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Sun Feb 8 03:56:54 CST 2004
al <B>ROCHESTER WORLD FESTIVAL.</B> It's Free (except for the au=
thentic food) and will feature a Parade-of-Nations at 11:30; childrens' acti=
vities, cultural demonstrations, and many information tables about countries=
and cultures. <B>Help us to disprove those who fear a "No-show backlash"</B=
> this year due to the War, etc. <BR>
<BR>
<B>MINNESOTA'S FUTURE IS IN OUR HANDS</B> meeting on the Minnesota Family In=
vestment Program (MFIP) Legislation, <B>April 21, 2003, 6:30pm =C2=AD 8:30pm=
</B> at Express Personnel Regional Training Center, 2518 North Broadway, Roc=
hester. <B>Agenda</B> includes overview of the organization with quest=
ion and answer session; the Governor and House proposal(s) for MFIP Families=
; pointers on writing letters to legislators and editors. <B><I>Sponsored by=
</B>Rochester Interfaith Action and Olmsted Community Action Program; advoc=
acy support from the Minnesota Community Action Association and the Affirmat=
ive Options Coalition</I><BR>
<BR>
<B>DEMONSTRATE</B> on the corner of Broadway and Second St. South, Tuesday,=20=
4:30 to 5:30. More positive response this week, <B>one suggestion from=
a citizen was a sign with SAY NO TO WAR IN SYRIA.</B><BR>
<BR>
<B>MEETING, April 22, 7:00pm at Assisi Heights Tec Lounge</B>. Charles=
Butler has organized a committee composed of SOA protestors to present the=20=
<B>Commitment to Nonviolence, a statement and plan for communication </B>whi=
ch is used at those protests. <BR>
<BR>
<B>From FCNL</B> (Friends Committee on National Legislation) Secretary Kathy=
Guthrie=E2=80=A6<B>military victory in Iraq signals a failure of U.S. polic=
y to keep the peace</B> and to advance the cause of human security. The U.S.=
military did its job brilliantly, fought bravely and honorably, and succeed=
ed. However, the civilian policy makers have failed. They have broken the ba=
nk spending scarce tax dollars for their military madness. They have handed=20=
Al Qaeda and other extremist groups a victory (by giving them the war they w=
anted to start) and a recruiting paradise (by so angering and alienating mos=
t of the world's people). Thus, <B>the shot fired in Iraq may be the startin=
g gun of a new arms race around the world, and a casting call for would be t=
errorists to audition for a new round of terrorist acts here and abroad.&nbs=
p;</B> <I>See the whole letter at Apr 22 meeting. </I> FCNL web site: <=
A HREF=3D"www.fcnl.org">www.fcnl.org</A> <BR>
<BR>
The cry has been that <B>when war is declared, all opposition should therefo=
re be hushed.</B> A sentiment more unworthy of a free country could hardly b=
e propagated. If the doctrine be admitted, rulers have only to declare war a=
nd they are screened at once from scrutiny. ... I<B>n war, then, as in peace=
, assert the freedom of speech and of the press. Cling to this as the bulwar=
k of all our rights and privileges</B>. =C2=AD=C2=AD William Ellery Channing=
<BR>
<BR>
<B>Learn NONVIOLENT COMMUNICATION</B>. See <A HREF=3D"http://www.cnvc.=
org/notrnr.htm">http://www.cnvc.org/notrnr.htm</A> <BR>
<BR>
<B>Phone numbers to reach all Congresspersons : 1-800-839-5276 </B><BR>
Norm Coleman Phone: (202) 224-5641; Minneapolis Phone: (651) 645-0323<BR>
Gil Gutknecht Phone: (202) 225-2472; Rochester Phone: 507 252 9841 Toll Free=
: 1-877-703-9491<BR>
Mark Dayton Phone: (888) 224-9043<BR>
<BR>
<B>Contact the Whitehouse</B>- Phone: (202) 456-1414; Fax: (202) 456-2461 Co=
mment Line: 202-456-1111 E-mail: president at whitehouse.gov<BR>
<B>Vice President Cheney</B> at 202-456-7549: e-mail vice-president at whitehou=
se.gov<BR>
<BR>
<B>CONGRESS IS RECESSED the next two weeks; contact them with the following=20=
concerns. </B><BR>
1. <B>BUDGET INCLUDES TIGHT LIMITS ON SPENDING AND TAX CUT MANEUVERS:<=
/B> The FY 04 budget is projected to result in a deficit of $385 billion. It=
also does not account for the costs of war and rebuilding Iraq. <BR>
<BR>
2. <B>TANF (Temporary Assistance to Needy Families) REAUTHORIZATION</B=
>: urge Congress to <B>support a TANF Reauthorization bill that does not inc=
lude the "superwaiver"</B> which is in the House version (HR 4) of the welfa=
re reform bill. The "superwaiver" gives governors the authority to wai=
ve federal regulations on legislation created by Congress that protects peop=
