Is Your Government Trying to Kill You?

Or,..."Why No Help Will Come to Haiti in Time to Ward Off Dyptheria Epidemic"

Funny thing about all these "new old" diseases floating around in the air today;brucellosis,rocky mountain spotted fever, plague, tularemia, typhoid, yellow fever, dysentery, rinderpest,botulinum toxin, anthrax, Q fever, bovine TB, hanta, sars, and so many many more,....while doing a little research on biological weapons of mass destruction (BWMD) I have learned that nearly all of these viruses' are the exact same agents governments have been experimenting with for use in biological and chemical warfare,.....just a coincidence, hummmmm, whada' you think?

Chemical and Biological Weapons: Possession and Programs Past and Present
http://cns.miis.edu/cbw/possess.htm#78

Bear in mind also as you read that their is MAJOR concern by the Powers-That-Be (PTB) about a world over-population crisis who are exploring ways to control it. A few of the most famous "pop-con" worriers are Bill Gates, Ted Turner, Opra Winfrey and George Soros. Just recently they attended a meeting of world leaders to discuss this very issue. Sounds crazy, I know, so dont take my word for it. Do you own research and here is a good place to start; an informative read compiled on the subject by a well-respected doctor;

The Population Control Agenda
http://www.radioliberty.com/pca.htm

More On Pop-Con, biological weapons and The Georgia Guidestones; http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-7411242739075082187&ei=KD56S5WoDZKClgev0-y1CA&q=biological+weapons+in+the+usa&hl=en&view=3#docid=-6993877947157119814

see also:"Billionaire club in bid to curb overpopulation;"
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/may/09052511.html

and then theres this: ChemTrails; http://www.educate-yourself.org/ct/#intro

As you read, consider the dire situation so many poor countries are currently in,...with starvation and disease run rampant,.. Haiti is only just one example. People, particularly children, have already started to die of preventable infectious diseases,...see Sean Penn mourning on national TV the other day over a 14 yr old boy that died in his arms for want of a simple vaccine, and he warns,.... thousands more will follow if help dosen't come soon. Check out Sean Penns Urgent Plea to the world in the link below;

http://www.cnn.com/2010/SHOWBIZ/05/08/sean.penn.haiti.aid/index.html?hpt=C1

The race to ward off a disastrous epidemic is on, but will any runnners come to Haiti's aid? My answer, well maybe, ....but not before 1/2 or more of the population dies off, as is all a part of the "Elites Population Control Plan" to cause or allow the "less - desirables" and the needy of the world die off, as recommended in "The Georgia Guidestones."

See related; http://yeolecogers.blogspot.com/2010/05/food-for-thought.html

PRO MED WATCH
HANTAVIRUS UPDATE - AMERICAS (24): CHILE, USA, SUSPECTED
(Bloggers Note: blaming it on rats)
*************************************************************
May - 2010 A ProMED-mail post

ProMED-mail is a program of the
International Society for Infectious Diseases

******
[1] Chile (Los Lagos), suspected
Date: Fri 7 Mar 2010
Source: Cronicalibre.cl [in Spanish, trans. Mod.TY, edited]

The Epidemiology Unit of the Los Lagos Health SEREMI [Regional Ministerial
Secretariat] has reported the case of a 25 year old woman suspected of
having contracted [a] hantavirus [infection], being treated at the Base
Hospital of Puerto Montt. The woman, a resident of the Colaco sector
(Callbuco community), is a direct family member of a previous case of [a]
hantavirus [infection], who was [also] admitted to the Puerto Montt Base
Hospital. This case was a man of 39 years, who died in April this year [2010].

An epidemiological team is today (Friday [7 May 2010]) carrying out an
environmental and epidemiological investigation in order to determine the
risk factors which could have caused the infection, which has not been
confirmed by the ISP [Instituto de Salud Publica - Public Health
Institute]. And so, in Osorno province, there have been 4 hantavirus
[infections -- probably of hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS). - Mod.TY],
one of whom died -- a man of 48 years, a resident of a locality near San
Juan de la Costa.

