bottom on labor, the environment, and so Club’s report on how the Trans- a new model of trade that protects working much else. And we can bring others along Pacific Partnership would empower families, healthy communities, and a stable in having higher labor, environmental, and polluters to challenge our climate climate.” other standards. As president I will ensure protections in private tribunals at: that our trade policy supports, rather than http://sc.org/climate-roadblocks And specifically on TPP & climate undermines, our climate policies, reducing ______disruption: emissions at home and encouraging Source: Sierra Club 5/6/16 http://www.sierraclub.org/ climate action abroad. I’ll make sure that CEOs paid 335 times average rank-and-file worker; outsourcing results in even higher inequality Carolyn Bobb to profit on the backs of CEO Irene Rosenfeld made working people,” said AFL- $19.7 million in 2015 – that’s CEO pay for major U.S. CIO President Richard $9,471.15 per hour. companies continues to soar Trumka. “Last month when “It seems that hard work as income inequality and I stood with the Carrier doesn’t matter anymore. This outsourcing of good-paying workers in Indianapolis is the corporate attitude,” American jobs increases. whose jobs making home said Mary Willis, who was Outsourcing has become heating furnaces are being among hundreds of Nabisco a hot presidential election shipped to northern Mexico, I workers from the South Side topic with candidates calling saw first-hand how corporate of Chicago laid off in March. out corporations who say greed destroys communities. “They quit me. I didn’t quit they need to save money Carrier is a subsidiary of them. It used to be that places by sending jobs overseas. United Technologies and its like Nabisco were proud Meanwhile, according to the CEO Gregory Hayes made places to work, but now new AFL-CIO Executive nearly $10.8 million in 2015. workers like me are tossed PayWatch, the average CEO It’s shameful that a CEO can to the curb despite years of of an S&P 500 company make that type of money and dedication.” made $12.4 million per year still destroy the livelihood While the trend of in 2015 – 335 times more of the hard-working people companies putting profits money than the average who make the company over people is rampant, rank-and-file worker. profitable.” working people are fighting The Executive Mondelez International, back. The AFL-CIO has months at a time, provoking among S&P 500 companies community affiliate. We PayWatch website, the most highlighted in this year’s endorsed the Bakery, the strike by 39,000 working can be found at www. are teachers and truck comprehensive searchable PayWatch, represents Confectionery, Tobacco men and women who help paywatch.org. drivers, musicians and online database tracking one of the most egregious Workers and Grain Millers' make it so profitable. Over miners, firefighters and CEO pay, showed that in examples of CEO-to- International Union the past three years, Verizon The American Federation farm workers, bakers and 2015, the average production worker pay inequality. The (BCTGM) boycott of Nabisco has made a record $39 of Labor and Congress of bottlers, engineers and and nonsupervisory worker company, which makes products made in Mexico. billion in profits. In 2015, Industrial Organizations editors, pilots and public earned approximately Nabisco products including Working families also CEO Lowell McAdam made (AFL-CIO) is a voluntary employees, doctors and $36,900 per year, a wage that Oreos, Chips Ahoy and Ritz are joining striking Verizon $18.3 million – 498 times the federation of 56 national nurses, painters and when adjusted for inflation, Crackers, announced earlier workers on the picket lines average pay of a rank and file and international labor laborers-and more. has remained stagnant for 50 this year that in order to fighting for a fair contract. worker. unions. The AFL-CIO years. reduce costs, it is sending 600 Verizon wants to ship more More information union movement ______“The income inequality about United Technologies, represents 10.5 million Source: AFL-CIO 5/17/16 family-sustaining jobs from good jobs overseas, outsource http://www.aflcio.org/ that exists in this country is a Illinois to Mexico, where work to low-wage contractors Mondelez and Verizon’s members, including disgrace. We must stop Wall workers face poor labor and and transfer workers away massive CEO-to-worker 2 million members in Street CEOs from continuing safety standards. Mondelez from their families for pay disparity and inequality Working America, its new CONNECTIONS, JUN/JUL 2016 9 Democracy needs transparency: now its trade Annie Leonard in total 248 pages — 13 chapters offer for the first time the position of the United I believe democracy needs States. transparency. That’s why I was so Pacific excited when I heard that Greenpeace How have the documents been Netherlands was releasing to the public handled? Complementary secret documents from the United The documents we received had principle. States’ current trade negotiations with clearly been treated to make it possible The precautionary principle, Medicine Center the European Union. The deal is called to identify individual copies. Prior to enshrined in the EU Treaty, is not the Transatlantic Trade and Investment release they have been retyped and mentioned in the chapter on Regulatory serving Stockton since 1984 Partnership (TTIP for short) and once identifying features removed. We have Cooperation, nor in any other of the it’s agreed upon it will govern the U.S.- not altered content of the documents Yi—Po Anthony Wu, M.D., M.P.H. Teresa M. Chen, Ph.D. obtained 12 chapters. On the other Medical Director, Internal Medicine Program Coordinator European economic relationship for and have preserved the layout. For this hand, the U.S. demand for a ‘risk- Dorel Rotar, L.Ac., MTOM years. (You can check out the documents reason we are not offering access to the based’ approach that aims to manage original documents. Brian Chee C. Loh, L.Ac., O.M.D. obtained by Greenpeace Netherlands hazardous substances rather than avoid Shu—Chuan Susan Wang, L.Ac., Ph.D, O.M.D. at
and is asking that the EPA provide all and our food at hormone hacking levels documents and communications related is very alarming,” he added. “The EPA to the glyphosate study from Jan. 1, 2015 should be protecting us all by providing to present. He is giving the EPA until May a fully independent scientific analysis of 18 to provide this information. “The EPA’s the chemical. However, this is not what is backtracking on the finality of its own science happening and the EPA is again working review committee’s report raises concerns against public health protection.” about the agency’s willingness to provide a The chemical has been detected in fair assessment on this matter,” Smith said. several products, from alcoholic beverages “That the EPA would remove a report, which and even women’s hygiene products. Last was marked as a ‘Final Report’ and signed month, the Alliance for Natural Health-USA by 13 scientists, appears to be yet another released the results of food safety testing example of this agency’s attempt to allow conducted on an assortment of popular politics rather than science drive its decision breakfast foods, revealing that glyphosate making. Sound, transparent science should was found in 10 of the 24 food samples tested, always be the basis for EPA’s decisions.” including oatmeal, bagels, eggs (including “Furthermore, EPA’s apparent the organic variety), potatoes and even non- mishandling of this report may shed light GMO soy coffee creamer. on larger systemic problems occurring at the The Center for Biological Diversity also agency,” Smith’s letter states. The EPA told issued a statement last week accusing the EPA DTN they were unsure why the report was of relying heavily on “industry-funded studies posted, calling it a “mistake.” that have not undergone public scrutiny” Glyphosate was infamously declared a for its draft analysis. “EPA’s determination probable carcinogen by the World Health that glyphosate is non-carcinogenic is Organization’s International Agency for disappointing, but not terribly surprising— Research on Cancer (IARC) last year. The industry has been manipulating this process classification has sparked a growing number for years,” Nathan Donley, a scientist with of lawsuits over Monsanto’s widely used the Center for Biological Diversity, said. product, including a wrongful death lawsuit “The analysis done by the World Health filed in March by the widow of a Cambria, Organization is more open and transparent California farmer alleging that the St. Louis- and remains the gold standard.” based company had known for years that Monsanto has vehemently denied exposure to glyphosate could cause cancer cancer claims of its blockbuster product and other serious illnesses or injuries. and has demanded a retraction of the IARC Lorraine Chow said that the report was “inadvertently” The sudden yanking of the report has report. Unsurprisingly, the company was released. A spokeswoman said: “Glyphosate raised eyebrows over the EPA’s relationship pleased with the release of the EPA’s report, The House Science, Space and documents were inadvertently posted to the ties to the agricultural industry. Sources told telling Reuters after the documents had been Technology Committee is questioning why the Agency’s docket. These documents have now Sustainable Pulse that the EPA allegedly removed that they were “clearly labeled and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) been taken down because our assessment is attempted “to take the legal pressure off signed as the final report of EPA’s Cancer posted and then suddenly pulled its highly not final. EPA has not completed our cancer the pesticide industry and specifically large Assessment Review Committee.” anticipated risk assessment of glyphosate, review. We will look at the work of other producers of glyphosate-based herbicides Monsanto’s chief technology officer the main ingredient in weedkillers such as governments as well as work by HHS’s such as Monsanto,” by releasing the Cancer Robb Fraley tweeted, “EPA declares (again) Monsanto’s flagship herbicide Roundup. Agricultural Health Study as we move to make Assessment Review Committee draft report. that glyphosate, the active ingredient in On April 29, the EPA’s Cancer a decision on glyphosate. Our assessment will According to Sustainable Pulse Director Roundup, is not a carcinogen.” He added, Assessment Review Committee published a be peer reviewed and completed by end of Henry Rowlands, “The EPA’s ‘mistaken’ “This is the EPA’s highest ranking for product report online about glyphosate concluding 2016.” release of the main part of their report that safety—they also do nice job of explaining all that the chemical is not likely carcinogenic Following the move, committee is designed to protect the pesticide industry of IARC’s mistakes.” to humans. However, even though it was seems rather a strange coincidence.” ______chairman Lamar Smith (R-Texas) sent a Source:: EcoWatch 5/9/16 http://ecowatch.com marked “Final” and was signed by 13 letter on March 4 to EPA administrator Gina “Glyphosate is now on the agenda for members of CARC, the report disappeared McCarthy announcing that his committee consumers and farmers across the World. from the website three days later. The EPA is launching an investigation into the matter The discovery of the herbicide in our bodies Monsanto takeover? corporate cabal's control of food supply continues
