The Financial Reform Bill And Congo
Posted by Michelle Moquin on July 5th, 2010
Hey…I hope everyone had a safe 4th of July and little bit of fire was lit in your lives last night. :)
I wrote about the financial reform bill last week in Friday’s “Flap Your Lips…”. Here is something that some of you may not be aware of, and something for all of us to be quite excited about. We all know about the devastation in Congo because of the conflict minerals. Well last week many advocates pressed key senators to ensure that an amendment on Congo’s conflict minerals was included in the financial reform bill. It was one of the most imprtant moments for Congo in the U.S. Congress in years. Here’s a blurb from Enough Project:
At around 10:30 last night, after a full day of considering potential amendments, the conference committee accepted the conflict minerals language introduced by Senator Sam Brownback (R-KS) into the final version of the bill. Not only was it accepted without opposition during the voice vote, key provisions around independent audits were strengthened.
The House and Senate still need to vote on the full financial reform legislation (slated for next week), but advocates can claim an important victory for helping ensure that the conflict minerals component – with the strong provisions we advocated for – is part of that bill.
And now here’s the latest:
Reforming Wall Street and Ending the World’s Deadliest War
This post originally appeared on Huffington Post.
Score a win for the grassroots against special interests. Last week, thousands of people across the country wrote and called their senators asking them to support a section in the Wall Street reform bill that addressed ‘conflict minerals’ from Congo, the new blood diamonds. They even posted thousands of comments on senators’ Facebook pages, requesting that they not pander to special interests and pass this important provision. And while the final victory is yet to come, they won the battle.
As we speak, conflict minerals are helping fuel the deadliest war in the world since World War II, the conflict in eastern Congo in which 1,100 women are raped every month, and 1,500 people die every day. The main armed groups that orchestrate the violence make hundreds of millions of dollars by trading in four minerals - the 3 Ts of tin, tantalum, tungsten, and gold. These minerals are then bought by electronics and jewelry companies and are used in our cell phones, laptops, and gold necklaces.
We just returned from Congo and remember one woman in particular, Jane, who was raped seven times in a row by a group of militia commanders. Jane asked us to tell the U.S. government and companies to do all they could to help end this war.
Fed up that consumer purchases are contributing to Congo’s bloody crisis, Senators Sam Brownback (R-KS) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) introduced a bipartisan bill two years ago to try to combat the conflict minerals trade. Since then, these courageous senators have traveled to the war zone in Congo, worked tirelessly to bring attention to the issue through Congressional hearings and briefings, and have made every effort to involve companies in a solution. A bipartisan coalition has since joined them, with Rep. Jim McDermott (D-WA) introducing a House conflict minerals bill last November, and Senator Russ Feingold (D-WI) co-sponsoring the Brownback-Durbin bill.
But the conflict minerals campaign is now a grassroots civic movement, not simply a Washington-led effort. With thousands of wall postings, a recent Facebook campaign drew the attention of several key senators and New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof; Stanford University’s board just passed a conflict-free electronics resolution, and several campuses have promised to follow; 60 Minutes aired asegment on conflict gold that won the “Liberty for Media” award; the “I’m a Mac, and I have a Dirty Little Secret” video has had over 400,000 views in less than a week; and scores of protestors picketed the opening of Apple’s first store in Washington, D.C., two weeks ago. People across America see the urgency of this issue: we do not want rape and conflict inside our cell phones.
The Brownback amendment that is currently part of the financial reform bill will make companies accountable for making sure they do not source minerals from conflict areas. Companies that source from Congo or neighboring countries will have to conduct an audit to make sure that they did not source from a conflict mine. This tracing and auditing is possible – Intel and Motorola are already starting credible audits on one of the minerals, tantalum. Moreover, the process is inexpensive: the audits will only cost one penny per product, according to electronics companies.
