Tag Archives: Travel

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

USDA~ FSN ~ FDA ~ January 2026 -Recalls – Food Safety Alerts – Previous Month & last day of prior month update


** Gerber Products Company Announces Voluntary Recall of Limited Batches of Arrowroot Biscuits Out of an Abundance of Caution Due to Potential Presence of Foreign Material Following Supplier Recall

** Tayto fined after large Salmonella outbreak

More than 500 people sickened in outbreak traced to snack food

By Joe Whitworth

** A recall of Pillsbury pizza pops in Canada has been expanded as the patient count in a related outbreak continues to grow. https://t.co/K1SPryLZVE

** Gerber expands recall of arrowroot biscuits to Canada

Gerber Products Company is recalling batches of Gerber Arrowroot Biscuits in Canada because of the potential presence of soft plastic and/or paper pieces that should not be consumed

** Left Coast Organics brand organic chia seeds have been recalled in Canada because of Salmonella contamination. https://t.co/Gpe8aNFPOU

** Recalled tuna sent to stores by FSN

Tri-Union Seafoods is cautioning consumers that a third-party distributor inadvertently released quarantined product that was associated with a February 2025 recall. The initial recall was conducted following notification from the

 **

**IKM of San Jose, California is recalling the following cookware items because they may be contaminated with significant levels of lead (Pb) which may leach into food. No illnesses have been reported to date.

Consumers who have purchased the recalled products are urged to return them to the place of purchase for a full refund. Consumers with questions may contact the company at 1-650-695- 9009. Our operation hours are from 10:00 from 17:00 PST Mon-Fri, excluding national holidays.

– IKM Aluminum saucepan wooden handle 9” (56 pcs)

– A-cook Aluminum Kadai size 5 (43 pcs)

– Brass Tope (10 pcs)

– IKM 4-quart Pital brass pot (9 pcs)

** Navitas Organics is voluntarily recalling select lots of its 8oz Organic Chia Seeds due to possible Salmonella contamination. This recall is being conducted as a precautionary measure following a recall initiated by the company’s chia seed supplier.

Product was distributed nationally through retail stores such as Whole Foods Market and online retailers including Amazon. The recall applies to the following product packaged in sealed stand-up pouches:

W31025317 – Best If Used By: End MAY 2027

Navitas Organics – Organic Chia Seeds, 8oz, UPC 858847000284

Lot Codes (9-digit codes starting with “W”) are printed on the back of the chia seed bag above the nutritional information. The Lot Codes included in this recall are:

W31025283 – Best If Used By: End APR 2027

W31025286 – Best If Used By: End APR 2027

W31025287 – Best If Used By: End APR 2027

W31025311 – Best If Used By: End MAY 2027

W31025314 – Best If Used By: End MAY 2027

W31025315 – Best If Used By: End MAY 2027

W31025316 – Best If Used By: End MAY 2027

**

** Gregory’s Foods, Inc. of Eagan, MN is recalling its 2-pound 8.5-ounce packages of “Bag Full of Cookies” White Chocolate Macadamia Nut frozen cookie dough because some units may contain undeclared peanuts. Frozen Monster Cookie Dough, which contains Peanut, may be packaged in a bag that is labeled as White Chocolate Macadamia Nut. People who have allergies to peanuts run the risk of serious or life-threatening allergic reaction if they consume these products.

The recalled “Bag full of Cookies” White Chocolate Macadamia Nut frozen cookie dough was distributed in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Nebraska in retail grocery stores and through distribution centers.

** Tri-Union Seafoods Identifies Additional Quantities of Recalled Genova® Tuna at Limited Retailers Due to Inadvertent Distribution of Previously Recalled Product

** IKM Recalls Product Because of Possible Health Risk

** Recent Recalls FSN

Panjiri, pinni and laddoo recalled because of undeclared milk

Chicken breasts recalled because of Listeria contamination

Cheese recalled because of Listeria contamination

Spring & Mulberry expands recall of chocolate bars over Salmonella concerns

Bread crumbs recalled because of undeclared milk, eggs

Sea moss gel recalled because of risk of botulism

Chocolate bars recalled after testing shows Salmonella contamination

** Superfoods Inc. dba Live it Up. Recalls Live it Up Super Greens Because of Possible Health Risk

The recall includes the following products:

Live it Up Super Greens, Wild Berry, 30 – 0.32oz (9g) Sticks, NET WT. 9.52oz (270g), with UPC 850077468070

Live it Up Super Greens, NET WT 8.5 oz (240g) with UPC 860013190804.