Andrea Germanos As USA Today reported, group Food & Water Watch, and agribusiness monopolies rumored Bayer-Monsanto face a global antitrust review." "A bid for Monsanto would such consolidation has far- pay farmers less, charge deal will not be rubber The paper also quotes Erik German chemical giants be just the most recent in reaching impacts, and is consumers more and reduce stamped. "The shocking Gordon, a professor at Bayer AG and BASF SE are a wave of chemical and bad news for farmers and everyone's choices." consolidation in the biotech University of Michigan’s Ross both considering takeovers agribusiness consolidation." communities. "A Bayer "The Department of seed and agrochemical School of Business, who said of U.S. seed behemoth Indeed, in February China takeover of Monsanto Justice must block deals like industry turns over the food that it may be slowed down Monsanto, according to news National Chemical Corp. would only be the latest in the proposed ChemChina- system to a cabal of chemical by regulators who "are faced reports on Thursday. Of the (ChemChina) announced it a string of high-profile seed Syngenta and Dow-DuPont companies that would make not with a decision about a potential Bayer takeover of would acquire Swiss pesticide and agrochemical mergers mergers that already threaten it even harder for farmers, single deal, but rather with a Monsanto, valued at roughly company Syngenta for $43 that are undermining the to hyper-consolidate the consumers and communities decision about the structural $40 billion, Bloomberg noted billion, while DuPont and economic viability of family biotech seed industry," she to build a vibrant, sustainable concentration of the whole that it "would create the Dow Chemical announced farms," said Wenonah Hauter, argued. "Doing so would food system," Hauter said. industry.” world’s largest supplier of their merger last year. the organization's executive also send a message that The potential merger, ______seeds and farm chemicals." According to advocacy director. "Unchecked food mega-mergers like the Bloomberg reports, "would Source: Common Dreams 5/12/16 http://www.commondreams.org/ CONNECTIONS, JUN/JUL 2016 13 'Wholly inadequate': environmentalists decry EPA's new methane rules gathering process to fracking, rather than simply Despite such disasters, determine how to regulate seeking to reduce methane the fossil fuel industry existing wells, the agency leaks at fracking facilities: defended its record on says. Yet it is old, established EPA head Gina combating methane leaks fossil fuel infrastructure McCarthy defended the and complained that the that is responsible for the agency's rules from such EPA's regulations were too vast majority of methane criticism: "The commonsense strict. emissions in the U.S., and steps we're rolling out today "Overly prescriptive many environmentalists are will help combat climate regulations that limit irked that the new rules stop change and reduce air energy access will only short of regulating those pollution that immediately make manufacturers less facilities. harms public health," competitive and send "The only way to protect McCarthy told reporters on investments and jobs to our communities from the a conference call, according countries with less stringent risks of fracking, and stave off to /Bloomberg/. McCarthy environmental protections the worst impacts of climate characterized the new related to energy and change, is to keep fossil regulations as a "critical first greenhouse gases," said fuels in the ground. This step in tackling methane the National Association of rule, which does nothing to emissions from existing oil Manufacturers in a press Nika Knight warned Greenpeace live up to the president's vow stop dangerous methane and gas sources." statement. researcher Charlie Cray. to reduce methane emissions leaks from existing fracking The new regulations are Earthjustice promised to Following President Moreover, noted Cray, by 40 to 45 percent from wells, was always wholly a tougher version of those defend the EPA's regulations Obama's promise to cut toxic methane "is the fastest 2012 levels by 2025. inadequate," said 350.org's first proposed last year. The from the fossil fuel industry's methane leaks at oil and gas growing source of climate "The methane rule is executive director May standards were updated in expected legal assault on the facilities, the Environmental pollution in the U.S. In the the final version of a draft Boeve. response to nearly 900,000 new rules. Protection Agency (EPA) first twenty years after it's regulation put forth last "The vast majority of comments critiquing the "Earthjustice will defend on Thursday announced the released, methane is more year by the Environmental the problem lies in the oil original version released in this rule in court when the U.S. government's "first-ever" than 85 times more powerful Protection Agency," reports and gas infrastructure that August 2015, the EPA said. oil and gas industry tries to The problem of methane weaken it," the organization set of standards to reduce than CO2 in fueling climate the New York Times, "and already exists across the such emissions—but the new chaos." would require oil and gas country," wrote the Natural leaks from fracking facilities declared. "It's past time for regulations were decried Oil and gas facilities companies to plug and Resources Defense Council. was brought to harsh light in oil and gas companies to by environmentalist critics are "the largest industrial capture leaks of methane "EPA must follow through on October, when a disastrous embrace best practices that as not far-reaching enough. source of methane," noted from new and modifiedthe President’s commitment leak near Los Angeles' Porter could make the difference "EPA's methane regulations environmental legal defense drilling wells and storage to address these sources next, Ranch neighborhood started between catastrophic climate are a welcome first step, but group Earthjustice. The EPA tanks, not older, existing and soon." spewing tens of thousands change and a secure future contain too many loopholes said that these latest rules wells." Presidential hopeful of kilograms of the toxic gas on a livable planet." ______to be a comprehensive check were part of the Obama The EPA is only just Bernie Sanders joined into the air every hour—an fellow environmentalists in catastrophic event that lasted Source: Common Dreams 5/12/16 on industry recklessness," Administration's efforts to starting the information- http://www.commondreams.org/ calling for an overall ban on for months on end . Germany generated so much renewable energy it paid people to use it Lorraine Chow again that a system with large energy by 2050. economy than the American amounts of renewable energy The European country economy and they have 80 On May 8 -- a works fine." According to already hit a milestone on million people -- much larger particularly sunny and windy Quartz, industrial customers July 25, 2015 when solar, than a country like Denmark, day -- Germany's renewable such as refineries andwind and other sources of which gets more of its power energy mix of solar, wind, foundries were able to renewable energy met 78 from renewables but has a hydropower and biomass earn money by consuming percent of the day's energy much smaller industrial base generated so much power electricity because nuclear demand. That beat its and has a population of five that it met 88 percent of the and coal plants were unable previous record of and a half million people." country's total electricity to shut down production 74 percent in May CleanTechnica reported demand, or 55 GW out of 63 during the spike and had to 2014. Renewables supplied that the rural German GW being consumed. This continue selling power to the nearly 33 percent of German states of Mecklenburg- means, as Quartz reported, grid. electricity in 2015, according Vorpommern and Schleswig- "power prices actually Germany's power to Agora Energiewende.To Holstein already generate went negative for several system "is still too rigid compare, the U.S. receives more renewable power than hours, meaning commercial for power suppliers and around 10 percent of its households and businesses customers were being paid to consumers to respond electricity from renewable in each state consume. consume electricity." quickly to price signals," the sources. Germany is also aiming to "We have a greater publication noted. Germany, Osha Gray Davidson, slash carbon emissions by 40 share of renewable energy the fourth largest economy in author of /Clean Break/, percent in 2020 and by 80 every year," said Christoph the world, is one of the global a book about Germany's to 95 percent in comparison Podewils of Agora leaders of clean energy transition to carbon-free with 1990 levels by 2050. Energiewende, a German as it attempts to phase out energy, said that Germany is ______clean energy think tank. "The fossil fuels. The country has a model for the U.S., "because Source: EcoWatch 5/12/16 http://www. truth-out.org/buzzflash/ecowatch.com power system adapted to this an ambitious goal of hitting manufacturing accounts for quite nicely. This day shows 100 percent renewable much more of the German 14 CONNECTIONS, JUN/JUL 2016
