' Rolla Peace Newsletter, September 13, 2016

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Rolla Peace News

September 13, 2016

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Dear Friends:

          In this newsletter is:

1. NOON VIGIL FOR PEACE: THIS WEEK, THURSDAY, September 15, 2016
2. BUEHLER PARK — KEEP THE PHONE CALLS AND EMAILS COMING
3. STANDING ROCK SIOUX VS. DAKOTA ACCESS PIPELINE
4. THE MISFIT MATHEMATICIAN (Tom's column, http://tomsager.org)
          a) The Cost Of War — Almost $5 Trillion
          b) It's Official — Zika Causes Neurological Damage To Fetuses
          c) Yet Another Hottest Month — Off The Charts

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1. NOON VIGIL FOR PEACE: THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2016

We vigil for peace in front of the Rolla Post Office THIS THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 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 70s. 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. BUEHLER PARK — KEEP THE PHONE CALLS AND EMAILS COMING

Your phone calls and email are having a positive effect. Keep them coming. Here are the details:
Please contact:
City of Rolla: (573) 426-6948, citycouncil@rollacity.org
Royal Canin USA HQ: (800) 592-6687, info.usa@royalcanin.com
Royal Canin in Rolla: Crystal Watson, (573) 202-9034, crystal.watson@royalcanin.com
Kent Jewelry: Kent Bagnall, (573) 364-1030, kent@kentjewelry.com
and respectfully request:
“Please do not build a dog park in Buehler Park. Let Buehler Park remain a beautiful park for all people to use and enjoy.”
You may also add something like:
“Instead please consider building a dog park across Kingshighway near the Welcome Center or at some other location in Rolla.”

Thanks for your help. More info at http://buehlerpark.org

3. STANDING ROCK SIOUX VS. DAKOTA ACCESS PIPELINE

There have been interesting developments in this important battle to protect the environment from predation for profit by the fossil fuel industry. This article gives a good overview of the situation:

The tribe had asked for a court injunction to stop pipeline construction on their lands, but before the decision was reached, one of the pipeline companies, Energy Transfer Partners, decided to start bulldozing. Tribal members protested, and were set upon by a private security firm with pepper spray and guard dogs.

Last Friday, the federal judge ruled against the tribe and for the corporations. However, shortly after that, the Justice Department issued a statement in opposition to that decision.

The most important part of that statement, IMHO, is the last paragraph:

“In recent days, we have seen thousands of demonstrators come together peacefully, with support from scores of sovereign tribal governments, to exercise their First Amendment rights and to voice heartfelt concerns about the environment and historic, sacred sites. It is now incumbent on all of us to develop a path forward that serves the broadest public interest.”

It's a very positive sign when the federal government actually hears what protestors are saying and responds on their behalf. But it's not over yet. On Tuesday, the CEO of Energy Transfer Partners issued a statement reiterating the company's commitment to building the pipeline. CEO Kelcy Warren, whose personal wealth is around $4 billion, wants more, and is willing to desecrate the environment, as well as sacred and historic sites on tribal lands, to get it. The response from the Sacred Stone Camp:

”We won't stop until they stop.”

4. THE MISFIT MATHEMATICIAN (Tom's column, http://tomsager.org)
          a) The Cost Of War — Almost $5 Trillion
          b) It's Official — Zika Causes Neurological Damage To Fetuses
          c) Yet Another Hottest Month — Off The Charts

THE COST OF WAR — ALMOST $5 TRILLION

In a new study of the cost of our wars, researcher Neta Crawford finds that the previous estimate of $3 trillion by Joseph Stiglitz and Linda Bilmes was overly conservative. The true monetary cost of our post 9/11 wars is at least $4.79 trillion, and that too is probably an under-estimate.

And this estimate assumes that our foreign wars will end at the close of the next fiscal year — highly unlikely.

Crawford also notes that a full accounting of the cost of war cannot be reckoned in dollars alone, and must include civilians harmed or displaced by violence, soldiers killed and wounded, and children who play years later on roads and fields sown with IEDs and cluster bombs.

Just think of what could have been done instead with $4.79 trillion!

ITS OFFICIAL — ZIKA CAUSES NEUROLOGICAL DAMAGE TO FETUSES

Researchers at University of Washington injected zika virus into a pregnant monkey and documented the progress of the neurological damage to the monkey fetus caused by the virus.

“The monkey mother showed no signs of illness, but very quickly — within 10 days of infection — the fetus developed brain damage similar to that seen in human babies affected by Zika.”

Meanwhile, our “pro-life” monkey brains in Congress continue to block funding for efforts like this to increase our knowledge of zika-caused disease and find a vaccine or cure for it. Obstetrician Adams Waldorf notes “U.S. citizens are not getting the message. They don’t know how dangerous the epidemic is.” As many have noted over the years, the United States is ill-equipped to deal with health epidemics and emergent diseases. “Greed and stupidity make a lethal cocktail;” and arrogance knows no bounds.

YET ANOTHER HOTTEST MONTH — OFF THE CHARTS

With El Nino waning, many had hoped for a break in the heat, but August marks the 11th consecutive month of record-breaking heat.

So, expect more and intenser wildfires, droughts, floods and other weather-related disasters, not to mention the spread of mosquito-related diseases like the zika virus.

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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

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