miami-dec-chairman-attacks-everyone

Written by: Wendy Sejour on Nov 9, 2009 12:35 PM EST

Linked to groups: Veterans for Democracy, Democracy for America Miami-Dade (DFAM), Hispanic Democracy, Democracy for Florida, Florida DFA

If you ever wondered why the Miami-Dade DEC can't get anything done effectively, click the link and read this letter from the local chair.  No other commentary from me is necessary.

http://blueinmiami.blogspot.com/2009/11/miami-dec-chairman-attacks-everyone-in.html

Written by: Sam Feldman on Feb 20, 2009 12:14 PM EST

Linked to groups: Veterans for Democracy

 

What have you done for veterans?

 

One quarter of the homeless population in the United States are veterans.   More than a quarter of a million of us are sleeping on the cold streets.  With the myriad of hardships both Iraq and Afghanistan veterans will face, combined with today's deteriorating economic climate, there is no doubt this new generation of veterans will join the ranks of the Vietnam veteran MIA's (Missing in America) and disappear to back streets.

On November 17, 2008, Ernest Holman, a 67 year old homeless US Army veteran, was beaten to death in the streets of Miami. On December 26, 2008, Todd Hill, a 41 year old Gulf War Marine Corps veteran was also beaten to death while he slept on a bus bench on the streets of Miami.

As a result, on December 31, VFP Chapter 32 in Miami joined with Make a Wish Veterans, Inc. for the last act of 2008 and declared a ‘State of Emergency.’ County officials greeted over 70 veterans on the steps of County Hall on this warm, sunny day thereby initiating a campaign on behalf of our voiceless and distraught fellow veterans.

We were able to locate Todd Hill’s relatives and had his body shipped to Utah for burial. However, No one came forward to claim Ernest Holman’s remains and he languished in the morgue. As a result, VFP 32 and Make a Wish Veterans, Inc. asked the Medical Examiner to release the body to us so that we could conduct a real and respectful burial of a fellow veteran. We were unprepared for the Medical Examiner offering us the bodies of three other unclaimed veterans. One had been living in an Assisted Living Facility, the other two were homeless.

In following with the principles of "Never again shall one generation of veterans abandon another,” we agreed to hold a funeral with full honors on January 24^th for the four homeless and indigent veterans: Todd Hill, Ernest Holman, Nathaniel Henry Winger, Pedro Deaguero, and John Joseph Sweet. The Keynote Speaker at this ceremony, Congressman Kendrick Meek, addressed an audience that included several state and local officials present. He spoke of continuing hard times for this country’s veterans.

Short video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4JS4dO27_5A&feature=channel_page

The Veterans Administration determined these deceased veterans were eligible for a flag, a cemetery plot, and a grave marker.  In addition, they were eligible to receive a total of $250.00 to cover the cost of burial expenses.   Needless to say, we continue fundraising to cover the $10,000 costs for a respectful funeral.   

To follow up on the declaration of a ‘State of Emergency’ and to raise awareness that the VA does not cover the costs of a proper burials for veterans, whether indigent, homeless or otherwise, we held a rally with a flag draped casket on January 28^th across the street from the Miami Veterans Administration Medical Center.

Short Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FxF3URw5HC0&feature=channel_page

 

Two days later we met with both the VAMC Administrator and Staff.  It was very apparent the rally had a strong impact and we were greeted with what felt like a reprimand.   We explained our purpose was to raise awareness of the policy limitations denying veterans the benefit on "real costs" associated with a burial and that our action was not an attack on the medical care currently provided.   We insisted the HUD vouchers they held be used immediately to assist needy veterans, get them out of harms way and off of the streets. 

Numerous meetings have been held with the Miami Dade County Homeless Trust Administration, County Commissioners, State representatives, the Mayor and City Manager of Miami, congressional representatives and Veterans Administration officials. We are also pressuring congressional representatives to act immediately by directing funding towards respecting our fellow veterans even in death. Perched from their ivory towers, they seem oblivious to the degradation of homelessness.

