All posts by nedhamson

Activist, writer, researcher, addicted to sharing information and facts.

Arkansas Prisons Suspend Search for Execution Drugs, Ask For Even Broader Drug Secrecy Law

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Unable to legitimately purchase lethal-injection drugs or carry out executions without revealing who manufactured its drugs, Arkansas has suspended efforts to obtain a new supply of execution drugs until state law is amended to keep secret the identity of the drug manufacturers. The Arkansas Department of Corrections confirmed on July 17, 2018 that it had halted its search for execution drugs earlier this year following a November 2017 Arkansas Supreme Court decision requiring the state to disclose portions of the pharmaceutical drug and packaging labels for the drugs it intended to use in executions. Those labels permitted the public and the pharmaceutical industry to identify the manufacturers of the execution drugs, who then sued the state or charged state officials with violating the companies’ contract rights. Solomon Graves, spokesperson for the Department of Corrections said the department has been working with the governor’s and attorney general’s offices on amending the Arkansas Method of Execution Act to prevent disclosure of information that would identify drug manufacturers. “We are not actively looking for additional drug supplies at this time,” he said. Arkansas does not currently have any execution dates set, but it scheduled eight executions in an unprecedented 11-day period in April 2017 in an attempt to carry out the executions before its supply of the sedative midazolam expired. Four of the executions went forward, but not before controversy surrounded the state’s purchase of all three drugs in its execution protocol. Prior to the executions, Associated Press learned that the state’s second drug—the paralytic vecuronium bromide—had been manufactured by Hospira, a subsidiary of the drugmaker Pfizer. Pfizer, which made international news with its May 2016 announcement of strict distribution controls designed to block states from obtaining and using its medicines in executions, informed its drug distributor, McKesson Medical-Surgical, that the sale violated their distribution agreement. McKesson then sued Arkansas, alleging that the state had deliberately misled the company to believe that the drug would be used for legitimate medical purposes. The companies Fresenius Kabi USA, LLC, and West-Ward Pharmaceuticals Corp.—the manufacturers of the potassium chloride that Arkansas used as the third drug in its executions—also attempted to intervene in federal litigation to stay the April executions, writing that “use of their medicines for lethal injections violates contractual supply-chain controls that [they] have implemented … to prevent the sale of their medicines for use in capital punishment.” Following the expiration of its supply of midazolam, the director of the Department of Correction, Wendy Kelley, purchased a new supply of the drug in cash. The package identified a New York company, Athenex, as the manufacturer, who said Arkansas acquired the drug in violation of the company’s agreements with distributors barring the use of its products in executions. McKesson’s lawsuit remained active until the state’s supply of vecuronium bromide expired this Spring and the parties agreed the suit had become moot. However, the expiration of the drug left Arkansas without the means to carry out any executions until it obtains a new supply of the paralytic. Graves said that the Department of Corrections has no intention of resuming its search for execution drugs until the state legislature exempts the suppliers and manufacturers from the state’s public disclosure laws. The legislature does not meet until 2019, at which point the other two execution drugs will have expired.

(John Moritz, Arkansas not actively seeking drug needed for executions, prisons official confirms, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, July 18, 2018; Max Brantley, State suspends search for execution drug, Arkansas Times, July 18, 2018; Jessi Turnure, ADC: Search for Controversial Lethal Drug Used in Executions Temporarily Suspended, KARK-TV, Little Rock, July 18, 2018; Arkansas, Company Seek to Dismiss Case Over Execution Drug, Associated Press, March 19, 2018; Kelly P. Kissel and Andrew DeMillo, Arkansas got execution drug made by resistant manufacturer, Associated Press, November 9, 2017; Chris Geidner, Arkansas Paid Cash To Secure New Supply Of Execution Drug, Seeks New Execution Date, Buzzfeed News, August 17, 2017.) See Lethal Injection.

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Femen co-founder Oksana Shachko found dead in Paris flat

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Suicide note found next to body of 31-year-old feminist activist, say Femen members

Oksana Shachko, one of the founders of the Femen feminist protest movement, has been found dead in her Paris apartment, the group has said.

The 31-year-old Ukrainian was found on Monday with a suicide note next to her body, according to Femen activists.

