Sunday, May 11, 2008

Human Trafficking and Modern Day Slave Trade -BSCC

The Bi Lateral Safety Corridor Coalition is dedicated to fighting human trafficking and modern day slave trade. Here is their invitation to attend their monthly meeting. Hope to see you there.
 
Walter
 
Good Afternoon Coalition Member's,
Hope everyone is doing well, it's time again for our BSCC monthly coalition meeting on Tuesday, May 13, 2008 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Hope to see you there.
 
The agenda is as follows;
       Introductions
       "Special Guest Speaker "
       Old Business & New Business
 
Respectfully Sent,
Frances Alfaro, Administrative Assistant
"Never doubt that a small group of commited people can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has."  - Margaret Mead
Bilateral Safety Corridor Coalition
Phone (619)336-0770
Fax (619)336-0791
falfaro@bsccinfo.org
 
BSCC's Mission: To preserve the dignity and well being of commercially and sexually exploited women and children through prevention, intervention, and education.
Confidentiality Notice: The information contained in this E-mail is confidential and may also contain privileged attorney-client information or work product. The information is intended only for the use of the individual or entity to whom it is addressed. If you are not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any use, dissemination, distribution, or copying of this communication is strictly prohibited. If you have received this E-mail in error, please return the message to the E-mail from which it was received and immediately delete it.
 
Significance of Memorial Day
Like many American holidays, Memorial Day is often just another day off for workers and their families. To add meaning to the holiday, its helpful to learn about its history and customs.
Stories abound on the origins of Memorial Day, but a few are more popular and credible. Records indicate that after the Civil War, groups of women in both the North and South visited gravesites, adorning soldier's graves with flowers. Whatever stories are true, the main focus is always the same, to honor those lost in service to our country.
The first official Memorial Day was held on May 30, 1868, organized by General John Logan. (The date was chosen because it was not an anniversary date of a battle.) To honor the fallen soldiers of the Civil War, flowers were placed on Union and Confederate graves in Arlington National Cemetery . New York was the first state to officially recognize the holiday in 1873.
In 1971, Congress enacted the National Holiday Act, and the observance of Memorial Day was changed from May 30 to the last Monday in May of each year. Many credit this change of date to the decline of this day of remembrance, as people focused on the three day weekend instead of the original meaning of the holiday.


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Blackwater San Diego City Council Meeting

NO Blackwater in San Diego!!!!!
Attend City Council meeting - carpool or take trolley

From: sdcpj-bounces@lists.quantumimagery.com [mailto:sdcpj-bounces@lists.quantumimagery.com] On Behalf Of Carol Jahnkow
Sent: Saturday, May 10, 2008 9:50 PM
To: SD Coalition for Peace & Justice
Subject: [SDCPJ] Stop Blackwater in Otay Mesa! Attend City Council Mtg. 5/13/07 10 a.m.

Join us on Tuesday,  May 13, 10 a.m., at the San Diego City Council meeting during the public testimony session at the beginning of the meeting to raise questions about  Blackwater's presence in our community and to ask the Council to put this issue on their agenda for fuller investigation and testimony.   WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT!  PLEASE COME TO THE COUNCIL MEETING AND HELP US DEMONSTRATE THAT SAN DIEGANS DO NOT WANT BLACKWATER IN OUR COMMUNITY (OR ANYWHERE). 
 
12th floor, 202 "C" Street
 downtown San Diego.
We'll have signs for you or bring your own.

AT  ISSUE: 
Blackwater West/USA'a plan to open an indoor training facility in Otay Mesa. 
Last week San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders, at the request of Congressman Bob Filner, announced an investigation into Blackwater's permits

Filner wrote:  "The secrecy under which Blackwater contracted its facility in Otay Mesa causes great suspicion and distrust among community members in my District.  The lack of transparency in their plans forces me to question their intent to develop a 'vocational trade school.' Blackwater is a company that profits from war, and they will not hesitate to profit from insecurity in our sensitive border region.  Developing a paramilitary training facility, less than one mile from our international border, would send a dangerous message to Mexico and would hurt business and diplomatic relations. A positive relationship with Mexico has never been more critical to our National Security, and we must not take any action that would jeopardize that bond."

"As you know, Blackwater has been under investigation for the shooting of 17 innocent Iraqi civilians on September 16, 2007.  Since this event, Blackwater has been investigated by Congress, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Department of State.  More specifically, Congress filed an investigation of tax, small business and labor law violations," added Filner.  "As a private company hired by the federal government, Blackwater lacks accountability to government agencies. Once in operation, there would be very little or no oversight governing Blackwater's operations in our border region."

