Current Events

DemocracyFest

jjem — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 07:18:49 -0700

Hi there,

I wanted to let you all know about a liberal political festival coming to your area next month.

The 5th Annual DemocracyFest will be held August 16-17 in Dulles, VA. Get your tickets today at $20 off the regular price!

http://www.DemocracyFest.net

The DemocracyFest schedule includes many exciting trainings, speakers and entertainers again this year!

Democracy For America (DFA) will conduct trainings for activists on subjects including Canvassing & Phone Banking, Working with the Media, Event Planning, Mobilizing Young Voters and Fundraising. Whether you've worked in politics for years, are running for office yourself, or are a newcomer to volunteering, you'll find these trainings informative and useful!

Speakers this year will include Gov. Howard Dean (speech free and open to the public), Jeffrey Feldman, Jim Dean, Charlie Grapski, Nathan Gonzales, and more! As always, DemocracyFest is as much about "celebration" as "education" and this year will be no different! Entertainers will include Subway Serenade, Bobby Kendes, and more! Plus, there will be parties late into the night on both Friday and Saturday nights!

Hope to see you there!
Jessica Falker
http://www.DemocracyFest.net

Baltimore Regional Transportation

Conochilus — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 19:59:52 -0700

The federal government's transit and highway agencies are currentlyconducting a certification review of the Baltimore Regional TransportationBoard (BRTB). This review of the metropolitan planning organization's compliance with the federal laws,regulations, and guidelines occurs every four years, and right now CITIZENS HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE COMMENTS for the record. If you would like to write your own comments, you can submit online at:www.baltometro.org/bboard/MPO_Certification_2008/?numPosts= If you would like to sign a joint comment with other organizations and individualsregarding the BRTB's failure to provide comprehensive and integrated transportation planning in the Baltimore region, contact yrenne@verizon.net for a copy to review. deadline for sign-ons is noon July 9. If you would like to address particular questions that the Feds have posedto the public see:http://www.baltometro.org/content/view/1010 Additional information on the certification process can be found at:http://www.baltometro.org/content/view/1009/584To see the 2004 certification report produced by the Feds: http://www.baltometro.org/BRTB/BRTBCertReport2004.pdf

Biofuel

NickCRMW — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 10:32:30 -0700

Brazil says biofuel production not to blame for food crisishttp://www.enn.com/energy/article/37212

With its prodigious farm exports and its major industry making ethanol from sugarcane, Brazil is seeking to show that in the food versus biofuel debate at least in its case the two can co-exist.

President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has challenged critics who claim biofuel production is contributing to high food prices and demand, arguing the problem lies instead in poor agricultural and distribution models.

"It is not ethanol that is causing food prices to rise, because Brazil, which produces more biofuel also produces more food," he has said. That view has support among government analysts.

The food crisis "is a problem of wealth distribution, a political problem," said Giselle Ferreira de Araujo, who works for the state National Council for Scientific and Technological Development.

Renato Maluf, the head of the government's food safety agency, said the demand driving up food prices is largely coming from China, India and other emerging economies.

But the high price of gas, which has raised transportation costs, as well as poor harvests in some parts of the world, and "speculation on food products" were also to blame, he said.

The United States had helped trigger the fears of biofuel production affecting food output by "confusing public opinion to suggest there is no difference between ethanol from sugarcane and from corn," argued Rubens Ricupero, a former head of the UN Conference on Trade and Development.

Brazil's use of sugarcane for biofuel does not replace food crops, its supporters argue, whereas the US use of corn to make its ethanol does.

Biofuel has also won backing from some environmental groups, including the WWF, which sees the carburant as a renewable energy source that can address growing worldwide demand for power.

The WWF estimates that demand for ethanol will reach 100 billion liters by 2012, and that the United States, the biggest producer, will provide 42 percent of that. Gasoline consumption, by way of comparison, was 1.24 trillion liters in 2005.

Currently, the United States produces 28 billion liters of ethanol, followed by Brazil with 22 billion liters.

The WWF did note, however, that sugarcane fields tended to occupy areas once given over to cattle-raising, and even though it rated that factor as insignificant, it did warn that some ancillary effect of displaced ranchers moving into the Amazon, contributing to deforestation, could occur.

Eduardo Leao, the executive director of the Unica federation covering the sugarcane industry, said ethanol production uses just 1.0 percent of Brazil's total arable land. Meanwhile, the country's food production had doubled in the past decade.

The country has 355 million hectares of farmable land, of which sugarcane used to make ethanol fills 3.4 million hectares. Another 105.8 million hectares remained available, which "allows us to increase ethanol production without affecting the environment or food," said Unica president Marcos Jank.

Investment in Brazilian sugarcane processing factories is expected to top 23 billion dollars over the next four years. There are already 22 plants controlled by foreign capital, out of a total 412, and their number is expected to rise to 31 within five years.

The ethanol boom has had repercussions for land prices. A hectare of arable land is now fetching an average 4,135 reals, 16 percent more than a year ago.

Amnesty International has also criticized the sugarcane industry for using "forced labor," though Unica has dismissed that as "wrong and out of context."

Mountaintop Removal

NickCRMW — Tue, 27 May 2008 14:49:01 -0700

A forum topic for news, comments, and developments that deal with the practice of Mountaintop Removal.

If you are not familiar with what Mountaintop Removal is or why it
is such a big deal... here are a few links to help you get a full grasp
of what it is doing to America ...

www.crmw.net

www.myspace.com/coalrivermountainwatch

http://headonradionetwork.com/

www.mountainjusticesummer.org

www.stopmountaintopremoval.org

www.blackdiamondsmovie.com

http://www.burningthefuture.com/

http://www.riseupwestvirginia.blogspot.com/

http://www.hawriverfilms.com/id2.html

CEM at the Democratic Convention Blogging Corps

jupiter9 — Mon, 19 May 2008 19:50:04 -0700

I just read that CEM will be the Maryland blog attending the Democratic Convention as a member of the Blogging Corps! That must be very exciting.

I'd like to know, who will be blogging?

Economic Stimulus Check!

jes — Fri, 02 May 2008 11:55:52 -0700

What are you going to spend your $600 on?

Mine is going to help me as I sell my old car and get a new one. I am going to help the economy by purchasing a car while also helping the environment by trading in my SUV for a small car!

What about you? Mortgage payment? Credit card bill? Savings? Something shiny and new?

Recent Violence in Balt City Schools

jes — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 08:25:08 -0700

Has anyone seen these videos of teacher Jolita Barry being beaten by students at Reginald F. Lewis High School? I haven't seen them and I don't think I want to. When Dr. Alonso sent out his plea for volunteers to help out at city schools, I considered it for a second-and then I realized I am actually scared for my safety. Kind of strange considering the kind of neighborhoods we ran around in for "Just Words". What do you guys think? Are any of you planning on volunteering? If not, why not?

2008 Presidential Election

jes — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 17:00:32 -0700

Discuss!