Awake

Representatives of Latinos Divided on CAFTA

This article describes the differing opinions of various Latino-representing organizations on both the potential merits and the potential pitfalls of CAFTA.

In U.S., Latino Discord Over Trade Accord [login required]

Bush and Kerry Positions on International Trade

Presidential candidate positions on Trade and Economy Dilemmas from the Foreign Policy Association:
Candidate Position Brief #6: Trade and Economy Dilemmas

Gujarat hit with disease after flooding

This article says that the affected districts include Valsad, Navsari, Surat, Narmada, Vadodara, Kutch, Surendranagar, Dahod, Banaskantha and Nadiad. I met many people from these areas in my short visit in February. I wonder what else is being done or what else should be done in south and central Gujarat to prevent further breakouts.

Brief article here:
After floods, Gujarat grapples with epidemics

The AlertNet Challenge

Check out the AlertNet Quiz, "a quick and easy way of reviewing recent humanitarian news and talking points."

Reuters AlertNet - The AlertNet Challenge

A Welcome Irony: Rwandan Troops to Protect Civilians

Darfur: Rwandan Troops to Protect Civilians (Human Rights Watch, 17-8-2004)

India court asks Gujarat to reopen 2,000 riot cases

NEW DELHI, Aug 17 (Reuters) - India's highest court on Tuesday asked the government of western Gujarat state to reopen about 2,000 cases related to deadly Hindu-Muslim riots, which were closed by police on grounds the suspects could not be found.

The order is a fresh blow to the Hindu nationalist state government, which was accused of not preventing the worst religious riots in a decade and of turning a blind eye to the killing of more than 1,000 people, mostly Muslims, by Hindu mobs.

Read the rest of the article:
India court asks Gujarat to reopen 2,000 riot cases

Venezuela's Referendum Should Be a Wake-Up Call for the United States

Read this:
Venezuela's Referendum Should Be a Wake-Up Call for the United States, a column by Mark Weisbrot

Friends in the White House Come to Coal's Aid

Just wanted to pass along a tidbit from yesterday's Economic Reporting Review (Dean Baker, Co-Director of the Center for Economic and Policy Research)...

Friends in the White House Come to Coal's Aid
(Christopher Drew and Richard A. Oppel Jr. New York Times, August 9, 2004, Page A1)

This article reports on the close ties between Bush administration officials and the coal industry. The Bush administration has supported the coal industry on a variety of environmental and health and safety issues.

This article reminded me of how important it is to have leaders (and followers) that have integrity and how destructive the consequences are when this is not the case. It also reminded me a myth I used to believe in which it does not matter what one president does or doesn't do because somewhere down the line a policy or legislation will come along that reverses or fixes the harms of "X" policy or legislation. I think I thought this because of (mis)interpreting Schelsinger's cycles of American history that I read about in high school which left me with the (false) impression that everything will eventually balance out (in the political and policymaking realm) and I needn't worry about one man's position because another man will come along with a polar opposite viewpoint and subsequent policy or legislative proposal. This is a falsehood. There are real harms being done. Real people being killed. Real injustices being committed. Real air, water, and soil being poisoned. This article says that:

Although pollutants from coal are among the biggest contributors to acid rain and global warming, coal is also plentiful and secure, with domestic reserves that could last for 230 years.

What is 230 years? How long does it take for a hill from the Appalachians to regain its former glory and beauty? How long does it take for water to be drinkable again? I actually don't know if any amount of time can repair these things. But I am realizing one thing: in 4 years, a White House administration can do damage to people and the Earth that can never be reversed, repaired, recinded.

I am only thankful that there is one King who has compassion on those who are oppressed and mistreated and who has declared authoritatively a reality in which justice and accountability will be reckoned with and the consequences of that reckoning cannot be illuded, avoided, paid off, talked through, compromised or mitigated due to good behavior.

The catch is, this work of justice and accountability has been delegated to we kings and queens as well. We must not falter in our responsibility to do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with our God (Micah 6:8).

Alright, I'm stepping slowly and deliberately off the soap box. ;-)

Happy moral outraging.

Inside Al-Qaeda's Hard Drive added to this week's commuter reading list

Inside Al-Qaeda's Hard Drive, Alan Cullison (The Atlantic Online, September 2004)

Jason Fried says, "Print this article out and give it a read when you get a chance. It's worth whatever time it demands."

Since his Webvisions presentation, I have come to respect the words that come out of Jason's mouth -- either on paper, screen, or in person -- so I have printed out this article and am adding it to this week's commuter reading list, which also includes:

• The July/August 2004 edition of Books & Culture
• A stone of hope: prophetic religion and the death of Jim Crow by David L. Chappell (on hold for me at the library)
• The dwelling of the light: praying with icons of Christ by Rowan Williams (also on hold for me at the library)

And today's "commuter reading list inspired" quote comes from "Omit Unnecessary Words: On the trail of faith and writing" by Andy Crouch (Books & Culture, July/August 2004, pg. 17):

It's not hard to look out over the audience and imagine a thousand children who "could actually be disciplined," as pastor and writer James Emery White recalls his own own childhood, "with the threat of 'no library for a week.' " There's something unsettling about seeing so many young adults intent on listening and reading. Shouldn't they be home, I find myself thinking, watching television?

Don't worry. We are. I am very unhealthily addicted to winding down after a day of coding in front of the accursed tele. In fact, just checked out Signs from the library. Can't wait to see it (again). Probably won't be for another week at least since I have to get a freelance client project wrapped up before I go camping this weekend on the beautiful Oregon coast.

Happy reading (and watching).