Live it Up Super Greens, 30 – 0.28oz (8g) sticks, NET WT. 8.47 oz (240g) with UPC 850077468063

Live it Up Super Greens, Wild Berry, NET WT 8.5OZ (240g), with UPC 860013190811

** This current recall was initiated after Tri-Union Seafoods discovered that quarantined cases, associated with the initial recall, were inadvertently shipped by a third-party distributor. The impacted products were distributed to limited retail stores as follows:

Safeway, Albertsons, Vons, and Pavilions – California Consumers can contact Tri-Union Seafoods at support@thaiunionhelp.zendesk.com or 833-374-0171, if they have any questions or to request replacement product. The toll-free number hours are Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. EST.

Meijer – Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, and Wisconsin

Giant Foods – Maryland and Virginia

Genova Yellowfin Tuna in Olive Oil 5.0 oz 4 Pack4800073265S84N D2L1/21/2028
S84N D3L1/24/2028
Genova Yellowfin Tuna in in Extra Virgin Olive Oil with Sea Salt 5.0 oz4800013275S88N D1M1/17/202

** Recent Recalls FSN – by News Desk

Sea moss gel recalled because of risk of botulism

Diva Fam Inc. is recalling all lots and flavors of its Sea Moss Gel Superfood because of the lack of required regulatory authorization and temperature monitoring records for pH-controlled food

**Jan 16 FDA- Tri-Union Seafoods Identifies Additional Quantities of Recalled Genova® Tuna at Limited Retailers Due to Inadvertent Distribution of Previously Recalled Product

Chicken breasts recalled because of Listeria contamination

Suzanna’s Kitchen of Norcross, GA, is recalling 13,720 pounds of ready- to-eat grilled chicken breast fillet products that may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, the USDA’s Food

E. coli outbreak traced to Pillsbury pizza pops; recall underway

NEW: Egg sheets recalled because of concerns about Salmonella

Massive recall due to rodent and bird feces

Ground beef recalled because of E. coli O26

NZ: Warning issued after cheese taken from landfill

** Jan. 16, 2026 – Suzanna’s Kitchen, a Norcross, Ga., establishment, is recalling approximately 13,720 pounds of ready- to-eat grilled chicken breast fillet products that may be adulterated with Listeria monocytogenes ( Lm), the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced…

Impacted Products

• 10-lb. cases containing two 5 lb. bags of fully cooked grilled chicken breast fillets with rib meat, with lot code 60104 P1382 287 5 J14 on the side of the case and on the package.

** The U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) has announced a cheese recall impacting more than 1.5 million bags of shredded cheese. The recalled cheese was produced by Great Lakes Cheese Co. Inc. and may be contaminated with metal fragments.

Great Lakes Cheese Co. Inc. initially announced the recall in October, but the FDA classified it as “Class II,” meaning that eating the cheese “may cause temporary or medically reversible adverse health consequences,” on Dec. 1.

** Superfoods Inc. dba Live it Up. Recalls Live it Up Super Greens Because of Possible Health Risk

** Medical device correction impacts a subset of FreeStyle Libre 3 and Libre 3 Plus sensors

Consumers can visit www.FreeStyleCheck.comExternal Link Disclaimer to see if their sensors are affected and to get a replacement at no charge

Abbott has identified and resolved the manufacturing issue related to this device action

No other Libre family sensors, readers or apps are impacted http://www.freestylecheck.com/

** Ambriola, Locatelli, Member’s Mark, Pinna, and Boar’s Head

** The Ambriola Company Issues Recall of Cheese Products Because of Listeria Health Risk https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/ambriola-company-issues-recall-cheese-products-because-listeria-health-risk#:~:text=No%20illnesses%20have,03/12/26

** Spring & Mulberry Issues Voluntary Recall of Mint Leaf Date Sweetened Chocolate Bar Due to Possible Salmonella Contamination. https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/spring-mulberry-issues-voluntary-recall-mint-leaf-date-sweetened-chocolate-bar-due-possible

