Book Review
Tuesday, July 31, 2012
Which Way Forward For The Montreal Students on August 15, 2012?
27 July 2012
Five months after students in Montreal, Quebec launched a strike against tuition increases, the movement stands at a crossroads. The strike's leaders are seeking to channel mass opposition among students and workers behind the political establishment and upcoming elections, while the government appears set to force the reopening of schools on August 15.
Monday, July 30, 2012
Anna Hazare Begins A Fast Until The Death In New Delhi, India
Anna Hazare Begins A Fast Until The Death In New Delhi, India
India Vision, 30 July 2012
New Delhi - Veteran social activist Anna Hazare began his fast-unto-death on Sunday at Jantar Mantar.
Team Anna members Arvind Kejriwal, Manish Sisodia and Gopal Rai are already on an indefinite fast at the same venue.
In spite of his team asking him not to undergo fast considering his health, Anna decided to go ahead.
On Saturday, Anna took on the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), saying the country's future does not lie safe in their hands, but added that he himself would not fight the elections.
He, however, said that he would willingly campaign for those with clean background selected by people.
Accusing the government of cheating the Indian public on the issue of Lokpal, he said he has been forced to fast again and again, which is "not a happy thing".
"I will fast until we get Jan Lokpal," Hazare, whose four-day ultimatum to government on a decision on his demands ended today.
Talking about a political alternative for next Lok Sabha elections, the 74-year-old activist said if "good people" do not enter Parliament, there will be no change in system and country will not
get a strong Lokpal.
"For a vote, Rs.15, 000, Rs.20, 000, Rs.30, 000 are given (to voters). Those who get elected are making money, and they don't know where to keep this money. So, they send it to foreign countries. Now, it is time to awaken the voters.”
"Some are saying that we should give an alternative, we should form a party. Rs.15-20 crores is spent by a candidate for assembly elections, and Rs.50 crores for Lok Sabha polls. I will not fight elections. I will not put up a party," he said.
However, Hazare said, he will tour the country urging people to select people to fight elections.
He said the team would probe their background and then put their names of Internet seeking people's opinion about them.
Despite a warning from doctors not to undertake the fast unto death, Hazare said that he was declaring an all out war against corruption and against any government promoting it.
Hazare said he was determined to go for the kill, but the government is undeterred as well, escalating their attack on Anna and his team.
On Saturday’s protest outside Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s official 7 Race Course Road residence and the clash with the police, Team Anna chose not to give a response.
Dozens of Team Anna supporters were arrested, giving the government an opportunity to fire its own salvo.
The Top 10 GMO Foods to Avoid by Elizabeth Renter
Top 10 GMO Foods to Avoid
by Elizabeth Renter, Natural Society
29 July 2012
Genetically modified foods have been shown to cause harm to humans, animals, and the environmental, and despite growing opposition, more and more foods continue to be genetically altered. It's important to note that steering clear from these foods completely may be difficult, and you should merely try finding other sources than your big chain grocer. If produce is certified USDA-organic, it's non-GMO (or supposed to be!) Also, seek out local farmers and booths at farmer's markets where you can be ensured the crops aren't GMO. Even better, if you are so inclined: Start organic gardening and grow them yourself. Until then, here are the top 10 worst GMO foods for your "do not eat" GMO foods list.
Top 10 Worst GMO Foods for Your GMO Foods List:
1. Corn: This is a no-brainer. If you've watched any food documentary, you know corn is highly modified. "As many as half of all U.S. farms growing corn for Monsanto are using genetically modified corn," and much of it is intended for human consumption. Monsanto's GMO corn has been tied to numerous health issues, including weight gain and organ disruption.
2. Soy: Found in tofu, vegetarian products, soybean oil, soy flour, and numerous other products, soy is also modified to resist herbicides. As of now, biotech giant Monsanto still has a tight grasp on the soybean market, with approximately 90 percent of soy being genetically engineered to resist Monsanto's herbicide Roundup. In one single year, 2006, 96.7 million pounds of glyphosate was sprayed on soybeans alone
3. Sugar: According to NaturalNews, genetically-modified sugar beets were introduced to the U.S. market in 2009. Like others, they've been modified by Monsanto to resist herbicides. Monsanto has even had USDA and court-related issues with the planting of it's sugarbeets, being ordered to remove seeds from the soil due to illegal approval.
4. Aspartame: Aspartame is a toxic additive used in numerous food products, and should be avoided for numerous reasons, including the fact that it is created with genetically modified bacteria.
5. Papayas: This one may come as a surprise to all of you tropical-fruit lovers. GMO papayas have been grown in Hawaii for consumption since 1999. Though they can't be sold to countries in the European Union, they are welcome with open arms in the U.S. and Canada.