Last week, Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT) and Rep. Barney Frank (D-MA) led a brave effort to keep the Brownback amendment in the bill, together with the bill co-sponsors and Rep. Howard Berman (D-CA). Special interests lobbied heavily against the provision, arguing that it was too expensive and would unfairly undercut American business. Yet the majority of the companies that use these minerals are listed on U.S. stock exchanges, including foreign companies, so it would actually set a level playing field for industry. Moreover, U.S. regulations help set global standards, and this audit provision would set a common standard for minerals supply and smelting companies around the world.
But the real question that Americans asked themselves last week was: Is one additional penny for a cell phone really too much to pay for accountability? A clear majority said no, and they weighed in with their elected representatives to say so. It’s now time for Congress to listen to its constituents and finish this fight on Wall Street reform.
Readers: Over the past two years I have not only dedicated some of my writing time here, but I too have written letters to Congress with respect to the conflict minerals…and I know you have too. So I want to say thanks and congratulations to all of you for letting Congress know that you support strong action to end this horrific trade. I think we’re on our way.
Lastly, greed over a great story is surfacing from my ‘loyal’(?) readers. With all this back and forth about who owns what, that appears on my blog, let me reiterate that all material posted on my blog becomes the sole property of my blog. If you want to reserve any proprietary rights don’t post it to my blog. I will prominently display this caveat on my blog from now on to remind those who may have forgotten this notice.
Peace out…
Gratefully your blog host,
michelle
Aka BABE: We all know what this means by now :)
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July 5th, 2010 at 1:12 pm
Hi Mischa, life is taking a hectic gotta-get-it-all-done-now turn so I’ll be brief though I wish it could be longer…
I have lots to say re: foreclosures/loan mods and F**king banks, I’ll get into that when I have more time, want to share so no one has to do my eleventh hour maneuver, and luckily there was a maneuver, many might not have the option. I’m joining a class action suit against BofA though, those fucks deserve to burn in hell : ) hahaha…!
I would love to see the letter you wrote for the conflict mineral sitch, have time to tweak it and send it, no time for formulating new letters, been writing letters and lots of em’ lately and I’m tired, want to get back to writing for fun.
A male got me started over the weekend about women ‘taking men to the cleaners’ through divorce…oh baby, I maintained for about an half hour and then all Zen hell broke loose, the Lyon-essss roared and I swear his hair blew back, but not to worry, he’s very clear on the stats of male financial status vs females after divorce and he got a dose of women ’round the world rap as well. He claimed he stood corrected – I’m just surprised he was still standing at all : ) once in a while it’s worth blowing your stack, that was one of em’ – maybe he’ll change maybe he won’t but he’s clear on bringing up a subject that he knows little of what he speaks.
Catch you later, Luv, Zen Lill
July 5th, 2010 at 7:17 pm
not my real name, but I would love to apply for a outerspace job. I am very good at playing space invaders, and have loathed the horrible things men are capable of since I was raped at work by my employer and then a year later by the custodian. I really want to kill something or someone. The more dicks the better. I have no problem killing a five dicked alien or a dickhead republican human.
I know I have what it takes to be a girlz, meanwhile i will be honing my skills.
One Mad Redhead
July 6th, 2010 at 4:23 am
MED SCHOOLS ADDING NATURAL THERAPY EDUCATION
When, oh when, are mainstream doctors going to “get it” when it comes to complementary and alternative medicine (CAM)? I’m writing on this subject today because — hallelujah! — progress is finally being made where it really counts, in the schools that turn out mainstream doctors.
Current research shows that approximately one-third of Americans now use the kinds of natural therapies that are the hallmark of CAM, and that number climbs higher every time it gets measured.
Yet mainstream medical practitioners have been so slow to learn about CAM that even today, many patients avoid discussing their use of alternative medicine with their doctors for fear that they’ll deride it as weird and worthless.
This is a real problem, because to provide the safest and most effective treatment possible, mainstream and CAM practitioners need to work together — and both need full information from their patients to do so.
GOOD NEWS!
On to the good news I mentioned above — more than 40 US medical schools now include some level of education on integrative medicine, which combines mainstream and CAM therapies.
