Occupy Wall Street; Crucial American Movement

by E. Henry SchoenbergerEntrepreneur, financial specialist, writer and author

Our country is in a crisis. There exists a terrible mismatch between the ultra rich and the 99 percent of us who are not driven by unbridled greed.

The root cause of the problem: a nation that was deregulated at the expense of the conscience of our country and at the expense of the fabric of the American Dream -- deregulated for Wall Street mega-banks and multinational corporations who care nothing for people sleeping in tents or without jobs in foreclosed lives.

Occupy Wall Street is a tide of upheaval and alienation, much like the other crucial movements in our past that led to a more equal and fairer American society. The history of these movements in America began more than 200 years ago with a revolution against the tyranny of King George, who wanted to extract as much money from the colonies as possible. It includes the Civil War and Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation; Women's Sufferage (remember that not too long ago, women were not allowed to vote); and the Civil Rights Movement, which recognized that the Emancipation Proclamation needed teeth.

The civil Rights Movement was fundamentally about human rights, and Occupy Wall Street is also about human rights. It is about how most Americans really do not have a voice in our democracy because government has not protected the public, but favored the 1 percent who bankroll our elected officials.

"Nonviolent direct action seeks to create such a crisis and foster such attention that a community which has consistently refused to negotiate is forced to confront the issue. It seeks to so dramatize the issue that it can no longer be ignored."

- MLK

To understand the need and raison d'etre for the Occupy Wall Street Movement, it is important to remember the above quote from a letter, which the Rev. Martin Luther King wrote from the confines of a cell in the Birmingham Jail on April 16, 1963.

Dr. King was right -- and this new movement should be a wake-up call for Congress. In this country, preserving freedom to allow Capitalism to flourish is vital, but it should not trump the protection of the public good. Citizens have a right to have their economic and societal well-being protected ahead of Big Money. It's that simple.

We are not alone. Many other people in countries around our ever-smaller globe are marching for the same right, based on the same gravitas and reasons.

Now is the time for another Great American Movement, a new moment of truth for our country. And the scions of Wall Street watching from their lofty piles of money, deep in their sociopathic hearts, must know. Jeffrey Immelt, our President's jobs czar, also should know.

Wall Street is emblematic of Congress' concern for the interests of special interests, promoted by highly paid lobbyists for Wall Street and Big Business. And this sad reality has become palpable to 99 percent of Americans, who have decided not to take it anymore.

Today, our society has become -- of the lobbyists, by the ultra rich and for the ultra rich.

We are a living example of capitalism gone awry -- living in an economy that has been laid to waste by deregulating the barriers against greed erected in the aftermath of the Great Depression. We are living in a society controlled by lobbyists -- an army of mercenaries with cash as their weapons -- who are conducting a war on behalf of Wall Street Banks, Big Business and Big Money.

Capitalism is not the problem -- the problem is that its actors have been motivated by personal greed and nothing else. Financial capital is being turned away from real investments that create jobs and toward financial investments that create billions of net worth but no capital formation to create jobs. American multinational corporations that have generated enormous profits continue to ship middle-class jobs overseas for cheap labor, along with profits to avoid taxation here. Immelt, our jobs czar and CEO of GE, has proposed being allowed to bring all the untaxed profits home without any tax, nor any guarantee of how that money will be actually be spent.

Shortly after Adam Smith''s time, it became apparent that a totally free economic system unleashed powerful forces that were not always good. So the notion of total hands off was addressed and modified by the English Factory Act of 1833, which established a system of inspectors to prevent the abuse of child and women labor.

The past should serve as prologue. But for the past 30 years, Congress has gone back to the hands-off notions that caused our Great Depression and led to the Sherman Anti-trust Act and the Glass-Steagal barriers between banking and taking investment risks.

"Free the Market" became the cry of Wall Street-Mega Bank Holding Companies, Big Business and the Big Money supporting all the lobbyists. The new Republicans have supported the drive to totally free Capitalism at the clear expense of the Public Good, and the Democrats have either been unwitting participants or worse.

There has always been a tension between Capitalism and the Public Good. In the United States this crested when Herbert Spencer, the 19th Century British philosopher, postulated his theory of Social Darwinism based on the ethic of "survival of the fittest." This had nothing to do with Darwin, but only with providing a moral basis for the unbridled greed of Capitalism. And this moral was adopted by men like Andrew Carnegie and Rockefeller to justifytheir infinite avarice without one shard of concern for the public. Robber-baron greed was at the expense of the workers necessary to grow their personal riches, no matter what the consequences. Social Darwinism was simply -- public interest be damned!

