Itsenaisyyspaiva

Olemme menossa Kanadaan, Vacouverin saarelle telttailemaan muutamksi paivaksi. Tiistai, heinakuun neljas on Yhdysvaltain itsenaisyyspaiva ja vapaata "kaikilla". Kanadan rauha on mita parhain paikka viettaa tata juhlallista paivaa. Kesa on parhaimmillaan: aurinkoinen, lammin ja valoisa.

Korkein oikeus on juuri paattanyt, etta Kuubassa pidettyja "terroristi" vankeja ei saa pitaa loputtomasti lukkojen takana, silla se on vastoi kansainvalisia lakeja (oliko kukaan tasta yllattynyt?). Nyt on Bushin ja kumppaneiden keksittava toisenlaista puuhaa Guantanamon vartijoille.

Salaisuuksien valtio

Korallimeri

Washingtonin rannikolta on vastikaan loydetty upeita koralleja. Tutkijat sanoivat loydon olleen "kuin olisi loytanyt sademetsan". Mutta namakin korallit ovat uhattuja, silla liika kalastus ja varsinkin troolaus vie korallit meren pohjasta. Koralleilla on tarkea rooli meren ekosysteemissa, joten niita tulisi suojella.


http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2003087953_coral27m.html

Terveys ja tasavertaisuus

Washingtonin yliopiston professori Stephen Bezruchka kirjoittaa, etta vaikka Yhdysvallat on maailman - ja historian - rikkain valtio, sen kansalaiset ovat sairaampia ja kuolevat nuorempina kuin monen muun maan "koyhemmat" kansalaiset. Miksi?

Bezruchka analysoi, etta viimeisten 30 vuoden ajan Amerikassa on tietoisesti poliittisella tasolla suosittu rikkaita tyovaeston ja keskiluokan kustannuksella. Tama on johtanut valtavan suuriin luokkaeroihin; ja mita suurempi kuilu koyhien ja rikkaiden valilla, sen huonompi terveys koko yhteiskunnalla! Yksilon terveystottumukset eivat ole niin tarkeita kuin poliittiset ja taloudelliset paatokset valtakunnallisella tasolla. Siksi rikkaatkin sairastavat enemman kuin heidan "pitaisi".

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/opinion/275142_focus25.htmlEconomic


Sunday, June 25, 2006
By STEPHEN BEZRUCHKA GUEST COLUMNIST

The headlines read that rich Americans aren't as healthy as poor Brits, despite our spending twice as much money on health care as they do. Our newborns die at the highest rates of any rich country, even with our ever-advancing medical technologies. The feds report our mortality rates have never been lower. The United Kingdom study director suggests it is the nature of an unequal society in the United States that affects everybody, while experts over here are puzzled. What is going on?

Thomas Pynchon wrote in "Gravity's Rainbow" that "if they can get you asking the wrong question, they don't have to worry about the answers." Which medical care drug plan to choose is the wrong question. Instead let's ask, "What makes a society healthy?"
An MDeity can't answer that, nor can most people working in public health departments. One reason for their ignorance: It is very difficult to get people to understand something when their salary depends on their not understanding it. Medical doctors are paid to treat diseases, so everyone has a disease if we do enough tests. Public health workers ply a trade, make sure enough kids get their shots, tell people to say no or wear a condom and check the water for arsenic. They consider efforts to understand basic conditions that produce health in society to be outside their job description.

Who can tell us the answer to what makes a population healthy? Few in this country know, because we don't ask that question. Anyone who does is marginalized for acting stupid. I was told "Medical care, of course, that's why we are teaching you to be a good doctor." Our federal government, in its Institute of Medicine 2003 report "The Future of the Public's Health in the 21st Century," states on page 59: "more egalitarian societies (i.e. those with a less steep differential between the richest and the poorest) have better average health." This remarkable finding has emerged from research carried out over the last 25 years, and the science is as good as that linking smoking and poor health.

Why aren't the media broadcasting this news? For the last quarter century it has become unpatriotic to believe in economic justice. Instead we give ever more to the rich through tax cuts and subsidies and demand that the poor accept having less, in the hopes of some trickling down. Egalitarianism is not a treatment taught in U.S. medical and public health schools, nor in any school except kindergarten.

