Progressive Utah

Local info

Date: 15 Nov 2008, Saturday
Time: 11:30 a.m.
Where: 451 S. State

Organizer Contact Info: elaineballfr@gmail.com or (801) 654-7614

Sign making party at the Center Friday.

It's not just about gay rights, its about separation of church and state. This is going on all over the country at exactly the same time.

What: A peaceful demonstration at the world headquarters of the LDS Church to protest their involvement with California's Proposition 8.

When: Friday, November 7, 2008 @ 6PM

Where: The corner of State Street and North Temple

I guarantee you they will come in droves

That is what members of “Heart for the Lost Ministries” had to say about us today, “I guarantee you they will come in droves”.

( more under cut so as not to fill your F-list )
If you received this message from a friend, you can sign up for Utah Planned Parenthood Action Network.

Best way to get to the capital?
I am going tomorrow to the protest and will have 2 kids with me.
so..
Parking?
should I park and ride the bus?
park far away and have a nice walk with the kids?
will I be able to find parking near the capital building?

In the midst of Utah’s $350 million fiscal deficit an extremist out-of-state group is partnering with your anti-choice Utah legislators who want to waste our taxpayer money attempting to criminalize abortion.  These legislators and their allies will be holding a press conference tomorrow afternoon, September 30, at the Utah State Capitol to talk about their hopes of banning abortion in Utah and making us a test case for overturning Roe v. Wade.  

 

[Tomorrow afternoon these legislators, with all of their support coming from outside of Utah, will tell us all why they think we should waste taxpayer dollars on litigation to restrict women’s health and reproductive freedom.]

 

But we at PPAC won’t be taking this outrageous political stunt lying down!  Join us tomorrow as we protest this wasteful affront to women’s health and say NO MORE to ideological assaults on Utah women and families.  Join us tomorrow as we tell these out-of-touch legislators to move on and work on legislation that will actually HELP us, not harm us!  Join us as we stand up to this nonsense in three ways:

 

• Action Phone bank:  Join us tonight as we call our pro-choice allies to turn out as many people as possible to tomorrow’s protest.  We will be making phone calls at the PPAC office (551 East South Temple) from 5:30-9 p.m. tonight. 

 

• Women’s Health Rally:  We want to show this small contingent of anti-choice extremists that we are a force that will not let them waste our time and money to restrict our choice.  We will meet at the Capitol in the East Building Cafeteria at 1:45 p.m. to protest this absurdity.  PPAC will provide all signs and banners.  Come help us stand up to this injustice – and bring all of your friends, family, neighbors, and coworkers as well.  

 

• Action Phone bank: To make sure that stuff like this does not continue to happen, help us get the word out about our endorsed candidates – candidates who want to protect women’s health, not affront it.  We will be holding a phone bank at PPAC (551 East South Temple) this Thursday, October 2 from 5:30-9 p.m. to let people know how they can walk for candidates who will make a positive change for Utah families.  Call 801.328.8939 or email ppac@ppau.org to sign up for this phone bank.

 

This is our time – your time – to stand up and make your voice heard.  Sound the alarm!  It’s time for us to stand up for our rights – and for what is right.  JOIN US!!!

 

Yours in action,

 

 

Melissa Bird, CSW

Executive Director

Hi, this video is directed to an American public and the rest of civilized Western world. I am a Russian citizen, I live in United States for a long time, for over 10 years. I happened to be in Russia now and I caught all this "action" that's taking place in South Ossetia, a region in Georgia. I never posted on youtube, but I couldn't hold myself from doing it now. I had to do this.
My message to American public is meant as a wake up call. American and other Western media especially CNN is feeding you complete horse shit! Russia did not invade and did not attack Georgia. It was a response to a horrible war crime committed by Georgian president Mikhail Saakashvili, this irresponsible man who just can't stand Russia, hates us, and will kiss America's and Europe's ass just to get a chance to join NATO and European Union. America has always supported Georgian "democracy" and I suspect actually that it was America who instigated Georgia to commit this crime.... on the first day of Olympics! How ironic is that? But please don't take this allegation too close heartedly, my point is not about whether or not U.S. government had any role in this, my point is to give you truth about what really happened Thursday night

So again, Russia did not invade or attack Georgia, as your media outlets are saying.