These schools include standouts such as Harvard Medical School, Johns Hopkins University and Weill Cornell Medical College –
and the government’s National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) is even kicking in funding, having awarded $22.5 million thus far to medical and nursing schools for curricula to teach medical students about alternative therapies.
Medical students are enthusiastic — a recent survey from University of California, Los Angeles, and University of California, San Diego, showed that 75% of their medical students think that including CAM therapies and ideas will be beneficial to their practice of medicine.
But many established doctors are less positive, to put it mildly. Some complain that students will be learning “illogical thinking” while others claim that CAM education will lead to judgment errors, lax standards and even soft laws.
With so much sky-is-falling talk going on, I decided to call Hakima Amri, PhD, director of the CAM/Physiology Masters of Science Program at Georgetown University School of Medicine, a curriculum designed for graduate students.
THE MEDICAL PERSPECTIVE
The CAM field is accruing a growing body of scientific evidence that mainstream doctors can use to verify how well these therapies work, Dr. Amri told me.
Consumers are dissatisfied with standard health care and are voting with their feet, choosing to spend more time and money (mostly from their own pockets) for alternative therapies.
And the fact that they’re reluctant to talk to physicians about it, Dr. Amri confirmed, is dangerous. For the good of patients, no physician should ignore this truth.
The goal of the new science-based CAM program is to teach greater awareness of the most-used modalities in the US — including nutrition, acupuncture, massage, yoga, mind-body medicine –
and the evidence supporting (or not) the claims. As future MDs, the graduates are not being trained to provide these therapies, but rather to have a skill set to objectively and critically assess published studies in order to be well-informed and comfortable referring patients to qualified nonconventional providers such as naturopathic physicians and acupuncturists.
Medical students are taught to get detailed information from their patients… consider the effects of natural treatments on their conditions, including possible negative interactions and positive, synergistic effects… and to encourage the exchange of information amongst themselves and CAM practitioners.
As always, it is important to remember that “natural” does not automatically mean safe, and making an informed decision is key to a better outcome.
To that end, consumers can and should start communicating with their doctors and sharing the details of their personal experiences with alternative therapies.
This will not only broaden our physicians’ understanding of CAM and its potential — it will also make the care we receive safer and more effective.
Source(s):
Hakima Amri, PhD, director of the nation’s first science-based graduate degree CAM program at Georgetown University School of Medicine, and assistant professor in the department of physiology and biophysics, Washington, DC.
July 6th, 2010 at 4:36 am
I love the new sandwich shop from California. You should try it.
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Submarina California sub sandwich shop now has a Guam franchise.
It’s located next to JK Tile store in lower Barrigada Heights along a stretch of Route 16 that doesn’t have any other sub-sandwich stop nearby.
Generously portioned 6- to 12-inch healthy sub sandwiches, made with fresh-baked bread, premium meats, select cheeses and California vine-ripened produce are some of the shop’s draws, according to a press release from the Guam Submarina franchise.
For information about the shop’s call-in orders, menu and catering, call 637-7827.
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I think you will find the sandwiches delicious.
Hafa adai
Anna
July 6th, 2010 at 4:40 am
Jane, I read you loud and clear. I have more than a few issues with men. They have everything and they want more.
They want to control our bodies, our minds and the very world we live in. They condone any country or religion that tells women they are not equal to men.
Put me down for a ball search and destroy mission any time you need a recruit.
Lois
July 6th, 2010 at 6:13 am
Subject: Take two aspirin…
Every year, English teachers from across the country can submit their collections of actual analogies and metaphors found in high school essays.
These excerpts are published each year for their amusement.
Here are last year’s winners…
21. The young fighter had a hungry look, the kind you get from not eating
for a while.
July 6th, 2010 at 6:15 am
If you bitches would find God, us men wouldn’t have to be so hard on you.
July 6th, 2010 at 6:16 am
Michelle, this oil spill is scaring me. What will we do if our fish starts to turn up with oil in their stomachs?
July 6th, 2010 at 6:17 am
My 4th was great. I would have been better with a blown up picture of Zen Lill next to the barbecue Grill.
