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What we know about RO: One Step Forward, Two Steps Back

A “new” group and concept for marijuana legalization has crept into Ohio and onto the national stage. Activism, advocacy, lobbying and ballot initiatives once comprised the social change formulae that challenged government suppression of this beneficial plant, which has historically been off limits to almost all use. But the success of legalization in Colorado has spawned a whole new brand of opposition. Internal, not external. Wealthy, not impoverished. Influential, not marginal. Seemingly pro, but very con.
A new group calling themselves “Responsible Ohio” (RO) has emerged on the marijuana ballot scene, driven not by grassroots activism, but instead by a consortium of investors, LLCs and holding companies who seek to enforce market exclusivity by writing themselves into the Ohio Constitution. Yet, despite a Goliath-size budget and a board of the rich and famous, they have made a number of critical errors, causing most of Ohio’s major newspapers to editorialize a preemptive “vote no!” to their scheme, belying all of the muscle that RO’s six figure ad agencies can buy. Some of the more damning aspects of RO include:

Free Press Hero: Julialynne Walker

Archiving African American history in Columbus. Preserving Columbus' African­American landmarks. Working to empower global Africans. Julialynne Walker is acknowledged in this issue as our Free Press hero for being a keeper African­American history in our city.

 

Julialynne serves as an Advisory Committee member for the Columbus African American Digital Collection and is a Steering Committee member for the local African­American Landmarks Preservation Initiative. She also brings to Columbus a rich background as a human rights advocate with a desire to provide cross­cultural opportunities for all people.

 

The Biggest Loser: Whistleblowers

President Obama has broken all records with respect to prosecuting whistleblowers, despite his promise to be more open that the previous administration.  He has used the Espionage Act seven times, and use other punitive measures against leakers, many of whom are seen as whistleblowers.  For all his good qualities, Obama behaves as if he works for the CIA, as he does their bidding at every opportunity. Evidently, enough people watch the TV show “The Biggest Loser” to keep it on the air. But which of the prosecuted whistleblowers is the biggest loser?

The Key That Is the Saudi Kingdom

Was the United States compelled to attack Afghanistan and Iraq by the events of September 11, 2001?

A key to answering that rather enormous question may lie in the secrets that the U.S. government is keeping about Saudi Arabia.

Some have long claimed that what looked like a crime on 9/11 was actually an act of war necessitating the response that has brought violence to an entire region and to this day has U.S. troops killing and dying in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Could diplomacy and the rule of law have been used instead? Could suspects have been brought to trial? Could terrorism have been reduced rather than increased? The argument for those possibilities is strengthened by the fact that the United States has not chosen to attack Saudi Arabia, whose government is probably the region's leading beheader and leading funder of violence.

But what does Saudi Arabia have to do with 9/11? Well, every account of the hijackers has most of them as Saudi. And there are 28 pages of a 9/11 Commission report that President George W. Bush ordered classified 13 years ago.

Touch Positive

As babies, we are held, touched, lovingly by our parents and caregivers. Some parents keep their child in a sling or other attachment to always have their child next to them, touching them. As we grow older, we become more independent and live our lives with less touching. Some people can go for long periods of time without giving or receiving positive touch.

 

The ‘Great War’ of Sinai: How to Lose a ‘War on Terror’

The Sinai Peninsula has moved from the margins of Egyptian body politic to the uncontested center, as Egypt’s strong man - President Abdul Fatah al-Sisi - finds himself greatly undercut by the rise of an insurgency that seems to be growing stronger with time.

Another series of deadly and coordinated attacks, on January 29, shattered the Egyptian army’s confidence, pushing it further into a deadly course of a war that can only be won by political sagacity, not bigger guns.

U.S. & Russian Smallpox Stockpiles Should be "Crimes Against Humanity"

BANGKOK, Thailand -- The U.S. and Russia should destroy their deadly
smallpox stockpiles or be "guilty of crimes against humanity," because
the virus slaughtered hundreds of millions of people before it was
stopped in 1980 and would kill again if it escapes a laboratory, the
American who led the global eradication said.

"There were two laboratories that have smallpox, we know that for
sure, one was the CDC (Centers for Disease Control) in Atlanta, and
the second was the Institute of Virus Preparations in Moscow," Dr.
Donald A. Henderson said in an interview.

"There, the virus is -- we believe -- sequestered.  All [other]
countries have signed off that they don't have any smallpox," said Dr.
Henderson, who led the World Health Organization's (WHO's) Global
Smallpox Eradication Campaign which declared worldwide success 35
years ago.

Dr. Henderson was here in Bangkok, Thailand, to receive the annual
$100,000 Prince Mahidol Award in the Field of Public Health on January
28.

Anti-Fracking and No Nukes Activists Join Forces Demanding Renewable Energy Revolution

long-time anti-fracking activist David Braun

Our Earth is being destroyed by fracking and nukes.

These two vampire technologies suck the energy out of our planet while permanently poisoning our air, water, food and livelihoods.

The human movements fighting them have been largely separate over the years.

No more.

In the wake of Fukushima, the global campaign to bury atomic power has gained enormous strength. All Japan’s 54 reactors remain shut. Germany is amping up its renewable energy generation with a goal of 80 percent or more by 2050. Four U.S. reactors under construction are far over budget and behind schedule. Five old ones have closed in the last two years.

In New England and elsewhere, as the old nukes go down, safe energy activists shift their attention to the deadly realities of fossil fuel extraction.

Mayoral candidates on the hot seat

The anointed one, personally blessed by the presumed Mayor-for-life Michael Coleman, Andy Ginther, found the going tough as he faced his three opponents at an inner city forum on January 29, 2015.
More than one hundred residents, mostly black, gathered at the Corinthian Missionary Baptist Church on Columbus’ east side to hear the four potential mayoral candidates answer questions about the state of the city.
The four men who have announced their bid to replace Michael Coleman this year are:

  • Andrew Ginther, Columbus City Council President (D)

  • Terry Boyd, endorsed Republican candidate, former Columbus School Board president and Franklin University Professor (R)

  • Zach Scott, Franklin County Sheriff (D)

  • James Ragland, former Columbus City Council staffer for Charleta Tavares, now Catholic High School Development Director (D)

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