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Showing posts with label blog action day. Show all posts
Showing posts with label blog action day. Show all posts

10.16.2014

Inequality Alive and Well circa BAD2014

Treatment of Ferguson and St.Louis Residents is a perfect example of 






Inequality alive and well circa 2014.


Webster Dictionary Defines Inequality as:

 "an unfair situation in which some people have more rights or better opportunities than other people"



Blog Action Day Inequality The treatment of my fellow St.Louisans is the perfect example of Inequality Scotty
The treatment of my fellow St.Louisans is the perfect example of Inequality Scotty  
#BAD2014, #blogactionday, #Education, #Ferguson, #Inequality 

Even CBS news broadcasted and touched on the inequalities the Residents of Ferguson have been forced to endure.


Published on Oct 13, 2014

Vladimir Duthiers looks at what's changed -- and what hasn't -- since the fatal police shooting of unarmed black teenager Michael Brown in Ferguson, Mo. last July.





           I feel after living a few years in the civilly deprived and racially divided  North City region of StLouis.



              I have a basic understanding of what has lead up to the ongoing conflict between the Ferguson Residents and the Ferguson County Police Department.


              The overall cause of the attitudes of my St.Louis Neighbors is basically a feeling of being 


alienated by society that controls a system which is rigged against the little man.  

    Just like a Gambler knows:

"The House always holds the winning hand...

     The disenfranchised youth feel the Deck is always stacked against them.  And its the


 ...Ferguson Court House who holds the Winning hand."    
  


    NPR
  • distrust of police that has fueled protests in Ferguson, Mo., consider this: In 2013, the municipal court in Ferguson — a city of 21,135 people — issued 32,975 arrest warrants for nonviolent offenses



    NPR
  • The ArchCity Defenders report argues that this resentment is justified. Last year, Ferguson collected $2.6 million in court fines and fees...second-biggest source of income of the $20 million it collected.  


  • NYT-The unrest served to highlight longstanding complaints by a predominantly black community that they were being harassed by the police. http://www.nytimes.com/2014/09/09/us/ferguson-council-looks-to-improve-community-relations-with-police.html
            
             It is abundantly clear, the Ferguson Court System levies out: harsh penalties and fines for non-violent offenses which starts the perpetual revolving jail-door of interaction and incarceration within the court system and its jails.


St.Louis PD Adds Fuel to the fire



        The killings of unarmed black kids has continued to spread in the St.Louis Region- the latest incident happened in the Shaw Neighborhood when an unarmed black youth- Myers was shot numerous times by an moonlighting St.Louis Police Officer.


                One thing I've observed while living in regions of St.Louis in various socalled hoods by the locals is the number of unemployed people trying just to get by in todays society.


"47 percent of the metro area’s African-American men between ages 16 and 24 are unemployed." Washington Post



               If I can point my finger at the one issue that is causing the high unemployment  rate among minorities: the lack of education has to rank pretty high on my list for the number one area needed for improvement.  

              The above statement comes from my experience-performing construction work in the hood.  I've noticed that many times the people that will stop by a construction job site and inquire about "Work"-are unable to read a tape measure.  (Which is a must have skill needed to work on 90% of the construction jobs I perform for my St.Louis Neighbors.)


                I don't exactly remember when I learned how to read a ruler.  But I do know I learned it in School.  



     "If the St.Louis regional area cannot even teach the next generation these basic education principles-then we are to blame and utterly responsible for failing to provide and give the youth a fighting chance to make it in the World."


           I believe it was Ray Lewis, Baltimore Ravens Linebacker and future Pro Bowl Inductee who coined the phrase:
  
"We must Fix this House"

The house the people of St.Louis should put on the top of the list to Fix is the School House.

           Its painfully obvious the Foundation of the Schoolhouse is cracked  and unless repairs are made. The St.Louis region could come tumbling down-just like what happens to the abandoned and neglected homes that are scattered around the city!