A brief geography and history lesson. South Ossetia is a very small region about 40 miles by 40 miles in the northern Georgia. It's population is around 70000 people. It borders with Russia. Today, many of the residents of South Ossetia are Russian citizens holding Russian passports, it's our people. South Ossetia had claimed independence from Georgia in 1992. Obviously it was never recognized by any international organizations. In 2006, they held an election where 99% of the voters supported independence from Georgia, and the turn out rate was 95%, it was monitored by a team of 34 international observers from the West. It still was not recognized by the world. As an analogy I would like to bring Kosovo situation, Serbian region in the south that was illegally snatched from Serbia and made into an independent country. Please look it up on Wikipedia and see how similar this situation is. How ironic is that America never supported Southern Ossetia same way it supported Kosovo. Obviously, it was made to show Russia how unfriendly the rest of the world is towards us.

Thursday night, Georgian military started an attack against South Ossetia. It was yesterday. They shelled the main city of Tshinkvali. They killed over a 1000 people. The excuse was to "restore the constitutional order in the region". BULLSHIT! This attack was an attempt to commit "ethnic cleansing", it was an act of genocide. They shelled civilian houses, schools, hospitals, without any warning. They also captured several villages near Tshinkvali. Reports say that they attempt to kill anyone of the Ossetian nationality. It was a pure act of Genocide. Wake up!

Russia couldn't watch this atrocity happening to its own citizens. We had no choice but to bring in our military into the region and protect our people. Whatever happens next the world needs to know, that the cause of this conflict is Georgia and its president. Before you accept what your media tells you, before you get fired up by McCains irresponsible allegations and comments, try remember all the lies that American media had always fed you, try to read news from other media outlets, not russian, but other parts of the world, other than U.S. or U.K.'s media.

America needs to wake up and stop doing what it's doing. Stop seeing an enemy in Russia. Stop using countries like Georgia, Ukraine, Poland, Latvia, Estonia who are basically acting like prostitutes of U.S. government in their public acts of hatred towards Russia.

And finally need to say, Mr. SSHAshvili that's how we like to call him. S.SH.A stands for U.S.A in Russian. Mr. SSHAshvili will pay for what happened yesterday.

Or... how Orson Scott Card has fallen off the deep end. Really, he's decided to become a right wing reactionary blogger. So much for the loving open arms of the Speaker for the Dead eh? Orson's Agenda

Not another of my dollars Orson. You have joined Anne Rice on my list of authors to never purchase from again.

Hey SLCljers!

I'd just like to drop by quickly and let you know about the Scientology protest that'll be taking place on Saturday, March 15th. It's L. Ron Hubbard's birthday and we want to be there to celebrate too!

Details can be found at Enturbulation.org, specifically this thread. If you're looking for any information regarding our cause, picketing rules, regulations, etc. feel free to post a comment here or e-mail xenuslc at hotmail dot com (This is not my e-mail address, but rather the unofficial SLC Scientology protest picket leader's).

Thanks!

Any of these events sound intriguing? Get more info on the Progressive Utah Calendar

 For locations and more event details, please go to Progressive Utah Calendar

Salt Lake City Mayor Ralph Becker to Host Community Open House at Historic Fisher Mansion

Public Invited to Tour and Give Input on Potential Reuse of the Property

 

Salt Lake City –   Mayor Ralph Becker is hosting an Open House at the historic Fisher Mansion to give residents of Salt Lake City an opportunity to tour the building and offer their input and suggestions on how Salt Lake City could best reuse the property and create a public space that serves the community in a positive way.

The Fisher Mansion is an architecturally unique historical treasure which the city hopes to renovate for community use.  Visitors to the open house will be encouraged to share their ideas for future community use of the mansion, carriage house and property.   

