Citizens

The Most Efficient Health Care Systems In The World

Thu, 2013-10-31 13:14 — gl

Huffington Post - Kavitha A. Davidson - August 29, 2013

As supporters and opponents of the Affordable Care Act debate the best way to overhaul a clearly broken health care system, it's perhaps helpful to put American medicine in a global perspective.

The infographic below is based on a recent Bloomberg ranking of the most efficient countries for health care, and highlights enormous gap between the soaring cost of treatment in the U.S. and its quality and effectiveness.

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FUKUSHIMA DISASTER: IMPACTS AND CONTINUING THREATS

Wed, 2013-10-23 12:36 — Gina Angiola

Physicians for Social Responsibility (PSR) Report, 2013

More than two years since the nuclear disaster began at the Fukushima Daiichi reactors, its impact is massive and widespread. It will be decades before the full scope of the impacts of this ongoing disaster is fully understood but significant health, economic, environmental and social consequences are already evident and quantifiable. Furthermore, independent expert analyses has documented extraordinary industry influence on government regulators, especially widespread collusion among the Japanese government, Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO), the owner/operator of Fukushima, and the nuclear/utility industry. The Fukushima disaster leaves Japan with massive economic loss, radiation exposure to children and others, and a nation grappling with an uncertain nuclear future.

FULL REPORT HERE

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Fossil Fuel Divestment Campaign Spreading Like Wildfire

Tue, 2013-10-22 00:00 — Gina Angiola

Inside Climate News, News Report, Katherine Bagley, Posted: Dec 09, 2012

Image: The kick-off of the Do The Math tour in Seattle on November 7, 2012, coordinated by 350.org, whose founder is author and activist Bill McKibben (pictured here in the front, center). Divestment from fossil fuel companies is a key component of the campaign.

A divestment campaign aimed at fossil fuel companies has swept college campuses across the country since it began just four weeks ago, catching university presidents by surprise.

The effort is the result of a student-led campaign coordinated by 350.org, a climate advocacy organization founded by author and activist Bill McKibben. The goal is to turn global warming action into the moral issue of this generation.

"Bottom line, for a college or university, you do not want your institution to be on the wrong side of this issue," said Stephen Mulkey, president of Unity College in Maine...

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House GOP Works For Votes On Food Stamp Measure

Mon, 2013-09-23 11:01 — gl

huffingtonpost.com - by Mary Clare Jalonick - September 18, 2013

Republican House leaders are working to line up votes for nearly $4 billion in annual food stamp cuts, but some GOP moderates are questioning if that is too much.

The bill also would end government waivers that have allowed able-bodied adults who don't have dependents to receive food stamps indefinitely.

"I think the cuts are too drastic and too draconian," says Republican Rep. Michael Grimm of New York, who represents Staten Island, which was hard hit by Hurricane Sandy last year. "Those that really need the program will suffer."

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White House Honors Champions of Change in Emergency Preparedness

Mon, 2012-01-23 00:00 — Kathy Gilbeaux

Posted in blog.fema.gov by: Richard Serino, Deputy Administrator

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Video - The People's Skype

Thu, 2011-12-15 23:25 — Kathy Gilbeaux

submitted by Albert Gomez

http://peoplesskype.org/

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Local Towns Signing Up for Twitter and Facebook for Emergency Comm.

Sat, 2011-12-10 10:51 — Kathy Gilbeaux

submitted by Samuel Bendett

Homeland Security News Wire - December 7, 2011

Following the lead of several other cities and federal agencies, the town of Wilton, Connecticut recently launched a Facebook page and Twitter account to help communicate with residents and share information during a disaster

Following the lead of several other cities and federal agencies, the town of Wilton, Connecticut recently launched a Facebook page and Twitter account to help communicate with residents and share information during a disaster.

Two major storms, including Hurricane Irene, left many Wilton residents without water or electricity for up to a week and sent a strong signal to emergency officials that they needed to improve disaster communications.

To that end, the town created an official Emergency Facebook Page as well as a Twitter account.

Speaking before the Wilton Board of Selectman, Fire Chief Paul Milositz, who is also the town’s emergency response director, said, “We have to get better at [communication with residents].”

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Occupy L.A.: Crowd Swells as Deadline Nears

Tue, 2011-11-29 14:24 — admin

Los Angeles Times - November 27, 2011

As a midnight deadline loomed, more than 1,000 Occupy L.A. protesters and supporters crammed onto the City Hall lawn for what might be their last general assembly -- the nightly meeting of protesters.

A few climbed into trees while others stood or sat on the ground. For more than three hours, protesters stood up to make statements, lead chants and, in at least one case, sing a gospel song.

Some of the business related to the impending eviction: Speakers gave out the phone number for the National Lawyers Guild, which is providing legal support for any protesters arrested in the action, and directed the protesters to reassemble at Our Lady Queen of Angels church on North Main Street if police cleared the encampment at City Hall.

PHOTOS: Occupy L.A. eviction

Other issues ranged farther afield. Speakers urged the audience to go vegan, and the assembly passed a resolution supporting the repeal of "corporate personhood."

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Occupy Protester Hands President Obama a Note

Wed, 2011-11-23 21:35 — admin

submitted by Theresa Bernardo

news.yahoo.com - by Holly Bailey - November 22, 2011

(Charles Dharapak/AP)

The Occupy movement trailed President Obama to New Hampshire today, where protestors briefly interrupted his jobs speech at a Manchester high school.

Using the so-called "human microphone" method, protestors shouted Obama down just minutes into his speech, calling attention to the arrest of peaceful protestors at Occupy movements around the country.

They were quickly countered by students, who began chanting, "Obama! Obama!"

But after the speech, a member of the movement got close enough to Obama as the president was shaking hands with members of the audience pass him a note, which was photographed by the Associated Press' Charles Dharapak:

Mr. President: Over 4000 peaceful protesters have been arrested. While bankers continue to destroy the American economy. You must stop the assault on our 1st amendment rights. Your silence sends a message that police brutality is acceptable. Banks got bailed out. We got sold out.

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