tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31964369871208098612024-03-13T04:36:34.080-07:00T'Keyah Fights City HallFor years, I have included a "Do Something!" column in my newsletter, The Crystal News, which encourages readers to do what they can to improve the world. This new blog is a mini journal of my social action deeds and a spotlight of some of the individuals and groups I see doing positive work. I hope you are as moved to act as I am...The Crystal Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09786076993693760953noreply@blogger.comBlogger70125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3196436987120809861.post-36842096094139964262012-03-22T12:01:00.004-07:002012-04-10T09:20:46.303-07:00Fight for Trayvon!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><style>
<!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:"Courier New";
panose-1:2 7 3 9 2 2 5 2 4 4;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:auto;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;}
@font-face
{font-family:Times;
panose-1:2 0 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:auto;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;}
@font-face
{font-family:Georgia;
panose-1:2 4 5 2 5 4 5 2 3 3;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:auto;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{mso-style-parent:"";
margin:0in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:"Courier New";
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-hansi-font-family:"Courier New";
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";}
a:link, span.MsoHyperlink
{color:blue;
text-decoration:underline;
text-underline:single;}
a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed
{mso-style-noshow:yes;
color:purple;
text-decoration:underline;
text-underline:single;}
p
{mso-margin-top-alt:auto;
margin-right:0in;
mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
margin-left:0in;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";}
@page Section1
{size:8.5in 11.0in;
margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in;
mso-header-margin:.5in;
mso-footer-margin:.5in;
mso-paper-source:0;}
div.Section1
{page:Section1;}
-->
</style> <br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5NYAwUlakPs/T24Jk9wGTdI/AAAAAAAABBg/ixQTJeNv31Y/s1600/Trayvon+Martin+Remember+Me.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="211" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5NYAwUlakPs/T24Jk9wGTdI/AAAAAAAABBg/ixQTJeNv31Y/s640/Trayvon+Martin+Remember+Me.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZQbFGHY49vc/T2tLYJI3dtI/AAAAAAAABBA/9BApOvcEGns/s1600/Trayvon+Martin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZQbFGHY49vc/T2tLYJI3dtI/AAAAAAAABBA/9BApOvcEGns/s1600/Trayvon+Martin.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: x-large;">Some time ago I realized that I do not have time to write this blog and have not done so since December of last year. Many issues that I've supported in the time since have made me want to take up this task again, but in the choice between taking action and writing about it, for me, the former always wins. The first incident to move me to do both, was the ghastly and unabashed murder of 17-year old Trayvon Martin in </span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: x-large;"><b style="font-weight: normal;">Sanford, Florida</b></span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: x-large;">. Yesterday I received an email from a friend telling me that Trayvon Martin was the cousin of another friend. Although I felt sad for my friend, I found that I couldn't feel any sadder, more frustrated, any angrier about Trayvon Martin. </span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9tcWBRsWRcs/T2tLWur86xI/AAAAAAAABA4/0JVar9UfYNo/s1600/Trayvon-Martin-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="185" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9tcWBRsWRcs/T2tLWur86xI/AAAAAAAABA4/0JVar9UfYNo/s200/Trayvon-Martin-2.jpg" width="200" /></a></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Trayvon Martin</span><span style="font-size: x-large;"> has been on my mind since the story first broke and though I hadn't known that he was my friend's cousin, I knew he was somebody's cousin, somebody's boyfriend, and somebody's son. My heart was already heavy for his parents and all parents who send their children into the world knowing or not knowing that they are prey to racist hunters. My mind was already spinning at the senseless nature of this murder. My blood was already boiling because the murderer, </span><span style="font-size: x-large;">George Zimmerman, </span><span style="font-size: x-large;">despite clear and obvious evidence of guilt, is still at large with no charges pending. </span></div><table align="right" bgcolor="#f6f7f9" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="callout" style="width: 200px;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="padding: 10px 10px 15px 10px;"><b><a href="http://www.change.org/petitions/prosecute-the-killer-of-our-son-17-year-old-trayvon-martin?utm_source=action_alert&utm_medium=email&me=aa&utm_campaign=NbYqYZRNGG&alert_id=NbYqYZRNGG_DieSvhUBkS" style="color: #508ba3; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;" target="embededLink">Our son Trayvon Martin was killed because he looked "suspicious." His confessed killer is still free. Join 900,000 people to call on Florida law enforcement officials to prosecute the man who took away our son. </a> </b> </td> </tr>
<tr> <td style="padding: 0 10px 15px 10px;"><a href="http://www.change.org/petitions/prosecute-the-killer-of-our-son-17-year-old-trayvon-martin?utm_source=action_alert&utm_medium=email&me=aa&utm_campaign=NbYqYZRNGG&alert_id=NbYqYZRNGG_DieSvhUBkS" target="embededLink"> <img alt="" border="0" height="118" src="http://change-production.s3.amazonaws.com/photos/5/xk/bm/EBxkbMJjjfAbRtO-180x118-cropped.jpg?1332400276&utm_source=action_alert&utm_medium=email&me=aa&utm_campaign=NbYqYZRNGG&alert_id=NbYqYZRNGG_DieSvhUBkS" width="180" /> </a> </td> </tr>
<tr> <td style="padding: 0 10px 10px 10px;"><a href="http://www.change.org/petitions/prosecute-the-killer-of-our-son-17-year-old-trayvon-martin?utm_source=action_alert&utm_medium=email&me=aa&utm_campaign=NbYqYZRNGG&alert_id=NbYqYZRNGG_DieSvhUBkS" style="text-decoration: none;" target="embededLink"> </a><br />
<div style="background-color: #b63d17; background-image: url('http://change-production.s3.amazonaws.com/assets/images/email/generic-button-180x37.png?utm_source=action_alert&utm_medium=email&me=aa&utm_campaign=NbYqYZRNGG&alert_id=NbYqYZRNGG_DieSvhUBkS'); background-repeat: no-repeat; color: white; font-size: 15px; height: 35px; line-height: 30px; text-align: center; width: 180px;"><a href="http://www.change.org/petitions/prosecute-the-killer-of-our-son-17-year-old-trayvon-martin?utm_source=action_alert&utm_medium=email&me=aa&utm_campaign=NbYqYZRNGG&alert_id=NbYqYZRNGG_DieSvhUBkS" style="text-decoration: none;" target="embededLink">Sign our Petition </a></div></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Trayvon Martin's parents are asking that we sign a petition demanding justice for their son. </span><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b style="font-weight: normal;">The petitions will go </b>to the office of State's Attorney Norman Wolfinger, who is responsible for bringing charges against Zimmerman. They have traveled as far as New York to attend rallies in support of their son saying, "our son is your son," and "this is not about a black and white thing, this is about right and wrong." For those who are not familiar with the story, the murderer,</span><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span><span style="font-size: x-large;">a self proclaimed neighborhood watch leader, saw Martin leaving a convenience store one night, carry candy and soft drink, called 911 and, using a racial slur</span><span style="font-size: x-large;">, reported him as "suspicious," followed him despite being told not to do so by the 911 operator, and murdered him. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hLIYa3a-k4s/T2ujqq9yLQI/AAAAAAAABBQ/epAOGAikL5U/s1600/Photo+64+Sepia.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="312" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hLIYa3a-k4s/T2ujqq9yLQI/AAAAAAAABBQ/epAOGAikL5U/s320/Photo+64+Sepia.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 18pt;">When police arrived, they briefly detained, then released the murderer. They sent Martin's body to be tested for drugs (but did not test Zimmerman). Martin was talking to his girlfriend on a cell phone when he was murdered and a 911 call recorded his cries for help. Still, the police left his body unidentified for a day (when they could have easily tracked his last call to identify him), and would not release him to his parents for more than two days. Since the murder, Zimmerman packed his truck and left the area - because he was free to do so. Was Trayvon 'suspicious' because he was wearing a hoodie? Because he was carrying candy? Because he was Black? Has the murderer not been charged (and is he free to murder again) because the police department and all of the other agencies who have since become involved do not value Trayvon Martin's life? What do you think of this? What action will you take as a result?</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://salsa.wiredforchange.com/o/5754/images/ccr-trayvon-martin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Tell Your Senators: No Free Pass for Gun-Toting Vigilantes" border="0" height="250" src="http://salsa.wiredforchange.com/o/5754/images/ccr-trayvon-martin.jpg" width="550" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 18pt;">Mayors Against Illegal Guns brings our attention to troubling gun bills currently in congress: </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">"</span></i><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i>U.S. Congress is responding (to the murder) by working to let Trayvon’s killer and other people with violent arrest records and a history of domestic abuse carry concealed, loaded guns in all 50 states. Allies of the extremist gun lobby, led by Senators Begich, Manchin, Thune and Vitter, just introduced bills (S.2188 and S.2213) that would gut state laws that determine who can -- and more importantly, who can’t -- walk our streets carrying hidden, loaded guns. In the wake of this tragic shooting, these bills are irrational and unthinkable.</i> "</span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 18pt;"> </span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://salsa.wiredforchange.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=waH8wlayEFOEyIvoXXoRfuZfijvvEiPu" target="embededLink"><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span></a></div><span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 18pt;">To join me in petitioning to demand justice for Trayvon Martin, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><a href="http://www.change.org/petitions/prosecute-the-killer-of-our-son-17-year-old-trayvon-martin?utm_campaign=NbYqYZRNGG&utm_medium=email&utm_source=action_alert">Click Here!</a></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 18pt;">To join me urging your congressional representatives to vote down this dangerous new gun bill, <a href="http://salsa.wiredforchange.com/o/5754/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=5717"><b>Click Here</b></a> and be taken to a page that will direct you to your reps. </span><span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 18pt;">**** Thank you so much for reading my blog today. This will be my last <b>T"Keyah Fights City Hall</b> blog (...for now). For more social action and news, check out <a href="http://thecrystalnews.blogspot.com/%20">The Crystal News</a> and my <a href="https://www.facebook.com/TKeyahCrystalKeymah">Facebook</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/#%21/tkeyahcrystal">Twitter</a> pages. Please be kind to yourself and to others. Share your visions of peace and justice with the world. Strive always to leave each place you visit the better for your having been there! - TCK </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">The Crystal News - <a href="http://thecrystalnews.blogspot.com/">http://thecrystalnews.blogspot.com/ </a><br />
T'Keyah Fights City Hall - <a href="http://tkeyahfightscityhall.blogspot.com/">http://tkeyahfightscityhall.blogspot.com/ </a><br />
Keymah Presents - <a href="http://keymahpresents.blogspot.com/">http://keymahpresents.blogspot.com/ </a><br />
<a href="http://www.tkeyah.com/"><span style="color: black;">www.tkeyah.com</span></a><a href="http://www.tkeyah.com/"> </a>- <a href="http://where%20crystal%20visions%20come%20to%20life%21%20/">Where Crystal visions come to life! </a></span></b><span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"></div><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://www.twitter.com/tkeyahcrystal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><img src="http://twitter-badges.s3.amazonaws.com/t_logo-a.png" /></a></span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/TKeyahCrystalKeymah" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="40" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4YYtBWQLY70/Th9p3iCdtBI/AAAAAAAAArk/jcVL5kwcYvU/s200/211033_19292868552_7506301_n.jpg" width="40" /></a></div>The Crystal Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09786076993693760953noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3196436987120809861.post-19774533246445401092011-12-24T23:53:00.000-08:002011-12-24T23:53:17.450-08:00Clean Air Kudos to President Obama!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <style>
<!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:Cambria;
panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:auto;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{mso-style-parent:"";
margin-top:0in;
margin-right:0in;
margin-bottom:10.0pt;
margin-left:0in;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-fareast-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";}
@page Section1
{size:8.5in 11.0in;
margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in;
mso-header-margin:.5in;
mso-footer-margin:.5in;
mso-paper-source:0;}
div.Section1
{page:Section1;}
-->
</style> <br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2q2sXvTadPA/TvbVXpZY7FI/AAAAAAAAA2Y/NUnmwu80pkc/s1600/Sierra+Club+Logo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2q2sXvTadPA/TvbVXpZY7FI/AAAAAAAAA2Y/NUnmwu80pkc/s1600/Sierra+Club+Logo.jpg" /></span></a><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Quite often, this blog is a drag. I complain about what is wrong with the world, who is doing something they should not, who is not doing something they should and always something we should do about it. Letting people know when they are behaving in less than ideal ways is important. It is equally important to praise and encourage people for the good they do. I have no doubt that President Obama is bombarded with pressure from coal and allied companies to keep coal on the energy table so to speak. Despite that pressure, the president has announced new safeguards to limit the toxic emissions from coal-fired power plants. </span></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5gkHnV4x3GA/TvbVaWTnWiI/AAAAAAAAA2g/4oVar9r0JpM/s1600/President+Obama.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5gkHnV4x3GA/TvbVaWTnWiI/AAAAAAAAA2g/4oVar9r0JpM/s1600/President+Obama.jpg" /></a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Coal-fired power plants emit pollutants such as mercury, arsenic, dioxin and acid gases.<span> </span>These toxins poison the air and wreak havoc on the humans, animals, and plant life that exist in that air.<span> </span>Sierra Club projects that the President Obama’s new position will save 11,000 lives per year!<span> </span>Big coal will likely push back on this historic stance, so please join me in showing support for the president’s move.<span> </span>This is a great step in the right direction and if the voices of those who appreciate this are louder than those of coal lobbyists, who knows what strides toward a healthy planet the president will accomplish next?<span> </span></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">To join me in thanking President Obama for standing up for clean air, <b><a href="https://secure.sierraclub.org/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=7555">Click Here!</a></b></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span> <style>
<!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:Arial;
panose-1:2 11 6 4 2 2 2 2 2 4;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:auto;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;}
@font-face
{font-family:Times;
panose-1:2 0 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:auto;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;}
@font-face
{font-family:Cambria;
panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:auto;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;}
@font-face
{font-family:Georgia;
panose-1:2 4 5 2 5 4 5 2 3 3;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:auto;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{mso-style-parent:"";
margin-top:0in;
margin-right:0in;
margin-bottom:10.0pt;
margin-left:0in;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-fareast-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";}
a:link, span.MsoHyperlink
{mso-style-noshow:yes;
color:blue;
text-decoration:underline;
text-underline:single;}
a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed
{mso-style-noshow:yes;
color:purple;
text-decoration:underline;
text-underline:single;}
@page Section1
{size:8.5in 11.0in;
margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in;
mso-header-margin:.5in;
mso-footer-margin:.5in;
mso-paper-source:0;}
div.Section1
{page:Section1;}
-->
</style> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span>Thank you for reading my blog today. Please be kind to yourself and to others. Share your visions of peace and justice with the world. Strive always to leave each place you visit the better for your having been there! - TCK</span> </span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span>The Crystal News - <a href="http://thecrystalnews.blogspot.com/">http://thecrystalnews.blogspot.com/ </a><br />
T'Keyah Fights City Hall - <a href="http://tkeyahfightscityhall.blogspot.com/">http://tkeyahfightscityhall.blogspot.com/ </a><br />
Keymah Presents - <a href="http://keymahpresents.blogspot.com/">http://keymahpresents.blogspot.com/ </a><br />
<a href="http://www.tkeyah.com/"><span style="color: black;">www.tkeyah.com</span></a><a href="http://www.tkeyah.com/"> </a>- <a href="http://where%20crystal%20visions%20come%20to%20life%21%20/">Where Crystal visions come to life! </a></span></b></span></div><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"></span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://www.twitter.com/tkeyahcrystal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><img src="http://twitter-badges.s3.amazonaws.com/t_logo-a.png" /></a></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/TKeyahCrystalKeymah" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="40" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4YYtBWQLY70/Th9p3iCdtBI/AAAAAAAAArk/jcVL5kwcYvU/s200/211033_19292868552_7506301_n.jpg" width="40" /></a></div></div>The Crystal Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09786076993693760953noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3196436987120809861.post-69453358050820123652011-12-05T08:00:00.000-08:002011-12-05T08:00:08.172-08:00Write for RIghts!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BgQCbHJNzXk/TtobEzDemsI/AAAAAAAAA0s/Vo8fEdW9AC4/s1600/Amnesty+Write+for+Rights.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="67" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BgQCbHJNzXk/TtobEzDemsI/AAAAAAAAA0s/Vo8fEdW9AC4/s320/Amnesty+Write+for+Rights.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">For fifty years, </span><a href="http://www.amnestyusa.org/" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b>Amnesty International</b></a><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> has been a beacon of light for prisoners of conscience around the world. The organization investigates and publicizes the unfair treatment of people whose just, reasonable or well intended actions are met with harsh, unfair or abuse, and takes action to help. Their actions have saved many lives. Every year, through their Write for Rights campaign, Amnesty International supporters send letters around the world asking government officials to release prisoners of conscience, give them a fair trial and / or cease abusing them. I participated for the first time a couple of years ago and wrote about a dozen letters. It was empowering to know that each of my letters would be joined by many others. The 2011 Write for Rights campaign is underway now and Amnesty is asking you to join the more than fifty thousand of people around the world who are participating in their annual Global Write-a-thon to </span><strong style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">write letters that can save lives</strong><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">.</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> <a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tc3Is5MykCc/TtobBoJxf3I/AAAAAAAAA0c/GmQ_K8umEVc/s1600/Amnesty+Write.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="162" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tc3Is5MykCc/TtobBoJxf3I/AAAAAAAAA0c/GmQ_K8umEVc/s320/Amnesty+Write.jpg" width="320" /></a><strong></strong><br />
