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Efforts to Exclude Abortion From HCR Trumps Concern About Undocumented

Prerna Lal — 2009-11-07T19:20:00-08:00

By a vote of 220-215, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 3962 (Affordable Health Care for America Act) with an anti-abortion amendment rather than adopting any anti-immigrant amendments or tort reforms from the GOP.

For some conservative Democrats and the GOP--appropriately identified by Representative Edward Markey as Grandstand Oppose Pretend party--veterans, working poor, women and undocumented immigrants are not a priority for health-care but the unborn have to be protected. Apparently, a fetus is the only category that cannot pull itself up by its bootstraps.

Representative Bart Stupak (D-MI) offered an anti-abortion amendment to the House health care bill last night as a compromise when 40 anti-abortion Democrats threatened to vote against the bill. According to Rep. Jan Schakowsky (IL-9), the amendment makes little sense since it prevents women who pay with their own money from getting a plan that covers reproductive care. For now, segments of the GOP and Bluedog Democrats have replaced their hatred of immigrants with their contempt of women and the right to choose. The amendment passed 240-194 with the help of 64 Democrats, making it next to impossible for low-income women who need abortion to afford health care in the United States.

Last month, Representative Luis Gutierrez (IL-4) blasted President Barack Obama for caving in to Joe 'You Lie' Wilson's inappropriate screams, stating that not only would excluding undocumented immigrants from buying insurance on exchange put the brunt of health care costs on taxpayers, but undocumented immigrants who currently had private insurance could possibly lose coverage due to rising costs of private health insurance.

Currently, the Senate bill includes strict verification measures to ensure that undocumented immigrants can neither access health care subsidies nor buy them on the exchange even with their own money. H.R. 3962 denies undocumented immigrants affordability credits while allowing them the right to purchase health insurance on the exchange market with their own money.

However, this move also creates an unfunded mandate for undocumented immigrants, which should make nativists happy rather than lament that 'illegal aliens are getting access to free health care.' No, they are simply required to purchase health insurance rather than end up using emergency room services. That actually sounds fair in the absence of comprehensive immigration reform.

Pelosi did state that young people up to the age of 27 would be covered under their parents so undocumented youth with legal resident and U.S. citizen parents might not need to worry about losing their health care coverage or footing the cost of unfunded mandates on their own.

Insiders say that the Congressional Hispanic Caucus feared that a procedural motion from the GOP might derail health care for both legal and undocumented immigrants.

Update: The GOP went with motion to recommit on tort reform rather than place an anti-immigrant provision. The motion was rejected as was the GOP "plan" for health care reform.

(Photo Credit: Open Democracy Flickr photostream CC Attribute)

What Is Child Labor?

Amanda Kloer — 2009-11-07T09:00:00-08:00

When I was 16, I got my first official job as a hostess at an Applebees is the suburbs of Atlanta, GA. It wasn't the most emotionally fulfilling job I've ever worked, but I made $6.50 a hour (slightly above minimum wage at the time) and my co-workers were nice to me. Before that, at the tender age of 14, I babysat for a family who lived in my neighborhood a few nights a month. At 14 or 16, was I a child laborer? No. My teenage jobs could technically be considered "child labor", but that's not what the term has come to mean.

The term "child labor" is most often used to refer to regular, sustained labor by minors and has a connotation of exploitative or unethical conditions. For example, children who must work to support their families, who are prevented from attending school due to working, who work in dangerous or degrading jobs, or who can't control their working conditions are often considered child laborers. Sometimes, questions of child labor are clear. I was clearly not a child laborer at Applebees because I still went to school, I was free to leave, and my work wasn't dangerous or demeaning (unless you count the time I spilled hot chili con carne on a rather large biker). For children in slavery, in prostitution, or who work long hours instead of going to school, child labor is an appropriate term. The technical meaning could include my job, but when the term "child labor" is used it generally refers to children who work under some type of exploitattive conditions. It's important to understand that when we talk about child labor, we're talking about exploitation and abuse.

Not all cases of child labor are so cut and dry, however. Now, I'm about as sick of hearing about Jon and Kate Gosselin as Mark Sanford is of getting Appalachian Trail souvenirs sent to him, but the recent investigation into whether the Gosselin family or TLC violated child labor laws for Jon and Kate Plus 8 brings up some interesting questions. What do we mean by "work?" If part of the job is going to play at a water park or taking a trip to a science museum, is that work for kids? What do we mean by "length of workday?" What if the cameras film the kids doing things like homework, cleaning their rooms, and brushing their teeth -- things they'd be doing regardless -- but all day long? Do our definitions change if the presence of the television cameras makes them do it in a certain way? And if there was a child labor law violation, whose fault is it? The parents'? TLC's? Ours for watching the show? It's makes us think about child labor in a new light.

But the vast majority of children in child labor are not Applebees hostesses or reality TV stars. According to UNICEF, they are mostly from poor families in rural parts of developing countries. About 158 million children around the world are engaged in child labor. In Sub-Saharan Africa around one in three children are engaged in child labour, and in South Asia, another 44 million are also. Some common industries for child labor include agriculture, factory work, commercial sex, construction materials, and domestic servitude. Child labor robs children of a childhood, and in many cases, an education, healthy physical development, normal psychological development, and freedom.