Continue reading…

الخوذ البيضاء وتلطيخ المعارضة بالسواد

الخوذ البيضاء وتلطيخ المعارضة بالسواد

 

الظلم السوري بدأ بالانجلاء عن سورية العظيمة بشعبها وقيادتها. وقد يكون الجزء الأخير من فرق الخوذ البيضاء التي وصل صيتها إلى أواخر العالم وحازت على الجوائز في مشاهد أقرب إلى الهوليوودية بإنجازاتها بإنقاذ المدنيين من النظام الفاشي. منذ الوهلة الأولى كل ما تعلق بهذه الفرق بدا مشكوك فيه. ولكن ربما صدق البعض أن الحروب تخلق الابتكارات في الإنقاذ. ملائكة الرحمة وسط ركام التفجيرات والدمار والبراميل التي كان النظام المستبد القامع القاتل يرميها ويسقطها على شعبه. وكانوا هؤلاء في كل مرة يخرجون بمعداتهم التصويرية ويهبون للإنقاذ…حتى وصل استحقاقهم للترشح لجائزة نوبل للسلام!

لم نصدق النظام السوري المستبد عندما حاول القول إن هؤلاء لم يكونوا أكثر من مرتزقة خونة. عندما شاهدنا الأفلام السينمائية الصنع للإنقاذ وفبركت التفجيرات ووجوه الأطفال الملطخة بالدماء أحيانا وبالغبار الكثيفة من براميل الفوسفور أحيانا.

لم نصدق عندما بدأت فضائح القائمين على هذه الفرق من التنازع على الأموال والاختلاس وفضح كل منهم للآخر على صفحات الجائد الأوروبية.

نحن العرب لا نصدق الا ما يقوله لنا الغرب. والغرب الذي صنعهم لم يستطع تحمل كم الفساد الذي كان متفشيا ففضحهم…مؤقتا.

فالعالم الذي لا يرى من النظام الا مستبد وقاتل، يرفض أن يرى أنه وبالرغم من حقيقة استبداد النظام (ربما وبلا شك) إلا ان المعارضة لا تعني بالضرورة وطنية. فهناك من يركبون على مآسي الناس ويجعلون منها أبراجا عاجية ينادون بأبواق الخديعة ما تطرب له الآذان زو ترعبهم وتخلخل أمنهم. فمن يصدق أن هناك من يبيعون أوطانهم وشعوبهم من أجل حفنات الأموال الملطخة بدمار البلاد والعباد؟

تصادف موت الفناة لسورية المعارضة مي سكاف بجلطة دماغية في فرنسا، بينما كان يتم إخراج المئات من أعضاء الخوذ البيضاء من سورية بعملية إنقاذ قامت بها إسرائيل، بما سمي عملية إنقاذ إنسانية لملوك الرحمة! إسرائيل التي قتلت رزان بينما كانت تسعف مصابي المظاهرات على حدود غزة. إسرائيل التي لم ترحم أركان ابن الثالثة عشر من قنص جنودها صباحا في مخيم الدهيشة. إسرائيل التي تتفن في قتل الفلسطينيين خلف جدران عنصريتها وتقمعهم وتستبد بهم بلا رحمة وتوجت دولتها بالعنصرية على مرأى العالم. تنقذ الخوذ البيضاء من استبداد الأسد!

لماذا لم تنقذ إسرائيل الأبرياء في سورية الذين يقتلون ويشردون ويدمرون مع كل قصف تساهم إسرائيل فيه بالعلن والخفاء؟

قد يكون دماغ مي سكاف الذي فكر بالفعل أن نظام بلادها كان المشكلة الوحيدة في أزمة بلادها من تهجير وقتل وتدمير وتشتيت، استوعب بما لا يترك الشك أن المعارضة لم تكن بنزاهة محبي الوطن.

لم تستوعب أن الأوطان لا يتم تحريرها من الخارج ولا عبر الخارج.

لم تستوعب الا متأخرا أن هناك خونة أشد ضررا على البلاد من أظلم الرؤساء.

وكزن التاريخ يعيد نفسه في سيناريو تمثيلي جديد… الخوذ البيضاء أشبه باللحديين الذين حضنتهم إسرائيل بعد بيعهم لولائهم الوطني ليجدوا أنفسهم اليوم مثل الكلاب الضالة بلا حقوق ولا وجود. اندثروا وهم أحياء إلى مزابل الحاضر ولن يكون لهم في التاريخ الا بقعا سوداء تشير إليهم. كما الخوذ البيضاء الذين شوهوا حب الوطن والإنقاذ وباعوه ببخس لمن خربوا ودمروا وانتهكوا وسفكوا بوطن كان يتحدى طغيان الغرب وخيانة العربان من أجل استحكام لإسرائيل واستغلال لخيرات المنطقة.