            Education is like the Mortar in the Rock Foundation of a St.Louis Brick Home.  When its missing like in the first photo 
Photo of missing Mortar-Stone Foundation




or when discord is allowed to grow like this tree root second and third photos
Tree Growing in Brick Wall



Getting to the Root of the Problem



You are in immediate danger of your entire home collapsing onto itself just like this home in North City
Photo Courtesy of Vanishing STL http://vanishingstl.blogspot.com
Photo Courtesy of Vanishing STL 


Just like a Rock Foundation in a home can be repaired.  So can too the failing education system in St.Louis.  I envision a 3 step process to repair the St.Louis failing education system. 
Step 1: Repair Mortar in Education System
Step 1
                  Just like I replaced the Mortar in the above picture is representative of how educational resources  can fill in the voids lacking in the current failing education system. 
Step 2: Apply Water Proofing-Skills that Education Represent
 Step 2
                  The waterproofing on this Stone Foundation Repair represents the skills that education gives to the youth of St.Louis.  (Waterproofing slows and eliminates leaks and water damage.) The same principles that a quality education will give the youth.  Stopping and Eliminating the Leaks that an under-educated life will bring.
Step 3: Show Your Foundations New Strengths to the World!

Step 3
          Just as the foundation repair project in the above brick home will continue to support the St.Louis Brick Building for the next 200 years.  

Is exactly what a quality education will give to the Youth of St.Louis- 


Providing them a fighting chance that all the youth deserve and are desperately needed for a fully functioning society...this will also provide the younger generations the tools needed to live in harmony with todays society.  

     An Education is the Foundation that a Successful Life is Built upon.
October 2014, Scotty   



Russell Brand in the interview below in the Oct 13, 2014 Interview on David Letterman has a unique way of bringing his message to the viewers.  Mr Brand touches on the #Inequality of the poor vs wealthy and the revolving door of our Political system and the ties of Wall Street vs Mainstream America-



  • skip to the 6:28 spot to listen to this part of the interview- 
  • the first 6 minutes are spent discussing how he overcame his addictions to alcohol and drugs.





The End Part 1 on Inequality in America

Thank You for stopping by-Share and Comment below. If additional information in needed or you have a question let me know. Together we can make a difference.





Interesting TidBits on the Ferguson Region

  • Black alone - 13,753 (64.9%)
  • White alone - 6,494 (30.6%)
  • Two or more races - 437 (2.1%)
  • Asian alone - 263 (1.2%)
  • Hispanic - 156 (0.7%)
  • American Indian alone - 34 (0.2%)
  • Other race alone - 45 (0.2%)
  • Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone - 23 (0.1%)
Ferguson races chart
http://www.city-data.com/city/Ferguson-Missouri.html


Web Links from Wiki Links on Inequality


In healthcare:
In economics:
In the social sciences:

Also From Webster:
 in·equal·i·ty
 noun \ËŒi-ni-ˈkwä-lÉ™-tÄ“\





10.22.2013

2013 Blog Action Day Success

Dear friends,

I’d like to thank you, on behalf of Amnesty International, for exercising one of your fundamental human rights  − freedom of expression −  on Blog Action Day 2013.

I was amazed by the sheer diversity and number of good blogs posted yesterday, by over 2,400 registered bloggers (and close to 2,000 unregistered bloggers and social media users) across 130 countries.

Together, you brought to light dark stories about human rights abuses. You also told many inspirational tales about international activism, solidarity and hope.

Being able to express our opinions online in this way is a powerful weapon in the struggle for universal human rights.
We were proud to be a key Blog Action Day 2013 partner, and to have shared this day with you. Our work to defend human rights continues on the other 364 days of the year.


And please keep blogging. We need to keep pulling together to stop human rights abuses worldwide. Right now, we are pushing for a new law to protect people in Kenya’s slums from being kicked out of their homes. You can help by signing our petition now.