<strong></strong><i>"Write letters to amplify the voices governments are attempting to silence. Write letters demanding freedom. Write letters of solidarity. There are many governments around the world that like to think their prisoners are forgotten, and that their unjust actions go unnoticed. Help us shine a light on human rights abuses. <a href="http://www.kintera.org/TR.asp?a=qiKWL5PIKjJYIfK&s=aeJMLYMsE6KEIUNCLrH&m=klI2IiPXLiKWIlL" style="color: #a00a32; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;" target="embededLink">Join us and write for rights.</a></i></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"></div><div class="index_involved" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> <div class="involved_holder"> <div class="involved_section"> <div class="involved_text"><i><a href="http://www.amnestyusa.org/writeathon/?c=W1SEAIAR12&msource=W1SEAIAR12&tr=y&auid=9946299"><strong>SIGN UP to Write for Rights!</strong></a> Participate as an individual, host an event with friends, family, and members of your community, or attend a scheduled event. Check out our <a class="bold" href="http://www.amnestyusa.org/writeathon/map.php?c=W1SEAIAR12" target="new">Write for Rights map</a> to find an event near you, and RSVP to attend an event.</i><i><strong> SPREAD THE WORD!</strong> Tell everyone that you plan to Write for Rights on Facebook and/or Twitter. Encourage others to sign up for Write for Rights by texting or emailing this registration link: <a class="bold" href="http://www.amnestyusa.org/writeathon/index.php?c=W1SEAIAR12">www.amnestyusa.org/writeathon</a></i> </div><i></i> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JIlONMF1MCI/TtobDfeUjnI/AAAAAAAAA0k/n_FJWGlAtBM/s1600/Amnesty+Write+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="159" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JIlONMF1MCI/TtobDfeUjnI/AAAAAAAAA0k/n_FJWGlAtBM/s320/Amnesty+Write+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="involved_text"><i><strong>Get your <a href="http://www.amnestyusa.org/writeathon/resources.php?c=W1SEAIAR12">RESOURCES</a>.</strong> Everything you need to participate in Write for Rights will be available on this website, including case summaries, sample letters, promotional materials, and helpful tips for holding a successful Write for Rights event. Participants will receive an email when these additional Resources become available. If you'd like hard copies of these items or have questions, email us: <a class="bold" href="mailto:writeathon@aiusa.org">writeathon@aiusa.org</a>.</i><strong> WRITE and MAIL your letters.</strong> (December 3-11 are the key dates, but feel free to start later.)"</div><div class="involved_text"><br />
<i></i></div></div><div class="involved_section"><i></i></div></div></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>To join me in Amnesty International's Write for Rights campaign, writing letters to help free prisoners of conscience around the world, <a href="http://www.amnestyusa.org/writeathon/?c=W1SEAIAR12&msource=W1SEAIAR12&tr=y&auid=9946294">Click Here!</a></b> </span></div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span> </div><div style="font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Thank you for reading my blog today. Please be kind to yourself and to others. Share your visions of peace and justice with the world. Strive always to leave each place you visit the better for your having been there! - TCK</span></span></span><span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></span></span> <br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span><b>The Crystal News - <a href="http://thecrystalnews.blogspot.com/%20">http://thecrystalnews.blogspot.com/ </a><br />
T'Keyah Fights City Hall - <a href="http://tkeyahfightscityhall.blogspot.com/%20">http://tkeyahfightscityhall.blogspot.com/ </a><br />
Keymah Presents - <a href="http://keymahpresents.blogspot.com/%20">http://keymahpresents.blogspot.com/ </a><br />
<a href="http://www.tkeyah.com/" style="color: black;">www.tkeyah.com</a></b><b><a href="http://www.tkeyah.com/"> </a>- <a href="http://where%20crystal%20visions%20come%20to%20life%21%20/">Where Crystal visions come to life! </a></b></span></span></div><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.twitter.com/tkeyahcrystal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><img src="http://twitter-badges.s3.amazonaws.com/t_logo-a.png" /></a></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/TKeyahCrystalKeymah" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="40" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4YYtBWQLY70/Th9p3iCdtBI/AAAAAAAAArk/jcVL5kwcYvU/s200/211033_19292868552_7506301_n.jpg" width="40" /></a></div><span class="post-author vcard"> </span> <span class="post-author vcard"> </span> <span class="post-author vcard"></span> </div>The Crystal Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09786076993693760953noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3196436987120809861.post-40674789672216006952011-12-02T09:29:00.000-08:002011-12-02T09:29:03.872-08:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt; text-align: justify;"><a href="http://static1.firedoglake.com/1/files/2011/04/fdl-logo-200w.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://static1.firedoglake.com/1/files/2011/04/fdl-logo-200w.png" style="border: 0px none; margin-top: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 20px; width: 180px;" /></a><a href="http://firedoglake.com/">FireDogLake</a> reminds us all of how the UC campus police abuse Occupy peaceful protesters. Join me in asking the Department of Justice to honor their civil rights: </div><div style="font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt; text-align: left;"><i>If you haven't already, you must watch this video of <b>campus police officers at University of California, Davis indiscriminately pepper-spraying protesters while they sit quietly on the ground, as though the officers were simply watering plants.</b><sup>1</sup></i><i> Law enforcement has no right to use violence as a tool of torture and punishment against those who do not pose a threat to their safety. This incident is plainly assault and is therefore a criminal violation of our most basic civil rights.</i> That's why <b>we're calling on the Department of Justice's Civil Rights Division to investigate the campus police officers involved in the UC Davis pepper-spraying incident</b> and uphold our right to peaceful protest without fear of violent retaliation.</div><i></i><br />
<div style="font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;"></div><i></i><br />
<div style="font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt; font-weight: bold;"><i><a href="http://action.firedoglake.com/page/m/5958d3df/4597e256/6223ac2b/3dc6461e/317978200/VEsD/" target="embededLink">Sign our petition to the DOJ Civil Rights Division and demand they investigate civil rights violations stemming from the UC Davis pepper-spraying incident.</a></i></div><i> </i><br />
<div style="font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt; font-weight: bold;"><i><a href="http://action.firedoglake.com/page/m/5958d3df/4597e256/6223ac2b/3dc6461e/317978200/VEsA/" target="embededLink">Click here to sign: http://action.firedoglake.com/page/s/uc-davis</a></i></div><i> </i><br />
<div style="font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;"><i> No matter your feelings on the Occupy movement, you should be disturbed by what you see in this video.</i></div><i> </i><br />
<div style="font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;"><i> The UC Davis campus police have attacked Americans who are actively exercising their constitutional right to assembly. <b>This is exactly the specific type of crime and abuse by authorities that the DOJ Civil Rights rights division was created to stop</b> -- not just because this assault was meant to stop people from practicing their rights, but to also send a message to other towns and cities that similar, blatant violations will not be tolerated.</i></div><i> </i><br />
<div style="font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;"><i> In the video, as protesters sit quietly awaiting arrest, a campus police officer walks up and down the line, spraying protesters in the face with pepper spray at point-blank range. All the while, the protesters remain calm and orderly as they endure their torture. As Salon's Glenn Greenwald wrote over the weekend, <b>"...It's only when we see steadfast, courageous resistance from the likes of these UC-Davis students is [the] erosion of [our] rights manifest."</b><sup>2</sup></i></div><i> </i><br />
<div style="font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;"><i> Who ordered this disproportionate show of force, and who is paying for it? Is there a coordinated effort to suppress this movement on the federal level? If the DOJ Civil Rights Division begins this investigation, we have a chance at curbing further police brutality against peaceful protesters in other states around the country. <b>If not, then the extent to which our government is complicit in this violence will be laid bare for all to see.</b></i></div><i> </i><br />
<div style="font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;"><i> Even repressive governments in the Middle East and North Africa are looking to the United States for inspiration on how to effectively suppress dissent.<sup>3</sup> We must stand up for the rights of protesters across the country to peaceably petition their government for redress of grievances while we still can.</i></div><i> </i><br />
<div style="font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt; font-weight: bold;"><i><a href="http://action.firedoglake.com/page/m/5958d3df/4597e256/6223ac2b/3dc6461e/317978200/VEsB/" target="embededLink">Click here to sign our petition to the DOJ Civil Rights Division, demanding they investigate the UC Davis campus police officers for their excessive use of force.</a></i></div><i> </i><br />
<div style="font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;"><i> I look forward to working together to not only protect the rights of the Occupy protesters but our individual rights as American citizens.</i></div><div style="font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;"><i>To </i>join me in demanding that their civil rights be honored, <a href="http://action.firedoglake.com/page/s/uc-davis?source=Uem112111"><b>Click Here</b>!</a> </div><div style="font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Thank you for reading my blog today. Please be kind to yourself and to others. Share your visions of peace and justice with the world. Strive always to leave each place you visit the better for your having been there! - TCK</span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></span><br />
<br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>The Crystal News - <a href="http://thecrystalnews.blogspot.com/%20">http://thecrystalnews.blogspot.com/ </a><br />
T'Keyah Fights City Hall - <a href="http://tkeyahfightscityhall.blogspot.com/%20">http://tkeyahfightscityhall.blogspot.com/ </a><br />
Keymah Presents - <a href="http://keymahpresents.blogspot.com/%20">http://keymahpresents.blogspot.com/ </a><br />
<a href="http://www.tkeyah.com/" style="color: black;">www.tkeyah.com</a></b><b><a href="http://www.tkeyah.com/"> </a>- <a href="http://where%20crystal%20visions%20come%20to%20life%21%20/">Where Crystal visions come to life! </a></b></span></div><a href="http://www.twitter.com/tkeyahcrystal"><img src="http://twitter-badges.s3.amazonaws.com/t_logo-a.png" /></a><br />
<div style="font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/TKeyahCrystalKeymah" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="40" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4YYtBWQLY70/Th9p3iCdtBI/AAAAAAAAArk/jcVL5kwcYvU/s200/211033_19292868552_7506301_n.jpg" width="40" /></a></div><span class="post-author vcard"> </span> <span class="post-author vcard"> </span> <span class="post-author vcard"></span> <br />
<div style="font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;"><i> </i></div></div>The Crystal Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09786076993693760953noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3196436987120809861.post-49855871451322650452011-11-11T05:49:00.000-08:002011-11-11T05:49:24.476-08:00Salute Veterans!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span id="goog_237672244"></span><span id="goog_237672245"></span><style>
<!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:Times;
panose-1:2 0 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:auto;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;}
@font-face
{font-family:Cambria;
panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:auto;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{mso-style-parent:"";
margin-top:0in;
margin-right:0in;
margin-bottom:10.0pt;
margin-left:0in;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-fareast-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";}
h1
{mso-style-link:"Heading 1 Char";
margin-top:0in;
margin-right:0in;
margin-bottom:10.0pt;
margin-left:0in;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
mso-outline-level:1;
font-size:24.0pt;
mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Times;
mso-hansi-font-family:Times;}
span.Heading1Char
{mso-style-name:"Heading 1 Char";
mso-style-locked:yes;
mso-style-link:"Heading 1";
mso-ansi-font-size:24.0pt;
font-family:Times;
mso-ascii-font-family:Times;
mso-hansi-font-family:Times;
mso-font-kerning:18.0pt;
font-weight:bold;
mso-bidi-font-weight:normal;}
@page Section1
{size:8.5in 11.0in;
margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in;
mso-header-margin:.5in;
mso-footer-margin:.5in;
mso-paper-source:0;}
div.Section1
{page:Section1;}
-->
</style> <br />
<h1 style="margin: 0.1pt 0in; text-align: justify;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EvGgJIghDWo/Tr0mV1p9V5I/AAAAAAAAAz8/9Co18vU4it8/s1600/Peace+girl.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EvGgJIghDWo/Tr0mV1p9V5I/AAAAAAAAAz8/9Co18vU4it8/s1600/Peace+girl.png" /></a><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-weight: normal;"><span id="goog_237672240"></span><span id="goog_237672241"></span>I do a great deal of talking against the war we're in... against all of the wars we're in... against all war. I strongly feel that although countries, like people, should have the right to defend themselves, wars begin offensively, not defensively, are usually motivated by greed, paranoia and hatred, and are by most accounts unjust, unrighteous, unholy and indefensible. With that in mind, I've written and send countless letters, postcards, emails, signed petitions, attended rallies and I've prayed that the day will come that human will realize that a war begun is a war lost.</span></h1><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pDBR87aVWQQ/Tr0nAIo0t5I/AAAAAAAAA0E/pmhSyGXy14I/s1600/Vietnam+Memorial.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pDBR87aVWQQ/Tr0nAIo0t5I/AAAAAAAAA0E/pmhSyGXy14I/s1600/Vietnam+Memorial.png" /></a></div><h1 style="margin: 0.1pt 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-weight: normal;">Wars are initiated by people who will never see action on the front lines, they are encouraged and marketed to the public by people who will profit from them in some way. Wars are fought, however, by brave and selfless men and women who believe it is their duty to protect their families and their country or that serving is an honorable alternative to the slim and dire opportunities otherwise available to them. </span></h1><h1 style="margin: 0.1pt 0in; text-align: justify;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-U3I9KIuroHA/Tr0nJJMiXJI/AAAAAAAAA0M/PszlfRNsfck/s1600/iraq-war.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="224" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-U3I9KIuroHA/Tr0nJJMiXJI/AAAAAAAAA0M/PszlfRNsfck/s320/iraq-war.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-weight: normal;">They serve knowing that they may have to maim or kill others; they serve knowing that they may capture or be captured, torture or be tortured; they serve at the risk of returning torn, broken ...or not at all.</span> </h1><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gmz5fSKSRYk/Tr0nOxZxffI/AAAAAAAAA0U/q5fZP_pt2jY/s1600/Veterans.JPG.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gmz5fSKSRYk/Tr0nOxZxffI/AAAAAAAAA0U/q5fZP_pt2jY/s1600/Veterans.JPG.jpg" /></a></div><h1 style="margin: 0.1pt 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-weight: normal;"><span id="goog_1863413323"></span><span id="goog_1863413324"></span>Today and every day, I salute the brave women and men who live lives of service. I am both terrified and proud to count many members of my family and currently one of my big brothers among them. So please join me in praying, writing, calling, emailing, and rallying for peace, and in thanking those who do what we would not... </span></h1><h1 style="margin: 0.1pt 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-weight: normal;"> </span></h1><h1 style="margin: 0.1pt 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-weight: normal;">Happy Veterans Today! </span></b></span></h1><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Thank you for reading my blog today. Please be kind to yourself and to others. Share your visions of peace and justice with the world. Strive always to leave each place you visit the better for your having been there! - TCK</span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></span><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>The Crystal News - <a href="http://thecrystalnews.blogspot.com/%20">http://thecrystalnews.blogspot.com/ </a><br />
T'Keyah Fights City Hall - <a href="http://tkeyahfightscityhall.blogspot.com/%20">http://tkeyahfightscityhall.blogspot.com/ </a><br />
Keymah Presents - <a href="http://keymahpresents.blogspot.com/%20">http://keymahpresents.blogspot.com/ </a><br />
<a href="http://www.tkeyah.com/" style="color: black;">www.tkeyah.com</a></b><b><a href="http://www.tkeyah.com/"> </a>- <a href="http://where%20crystal%20visions%20come%20to%20life%21%20/">Where Crystal visions come to life! </a></b></span></div><a href="http://www.twitter.com/tkeyahcrystal"><img src="http://twitter-badges.s3.amazonaws.com/t_logo-a.png" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/TKeyahCrystalKeymah" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="40" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4YYtBWQLY70/Th9p3iCdtBI/AAAAAAAAArk/jcVL5kwcYvU/s200/211033_19292868552_7506301_n.jpg" width="40" /></a></div><span class="post-author vcard"> </span> <span class="post-author vcard"> </span></div>The Crystal Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09786076993693760953noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3196436987120809861.post-60111013709145159942011-10-26T16:57:00.000-07:002011-10-26T16:57:28.009-07:00Stand with the Oakland protesters!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">When I think of Oakland, California, I think of Angela Davis, fists in the air and a fight for fairness. I think of downtrodden protesters will more willpower than fatigue. I guess that is what the government has always feared. What happened in Oakland was not right. Whether you think the <a href="http://occupywallst.org/">Occupy Wall Street</a> protest is founded in reasonable outrage or not. Change.org says, </span></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aYc199EhlKU/TqibLKWbcKI/AAAAAAAAAwM/XflsAkNgQCA/s1600/Occupy+Wall+Street.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="66" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aYc199EhlKU/TqibLKWbcKI/AAAAAAAAAwM/XflsAkNgQCA/s400/Occupy+Wall+Street.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; margin: 0pt 0pt 12px;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">"For two weeks, hundreds of peaceful protesters gathered in Oakland's Oscar Grant Plaza as part of that city's installation of the Occupy Wall Street movement. For two weeks, Oakland Mayor Jean Quan told the police to leave the protesters alone -- she said that she supported the protests, that sometimes "democracy is messy."</span></i><i><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"></span></span></i><i><span style="font-size: small;"> But yesterday, without warning, Mayor Quan reversed her stance. <strong>Protesters say that, on her orders, the Oakland police fired tear gas, bean bags, and stun grenades.</strong> When they peacefully gathered outside the plaza again last night, protestors -- who included veterans, children, and a woman in a wheelchair -- were met with more tear gas and police violence.</span></i> </div><i><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"></span></span></i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YkdaB5DrxG0/TqibOfpXu9I/AAAAAAAAAwU/8ZGZQ_Xt0M8/s1600/Occupy+Wall+Street+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YkdaB5DrxG0/TqibOfpXu9I/AAAAAAAAAwU/8ZGZQ_Xt0M8/s320/Occupy+Wall+Street+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; margin: 0pt 0pt 12px;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Oakland resident Shanelle Matthews saw her city's violent crackdown on Occupy Oakland and knew something had to be done. <a href="http://www.change.org/petitions/mayor-quan-let-occupy-oakland-keep-oscar-grant-plaza?alert_id=jypBIJNPen_vAtiIqqoft&utm_medium=email&utm_source=action_alert" style="color: #508ba3;" target="embededLink"><strong>So Shanelle started a petition on Change.org asking Oakland Mayor Jean Quan to stop the city's crackdown and grant Occupy Oakland a safe space to make their voices heard. Click here to add your name to Shanelle's petition.</strong></a></span></i><i><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"></span></span></i><i><span style="font-size: small;"> In just one month, people fed up with wealth inequality and the influence of Wall Street have staged occupations in more than 900 cities across the globe. Cities like Los Angeles, New York, Philadelphia, and Washington, DC have so far allowed their residents to keep up continuous protests, with city officials even joining the occupations.</span></i> </div><i><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"></span></span></i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NNAJDo3wZEs/Tqidjh5lLoI/AAAAAAAAAwc/QEca9f4a1j0/s1600/Occupy+Wall+Street+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NNAJDo3wZEs/Tqidjh5lLoI/AAAAAAAAAwc/QEca9f4a1j0/s1600/Occupy+Wall+Street+3.jpg" /></a></div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; margin: 0pt 0pt 12px;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">In Oakland, Mayor Jean Quan has gone from allowing Occupy Oakland to protest to having tear gas fired at her citizens who gathered for a peaceful demonstration. Quan's crackdown has forced a quiet encampment into the streets, threatening the safety of thousands of people. It's critical to create a safe space for Occupy Oakland to protest in the city as part of the nationwide Occupy Wall Street movement. <strong>Please sign Shanelle's petition on Change.org asking Oakland Mayor Quan to allow Occupy Oakland to stay outside City Hall and stop her crackdown on demonstrators in the city:</strong></span></i></div><i><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></span></i><div style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; margin: 0pt 0pt 12px;"><i><span style="font-size: small;"><strong><a href="http://www.change.org/petitions/mayor-quan-let-occupy-oakland-keep-oscar-grant-plaza?alert_id=jypBIJNPen_vAtiIqqoft&utm_medium=email&utm_source=action_alert" style="color: #508ba3;" target="embededLink">http://www.change.org/petitions/mayor-quan-let-occupy-oakland-keep-oscar-grant-plaza</a></strong><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">"</span></span></i></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> To sign Shanelle's petition urging fair treatment for the protestors, <b><a href="http://www.change.org/petitions/mayor-quan-stop-the-brutality-against-occupy-oakland?alert_id=jypBIJNPen_vAtiIqqoft&utm_medium=email&utm_source=action_alert">Click Here</a>!</b></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Thank you for reading my blog today. Please be kind to yourself and to others. Share your visions of peace and justice with the world. Strive always to leave each place you visit the better for your having been there! - TCK</span></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>The Crystal News - <a href="http://thecrystalnews.blogspot.com/%20">http://thecrystalnews.blogspot.com/ </a><br />