So keep in mind that when we talk about "child labor," we're not referring to teens working after-school jobs to buy a car or save for college. And we're not even talking about child actors and celebrities most of the time. We're talking about children working long hours for little pay, often at dangerous jobs and with no other options. Child labor is not about building a work ethic or developing skills for children, it's about abuse and exploitation for profit. And it's up to use as consumers not to support users of child labor by not buying their products.

You can see the U.S. Department of Labor's full list of consumer goods made by child labor here. Check it out and know where what you buy comes from.

Photo credit: Afghan Lord

Sarah Palin and Barney Frank Walk Into a Dinner Gala

Michael A. Jones — 2009-11-07T08:42:00-08:00

Talk about an odd couple! Former Alaska Governor and GOP Vice Presidential candidate Sarah Palin will be joining U.S. Rep. Barney Frank, the longest serving openly LGBT member of Congress, as headliners for the Gridiron Club winter dinner. No word on whether they'll sing a version of "Endless Love" together.

The Gridiron Club's winter dinner is one of those inside-the-Beltway events where journalists cozy up to politicians for a night of self-deprecation. In year's past, Gov. Mitt Romney sang, President (then Senator) Barack Obama said he was more over-exposed than Paris Hilton, and late conservative columnist Robert Novak impersonated Dick Cheney while acting in a sketch spoofing the Scooter Libby investigation -- an investigation Novak essentially launched with a stroke of his pen.

What can you expect from Palin and Frank? Well, for Palin, it helps that the December dinner falls one month after the launch of her book, Going Rogue. Frank, too, has a book that he'll likely draw inspiration from: Barney Frank: The Story of America's Only Left-Handed, Gay, Jewish Congressman. Judging from the titles, I think Barney Frank is going to hit more funny bones.

For the Gridiron Dinner, it's probably a safe bet that this is the first time an LGBT politician has served as a headliner. How interesting that it happens at the same time that Sarah Palin, who prides herself on harshing the mellow of gay rights activists, joins the festivities, too. Politics really does make for strange bedfellows.

(Photo courtesy of www.house.gov)

Update: Yoani Sánchez Detained & Beaten

Jen Nedeau — 2009-11-07T08:10:00-08:00

Yoani Sánchez, the 34-year-old Cuban blogger who was not allowed to leave Cuba and go to the United States to receive the Maria Moors Cabot Prize, was detained and beaten by Cuban state security yesterday.

"No blood, but black and blues, punches, pulled hairs, blows to the head, kidneys, knee and chest,'' Sánchez told El Nuevo Herald. "In sum, professional violence.''

According to Reuters, Sánchez said that she and two fellow bloggers were detained briefly on Friday by security agents and accused of being "counter-revolutionaries" as they walked to a demonstration against violence. This video captures the peaceful demonstration from that day.

In the past, it has been reported that the Cuban government does not hide its distaste for Sanchez, who is occasionally attacked in the government-run press as an enemy of the state. Currently, Cuba is said to have about 200 political prisoners, whom the government views as traitors working with the United States to toppled the Cuban government.

Demonstrating that she will not be silenced by the Cuban government's attacks, however, Sánchez has already written about the incident on her blog Generación Y. In her post she describes how she and her friend, Claudia Cadelo, were accosted by men driving a black car and then detained by the state police while being physically and verbally abused. Her blog receives more than 14 million page views a month and thousands of comments.

Additionally, a lot of the initial coverage about the incident came from Twitter where Sánchez and her friend Cadelo tweeted about being detained by the police and soon conversation spread quickly about what was happening. Individuals are expressing their support for the two women using the hashtag #yoani on Twitter to discuss the incident.

It is clear that while Sánchez has a huge following around the world, neither Cubans nor the government appreciate her internet presence. This recent post, which has been translated into English, demonstrates some of the attitudes in Cuba toward free speech:

"What do you do?" he asks me under the streetlights of Belascoain Street. I'm a blogger, I warn him, and the lights of Carlos III Avenue show me his suspicious and fearful face. "Look, don't go and tell what I just said," he says, changing the indulgent tone he used when picking me up amid the gloom. "I don't want you to publish later some nonsense about me on the Internet," he clarifies, while grabbing his crotch in a gesture of power. My straight hair is no longer a reason to trust me, now my eyes don't seem so almond-shaped, and when I explain-through my narrow lips-the subjects I deal with in my blog, it's as if I am threatening him, razor in hand, a dangerous criminal. I confirm, then, that his spectrum of classification stigmatizes not only some shades of color, but also certain leanings of opinion, those tones which are not carried on the epidermis but that also lead, on this Island, to displays of segregation and rejection.

Roots of Hope in Miami has already spoken out against the incident and is calling "on Cuban authorities to immediately cease all acts of violence against civil society youth leaders." It is my hope that there are no more acts of censorship or violence toward Sánchez and that she is able to continue writing about her views of the Cuban government.

And the Award for the Most Homophobic Sport Goes to....?

Michael A. Jones — 2009-11-07T08:02:00-08:00

If there was ever any doubt that homophobia was alive and well in the wide world of sports, just take a look at the past two weeks. In the NFL there was Kansas City Chiefs running back Larry Johnson berating a Twitter follower with anti-gay language. In the NBA, Dallas Mavericks center Drew Gooden allegedly blasted a Los Angeles fan with some homophobic rhetoric. And in hockey, a minor league player has taken the sport to task for fostering a culture that supports homophobia and an overall prejudice against LGBT people.

Hey, at least no professional golfers said anything stupid this week.

