Feature
With vaccine effectiveness against the Delta variant dropping to 39%, it is absurd to pursue a return to normal in the office. Make no mistake about the danger: the Delta surge forecast to grow much worse in the next few months. Indeed, the CDC is asking vaccinated people to wear masks and moving toward recommending booster shots.
The Keeling Curve continues to rise steadily
Measurements of the carbon dioxide content of the earth's atmosphere as a function of time have been made ever since 1958 at the Mauna Loa Observatory in Hawaii. The resulting graph is called the “Keeling Curve,” in honor of Charles David Keeling, who started the monitoring and continued it until his death in 2005.
Despite promises made at the 2015 Paris Conference, despite global concern about the threat of catastrophic climate change, despite massive worldwide protests organized by Greta Thunberg and her Fridays For The Future movement, despite the reduced emissions resulting from the COVID-19 lockdown, the Keeling Curve continues to rise steadily, and the carbon dioxide content of the earth's atmosphere continues to rise steadily. The rate at which the curve is rising is even increasing. We must conclude that despite all promises of action, we are not doing enough.
Two time-scales
Joe Motil, former candidate for Columbus City Council and Ohio state legislature testified at this morning’s Franklin County Board of Commissioners public hearing on a proposal and other suggestions on how to best spend the county’s $255 million share of the federal governments American Rescue Plan (ARP) money.
Mr. Motil, who has been advocating and fighting for fairness, opportunity, and justice on nearly all fronts on issues that impact our communities economic and social quality of life for 35 years now states that, “The ARP funding for both the county and City of Columbus can lend immediate assistance especially to our underserved and low-income residents who have been impacted by COVID far more than others.”
Joe Motil, former candidate for Columbus City Council and Ohio state legislature testified at this morning’s Franklin County Board of Commissioners public hearing on a proposal and other suggestions on how to best spend the county’s $255 million share of the federal governments American Rescue Plan (ARP) money.
Mr. Motil, who has been advocating and fighting for fairness, opportunity, and justice on nearly all fronts on issues that impact our communities economic and social quality of life for 35 years now states that, “The ARP funding for both the county and City of Columbus can lend immediate assistance especially to our underserved and low-income residents who have been impacted by COVID far more than others.”
In a light-hearted red-white-and-blue moment Miriam Vargas shares her patriotic spirit as she celebrates her first Fourth of July since she was released from sanctuary in February. Although she has spent the last 3 such holidays in confinement at First English Lutheran Church due to a deportation order, Miriam’s optimistic spirit shines as bright as her blue fingernails. Recently Ally Goldman and Barbara Pratzner Baer sat down for a conversation with her about what the holiday means to her. Here are some excerpts from that conversation:
How this year is different: “This summer is super different…I was deprived of my freedom and I was just locked up in there and now I can enjoy myself and go to the park, go down by the river, go on walks, and it’s so beautiful to take Lucas (her dog) out on walks even though he behaves badly.”
On June 23, 2021 the United States was one of two nations that voted against a United Nations UN) resolution condemning the embargo on Cuba. Israel was the other opposing vote. There were 184 nations voting in favor.
Most member states and citizens around the world feel that the embargo on the island nation of Cuba is outdated, unnecessary and worthy of condemnation. Many members feel that the United States’ current stance on Cuba is barbaric and a remnant of the cruel competition of the Cold War. For decades, this same resolution has been passed without much disagreement from other parties. Many ambassadors and representatives from member countries shared their opinions regarding why the embargo is unnecessary and the need to lift it.
Antonio Rodrigue, ambassador of Haiti, was quoted in the New York Times, stating: “The lifting of the economic, commercial, and financial embargo imposed against Cuba would improve the prospects for peace, cooperation, and development in the region.”
Medical marijuana patients with conditions that are tricky to treat may wonder: If I know a cannabis strain works for me, why can’t I grow it myself at home? Home-growing of cannabis is a hotly-debated topic across the country. Especially in states like Ohio where medical marijuana can only be purchased from state dispensaries, home-growing could provide a much-needed alternative for many patients.
As more patients enter medical marijuana programs, so does the need for specialty cannabis cultivated for particular medicinal properties. Certain strains, cannabinoid combinations, and terpene profiles have shown to possess healing properties that might not be accessible in forms you find in your local dispensary. Across the U.S. in states where looser laws allow it, home-growers have filled in the gaps to become an integral part of the cannabis supply chain.
Where Is Home-Growing of Cannabis Legal?
The following article is a prime example of what neighborhoods across Columbus are up against when trying to fight Columbus City Council and the Mayor’s office and the connections they have between developers (and others) along with those who serve on commissions and civic organizations that are Columbus City Hall lackeys who are pushing city policy down our throats.
The name Little Turtle is in reference to Chief Little Turtle who was an Indian leader that helped lead Native Americans against federal forces in the late 1700s and early 1800s. One of his victories against U.S. troops is noted as being the U.S. Armiy’s worst defeat by American Indians. Residents of Little Turtle are holding out hope that they too can beat the odds and stop an unwarranted $5.4 million City of Columbus Road Project that reeks of political favoritism for another of our city’s many pay to play developers.
The Free Press June Second Saturday Cyber-Salon started with Free Press Board member Mark Stansbery reflecting on the history of organizing in Columbus, including the beginning of the Community Organizing Center in 1993. He pointed out a cover of In These Times and the issues they are covering.
Mark introduced the first speaker, former Congressional candidate Morgan Harper, currently with her new group Columbus Stand Up!