Category Archives: human rights

Avian Flu Diary: China’s CDC: H7N9 infections will grow further

While it may seem like a statement of the obvious, Feng Zijian, deputy director of China’s CDC has taken to the Chinese airwaves to warn that they expect the number of H7N9 cases to increase in the coming weeks, and that the elderly and the chronically ill should limit their exposure to live poultry.

 

Despite continued warnings over the dangers of exposure to live poultry, live markets remain open in many regions, and when markets are closed, they tend to remain closed only long enough for disinfection of the seller’s stalls.

 

Last October, in The Lancet: Poultry Market Closure Effect On H7N9 Transmission, the consensus was the closure of live markets  – while costly, and not particularly popular among many in China – was largely responsible for the rapid decline in human cases during the first outbreak.

via Avian Flu Diary: China’s CDC: H7N9 infections will grow further.

Suheir Hammad Performs Poems of War, Peace, Women & Power | Amazing Women Rock

Poet Suheir Hammad performs two spine-tingling spoken-word pieces: “What I Will” and “break (clustered)” — meditations on war and peace, on women and power.

Wait for the astonishing line: “Do not fear what has blown up. If you must, fear the unexploded.”

In her poems and plays, Suheir Hammad blends the stories and sounds of her Palestinian-American heritage with the vibrant language of Brooklyn to create a passionately modern voice.

Suheir Hammad is the author of breaking poems, recipient of a 2009 American Book Award and the Arab American Book award for Poetry 2009.

Her other books are ZaatarDiva; Born Palestinian, Born Black; and Drops of This Story. Her work has been widely anthologized and also adapted for theater.

via Suheir Hammad Performs Poems of War, Peace, Women & Power | Amazing Women Rock.

That Pussy Riot – Yuri Kozyrev Shoot: Fashion as Defiance — BagNews

It looks like the propaganda battle between Putin and Pussy Riot has germinated the ultimate merger of politics and protest, celebrity and fashion. Back on the streets after serving 21 months of a two year prison sentence for performing a protest song, band members Maria Alyokhina and Nadezhda Tolokonnikova, in alignment with NOOR’s gifted photographer, Yuri Kozyrev, use youth, beauty, glamour, shopping, culture, earnest conversation, dancing, landmark cityscape, citizen journalism, social freedom, of course, and new glossy pastel iPhone 5c’s in TIME’s almost-frolicking slideshow to refashion activism as allure.

As target, antagonist but otherwise classic backdrop, the Kremlin must regret letting go of that prison garb. Because what signifies uniform submission has here been turned inside out, the woman using the garments for martyrdom credit and the material of repudiation. The jacket as conscience couture, resistance is now what’s in vogue.

via That Pussy Riot – Yuri Kozyrev Shoot: Fashion as Defiance — BagNews.

Habitat for Humanity New York City Volunteers Build on Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s Dream Through Service in Queens – Press Release – Digital Journal

QUEENS, NY–(Marketwired – January 17, 2014) – Habitat for Humanity New York City hosted its 15th annual \”Building on a Dream\” Martin Luther King, Jr. weekend of service to recognize Dr. King\’s vision and continue his dream by organizing volunteers to rehabilitate vacant homes as well as revitalize the Roy Wilkins Park Family Center in Queens. The MLK Day of Service is a part of United We Serve, President Barack Obama\’s national call to service initiative.

More than 160 volunteers led by 16 AmeriCorps members partnered with future Habitat NYC homeowners for this year\’s event. The volunteers were joined by hundreds of thousands of volunteers across the country who participated in the 2014 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service.

\”This weekend, Habitat NYC volunteers and future Habitat homeowners came together to honor Dr. King\’s legacy of service and advocacy by making a significant contribution to their community,\” said Neil Hetherington, Chief Executive Officer of Habitat NYC. \”Their hard work echoes Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.\’s message of social justice and service.

via Habitat for Humanity New York City Volunteers Build on Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s Dream Through Service in Queens – Press Release – Digital Journal.

