Salon Weekly
A Weekly Email Publication of The Lloyd House
Circulation: c. 450
Growing out of the Monday Night Salon
For info about the Salon, see the bottom of this email
Join us at the Lloyd House every Monday of the year at 5:45 for pot luck and discussion.
3901 Clifton Avenue
Cincinnati, Ohio
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Saturday, 1 January, 2005 HAPPY NEW YEAR!
(From Ellen)Greetings Friends!
Well, I just returned from the Metropolitan C. M. E. Church, an African American church near Peeble's Corner. Every year there is a dynamite service commemorating the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation on New Year's Day in 1864. FYI, "C.M.E." stands for "Christian Methodist Episcopal", and I believe it is almost entirely Black folk. Bishop Todd O'Neal of the House of Joy interdenominational church in College Hill led the Martin Luther King Chorale singers (we sang "We Search for Peace", and "By the Waters of Babylon", both of which he wrote and they are terrific. "Over my Head I Hear Music", featuring wonderful soloist Linda O'Neal--his wife, "We shall overcome". "Lift Every Voice and Sing". And after the amazing sermon, he actually composed a simple song using the refrain from the preacher, right on the spot, and led us all in singing it. What a guy! )
I have heard some of the finest oratory in any genre at this pulpit. Today we heard Bishop E. Lynne Brown, the CME bishop for Ohio, Indiana and Kentucky, headquartered in Cincinnati, deliver an utterly amazing shouting sermon. Like Moses, we've been "led out", (of slavery), but now we have to "hold out" against idolatry (in the case of the Israelites), against dependency on the government, against spending millions on wigs and clothes and other silly luxuries, against the temptations to abuse others, (like the European Americans' abuse of the Indians and the slaves) and not stick up for justice. He said there were more Black businesses in 1940 than there are today! He said Black people in 1920 owned something like 123,000,000 acres of land, and now it is down to 22 million acres. Bishop Brown had us all standing and stamping and shouting that yes, we are going to Hold Out! now that God has led us out of slavery.
Todd O'Neal said he was crying the whole time. The piano was playing, the organ was playing, the drum set was playing. It must have been 90 degrees in there, but we were happy.
After the nearly three hour service dinner was served in the basement: chicken, baked or fried, macaroni and cheese, cabbage and sausage, yams, carrots, corn, greens, rolls, salad, desert and cool aid. It was delicious.
This service is held at 11 am every New Year's Day and has special significance for all Americans of African descent, but is a fabulous way to start the year for anybody, and everyone is welcome. The Metropolitan C.M.E. Church is at 2815 Melrose, near Peeble's Corner, between Lincoln and Taft, across the street from the Melrose YMCA. Go next year. Mark that n ew calendar you just got. You'll be glad.
And whatever you do, don't miss the spectacular MLK Day event in two weeks, on Jan. 17, Monday MLK holiday, at noon at Music Hall. Todd O'Neal and Cathy Roma will lead the 150 voice MLK Chorale in rousing spiritual and civil rights music, with extra musicians and soloists. Courtis Fuller will preside. There will be no long boring speeches. It's free (they do pass a collection plate for donations, and it is worthy.) The program will be about 2 hours long.
For those who want to really celebrate the whole way, you can go to the Traditional Civil Rights march from Fountain Square at 11:15, marching to Music Hall prior to the big event. There is even a breakfast sponsored by the Arts Consortium of Cincinnati ($30; reservations required, call 684-0902) with awards for local "Dreamkeepers", and music/dance entertainment. That will be at Music Hall as well starting at 8:45 AM. Consider going to the Breakfast, then taking the shuttle to Fountain Square for the March, and coming back to Music Hall for the noon Celebration. You'll be glad.
At our salon last Monday, 12/27/04 we had a small and passionate group, including:
Roy Jones, Itaal Shur (Welcome Itaal!), Judy Cirillo, Fanchon Shur, Ellen Bierhorst, Neil Anderson, Spencer Konikov, David Rosenberg, and Mira Rodwan. .
We were reeling with the news of the terrible earthquake/Tsunami in southern Asia that had already caused 23,000 deaths in the first day. Today I heard that the number has reached 150,000 deaths, and due to the destruction of infrastructures for water, sanitation and food this is only the beginning. The wave, we h eard was 100 feet high, traveling at the speed of a jet, 500 mph. The quake was a 9 on the Richter scale. Worst hit: India, Srilanka, Bangladesh, Indonesia.
David Rosenberg said a UN spokesman said it would cost billions to clean up the mess. That's one year of our Iraq war!
Roy JOnes talked about the frailty of life; our humility in the face of Nature.
Neil Anderson mentioned: "makes us realize what a small planet this is" ... the ultimate family value. .... Today the "anti-christ is clear: Nationalism. .... Today terrorism is seen by the Neocons as an American Problem. .... On 9/11 we had the compassion of the world, and we have, through the Bush Wars, squandered it all. .... We are at a bottleneck in our species evolution; we have not model for the next step.
What seem to be the answers? Roy implied environmentalilsm has to be part of the answer, since our destruction of natural features (like coral reefs, the ozone layer) has taken away some protections that have mitigated the ravages of nature. Fanchon said we have to look to the small, to the individual. Heal ourselves here. Itaal spoke of the warlike nature of humanity; said Mother Nature surely will punnish humanity. Thought maybe we need gorrilla rebellion tactics to bring, for instance, more "real news" to network TV by hacking into the system. Spencer Konikov said he feels the big problem is population growth. The Green Revolution of petrochemical fertilizers in 1968 which brought huge increases in crop yield here and across the world, h ence leading to mushrooming population growth. (Incidentally, I learned at the Peak Oil Conference that unlike other species whose population is controlled by food supply, and contrary to the assertion of the Ishmael guy Daniel Quinn, humans' population growth is always curbed by affording security in old age for the people. Any time that old age security is assured, birth rates decline. They said this is a recognized fact in sociology. Anybody confirm that? Daisy?)
David Rosenberg: What is the opposite of love? It is inattentiveness. We must wake up. He cited the book
Cradle to Cradle: Remaking the Way We Make Things
by William McDonough, Michael Braungart
that says for most products we produce, 95% of the cost is in distribution, advertising, and packaging. Our world problem is not scarcity, but rather is unintelligent design. What is the way out? To create new economies which are:
- local
- democratic
- ecologically sound
- regionally self-reliant
We call upon the earth, our planet home, with its beautiful depths and soaring heights,
its vitality and abundance of life, and together we ask that it:
Teach us, and show us the way.
....
And lastly, we call upon all that we hold most sacred,
the presence and power of the Great Spirit of love
and truth which flows through all the universe . . . to be with us to:
Teach us, and show us the way.
Indeed, teach us, show us the way, for we are sore oppressed.
And if you are aroused by the voting fraud issue, consider joining the bus pilgrimage Monday, Jan. 3, day after tomorrow, going for the day to Columbus to protest the Ohio election. This was announced at the Emancipation Proclamation service this morning. Only costs $15 to pay for the bus; you don't have to drive. Pack a lunch (and a dinner?) and be at Jordan Crossing, Seymore and Reading (Old Swifton Commons) by 10 am. Bound to be good fellowship on the bus, maybe even some singing. They will take you up and bring you back. You'll miss the Salon and Bob Park's presentation on Health Insurance, but hey, sometimes you gotta stand up.