Renovation of Fisher Mansion is the first project to be undertaken under Mayor Becker’s Salt Lake Solutions program.  Salt Lake Solutions is a collaborative approach that involves the community, considers a wide range of ideas and options, and arrives at public solutions based on healthy dialogue and consensus.   

The Fisher Mansion adjoins the Jordan River parkway, and is ideally located for public access by bus, from TRAX and via bike paths.  While specific decisions about renovation and reuse of the property will be made in conjunction with the community and other potential partners, the City anticipates the renovation will advance historic preservation, tie together our waterways and urban trails network, expand cultural offerings, and showcase environmental stewardship.

 

WHO:             Mayor Ralph Becker

 

WHAT:           Open House at the Fisher Mansion

 

WHERE:        1206 West 200 South, Salt Lake City , Utah

 

WHEN:           Saturday, February 9, 2008

 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

 From HEAL Utah:

From the League of Women Voters and KCPW:


MORNING COMMITTEES


Better pay for teachers will be proposed in HOUSE EDUCATION this morning. HB 67 would pay special education teachers--who teach children with disabilities and are in short supply-- a stipend of $200 a day for up  to 10 days a year for additional work.
 

Under HB 270, grants to pay math and science teachers for an extended school year would be available from the Utah Science Technology and Research Initiative or USTAR. The goal is to attract more teachers, better prepare students for college, and make better use of school buildings.


SB 105, which creates a Judicial Performance Evaluation Commission, will be in SENATE JUDICIARY LAW ENFORCEMENT AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE.  The commission would evaluate judges standing for retention election.  Judges and legislators could not serve on the commission, and the number of members of the bar would be limited.


HOUSE BUSINESS AND LABOR will consider HB 89, Antidiscrimination Act Amendments, which would prohibit employment discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity.


AFTERNOON COMMITTEES


This afternoon HOUSE JUDICIARY will hear HB 26, Notary Public Revisions, which changes the definition of satisfactory evidence of a person's identity.  If issued by another nation the document must be a passport. A driving privilege card would not be accepted.  


HOUSE LAW ENFORCEMENT AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE will debate HB 262, which directs the attorney general to find ways to persuade the federal government by November 1st to reimburse the state for costs of illegal immigration.  Costs of criminal prosecution, incarceration, medical assistance, health care and foster care are listed in the bill.  HB 237, Illegal Immigration Enforcement Act, would allow state and
local law enforcement officers to enforce federal immigration law through an agreement with the federal Department of Homeland Security.



HOUSE NATURAL RESOURCES, AGRICULTURE AND ENVIRONMENT will consider HB 51, which would protect water company stockholders and public water suppliers from forfeiting their water rights because of non-use.  Utah law says water rights holders have a continuing obligation to put water to beneficial use. They can lose the right if water isn't used for 5 years.  HB 51 extends the 5 years to 7 years and protects water from forfeiture when it's part of a conservation or environmental program or may be needed by the public within the next 30 years.


For more information, be sure to visit your legislature -- in person or online at le.utah.gov/ --and the League of Women Voters website at
lwvutah.org



Friday, January 25, 2008


WHAT HAPPENED YESTERDAY


The Senate Health and Human Services Committee had an ambitious agenda yesterday morning.


They passed a bill that should help relieve some of the frustration we all have with the complications of health insurance. SB 62 - Medical Complication Exclusions- requires health insurance providers to clearly warn their clients of conditions that are not covered under their policy - particularly secondary ailments that result from a procedure, drug or condition that is itself not covered. Insurers would have to provide written warnings, use clear language, and include easily understood examples.  Such explanations are not always easy.  But if they failed to inform their subscribers of the exclusions, they would have to cover the treatment.  Senator Knudsen, sponsored the bill.


The committee also approved Substitute SB 56 sponsored by Senator McCoy, setting up a process for naturopathic physicians from other states or countries to be licensed in Utah when they move here.  


SB 66, Uniform Emergency Volunteer Health Practitioners Act, also passed. It sounds almost like  a response to 9-11 and Katrina.  If a state emergency here in Utah requires licensed health worker volunteers to come in from out of state to help out, those workers would be registered and regulated by the state.  Their civil liability would be limited and they could apply for Workers' Compensation in case of injury or death if they had no other coverage.  The issue of protecting physicians from liability who volunteer to treat patients without pay has been around for quite a while in Utah.  