Homophobia in sports is not late-breaking news. Athletes have been making a name for themselves by using seriously anti-gay rhetoric for years. There's former baseball player John Rocker's tirade about having to ride the New York city next to some "queer with AIDS." Then there's retired basketball player Tim Hardaway's screed about not wanting to play on the same team as a gay person, because it might make the locker room experience for him a little weird. And of course, former NFL runningback Garrison Hearst said that he didn't want to see any "faggots" in his locker room.

Most athletes manage to issue some sort of apology, and then move on to finish up their careers. And on schedule, apologies have already been issued by Larry Johnson (and subsequently the Kansas City Chiefs lessened the fine Johnson was given for using the slur).

One bit of good news is that despite the voices for Larry Johnson (and allegedly Drew Gooden), there seems to be a slow tide turning to change the trajectory of the homophobic culture in sports. And it's happening because current players are willing to speak out on the issue, and because good organizations are addressing the root causes of homophobia in sports and trying to work with young athletes -- especially high school athletes and younger -- to snuff out homophobia before it starts.

Two welcome surprises of late are from NFL players Scott Fujita and Brendon Ayanbadejo, both of whom have come out as strong advocates for same-sex marriage and respect for LGBT rights. Ayanbadejo was honored by Equality Maryland earlier this year for his support, and his comments on same-sex marriage ring even truer this week in the wake of the vote in Maine, where anti-gay activists succeeded in repealing marriage rights for gays and lesbians.

"I think we will look back in 10, 20, 30 years and be amazed that gays and lesbians did not have the same rights as every one else. How did this ever happen in the land of the free and the home of the brave?" Ayanbadejo said.

But before even getting to marriage, there's the base-level homophobia that has to be dealt with, and that's exactly what minor league hockey player Justin Bourne gets at in his opinion piece in USA Today this week. Bourne said that because of peer pressure, he too caved in and used homophobic speech in the locker rooms of hockey rinks around the country. It's a culture that's contagious, but one that Bourne says has to be stopped.

"The lack of a homosexual presence in hockey must mean one of two things: either homosexual men don't play the game or they don't feel comfortable admitting it — in which case I, and my brethren, were offending some teammates with our close-mindedness, and furthering what must have been unsettled feelings of fear and general exclusion," Bourne writes.

That's exactly the point of using the word "faggot," right? To berate. To create fear. To exclude.

Jim Buzinski, who founded the Web site outsports.com, says that the word is the slur of choice for pro-athletes, and that it's meant to signal that someone is weak, feminine, or not good enough. Turning the tide on how cavalierly this word is used is going to be a slow and arduous process.

But the first step is calling out those athletes, like Larry Johnson, who use the word to beat people down -- and getting them to see that they were wrong.

(Photo courtesy of Shot by Cam's photostream on Flickr.)

Nativist Tom Tancredo Chased off MSNBC

Prerna Lal — 2009-11-07T08:00:00-08:00

While arguing over health care, former Congressperson and wanna-be President-hopeful Tom Tancredo was chased off MSNBC in this priceless video whilst 'debating' Markos Moulitsas of Daily Kos.

It's just as well that Tancredo saved some face and left after Markos pointed out how Tancredo was a pro-Vietnam War chickenhawk who got a 1-Y deferment. Given his rabid anti-immigrant views, if he had stayed on the show longer, it would have turned into another unworthy "illegal immigrants are taking over America" rant.

Just earlier this year, students shut down his anti-immigrant tirades at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. Tancredo and his bandwagon of hate responded by slandering Dream Act students and blaming them for causing violence. Never mind that someone only threw a brick at the window and the person wasn't undocumented.

Tom Tancredo believes that it is completely fine to use Holocaust photos at rallies to oppose health care reform but college students who testify for the DREAM Act must be arrested and detained. He is now using the Fort Hood tragedy to make claims about a 'Muslim Mafia' attacking the United States domestically.

It's always good to see someone take Tom down a few more notches. Thanks for the comic relief Tancredo!

(Video Credit: Daily Kos)

Surprise! Farmers Grow Hearty Crops to Survive War

Katherine Gustafson — 2009-11-07T06:00:00-08:00

Subsistence farmers in African war zones keep themselves alive in dangerous circumstances by leaning on intuition and age-old farming logic that goes like this: when in tough conditions, reuse whatever field you've got, grow the hardiest plants and when fleeing, take the hardiest seeds with you. Doing this allows farmers to create the crops best adapted to their needs; a surprise stroke of agricultural genius that apparently leaves scientists reeling.

A new study reports the unexpected emergence of hybrid rice in West African countries like Gambia, Ghana, Senegal and Togo, whose African and Asian rice varieties (Oryza glaberrima Steud and Oryza sativa L.) have only previously been interbred in a lab and there produced sterile offspring, according to SciDevNet.

The authors of the study, which appears in this month's issue of PLoS ONE, report that these two species of rice are interbreeding in the fields in part because of disruptions caused by war.

The researchers say that war and similar disasters tend to speed up the selection and spread of hybrids because farmers desiring the safety of dense forest cover reuse their fields to the point where only the hardiest seeds can grow instead of slashing more forest to create more fertile land. Additionally, farmers who must flee their lands will take only the seeds of the hardiest varieties with them.

Farmers in these regions, therefore, are actively engaged in selecting and improving the varieties, whether consciously or not.

"Suppose a farmer sees a hybrid in the field: he'll think it's pretty useless and not harvest it," Edwin Nuijten, co-author of the study and member of the Technology and Agrarian Development Group at Netherlands' Wageningen University, told SciDevNet.