6. Canola: One of the most chemically altered foods in the U.S. diet, canola oil is obtained from rapeseed through a series of chemical actions.
7. Cotton: Found in cotton oil, cotton originating in India and China in particular has serious risks.
8. Dairy: Your dairy products contain growth hormones, with as many as one-fifth of all dairy cows in America are pumped with these hormones. In fact, Monasnto's health-hazardous rBGH has been banned in 27 countries, but is still in most US cows. If you must drink milk, buy organic.
9. and 10. Zucchini and Yellow Squash: Closely related, these two squash varieties are modified to resist viruses.
The dangers of some of these foods are well-known. The Bt toxin being used in GMO corn, for example, was recently detected in the blood of pregnant women and their babies. But perhaps more frightening are the risks that are still unknown.
With little regulation and safety tests performed by the companies doing the genetic modifications themselves, we have no way of knowing for certain what risks these lab-created foods pose to us outside of what we already know.
The best advice: steer clear of them altogether.
Source:
Or visit:
Medicare For All: An Open Letter to President Obama from Health Professionals, Lawyers and Advocates
Open Letter to the President and Leadership from Health Professionals, Lawyers and Advocates for Medicare for All
July 30, 2012
Dear Mr. President, Secretary Sebelius, Majority Leaders Reid and Cantor, Speaker Boehner and Minority Leaders McConnell and Pelosi,
We write to you on the occasion of Medicare’s 47th birthday to share our deep concern about increasing threats to both Medicare and Medicaid and to urge the immediate expansion of Medicare to everyone in the United States followed by its improvement. The implementation of the Affordable Care Act is not the solution; when it is fully implemented tens of millions will be left without insurance, tens of millions more will be left without adequate insurance and the cost of health care will continue to skyrocket. Forty-seven years of experience proves that Medicare is not the problem, but is the solution to the health care crisis in America.
For many of the most vulnerable among us, Medicare and Medicaid are their last protection from financial and medical catastrophe. Unfortunately, these vulnerable patients are not represented in health policy discussions. Instead, policy is dictated by special interests profiting from our health care system, not by those depending upon it to stay alive.
We call upon you to end the partisan and corporate influences that replace the best medical interests of our patients with the financial interests of those whose primary need and goal is to maximize profit, not to promote prevention and assure patient care.
Health care costs more in America than it does anywhere else in the world. Among the industrialized nations, we rank at or near the bottom on almost every measure of public health. Millions of us have limited or no access to health care, resulting in tens of thousands of unnecessary deaths and hundreds of thousands of family bankruptcies; these consequences are not found in other industrialized nations. Our country is heading in the wrong direction. We need immediate action.
We need a health care system that provides access to every one of us, no matter how sick, poor, old, or unemployed we may be. We need reduced costs. We need improved health for all people in the United States, not just the most fortunate.
The recent Supreme Court decision on the Affordable Care Act unhappily codifies into law an approach that fails to meet any of these health care needs:
• At its best, the ACA will leave 30 million Americans without health coverage. Another 40 million will be under-insured and therefore at risk for financial catastrophe or death when they get sick. Both numbers will increase as states opt out of the Medicaid expansion.
• With no restriction on prices charged by insurance companies, many people will find even the lowest tier policies unaffordable. Others will be unable to afford deductibles, and with that unable to afford necessary care. And still more will be bankrupted by out-of-pocket expenses when they get sick.
• As Medicare spending decreases, out of pocket expenses will rise. Patients will be compelled to defer health care until they are desperately ill, further eroding public health in America.
• The ACA will not slow the soaring costs of American health care. These costs exact a terrible toll on our economy. Small businesses struggle to survive if they choose to provide benefits to their employees. Large businesses cannot compete in international markets. Entrepreneurs refuse to start new businesses for fear their families will lack access to health care.
Instead of relieving our families and businesses from higher costs and diminishing access, the ACA entrenches the worst aspects of our health care system:
• Private health insurance companies are enshrined as the only portal through which most patients can access health care. We already know that because of the current system of more than a thousand insurance plans, the associated administrative waste consumes 31% of total health care spending. If this administrative loss were invested in health care, we could provide comprehensive care to every person with no additional funding.
• The ACA reduces Medicare costs by paying providers less, a tactic encouraging providers to avoid Medicare patients.
• The Supreme Court decision on the ACA allows states to cut Medicaid enrollment and services without penalty, leaving millions of Americans with inadequate or no access to care.
• The ACA encourages continuation of inhumane cost-shifting to patients in the form of compulsory purchase of expensive policies, higher deductibles, and higher co-pays.
• Millions of people will remain dependent upon employer-sponsored private insurance for health care access, continuing the pattern of labor-management negotiations becoming battlegrounds.