Hint, hint.
Larry
July 6th, 2010 at 6:22 am
Hafa adai
Peter, it looks like the government is getting ready to ban the use of the Betel nut. The propaganda like they did against the use of marijuana is heating up.
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uesday, July 06, 2010
LOCAL
Tuesday, July 06, 2010
Betel nut, oral cancer pilot study for Saipan, Guam now underway
By Moneth Deposa
Reporter
A betel nut and oral cancer pilot study will be conducted on Saipan and Guam beginning this year. The study hopes to gather baseline date to develop protocols for studying oral precancerous lesions and other health risks among betel nut users in Micronesia.
University of Guam epidemiologist Dr. Yvette Paulino, co-leader in the pilot study, will work with Dr. Suzanne Murphy from the Cancer Research Center of Hawaii in the pilot study.
In a presentation to members of the Commonwealth Cancer Association last week, Dr. Paulino disclosed that oral cancer is the sixth leading cancer worldwide, but ranks in the Top 3 cancers in countries where there are betel nut/areca nut chewers.
Betel nut, she said, is apparently a misnomer. The nut itself is more accurately called “areca nut” and “betel” refers to the leaf that is sometimes used with the nut. “Betel quid” refers to the mixture of nut and leaf.
The three-year pilot study aims to collect information on betel nut/areca nut use among 300 study participants in Guam and on Saipan and members of their families.
In the course of the study, oral examinations and biopsies will be performed as needed, health risks will be measured, and associations of duration, frequency, and type of betel nut/areca nut use with oral pre-cancers and health risks will be studied.
Dr. Paulino said that betel nut/areca nut is considered a human carcinogen. She revealed that betel nut chewing has been shown to be associated with asthma, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, metabolic syndrome, and obesity. In Guam, Paulino said betel nut chewing has shown to be associated with these diseases.
Activities for the pilot study this year include logistics, oral screening workshop, recruitment and data collection.
In 2011, the investigators are slated to continue the recruitment and data collection and analysis.
Reporting for the findings of the study is scheduled in 2012.
Saipan Tribune learned that CCA’s board president, Alex Sablan, submitted a letter of support for this pilot study sometime last year, and received notice in March this year that the project had been fully funded. The primary role of the cancer association in this project will be to assist the researchers in the areas of community outreach and awareness on Saipan.
Incidence rates in Micronesia
In the same presentation, Dr. Paulino disclosed that the incidence rate of oral cancer is higher in men than women.
In Micronesia, incidence rates vary: Five for every 100,000 Chuukese; 10 per 100,000 for Guam Chamorros and Pohnpei; 10 per 100,000 in Guam Micronesia, Palau, and Republic of the Marshall Islands; and 20 per 100,000 people in Yap.
Dr. Paulino also emphasized the following determinants of oral cancer: tobacco, smoking, heavy alcohol use, infection, history of oral cancer, diet and betel nut use.
Data from Dr. Paulino’s study indicated that up to 600 million people worldwide chew betel nut and that it is commonly chewed in African, Asian, and Pacific countries. Its usage may vary by gender.
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First, they tell you it is a health threat, then they tell you it causes crime.
Lawrence
July 6th, 2010 at 6:27 am
The next time you visit the dentist, think about this.
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Zapped in the dental chair
Think of all the times you’ve allowed a dentist to X-ray your teeth.
Reach a certain age, and it doesn’t take long before you lose count completely. Some people get zapped every year or two, simply because the dentist tells them to.
But a new study shows what’s really at stake here: People who get X-rayed the most have the highest risk of thyroid cancer.
British researchers looking into the rising rates of this unusual condition compared 313 thyroid cancer patients in Kuwait to a similar number of people who didn’t have the disease.
Like Britain, Kuwait is experiencing its own thyroid cancer boom. Kuwait also offers free dental care, so those X-rays are there for the taking–and they appear to be taking a toll. The researchers found that patients who’ve received 10 or more dental X-rays have 5.4 times the thyroid cancer risk of those who’ve never been X-rayed by a dentist.
