Local
One hopes that human wisdom and ethics will continue to grow, but unlimited growth of population and industry on a finite earth is a logical impossibility.
Today we are pressing against the absolute limits of the earth’s carrying capacity. There are many indications that the explosively increasing global population of humans, and the growth of pollution-producing and resource-using industries are threatening our earth with an environmental disaster. Among the serious threats that we face are catastrophic anthropogenic climate change, extinction of species, and a severe global famine, perhaps involving billions of people rather than millions. Such a famine may occur by the middle of the present century when the end of the fossil fuel era, combined with the effects of climate change reduce our ability to support a growing population.
A new book
I would like to announce the publication of a book addressing these problems, entitled “Population and the Environment.” The book may be freely downloaded and circulated from the following links:
The lands west of downtown Columbus have only had one robust economy since mayor George Meeker first annexed Franklinton and a couple square miles up Sullivant's Hill in 1870. Meeker also renamed Sullivant's Hill (where prosperous Franklinton people had built large luxurious homes, above the floodplain, overlooking the city), "The Hilltop." However, Mayor Meeker (who was involved in east and north side land developers), annexed the Westside in a way that would prevent it from ever taking another "highly desirable" private building project away from the other sides of his city.
How did he do this?
When he annexed the Westside, he used eminent domain to have both the city and state buy all of West Columbus’s premium land (I mean every inch above the Franklinton floodplain) for two enormous government projects. See both here
Today, members of a newly formed citizens coalition entitled A.R.T. (Advocates for Responsible Taxation) announced its opposition to the proposed 7% ticket tax in the city of Columbus. The A.R.T. membership consists of a diverse group of area residents who are united to prevent an unneeded and unwarranted massive new tax that threatens the middle class while shining the light on this special interest driven new tax.
Attend the public meeting to oppose the ticket tax tonight:
Wednesday, August 22, 5:30-7:30pm
Vanderelli Room, 218 McDowell St. (Franklinton)
CHILLICOTHE, OHIO: On August 8th, the Fourth District Court of Appeals dismissed the Athens County Bill of Rights Committee’s (ACBORC) appeal to place their rights-based county charter initiative on the ballot. Athens County residents were denied the right to vote on forming a county charter government in the November 2017 election. The Athens Board of Elections and the Common Pleas Court blocked the people’s initiative, which also banned fracking wastewater injection wells, despite residents duly qualifying the measure.
The appellate court claimed there was a technical mistake made at the Common Pleas Court, thereby justifying the higher court’s refusal to issue a decision. ACBORC asks why the court took more than six months to decide not to decide.
On Tuesday, August 14, Imam Hasan went before the Serious Misconduct Panel (SMP) for allegedly leading a riot, workstoppage, and other unauthorized business through the phones.
As he expected, the fix was in at the SMP and he was found guilty of all counts. More details below, but the summary is that none of his witnesses were allowed to testify, he was not allowed to view all of the evidence against him, and new charges and witnesses were brought against him.
Apparently the SMP is no more serious about due process than the Rules Infractions Boards we're more familiar with. Hasan faces a one year phone restriction and transfer to "Extended Restrictive Housing 3". Hasan has been on some version of "ERH" since it was invented, and on "level 5" the previous highest level since that was invented with the construction of Ohio State Penitentiary.
Columbus “Vice” Squad in Action: Somehow the Columbus Police missed evidence over the years that their chief spokesperson was into kiddie porn, but they did manage to put together a major sting operation to arrest stripper Stormy Daniels at the Sirens Gentlemen’s Club for brushing her breasts against two undercover cops. Email obtained by CNN indicates that Columbus police officers targeted Daniels for arrest here in Columbus.
If you think Stormy Daniels’ arrest was a set-up for political reasons, the history of the Columbus Police suggests you are absolutely right.
In our city there’s been a long-standing operational link between the police vice squad and those who investigate political crimes. Free Press Editor Bob Fitrakis wrote a series about this in 1999 in an anthology called Cops, Coverups and Corruption. Then-Columbus Police Commander Curtis Marcum used the so-called “police intelligence unit” to spy on and blackmail local politicians and political radicals.
A hundred years ago, the greatest political show trial in United States history took place. It began in Canton, Ohio when the legendary socialist Eugene Victor Debs denounced U.S. involvement in World War I.
On June 16, 1918, Debs allowed all the elements of his democratic socialist faith to flow forth. Debs’ speech made it clear that there could be no socialism without democracy: “Everywhere they are moving toward democracy and the dawn; marching toward the sunrise, their faces all aglow with the light of the coming day. They are the Socialists, the most zealous and enthusiastic crusaders the world has ever known.”
Debs’ political strategy for advancing democratic socialism was straightforward: “To turn your back on the corrupt Republican and the corrupt Democratic Party – the gold-dust lackeys of the ruling class – counts for something.” Debs told the crowd “Do not worry over the charge of treason to your masters, but be concerned about the treason that involves yourself. Be true to yourself and you cannot be a traitor to any good cause on earth.”
When we think of loving deeply, we think of expanding that love to all self-aware earthlings. When we think critically, we think of the consequences of our actions not just on ourselves but also on all other individuals (human and non-human) who share our world. When we think of living responsibly, it means that we live consistently with universal values in every aspect of our lives and the desire for freedom from violence and oppression for all innocent individuals, equally.
Once you have embraced the decision to live with integrity in behavioral consistency for respecting all living beings, your next step is to connect with people who have been living vegan and can show you how:
Join the Columbus Vegan Meetup
Attend events that connect you to the people and places that empower vegan living
Educate yourself on equivalent vegan alternative options: food, clothes, entertainment, medicines, rescues vs. pet stores etc. Many of these resources are found on veganshift.org.
Tuesday, August 21, 7:30-10pm
Ace of Cups, 2619 N High St
It's a dark time for women in America. An administration with a palpable disdain for the reproductive health and wellness of American families is getting it's second SCOTUS pick and the end of Roe v. Wade may be around the corner.
We aren't going down quietly.
Join us for the best comedy show and rally this state has seen yet! You're still going to get the best of the best comics from the mid-west and beyond - laughter is always the most important part of CSU4C - but this time you're also going to have the opportunity to get involved with abortion and social justice advocates from Ohio River to Lake Erie coast.
Featuring:
Bridget Denman
Brooke Cartus
Keith Bergman
Samantha Rager
Hosted by Pat Deering and Amber Falter
We advocate best when we advocate together, so this time, CSU4C is benefiting the Freedom of Choice Ohio (FOCO) Coalition, an organization that represents groups advocating for a better Ohio all across the state!
FOCO Includes:
-American Civil Liberties Union of Ohio