America needs cost-effective universal health care as exists in every other industrialized country. No other nation uses our unique private insurance system which penalizes the sick by charging them more, by reducing their benefits, or by denying care altogether. None allow private insurance companies to place profit over coverage. All of them encourage health care by reducing or eliminating deductibles and co-pays. And all of them provide better care to more people for less money than we do.
Instead of greater privatization of our health care system, we implore you to immediately extend Medicare, our cherished national public insurance, to every person in the United States and then work to improve it. Making Medicare universal would:
• Insure health care access to every American regardless of health, wealth, age, or employment.
• Create the opportunity to fund health care with progressive taxes designed to spare struggling families and small businesses.
• Reduce costs of health care by eliminating the extraordinary and unnecessary administrative waste generated by the private health insurance industry.
• Increase the financial health of our families by sparing them the specter of bankruptcy if any member should have a serious accident or illness.
• Eliminate labor-management disputes over health care benefits.
• Reduce fraud by using consistent forms throughout the country.
• Allow patients to choose their physicians, rather than having insurance companies choose for them.
Medicare needs improvement to provide these benefits. An improved Medicare program should:
• Include every person in the United States, giving them all equal access and benefits.
• Cover all necessary medical, dental, vision, mental health and long-term care with little or no patient cost-sharing.
• Negotiate fair prices for pharmaceuticals, medical devices and health services.
• Remove for-profit health facilities.
• Create an appointed board of patients and health professionals to determine benefits and payments based on need and evidence, not on politics.
• Assure guaranteed access to health care for all communities by defining global operating budgets for health facilities with separate capital budgets to facilitate better health planning.
America’s multi-decade experiment with market-driven care which emphasizes protection of for-profit industries has devastated our families, crippled our businesses, smothered our economy, and stolen our health. The ACA is a continuation of this experiment and medical ethics dictate that this experiment must be stopped.
We can no longer tolerate having the highest health care costs with the worst outcomes in the industrialized world. Our own publicly funded health care systems (Medicare and the Veterans Administration) can and do provide better care at lower cost to even the most vulnerable patients.
We cannot rely either on our private insurance industry or the ACA to remedy our crisis. We implore you to immediately protect, improve, and expand Medicare. Every person in the United States needs and deserves access to health care.
With concern,
Henry L. Abrons, MD, Berkeley, California; Pippa Abston, MD PhD, Huntsville, Alabama; Garrett Adams, MD, Louisville, Kentucky; Patch Adams, MD, Urbana, Illinois; Kris Alman, MD, Portland, Oregon; Paul Bigman, Business Representative, IATSE Local 15, AFL-CIO, Seattle, Washington; Mindy Blaski, MD, Seattle, Washington; Paul Blaski, Seattle, Washington; Philip Caper, MD, Brooklyn, Maine; Claudia Chaufan, MD, San Francisco, California; Andy Coates, MD, Albany, NY, Mardge Cohen, MD, Boston, Massachusetts; Mary L. De Luca, MD, Albuquerque, New Mexico; Margaret Flowers, MD, Baltimore, Maryland; Elizabeth Frost, MD, Minneapolis, Minnesota; John Geyman, MD, Seattle, Washington; Leslie Hartley Gise, MD, Kula, Hawaii; Irene Gomez, Seattle, Washington; James S. Goodman, MD, Albuquerque, New Mexico; Jeoffry Gordon, MD, San Diego, California; Paul Gorman, MD, Portland, Oregon; Nancy Greep, MD, Los Angeles, California; Oliver Hall, JD, Washington, DC; Hedda L. Haning, MD, Charleston, West Virginia; Bruce Hector, MD, North Hills, California; David Himmelstein, MD, New York, New York; Paul Hochfeld, MD, Corvallis, Oregon; Michael Huntington, MD, Corvallis, Oregon; Dana Iorio, ARNP; Seattle, Washington; Joseph Q. Jarvis, MD, Salt Lake City, Utah; Jeffrey Kaplan, MD, Baltimore, Maryland; Stephen B. Kemble, MD, Honolulu, Hawaii; Jim Kratzer MD, MPH, Fresno, California; David McLanahan, MD, Seattle, Washington; George Martin, MD, Seattle, Washington; Samuel Metz, MD, Portland, Oregon; Russell Mokhiber, JD, Berkeley Springs, West Virginia; Kathleen Myers, DDS, Seattle, Washington; Eric Naumburg, MD, Columbia, Maryland; Clark Newhall, MD JD, Salt Lake City, Utah; Carol Paris, MD, Leonardtown, Maryland; George L. Pauk, MD, Phoenix, Arizona; Glenn Pearson, MD, Fort Collins, CO, Julie