What is it about a bigger differential between the richest and poorest that leads to worse average health? Intuitively, we can see that not everyone shares the same stress in a bigger-gap society and those lower down suffer more of the slings and arrows of misfortune rained down from above. There is less caring and sharing in society when the gap is in our face.
Other research findings demonstrate that individual behaviors are not as important for our health as political policies that impact the gap between the rich and the poor. These behaviors are those we have learned since about toddlerdom: diet, exercise and not smoking. They are good ideas but when compared with economic justice, these individual practices are relatively unimportant. For example, the healthiest country in the world, Japan, has the highest proportion of men smoking among all rich countries. Obviously smoking is not good for your health but compared with the less steep differential, it is not as important a factor. As a doctor who used to badger people about this habit, it was very difficult for me to reconcile this finding. Studies demonstrate the individual behaviors are not that important for our health. Health care, even universal health care, has been shown to have little or no overall impact on a nation's health.

The spending on health care in the United States makes up nearly one half of all monies paid for health care worldwide. Despite that, we who live in the USA, the richest country in world history (with half of the globe's billionaires), die younger than we should. To understand this conundrum, the first step we must take is to recognize that health and health care are two very different concepts -- despite sounding so similar. Health of societies is mostly determined by political and economic policies while health care can only prevent and treat individual diseases.

The United States used to be one of the healthiest countries in the world when egalitarian principles were near the horizon. President Kennedy told us not to ask what our country can do for us but to ask what we can do for our country. His request came after a decade of policies in which the poor made relatively more economic gains than the rich, something Robin Hood might have admired. For example, in the United States the general population shared its income growth with returning World War II veterans and subsidized their re-entry into society. Back then we were one of the healthiest countries in the world -- but not for long. The rich and powerful interpreted the president's remarks to mean, "What can ordinary people do for us?" During the last 30 years the rich have gotten much richer, and we have strayed far from egalitarian ideals.

The increasingly steep differential between the richest and poorest is the reason why we are as healthy as Cuba, the country we have been strangling for almost 47 years. While our health as a nation has been improving, other countries are seeing better and faster results. People in more than 25 countries, including nearly all the rich nations and a few poor ones as well, live longer and healthier lives than we do.

There is currently no federal agency, or any other body, whose goal it is to make us healthier compared with other nations. Our Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have put forth Healthy People 2000 and 2010 initiatives, with disease and behavior oriented national goals, but we did not achieve these goals in 2000, and have no chance of coming close to fulfilling them in the next four years. They do not address our standing compared with other nations. This is like giving the Olympic Gold Medal not to the winner, but to the contestant who said they tried the hardest!

The illiterate of the 21st century will not be those who can't read or write but those who cannot learn, unlearn and relearn. Much of what I learned in medical school is not acceptable practice today. Some of what we think we know today will be folly tomorrow. What the Institute of Medicine reports will, I think, stand the test of time. If we want healthy grandchildren, we must seriously consider what the feds have said.

Economic justice is the medicine we need. In today's situation, this requires overturning all the recent federal legislation that gives ever more to the rich. The work of the Hood Robins (who take from the poor and give to the rich) is bad for our health, as our own Institute of Medicine acknowledges. Perhaps we should demand a Health Impact Assessment like other countries, to track the toll in human lives sacrificed by political policies that favor the rich over the poor.
This state's Washington Health Foundation is unique in the nation for trying to make Washington state the healthiest in the country. According to a composite indicator used to rank the health of states, we have fallen to 15th place while Minnesota is first and Louisiana is last. To effect real change and improve health through this country, I suggest we strive to make Louisiana first in the nation. That state has among the highest infant death rates, the shortest length of life, the highest homicide rates, the highest teen birth rates and the biggest gap between rich and poor. Katrina's aftermath was no accident. By concentrating on improving health in this country's worst off state, everyone will do better.

The last 40 years have seen an unbridled giveaway to the minority of the wealthy and powerful, as politicians distorted Kennedy's words and did what they could for the rich of America. It is now time for the majority, who make up the bottom 80 percent of this nation, to ask what our country can do for us. Everyone's health, both rich and poor, will benefit from this old-fashioned idea: economic justice.