The wisdom of this moment, as I see it:
Let the compassion I feel for others struggling with war, earthquake, and devastation,--
L et the worry I feel over the erosion of civil rights and the capture of the government by scary fundamentalists
Now serve to wake me up from slumber's dream of powerlessness.
Let me fling open the gates of my heart in love,
Let me sing out the music of harmony and serenity and sweet belief in the sunrise of hope.
"And let it begin with me."
May the new year be rich in blessings!
Hugs,
ellen
In "Teal" color, all the articles about the election fraud allegations and responses we can/should make.
In Blue, Regular articles about other topics:
- Rally in Columbus Monday 1/3; bus only $15. link to send letters to elected officials
- Bev Harris, the "Black Box Voting" heroine sends update.
- John Robbins writes about public policy re. energy conservation. Is hoping that the salon group will ignite. Read his thoughts, proposals, and then reactions to the silence they met from the salon group. What's to do?
- Waste transfer station told "No" by Board of Health. Thank you Karen Arnet!
- Our Friend Paula Jackson Wins Award
(for Articles: see below. Beneath the "Announcements" section.)...
Announcements:
If you are aroused by the voting fraud issue, consider joining the bus pilgrimage Monday, Jan. 3, day after tomorrow, going for the day to Columbus to protest the Ohio election. This was announced at the Emancipation Proclamation service this morning. Only costs $15 to pay for the bus; you don't have to drive. Pack a lunch (and a dinner?) and be at Jordan Crossing, Seymore and Reading (Old Swifton Commons) by 10 am. Bound to be good fellowship on the bus, maybe even some singing. They will take you up and bring you back. You'll miss the Salon and Bob Park's presentation on Health Insurance, but hey, sometimes you gotta stand up. See Eli Pariser's call HERE:
Dear MoveOn member,
As the Electoral College prepares to confirm the election results, the Ohio recount and legal challenge continue.1 Disturbing flaws in the voting system have come to light, along with new questions about tampering during the recount process itself.2
On Monday, Rev. Jesse Jackson and the Rainbow/PUSH Coalition will host a major rally across from the Ohio Statehouse in Columbus to demand every vote be counted and every irregularity investigated before Ohio's electoral votes are cast. The rally is co-sponsored by MoveOn.org, Ohio Congresswoman Stephanie Tubbs-Jones, Progressive Democrats of America, United for Peace and Justice, Ohio State Senator Joyce Beatty, and CASE Ohio.
Can you start the year by renewing your commitment to democracy? Come to the rally on Monday afternoon.
When:
Monday, January 3rd, 2005
2:00pm
Where:
Capitol Theatre
Vern Riffe Center for Government and the Arts
77 S. High Street (at State Street, across from the Ohio Statehouse)
Downtown Columbus, Ohio
Proceed up two escalators from the High Street entrance. Driving directions are available here:
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=630
In announcing the rally, Rev. Jackson declared, "January 3rd will be the beginning of a new Pro Democracy Movement in America. Forty years ago, the Voting Rights Act was passed as a result of an independent, mass civil rights movement. We will carry forward that tradition in 2005, and continue the fight to count every vote and make sure every vote counts."
We hope you can attend this important rally on Monday. Happy New Year!
Sincerely,
--Eli Pariser and Noah T. Winer
  MoveOn.org
  December 28th, 2004
Footnotes:
1. Blackwell requests exception to investigative rule, Associated Press, December 26, 2004
http://www.bgnews.com/vnews/display.v/ART/2004/12/26/41d099bfdc016
2. Letter from Congressman John Conyers (D-MI) to Triad voting machine company, December 22, 2004
http://www.house.gov/judiciary_democrats/triad_letter.pdf
Bob Park Will present at the Salon on Jan 3 about
Health Care in Ohio
Sometime attendee Bob Park is offering to present his organizing work around the Single Payer Health INsurance for Ohio movement on January 3. See the SPAN site below for details. Be here for this!
Ellen.
Ellen,
How about Jan 3 for a health-care bash?
I would be representing SPAN Ohio (Single-Payer Action Network).
We have an active membership of about 100 people
from labor, churches, providers, and other interested citizens.
More information, including text of the initiative petition now circulating, is available at
www.spanohio.org
<http://www.spanohio.org/>
- Bob
Morning Wake Up Class
with
Fanchon Shur
9:00 to 11:00 a.m.
every Wednesday morning
Starts Jan. 5.
Friends,
I invite you to this wonderful class which I am starting on Jan. 5. Many of you were students for many years. Some, only recently. Some of you know my work as a dance artist, others as choreographer, others as movement therapist. No matter, all of these skills are woven into the work. You are all welcome.
A technique of deep power,
Growth in Motion Studio
lightness, joy, fabulous music,
and full range of motion in space,
awakening organs, bone and muscle,
and bringing
flow, freedom and renewal
in a small, incredibly supportive group.
4019 Red Bud Ave.
513-221-3222
info@growthinmotion.org
$12/class (4 classes) $20 for individual class
mat optional, wear layered clothing, bring towel. We will sweat!
See you then
Must Call first! 221-3222
Fanchon
Nick Spencer, independent candidate for Cint. Mayor will be with us at the Salon
on January 10, 2005
Don't miss this.
And whatever you do, don't miss the spectacular MLK Day event in two weeks, on Jan. 17, Monday MLK holiday, at noon at Music Hall. Todd O'Neal and Cathy Roma will lead the 150 voice MLK Chorale in rousing spiritual and civil rights music, with extra musicians and soloists. Courtis Fuller will preside. There will be no long boring speeches. It's free (they do pass a collection plate for donations, and it is worthy.) The program will be about 2 hours long.
For those who want to really celebrate the whole way, you can go to the Traditional Civil Rights march from Fountain Square at 11:15, marching to Music Hall prior to the big event. There is even a breakfast sponsored by the Arts Consortium of Cincinnati ($30; reservations required, call 684-0902) with awards for local "Dreamkeepers", and music/dance entertainment. That will be at Music Hall as well starting at 8:45 AM. Consider going to the Breakfast, then taking the shuttle to Fountain Square for the March, and coming back to Music Hall for the noon Celebration. You'll be glad.
How you can help
The following are among the aid agencies accepting contributions for those affected by the earthquake and tsunamis in Asia. Contact the individual group for information on how to send donations.
American Jewish World Service
45 West 36th Street
New York, NY 10018-7904
800-889-7146
www.ajws.org
International Orthodox Christian Charities
PO Box 630225
Baltimore, MD 21263-0225
877-803-4622
www.iocc.org
American Red Cross
International Response Fund
PO Box 37243
Washington, DC 20013
800-435-7669
www.redcross.org
International Medical Corps
11500 West Olympic Blvd., Suite 506
Los Angeles, CA 90064
800-481-4462
www.imcworldwide.org
CARE USA
151 Ellis Street NE
Atlanta, GA 30303
800-422-7385
www.careusa.org
Oxfam America
26 West Street
Boston, MA 02111-1206
800-776-9326
www.oxfamamerica.org
Catholic Relief Services
PO Box 17090
Baltimore, MD 21203-7090
800-736-3467
www.catholicrelief.org
Mercy Corps
PO Box 2669
Portland, OR 97208
888-256-1900
www.mercycorps.org
Direct Relief International
27 South La Patera Lane
Santa Barbara, CA 93117
805-964-4767
www.directrelief.org
Operation USA
8320 Melrose Avenue, Ste. 200
Los Angles, CA 90069
800-678-7255
www.opusa.org
Doctors Without Borders
PO Box 2247
New York, NY 10116-2247
888-392-0392
www.doctorswithoutborders.org
Boycott Spending on Jan. 20
NOT ONE DAMN DIME!