Keller Pease, MD, Brunswick, Maine; Ellen Punyon, Retired School Principal, Seattle, Washington; George Randt, MD, Cleveland,Ohio; Helen Redmond, LCSW, New York, New York; Katie Robbins, Mailman School of Public Health, MPH, Class of 2014, New York, New York; Cecile Rose, MD, MPH, Denver, Colorado; Rick Saling, CWA (for ID only), Seattle, Washington; Gordon Schiff, MD, Boston, Massachusetts; Ann Settgast, MD, Minneapolis, Minnesota; Elias Shaya, MD, Baltimore, Maryland; Diljeet Singh, MD, Chicago, Illinois; William Skeen, MD, Oakland, California; Paul Y. Song, MD, Santa Monica, California; Nancy Hewitt Spaeth, RN, Seattle, Washington James Squire, MD, Seattle, Washington; Karen Green Stone, Small Business Owner, Bloomington, Indiana; Rob Stone, MD, Bloomington, Indiana; Bruce Trigg, MD, Albuquerque, New Mexico; William Ulwelling, MD, Albuquerque, New Mexico; Robert Vinetz, MD, Los Angeles, California; John V. Walsh, MD, Cambridge, Massachusetts; Li-hsia Wang, MD, Berkeley, California; Daniel P. Wirt, MD, Houston, Texas; Steffie Woolhandler, MD, New York, New York; Kevin Zeese, JD, Baltimore, MD.
Source:
Sunday, July 29, 2012
You Have The Right To Remain Silent: NLG Guide To Law Enforcement Encounters
You Have the Right to Remain Silent: NLG Guide to Law Enforcement Encounters
Occupy Wall Street, July 27, 2012
Occupy Wall Street is a nonviolent movement for social and economic justice, but in recent days disturbing reports have emerged of Occupy-affiliated activists being targeted by US law enforcement, including agents from the FBI and Department of Homeland Security. To help ensure Occupiers and allied activists know their rights when encountering law enforcement, we are publishing in full the National Lawyers Guild's booklet: You Have the Right to Remain Silent. The NLG provides invaluable support to the Occupy movement and other activists – please click here to support the NLG.
We strongly encourage all Occupiers to read and share the information provided below. We also recommend you enter the NLG's national hotline number (888-654-3265) into your cellphone (if you have one) and keep a copy handy. This information is not a substitute for legal advice. You should contact the NLG or a criminal defense attorney immediately if you have been visited by the FBI or other law enforcement officials. You should also alert your relatives, friends, co-workers and others so that they will be prepared if they are contacted as well.
You Have the Right to Remain Silent: A Know Your Rights Guide for Law Enforcement Encounters
What Rights Do I Have?
Whether or not you’re a citizen, you have rights under the United States Constitution. The Fifth Amendment gives every person the right to remain silent: not to answer questions asked by a police officer or government agent. The Fourth Amendment restricts the government’s power to enter and search your home or workplace, although there are many exceptions and new laws have expanded the government’s power to conduct surveillance. The First Amendment protects your right to speak freely and to advocate for social change. However, if you are a non-citizen, the Department of Homeland Security may target you based on your political activities.
Standing Up For Free Speech
The government’s crusade against politically-active individuals is intended to disrupt and suppress the exercise of time-honored free speech activities, such as boycotts, protests, grassroots organizing and solidarity work. Remember that you have the right to stand up to the intimidation tactics of FBI agents and other law enforcement officials who, with political motives, are targeting organizing and free speech activities. Informed resistance to these tactics and steadfast defense of your and others’ rights can bring positive results. Each person who takes a courageous stand makes future resistance to government oppression easier for all. The National Lawyers Guild has a long tradition of standing up to government repression. The organization itself was labeled a “subversive” group during the McCarthy Era and was subject to FBI surveillance and infiltration for many years. Guild attorneys have defended FBI-targeted members of the Black Panther Party, the American Indian Movement, and the Puerto Rican independence movement. The NLG exposed FBI surveillance, infiltration and disruption tactics that were detailed during the 1975-76 COINTELPRO hearings. In 1989 the NLG prevailed in a lawsuit on behalf of several activist organizations, including the Guild, that forced the FBI to expose the extent to which it had been spying on activist movements. Under the settlement, the FBI turned over roughly 400,000 pages of its files on the Guild, which are now available at the Tamiment Library at New York University.
What if FBI Agents or Police Contact Me?
What if an agent or police officer comes to the door?
