“With crisis after crisis that has hit our nation and our state,” writes Charlie Wishman in his Labor Day message, “it is always workers who are making sure our communities continue to run. With the devastating storms that just blew through Iowa, it is working class workers, public and private sector, that are cleaning up damage, restoring power as quickly as possible, and ensuring that our streets and neighborhoods are safe.” Continue Reading →
Of course, this is only one of many Salmonella outbreaks in recent years associated with the industrial food system. Remember AJ and Peter DeCoster? Half a billion DeCoster eggs were contaminated and the CDC reported as many as 56,000 Salmonella illnesses. Unlike most corporate criminals, who get off scott-free, the DeCosters each landed slap-on-the-wrist, three-month prison sentences for their astounding negligence. Continue Reading →
Nonviolent action is inherently creative. It is sometimes risky, often quirky. At its most effective, it catches the forces of oppression off guard, ripping apart their facade of legitimacy and exposing the raw ugliness of systemic violence. Continue Reading →
Given the deeply disturbing incidents happening across the country — including in Des Moines at the Iowa State Capitol last week (check out Jennie Erwin’s livestream) — it should be clear to everyone that police departments across the US are racially biased and have been militarized by the federal government. Continue Reading →
Dear Friends, I first learned of the history of Mothers Day years ago during a sermon by the late Reverend Bob Crandall. With the scars of the Civil War still Continue Reading →
“Energy is the thread that ties all our problems together into one knot. We need to cut the knot. We’re devolving further and further into techno-barbarism. I don’t want to live in Star Wars.” Continue Reading →
Let’s nominate Eddie Mauro — a voice for climate action, an advocate for the poor, and a strong challenger to unseat Joni Ernst in November. Continue Reading →
Regardless of COVID-19’s current and eventual impact on agriculture, more and more people are aware that our entire network of survival — including essential supplies, government services, energy, and health care system — is dangerously vulnerable. That’s true of our food supply, too. Continue Reading →
While Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity were calling the coronavirus a hoax, a fraud, and a Democratic conspiracy, our audience heard from a leading infectious disease physician in New Orleans Dr. Markalain Dery, Dr. Charles Goldman, and Dr. Stephen Goldman. Continue Reading →
No foreign policy morass is more complicated, nor more tragic, than Syria. Michel Younadam, a good friend from Homs, Syria, joins us on this week’s Forum to discuss the state of affairs in his homeland.
According to a United Nations report, “5,000 people flee Syria every day, and 28% of its population has now been driven from their homes. There are now 9 million Syrians who have fled, and 6.5 million who have been displaced but stay in the country.” Continue Reading →