Congressman Filner concluded, "Blackwater does not exhibit any of the signs of a good neighbor or a productive business partner. We cannot allow a company with their reputation to do business in our community – the cost is too high."    
 to read full text of Congressman Bob Filner's Letter to Jerry Sanders.    http://www.prcsd.org/investigation.html

The investigation is scheduled to end on May 29, timing which would allow Blackwater to begin operations the first week in June, should the mayor find that everything is in order. 

If you're unable to attend, please contact your city council person and let them know how you feel about Blackwater;  Click here for e-mail addresses.     http://www.copswiki.org/twiki/bin/view/Common/SanDiegoCityCouncil

More info on Blackwater:  www.prcsd.org

Thank you for your support!

Peace Resource Center of San Diego and Activist San Diego

Petition Against Blackwater

Hi everyone,

I'm sure some of you have already gotten this information, but it is worth spreading. The threat is that mercenary training is becoming the foundation of our economy, boarder security will be sold-out to private military forces, and our acceptance of these gunmen as an economic backbone on our growing empire will allow war profiteers a legitimate form influence in government. We must not allow the American Dream to become the Blackwater Nightmare.

I thought you might be interested in this letter to San Diego Mayor Sanders that I just signed at the Courage Campaign. The letter thanks Mayor Sanders for launching an investigation into the false pretenses Blackwater used to obtain a permit to build a base of operations in San Diego and asks the Mayor to take further leadership -- on behalf of Californians -- to block Blackwater before it's too late.

The danger from Blackwater does not end at the San Diego city limits. And it certainly will not end with the conclusion of this investigation. When it comes to the threat to Californians that is Blackwater, we are ALL citizens of San Diego.

As a fellow Californian, please join me today in signing the letter to Mayor Sanders, which will also be delivered to Senator Dianne Feinstein, Senator Barbara Boxer and Congressman Bob Filner:

http://www.couragecampaign.org/MayorSanders

Thanks!

Thursday, May 8, 2008

Children's Rights Initiative For Sharing Parents Equally

ATTN:  Assignment Editor
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
 
The Premier Screening of SUPPORT? SYSTEM DOWN, Saturday, May 17, 2008 at Ultra Star Cinema at the Flower Hill Mall in Del Mar, California
 
SAN DIEGO, CA, May 1, 2008 /CRISPE (Children's Rights Initiative for Sharing Parents Equally)/ -- and AGINELO Productions.  Making "Support? System Down" the latest film from producer and filmmaker Angelo Lobo, was a long and intensely personal experience of making a documentary on a broken family court system that betrays families and destroys children for federal incentives greed.  Worst of all, military and struggling working families are impacted most.
 
WHAT:  Premier of SUPPORT? SYSTEM DOWN
 
WHO:  SUPPORT? SYSTEM DOWN cast members Angelo Lobo (writer/producer), Larry Kerkman President CRISPE, Harry Crouch President NCFM, Kevin Polis Esq., John Murtari, CA Senator Bill Marrow, Dr. Jane Major, Glenn Sacks, LT Gary USN, Judge Sean Finn, Dr. Stephen Walker, Dr. Robert Palumbo, Jeffrey Schuster, Stanley Prowse, Taron James, Elizabeth Schnee, Teri Stoddard, Vicki Greene Attorney for Alec Baldwin, Andrew Smith, Ed Vallejo, Chris Encina, Donald Wilson Senate Veteran's Affairs, Claire Bindoy, Kenneth Rohling, Chief Magistrate Peter Passidomo, Former NOW President Karen DeCrow, Stanley Thorne, Jim Loose, Jorge Blanco, Michael McCormick President ACFC, Solange Grey, Judge George A. Collins, Claudio Desousa, Judge Patricia Hartline, Marie Astor, Mary Huang, Maria Tortorelli, Vincent Dunn, Daniel Velasquez, and others.
 
WHERE:  Ultra Star Cinema, Flower Hill Mall
                  2630 Via De La Valle (exit off I-5)
                  Del Mar, CA 92014
WHEN:  Saturday, May 17, 2008 5:00 PM Press Call Time, 5:30 PM Introduce, Cast 6:00 PM Film Begins, 7:30 PM Cast & Crew Mingle, 8:30 PM End of Event
 
HOW:  Tickets cost $10 and are available at the CRISPE office on 932 C Street San Diego, CA 92101 (619) 233-4773.  Seats are limited get your tickets immediately.
The film premier is sponsored by CRISPE.org , NCFM.org, and John van Doorn.
The http://www.supportthemovie.com website contains film synopsis and trailers.  Please check back for updates.
 
