Tag Archives: republicans

Temple’s study gives private prisons cover to keep harming our communities.

Tell Temple University Pres. Theobald to investigate now:

Two Temple University professors released an inaccurate study praising private prisons without revealing a major conflict of interest — private prisons funded the study.¹ Unsurprisingly, the research argued in favor of for-profit imprisonment based on a number of dangerous myths — exactly the kind of inaccuracies that give the industry cover to keep exploiting Black communities for profit.

Private prisons are making a killing off the anti-black racism, abuse, and inhumanity of mass incarceration. In order to stop this shameful industry, we must expose any attempts to bolster its credibility among the public and state officials. Temple has agreed to look into a pending ethics complaint against the study, but it’s been a year and still no investigation.

Tell Temple President Neil Theobald to thoroughly investigate the pending ethics complaint, hold the authors of the study accountable, and create a new policy requiring researchers to reveal corporate funding at all stages of the research publication process. It just takes a moment.

Temple’s study was funded by the nation’s top three private prison companies: Corrections Corporation of America (CCA), GEO Group, and Management Training Corp (MTC). When initially released, Professors Simon Hakim and Erwin Blackstone included no information on its private prison funding.² It was only after advocates filed an ethics complaint that the professors were forced to reveal their funding sources,³ but the damage had already been done. Public opinion had been influenced by a number of editorials by Professors Hakim and Blackstone published in newspapers nationwide, most of which did not mention their private prison funding.⁴

CCA, the country’s largest private prison company, was established after its founders decided managing prisons was just like “selling cars, or real estate, or hamburgers.”⁵ Since then, the industry has exploded, with the number of people in private prisons increasing by 1,664%.⁶ These corrupt companies have played a key role in lobbying for policies that increase imprisonment and worsen today’s mass incarceration crisis, fueled by the discriminatory War On Drugs.⁷ Due to continued prejudice in the justice system, Black people are the most likely to be incarcerated for profit in abusive private prisons.⁸ In order to increase profits, for-profit prisons cut costs on key services — meaning lower staffing levels, less training for guards, abysmal health care, and increased rates of violence.⁹

The Temple Study is dishonest and filled with inaccuracies, which the private prison industry leverages to deflect public outrage around its unethical business practices and human rights violations. Both CCA and GEO Group reference the Temple study in promotional materials as “independent” confirmation of the benefits of private prisons.¹⁰ A recent letter published by the ACLU reveals that Hakim and Blackstone’s methodology is deeply flawed.¹¹ Their claims that private prison save states money fail to take into account increased state costs associated with higher recidivism rates found at private prisons, and the fact that companies get to “cherry pick” who they lock up — allowing them to choose healthier, less costly, people.

Temple University has an obligation to enforce its ethics policies and prevent corporations from funding “independent” research in secret. Please ask your friends and family to join in order to increase the power of our voices.

Thanks and Peace,

—Matt, Rashad, Arisha, Lyla, Jamar and the rest of the ColorOfChange.org team
July 7th, 2014

Help support our work. ColorOfChange.org is powered by YOU—your energy and dollars. We take no money from lobbyists or large corporations that don’t share our values, and our tiny staff ensures your contributions go a long way.

References

1. “University to review ethics complaint regarding two professors,” The Temple News, 06-13-2014
http://act.colorofchange.org/go/3577?t=7&akid=3454.1174326.osp1U6

2. “PLN managing editor’s Temple University ethics complaint profiled,” Prison Legal News, 06-11-2014
http://act.colorofchange.org/go/3578?t=9&akid=3454.1174326.osp1U6

3. “Ethics Complaint vs. Professors Hakim and Blackstone,” Human Rights Defense Center, 06-25-2013
http://act.colorofchange.org/go/3632?t=11&akid=3454.1174326.osp1U6

4. See reference 2.

5. “The Dirty Thirty: Nothing to Celebrate About 30 Years of Corrections Corporation of America,” Grassroots Leadership, 01-30-2013
http://act.colorofchange.org/go/3579?t=13&akid=3454.1174326.osp1U6

6.”The Number of People in Private Prisons Has Grown By 1,664% in the Last 19 Years,” Policy Mic, 01-25-2013
http://act.colorofchange.org/go/3580?t=15&akid=3454.1174326.osp1U6

7. “Private Prison Companies Want You Locked Up,” Justice Policy, 06-22-2011
http://act.colorofchange.org/go/3581?t=17&akid=3454.1174326.osp1U6

8. “Too Good to be True: Private Prisons in America,” Sentencing Project, 01-2012
http://act.colorofchange.org/go/2921?t=19&akid=3454.1174326.osp1U6