Notice the word "Uniform" in the bill title.  That's because the bill sponsor, Senator Lyle Hillyard, is an attorney who belongs to a national organization of lawyers dedicated to creating model laws that are more uniform and easier to enforce in all the states.  


The most ambitious bill on the agenda was not tackled yesterday.  SB 133, a plan to improve health care for Medicaid and CHIP recipients touches on health care reform elements such as cost savings through managedcare, consistent primary care, and stabilizing patients with chronic conditions. As the population ages, chronic conditions like obesity and diabetes become more prevalent and costly. Expanding coverage by Medicaid and CHIP is part of the Utah plan.  SB133would make those programs more efficient, making the most of the federal dollars they bring into the state.
 

_____


The League of Women Voters is a nonpartisan political organization that encourages informed and active participation in government, works to increase understanding of major public policy issues, and influences public policy through education and advocacy.



 

Buy Nothing Day Coat Exchange

To find out more about the international Buy Nothing Day movement, check out this page by Adbusters

Provo Zombie Walk 2007

The Zombie Walk is FREE!
Donations and non-perishable food items are
Gladly Accepted & Encouraged.
Come dressed as a Zombie and ready to Scare!

When: Saturday October 27th, 1:00pm
Where: Center Street and University Avenue
In Provo next to the Tabernacle
Why: To Support and raise donations for
the Utah community food bank

Bring 3 or more non-perishable food items
to the park And get a FREE zombie sticker.
(While supplies last).

I love alternative energy. One of my green fantasies is to have a green home and solar panels are an essential element of that. 

Right now we're poor and renting, but I still love events like this because I learn a lot and it helps to flesh out my green fantasies that might one day become reality.  

You can find Utah Solar Tour 2007 info here. There will be locations open for viewing from 10 a.m to 4 p.m on a self-guided tour route. There are tour locations in SLC, Park City, Logan, Ogden, Cedar City and St. George.

Year after year I’ve felt frustrated about the bad air problems that we have here in the Salt Lake valley. This past winter was the hardest for me – it seemed like such a huge problem and I didn’t have a clue where to start to do something about it. I was excited to learn that a doctors group had organized on this issue, and even more excited when I learned that a mothers’ group was forming.

I attended the first meeting of Utah Moms for Clean Air tonight. I was heartened to see that about 60 people + children turned out at the Foothill library.

The group will be taking a 3 prong approach to eliminating much of our pollution: 1) government/regulatory/laws 2) corporate/industry and 3) personal responsibility/education.

UMFCA (?) has a web domain reserved (although the site is not yet up): utahmomsforcleanair.org

To get on the email list to find out about future meetings or online participation and what you can do to get involved, you can write to utahmomsforcleanair@gmail.com

So this is what I've been fantasizing:  a group of friends get together once a month to view a film or two, have a discussion on the film(s) -- maybe a potluck dinner or a Sunday brunch. The films would be thought provoking and the discussions would revolve around the problems, the solutions and making the world a better place . . .

The above scenario is easily do-able with the Ironweed, a subscription film club. I was asked if I wanted to preview some of Ironweed's environmental films in honor of earth day. The April 07 disc included "Blue Vinyl" and two shorts, "Crude Impact" and "The Man Who Planted Trees". I finally had a chance to sit down and watch the films this past weekend. The films were great, but I lamented my solitary viewing and kept wishing that I'd some friends over to watch with me discuss the films.

Ironweed isn't just about environmental films -- the films cover a wide range of progressive and political topics. Some of the past films have included: This Film is Not Yet Rated, Black Gold, The Boys of Baraka, Genesis, Sir! No Sir!, American Blackout and several titles that I recognized from past Sundance festivals. At $14.95 per month, the cost could easily be split amongst a group of film club friends for a lot less than a movie ticket.

Any progressive SLC folks want to form a film club?