Stephen Bezruchka, M.D., MPH, is with the Department of Health Services, School of Public Health and Community Medicine, at the University of Washington.
© 1998-2006 Seattle Post-Intelligencer

Orca Babies

Miekkavalaat ovat saapuneet takaisin Washingtoniin talvimatkoiltaan. Heilla on mukanaan kaksi vauvaa! Tama on todella hyva merkki, silla valaiden maara on uhkaavasti vahentynyt viime vuosina, jopa niin paljon, etta ne ovat nyt uhattujen listalla.

Endangered orcas return with 2 babies

By Lynda V. Mapes
Seattle Times staff reporter

The endangered orca whales of Puget Sound have two new babies, bringing the southern resident population to 89.

K and L pods are back in the San Juan Islands from their winter travels, and each brought a baby in tow. "They look healthy. They apparently had a good winter. It looks like they all pulled through," said Kenneth Balcomb, director of the Center for Whale Research in Friday Harbor.

The K pod baby is estimated to be only a few weeks old. The L pod baby was probably born in the spring. Both appear to be very healthy, said Balcomb, who confirmed the sightings on Friday.

Any increase in the number of southern resident orca whales is good news. The animals were recently listed as endangered, the most critical status, under the federal Endangered Species Act.

The National Marine Fisheries Service is in the process of working up a recovery plan for the southern resident population. The service has proposed designating about 2,500 square miles of Puget Sound critical habitat for the orcas. Projects proposed for the designated area, such as building a dock or bridge, would need to be reviewed for their effect on orcas if federal funds were involved.

Nowhere else do so many killer whales share waters with so many humans, posing a unique conservation challenge for both.

At birth, orcas are 7 to 8 feet long and weigh 300 to 400 pounds. Their characteristic white patches can be a bit orange, coloration that fades to the trademark white in time.

More babies could arrive this summer. Some years have brought a boomlet of as many as seven calves. Two calves is about average, but the number is particularly heartening this year because of the recent commitment to restore their numbers.

Orcas are at the top of the marine food chain, and have large, complex brains. The Puget Sound orcas have a unique greeting ceremony, and the matrilineal pods have languages all their own. They feed about half the time — but also indulge in all kinds of play: chasing, splashing at the surface, breaching, fin slapping, tail lobbing, head standing, rolling over other animals and playing with objects, including kelp and jellyfish.

"These are wonderful creatures to have in our neighborhood," Balcomb said. "It is really important that we have animals that keep on reproducing. This is the generation that is going to make the recovery, if it is going to happen."

Lynda V. Mapes: 206-464-2736 or lmapes@seattletimes.com

Copyright © 2006 The Seattle Times Company

Tuttu Paikka IX

Koulutytto

Opettaja kertoi, etta tytolla menee hyvin koulun kolmannella luokalla. Ope haluaisi pitaa tyton viela omassa luokassaan ensi vuonna, silla han aikoo opettaa 3-4 luokkaa ja haluaa itsenaisia oppilaita. Kysyi olisimmeko me kiinnostuneita. Olimme tietenkin, silla tytto rakastaa opettajaansa. Opettaja sanoi, etta tytto tulee aina kouluun hymysuin, ja etta koulukaverit pitavat hanesta, silla han on kiltti ('kind') kaikille. "Saisitte olla ylpeita".

Sanat lammittivat. Oma karsimattomyyteni ei ole tuhonnut lapsen hyvaa sydanta.

Neocompassionism

Resitentti Seattlessa

Yhdysvaltain resitentti kavi Seattlessa perjantaina pikavisiitilla keraamassa rahaa syksyn vaaleihin. Tilaisuus oli jarjestetty paikallisen kansanedustajan Dave Reichertin vaalipotin hyodyksi. Tonnilla paasi syomaan melonia ja sitruunakakkua, ja kymppitonnilla sai kuvan itsestaan resitentin rinnalla. Juuri kun pressa oli nousemassa takaisin koneeseen vetta alkoi sataa kuin esterin takamuksista ja ukko kastui. Seattle osoitti vieraanvaraisuutensa. Hyva niin.