T'Keyah Fights City Hall - <a href="http://tkeyahfightscityhall.blogspot.com/%20">http://tkeyahfightscityhall.blogspot.com/ </a><br />
Keymah Presents - <a href="http://keymahpresents.blogspot.com/%20">http://keymahpresents.blogspot.com/ </a><br />
<a href="http://www.tkeyah.com/" style="color: black;">www.tkeyah.com</a></b><b><a href="http://www.tkeyah.com/"> </a>- <a href="http://where%20crystal%20visions%20come%20to%20life%21%20/">Where Crystal visions come to life! </a></b></span></div><a href="http://www.twitter.com/tkeyahcrystal"><img src="http://twitter-badges.s3.amazonaws.com/t_logo-a.png" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/TKeyahCrystalKeymah" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="40" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4YYtBWQLY70/Th9p3iCdtBI/AAAAAAAAArk/jcVL5kwcYvU/s200/211033_19292868552_7506301_n.jpg" width="40" /></a></div><span class="post-author vcard"> </span></div>The Crystal Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09786076993693760953noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3196436987120809861.post-46569411880369062002011-09-22T19:41:00.000-07:002011-09-22T19:41:42.876-07:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: center;"><table id="TableDescription"><tbody>
<tr><td align="left"><span class="CT"> <a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dmwKHlXdps4/TnvShrNS23I/AAAAAAAAAu0/AD1OXesTvN4/s1600/Troy+Davis+final.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dmwKHlXdps4/TnvShrNS23I/AAAAAAAAAu0/AD1OXesTvN4/s1600/Troy+Davis+final.jpg" /></a><style>
<!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:Cambria;
panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:auto;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{mso-style-parent:"";
margin-top:0in;
margin-right:0in;
margin-bottom:10.0pt;
margin-left:0in;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:Cambria;
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}
a:link, span.MsoHyperlink
{color:blue;
text-decoration:underline;
text-underline:single;}
a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed
{mso-style-noshow:yes;
color:purple;
text-decoration:underline;
text-underline:single;}
@page Section1
{size:8.5in 11.0in;
margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in;
mso-header-margin:.5in;
mso-footer-margin:.5in;
mso-paper-source:0;}
div.Section1
{page:Section1;}
-->
</style> <br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> When one of my nieces asked why I was taking time from my studies and work to campaign to save Troy Davis, I explained that even though we’re all busy, some things require us to stop and take action.<span> </span>Getting justice for Troy Davis was such a thing. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-89VKrpN4U4I/TnvSodZKWlI/AAAAAAAAAu4/slwRN_dLZaM/s1600/I+am+Troy+smaller.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-89VKrpN4U4I/TnvSodZKWlI/AAAAAAAAAu4/slwRN_dLZaM/s200/I+am+Troy+smaller.jpg" width="182" /></a>I also explained that some people believe that those who break the law should be rehabilitated, while some people believe they should be punished.<span> </span>For those who believe in punishment, some believe that those who commit horrible crimes (like murder) should be given horrible punishments (like the death sentence). </span></div><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;"> </span> <div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TKUlwe5JGjw/TnvKgtZddfI/AAAAAAAAAuw/ZV3dvXG9xXs/s1600/Death_Penalty_Logo_ol_12.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="198" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TKUlwe5JGjw/TnvKgtZddfI/AAAAAAAAAuw/ZV3dvXG9xXs/s200/Death_Penalty_Logo_ol_12.png" width="200" /></a>I understand the desire to punish, especially when you are hurt or angry, or if you have no faith in Divine justice. Even if it seems reasonable to kill someone, because that person killed someone, however, is it reasonable if even one innocent man is killed? Troy Davis was not the first man to die at the hands of the United States justice system, when there was much more than reasonable doubt of his guilt. He will probably not be the last. I signed Amnesty International's <a href="http://takeaction.amnestyusa.org/site/c.6oJCLQPAJiJUG/b.7741827/k.62FF/Not_in_my_Name_Pledge/apps/ka/ct/contactus.asp?c=6oJCLQPAJiJUG&b=7741827&en=dmIPI6PPJcIYLgOSLbKULiM9LvL9KmN4LtI9LqNaIAK">Pledge</a> to fight to abolish the death penalty, because I don't want any more blood on my hands:</span></div><br />
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>The state of Georgia shamefully executed Troy Davis on September 21, 2011 despite serious doubts about his guilt. </i></span></div><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;"><i> </i></span><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i> But <strong>Not In My Name.</strong></i></div><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;"><i> </i></span><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i> While a majority of the world – more than 65% of all countries – has abolished the death penalty in law or practice, the United States remains one of the top countries responsible for executing people. </i></div><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;"><i> </i></span><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i><strong>Not In My Name.</strong></i></div><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;"><i> </i></span><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i> Officials continue to allow this deeply-flawed, extremely arbitrary and severely-biased (both economically and racially) system to run rampant without checks, balances or concern for moral decency. </i></div><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;"><i> </i></span><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> <i><strong>Not In My Name.</strong></i></div><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;"><i> </i></span><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i>Guilty or innocent every person is a human being with human rights. Executions are always wrong. </i></div><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;"><i> </i></span><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i><strong>I won't stand for it.</strong></i> </div><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;"><i> </i></span><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i> THE DEATH PENALTY MUST BE ABOLISHED. I take this pledge because human rights and human lives are on the line.</i></div></span></td></tr>
<tr style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><td align="left"><span style="font-size: large;">To sign Amnesty International pledge to fight to abolish the death penalty, <a href="http://takeaction.amnestyusa.org/site/c.6oJCLQPAJiJUG/b.7741827/k.62FF/Not_in_my_Name_Pledge/apps/ka/ct/contactus.asp?c=6oJCLQPAJiJUG&b=7741827&en=dmIPI6PPJcIYLgOSLbKULiM9LvL9KmN4LtI9LqNaIAK">Click Here</a>!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Thank you for reading my blog today. Please be kind to yourself and to others. Share your visions of peace and justice with the world. Strive always to leave each place you visit the better for your having been there! - TCK</span><br style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;" /><a href="http://www.twitter.com/tkeyahcrystal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><img src="http://twitter-badges.s3.amazonaws.com/t_logo-a.png" /></a></span><span style="font-size: large;"><b> </b></span></div></div><br />
</div>The Crystal Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09786076993693760953noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3196436987120809861.post-29335850547032706892011-09-15T14:49:00.000-07:002011-09-22T00:08:33.902-07:00I Am Still Troy Davis! ... Are You?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">September 21, 2011 Update </span></b><br />
<h6 class="uiStreamMessage" data-ft="{"type":1}" style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="messageBody" data-ft="{"type":3}">Rest in Peace Troy Davis... </span></span></h6><h6 class="uiStreamMessage" data-ft="{"type":1}" style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="messageBody" data-ft="{"type":3}">God bless everyone who tried to see that justice prevailed. God help everyone who knew better, but did nothing...</span></span></h6><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">September 20, 2011 Update!!!</span></b></div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><style>
<!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:Cambria;
panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:auto;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{mso-style-parent:"";
margin-top:0in;
margin-right:0in;
margin-bottom:10.0pt;
margin-left:0in;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-fareast-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";}
a:link, span.MsoHyperlink
{color:blue;
text-decoration:underline;
text-underline:single;}
a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed
{mso-style-noshow:yes;
color:purple;
text-decoration:underline;
text-underline:single;}
@page Section1
{size:8.5in 11.0in;
margin:1.0in 1.0in 1.0in 1.0in;
mso-header-margin:.5in;
mso-footer-margin:.5in;
mso-paper-source:0;}
div.Section1
{page:Section1;}
-->
</style> <br />
<h6 class="uiStreamMessage" data-ft="{"type":1}"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="messageBody" data-ft="{"type":3}">Troy Davis's clemency was denied by the Georgia Board of Pardons & Paroles, and he is set to be executed on Wednesday @ 7PM. <a href="http://action.naacp.org/page/s/petition-larry-chisolm?utm_medium=email&utm_source=NAACP&utm_campaign=20110919ChilsomPetition&subsource=20110919ChilsomPetition%20">Please sign the petition to DA Larry Chisolm. </a></span></span></h6><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: blue;"> </span></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: blue;">* * * * * * *</span></div><br />
<div class="post-header"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-m8pKjm-Urrg/TbgsWBSDf9I/AAAAAAAAAlA/Emmmm5PFkGg/s1600/I+am+Troy+smaller.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-m8pKjm-Urrg/TbgsWBSDf9I/AAAAAAAAAlA/Emmmm5PFkGg/s200/I+am+Troy+smaller.jpg" width="182" /></a><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b>A</b><b> date has been set for Troy Davis' execution: September 23, 2011. </b> <u><b>A clemency hearing has also been set - for Monday, September 19, 2011. This is Troy Davis' last chance. Read further for more facts, but the short version is this:</b></u></span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: x-small;"></span></div><span style="font-family: Arial,Verdana,sans-serif; margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; margin: 1em 0px;"></span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Verdana,sans-serif; margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; margin: 1em 0px;"></span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><div style="margin: 1em 0px;"><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><ul><a href="http://www.nodeathpenalty.org/sites/default/files/new-abolitionist/5631696720_74a9dfd291_b.sm-a.jpg?1316094493" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" class="imagefield imagefield-field_image" height="277" src="http://www.nodeathpenalty.org/sites/default/files/new-abolitionist/5631696720_74a9dfd291_b.sm-a.jpg?1316094493" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial,Verdana,sans-serif; margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; margin: 1em 0px;"> <span style="font-size: large;"> </span>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial,Verdana,sans-serif; margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Seven of nine witnesses against him have recanted their testimony,</span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial,Verdana,sans-serif; margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">The judge called his own ruling “not ironclad,”</span></span></span></li>
<span style="font-size: large;"> </span>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">There has never been any DNA evidence to connect Troy Davis to the crime,</span></li>
<span style="font-size: large;"> </span>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Other witnesses have come forward since the original trial and singled out another suspect.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">If nothing changes, Troy Davis will die on September 23, 2011 for a crime he most likely did not commit. </span></li>
</span></span></ul><span style="font-family: Arial,Verdana,sans-serif; margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Verdana,sans-serif; margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">The following is updated from my April 30, 2011 blog:</span></span></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><h2 class="title"></h2><div class="content"><div class="article_image" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" class="imagefield imagefield-field_image" height="150" src="http://nodeathpenalty.org/sites/default/files/new-abolitionist/Paris2%5B1%5D.jpg?1315595730" width="200" /></div></div><span style="font-family: Arial,Verdana,sans-serif; margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">People often ask me who Troy Davis is, if I know him and why I am wearing a shirt that says I am him. Now that Mr. Davis again in imminent threat of a wrongful death, I will answer those questions. Troy Davis is a Black man born and raised in Savannah, GA. There was nothing spectacularly interesting about his life from his birth until August of 1989. The son of a hospital worker and a veteran, Davis was neither a hoodlum nor a saint. </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Verdana,sans-serif; margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">He struggled through school, helped younger people in his neighborhood, was likable, but had trouble on his job as manufacturing plant drill technician. </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Verdana,sans-serif; margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></span><br />
<a href="http://www.kintera.org/AccountTempFiles/account11681/images/troy150x.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Take Action On This Issue" border="0" class="ad_Item" id="ctl00_ctl00_aidActionDetail_imgActionImage" src="http://www.kintera.org/AccountTempFiles/account11681/images/troy150x.jpg" style="border-width: 0px;" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial,Verdana,sans-serif; margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">In August of 1989, based on the testimony of nine witnesses and despite his constant claims of innocence, Troy Davis was convicted of White police officer Mark MacPhail's murder and for shooting Micheal Cooper. MacPhail apparently was killed when trying to stop the assault of a homeless man. Cooper was shot in an earlier incident. No forensic evidence linked Davis to the crimes. </span></span></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Verdana,sans-serif; margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FeAHMxf33ew/Tbgr3rlaTfI/AAAAAAAAAko/H__aedoQ9BA/s1600/Keane-drummer-Richard-Hughes.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="120" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FeAHMxf33ew/Tbgr3rlaTfI/AAAAAAAAAko/H__aedoQ9BA/s200/Keane-drummer-Richard-Hughes.jpg" width="200" /></a>Since Troy Davis' conviction, seven of those nine witnesses recanted their testimony, saying it was coerced. The eighth witness testified that Davis confessed to MacPhail's murder so police wouldn't connect him to Cooper's shooting. In addition to that not making sense, Cooper denied having been shot by Davis. The ninth witness, Redd Coles, who first reported Davis to the police, admitted in court to fighting with the homeless man that night. Many witnesses say Coles also later confessed to murdering MacPhail himself...</span></span></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Verdana,sans-serif; margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></span></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Verdana,sans-serif; margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9IzxRxKSsBo/TbgroiE81yI/AAAAAAAAAkc/pI1NvEFRad8/s1600/AAAAC12_C7cAAAAAAURtxw.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9IzxRxKSsBo/TbgroiE81yI/AAAAAAAAAkc/pI1NvEFRad8/s200/AAAAC12_C7cAAAAAAURtxw.jpg" width="148" /></a>I have never met Troy Davis. What I know of him and his story, I've gathered from social action letters sent to me and from the internet. The logo for this blog is of me wearing a shirt that says, "<a href="http://shop.amnestyusa.org/Troy-Davis-TShirt-Unisex/M/B002CFNJLI.htm">I am Troy Davis</a>" because l know I could be. I know I could be at the wrong place at the wrong time hanging out with the wrong people and end up on death row. </span></span></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Verdana,sans-serif; margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lxBfzVpfPcc/Tbgrkwm7yoI/AAAAAAAAAkU/67PUGqI6x2I/s1600/6a00d8341c0dc653ef0115715308ef970c-320wi.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lxBfzVpfPcc/Tbgrkwm7yoI/AAAAAAAAAkU/67PUGqI6x2I/s200/6a00d8341c0dc653ef0115715308ef970c-320wi.jpg" width="130" /></a>Our justice system is supposed to have checks and balances that prevent innocent people from going to prison and from being killed (murdered) because of a wrongful conviction. I am wearing that shirt because I pray that should circumstances ever find me in an incomprehensibly unjust situation, people who know me and people who don't would gather in a tireless fight for my freedom. <b>Join <a href="http://act.colorofchange.org/sign/troy/">Color of Change</a>, <a href="http://takeaction.amnestyusa.org/c.jhKPIXPCIoE/b.6068385/k.69BE/Action_Center_Marketing/siteapps/advocacy/ActionItem.aspx?c=jhKPIXPCIoE&b=6068385&aid=12970&msource=WPSGTL2970&cid=psgtl2970">Amnesty International</a>, <a href="http://www.naacp.org/campaign/davis?utm_medium=email&utm_source=NAACP&utm_campaign=20110420TroyDavis&source=20110420TroyDavis">the NAACP</a> , </b><i>Harry Belafonte</i>, Pope Benedict XVI, <b>and me in helping to see that justice prevails for both Troy Davis and for Officer Mark MacPhail. </b></span></span></span></div><span style="font-family: Arial,Verdana,sans-serif; margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;" /></span> </span></span><br />
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Verdana,sans-serif; margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">The NAACP says:</span></span></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Verdana,sans-serif; margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-I4GOs-KfxLc/TbgsFTtD47I/AAAAAAAAAk4/_wm1WEit6tg/s1600/Amsterdam.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-I4GOs-KfxLc/TbgsFTtD47I/AAAAAAAAAk4/_wm1WEit6tg/s200/Amsterdam.jpg" width="150" /></a><i>"<i>Innocent until proven guilty.</i></i><i><br />
<br />
These four words helped establish our criminal justice system. But in a nation that prides itself on our belief in liberty and justice for all, why is Troy Davis -- with an overwhelming body of evidence pointing to his innocence -- facing execution?</i></span></span></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Verdana,sans-serif; margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZuF3jXbLCag/Tbgrmre7lZI/AAAAAAAAAkY/dbWydWT8WiY/s1600/016.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZuF3jXbLCag/Tbgrmre7lZI/AAAAAAAAAkY/dbWydWT8WiY/s200/016.JPG" width="200" /></a><i><br />
Twenty years ago, Troy Davis was convicted of murdering a white police officer. </i><i>Since then, seven of the nine witnesses recanted their statements, new witnesses have come forward identifying another man as the murderer, and the alleged murder weapon has still not been found.<br />
</i></span></span></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Verdana,sans-serif; margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DIZFF1_cHhM/TbgsJnnVT8I/AAAAAAAAAk8/oJ_7Wv2RlT8/s1600/hank_troy.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DIZFF1_cHhM/TbgsJnnVT8I/AAAAAAAAAk8/oJ_7Wv2RlT8/s200/hank_troy.jpg" width="200" /></a><i>Despite these new developments, the state of Georgia is putting Davis on track to be executed -- perhaps as early as next month.<br />
</i><span style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="margin: 1em 0px;"></span></span><br />
