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Rolla Peace News March 22, 2016 |
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================================= Dear Friends:In this newsletter is: 1. NOON VIGIL FOR PEACE: THIS WEEK, THURSDAY, March 24, 2016 2. A LITTLE BIT OF GOOD NEWS 3. THE MISFIT MATHEMATICIAN (Tom's column, http://tomsager.org) a) Bernie Sanders Gives First Foreign Policy Speech b) Does Donald Trump Incite Violence? c) International Day of Forests
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We vigil for peace in front of the Rolla Post Office THIS THURSDAY, MARCH 24, 2016, (and all subsequent Thursdays until peace is established) from Noon to 1:00 PM. Please try to join us. The temperature is predicted to be in the 40s. If you do not feel comfortable standing with us in front of the Post Office, please consider driving by and showing your support for our message by honking your horn and flashing a peace sign. 2. A LITTLE BIT OF GOOD NEWS Amid this week's gloom and doom, there are a few bright spots: Among Americans living abroad who voted in the Democratic primary, Bernie Sanders was preferred over Hillary Clinton by more than 2:1 (69% to 31%). Perhaps this reflects the increased objectivity of people living abroad, who are not subject to the intense propaganda from the U.S. mainstream media, and some of whom also experience the advantages of a more socially-progressive national policy. It's good news, anyway. Last week, the Senate failed to pass the so-called “DARK Act,” which would forbid states to pass GMO labeling laws. And now General Mills, a giant food corporation, with brands such as Yoplait, Haagen-Dazs, Betty Crocker, Pillsbury, Cheerios, etc., has announced it will label all its foods sold in the U.S. that contain GMO products. Campbell's Soup had already announced that it would do so, without raising prices. It's a step in the right direction, but Big Food hasn't given up the fight to shove GMOs down our throats without our knowledge. Stay tuned! Apple Computer has won the most recent skirmish in its battle to resist providing the FBI with a way to access data on people's iPhones via a “backdoor” in the software. A court hearing in Riverside, CA, was canceled at the FBI's request. The FBI has been trying to force Apple to rewrite their IOS for iPhones so that security could be breached if they FBI wanted access to someone's information. This was purportedly so they could access a locked iPhone involved in the San Bernardino terror attack. They stated that they were investigating another way of getting the information they wanted. Obviously, if the FBI could access data through the operating system, so could any respectable hacker — not a good thing! Just as obviously, this also is not over. It is being theorized that the FBI is backing off because of a huge public outcry — but I doubt they are giving up. 3. THE MISFIT MATHEMATICIAN (Tom's column, http://tomsager.org) a) Bernie Sanders Gives First Foreign Policy Speech b) Does Donald Trump Incite Violence? c) International Day of Forests BERNIE SANDERS GIVES FIRST FOREIGN POLICY SPEECH Yesterday, Bernie gave the speech in Utah that he would have given had he attended the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) meeting. Not surprisingly he focused on Peace throughout the Middle East. While not all that I would have liked to hear, Bernie's speech was a ray of sunshine compared to the fawning of ALL the other presidential contenders. Here are a few gems from Bernie's speech: “You can’t have good policy that results in peace if you ignore one side.” “The path toward peace will require tapping into our shared humanity to make hard but just decisions.” “The truth is there are good people on both sides who want peace, And the other truth is there despots and liars on both sides who benefit from continued antagonism.” Bernie notes that achieving peace will not be easy; but I think that if anyone can do it, Bernie can. Bernie has performed so many miracles already. Who would have believed six months ago that in late March, he would remain a serious contender for president of the United States? And its the will of the People. The vast majority of people in the United States, Israel, the Middle East and the World want Peace. DOES DONALD TRUMP INCITE VIOLENCE? If there is any doubt in your mind, watch this short video that Moveon posted. Interestingly, if you or I got up on a stage and exhorted the audience, “Knock the crap out of him, would you. Seriously. Ok. Just knock the Hell... I promise you, I will pay for the legal fees.”, we would rightly be hauled off in handcuffs. But if you're a multi-billionaire and leading presidential contender — well that's different. On a lighter note, you might enjoy my open letter to Donald Trump. INTERNATIONAL DAY OF FORESTS Yesterday was International Day of Forests. Forests provide us with oxygen, remove impurities from the atmosphere, absorb carbon dioxide, hold water, moderate temperatures ..., well I'm sure you have all heard this before; so if you planted a whole forest or even a single tree, you have performed an important deed for all of humanity. And if you didn't plant a tree yesterday, go out and plant one tomorrow. In Bhutan, 180,000 people including the prime minister planted 108,000 trees to commemorate the birth of the Royal Child. Why 108,000? Buddhists believe that we must overcome 108,000 impurities to achieve enlightenment; and, of course, trees help us to overcome impurities. Bhutan's Constitution mandates that 60% of the country remain forested. Bhutan is a carbon sink. It's forests will soon absorb more carbon than is emitted by the entire country. Lets hear it for Bhutan! ================== Rolla Peace News is distributed by email once a week on Tuesday evenings (except on rare occasions) and is posted on the web at http://tomsager.org (click on Grassroots Rolla: top of rightmost column).If you don't wish to get notices of peace events in the Rolla area, let me know and I'll take you off this list. If you want to be added to this list, let me know. Wage peace, Helen helenm (at) fidnet.com ### |