Everybody Knows with Dr. Bob and Dan-o

At a time of public concern about shootings on I-270 south of Columbus, it is ironic that the Ohio General Assembly may override Governor Taft's promised veto of legislation legalizing the carrying of concealed weapons.

Please contact your state representatives and senators as soon as you can to voice your oppsoition to any legislation that increases the proliferation of weapons in Ohio. The Brady Campaign provides credible and current information on handgun control, including current national and state legislation, and links to legislators. See: www.bradycampaign.org.

House bill 272 has passed in the house and the Senate will be taking action on the companion bill, SB62 in the near future. Passage of this bill by the Ohio house brought Ohio one-step closer to being the most intolerant state in the union. This is the "Denial of Benefits Act" that some call the "Defense of Marriage act". There is some info below and a letter that can be copied and sent to State Senators. The claim by the sponsor and supporters of HB 272 that this bill defends marriage is as ludicrous as it is insulting to all Ohioans. The real goals behind this legislation are to deny benefits to Ohio citizens who the supporters find amoral and to add another weapon to the arsenal of groups who have a long history of using the courts to harass gay and lesbian families.

Here's the real story on the effects of this draconian bill:

  1.. Upon its passage this bill will immediately adversely affect 231,000 Ohioans according to the US Census Bureau.

On December 3rd, President Bush signed the Healthy Forests Initiative into law, even though it fails to ensure protection from forest fires for at-risk communities, weakens environmental protections, and undermines public participation in decisions that affect America's public lands.

Now, the Bush administration appears to be on the verge of giving yet another holiday gift to the timber industry by gutting the widely popular Roadless Area Conservation Rule that protects 58.5 million acres of pristine national forests from most logging and road-building. The Bush administration has already proposed exempting Alaska's Tongass Rainforest - our largest national forest - and Alaska's Chugach National Forest from the rule, has scheduled close to 50 timber sales in roadless areas protected by the rule, and wants to let governors opt out of the rule, which would give governors decision-making power over natural treasures owned by all Americans.

Please take a moment to urge Forest Service Chief Dale Bosworth to uphold the roadless rule of January 2001. Then, ask your family and friends to help as well by forwarding this e-mail to them.

The Ohio House of Representatives is considering legislation, House Bill 218, that would transfer thousands of acres along our coast to private landowners.

For those of us who enjoy Ohio's outdoors, this could severely restrict our right to fish, swim, wade and walk near the shore.

Lake Erie, its shoreline and coastal waters belong to the people of Ohio. Please take a moment to ask your state representative to keep it that way and reject House Bill 218. Then, ask your family and friends to help by forwarding this e-mail to them.

To take action, click on this link or paste it into your web browser: pirg.org/alerts/route.asp?id=426&id4=OHFreep

Background

Some property owners along the Lake Erie shore want to gain a legal foothold to fence off vast stretches of now-public beach for themselves. If they get their way, the public can look forward to a shoreline cluttered with sprawling million-dollar estates, private clubs and even oil drilling derricks - and fences and "keep out" signs to restrict public access to the Lake Erie shore.

Phone Your Representative to Co-sponsor H. Con. Res. 327 to End Rights Violations in Aceh

The Indonesian Government has extended martial law in Aceh for another six months.  As the civilian death toll mounts, governments of the world remain quiet.  Act now to urge the U.S. Congress to send a loud and clear message that the Indonesian military's slaughter of Acehnese must be stopped. Urge your Representative to cosponsor H. Con. Res. 327.

H. Con. Res. 327 calls on the Government of Indonesia and the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) to immediately declare a ceasefire and halt hostilities in Aceh, end all human rights violations, and return to negotiations with significant Acehnese civil society and international involvement.  The resolution further urges Indonesia to refrain from using U.S.-supplied weapons in Aceh. The Indonesian military has used F-16 fighter jets and OV-10 Bronco planes against civilians, as well as C-130 cargo planes.

