A federal judge today ordered the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service to take action on polar bears by May 15. USFWS had previously indicated that it may list the bears as threatened or endangered under the Endangered Species Act, a move that would have far-ranging consequences for oil and gas companies and may force to the U.S. government to further curb carbon emissions. Polar bears have shown a precipitous decline in numbers over recent years, a trend in part attributed to melting ice floes caused by global warming.
For more on organizations that support the listing of polar bears, check out the Center for Biological Diversity and the International Union of Conservation for Nature’s Red List, which lists polar bears as “vulnerable”.
The Conlon Family
A brief update today about welfare reform. The Boston Globe reported recently that while the national poverty rate has decreased by 2.2% since reform was instituted in 1996, the Massachusetts rate has held steady at 10%. And for those making more than the poverty line of $17,600 for a family of three, 25% of families in Massachusetts have hovered at approximately $35,000 for the same size family — meager earnings indeed.
For more on this issue, check out the great work of the Home for Little Wanderers and the Crittenton Women’s Union.
Back in March, CBS News reported that attempted and actual suicide rates among veterans had skyrocketed since the start of wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Between 2000 to 2007, the number of vets who attempted suicide increased 44%; nearly 1,800 vets committed suicide in 2005 alone.
A top official at the Department of Veterans Affairs today defended his department’s record before Congress, refuting accusations that the VA is failing the mental health of its patients. Advocacy groups argue that on average 18 veterans commit suicide daily, and that 70% of VA facilities have no way of tracking at risk patients. This, nearly a year after the VA said it would spend $37.7 million on “placing psychiatrists, psychologists, and social workers within primary care clinics.”
For more on advocacy organizations that help veterans meet their psychological needs, see Vets 4 Vets, the Soldiers Project, or Veteran Centers, a government-run program that provides readjustment counseling and more.
Today, supporters of Jane Doe Inc. and the Massachusetts Coalition Against Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence lobbied state legislators in Massachusetts to restore proposed cuts in domestic violence programs. House leaders proposed cutting $1 million worth of programs, yet there were 10 domestic violence homicides in Massachusetts this year alone and 42 last year. Advocates are calling for a $10 million increase for rape crisis centers, GLBT, batterer, immigration and other domestic violence services.
Nationally, the Family Violence Prevention Fund estimates that nearly 1 million men and women are survivors of domestic violence each year. For more, check out their website.
Grey 2K USA reports that in 2003, as many as 33,000 greyhounds were bred for commercial dog racing in the United States, and at least 5,000 were killed because they failed to meet industry performance standards. While 34 states have banned commercial dog racing, 15 others currently have tracks in operation.
Massachusetts is one of them. In November, voters in the state can end greyhound racing for good when the Greyhound Protection Act appears on the ballot. If the Act wins a majority, the two tracks in the state — which each use at least 1,000 dogs to operate and have reported injuries to 700 dogs since 2002 — will be no more.
To get involved or learn more, check out the Committee to Protect Dogs website or this summary by the Humane Society of the United States. In the meantime, non-Massachusetts residents can urge their friends, colleagues, and state officials not to support greyhound racing.
Of Earth, the Fourteenth Dalai Lama has said, “This blue planet is our only home.” Simple, but true. In honor of Earth Day 2008, here are some ways to learn more about our planet:
- A great post on Earth Day by the folks over at the Great Beyond blog on Nature.com.
- Tips that can help save the environment AND money. Also, a great book on the subject.
- Earth Day celebrations span the globe. See one here in Johannesburg, South Africa.
While homelessness is a generally well-known (if often overlooked) problem in this country, lesser known is the plight of homeless youth who identify as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual or Transgender (LGBT). Of the estimated 1.6 million homeless youth in this country, the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force reports that between 20 - 40% of them identify as LGBT. At least one quarter are driven away from their homes by parents or relatives, many are abused and in some cases turn to drugs or suicidal tendencies as a way out.
Today the New York Times highlights a new powerful book about the subject, “Shelter“, which tells the story of LGBT homeless youth at Sylvia’s Place in New York. Through a series of moving photographs by author Lucky Michaels, the book focuses on the story of four teens, many of whom had a history with drugs, abuse or abandonment. Of the up to 20,000 homeless youths in New York City, as many as 40% identify as LGBT.
Those of you are interested in buying “Shelter” can go here. Also, learn more about the National Gay & Lesbian Taskforce report, or check out two shelters from LGBT homeless youth in New York: Sylvia’s Place and the Ali Forney Center.
Thursday, May 8th is National Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day. Today, local members of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) lobbied state legislators in Massachusetts to pass a Children’s Mental Health bill that would facilitate prevention and streamline the mental health system. According to a NAMI report, 11% of children aged 9-19 in the state are affected by mental illness, but less than 5% receive case management or residential services.
For more, see this great article in the Metro. Visit the NAMI homepage to learn about an upcoming Capitol Hill briefing on children’s mental health issues, and see the Massachusetts chapter’s website to learn more about the local bill.
Posted by Jared Milrad under
Human Rights | Tags:
Muslim,
Pakistan,
women |
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A recent report by a Pakistani human rights organization noted a disturbing increase in reported cases of violence against women. Over 4,000 cases were reported there in 2007 alone, including several hundred women who were raped, kidnapped, harassed or murdered as part of so-called “honor killings”. Unfortunately, as we know all too well in the United States, many more cases likely went unreported, so the figure may be even more grim.
The late Former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto recently wrote about violence against Muslim women in her final book, Reconciliation: Islam, Democracy, and the West. For more about the issue, see this perspective from the Muslim Women’s League and Women for Women International.
