Category Archives: Human Rights

Power of Voice

Posted on by
Reply

I support the KONY2012 movement that as been sweeping the internet and the nation these last few days. Below I’ve copied my email response to a friend who has been sending me information on the criticisms about the movement. While I do hear and understand a lot of the critique, for me this represents a bigger picture of the POWER OF VOICE.

Me: They may have left Uganda 6 years ago but the fight isn’t over. they still exist, just have been in hiding and not as active. That doesn’t mean he should go without having justice brought against him. And i think that Kony represents a bigger picture of the power of the people and the internet to spread the word to troubling things that happen in other countries. at least that is what i see from this. Nothing is perfect. No revolution is sought and found without first being met with resistance. These people (the critics) are resisting the positive effects that come along with this KONY2012. I agree that they should’ve said made him infamous rather than famous and they should’ve added something to the KONY2012 posters to not seem like he is running for election, but the posters as they are, will get people to look it up and they will find that he’s not running for anything. I stand by this 100%. I am prepared to hear criticisms and down right opposition to the movement. But I still support this because of the meaning behind this. I see the bigger picture in showing the nation/world, that people can stand up for what they believe and that many people feel the same way. Voices are being heard and 26yrs after this man ravaged the country he is FINALLY coming close to his doom and justice. He may be in hiding for 6 years, but look at Osama…he was hiding since 2001.

notjustmythoughts

KONY 2012

Posted on by
1

Join the cause. If you have never stood for anything now is your chance to take an important stand. History is YOURstory to make.

www.kony2012.com
To buy action kit/bracelets: http://invisiblechildrenstore.myshopify.com/
To make a donation: http://bit.ly/yp5Ffv
To sign the pledge: http://www.causes.com/causes/227-invisible-children
To watch the film: http://vimeo.com/37119711

I look forward to seeing you there.

notjustmythoughts

Ain’t this some sh*t

Posted on by
Reply

Colorlines.com never fails me… please check this artilce out. It is worth the read. Essentially this is another day in the life of systematic racism in the form of government policy… think, Jim Crow. It seems he’s been resurrected (and not just in the incarcerated sense like the 2010 book THE NEW JIM CROW, by Michelle Alexander)…
http://colorlines.com/archives/2012/03/voter_id_card.html

I just don’t understand (although sadly I do) how this can happen in 2012….

notjustmythoughts

Occupy

Posted on by
2

This is a copy and paste from a newletter I subscribe to. In times when much of society can get you down, I figured I share a little something to uplift. As you will read, there is power in numbers and we must continue to “fight” for our rights. I use quotes around fight because it should not be with force or arms but rather force in numbers and educated rallies. I feel as though the time has come in our society for a new age Million Man March… This can be done… Occupy in many ways, is trying…

Ned Sublette Newsletter: 
[Nedslist] 03/06/12: Occupy Wall Street: Facing Global Protest, G8 Retreats
We barely had a winter this year.  Spring will be heating up soon . . . http://occupywallst.org/article/facing-mass-protest-obama-hides-g8-camp-david/

Facing Global Protest, G8 Retreats

Posted 5 hours ago on March 6, 2012, 4:48 a.m. EST by OccupyWallSt

The Group of 8 Summit, a meeting of the governments of the world’s eight largest economies, was supposed to convene in Chicago this May. For months, Occupy Chicago, international anti-war groups, Anonymous, and hundreds of allies have publicly planned to shut it down. Now, only two months before the meeting is scheduled to begin, U.S. President Barack Obama is moving the assembly of over 7,000 leaders from the world’s wealthiest governments to the Camp David presidential compound, located in rural Maryland near Washington, DC, one of the most secure facilities in the world. The Chicago Tribune reports that summit organizers are “stunned” by the news.

Occupiers and allies celebrated the decision with a victory party last night. The Coalition Against NATO/G8 War & Poverty Agenda (CANG8) and Occupy Chicago issued the following statement:

    The G8 moving to Camp David represents a major victory for the people of Chicago. The leaders of the 1% are moving because of the overwhelming resistance to the NATO/G8 war and poverty agenda in Chicago. Our city is filled with tens of thousands of people who are struggling to keep their heads above water, fighting against the effects of the economic crisis caused by the leaders who would have been gathering here. The communities of Chicago are fighting to save their schools, keep healthcare available, and to defend their jobs from cutbacks that are a hallmark of the governments of the G8.