9. “The Color of Corporate Corrections, Part II: Contractual Exemptions and the Overrepresentation of People of Color in Private Prisons,” Journal of Radical Criminology, 09-2013
http://act.colorofchange.org/go/3582?t=21&akid=3454.1174326.osp1U6

10. “The Case For Private Prisons,” Politico, 02-28-2014
http://act.colorofchange.org/go/3625?t=23&akid=3454.1174326.osp1U6

11. “An Open Letter to the Corrections Corporation of America,” ACLU 07-1-2014
http://act.colorofchange.org/go/3624?t=25&akid=3454.1174326.osp1U6

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

States of Denial

07/03/2014 Nativegrl77

By CAP Action War Room

More Than Half Of Republican Governors Are Climate Deniers

Here’s what we knew: Scientists are as sure of man-made climate change as they are that cigarettes kill. These changes already cause an increasing likelihood of extreme weather, pose dangerous health risks, and carry steep economic costs to taxpayers.

Here’s what we now know: Far too many governors, the people who see the impacts of climate change first hand and should be playing a leading role in their state, deny the climate science and refuse to believe that humans play a role in climate change. A CAP Action news analysis finds that of the 29 current Republican governors in the United States, fifteen — more than half — are climate change deniers. A number of others have made no public statement on climate science, have not taken action to address the issue, or have openly objected to federal safeguards that help blunt the impacts of climate change.

The map below lays this out in plain view (click here to view the interactive version). It categorizes governors into four groups: green for those who both accept climate science and are taking action to fight climate change; orange for those who either accept or haven’t openly denied climate science, but also have yet to take serious action to address climate change; red for those who have failed to take action or openly rejected to federal safeguards to address climate change; and red with stripes for climate deniers.

govmapfull

Here are just a few examples of some of the most backward comments and actions from governors around the country:

Indiana: Governor Mike Pence (R). When asked if he accepts climate change science, Pence responded, “I don’t know that that is a resolved issue in science today…just a few years ago we were talking about global warming. We haven’t seen a lot of warming lately. I remember back in the 70’s we were talking about the coming ice age.” Pence also let Indiana’s state-wide energy efficiency program die by refusing to either sign or veto a bill that would end it (by default, the bill to end it became law).
Maine: Governor Paul LePage (R). LePage is one of the most outspoken climate deniers, and has said that “scientists are divided on the subject.” He has argued that Maine could potentially benefit from the effects of climate change, vetoed legislation that would help the state prepare for extreme weather, blocked a bipartisan bill to expand solar power, and has attempted to dramatically reduce the state’s renewable energy standards to benefit large corporations.
Texas: Governor Rick Perry (R). Perry has repeatedly questioned the science behind climate change — “I think we’re seeing almost weekly, or even daily, scientists that are coming forward and questioning the original idea that man-made global warming is what is causing the climate to change.” Perry, along with energy companies, industry front groups, and other conservative politicians, sued the EPA in an attempt to block the agency from regulating climate pollution. Their argument was that climate science is a hoax.

Instead of cutting carbon pollution and investing in clean energy, the fifteen Republican governors currently ignoring science have taken more than $15 million in campaign contributions from big polluters over the course of the careers. While their governors count the campaign cash, local communities are suffering.

BOTTOM LINE: Despite the overwhelming scientific consensus and the devastating impacts of climate change, more than half of America’s Republican governors are standing with the anti-science members of Congress. These officials, and the others who are dragging their feet on the issue, need to face the facts. The EPA’s Clean Power Plan to reduce carbon pollution from power plants requires state leadership, and the American people — who broadly support the new rules — want them to action.

Like CAP Action on Facebook and follow us on Twitter!

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Celebrate oil savings solutions this Fourth of July

07/03/2014 Nativegrl77

NEW VIDEO
The Military is Leading the Way to Half the Oil

Half the Oil Leadership

This Fourth of July, salute our military’s commitment to developing oil saving technologies that will benefit our nation.

We see the costs of oil all around us, from the impacts of storms and droughts exacerbated by climate change to the pain of volatile prices at the pump. And it’s a reality that confronts our military daily: every time the price of a barrel of oil rises by ten dollars, the military spends more than one billion dollars more on oil, and that’s money that can’t be used to protect our service men and women or our national security.

In fact, the U.S. military is the largest user of oil in the world. That’s why the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Coast Guard are leading the way on investing in oil saving solutions.