> >Not One Damn Dime Day - January 20, 2005
> >
> >Since our religious leaders will not speak out against the war in Iraq,
> >and our political leaders don't have the moral courage to oppose
> >it, Inauguration Day, Thursday, January 20, 2005 is "Not One Damn
> >Dime Day" in America.
> >
> >On "Not One Damn Dime Day" those who oppose what is happening in
> >our name in Iraq can speak up with a 24-hour national boycott of all
> >forms of consumer spending.
> >
> >During "Not One Damn Dime Day" please don't spend money. Not one
> >damn dime for gasoline. Not one damn dime for necessities or for impulse
> >purchases. Not one damn dime for anything for 24 hours.
> >
> >On "Not One Damn Dime Day," please boycott Wal-Mart, Kmart,
> >Target...
> >
> >Please don't go to the mall or the local convenience store. Please
> >don't buy any fast food (or any groceries at all for that matter).
> >
> >For 24 hours, please do what you can to shut the retail economy
> >down.
> >
> >The object is simple. Remind the people in power that the war in Iraq
> >is immoral and illegal; that they are responsible for starting it
> >and that it is their responsibility to stop it.
> >
> >"Not One Damn Dime Day" is to remind them, too, that they work for
> >the people of the United States of America, not for the international
> >corporations and K Street lobbyists who represent the corporations
> >and funnel cash into American politics.
> >
> >"Not One Damn Dime Day" is about supporting the troops. The
> >politicians put the troops in harm's way.
> >
> >Now 1,200 brave young Americans and (some estimate) 100,000 Iraqis
> >have died. The politicians owe our troops a plan - a way to come home.
> >
> >There's no rally to attend. No marching to do. No left or right
> >wing agenda to rant about. On "Not One Damn Dime Day" you take action by
> >doing nothing. You open your mouth by keeping your wallet closed.
> >
> >For 24 hours, nothing gets spent, not one damn dime, to remind our
> >religious leaders and our politicians of their moral responsibility
> >to end the war in Iraq and give America back to the people.
> >
> >Please share this email with as many people as possible.
Upcoming Presentation on
Ohio Rail Transit Plan
What, where is OKI?
Sunday, November 21, 2004
Rail plan spans Ohio
The Associated Press
CLEVELAND - The development of a passenger rail network in Ohio is at least
nine years away and would require federal money that doesn't exist for such
projects.
The Ohio Rail Development Commission has a $3.5 billion plan to develop a
passenger network throughout the state that could become self-sufficient
once it's up and running.
The commission's two-year proposal for an Ohio and Lake Erie Regional Rail
Hub calls for using existing
railroad rights of way where tracks could be added or rehabilitated to build
a network.
The network could be used for new, high-speed passenger service and improved
freight service, commission spokesman Stu Nicholson said.
From Cleveland, passengers could get to Columbus, Pittsburgh and Buffalo in
about two hours - faster than driving.
For more information see http://www.dot.state.oh.us/ohiorail/
• Wednesday, January 26th, 1:30 - 3:30 pm at OKI in Cincinnati:
ORDC/OKI
Ohio Hub presentation to business and community leaders in Cincinnati and
Southwest Ohio.
• Wednesday, January 26thth, 5:30 - 7:30 pm at OKI in Cincinnati:
ORDC/OKI
Ohio Hub Presentation to the public in Cincinnati and Southwest Ohio.
IMAGO
HAS FUNDRAISING PROJECT to support their eco-friendly work
Recycle your empty laser and inkjet cartridges and your used cell phones.
Imago provides your business (hr home office) with a box or bag which we will ask you to fill with your used cartridges, cell phones. Once full, call Imago Earth Center and a rep. will come pick up the box.
Call 921-8455 or email earthcenter@imagoearth.org, or
Http://imagoearth.org
- end of Announcements -
A r t i c l e s
Chinook Blessing
We call upon the earth, our planet home, with its beautiful depths and soaring heights,
its vitality and abundance of life, and together we ask that it:
Teach us, and show us the way.
We call upon the mountains, the Cascades and the Olympics,
the high green valleys and meadows filled with wild flowers,
the snows that never melt, the summits of intense silence, and we ask that they:
Teach us, and show us the way.
We call upon the waters that rim the earth, horizon to horizon,
that flow in our rivers and streams,
that fall upon our gardens and fields, and ask that they:
Teach us, and show us the way.
We call upon the land which grows our food,
the nurturing soil, the fertile fields,
the abundant gardens and orchards, and we ask that they:
Teach us, and show us the way.
We call upon the forests, the great trees reaching strongly to the sky
with earth in their roots and the heavens in their branches,
the fir and the pine and the cedar, and we ask them to:
Teach us, and show us the way.
We call upon the creatures of the fields and forests and the seas,
our brothers and sisters, the wolves and deer, the eagle and dove,
the great whales and the dolphin, the beautiful orca and salmon
who share our Northwest home, and we ask them to:
Teach us, and show us the way.
We call upon all those who have lived on this earth,
our ancestors, and our friends, who dreamed the best for future generations
and upon whose lives our lives are built,
and with thanksgiving, we call upon them to:
Teach us, and show us the way.
And lastly, we call upon all that we hold most sacred,
the presence and power of the Great Spirit of love
and truth which flows through all the universe . . . to be with us to:
Teach us, and show us the way.
thanks to Mira Rodwan for bringing this to the table.
ELECTION FRAUD TOPIC:
This color..."teal"
If you are aroused by the voting fraud issue, consider joining the bus pilgrimage Monday, Jan. 3, day after tomorrow, going for the day to Columbus to protest the Ohio election. This was announced at the Emancipation Proclamation service this morning. Only costs $15 to pay for the bus; you don't have to drive. Pack a lunch (and a dinner?) and be at Jordan Crossing, Seymore and Reading (Old Swifton Commons) by 10 am. Bound to be good fellowship on the bus, maybe even some singing. They will take you up and bring you back. You'll miss the Salon and Bob Park's presentation on Health Insurance, but hey, sometimes you gotta stand up.
from <http://www.bradblog.com>
Congressman John Conyers (D-MI) has announced in a letter released today that he will officially object to the Ohio Electors when a joint session of Congress convenes on January 6th to either ratify -- or set-aside, as the case may be -- the official results of the Electoral College.
In his letter, Conyers, who has been leading the Minority effort in the U.S. House Judiciary Committee to investigate the hundreds of reports of Election Irregularities, Supression of Voters, and possible Recount Malfeasance, states "I and a number of House Members are planning to object to the counting of the Ohio votes, due to numerous unexplained irregularities in the Ohio presidential vote, many of which appear to violate both federal and state law."