In the agricultural lands of the ANCHILE company, in the La Cumbre area (on
the route to Puacho), Monica Winkler of the Los Lagos Health SEREMI
together with a team of health professionals and zoonoses, addressed the
monitoring of forestry workers of the company as well as gave an
educational talk about hantaviruses to the more than 15 workers who were on
the job.

"Our concern is to protect the workers from [acquiring] hantavirus
infections, verifying the environmental conditions such as, for example,
garbage disposal, water or elements that could be incident to the
appearance of the pygmy long-tailed rat [_Oligoryzomys longicaudatus_], the
vector [reservoir] of the hantavirus [Andes virus]," said Winkler, who
added, "we could show that the workers have good infrastructure and
adequate conditions."

After carrying out the inspection, with the zoonoses [unit] of the
institution in charge, together with this health authority, they gave an
educational talk to the more than 15 workers of the company, provided
educational material, insisting that self-care measures [such as], "good
garbage disposal [which] is basic to keeping the long-tailed rat away,
ventilation of places that have been unoccupied and also not eating wild
fruits without washing them are measures which could be very useful in
these types of occupations," Monica Winkler explained.
--
communicated by:
HealthMap Alerts via ProMED-mail

[The relationship of the suspected female HPS case to the agricultural
company and workers is not clear in this report. Presumably, the
epidemiological and environmental investigations were carried out in the
place where the infection may have been acquired. Although not stated in
this report, the hantavirus involved is doubtless Andes virus. Andes virus
is the only hantavirus thus far demonstrated to be transmissible among
family members in very close contact.

One wonders if there was transmission of the virus to the woman from the
man mentioned as being a "direct" family member of hers. ProMED-mail would
appreciate receiving confirmation (or not) of the Andes virus etiology of
this case.

An image of the long-tailed pygmy rice rat (_Oligoryzomys longicaudatus_),
the sigmodontine rodent host of Andes hantavirus, can be seen at .

An interactive map of Chile showing the location of Colaco can be accessed
at . A map of Chile showing the administrative divisions including Los Lagos province can
be seen at . A HealthMap/ProMED-mail
interactive map of Chile can be accessed at .
- Mod.TY]

******
[2] USA (New Mexico), suspected
Date: Thu 6 May 2010
Source: Santa Fe New Mexican [edited]

A McKinley County woman is hospitalized in Albuquerque with [a] hantavirus
[infection], making her the 1st person in New Mexico to contract the deadly
disease so far this year [2010]. The state Health Department says an
environmental investigation will be done to determine where the 44 year old
woman may have been exposed to [virus infection and developed] hantavirus
pulmonary syndrome [HPS].

[A] hantavirus is contracted by breathing particles of rodent droppings,
urine or saliva. Early symptoms include fever and muscle aches, a headache,
nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and cough. Health Department
veterinarian Paul Ettestad says officials want everyone to be aware that
[a] hantavirus is present throughout the state and precautions need to be
taken to avoid exposure.

In 2009, New Mexico had 4 cases of hantavirus [infection, probably HPS. -
Mod.TY], none fatal. In 2008, there were 2 cases, both fatal.
--
communicated by:
Therese A Catanach
Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences
Texas A&M University
College Station, TX USA

[It is unfortunate that this and other reports refer to "hantavirus" as
though there was just one species that causes human infection and HPS. The
hantavirus responsible for this and the previous cases mentioned is almost
certain to be Sin Nombre virus.