Those who’ve had between five and nine dental X-rays had quadruple the risk, and those who’ve had between one and four X-ray sessions had more than double the risk, according to the study in Acta Oncologica.
The researchers behind the new study are calling on dentists to stop routine X-rays and stop X-raying patients simply because it’s their first office visit.
Good luck with that.
If you leave it up to your dentist, you’ll get X-rayed every time you walk past his office. So don’t rely on him– rely on yourself, and not just when you visit the dentist, because he’s not the only one trying to zap you.
Radiation-based testing, from dental X-rays to CT scans and everything in between, offer doctors so much more than a detailed view of your interior. They offer a quick and often unquestioned route to some of the easiest money in medicine.
As a result, Americans have become the most radioactive people on earth–we get half of all advanced medical procedures that involve radiation. On average, Americans now get six times more radiation than we did just a couple of decades ago, according to recent studies.
So anytime a doctor or dentist wants to zap you with a radioactive blast, ask him why. Ask about your alternatives. And, more importantly, ask what will happen if you don’t sit down for that test.
Sometimes, these tests are necessary–but in most cases, they’re not… and if your doctor’s answers sound a little too much like “I just want to check” or if he uses the word “precautionary,” think twice before you put on that lead apron.
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Even if you are not getting x-rayed from a dentist, this is something that can help you decide whether that x-ray is worth the risk.
Helen
July 6th, 2010 at 6:42 am
Hafa adai
Will somebody please explain to me why a law would be written to require the rehiring of a person fired for suspect conduct unbecoming of the position to another position in the same arena?
The crooked are always seeking to protect themselves from the wrath of the people who they are supposed to be serving and answerable to if they get caught misbehaving
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Guam – Acting Guam Police Chief Frank Ishizaki says he intends to re-appoint former Police Chief Paul Suba to the rank of Captain, because the law requires him to do so. And he is questioning the constitutionality of an amended measure passed Friday by the Guam Legislature that seeks to block the retired Chief’s return to the Department.
Bill # 271, which was introduced by Public Safety Committee Chairman Senator Adolpho Palacios, allows for the Guam Attorney General’s Office to provide legal services to the Guam Police Department.
Read Bill # 271 [this is the original bill, the amended bill not yet posted to Legislature's website]
But an amendment was to the bill was tacked on Friday that repeals a section of Guam law that would have allowed the former Chief to be re-hired.
The section of law that was repealed states that:
“Not withstanding any other provision of law, a person appointed by the governor to be chief of police or fire chief who is a member of the classified service immediately prior to such appointment as chief of police or fire chief … shall be reinstated to the position he held immediately prior to such appointment as chief upon termination of his employment, if not removed for cause, as chief of police or fire.”
The amended version of Bill # 27, striking out that passage, was passed unanimously during last Friday’s session.
In a column published Monday in the Guam PDN, Acting Chief Ishizaki questions the legality of the revision writing:
“The idea of proposing to pass another law just to prohibit me from allowing Suba to return is not only amusing, but probably unenforceable and unconstitutional. Everyone should read and understand the basic tenets of the Constitution – one of which states that we “not pass ex post facto laws” or take actions retroactively.”
Read Ishizaki’s PDN Column
Ishizaki also writes:
“It seems to me that members of the Guam Legislature want to usurp the separation of powers doctrine by directing my actions and second guessing my decisions without due regard for the laws of Guam or the Constitution of the United States.”
Suba was forced into retirement by Acting Governor Mike Cruz in the wake of the controversy surround the police search of the KUAM Newsroom. Suba has expressed an interest in returning to GPD as a Captain. Acting Governor Cruz said he would have fired Suba if Suba had not chosen to retire.