Those few seeds could drop in the field and if the farmer replants the field they could germinate and then pollinate the surrounding normal plants. After a few generations a plant that has full fertility could develop. The farmer may then select such plants and plant them separately to test whether they would do well as a new variety.

This conclusion lends credence to the criticisms of corporately controlled genetically engineered seed varieties; such intellectual property restriction prevents this type of spontaneous innovation, which can mean the difference between eating and starving for farmers in difficult conditions.

"The discovery shows that it is important to involve farmers in plant-breeding — so far they have generally been passive testers of scientists' inventions," the SciDevNet article concludes.

As alert reader Dawn Gifford pointed out in a comment on another post, crop varieties bred in labs and held closely by agribusiness "close the circle on the farmer’s knowledge, finally eliminating, after 10,000 years, the farmer’s role in the genetics of agriculture."

And preserving farmers' ability to control their own crop genetics may well mean the difference between life and death in a war zone.

Photo courtesy of IRRI Images via flickr

A View from (Under) the Bridge

Shannon Moriarty — 2009-11-07T05:42:00-08:00

On paper, Leonard Grant might say that a combination of unemployment, addiction, and mental health caused his homelessness. But that's not the whole story. Even these reasons for homelessness can have their own causes.

You see, Grant tragically lost his son in a car accident, which sent his world spiraling out of control. His depression turned into drug use, his drug use made him unemployable, and without an income, he lost his home.

Grant calls the past three years of his life "dead time." This is how long he has lived under a bridge in Knox County, Tennessee - homeless. He's trying to piece his life back together, but it isn't easy. He's working to gather the legal documents he needs to apply for housing and social security. His biggest hurdle? Getting a copy of his birth certificate.

This is the story behind Grant's reasons for homelessness. It's one example of a story that could never be captured by research or statistics as they are currently reported. This is the human element of homelessness, the kind of story we might be more likely to identify with, the kind that might allow us to feel someone else's pain.

It's so simple, but so easy to forget: nobody ever plans on living under a bridge in Tennessee.

The Senators -- and the Yankees -- Need to Get On With It

Tim Foley — 2009-11-06T19:03:00-08:00

The New York Yankees may be World Champions, but they’re noteworthy this year for another reason: they have come up with the most obnoxious way to prolong games. All other teams in baseball have “mound conferences” -- timeouts when the catcher, the pitcher and sometimes the pitching coach meet on the pitching mound to make sure they know how to handle the next batter. But the Yankees do it with chutzpah -- all of the infielders are there discussing what pitch to throw next. I guess they think the second baseman might have a good idea on whether the hitter is thinking fastball or curve. Even that may be ok, but the Yankees also do it with shocking and excessive frequency -- including eight times in a single inning for one World Series game. The delays not only make already-long games much longer, but they’re prompting Major League Baseball to consider rule changes and disciplinary action.

I say if MLB does find a solution to the Yankees having Tupperware parties on the mound every time the score gets close, we should use it on the United States Senate.

If all goes well, the U.S. House of Representatives will vote on a historic comprehensive health reform bill tomorrow night. If all isn’t well, it may take a couple of extra days, making this the first health care deadline that the House leadership has missed in this months-long process. But the Senate is a different story. Despite a Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee bill that was finished in mid-July and a Senate Finance Committee bill that was finished over a month ago, Majority Leader Reid still has given no clear indication of when a Senate debate is likely to start, let alone end. The same Senate health care bill process that Sen. Max Baucus once confidently predicted would be over by the Fourth of July will now be lucky to finish by Christmas -- but, the Majority Leader cautions, don’t hold us to that.

To be clear, I’m not advocating a “rush it and get it wrong” approach like what the Bush Administration and Republican-controlled Congress did with Medicare Part D, introducing the bill and passing it within hours. Despite the Republican nay-sayers channeling their inner Simon and Garfunkle and proclaiming, “slow down, you move too fast” no matter what deadlines the Senate Democrats blow through, we’re far, far away from anything that could remotely be considered rushing. As Ezra Klein points out, “If you're tracking Obama, then he's been moving on health-care reform for 29 months. If you're tracking the congressional process, then it's 17 months. If you're tracking the first new bill introduced in this round, then it's 33 months.” As Obama liked to joke about the presidential campaign during its final months, “There are babies walking and talking who weren’t even born yet when we started all this.”

More to the point, although the extra consultation time may help the Yankees make a perfect pitch, more time does not guarantee a better result for the Senate. Instead, it means more time for industry lobbyists to get to work on undermining the financing provisions. It means more time for recalcitrant centrist Democrats to up their own importance by publicly expressing their doubts. It means the continued clogging of the legislative pipeline, kicking other priorities like job creation, financial regulation, climate change and more down the road. It means continuing to paralyze states, who need to reform their own health care budgets in the face of their rising budget deficits but are afraid to make a move until they know how the federal reform will affect them. And, worst of all, it means delaying further the positive effects of reform at a time when the country is still shedding jobs and with them, benefits (albeit at a much slower pace than a few months ago). It means more going without care and yes, more literally dying because our dysfunctional health care system leaves them behind.

Maybe Robinson Cano and Derek Jeter know how to get Lincoln, Landrieu, Nelson and Lieberman to vote for cloture. Let’s call a timeout and ask them. Or, better yet, let’s start the debate on the damn bill.