There is a quote from the Declaration of Independence that is important to revisit: "He (the King of Great Britain) has refused to assert to laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good."

Therefore, this country was founded on the franchise that Americans have the right to expect laws to be enacted for the Public Good; and an expectation under the surface of things, to have the government protect the public.

And now a majority of Americans feel disenfranchised! Just like at the time of the Civil Rights Movement -- when Lyndon Johnson, a Southerner, supported the movement to end the inequalities based on color alone. Johnson forcibly pushed legislation through Congress knowing that it was right and knowing it would cost the Democratic Party the South.

So, once again, the time has come for another crucial American Movement that represents the real spirit of how Americans pull together when glaring inequalities threaten the American Dream.


Henry Schoenberger is the author of the new book, 'How We Got Swindled By Wall Street Godfathers, Greed & Financial Darwinism - The 30-Year War Against The American Dream,' which will be available in November.

Source: HuffingtonPost.com

Your Right Hand

You held me in your hand
I clung to your head
Scratching your scalp
Caring not scaring

I waited for your touch
U enthralled the boy
U reached inside
Grasped me firmly

Shook me with motion
Passionate devotion
Loving explosion
Gentle sleep

American Autumn of Inspiration spurs United for Global Change movement

Saturday October 15th protests in 719 cities, 71 countries

On October 15th people from all over the world will take to the streets and squares.

From North America to Asia, from Africa to Europe, Australia, Central and South America, people are rising up all over this beautiful planet to to claim their rights and demand a true democracy. Now it is time for all of us to join in a global non-violent protest.

The ruling powers work for the benefit of just a few, ignoring the will of the vast majority and the human and environmental price we all have to pay. This intolerable situation must end.

United in one voice, we will let politicians, and the financial elites they serve, know it is up to us, the people, to decide our future. We are not goods in the hands of politicians and bankers who do not represent us.

Time and water are running out, the Earth is heating up, and it is time for a global green revolution, a grassroots movement, a coalition of diverse forces with common goals. We want a more humane, equitable, just and sustainable society.

On October 15th, we will meet on the streets to initiate the global change we want. We will peacefully demonstrate, talk and organize until we make it happen.

It’s time for us to unite. It’s time for them to listen.

People of the world, rise up on October 15th!

Giving Thanks for Heather

by Yuya Joe College

I'm still afraid of love
Even after all these years
Even after all these tears
You're still with me my dove

You gave up your career and your friends
For four newborn babies
And a dad with a bottle in one hand
A guitar in the other

Maybe it is a miracle
We made it thru togetha
Maybe I didn't tell you enough
How much we meant to each other

I showed you honey
I stayed by your side
I love you honey
I need you beside me

The nights are getting colder
Whether we were born for one another
Or just learned to live this way
We're blessed by the lord of the stars tonight

With children, family, music, and love
Giving Thanks, for our daughters and sons
And most especially, my loving wife Heather

Do not act corruptly in the land

Excerpt from La Heavana Music Part III - Chapter Seven, Part III - Signs of Itopia:

Do not act corruptly in the land, making mischief. Therefore, pray to Jah on our behalf to bring forth for us, out of what the earth grows, of its herbs and its cucumbers and its garlic; cabbages and carrots, potatoes, lentils and onions. For every green herb We shall have for meat. Moses was surprised at such devotion and said, Will you exchange that which is better for that which is worse? Enter unto Tafari, so you will have what you ask for. May the LORD bless this land, with precious dew from heaven above, deep waters that lie below. May the rebellious return, and May He cause to grow for you thereby plentiful herbage, olive trees, and palm trees, and the grape vines, and trees of all the fruits that make Life sweet. A sign for a people who reflect. He has made subservient for you the night and the day; the sun and the moon, and the stars are made subservient by His commandment. Signs for a people who ponder.

Online text of La Heavana Musica, by Yuya Joe College

Greenpeace rising from the dead!

It was a delight to see Greenpeace back in the news the past couple of days, with a variety of campaigns moving forward and the Mattel / Barbie effort reaping some choice organic fruit. Here are some Greenpeace stories hitting news outlets this week:

Greenpeace forces Mattel to use ethical packaging for Barbie dolls


Greenpeace protesting Koch Industries for pollution and Iran dealings


Greenpeace Canada opposes new nuclear reactors in Ontario

Foods from India that promote health

10 Indian foods and spices to help weight loss

Turmeric : Curcumin, the active component of turmeric, is an object of research owing to its properties that suggest they may help to turn off certain genes that cause scarring and enlargement of the heart. Regular intake may help reduce low-density lipoprotein (LDL) or bad cholesterol and high blood pressure, increase blood circulation and prevent blood clotting, helping to prevent heart attack.