A map showing the location of McKinley County in northwestern Ne Mexico can
be accessed at . A map showing the location of New Mexico in the southwestern USA can be accessed at . A HealthMap/ProMED-mail interactive map of the USA can be accessed at
. - Mod.TY]

[see also:
Hantavirus update 2010 - Americas (23): Chile (BI) 20100506.1476
Hantavirus update 2010 - Americas (21): Chile, Argentina 20100427.1357
Hantavirus update 2010 - Americas (20): Chile (AR) 20100422.1305
Hantavirus update 2010 - Americas (19): Chile (LL) 20100422.1297
Hantavirus update 2010 - Americas (18): Chile (ML) 20100420.1285
Hantavirus update 2010 - Americas (16): Argentina, Chile 20100407.1125
Hantavirus update 2010 - Americas (15): Chile, Bolivia 20100402.1050
Hantavirus update 2010 - Americas (14): Chile (AI, LG) 20100329.0990
Hantavirus update 2010 - Americas (13): Chile 20100322.0915
Hantavirus update 2010 - Americas (10): USA (CO) 20100304.0708
Hantavirus update 2010 - Americas (07): Chile 20100215.0534
Hantavirus update 2010 - Americas (06): Chile 20100213.0515
Hantavirus update 2010 - Americas (05): Chile, conf. 20100210.0467
Hantavirus update 2010 - Americas (04): Chile, susp., RFI 20100209.0448
Hantavirus update 2010 - Americas (03): USA (CO) 20100129.0316
Hantavirus update 2010 - Americas (02): Chile 20100119.0210
Hantavirus update 2010 - Americas (01): Chile 20100108.0097
2009
---
Hantavirus update 2009 - Americas (12): USA, pediatric 20091223.4323
Hantavirus update 2009 - Americas (11): USA (CA) 20091214.4245
Hantavirus update 2009 - Americas (10): USA (NM) 20090918.3281
Hantavirus update 2009 - Americas (08): USA (NM, AZ) 20090708.2452
Hantavirus update 2009 - Americas (06): USA (NM) 20090511.1753]

See also:

PIG VIRUS FOUND IN CHILDRENS VACCINES
FDA says "No Cause for Concern"
http://publikeye.blogspot.com/2010/05/pig-virus-found-in-childrens-vaccines.html

AVIAN INFLUENZA (28): PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY, WEST BANK, SUSPECTED,
REQUEST FOR INFORMATION
***********************************************
A ProMED-mail post

ProMED-mail is a program of the
International Society for Infectious Diseases


Date: Thu 13 May 2010
Source: The Marker [in Hebrew, trans. Mod.AS, edited]



Bird flu has appeared in the Palestinian Authority [PA]. Following
the death of numerous chickens in Tulkarm, the PA sent several dead
birds to the laboratories of the Veterinary Services at Beit Dagan.
The lab investigation revealed the deadly avian influenza.

[Israel's] Ministry of Agriculture Inspection Unit for Fauna and
Flora, which carries the responsibility for the control upon animal
and plant movements, has intensified its control upon the border
crossings, gateways and passages between the West Bank and Israel to
prevent smuggling of infected poultry.

The Director of Israel's Veterinary Services, Dr Moshe Haimovich, has
urged the public to buy poultry and eggs only in regulated stores/enterprises.

Last week, the highly pathogenic avian influenza was discovered in
the small children's zoo of Kibbutz Ein Gedi, where all avians were
destroyed by the inspectors of the Services to prevent the spread of
the epidemic.

[Byline: Amiram Cohen ]

--
Communicated by:
ProMED-mail

[Tulkarm is on the eastern side of the border between Israel and the
PA (West Bank); see, about 14 km east of Netanya, in the map at
.