Ahead of Methodist divestment vote,
Clinton denounces BDS movement
Deirdre Fulton Clinton "reiterated her previous the broadest coalition in Palestinian opposition to the BDS movement, civil society that leads the global BDS Hillary Clinton has again and pointed out that anti-Semitism is movement: "Having failed to stop the We are a grassroots environmental denounced the Boycott, Divestment, and on the rise globally." Clinton wrote: growth of BDS in the mainstream, organization promoting Outings, Sanctions (BDS) movement targeting "Anti-Semitism has no place in any Israel is now launching a desperate and Education and Action. Israel, assuring Jewish agency heads civilized society—not in America, not in dangerous global war of repression on that she opposes such a resolution up for Europe, not anywhere. We must never the movement. After losing many battles We meet the 4th Monday of most months vote at her own church—and seeming to tire in defending Israel's legitimacy." for the hearts and minds at the grassroots at 3700 Pacific Avenue across from UOP. link the social justice campaign with As several news outlets have noted, level, Israel and its well-oiled lobby anti-Semitism. In a letter sent ahead other denominations including the groups are pressuring western states We offer interesting topics, speakers and of a large Methodist conference set Presbyterian Church and the United to implement patently anti-democratic discussions. The public is welcome! to convene in Portland, Oregon, on Church of Christ previously voted to measures that threaten civil liberties Tuesday, Clinton said: "I believe that divest from Israel. at large. By banning our colleague See us online at Delta-Sierra Group. BDS seeks to punish Israel and dictate The Democratic presidential Omar Barghouti from travelling and how the Israelis and Palestinians should frontrunner expressed similar "alarm" threatening him with physical violence,
resolve the core issues of their conflict. over BDS in a letter to pro-Israel media Israel is showing the lengths it will go to
This is not the path to peace." mogul Haim Saban, one of her major in order to stop the spread of the non- The letter was a response to David backers, last July. And Clinton's speech violent BDS movement for Palestinian BEST REMODELING Sherman, chair of the Israel Action at the annual American Israel Public freedom, justice, and equality." SERVICES Network, and Susan Stern, vice chair Affairs Committee (AIPAC) convention A recent Pew Research Center of the Jewish Federations of North in March drew fire for its hawkish tone survey suggested that Clinton's BY MASTER CRAFTSMAN DAVID BEST America. "Your voice is very much and opposition to economic boycotts of "repeated denunciations of BDS... Lic # 541562 needed this week," Stern and Sherman Israel. are likely to alienate even more of the Kitchen & Bathroom Remodels. Patio’s built. had written to Clinton in a joint letter, Meanwhile, Israel on Tuesday younger generation who believe that Doors hung right...and every possible repair referring to reports that the United refused to issue a travel permit to Omar fighting for social justice everywhere around your home. Free Estimates. Methodist Church General Conference Barghouti, a BDS movement founder, includes Palestine," Ali Abunimah wrote Numerous satisfied costumers. will consider divestment resolutions saying that his residency rights in last week at Electronic Intifada. That WE SAVE, REUSE, RESTORE (209) 368-2378 at the 11-day event. "We hope you Israel are currently being reconsidered. poll found that the number of liberal will again speak out forcefully against Barghouti said in an email to Haaretz Democrats sympathizing more with the the divisive and destructive BDS that the move was a "clearly political" Palestinians has nearly doubled over the movement." escalation of attacks on Palestinian past two years, from 21 to 40 percent, Specifically, the Methodisthuman rights defenders. "It is seen and that support for the Palestinians is Publications conference will consider divestment by legal experts as a first step toward rising fastest among the young—the so- Technical Writing & Editing / Graphic Design / Web Sites from Caterpillar, Hewlett-Packard, revoking my permanent residency, a called Millennials born after 1980. and Motorola, three companies pro- clearly political and vindictive measure ______Palestinian activists say have reaped that has no legal basis," he wrote. Source: Common Dreams 5/10/16 http:// www.commondreams.org/ InfoWright profits from Israeli operations in the Added Mahmoud Nawajaa, the PO Box 162644 West Bank. According to the New general coordinator of the Palestinian Sacramento 95816 York Times, in the letter dated Sunday, BDS National Committee (BNC), 916.444—5118 [email protected] Action alert on Boycott, Divest and Sanction bill We thought we'd killed the Anti arbitrariness. It has a hidden agenda of any rational manner. Whether or BDS bills AB1551 and AB1552 and put legitimizing illegal Israeli settlements not one agrees with any particular FEATURE to rest their assault on constitutionally in the occupied Palestinian territories. boycott or divestment campaign protected free speech as it relates to The bill will be heard by the Assembly aimed at pressing Israel to end YOUR support of the Palestinian lead Boycott, Appropriations Committee possibly its occupation of Palestinian Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) as early as May 11th. Either of these land, obey international law and movement, a non-violent struggle committees can kill AB 2844, and with respect Palestinian human rights, BUSINESS for human rights and liberation from your encouragement, they will. Together participation in such activities, in Israeli occupation of Palestinian lands. we'll stop AB 2844. response to a call from Palestinians Unfortunately these bills have returned using nonviolent methods to HERE to life in the California Assembly on a Action: 1)Please call or write secure their freedom, is a legitimate Advertise in Connections and get seen by your local faster track with a new identity, AB 2844 to your local Assembly Person: form of expression, protected by community and support alternative media. Public contracts: California Combating Assemblymember Susan Eggman the U.S. and state constitutions. the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions assemblymember.Eggman@ The state must not deny financial $46 2x2” of Israel Act of 2016. assembly.ca.gov; Assemblymember relationships to people or (Business Card Size) While AB 2844 is narrower in Frank Bigelow assemblymember. organizations on account of their scope, and in some ways less extreme [email protected] political views. California can lead $58 2x4” than 1551 and 1552, applying only to and 2) Write: the way in stopping a wave of for-profit corporations rather than to such unconstitutional legislation Dear Members of the Assembly companies, churches, unions, etc., it still around the country. I look forward Committee on Accountability and $70 2x6” seeks to penalize those who are thought to hearing your commitment to Administrative Review and the to be in some way engaged in boycott oppose AB 2844 or anything like Contact us for more rate options. Discounts for longer terms Assembly Judiciary Committee: and nonprofits available. Contact: [email protected] or PJN, of Israel. The bill would ban state it. Please register my opposition P. O. Box 4123, Stockton 95204 pension fund investment in and state/ I call on you and your committee to this bill as part of public record. local government contracting with these to oppose AB 2844, an Sincerely, corporations. AB 2844 still violates unconstitutional attack on free (Your Name) constitutionally protected free speech speech with provisions that would and remains loaded with vagueness and be impossible to implement in CONNECTIONS, JUN/JUL 2016 15 The need for progressive media voices Ralph Nader property.) long-neglected standards in the 1934 Communications Act This exclusionary media has obscured the fact that the which contains the imperative that broadcasters meet “the In 1961, President Kennedy’s Chairman of the Federal public could take back some air time and condition over-the- public interest, necessity and convenience” and other laws Communications Commission (FCC), Newton Minow air and cable licenses to provide serious, well-funded, diverse under the jurisdiction of the FCC. The Voices staff will make described television as “a vast wasteland.” Perhaps nothing and informative content. the case for much more air-time on TV and radio and space demonstrates that better these days than the rise of Donald On May 23rd , 24th , 25th and 26th 2016 at Constitution in print publications for a multitude of subject matter, issues J. Trump as a presidential candidate; now the presumptive Hall in Washington, D.C. a large gathering of civil society and activities that are now excluded or censored routinely as Republican nominee. Trump’s boisterous carnival barker will take place to challenge the entrenched power of the a result of a business-model of maximum profit above all else. persona has dominated the airwaves for the entirety of corporate/political complex. The event is called Breaking Changing the corporate media for the better is easier the 2016 election cycle, eclipsing what precious little Through Power. This “Civic Mobilization” will involve than you think. The current campaign season has drawn the time remained for the serious issues that affect millions of thousands of people at Constitution Hall and around the interest of millions of young people who yearn for a better Americans. CBS president Leslie Moonves recently pulled country and connect long-available knowledge to long- future. Many have supported Senator Bernie Sanders’ agenda no punches about the Trump phenomenon, saying it “may neglected action for the necessities and aspirations of people for a more just society. Now, when political excitement is at its not be good for America, but it’s damn good for CBS.” from all backgrounds. peak, is an ideal time to channel civic energy—no matter which Trump is a