Climate change catastrophe

The United Nations Climate Change Summit currently taking place in Copenhagen has been hyped up since the start of the year as what would amount to the next critical step in helping the environment. Over the last week, however, the Summit has been hampered by a series of missteps: African delegates walking out of proceedings; protesters breaking into the chambers; thousands of un-green limos used to transport a limited number of delegates; and today the President of the Summit stepping down.

Much like its mother organization, is the Summit becoming quickly obsolete? Is it becoming apparent that the United Nations, bogged down in bureaucracy, has bequeathed to the Summit a set of procedures which do a disservice to the environmental needs of the globe?

An open letter to a New York State Senator

Dear Senator,




It is with great shame and disappointment that I write you. Your actions yesterday regarding the Senate marriage equality vote are abhorrent and instigate a culture of fear and hatred for millions of Americans. The need for a separation of church and State is especially troubling, given that the basis for arguing against the equality vote resides in the religious definition of marriage. The Bible should stay out of the legislative process, as should personal convictions. As Senator, you have a fiduciary trust to represent the people of your district, not those that lobby you the hardest. As Senator Savino so eloquently alluded to, religious institutions may do what they like with marriage but the civic institutions must not preclude unions.

The annals of history will not look at these times favorably. When future generations speak of this issue, your name will certainly fall in the same breath as George Wallace, Jefferson Davis, Nathuram Godse, James Earl Ray and the countless others who would stand in the way of equality, subjugating a portion of the populace to live like second class citizens. In a time not so far removed from the great civil rights struggle of the 1950s, it is disheartening that our elected officials would not learn from history. Perhaps this is the fault of those who placed their trust in you, but rest assured that the next election will certainly wake you up to the real opinion of your constituents, not the fringe groups you so ardently serve.

Kars-4-WHO

We have probably all heard the jingle on the radio for the charity Kars-4-Kids, which claims to use car donations towards rehabilitation for children in need. Recently, however, attorneys-general offices in Pennsylvania and Oregon have found that the charity isn’t all it claims. According to tax returns, all funds raised by the organization have been funneled to a group which promotes the education of children in Jewish heritage. The ad also claims to give free vacations for those who do donate their cars. These vacations have turned out to be a ploy for timeshare opportunities.

Given that regulations on charities are different state-by-state, is this simply an issue of caveat emptor? Or, on the other hand, should the state get involved to protect those who might want to donate to charities?

Intelligence treasure-trove

Former Justice Department official John Yoo argued in this week’s Wall Street Journal that holding the trial of Khalid Sheikh Mohammed in the U.S. will amount to an “…intelligence bonanza for al Qaeda”. The crux of his argument stems from the need for full disclosure of evidence during a trial, including U.S. intelligence methods and sources. KSM and his co-defendants will be afforded the same Constitutional rights as resident aliens, including the full disclosure clause. Yoo also cites the trial of Z. Moussaoui, and the way lawyers were able to string along the trial for four years. This created a forum for him to air his anti-American grievances, and gave al Qaeda critical information on who the Government saw as threats to national security.

Barring one’s personal opinions on whether or not the trial should be held in the U.S., is Yoo’s argument sound? Does the trial represent an intelligence flub when taking judicial procedure into account?

Being perfect

A recent BBC documentary, “My Supermodel Baby”, reveals that airbrushing is a pervasive practice among magazine companies, particularly those dealing with babies and infants. Is the ideal of perfection becoming obscene, or are magazine companies simply looking after their product?

STD rates among U.S. teens

The CDC released a report saying that the U.S. has among the highest rates of sexually transmitted diseases in the developed world, especially among those aged 15-24. Cases of chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis, the three big curable diseases, have all risen significantly in the past year. In addition, the CDC claims that over 19 million new infections take place each year, half among the teenage sector.

John Douglas of the CDC states that "…we haven't been promoting the full battery of messages…we have been sending people out with one seatbelt in the whole car." This allusion to the policies of the previous decade begs the question: how well is abstinence-only education working? What policies should be in place to prevent the resurgence of STDs, especially among the younger generation?

National UN Peacekeepers

Ciudad Juarez, one of the most dangerous places in the world, has a murder rate of 7 people per day. It is embroiled in a cataclysmic drug war which, although violent, is an issue of national security for the Mexican Government. While the Government has sent troops to the area to quell violence, local businesses are not content with the progress made. They are requesting that the United Nations send in peacekeepers to facilitate an end to the conflict.

Chapter VII of the UN Charter clearly states that all matters involving peacekeeping forces must be international in nature. In fact, the UN was created upon the basis of State sovereignty being held in highest regard. Although the nature and definition of peacekeeping has changed over the past decades, the preeminence of sovereignty has not. Has the UN gone too far in allowing peacekeeping forces to deal with national matters, thereby stretching its already thin budget? Should it focus its attention to matters of an international concern? Is the UN trying to do too much, with too little?