We have decided to postpone our next rally at the request of the Veterans Administration.  However, should action towards addressing homeless veterans not be immediate and transparent, VFP32 is prepared to continue rallying and call for larger demonstrations at the Va hospital.

 I would like to urge other veteran organizations to unite and hold similar demonstrations for our homeless veterans.  It is indeed a cause consistent with our Mission Statement in Veterans For Peace. We will continue to be relentless in our efforts to speak for our brothers in life and in death.  We will be here until the last veteran is heard.  Let it be known we will not go away.  We will not disappear into the dark back streets so no one has to see us.  Even in our death we are here.  We are here because our brothers and sisters are heroes. "Never again shall one generation of veterans' abandon another."

 

Today's financial news (Bush admin taking ownership of banks), and recent Naomi Wolf interview

Written by: P Garrison on Oct 9, 2008 3:21 PM EDT

Linked to groups: Iraq Veterans for Democracy, Veterans for Democracy, South Carolina Progressive Network

Linked to campaigns: Obama for America

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_XgkeTanCGI

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081009/ap_on_bi_ge/financial_meltdown

Jesus was a community organizer. Pontius Pilate was a Governor.

Written by: Wendy Sejour on Sep 4, 2008 6:47 PM EDT

Linked to groups: FIU Campus Corps, 2006 Training Academy Hosts, Netroots Activism!, Broward County Democracy for America, Coral Park Young Democrats

Jody Finver has written the great piece below in response to Sarah Palin's attack on community organizers.  Also, check out the latest video post.  Do you like the title of this post?  Purchase gear at the DFAM Store!

I refused to tune in last night (in part because I was working) but I read Palin's speech and all I can think is just when you think the Republicans can't sink any lower, they prove me wrong.

In her snarky attempts to rile up her crowd, Governor Palin showed us who she really was. An ignorant water carrier with no comprehension of subtext and no concept of life in the lower 48 otherwise known as the Continental United States.

The media, from what I have read, have not caught on to two things:

the first - that Palin attacked a candidate that she never met and doesn't know.

and the second - she insulted every community organizer in the world and said we have no actual responsibilities.

Now the thing about attacking Obama I think is a bit ironic. Since last night was Rudy's wrap yourself in the memory of the twin towers, a noun, a  verb and 911 stampede -- for Palin to come out and attack someone based on hearsay, without any first-hand knowledge, comes off sounding like a radical, fundamentalist extremist.

Wait, aren't they the enemy? The very evil John McCain will stare down with steely eyes and defeat just by exhaling? Has history not taught the Republican party anything? I know science hasn't but is history too now subject for questioning?

Do they not realize that when they speak, people outside their inner fear mongering circle hear them?
I don't think so. Because if they considered for a moment that people outside of their ego-maniacal world are watching, they never would have allowed a former PTA, city councilwoman to insult community activists the way she did.

Read more

HYPOCRISY

Written by: Wendy Sejour on Aug 8, 2008 2:24 PM EDT

Linked to groups: Coral Park Young Democrats, Democracy for America Miami-Dade (DFAM), Veterans for Democracy, West Miami Dade Democrats for Change, Broward County Democracy for America

Linked to campaigns: Obama for America

Last Wednesday night I went to listen to Nancy “Impeachment is off the table” Pelosi at Temple Judea.  She was promoting her book “Know Your Power: A message to America’s Daughters.”  So, what overarching message did I take away from this event?  She’s a hypocrite.

During the introduction, it was made clear that Madam Speaker would have no real interaction with the audience. There would be no live questions from anyone, including the media.  It was made clear that anyone who spoke out of turn would be escorted out.  A small group of us (proudly wearing our Impeach Bush & Cheney t-shirts) was approached by one of the several police officers present that not only were signs prohibited but that any interruption of the event would result in being tossed out.  That being said, we decided that our action would be to stand quietly in the back of the hall after everyone was seated so that Ms. Pelosi would at least be able to see that some of us think impeachment should be placed back on the table.

The ground rules laid out to us would not ordinarily have upset me, except that Speaker Pelosi’s first talking point was the importance of everyone, especially women, recognizing not only their power to speak out but actually using it.  I stood there shocked, thinking that she’s saying how important it is for women to speak out, and here this woman had just been told that I had to shut-up in order to stay in the room.  I can’t voice my fears, dreams, nada.  What is wrong with this picture?