symptom of a larger problem: profit- May 24th will be dedicated solely to challenging candidate for president you support—into real, transformative driven commercial television has put a stranglehold on our mainstream media, bringing together authors, documentary action that benefits people instead of corporations. Visit public discourse, highlighting controversy, carnage and filmmakers, reporters, columnists, musicians, poets and breakingthroughpower.org for more information. entertainment fare over serious matters. The media industry editorial cartoonists who will demonstrate the need for higher reshaped our precious public commons into a fortress of standards on television and radio, and in print and on the Ralph Nader is a consumer advocate, lawyer, exclusion that blocks dissenting, innovative and majoritarian web . Some participants on that day will be: Phil Donahue, and author. His latest book is The Seventeen viewpoints on matters that address society’s most basic needs. Laura Flanders, Eugene Jarecki, Patti Smith, Mark Green, Solutions: Bold Ideas for Our American Future. One thing is clear—something’s gotta give. Matt Wuerker and many others. Other recent books include, The Seventeen Traditions: Lessons from an American Fortunately, we have the power to massively shift how our The major mobilizing action on May 24th will be to Childhood, Getting Steamed to Overcome public airwaves are utilized. After all, the airwaves are owned create a new advocacy organization called “Voices.” The Corporatism: Build It Together to Win, and by the people and are used by these tawdry broadcasters purpose of Voices is simple—to push for enlarging and "Only The Super-Rich Can Save Us"(a novel). free of charge! (In the past, I’ve referred to bombastic media enhancing space for serious content in all forms of media. ______personalities Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity as “corporate Voices will be staffed by public interest lawyers, writers, and Source: Common Dreams 5/6/16 http://www.commondreams.org/ welfare kings” because of how they freely use the public’s traditional and social media specialists. Voices will advance Super Bowl score: cop overtime $6.3 million, taxpayers 0 Karl Olson critical of the Super Bowl arrangements. The reimbursement from the Host Committee to Santa Clara was expected to be The big winners of Super Bowl 50 were not just the $3.6 million to cover additional public safety and government Denver Broncos, they were San Francisco cops who racked up services costs. San Francisco, however, negotiated no such over $6.3 million in overtime while The City hosted “Super deal. Contact Your Reps Bowl City.” And the big losers were not just the Carolina The Budget Analyst’s report observed that there was no President Barack H. Obama, The White House, 1600 Panthers, they were San Francisco taxpayers, whose elected written agreement, other than the original bid, between The Pennsylvania Ave, NW, Washington DC 20500. 202-456-1414; representatives threw a big party for the billionaire owners of City and the Super Bowl Host Committee or the NFL on the www.whitehouse.gov ; Twitter: @BarackObama, @whitehouse the National Football League. responsibilities of each party for Super Bowl 50 events in San Those are the revelations from public records produced Francisco. The Budget Analyst noted that in 2013 the NFL Sen. Barbara Boxer, 70 Washington Street, Suite 203, Oakland, by the San Francisco Controller’s Office in response to Public reported $9.2 billion in total revenue, which is larger than CA 94607, 510-286-8537, fax 202-224-0454; 112 Hart Building, Records Act requests made by former State Senator and the City’s fiscal year 2015-16 budget of $8.9 billion. In other Washington, DC 20510. 202-224-3553, [email protected] ; Judge Quentin Kopp, the First Amendment Coalition and the words, San Francisco taxpayers subsidized the billionaire Twitter: @senatorboxer San Francisco Taxpayers Association. owners of the NFL. And this happened even though the The records show that in a two-week period ending Super Bowl 50 Host Committee reportedly raised $50 million Senator Dianne Feinstein, One Post Street, Ste 2450, San February 12 – the period in which “Super Bowl City” unfolded to pay for Super Bowl 50 events. Francisco, CA 94104. 415-249-0707; 331 Hart Building, around The Embarcadero – San Francisco cops racked up The Budget Analyst’s report also notes that even though Washington, DC 20510. 202-224-3841, [email protected]. over $6.3 million in overtime. Comparable figures in 2015 most city departments didn’t budget for Super Bowl 50 events, gov ; Twitter: @senfeinstein were less than $1 million in each two-week pay period. they had built-in surpluses which hadn’t been reported to The records also show that the San Francisco Police the Board of Supervisors. “The fact that City departments Representative Jerry McNerney (D-9th District) 2222 Grand Department didn’t even budget for the Super Bowl-related have now been able to identify General Fund surpluses in Canal Blvd #7, Stockton, CA 95207. 209-476-8552. Fax 209- costs. Neither did the Municipal Transportation Agency, their FY 2015-16 budgets to pay for Super Bowl 50 events 476-8587. 1210 Longworth HOB, Washington DC 20515; info@ whose personnel rang up over $2.7 million in overtime documents that the City departments’ budgets have surpluses jerrymcnerney.org, 202-225-1947, http://www.JerryMcNerney.org ; during the two-week “Super Bowl City” period, far more than that were not accurately reported to the Board of Supervisors Twitter: @RepMcNerny normal. And the City wasn’t reimbursed by the NFL for its during its FY 2015-16 budget review. This fact represents Super Bowl-related costs, even though the city of Santa Clara a non disclosure to the Board of Supervisors of significant Representative Tom McClintock (R-District 4), 8700 Auburn- – which hosted the game but not Super Bowl City – did get expenditures on Super Bowl 50 events and represents a Folson Road, Suite 100, Granite Bay, CA 95746, 916, 786-5560, fax reimbursed. disservice to the Board of Supervisors in the Board’s review 916-786-6364 ; 434 Cannon HOB, Washington, DC, 20515, Fax Not only did the City not get any reimbursement for of the City’s annual budget,” the Budget Analyst commented. 202-225-5444, Fax 202-225-544 ; Twitter @RepMcClintok Super Bowl 50 costs, the Fire and Police departments, along Records released by the Controller after the Super with the Emergency Management Department, signed letters Bowl also show that the Police Department did a poor job in Representative Jeff Denham (R-District 10), 4701 Sisk Road, of assurance to not seek reimbursement from the NFL for estimating Super Bowl-related overtime. Police estimated $1.5 Suite 202, Modesto, CA 95356, 209-579-5458, Fax 209-579-5028. providing additional public safety services related to the million in expenditures for services to Super Bowl 50 public 1730 Longworth HOB, Washington, DC 20515, 202-225-4540. Super Bowl. Only two City departments – the Recreation events. But the actual overtime costs for the SFPD in the Twitter @ RepJeffDunham and Park Department and the Fire Department – are to be two-week pay period ending February 12 – which included reimbursed by the Super Bowl Host Committee for providing “Super Bowl City” events from January 30 to February 7 – Govenor Jerry Brown, State Capitol, Sacramento, CA 95814. City services. Those reimbursements, according to a January were $6,339,251, compared to $966,167 in a comparable 916-445-2841 report prepared for the Board of Supervisors, totalled only two-week period in 2015. This shows that the Super Bowl State Sen. Cathleen Galgiani (District 5), 31 E Channel St, Room $104,257 out of estimated general fund costs to the City of 50-related police overtime was probably over $5 million, or nearly $4.9 million. And to make matters worse, the estimated more than three times what had been estimated. 440, Stockton, CA 95202. 209-948-7930; State Capitol, Rm 4082, costs to the City were far less than what the actual overtime Sacramento, CA 95814. 916-651-4005 costs ended up being. Karl Olson is a partner in the San Francisco Assemblyperson Susan Talamantes Eggman (District 5), 31 E. The Board of Supervisors’ Budget and Legislative law firm Ram Olson Cereghino Kopcznski. Analyst issued a January 15, 2016 report which was sharply ______Channel St., Rm. 306, Stockton CA 95202, 209-948-7479 Source: First Amendment Coalition News 4/13/16 https://firstamendmentcoalition.org 16 CONNECTIONS, JUN/JUL 2016 Solitary confinement is 'no touch' torture, and it must be abolished Chelsea E Manning listened to the faint buzz of the fluorescent definition reflects the fact that most of the lights. scientific literature shows that, after 15 days, Shortly after arriving at a makeshift For brief periods, every other day or so, I certain changes in brain functions occur and military jail, at Camp Arifjan, Kuwait, in was escorted by a team of at least three guards the harmful psychological effects of isolation May 2010, I was placed into the black hole of to an empty basketball court-sized area. can become irreversible." Unfortunately, solitary confinement for the first time. Within There, I was shackled and walked around conditions similar to the ones I experienced two weeks, I was contemplating suicide. After in circles or figure-eights for 20 minutes. I in 2010-11are hardly unusual for the a month on suicide watch, I was transferred was not allowed to stand still, otherwise they estimated 80,000 to 100,000 inmates held in back to US, to a tiny 6 x 8ft (roughly 2 x 2.5 would take me back to my cell. these conditions across the US every day. meter) cell in a place that will haunt me for I was only allowed a couple of hours of In the time since my confinement the rest of my life: the US Marine Corps visitation each month to see my friends, family at Quantico, public awareness of solitary Brig in Quantico, Virginia. I was held there and lawyers, through a thick glass partition confinement has improved by orders of for roughly nine months as a “prevention of in a tiny 4 x 6 ft room. My hands and feet magnitude. People all across the political injury” prisoner, a designation the Marine were shackled the entire time. Federal agents spectrum – including some who have never Corps and the Navy used to