Job (Cincinnati): Part-time Educator – idealist.org

Women Helping Women is seeking a part-time (20 hours per week) School and Community Educator to join our Education and Prevention team. The School and Community Educator is responsible for providing prevention programming in middle and high schools, assisting with maintaining the Education and Prevention team social media sites, and providing community awareness presentations. Successful candidates will have strong public speaking skills, experience in curriculum development, and an understanding of violence prevention. Expertise in sexual assault and teen dating violence are required. This position is primarily weekdays with occasional weekend and evening hours. Flexible schedule, team approach, and access to reliable transportation are necessary.

Bachelor\’s degree in Human Service or Education related field or equivalent education and/or experience plus 1-2 years experience in the field of sexual assault/domestic violence is required.

via Job (Cincinnati): Part-time Educator – idealist.org.

6 Palestinian villagers injured as armed settlers attack Beit Ummar | Maan News Agency

Six Palestinians, including a child, were injured in clashes that broke out after a group of Israeli settlers tried to raid Beit Ummar village near Hebron on Friday afternoon.

Spokesman for the local popular resistance committee Mohammad Awad Ayyad said that Israeli forces attacked a funeral procession in the village as dozens of settlers, some armed, gathered near the graveyard.

Settlers also attacked a restaurant in the area, smashed its windows and forced workers to close it down at gun point, Ayyad said.

He added that villagers arrived at the scene and scuffled with settlers, before Israeli forces intervened and fired tear gas and rubber-coated steel bullets at the Palestinian villagers.

Five people were injured by rubber-coated steel bullets fired by the Israeli forces, and a child was injured after the rear windshield of his mother\’s car was shattered by a stun grenade.

An Israeli army spokeswoman said that around \”200 Israeli civilians\” had gathered in Beit Ummar but that \”nothing out of the ordinary was happening,\” at that time, adding that later some Palestinians \”hurled rocks.\”

via 6 Palestinian villagers injured as armed settlers attack Beit Ummar | Maan News Agency.

VDU’s blog: H7N9 hasn’t left, it’s just been building capacity… [UPDATED WITH NEW WHO DON]

The H7N9 cycle wasn\’t broken when the markets were shut in 2013; it was just temporarily halted.

We know that these birds have multiple influenza viruses in them including H9N2, H5N1 and H7N9.

The conditions for the emergence of viruses we already know, and those we have yet to meet, continue to be created and maintained.

The spectre of \”the next pandemic\” will not get the banishment it deserves while the live bird market system continues as it has. It\’s just our luck that may run out as it did for those infected by H7N9.

via VDU’s blog: H7N9 hasn’t left, it’s just been building capacity… [UPDATED WITH NEW WHO DON].

Running out of ideas, Congressman suggests abortion restrictions as job creation

Let’s go through this here elected official’s path of reasoning, so we are all clear:

Restrict low-income folks’ access to abortion -> Those already struggling to make ends meet forced to have children they did not want (rich continue getting safe abortions tho FYI) -> JOBS!

Yup. It’s very very true!

 

Verónica sometimes can’t believe that this is real life.

via Running out of ideas, Congressman suggests abortion restrictions as job creation.

Hey Yo! A Somewhat Silly Dance-Meets-Rap Protest Song by Univer Soul. {Video} | myEARTH360 (the blog)

We Are Glued, The Earth Is a Temple

Don’t You Detect, They Don’t Care ‘Bout You

They Just Want The Job, They’re Useless

What To Do, What To Do, What To Do?

Try The Greens, Try The Greens

Don’t Screw It Up

Give It a Shit

We Are The Leader

Must Find a Way Out

What To Do, What To Do, What To Do?

Try The Greens, Try The Greens

No Nobel, No Way, Where’s The Peace?

Mister One Billion Campaign

Blah Blah Blah And All That Shit

S.P.A. Dog, The Oil Spill, Say It All

Expect The Worst With The Same Liars

What To Do, What To Do, What To Do?

Try The Greens, Try The Greens, For Your Kids, For Your Castle

Home At Bay, Just a Blah Blah Blah, Blah

Home At Bay, Just a Blah Blah Blah, Blah

Home At Bay, Just a Blah Blah Blah, Blah

Home At Bay, Just a Blah Blah Blah, Blah

Home At Bay, Just a Blah Blah Blah, Blah

via Hey Yo! A Somewhat Silly Dance-Meets-Rap Protest Song by Univer Soul. {Video} | myEARTH360 (the blog).