William Rivers Pitt of Truthout has more details.
RAW STORY has Conyers' actual letter to all of the U.S. Senators.
---------------------------------------------------
at <http://capwiz.com/pdamerica/mail/oneclick_compose/?alertid=6770366>
Urge your Senator to stand with the Representatives and contest the vote.
Help avoid a repeat of the 2000 silence from the Senate.
On January 6, 2005, the House and Senate will meet to consider the electoral vote count. Progressive members of the House Representatives will challenge the vote count based on the voting irregularities and recount efforts still underway. Urge your Senator to stand with the Representatives in order to avoid a repeat of the 2000 silence from the Senate. This action also targets potential Senators who are allies in this cause.
---------------------------------------
and then there's <http://www.donotconcede.com>
with plans to march on Columbus on Jan 3rd and on WashingtonDC on Jan 5th
as well as footage of voter suppression in OH
and other organizing contacts
-----------------------------------------
and at <http://recountrecord.typepad.com/ohio_recount_blog/>
is the Ohio Recount Blog, with this...
Should private corporations have remote dialup access to voting machines?
The Green Party Recount Coordinator for Fulton and Henry counties reports: "The Director for Fulton told me that Triad is able to reprogram the computer to count only the Presidential ballots by remote dial-up. I do not know when after the election that occurred."
Bev Harris, heroine of "Black Box Voting" sends update:
An update from Black Box Voting, and a look toward 2005:
First, thank you so very much for your donation. It was very much appreciated and needed. In the interest of brevity, you are going to receive three separate e-mails from us in the next 48 hours:
1) Information specific to donors
2) Information about current investigations and audits: HELP AMERICA AUDIT
3) Information about current volunteer actions: ACTIVATING THE EAGLES
This message is the first one, for donors.
We received thousands of small donations in November and December ($1 to $5) and very much appreciate these. They did slow down our processing, because for accounting and tax reasons, we account for each and every donor separately, and we were caught by surprise. We did not have enough staff in place to process the volume. Therefore, please accept our apology for the delay in communicating with you.
You will soon receive a customized thank you note that provides the records you need to tax-deduct your donation. We are working on those right now.
We are commissioning an independent audit of Black Box Voting, Inc. by a major public accounting firm, which will examine all of our financial transactions from the inception of our organization. This is our first year, and we want to make sure that we provide our supporters with trust, transparency, and a solid foundation. Thus, year-end activites are extremely busy.
AN UPDATE FOR DONORS:
- We are focusing on building long-term infrastructure (Internet, personnel, reporting functions and equipment).
- We are concentrating on the HELP AMERICA AUDIT effort that launched by Black Box Voting on Nov 2, 2004, which began with a massive Freedom of Information request. We have collected tens of thousands of pages of documents, are in the process of converting those to Internet-friendly format. We have set up an online workspace for “open source” public auditing of the voting machines used in the 2004 election.
Our most important effort of all is ACTIVATING THE EAGLES: We are beefing up our messy old American democracy, by empowering LOCAL CITIZENS to act effectively, independently and forcefully to return transparency to our election system.
“Doves, sparrows, and other low-flying birds flock together. Eagles soar alone, and must be gathered one at a time.”
The key in "Activating the Eagles" is to find and encourage those citizens who are self-starters, with common sense and the courage to deal with adversity. To this end, we have launched the Black Box Voting “ACTIVATING THE EAGLES” project. This is quite revolutionary; instead of doing the expected, by launching chapters in each state, trying to control the whole thing with a top-down structure, we are focusing on empowering independent groups. In the long run, this will create a much more stable infrastructure for resistance to inappropriate governmental procedures.
Please visit our Web site to see the “New Look” for Black Box Voting – We have purchased several new domains, and we are in the process of integrating them into a more effective whole.
http://www.blackboxvoting.org – The portal to all the action
http://www.bbvforums.org – The workspace for volunteers and following current happenings.
http://www.bbvdocs.org – This is inactive this week, but is being developed as a repository for election-related source documents and audit logs.
In addition, we are putting up mirror sites that we control, hosted on other servers. When they are up, weÂ’ll list them on the main page.
The most important part of the new Black Box Voting Web site is the FORUM WORKSPACE. It has just been activated, but is already getting quite busy. Please stop in, register, and post a message to let us know that you are behind this effort:
http://www.bbvforums.org/cgi-bin/forums/discus.
Here you will:
- Collaborate with others to clean up elections
- Quickly find the latest news
- Locate state and local resources
- Ask questions and get them answered promptly
- Participate in "Help America Audit"
# # # # #
Because you are a donor, the three update e-mails have already been automated to send. We protect your privacy and do not allow ANY OTHER individual or organization to have your contact information. If you receive ANY message from another group or individual that you suspect came from your donation to Black Box Voting, please notify us immediately.
Now, please hit “reply” and type ONE of the following messages in the subject line:
- Please send me weekly updates
- Please send me monthly updates
- Please send me NO updates at all
- Please send me a custom response (type your question in body of message)
Here's an update on Black Box Voting:
On November 12, seeking answers to a specific vote-fraud question on the
Diebold voting machines, Black Box Voting went to Florida for one day. We didn't
get back until Dec. 9.
While in Florida, together with local citizens, we found significant problems in
Volusia County (Diebold - audit did not check out; note the outstanding
contributions of Florida Fair Voting Coalition and citizen Susan Pynchon),
Pinellas County (Sequoia - stay tuned on this one, outstanding work by local citi
zens), Brevard County (Diebold -- obstructiveness and lying about public reco
rds) and Palm Beach County (Sequoia -- all kinds of problems, with very
important work by local citizens), in addition to what's been reported elsewhere.
Black Box Voting met with citizens in Florida who are making a real difference.
WHAT'S IN STORE FOR AMERICA: The key word is "relentless." We have not
given up. We will not give up.
1. Unfortunately, the Black Box Voting "volunteer action" forums are
compromised; hackers broke in and removed our own ability to use or moderate
our own forums. Good peopl
e are working on that and we will solve it soon.
2. The Black Box Voting Cleanup Crew plan: ACTIVATING THE EAGLES
"Doves, sparrows, and other low-flying birds gather together, but eagles soar alone and must be gathered one at a time."
You, as an individual citizen, are America's best hope to clean up elections, which must be done starting at the local level. Using your own common sense, get started on yo
ur own local elections. Take an action, and let us know what you've done. Black Box Voting investigators will be traveling to meet with c
itizens who show that they take initiative on their own.
Our republic will revive when we have REAL grass roots growing, that is, people who are taking independent action on a local level, using their own common sense. This does
not always require a group. One person can make a real difference.
We can help you by giving you ideas, technical advice, and by sending an investigator to you.
- If actions taken by Black Box Voting make sense to you, try something similar in your local jurisdiction.
- A Black Box Voting investigator may arrange to meet with you or your group, to help educate you, share ideas, and fund-raise. We will select those who show initiative on
their own, with creative ideas that make things happen independent of our organization.