place me in installed recording equipment specifically to been in solitary or known anyone who has highly restrictive solitary conditions without monitor my conversations, except with my – are now beginning to question whether a psychiatrist’s approval. lawyers. this practice is a moral and ethical one. For 17 hours a day, I sat directly in front The United Nations special rapporteur In June 2015, US supreme court justice of at least two Marine Corps guards seated on torture, Juan Mendez, condemned my Anthony Kennedy called the prison system behind a one-way mirror. I was not allowed treatment as “cruel, inhuman and degrading “overlooked” and “misunderstood”, stating to lay down. I was not allowed to lean my treatment”, describing “the excessive and that he welcomes a case that would allow back against the cell wall. I was not allowed prolonged isolation” I was placed under the court to review whether or not solitary to exercise. Sometimes, to keep from going for that period of time. However, he didn’t confinement is cruel and unusual under the crazy, I would stand up, walk around, or stop there. In a preface to the 2014 Spanish US constitution. dance, as “dancing” was not considered edition of the Sourcebook on Solitary The evidence is overwhelming that exercise by the Marine Corps. Confinement, written by Méndez he strongly it should be deemed as such: solitary To pass the time, I counted the hundreds recommends against any use of solitary confinement in the US is arbitrary, abused of holes between the steel bars in a grid confinement beyond 15 days. As Mendez and unnecessary in many situations. It is pattern at the front of my empty cell. My eyes explains: "Prolonged solitary confinement cruel, degrading and inhumane, and is traced the gaps between the bricks on the raises special concerns, because the risk of effectively a “no touch” torture. We should wall. I looked at the rough patterns and stains grave and irreparable harm to the detained end the practice quickly and completely. on the concrete floor – including one that person increases with the length of isolation ______looked like a caricature grey alien, with large and the uncertainty regarding its duration. Source: The Guardian 5/2/16 http://www.theguardian.com black eyes and no mouth, that was popular in In my public declarations on this theme, I the 1990s. I could hear the “drip drop drip” have defined prolonged solitary confinement of a leaky pipe somewhere down the hall. I as any period in excess of 15 days. This Hedge fund managers are winning: 2015 another year of 'outrageous compensation' Andrea Germanos roughly half of all hedge funds lost profits are treated as long-term high-profile financiers focus on money last year," said Institutional capital gains, which means they're "Billionaire hedge fund rigging the political system in their The latest Rich List, published Investor Editor Michael Peltz. taxed at no more than 15 percent. managers have been leveraging own favor." by Institutional Investor's Alpha He added that 'about half of the Critics say those earnings should huge amounts of investor capital magazine, reveals that the industry's 25 highest-earning hedge fund be taxed as ordinary income, or as to extract enormous cash payouts As Weissman sees it, voters are top 25 managers made an average managers used computer-generated much as 39.6 percent." for themselves, the ultimate in very aware of this rigged political of $517.6 million, and had combined investment strategies to produce Among the critics of such “winner-take-all” economics. To system. earnings of $12.94 billion. The men their investment gains.'" The Times taxation policies is the Patriotic squeeze out these payouts, they’ve "There's a lot of noise in this at the top five spots all earned over also notes that "Even as regulators Millionaires, a group of wealthy been pressuring the enterprises they year's election, but if there's one $1 billion. push to rein in compensation at Americans who argue that they, dominate to slash wages, eliminate consistent theme, it's that people Topping the list are Kenneth Wall Street banks, top hedge fund and corporations, should pay a pension and health benefits, and are furious with a rigged system. Griffin of Citadel and James Simons managers earn more than 50 times greater percentage of taxes. Its offshore middle-class jobs. Hedge And they are right to be angry," of Renaissance Technologies, who what the top executives at banks members include Frank Patitucci, fund fee structures, in the meantime, his statement continues. "They are each took in $1.7 billion. Simons are paid." But according to Sam CEO and Owner of NuCompass divert most of the profits these tactics furious with a financial system that has the distinction of being the only Pizzigati, who edits Too Much, the Mobility, who said, "The concept generate back to self-dealing hedge lets so few make so much, when so manager to appear on the list for its Institute for Policy Study's online of taxing 'carried interest' as capital fund managers. The investors that many are making so little. And they entire 15-year history. Griffin, the weekly newsletter on excess and gains makes no logical sense." supply hedge funds their capital — can't begin to comprehend how /New York Times/ reports, "was inequality, "the real enormity Added Patriotic Millionaire Terence like public employee pension funds people making more than $1 billion the biggest donor to the successful of America's annual hedge fund Meehan, Chairman of Azimuth — end up getting diminishing or a year pay a lower tax rate than re-election campaign of Mayor jackpots only comes into focus Investment Management, "I am in actual negative returns. Hedge fund people struggling to get by." Rahm Emanuel of Chicago. More when we contrast these windfalls the hedge fund and private equity billionaires also reflect our “winner- "With voters rising up," he recently he has poured more to the rewards that go to ordinary business and the carried interest take-all” politics. Their massive adds, "the Gilded Age for the hedge than $3.1 million into the failed Americans. Kindergarten teachers, loophole is welfare for the wealthy." campaign donations and lavish fund gazillionaires should come to presidential campaigns of Marco for instance. The 157,800 teachers For Stephen Lerner, a fellow funding of lobbyists, right-wing an end." Rubio, Jeb Bush and Scott Walker, of America’s little people, the at Georgetown University's think tanks, and other influence- as well as the Republican National Bureau of Labor Statistics tells us, Kalmanovitz Initiative for Labor peddlers buy unfair legal, fiscal, ______Committee. Source: Common Dreams 5/11/16 together make about $8.34 billion a and Working Poor, these managers and regulatory advantages. Some http://www.commondreams.org/ Reuters adds: "The higher year," he wrote. As the Washington are merely a reflection of our of these billionaires do fund private payday came "despite the fact that Post notes, "Hedge fund managers' "winner-take-all politics:" philanthropy, but many of the most CONNECTIONS, JUN/JUL 2016 17 Questionable assumptions behind critiques of Sanders’ economic plan yield concrete economic dividends. We can predict with significant certainty that We know, with hard numbers dollars freed from the rent- seeking capture of the private health care industry will based on real experience, that mean dollars that individuals and businesses can invest in investments in infrastructure, for themselves. To count all of the imagined pitfalls of a policy but not count the real benefits example, yield concrete economic is intellectually dishonest. What’s worse, these reports dividends. We can predict with offer a not-so-veiled message to the progressive significant certainty that dollars movement: Changing the status quo is too hard and too perilous. Let’s not do surgery freed from the rent-seeking to eradicate the cause of our economic pain. Take an capture of the private health care aspirin instead. Four hours later, take another. This, of course, is industry will mean dollars that unacceptable. These Washington neoliberal think individuals and businesses can tank reports reveal what we’re up against in making the invest in themselves. intellectual case for the kind of revolutionary reordering of the economy that many of the people voting for Bernie It’s “Neoliberals Gang economists, but also won the costs of more people project outlandish increases health care from a private, Sanders are calling for. But Up on Bernie Sanders considerable support from accessing health care. For in the utilization of medical profit-maximizing enterprise they should not be allowed to Week” along the corridor of people like economist James example, the report says “the care, ignore vast savings into a public good, and be deterrents. Washington establishment K. Galbraith and financial Sanders plan would increase under single-payer reform, from channeling more ______think-tanks that include reform expert William K. demand for health services and ignore the extensive and national resources into Source: Campaign for America's Future the Brookings Institution, Black. by eliminating individuals’ well-documented experience putting Americans to work Blog 5/11/16 http://ourfuture.org/ the Urban Institute and a A similar theme runs direct contributions to with single-payer systems rebuilding the nation’s shared Brookings offspring, the Tax through the Urban Institute care (i.e., by eliminating in other nations – which all assets and positioning the Policy Center. Out of this and Tax Policy Center deductibles, copayments, spend far less per person on country for broader-based corridor came not one, but reports. Both say that federal and coinsurance),” and that health care than we do,” they and sustainable economic two reports this week that deficits would becomethe one thing that would keep wrote. growth. We know, with give negative reviews to stratospheric because the costs from spiraling even For example, the hard numbers based on real Sanders’ health care and tax federal government could higher is that there would not Urban Institute assume experience, that investments plans. Both reports essentially not possibly get enough tax be enough doctors to care for administrative costs under in infrastructure, for example, reinforce one