Do not invite the agents or police into your home. Do not answer any questions. Tell the agent that you do not wish to talk with him or her. You can state that your lawyer will contact them on your behalf. You can do this by stepping outside and pulling the door behind you so that the interior of your home or office is not visible, getting their contact information or business cards and then returning inside. They should cease questioning after this. If the agent or officer gives a reason for contacting you, take notes and give the information to your attorney. Anything you say, no matter how seemingly harmless or insignificant, may be used against you or others in the future. Lying to or misleading a federal agent is a crime. The more you speak, the more opportunity for federal law enforcement to find something you said (even if not intentionally) false and assert that you lied to a federal officer.
Do I have to answer questions?
You have the constitutional right to remain silent. It is not a crime to refuse to answer questions. You do not have to talk to anyone, even if you have been arrested or are in jail. You should affirmatively and unambiguously state that you wish to remain silent and that you wish to consult an attorney. Once you make the request to speak to a lawyer, do not say anything else. The Supreme Court recently ruled that answering law enforcement questions may be taken as a waiver of your right to remain silent, so it is important that you assert your rights and maintain them. Only a judge can order you to answer questions. There is one exception: some states have “stop and identify” statutes which require you to provide identity information or your name if you have been detained on reasonable suspicion that you may have committed a crime. A lawyer in your state can advise you of the status of these requirements where you reside.
Do I have to give my name?
As above, in some states you can be detained or arrested for merely refusing to give your name. And in any state, police do not always follow the law, and refusing to give your name may make them suspicious or more hostile and lead to your arrest, even without just cause, so use your judgment. Giving a false name could in some circumstances be a crime.
Do I need a lawyer?
You have the right to talk to a lawyer before you decide whether to answer questions from law enforcement. It is a good idea to talk to a lawyer if you are considering answering any questions. You have the right to have a lawyer present during any interview. The lawyer’s job is to protect your rights. Once you tell the agent that you want to talk to a lawyer, he or she should stop trying to question you and should make any further contact through your lawyer. If you do not have a lawyer, you can still tell the officer you want to speak to one before answering questions. Remember to get the name, agency and telephone number of any investigator who visits you, and give that information to your lawyer. The government does not have to provide you with a free lawyer unless you are charged with a crime, but the NLG or another organization may be able to help you find a lawyer for free or at a reduced rate.
If I refuse to answer questions or say I want a lawyer, won’t it seem like I have something to hide?
Anything you say to law enforcement can be used against you and others. You can never tell how a seemingly harmless bit of information might be used or manipulated to hurt you or someone else. That is why the right not to talk is a fundamental right under the Constitution. Keep in mind that although law enforcement agents are allowed to lie to you, lying to a government agent is a crime. Remaining silent is not. The safest things to say are “I am going to remain silent,” “I want to speak to my lawyer,” and “I do not consent to a search.” It is a common practice for law enforcement agents to try to get you to waive your rights by telling you that if you have nothing to hide you would talk or that talking would “just clear things up.” The fact is, if they are questioning you, they are looking to incriminate you or someone you may know, or they are engaged in political intelligence gathering. You should feel comfortable standing firm in protection and defense of your rights and refusing to answer questions.
Can agents search my home or office?
You do not have to let police or agents into your home or office unless they have and produce a valid search warrant. A search warrant is a written court order that allows the police to conduct a specified search. Interfering with a warrantless search probably will not stop it and you might get arrested. But you should say “I do not consent to a search,” and call a criminal defense lawyer or the NLG. You should be aware that a roommate or guest can legally consent to a search of your house if the police believe that person has the authority to give consent, and your employer can consent to a search of your workspace without your permission.
What if agents have a search warrant?
If you are present when agents come for the search, you can ask to see the warrant. The warrant must specify in detail the places to be searched and the people or things to be taken away. Tell the agents you do not consent to the search so that they cannot go beyond what the warrant authorizes. Ask if you are allowed to watch the search; if you are allowed to, you should. Take notes, including names, badge numbers, what agency each officer is from, where they searched and what they took. If others are present, have them act as witnesses to watch carefully what is happening. If the agents ask you to give them documents, your computer, or anything else, look to see if the item is listed in the warrant. If it is not, do not consent to them taking it without talking to a lawyer. You do not have to answer questions. Talk to a lawyer first. (Note: If agents present an arrest warrant, they may only perform a cursory visual search of the premises to see if the person named in the arrest warrant is present.)
Do I have to answer questions if I have been arrested?
No. If you are arrested, you do not have to answer any questions. You should affirmatively and unambiguously state that you wish to assert your right to remain silent. Ask for a lawyer right away. Do not say anything else. Repeat to every officer who tries to talk to or question you that you wish to remain silent and that you wish to speak to a lawyer. You should always talk to a lawyer before you decide to answer any questions.
What if I speak to government agents anyway?
Even if you have already answered some questions, you can refuse to answer other questions until you have a lawyer. If you find yourself talking, stop. Assert that you wish to remain silent and that you wish to speak to a lawyer.