<i> You can help save Troy Davis' life today by standing up, adding your voice to our "name wall" and asking the Georgia Parole Board to commute his sentence:</i>"</span> </span></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Verdana,sans-serif; margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></span></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Verdana,sans-serif; margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><a href="http://action.naacp.org/page/speakout/help-save-troy-davis?js=false?utm_medium=email&utm_source=NAACP&utm_campaign=20110912troydavisspeakout&source=20110912troydavisspeakout" target="embededLink">http://action.naacp.org/Save-Troy-Davis</a></b></span></span></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Verdana,sans-serif; margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></span></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Verdana,sans-serif; margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Amnesty International says: </b></span></span></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Verdana,sans-serif; margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img alt="spacer" border="0" height="1" src="http://takeaction.amnestyusa.org/atf/cf/%7B74BA1956-0C57-4B8E-9D15-D6AB8CE64CF1%7D/spacer.gif" width="20" /></span> </span></span></div><h1 id="action_title" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Verdana,sans-serif; margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>"Oppose the Death Penalty for Troy Davis</i></span></span></span></h1><div class="ad_Item" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Verdana,sans-serif; margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-x0-ifAaG0JI/Tbgr0fX9_tI/AAAAAAAAAkk/haWaGdpNgMM/s1600/Netherlands.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-x0-ifAaG0JI/Tbgr0fX9_tI/AAAAAAAAAkk/haWaGdpNgMM/s200/Netherlands.jpg" width="200" /></a><i>Troy Davis has faced execution three times for a crime he may not have committed. In an unprecedented evidentiary hearing held in a federal district court in Savannah, Georgia in June, 2010, he was able to present evidence supporting his innocence claim. However, the standard for proving his innocence was “extraordinarily high”, especially given the lack of physical and scientific evidence in his case. </i></span></span></span></div><div class="ad_Item" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Verdana,sans-serif; margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FtCZ1Hmjv3A/Tbgr-KCuy8I/AAAAAAAAAks/3X4rG3eHJ84/s1600/Troy+Davis.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FtCZ1Hmjv3A/Tbgr-KCuy8I/AAAAAAAAAks/3X4rG3eHJ84/s200/Troy+Davis.jpg" width="184" /></a><i>The federal judge ruled that he did not meet the high standard, despite the fact that doubts about his guilt remain unresolved. While this ruling may be appealed, it is more important than ever that we continue to let Georgia authorities know that we oppose any effort to execute Troy Davis. Sign the petition today!"</i></span></span></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Verdana,sans-serif; margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></span></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Verdana,sans-serif; margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.amnestyusa.org/death-penalty/troy-davis-finality-over-fairness/page.do?id=1011343"><b>http://www.amnestyusa.org/death-penalty/troy-davis-finality-over-fairness/page.do?id=1011343 </b></a></span> </span></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Verdana,sans-serif; margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></span></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Verdana,sans-serif; margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Color of change says: </b></span></span></span></div></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Verdana,sans-serif; margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-guudWxUuA6s/TbgsA_YiDgI/AAAAAAAAAkw/v9TbD3_0IMo/s1600/Troy+Davis+images.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="177" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-guudWxUuA6s/TbgsA_YiDgI/AAAAAAAAAkw/v9TbD3_0IMo/s200/Troy+Davis+images.jpg" width="200" /></a><i><b>"Georgia may be about to kill an innocent man.</b> That's not justice. Please ask the Georgia Parole Board to spare Troy Davis' life, before it's too late -- and it's critical that you ask others to do the same: </i></span></span></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Verdana,sans-serif; margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><a href="http://act.colorofchange.org/go/807?akid=1957.911222.vabtpe&t=3" target="embededLink">http://act.colorofchange.org/sign/troy/</a></i></span> </span></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i><span style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="margin: 1em 0px;">...the Supreme Cour</span></span>t granted Davis another chance. But instead of an actual new trial before a jury, which would mean the burden of proof beyond a</i><i> reasonable doubt is on the prosecutor, he got an evidentiary hearing before a single federal judge where Davis' lawyers had the burden to meet an impossibly high and undefined legal standard. <span style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="margin: 1em 0px;"></span></span></i></span></span><br />
<div style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i><span style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="margin: 1em 0px;">In light of this, it was sad -- but no surprise -- when the judge rejected the new evidence and cleared the way for <span style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="margin: 1em 0px;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gLU1ql9-VEM/Tbgrttp8dlI/AAAAAAAAAkg/ZqtvYh2ZZRE/s1600/IMG00086.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="118" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gLU1ql9-VEM/Tbgrttp8dlI/AAAAAAAAAkg/ZqtvYh2ZZRE/s200/IMG00086.jpg" width="200" /></a></span></span>Davis' execution. However, even he acknowledged lingering doubt, noting that the case against Davis was not "ironclad." </span></span></i></span></span></div><div style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i><span style="margin: 1em 0px;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sRCVxoL4vZw/TbgsDMXSxQI/AAAAAAAAAk0/l7uGW2FGXaA/s1600/zevenar.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sRCVxoL4vZw/TbgsDMXSxQI/AAAAAAAAAk0/l7uGW2FGXaA/s200/zevenar.jpg" width="150" /></a>But "ironclad" is exactly what the evidence should be in order to put someone to death. If the Georgia Board of Pardons and Parole doesn't act to stop Davis' execution, they'll run a serious risk of putting an innocent man to death. That is not acceptable. </span></i></span></span></div><i>Please join us, along with our partners at Amnesty International and the NAACP, in asking the Georgia Board of Pardons and Parole to save Troy Davis' life by commuting his sentence to life in prison. And when you do, please ask your friends and family to do the same" </i> <span style="font-size: large;"><br style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;" /></span> <br />
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://act.colorofchange.org/go/807?akid=1957.911222.vabtpe&t=4">http://act.colorofchange.org/sign/troy/</a></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-m8pKjm-Urrg/TbgsWBSDf9I/AAAAAAAAAlA/Emmmm5PFkGg/s1600/I+am+Troy+smaller.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-m8pKjm-Urrg/TbgsWBSDf9I/AAAAAAAAAlA/Emmmm5PFkGg/s200/I+am+Troy+smaller.jpg" width="182" /></a>If you believe in justice, if you believe in freedom, if you would not want what is happening to you to happen to you, if like me, you are troy Davis, <u><b>Please Click one of these Links!</b></u></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span> </div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="margin: 1em 0px;"><b><a href="http://action.naacp.org/page/speakout/help-save-troy-davis?js=false?utm_medium=email&utm_source=NAACP&utm_campaign=20110912troydavisspeakout&source=20110912troydavisspeakout%20" target="embededLink">http://action.naacp.org/Save-Troy-Davis</a></b></span></span><b> </b></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="margin: 1em 0px;"><a href="http://www.amnestyusa.org/death-penalty/troy-davis-finality-over-fairness/page.do?id=1011343"><b>http://www.amnestyusa.org/death-penalty/troy-davis-finality-over-fairness/page.do?id=1011343 </b></a></span></span></b><b> </b></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://act.colorofchange.org/go/807?akid=1957.911222.vabtpe&t=4">http://act.colorofchange.org/sign/troy/</a></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">PS - I have never met Troy Davis, but I hope to do so. <b> </b></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;" /><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> Thank you for reading my blog today. Please be kind to yourself and to others. Share your visions of peace and justice with the world. Strive always to leave each place you visit the better for your having been there! - TCK</span><br style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;" /><a href="http://www.twitter.com/tkeyahcrystal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><img src="http://twitter-badges.s3.amazonaws.com/t_logo-a.png" /></a></span> </div></div>The Crystal Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09786076993693760953noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3196436987120809861.post-37488261281539951142011-08-30T08:42:00.000-07:002011-08-30T08:42:10.193-07:00Support a Smart SAG/AFTRA Merger!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kC0RCNHPBh0/TlzzO2W60ZI/AAAAAAAAAuE/idHBE486qAk/s1600/SAG+Logo+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kC0RCNHPBh0/TlzzO2W60ZI/AAAAAAAAAuE/idHBE486qAk/s1600/SAG+Logo+2.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;">Forgive me for a while if you're not a member of SAG (Screen Actors Guild) or AFTRA (American Federation of Television and Radio Artists)... I am a proud <b><i><span><a href="http://umem.us/">#unionmember</a> </span></i><span></span></b>of both.<b><i><span> </span></i></b>For many years, there has been a hot debate on the merger of these very different performers' collective bargaining organizations. The heat rose past the boiling point, creating factions and even a two-party system within SAG. (Was this an inevitable reaction to the success of America's two party system in eliminating independent thought and original ideas from politics?) </span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-k_X5tr8ZZOA/TlzzJwQQGkI/AAAAAAAAAuA/ge7Czp50N44/s1600/AFTRA-LOGO.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-k_X5tr8ZZOA/TlzzJwQQGkI/AAAAAAAAAuA/ge7Czp50N44/s200/AFTRA-LOGO.gif" width="171" /></a> Years ago, I wrote to the then pro-merger powers in SAG, asking what the merger would mean. As a vested member of both organizations, would the retirements amounts promised from each be combined? Would the benefits of the better insurance plan (SAG's) prevail? The response (which has not changed in the years the followed) was: "We'll deal with those issues after we merge." After. The response to others' questions was the same. </span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;">...Eventually </span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;">the survivors of </span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;">the pro-answers faction dropped their 'party,' but are still focused on common sense</span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;">. </span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-80lcljl9VNk/TlzzB0raDFI/AAAAAAAAAt8/n8fP5GVMhco/s1600/esaimorales.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-80lcljl9VNk/TlzzB0raDFI/AAAAAAAAAt8/n8fP5GVMhco/s1600/esaimorales.jpg" /></a></span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;">A message from Esai Morales, William Mapother, Scott Bakula, Valerie Harper, George Coe and David Jolliffe said:</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>"Every day, SAG members from Hollywood are asking questions about merger. Our answer, 'Let's make sure a merger benefits all Screen Actor's Guild members.' The usual response from the ruling majority of the SAG board?: “We’ll deal with that once merger happens.” Is that answer good enough? We don’t think so. Therefore, we’ll demand that before you’re asked to vote on merger, SAG answer your questions about a merged union. For example:</i></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EHIxwV1OfhI/Tlvg2Rg8W-I/AAAAAAAAAt0/3xVY1uvAgY0/s1600/valerieharper-150x150.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EHIxwV1OfhI/Tlvg2Rg8W-I/AAAAAAAAAt0/3xVY1uvAgY0/s1600/valerieharper-150x150.jpg" /></a><span style="font-size: large;"><i>-Will the pension and health plans of the new union be as strong as SAG’s are now?</i></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>-Will the new union require its members to work ONLY union jobs (Global Rule 1) as SAG does now?</i></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>-Will actors have the majority vote regarding their own interests like SAG does now?</i></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>-Will the new union have requirements for membership as SAG does now? </i></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>-Will the facts, both PRO and CON, be included in the merger referendum sent to members for a vote?</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tQANfdCAUtw/Tl0Ay-umqsI/AAAAAAAAAuQ/tCTbnW1m-uY/s1600/SCOTT_A_024-150x150.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tQANfdCAUtw/Tl0Ay-umqsI/AAAAAAAAAuQ/tCTbnW1m-uY/s1600/SCOTT_A_024-150x150.jpg" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>... Creating a merger plan behind CLOSED doors with AFTRA is unacceptable... SAG members must know the whole truth about a merger plan before being asked to vote... Please vote for the following independent candidates to ensure all voices are heard and all questions are asked.</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VTj31FHa6IM/Tl0BGzWfPWI/AAAAAAAAAuU/TXWC2DseUF0/s1600/header_23.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="34" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VTj31FHa6IM/Tl0BGzWfPWI/AAAAAAAAAuU/TXWC2DseUF0/s320/header_23.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>Sincerely, <b>#3 William Mapother, #20 Scott Bakula, #26 Esai Morales, #27 Valerie Harper, #31 George Coe, #56 David Jolliffe</b>. We also ask for your vote for the additional independent candidates: <b>#6 Scott Pierce, #24 Pete Antico, #39 John Tremaine, #46 Mobin Khan, #48 Ron Ostrow.</b> <u>Ballots must be returned by September 20th</u>." </i></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-m1JvIEMzxGE/Tlz_ATjrBqI/AAAAAAAAAuI/99OklNhu8QM/s1600/SAGAFTRALOGOS.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-m1JvIEMzxGE/Tlz_ATjrBqI/AAAAAAAAAuI/99OklNhu8QM/s1600/SAGAFTRALOGOS.JPG" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;">I support those who pledge to get answers to the major questions on the SAG/AFTRA merger...BEFORE the merger! OK?</span><span style="font-size: large;"> For more info on these candidates, <b><a href="http://ru4sagmerger.com/">Click Here</a></b>!<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Thank you for reading my blog today. Please be kind to yourself and to others. Share your visions of peace and justice with the world. Strive always to leave each place you visit the better for your having been there! - TCK</span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>The Crystal News - <a href="http://thecrystalnews.blogspot.com/%20">http://thecrystalnews.blogspot.com/ </a><br />
T'Keyah Fights City Hall - <a href="http://tkeyahfightscityhall.blogspot.com/%20">http://tkeyahfightscityhall.blogspot.com/ </a><br />
Keymah Presents - <a href="http://keymahpresents.blogspot.com/%20">http://keymahpresents.blogspot.com/ </a><br />
<a href="http://www.tkeyah.com/" style="color: black;">www.tkeyah.com</a></b><b><a href="http://www.tkeyah.com/"> </a>- <a href="http://where%20crystal%20visions%20come%20to%20life%21%20/">Where Crystal visions come to life! </a></b></span></div><a href="http://www.twitter.com/tkeyahcrystal"><img src="http://twitter-badges.s3.amazonaws.com/t_logo-a.png" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/TKeyahCrystalKeymah" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="40" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4YYtBWQLY70/Th9p3iCdtBI/AAAAAAAAArk/jcVL5kwcYvU/s200/211033_19292868552_7506301_n.jpg" width="40" /></a></div></div>The Crystal Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09786076993693760953noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3196436987120809861.post-83889108543276908882011-08-07T11:25:00.000-07:002011-08-07T11:25:19.445-07:00End California's Death Penalty!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GQg5k77HmLM/Tj7N1xRLCNI/AAAAAAAAAtk/paWTqqMgHUk/s1600/electric-chair.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="163" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GQg5k77HmLM/Tj7N1xRLCNI/AAAAAAAAAtk/paWTqqMgHUk/s200/electric-chair.png" width="200" /></a></span><span style="font-size: large;">The death penalty debate elicits strong emotions on both sides. Surely something must be done in response to the violent actions of killers and the like. Many people like to believe that killing killers is a just punishment that deters others from walking similar paths. Although the death penalty clearly prevents those who suffer that fate from further terrorizing citizens at large, so does life in prison. </span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XfAb69DYZQ8/Tj7NzmFWa3I/AAAAAAAAAtg/c0BAheiC2dw/s1600/Death-Penalty.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XfAb69DYZQ8/Tj7NzmFWa3I/AAAAAAAAAtg/c0BAheiC2dw/s200/Death-Penalty.jpg" width="150" /></a></span><span style="font-size: large;">According to <a href="http://www.deathpenaltyinfo.org/facts-about-deterrence-and-death-penalty">Death Penalty Information Center</a>, not only is the death penalty not a deterrent, states that carry out the death penalty have higher murder rates than those who do not. To the question of 'just' punishment, </span><span style="font-size: large;">I've always thought that killing killers and the like only serves to fuel blood lust;</span><span style="font-size: large;"> I've always wondered if the administrators of the death penalty, the killers of killers, are judged for <i>their </i>actions by a higher court. Just or unjust, these killings certainly do not bring victims back from the dead, nor leave the criminal any chance of rehabilitation. I will acknowledge that there are psychopathic individuals who are beyond redemption, but maintain that they are a very small minority of those on death row. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yJC-iYgt2iM/Tj7M2jhC2JI/AAAAAAAAAtc/EPWBP7d3onA/s1600/03+-+Poster+of+death+penalty+victim.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yJC-iYgt2iM/Tj7M2jhC2JI/AAAAAAAAAtc/EPWBP7d3onA/s200/03+-+Poster+of+death+penalty+victim.jpg" width="137" /></a></span><span style="font-size: large;">There is also the matter of executing the innocent. <a href="http://www.amnestyusa.org/our-work/issues/death-penalty/us-death-penalty-facts/death-penalty-and-innocence?id=1101086">Amnesty International</a> reminds us that since 1973, 130 people have been released from death row after forensic evidence proved them innocent. Who knows how many innocent people were not so fortunate. Who knows how many still await a horribly unjust fate. As my readers know, I believe Troy Davis is such a person. I therefore feel that we should reconsider this practice of executing those member s of our society we wish to permanently throw away. In California, the discussion is on the table. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">The Care2 Petition site says:</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VtPWzu7jkAk/Tj7M0_AIuYI/AAAAAAAAAtY/BCvMEWeP0cQ/s1600/Death_Penalty_Logo_ol_12.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="198" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VtPWzu7jkAk/Tj7M0_AIuYI/AAAAAAAAAtY/BCvMEWeP0cQ/s200/Death_Penalty_Logo_ol_12.png" width="200" /></a></span><span style="font-size: large;"><i>"While California schools struggle to stay open and the job market dwindles, the state is spending $184 million annually on death penalty proceedings.<br />
<b>The death penalty has cost California $4 billion since its 1978 reinstatement. It is projected that it will cost the state $9 billion by 2030.</b> It takes an average of 25 years for execution to occur after an individual receives a death sentence. During that time, <b>inmates on death row usually pass away due to other causes.</b> Senate Bill 490 proposes that the death penalty be repealed in favor of life without parole--<b>a sentence 20 times less costly than a death sentence."</b></i><br />
<br />
If you would like to join me in urging the California legislature to support the passing of Senate Bill 490, <b><a href="http://www.care2.com/go/z/e/AgNmp/zl_Q/BnAo0"><u>Click Here</u></a>!</b></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Thank you for reading my blog today. Please be kind to yourself and to others. Share your visions of peace and justice with the world. Strive always to leave each place you visit the better for your having been there! - TCK</span></div><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: medium;"> </span><span style="font-size: medium;"><b> </b></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>The Crystal News - <a href="http://thecrystalnews.blogspot.com/%20">http://thecrystalnews.blogspot.com/ </a><br />
T'Keyah Fights City Hall - <a href="http://tkeyahfightscityhall.blogspot.com/%20">http://tkeyahfightscityhall.blogspot.com/ </a><br />
Keymah Presents - <a href="http://keymahpresents.blogspot.com/%20">http://keymahpresents.blogspot.com/ </a><br />
<a href="http://www.tkeyah.com/">www.tkeyah.com </a>- <a href="http://where%20crystal%20visions%20come%20to%20life%21%20/">Where Crystal visions come to life! </a></b></span></div><a href="http://www.twitter.com/tkeyahcrystal"><img src="http://twitter-badges.s3.amazonaws.com/t_logo-a.png" /></a><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/TKeyah-Crystal-Keym%C3%A1h/140170482724297?sk=info" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="40" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4YYtBWQLY70/Th9p3iCdtBI/AAAAAAAAArk/jcVL5kwcYvU/s200/211033_19292868552_7506301_n.jpg" width="40" /></a></div></div></div>The Crystal Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09786076993693760953noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3196436987120809861.post-28999788666935698662011-07-14T13:09:00.001-07:002011-07-14T15:18:32.954-07:00Stand with Jose Antonio Vergas on Immigration Talks!<style>