الخوذ البيضاء أسقطت ورقة التوت الأخيرة عن عورات المعارضة. وأخذت معها الصالح بالطالح. أولئك السوريون الشرفاء من المعارضين الذين حلموا بديمقراطية ربما، وتعبوا من استبداد كان فسحة بما آلت اليه الأمور لاحقا.

الا ان العناد كفر…

فمن اجل التمسك بمعارضة عميت القلوب وانساقت نحو من يتاجرون بكل شيء من أجل مصالحهم. تم الانجرار وراء المرتزقة في حلة الذقون أحيانا وفي حلة الخوذ البيضاء أحيانا وفيما بينهما الكثير الكثير من المنتفعين المسترزقين على دماء الشعب وحضارته.

أثبت النظام السوري بأن الأوطان أكبر من صراع قوى، وأهم من حجر وحتى ولد، فالسيادة لا يمكن المساومة عليها. والامتداد الصهيوني الأمريكي العربي ليس الا سرطانا قاتلا لا يمهل الا القليل من الوقت قبل الفتك.

الفرق بين الخائن وصاحب الضمير الحي بحب الوطن، أن الخائن يفضح مهما طال زمنه. ويرمى لحظة الانتهاء من خدماته. تنتهي صلاحيته ويرمى في أحسن الأحوال ليكون طعاما للكلاب.

أما من يختار الوطن علما لطريقه، فحتى عند الموت يكون مرفوع الرأس نحو وطن يرفرف علمه عاليا حتى لو أسقطه الخائنون ولو شوهه التائهون عن طريق الأوطان التي تسقى من الدماء لتكون حياة لمن يستحق الحياة.

أصحاب الخوذ البيضاء رحلوا ولقد اسودت وجوههم، وفي ظلمات خروجهم كشفوا ما كان مستورا من تواطؤ الدول الشقيقة والعدوة على سورية كانت وبقيت رغما عن كل من ساءت له نفسه وسولت له هواجسه بأن خير الأوطان يأتي من أعدائها.

ولن يكون غريبا في زمن النذالة هذا، تدخل إسرائيل كوسيط قادم لغير هؤلاء، لمن ارتدى عمائم الإسلام من نصرة وجيوش إسلام…..

The White Helmets and the Black intentions underneath…Exposed 

نادية حرحش

They seemed too good to be true from moment one. Rubbles, destruction, killing, barrels falling from the sky, wounded children and superhumans dressed in white come out and start rescuing the victims of the dictator regime of Assad.

one video after the other, it became more convincing that these people are not humanitarian in a country suffering the was we are told Syria is undergoing.

The fact that these human angels can only come to the rescue of victims suffering from the regime side made it more of suspicious.

Heroic stories, conferences, prizes even nomination to Nobel prize for peace made them the stars of the gloomy sky of the Syrian war to the west.

The “rescue” of hundreds of the white helmets from Syria by Israel to Jordan until they transfer them to asylum countries that helped them fake out the tragedy of Syria, only proves one more time, how criminals run our…

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U.S. says 463 migrant parents may have been deported without kids

On Monday, the government also said 917 parents were either not eligible to be reunited or not yet known to be eligible to be reunited with their child. That number includes parents no longer in the country as well as those deemed unsuitable because of criminal convictions or for other reasons. wtf More than 450 immigrant parents who were separated from their children when they entered the United States illegally are no longer in the country though their children remain behind, according to a joint court filing on Monday by the federal government and the American Civil Liberties Union.

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With new laws, Netanyahu is hijacking Judaism as we know it | +972 Magazine

Source: With new laws, Netanyahu is hijacking Judaism as we know it | +972 Magazine

Netanyahu has thrown the dice and made a calculated decision to abandon not only American Jews at odds with Israel’s ascendant populist agenda, but Judaism itself.

That is, Judaism as we know it: progressive, scholarly Judaism in dialogue with the outside world for thousands of years. The Judaism whose greatest works and innovations developed in Babylon, Spain, and Poland. Intellectual Judaism that absorbed and pollinated the Enlightenment (Mendelssohn); philosophy (Buber, Scholem, Marx, Frankl, Arendt); American equal rights movements (Steinem, Friedan, Milk); and culture (Gershwin, Berlin, Streisand, Mailer, Allen, Marx, Polanski). Tolerant Judaism with an outsider’s sensibility that “loves the stranger,” as commanded 36 times in the Torah.

Netanyahu wants to throw all that in history’s trash bin. He wants to mutate Jewish identity into Jewish hubris and turn Israel into a walled fortress of illiberal ethnocracy.