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2003067280_bushvisit17e.html

Bill Gates

Bill Gates jattaa Microsoftin johtamisen parin vuoden sisalla. Microsoftia on paljon parjattu ja syytetty milloin mistakin. Sehan on "suurin ja mahtavin", joten sita vastaan on taisteltava. Microsoft on tuonut paljon hyvinvointia Seattlen aluelle viimeisen parin vuosikymmenen aikana: tyopaikkoja ja teknologiaa. Ja kalliita asuntoja.

Mutta Bill Gates on myos paneutunut hyvan tekemiseen. Hanen perustamansa Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation tekee maailmanlaajuisesti tarkeita asioita terveyden ja koulutuksen edistamiseksi erityisesti koyhissa Afrikan maissa. Tahan tyohon Gates aikoo nyt paneutua entista enemman. Han on viisikymppinen, kaiken saavuttanut, ja kokee nyt maailman rikkaimpana miehena olevansa "paljosta vastuussa". Hyva Bill!

Victims of War

We don't see these images in the mainstream media. They are too painful to look at. We are only told of "collateral damage" - they don't even tell us how many Iraqi civilians get killed.
But real people - including children - die when we wage war.

Kuuhun

Tunnettu fyysikko Stephen Hawking sanoo, etta sailyakseen hegissa ihmisten on loydettava uusia asuinpaikkoja avaruudesta. Voisimme esimerkiksi rakentaa pysyvan tukikohdan kuuhun kahdenkymmenen vuoden kuluttua, ja marsiin neljankymmenen vuoden paasta. Lajin sailyminen hegissa riippuu tasta.

Onko meilla asiat taalla jo nain huonosti? Jos emme itse tapa toisiamme sadan vuoden kuluessa, jotain katastrofaalista tapahtuu maapallolle, ja kaikki tuhoutuu sen seurauksena...

Kuinka tallaisten nakyjen kanssa voi elaa toiveikasta elamaa? Mita kertoa lapsille kun he kysyvat milta maailma nayttaa viidenkymmenen vuoden kuluttua?

En usko, etta viela ollaan tassa vaiheessa, mutta toisaalta en ole myoskaan fyysikko, enka ymmarra kaikkia riskeja jotka meita uhkaavat.
Joka tietoa lisaa se tuskaa lisaa.


Physicist Stephen Hawking says humans must spread out in space to survive

By SYLVIA HUI The Associated Press

HONG KONG — The survival of the human race depends on its ability to find new homes elsewhere in the universe because there's an increasing risk a disaster will destroy Earth, renowned physicist Stephen Hawking said Tuesday.

Humans could have a permanent base on the moon in 20 years and a colony on Mars in the next 40 years, the British scientist told a news conference.
"We won't find anywhere as nice as Earth unless we go to another star system," added Hawking, 64, who received a rock star's welcome to Hong Kong on Monday.
Hawking said that if humans can avoid killing themselves in the next 100 years, they should have space settlements that can continue without support from Earth.
"It is important for the human race to spread out into space for the survival of the species," Hawking said.

The scientist — author of the best-seller "A Brief History of Time" — uses a wheelchair and communicates with the help of a computer because he has amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS, better known as Lou Gehrig's disease in the United States.

Alan Guth, a physics professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, said, "If he's talking about the next 100 years and beyond, it does make sense to think about space as the ultimate lifeboat. [But] ... I would still think that an underground base, for example in Antarctica, would be easier to build than building on the moon."

Copyright © 2006 The Seattle Times Company

Polar Bears Are Hungry

Jaakarhut ovat alkaneet syoda toisiaan, silla ilman lampenemisen takia vedet pysyvat sulana kauemmin estaen normaalin saaliin pyydystamisen. Alaskassa on seurattu karhujen elamaa, ja todettu parin viime vuoden aikana uroskarhujen syoneen naaraita ja pentuja nalissaan. Nain ei ole ennen tapahtunut.

Olisiko syyta alkaa ruokkia karhuja?