** LOS ANGELES, Jan. 9, 2026 – Diva Fam Inc. (“Diva Fam” or the “Company”) today (January 9, 2026) announced a voluntary recall of all lots and flavors of Sea Moss Gel Superfood due to lack of required regulatory authorization and temperature monitoring records for pH-controlled food products. https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/diva-fam-inc-announces-voluntary-recall-sea-moss-gel-superfood-products-due-possible-health-risk

By News Desk 

** Egg sheets recalled because of concerns about Salmonella

Si Ji Mei brand Wuhan Egg Sheets with Glutinous Rice are under recall in Canada because of potential contamination with Salmonella. The recall was triggered by the company, according to

By News Desk 

** More than 20 poisonings, 1 death reported in California linked to wild mushrooms

The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) is issuing an urgent advisory following a recent outbreak of amatoxin poisoning linked to the consumption of wild, foraged mushrooms. Confirmed cases have

** Grated Pecorino Romano Cheese Recall:

A Class I recall was initiated for thousands of units of grated Pecorino Romano cheese products due to the presence of Listeria monocytogenes. This recall affects products distributed across 20 states, including Arizona, California, and New York. The recall was classified on January 6, 2026, and involves over 11,500 units of various packaging formats.

** A recall on Ore-ida and Sysco Imperial Tater-Tots for plastic contamination.
To date, there have been no reported injuries or illnesses associated with this recall, and it is currently unclear how the products became contaminated. Clear hard plastic fragments:McCain Foods USA Inc. Ore-Ida Tater Tots potatoes with the UPC code 1 00 72714 00215 8

Sysco Imperial Potato Tater Barrel with the UPC code 1 07 34730 62740 0

The tater tots were distributed: CA, WA, AR,AZ,CO,FL,HI, IA, ID,IL,KS,KY,LA,MI,MN,MO,MS,MT,NE,NM,ND,NV,OR,TX,UT,WI

** The recalled product was directly distributed to the two retailers listed below, located IA and NJ , between April 2023 to December 2023 There were no online sales.

1.Golden Land (Des Moines)
2740 Douglas Ave
Des Moines IA 50310
Tel: 515-468-8224

2.Terri Lee Oriental Groceries.
225 Maywood Ave.
Maywood NJ 07607
Tel: 201-843-7919

The recalled [Klong Kone] Shimp Paste (Klong Kone) “454 G. (1 LBS)” and “910 G. (2 LBS),” is packaged in a white plastic jar with a red cap. The product is a dark-colored paste with a salty flavor. The product was Packed and Distributed By: P. Prateepthong 2000, Product of Thailand.

The recalled product was sold in two sizes:

  • [Klong Kone] Shrimp Paste (Klong Kone) ‘454 G. (1 LBS)’ , with UPC: 8853142000313, Product Code: DPA159
  • [Klong Kone] Shrimp Paste (Klong Kone) ‘910 G. (2 LBS)’ , with UPC: 8853142000320, Product Code: DPA161

To date, there has been one report of four children becoming ill, which involved diarrhea and elevated blood levels.

** Sonoma, CA — Primavera Nueva Inc. is voluntarily recalling certain lots of its 4-count tamales because the products have the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Although healthy individuals may suffer only short-term symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea, listeria infection can cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women.

Product was distributed by Primavera Nueva Inc. in California and Nevada to retail stores.

The following 4-count tamales, produced between October 10, 2024 and October 10, 2025 are included:

  • Roasted Green Chile & Jack Cheese
  • Black Bean Bonanza & Jack Cheese
  • Butternut Squash w/ Roasted Green Chiles & Cheese
  • BBQ Chipotle Bean & White Cheddar
  • Mushroom Spinach & Salsa with Two Cheeses
  • Roasted Green Chile
  • Black Bean Bonanza
  • Butternut Squash w/ Roasted Green Chiles
  • Mushroom Spinach & Salsa
  • Roasted Pumpkin & White Cheddar.

No other Primavera Nueva products are affected.

No illnesses have been reported to date. Primavera Nueva has fully corrected the issue—enhanced cooking-temperature monitoring and verification have been in place since October 11, 2025.

Consumer Guidance 
Consumers who have tamales with date codes 10/22 (year 2024) – 10/22 (year 2025) should not consume the product and should discard it.

For questions, contact:
Araceli Santoyo — primaveranueva@aol.com
707 939 9350, Monday through Friday 9am to 3pm pacific

** Distilled Water Meijer Steam Distilled Water one-gallon jugs have been recalled by the FDA for containing a “floating black foreign substance.”

