crowd control
number 39 02.05.06
Protesters in Prison: Patriot Act Provision Makes Dissent a Felony
A provision of the reauthorization bill
for the USA PATRIOT Act extends
the authority of the Secret Service to
arrest demonstrators and protesters
who disrupt or breech security at
"national special security events"
or what the act refers to as a "special
event of national significance".
Protesters who "knowingly" or
"willingly" enter restricted areas or
disrupt events that the Secret
Service is providing protection for
could be charged with a felony and
receive up to a year in jail. The new
powers mandate that the service
would become the "lead agency
for the USA PATRIOT Act extends
the authority of the Secret Service to
arrest demonstrators and protesters
who disrupt or breech security at
"national special security events"
or what the act refers to as a "special
event of national significance".
Protesters who "knowingly" or
"willingly" enter restricted areas or
disrupt events that the Secret
Service is providing protection for
could be charged with a felony and
receive up to a year in jail. The new
powers mandate that the service
would become the "lead agency
to "develop security plans for major
events" The Super Bowl, the Olympics
and the memorial service for recently
deceased Coretta Scott King are
examples of events categorized as
"special events of national
significance".The bill also creates the
United Secret Service Uniformed
Division, a national security police force.
The new police authority, the first of its
kind in the US, expands the Executive
Protection Service which has traditionally
protected embassies. The new police
force will be authorized to detain
individuals and make arrests "subject to
the Secretary of Homeland Security".
events" The Super Bowl, the Olympics
and the memorial service for recently
deceased Coretta Scott King are
examples of events categorized as
"special events of national
significance".The bill also creates the
United Secret Service Uniformed
Division, a national security police force.
The new police authority, the first of its
kind in the US, expands the Executive
Protection Service which has traditionally
protected embassies. The new police
force will be authorized to detain
individuals and make arrests "subject to
the Secretary of Homeland Security".
Civil rights groups and defenders of the
first amendment have assailed these
provisions, which were slipped into the
reauthorization bill after both houses of
congress had passed the legislation. The
American Civil Liberties Union has sent a
letter to the Senate Judiciary Committee
chairpersons warning that the bill's broad
language is a threat to both civil rights
and free speech. The national security
counsel for the ACLU said that the bill is
reflective of a trend to empower the
Secret Service to "arrest or harass or
control dissenters, and now not just at
presidential events."
first amendment have assailed these
provisions, which were slipped into the
reauthorization bill after both houses of
congress had passed the legislation. The
American Civil Liberties Union has sent a
letter to the Senate Judiciary Committee
chairpersons warning that the bill's broad
language is a threat to both civil rights
and free speech. The national security
counsel for the ACLU said that the bill is
reflective of a trend to empower the
Secret Service to "arrest or harass or
control dissenters, and now not just at
presidential events."
| interpreting the constitution crowd control spread of the red one nation, under surveillance fun d' mental in bed with the red red state rebate verbatim |
fun d' mental
News
Walmart Breaks
MA Law for
"Business Reasons"
MA Law for
"Business Reasons"
Consumer Savings Recover to Depression Era Levels
Americans' personal savings rate
declined to levels that have only been
seen in the years of the Great
Depression. The amount of money
held as savings by Americans dipped
into negative territory in 2005.
Americans saved a minus 0.5 percent
in 2005.The savings rate has been
negative for a whole year only twice
before, this was during the Great
Depression in both 1932 and 1933.
A negative savings rate reflects that
consumers continued to spend both
disposable income and borrowed
money, taking advantage of
historically low interest rates. The
negative savings rate in 2005 followed
an anemic rate of 1.8 percent in 2004.
During the same period, the Labor
Department reported that wages and
benefits paid to workers rose last year
declined to levels that have only been
seen in the years of the Great
Depression. The amount of money
held as savings by Americans dipped
into negative territory in 2005.
Americans saved a minus 0.5 percent
in 2005.The savings rate has been
negative for a whole year only twice
before, this was during the Great
Depression in both 1932 and 1933.
A negative savings rate reflects that
consumers continued to spend both
disposable income and borrowed
money, taking advantage of
historically low interest rates. The
negative savings rate in 2005 followed
an anemic rate of 1.8 percent in 2004.
During the same period, the Labor
Department reported that wages and
benefits paid to workers rose last year
by the smallest amount in nine years.
Employee compensation was up 3.1
percent in 2005, a decline from the 3.7
rise in 2004. Wages rose a scant 0.8
percent in the fourth quarter of 2005.
Over all, wages rose at a rate slower
than inflation last year.
The slow growth in wages contradicts
some analysis that ties the growth of job
creation to an upswing in the economy.