Longer seasons without ice may cause polar bear cannibalism, scientists say
By DAN JOLING The Associated Press

ANCHORAGE, Alaska — Polar bears in the southern Beaufort Sea may be turning to cannibalism because longer seasons without ice keep them from getting to their natural food, a new study by U.S. and Canadian scientists has found.

The study reviewed three examples of polar bears preying on each other from January to April 2004 north of Alaska and western Canada, including the first-ever reported killing of a female in a den shortly after it gave birth.

Polar bears feed primarily on ringed seals and use sea ice for feeding, mating and giving birth.
Polar bears kill each other for population regulation, dominance and reproductive advantage, the study said. Killing for food seems to be less common, said the study's principal author, Steven Amstrup of the U.S. Geological Survey Alaska Science Center.

"During 24 years of research on polar bears in the southern Beaufort Sea region of northern Alaska and 34 years in northwestern Canada, we have not seen other incidents of polar bears stalking, killing, and eating other polar bears," the scientists said.
Environmentalists contend shrinking polar ice caused by global warming may lead to the disappearance of polar bears before the end of the century.

The Center for Biological Diversity of Joshua Tree, Calif., in February 2005 petitioned the federal government to list polar bears as threatened under the federal Endangered Species Act.
Cannibalism demonstrates global warming's effect on bears, said Kassie Siegal, lead author of the petition.

"It's very important new information," she said. "It shows in a really graphic way how severe the problem of global warming is for polar bears."
Deborah Williams of Alaska Conservation Solutions, a group aimed at pursuing solutions for climate change, said the study represents the "bloody fingerprints" of global warming.
"This is not a Coca-Cola commercial," she said, referring to animated polar bears used in advertising for the soft-drink giant. "This represents the brutal downside of global warming."
The predation study was published in an online version of the journal Polar Biology on April 27. Amstrup said print publication will follow.

Researchers in spring 2004 found more bears in the eastern portion of the Alaska Beaufort Sea to be in poorer condition than bears in areas to the west and north.

Researchers discovered the first kill in January 2004. A male bear had pounced on a den, killed a female and dragged it 245 feet away, where it ate part of the carcass. Females are about half the size of males.

"In the face of the den's outer wall were deep impressions of where the predatory bear had pounded its forepaws to collapse the den roof, just as polar bears collapse the snow over ringed seal lairs," the paper said.

"From the tracks, it appeared that the predatory bear broke through the roof of the den, held the female in place while inflicting multiple bites to the head and neck. When the den collapsed, two cubs were buried, and suffocated, in the snow rubble."

In April 2004, while following bear footprints on sea ice near Herschel Island, Yukon Territory, scientists discovered the partially eaten carcass of an adult female. Footprints indicated it had been with a cub.

The male did not follow the cub, indicating it had killed for food instead of breeding.
A few days later, Canadian researchers found the remains of a yearling that had been stalked and killed by a predatory bear, the scientists said.
Copyright © 2006 The Seattle Times Company

Hot Planet

Miekkavalas

Orca-valaita pyritaan suojelemaan entista tiukemmin saannoin, silla ne ovat nyt uhanalaisia luontokappaleita. Seattlen laheisilla vesilla on miekkavalaiden ryhma, jonka elintila on uhattuna merenkulun, saasteiden ja rakentamisen takia. Uusista saannoista on heti tulossa taistelu eri eturyhmien valilla. Luonnosuojelijat sanovat, etta saannot eivat ole tarpeeksi tiukat, ja rakennusfirmat ym. pelkaavat lisaa saantoja, silla heidan on rikastuttava hinnalla milla hyvansa.
Mutta mita olisi Luoteis-Yhdysvallat ilman miekkavalaita? Lohia on myos suojeltava, silla jos lohet katoavat vesista, katoavat myos valaat. Lohia uhkaa liika kalastus, saasteet ja padot jokien ylajuoksulla.
Tyota riittaa.

Huge stretch of Sound protected for orcas?

By Lynda V. Mapes and Jonathan Martin
Seattle Times staff reporters

From the orcas' summer playground to their winter range, a vast stretch of critical Puget Sound habitat may soon be placed under new federal protection.