"V"Obama

Many on the right, especially Tea Partiers, are arguing that ABC’s remake of the hit 1980s series “V” is a critique of current administration policies. Sean Hannity cites that the series “focuses on a telegenic leader who arrives from outer space offering a message of hope and compromise and promising, you guessed it, universal health care. Sound familiar? Oh, and the media? They love this new leader.”
I grew up on the original miniseries and TV show, and took it as a simple ride on a sci-fi spaceship, expecting the same from this. Without putting in my opinions, I’m curious as to what others think of the series. Is it a critique, or have the interpretations become skewed?

Banned from Wal-Mart

A Chicago area gay couple who were recently shopping at the retailer have been banned from all stores permanently. While going through the self-checkout, video apparently caught the men and their two adopted boys not ringing through a lighter. The men, both lawyers, were then interrogated by store security for nearly an hour, only to be acquitted of charges and released. Wal-Mart management then informed the men they had been banned from all stores, and would be prosecuted for trespassing if they did not leave immediately. In addition, the store sent the men a bill for $158.40, or the full cost of the lighters. Both men, and the two sons, claim in statements that they were harassed and degraded during the event. Of particular note were the disparaging remarks towards lifestyle apparently made to the two young boys.

The question then begs itself: is Wal-Mart either (a) too elitist and strict in their policies; and/or (b) homophobic in their actions?

Unfit for duty?

A recent report by the U.S. military reveals that nearly 75% of Americans aged 18-24 are unfit for active duty. The principle cause is shown to be lack of physical fitness, followed by criminal records or under-education. Given the growing needs of the military in terms of recruitment, how do these findings alter what some would consider a flawed PR campaign? What should the next military PR campaign look like, and/or how should recruitment requirements be changed?

Citizen report card?

In follow-up to yesterday’s topic on local elections and how they may or may not represent the purest form of democracy, how can we interpret the results of the elections on the national opinion of the Administration? Is the issue of major Republican Party victories a sign that people are displeased with Obama, or do they relate more to local necessities?

Will you vote today?

The founders of democratic principles, the ancient Greeks, literally had proportional representation; they voted on issues themselves. In modern democratic society this has evolved into citizens voting, on a national level, for representatives to voice opinions for us. Local elections are happening today in many parts of the U.S. One can view these local elections as the truest form of intended democracy, as we have the opportunity to voice our opinion without the representational middle man.

My question, then, is if you will vote today? Being that the U.S. touts being the bright light of democracy, are we willing to participate in the political process when it is at its most pure form?

Money for nuthin?

The Department of Education recently gave $12 million in grants to U.S. foreign language schools to promote national security in languages such as Chinese, Russian and Arabic. While the study of foreign language is certainly a traditional non-priority in American schools, how will this grant money help? How will the disbursement among 24 States and D.C. positively affect student learning? Could the money have been used towards other critical areas in U.S. schools, or is it properly placed?

RIP

Peter Gadiel, a Kent, Connecticut native, died on September 11th while working on the 103rd floor of the World Trade Center. Now his hometown wants to erect a memorial for him near the town hall. Deliberations hit a roadblock, however, with insistence by Peter’s father that any memorial to his son include the phrase “murdered by Muslim terrorists”. He wants to ensure that people remember exactly how, and by whose hands, his son died.
Is the inclusion of such material necessary to ensure the historical accuracy of the events of September 11th ? Or do such words incite further discrimination? Should the memorial include this phrase?

Farrakhan and H1N1

Nation of Islam leader Minister Louis Farrakhan told a group of followers on Sunday that the H1N1 virus was developed to curb the world’s growing population. “The Earth can't take 6.5 billion people. We just can't feed that many. So what are you going to do? Kill as many as you can. We have to develop a science that kills them and makes it look as though they died from some disease." He further indicated that wise people should not take the vaccine.
While one can easily dismiss his claims as sensationalistic, they do bring up an underlying concern. Recent surveys show that over 40% of the US population, and one-third of the Canadian population, will not be taking the vaccine this fall. With the threat constantly in the media of the global swine flu pandemic, have people simply become overburdened with information? Essentially, has the media made this global health concern a non-issue?

2010 Census

Senator David Vitter (R-La.) is proposing that the 2010 round of the U.S. census include an 11th question: “Are you an American citizen?”
Given that State’s apportionment to Congress is determined by population, should illegal immigrants be counted towards the overall population? In essence, should the census ask this 11th question?

Naval rewards

Michael Toussaint, a Naval commanding officer, has been forced to retire after allegations emerged linking him with hazing and abuse in his units. This comes after suspicions he contributed to the suicide of Jennifer Valdivia, as well as the abuse he perpetrated on gay officer Joseph Rocha. An internal investigation found Toussaint’s actions not in keeping with Navy ethics and principles. Navy spokesperson Elissa Smith indicated a letter of censure will be issued, which will “…become part of Toussaint’s permanent military record. Toussaint, now a senior chief petty officer, will be reassigned to Naval Special Warfare Group 2, where he will perform administrative duties until his retirement in January."

This means that after his misgivings Toussaint has received a promotion. In addition, he will be allowed to keep his pension and benefits after retirement. What are the possible ramifications of such privileges being awarded to Toussaint? Is this decision fair or in keeping with Naval standards, or should he have had some form of punishment for his actions?

