Ohio University’s (OU) agreement to drop the appeal against Ohio Valley Coal Company’s permit to undermine the old growth forest at Dysart Woods went against its top scientists working on Dysart Woods, the land’s supervisor Brian McCarthy and the land’s caretakers. The decision also went against the OU Ecology Committee decision, and numerous resolutions by Student Senate, Faculty Senate and Graduate Student Senate.

OU Professor Brian McCarthy said that he made it clear to the university, as the lead professor at OU studying Dysart Woods and the supervisor of the land laboratory, that he opposed the university’s dropping its appeal. McCarthy is the expert witness for the Dysart Defenders appeal.

May 1st, International Workers’ Day, commemorates the historic struggle of working people throughout the world, and is recognized in every country except the United States and Canada. Despite the fact that the holiday began in the 1880s in the United States, with the fight for an 8-hour work day.

In 1884, the Federation of Organized Trades and Labor Unions passed a resolution stating that eight hours would constitute a legal day’s work from and after May 1, 1886. The resolution called for a general strike to achieve the goal, since legislative methods had already failed. With workers being forced to work ten, twelve, and fourteen hours a day, rank-and-file support for the eight-hour movement grew rapidly, despite the indifference and hostility of many union leaders. By April 1886, 250,000 workers were involved in the May Day movement.

“Dennis Kucinich is the conscience of the Democratic Party” -- UK Guardian, January 13, 2004

According to recent news reports, there’s a growing number of citizens around the world who share a common kinship: their faith that Democratic presidential candidate Dennis Kucinich spells “sea change” on a worldwide scale. “Catalyzed by the tenor of the times, they’re reaching out to support a spiritual voice with a practical purpose,” writes Amara Rose in Mobile, Global Citizens Say Dennis Makes the Difference, “Kucinich’s peace platform speaks to all peoples, in a common tongue.”

Another movement described in Will the Kucinich Revolution help Leonard Peltier do for America what Nelson Mandela did for South Africa? urges “Let’s get the Kucinich Revolution going full steam to Free Leonard Peltier and change America like Mandela did South Africa.”

Tony Blair, England’s Prime Minister, has promised to look into the case of a Scotsman held on death row in Ohio for the last 17 years for a crime which campaigners claim he did not commit. Amnesty International describes his case as one of the most compelling cases of innocence they have ever seen.

The case of Kenny Richey, who was convicted of arson and aggravated murder after a child died in a fire in June 1986, was raised with Mr. Blair by Liberal Democrat Alistair Carmichael at question time. Mr Carmichael (Orkney and Shetland) said: “Next week I will be visiting Kenny Richey, a British citizen who has been held on death row in Ohio for the last 17 years now. Will you undertake to make direct and personal representations to the Governor of Ohio at the appropriate time to prevent the killing of this innocent man?”

Mr Blair replied: “I understand Mr Richey is awaiting the decision on an appeal for his re-trial and that decision is expected soon. We are continuing to monitor the case closely and see what the result of his appeal is before deciding what further representations we need to make.”

On the second anniversary of the execution of John Byrd by the State of Ohio, February 19, the Byrd family’s civil attorney advised the Ohio attorney general’s office that a previously threatened wrongful death suit would not be filed against the state. 

“The family’s interest is in getting the truth out, not in getting monetary compensation for their loss. Investigative journalism and media coverage are better ways for getting at the truth than more litigation would be,” said Columbus attorney Cliff Arnebeck. “Exclusively focusing on getting to the truth will best serve the purposes of both proving John’s innocence and correcting flaws in the criminal justice system. This is far more important to the family and to our society than fault-finding for the purpose of obtaining monetary compensation.”

“Byrd’s mother, Mary Ray, and sister, Kim Hamer, will be working with investigative journalists in this mission,” Arnebeck said.