When we say "fund-raising," we are not talking about fund raising for Black Box Voting. We visit you on OUR OWN dime. Whatever you arrange for fund raising during our visit
will go to YOUR group, to empower action, purchase your local public records, pay court costs, whatever you need to use it for.
Grass roots activism, in the form that is most dangerous to corporate-controlled power, is activism that is not centralized. A national organization with chapters in each s
tate, which issues official position papers and directs/organizes actions, is using a corporate model itself.
Black Box Voting is more revolutionary: We encourage independent action, which we do not control or directly organize. We are looking for relentless, clever, loosely allied
people, taking actions they have figured out for themselves, using their own common sense and whatever resources they can bring to bear.
This creates a swarm that becomes impossible to fight.
Usually, before we will send an investigator to help you, you must show that you are taking action on your own. We are more interested in auditing elections and enforcing t
ransparency than we are in holding rallies, and we are most interested in helping citizens who are self-directed, gutsy, sensible, and di
fficult to discourage.
Relentless. Eagles. You can make it happen. We'll help.
# # # # #
Bev Harris - Executive Director
Black Box Voting (.ORG) - http://www.blackboxvoting.org
To donate: Mail to Black Box Voting, PO Box 25552 Seattle WA 98165 or donate
online: http://www.blackboxvoting.org/donate.html
THE POLITICS OF ENERGY:
PUBLIC POLICY AND SANE ENERGY MANAGEMENT
John Robbins writes, after his presentation for us
(YOU GOTTA READ THIS. TERRIFIC. emphases added by me. e.)
Thanks to all 12/20 Salon attendees and Ellen for inviting me to present toyour group. As usual, I did not complete the entire presentation I hadplanned, and many of the questions I heard were specific to short-termissues in various kinds of houses rather than either the more generaloverview or the Lloydhouse-specific recommendations I had prepared. This isokay, and I hope I answered the unexpected questions adequately. As I hopeeveryone learned, such answers can be short-term (related to how to get byright now) or long-term (how to prepare for the future beyond the currentmonth or year). Sometimes these compete or conflict, as I tried to say whentalking about replacing Lloydhouse's windows. Other answers are simple,like the first directive of cutting air leaks even before insulating, aboutunderstanding the directions of the airflow (i.e. heated air lifts, coolerair comes in low or from the direction of outdoor winds).
Knowing the political bent of the Lloydhouse Salon from past emails andconversations, I hope everyone appreciated that NONE OF WHAT I WAS TALKINGABOUT is part of either party's platforms, part of either party'scandidates' messages, part of any part of national or local focus. Indeed,the major and minor political parties in our nation are allowing the issuesof dwindling fossil fuel supplies, the rising costs of energy, the steadyupward demand for energy per person and per building, the huge consequencesof energy-related pollution, etc., to worsen and fester. It is simply notenough or appropriate to suggest, as Kerry and Gebhardt did, that all weneed to do is switch to renewable sources. This is baby-talk, somethinglike Santa Claus, while our nation is or should be hungry and desirous forreal answers with longterm impact. We should all be disappointed ordisgusted that the most recent campaigns included no focus or mention ofthese issues, since we need to restart the national conversation that JimmyCarter begun 25 years ago.
To this point, please allow me to introduce some discussion of energypolicies. What should the goals of enlightened energies be? Whatcould/should our nation, states and cities be doing? How could/should oureducation systems, tax codes, building codes and real estate markets bechanged? In paragraphs below, I will present some "ideal" answers, whichare more typical of individuals and households like mine and my clients',where democracy and determination is simpler and more straightforward. Whenit comes to the larger society, community discussions and politicalcompromises will need to occur, to allow the societally acceptable solutionsto emerge. So I hope the Salon with engage these issues. Please feel freeto include me in your discussions by email or phone. I live an hour awayfrom Lloydhouse, and I hate driving, so the best way to include me moreregularly is by telecommunication, the "electronic superhighway, as Gorecalled it.
ENERGY POLICY:
When I¹m asked to present or consult on how to reduce consumer or businessenergy consumption in more dramatic longterm ways, I remind myself at theonset that most people in our culture have a relatively poor understandingof their energy use, what costs what, where their energy and energy dollarsgo, what to do in what order to improve performance most cost-effectivelyand permanently. Especially in urban and suburban environments where energyinfrastructures and their negative environmental consequences are morehidden or distant, my job usually begins not just with helping clients tounderstand their individual situations and opportunities, but also how theirindividual situations relate to their big longterm pictures they probablycan¹t or don¹t see. Most urban and suburban settings offer easy andincreasing dependence on a relatively few sources of energy, like naturalgas or electricity, delivered invisibly by unseen utility infrastructures.Consumer demands to reduce such energy use often is in reaction to shortermincreased energy costs, fears of unreliable energy supplies or advertisingincentives to buy rather than to reduce. Such incentives are often tooshallow to motivate consumers to make better decisions for the longertimeline. Indeed, short-term decision-making is not very effective forchanging long-term cultural preferences and behaviors.To understand and make longer-term decisions, especially when there¹s a goalto buy renewable energy systems, some basic education is usually appropriatefor the client.Education must start with clearly understanding goals. If and when wedecide to plan and implement a national, community, business or home energypolicy, the ideal logical goals should be, in order of priority:1) Use much less2) Pollute much less3) Import much less4) Diversify to more sources and increase storage volumes5) Transition to renewablesThe reasons for this ordering are many, the most important of which is thatthe topmost goals are less expensive and more effective for making the latergoals more inexpensive, practical and reliable. That final goal, the heartof any plan for longterm physical sustainability, is likely the mostexpensive in the list, at least the more technology-oriented renewables likesolar. For those who think or expect that solar energy will get continuallycheaper, let me suggest that solar will likely never get as cheap as coalenergy in our lifetimes, and that right now solar electricity, for one, isat least 3 times more expensive than electricity generated by burning coal.This demands that our first goal simply be to save money by lowering ourdemands for energy, by converting some energy-demanding tasks to manualwhere possible, and by becoming more efficient in those tasks which must useenergy.Accomplishing the first goal supports the second goal since reduced demandfor energy by enough people and processes can result in reduced numbers ofpowerplants, fuel deliveries, smoke up chimneys and smokestacks, resourceextraction and pollution from spills. Using less, especially of oil,reduces imports, thereby lessening threats to our national security,lowering balance-of-trade deficits, slowing the decline in the value of USAcurrency and making more rare oil spills from the large tankers on the highseas while heading to USA refineries. Diversification and storage ofsupplies reduce potential problems which typically result from relying onjust one or two fuels while not knowing with certainty about longtermsupplies. Most renewable energies are very low-polluting and relativelymore local in nature than other energies. Solar, wind and biomass are morecommonly available most anywhere in varying amounts, which encourages thefourth goal simply because in most locations, no one renewable energy typewill be enough.Hopefully, it is now apparent that starting out with a policy of aiming forrenewable supplies first, as described at JohnKerry.com, is misguided, atleast from the perspective that it costs the most and avoids opportunities.However, I say this from a strictly energy/resource management bottom-upperspective. Our governments and corporations don't want or care much forthe ordering of goals I've proposed, simply because they have differentfundamental interests, like tax collection, for one. For instance, if eachhousehold and business suddenly and successfully cut energy use inbuildings, homes and vehicles by even a meager 25%, there would be hugelosses in sales and other taxes on energy use. Since the energyconservation workforce makes less income per worker generally than energysupply workers, tax collection in a system of progressive income taxationwould decline. Energy conservation, efficiency and renewable expendituresalso tend to happen once or only per decade in a building's history, whilefuel purchases tend to happen continually ad infinitum. This dramaticallychanges large portions of our current economy, affecting tax collection andemployment distributions as well.Powerful political labor forces like UMW, for one, which relies on the adinfinitum nature of fuel use, would lose at least some power that it nowexcerts on governments like Ohio, as it did during the last building energycode modifications when it argued the value of increased use of Ohio coal.Other entities like oil corporation could lose similar influence as demandsfor their regular ad infinitum supplies diminished. Situations like theseare too many to describe here, but suffice it to say that most governmentsand corporations may prefer more expenditures on energy supplies and supplytechnologies, both conventional and renewable, instead of more expenditureson conservation and efficiency which result in rapid dramatic reductions ofincome and product money flows. This is why I believe this effort towardthe goals I outline will occur outside the current major political andgovernment arenas, at least at the beginning, at least with the currentgroup of political and government leaders.So what are the elements of enlightened policy to produce those above-listedgoals? Below, I have organized some of my proposals into categories.