    The city has carried out a campaign to intimidate and vilify protesters, claiming that protests lead to violence. In fact, the main source of violence in the world today is the wars being waged by NATO and the US. “We will march on May 19th to deliver our message: Jobs, Housing, Healthcare, Education, Our Pensions, the Environment: Not War! We and tens of thousands will be in the streets that day for a family friendly rally and march, with cries so loud they will be heard in Camp David and across the globe. We will be in the streets that day to fight for our future, and speak out against the wars and their cutbacks are designed to benefit the 1% at the expense of the 99% of the world.”

While officials claim the decision to move the G8 was not related to fear of protesters, Chicago police have admitted to expecting tens of thousands to show up in Chicago this May, and have been stocking up on “less lethal” weapons to use against protesters. Following Occupy Chicago’s Call of Action and Adbuster’s call for 50,000 people to come to Chicago, the City Council granted Chicago Mayor Emanuel extraordinary powers to make security decisions and suppress free speech during the NATO and G8 summits. The city also tried to spread fear by warning downtown businesses to ramp up their security in anticipation of conflicts between riot police and protesters.

Chicago will still host NATO allies and partners on May 20 and 21 to discuss the war in Afghanistan and other topics, and will remain a focal point for the Occupy movement this spring and beyond. Everyone is still encouraged to go to Chicago this May for a major mobilization, or organize actions locally! Occupy DC and Occupiers in Maryland have also begun to consider their response to the moving of the G8 to their area.

Coinciding with the G8 and NATO summits in the U.S., the Occupy movement, trade unions, organizations of migrant workers and the unemployed, environmentalists, youth, and anti-war protesters throughout Europe have also called for days of action from May 17th to 19th centered in Frankfurt, Germany against “the crisis dictatorship of the European Union:”

    We resist the disaster that is applied to Greece and other countries, against the impoverishment and denial of rights of millions of people and the practical abolition of democratic procedures resulting from the decisions of the Troika consisting of ECB, EU and IMF. The days of protest in Frankfurt directly succeed to the International Action Day on May 12th and the anniversary of the first assembly in Madrid on May 15th. We are therefore sending a visible sign of solidarity to those people in Europe who have been and are resisting against the debtocracy of the Troika and the attacks on their livelihood and their future. Simultaneously, protests are being organised in the US against the G8 Summit in Chicago.

    The choice of Frankfurt for the protests results from the role that the city has as headquarters of the European Central Bank (ECB) and of powerful German and international banks and corporations. On May 17, we will occupy parks and main squares of the city to create spaces for discussion and exchange. On May 18, we will block the running business of banks in Frankfurt and turn our anger about the Troika’s policies into action. We will gather for a large demonstration on May 19 and visualise the broad base of the protests. From many countries and regions of the world people will travel to Frankfurt and participate in the days of protest.

The decision to move the G8 is a victory; it shows that the political and economic powers-that-be are scared by the power of the 99% when we awaken and join together. We must continue to use our collective strength to fight the greedy agenda of the G8 governments, who only serve the interests of the global 1%. Occupy Chicago and their allies continue to mobilize. Stay involved in organizing against the G8 at Camp David and NATO in Chicago! Follow #OccupyCampDavid, #CANG8, #GTFOG8, @OccupyTheG8, and @OccupyChicago on Twitter.

While Obama may think he can hide world leaders from dissent or shield them from our protest, our message will be heard clearly across the world – including Camp David. Those responsible for the economic crisis, widespread inequality, and manufactured austerity – the G8, NATO, EU, IMF – will be held accountable, wherever they choose to meet. From Chicago to Camp David to Frankfurt, the #GlobalSpring is upon us.

your welcome,
notjustmythoughts

Disparate Impact: Black Lawmakers and Ethics Investigations

Posted on by
Reply

Is anyone surprised by this? As you may have guessed, there was no shock value in the article for me because… It is as I believe them to be, systematic racism and discrimination…

check out the article from theatlantic.com… http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2012/03/disparate-impact-black-lawmakers-and-ethics-investigations/253931/

notjustmythoughts

Systematic Racism and Discrimination

Posted on by
4

Below is a link to an article I found on Blackdoctor.org. This seems a fitting post when looking at my previous post yesterday. The article is about mental health and how there is little information in regards to mental health treatment and best practices in black communities.

