From Sarah's Mind...

Save $100 From The 'Gas Tax Holiday'--drive 979 miles/week?

2008-05-07T13:15:00.001-05:00

According to the American Road and Transportation Builders Association..." the "gas tax holiday" would cost the Federal highway system nearly $9 billion in lost revenues...Over three hundred thousand jobs would be lost over the course of the next 3-4 years if the "gas tax holiday" were enacted. Also, though this article does not discuss this issue, if gas prices were lowered, demand would increase, and prices would increase, and if the oil companies were taxed more, we would be paying higher prices at the pump anyway.

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Facebook's Influence on the 2008 Election: Polling Millennia

2008-05-07T10:44:00.001-05:00

Millennials, the generation of individuals from 18-29, are becoming more influential on politics and more excited about politics, smashing the apathetic and disaffected stereotype that still plagues Generation X. In general this article says that the Millenial Generation supports gay marriage but opposes universal health care, advocating instead for underlying problem of the increasing cost of medical care to be addressed. Religion and spirituality are more important to them than older “liberals.” For the first time in history, “nearly as many raw votes were cast by those 30 and under as by those over 65.” This generation has a great deal of power, but my question is: what happens if Obama, the overwhelming favorite of this generation, loses the primary and/or election? Will we become yet another apathetic group of young people with no appreciation for the rights we have, and disengage from the political process?

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The Countertraffickers: Rescuing the victims of the global sex trade, by William Finnegan, The New Yorker

2008-05-06T13:41:00.003-05:00

A well-written and researched article about human trafficking from Moldova. While it discusses the situation directly as it pertains to that nation, there are a variety of themes that run through the different forms of human trafficking that are presented. It is a long, but comprehensive article about human trafficking that would be helpful for someone new to the issue and looking to learn more.

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Myanmar cyclone toll climbs to nearly 22,500

2008-05-06T09:59:00.001-05:00

The recent cyclone in Myanmar (Burma) has left a confirmed 22,500 dead, 41,000 missing, and hundreds of thousands homeless. Up to this point, only World Vision Australia has been allowed in to help with the disaster relief. The cost of food and water has risen astronomically, leaving many in a desperate and dangerous situation.

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Inmate Count in U.S. Dwarfs Other Nations’

2008-04-25T12:19:00.001-05:00

The U.S. has less than 5 percent of the world’s population but almost a quarter of its prisoners.

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The Word-Pick Sicks

2008-04-03T14:24:00.003-05:00

Stephen Colbert weighs in on the Oregon lottery system for health care access

Report Bolsters Lack Of Health Care, Premature Death Link

2008-04-03T12:23:00.001-05:00

A new report by Families USA indicates that from 2000-2006 more than 1,100 people die in the US because they lacked health insurance. In Connecticut in 2006, more people died because of a lack of insurance (est. 150) than were murdered (108)!

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Zimbabweans Cast Votes in Crucial Election

2008-03-29T08:44:00.001-05:00

Zimbabweans began voting on Saturday in the most crucial election since independence from Britain in 1980, with veteran President Robert Mugabe facing the biggest challenge of his 28-year-rule.

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HIV cases could jump in Asia by 2020: UN report

2008-03-28T07:49:00.001-05:00

The number of people in Asia infected with HIV could jump by more than 150 percent, or 8 million, by 2020 unless more is done to combat the spread of the virus that causes AIDS, a report presented to the U.N. secretary-general said on Wednesday.

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Iraq, $5,000 per second?

2008-03-27T10:49:00.001-05:00

"The Iraq war is now going better than expected. Here's what it amounts to: We've cut our casualty rates to the unacceptable levels that plagued us back in 2005, and we still don't have any exit plan for years to come -- all for a bill that is accumulating at the rate of almost $5,000 every second!...But if you believe that staying in Iraq does more good than harm, you must answer the next question: Is that presence so valuable that it is worth undermining our economy?...If the war backers believe that the Iraq war is so essential, then they should be willing to pay for it partly with taxes rather than charging it."

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Nicholas D. Kristof: A Call Girl’s Story

2008-03-27T10:09:00.001-05:00

A response to an article Kristof wrote about the Eliot Spitzer situation. In his article he related that "run-of-the-mill prostitutes" are often subject to slavery in effect. A friend of a high-paid call girl wrote to tell her friends' story of sexual abuse which led her to prostitution. She says this is common for this type of prostitution.