<!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:Times;
panose-1:2 0 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:auto;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;}
@font-face
{font-family:Cambria;
panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:auto;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{mso-style-parent:"";
margin-top:0in;
margin-right:0in;
margin-bottom:10.0pt;
margin-left:0in;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-fareast-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";}
a:link, span.MsoHyperlink
{color:blue;
text-decoration:underline;
text-underline:single;}
a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed
{mso-style-noshow:yes;
color:purple;
text-decoration:underline;
text-underline:single;}
p
{margin-top:0in;
margin-right:0in;
margin-bottom:10.0pt;
margin-left:0in;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Times;
mso-fareast-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-font-family:Times;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";}
@page Section1
{size:8.5in 11.0in;
margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in;
mso-header-margin:.5in;
mso-footer-margin:.5in;
mso-paper-source:0;}
div.Section1
{page:Section1;}
-->
</style> <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-35oQvRlidGY/Th9O4p71ZBI/AAAAAAAAArA/9-rEpCI3Nbs/s1600/USA+Flag.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-35oQvRlidGY/Th9O4p71ZBI/AAAAAAAAArA/9-rEpCI3Nbs/s200/USA+Flag.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">I am an American citizen because most of my ancestors were brought here by terrorizing force, because many were here before the terrorists came, and because some were the terrorists. Among my admittedly mixed feelings for my country, is a great pride for our Statue of Liberty. Despite the initial stripping of her African vestiges, she still represents the best aspect of this land – that potential for a decent life that is every immigrant and every citizen’s dream. </span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-p1zOq6bn1XE/Th9O1FydgWI/AAAAAAAAAq8/rx1A7LfNtWU/s1600/Lady+Liberty.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-p1zOq6bn1XE/Th9O1FydgWI/AAAAAAAAAq8/rx1A7LfNtWU/s200/Lady+Liberty.JPG" width="200" /></a></span><span style="font-size: large;">Certainly, there is not room enough to accommodate the world’s tired, poor and homeless, especially given the rate in which our foreign and domestic policies increase of those numbers. There should be, however, a serious discussion on the terrible disparity by which some of the world’s huddled masses are harbored on our shores and other’s are not. There should be a discussion of our adherence to laws that abolish basic decency, and our avoidance of all such laws whenever and for as long (and only as long) as they do not serve the benefactors of near slave labor. </span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-odgpO8SaKyo/Th9Xs8lwPvI/AAAAAAAAArg/Q_nimZrVSFI/s1600/Capsized3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-odgpO8SaKyo/Th9Xs8lwPvI/AAAAAAAAArg/Q_nimZrVSFI/s200/Capsized3.jpg" width="200" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;">I am an American citizen because I was born here. Nothing is asked of me and very little required in return for my citizenship. Yet every day, people who contribute greatly to this country, often under the horrific conditions, are tossed out like trash to make room for wealthier, whiter, and / or otherwise more acceptable inhabitants. There should be a discussion about what this country is and (putting greed, xenophobia and outright racism aside) what it could be. </span></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: left; float: right; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; margin-bottom: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-K1kDnbmv2wM/Th9QpcnfLNI/AAAAAAAAArE/PLBtFPydgbA/s1600/crosses+of+undocumented+workers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="141" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-K1kDnbmv2wM/Th9QpcnfLNI/AAAAAAAAArE/PLBtFPydgbA/s200/crosses+of+undocumented+workers.jpg" width="200" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/61016948@N00/60880877/">Photo: flickr/detritus</a></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist / undocumented immigrant <b>Jose Antonio Vargas</b> asked me and others thorough Change.org if I would stand with him on a new conversation on immigration. I said yes. </span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">He wrote: </span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>T<span style="color: #333333;">hree weeks ago, I published an exposé in the <i>New York Times</i>. It was my life story: I came to this country as a boy, learned English, embraced America, and thrived. But at age 16 I found out that I am an undocumented immigrant. And I have been hiding that fact ever since. </span></i><i><span style="color: #333333;">I left my job as a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and came out </span></i></span><span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="color: #333333;">about my immigration status because it's long past time to strike up a more civil, inclusive debate </span></i></span><span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="color: #333333;">about immigration in America. It was a risk, but I was tired of </span></i></span><span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="color: #333333;">staying silent</span></i></span><span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="color: #333333;">. More than 6,000 Change.org members from all over the country have joined me in calling for a new national conversation on</span></i></span><span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="color: #333333;"> immigration -</span></i></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><div style="margin: 0pt 0pt 6px;"><a href="http://www.change.org/petitions/stand-with-me-jose-antonio-vargas-for-a-new-conversation-about-immigration?utm_source=action_alert&utm_medium=email&alert_id=hWLKzDiLcI_eCUItqHAnL" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="embededLink"><img alt="" border="0" height="118" src="http://change-production.s3.amazonaws.com/photos/4/kj/lh/tXKjlhzlOipOPMm-180x118-cropped.jpg?1310439659&utm_source=action_alert&utm_medium=email&alert_id=hWLKzDiLcI_eCUItqHAnL" width="180" /></a><span style="font-size: large;"></span></div><a href="http://www.change.org/petitions/stand-with-me-jose-antonio-vargas-for-a-new-conversation-about-immigration?utm_source=action_alert&utm_medium=email&alert_id=hWLKzDiLcI_eCUItqHAnL" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="embededLink"><img alt="Sign the Petition" border="0" height="43" src="http://change-production.s3.amazonaws.com/assets/images/email/sign_petition-btn-175x43.gif?utm_source=action_alert&utm_medium=email&alert_id=hWLKzDiLcI_eCUItqHAnL" width="175" /></a><span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="color: #333333;"> </span></i></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="color: #333333;">- <b><a href="http://www.change.org/petitions/stand-with-me-jose-antonio-vargas-for-a-new-conversation-about-immigration?utm_source=action_alert&utm_medium=email&alert_id=hWLKzDiLcI_eCUItqHAnL">and I'm bringing all of their voices with me when I go on the Colbert Report on Thursday night. (July 15, 2011!)...</a></b></span></i></span><span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="color: #333333;"><b> </b></span></i></span><span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="color: #333333;">We may not all agree on how to fix it, but one thing we can all agree on is that our immigration debate is out of control and our immigration system is badly broken. I believe not only that we can do better but that we must....</span></i><i><b><span style="color: #333333;"><a href="http://www.change.org/petitions/stand-with-me-jose-antonio-vargas-for-a-new-conversation-about-immigration?utm_source=action_alert&utm_medium=email&utm_source=action_alert&utm_medium=email&utm_source=action_alert&utm_medium=email&alert_id=hWLKzDiLcI_eCUItqHAnL"> </a></span></b></i></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PbZ-jew9GEE/Th9UWrqxzrI/AAAAAAAAArY/jkthhMXp08E/s1600/ship+immigrants.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PbZ-jew9GEE/Th9UWrqxzrI/AAAAAAAAArY/jkthhMXp08E/s200/ship+immigrants.JPG" width="200" /></a><span style="font-size: large;"></span><span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="color: #333333;">Some would say my story is the tale of a hard-working immigrant who defines the American dream: achieving success against great odds, working hard, and even earning a Pulitzer Prize for my reporting. Still, despite everything I've achieved, the law still says I am not technically an American. I am undocumented.</span></i><i><span style="color: #333333;"> I want to ask my fellow Americans: <b>What would you do if you found out at age 16 that you didn't have the right papers? </b>As a journalist, my job is to ask questions that spark conversation. Now I am asking you to join in that conversation. </span></i></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"> If you would like to join me in standing with </span><span style="font-size: large;">Jose Antonio Vargas</span><span style="font-size: large;">, <b><u>Click Here</u>!</b></span></div><div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;">Thank you for reading my blog today. Please be kind to yourself and to others. Share your visions of peace and justice with the world. Strive always to leave each place you visit the better for your having been there! - TCK</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;"><b> </b></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>The Crystal News - <a href="http://thecrystalnews.blogspot.com/%20">http://thecrystalnews.blogspot.com/ </a><br />
T'Keyah Fights City Hall - <a href="http://tkeyahfightscityhall.blogspot.com/%20">http://tkeyahfightscityhall.blogspot.com/ </a><br />
Keymah Presents - <a href="http://keymahpresents.blogspot.com/%20">http://keymahpresents.blogspot.com/ </a><br />
<a href="http://www.tkeyah.com/">www.tkeyah.com </a>- <a href="http://where%20crystal%20visions%20come%20to%20life%21%20/">Where Crystal visions come to life! </a></b></span></div><a href="http://www.twitter.com/tkeyahcrystal"><img src="http://twitter-badges.s3.amazonaws.com/t_logo-a.png" /></a><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/TKeyah-Crystal-Keym%C3%A1h/140170482724297?sk=info" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="40" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4YYtBWQLY70/Th9p3iCdtBI/AAAAAAAAArk/jcVL5kwcYvU/s200/211033_19292868552_7506301_n.jpg" width="40" /></a></div><br />
</div>The Crystal Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09786076993693760953noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3196436987120809861.post-14622686783591770532011-07-09T12:44:00.000-07:002011-07-14T23:00:48.677-07:00Happy Birthday South Sudan!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tZJ3Avbsb_Q/ThjwgryEvaI/AAAAAAAAAqA/zL2krJVvOFw/s1600/Darfur+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="308" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tZJ3Avbsb_Q/ThjwgryEvaI/AAAAAAAAAqA/zL2krJVvOFw/s320/Darfur+1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">July 9, 2011 marks South Sudan's becoming the world's newest nation. If you regularly follow this blog, you know that I think that much hanky panky went into the the coming of the monumental event. Some may think that this signals an end to the horrific violence in Darfur and the time to turn our attention elsewhere. Unfortunately, this is not the case. So on the official birth of the <b>Republic of South Sudan</b>, I respectfully salute the hundreds of thousands of lives lost and shattered in this conflict and I pray that despite all appearances to the contrary, the survivors will be able to live peaceful, self-governed lives. As <b><a href="http://www.savedarfur.org/">Save Darfur Coalition</a></b> reminds us to do, I will remain abreast of the goings on in the Sudan (North and South), so that those who may wish to continue to harm others, and those who may still be in harm's way, know that people who care are still watching. </div><br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-U5SyiS4fF8A/Thjw4nZUW7I/AAAAAAAAAqI/k1wRHzDFkBI/s1600/logo.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-U5SyiS4fF8A/Thjw4nZUW7I/AAAAAAAAAqI/k1wRHzDFkBI/s1600/logo.gif" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Save Save Darfur Coalition provides up to date news about the impoverished, yet oil rich country of Republic of South Sudan and the ongoing conflict there. To learn more </span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: medium;"><b><a href="http://www.savedarfur.org/">Click Here!</a></b></span></div><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; line-height: 115%; margin: 0.1pt 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Thank you for reading my blog today. Please be kind to yourself and to others. Share your visions of peace and justice with the world. Strive always to leave each place you visit the better for your having been there! - TCK</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin: 0.1pt 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin: 0.1pt 0in;"><div style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #351c75;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">The Crystal News</span></b><span style="font-size: large;"> -<b> </b>http://thecrystalnews.blogspot.com/<b> </b></span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"><b>T'Keyah Fights City Hall</b> -<b> </b>http://tkeyahfightscityhall.blogspot.com/<b> </b></span> </span></span></div><div style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #351c75;"><b>Keymah Presents</b> - http://keymahpresents.blogspot.com/<b> </b></span></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #351c75;"><b>www.tkeyah.com -</b> Where Crystal visions come to life! </span></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
<a href="http://www.twitter.com/tkeyahcrystal"><img src="http://twitter-badges.s3.amazonaws.com/t_logo-a.png" /></a><span style="color: #351c75; font-size: x-small;"> </span></div></div>The Crystal Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09786076993693760953noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3196436987120809861.post-47605649912078631442011-05-24T00:19:00.000-07:002011-05-24T08:02:32.467-07:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Q9nj-ynkI60/TdvHYF9sWTI/AAAAAAAAAn8/arWEdaXeXaM/s1600/Coal.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Q9nj-ynkI60/TdvHYF9sWTI/AAAAAAAAAn8/arWEdaXeXaM/s320/Coal.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">As we learn more and more about the dangers of nonrenewable energy, corporations that produce and profit from it are fighting harder and harder to keep their dirty, dangerous, depleting, systems in place. By inventing the ridiculous notion of 'clean coal,' the coal industry and it's supporters are counting on us forgetting that: The extraction of coal and the pits left in its wake harms wildlife and destroys miles and miles of our countries scenic wonders; and The use of coal produces carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide, and small airborne particles of coal causing chronic bronchitis and asthma in the residents that live close or downwind from a power plant. Greenpeace shares the following: </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><table align="right" border="0" height="182" style="margin-left: 10px; width: 225px;"><tbody>
<tr> <td style="background-color: #e2ebd8; border: 1px solid #cccccc; padding: 10px; text-align: center;" valign="top"><div style="text-align: left;">It’s time to quit coal. Tell Edison International CEO Ted Craver to shut down Chicago’s Fisk and Crawford coal-fired power plants.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
<a href="http://us.greenpeace.org/site/R?i=e1CA6uV1T7QH9wnyrVuxsA.." target="embededLink"><img alt="Take Action" border="0" height="31" src="http://us.greenpeace.org/images/content/pagebuilder/23781.jpg" width="169" /></a> </div></td> </tr>
</tbody> </table><i><b>Community activists in Chicago are fighting for their lives right now against Edison International</b> -- the giant utility company that owns the city’s two coal-fired power plants. Pollution from the Fisk and Crawford plants prematurely kills 42 people every year. That human cost is paid entirely by the communities who live in the shadows of these two aging plants. You won’t find it on Edison International’s bottom-line. <br />
<br />
</i><br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gvgqyZ7rXD0/TdvEz03lUSI/AAAAAAAAAn4/7oEyCwYJOkY/s1600/Greenpeace+Chicagoans+fight+coal.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gvgqyZ7rXD0/TdvEz03lUSI/AAAAAAAAAn4/7oEyCwYJOkY/s320/Greenpeace+Chicagoans+fight+coal.jpg" width="320" /></a><i>But Chicagoans are fighting back. And Greenpeace is supporting them. <b>That’s why </b></i>Kelly Mitchell Greenpeace, Coal Campaigner, is <i><b> on the smokestack at the Fisk power plant today <a href="http://us.greenpeace.org/site/R?i=UamCv2Uzk-QmaCjUu6ODKw.." target="embededLink">taking action</a> with other Greenpeace activists.</b> We’re sending a simple message to Edison International: Shut down these plants and quit coal. The corporate bottom-line for Edison International says that they can’t make money on these plants if they can’t poison the local community for free. Simple as that. It’s why they’re fighting city efforts to reduce toxic pollution and it’s why they really can’t afford the bad publicity right now. Which is why it’s so important you speak out.<br />
<br />
<span id="goog_2066929877"></span><span id="goog_2066929878"></span> </i><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iFmve8uOQDQ/TdvHxjjOx2I/AAAAAAAAAoA/8nDLDBbKDfI/s1600/Coal+Ash.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iFmve8uOQDQ/TdvHxjjOx2I/AAAAAAAAAoA/8nDLDBbKDfI/s1600/Coal+Ash.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Coal Ash</td></tr>
</tbody></table><i>What’s happening in Chicago isn’t unique. It plays out again and again every day in communities just like yours from Texas to Colorado to Pennsylvania. In fact, coal is costing Americans up to an extra <i><b>HALF A TRILLION DOLLARS</b></i> every year. Meanwhile, companies like Edison International are making a killing. Edison International can make this change. They’ve already done it in California where their local subsidiary has become the largest purchaser of renewable energy among American utility companies and has plans to phase out ALL coal power by 2016. <br />
<br />
<span id="goog_2066929886"></span><span id="goog_2066929887"></span> </i><br />
<i>Chicago deserves the same. Every community affected by a dirty coal-fired power plant deserves the same. That's why Greenpeace is working and will continue working with communities across the country to make sure that coal companies like Edison International are no longer allowed to poison people for profit.</i><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>To send a message to Edison International CEO Ted Craver right now, <a href="http://us.greenpeace.org/site/R?i=jlawcY3MzOZvNUJ9BpH4vA..">Click Here!</a></b></span><br />
<b><br />
</b><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; line-height: 115%; margin: 0.1pt 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Thank you for reading my blog today. Please be kind to yourself and to others. Share your visions of peace and justice with the world. Strive always to leave each place you visit the better for your having been there! - TCK</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin: 0.1pt 0in;"><br />
</div><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> <br />