What if the police stop me on the street?
Ask if you are free to go. If the answer is yes, consider just walking away. If the police say you are not under arrest, but are not free to go, then you are being detained. The police can pat down the outside of your clothing if they have reason to suspect you might be armed and dangerous. If they search any more than this, say clearly, “I do not consent to a search.” They may keep searching anyway. If this happens, do not resist because you can be charged with assault or resisting arrest. You do not have to answer any questions. You do not have to open bags or any closed container. Tell the officers you do not consent to a search of your bags or other property.
What if police or agents stop me in my car?
Keep your hands where the police can see them. If you are driving a vehicle, you must show your license, registration and, in some states, proof of insurance. You do not have to consent to a search. But the police may have legal grounds to search your car anyway. Clearly state that you do not consent. Officers may separate passengers and drivers from each other to question them, but no one has to answer any questions.
What if I am treated badly by the police or the FBI?
Write down the officer’s badge number, name or other identifying information. You have a right to ask the officer for this information. Try to find witnesses and their names and phone numbers. If you are injured, seek medical attention and take pictures of the injuries as soon as you can. Call a lawyer as soon as possible.
What if the police or FBI threaten me with a grand jury subpoena if I don’t answer their questions?
A grand jury subpoena is a written order for you to go to court and testify about information you may have. It is common for the FBI to threaten you with a subpoena to get you to talk to them. If they are going to subpoena you, they will do so anyway. You should not volunteer to speak just because you are threatened with a subpoena. You should consult a lawyer.
What if I receive a grand jury subpoena?
Grand jury proceedings are not the same as testifying at an open court trial. You are not allowed to have a lawyer present (although one may wait in the hallway and you may ask to consult with him or her after each question) and you may be asked to answer questions about your activities and associations. Because of the witness’s limited rights in this situation, the government has frequently used grand jury subpoenas to gather information about activists and political organizations. It is common for the FBI to threaten activists with a subpoena in order to elicit information about their political views and activities and those of their associates. There are legal grounds for stopping (“quashing”) subpoenas, and receiving one does not necessarily mean that you are suspected of a crime. If you do receive a subpoena, call the NLG National Hotline at 888-NLG-ECOL (888-654-3265) or call a criminal defense attorney immediately.
The government regularly uses grand jury subpoena power to investigate and seek evidence related to politically-active individuals and social movements. This practice is aimed at prosecuting activists and, through intimidation and disruption, discouraging continued activism.
Federal grand jury subpoenas are served in person. If you receive one, it is critically important that you retain the services of an attorney, preferably one who understands your goals and, if applicable, understands the nature of your political work, and has experience with these issues. Most lawyers are trained to provide the best legal defense for their client, often at the expense of others. Beware lawyers who summarily advise you to cooperate with grand juries, testify against friends, or cut off contact with your friends and political activists. Cooperation usually leads to others being subpoenaed and investigated. You also run the risk of being charged with perjury, a felony, should you omit any pertinent information or should there be inconsistencies in your testimony.
Frequently prosecutors will offer “use immunity,” meaning that the prosecutor is prohibited from using your testimony or any leads from it to bring charges against you. If a subsequent prosecution is brought, the prosecutor bears the burden of proving that all of its evidence was obtained independent of the immunized testimony. You should be aware, however, that they will use anything you say to manipulate associates into sharing more information about you by suggesting that you have betrayed confidences.
In front of a grand jury you can “take the Fifth” (exercise your right to remain silent). However, the prosecutor may impose immunity on you, which strips you of Fifth Amendment protection and subjects you to the possibility of being cited for contempt and jailed if you refuse to answer further. In front of a grand jury you have no Sixth Amendment right to counsel, although you can consult with a lawyer outside the grand jury room after each question.
What if I don’t cooperate with the grand jury?
If you receive a grand jury subpoena and elect to not cooperate, you may be held in civil contempt. There is a chance that you may be jailed or imprisoned for the length of the grand jury in an effort to coerce you to cooperate. Regular grand juries sit for a basic term of 18 months, which can be extended up to a total of 24 months. It is lawful to hold you in order to coerce your cooperation, but unlawful to hold you as a means of punishment. In rare instances you may face criminal contempt charges.
What If I Am Not a Citizen and the DHS Contacts Me?
The Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) is now part of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and has been renamed and reorganized into: 1. The Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services (BCIS); 2. The Bureau of Customs and Border Protection (CBP); and 3. The Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). All three bureaus will be referred to as DHS for the purposes of this pamphlet.
■ Assert your rights. If you do not demand your rights or if you sign papers waiving your rights, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) may deport you before you see a lawyer or an immigration judge. Never sign anything without reading, understanding and knowing the consequences of signing it.