The affected product was sold at Meijer stores in Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, and Wisconsin.

**Jan 05 Primavera Nueva Inc. Issues Voluntary Recall of Select 4-Count Tamales Because of Possible Health Risk- Revised to Include Roasted Pumpkin & White Cheddar, a Seasonal Item

** Gusto Group Inc. Recalls Shrimp Paste (Klong Kone) ‘’454 G. (1 LBS)’ and ‘910 G. (2 LBS)’ because of Possible Health Risk

** Mountain West Food Group, LLC, a Heyburn, Idaho establishment, is recalling approximately 2,855 pounds of raw ground beef products that may be contaminated with E. coli O26, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today…

Impacted Products

• 16-oz. (1-lb.) vacuum-sealed packages containing “FORWARD FARMS GRASS-FED GROUND BEEF” with “USE OF FREEZE BY 01/13/26 EST 2083” printed on the side of the packaging.

** Heyburn, Idaho-based Mountain West Food Group: The recall affects 16-ounce vacuum-sealed packages of grass-fed ground beef with a “use or freeze by” date of January 13, 2026. The product has the establishment number “2083” on the packaging. 

2
Consumers are advised to dispose of the recalled ground beef or return it to the place of purchase. For further information, consumers can contact the USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at 888-MPHotline (888-674-6854) or send a question via email to MPHotline@usda.gov

** CHIPS AHOY! 

  • Baked Bites Brookie products with Best When Used By Dates listed in the grid provided by Mondelēz Global LLC.
  • Recall 
  • Expansion: An additional code date (10MAY2026) and two additional UPCs of product pouches were added to the recall.
  • Reason for Recall: Incorrect mixing process resulted in the formation of small corn starch clumps, which could constitute a choking hazard.
  • Consumer Advice: Consumers should not consume the affected products and are advised to contact Mondelēz Global LLC for more information.
  • Contact Information: Consumers can contact Mondelz Global LLC at 1-855-535-5948 for details.

**

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Islanders … diverse


 Islands People

People from the Virgin Islands are called Virgin Islanders and based on the island of residence are called St. Thomian, St. Johnian, Crucian and Water Islanders respectively.

The first people known to have inhabited what is today the Virgin Islands were the Carib, Arawak and Ciboney Indians. These indigenous people are believed to have left and/or been forcibly removed by the late 1500’s.

Between the early 1600s and mid-1800’s the residents of the islands were of European and African extraction. Settlers, mainly from Holland, England, Denmark, Ireland and France, came to the islands to operate plantations, to run shops and warehouses, as indentured servants and to live in the fledging new colonies. Outnumbering the European whites were African slaves that were forcibly brought to the islands as labor for the plantations. Whites and Blacks born in the islands were called Creoles. At the end of the plantation era many of the white planters and their families returned to Europe.

In 1917 the United States bought the Virgin Islands from Denmark. The population in the late 1800s and throughout the 1900s changed greatly. There was an influx of immigrants from neighboring Puerto Rico to St. Croix to work in agriculture. French immigrants from St. Barths and British immigrants from the British Virgin Islands came to St. Thomas and today are well established. As a new US territory American officials and military personal were sent to the islands. These five groups made up the majority of the population in the early 1900s. After Naval rule ended most of the military personal and officials returned to the mainland and a new group of US mainlanders began coming to the islands; tourist! With tourism came a boom in the economy and another influx of immigrants. This was the mid-1900s. More French from St. Barths and more British from the British Virgin Islands came to work in hotels and restaurants on St. Thomas. Americans from the mainland came to the islands to invest in hotels and property and to enjoy island living. As tourism grew and the prospect of better jobs and a better livelihood so did the population. Large numbers of immigrants from throughout the Caribbean came to the islands and while this migration is much smaller today it still continues. Presently almost every island in the Caribbean is represented in the Virgin Islands from St. Kitts to Trinidad and Dominca to Anguilla.

A small close knit Middle Eastern community established themselves in the Virgin Islands shortly after the 1967 war in which Israel occupied areas on the west bank of the Jordan river.

There is also a small but well established Indian community in the Virgin Islands, mostly on St. Thomas. The Indian community is made up primarily of Sindhis.