She went on to speak of her awakening to the power that she held as Speaker of the House and to speak of some of the legislation that the House passed in the past two years (equal pay, SCHIP, etc., none of which got past the Senate or a Presidential veto threat).  She also spoke about finally having a seat at the table and discovering what that meant.  She also spoke of the strength it took to raise five children and realizing that women could lead the way on what’s good for the country.  Two questions ran through my mind as she said those words:  Is the rule of law not good for the country?  If she had the courage to raise five kids, why doesn’t she have the courage to lead the House in standing up to George Bush and the Republicans?

Speaker Pelosi’s mantra was “Know Thy Power” as a woman, a mother, a citizen.  I couldn’t help but wonder, what about the power of the Constitution?  Having power is one thing.  It takes courage to use it.  My final question to Madam Speaker is, do you dare?

DFA Miami has been called out!

Written by: Wendy Sejour on Jul 24, 2008 10:23 AM EDT

Linked to groups: FIU Campus Corps, Veterans for Democracy, Broward County Democracy for America, The Original Broward County DFA- DFAB, Florida Trained Activists

The Taddeo for Congress campaign has issued a challenge: Can DFAM come on out one day and help us change Washington? We're up for the challenge, and we need you. They are being asked by the

Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee to come out and phonebank for them. If DFAM and Taddeo campaign volunteers contact more voters than the other campaigns, they will give the Taddeo campaign access to an email list of over 3 MILLION Democrats across the country!

To make sure that volunteers are up for the challenge, food and drinks will be given to them. The time for action has come, so we hope to see you on Saturday!

WHERE:   Taddeo for Congress Headquarters, 11509 South Dixie Hwy, Miami, FL 33156                                                   

Suniland Plaza behind Starbuck's Coffee (on US1 & Killian)

WHEN: Saturday, July 26th - 12:00PM – 5:00PM

SEE YA THERE!

DFAM brings Rep. Dennis Kucinich to Miami!

Written by: Wendy Sejour on Aug 26, 2007 10:32 AM EDT

Linked to groups: Veterans for Democracy

Join Democracy for America Miami-Dade (DFAM) as it welcomes 

Rep. Dennis Kucinich 

Saturday, September 8th – 6:30 pm 

Location to be announced 

Tickets:  General Admission - $30 pp 

Special "VIP seating" - $50 pp (limited availability) 

Buy Tickets Now! 

Host Committee, and volunteer opportunities are available

Contact Barbara Walters at:

Phone:  786-287-7027

Email:  bwalters1701@yahoo.com

For more details & updates click here.

This does not constitute an endorsement by Democracy for America Miami-Dade.

Arlington Miami Oct 14-16

Written by: Sam Feldman on Oct 24, 2006 8:20 PM EDT

Linked to groups: Veterans for Democracy

Dear Member,

Please take a few short minutes and view a video clip of Arlington Miami.


www.youtube.com/watch?v=I4EUsK2p...

Thanks,

Sam

Legacy of Service

Written by: Sam Feldman on Sep 25, 2006 12:41 AM EDT

Linked to groups: Veterans for Democracy

SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER
seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/286...

Mayor proposes millions to help homeless veterans
Friday, September 22, 2006

By CLAUDIA ROWE
P-I REPORTER

On any given night, 1,500 veterans sleep in city shelters. Those from the Vietnam era often have been homeless for decades, watching now as newcomers from conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan gradually join their ranks.

Many suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder or injuries that prevent their return to previous jobs.

Thursday, Mayor Greg Nickels proposed setting aside $3 million to provide housing and services for about 30 of these men and women, on top of $38 million that Seattle last year earmarked to alleviate homelessness generally.

"We're tying to identify some of the hardest-to-serve folks," said Adrienne Quinn, director of the city's Office of Housing. "People who cycle in and out of the sobering center."