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Public Tuning Out

2008-03-21T09:12:00.002-05:00

Rep. Chris Murphy was a bit surprised to have people less concerned about Iraq and more rconcerned about other matters, such as the economy (and rightly so!), in a town forum this week. Maybe not surprised, but people are not making the link to the cost of the war. Cost estimates range from $1tril by the government to $3tril by a recent study. The cost estimate in lost revenues alone for Hartford, CT, is $200 million.

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At What Cost, This War?

2008-03-21T08:59:00.002-05:00

What has the war cost your city? The Hartford, CT, city council has estimated the war to cost their city alone $200 million in lost revenues. In a city whose public high schools have a 35% drop-out rate, and neighborhoods with almost 50% unemployment, the war has cost the residents this city a better life and a better future. Who knows the cost for future generations to this and many cities across the country.

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The Pimps’ Slaves

2008-03-17T17:09:00.001-05:00

If the Spitzer affair causes us to lose sight of the broader reality of prostitution, then the biggest loser will be the girls for whom selling sex isn’t a choice but a nightmare.

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A letter to Jeffrey Sachs, re: Common Wealth, his new book

2008-03-12T10:26:00.002-05:00

Wolf writes to Jeffrey Sachs (will we read a Sachs reply?) regarding his new book, Common Wealth. Considering all the noise surrounded "The End of Poverty," does this one add anything to the conversation? Wolf highlights some of the areas with which he agrees, but also poses questions on areas he disagrees.

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The faith of George Bush?

2008-03-12T10:14:00.001-05:00

The Bush Tradegy, an excerpt from "What Bush Believes" by Jacob Weisberg, on slate.com.

What exactly does Bush believe? Evangelicals have hailed him as a God-fearing man, and point to his daily prayers in the Oval Office. But have Evangelicals been merely puppets to Bush's political interests? An examination of his "faith" would say, "yes, they have."

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"Why is Prostution Illegal? the Oldest Question About the Oldest Profession" by Emily Bazelon, slate.com

2008-03-11T17:06:00.006-05:00

This article (click the title above) discusses arguments for and against the legalization of prostitution. Comments on this site, as well as digg.com, demonstrate that many know very little about how prostitutes are actually treated, even here in the US.

The article says that Australia has legalized prostution, which is untrue. The state of Victoria, Australia, the only state in the country where prostitution is legalized (aside from a few other cities, I'm told), shows legalization does not actually cause illegal prostitution to cease:

“Victoria’s decision to shift from prohibition to treating prostitution as work was based on the assumptions that a regulated industry could contain the rampant growth of the highly visible brothel and street prostitution trade, eliminate organised crime and end child prostitution and sex trafficking. Overall the Victorian Government adopted a harm minimisation approach to tackle the social problems and human rights abuses that prostitution created. However, in every category, legalisation has exacerbated these harms and produced many of its own making” (Sullivan, What happens when prostitution becomes work?, 2005, p. 3).

A variety of studies indicate that violent acts are perpetrated against many prostitutes on a regular basis, including the use of weapons, physical abuse, sexual assault, psychological abuse, death threats, among others (see the fact sheet, “Domestic Sex Trafficking and Prostitution in the United States”, which gives examples of studies and their results). This article, Portrait of Exploitation: The Real Face of Prostitution, gives a much different picture than we typically think of. Many are working now to dispel the myth that the majority of prostitutes choose this path out of desire rather than necessity.

Since prostitutes are considered a vulnerable population by social scientists, this issue is still not widely studied and it is therefore difficult to determine the best course of action to deal with prostitution as it is now.

Iraqis still ask if U.S. invasion was worth it

2008-03-11T10:15:00.002-05:00

Are Iraqis better off now than they were before the U.S. intervened? It depends on who you are, where you live, what tribe you belong to. Either way, it is a difficult question to answer definitively.

"The human cost is staggering -- anywhere between 90,000 and 1 million Iraqi civilians killed, according to various estimates; nearly 4,000 U.S. soldiers dead; while 4 million Iraqis are displaced."

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The Fallout of Subprime Loans-NY Times

2008-03-07T17:09:00.003-05:00

An analysis of subprime loans shows they are more prevalent in urban areas where more than 50 percent of the population consists of members of minority groups. This is a must read if all you've been hearing about sub-prime loans as problems with speculators. This is a real story of the deception of lenders and their victims.

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From the New Deal, a Way Out of a Mess

2008-03-07T17:06:00.002-05:00

There are varied reports of how many subprime loans and possible foreclosures are speculators vs. people who live in the homes. While people look to the market to 'care' for families who live in these homes, to protect them from losing their homes, this article gives a real solution. Home Owners Loan Corporation (HOLC), established in 1933, was a New Deal program to help families who were at risk of losing their homes during and after the Great Depression. Surprisingly, all the loans were eventually paid back and the office was closed in 1951, after the last loan was pai off. It is a potentially realistic program that could help the families that may become homeless as a result of the current situation.