(Photo credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/chrisptacek/ / CC BY 2.0)

Tragedies and Gun Laws

Matt Kelley — 2009-11-06T15:55:00-08:00

Two tragic, violent shooting sprees in two days. Even in a country as desensitized to violence as the U.S., the events of this week have been jarring. These tragedies should remind us why gun control laws are important and should be expanded.

First, I want to say that the victims of these horrible crimes -- and their families and communities -- are in my thoughts. I don't mean to dishonor the memories of the victims by turning my attention to gun control. Instead I hope we can take this moment to consider policies that will prevent crimes like these in the future.

You know the detaiils: an Army psychologist allegedly opened fire yesterday at Fort Hood in Texas, killing 13 people and injuring at least 27. It's believed to be the most deadly shooting on an American military base in history. Today in Orlando, a 40-year-old man apparently entered an office building where he used to work and shot six people, killing one of them.

I don't know if their guns were legally or illegally obtained. But these crimes should demonstrate that we should be extremely careful about who has the right to a gun in our society -- and how many guns we sell. I agree with Paul Helmke, the President of the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, who spoke out today about the Fort Hood shootings. He said:

“America has seen an epidemic of horrific gun violence at churches and synagogues, workplaces, health clubs, high schools, universities, police stations and now Army bases. This latest tragedy, at a heavily fortified army base, ought to convince more Americans to reject the argument that the solution to gun violence is to arm more people with more guns in more places. Enough is enough.”

He went further, too, arguing that these murders demonstrate why Congress should reject a proposed law that would allow people who are determined to be mentally incapacitated by the VA to own guns.

“In light of what happened yesterday - a violent attack by an emotionally unstable soldier - it is even clearer that the proposal being pushed by Senator Richard Burr of North Carolina should be rejected," Helmke said.

Burr shot back, accusing Helmke of being disrespectful:

"It is a shame that this process has gotten to a point where some feel that they can exploit the senseless murder of American soldiers in the quest to secure personal triumph," Burr said.

Burr's press statements about the bill -- S669 -- indicate that he believes veterans are being denied their Constitutional rights on technicalities. If someone hands their financial matters over to someone else, they may also lose their right to own a gun, Burr says.

I don't know enough about this bill to have an opinion. But my immediate reaction on hearing about these two tragedies is to wonder why we have laws that allow things like concealed weapons and bulk purchases at gun shows. In a society obsessed with guns, violence follows.

Photo by Jason Sansone.

My Name is Maria and I am Undocumented

Prerna Lal — 2009-11-06T15:00:00-08:00

[This week's DREAM Act guest post comes from Maria, who believes that undocumented students deserve the chance to prove themselves. Visit Dreamactivist.org to find out how you can help pass the DREAM Act].

The year of 1996 was the year when I began to try new things, the year when my mother, two-year old brother and I moved from Costa Rica to America. Moving to a new country as a six year-old was more than an adventure; it was a chance for me to reunite with my father again as he had moved to America two years before us. It was also the first time I met my dad’s family. It was the first time I had ever held the soft, pure, cold snow, the substance that made me fall in love with America. My love for America grew even more when I realized that I was now living in a country where all dreams could become reality; a country with golden opportunities.

That same love stayed with me through middle school even when I was isolated by my classmates because of a language barrier. That same love stayed with me when I was forced to sing the “Star Spangled Banner,” but did not know the lyrics. I wanted to be accepted by classmates, but they only knew me as the girl with an “accent.” I knew I needed to be the best in order to prove to everyone I was equally as good. With that realization, I tried my best to be on top of my class, and in seventh grade, I was encouraged by my teachers to apply to a program called NJSEEDS, a program that prepares economically disadvantage inner city students with strong grades to attend college preparatory boarding or day high schools. I was one of 200 students throughout New Jersey to be chosen for this prestigious program.

I attended Garrison Forest School, an all girl boarding school in Maryland. I felt more than honored to be selected among hundreds of applications to attend this private school. The love for America, which had grown over the years, stayed with me even as I applied to colleges my senior year at Garrison Forest, but had little hope of getting into them due to the fact that I was an undocumented student.

Senior year was a tough year for me, not because I had trouble with my academics, but because after going through the stressful process of applying to colleges for two months, I received letter after letter of rejection. I knew that I had not been rejected because the schools did not think of me as a strong candidate for their school. My strong academics, extra-curricular activities, and my teacher recommendations were also not the reason that I had not been accepted. I had been rejected for the sole reason that I lacked what every other classmate of mine had, a nine-digit code called a social security number. After reading each rejection letter, I naturally cried and became frustrated. I was afraid of the future that awaited me, a future without college or the opportunity to continue with my life. However, I knew that I was a strong person, and that I was not going to give up just because a few colleges had not accepted me.

It has now been two years since I have graduated from high school. During these two long years, my dreams have been put on hold. I have been living at home waiting for just one opportunity for me to continue with my education. Not so long ago a good friend of mine asked me, “Why do you want to go to college?” Though this may seem like a trivial question to ask someone, because the reasons would seem to be obvious, it is not the case for me. If most students were asked this question, their answer would most likely be along the lines of an opportunity for living away from their parents or a chance of meeting new people. However, for me, college is not just an experience; it is not just the next four years of my life, college is the opportunity of my lifetime. It is the chance that I have been so desperately waiting for the last two years of my life so that I may be able to finally realize my full potential as a student. I want to be able to experience new things that will help me grow as a student and as a person.