Cardamom : This is a thermogenic herb that increases metabolism and helps burn body fat. Cardamom is considered one of the best digestive aids and is believed to soothe the digestive system and help the body process other foods more efficiently.

Chillies : Foods containing chillies are said to be as foods that burn fat. Chillies contain capsaicin that helps in increasing the metabolism. Capsaicin is a thermogenic food, so it causes the body to burn calories for 20 minutes after you eat the chillies.

Curry leaves : Incorporating curry leaves into your daily diet can help you lose weight. These leaves flush out fat and toxins, reducing fat deposits that are stored in the body, as well as reducing bad cholesterol levels. If you are overweight, incorporate eight to 10 curry leaves into your diet daily. Chop them finely and mix them into a drink, or sprinkle them over a meal.

Honey, garlic and cabbage are all healthy choices

Garlic : An effective fat-burning food, garlic contains the sulphur compound allicin which has anti-bacterial effects and helps reduce cholesterol and unhealthy fats.

Mustard oil : This has low saturated fat compared to other cooking oils. It has fatty acid, oleic acid, erucic acid and linoleic acid. It contains antioxidants, essential vitamins and reduces cholesterol, which is good for the heart.

Cabbage : Raw or cooked cabbage inhibits the conversion of sugar and other carbohydrates into fat. Hence, it is of great value in weight reduction.

Moong dal : The bean sprouts are rich in Vitamin A, B, C and E and many minerals, such as calcium, iron and potassium. It is recommended as a food replacement in many slimming programmes, as it has a very low fat content. It is a rich source of protein and fibre, which helps lower blood cholesterol level. The high fibre content yields complex carbohydrates, which aid digestion, are effective in stabilising blood sugar and prevent its rapid rise after meal consumption.

Honey : It is a home remedy for obesity. It mobilises the extra fat deposits in the body allowing it to be utilised as energy for normal functions. One should start with about 10 grams or a tablespoon, taken with hot water early in the morning.

Buttermilk : It is the somewhat sour, residual fluid that is left after butter is churned. The probiotic food contains just 2.2 grams of fat and about 99 calories, as compared to whole milk that contains 8.9 grams fat and 157 calories. Regular intake provides the body with all essential nutrients and does not add fats and calories to the body. It is thus helpful in weight loss.

HuffPost: Canada's shrinking Arctic ice shelf

Two ice shelves that existed before Canada was settled by Europeans diminished significantly this summer, one nearly disappearing altogether, Canadian scientists say in new research.

The loss is important as a marker of global warming, returning the Canadian Arctic to conditions that date back thousands of years, scientists say. Floating icebergs that have broken free as a result pose a risk to offshore oil facilities and potentially to shipping lanes. The breaking apart of the ice shelves also reduces the environment that supports microbial life and changes the look of Canada's coastline.

Luke Copland is an associate professor in the geography department at the University of Ottawa who co-authored the research. He said the Serson Ice Shelf shrank from 79.15 square miles (205 square kilometers) to two remnant sections three years ago, and was further diminished this past summer.

Copland said the shelf went from a 16-square-mile (42-square-kilometer) floating glacier tongue to 9.65 square miles (25 square kilometers), and the second section from 13.51 square miles (35 square kilometers) to 2 square miles (7 square kilometers), off Ellesmere Island's northern coastline.

This past summer, Ward Hunt Ice Shelf's central area disintegrated into drifting ice masses, leaving two separate ice shelves measuring 87.65 and 28.75 square miles (227 and 74 square kilometers) respectively, reduced from 131.7 square miles (340 square kilometers) the previous year.

"It has dramatically broken apart in two separate areas and there's nothing in between now but water," said Copland.

Copland said those two losses are significant, especially since the Ward Hunt Ice Shelf has always been the biggest, the farthest north and the one scientists thought might have been the most stable.

"Recent (ice shelf) loss has been very rapid, and goes hand-in-hand with the rapid sea ice decline we have seen in this decade and the increasing warmth and extensive melt in the Arctic regions," said Ted Scambos, lead scientist at the National Snow and Ice Data Center at the University of Colorado, remarking on the research.

Full article on disappearing Arctic ice in Canada