■ Talk to a lawyer. If possible, carry with you the name and telephone number of an immigration lawyer who will take your calls. The immigration laws are hard to understand and there have been many recent changes. DHS will not explain your options to you. As soon as you encounter a DHS agent, call your attorney. If you can’t do it right away, keep trying. Always talk to an immigration lawyer before leaving the U.S. Even some legal permanent residents can be barred from returning.
Based on today’s laws, regulations and DHS guidelines, non-citizens usually have the following rights, no matter what their immigration status. This information may change, so it is important to contact a lawyer. The following rights apply to non-citizens who are inside the U.S. Non-citizens at the border who are trying to enter the U.S. do not have all the same rights.
Do I have the right to talk to a lawyer before answering any DHS questions or signing any DHS papers?
Yes. You have the right to call a lawyer or your family if you are detained, and you have the right to be visited by a lawyer in detention. You have the right to have your attorney with you at any hearing before an immigration judge. You do not have the right to a government-appointed attorney for immigration proceedings, but if you have been arrested, immigration officials must show you a list of free or low cost legal service providers.
Should I carry my green card or other immigration papers with me?
If you have documents authorizing you to stay in the U.S., you must carry them with you. Presenting false or expired papers to DHS may lead to deportation or criminal prosecution. An unexpired green card, I-94, Employment Authorization Card, Border Crossing Card or other papers that prove you are in legal status will satisfy this requirement. If you do not carry these papers with you, you could be charged with a crime. Always keep a copy of your immigration papers with a trusted family member or friend who can fax them to you, if need be. Check with your immigration lawyer about your specific case.
Am I required to talk to government officers about my immigration history?
If you are undocumented, out of status, a legal permanent resident (green card holder), or a citizen, you do not have to answer any questions about your immigration history. (You may want to consider giving your name; see above for more information about this.) If you are not in any of these categories, and you are being questioned by a DHS or FBI agent, then you may create problems with your immigration status if you refuse to provide information requested by the agent. If you have a lawyer, you can tell the agent that your lawyer will answer questions on your behalf. If answering questions could lead the agent to information that connects you with criminal activity, you should consider refusing to talk to the agent at all.
If I am arrested for immigration violations, do I have the right to a hearing before an immigration judge to defend myself against deportation charges?
Yes. In most cases only an immigration judge can order you deported. But if you waive your rights or take “voluntary departure,” agreeing to leave the country, you could be deported without a hearing. If you have criminal convictions, were arrested at the border, came to the U.S. through the visa waiver program or have been ordered deported in the past, you could be deported without a hearing. Contact a lawyer immediately to see if there is any relief for you.
Can I call my consulate if I am arrested?
Yes. Non-citizens arrested in the U.S. have the right to call their consulate or to have the police tell the consulate of your arrest. The police must let your consulate visit or speak with you if consular officials decide to do so. Your consulate might help you find a lawyer or offer other help. You also have the right to refuse help from your consulate.
What happens if I give up my right to a hearing or leave the U.S. before the hearing is over?
You could lose your eligibility for certain immigration benefits, and you could be barred from returning to the U.S. for a number of years. You should always talk to an immigration lawyer before you decide to give up your right to a hearing.
What should I do if I want to contact DHS?
Always talk to a lawyer before contacting DHS, even on the phone. Many DHS officers view “enforcement” as their primary job and will not explain all of your options to you.
What Are My Rights at Airports?
IMPORTANT NOTE: It is illegal for law enforcement to perform any stops, searches, detentions or removals based solely on your race, national origin, religion, sex or ethnicity.
If I am entering the U.S. with valid travel papers can a U.S. customs agent stop and search me?
Yes. Customs agents have the right to stop, detain and search every person and item.
Can my bags or I be searched after going through metal detectors with no problem or after security sees that my bags do not contain a weapon?
Yes. Even if the initial screen of your bags reveals nothing suspicious, the screeners have the authority to conduct a further search of you or your bags.
If I am on an airplane, can an airline employee interrogate me or ask me to get off the plane?
The pilot of an airplane has the right to refuse to fly a passenger if he or she believes the passenger is a threat to the safety of the flight. The pilot’s decision must be reasonable and based on observations of you, not stereotypes.
What If I Am Under 18?
Do I have to answer questions?
No. Minors too have the right to remain silent. You cannot be arrested for refusing to talk to the police, probation officers, or school officials, except in some states you may have to give your name if you have been detained.
What if I am detained?
If you are detained at a community detention facility or Juvenile Hall, you normally must be released to a parent or guardian. If charges are filed against you, in most states you are entitled to counsel (just like an adult) at no cost.
Do I have the right to express political views at school?