After graduating from high school and not having the chance to attend college, I felt as though I had been compressed into a small box with nowhere to go. It is like being stuck in one place, watching my friends’ lives continue. It has been so frustrating to see my friends grow as students and people, see them fulfill their dreams while I, on the other hand, have been stuck in limbo. If I was given just one chance, one opportunity for a college to see past my legal status and actually acknowledge all the hard work and dedication I put into my academic work all throughout high school, I would take full advantage of that opportunity.

When a person is given one shot at something that they have been denied all their life, that one person will not take such an opportunity for granted. A perfect example would be when African Americans were not allowed to attend the same schools as whites, and instead of giving up, they fought hard for that chance that they knew they deserved. Years later, we are in the 21st century where the first African American president has been elected. This would not have been possible had African Americans not fought for what they deserved, and had they not been given a chance.

Therefore, it is my firm belief that if undocumented students were to be given that same opportunity, other smart, driven, and successful leaders would emerge. I, as an undocumented student, will put all I have into becoming a successful student because I have been through a lot of hardship in reaching my goal of attending college. I have not given up hope in achieving this goal because I do not want the sacrifice that my family and I made in coming to America to be in vain. Even though colleges have said “No” to me numerous times, it does not mean I will say “No” to myself, “No” to my dreams.

(Photo credit: CSUN DREAMS to be Heard)

Senate Gets Rid of Vitter-Bennett Amendment

Prerna Lal — 2009-11-06T14:59:00-08:00

Good news for all pro-immigant rights advocates. The Senate voted 60-39 and refused to wreck the census, getting rid of the Vitter-Bennett amendment that would have discouraged undocumented immigrants from participating in the 2010 Census and wasted millions in redoing forms as well as trainings. Senator McCain missed the vote and given he also missed the DREAM Act floor vote two years ago, it doesn't bode well for the once-strong supporter of immigrant rights.

Today is the 23 year anniversary of the landmark immigration reform bill signed by President Reagan in 1986, which gave amnesty to 2.7 million immigrants. The Vitter-Bennet amendment, much like most GOP plans, threatened to wreck the inclusive nature of the Census while doing nothing of substance to rectify the issue of 11.8 million undocumented immigrants living and working in this country.

(Video Credit: SayItVisually)

Friday Food: Mushrooms Madagascar, Mango Cupcakes, Rosemary Bread

Stephanie Ernst — 2009-11-06T14:48:00-08:00

From mango cupcakes to "beefy" stews to spicy noodle dishes to savory breads, there's a lot to love in this week's roundup:

Cocoa Macarons from Madcap Cupcake (photo at left courtesy Marika of Madcap Cupcake)

Polenta with White Beans, Braised Kale, and Roasted Pears from Vegan Dad

Parsnip Rosemary Bread from Rants & Recipes

Mushrooms Madagascar, Roasted Brussels Sprouts, Pears and Fennel from What the Hell Does a Vegan Eat Anyway?

Celery Root Soup from Happy Herbivore

Pumpkin Soup from The Innocent Primate Vegan Blog

Red Onion Marmalade from The Voracious Vegan

Stir-Fried Tofu and Vegetables with Miso Sauce from FatFree Vegan Kitchen

Seitan “Filet Mignon” au Jus from A Veg*n for Dinner, via Don't Get Mad, Get Vegan!

Rava Upma from Holy Cow! Vegan Recipes

Banana Peanut Butter Pie from The Tropical Vegan

Spicy Thai Noodles from Madcap Cupcake

Hearty "Beef" Style Stew from Rhymes With Vegan

Pumpkin Pie Shake from BitterSweet

Pumpkin, Corn, and Bean Stew from Eat'n Veg'n Vegan Food & Recipes

Spaghetti Squash with Slow Roasted Tomato Sauce from Vegan Dad

Best Chocolate Chip Cookies from Madcap Cupcake

Spinach and Artichoke Pasta from Yeah, That "Vegan" Shit

No Need for Vegans to Give Up Fat, Gluten, Soy or Cooked Foods from The Vegan Dietitian

Almond Chestnut Cake from BitterSweet

Bird Egg Bean Puree from The Innocent Primate Vegan Blog

Mango Cupcakes with Mango Buttercream Frosting from Holy Cow! Vegan Recipes

A Case of Liable

Karl Horberg — 2009-11-06T14:44:00-08:00

So far the drafters of the Genocide Convention had established a definition and punishable acts. The next step was to clearly establish who could be held liable for genocide.

The Secretariat draft placed criminal liability for genocide on "rulers, public officials, and private individuals." In their commentary the experts stressed that the greatest responsibility for genocide prevention lies with rulers or statesmen. They also took the position that international law should concern itself with prosecuting "rulers" and that states should be in charge of prosecuting lesser public officials.

In a nod to the famed "Nuremberg defense" the Secretariat draft also prohibited "command of law or superior orders" as a justification of genocide. However, it did acknowledge that in some cases command of law or superior orders may constitute extenuating circumstances. This question would be left to the judge.

The Ad Hoc Committee unanimously voted to impose criminal liability on "heads of State, public officials or private individuals." Interestingly a Soviet proposal to include a prohibition of the Nuremberg defense was rejected. Other committee members explained that an in accordance with the definition of genocide an individual could not be held liable unless they possessed the requisite intent and orders were not sufficient to meet this requirement.