of Democratic revenue to cover the cost of all of the people who would Sanders’ health care plan of presidential candidate Sanders’ expansive proposals, demand free health care once 6 percent of costs, “based on Law offices of Hillary Clinton’s chief attack and in particular his plan such a system were put in the Centers for Medicare & Ann M. Cerney lines against the Vermont to provide universal health place. Medicaid Services measure Shellie Lott senator running to her left: care to every U.S. resident. The health report is of Medicare’s administrative Langley Kreuze that Sanders’ “numbers don’t But to make that conclusion, full of assumptions like expenditures in the National Attorneys at Law add up” and that he is making both reports make significant this, largely because the Health Expenditure 42 N. Sutter Street, Suite 40, Stockton 104 N. School St. #205, Lodi promises “that cannot be assumptions about what Sanders plan for Medicare Accounts,” the report said. 948—9384 or 369—1333 kept.” But in reality it’s the Sanders’ proposals would for All is a broad blueprint, But Himmelstein and reports themselves that actually look like in practice not a detailed rendering of Woolhandler point out that • Social Security • Probate make questionable negative as well as how people would every nook and cranny of those administrative expenses • Wills • Trusts assumptions about the effects respond once those policies America’s complex health include the overhead for of Sanders’ proposals. were in place. care system. Because it is a Medicare Advantage, Se Habla Espanol • Thai • Vietnamese This is a continuation The health care report, broad blueprint, the writers the expensive private of an argument that broke for example, says that of the Urban Institute made supplemental insurance out earlier this year when national health care spending guesses about how the details program. Overhead expenses economist Gerald Friedman would increase by an average would be filled in. And, of for the traditional Medicare concluded that the Sanders’ of 17 percent over the next 10 courses, those guesses could program, they point out, 2222 spending and tax proposals years if Sanders’ single-payer be flat wrong. is less than 3 percent, and would provide a “significant health plan went into effect. The co-founders of under Sanders’ plan would stimulus” to the sluggish Savings that the Sanders plan Physicians for a National likely fall closer to what economy, boosting annual envisions would come about Health Program, David administrative costs are in economic growth from by eliminating private sector Himmelstein and Steffiesingle-payer Canada – less around 2 percent a year administrative costs and Woolhandler, called the than 2 percent. to above 5 percent a year. profit-seeking, and by the Urban Institute and the What both the health Friedman was attacked by ability to bargain down the Tax Policy Center out on care and tax papers ignore a group of former Obama costs of prescription drugs, this in their column in The is the positive effects on and Clinton administration would be overwhelmed by Huffington Post. “Theythe economy of changing 18 CONNECTIONS, JUN/JUL 2016 Earth Day 2016: As planet rebels against pollution, Saturday, July 24 Film: Merchants of Doubt - on Congress must work to limit climate chaos tobacco deception Each year around this time, schools and community the economy, boosting widespread growth. A study from groups participate in cleanup projects, plant trees, and Regional Economic Models, Inc., found that, over 20 years, Saturday, June 4, 3pm organize recycling activities to celebrate Earth for the beauty the stimulus effect of returning revenue to households would Peace and Justice Center and sustenance it provides. Earth, however, does not appear actually add 2.8 millions jobs. to be in a partying mood; report after report are finding nature The REMI study also found that Carbon Fee and 231 Bedford, Stockton CA — and the climate — in open rebellion against humanity's Dividend would have a dramatic effect on CO2 emissions, abuses: reducing them to 52 percent below 1990 levels after 20 Join the Stockton Citizens' Climate Lobby for an years. As a revenue-neutral policy that does not increase the • A study published in journal Nature warns that, if afternoon at the movies as we screen the film Merchants of size of government, and employs market-based incentives greenhouse gas emissions continue at their current pace, Doubt: How a Handful of Scientists Obscured the Truth on rather than government regulations and subsidies, Carbon the collapse of the Antarctic ice sheet could drive sea Issues from Tobacco Smoke to Global Warming. Prepare to Fee and Dividend has obvious appeal for Republicans. Jerry levels up to 6 feet higher by the end of the century. be outraged at the deception and the dangerous games they Taylor with the Niskanen Center makes an eloquent case for are playing with public health issues and people's lives. • Such a rise means up that up to 13 million U.S. conservatives to support a revenue-neutral assessment on Inspired by the acclaimed book by Naomi Oreskes residents could see their homes flooded by rising seas. carbon. Is it too much to hope that Congress would consider and Erik Conway, Merchants of Doubt takes audiences on and enact such legislation? a satirically comedic, yet illuminating ride into the heart • A White House report says that, within The recent formation of the bipartisan Climate Solutions of conjuring American spin. Filmmaker Robert Kenner the same timeframe, extreme heat could Caucus in the House gives rise to such hope. Led by Carlos lifts the curtain on a secretive group of highly charismatic, kill 27,000 Americans every year. Curbelo (R-FL) and Ted Deutch (D-FL), the caucus promises silver-tongued pundits-for-hire who present themselves in • The Lancet published a study predicting that to be truly bipartisan, maintaining an equal number of the media as scientific authorities - yet have the contrary aim food shortages from climate change could result in Republicans and Democrats. Even with election season of spreading maximum confusion about well-studied public 500,000 deaths less than four decades from now. making it unlikely that a bill will be drafted and introduced threats ranging from toxic chemicals to pharmaceuticals to this year, the caucus continues laying the bipartisan climate change. The movie is about 1hr 30min. No cost. • A new study theorizes that climate change might groundwork needed if legislation is to pass in the next ______be moving the position of the earth's axis, giving Congress. By enacting Carbon Fee and Dividend, Congress Please RSVP to this email. But please come even if not able to RSVP. new meaning to the term "tipping point." could put in place a climate policy less susceptible to legal challenges and the whims of future presidencies — and give us The Funeral Consumers Alliance of San Many of these projections reflect worst-case scenarios if all a tremendous reason to celebrate Earth Day 2017. Joaquin and Mother Lode counties will hold a humans continue to burn carbon-based fuels at current rates. If we take swift action to lower greenhouse gas emissions, we free public education meeting on June 9, from can still hope to avoid these and other dire consequences of 4 - 6 pm, at the Colonial Rose Mortuary, at 520 climate change. N. Sutter St in Stockton. A Sheriff Deputy will One major step towards such worldwide action came speak on “What to Do First” when someone in December of last year, when 196 countries agreed to close to you dies. A question and answer period the Paris climate accord. On Earth Day, more than 100 of those nations will officially sign the agreement at the United will follow the program. No reservations are Nations, helping to formalize this landmark agreement. Friday, July 23 necessary and smple parking is available. For However, the U.S. commitment to reduce greenhouse gas more information, call 477-8745 or 473-0838. emissions 26% to 28% below 2005 levels by 2025 — which Free screening of FIX IT: Healthcare provided the leadership for many nations to make their own at the tipping point pledges in Paris — hinges on the implementation of President Become a PEACE PAL! Obama's Clean Power Plan. In February, the U.S. Supreme Court granted a stay on the implementation of the Clean FIX IT: Healthcare at the Tipping Point is a powerful Please consider giving to PJN month by month. It Power Plan until legal challenges are resolved, delaying the new documentary that reaches across the political and will give us stable, predictable funding to con- EPA's use of regulations to slash power plant emissions for ideological divide to expand support for major healthcare tinue providing our services. It’s easy for you and at least a year. A successful legal challenge to the CPP would reform. The film was two years in the making, with more cost—effective for us. Our website online dona- undermine American climate leadership — and the world's than forty voices advocating for reform, including activists, tion is recommended for ease and convenience. ability to meet the commitments made at Paris. health policy experts, economists, physicians, nurses, Your monthly donation can be automatically with- The Supreme Court's stay, then, shows some of the risks patients, business and labor leaders. drawn from your bank account. of depending upon executive orders to solve climate change. This documentary takes an in-depth look into how our dysfunctional health care system is damaging our economy, A more resilient and permanent solution can only be brought Monthly Giving Enrollment Form about through legislative action: Congress must enact a suffocating our businesses, discouraging physicians and market-based fix that provides the necessary incentives for negatively impacting on the nation's health, while remaining Name: a quick, efficient transition to a carbon-neutral economy. But un-affordable for a third of our citizens. could any climate solution provide such incentives while also Join Single Payer San Joaquin for this outstanding Address: appealing to both Republicans and Democrats in Congress? screening event, Saturday, July 23, 2:30 pm to 4:30 pm, The answer is yes — a revenue-neutral fee on carbon Health Plan of San Joaquin, Community Room, 7751 S. Phone: Manthey Rd., French Camp 95231 (just south of San Joaquin with the money returned to the American public has proven Email: capable of creating common ground across the political General Hospital on I-5.) A panel discussion and Q&A will follow. Light refreshments provided. Admission is free. spectrum, with supporters that include climate scientist James Yes, I accept your invitation to become a charter member of Peace Pals. Information, 209-242-2254 Directions: Heading south on Hansen and former Secretary of State George Shultz. The Here is my monthly pledge contribution of: I-5, take the Mathews Road exit 467B; heading north on I-5, policy known as Carbon Fee and Dividend is simple: ❑ $10 ❑ $15 ❑ $20 ❑ $25 ❑ $(Other)______take the Mathews Road exit 467B • A fee is placed on the amount of carbon dioxide (or I prefer to donate by one of the following methods: CO2 equivalent) that a fuel emits when burned, starting ❑ U.S. mail; please send me envelopes at $15 per ton and increasing by $10 per ton each year. ❑ Online donation through PJN website: www.pjnsjc.org (click on donation • Revenue from the fee is divided into equal button) ❑ shares and returned to all households. Automatic Bank Transfer ❑ I’ve enclosed a check for my first contribution. Arrangements will be made • Border tariffs are imposed on imports from nations by me with my bank for future pledges. that do not have an equivalent price on carbon, thereby maintaining a level playing field for American businesses. Mail checks to: Peace and Justice Network, P.O. Box 4123, Stockton CA 95204 Conservative members of Congress often voice the legitimate concern that pricing carbon would be a drag on the The Peace and Justice Network is a 501(c)3 non—profit educational corporation. economy and stifle job creation. Carbon Fee and Dividend Contributions are tax—deductible to the full extent allowed by law. allays those fears by recycling revenue directly back into CONNECTIONS, JUN/JUL 2016 19 June & July 2016 Calendar Editor’s note: if your event isn’t listed, let us know. Send all copy to: 8 pm. For a family friendly food meeting, 7 pm, Towers Build- Peace & Justice Center, 231 truck festival, enjoy a delicious ing, 509 W Weber Ave, Stock- Bedford Rd, Stockton. 467- [email protected] by the 10th of every month. assortment of gourmet food ton. [email protected] 4455. trucks from all over northern Mon, May 30 Concert Band, Victory Park, munity and encourage safer California, live music, family First Thursdays Thursdays Delta Sierra Club meeting, 7 1001 North Pershing Ave, healthier spaces for our LGBT friendly entertainment, and Stockton Food Truck Mania, Peace demonstration, 5-6 pm. Fireside Room, Central Stockton 6 - 8 pm. Spend an youth. Free. 209-466-7572 tons of fun! Parking $5. More Oak Grove Regional Park, 4520 pm, edge of Delta campus on United Methodist Church Fire- evening in Victory park with information on the event's W Eight Mile Rd,, Stockton, Pacific, across from Macy's. side Room, 3700 Pacific Ave, your favorite person, a picnic, Wed, June 22 website www.sactomofo.com 4 - 8 pm. Parking $5. www. Free parking at mall. Weekly Stockton. Free. All welcome. and some free great music. Concerts in the Park: Steve sactomofo.com since 2003. We have signs, or 209-670-4442. (p 18) 89.5 Valley Community Radio Trucco Band, Victory Park, 1001 Fri, Jul 8 bring your own. We get LOTS meeting, 5:30 - 7 pm, Morearty North Pershing Ave, Stockton Movies at the Point, Weber First Fridays of honks! Info 464-3326. Wed, June 1 Peace & Justice Center, 231 6 - 8 pm. Spend an evening in Point Events Center, 221 N Lodi First Friday Art Hop, 6 - Take Five Jazz club, 7 - 9 pm, Concerts in the Park: The Sum- Bedford Rd, Stockton. 467- Victory park with your favorite Center St, Stockton. 6:30 - 8:30 pm. Thomas Theatre at Valley Brew mit Band, Victory Park, 1001 4455. person, a picnic, and some free 10 pm. These free films are Hutchins Street Square, 125 North Pershing Ave, Stockton great music. projected onto the canopy at S. Hutchins St, Lodi. View art, Fridays 6 - 8 pm. Spend an evening in Fri, Jun 10 89.5 Valley Community Radio Weber Point Event Center, the meet the artists, sample wines Jazz jam at Whirlow's, 7 pm, Victory park with your favorite Movies at the Point, Weber meeting, 5:30 - 7 pm, Morearty second Friday of each month and hors d oeuvres. Enjoy an Whirlow's Tossed & Grilled, person, a picnic, and some free Point Events Center, 221 N Peace & Justice Center, 231 June through October. Bring evening out in Downtown Lodi. 1926 Pacific Avenue, Stockton. great music. Center St, Stockton. 6:30 - Bedford Rd, Stockton. 467- family and friends to enjoy a Free. 333-5511. Enjoy a live jazz jam session 10 pm. These free films are 4455. free Movie at the Point and every Friday at Whirlow's on Thur, June 2 projected onto the canopy at support the community with First Saturdays Stockton's historic Miracle Peace & Justice Network board Weber Point Event Center, the Sat, June 25 positive, family-friendly films. Free Yoga. Victory Park, 1201 N. Mile! Bring your instruments meeting, John Morearty Peace second Friday of each month DeltaFusion Festival, Victory Free admission. Pershing Ave, Stockton, 9 - 10 and join the jam! Hosted by & Justice Center, 231 Bedford June through October. Bring Park, 1001 N. Pershing Ave, am. Yoga in the Park is every Philip Bailey. Free cover. 466- Rd, Stockton. 6:30 pm. All family and friends to enjoy a Stockton. 5 - 8 pm. Free. Wed, July 13 first Saturday of the month until 2823 welcome. 467-4455 free Movie at the Point and DeltaFusion is a celebration of Concerts in the Park: November. Free admission. Stockton Food Truck Mania, support the community with the diverse natural and cultural Swingaires, Victory Park, 1001 Live Music at Mile Wine Com- Oak Grove Regional Park, 4520 positive, family-friendly films. heritage of Stockton and the North Pershing Ave, Stockton Second Fridays pany, 7 - 10:30 pm. 2113 Pacific W Eight Mile Rd,, Stockton, 4 - Free admission. San Joaquin County. DeltaFu- 6 - 8 pm. Spend an evening in Movies at the Point, Weber Ave, Stockton. Free. 465-9463 8 pm. For a family friendly food Summer ArtSplash, a free sion ignites community creativ- Victory park with your favorite Point Events Center, 221 N truck festival, enjoy a delicious self guided tour of downtown ity by bringing the stories of person, a picnic, and some free Center St, Stockton. 6:30 - 10 Saturdays assortment of gourmet food Stockton venues filled with the San Joaquin Delta region great music. pm. Free admission. Crosstown Freeway Farmers trucks from all over northern art. 5pm - 8 pm. Begin at the past, present, and future to Market, under the freeway California, live music, family Mexican Heritage Center, 111 life with giant puppets and dra- Wed, July 20 Fourth Mondays between El Dorado & San Joa- friendly entertainment, and S. Sutter, for map then spot matic pageantry. DeltaFusion Concerts in the Park: Would Delta Sierra Club meeting, 7 quin, Stockton. 7 - 11, or when tons of fun! Parking $5. More the pink ribbons at each venue; is a celebration of the diverse Be Famous, Victory Park, 1001 pm. Central United Methodist sold out. 943-1830 information on the event's you'll enjoy live music, food, natural and cultural heritage North Pershing Ave, Stockton Church Fireside Room, 3700 website www.sactomofo.com wine and more. 954-6726. of Stockton, California and 6 - 8 pm. Spend an evening in Pacific Ave, Stockton. 7 pm Live Music at Mile Wine Com- the San Joaquin County Delta Victory park with your favorite program with social time fol- pany, 7 - 10:30 pm. 2113 Pacific Sat, June 4 Wed, June 15 region. Using giant puppets, person, a picnic, and some free lowing. All welcome. Ave, Stockton. Free. 465-9463 Free Yoga. Victory Park, 1201 N. Concerts in the Park: RB/X, Vic- masks, music, and pageantry, great music. Pershing Ave, Stockton, 9 - 10 tory Park, 1001 North Pershing DeltaFusion continues to tell Wednesdays A big thanks to our long-serv- am. Get out your yoga mats or Ave, Stockton 6 - 8 pm. Spend the story of how these cultures First Mondays 89.5 Valley Community Radio ing distributors!! bring your beach towel, and a an evening in Victory park with were drawn to settle in our Campaign for Common Ground meeting, 7 - 9 pm, Morearty positive attitude. Together, we your favorite person, a picnic, area and thrive there today. enjoy parks and open spaces and some free great music. Free admission. 940-6315 edu- as a natural compliment to [email protected] Friday, June 22-24 your regular Yoga practice. We Thur - Sun come together in celebration of June 15 - July 10 Mon, June 27 Connect with Restore the Delta! Yoga and it's universal collec- 1776 - the musical. Thu 7:30 Delta Sierra Club meeting, 7 Please join us for Restore the Delta’s Update – 11:00 am tive practice.Yoga in the Park pm, Fri-Sat 7:30 pm, Sun 2:30 pm. Fireside Room, Central 3-day open house and advocacy training! is every first Saturday of the pm. (not on 7/4) Stockton Civic United Methodist Church Fire- 3) All days: Estuary 101 (How Participants have two options. Drop by at month until November. Theatre, 2312 Rosemarie Lane, side Room, 3700 Pacific Ave, the Delta Flows) – 12:00 pm Stockton. The seminal event in Stockton. Free. All welcome. your convenience during the open house for Sun, June 5 American history blazes to vivid 209-670-4442. (p 18) an informal visit between the hours of 10:00 4) June 24 only: History of The 42nd Annual Jewish life in this Tony Award winner am to 7:00 pm from June 22 to June 24, or California Water (Abbreviated) Food Fair 9:30 am - 2:30 pm. for Best Musical, $15 - $25. Wed, June 29 sign up for more formal classes below. – 2:00 pm to 3:30 pm This wonderful family event 473-2424. www.sctlivetheatre. Concerts in the Park: Tropi- Join us at the open house for supplies draws thousands of visitors com cal Nights, Victory Park, 1001 (yard signs, bumper stickers, handouts), for 5) All days: Legislative Update from around the Central Valley North Pershing Ave, Stockton in-depth conversation, for music and art — Federal, State, and Local each year to enjoy a taste of Sun, June 19 6 - 8 pm. Spend an evening in displays,and/or a simple visit to see where the – 4:00 pm to 5:00 pm some great Jewish soul food. LGBT Family Day in the Park, Victory park with your favorite work gets done OR join us in formal classes There will be live music, Israeli Oak Park- Magpie Area, Oak person, a picnic, and some free 6) Delta Boat Tour – Date and dancing, Jewish music with Park, Stockton. 