The opiate of religion

A new ad campaign in New York City subways states that “A million New Yorkers are without God…are you?” The campaign, funded anonymously, is being sponsored by the Coalition of Reason, an atheist group, in an effort to get the word out to non-believers that they are not alone. Figures are based on the most recent round of the American Religious Identification Survey, where 15 per cent of respondents listed no religion. Approximately 15 per cent of the City’s population is one million.

Many are up in arms over this, going as far as to claim that the ads discredit parents who are trying to instill morality into their children’s lives. The Coalition claims that they “…want to show New Yorkers there is a community out there where you can find like-minded people.” How can we reconcile these opposing feelings with the obvious caveat of freedom of religion? Do the ads go too far, or is it time that secularism begin getting equal attention to monotheistic religion?

Making money on the dead

WNEM-TV in Saginaw, Michigan has come up with a new way to increase revenue for the station. Producers have decided to include obituary announcements during news broadcasts, in response to a decrease in announcements in local print press. Noting that some print obituary announcements can cost up to $1000, the station is offering a two-minute segment for only $100. The popularity of the service can be seen in the over 700 broadcasts since inception in August. Other affiliates are also considering rolling out the program in the coming months.
In these trying economic times, is the new obituary broadcast service simply a revenue generating machine done in poor taste? Or are the proverbial gloves off when it comes to ensuring that one’s business remains afloat?

Illegal alien celebrates Halloween?

Citizens and activist groups in Los Angeles are outraged at the sale of a Halloween costume depicting an extraterrestrial in orange jumpers holding a green card in his hand. The costume, an “illegal alien”, has been removed from Target’s website after numerous complaints about the apparent distasteful nature of the outfit.

In follow-up to Friday’s topic on sensitivity with virtual media campaigns, does the Target costume go too far, or are we being too sensitive with this? Remember that costumes of Native Americans, holy figures and the like are quite popular, but could be considered equally offensive

IPhone sensitivity training

A new IPhone application, to promote Pepsi’s Amp energy drink, gives men pick up lines for 24 stereotypical types of women. The app has women like the political girl, foreign exchange student and cougar, as well as a conquest brag list that can be uploaded to social media sites. Some women’s groups are calling it “…crass advertising…”, while others are calling it cute.


In the wake of several viral advertising campaigns gone awry, including the shaken baby IPhone app, are we becoming too sensitive as a culture? Or should the companies represented be more cognizant of the specific sticking points of societal groups?

U.S. Chamber of Commerce-asaurus?

Just a little over a year after the worst economic shock to hit the United States since the Great Depression, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce is getting ready to launch its new, grassroots “free-enterprise campaign”. This campaign, the Chamber says, would encourage job growth and free market values in the “…face of growing government interference in the economy.” They cite such interference as the administration’s monitoring of home mortgages, financial products and credit cards.


Given that one of the principle factors leading to the economic collapse was the notion of free enterprise without restrictions, are the policies of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce slowly going the way of the dinosaur? Couple this policy with news last week that Apple, and 4 other major companies, left the Chamber over disagreement with its opposition to green legislation. What are the benefits of being part of an organization that continues to hold onto antiquated values?

A Separate Afrikaners State?

Apartheid mastermind Eugene Terre’Blanche has resurfaced, calling for the unification of South Africa’s Afrikaners political parties to form what he feels is a necessary Afrikaners State. Due to the perceived threat to the approximately 2 million South African’s of Dutch decent, of which 2,000 have been killed since the end of apartheid, Terre’Blanche plans to lobby the International Court of Justice for a white-only territory. This threat, in addition to land title deeds still legally held by most Afrikaners, could present quite a headache to the Court.


Two questions then pose themselves: (a) is the idea of a separate white State realistic, as the perceived threat and title deeds can legally form a basis for ICJ involvement; and (b) how does this affect the rainbow nation image of South Africa in the lead-up to next year’s World Cup?

Pink Ribbon Backlash

As breast cancer awareness campaigns go into full swing this month, and stores are awash in pink packaging, have product companies gone too far in using the cause to promote themselves? Daily Finance poses the question of figuring out which products actually benefit cancer research. I ask whether or not breast cancer research advocacy, and that of disease advocacy campaigns everywhere, is being tarnished by an overabundance of information.

UN Communications chief claims that the Organization is “…the talk of the town…”

“Kiyo Akasaka, Under-Secretary-General for Communications and Public Information, said ‘the United Nations was the talk of the town everywhere in the world’ during the week of the high-level segment of the General Assembly’s annual debate.”


He claims that this substantiates the unrivalled nature of the United Nations to affect international diplomacy and peacekeeping. But with the week long parade of high-level world leaders coming to New York, does the UN become more of a sound-bite on news radio than a long-term interest of the general public?

Pro 2nd amendment PA woman shot dead by husband

How should this incident be taken into consideration in the shifting paradigm of gun control laws?

http://www.cnn.com/2009/CRIME/10/09/gun.soccer.mom.dead/index.html

Obama's winning the Nobel Peace Prize

Was the President winning the Peace Prize a laudit of the things he has done/plans to do, or a rebuke of the policies of the Bush Administration?