A) Energy Costs and Supplies.....Eliminate declining marginal unit energy costs, replacing that witheither flat or inclining marginal costs. For instance, Cinergy, like mosteastern USA urban/suburban utilities, discounts residential electric cost byover 40% for kWhs over 1000 per month from October through May. Considerthat in west-coast states like California and Washington, the residentialprice of electricity rises progressively as monthly usage increases, justthe opposite. In commercial sales, Cinergy sells the last units ofelectricity to its most guzzling customers at less than one-third of theprice that the lowest-using customers pay. My proposal would be to make itillegal to discount electricity sales based on monthly volume. One mightargue that increased revenues from guzzlers could be offset by lowered unitprices for those who use much less. Others might argue that increasedrevenues could be used to improve energy-obsolete housing and buildingstocks like Lloydhouse. Others might want to use new revenues for emissionsreductions to renewable energies.
B) Real Estate.....Require that energy performance be valued in appraisals and othermortage or real estate tax assessments. Right now, few energy performanceupgrades count for anything in appraisals or mortgage valuations. Thismeans all financial incentives for efficiency or renewables enhancementsmove to personal or household or business paybacks, defined as the initialadded investment divided by the years before avoided energy payments recoverthat investment. This discourages longer payback items, including mostrenewables. Instead, I propose that just as appraisors add "value" perfurnace, per AC, per sf of floor area, etc., they should be forced to addvalue for thicker insulation, bonified solar features, demonstrated historyof low utility bills, etc. This would reduce disincentives for longerpayback items, since at least some "payback" would come from future resalewhen the improvements are passed along to the next user. This is especiallyimportant for long-term upgrades, like superinsulation or solar electric,where upgrades will last many mortgage periods. In these cases, it'smisguided to ask just the first owner to pay all the costs. Right now, evenif a willing buyer appreciates the solar or superinsulation, unless theappraisal values those items, they cannot be financed conventionally. Thisforces potential buyers to pay more cash upfront, which discouragespotential buyers......Lien homes which fall well short of reasonable energy standards at timeof resale, such that if/when they are sold, a seller or buyer must agree toperform upgrades like insulation, more efficient HVAC, airtightening,windows, etc., or else the local government will perform upgrades and addthose new costs to the asking sale price of house automatically......HERS (or home energy rating system) is a uniform energy performancerating method to allow buyers to know right away and clearly the conditionsand energy-outfitting of the home, its energy use history, how that relatesto local standards and codes, how it relates to other similarly sized localhomes, etc.
C. Tax Code Changes.....Phase out the business tax-deductibility on conventional energy use, aswell as the tax deductibility of conventional energy-using equipment whichis not at least by a certain percentage more efficient than is required bycode. Permit only the deductibility of the added cost above what isrequired by code......Increase tariffs on imported energies and imported energy equipment topay for all identified costs associated with those energy sources. Forinstance, I'd pay fully for the Iraq War, cleanup of oil spills, navalpatrols of the Persian Gulf, etc., with new tariffs on imported oil. Thiswould raise dramatically the cost of imported oil. We're also seeing morecompressed natural gas imported nowdays, so I'd develop similar tariffs onthat. It would be illegal in my proposal to move such costs in other taxes,like corporation or personal income taxes. Keep the costs where they areassociated with the responsible products.
D. Building Codes.....Mandate that new and remodelled building designs target minimal energyusage by whatever methods.....Require each building and house to be able to withstand and tolerate somany hours of power outages without losing livability. For instance,require that "a house be designed to maintain at least 55 degrees averageindoor temperature without its HVAC operating for 24 hours when outdoortemperatures are at 0 degrees F. (or whatever the local "design heatingtemperature" is, according to existing HVAC codes).....Make it illegal for homes and buildings to suffer freezing plumbing orunsealed combustion....Limit the amount of heating and cooling energy equipment capacityinstalled, based on the floor area (i.e. BTU/sf)....Limit home or building pollution demand per floor area or occupant (i.e.CO2 per sf, CO2 per person)....Integrate reasonable retrofit energy upgrade standards for older housingand building stock. These would differ from standards for new structures,as appropriate, but nonetheless target substantial upgrades.....Encourage storage in structures or on their grounds: energy storage,thermal storage, water storage, wastewater storage. This would accomplishpeak shaving during energy, resource and waste system flow peaks, plusprovide local backup for these various systems during outages and shortages.E.