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How Would Jesus Vote?

2008-03-07T16:54:00.002-05:00

Evangelical? Democrat? Politicians come out of the closet. And I, for one, appreciate it!

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Gaza humanitarian crisis worst in 40 years: report-Reuters

2008-03-06T10:17:00.002-05:00

By Tim Large LONDON (Reuters) - Israel's blockade of the Gaza Strip has created the worst humanitarian crisis since the Israeli occupation began in 1967, aid and rights groups said on Thursday. Food shortages, crumbling health services and a water...

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Should customs search travelers' laptops?

2008-02-11T13:27:00.001-05:00

Yet another step toward becoming a "Big Brother" state and negating the Constitution and our freedom.

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Evangelicals a Liberal Can Love

2008-02-07T14:27:00.001-05:00

Bleeding-heart liberals could accomplish far more if they reached out to build common cause with bleeding-heart conservatives.

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Election 2008: Add Women, Change Everything?

2008-02-04T15:09:00.001-05:00

Women are currently underrepresented in politics in all areas, but have demonstrated an ability to work with others from diverse viewpoints and backgrounds to come to a unified solution. They tend to include diverse viewpoints in decision making, have a broader conception of public policy, and offer new solutions for problems that men may be unaware of.

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Obama Offers Presidential Leadership Among the Ruins

2008-02-04T14:11:00.001-05:00

Why we are ready for the audacity of hope! Who better to clean up after Bush than someone who actually respects the Constitution and does not disdain the checks and balances our country was founded upon, and is willing to work "across the aisle," rather than the "my-way-or-the-highway" approach of Bush.

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"Unlikely Allies"-Corporate Social Responsibility

2008-02-01T15:27:00.001-05:00

Could gigantic profit-making corporations actually be convinced to change their practices? Why yes, they can! There's a growing movement of concerned shareholders and citizens challenged big businesses to change their practices on many fronts, one being environmental issues. Check it out...

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Ban wants U.N. sanctions for using child soldiers

2008-01-30T07:02:00.001-05:00

A UN effort to reduce the use of child soldiers within a number of African countries!

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Michael Pollan: A Thoughtful, Simple Menu

2008-01-05T16:02:00.001-05:00

Pollan, author of "In Defense of Food-An Eater's Manifesto," describes his philosophy of eating. His ideas are thought provoking, espeically this mantra: "Eat Food. Not Too Much. Mostly Plants." He loves food and thinks we all should, too. But he challenges us to enjoy what we eat and eat well.

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Mark Winne: The Long Road To End Hunger

2008-01-05T15:57:00.001-05:00

Mark Winne, founder of Hartford Food System (www.hartfordfood.org), gives a peek at his new book (Closing the Food Gap: Resetting the Table in the Land of Plenty). His group seeks to influence policy and programs to end hunger, to ask, "why are people going hungry in this nation?" and to answer with practical solutions to end hunger.

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Portrait of Exploitation: The Real Face of Prostitution by Laura Coltier

2008-01-04T13:42:00.000-05:00

This article (click on the title link), published in PRISM magazine portrays the disturbing realities of prostitution in the United States. While there certainly are women who choose to be prostitutes and choose to remain prostitutes, this article suggests that many women do not choose to be or remain prostitutes, and that it literally destroys them. This article is not for the faint of heart, but will potentially challenge some of your assumptions of prostitution in the US.

You may not read an article like this becuase you think either there is nothing for you to do or it's too disturbing, and you already know of enough terrible things in the world. If you are a Christian and believe prayer is important, then you will be able to pray with more knowledge of this situation. You could respond by writing to your representative or senator and let them know this concerns you. You could donate to one of the many organizations that is working to end human trafficking. You could talk about this issue with others and raise awareness so others will act as well. You could organize an event to raise awareness. If you have any other ideas, please post them here so others can be encouraged and inspired to act in whatever way they're able.

Peace.

Bali talks aim to jumpstart climate change fight

2007-12-02T21:30:00.001-05:00

Talks begin to design a roadmap to reduce greenhouse emissions and to replace the Kyoto treaty, with all represented nations on board.

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How America Lost the War on Drugs

2007-11-30T22:35:00.001-05:00

An interesting article done by Rolling Stones outlining how America Lost the War on Drugs.