An official confirmation and details are anticipated. - Mod.AS]

[see also:
Avian influenza (26): Israel (HD), emu, OIE 20100507.1486
Avian influenza (09): Israel (HA) update 20100203.0364
Avian influenza (08): Israel (HA) resolved, OIE 20100202.0355
2008
----
Avian influenza (04): Israel, Bangladesh, China (Xinjiang) 20080104.0045
Avian influenza (03): Israel 20080103.0023
2006
----
Avian influenza - worldwide (87): Russia, Israel 20060413.1098
Avian influenza, worldwide (88) - Asia, Europe: OIE 20060415.1122
Avian influenza - worldwide (78): Germany, P.A., India 20060405.1018]
........................................arn/msp/dk

*##########################################################*
************************************************************
ProMED-mail makes every effort to verify the reports that
are posted, but the accuracy and completeness of the
information, and of any statements or opinions based
thereon, are not guaranteed. The reader assumes all risks in
using information posted or archived by ProMED-mail. ISID
and its associated service providers shall not be held
responsible for errors or omissions or held liable for any
damages incurred as a result of use or reliance upon posted
or archived material.
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PIG VIRUS FOUND IN CHILDRENS VACCINES

FDA FINDS NO CAUSE FOR CONCERN

http://www.fda.gov/BiologicsBloodVaccines/Vaccines/ApprovedProducts/ucm211101.htm


ROTAVIRUS VACCINE - USA (02): EXTRANEOUS VIRUS
**********************************************
A ProMED-mail post

ProMED-mail is a program of the
International Society for Infectious Diseases

******
[1]
Date: Fri 7 May 2010
Source: CIDRAP News [edited]


Another rotavirus vaccine found to contain porcine circovirus
-------------------------------------------------------------
Merck, the company that makes the most commonly given rotavirus vaccine in
the United States, yesterday said it has detected very low levels of DNA
from porcine circovirus (PCV) in its Rotateq vaccine, making it the 2nd
rotavirus vaccine found to contain PCV. The company said in a press release
that it used highly sensitive assays to test its vaccine after an
independent testing laboratory found evidence of the virus in the other
US-licensed rotavirus vaccine, Rotarix, made by GlaxoSmithKline (GSK).
On 22 Mar 2010 the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommended that,
although it doesn't appear that the Rotarix poses any safety risks,
physicians should suspend administering it until government and industry
scientists could review the findings.
The FDA's vaccine advisory panel was scheduled to discuss the Rotarix
findings today [Fri 7 May 2010], and yesterday in advance of the meeting it
posted a notice on Merck's PCV findings for its vaccine. It said
preliminary studies from Merck had identified DNA fragments from PCV
subtype 1 (PCV1), the same subtype found in GSK's vaccine, as well as from
PCV subtype 2 (PCV2).
The FDA said neither has been known to cause illness in humans, though PCV2
can cause illness in pigs. It also said it has no evidence that either of
the vaccines poses a safety risk and that both have strong safety records.
At today's meeting of the FDA Vaccine and Related Biological Products
Advisory Committee (VRBPAC), members were briefed on the latest study
findings from FDA and industry scientists. Most members said the benefits
of the rotavirus vaccines clearly outweigh the risks, though several
expressed concerns about the PCV2 findings in Merck's vaccine, due to the
fact that it can cause disease in pigs.
Yesterday the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported
that the last 2 rotavirus seasons were shorter than past seasons and that
vaccine coverage has risen to 72 per cent. However, usage is about 13 per
cent lower than 2 other childhood vaccines commonly given to infants. The
CDC findings appear in the latest issue of Morbidity and Mortality Weekly
Report (MMWR) .
Some VRBPAC members today voiced a need for transparency when talking to
parents about the rotavirus vaccine PCV findings, but they also worried
that news about contamination with extraneous virus fragments could erode
some of the gains in vaccine coverage.
[byline: Lisa Schnirring]
--
communicated by:
ProMED-mail