If the City Council approves the plan, $1 million would go toward providing rent subsidies to these veterans and getting them immediately off the streets. The remaining $2 million would be spent to build new housing units paired with mental health, job training and other services, Quinn said.

Sheila Sebron, 47, who spent 18 months homeless in Seattle after an eight-year career in the Air Force, was gratified by the news.

"Had this been in place when I was going through it, things would have been different," she said, adding that timing is critical.

Those who work directly with the homeless agree.

The longer a person lives on the streets, the higher the likelihood that he will remain there, so linking the chronically transient to government services must be a priority, they said.

M.J. Kiser, a manager at the Compass Center, which runs several housing programs, described one client, a Vietnam War veteran in his late 50s. She said he had drifted in and out of shelters for decades, steadfastly refusing help from the Department of Veterans Affairs, even after suffering a stroke on First Avenue.

"He was mentally ill, a combat vet," she said. "And he was just not willing to go to the VA hospital or deal with any VA people in any way. He's the kind of guy we're hoping the mayor's program will help."

Iraq war veterans may have different issues, problems that are only now beginning to manifest, said Joel Estey, manager of the King County Veterans Program.

"But the legacy of Vietnam," he said, "is that we as a country realized we have to take care of the soldiers that are doing the fighting."



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

P-I reporter Claudia Rowe can be reached at 206-448-8320 or claudiarowe@seattlepi.com.

© 1998-2006 Seattle Post-Intelligencer

Toxic Tours of Duty? Historic legislation would ensure uranium testing for local soldiers

Written by: Sam Feldman on Sep 24, 2006 10:36 PM EDT

Linked to groups: Veterans for Democracy

By Jan Clifford, Contributing Writer
May 9, 2005

According to some military and science experts, the U.S. military has been using the equivalent of dirty bombs in the 1991 Persian Gulf War, Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom; and the resulting contamination is biogenetically affecting U.S. and Iraqi soldiers and civilians and will continue to do so for generations to come.

The Louisiana House of Representatives became the first legislative body in the nation to acknowledge the toxic effects of depleted uranium (DU) when it passed a bill on Tuesday that guarantees DU testing for war veterans as a medical benefit. The bill passed by a vote of 101-0. No state expenses will be incurred since the federal government subsidizes the $170 test. The bill will become law if passed by the state Senate and signed by Louisiana Gov. Kathleen Blanco.

"The Army calls it the silver bullet. But the team that was assigned to go in and clean up after the first Gulf War was one hundred men," said Ret. Marine Corps Command Sgt. Maj. Bob Smith, who served three tours of duty in the elite Green Berets during the Vietnam War. "A third of them are already dead," he said. Smith is responsible for bringing the issue to the attention of House Rep. Jalila Jefferson. Jefferson enlisted House Rep. Juan LaFonta, who agreed to sponsor the bill. "Louisiana is very service friendly," LaFonta said. "We're concerned about our troops."

During the Persian Gulf War in 1991, Army officials assembled a team to clean up the DU contaminated tanks and Bradley fighting vehicles. Most team members became sick within 48 hours, with the first cancers developing within nine months and first deaths from lung cancer within two years. Today, 14 years later, some veterans are still attempting to obtain medical testing and care, but say that military and Veterans Administration (VA) officials simply refuse to provide mandated services.

Permanent contamination, impossible containment

Many U.S. weapons, such as missiles, bombs, bullets, and tank shells contain DU, and act as "kinetic energy penetrators" that ignite during flight, and break into burning fragments upon impact. DU weapons are effective because they can penetrate and destroy all targets, including boring through 20 feet of super-reinforced concrete bunkers. DU is virtually cost-free, since it is a by-product of nuclear weapons production. The U.S. ADAM and PDM sub-munitions are called "the perfect dirty bombs" as each has a uranium casing filled with high explosives.

But these weapons are the proverbial double-edged swords. On detonation, uranium particles vaporize into a radioactive dust (uranium oxide) that coats everything within proximity. The dust can be swept high into the atmosphere, where upper level winds redistribute toxins across national boundaries.