Today the population of the Virgin Islands is 78% black, 10% white and 12% other. While 81% of the population is of West Indian background only 49% were born in the Virgin Islands. The remaining 32% were born elsewhere in the Caribbean. Residents originally from the US Mainland make up 13% of the population and Puerto Ricans make up 4%. The remaining 2% is a mixture of immigrants from across the world including the middle east, India and Asia. (Source: US Census Bureau – 2000)

While the population of the Virgin Islands may seem largely the same and residents may outwardly express nationalistic pride as Americans and Virgin Islanders, residents do not forget where they and their neighbors are from.

A Virgin Islander will quickly differentiate themselves from other residents who are from neighboring Caribbean islands. Differentiations are also made between white Virgin Islanders from old families, from French families and ((white continentals). Differences between residents from St. Kitts, Dominica, Trinidad, Puerto Rico, Haiti, Santo Domingo, Tortola… are not forgotten and most residents can identify the various groups by differences in accent, slight differences in skin color and facial features and last names.

While the population is largely Black West Indian, it is still an ensemble of different groups living struggling pushing and shoving against and with each other .

Source: Internet

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

WWII veterans mark Iwo Jima anniversary


More than 30 veterans toured the black sand beaches where they invaded Japan in early 1945. They were bused to the top of Mount Suribachi, where the iconic Associated Press photo of the raising of the American flag was taken.

By Eric Talmadge, Associated Press March 21, 2015

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 From Christian Monitor csmonitor.com

Ioto, Japan — Dozens of aging U.S. veterans, many in their early 90s and some in wheelchairs, gathered on the tiny, barren island of Iwo Jima on Saturday to mark the 70th anniversary of one of the bloodiest and most iconic battles of World War II.

More than 30 veterans flown in from the U.S. island territory of Guam toured the black sand beaches where they invaded the deeply dug-in forces of the island’s Japanese defenders in early 1945.

They were bused to the top of Mount Suribachi, an active volcano, where an Associated Press photo of the raising of the American flag while the battle was still raging became a potent symbol of hope and valor to a war-weary public back home that was growing increasingly disillusioned with the seemingly unending battle in the Pacific.

Recommended: Think you know Japan? Take our quiz to find out.

For some of the veterans, the return to the island where many of their comrades died, and which is still inhabited only by a contingent of Japanese military troops, brought out difficult emotions.

“I hated them,” said former Sgt. John Roy Coltrane, 93, of Siler City, North Carolina. “For 40 years, I wouldn’t even buy anything made in Japan. But now I drive a Honda.”

Speeches at the Reunion of Honor ceremony held near the invasion beach were made by senior Japanese politicians and descendants of the few Japanese who survived the battle. Also speaking were U.S. Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus and Gen. Joseph Dunford, the commandant of the Marine Corps, who noted that the battle for Iwo Jima remains the “very ethos” of the Marine Corps today.

“We should never forget that the peace and prosperity of Japan and the United States at present has been built on the sacrifice of precious lives,” Japanese Defense Minister Gen Nakatani said in his remarks.

This was the first time that Japanese Cabinet officials attended the anniversary ceremony, now in its 16th year. And while the presence of veterans able to make the grueling trip has been steadily dwindling, the number of participants — about 500 — was double that of last year because of the significance of the 70th year since Japan’s surrender ended World War II.

After the joint memorial, the U.S. and Japanese dignitaries and guests went their separate ways to visit the parts of the island that were of the most significance to their own troops. The Japanese have erected several memorials to their dead, and in a traditional way of placating their souls poured water and placed flowers on the memorial sites.

The Marines invaded Iwo Jima in February 1945, and it was only declared secured after more than a month of fighting. About 70,000 U.S. troops fought more than 20,000 Japanese — only 216 Japanese were captured as POWs and the rest are believed to have been either killed in action or to have taken their own lives.

The island was declared secure on March 16, 1945, but skirmishes continued. In about 36 days of battle, nearly 7,000 U.S. Marines were killed and 20,000 wounded.

It is to this day considered sacred ground to many Japanese. As a haunting reminder of the ferocity of the fighting, search teams continue to dig up more and more Japanese remains each year — it’s estimated that 12,000 have yet to be found.

The United States returned the island to Japan in 1968. Wreckage of military equipment can still be seen dotting some of the beach areas, along with pill boxes and extensive mazes of caves.

Though the idea of developing the island for tourism has been mulled for decades, and possibly using its natural hot springs as an attraction, the island is virtually untouched other than the small airfield used by the Japanese.

