Archive for March 18th, 2009
Immigrant Detention is the New Money Maker
11:17 am By Maegan la Mamita Mala · Immigration|Justice|Money · 3 Comments
18 Mar 2009
In these economic times, those with the least suffer the most and become the new fodder for the prison industrial complex.
Washington paid nearly $55.2 million to house detainees at 13 local jails in California in fiscal year 2008, up from $52.6 million the previous year. The U.S. is on track to spend $57 million this year.
The largest federal contract in the state is with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, whose 1,400-bed detention center in Lancaster is dedicated to housing immigrants either awaiting deportation or fighting their cases in court. The department received $34.7 million in 2008, up from $32.3 million the previous year.
Some smaller cities have seen their income rise much faster. Glendale received nearly $260,000 in 2008, triple what it got the previous year. In Alhambra, last year’s $247,000 was more than double the previous year’s payments.
For some cash-strapped cities, the federal money has become a critical source of revenue, covering budget shortfalls and saving positions.
Via / The LA Times y gracias to Nezua via the Twitter
Obama Administration Will Reportedly Sign UN Gay Rights Agreement
11:07 am By Jennifer Woodard Maderazo · Activism|GLBT|Politics|society|World · Comments Off
18 Mar 2009
Not to be all Obama administration “rah, rah, sis, boom ba!” but after quietly celebrating the latest reversal to the Bush farm worker rule, I’m celebrating this piece of unofficial news as well:
The Obama administration will support a United Nations declaration affirming that sexual orientation and gender identity are included in international human rights protections, the Associated Press reported on Tuesday evening.
According to officials, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because Congress was still being notified, the Obama administration had reviewed the reasons why the Bush administration opposed the declaration, and decided to notify the French sponsors that the United States would support it.
As you might already know, the U.S. was, thanks to the prior administration, part of a shameful list of oppressive, anti-gay countries such as Saudi Arabia, Uganda, Egypt and the Vatican City. It’s impossible for people in Europe and other places that signed the agreement to understand this kind of hatred. Luckily, with this move, we are a millimeter closer to a more dignified world image.
There’s still a lot left for the Obama administration to do when it comes to gay rights. Namely: approve gay marriage.
Via / Advocate
Hilda Solis Gets to Work Reversing Bush Farm Worker Rule
8:45 am By Maegan la Mamita Mala · Immigration|Labor|Politics · 1 Comment
18 Mar 2009
Labor Secretary Hilda Solis wasted no time in getting down to business after being sworn in last week. Her first major move was to reverse a last minute Bush change to the H-2A agricultural guestworker program.
The changes lowered the wage formula and reduced government oversight in an industry already rife with abuses against migrant workers.
On Solís’ first day in office, the Labor Department announced in a statement “the proposed suspension for nine months” of the rule. Solís said in the release:
Because many stakeholders have raised concerns about the H-2A regulations, this proposed suspension is the prudent and responsible action to take.
Suspending the rule would allow the department to review and reconsider the regulation, while minimizing disruption to state workforce agencies, employers and workers.
So nice to see some movement towards helping immigrant workers from the Obama administration.
Via / Feet in 2 Worlds
Pope: Condoms Make AIDS Worse
7:12 am By Jennifer Woodard Maderazo · Bizarro|Controversia|Health|Religion|society|South Africa · 2 Comments
18 Mar 2009How many of you — regardless of religious beliefs — can really call this statement valid?
The Pope has really outdone himself this time. Going a step beyond John Paul the II’s assertion that abstinence is preferable to condoms — which in itself is ridiculous — Benedict has clearly gone off the deep end. Condoms worsen the problem? That’s just crazy talk. AIDS experts in South Africa agree:
Rebecca Hodes, head of policy for the Treatment Action Campaign in South Africa’s city of Capetown, told Al Jazeera on Wednesday they were “extremely angered and saddened by this ill-considered response from the pope”.
“We know, based on over the 10-year experience of preventing and treating HIV in South Africa, that condoms are one of the only evidence-based means of preventing HIV available to us in Africa,” she said.
“There is very little evidence to support abstinence-only education campaigns as a means of preventing HIV. Condoms work in preventing HIV.”
Via / Al Jazeera
Hola!
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