Public school students generally have a First Amendment right to politically organize at school by passing out leaflets, holding meetings, etc., as long as those activities are not disruptive and do not violate legitimate school rules. You may not be singled out based on your politics, ethnicity or religion.
Can my backpack or locker be searched?
School officials can search students’ backpacks and lockers without a warrant if they reasonably suspect that you are involved in criminal activity or carrying drugs or weapons. Do not consent to the police or school officials searching your property, but do not physically resist or you may face criminal charges.
Disclaimer
This booklet is not a substitute for legal advice. You should contact an attorney if you have been visited by the FBI or other law enforcement officials. You should also alert your relatives, friends, co-workers and others so that they will be prepared if they are contacted as well.
NLG National Hotline for Activists Contacted by the FBI
888-NLG-ECOL
(888-654-3265)
(888-654-3265)
Source:
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| Source: http://jaysteevee.blogspot.se/2012/02/your-miranda-rights-could-this-be-set.html |
Renegade Economist - An Interview With Ann Pettifor
Ann is a leading author and commentator on economic affairs. She is the executive director of Advocacy International, which undertakes research and advises governments and organisations on matters relating to international finance and sustainable development, and a founder-member of the Green New Deal Group. She is also Campaigns Director at Operation Noah, a faith-driven climate change campaign group.
Ann is best known for her leadership of a worldwide campaign to cancel approximately $100 billion of debts owed by 42 of the poorest countries - Jubilee 2000. In 2003, she edited nef's book Real World Economic Outlook, which correctly predicted the credit crunch.
Ann has received the Pax Christi International Peace Prize and has a honourary doctorate from the University of Newcastle. She was born in South Africa.
Read Ann's blog at: debtonation.org
Ann is best known for her leadership of a worldwide campaign to cancel approximately $100 billion of debts owed by 42 of the poorest countries - Jubilee 2000. In 2003, she edited nef's book Real World Economic Outlook, which correctly predicted the credit crunch.
Ann has received the Pax Christi International Peace Prize and has a honourary doctorate from the University of Newcastle. She was born in South Africa.
Read Ann's blog at: debtonation.org
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| Ann Pettifor |
Saturday, July 28, 2012
Morgellons Study Cited - This Disease Is Not a Delusion
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| Source of Map: http://digitaljournal.com/article/269296 |
Morgellons Study Cited by Faculty of 1000: Not a Delusion
Food Freedom News, 27 July 2012
In 2011, veterinary microbiologist Marianne J. Middelveen from Calgary, Alberta, Canada and internist Raphael B. Stricker, MD published a study documenting similarities between Morgellons disease and a veterinary illness known as bovine digital dermatitis (BDD) that causes lameness, decreased milk production, weight loss, and skin lesions near the hooves of affected cattle. That study revealed that the unusual fibers seen in the animal disease were similar to those seen in and under the skin of people worldwide who suffer from Morgellons disease.
The new study confirms that Morgellons disease is not a delusional illness, as some in the medical community maintain. The latest findings confirm that fibers from both bovine and human samples were similar in formation at the cellular level and had the chemical and physical properties of keratin. Fibers from human patients were found to be biological in origin and are produced by keratinocytes in epithelial and follicular tissues.
“This study puts the final nail in the coffin of delusional disease that these patients have been labeled with,” stated Dr. Stricker. “It proves that Morgellons disease is a physiologic illness. From here on, scientists will be able to move forward in finding a cause and a cure.”
[With or without the CDC's war on medical truths. See, e.g., CDC calls Morgellons’ nanoworms a delusion, protects DARPA.]
Note: To read this important study on Morgellons Disease, click here, or see the abstract below:
“Morgellons disease is an emerging multisystem illness characterized by unexplained dermopathy and unusual skinassociated filament production. Despite evidence demonstrating that an infectious process is involved and that lesions are not self-inflicted, many medical practitioners continue to claim that this illness is delusional. We present relevant clinical observations combined with chemical and light microscopic studies of material collected from three patients with Morgellons disease. Our study demonstrates that Morgellons disease is not delusional and that skin lesions with unusual fibers are not self-inflicted or psychogenic. We provide chemical, light microscopic and immunohistological evidence that filaments associated with this condition originate from human epithelial cells, supporting the hypothesis that the fibers are composed of keratin and are products of keratinocytes.”
For key reports from reliable sources on important health issues, click here.
Summarized by WantToKnow
Source:
Food Freedom News
Note: If you click on the above link and click on the major newspaper link in the first paragraph of the article, you will find the link has been censored. I have removed this paragraph here and begin with the 2nd paragraph of the article. This often happens and I have found that it's best to save important documents or articles that are a bit out of the mainstream on a USB. Often the truth has a way of disappearing.
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