While there has been growth in
employment, it has largely been
contained in the low wage service
sector. The decline in wage growth
occurred during a period that employer
costs associated with providing benefits
to employees has skyrocketed. In 2005
such costs rose at a rate of 4.5 percent.
In 2004 the same costs, especially those
associated with health care, rose at a
rate of 6.9 percent.
Employee compensation was up 3.1
percent in 2005, a decline from the 3.7
rise in 2004. Wages rose a scant 0.8
percent in the fourth quarter of 2005.
Over all, wages rose at a rate slower
than inflation last year.
The slow growth in wages contradicts
some analysis that ties the growth of job
creation to an upswing in the economy.
While there has been growth in
employment, it has largely been
contained in the low wage service
sector. The decline in wage growth
occurred during a period that employer
costs associated with providing benefits
to employees has skyrocketed. In 2005
such costs rose at a rate of 4.5 percent.
In 2004 the same costs, especially those
associated with health care, rose at a
rate of 6.9 percent.
This economic news was reported at the
same time that the Center for Budget
and Policy Priorities in association with
the Economic Policy Institute released a
study that shows that the gap between
the richest and poorest Americans has
increased over the past twenty years.
Incomes of the poorest American
families rose 19 percent in the past
twenty years while the incomes of the
richest Americans have risen by nearly 59
percent during this same period. The
income of poor Americans has risen by
$2,660 since 1980, while the incomes of
America's richest families grew by
$45,100.
same time that the Center for Budget
and Policy Priorities in association with
the Economic Policy Institute released a
study that shows that the gap between
the richest and poorest Americans has
increased over the past twenty years.
Incomes of the poorest American
families rose 19 percent in the past
twenty years while the incomes of the
richest Americans have risen by nearly 59
percent during this same period. The
income of poor Americans has risen by
$2,660 since 1980, while the incomes of
America's richest families grew by
$45,100.
American retail giant Walmart
was sued in state courts in
Massachusetts for refusing to
fulfill prescriptions of the
emergency contraceptives known
as 'plan B'. The 3 plaintiffs are
supported in the action by a
coalition of pro-choice groups.
Massachusetts law requires that
pharmacies in the state stock and
dispense common prescription
medications. The law also
requires that emergency rooms
provide the medication to victims
of rape and also allows
pharmacists to dispense plan-B
without a doctor's prescription.
The law does, however, contain
language that requires pharmacies
to stock common medications,
but in accord with "the usual
needs of the community".
Walmart has stated that the
company has a long standing
policy of not stocking the
contraceptive for many reasons
including considering the "needs
of the community". Walmart has
also said that its decision to not
stock plan-B contraceptives is due
to "business reasons".
Walmart only stocks plan-B
medication in its stores in Illinois
where law mandates that
pharmacies must dispense the
drug "without delay".
The plaintiffs are seeking a court
injunction requiring Walmart to
stock plan-B contraceptives in its
Massachusetts stores
was sued in state courts in
Massachusetts for refusing to
fulfill prescriptions of the
emergency contraceptives known
as 'plan B'. The 3 plaintiffs are
supported in the action by a
coalition of pro-choice groups.
Massachusetts law requires that
pharmacies in the state stock and
dispense common prescription
medications. The law also
requires that emergency rooms
provide the medication to victims
of rape and also allows
pharmacists to dispense plan-B
without a doctor's prescription.
The law does, however, contain
language that requires pharmacies
to stock common medications,
but in accord with "the usual
needs of the community".
Walmart has stated that the
company has a long standing
policy of not stocking the
contraceptive for many reasons
including considering the "needs
of the community". Walmart has
also said that its decision to not
stock plan-B contraceptives is due
to "business reasons".
Walmart only stocks plan-B
medication in its stores in Illinois
where law mandates that
pharmacies must dispense the
drug "without delay".