<a href="http://www.twitter.com/tkeyahcrystal"><img src="http://twitter-badges.s3.amazonaws.com/t_logo-a.png" /></a></span> </div>The Crystal Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09786076993693760953noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3196436987120809861.post-45586659893354987672011-05-09T03:46:00.000-07:002011-05-10T18:21:50.074-07:00Show Your Support for Women and Working Families!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nCCXfB3ZBpE/TcfwkXowYgI/AAAAAAAAAm8/yNngOBwybb0/s1600/We+Build+Pose+10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="532" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nCCXfB3ZBpE/TcfwkXowYgI/AAAAAAAAAm8/yNngOBwybb0/s640/We+Build+Pose+10.jpg" width="640" /></a><span style="font-size: large;"><b style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span id="goog_1789743982"></span><span id="goog_1789743983"></span><span id="goog_1789744008"></span><span id="goog_1789744009"></span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2011/05/09/habitat-for-humanity-helping-women-and-families-build-new-lives/">Habitat For Humanity Helping Women And Families Build New Lives « CBS Los Angeles</a><span style="font-size: large;"><b style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DRM-yjf7DBE/Tcf5T1SqIjI/AAAAAAAAAnk/87KJv8Ao2IE/s1600/at+the+Bookcase+smaller+cropped.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DRM-yjf7DBE/Tcf5T1SqIjI/AAAAAAAAAnk/87KJv8Ao2IE/s320/at+the+Bookcase+smaller+cropped.jpg" width="256" /></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><b style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Please support The Habitat for Humanity SF/SCV WE Build, this Saturday, May 14 </b><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">and<b> this Sunday, May 15, 2011! T'Keyah Crystal Keymáh </b>(Cosby / In Living Color / That’s So Raven),<b> </b>Chairperson<b>, Arianne Zucker </b>(Days of Our Lives) Habitat Ambassador. </span></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QqwHrZ_Wp0o/TcfyqKh0x8I/AAAAAAAAAnQ/-k1dH6h8rmw/s1600/ArianneZucker-REV-3x4-W.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QqwHrZ_Wp0o/TcfyqKh0x8I/AAAAAAAAAnQ/-k1dH6h8rmw/s1600/ArianneZucker-REV-3x4-W.jpg" /></a>Other celebrity participants include <b>Anneliese van der Pol</b> (That's So Raven / Vampires Suck), <b>Dawnn Lewis</b> (A Different World / Hangin' with Mr. Cooper), <b>Margaret Laurena Kemp</b> (Children of God) <b>Alison Arngrim</b> (Little of on the Prairie) and many stars from CBS and NBC daytime dramas <b>'The Bold and the Beautiful,' 'Guiding Light</b>,' and <b>'The Young and the Restless</b>.'</span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Ht-P5QzS3rA/Tcf8Yv7C_KI/AAAAAAAAAno/2Yq-IwUocfw/s1600/Daytime+drama+stars.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="220" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Ht-P5QzS3rA/Tcf8Yv7C_KI/AAAAAAAAAno/2Yq-IwUocfw/s640/Daytime+drama+stars.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tamara Braun, Hunter Tylo and Kimberly Matula</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-size: large;"><b style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"></b></span> <br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XwySerVPKgg/TcfxQLRgQ0I/AAAAAAAAAnA/TwSdfMTnrNY/s1600/Margaret+Laurena+Kemp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XwySerVPKgg/TcfxQLRgQ0I/AAAAAAAAAnA/TwSdfMTnrNY/s320/Margaret+Laurena+Kemp.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Margaret Laurena Kemp</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Women and Girls, Ages 16+ (and empowered men), come join us for an amazing day of advocacy and building homes for hard-working families in our communities. Minimum <u>suggested</u> donation is $40.00 (includes T-shirt, hard hat and lunch) but you can set any fundraising target. Ask your friends and family to sponsor you for this exciting day. <u>First register</u> and then join us on Saturday May 14 and / or Sunday, May 15, 2011 from 9 am to 3 pm at 12600 Carl Street, Pacoima, CA 91331. </span></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-owLKJD0SJLc/TcfxSyBI4dI/AAAAAAAAAnE/29XZ0Dj5nLE/s1600/Anneliese-Van-Der-Pol-Biography-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-owLKJD0SJLc/TcfxSyBI4dI/AAAAAAAAAnE/29XZ0Dj5nLE/s320/Anneliese-Van-Der-Pol-Biography-1.jpg" width="210" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Anneliese van der Pol</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Wear comfortable work pants like jeans or overalls and flat work shoes. During this build, we will be plastering, painting and building a playground. Professional contractors will be present to guide you so, <u>No Experience is Needed!</u></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5zzp2cl3n44/TcfyRMkzdCI/AAAAAAAAAnM/2hWZ9tnJ8EU/s1600/Dawnn-Lewis.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5zzp2cl3n44/TcfyRMkzdCI/AAAAAAAAAnM/2hWZ9tnJ8EU/s1600/Dawnn-Lewis.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dawnn Lewis</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>To Join "Team T'Keyah" (and we'd love to have you join), Go to: <a href="http://humanityca.org/events/event.php?event_id=28&team_id=85&view=team_details">http://humanityca.org/events/event.php?event_id=28&team_id=85&view=team_details</a> Click “Join Team.” </b>Enter your information including which day(s) you want to participate and your individual fundraising goal. <b></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>To Sponsor Team T'Keyah (for as little as $5!), Go to:</b><b> <a href="https://humanityca.org/events/event.php?event_id=28&team_id=85&view=team_details">https://humanityca.org/events/event.php?event_id=28&team_id=85&view=team_details</a> </b>Scroll down and select the name of the team member you wish to sponsor, click “<b>Sponsor Participant,</b>” then complete the donation details for your secure sponsorship. </span></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0sJq07yMSKo/TcfxrFbB1JI/AAAAAAAAAnI/CJ_HPXQ8_Ro/s1600/alison200.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0sJq07yMSKo/TcfxrFbB1JI/AAAAAAAAAnI/CJ_HPXQ8_Ro/s1600/alison200.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Alison Arngrim</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">All gifts are welcome and appreciated! If you don’t have a specific team member in mind, feel free to sponsor T'Keyah.</span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>To Sponsor T'Keyah directly (for as little as $5!), Go to:</b></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><a href="http://tiny.cc/ibhyj">http://tiny.cc/ibhyj</a></b> then complete the donation details for your secure sponsorship. Gifts to any member increase the team total and, of course, increase the total for the build. The more funds we raise overall, the more affordable homes Habit for Humanity can build! Thank you!</span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>To Create a team of your own, Go to:</b><b> </b><a href="http://humanityca.org/events/event.php?event_id=28&view=team">http://humanityca.org/events/event.php?event_id=28&view=team</a><b> </b>Complete your team information and fundraising goal. This creates your team page. Then send your team members to your team page and have them register and set fund raising goals of their own.</span></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--G5azB-UfZ4/TcfwgkEoqbI/AAAAAAAAAm0/OlmMZFwYups/s1600/PWPT.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--G5azB-UfZ4/TcfwgkEoqbI/AAAAAAAAAm0/OlmMZFwYups/s320/PWPT.jpg" width="214" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lewis in action!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; line-height: 115%; margin: 0.1pt 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">This build completes the building of the Pacoima Habitat for Humanity SC/SC's pioneering Enriched Neighborhoods. Services for the Enriched Neighbor project include health and nutrition training, dental hygiene, teen empowerment, tutoring, and ESL classes, to name a few of the innovative offerings this affiliate puts together. In Pacoima, only 43% of high school students graduate, but in Habitat’s Enriched Neighborhood, every child has graduated high school and 92% of them are attending or have graduated from college or trade school. The program works, but we need your support to continue growing. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; line-height: 115%; margin: 0.1pt 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-I-H08NCeHPc/TcfwS7wFdUI/AAAAAAAAAmw/hIRe8PrO1mw/s1600/We-Build+image.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-I-H08NCeHPc/TcfwS7wFdUI/AAAAAAAAAmw/hIRe8PrO1mw/s1600/We-Build+image.jpg" /></a> </span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>For more information about the build, Go to:</b></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> <a href="http://humanityca.org/our-events/events/140-we-build">http://humanityca.org/our-events/events/140-we-build</a></span> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; line-height: 115%; margin: 0.1pt 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; line-height: 115%; margin: 0.1pt 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Habitat for Humanity SC/SCV <a href="mailto:info@humanityca.org"><span style="color: black;">info@humanityca.org</span></a> | (818) 884-8808</span></span><span style="font-size: small;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><b><a href="http://tiny.cc/jqms2">Check out my interview with LaFern Cusack! </a></b></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; line-height: 115%; margin: 0.1pt 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; line-height: 115%; margin: 0.1pt 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Thank you for reading my blog today. Please be kind to yourself and to others. Share your visions of peace and justice with the world. Strive always to leave each place you visit the better for your having been there! - TCK</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin: 0.1pt 0in;"><br />
</div><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"> <br />
<a href="http://www.twitter.com/tkeyahcrystal"><img src="http://twitter-badges.s3.amazonaws.com/t_logo-a.png" /></a></span> <br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin: 0.1pt 0in;"><br />
</div></div>The Crystal Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09786076993693760953noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3196436987120809861.post-27563988083916976992011-04-30T00:00:00.000-07:002011-04-30T00:00:06.544-07:00I Am Troy Davis! ... Are You?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-m8pKjm-Urrg/TbgsWBSDf9I/AAAAAAAAAlA/Emmmm5PFkGg/s1600/I+am+Troy+smaller.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-m8pKjm-Urrg/TbgsWBSDf9I/AAAAAAAAAlA/Emmmm5PFkGg/s200/I+am+Troy+smaller.jpg" width="182" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;"> </span></div><span style="font-family: Arial,Verdana,sans-serif; margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; margin: 1em 0px;"><div style="margin: 1em 0px;"><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">People often ask me who Troy Davis is, if I know him and why I am wearing a shirt that says I am him. Now that Mr. Davis again in imminent threat of a wrongful death, I will answer those questions. Troy Davis is a Black man born and raised in Savannah, GA. There was nothing spectacularly interesting about his life from his birth until August of 1989. The son of a hospital worker and a veteran, Davis was neither a hoodlum nor a saint. </span><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><br />
<a href="http://www.kintera.org/AccountTempFiles/account11681/images/troy150x.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Take Action On This Issue" border="0" class="ad_Item" id="ctl00_ctl00_aidActionDetail_imgActionImage" src="http://www.kintera.org/AccountTempFiles/account11681/images/troy150x.jpg" style="border-width: 0px;" /></a><span style="font-size: small;">He struggled through school, helped younger people in his neighborhood, but likable, but had trouble on his job as manufacturing plant drill technician. In August of 1989, based on the testimony of nine witnesses and despite his constant claims of innocence, Troy Davis was convicted of White police officer Mark MacPhail's murder and for shooting person, Micheal Cooper. MacPhail apparently was killed when trying to stop the assault of a homeless man. Cooper was shot in an earlier incident. No forensic evidence linked Davis to the crimes. </span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FeAHMxf33ew/Tbgr3rlaTfI/AAAAAAAAAko/H__aedoQ9BA/s1600/Keane-drummer-Richard-Hughes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="120" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FeAHMxf33ew/Tbgr3rlaTfI/AAAAAAAAAko/H__aedoQ9BA/s200/Keane-drummer-Richard-Hughes.jpg" width="200" /></a>Since Troy Davis' conviction, seven of those nine witnesses recanted their testimony, saying it was coerced. The eighth witness had testified that Davis confessed to MacPhail' murder so police wouldn't connect him to Cooper's shooting. In addition to that not making sense, Cooper denied having been shot by Davis. The ninth witness, Redd Coles, who first reported Davis to the police, admitted in court to fighting with the homeless man that night. Many witnesses say Coles also confessed (after the fact) to the murdering MacPhail himself...</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9IzxRxKSsBo/TbgroiE81yI/AAAAAAAAAkc/pI1NvEFRad8/s1600/AAAAC12_C7cAAAAAAURtxw.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9IzxRxKSsBo/TbgroiE81yI/AAAAAAAAAkc/pI1NvEFRad8/s200/AAAAC12_C7cAAAAAAURtxw.jpg" width="148" /></a> I have never met Troy Davis. What I know of him and his story, I've gathered from social action letters sent to me and from the internet. The logo for this blog is of me wearing a shirt that says, "<a href="http://shop.amnestyusa.org/Troy-Davis-TShirt-Unisex/M/B002CFNJLI.htm">I am Troy Davis</a>" because l know I could be. I know I could be at the wrong place at the wrong time hanging out with the wrong people and end up on death row. </span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lxBfzVpfPcc/Tbgrkwm7yoI/AAAAAAAAAkU/67PUGqI6x2I/s1600/6a00d8341c0dc653ef0115715308ef970c-320wi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lxBfzVpfPcc/Tbgrkwm7yoI/AAAAAAAAAkU/67PUGqI6x2I/s200/6a00d8341c0dc653ef0115715308ef970c-320wi.jpg" width="130" /></a>Our justice system is supposed to have checks and balances that prevent innocent people from going to prison and from being killed (murdered) because of a wrongful conviction. I am wearing that shirt because I pray that should circumstances ever find me in an incomprehensibly unjust situation, people who know me and people who don't would gather in a tireless fight for my freedom. <b>Join <a href="http://act.colorofchange.org/sign/troy/">Color of Change</a>, <a href="http://takeaction.amnestyusa.org/c.jhKPIXPCIoE/b.6068385/k.69BE/Action_Center_Marketing/siteapps/advocacy/ActionItem.aspx?c=jhKPIXPCIoE&b=6068385&aid=12970&msource=WPSGTL2970&cid=psgtl2970">Amnesty International</a>, <a href="http://www.naacp.org/campaign/davis?utm_medium=email&utm_source=NAACP&utm_campaign=20110420TroyDavis&source=20110420TroyDavis">the NAACP</a> , </b><i>Harry Belafonte</i>, Pope Benedict XVI, <b>and me in helping to see that justice prevails for both Troy Davis and for Officer Mark MacPhail. </b></span></div><br />
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">The NAACP says:</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-I4GOs-KfxLc/TbgsFTtD47I/AAAAAAAAAk4/_wm1WEit6tg/s1600/Amsterdam.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-I4GOs-KfxLc/TbgsFTtD47I/AAAAAAAAAk4/_wm1WEit6tg/s200/Amsterdam.jpg" width="150" /></a><i>"<i>Innocent until proven guilty.</i></i><i><br />
<br />
These four words helped establish our criminal justice system. But in a nation that prides itself on our belief in liberty and justice for all, why is Troy Davis -- with an overwhelming body of evidence pointing to his innocence -- facing execution?</i></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZuF3jXbLCag/Tbgrmre7lZI/AAAAAAAAAkY/dbWydWT8WiY/s1600/016.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZuF3jXbLCag/Tbgrmre7lZI/AAAAAAAAAkY/dbWydWT8WiY/s200/016.JPG" width="200" /></a><span style="font-size: small;"><i><br />
Twenty years ago, Troy Davis was convicted of murdering a white police officer. </i><i>Since then, seven of the nine witnesses recanted their statements, new witnesses have come forward identifying another man as the murderer, and the alleged murder weapon has still not been found.<br />
</i></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DIZFF1_cHhM/TbgsJnnVT8I/AAAAAAAAAk8/oJ_7Wv2RlT8/s1600/hank_troy.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DIZFF1_cHhM/TbgsJnnVT8I/AAAAAAAAAk8/oJ_7Wv2RlT8/s200/hank_troy.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Despite these new developments, the state of Georgia is putting Davis on track to be executed -- perhaps as early as next month.<br />
</i></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Verdana,sans-serif; margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; margin: 1em 0px;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><i> You can help save Troy Davis' life today by standing up, adding your voice to our "name wall" and asking the Georgia Parole Board to commute his sentence:</i>"</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><a href="http://action.naacp.org/page/m/474a3736/799d37ae/7f264f0f/2f61526f/253029831/VEsC/" target="embededLink">http://action.naacp.org/Save-Troy-Davis</a></b></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Amnesty International says: </b></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><img alt="spacer" border="0" height="1" src="http://takeaction.amnestyusa.org/atf/cf/%7B74BA1956-0C57-4B8E-9D15-D6AB8CE64CF1%7D/spacer.gif" width="20" /></span> </div><h1 id="action_title" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>"Oppose the Death Penalty for Troy Davis</i></span></h1><div class="ad_Item" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-x0-ifAaG0JI/Tbgr0fX9_tI/AAAAAAAAAkk/haWaGdpNgMM/s1600/Netherlands.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-x0-ifAaG0JI/Tbgr0fX9_tI/AAAAAAAAAkk/haWaGdpNgMM/s200/Netherlands.jpg" width="200" /></a><i>Troy Davis has faced execution three times for a crime he may not have committed. In an unprecedented evidentiary hearing held in a federal district court in Savannah, Georgia in June, 2010, he was able to present evidence supporting his innocence claim. However, the standard for proving his innocence was “extraordinarily high”, especially given the lack of physical and scientific evidence in his case. </i></span></div><div class="ad_Item" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FtCZ1Hmjv3A/Tbgr-KCuy8I/AAAAAAAAAks/3X4rG3eHJ84/s1600/Troy+Davis.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FtCZ1Hmjv3A/Tbgr-KCuy8I/AAAAAAAAAks/3X4rG3eHJ84/s200/Troy+Davis.jpg" width="184" /></a><i>The federal judge ruled that he did not meet the high standard, despite the fact that doubts about his guilt remain unresolved. While this ruling may be appealed, it is more important than ever that we continue to let Georgia authorities know that we oppose any effort to execute Troy Davis. Sign the petition today!"</i></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.amnestyusa.org/death-penalty/troy-davis-finality-over-fairness/page.do?id=1011343"><b>http://www.amnestyusa.org/death-penalty/troy-davis-finality-over-fairness/page.do?id=1011343 </b></a></span> </div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Color of change says: </b></span></div></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-guudWxUuA6s/TbgsA_YiDgI/AAAAAAAAAkw/v9TbD3_0IMo/s1600/Troy+Davis+images.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="177" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-guudWxUuA6s/TbgsA_YiDgI/AAAAAAAAAkw/v9TbD3_0IMo/s200/Troy+Davis+images.jpg" width="200" /></a><i><b>"Georgia may be about to kill an innocent man.</b> That's not justice. Please ask the Georgia Parole Board to spare Troy Davis' life, before it's too late -- and it's critical that you ask others to do the same: </i></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><a href="http://act.colorofchange.org/go/807?akid=1957.911222.vabtpe&t=3" target="embededLink">http://act.colorofchange.org/sign/troy/</a></i></span> </div></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><i style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="margin: 1em 0px;">...the Supreme Cour</span></span>t granted Davis another chance. But instead of an actual new trial before a jury, which would mean the burden of proof beyond a</i><i style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> reasonable doubt is on the prosecutor, he got an evidentiary hearing before a single federal judge where Davis' lawyers had the burden to meet an impossibly high and undefined legal standard. <span style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="margin: 1em 0px;"><div style="margin: 1em 0px;">In light of this, it was sad -- but no surprise -- when the judge rejected the new evidence and cleared the way for <span style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="margin: 1em 0px;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gLU1ql9-VEM/Tbgrttp8dlI/AAAAAAAAAkg/ZqtvYh2ZZRE/s1600/IMG00086.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="118" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gLU1ql9-VEM/Tbgrttp8dlI/AAAAAAAAAkg/ZqtvYh2ZZRE/s200/IMG00086.jpg" width="200" /></a></span></span>Davis' execution. However, even he acknowledged lingering doubt, noting that the case against Davis was not "ironclad." </div><div style="margin: 1em 0px;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sRCVxoL4vZw/TbgsDMXSxQI/AAAAAAAAAk0/l7uGW2FGXaA/s1600/zevenar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sRCVxoL4vZw/TbgsDMXSxQI/AAAAAAAAAk0/l7uGW2FGXaA/s200/zevenar.jpg" width="150" /></a>But "ironclad" is exactly what the evidence should be in order to put someone to death. If the Georgia Board of Pardons and Parole doesn't act to stop Davis' execution, they'll run a serious risk of putting an innocent man to death. That is not acceptable. </div></span></span></i></span><span style="font-size: small;"><i style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Please join us, along with our partners at Amnesty International and the NAACP, in asking the Georgia Board of Pardons and Parole to save Troy Davis' life by commuting his sentence to life in prison. And when you do, please ask your friends and family to do the same" </i></span> <br />
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://act.colorofchange.org/go/807?akid=1957.911222.vabtpe&t=4">http://act.colorofchange.org/sign/troy/</a></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-m8pKjm-Urrg/TbgsWBSDf9I/AAAAAAAAAlA/Emmmm5PFkGg/s1600/I+am+Troy+smaller.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-m8pKjm-Urrg/TbgsWBSDf9I/AAAAAAAAAlA/Emmmm5PFkGg/s200/I+am+Troy+smaller.jpg" width="182" /></a><span style="font-size: small;">If you believe in justice, if you believe in freedom, if you would not want what is happening to </span><span style="font-size: small;">you to happen to you, if like me, you are troy Davis, <b>Please Click one of these Links!</b></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small; margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="margin: 1em 0px;"><b><a href="http://action.naacp.org/page/m/474a3736/799d37ae/7f264f0f/2f61526f/253029831/VEsC/" target="embededLink">http://action.naacp.org/Save-Troy-Davis</a></b></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><b> </b></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="margin: 1em 0px;"><a href="http://www.amnestyusa.org/death-penalty/troy-davis-finality-over-fairness/page.do?id=1011343"><b>http://www.amnestyusa.org/death-penalty/troy-davis-finality-over-fairness/page.do?id=1011343 </b></a></span></span></b><b> </b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://act.colorofchange.org/go/807?akid=1957.911222.vabtpe&t=4" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">http://act.colorofchange.org/sign/troy/</a></span><b> </b></div><br />
Thank you for reading my blog today. Please be kind to yourself and to others. Share your visions of peace and justice with the world. Strive always to leave each place you visit the better for your having been there! - TCK<br />