******
[2]
Date: Thu 6 May 2010
Source: FDA (Food and Drug Administration), Vaccine, Blood and Biologics
[edited]


Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee meeting
Background material -- porcine circovirus and rotavirus vaccines
----------------------------------------------------------------
The Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee meeting on
7 May 2010 will discuss the findings shared with the public on 22 Mar 2010,
that porcine circovirus type 1 (PCV1) DNA was found in GlaxoSmithKline
Biologicals' Rotarix Vaccine. Additional data pertaining to the Rotarix
vaccine will also be presented to the committee.
The FDA recently received information from Merck and Co, Inc that its
preliminary studies have identified fragments of DNA from PCV1 and from a
related porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) in its RotaTeq vaccine. Merck's
findings suggest that the number of PCV DNA fragments in its vaccine may be
smaller than what has been found in Rotarix. These preliminary findings
will be included in discussions with the committee.
The FDA has been working closely with manufacturers of the 2 licensed
rotavirus vaccines, has consulted with experts inside and outside of the
federal government, and has considered issues related to the novel testing
that led to the identification of PCV.
The FDA has no evidence to date that these findings pertaining to Rotarix
and RotaTeq pose a safety risk. Both vaccines have strong safety records,
including clinical trials involving tens of thousands of patients and
clinical experience with millions of patients.
PCV1 and PCV2 are both small, circular viruses composed of a single strand
of DNA. PCV1 and PCV2 are common in pigs. Neither PCV1 nor PCV2 are known
to cause illness in humans, however PCV2 may cause illness in pigs.
Rotarix and RotaTeq are the 2 US licensed vaccines indicated for the
prevention of rotavirus disease in infants. Rotavirus disease causes the
deaths of more than 500 000 infants around the world each year, primarily
in low and middle-income countries. Before the introduction of vaccination,
the disease caused more than 50 000 hospitalizations and several dozen
deaths in the US each year. Rotavirus vaccines are given by mouth to
infants to prevent rotavirus disease, which can cause severe diarrhea and
dehydration.
The FDA will continue to work with both GSK and Merck as additional testing
is conducted by both the manufacturers and FDA to further assess the
findings of PCV DNA in rotavirus vaccines.
After considering the input of the committee's experts and the available
scientific information, the FDA will make further recommendations on the
use of the licensed rotavirus vaccines in the US. The FDA will provide
updates to the public and clinical community through
and other communications.
--
communicated by:
ProMED-mail

[Rotavirus is the leading cause of severe acute gastroenteritis (vomiting
and diarrhea) among children worldwide. Two different rotavirus vaccines
are currently licensed for use in infants in the United States. The
vaccines are RotaTeq (RV5) and Rotarix (RV1). Before being licensed, both
vaccines were tested in clinical trials and shown to be safe and effective.
In these studies, during approximately the 1st year of an infant's life,
rotavirus vaccine was found to prevent almost all (85-98 per cent)
rotavirus illness episodes that were severe and to prevent 74-87 per cent
of all rotavirus illness episodes.
The presence of fragments of the genomic DNA of the 2 circoviruses in both
vaccines suggests that the contamination was present in the original
rotavirus isolate from which the vaccine viruses were derived, and that the
contamination was not introduced during subsequent development and
production of the vaccines, but that remains to be established
conclusively. So far there appear to have been no deleterious consequences
resulting from the presence of these contaminants in the vaccine. - Mod.CP]
[see also:
Rotavirus - Americas: PAHO alert 20100330.1009
Rotavirus vaccine - USA: extraneous virus 20100322.0914]
...................cp/ejp/sh

*##########################################################*
************************************************************
ProMED-mail makes every effort to verify the reports that
are posted, but the accuracy and completeness of the
information, and of any statements or opinions based
thereon, are not guaranteed. The reader assumes all risks in
using information posted or archived by ProMED-mail. ISID
and its associated service providers shall not be held
responsible for errors or omissions or held liable for any
damages incurred as a result of use or reliance upon posted
or archived material.
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Feds Supplying Community Police w/ Weapons of War

Getting ready for the Domestic Seige

http://freedomfighterradio.net/?p=8035

Poll: 4 out of 5 Americans don't trust Washington

..and "We, the People" are Ok with this? Doncha think its time for some REAL change?