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Slate Magazine - Smartest Drug Story of the Year

2007-11-30T22:34:00.002-05:00

A brief review of "How America Lost the War on Drugs" by Ben Wallace-Wells' lengthy article in Rolling Stone. If you don't read the longer article, this one still has some thought-proving information.

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Big Brother is watching us all

2007-09-16T09:47:00.001-05:00

this does not look good...I feel less safe now than I did before all the increased security measures. This might only perpetuate greater fear than most feel already. Would it actually make us safer, would people being able to see into our homes, through the walls, without our knowledge, make us safer?

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Sudan rubs salt in Darfur's wounds

2007-09-08T16:10:00.001-05:00

A man indicted for crimes against humanity by the International Criminal Court has been appointed to co-chair a committe, intended to investigate human rights abuses filed by victims of the genocide in Darfur. Not exactly a step in the right direction...

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"AIDS & African Americans" from ABS World News Tonight: July 7, 202

2007-09-03T15:55:00.000-05:00

This is totally shocking! In 2002, according to this news clip, Washington, D.C. had as high a rate of HIV infections as the countries of Nigeria or Uganda!

What do you know about 21st century slavery?

2007-09-03T14:18:00.000-05:00

Did you know that last year approximately 700,000-1,000,000 people were trafficked throughout the world? That doesn't include the number of people already held as slaves against their will. It's estimated that 25,000-50,000 people are trafficked into the United States each year. Believe it or not, there may even be slaves living in your neighborhood. Do you know why or where trafficking happens? This essay, "Trafficking, Slaves on the Move," found on the iAbolish web-site, is extremely informational and fairly short. Please read it!

Slavery in the 21st Century

2007-09-03T08:37:00.001-05:00

An interview on PBS, On Point, with Gloria Steinem, who wrote the forward to "Enslaved: True Stories of Modern Day Slavery." She's involved with the organization
iAbolish, headquartered in Boston, MA. Slavery is very much alive, and I believe it is almost as profitable as the drug trade (will check and cite source!).

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In this interview she mentions the movie "Trade," coming out in the US on September 21, 2007. PLEASE SEE THIS MOVIE AND TELL OTHERS ABOUT IT!!! Written by Jose Rivera, who wrote the screenplay for "Motorycle Diaries."

ABC News: Evangelicals Go Green

2007-09-02T19:31:00.001-05:00

Looking beyond traditional litmus test issues such as abortion or gay marriage, some young Christians say they are no longer calling themselves Republican. Many Evangelicals are awakening to the call to be stewards of God's creation, which some Evangelicals have been calling others to for decades.

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Also watch Bill Moyers' PBS report "Is God Green?"

Aceh peace threatened by untreated trauma - report

2007-08-27T16:44:00.001-05:00

A little known side of disaster recovery-lack of mental health response. An article about a report published by the Ministry of Health of Indonesia, the World Bank, and the Harvard Department of Social Medicine on mental health relief needed for war-torn Aceh. A Psychological Needs Assement of Communities in 14 Conflict-Affected Districts in Aceh

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From the BBC News-"Undercover in SE Asia's Brothels"

2007-07-30T20:46:00.000-05:00

Another must-read about modern slavery/forced prostution/human trade, this time from the BBC

Enslaved in the USA-an article by Donna Hughes

2007-07-30T20:40:00.000-05:00

Dr. Donna Hughes, professor of women's studies at the University of Rhode Island and researcher on international and domestic sex trafficking (read: forced prostitution/slavery), writes another interesting article about trafficking in the US, something most of us know very little. The statistics are astounding. Check out the article here.

Forgotten Communities, Unmet Promises

2007-07-03T12:34:00.000-05:00

The areas affected by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita still need our support and assistance. Pray, donate time and money, support legislation, whatever you can do to help our fellow Americans regain their lives.

Oxfam America
When the Levees Broke - an HBO doc. by Spike Lee

200th Anniversary of Abolition of Slave Trade: Slavery is Not Dead

2007-07-03T10:53:00.000-05:00

Anti-Slavery advocates throughout the US are signing this petition asking Congress to sign into law te Eradication of Slavery in Sudan Act. While this will not free all 27 million slaves throughout the world, it will help those in slavery in Sudan.

“Sudan is the only place where chattel slavery is not just surviving but experiencing a great revival. This renascence of the slave trade began in the mid-1980s... (John Eibner, “My Career Redeeming Slaves” from the Middle East Quarterly, December 1999).

Go to the American Anti-Slavery Group and sign this petition:

2007 marks the 200th anniversary of the abolition of the slave trade; and yet, an estimated 12,000 southern Sudanese remain enslaved in northern Sudan, victims of a 23-year civil war that pre-dates the current conflict in Darfur.

