cross-posted on iBrattleboro.com:

“We need leaders to speak out forthrightly to end the war in Iraq and for the need to bring our troops home immediately. We also need new leadership to address the critical threat to the loss of our democratic rights and freedoms. Americans’ rights are being threatened by our own government who seem to believe they are above the law…

“We need to be a country that adheres to the principles of international law, constitutional rights and humane principles of fairness, honesty and mutual respect. Equal rights for all needs to be reinforced and practiced better.

“Corporate-occupied Washington needs to be challenged vigorously by weeding out the influence of money and corporate power and fighting for America’s forgotten lower and middle-classes. Corporate welfare and the corrupting influence of money in American politics needs to cease. Citizens’ rights and powers need to be enhanced and protected. Poverty needs to be eliminated and a more equitable system of housing, health care, education and work needs to be implemented…

“New proposals should include offering a national health plan for all Americans, and that it be offered as a right and not just a privilege of class or employment…

“The arts, athletic and sports activities and culture need to be a more essential part of America as well. The United States also needs to become more self-sufficient in its manufacturing capacity and agricultural production and less dependent on foreign customers. Heavy spending in the defense industry needs to be reduced, especially on high technology planes, tanks, ships and weaponry, while better support of the needs of soldiers during and after their time of service should be a high priority.

“Better and more diplomacy, fairer foreign and economic policies and the elimination of special interest influence should be the guiding principles of our nation. Self-interest actions or policies, at the expense of fairness, honesty and mutual respect and human decency should be a thing of the past.”

Any guesses?

Today I received an email from my cousin in Florida’s wife. Titled “something of interest”, I opened it thru endless attachments with hundreds of email addys. It begins with a snapshot of a a smiling black woman pointing to an Obama 08 sticker, claiming this woman is his grandmother. It then goes on thru many snapshots of “Obama’s family in Kenya” with paragraphs under each. In these paragraphs, it is claimed that Obama was illegitimate, that his late father was a drunk and drug addict, that his African relatives are all ne’er-do-wells, that his uncle named his son after Fidel Castro, that his family are radical militant Muslims, that Obama direspected his maternal grandparents by calling them “white folk” and that he changed his name to Barack Hussein Obama. I lit into my cousin’s wife over it. But judging by the volume of email addys, this must be everywhere. How entirely shameful.

In a true Great Race

There’d be two candidates.

Opposing “parties” even, maybe,

But whose only motives were

That our nation be the best it can be and

That they would give their life’s effort to that goal.

These people would shun everything but that goal,

Wouldn’t be bowed by money and fake “allegiances”,

Wouldn’t owe anyone anything because they never saw the reason in doing that.

And wouldn’t compromise themselves because they couldn’t live with themselves if they did.

Human still, they’d have their faults-

Sometimes putting their family above service to the people,

Sometimes just unable to be on their game.

But honest, uncorrupted, caring servants of the Greater Good.

I suppose that will always be the dream I have;

Two candidates that are difficult to choose between,

Because each is such a damned good person.

( – promoted by JulieWaters)

Soaring prices on grains and rice could be the worst wave of economic shafting we’ll see.

Statistics are projecting something of a perfect storm:

400% – Rise in the price of spring wheat over the last year

75% – Average world food price rise since 2005

16 million more people at risk of food insecurity for every percentage point rise in the price of staple foods

33% – Amount of maize harvested in US this year that will go to produce biofuels

That’s worldwide, not just our tanking dollar. Experts say it doesn’t have much to do with population, but in distribution. Droughts in Australia and the emerging middle class in China (who are adding much more meat to their diet) are factors, but the sheer amounts of crops biofuels will consume are staggering. From The Australian:

“The most contentious development among these is the rise in biofuels, and the use of food for fuel has attracted widespread criticism. Global biofuel production doubled between 2000 and 2007, from 21.8 billion litres in 2000 to 72.7 billion in 2007. The US has a target of 163.6 billion litres of biofuel by 2022.”

That ain’t chicken feed.

More below the jump:

The Australian continues:

“The US produces 43 per cent of the world’s biofuel, mostly from corn; Brazil produces 32per cent from sugar; and the European Union 15 per cent, largely from oilseeds. More than 40 countries have implemented policies to encourage the use of biofuels.”