In the article Dr. Carl Bell (CEO and president of the Community Health Council and director of the Institute for Juvenile Research at the University of Illinois in Chicago) says, “It’s really hard getting mental health services in black communities.These services are a scarcity, because there is no consideration for poor people with mental illnesses…Bell says there is little to no research on how to properly treat blacks suffering from schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, depression, drug and substance abuse, and other mental illnesses, mainly because no one has devoted time to understanding the social and cultural issues affecting poor black communities.”

I’ve bolded for emphasis on what stood out to me. Last night I went to my mother’s house for dinner. I was talking about my beliefs in systematic racism and policy, to which she just nodded. Her boyfriend on the other hand laughed. His beliefs and perceptions are polar opposite to mine. But for those that don’t believe, all they have to do it look (which I said to him).

The policies of health and healthcare that affects minorities and underprivileged communities are continuously cut or not even given thought. The communities are under represented in the government and their voices are often not heard. Sadly, many times they don’t even speak up. I know many people might say, that is exactly the problem. But that’s not entirely true. There are scholars and doctors and numerous people who are fighting for these rights and yet they too are unheard. If they (the “respected”) aren’t even heard how are the “lowest” on the totem pole going to be heard? And so, many don’t try. This too I can understand… sometimes after trying and trying and failing and failing there comes a point where there is no fight left in a person. For all of those that feel defeated I am speaking up. THIS MUST CHANGE!

This systematic racism and discrimination MUST stop. The purposeful actions of harm by those with the clout to change discriminatory policies must stop. I read in an unrelated book (Hip Hop Wars by Tricia Rose) a very powerful statement, “profit over people”. This idea of profit over people and rights of ALL people must stop.

What is democracy when only some people have it?
notjustmythoughts

Article on blackdoctor.org: http://blackdoctor.org/news/article/Mental_Health/Why_Black_America_s_Battle_With_Mental_Health_Is_Failing.aspx

UPDATE: this got me thinking… a few years ago someone I know stabbed a 9 year old boy to death over a video game. This person was in and out of the mental health clinics in NYC from a young child. Due to the lack of care in the community, he was continuously released. He is now in prison for committing murder. Prison, he should not be. I don’t believe he should be “free” either (I’ve used quotes around free because truthfully, was he ever free? His whole life he was burdened with mental conflict and instability and the country that promotes freedom and equality failed him by not allowing him proper care). But [instead of prison] he should be in an institution tending to his illness rather than caged. People believe he is a monster and I’ll leave you to your opinions. I have my own and while I don’t think he was right, not by any means, this person is a sick individual and should not have been in a situation to harm anyone. He should have been given a chance at life BEFORE this incident by recieving the mental help he needed and deserved. He is the one punished, when the community and government failed him (and the family he harmed). Where is their [those that cut funding and don’t even care about the mental health in poor communities] punishment?

notjustmythoughts

Quietly done

Posted on by
Reply

So, I’m a little late in the game (don’t know how I missed this one), but it was recently brought to my attention that STD funding was drastically cut in NYC (the state and other states as well.) The first link I’ve provided is from an article in the Daily News Sept 2011. The second link I’ve provided is from an article on stdtestexpress.com posted Feb 2012. This article pertains to Illinois, but I believe the implications and correlations of budget cuts to STD testing in IL can be used directionally when looking at other states (like NY) that have cut STD funding. Before I even read the article about IL or even researched the information, I thought to myself, what the ****!!! It seems to me that the most important resources a state and city can offer are the first to be cut (public education/free healthcare). I can understand that free STD testing can become a huge expense and burden on a city and state budget, but it is the JOB of the government to protect those that cannot protect themselves and in this case that relates to STD testing. Many clinics (I have found due to calling 311, the department of health, and about 25 clinics in the 5 boroughs) offer SOME free testing and all still offer HIV testing. This is good and all, but some is quite frankly not good enough. I also thought to myself, well if it isn’t free, what does this mean for people who can’t afford the “low-cost” of testing? As we know, “low-cost” (and really anything pertaining to money and spending) is relative. What is low-cost to me, might not be affordable to you. This makes me wonder what this will do to the rise of STDs in NYC (and other places who suffered similar cuts). If IL is any indication of what is to come, seems like we will have a lot more people running around in oblivion to their STD status…

In short, the disparity in income inequality continues…

 notjustmythoughts

http://articles.nydailynews.com/2011-09-06/local/30143550_1_std-cases-chlamydia-or-gonorrhea-rapid-hiv-testing

http://www.stdtestexpress.com/std-news/county-cuts-programs-and-watches-std-rates-rise-800706866/

Welcome to Life?