Education..... Teach reasonable, best and worst resource consumption standards andhistories starting in elementary and secondary schools, including 3rd grade"story problems". The goal here is to educate future adults about whatkinds of energy and water usage, plus pollution, is appropriate, what isconsidered "least" possible, what is "bad enough" to mandate improvement,etc. I believe right now that this ethic is completely missing largelybecause of lacking awareness......Teach energy/pollution relationships, like 2.55 pounds of CO2 per kWhfrom coal, etc......Add new college and university educational degree opportunities inenergy efficiency engineering, ecological engineering, ecological science(physical), resource management, etc. Consider that UC and Cincinnati Stateprograms in Environmental Engineering are remedial, mostly focused oncleaning up pollution after it is generated. My proposal is to provide newfuture local expertise on how to avoid the pollution from the get-go. Samewith energy, where right now most consumers are like sheep and most energyprofessionals are more like stock brokers than conservation/efficiencyprofessionals. The education I received was forced to independent studies,since local schools did not offer those opportunities 25 years ago, andstill do not today.--------------------------------(and sent in a separate email:)Sorry that I forgot to mention my policy proposals regarding personal vehicle fuels. It is shorter than my building proposals...   Â
1) Change the way vehicle fuel is priced, such that it pays for the development and phase-in of a variety of diversified alternative vehicle fuels. Since we import 62% (according to Lieberman) of our oil, and since the average American driver is said by DOE to use between 800 and 900 gallons of vehicle fuel per year, place an oil surtax on all usage above non-imported annual average-per-driver amount of fuel purchased. For instance, the current non-imported percent is 38%, so the non-surtaxed portion would be (using 850 gallons per driver per year) 0.38 x 850 = 323 gallons per year per driver.  Each driver at time of vehicle registration would be given a "credit card" with the assigned gallons. This card would be swiped at each fuel purchase for whatever reason (lawn mowers, cars, ATVs, etc.) After the 323 gallons is used up, an additional cost would be charged at the pump, beyond the stated price on the pump. This additional charge, recorded automatically by the pump and printed on the receipt, would be used to pay for new fuels development, especially start-up costs of local small business entrepreneurs around the nation involved in farm waste-to-ethanol, biodiesel, etc. The surtax could be 25 cents or $5, whatever is needed. Â
2) Low vehicle fuel users like me (I used less than 200 gallons of gas for my car, rental on vacation, yard tools, etc.) would not pay this new tax. Only guzzlers would pay the tax, thereby forcing them to pay for transitions away from oil. And low-users, whether due to owning super-efficient vehicles or carpooling or not driving much or whatever reason, could see their underused credits to guzzlers, thereby giving additional financial incentives to be a low-user of vehicle fuel. Electric vehicle drivers could sell their entire per-person allotment, since they would be using no vehicle fuel per se, instead either paying flat/inclining electricity prices or using expensive but clean solar or wind power. Â
3) Vehicle reregistration costs would include new environmental fees, based on vehicle tailpipe test TIMES the number of miles driven. For instance, tailpipe tests would result in varying fees for the same car if driven more or less. Vehicles, even relatively clean-burning ones like mine, could get higher fees if the car is driven 20,000 miles per year, instead of the 7000 or so miles I drive per year. Dirty-burning vehicles could get lower fees if driven very infrequently, but astronomical fees if driven high miles per year. Extra revenues would not only teach ecological relationships based on RATE X HRS OF USE, but also provide additional funding to reduce pollution in locales with air pollution nonattainment. (I have a similar proposal for smokestacks and chimneys, for which I would require similar regular testing and usage-related fees.) Â
The goals of these vehicle fuels rules and fees would be to solve problems caused by the vehicles. The revenues could not be diverted to other sectors, like hospitals or schools, as is often done in current tax schemes designed for money redistribution. We need environmental and energy moneys directly in our society, and not just from the corporations which are at least part of the problems we now face. And we need more personal awareness and responsibility for the transportation choices we make. I believe my 3 proposals accomplish these goals.
John F. Robbins CEM
Design, Analysis, Consulting & Education to Improve Ecological Performance
Website: http://home.insightbb.com/~johnfrobbins/
3519 Moffett Road, Morningview, KY 41063-8748
859-363-0376 - johnfrobbins@insightbb.com
Co-Chair, SW Ohio Alternate Energy Assn (AEA) www.aea1.org
Residential Chair, SW OH Chapter Assn of Energy Engineers (AEE)
www.aeecenter.org
Member, A-SPI, Kentucky Solar Partnership www.a-spi.org
Member, International Dark-Sky Association (IDA) www.darksky.org
More From John Robbins
Can the Salon Respond to this?
John is hoping our group can run with the ball on this. ellen
Ellen,
Â
I've been awaiting some comments or discussion about my energy policy recommendations. Was any of the part of Monday's discussions?  BTW, I appreciated all your positive comments about my writings...  However, I am trying to get a grass-roots discussion of these issue going. This OUGHT TO BE in the mainstream political discussions. Have you watched or read any of MANY analyses of the last election, not whether the election was stolen or voting falisified or mismanaged, but about the issues themselves?  At least on C-SPAN, there have been several panel discussions about the future of the Dem party, about why Kerry didn't do better, about particular issues which weren't handled or presented well, etc. ABSOLUTELY NONE of these panels (at least the ones I watched) seemed at all interested in energy or environment as an ignored or unused issue.  Similarly, in a C-SPAN 3-hr program prior to the election, where there were discussions of various races and candidates around the nation, there was no mention of energy or environment being any major parts of any campaigns anywhere. Doesn't this seem odd, incorrect, even devious?  I'm trying to light fires on these issues, but wonder why I'm having such a time doing it. I tried to light fires about this with the KY Chapter of Sierra Club, the Cumberland Chapter, for many weeks leading up to the election, but got absolutely no flame, not even one response from any member to whom I sent messages. Am I doing something wrong that you can see?  Are people simply unable to latch onto these issues?  I'm sure you notice that AEAers simply take matters into their own hands, ignoring the governments and corporations most of the time, but this certainly cannot be what's expected for the rest of our society...
Â
The way I see it, if grassroots political groups like your Salon and Cumberland Chapter can't grapple with these issues from the bottom-up, there's little hope the major parties will try to tackle 'em from the top-down, let alone even mention them in any campaigns. I think we (citizens) can't afford to leave the questions I pose to the corporations, CEOs, governments and presidents, most of whom come from and represent the elite wealthy class, whether Dem or Rep, liberal or conservative. That's what Cheney did with his energy summit that he's fought to keep secret. Unless we want more of the same, regardless of who gets elected next time, we'll still get proposals and m.o's which appeal mostly to the goals and mandates of the most powerful instead of the citizens. And I'm willing to bet right now that whether it's the Dems or Reps who hold the next summits, the solutions will not be ones we would seek, whether "we" are defined as the experienced implementers of EE/RE or simply lay folks who can't afford continually rising energy prices. Only with an educated, aware and activated electorate will future candidates rise to include and lead with our issues. How can "we" accomplish this with energy and environment issues? Â
Â
These are the kinds of questions, answers, comments and discussions I am expecting from a politically activated group like your Salon. If/when you ever ask me back for a more political discussion, I don't want to do all the talking or proposing or fire-setting.Â
Â
BTW, several recipients of my CD have not had any difficulties as I had when playing your CD at your place. Have you had better luck on another CD player? If not, please allow me to replace it with another CD. Let me know. Â
Â
Have a very nice New Year! I'm certainly pleased to have met and engaged you this year!  Â
John
=====
John,
thanks for your thoughts. I suggest that you should come back to the salon and we should have a "think tank" on how to get the grass roots consciousness arroused about energy. You are absolutely right.
Let's not let this one die. Would you be willing to come again, not for pay, to use the group mind to address the problem? It's a pretty smart group brain.
Let me know.
ellen
From: "John F. Robbins" <johnfrobbins@insightbb.com>
Date: Wed, 29 Dec 2004 14:58:59 -0500
To: "Ellen Bierhorst" <ellenbierhorst@lloydhouse.com>
Subject: Discussion of my "energy policy" suggestions?