The plaintiffs are seeking a court
injunction requiring Walmart to
stock plan-B contraceptives in its
Massachusetts stores
| redstat |
Traffic
Can't Own the Bible,
Vatican Copyrights Pope's Words
Vatican Copyrights Pope's Words
The Vatican has moved to strictly
regulate the publication of papal
documents by transferring copyright on
all papal texts to its official publishing
house, Libreria Editrice Vaticana. The
edict applies to all writings and public
speeches of Pope Benedict XVI,
including encyclicals. The copyright also
covers all papal documents over the past
50 years.The new policy came to light
when the Vatican billed a Milanese
publishing company some $18,000 for
using 30 lines of Pope Benedict’s first
speech as Pope in an anthology.It was
revealed that under the copyright
publishers must pay a 3 to 5 percent
royalty to use excerpts from such
speeches. Those that violate
regulate the publication of papal
documents by transferring copyright on
all papal texts to its official publishing
house, Libreria Editrice Vaticana. The
edict applies to all writings and public
speeches of Pope Benedict XVI,
including encyclicals. The copyright also
covers all papal documents over the past
50 years.The new policy came to light
when the Vatican billed a Milanese
publishing company some $18,000 for
using 30 lines of Pope Benedict’s first
speech as Pope in an anthology.It was
revealed that under the copyright
publishers must pay a 3 to 5 percent
royalty to use excerpts from such
speeches. Those that violate
the copyright face a levy of 15
percent and the threat of legal
action. The Milanese publishing house
was charged the higher rate, plus
court costs.The decision has been
criticized by many within the Church
as placing constraints on attempts to
disseminate the Pope’s message. The
Union of Catholic Publishers and
Booksellers complained that it had
not been consulted.But Vatican
spokesmen stressed that papal texts
have always been subject to
copyright, although it was rarely
enforced. They said the new policy
was enacted to protect the Vatican
against “pirated editions
percent and the threat of legal
action. The Milanese publishing house
was charged the higher rate, plus
court costs.The decision has been
criticized by many within the Church
as placing constraints on attempts to
disseminate the Pope’s message. The
Union of Catholic Publishers and
Booksellers complained that it had
not been consulted.But Vatican
spokesmen stressed that papal texts
have always been subject to
copyright, although it was rarely
enforced. They said the new policy
was enacted to protect the Vatican
against “pirated editions
source: US Bureau of the Census
Sports
NFL Wants to be in that Number, When the Saints Go Marching Out
Each year, in the week before the Super
Bowl, the NFL Commissioner speaks to
members of the press, touching on the
important issues facing the league in the
off season and the year ahead. In this
season’s “state of the league” report,
delivered on Friday in Detroit,
Commissioner Paul Tagliabue, as
expected, addressed upcoming
negotiations for a new collective
bargaining agreement with the NFL
Players Association and the ongoing
controversy over minority hiring among
head coaches. But this year, the
unforeseen catastrophe of Hurricane
Katrina, which displaced the New
Orleans Saints in 2005, put the issue of
franchise movement at the top of the
agenda.
The NFL doesn’t like to talk about
franchise mobility publicly, but ownership
is constantly working new scenarios
behind closed doors, seeking new cities
offering more lucrative stadium deals, or
merely threatening to leave town in
order to extract better terms in a future
negotiation. Owners often play one
municipality against another in an
attempt to create a bidding war for the
franchise. City officials look for teams
with poor revenues, or ownership that is
displeased with its stadium facilities, and
try to lure them with promises of tax
abatements, local support, and a publicly
financed stadium complex.
Bowl, the NFL Commissioner speaks to
members of the press, touching on the
important issues facing the league in the
off season and the year ahead. In this
season’s “state of the league” report,
delivered on Friday in Detroit,
Commissioner Paul Tagliabue, as
expected, addressed upcoming
negotiations for a new collective
bargaining agreement with the NFL
Players Association and the ongoing
controversy over minority hiring among
head coaches. But this year, the
unforeseen catastrophe of Hurricane
Katrina, which displaced the New
Orleans Saints in 2005, put the issue of
franchise movement at the top of the
agenda.
The NFL doesn’t like to talk about
franchise mobility publicly, but ownership
is constantly working new scenarios
behind closed doors, seeking new cities
offering more lucrative stadium deals, or
merely threatening to leave town in
order to extract better terms in a future
negotiation. Owners often play one
municipality against another in an
attempt to create a bidding war for the
franchise. City officials look for teams
with poor revenues, or ownership that is
displeased with its stadium facilities, and
try to lure them with promises of tax
abatements, local support, and a publicly
financed stadium complex.
Tagliabue promised full backing for the
effort to bring the Saints back to New
Orleans for the 2006 season. He said the
NFL is firm in its commitment to the
city, and that he hoped the proposed
renovations to the damaged Super
Dome would be complete in time for
the Saints’ first scheduled home game in
the third week of September. But close
observers of the league are already
talking about a future move of the
franchise, possibly to Los Angeles. It is
widely known that the NFL would like
to get a team into the nation’s second
largest media market as soon as is
practicable.