Posted on by
1

An exerpt from the article on: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/02/27/michelle-ugenti-arizona-rep-justifies-tuition-hike_n_1304731.html

“An Arizona House committee passed a bill last week that would require every student at a public college in the state, regardless of economic status, to pay a minimum of $2,000 in tuition.
As Think Progress noted, nearly 100 Arizona students attended the committee hearing to speak out against the bill, HB 2675, expressing concern that it would make it more difficult for many students to afford college. Rep. Michelle Ugenti (R-Scottsdale) responded bluntly in favor of the new measure: ‘Welcome to life.’”

I read this article a day after reading an article in TIME Magazine’s latest issue regarding Latinos (in Arizona) potentially “electing” president. (proper sourcing to come) In this article TIME was detailing the potential force behind the Latino vote and this potential is greatest in states like Arizona. Arizona is largely a Republican State with an abundance in the Latino population. The population of Latinos here feel they are Republicans on paper but that the Republicans don’t want them (their vote) and that they aren’t Democrats on paper, but that the Democrats do want them (this is a paraphrase of a statement by a Latino community member in Arizona).

Now, I’m not a political person. I vote yes. I believe it is important. If I want to voice my opinions well I better cast my ballot vote… so of course I follow things going on politically, but I don’t consider myself to be a largely political person. (Though I admit from my blog people often consider me political. But to me, this is just human nature. It goes beyond politics… it’s.. well this is something that should be ingrained in every human…I talk about things that are rights and equality based and that shouldn’t be political. It shouldn’t be up to a Republican or Democrat…it should…well it should just be.)

I digressed… now after reading the article in TIME and reading the article from Huffington Post I think to myself… well isn’t this pushing the Latino voter further to the fringes? The statement, “welcome to life” was made by a Republican representative. These are the sort of things that push people away. I won’t openly admit if I am Democratic or Republican because to be honest I don’t believe I fit neatly into either box. The vote should be based on who is the better person for the job, not necessarily by party. BUT what I will say is, if the Republicans are out-casting a HUGE number of voters it sure doesn’t look good for them.

Furthermore, on the equality side…really, welcome to life? Who says that, besides a mother to a child? The fact of the matter is $2000 a semester is unaffordable for some people and yet people believe there is equal opportunity for everyone. What gets me is, sure the opportunity is there, but how could it be equal when it’s out of the reach of many people?

notjustmythoughts.

Girl Scouts

Posted on by
3

Most of us are familiar with the organization Girl Scouts. The Girl Scouts represent an age range of girls boasting leadership and instilling a number of different skill sets in young women to help them positively through their life both in youth and into adulthood. I myself was a Girl Scout for a number of years of my childhood and though a Girl Scout is most known for their cookies there is a lot more that comes with it. I am an only child and this organization helped me garner different social skills by interacting with other children my age. They held events, ceremonies, trips, and different activities to teach a range of skill sets – many of which I carry with me today. I, as a former Girl Scout, was happy to find out that the organization does not discriminate against the transgender female. For those of you who are not aware, there is a growing number of children who are born one sex but feel completely opposite to their born gender. In the case of the Girl Scout, you can be an accepted member of the organization even if you were born male. There are certain things that must come along with this and there are provisions in place to handle such situations, but the underlying fact is that a little boy, who believes himself female and lives his life as a girl is accepted into the community of Girl Scouts and can learn (along with other young girls) all the positive things the Girl Scouts instill in children.

So, my issue here isn’t with the Girl Scouts, it’s with Rep. Bob Morris from Fort Wayne, IN. The Girl Scouts are hitting their 100th anniversary (I would’ve thought more!) and there is a proclamation in place to honor the group for their service and dedication to young women and the community. Morris could not sign the petition to have the Girl Scouts honored because of their attitudes to transgender and even abortion rights.

Personally, I do believe EVERYONE is entitled to their own opinion. However, I do not believe personal opinions should interfere with the good of the overall population. The fact is, who cares what you think -there are people in the world who ARE transgender who DO practice abortion, who HAVE different religions, and cultures, and ethnicities, etc and they TOO should have the same rights as any one else. They should be ALLOWED to live life freely and in the form they believe is most natural too them without infringing on anyone’s rights and without violence.

Check out the article on globalpost: http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/americas/united-states/120221/lawmaker-says-girl-scouts-destroying-american-fa

Also, check out the Girl Scouts website and see for yourself what they are all about: http://www.girlscouts.org/

notjustmythoughts