The Sixth Committee adopted the language of the Ad Hoc Committee, but substituted the phrase "constitutionally responsible rulers" for "heads of State." The reasoning behind this change was that some countries recognized immunity for constitutional monarchs from domestic and international liability.

The UK delegate proposed an amendment to extend criminal liability to "States, governments or organs or authorities of the State." The delegate pointed out that genocide was usually committed by agents acting on behalf of states and these states would probably be hesitant to punish their own agents or turn them over to international tribunals then it was necessary to include state responsibility for genocide. This amendment was soundly defeated. In an era where state sovereignty was unquestionable many countries did not yet recognize criminal liability of states under international law.

Undeterred by the failure of their previous attempt the Soviet delegation again tried to include an amendment that would prohibit command of law or superior orders as justification for genocide. It was again rejected on the grounds that individuals must possess intent to commit genocide. A slightly less appealing argument was made that making superior orders indefensible may lead to subordinates questioning the orders of their superiors.

Besides the definition of genocide, criminal liability is the portion of the Genocide Convention that has perhaps gone through the most significant evolution. Former or current heads of state are of course not immune to prosecution. The indictments of Charles Taylor, Slobodan Milosevic and Omar al-Bashir makes this clear. However, as discussed in a previous post, the ad hoc tribunals have largely rejected the drafters' contention that an individual need to possess intent to be complicit in genocide. The ICTY has gone as far to rule that a superior commander can be responsible for atrocities of his subordinates as long as he "had reason to know" crimes were being committed and did nothing to stop it.

The International Court of Justice addressed the question of state liability in the case of Bosnia and Herzegovina v. Serbia and Montenegro. In an opinion regarding provisional measures one judge insisted that a narrow interpretation of liability, which holds that the Convention relates only to individual responsibility, must be rejected. In its final judgment the full Court seemed to accept this notion of state accountability when it voted twelve to three in finding that Yugoslavia violated its obligation to prevent genocide.

All of our ducks are nearly lined up. Now we know who can be liable, but we need someone who will hold these perpetrators to account. Next time we will take a look at the one judicial body given jurisdiction over the Genocide Convention.

[Photo: At work on the Court Room at the Nuremberg War Crimes Trials, by Alexander, Charles, Office of the United States Chief of Counsel.]

Unofficial Results for America's Giving Challenge

Nathaniel Whittemore — 2009-11-06T13:05:00-08:00

Sponsored by Causes, Parade Magazine, the Case Foundation, and the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, the second annual America's Giving Challenge has come to an end. According to the unofficial results, the Overseas China Education Foundation has absolutely obliterated the competition, raising $188,000 from over 14,000 individual donations and thus winning the $50,000 prize money.

As I wrote last week, there was clearly something in the water of this years competition, as a few of the groups were able to generate a staggeringly higher number of donations than the others. The competition worked by awarding bounty sums of money to groups that were able to generate the greatest number of individual donations (vs. the greatest total amount of money).

The $50,000 prize winner had 14,000+ donations, the two $25,000 winners had 12,000 and 10,000+, and then with only one exception, the nine $10,000 winners had between 1,600 and 2,500 donations.

As you can see there is a huge spread, and that spread was established early. I wonder how the few standout groups performances dampened the competition. I know that I stopped realistically thinking that a number of the groups I was pulling for could win the $50,000 within just a week or two of the conference launching. If others felt like I did, they may not have been very compelled to give.

It's a fascinating case study in online fundraising and the game that goes on between organizations and donors. It's also cool to see $245,000 in resources leveraged to generate about $2,000,000 in additional donations. That 10x leverage is the sort of promise that internet fundraising holds.

Official results will be announced on or before November 20th.

(Photo: tonylanciabeta)

Houston Metro to Homeless: Stay Off Our Trains!

Shannon Moriarty — 2009-11-06T13:03:00-08:00

Is Houston creating a public transportation caste system?

Yesterday, at a public hearing in Housing, Metro Vice President Todd Mason made it abundantly clear that homeless people in Houston should take the bus rather than the area's light rail system. Hair Balls, the Houston Press Blog, transcribed the banter between Mason and Anthony Love, president of the Coalition for the Homeless of Houston:

Mason: The bus transit system provides more connectivity for the homeless...Metro is not in the business of attempting to put the homeless on the train. That's the signature service downtown.

Love: Is that the official position of Metro?

Mason: The board isn't going to adopt an official position.

Love: Then whose position is it?

Mason: Today it will be my personal position.

There is no indication that Houston law enforcement is forcing people of the train for being homeless (fare-hopping, though, is another story). According to Houston reporters, Mason's ignorant position has not been adopted beyond the confines of his (limited) worldview. Thank goodness.

Still, Mason's comment has advocates fuming. This remark marginalizes an entire segment of the population - not to mention members of Mason's constituency. Transit systems are public-run entities designed to serve the transportation needs of the public. For low-income individuals - including the homeless - trains and buses are often the only transportation options available.

While it's tempting to write an angry letter or leave a colorful voice message for Mason, it's important to take a step back and realize that this is an important learning opportunity. There's an important link between public transportation, housing, and improving the quality of life for the poorest among us. Mason's ignorant remark is an important reminder that we, as advocates, must take advantage of every opportunity to spell out these linkages and help others see that - like it or not - we are all connected.

No Farms, No Food

Greg Plotkin — 2009-11-06T12:30:00-08:00

More than being a cute tag line for the organization that employs me, the phrase "No Farms, No Food" represents an often overlooked and forgotten component of maintaining a sustainable food supply.