<a href="http://www.twitter.com/tkeyahcrystal"><img src="http://twitter-badges.s3.amazonaws.com/t_logo-a.png" /></a></div>The Crystal Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09786076993693760953noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3196436987120809861.post-68519475984590466002011-04-22T06:50:00.001-07:002011-04-26T03:45:00.310-07:00Celebrate Earth Day in Your Own Green Way!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hYQ1w6QWcoQ/TbGZ6gRvfzI/AAAAAAAAAj4/kX3EC7xSHHg/s1600/Earth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hYQ1w6QWcoQ/TbGZ6gRvfzI/AAAAAAAAAj4/kX3EC7xSHHg/s200/Earth.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;"><b>In celebration of <a href="http://www.earthday.org/earth-day-2011">Earth Day</a>...</b> I researched <a href="http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-make-a-rain-barrel-1/" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">making a rain barrel</a><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;">(once I couldn't find where to get one for free)</span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;">, <a href="http://www.calrecycle.ca.gov/Organics/HomeCompost/Bins/Resources.htm">composting</a>, <a href="http://www.wikihow.com/Grow-a-Window-Sill-Garden">planting a garden in a small space</a>, <a href="http://www.wateruseitwisely.com/100-ways-to-conserve/index.php">tips on water conservation</a>, <a href="http://eartheasy.com/live_recycling.htm">tips on recycling at home</a>, <a href="http://earth911.com/recycling/paper/paper-recycling-at-school/">tips on recycling at school</a>, <a href="http://sierraclub.typepad.com/greenlife/2007/03/10_ways_to_go_g.html">tips on recycling at work</a>, and <a href="http://www.earthday.org/earth-day-2011">Earth Day projects and events around the world</a>. </span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KwD7t4WnEz8/TbGXgYizBqI/AAAAAAAAAjs/jqHDEEg7c38/s1600/j0178460.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KwD7t4WnEz8/TbGXgYizBqI/AAAAAAAAAjs/jqHDEEg7c38/s200/j0178460.jpg" width="200" /></a></span><span style="font-size: large;">In celebration of Earth Day, I will <a href="http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact">write a letter to <b>President Obama</b></a> asking him to do something to <a href="http://www.cleanoceanaction.org/index.php?id=420">stop offshore drilling</a>, <a href="http://www.greenpeace.org/international/en/campaigns/nuclear/">stop nuclear power plants</a>, <a href="http://www.stopglobalwarming.org/">stop global warming</a>. I will also thank him for the wonderful promise he made last fall, to <a href="http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2010/10/29/solar-panels-white-house-and-desert-36-billion-gallons-biofuels-and-cleaner-trucks">put solar panels back on the White House this spring</a>, and ask him </span><span style="font-size: large;">to follow through now on that promise</span><span style="font-size: large;">! </span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QPkDYxtp5Uw/TbGY5BhJUxI/AAAAAAAAAjw/_Dpj6w3rSYg/s1600/white-house-organic-garden-lawn-photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="115" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QPkDYxtp5Uw/TbGY5BhJUxI/AAAAAAAAAjw/_Dpj6w3rSYg/s200/white-house-organic-garden-lawn-photo.jpg" width="200" /></a></span><span style="font-size: large;">In celebration of Earth Day, I</span><span style="font-size: large;"> will send a card to <b>First Lady Michelle Obama</b>, (1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW</span><span style="font-size: large;">, Washington, D.C. 20500), </span><span style="font-size: large;">thanking her for <a href="http://articles.nydailynews.com/2011-03-17/entertainment/29172458_1_white-house-garden-e-book-first-book">planting a garden at the White House and for writing a book about it with proceeds going to charity</a>! </span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4MnDLtVuaXk/TbGZB54ad9I/AAAAAAAAAj0/XgIX5WA9Seo/s1600/MP900387079.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="142" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4MnDLtVuaXk/TbGZB54ad9I/AAAAAAAAAj0/XgIX5WA9Seo/s200/MP900387079.JPG" width="200" /></a></span><span style="font-size: large;">In celebration of Earth Day</span><span style="font-size: large;">, will plant seeds in my own beautiful garden to grow plants that I will then give away to others. <b>What will you do to celebrate this Earth Day?</b> .... If you need help deciding, click any of these links for ideas: </span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.earthday.org/earth-day-2011">Earth Day</a>, <a href="http://www.greenpeace.org/">Greenpeace</a>, <a href="http://earth911.com/">Earth911</a>, <a href="http://www.sierraclub.org/">Sierra Club</a>, <a href="http://www.50waystohelp.com/">50 Ways to Help the Planet</a>, <a href="http://www.earthprotect.com/">Earth Protect</a>, <a href="http://www.climatecrisis.net/">Climate Crisis</a>, or <a href="http://www.treehugger.com/files/2006/04/25_ways_to_save.php">Treehugger</a>!</span></span></div><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: medium;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: medium;"> </span><br />
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="http://www.earthday.org/earth-day-2011"> <b>HAPPY EARTH DAY! </b></a></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; margin: 1em 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hYQ1w6QWcoQ/TbGZ6gRvfzI/AAAAAAAAAj4/kX3EC7xSHHg/s1600/Earth.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="125" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hYQ1w6QWcoQ/TbGZ6gRvfzI/AAAAAAAAAj4/kX3EC7xSHHg/s200/Earth.jpg" width="125" /></a>Thank you for reading my blog today. Please be kind to yourself and to others. Share your visions of peace and justice with the world. Strive always to leave each place you visit the better for your having been there! - TCK</div></div><a href="http://www.twitter.com/tkeyahcrystal"><img src="http://twitter-badges.s3.amazonaws.com/t_logo-a.png" alt="Follow tkeyahcrystal on Twitter"/></a>The Crystal Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09786076993693760953noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3196436987120809861.post-17181827462297856402011-04-05T07:16:00.000-07:002011-04-05T11:55:17.193-07:00Urge the EPA to Ban Poison in Your Soap!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7LTFcVRIjrg/TZteMroXkPI/AAAAAAAAAiY/uk2Bco-l0UY/s1600/bike+machine.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7LTFcVRIjrg/TZteMroXkPI/AAAAAAAAAiY/uk2Bco-l0UY/s200/bike+machine.JPG" width="200" /></a><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;">In an effort to be healthier, you make myriad changes to your diet, routine and lifestyle. You walk to the corner store instead of driving, reach for water instead of a pill when you have a headache, squeeze in a moment at the gym before work, count calories, tear yourself away from your computer to breathe nearly fresh air, sleep more, and cut down/out your use of spray cans, double espressos and meat, only to have soap kill you? </span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;">Perhaps...</span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;"> if</span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;"> the</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-08S7XWIdjrM/TZteUDQK8iI/AAAAAAAAAic/9XxGxsq03m0/s1600/Yoga.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-08S7XWIdjrM/TZteUDQK8iI/AAAAAAAAAic/9XxGxsq03m0/s200/Yoga.JPG" width="200" /></a></span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;"> Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) doesn't hear your thoughts on allowing companies to continue to put triclosan in household products. Triclosan is an anti-bacterial chemical that can kill low level bacteria, but while it encourages new, resistant strains to develop. Considered 'harmless' to humans in small amounts, the chemical is allowed in countless products (like soaps, mouthwashes, toothpastes, deodorants, cleaning supplies, etc.), as if the average consumer of any one of those products will not use any other in the same time period... <b>Until 3PM, Eastern Standard Time, this Friday, April 8, 2011, the EPA is taking comments about the continued use of triclosan in household products.</b> I join CREDO Action in urging you to ask the EPA to ban triclosan and all other chemicals whose obvious combined usage levels are toxic in humans:</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; margin: 1em 0pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="color: #37424a;"> "Triclosan is a germ-killing chemical used in a stunning array of consumer products. I recently discovered it in my own hand soap. It's likely in yours, too — or in your toothpaste, deodorant, dish soap or even tissues.<sup>1</sup></span></i></span><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="color: #37424a;"> The problem is, triclosan doesn't just kill germs. It's also toxic for people. It disrupts hormones, lowers sperm production and weakens the immune system. And its use is so widespread, it has accumulated in most of our bodies.<sup>2</sup></span></i></span><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="color: #37424a;"><b><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> Restrictions on triclosan have been enacted in the EU and Canada. Now the EP</span>A is also considering a ban on the use of this dangerous chemical.</b> </span></i></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; margin: 1em 0pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><a href="https://act.credoaction.com/images/campaigns/870/200.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Take action!" border="0" height="179" src="https://act.credoaction.com/images/campaigns/870/200.jpg" width="140" /></a><span style="color: #37424a;"> </span></i></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; margin: 1em 0pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="color: #37424a;"> <b><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></b>Despite its substantial health and environmental risks, Triclosan isn't any better at killing germs than regular soap. <sup>3</sup> The danger from Triclosan isn't limited to our homes. It washes down the drain and enters drinking water sources, lakes and rivers where it is converted by sunlight into cancer-causing dioxins. Still, the powerful chemical industry has successfully promoted widespread use of Triclosan, and so far avoided increased EPA regulation. That needs to change. The EPA is accepting public comments until this Friday on a petition to ban the use of Triclosan as a germ killing agent. Join dozens of other groups including our friends at Food and Water Watch and the Center for Environmental Health, and tell the EPA you support increased regulation of this dangerous, toxic chemical that is already far too prevalent. </span></i><i style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">1. <a href="http://www.beyondpesticides.org/antibacterial/products.htm">Products containing Triclosan</a>," Beyond Pesticides 2. <a href="http://www.cdc.gov/exposurereport/data_tables/URXTRS_DataTables.html">National Report on Human Exposure to Environmental Chemicals</a>," Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, February 28, 2011 3. <a href="http://www.ewg.org/node/26859">Triclosan No Better than Plain Soap</a>," Environmental Working Group" </i></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; margin: 1em 0pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="color: #37424a;"></span></i></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; margin: 1em 0pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="color: #37424a;"></span></i></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; margin: 1em 0pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="color: #37424a;"></span></i></span><b>To ask the EPA to ban toxic chemicals like triclosan from our household products, <a href="https://act.credoaction.com/campaign/ban_triclosan/index.html?r=7516">Click Here! </a></b></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; margin: 1em 0pt; text-align: justify;">Thank you for reading my blog today. Please be kind to yourself and to others. Share your visions of peace and justice with the world. Strive always to leave each place you visit the better for your having been there! - TCK</div></div>The Crystal Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09786076993693760953noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3196436987120809861.post-17007277527134071642011-03-14T00:00:00.000-07:002011-03-14T20:44:59.934-07:00No Subsidies for the Nuclear Industry!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-0KeUi1ortu8/TX7c-jqwLwI/AAAAAAAAAiU/82R9678K73E/s1600/Tsunami.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-0KeUi1ortu8/TX7c-jqwLwI/AAAAAAAAAiU/82R9678K73E/s200/Tsunami.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I woke this morning praying for the people in Japan effected by the recent earthquake and tsunami. I live in southern CA, which is directly across the water from them. If something like happened at the San Luis Abispo nuclear plant, thousands and thousands of people who live dangerously close to the plant would be lost. Those who survived the initial disaster would be trapped there because the bridge laden roads they would use to evacuate, would be destroyed. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-5J39RdUNbRg/TX7c79jFPWI/AAAAAAAAAiQ/SjZNniQpdL4/s1600/Nuclear+plant.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="126" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-5J39RdUNbRg/TX7c79jFPWI/AAAAAAAAAiQ/SjZNniQpdL4/s200/Nuclear+plant.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Sites like the one in San Luis Obispo were not tested to withstand both an earthquake and a tsunami. That is because the pro-nuclear energy experts said ,and are still saying something like that could never happen here - the possibility is too remote. A week ago, the pro-nuclear experts in Japan would have said the same thing... Nuclear energy leaves no room for human error, natural or unnatural disasters. There have always and will always be human error, natural and unnatural disasters. Therefore, funding nuclear energy is funding disaster. </div><br />
<a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-kvPHbD4OYJM/TX7c3hm8rHI/AAAAAAAAAiM/GnZ5KOhWiC8/s1600/earthquake3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-kvPHbD4OYJM/TX7c3hm8rHI/AAAAAAAAAiM/GnZ5KOhWiC8/s200/earthquake3.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="http://www.greenpeace.org/usa/">Greenpeace</a> agrees, saying:<br />
<i>"The disaster unfolding in Fukushima, Japan is a terrible reminder of the dangers of nuclear power. In the past 24 hours, the situation in Fukushima has gone from bad to worse. Reports out of Japan are suggesting that the cooling units on a number of reactors at the plant could fail at anytime. The simple truth is that no matter how advanced the technology and how prepared a country might be to deal with a disaster it doesn’t change the fact that <strong>nuclear power is inherently dangerous and always will be.</strong></i><i> Right now the President has $36 billion in taxpayer giveaways to the nuclear industry to build more plants here in the US in his proposed budget."</i><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">To join me in telling the President and your members of Congress that there is no place for taxpayer giveaways for nuclear energy in this year's budget, <b><a href="http://us.greenpeace.org/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=801&s_src=taf">Click Here</a>! </b></div><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 18pt;">Thank you for reading my blog today. Please be kind to yourself and to others and strive always to leave each place you visit the better for your having been there! - TCK</span></i></div></div>The Crystal Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09786076993693760953noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3196436987120809861.post-27630737716430376132011-03-01T00:00:00.000-08:002011-03-02T09:06:44.889-08:00Secret of My Access!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <h3 class="post-title entry-title"><span style="font-size: 18pt; font-weight: normal;"></span><span style="font-size: 18pt; font-weight: normal;"></span><span style="font-size: 18pt;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"></span></span><span style="font-size: 18pt; font-weight: normal;"> </span></h3><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 18pt;"></span><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qtWV0MDpKwA/TLfNgcLlnRI/AAAAAAAAAXQ/Hjhk2jjq_Xk/s1600/DemNowBanner2.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qtWV0MDpKwA/TLfNgcLlnRI/AAAAAAAAAXQ/Hjhk2jjq_Xk/s1600/DemNowBanner2.jpg" /></a><h3 class="post-title entry-title" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">When I posted my blogs last month, someone who perused them commented on how impressed he was that I am so well informed. Well, I have a secret. It's called </span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://tkeyahfightscityhall.blogspot.com/2010/10/if-it-werent-for-kpfk.html">KPFK</a></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"> and it is a tiny, Pacifica radio station in Los Angeles with a highly diverse format which broadcasts worldwide. KPFK was the first to tell me what was happening in Tunisia, Egypt, Yemen, Iran, Iraq, Libya, Wisconsin and Ohio. They were the first to tell me about the film "Fahrenheit 911" and "Inside Job." They are not just the first, but they are among the very few who deliver vital information without first filtering through a gang of corporate censors...</span></span></h3><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qtWV0MDpKwA/TLfN3DSD5ZI/AAAAAAAAAXU/cb6VWl95uQk/s1600/sojournerBanner2s.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qtWV0MDpKwA/TLfN3DSD5ZI/AAAAAAAAAXU/cb6VWl95uQk/s1600/sojournerBanner2s.jpg" /></a><span style="font-weight: normal;"> </span><b><a href="http://tkeyahfightscityhall.blogspot.com/2010/10/if-it-werent-for-kpfk.html">KPFK</a></b><span style="font-weight: normal;"> is largely funded by listeners (they get a small grant from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting) and because of that, they have to fund drive three to four times a year. They are in </span><a href="http://tkeyahfightscityhall.blogspot.com/2010/10/if-it-werent-for-kpfk.html">Fund Drive</a><span style="font-weight: normal;"> now. </span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">If you regularly read this blog (wouldn't that be nice), you've already heard me rave about the station. </span></span></div><h3 class="post-title entry-title" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qtWV0MDpKwA/TLfQiN0b5XI/AAAAAAAAAXc/9lQm2h_krsg/s1600/somethingsHappBanner2.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qtWV0MDpKwA/TLfQiN0b5XI/AAAAAAAAAXc/9lQm2h_krsg/s1600/somethingsHappBanner2.jpg" /></a><span style="font-weight: normal;"> I rave because to quote an earlier blog, </span><span>"<span style="font-weight: normal;"><i>If it weren't for KPFK, I don't know where I could go to hear world news in the morning, world music in the afternoon and worldly thoughts at night; I don't know where I could hear health information not sponsored by drug, insurance and processed food companies, economic information not sponsored by banks, environmental information not sponsored by oil, car and chemical companies, or war coverage not sponsored by those benefiting from war.</i>" </span></span><span> </span></span></h3></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span></span></div><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;"><span></span></span><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qtWV0MDpKwA/TLfQwG5La4I/AAAAAAAAAXg/QnaYRgXy860/s1600/uprisingBanner2.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qtWV0MDpKwA/TLfQwG5La4I/AAAAAAAAAXg/QnaYRgXy860/s1600/uprisingBanner2.jpg" /></a><span>If you live or travel outside KPFK's the listening area (90.7 FM ~ Los Angeles), you can always <b><a href="http://www.kpfk.org/listen-live.html">listen online at kpfk.org</a></b>.</span><span> Help me support KPFK in any way you can. They need volunteers all of the time, but especially during and after the fund drive... money too! </span></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qtWV0MDpKwA/TLfRJu_BvjI/AAAAAAAAAXo/zX2R1-CquC0/s1600/Volunteering+at+KPFK.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="174" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qtWV0MDpKwA/TLfRJu_BvjI/AAAAAAAAAXo/zX2R1-CquC0/s200/Volunteering+at+KPFK.JPG" width="200" /></a><span style="font-size: large;"><span><b>To listen</b> to KPFK now, <b><a href="http://www.kpfk.org/listen-live.html">Click Here</a></b>!</span></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span><b>To donate</b> to KPFK, </span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span>Call (818) 985-KPFK (818) 985-5735 or </span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span> <a href="http://www.kpfk.org/pledge/KPFK_PayPal_Gateway.html"><b>Click Here!</b></a> </span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span>(to give without getting a gift) or</span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span> <a href="http://catalog.kpfk.org/"><b>Click Here!</b></a> (to give </span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span>and get a thank you gift)</span></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span><b>To volunteer</b> at KPFK, <b><a href="http://www.kpfk.org/volunteer.html">Click Here</a></b>! </span></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">Thank you for reading my blog today. Please be kind to yourself and to others. Seek to learn something new every day, and to act upon that knowledge. Strive always to leave each place you visit the better for your having been there! - TCK</div></div>The Crystal Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09786076993693760953noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3196436987120809861.post-69137507375456503822011-02-23T00:00:00.000-08:002011-02-24T12:01:54.979-08:00Ask Wal-Mart and Supervalue to Join Costco, Trader Joes' and Target!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UdZsURQi-oM/TWa2GWs2wQI/AAAAAAAAAhE/i80oczBIEGI/s1600/Fishjpg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UdZsURQi-oM/TWa2GWs2wQI/AAAAAAAAAhE/i80oczBIEGI/s1600/Fishjpg.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 120%;">When we shop for food, most of us expect that the stores that sell food and the agencies that govern what the stores can sell us have taken measures to ensure that what is sold will not harm us. This is not an unreasonable expectation. Sadly, those stores and agencies do not always operate with our best interests (health and fair pricing) in mind. In April, <a href="http://www.greenpeace.org/usa/">Greenpeace</a> will release it's fifth Supermarket Scorecard report. In it, they will celebrate the improvements that have been made due in no small part to economic, health and consumer activism. The most recent cause for celebration in this regard is the news that Costco </span><span style="font-size: 120%;">and </span><span style="font-size: 120%;"></span><span style="font-size: 120%;"> Trader Joe's </span><span style="font-size: 120%;">has joined </span><span style="font-size: 120%;">Target in its decision to stop selling many of the popular seafood items on the Greenpeace Red List. Red List items are those that come from unsustainable sources; those from fisheries whose practices will eventually wipe out species of fish and irreparably damage the ecosystem effecting marine and human life. Although Greenpeace is celebrating these tremendous wins, they are also asking for help to convince other stores to take the same responsible stand:</span></div><span style="font-size: 120%;"></span></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Hx5Eu7y4PcA/TWa3k-slHwI/AAAAAAAAAhI/EG-70PaiQ_0/s1600/walmart-supervalue-act.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="120" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Hx5Eu7y4PcA/TWa3k-slHwI/AAAAAAAAAhI/EG-70PaiQ_0/s320/walmart-supervalue-act.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Image is property of Greenpeace. All rights reserved.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-size: 120%;"><br />