Viva la' Revolution! http://www.freewebs.com/recruitnrevolt


Posted: Apr 18, 2010 8:16 PM EDT Updated: Apr 19, 2010 10:36 AM EDT

By LIZ SIDOTI
AP National Political Writer

WASHINGTON (AP) - America's "Great Compromiser" Henry Clay called government "the great trust," but most Americans today have little faith in Washington's ability to deal with the nation's problems.

Public confidence in government is at one of the lowest points in a half century, according to a survey from the Pew Research Center. Nearly 8 in 10 Americans say they don't trust the federal government and have little faith it can solve America's ills, the survey found.

The findings illustrate the ominous situation President Barack Obama and the Democratic Party face as they struggle to maintain their comfortable congressional majorities in this fall's elections. Midterm prospects are typically tough for the party in power. Add a toxic environment like this and lots of incumbent Democrats could be out of work.

Released Sunday, the survey found that just 22 percent of those questioned say they can trust Washington almost always or most of the time and just 19 percent say they are basically content with it. Nearly half say the government negatively affects their daily lives, a sentiment that's grown over the past dozen years.

This anti-government feeling has driven the tea party movement, reflected in fierce protests this past week.

"The government's been lying to people for years. Politicians make promises to get elected, and when they get elected, they don't follow through," says Cindy Wanto, 57, a registered Democrat from Nemacolin, Pa., who joined several thousand for a rally in Washington on April 15 - the tax filing deadline. "There's too much government in my business. It was a problem before Obama, but he's certainly not helping fix it."

Majorities in the survey call Washingtontoo big and too powerful, and say it's interfering too much in state and local matters. The public is split over whether the government should be responsible for dealing with critical problems or scaled back to reduce its power, presumably in favor of personal responsibility.

About half say they want a smaller government with fewer services, compared with roughly 40 percent who want a bigger government providing more. The public was evenly divided on those questions long before Obama was elected. Still, a majority supported the Obama administration exerting greater control over the economy during the recession.

Only twice since the 1950s has public skepticism dipped this deeply - from 1992 to 1995 during which time it hit 17 percent, and 1978 to 1980, bottoming out at 25 percent. The nation was going through economic struggles during both of those periods.

"Trust in government rarely gets this low," said Andrew Kohut, director of the nonpartisan center that conducted the survey. "Some of it's backlash against Obama. But there are a lot of other things going on."

And, he added: "Politics has poisoned the well."

The survey found that Obama's policies were partly to blame for a rise in distrustful, anti-government views. In his first year in office, the president orchestrated a government takeover of Detroit automakers, secured a $787 billion stimulus package and pushed to overhaul the health care system.

But the poll also identified a combination of factors that contributed to the electorate's hostility: the recession that Obama inherited from President George W. Bush; a dispirited public; and anger with Congress and politicians of all political leanings.

"I want an honest government. This isn't an honest government. It hasn't been for some time," said self-described independent David Willms, 54, of Sarasota, Fla. He faulted the White House and Congress under both parties.

The poll was based on four surveys done from March 11 to April 11 on landline and cell phones. The largest survey, of 2,500 adults, has a margin of sampling error of 2.5 percentage points; the others, of about 1,000 adults each, has a margin of sampling error of 4 percentage points.

In the short term, the deepening distrust is politically troubling for Obama and Democrats. Analysts say out-of-power Republicans could well benefit from the bitterness toward Washington come November, even though voters blame them, too, for partisan gridlock that hinders progress.

In a democracy built on the notion that citizens have a voice and a right to exercise it, the long-term consequences could prove to be simply unhealthy - or truly debilitating. Distrust could lead people to refuse to vote or get involved in their own communities. Apathy could set in, or worse - violence.

Democrats and Republicans both accept responsibility and fault the other party for the electorate's lack of confidence.

