Murder, Incorporated: Guns and the Growing Culture of Violence in the US, by Henry A. Giroux « Algérie Résistance

The widespread availability of guns is the reason for the shooting and killing of children and adults in Chicago, Boston, Ferguson, New York City and in other major cities. The Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence reports that « in 2010, guns took the lives of 31,076 Americans in homicides, suicides and unintentional shootings. This is the equivalent of more than 85 deaths each day and more than three deaths each hour. [In addition], 73,505 Americans were treated in hospital emergency departments for non-fatal gunshot wounds in 2010. » (7) And the toll of gun violence on young people is truly heartbreaking with almost 30,000 young people killed in a 10-year period, which amounts « to nearly 3,000 kids shot to death in a typical year. »(8) According to a Carnegie-Knight News21 program investigation,For every US soldier killed in Afghanistan during 11 years of war, at least 13 children were shot and killed in the United States. More than 450 kids didn’t make it to kindergarten. Another 2,700 or more were killed by a firearm before they could sit behind the wheel of a car. Every day, on average, seven children were shot dead. A News21 investigation of child and youth deaths in the United States between 2002 and 2012 found that at least 28,000 children and teens 19-years-old and younger were killed with guns. Teenagers between the ages of 15 and 19 made up over two-thirds of all youth gun deaths in the United States. (9)

Source: Murder, Incorporated: Guns and the Growing Culture of Violence in the US, by Henry A. Giroux « Algérie Résistance

Shabbat morning in Hebron | “And you shall teach this to your children”

The soldiers are bad here, but the settlers are worse. There is a Jewish woman who is notorious for trying to run over internationals and Palestinians with her car and a Jewish man who pretends to be a paramedic. He drives an ambulance but has no medical training or skills and arrives at scenes of injury to Palestinians for the purpose of impeding real medical assistance and causing further harm.While here, I have come to associate tzizit, kippah, and the star of David as synonymous with rifles, machine guns; harassment and/or impending injury. I have somewhat adjusted to this association, but this Shabbat morning it is more difficult. I find a part of myself wanting to forget that the soldiers and Jewish settlers call me a whore and traitor. I find myself wanting to follow the tallit wearing youth down the hill, wanting to hear the morning prayers. Quietly, under my breath I say the Sh’ma and feel tears well up in my eyes. I wonder what has become, and what will become, of Judaism?

Source: Shabbat morning in Hebron | “And you shall teach this to your children”

My humanity is not yours to control: My thoughts on #ShiningALight

First you Survive/ Then you Thrive

My thoughts on #ShiningALight

So I finally watched all three hours of Shining A Light concert and town hall meeting.shiningalight2

The mission statement of the initiative reads

A+E Networks, iHeartMedia and United Way have joined forces to launch Shining a Light, a multi-platform initiative designed to promote real progress on race in America, following the Emanuel AME Church tragedy and inspired by the reaction of the family members and Charleston community. The  program is designed to inspire others to go beyond short-lived, symbolic gestures and to explore the uncomfortable truth about the racial inequity and bias in our country and to help individuals and organizations that are working to make progress on issues of race.

I read through the viewing party guide, the start a conversation guide and several of the links. I went through the study guide for educators.

And I took a couple of hours to think about…

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My humanity is not yours to control: My thoughts on #ShiningALight | First you Survive/ Then you Thrive

I watched most of the white participants offer qualified apologies, requests for patience and demand sympathy and support for their position.I saw many Black participants discuss the matter from a colonized mind that could not demand for itself what it would offer others.The white participants took the forgiveness and anguish of the Black Participants for granted. And requested more of the same without offering anything in return. Let’s assume for the sake of argument that relations between peoples mirror those between individuals.As an individual, when wronged, mistreated, disrespected, marginalized, maimed, murdered… etc., I am looking for a full acknowledgement of what was done to me and an unqualified apology. If there is an explanation of why I was you victim, great. But no excuses.And then I fully expect the wrong doer to make amends. To evidence his emotional state of being sorry.Anything less than that is useless.And then the wrongdoer is to commit to and actually never commit the harm to me again.Whites in America are very comfortable with the notion that black people have to earn full humanity and citizenship. And upon the completion of the Herculean effort, by Black people, white people will pronounce us human and citizens.If you don’t already see my full humanity and acknowledge my full citizenship that we don’t even need to talk.  There is nothing I can do to change your mind.  My humanity is not yours to give. It never has been.White people as the keepers of power have the ability to end racism today.

Source: My humanity is not yours to control: My thoughts on #ShiningALight | First you Survive/ Then you Thrive

Fires Across Madagascar : Image of the Day

Most of the fires are scattered across the coastal plain to the east, though there are also numerous fires along the west coast. Several of the smokiest blazes appear at the edges of densely forested areas. Some may be naturally occurring forest fires, but they are more likely intentional land-clearing or accidental human-caused fires.In a country with nearly 10 million cattle, pasture management is one of the primary uses of fire. Burning grasslands prevents the encroachment of woody plants that are unpalatable to cattle. According to one estimate, about one quarter to one half of the island’s grasslands are burned each year. Fire is also widely used to clear brush or forest for farm fields.Although agricultural fires are not immediately hazardous, they can have a significant impact on climate, air quality, and plants and animals, particularly when they grow out of control.

Source: Fires Across Madagascar : Image of the Day

Up to 1,000 Buffalo will be Slaughtered at Yellowstone National Park This Winter

“Through the legal agreement the National Park Service has to do this,” said Yellowstone spokeswoman Sandy Snell-Dobert. “If there was more tolerance north of the park in Montana for wildlife, particularly bison as well as other wildlife, to travel outside the park boundaries, it wouldn’t be an issue.”The Yellowstone buffalo are America’s last wild, migratory herds and the most important bison population that exists. They are the last to identify as a wildlife species and ecologically extinct throughout their native range. They’ve been added to the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Red List for being “threatened with near extinction,” and even Montana designates the species “in greatest conservation need” with conditions “making [bison] vulnerable to global extinction.”Fighting back is the Buffalo Field Campaign that is in full operation and has a strong need for volunteers. New and experienced volunteers are needed in the field and are always welcome Those interested in assisting may contact the Buffalo Field Campaign.

Source: Up to 1,000 Buffalo will be Slaughtered at Yellowstone National Park This Winter