From the UK Globe and Mail:

“Starting next week, Britain will require gasoline and diesel sold at the pumps be mixed with 2.5-per-cent biofuel, rising to 5.75 per cent by 2010 and 10 per cent by 2020, in line with European Union directives. Ontario’s ethanol-content mandate is 5 per cent. As the content requirements rise, more and more land is devoted to growing crops for fuel, such as corn-based ethanol. In the EU alone, 15 per cent of the arable land is expected to be devoured by biofuel production by 2020.”

And from Canada, the CBC reported on the stress to the meat industry:

“High feed prices are a problem across the country, from the concentrated feedlots in Alberta to hundreds of smaller farms, like the one Bob Murphy has operated for four decades in the small eastern Newfoundland town of Brigus.

“When the Canadian dollar went from – I don’t know what it was – 90 cents to $1.10, the price of cattle dropped 20 cents a pound, in a matter of six weeks,” Murphy said.

“So, you know, that just … well, it ruined my year.”

“Murphy said the (price of) feed – which farmers use to fatten up their animals before slaughter – is now killing them (the farmers).

“I know a guy who [has] a thousand head on feed in P.E.I.,” Murphy said. “So, just figure it out, how much they’re losing. If they’re losing $200 or $300 a head, how long can you stay in business doing that?”

Cattle farmers are trying to reduce the cost by shortening the “finishing time”, the time cattle are grain-fed to bulk them up, resulting in thinner cattle and meat that isn’t top quality.

The United Nations’ World Food Programme (WFP) warned two weeks ago that it will be forced to ration food aid. Factor in the high petroleum costs of transporting any relief and the costs are doubled and trebled. This situation is volatile. Last week there were fatal food riots in Haiti, ongoing violent food-price protests in Egypt, Burkino Faso, Morocco and the Ivory Coast. These follow many riotous protests in Senegal and Mauritania earlier this year. Rice is so valuable throughout Africa it is now transported in armoured truck convoys (hijackings and killings had escalated). Armed soldiers now guard fields and warehouses. Export bans are being instituted. Argentina and India have introduced bans and/or added taxes on exported products such as wheat, dairy products and meat. Russia has frozen the prices of staple foods. Manufacturers in China and Thailand will have to negotiate food price increases with their governments from now on. Algeria and Saudi Arabia have increased food subsidies across the board to producers and distributors.

Here in the good ol’ USA, Bush has decided that the amounts of exported grains will remain the same to China, regardless of the possibility that Americans may soon be paying $2 or more for a pound of flour. When bread becomes a luxury, we’re in deep doo-doo.

Soaring prices on grains and rice could be the worst wave of economic shafting we’ll see.

Statistics are projecting something of a perfect storm:

400% – Rise in the price of spring wheat over the last year

75% – Average world food price rise since 2005

16 million more people at risk of food insecurity for every percentage point rise in the price of staple foods

33% – Amount of maize harvested in US this year that will go to produce biofuels

That’s worldwide, not just our tanking dollar. Experts say it doesn’t have much to do with population, but in distribution. Droughts in Australia and the emerging middle class in China (who are adding much more meat to their diet) are factors, but the sheer amounts of crops biofuels will consume are staggering. From The Australian:

“The most contentious development among these is the rise in biofuels, and the use of food for fuel has attracted widespread criticism. Global biofuel production doubled between 2000 and 2007, from 21.8 billion litres in 2000 to 72.7 billion in 2007. The US has a target of 163.6 billion litres of biofuel by 2022.”

That ain’t chicken feed.

More below the jump:

The Australian continues:

“The US produces 43 per cent of the world’s biofuel, mostly from corn; Brazil produces 32per cent from sugar; and the European Union 15 per cent, largely from oilseeds. More than 40 countries have implemented policies to encourage the use of biofuels.”

From the UK Globe and Mail:

“Starting next week, Britain will require gasoline and diesel sold at the pumps be mixed with 2.5-per-cent biofuel, rising to 5.75 per cent by 2010 and 10 per cent by 2020, in line with European Union directives. Ontario’s ethanol-content mandate is 5 per cent. As the content requirements rise, more and more land is devoted to growing crops for fuel, such as corn-based ethanol. In the EU alone, 15 per cent of the arable land is expected to be devoured by biofuel production by 2020.”