The term GM foods or GMOs (genetically-modified organisms) is used to refer to crop plants created for human or animal consumption that have been modified in the laboratory to enhance desired traits such as increased resistance to herbicides or improved nutritional content. For example, plant geneticists can isolate a gene responsible for drought tolerance and insert that gene into a different plant. The new genetically-modified plant will gain drought tolerance as well. Not only can genes be transferred from one plant to another, but genes from non-plant organisms also can be used. Agribusiness is criticized for pursuing profit without concern for potential hazards of GMOs, and the government for failing to exercise adequate regulatory oversight. It seems that everyone has a strong opinion about GM foods. Even the Vatican and the Prince of Wales have expressed their opinions. Most concerns about GM foods fall into three categories: environmental hazards, human health risks and economic concerns. Genetically Modified foods are finding their way in increasing numbers into the marketplace. Find out how to avoid them here:

Problem: Raw sewage is a serious health threat, yet the City of Columbus has allowed illegal sewage spills for years.  Instead of fixing the problem, the City has spent our money on risky sewer expansions.  As a result, there have been over 10,000 reported cases of sewer back-ups in Columbus basements over the past five years, exposing our neighbors to diseases like E. coli and Hepatitis C.

Now the City Council is considering a historic sewer rate increase, but hasn't created a long-term plan to make sure we fix our sewer problems.

Solution: The City of Columbus must work with the Sierra Club and other concerned citizens to develop an effective and enforceable sewer investment plan. It 's time for Mayor Coleman and City Council to stop sewage overflows - for our families, for our future.

Action Needed: Please contact Mayor Coleman and the Columbus City Council today and ask them to join with Columbus residents to create a sewer plan that works.

Deadline for responding: Please take action by 30 December 2003.

To send a message, please click the link below:

You've probably seen in the news that Congress is about to vote on an energy bill that is dirty, dangerous, and doesn't deliver for consumers.

It's no surprise that the big winner in this bill is big oil. The big loser is anyone who breathes, pays a utility bill or drinks water. Instead of this bill, America deserves a safe, clean, affordable energy future.

Please take a moment to call and urge your senators to do everything they can to stop this dirty and expensive energy bill from passing. Then, ask your family and friends to help by forwarding this e-mail to them.

You can call your senators through the Congressional switchboard at 202-224-3121 (just tell the operator which state you're from and they can connect you to your senators - you may have to call twice to reach both senators). Here's a sample message you can leave:

"Hello, my name is _____ and I live in _______. Please do everything you can to stop the dirty and expensive energy bill from passing."

Then, let us know you called so that we can keep track of the number of calls everyone has made.

-- Fast from 6 AM till 5:14 PM on Wednesday the 19th;
-- Gather at the Ohio Union Ballrooms at 4:30 PM;
-- Break fast with milk and dates at 5:14 PM
-- Free international dinner served at 5:45 PM

* Location: The Ohio Union, the East and West Ballrooms

 The Muslim students of OSU are inviting all to Get Hungry For Change! Various forms of fasting are practiced worldwide. It is a way to cleanse out the physical body and understand what it means to be hungry.

WHAT IS BEING ASKED OF YOU???

Go hungry for a day, so someone doesn't have to!!!

Here is how it works:

You pledge to fast for one day (Wednesday, November 19th) and be part of the Ramadan Fast-A-Thon, and, in return, businesses will sponsor $1 for each person who fasts.  The money donated by businesses will then go to the Clintonville-Beechwold Community Resources Center and benefit the needy in Columbus.

Universal Purifying Technology is obtaining a permit from the Ohio EPA to install a tire pyrolysis operation.  The comment period is still open, until November 28th.  There is little doubt that they will grant the permit even though over a dozen south Columbus citizens testified against it at the public hearing on November 6, and they have no lease arrangement with the City that own the facility.  The mayor of Grove City said that this should be of concern to all the people in Franklin County.  The city council of Grove City has passed a resolution condemning the plan.

Ohio Citizen Action and Teresa Mills have formed residents in the area into a weekly meeting group that adopted the name, SouthWest Neighbors Protecting Our Environment.  Their plan is to apply pressure on SWACO and the Columbus City Council to prevent UPT from using the facility.  I have never seen this much outrage from a citizen group on environmental issues before.  They are tired of being dumped on, and are determined to make their voices heard.

Contact Information:

Ohio Citizen Action:
(614) 263-4111