Ellen,
I've been awaiting some comments or discussion about my energy policy recommendations. Was any of the part of Monday's discussions? BTW, I appreciated all your positive comments about my writings... However, I am trying to get a grass-roots discussion of these issue going. This OUGHT TO BE in the mainstream political discussions. Have you watched or read any of MANY analyses of the last election, not whether the election was stolen or voting falisified or mismanaged, but about the issues themselves? At least on C-SPAN, there have been several panel discussions about the future of the Dem party, about why Kerry didn't do better, about particular issues which weren't handled or presented well, etc. ABSOLUTELY NONE of these panels (at least the ones I watched) seemed at all interested in energy or environment as an ignored or unused issue. Similarly, in a C-SPAN 3-hr program prior to the election, where there were discussions of various races and candidates around the nation, there was no mention of energy or environment being any major parts of any campaigns anywhere. Doesn't this seem odd, incorrect, even devious? I'm trying to light fires on these issues, but wonder why I'm having such a time doing it. I tried to light fires about this with the KY Chapter of Sierra Club, the Cumberland Chapter, for many weeks leading up to the election, but got absolutely no flame, not even one response from any member to whom I sent messages. Am I doing something wrong that you can see? Are people simply unable to latch onto these issues? I'm sure you notice that AEAers simply take matters into their own hands, ignoring the governments and corporations most of the time, but this certainly cannot be what's expected for the rest of our society...
The way I see it, if grassroots political groups like your Salon and Cumberland Chapter can't grapple with these issues from the bottom-up, there's little hope the major parties will try to tackle 'em from the top-down, let alone even mention them in any campaigns. I think we (citizens) can't afford to leave the questions I pose to the corporations, CEOs, governments and presidents, most of whom come from and represent the elite wealthy class, whether Dem or Rep, liberal or conservative. That's what Cheney did with his energy summit that he's fought to keep secret. Unless we want more of the same, regardless of who gets elected next time, we'll still get proposals and m.o's which appeal mostly to the goals and mandates of the most powerful instead of the citizens. And I'm willing to bet right now that whether it's the Dems or Reps who hold the next summits, the solutions will not be ones we would seek, whether "we" are defined as the experienced implementers of EE/RE or simply lay folks who can't afford continually rising energy prices. Only with an educated, aware and activated electorate will future candidates rise to include and lead with our issues. How can "we" accomplish this with energy and environment issues?
These are the kinds of questions, answers, comments and discussions I am expecting from a politically activated group like your Salon. If/when you ever ask me back for a more political discussion, I don't want to do all the talking or proposing or fire-setting.
Have a very nice New Year! I'm certainly pleased to have met and engaged you this year!
John
CINCINNATI BOARD OF HEALTH ONCE AGAIN SAYS "NO" TO TRASH GIANT
WASTE MANAGEMENT
> >
> >
> >
> > For the fourth year in a row, the Cincinnati Board of Health has denied
> > trash giant Waste Management a license to operate a waste transfer station
> > in Cincinnati. After two and one half hours of discussion, debate, and
> > public testimony which sometimes became quite dramatic, the eight members
> > present at a special board meeting on December 28 voted 6 to 1 with one
> > abstention to say "NO" to the ELDA waste transfer station. The facility,
> > located on the site of the now closed ELDA landfill in Winton Hills, has
> > been strongly opposed by the surrounding business and residents since plans
> > for it were announced in 1998.
> >
> >
> >
> > Facing a certain threat of immediate legal challenge, and despite having
> > lost one round of legal battles over its prior decisions to deny an
> > operating license, the board nevertheless held firm to its position of the
> > past three years. The decision was based upon a number of concerns: the
> > company's demonstrated lack of reliability and disregard for environmental
> > laws, the decades long history of efforts by neighbors to get Waste
> > Management out of their backyard, the potential for harm to community
> > health, the already disproportionate pollution burden on the Winton Hills
> > neighborhood. As evidence of the company's apparent disregard for the laws,
> > some board members presented a document revealing two years of illegally
> > operating painting facility without a permit, which was cited as a violation
> > of law in September 2004 by Ohio EPA. Ultimately, the board reaffirmed its
> > findings in 2001, 2002, and 2003 that the company is not reliable, which
> > under Ohio law is adequate justification for the denial of a license to
> > operate a solid waste facility.
> >
> >
> >
> > At a late point in the discussion the attention of the board shifted to
> > considering the likelihood of its decision being overturned in court. Some
> > board members expressed that they felt caught in a dilemma between voting
> > for what they felt was right - denying the license - and what was more
> > likely to succeed - approving the license. As the board appeared headed for
> > a meltdown, one elderly community member, Betty Gazaway, a Winton Hills
> > resident of more than 40 years and a veteran to the ELDA struggle, jumped up
> > and laid out an emotional and eloquent appeal to the board to listen to
> > their hearts and to vote according to their conscience. The tension in the
> > room was so strong that board members periodically left their seats paced
> > about the room and the hallway. When the vote was finally taken, the
> > community members in attendance broke in to spontaneous applause.
> >
> >
> >
> > Since Waste Management is certain to take immediate legal action challenging
> > the decision, an important next step is for the board to get strong legal
> > representation, which has in the past been somewhat lackluster.
> >
> >
> >
> > -Karen Arnett, Program Director, Environmental Community Organization
> >
> > 761-6140 ext 14
> >
> > For more information , you can contact Marilyn Evans, Communities United For
> > Action, 541-4109, ext 104
Our Friend Paula Jackson Wins Award
The 2004 McCrackin Peace & Justice Awards
by Community Shares of Greater Cincinnnati
www.cintishares.org
honors this year several local people including Rev. Paula Jackson
Episcopal Priest, Church of Our Savior, Mt. Auburn
Community Shares
Community Shares of Greater Cincinnati is a partnership of local nonprofit organizations which collaborate to achieve social, economic, and environmental justice by expanding public awareness about its member organizations and by raising funds to support their programs and services throughout Cincinnati and the surrounding region.
Our local news reports frequently remind us of the problems our community faces. Sometimes we ask, ²why isn¹t someone doing something?² Well, someone is. Our 27 member organizations are working every day to bring about lasting, positive change.
Community Shares¹ organizations improve our community by helping people develop new attitudes about themselves and others, and new abilities to become self-reliant. They provide the education, training and support to make a real impact. Our members are working hard to encourage individuals to take responsibility for their lives and their community, seeking positive and innovative solutions to problems that affect us all. Community Shares provides a unique benefit to Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky, and investing in those benefits today reduces the costs that society (we) will have to pay later to fix even bigger problems.
end of articles
The Lloyd House Salon (usually about 15 people) Meets Mondays at 5:45,
EVERY MONDAY, 52 WEEKS/YEAR come hell or high water, as my mother used to say.
We of the Lloyd House Salon gather in a spirit of
respect, sympathy and compassion for one another
in order to exchange ideas for our mutual pleasure and enlightenment.
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Our brand new (under construction) Salon Blog: http:lloydhouse.blogspot.com (in principle has Salon Weekly starting 11/27/04)
interactive Yahoo Salon group, http://groups.yahoo.com/group/LloydHouseSalon.
Pot Luck Announcement (with procedures including food, mission and history) at
http://home.fuse.net/ellenbierhorst/Potluck.html  .Â
"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
> Please also visit the Lloyd House website:Â http://www.lloydhouse.com
>
> To unsubscribe from the Lloyd House Potluck Salon list, send a REPLY message
> to me and in the SUBJECT line type in "unsub potluck #". In the place of #
> type in the numeral that follows the subject line of my announcement emal. It
> will be 1,2, 3, 4, or 5. This tells me which sub-list your name is on so I can
> delete it. Thanks!  ellen bierhorst
- end of Salon Weekly -
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