Op-Ed: Why Do We Make it So Hard to Do the Right Thing for Vulnerable Families?

Earlier this month, the Kansas City Star published a story about a local police officer who, with a lot of back up, saved three children from needless foster care.  But let me tell you what it took to achieve that result.

On one level this very good story—written by Cortlynn Stark, an intern for the Star—-is inspiring. On another level it’s frustrating.

And on still another, it’s outrageous.

On June 28, at about 2:00 a.m. Sgt. A.J. Henry of the Kansas City Police Department found Chantre Russ and her three children, ages four, two, and 7 months, sleeping in a parking lot stairway. They had arrived on a bus from California. The family fled that state after the father of the oldest child was murdered.

Chantre Russ and her children are headed on a path to success after a Kansas City Police officer found the family sleeping in a stairwell and was determined to keep them together/via Kansas City Police Department

Upon finding the family and talking to Ms. Russ, Sgt. Henry took out his phone and made a call—but not the one you might expect.

He did not call Missouri’s child abuse “hotline” to have child protective services rush out and put the children into foster care. Instead, even though it was 2 a.m., he called Gina English.

English is the Kansas City PD’s Social Services Coordinator—a job that exists, by the way, only because of grants from a private foundation.

On June 28, at about 2:00 a.m. Sgt. A.J. Henry of the Kansas City Police Department found Chantre Russ and her three children, ages two, four, and 7 months, sleeping in a parking lot stairway. They had arrived on a bus from California. The family fled that state after the father of the oldest child was murdered.

Upon finding the family and talking to Ms. Russ, Sgt. Henry took out his phone and made a call—but not the one you might expect.

He did not call Missouri’s child abuse “hotline” to have child protective services rush out and grab the children into foster care. Instead, even though it was 2 a.m., he called Gina English.

English is the Kansas City PD’s Social Services Coordinator—a job that exists, by the way, only because of grants from a private foundation.


The inspiring part

Sgt. Henry wasn’t going to let these children be thrown into foster care. “It was not going to happen on his watch,” English said. “That family was not going to be separated.”

And so the family wasn’t. But oh, what it took to achieve that result.

The story (which you should read in full) goes into great detail about all the different people who had to be contacted and mobilized to keep the children in this one family out of foster care. There were the people who came up with car seats for the children, the officers who pooled their own money to get the family a hotel room, the local groups that supplied diapers and baby wipes.  “Support from across Kansas City poured in…” wrote Stark.

It all happened just in time. Before Sgt. Henry found her, an exhausted Chantre Russ, who was unsure where next to turn, was on the verge of calling child protective services on herself.


The frustrating part

This amazing collective effort is obviously inspiring. But here’s the part that’s frustrating:

I’m sure this isn’t the first time Sgt. Henry, Ms. English and others have extended themselves for families this way. But no one can sustain this kind of collective ad hoc volunteer effort for every family who needs it. So it’s frustrating that this risks becoming one of those feel-good stories that warms our hearts about the family that was helped, as we forget all the others who are not.

Nationwide, multiple studies have found that 30 percent America’s foster children could be home right now if their parents had decent housing. So I hope readers, and other journalists, who see this story will remember the thousands of other families, just like this one, whose children are in fact torn from their parents every year because their parents lack a safe place to live. And I hope they will realize that those children suffer the same sorts of trauma as that endured by children taken at the Mexican border.


The outrageous part

The part of the story that’s outrageous can be boiled down to a single question:

Why is it so damn hard to do the right thing by these families?

Why is foster care such an easy choice, while everything else is so hard? Why does it take foundation grants and police chipping in their own money, and this enormous collective effort to do what’s right and keep one loving family together, while doing what would be wrong for that same family – consigning children to the chaos of foster care — takes little more than a phone call?

The technical answer has to do with arcane child welfare funding formulas that reimburse states for a significant share of the costs of foster care in many cases, while providing far less to keep families together. (And by the way, the grossly overhyped Family First Act would do nothing for the family in this case – the kind of concrete help they need isn’t covered.)

The larger answer is that foster care is easy and everything else is hard because so much of America blames the poor in general, and the nonwhite poor in particular, for their difficulties, instead of admitting the plain fact that we don’t all carry the same burdens—a situation that has far more to do with luck and unearned advantages, than it does personal choice or virtue. When we blame poor parents that way, those we hurt most are their children.

That leaves good people like Sgt. Henry, Ms. English, and the others who banded together in this case to do the best they can, largely on their own.


Richard Wexler is executive director of the National Coalition for Child Protection Reform.