For interviews contact:
Marcy Ganz, Public Relations Specialist
(888) 827-4773
###

 
Link to press release:
http://crispe.org/uploads/PRESS_RELEASE_SUPPORT_SYSTEM_DOWN_050508.pdf

Wednesday, May 7, 2008

Students and Parents Protest Drug Bust With Mock Graduation Ceremony

STUDENTS FOR SENSIBLE DRUG POLICY
A NEW PATH
DRUG POLICY ALLIANCE
 
 
For Immediate Release:                                                CONTACT: Randy Hencken, SSDP at SDSU(619) 865-3000 or
May 7, 2008                                                                               Micah Daigle, SSDP National – (202) 669-5315
 
Students and Parents Protest Drug Bust With Mock Graduation Ceremony
 
Groups Call for Life Saving Good Samaritan Policy
 
SAN DIEGO, CA – SDSU students and a group of concerned parents will hold a mock graduation ceremony with 77 "missing" students today in protest of Tuesday's announcement of a massive drug sting orchestrated by the DEA with the help of SDSU officials. Officials have described the five-month sting as a response to two recent fatal drug overdoses on campus, but those gathered today are criticizing the DEA's show of force as counterproductive and are calling on the university to enact a life-saving Good Samaritan Policy that encourages students to call for help during a drug overdose emergency.
 
Today's demonstration, organized by Students for Sensible Drug Policy (SSDP), A New PATH (Parents for Addiction Treatment & Healing), and the Drug Policy Alliance (DPA), will display 77 empty chairs and diplomas, symbolizing the 75 students arrested in the sting, as well as the two students who died recently of preventable drug overdoses. Large banners will be hoisted that read: "77 students are gone, but drug abuse isn't" and "Save lives. Enact a Good Samaritan Policy."
 
WHO:             Dozens of concerned students and parents
WHAT:           Demonstration and press conference supporting Good Samaritan
Policies and criticizing DEA sting at SDSU
WHEN:           11am, Wednesday May 7th, 2008
WHERE:        SDSU, Hepner Hall/Communication Building
 
"Sensational drug stings will do nothing to reduce the demand for drugs on campus, nor will they decrease the supply for these drugs for more than a few days," said Randy Hencken, president of SSDP at SDSU. " So long as students have the desire to use illegal drugs, and so long as the prohibition of drugs sustains a lucrative black market, drug stings will do little more than create openings for others to step in and supply drugs to SDSU students. This is a complicated problem that requires complex solutions but the discussion needs to start here."
 
Gretchen Bergman, director of San Diego-based A New PATH said, "SDSU's cooperation with the DEA will make students fearful of calling for help during overdose emergencies. The best way to protect our children and prevent drug overdoses is to enact a life-saving Good Samaritan Policy." Mrs. Bergman is the mother of a graduating SDSU student who is in long-term recovery from heroin addiction.
 
Good Samaritan Policies protect students who call for help during overdose emergencies, and colleges across the country are enacting them in increasing numbers. Researchers found Cornell University 's Good Samaritan Policy to have dramatically increased the amount of  911 calls related to overdoses, while drug use at the school remained relatively constant. Close to 100 colleges nationwide and the entire state of New Mexico have enacted Good Samaritan Policies, and similar legislation has been introduced in Illinois , Maryland , Rhode Island , and Washington .
 
More information about Good Samaritan Policies can be found at

Drug Policy Newsletter



Weekly News Roundup
May 5, 2008



FEATURE STORIES

Fla. Sting Operation Targets Alcoholic Energy Drinks
The Florida Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco Products
recently conducted a series of statewide sting operations targeting
sales of alcoholic energy drinks to underage youth and found that about
one in four visits resulted in sales to buyers under age 21.

'Second Chance Act' Wins Broad Praise, Call for Funding
There have been few instances where addiction recovery and
drug-reform groups have united in praise for federal drug policy,
but President Bush earned kudos earlier this month for signing
into law the Second Chance Act, which provides for addiction
treatment and other services for offenders reentering the community.





HEADLINES

Seattle Saves Money By Housing Homeless Drinkers

Challenge to Student Aid Ban for Drug Offenders Rejected

Some Dying Medical-Marijuana Users Can't Get Transplants

Drunk Driving in Video Game Earns MADD Condemnation

Dad Mistakenly Buys Alcopop for Son, Loses Custody

Salvia Ban Could Hamper Research

Ohio Lawmakers Look to Kill Off Tobacco Prevention Foundation



More headlines




RESEARCH NEWS

'Courage in a Bottle' No Myth, Study Finds

NIDA Reports Good Results from Computer Counseling

Virtual Reality Can Aid Treatment

Depression More Common Among Smokers, Study Says

Brief Physician Interventions Encourage Smokers to Quit

New Findings on Asian Alcohol-Protection Gene

Painkillers Replacing Heroin on Canadian Streets

Animal Study Hints at Greater Teen Susceptibility to Addiction



More research news




YOUR TURN

SAMHSA Announces Availability of New Drug-Free Workplace Kit

Brewers Urged to Stop Marketing Beer Shirts to Young Girls



More in Your Turn

 

 



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