Thanks once again for being Blog Action Day.  We have posted some great blogs on this Storify, and plan to publish our three favourites soon on Amnesty’s global human rights blog, LIVEWIRE.

Salil Shetty
Secretary General, Amnesty International


Courtesy of: Scotty, Scotts Contracting-StLouis Renewable Energy

Thank you for stopping by St Louis Renewable Energy. Feel free to comment in the section below or contact Scotts Contracting- St Louis Home Improvement Projects and Energy Reducing Needs Get Your Green Building Tips and Resources at St Louis Renewable Energy Green Blog

10.16.2013

Humanitys Greatest Challenge

Will 2013 Blog Action Day be a success?  Of course it will be this years subject is Humanitarian in Nature and is a perfect fit for addressing Humanity's Greatest Challenge yet undertaken by Mankind.  
The continued threat of Global Warming on the Worlds Food Supply caused by extreme weather.
I recently wrote about the changing weather patterns that I link to global warming and my experiences growing up on a Ranch in North Missouri.  I mentioned simple facts that cannot be denied: We do not have prolonged periods of cold weather that keeps the snow that falls from melting 'normally', we have more ice and less snow, and we are feeling the effects of climate change.
And now it is effecting our Nation's Food Supply.  Just recently 4 feet of snow fell in the western plains[1].  The Snow was so deep and came so early that tens of thousands of cattle were killed- a tragedy for the Ranchers and their herds.  

This is not only a loss of income for the Ranchers and the businesses in the area; it is going to affect the prices of the Nations Food Stock.  
While it may be normal for 4 feet of snow fall in the Western Plains.  It is not normal for 4 feet of snow fall this early in the year.  The snowfall came so early and was unexpected for both the Ranchers and Cattle they were ill equipped and still ill equipped since our Government has shut down[2]- removing all the aid that is deserving for the bestricken Ranchers.  
The normal pattern of how animals grow their winter coats that usually grow middle to late fall, had not yet fully developed.  So the cattle were out there with jean jackets on instead of down filled winter coats.  Just like a human would freeze to death so did the cattle and wildlife.  

Did you notice the Natural Weather pattern was altered- 
Winter came earlier and more severe.  
This is not the normal weather pattern.
To help my readers understand how extreme weather affects the daily shopping routine at the local Schnucks and Dierbergs hometown grocery stores let me share a little background on Beef production.
  • A loss of 1 steer will produce an average of 800 pounds of beef.  10,000 steers produce 8,000,000[3] lbs of meat that American Families need to eat for survival.
  • Supply and Demand determines the markets[4].
So yes Global Warming does affect us in StLouis even though we were not directly in the Last Path of the extreme weather patterns caused by Global Warming from the burning of Fossil Fuels that create CO2[6] see IPCC 5th assessment report[7].
One of several reasons why the air around St. Louis is poor are the many coal-fueled power stations based on both the Missouri and the Mississippi Rivers. This one, the Labadie Power Plant, is on the Missouri, slap in the middle of an otherwise pristine view from Klondike Park, Defiance. Richard Keeling
Labadie Dirty Coal Plant Photo by:Richard Keeling
the Show-Me State, year-over-year emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases from power plants rose 3 percent.  Leading the way was Missouri's largest coal-burning power plant, Ameren Missouri’s 2,400-megawatt Labadie power station.

Labadie plant among top emitters of greenhouse gases-StLouis Post Dispatch

It is going to hit us where it will hurt us Humans the most [in a struggling economy] in our bank accounts when we go to the grocery store.  
Lucky for us there are things we can do to lessen the effects of the Extreme Weather that is causing Global Warming and the damage from Climate Change.  