<i>"... there’s still a group of national supermarket chains that are seriously lagging behind when it comes to their seafood “policies”. These are major companies like <b>Wal-Mart and SUPERVALU </b>and they need a little encouragement. <b>Help keep the momentum going by telling them to get their act together and save the oceans."</b></i></span><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 120%;"><b></b><b><span style="font-weight: normal;">To sign the Greenpeace petition asking companies like Wal-Mart and Supervalue to upgrade their seafood policies to save the oceans,</span> <a href="https://secure3.convio.net/gpeace/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=779">Click Here!</a></b></span></div><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Thank you for reading my blog today. Please be kind to yourself and to others. Celebrate something for which you are grateful everyday. Strive always to leave each place you visit the better for your having been there! - TCK</span></i></span></div> <span style="font-size: 120%;"><b><br />
</b></span></div>The Crystal Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09786076993693760953noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3196436987120809861.post-39698683600282106252011-02-05T00:42:00.000-08:002011-02-05T00:42:12.308-08:00No Unheard and Unheeded Means ...Rape!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qtWV0MDpKwA/TU0JEBCd0AI/AAAAAAAAAg0/esdZ-whazYE/s1600/Abortion+Debate.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="277" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qtWV0MDpKwA/TU0JEBCd0AI/AAAAAAAAAg0/esdZ-whazYE/s400/Abortion+Debate.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="color: black; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"> The debate over whether or not a woman should have the right to choose when and if she will bear children may never end. Both sides have valid, emotionally charged positions that merit respect. Currently, federal dollars can not be used for abortion except in cases of rape, incest, or when the woman's life is in danger. A newly proposed bill seeks to further limit government funded abortions by ...redefining rape! On January 20, 2011, New Jersey Republican Congressman Chris Smith, introduced a bill, "No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act", also known as H.R. 3. that would narrow the allowance of federally funded abortions to "cases of 'forcible' rape but not statutory or coerced rape." </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: black; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qtWV0MDpKwA/TU0JJcIFYJI/AAAAAAAAAg4/b4B3HGyO4W0/s1600/Date+Rape.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="251" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qtWV0MDpKwA/TU0JJcIFYJI/AAAAAAAAAg4/b4B3HGyO4W0/s640/Date+Rape.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">My mind is flooded with images of women and girls who were </span><span style="font-size: large;">raped </span><span style="font-size: large;">with no outward indicators, no </span><span style="font-size: large;">smeared </span><span style="font-size: large;">make-up, </span><span style="font-size: large;">torn </span><span style="font-size: large;">clothes or broken bones; women and girls whose lives were smeared, whose hearts and </span><span style="font-size: large;">spirits </span><span style="font-size: large;">were broken and whose minds and innocence were lost just the same... The lack of consent means no. No unheard and unheeded means rape. I can respect people who disagree with me, even those who feel that abortion is wrong no matter what. Redefining rape in this way, however, is a cruel and cowardly assault on countless women and girls who are raped in ways Mr. Smith <a href="http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=h112-3">and the 173 members of Congress who co-sponsored his bill</a> find unworthy. </span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div style="color: black; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">To join me in signing the </span><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.moveon.org/about.html">Move On</a> </span><span style="font-size: large;">petition asking Congress to oppose H.R. 3, the bill that would narrow the definition of rape as it pertains to federally funded abortions, <b><a href="http://pol.moveon.org/smithbill/?rc=tw">Click Here!</a> </b></span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div style="color: black; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">To find out if your congressional representative co-sponsored the bill, <b><a href="http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=h112-3">Click Here!</a> </b>(Then let him or her know how you feel about that.)<br />
</span> </div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;"><i>Thank you for reading my blog today. Please be kind to yourself and to others. Support the people and the businesses that support you and your community. Strive always to leave each place you visit the better for your having been there! - TCK</i></span></span></div></div>The Crystal Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09786076993693760953noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3196436987120809861.post-65886307068732591112011-01-25T12:12:00.000-08:002011-01-25T14:24:01.415-08:00Health Care Now!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
<div align="center" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://www.healthcare-now.org/">Healthcare-Now</a> writes:</div><br />
<i>Dear Single-Payer Supporter:</i><br />
<a href="http://www.healthcare-now.org/listimages/obama.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Take Action" border="0" src="http://www.healthcare-now.org/listimages/obama.jpg" title="Take Action" width="100%" /></a><i>Tonight, President Obama will deliver the State of the Union Address to those who are anxiously waiting to hear what he will say about Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid.</i><br />
<i>While President Obama has stated he will not urge cuts to Social Security in his speech tonight, a narrowly defeated proposal by the Deficit Commission to cut these programs means we have to continue to be vigilant.</i><br />
<a href="http://salsa.wiredforchange.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=QJ%2BwezsSnk1QQU6q3BCgjNjZDDMtoZoB" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="embededLink"><img alt="Take Action" border="0" src="http://www.healthcare-now.org/listimages/action.jpg" title="Take Action" /></a><i>Leaders in Congress are still seeking to privatize Social Security and turn Medicare into a voucher program, claiming it will save money.</i><br />
<i>Tell President Obama "No cuts, no privatization, and no raising the eligibility age of Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid" on his watch.</i><br />
<br />
<div align="center" style="font-size: 13px;"></div><i>The vast majority of Americans support increasing taxes on the rich to fund these programs rather than cut them.</i><br />
<i>Make your voice heard. <a href="http://salsa.wiredforchange.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=ndgbYEDw4DDIMIQ6rOsJM9jZDDMtoZoB" target="embededLink">Email President Obama here</a>. Or call the White House at 202-456-1414.</i><br />
<i></i><br />
<i>For Improved Medicare for All,<br />
Katie and Jeff</i><br />
<strong style="font-weight: normal;">Healthcare-NOW! National Staff</strong><br />
<br />
<b>Again, to email President Obama to ask him not to diminish our health care,<strong> <a href="http://salsa.wiredforchange.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=ndgbYEDw4DDIMIQ6rOsJM9jZDDMtoZoB"><u>Click Here!</u></a></strong><a href="http://salsa.wiredforchange.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=ndgbYEDw4DDIMIQ6rOsJM9jZDDMtoZoB"><strong></strong></a><strong> o</strong>r call the White House at 202-456-1414... today!</b><br />
<strong><u> </u></strong><br />
</div>The Crystal Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09786076993693760953noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3196436987120809861.post-7992507530599432662011-01-11T00:00:00.000-08:002011-01-11T00:00:04.899-08:00Don't Eliminate the Best Provision in the New Healthcare Plan!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qtWV0MDpKwA/TSuPQqh-t3I/AAAAAAAAAfI/JDxuLjXsoQw/s1600/repeal_your_own_cantor_130.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qtWV0MDpKwA/TSuPQqh-t3I/AAAAAAAAAfI/JDxuLjXsoQw/s1600/repeal_your_own_cantor_130.jpg" /></a></div><div style="color: #351c75; font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;">Although Republicans are still pretending that the Democrats got one over on them on the recent health care reform, they know that the insurance corporations help draft the legislation and that their proposed surgery to repeal the reform will leave the corporate benefits from the legislation in place and leave the senators themselves with the only government sponsored (socialist) health care coverage of any kind. </span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;"><span>Matt Lockshin, Campaign Manager for </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;">Credo Action applauds Sen Chuck Schumer's challenger that (Republican) senators that want to repeal any (social) health benefits for the American people, first decline their own:</span><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="color: #351c75; font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin: 1em 0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="color: #37424a;"> </span></i></span></div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin: 1em 0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="color: #37424a;"><span> </span> </span></i></span></div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin: 1em 0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="color: #37424a;"><span><blockquote> </blockquote></span> </span></i></span></div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><span>"For two years, GOP leaders in Congress fought tooth and nail to oppose health care reform. They did their best to keep tens of millions without coverage, decrying any effort to help citizens as "socialist," "fascist" or some other equally baffling "ist."</span></i><i><span> Incredibly, now that they are the majority, their first act will be to vote to repeal health care reform that gives affordable care to 32 million Americans. And yet, when it comes to their own coverage, Republicans in Congress are not only using government-sponsored health care, they even whined about having had to wait for it.<sup>1</sup> As the Republicans are gearing up to appease Tea Party extremists and vote to repeal health care reform for Americans who need it, Senator Chuck Schumer is calling the GOP on their hypocrisy, and calling on them to give up their government-sponsored health care:</span> "It was a central value to us when we passed health care, and a central value to the American people, that members of Congress should get the same health care as everyone else. It seems unfair that house Republicans want to deprive middle-class Americans of the same health care as members of Congress but to keep it for themselves." "Will Eric Cantor urge every Republican who is going to be for repeal to not take government health care themselves and to drop their existing health care?"<sup>2</sup></i><i><span> We think he should, and applaud Schumer for his challenge." </span><a href="http://act.credoaction.com/r/?r=6617&id=14825-3255484-Tk4vK6x&t=10" target="embededLink"></a><a href="http://act.credoaction.com/r/?r=6618&id=14825-3255484-Tk4vK6x&t=12" target="embededLink"><span><sup>1</sup></span></a><a href="http://act.credoaction.com/r/?r=6618&id=14825-3255484-Tk4vK6x&t=12" target="embededLink"><em></em></a><span><a href="http://act.credoaction.com/r/?r=6618&id=14825-3255484-Tk4vK6x&t=12" target="embededLink"><em>John Marshall, Talking Points Memo — November 15, 2010</em> </a> </span></i></span><span style="font-size: large;"><i><a href="http://act.credoaction.com/r/?r=6617&id=14825-3255484-Tk4vK6x&t=10" target="embededLink"><span><b><sup>2</sup></b></span></a><a href="http://act.credoaction.com/r/?r=6768&id=14825-3255484-Tk4vK6x&t=13" target="embededLink"><em>Huffington Post, January 4, 2011</em></a></i></span></div></div><div style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qtWV0MDpKwA/TSuQtOOi10I/AAAAAAAAAfQ/GaoIDRFz4No/s1600/uss_main_topimage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="48" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qtWV0MDpKwA/TSuQtOOi10I/AAAAAAAAAfQ/GaoIDRFz4No/s320/uss_main_topimage.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="color: #351c75; font-size: large;">To sign the petition to tell the GOP: Practice what you preach! Give up your own health care! <b><a href="http://bit.ly/dJaJu0">Click Here!</a></b></span></div><div style="color: #351c75; font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b> </b></span></div><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: large;">Don't let your representatives leave you with poor or no health coverage. Let them know that this is an issue of paramount importance to you and your family. To contact your senator directly, <a href="http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm">Click Here!</a></span><div style="color: #351c75; font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Participate in your government and make the world a better place!</span></span></div>The Crystal Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09786076993693760953noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3196436987120809861.post-67367882053861848972011-01-09T05:31:00.000-08:002011-01-10T15:10:59.137-08:00Suggest An End to Violence<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qtWV0MDpKwA/TSs_g3VqE0I/AAAAAAAAAeU/2vmn4J7tVYw/s1600/sarah_pac_crosshairs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qtWV0MDpKwA/TSs_g3VqE0I/AAAAAAAAAeU/2vmn4J7tVYw/s320/sarah_pac_crosshairs.jpg" width="196" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">On her website, Sarah Palin put gun targets on the names of 20 Democratic members of the U.S. Congress. After the election, she stated that of the twenty, only Arizona Rep. Gabrielle Giffords and West Virginia Rep. Nick Rahall were left. On Saturday, January 8, 2011. Rep. Giffords was among more than a dozen people shot. The victims included U.S. District Court Chief Judge John Roll, Giffords' Director of Community Outreach, Gabe Zimmerman, two other members of her staff, and a 9-year-old girl. </div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qtWV0MDpKwA/TSs_j9YEGWI/AAAAAAAAAeY/VydtiiLrGxs/s1600/Giffords.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qtWV0MDpKwA/TSs_j9YEGWI/AAAAAAAAAeY/VydtiiLrGxs/s200/Giffords.jpg" width="181" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rep. Gabrille Giffords</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Giffords, who was the apparent target of the terrorist massacre, underwent surgery and is currently in a medically induced coma. Perhaps the gunman was exercising the freedom of Arizona's lenient gun laws. Perhaps he was caught up in Arizona's racist immigration law invironment. Perhaps he was encouraged by his alleged affiliation with the anti-Semitic, anti-immigration, white supremacist hate group American Renaissance (Giffords is Jewish). We only know two things for sure: On her website, Sarah Palin put a gun target on U.S. Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords; and then someone shot Rep. Giffords. Palin issued condolences about the event and I want to believe that even Sarah Palin did not intend for her targets to murdered. But even if the gunman knew nothing about Palin's targets, the suggestion was out there. It was energy in the wind. It was a violent thought written; to be read, absorbed and disseminated into an already agitated environment... </div><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qtWV0MDpKwA/TSs_nAqIECI/AAAAAAAAAec/eBXValRkS4U/s1600/Judge+John+Roll.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qtWV0MDpKwA/TSs_nAqIECI/AAAAAAAAAec/eBXValRkS4U/s320/Judge+John+Roll.jpg" width="243" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Judge John Roll</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;">Our thoughts have power. Our words have power. Our suggestions have power. That power can be used for peace, or for war. President Obama called for a moment of silence for the victims of the Arizona terrorist (my word) attack. I call for a moment of silence to pray for / meditate on / envision the suggestion of peace. I call for a moment of sound to put thoughts into words of peace. I call for a moment of action to engage everyone you touch to be mindful of the power of they possess, and to encourage them to use that power to promote peace. </div><br />
Credo Action has a petition asking Sarah Palin to renounce violence. To sign that petition <a href="http://act.credoaction.com/campaign/palin_violence/?rc=tw2">Click Here!</a>The Crystal Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09786076993693760953noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3196436987120809861.post-44060680597532368812010-12-30T00:00:00.000-08:002010-12-30T09:34:07.343-08:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qtWV0MDpKwA/TRzBwoZVlwI/AAAAAAAAAdw/bYVL9tnVQOY/s1600/Credo+Vote.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qtWV0MDpKwA/TRzBwoZVlwI/AAAAAAAAAdw/bYVL9tnVQOY/s320/Credo+Vote.jpg" width="64" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">As a member of the <a href="http://www.credomobile.com/Mission/History.aspx">CREDO</a> community, I was thrilled to be able to vote on how CREDO will distribute its 2010 annual donations to 50 progressive groups like Amnesty International, Greenpeace and Democracy Now. (I'm so easy to please.) CREDO wants you to join the community and if you do right away, you can participate in their year-end vote too:</div><div style="margin: 1em 0pt;"><br />
<i>"Since 1985, CREDO has given more than $65 million to progressive groups. Last year, we gave a total of $2.6 million to 50 organizations, including the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network, Planned Parenthood and Democracy Now! Now we're inviting our CREDO Action members to join our mobile, long distance and credit card customers to vote on the donations ballot. It's fast and easy, and you can do it right now. </i><a href="http://act.credoaction.com/r/?r=4257&id=14434-3255484-0rhLu_x&t=5" style="color: #235ab7; font-weight: bold;" target="embededLink"></a></div><i>... You can vote, too, just by taking action on one of the urgent alerts below:<br />
<a href="http://act.credoaction.com/campaign/wikileaks/?rc=votingpaste"> Stop the crackdown on WikiLeaks</a><br />
http://act.credoaction.com/campaign/wikileaks/?rc=votingpaste<br />
<br />
<a href="http://act.credoaction.com/campaign/stand_up_for_npr/?rc=votingpaste">Tell Congress: Don't cave to Sarah Palin. Stand up for NPR!</a><br />
http://act.credoaction.com/campaign/stand_up_for_npr/?rc=votingpaste<br />
<br />
<a href="http://act.credoaction.com/campaign/coc_doj/?rc=votingpaste">Tell the DOJ: Investigate the Chamber of Commerce's campaign spending</a><br />
http://act.credoaction.com/campaign/coc_doj/?rc=votingpaste"</i><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">It is amazing to me what one determined person can do to change the world. When people of like minds come together for the common cause, the results can be staggering. I guess that is why I started this blog. I am on a mission to do everything I can to leave the world better off than how I found it. I hope you will join me on this exciting adventure! (Step One: Keep reading the blog...)</div><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
To vote on how CREDO will distribute its 2010 annual donations:<br />
<br />
If you are already a CREDO customer of CREDO Action member, <a href="http://act.credoaction.com/r/?r=4257&id=14434-3255484-0rhLu_x&t=5" style="color: #235ab7; font-weight: bold;" target="embededLink">Click here! </a><br />
If not, use on of the links above, or <a href="http://act.credoaction.com/campaign/wikileaks/?rc=votingpaste">Click Here</a>! ... or <a href="http://act.credoaction.com/campaign/stand_up_for_npr/?rc=votingpaste">Click Here!.</a>.. or <a href="http://act.credoaction.com/campaign/coc_doj/?rc=votingpaste%22">Click Here!</a>The Crystal Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09786076993693760953noreply@blogger.com0