"This should be a wake-up call. Both sides are guilty," said Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Mo. She pointed to "nonsense" that goes on during campaigns that leads to "promises made but not promises kept." Still, she added: "Distrust of government is an all-American activity. It's something we do as Americans and there's nothing wrong with it."

Sen. Scott Brown, a Republican who won a long-held Democratic Senate seat in Massachusetts in January by seizing on public antagonism toward Washington, said: "It's clear Washington is broken. There's too much partisan bickering to be able to solve the problems people want us to solve."

And, he added: "It's going to be reflected in the elections this fall."

But Matthew Dowd, a top strategist on Bush's re-election campaign who now shuns the GOP label, says both Republicans and Democrats are missing the mark.

"What the country wants is a community solution to the problems but not necessarily a federal government solution," Dowd said. Democrats are emphasizing the federal government, while Republicans are saying it's about the individual; neither is emphasizing the right combination to satisfy Americans, he said.
___

On the Net:

Pew Research Center: http://people-press.org/

http://www.8newsnow.com/Global/story.asp?S=12332069

Clinton Appoligizes to Haiti

What Bill Clinton's Mea Culpa Should Mean

by Ruth Messinger April 01, 2010 02:19 PM (PT) Topics: Natural Disasters

As many of us have been paying close attention to the long-awaited passage of health care reform last week, it was easy to miss something else that was absolutely extraordinary. Former President Bill Clinton said at a recent Senate hearing that he regrets the impact in Haiti of the free trade policies that became a hallmark of his presidency.

"It may have been good for some of my farmers in Arkansas, but it has not worked. It was a mistake," Clinton said this month. "I had to live everyday with the consequences of the loss of capacity to produce a rice crop in Haiti to feed those people because of what I did; nobody else."

Sadly, he's right. The rapid lowering of agricultural trade barriers in Haiti combined with misguided U.S. food aid policy allowed American agribusinesses to flood the country with cheap surplus rice and force tens of thousands of local farmers out of business. According to the Associated Press, six pounds of imported rice now costs at least a dollar less than a similar quantity of locally-grown rice. So how can a Haitian farmer compete? The past 15 years have shown they simply can't.

Prior to the era of so-called "free trade," Haiti could feed itself, importing only 19% of its food and actually exporting rice. Today, Haiti imports more than half of its food, including 80% of the rice eaten in the country. The result is that Haitians are particularly vulnerable to price spikes arising from global weather, political instability, rising fuel costs and natural disasters, such as earthquakes that register 7.0 on the Richter scale. In fact, since the January earthquake, imported rice prices are up 25%.

It is especially fitting that President Clinton's mea culpa comes as the Jewish community worldwide prepares to observe Passover. The story of Passover is a stark reminder that communities cannot rely solely on others to provide for their needs. Until people are empowered to help themselves, in-kind assistance from the outside is useful only in the immediate aftermath of acute emergencies. Long-term needs must be met principally through a community-led approach. The lesson we take from Passover is that once the Israelites spoke out against slavery their prayers for freedom were finally answered.

Today, the people of Haiti are speaking as loud as they can. They desperately want a voice and central role in the reconstruction of their country, including the ability to meet the country's nutritional needs with food produced by Haitians in Haiti. In fact, President Rene Preval, himself a rice grower, has asked for international food aid to be replaced by financial support for farmers and the re-development of the agricultural sector. Preval knows that sustained success in rebuilding depends on food sovereignty, or the ability for Haitian farmers to grow their own crops and feed their own communities.

Is the international community getting the message? It's hard to say. The AP also reported that the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) has provided nearly four times as much in-kind food aid since January as it invests each year in Haitian agriculture. There is of course a need in grave circumstances for actual shipments of food — but for decades we've used in-kind food as a tool for destroying local agricultural markets on an ongoing basis, not as a last-resort measure to be used in emergencies after all possibilities for local purchase have been exhausted.