But although the league is anxious for an
LA-based team, the local taxpayers have
not shown a willingness to pick up the
tab for a new football stadium, typically
exceeding $500 million. Many cities that
have no professional sports franchises do
fund all or part of these stadium
initiatives, often with disastrous long-
term ramifications for their municipal
economies. So the NFL’s best chance of
re-entering the market is to relocate a
distressed franchise to LA, and the
beleaguered Saints are almost perfect for
this role. The team has performed well
below expectations for several years,
attendance at the Super Dome was
down, and owner Tom Benson was
already in protracted negotiations with
the city about a new facility.
effort to bring the Saints back to New
Orleans for the 2006 season. He said the
NFL is firm in its commitment to the
city, and that he hoped the proposed
renovations to the damaged Super
Dome would be complete in time for
the Saints’ first scheduled home game in
the third week of September. But close
observers of the league are already
talking about a future move of the
franchise, possibly to Los Angeles. It is
widely known that the NFL would like
to get a team into the nation’s second
largest media market as soon as is
practicable.
But although the league is anxious for an
LA-based team, the local taxpayers have
not shown a willingness to pick up the
tab for a new football stadium, typically
exceeding $500 million. Many cities that
have no professional sports franchises do
fund all or part of these stadium
initiatives, often with disastrous long-
term ramifications for their municipal
economies. So the NFL’s best chance of
re-entering the market is to relocate a
distressed franchise to LA, and the
beleaguered Saints are almost perfect for
this role. The team has performed well
below expectations for several years,
attendance at the Super Dome was
down, and owner Tom Benson was
already in protracted negotiations with
the city about a new facility.
Advocates of keeping the team in
New Orleans say that the presence
of an NFL team will help to attract
revenue to the area, and assist in
driving the rebuilding of the city’s
economy. But the Super Dome,
which was already aging, is severely
damaged. Many doubt that work w ill
be complete in time for the 2006
season, and even if it is there are
questions about attendance and the
viability of the fan base in a city that
has lost over 70 percent of its total
pre-Katrina population.
Proponents of municipal ownership
of major sports franchises point to
the current situation as an example
of the tenuousness of the
relationship between a team, its
home city, its fans, and its private
owners. A natural disaster displacing
the publicly owned Green Bay
Packers would be unthinkable. But in
the case of the Saints, the home city
is now in no position to own the
team, or to offer the ownership the
requisite enticements to keep the
team.
“We know this year will be difficult,”
says Tagliabue. The league cannot
afford to be seen to be abandoning
New Orleans, but it may already be
contemplating a solution in case the
local effort fails
New Orleans say that the presence
of an NFL team will help to attract
revenue to the area, and assist in
driving the rebuilding of the city’s
economy. But the Super Dome,
which was already aging, is severely
damaged. Many doubt that work w ill
be complete in time for the 2006
season, and even if it is there are
questions about attendance and the
viability of the fan base in a city that
has lost over 70 percent of its total
pre-Katrina population.
Proponents of municipal ownership
of major sports franchises point to
the current situation as an example
of the tenuousness of the
relationship between a team, its
home city, its fans, and its private
owners. A natural disaster displacing
the publicly owned Green Bay
Packers would be unthinkable. But in
the case of the Saints, the home city
is now in no position to own the
team, or to offer the ownership the
requisite enticements to keep the
team.
“We know this year will be difficult,”
says Tagliabue. The league cannot
afford to be seen to be abandoning
New Orleans, but it may already be
contemplating a solution in case the
local effort fails
redstateupdate.net
verbatim 7.5
"In truth, they have
endless ambitions of
imperial domination --
and they wish to make
everyone powerless,
except themselves…
endless ambitions of
imperial domination --
and they wish to make
everyone powerless,
except themselves…
...they seek to end
dissent in every form,
to control every aspect
of life, to rule the
soul itself.."
Aberdeen SD 10.31.02
dissent in every form,
to control every aspect
of life, to rule the
soul itself.."
Aberdeen SD 10.31.02
| US trade in passenger automobiles by selected countries in millions of dollars -year 2004 |
| exports |
| imports |
canada germany japan
| 10,000 |
| 20,000 |
| 30,000 |
| 40,000 |
Weather: extended forecast
United States Cracks the Top Thirty
A new study assessing the
environmental performance of 133
nations ranks the United States 28th.
The study, which was produced by
researchers at Yale and Columbia
Universities, measured each country’s
performance in a variety of areas
including drinking water, sustainable
natural resources, and emissions of
atmospheric pollutants. The US was
ranked behind New Zealand, most of
Western Europe, Japan, Taiwan,
environmental performance of 133
nations ranks the United States 28th.
The study, which was produced by
researchers at Yale and Columbia
Universities, measured each country’s
performance in a variety of areas
including drinking water, sustainable
natural resources, and emissions of
atmospheric pollutants. The US was
ranked behind New Zealand, most of
Western Europe, Japan, Taiwan,
Malaysia, Costa Rica, and Chile. The
study used 16 environmental indicators
to determine each nation’s success in
meeting a set of critical goals. The
highest ranked countries all devote
significant resources to environmental
protection, but the authors note that
no country has attained “a position of
long-term environmental sustainability.”