Across the United States and around the world, engineers, active-duty service men and women, and veterans are producing non-food based biofuels for aircraft and ships and deploying hybrid and electric vehicle technology on military bases and in the field. That’s good for fighting climate change and for our national security.

To tell the story of how our military is affected by oil and what they are doing about it, the Union of Concerned Scientists partnered with the Truman National Security Project—a group of national security experts who are working to address some of our biggest global challenges. Truman’s Operation Free project raises the voices of military veterans who have seen the costs of our oil use first-hand, and share an unparalleled commitment to making clean energy solutions a reality. We are proud to be partnering with Operation Free to support efficient and clean fuel technologies and policies, and hope you’ll join us in sharing the video that we made to explain what’s possible when we work together.

Watch the video and share this important story on Facebook, Google+ or on Twitter by sharing the tweets below:

* On #4thofJuly, salute our military’s work to cut #oil use. Share @ucsusa & @operationfree video: j.mp/1mFcZP5 #HalftheOil
* The military developed microchips & GPS. Now it’s clean vehicles & fuels. @ucsusa & @operationfree video explains: j.mp/1mFcZP5
* Learn what #electriccars & our military have in common, watch new @ucsusa & @operationfree video: j.mp/1mFcZP5 #HalftheOil

You might be surprised to learn how much progress the military is making on cutting oil use, and what citizens and scientists can do to help make these solutions a reality for all of us.

Sincerely,

Rachel Cohen
National Field Organizer
Clean Vehicles Program
Union of Concerned Scientists

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

The climate crisis isn’t a game

07/01/2014 Nativegrl77

enable images to view this map!

Americans born between 1981 and 2010—the Millennial Generation (MY generation)—will see a massive increase in the number of days over 95° in the course of our lifetimes.

As we grow older, blistering, life-threatening heat waves will become the norm—just as we age into the demographic group most vulnerable to heat-wave-related deaths. Risky Business projects an additional 11,000-36,000 people will die of heat-related conditions per year in the Southeast alone, where residents will experience an additional 4 months of 95° and hotter days each year.

This is what the climate crisis will mean. But, it’s only part of the story. We’re already seeing more severe heat-waves and wildfires, drought and floods, storm surges and coastal flooding. There is literally not one corner of this country or the planet not already feeling the effects of global warming.

It’s a monumental task. But, there is good news. Right now, thanks to the EPA’s Clean Power Plan, we have the best chance we’ve ever had to slash carbon pollution from America’s fossil-fuel-burning power plants, the largest source of carbon pollution in the country. That’s important. And with your help, we’re going to win the fight to implement these common-sense, life-saving standards.

So please, take this opportunity for your generation, my generation, and all future generations. Make a donation today to our $3-for-$1 Summer Match Campaign to quadruple the value of your support.

Let’s solve this crisis together, now, while there’s still time.

Thank you for all your support,
Emily's signature
Emily Stevenson
Manager, Online Membership

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Hooray for Hollywood? ~~

07/01/2014 Nativegrl77

Donate Now Director D. W. Griffith’s 1915 silent drama, Birth of a Nation, was one of the first major depictions of African Americans on film (actually, white actors in blackface).

Yet the movie portrayed slavery as “civilizing” blacks and made it seem as though African Americans were happier in servitude. Not until the Civil Rights Movement in the 1950s-60s was Hollywood making an effort to include more African Americans in its movies and television shows.

But it was last year that director Steve McQueen’s 12 Years a Slave brought the full horror of Southern plantation life to the American people.

It is stories like these that we will tell at the new National Museum of African American History and Culture — stories that reflect the full range of the African American experience from great pain to soaring triumph.

Please join as a Charter Member today so that we can finish building the Museum that will tell these stories and countless others.

Hollywood’s portrayal of the African American experience in the movies is only one of the major cultural themes that the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture will confront, openly and intelligently, to shatter myths and to educate all Americans about the history we all share.

We are not building the Museum to celebrate black history solely for African Americans. Rather, the Museum will be a place for all Americans. A place where everyone can see how the African American experience has affected and shaped the lives of anyone who calls themselves an American.

You have been among the very first Americans to step forward and offer your support to help us construct this new museum. I cannot thank you enough for your generous contribution.

None of this is possible without support from friends like you. Your tax-deductible donation will ensure that our construction continues to progress and ensure that other elements of this grand project stay on track, too.

Together, you and I are creating a center of learning and inspiration that will attract millions of visitors from across the country and around the world. It is here they will come to understand the African American story in full — the moments of great pain and the moments of soaring triumph.

We’re moving closer to reality with each passing day!

Thank you for your support.