Until our government abandons a system that dumps surplus from American agribusiness on the developing world, its efforts at ending hunger will remain counterproductive. Then again, if you are the D.C. lobbyist for Big Ag, maybe that's the point. Maintaining the developing world's cycle of dependence is profitable business.

The time has come for us to pay attention, to heed the wishes of the Haitian people to be empowered. We must demand that the purpose of our work in Haiti is not to merely rebuild an export market for our surpluses, but rather to support a Haitian-led effort to create a country that can stand on its own, build a sustainable economy and feed its people. Over the next couple of months, Congress will be discussing how to allocate more than $1.6 billion in supplemental funding for Haiti. I urge you to contact your elected representatives and let them know that this money must be used to empower communities, not corporations.

Each year, during Passover, we say "let all who are hungry, come and eat." Then, ironically, we proceed to enjoy a wonderful meal with our families and friends while our front doors remain closed. If you will be celebrating Passover this year, I ask that you open your doors — at least metaphorically — and hear those calls from a country just a few hundred miles off our shore. Recognize that the people of Haiti may not need our food. Rather, they need us to listen as they tell us how we can really help.

http://globalpoverty.change.org/blog/view/what_bill_clintons_mea_culpa_should_mean

New Obama Appointee Opposes Employer Sanctions for Hiring Illegal Aliens

Of course, no one in power really wants to get rid of illegal aliens,...Big-Ag and other industries like horse racing - need the illegals who are the only ones they can get to work for cheap.


President Obama once again demonstrated his allegiance to pro-amnesty organizations by appointing a union lawyer to the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) who opposes employer sanctions for hiring illegal aliens. President Obama appointed Craig Becker to the NLRB last week as part of a series of recess appointments to fill 15 administration positions, a move that upset Republicans who argued the president circumvented the Senate’s authority to confirm nominations. (The Wall Street Journal, March 29, 2010). Though both parties agree that most of the nominees are not controversial, the appointment of Becker to the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) has sparked fierce opposition.

The main controversy comes from public comments Mr. Becker has made on employer sanctions for hiring illegal aliens. In a 2001 radio interview on WBEZ, Becker publicly stated that he opposes sanctioning employers for hiring illegal aliens. (Breitbart, January 8, 2001). Calling the impact of employer sanctions “discriminatory” and “harsh,” Becker said the policy of imposing sanctions ignored the fact that illegal aliens are here to stay. Becker’s nomination, which has been pending for about a year, has also been controversial because he is the associate general counsel of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) and also works for the AFL-CIO, both of which support amnesty and spend millions of dollars advocating for such legislation. Many feel that his history creates a conflict of interest because the NLRB oversees union elections and referees disputes between employers and unions. Opponents of Becker’s nomination feel he won’t be impartial.

Both Democrats and Republicans feel Becker’s radical positions should disqualify him from the position at the NLRB. Only two months ago, the Senate blocked Becker’s appointment through a filibuster. At that time, Senator Ben Nelson (D-Neb.) remarked, “Mr. Becker’s previous statements strongly indicate that he would take an aggressive personal agenda to the NLRB, and that he would pursue a personal agenda there, rather than that of the administration. This is of great concern, considering that the board’s main responsibility is to resolve labor disputes with an even and impartial hand.” (Politico, February 8, 2010). In fact, the National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation has already said it will ask Becker to recuse himself from 12 pending cases due to his prior opposition to the group. (The Wall Street Journal, March 29, 2010).

Obama’s decision to appoint Becker is a huge win for labor unions. The Workforce Fairness Institute, which is funded by business owners, called Becker’s appointment a “payoff to union bosses at the expense of America’s employers and employees.” (CBS News, March 29, 2010). While union advocacy groups such as American Rights at Work celebrate, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce warns, “the business community should be on red alert for radical changes that could significantly impair the ability of America’s job creators to compete.” (CBS News, March 29, 2010).

Sinead O'Conner Speaks Out Against the Pope : Calls 4 Boycott of Irish Catholic Services

Click on title above for vid