The study was released at last month’s
World Economic Forum in Davos,
Switzerland
study used 16 environmental indicators
to determine each nation’s success in
meeting a set of critical goals. The
highest ranked countries all devote
significant resources to environmental
protection, but the authors note that
no country has attained “a position of
long-term environmental sustainability.”
The study was released at last month’s
World Economic Forum in Davos,
Switzerland
Terminator Seed Makers Protect
Profits, Kill Off Traditional Farming
Profits, Kill Off Traditional Farming
Scientist's Studies Submitted to Scrutiny
A coalition of groups that
promote the rights of indigenous
farming communities petitioned
the United Nations to restrict or
ban the use of so called
'terminator seeds'.Terminator
seeds are genetically designed to
produce food crops but no seed.
The agribusiness conglomerates
have designed such products to
ensure that farmers cannot save
seeds for future seasons but
would instead have to purchase
seeds every year. Companies
such as Monsanto and Cargill have
secured patents on many
genetically modified food crops
and are attempting to protect
promote the rights of indigenous
farming communities petitioned
the United Nations to restrict or
ban the use of so called
'terminator seeds'.Terminator
seeds are genetically designed to
produce food crops but no seed.
The agribusiness conglomerates
have designed such products to
ensure that farmers cannot save
seeds for future seasons but
would instead have to purchase
seeds every year. Companies
such as Monsanto and Cargill have
secured patents on many
genetically modified food crops
and are attempting to protect
their ownership of the seeds they
develop and sell.
Advocates for indigenous peoples argue
the age-old practice of saving seeds that
come from plants that thrive in local
conditions guarantees food supplies for
millions world wide who live in
communities that rely upon subsistence
agriculture.
Studies have found that 80 percent of
the cultivation of genetically modified
crops takes place in the US, Canada and
Argentina. Recently, Canada reversed a
decision to plant test plots of genetically
modified crops within its borders due to
public protest.
develop and sell.
Advocates for indigenous peoples argue
the age-old practice of saving seeds that
come from plants that thrive in local
conditions guarantees food supplies for
millions world wide who live in
communities that rely upon subsistence
agriculture.
Studies have found that 80 percent of
the cultivation of genetically modified
crops takes place in the US, Canada and
Argentina. Recently, Canada reversed a
decision to plant test plots of genetically
modified crops within its borders due to
public protest.
A top NASA scientist has reported
that the Bush administration has
initiated a campaign to silence him
because he is a vocal advocate of
government intervention to reduce
emissions of carbon dioxide linked by
science to global warming.
James E. Hansen said that he began
receiving verbal and written threats
since late 2005 when he spoke to the
American Geophysical Union stating
that he believed that significant cuts
in automobile carbon dioxide
emission could be achieved with
currently available technology. NASA
that the Bush administration has
initiated a campaign to silence him
because he is a vocal advocate of
government intervention to reduce
emissions of carbon dioxide linked by
science to global warming.
James E. Hansen said that he began
receiving verbal and written threats
since late 2005 when he spoke to the
American Geophysical Union stating
that he believed that significant cuts
in automobile carbon dioxide
emission could be achieved with
currently available technology. NASA
says that it's review of the professor's
work was standard agency policy.
NASA has ordered its public relations
division review the scientist's upcoming
appearances,lectures and interviews with
journalists. The agency is also reviewing
Dr. Hansen's Internet postings on the
agency's web site and the topics of
his research and analysis.
Hansen has worked for NASA for more
than 25 years, is a globally recognized
expert in climate change and currently
directs the agency's program of
producing and analyzing computer
generated climate simulations.
work was standard agency policy.
NASA has ordered its public relations
division review the scientist's upcoming
appearances,lectures and interviews with
journalists. The agency is also reviewing
Dr. Hansen's Internet postings on the
agency's web site and the topics of
his research and analysis.
Hansen has worked for NASA for more
than 25 years, is a globally recognized
expert in climate change and currently
directs the agency's program of
producing and analyzing computer
generated climate simulations.
"There are some monuments
where the land is so
widespread...the integral part
of the—the precious part, so
to speak—I guess all land is
precious, but the part that the
people uniformly would not
want to spoil, will not be
despoiled."
Washington DC 03.13.01
where the land is so
widespread...the integral part
of the—the precious part, so
to speak—I guess all land is
precious, but the part that the
people uniformly would not
want to spoil, will not be
despoiled."
Washington DC 03.13.01
verbatim number 7.6