In his column, Ishizaki states that “Following my appointment as Chief of Police, Suba requested that he be allowed to return to GPD. After reviewing public law, I believe that he has a right. I sought guidance from the Office of the Attorney General on this matter and was advised as follows:
“The statues is applicable to a former chief of police who was a member of the classified service immediately prior to his appointment as chief and provided he was not removed for cause (e.g. like being fired or terminated as the chief of police for a reason that constitutes cause), then upon termination of his employment as the chief he shall be reinstated to the classified position he held immediately prior to his appointment as chief and GPD which (ensures) ‘his ability to return to his previous rank’”
Ishizaki acknowledges another measure passed by Senator Palacios that changes promotional standards to require a college degree “might make Paul unqualified for the rank of Captain. if he were a new candidate today, but because he was previously a Captain, public law applies in his situation. It is as simple as that.”
Ishizaki concludes: “Because I believe in following the law, I cannot deny Suba’s request to return to his previous rank.”
Written by :
kevin
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It seems to me this may be grounds to fire Acting Guam Police Chief Frank Ishizak. If he can’t get along without Suba, maybe he should join Suba in some private enterprise outside of GPD work.
Peter
July 6th, 2010 at 6:43 am
George
Now there a tiny ball hunt begging for my participation.
July 6th, 2010 at 6:50 am
Will this help?
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House Passes 2010 Supplemental Appropriations Act
The U.S. House of Representatives today passed H.R. 4899, the 2010 Supplemental Appropriations Act
Click here to view related Website: U.S. Congresswoman Madeleine Z. Bordallo Publish Date: 2010-07-03
<>
(From PoliticalNews.me)
The U.S. House of Representatives today passed H.R. 4899, the 2010 Supplemental Appropriations Act. The House passed the original version of H.R. 4899 on March 24, 2010. The Senate considered the bill on May 27, 2010, and passed H.R. 4899 with an amendment by a vote of 67 – 28 that also included $50 million in funding for the Port of Guam.
The Senate-passed bill provides a total of $45.5 billion in discretionary funding for FY 2010, of which $37.12 billion is provided for our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan. The bill also provides $5.1 billion for FEMA disaster relief, $2.9 billion for Haiti, $162 million for the Gulf Coast oil spill, and over $600 million for other domestic needs in discretionary appropriations. H.R. 4899 also includes $50 million in funding for the Port of Guam. Specifically, the provision authorizes the Department of Defense to transfer $50 million of operations and maintenance funds to the Port of Guam Improvement Enterprise Fund established by a provision authored by Congresswoman Bordallo in the Duncan Hunter National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2009. This funding was made available at the request of President Obama and was strongly supported by Congresswoman Bordallo.
Additionally, the House passed an amendment to H.R. 4899 that adds $10 billion for an Education Jobs Fund, $4.95 billion for Pell Grants, $701 million for border security, $142 million in additional Gulf Coast oil spill funding, and $50 million in emergency food assistance. This measure, with the House amendment, now moves back to the Senate for their final consideration before it is sent to President Obama for his signature.
“The $50 million in infrastructure funding for the Port of Guam reaffirms this Congress’ commitment to ensuring that Guam is prepared for the realignment of forces in our region,” Congresswoman Madeleine Z. Bordallo said today. “This funding is critical to beginning necessary improvement and modernization projects at the Port of Guam. The funding is also critical to the Port of Guam receiving an additional $50 million loan from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. I appreciate the support of the Obama Administration in requesting this funding after the Port of Guam did not receive critical Recovery Act funding. Today’s passage is yet another indication of the commitment of the Obama Administration to getting the military build-up on Guam done right. There is much work left to be done to ensure that we get this right, and I will continue to work with my colleagues and Administration officials on these important issues.”
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Well, Peter, What’s your opinion?
Clark
July 6th, 2010 at 9:34 am
George,
It seems clear to me that your god is dead or has given up on you and yours a long time ago…
July 7th, 2010 at 9:00 am
[...] Zen Lill: My letters in regards to the conflict minerals were sent via the Enough Project’s website and other websites. I just write them in the field provided and I do not save them. If it is a letter that I am particularly proud of, or spent a lot of time on that I may want to use as a sample to other letters, then I save it for future use. I have written so much on this topic in my blog that sometimes I just copy and paste bits of my blog write and add to it. [...]