The National Marine Fisheries Service proposed Friday to protect one of the region's signature species with new restrictions on about 2,500 square miles of inland waters, including the Strait of Juan de Fuca, Haro Strait and the San Juan Islands.

The announcement immediately triggered controversy. Developers said they dread more regulation. Some environmentalists applauded the proposal but said it did not go far enough.

After a series of public hearings, the regulations could be final as soon as November and affect any action proposed within the designated habitat that needs a federal permit or is federally funded.

For instance, if a county or state government wants to build a dock or bridge paid for with federal funds, that project would need to be reviewed for its effect on orca habitat.

So could a county sewer plant, if it required a federal permit to discharge into a waterway, or a private development such as a gravel quarry, if it needed a federal permit.

Even government agencies such as the Army Corps of Engineers would have to consult with the fisheries service before taking any action that could harm the whale's habitat.

Enough protection?

The killer whales were classified as endangered last year. The so-called Southern Resident whale population peaked in the 1990s at 97 animals, then declined to 79 in 2001. Today, there are about 90.

The proposed designation would protect miles of inland waters not already covered by the Endangered Species Act listing of Puget Sound chinook. That habitat designation protects only near-shore areas, to a depth of 90 feet.

The killer whale proposal covers almost the entire Sound — from the deepest waters, all the way to the shoreline to a depth of 20 feet.

Some environmentalists, however, said that is not enough. It leaves out the very shallow, near-shore waters, essential for salmon — one of the orca's favorite foods.

The proposed boundary "appears to be limited to the areas where orcas actually go, and does not appear to include critical habitat for what the orcas eat," said Kathy Fletcher, executive director of People for Puget Sound. "This is important because Puget Sound is an ecosystem the orcas need, they don't just need the water to swim in.

"But I am encouraged they really are looking at the large areas the whales occupy, as opposed to just little spots where they tend to concentrate."

Military areas were excluded, however. And so was Hood Canal, because the whales, according to the agency, don't go there.

Effects on development

Those with development interests were astounded by the scope of the proposal.

"We are not measuring in acres, we're measuring in square miles," said Russell Brooks, attorney with the Pacific Legal Foundation, which has filed suit to overturn the orca's endangered listing.

He fears new costs and delays for development. "You are looking at more time and expense. A lot of times, developers will say 'forget it' and go home."

Tim Harris, general counsel for the Building Industry Association of Washington, which has joined the suit against the ESA designation, called the proposed habitat designation "sweeping."

"I don't think this is really about the orcas, it is about preventing development and any uses along the shoreline of the entire Puget Sound."

But Fletcher, of People for Puget Sound, sees direct economic benefit in protecting the orcas' home: "The economic value of saving salmon and orcas is huge. Anyone's claim that this is an economic negative is absolutely ignoring the value of our wildlife and environment to the quality of life in our state."

Other impacts

The Coast Guard, which oversees Puget Sound shipping lines, will be tracking potential impacts of the proposal on commercial traffic, said Lt. Commander Jason Tama.

With about 200,000 large-vessel trips each year in the Sound, changes to well-established marine highways and vessel-operation regulations to protect the orca could have other environmental or safety impacts, he said.

"It's something that would have to be carefully considered," said Tama, head of the Coast Guard's waterways-management division in Seattle.

Orcas are actually the largest form of dolphin. The Southern Residents spend much of their time in the Pacific Ocean. They travel back and forth via the Strait of Juan de Fuca, and in summer months cruise the waters of Georgia Strait, from the Canadian border south all the way to Deception Pass. In fall and winter, they rove the inner waters of Puget Sound, south of the pass, covering some 859 miles.

They can be quite long-lived, with life spans like our own. The oldest of the Puget Sound orcas is a female in her 90s named "Granny," Fletcher said. Males are generally larger than females and can reach almost 30 feet and weigh more than 15,000 pounds.

Biologists are encouraged by the recent uptick in population but remain concerned about water quality, the effects of boat traffic and the animals' food supply — especially salmon.

Orca experts on Friday said the whale-watching industry is not likely to be affected by the designation. Anna Hall, head of Whale Watch Operators Association Northwest, said her group has no fear of a negative economic impact.