le of low income. It would extend beyond the area of welfare into housing, f=
ood stamps and other federally regulated programs. Governors faced with tigh=
t budgets could make budget adjustments which would have a negative effect o=
n programs that serve the most vulnerable populations. <B>This provisi=
on is only in the House version of the bill and not in the Senate version, b=
ut it could be introduced on the floor of the Senate as an amendment and thu=
s every Senator needs to be aware of this possibility and discouraged from s=
upporting it</B>. <BR>
<BR>
3. <B>DANGEROUS WAR TOOLS--DEPLETED URANIUM</B>: ask Rep. Gil Gutknecht to c=
o-sponsor HR 1483, the Depleted Uranium Munitions Study Act of 2003 introduc=
ed by Representative Jim McDermott (D-WA). It requires studies on the=20=
health and environmental impact of depleted uranium (DU) munitions, as well=20=
as <B>cleanup and mitigation of depleted uranium contamination at sites with=
in the US where DU has been used or produced.</B> It will help shed li=
ght on one of the most destructive elements used in the current war on Iraq=20=
and in the '91 Gulf War. Depleted uranium is linked to grave health co=
ncerns because of its chemical toxicity and low-level radioactivity. M=
any citizens of Iraq as well as veterans of the Gulf War have experienced te=
rrible health problems that are believed to be a consequence of depleted ura=
nium. <BR>
<BR>
4. <B>FIGHT OFF-SHORE CORPORATE TAX DODGES</B>. For more information,=20=
go to <A HREF=3D"http://www.moveon.org/news/1292.html">http://www.moveon.org=
/news/1292.html</A> &nb=
sp; <BR>
<BR>
5. <B>USA PATRIOT Act</B>: Currently, many of the provisions hav=
e a sunset clause that will expire in 2005, and Republicans will attempt to=20=
make it permanent. <B>Much of this Act tramples on the civil rights many of=20=
us take for granted.</B> Congress adopted the USA PATRIOT Act after a short=20=
and hurried debate following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. Th=
e legislation gave a number of new powers to federal law enforcement agencie=
s to investigate possible terrorist conspiracies and other criminal activiti=
es. <BR>
Contact your legislators and especially <B>members of the Judiciary Committe=
e</B>. <BR>
Senate Judiciary Committee: <A HREF=3D"http://judiciary.senate.gov/members.c=
fm">http://judiciary.senate.gov/members.cfm</A> <BR>
<BR>
<B>STATE ACTION</B>: <B>We continue to need calls and letters to senators ur=
ging them to reject any expanded nuclear waste storage.</B> In our are=
a that means continued letters/calls to Senators Kiscaden and Senjem. =20=
Senator Hottinger will also be key in how the bill is handled on the floor.=20=
<B>It will be our last hope in keeping some control over nuclear waste and o=
ur state's energy future.</B><BR>
Senator Kiscaden's toll free: 800 657-3770, Regular #: 651 296-4848<BR>
Senator Dave Senjem: 651-296-3903<BR>
Senator John Hottinger: 651-296-6153<BR>
<BR>
<B>Restaurant and hotel owners propose</B> <B>no minimum wage increase for s=
ervers' wages</B> and are calling it "Tip Credit." Request that the mi=
nimum wage be raised for everyone and not discriminate against any occupatio=
n. <B> Ask your state senator and representative to Vote YES to S.F. 3,=
H.F. 102.</B><BR>
<BR>
<B>LOCAL ACTION:</B> - The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency is seeking pub=
lic input regarding a proposed permit to allow Rochester Public Utilities to=
sell steam to Mayo Clinic. T<B>his project would result in a 50% increase i=
n coal burned at Silver Lake Power Plant, which is not regulated under the C=
lean Air Act because of its age and which produces the dirtiest emissions pe=
r unit of energy in all of MN.</B> This permit requested by RPU and Ma=
yo will pose adverse health effects for Rochester and area residents. <BR>
<B>Write a letter by April 23 with a concern related to the effects of the s=
teamline and substantiate it, and send to </B><BR>
Craig Thorstenson, Staff Engineer<BR>
Minnesota Pollution Control Agency<BR>
Majors and Remediation Division<BR>
520 Lafayette Road North<BR>
St. Paul, Minn. 55155- 4194.<BR>
<BR>
Wishing you all a blessed and peace-filled weekend,<BR>
Elaine and Joe Mayer <BR>
<BR>
<BR>
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