And from Canada, the CBC reported on the stress to the meat industry:

“High feed prices are a problem across the country, from the concentrated feedlots in Alberta to hundreds of smaller farms, like the one Bob Murphy has operated for four decades in the small eastern Newfoundland town of Brigus.

“When the Canadian dollar went from – I don’t know what it was – 90 cents to $1.10, the price of cattle dropped 20 cents a pound, in a matter of six weeks,” Murphy said.

“So, you know, that just … well, it ruined my year.”

“Murphy said the (price of) feed – which farmers use to fatten up their animals before slaughter – is now killing them (the farmers).

“I know a guy who [has] a thousand head on feed in P.E.I.,” Murphy said. “So, just figure it out, how much they’re losing. If they’re losing $200 or $300 a head, how long can you stay in business doing that?”

Cattle farmers are trying to reduce the cost by shortening the “finishing time”, the time cattle are grain-fed to bulk them up, resulting in thinner cattle and meat that isn’t top quality.

The United Nations’ World Food Programme (WFP) warned two weeks ago that it will be forced to ration food aid. Factor in the high petroleum costs of transporting any relief and the costs are doubled and trebled. This situation is volatile. Last week there were fatal food riots in Haiti, ongoing violent food-price protests in Egypt, Burkino Faso, Morocco and the Ivory Coast. These follow many riotous protests in Senegal and Mauritania earlier this year. Rice is so valuable throughout Africa it is now transported in armoured truck convoys (hijackings and killings had escalated). Armed soldiers now guard fields and warehouses. Export bans are being instituted. Argentina and India have introduced bans and/or added taxes on exported products such as wheat, dairy products and meat. Russia has frozen the prices of staple foods. Manufacturers in China and Thailand will have to negotiate food price increases with their governments from now on. Algeria and Saudi Arabia have increased food subsidies across the board to producers and distributors.

Here in the good ol’ USA, Bush has decided that the amounts of exported grains will remain the same to China, regardless of the possibility that Americans may soon be paying $2 or more for a pound of flour. When bread becomes a luxury, we’re in deep doo-doo.

Former Selectboard member, community volunteer in many organizations and columnist for the Brattleboro Reformer, Joerg was omnipresent. His intelligence, wry wit, candor and resolve were uncompromising.

Brattleboro is richer for all he did, and poorer for losing him.  

crossposted at ibrattleboro.com

In the Winter Soldier testimonies, it has become commonplace to hear of US forces killing Iraqi civilians.

The Rules Of Engagement, outlined to soldiers before their shipping out, seem muddy at best. Many soldiers tell their stories of killing civilians by accident, but sometimes under direct orders. The shooting of farmers who violated curfew by being out after dark in their fields was by order. The mistaken firing on a wedding party was because they thought there was hostile gunfire.

These incidents also can turn friendly Iraqis into enemies, understandably, overnight.

This entire occupation is a mess, but to get the particulars on the hows and whys of it all, read on at:

http://www.truthout.org/docs_2…

Nothing explains it like the soldiers who lived it.

(Major kudos to Annikee and former selectboard member Dora Bouboulis for passing the resolution! – promoted by Brattlerouser)

Without much ado, and with some enthusiasm, the Town Meeting Reps of Brattleboro passed the No War in Iran Resolution today. Here is a copy of the text of the Resolution.

WHEREAS, In the lead-up to the Iraq War and Occupation, the Bush Administration and its Congressional allies used unreliable sources, exaggerated threat assessments, selective use of information, and questionable accusations as centerpieces of their case to the American people for war against Iraq; and

WHEREAS, A widening of the United States war in the Middle East would almost certainly drive all segments of Iranian society into increased hostility toward the United States, turning potential friends into enemies by sending a signal that the United States prefers violence to the peaceful resolution of disputes, and would invite retaliation against our troops in Iraq and elsewhere; and

WHEREAS, Comprehensive direct diplomatic talks between the United States and Iran would likely result in improved relations and reduced tensions between our nations; and