Representative Chris Smith of New Jersey is preparing to re-introduce the Eradication of Slavery in Sudan Act. I am writing to ask you to help ensure that this bill becomes law by signing on as a co-sponsor and voting for it when it reaches the floor. Honor this bicentennial year by taking meaningful action on modern-day slavery.

If passed, the Eradication of Slavery in Sudan Act will create a commission charged with the following:

(1) identifying the location of slaves in Sudan and ensuring their freedom;

(2) ensure safe passage of freed slaves and family reunification;

(3) documenting existing cases of slavery and working to prevent new cases from occurring;

(4) ensuring that former slaves have access to basic education and skill training, as well as medical, social, and psychological support needed for their effective rehabilitation and reintegration into society; and

(5) ensuring that those individuals responsible for slavery are brought to justice.Passing resolutions honoring the 200th anniversary of the abolition of the slave trade are meaningless if they are not accompanied by concrete action. Please help to ensure that basic human right, freedom, can be a reality for everyone at last.

Signed by:
[Your name]
[Your address]

Resources:
2007 Trafficking in Persons Report
The Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons
The Coalition Against Trafficking in Women
The International Justice Mission

Seeking Justice in Africa: Politics & Power: vanityfair.com

2007-07-02T15:39:00.001-05:00

An interesting interview with Suliman Baldo of the International Center for Transitional Justice on recovery and stability in war-torn African nations.

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Insurance Companies Reactions to Sicko

2007-07-02T15:12:00.001-05:00

A very interesting article which shows the reactions from the pharmaceutical and insurance companies regarding Sicko.

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Myths and falsehoods about global warming

2007-05-28T14:48:00.001-05:00

Since the release of the film An Inconvenient Truth (Paramount Classics, May 2006) featuring former Vice President Al Gore, the issue of global warming has received increased attention in the popular media. Yet numerous media figures have distorted the scientific studies they cite...read on to learn more!

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Once a slave in the US, still fighting for her freedom | csmonitor.com

2007-05-28T14:27:00.001-05:00

María Suárez survived life as a sex slave for five years in Los Angeles. There are thousands more like her. This is an important issue, reality occuring in thousands of people's lives each day, which few people know very much about.

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Study cites lack of terrorism-linked deportation

2007-05-28T14:21:00.001-05:00

U.S. immigration agencies say anti-terrorism is their primary mission, but they tried to deport only 12 people on terrorism-related charges from 2004 through 2006, according to a private research study released Sunday. Apparently there's a quota to meet.

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Thoughts on Immigration Raids: Take 1

2007-03-24T18:42:00.001-05:00

I've been thinking about Illegal Immigration a lot these days, for several hours a day, since I'm doing a huge project one of my grad classes on the subject. I'm still unsure where I stand as far as policy recommendations. There are a few things I do know, though:

Lots of people are really passionate about the subject but are passionate because of what other people have told them, not because they've sought out the facts themselves. This pertains to people on any side of the issue.

"Illegals" and "aliens" are degrading terms that dehumanize illegal immigrants. They make us forget that they're people who were created (in my view) by God, just as we were. It allows us to separate from them, causes us to view them as "enemies" rather than trying to understand why they would risk their very lives to enter here illegally only to work as a slave. That brings me to this quote:

"'At some point we have to say they are moral agents and they have to be accountable for their decisions,' says Mark Krikorian, head of the Center for Immigration Studies in Washington. 'They knowingly put their children in that position, and I find it hard to describe that as anything other than child abuse.'" (Christian Science Monitor, March 16, 2007, "After New Bedford immigration raid, voices call for mercy and justice," by Alexandra Marks and Christian Lupsa)

Could it then be called child abuse for parents to not leave a dangerous, crime-ridden, drug-ridden, impoverished nation where the children would likely starve, be murdered, beaten, abused, and have no hope for the future except to see their children go through the same? Which is more abusive?

And another…"Supporters of illegal immigrants agree that compliance with the law is important. But they also note that there are millions of jobs Americans will not do, which is why the immigrants come." (Christian Science Monitor, March 16, 2007, "After New Bedford immigration raid, voices call for mercy and justice," by Alexandra Marks and Christian Lupsa)

They do jobs Americans would not do because Americans wouldn't stand to be slaves in their own nation. I've even heard myself use this article, but it's unacceptable that we should be okay with illegal immigration because they're willing to work in sweat-shops and we are not.

That's it for now. I just had to get that out.