Though a tiny volcanic crag, the island — now called Ioto or Iwoto on Japanese maps — was deemed strategically important because it was being used by the Japanese to launch air attacks on American bombers. After its capture, it was used by the U.S. as an emergency landing site for B-29s, which eventually made 2,900 emergency landings there that are estimated to have saved the lives of 24,000 airmen who would have otherwise had to crash at sea.

Twenty-seven Medals of Honor were awarded for action in the battle, more than any other in U.S. military history.

The only surviving Medal of Honor recipient from Iwo Jima, Hershel “Woody” Williams, 91, attended the ceremony. Afterward, he said his feelings toward the Japanese had not changed in the decades since the battle.

“They were just doing their jobs, just like we were,” he said. “We tried to kill them before they could kill us. But that’s war.”

~ In the Library

In the Library: Last Dance in Havana by Eugene Robinson


In power for forty-four years and counting, Fidel Castro has done everything possible to define Cuba to the world and to itself — yet not even he has been able to control the thoughts and dreams of his people. Those thoughts and dreams are the basis for what may become a post-Castro Cuba. To more fully understand the future of America’s near neighbor, veteran reporter Eug…moreIn power for forty-four years and counting, Fidel Castro has done everything possible to define Cuba to the world and to itself — yet not even he has been able to control the thoughts and dreams of his people. Those thoughts and dreams are the basis for what may become a post-Castro Cuba. To more fully understand the future of America’s near neighbor, veteran reporter Eugene Robinson knew exactly where to look — or rather, to listen. In this provocative work, Robinson takes us on a sweaty, pulsating, and lyrical tour of a country on the verge of revolution, using its musicians as a window into its present and future.

Music is the mother’s milk of Cuban culture. Cubans express their fondest hopes, their frustrations, even their political dissent, through music. Most Americans think only of salsa and the “Buena Vista Social Club” when they think of the music of Cuba, yet those styles are but a piece of a broad musical spectrum. Just as the West learned more about China after the Cultural Revolution by watching “From Mao to Mozart,” so will readers discover the real Cuba — the living, breathing, dying, yet striving Cuba.

Cuban music is both wildly exuberant and achingly melancholy. A thick stew of African and European elements, it is astoundingly rich and influential to have come from such a tiny island. From rap stars who defy the government in their lyrics to violinists and pianists who attend the world’s last Soviet-style conservatory to international pop stars who could make millions abroad yet choose to stay and work for peanuts, Robinson introduces us to unforgettable characters who happily bring him into their homes and backstage discussions.

Despite Castro’s attemptsto shut down nightclubs, obstruct artists, and subsidize only what he wants, the musicians and dancers of Cuba cannot stop, much less behave. Cubans move through their complicated lives the way they move on the dance floor, dashing and darting and spinning on a dime, seducing joy and fulfillment and next week’s supply of food out of a broken system. Then at night they take to the real dance floors and invent fantastic new steps. “Last Dance in Havana” is heartwrenching, yet ultimately as joyous and hopeful as a rocking club late on a Saturday night.

 

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

This still happens? by Emily J. Martin

7 Comments

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reposted … from 2013

This still happens?
It’s true — some pregnant women are still forced to make terrible choice between losing their jobs and endangering their pregnancies.
Too many pregnant women who need a temporary workplace accommodation to continue working safely are being shown the door. Employers know they can’t get away with this if a worker with a disability needs an accommodation — but they think it is fine to treat a pregnant worker like a second-class citizen.
We’re talking about adjustments like a temporary schedule change, permission to carry a water bottle, or sitting on a stool instead of standing all day at a cash register. Too often, employers say no to these simple requests. To make matters worse, the women most likely to be in this impossible position are often in jobs that pay the lowest wages.

Pregnant Workers Fairness Act - Pregnant women have been fired for drinking water, using the bathroom too frequently, and being unable to lift heavy objects.

Over the next several months, we’re turning the pressure up — to raise awareness and take action in support of pregnant workers. Thirty-five years ago this month, the Pregnancy Discrimination Act became law, but we obviously still have a lot more work to do to make sure pregnant women are treated fairly.

That’s why we need to pass the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act, a bill that would require employers to make the same types of accommodations for pregnancy, childbirth, and related medical conditions that they do for disabilities.

No pregnant woman should be forced to choose between her health and her job.