As big as the proposed protected area seems now, it may need to be bigger, said David Bain, a University of Washington researcher who has spent years studying the orca.

The protected animals are believed to migrate north into Canadian waters and as far south as California's Monterey Bay. Better research on the orcas' travels will show the need to protect that entire habitat, he said.

"The limits of the designation may simply reflect the limits of our knowledge."

Lynda V. Mapes: 206-464-2736 or lmapes@seattletimes.com

Copyright © 2006 The Seattle Times Company

Tuttu paikka VIII

Itketko aiti?

Tytto tuo koulusta kotiin lehtisen, jossa kerrotaan luokkakaveri Tommyn aidin sairastuneen rintasyopaan. Kahden viikon paasta toinen rinta leikataan pois, ja sen jalkeen alkaa pitka kuntoutus takaisin terveiden pariin. Aiti on kahden pojan yksinhuoltaja. Pari viikkoa sitten hanen oli luovuttava tyopaikastaan, silla muuten han olisi menettanyt osavaltion takaaman terveysvakuutuksen, jonka tulorajan hanen palkkansa oli ylittanyt.

Laakari sanoo, etta kestaa monta viikkoa, ennen kuin aiti paasee takaisin jaloilleen ja kykenee huolehtimaan kotiaskareista. Tommyn luokkatovereiden vanhempia pyydetaan auttamaan ruoanlaitossa: voimme ilmoittautua tuomaan aterian kotiin kerran pari; voimme myos ottaa pojat mukaamme mennessamme puistoon leikkimaan, jotta aiti saisi levata muutaman hetken. Mukaan on myos laitettu pankkitilin numero, johon voi panna rahaa, jotta aiti voisi maksaa laskut ja selvita eteen pain.

Luen lehtista itku kurkussa: onko hyva elama nain pienesta kiinni? Onko putoaminen koyhyyden ja epatoivon kuiluun riippuvainen yhdesta tilipussista tai yhdesta sairastumisesta? Turvaverkko on niin hauras, etta joudumme lastemme koulukavereiden vanhempien hyvasydamisyyden varaan.

Tytto katsoo alta kulmain miksi niiskun ja silmani ovat sumeat: "itketko aiti?"

Pelon valtakunta

FireDogLake kirjoittaa blogissaan, etta "sota terroria vastaan" on itse asiassa sotaa Yhdysvaltain perustuslakia vastaan. Syyskuun yhdennentoista jalkeen Bushin hallitus on jarjestelmallisesti kahminyt itselleen enemman valtaa kansalaisten suojelun nimissa. Ihmiset ovat sen sallineet, silla heidat on peloteltu kyvyttomiksi vastustamaan. Bush on kunigas ilman kruunua (tai keisari ilman vaatteita, mutta kukaan ei ole viela rohjennut pukea sita sanoiksi). Terrorismin vastainen sota on psykologista sotaa omia kansalaisia vastaan, jotta heidat saataisiin kilteiksi ja tottelevaisiksi - amerikkalaiset eivat ole nimittain herrapelkoisia ja tottelevaisia luonteeltaan; heissa on aina ollut kapinan siemen, joka syttyy herkasti. [Toivottavasti se viela kipinoi.]


There is no "War on Terror." There is only a war on the law; a conscious destruction of the U.S. Constitution. This is not the first time right-wing interests have attempted to overthrow the U.S. government. An attempt was thwarted during the FDR administration. Then, as now, America's greatest enemies came from among the ranks of the ruling class.

Bushco has enslaved Americans into a psychological reign of "War on Terror" that amounts to a criminal protection racket. We are told we must be afraid. That is, we are told we must live in terror. This is to protect us from … terror. Then, because we feel terrified, we must give up our freedom -- freedom to write what we believe without fear of reprisal, freedom of due process and habeas corpus protection, freedom from secret intrusion into our private lives by government.

http://www.alternet.org/story/36934/

A Moment of Truth

This film is serious, powerful and compelling. We MUST act now to stop climate change and secure a livable future for our children!

Karrynpyora

Karrynpyoraa on harjoiteltu joka paiva koulussa ja kotona - ihan itse. Nyt se onnistuu jo hienosti!

The American Dream