1 - 4 pm. A day great music. for training sessions on water and/or helping time details will come soon. our youth choir, and synagogue in the park for LGBT families to organize in your community. tours. Guests will dine on ex- and allies to attend. Food and Wed, July 6 Snacks, light meals, beverages (coffee to ceptional Jewish food, cooked beverages will be served with Concerts in the Park: Valley When: June 22, 23, 24 wine) will be served at the appropriate time the old-fashioned way by a Chili Cook Off, live music and Concert Band, Victory Park, 10:00 am to 7:00 pm of day. Delta art and music on display. Our members of the Temple Israel open mic poetry. We want to 1001 North Pershing Ave, events are free and open to the public. Make congregation, using authentic spread awareness about family Stockton 6 - 8 pm. Spend an Where: 42 N. Sutter St, a donation. Questions or comments? Contact Jewish recipes, all-natural unity, provide a public display evening in Victory park with Stockton, CA 95202 [email protected], or call (209) ingredients and lots of tender, for local LGBT families and your favorite person, a picnic, loving care. Brunch tickets their acceptance and introduce and some free great music. What: Sign up for formal classes 475-9550. ______are for sale in advance, or on the concept of diversity to and a Delta boat tour. Source: Restore the Delta, 42 N. Sutter Street, the day of the event for $10, non-LGBT families and youth in Thur, July 7 Suite 506, Stockton, CA 95202 and include bagels and lox or the hopes our community will Peace & Justice Network board corned beef on rye, coleslaw, achieve a greater understand- meeting, John Morearty Peace Schedule: pickle, and orange juice & cof- ing of what it means to truly & Justice Center, 231 Bedford fee.Temple Israel, 5105 N. El means to be a diverse and Rd, Stockton. 6:30 pm. All 1) All days: Organizing to Save the Dorado St., Stockton, 477-9306 accepting community. Pride welcome. 467-4455 Delta, Stop the Tunnels in Your Local Family Day in the Park will be Stockton Food Truck Mania, Community – 5:00 pm to 6:00 pm Wed, June 8 a free and intimate opportunity Oak Grove Regional Park, 4520 2) June 23 & 24 only: Drought Concerts in the Park: Valley to celebrate family, build com- W Eight Mile Rd,, Stockton, 4 - 20 CONNECTIONS, JUN/JUL 2016 The clean Why the economy should stop power exchange growing - and just grow up
We cannot, however, look to the aims to spark economic institutions that created the imbalances to now create an economy that meets the essential needs of all in conversation balanced relationship to a living Earth. Global financial markets Woody Hastings value life only for its market price. And the legal structures of global Community Choice Energy is a rapidly-emerging, local, corporations centralize power and delink not-for-profit program designed to operate in the interest of its David Korten half of humanity—3.6 billion people. In it from the realities of people’s daily customers — the people — with no shareholders to satisfy and the United States, the 2015 bonus pool lives. Restoring balance is necessarily the no multi-million dollar salaries to pay. It is electricity for the Listen to the political candidates for 172,400 Wall Street employees was work of living communities, of people 99%. In practice, about 90% are benefitting from Community as they put forward their economic $25 billion—just short of the $28 billion who care about one another, the health Choice — that is, 90% of people living within service districts solutions. You will hear a well-established required to give 4.2 million minimum of their environment, and the future of the four current Community Choice programs are enjoying and rarely challenged narrative. “We wage restaurant and health care workers of their children. The step to maturity the benefits of community electricity. must grow the economy to produce jobs a raise to $15 an hour. depends on rebuilding caring, place- A California-based non-profit, the Center for Climate so people will have the money to grow Humans now consume at a rate 1.6 based communities and economies and Protection, recently launched a new project and website, their consumption, which will grow times what Earth can provide. Weather restoring to them the power that global Clean Power Exchange, (cleanpowerexchange.org) to help more jobs…” Grow. Grow. Grow. But becomes more severe and erratic, and corporations and financial markets have advance Community Choice in California. The website serves children and adolescents grow. Adults critical environmental systems are in usurped. Local initiatives toward this as an online hub for sharing news, resources, and information mature. It is time to reframe the debate decline. end are already underway throughout about Community Choice. The Center is hoping that CPX to recognize that we have pushed These distortions are a predictable the world. can help spark a public conversation about the potential growth in material consumption beyond consequence of an economic system “How do we grow the economy?” benefits of a Community Choice program in Stockton and/ Earth’s environmental limits. We must designed to extract Earth’s natural is an obsolete question. The questions or San Joaquin County. now shift our economic priority from wealth for the purpose of maximizing relevant to this moment in history are Potential benefits include a positive impact on the growth to maturity—meeting the needs financial returns to those who already “How do we navigate the step to a local economy, lower electricity rates, job creation, lower of all within the limits of what Earth can have more than they need. mature economy that meets the needs greenhouse gas emissions, and more. In the case of Sonoma provide. On the plus side, as this system of all within the limits of a finite living Clean Power, the second Community Choice agency in the Global GDP is currently growing 3 has created the imperative for deep Earth?” How do we rebuild the strength State, rates are lower than PG&E's, greenhouse gases are 48% to 4 percent annually. Contrary to the change, it has also positioned us to take and power of living communities? lower, $50 million in customer savings was achieved in the promises of politicians and economists, the step toward a life-centered planetary How do we create a culture of mutual first full year, and eight times more is being spent in the local this growth is not eliminating poverty civilization. It has: caring and responsibility? How do we and creating a better life for all. It is economy than before the program was launched in May 2014. • Globalized awareness of assure that the legal rights of people and In 2002, the state legislature passed a law enabling local instead creating increasingly grotesque communities take priority over those of and unsustainable imbalances in our humans’ interdependence with governments — counties and cities — to pool their electricity one another and Earth, government-created artificial persons customers and gain buying power. A Community Choice relationship to Earth and to each other. called corporations? agency takes on decision-making about electricity sources, Specifics differ by country, but • Produced a system of global Living organisms have learned the utility continues to manage the delivery over the poles the U.S. experience characterizes the communications that allows us to to self-organize as bioregional and wires. Think of it like an energy co-op. The programs broader trend. Corporate profits as think and act as a global species, communities that create and maintain a percentage of GDP are at a record are intended to offer local control, the ability to choose • Highlighted racism, sexism, the conditions essential to aliving cleaner power, and the ultimate in ratepayer protection — the high. The U.S. middle class is shrinking Earth community. We humans must as most people work longer hours and and other forms of xenophobia as introduction of choice where, under the current regulated threats to the well-being of all, and take the step to maturity as we learn monopoly system, there essentially is no choice. struggle harder to put food on the table to live as responsible members of that On the rate question, the best deal in electricity in and maintain a roof over their heads. • Turned millennials into a community. California is with publicly-owned power utilities. Twenty- Families are collapsing, and suicide revolutionary political force by denying ______five percent of Californians receive their electricity from rates are increasing. them the economic opportunities Source: YES! Magazine 5/6/16 http:// public utilities and they experience substantially lower bills, The assets of the world’s 62 richest their parents took for granted. www.yesmagazine.o on average, compared to private utilities. Publicly-owned individuals equal those of the poorest utilities, like the Sacramento Municipal Utility District, that pursue energy efficiency and renewable energy do a better job than the investor-owned utilities. An important thing to understand about Community WATCH THIS SPACE! Choice energy is that it brings local control, accountability, and, in a word, democracy, to energy decision-making. All of the existing Community Choice agencies have the ability EXCITING NEWS as COMMUNITY RADIO GROWS IN OUR AREA! to specify the sources they want and have made public commitments to keep coal and nuclear out of their power mixes. The magic of Community Choice is not to be found in the "snapshot" of what it looks like at launch with a higher CONTRIBUTE AT percentage of renewable energy than the big utility. Rather, the magic is in the "movie" about what happens over time through public participation in a local not-for-profit agency GO FUND ME! serving its community's needs, enhancing energy democracy, and creating economic benefits that can develop local energy resources. Find out more at cleanpowerexchange.org! www.gofundme.com/k2u9x3hv Woody Hastings is the Renewable Energy Manager for the Clean Power Goal: $5,000.00 Exchange and can be reached at woody@ cleanpowerexchange.org to put up our transmitter!