Yes StLouis can make a difference in Humanity's Greatest Challenge.
Simple acts of reducing the energy needed for your home does make a difference because less energy needed is less Dirty Coal that is burned to create the electricity StLouis Needs.  This means that the 4th most polluting coal plant in the USA[8] that is located just a measly 45 minutes to the west of StLouis will need to burn less coal which is the biggest form of CO2 emissions[9].  Here are just 4 simple acts that have the biggest influence in reducing Climate Change caused by Global Warming:
  • So the little act of changing a light bulb to a new style that uses less energy can help as well as turning off unused gadgets- 10% reduction of coal burnt electricity.
  • Beefing Up {staying on the Ranch Theme} the insulation in your home or office will mean less electricity is needed-Weatherizing your home has additional benefits as well-15-30% reduction of coal burnt electricity.
  • Installing a clean energy solar system will also dramatically reduce the CO2 Pollution-greatest savings for bank account and reduced CO2 emissions 90-100% of reduction of coal burnt electricity.
I realize that #2 and #3 have sizeable investment hurdles.  Luckily we have a local program in StLouis to help with making Energy Efficiency, Energy Conservation, and Clean Energy Resources possible for our Area.  This is not your normal go to the bank for a loan financing.  It is better!  This program, Set the PACE StLouis[11] is geared to help local people do their part to reduce climate change and save money.  Its a match made in heaven and just what the doctor ordered.
This program will not only:
  • Save you money on Reducing the energy needs for your Building.
  • It will improve the Value of your Property
  • You will have MORE money- because the Loan Payment Charges are lower than the price you were paying for the energy.
If you could do all those things and reduce the Dirty Coal that produces the most CO2 Pollution from being burned what is not to like about such a program?  When more people are joining in and making a difference we will be meeting and mitigating the Humanity's Greatest Challenge
Scotty
Scotts Contracting, StLouis Renewable Energy
We Can Build a Green StLouis[12]

Key Words for Blog Action Day 2013 : #BAD2013#OCT16#Humanrights#BlogActionDay, #GlobalWarming, #CO2,#ClimateChange

[1] "Early snow kills thousands of cattle in SD - Weather, forecasts, news ..." 2013. 15 Oct. 2013 <http://local.msn.com/early-snow-kills-thousands-of-cattle-in-sd-1>
[2] "Government Shuts Down As Congress Fails To Reach Spending ..." 2013. 15 Oct. 2013 <http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/10/01/government-shuts-down_n_4020219.html>
[3] "How much meat does a steer usually produce? - Cattle Forum ..." 2008. 15 Oct. 2013 <http://www.cattletoday.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=43995>
[4] "Supply and demand - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia." 2003. 15 Oct. 2013 <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supply_and_demand>
[5] "Cattle prices could break records this week | Beef Today - AgWeb." 2013. 15 Oct. 2013 <http://www.agweb.com/article/cattle_prices_could_break_records_this_week_NAA_Greg_Henderson/>
[7] "IPCC - Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change." 15 Oct. 2013 <http://www.ipcc.ch/>
[9] "Energy-related carbon dioxide emissions - US Energy Information ..." 2011. 15 Oct. 2013 <http://www.eia.gov/forecasts/ieo/emissions.cfm>
[10] "Little Green Thumb Recycling Adventure |St Louis Renewable Energy." 2012. 15 Oct. 2013 <http://stlouisrenewableenergy.blogspot.com/2012/06/little-green-thumb-recycling-adventure.html>
[11] "Set the Pace St. Louis." 2013. 15 Oct. 2013 <http://www.setthepacestlouis.com/>
[12] "Scotts Contracting - St Louis Renewable Energy." 2009. 15 Oct. 2013 <http://www.stlouisrenewableenergy.com/>



Thank you for stopping by St Louis Renewable Energy. Feel free to comment in the section below or contact Scotts Contracting- St Louis Home Improvement Projects and Energy Reducing Needs Get Your Green Building Tips and Resources at St Louis Renewable Energy Green Blog

10.14.2009

Blog Action Day 2009, Contact the President

Add your name to those across the world calling on President Obama to lead on climate change

4,100 signatures thus far!
Keep me updated about the movement to address climate change through the Alliance for Climate Protection.

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