With all the talk about Genetically Modified seeds, organic vs. conventional agriculture, and the physical and environmental horror of industrialized meat production, the one conversation that is consistently left off the table is protecting the land base that all kinds of agriculture (no matter what your definition of "sustainable" is) depends on.

Despite a surge of interest in farming in the United States, the country continues to lose two acres of farmland every second of every day. This is happening in every state in the country, and is especially significant in urbanized areas that are responsible for 86 percent of the fruits and veggies, and 63 percent of the dairy, produced in the United States.

Even in some discussions of land use, the importance of actually protecting and securing a future for that very land is very rarely mentioned. It doesn't matter if a farmer chooses to grow GM corn or organic cucumbers if the land is turned into sprawling strip malls.

What we need in the United States are strong state and municipal agricultural zoning laws that address the need to protect the country's agricultural resources, as well as adequately funded farmland protection programs at the state and federal level that help farmers preserve their land for future generations.

Supporting local agriculture is not just about stopping at the farmers market every weekend. It is about encouraging your local, state and national legislators to make farmland protection a significant priority. We can either all pay (monetarily) to protect farmland now, or we can all pay later when there's no land left to grow food.

The choice is ours, but it has to be made now.

(Photo credit: Sam Beebe/EcoTrust on Flickr)

Freedom for the Weekend: Fair Fund

Amanda Kloer — 2009-11-06T12:00:00-08:00

Well, it's Friday afternoon, and that means the weekend is almost here! W00t! Perhaps you're reading this blog because you're bored at work or school and you're thinking about what you want to do this weekend. How about spending part of your weekend fighting slavery? Each week I'll profile a different anti-trafficking nonprofit who you can connect with to help free slaves and prevent slavery around the world. So, spend a couple hours this weekend getting to know this nonprofit through their website, and then get involved!

This Week's Profile: FAIR Fund

The Bottom Line: FAIR Fund works to prevent human trafficking and sexual violence in the lives of youth, especially girls, around the world. They build the capacity of communities to better identify and assist youth aged 11 to 24 who are at high risk or have been exploited via human trafficking and sexual violence.

What They Do: FAIR Fund's programs include preventing youth trafficking in the greater Washington, DC area, building an international student movement against trafficking in persons, reducing orphan youths' risks toward sexual and labor exploitation in select Eastern European countries, and educating African street girls about how to protect themselves from sexual violence. They also work with college campuses, develop policy, and have skills development programs for teens.

What Can I Do?: You can join their mailing list to learn more. If you live in the DC area, you can also attend any of the upcoming events they are hosting. Or, you can donate online.

Why They Rock: FAIR Fund understands that human trafficking and sexual violence affect young women everywhere, which is why they have programs across Easter Europe and in Washington, DC. Languages and customs may be different, but teens' needs to make a way for themselves in the world is the same.

So now that you've got some basic information on FAIR Fund, visit their website this weekend and get involved. And on Monday morning when everyone else is talking about sleeping in and watching tv over the weekend, you can say, "What did I do this weekend? Oh, just the usual -- abolition of slavery."

Do you have a favorite nonprofit you'd like to see featured here? If so, let me know!

Best Friday Entrepreneur Links

Nathaniel Whittemore — 2009-11-06T11:55:00-08:00

It's been a while since I've done a link post. There has been a lot of great content over the last couple weeks - enjoy:

Ten Rules for Webstartups: Twitter CEO Evan Williams shares some tips that, while aimed at web startups can be useful for any young startup leader.

30 Under 30: America's Coolest Young Entrepreneurs: Inc. magazine puts out their annual list of the coolest young entrepreneurs in the country. One of my favorites? Ideapaint, the product that turns any wall into a whiteboard.

Manhattan Institute Social Entrepreneurship Award 2009: The conservative think tank Manhattan Institute demonstrates social entrepreneurship political-barrier-crossing appeal and has been supporting the work of social entrepreneurs since 2001 with a $25,000 award. Meet their new class.

Legatum Center for Development and Entrepreneurship: The very awesome MIT center is recruiting fellows for next year's class.

20 of the Best Resources To Get Your Startup Off the Ground: Mashable puts together a great list of free advice and tools relevant for any type of entrepreneur.

(Photo: Matti Matilla)

Friday Femme Fatale: Social Media, Book Lists & Beth Ditto

Jen Nedeau — 2009-11-06T11:22:00-08:00

This weekend I am taking a reprieve from the bright lights of New York City and heading to Washington, DC for a few days to do some speaking at the Pledge2Protect conference and visit old friends.

Additionally, for those who wonder what I do over at my full-time gig, Air America Media, I just published this column today in SmartBrief titled: Can social media save the radio star?

I hope you all are gearing up for some rest and relaxation this weekend as well, but before you unplug completely check out the stories you may have missed in the world of women's rights:

Social Media Salary Report: Ladies, It's Not Pretty (Social Media Today)

No. 1 Omission From Top 10 Book List: Women (New York Times)

Jewish Women Lag Behind Men in Promotion and Pay (Jewish Daily Forward)

At the UN, Criminalizing Rape as a Weapon (Women's Media Center)

No More Women's Unhealthy Healthcare (Feminist Peace Network)

Beyond Breast Cancer: "Awareness" Must Extend to Other Women's Cancers (RH Reality Check)

Beth Ditto On Punk, High Heels And Breaking All Fashion's Rules (Air America Media)

The day-care dilemma (Market Watch)