WHEREAS, Continued threats of violence and other aggressive actions exacerbate tensions with Iran and could obstruct efforts to cooperate with Iran over ending violence in Iraq, thereby delaying the withdrawal of U.S. forces from Iraq; and

WHEREAS, The Iraq War has already cost the lives of almost 4,000 American soldiers, the serious maiming of over 30,000 American soldiers, and the death and maiming of hundreds of thousands of Iraqi civilians, as well as the cost of over 400 billion dollars of American tax dollars; and embarking on yet another military campaign against a much stronger adversary could only further exacerbate international tensions, endanger the lives and livelihoods of millions of people both here and abroad, and do nothing to address the most serious problems facing the American people and humanity generally; now therefore be it

RESOLVED, that the Representative Town Meeting Members of the town of Brattleboro calls on our representatives in Congress, Senator Patrick Leahy, Senator Bernard Sanders and Representative Peter Welch

(1) to ensure that no preemptive military attack, strike or invasion by the U.S. against Iran takes place;

(2) to make clear to the administration that such a preemptive attack has not been authorized by any law, resolution, court ruling or article of the Constitution;

(3) to support diplomatic engagement with Iran; and

(4) to maintain pressure against all escalations of war in the Middle East;

and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Representative Town Meeting Members of the town of Brattleboro directs the Town Clerk to send copies of this Resolution to the President of the United States, our Congressional representatives, our Vermont legislative representatives, and all local media outlets; and to arrange that a copy of this resolution be placed on the Brattleboro town website.

I’m one very happy camper right now. And everything was done before the Dem Caucus.

Some days, things just go better than you ever expected.  

   

(Because this is too damn funny and totally Annikee!

UPDATE: Check in with iBrattleboro today for all the antics at Brattleboro’s town meeting! – promoted by Brattlerouser)

cross-posted to iBrattleboro.com:

I’d just like to know why the Democratic Caucus was called to be in the middle of the Brattleboro Town Meeting at 4 p.m. on Saturday?

Is this yet another chance for leftists to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory? What geniuses are responsible?

Beautiful. No friggin wonder why nothing means anything anymore. Way to go, idiots.

And they wonder why we drink.

At this Saturday’s Representative Town Meeting in Brattleboro, a Resolution calling for no pre-emptive strikes on Iran will be put up for the vote in a non-binding Resolution.

Several months ago I spied a story about this happening last March in Gary, Indiana. I shopped it around to several of the lefty crowd and got no interest. They were all working on the Indictment. After Dora Bouboulis decided to not run for re-election to the Selectboard, she volunteered to present it at Town Mtg. I’ve received some criticism for it on iBrattleboro, and this evening posted this piece below on why this Reaolution should be adopted:

Cross-posted from iBrattleboro.com:

To my mind, the bottom line that seems the obvious objection to any more spread of invasion we’re doing is practical: death and taxes. Deaths of our own countryfolk and the mideast’s countryfolk, and taxes that our children’s children will be paying from their WalWorld paychecks. But that’s the practical side. I’m a fiscal realist, and I hate death. It’s all wasteful.

In the larger, moral picture, I just think it’s imperative that we do every single thing within our grasp to stop this war machine before more veterans come home ruined for life; before parents, spouses and children send their loved ones off to some other place to receive back a folded flag and silence. I saw enough of that with Vietnam, waiting every day for the two officers bearing news about my brother, or sighing with relief when it was someone else’s door they went to, then feeling like crap when you heard the family in that house wail. I was lucky, my brother came back alive.

So yes, I have an agenda in pushing for this Resolution. I don’t want anyone else to go through losing anyone, anymore. Not for a fake “wah on terrah”, not for a bunch of lies, not for big business, not for the Rapture. These are false reasons.

Gary, Indiana, is not known for its progressive politics, but it passed a much more inclusive Resolution. When I shopped it around to friends, the same suggestion came back; shorten it. So Dora Bouboulis and I cut it down to what would cause the least argument. That text is on another post:

http://www.ibrattleboro.com/ar…

If you are a Town Mtg Rep, please consider your vote to be a Yes on this Resolution. We don’t need any more death and taxes.