When inhaled, these nano-particles, 100 times smaller than a cell, follow the respiratory system to attack the master code of DNA, and disable the immune system. Uranium has a half-life of 4.5 billion years, so contamination is permanent, and containment is impossible.

According to Leuren Moret, a geoscientist who has worked around the world on radiation issues, depleted uranium is coming back into the U.S. "in veterans' uniforms and trophies and bags." It's also coming back in their bodies, transferred through semen.

Moret cited a U.S. government study, conducted by the VA on post-Gulf War babies in a group of 251 soldiers in Mississippi who all had normal babies before the Gulf War. The study found 67 percent of their post-war babies were born with severe birth defects. Some were born without eyes (anophthalmos), ears, with missing organs, missing legs and arms, fused fingers, thyroid or other organ malformations. Moret said that in some families, the only healthy members are those born before the Gulf Wars.

A WMD used against our own?

The health repercussions in Iraq are unprecedented. In babies born in 2002, the incidence of anophthalmos was 250,000 times greater (20 cases in 4,000 births) than the natural occurrence, one in 50 million births.

The Army and Air Force fired at least 127 tons of DU shells in Iraq last year, according to Pentagon spokesman Michael Kilpatrick, in an interview with the New York Daily News. "Because of its density, it is the superior heavy metal for armor to protect tanks and to penetrate armor," Kilpatrick said.

In fact, the effects of DU meet U.S. government standards of Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD). According to the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) Joint Publication 1-02, WMDs are "Weapons that are capable of a high order of destruction and/or of being used in such a manner as to destroy large numbers of people. Weapons of mass destruction can be high explosives or nuclear, biological, chemical, and radiological weapons."

"DU is illegal in any sense of the imagination," said Dr. Doug Rokke, a retired U.S. Army Major, nuclear health physicist, and the Pentagon's expert on the health effects of DU ammunition on the battlefield. Rokke was director of the Army's DU project, and wrote the Army regulations for handling and clean up for DU -- regulations he says the U.S. government is blatantly refusing to enforce. Today, although US Army Regulation 700-48 (www.traprockpeace.org/rokke_du_3...) requires DOD officials to provide medical care to all DU casualties and clean up DU contamination, Rokke said they simply refuse to do so.

Rokke said that by continuing to use DU, and by refusing to admit the acknowledged adverse environmental and health effects, DOD officials violate their own orders and regulations. "When we can no longer clean up the environment and we can no longer provide medical care for anybody that's exposed, then that weapon must never be used in conflict," Rokke said.

Long-term casualties

The official number of wounded in the three-week Persian Gulf War in 1990-1991 was just 467. Out of 580,400 soldiers who served in the first Gulf War, 11,000 are now dead, and more than 325,000 are on permanent medical disability. That means 56 percent of those soldiers who served now have medical problems.

According to a Department of VA Fact Sheet, "Several scientific studies have shown that as a group, Gulf War veterans are reporting symptoms or diseases more frequently than non-Gulf comparison groups." Additionally, the Fact Sheet reports that a Center for Disease Control (CDC) epidemiological study found "multiple symptoms more prevalent in Air Force Gulf veterans compared with controls who served in other areas of the world. Although 39 percent of Air Force Gulf War veterans who were still on duty and were studied by CDC suffered from chronic problems with fatigue, mood, thinking and muscle aches and pains, this was also reported by 15 percent of the non-Gulf group."

And pediatricians for the VA are gathering data to enable "a comparison of child health not only among the Gulf War theater veterans and control cohorts, but also between children in the same family born before the Gulf deployment compared to those born after the conflict."

Marilyn Brown is the customer service coordinator for the Veterans Health Program in New Orleans. Brown said that her office is taking a proactive stance, and making visits to local units to inform veterans of available services. Returning veterans are entitled to two years free medical care, including psychological services; but they must apply within 90 days of returning from active duty. Brown said that she had no record of recently returning veterans suffering from symptoms related to contact with DU. Veterans can apply for services or simply discuss options by calling (504) 568-0811, extension 5913, or 1.800.985.8387. The office is at 1601 Perdido Street.


Contact Us - Privacy Policy - Copyright 2005, Louisiana Weekly Publishing Company