Climate, race, and health
by Leslie D. Gregory and Tom H. Hastings
548 words
There are misanthropes who understandably and regrettably express grim satisfaction with the prospects of climate chaos affecting everyone so at least predatory rich exploitive elites pay the same serious prices as poor people and people of color.
That is not correct, however.
Turns out that not only are we already well into the worst mass extinctionsof other species since the Cretaceous Debacle, but it is also evident that climate chaos will indeed impact health and well-being of people of color more than anyone. Consider the evidence.
· Nations most directly threatened by rising seasare generally island countries with people of color majority populations, including eight of the ten most affected by percent of population impacted.
· Floods and storms exacerbated by climate chaos disproportionately harmpoor neighborhoods, primarily people of color, in lower areas of cities like Houston and New Orleans.
· Poor neighborhoods—quite often mostly people of color—across the US experience 10-degree or more higher temperaturesthan do wealthy neighborhoods. No, the weather gods are not racist, but crowded concrete and asphalt neighborhoods absorb and retain significantly more heat than do leafy green expanses and large yards.
It is well understood amongst public health empiricists that people of color already face related jeopardies, such as higher rates of proximity to hazardous and toxic dumps.
And when aid is apportioned, it is currently going first to industry and may eventually trickle down to people of color.
The health impacts on people of color are significant.
· “Communities of color breathe in nearly 40 percent more polluted air than whites. African-American children are three times as likely to suffer an asthma attack.”—Steven Hsieh, in conversation with NAACP official Jacqueline Patterson.
· “Climate change, together with other natural and human-made health stressors, influences human health and disease in numerous ways. Some existing health threats will intensify and new health threats will emerge. Not everyone is equally at risk. Important considerations include age, economic resources, and location.
“In the U.S., public health can be affected by disruptions of physical, biological, and ecological systems, including disturbances originating here and elsewhere. The health effects of these disruptions include increased respiratory and cardiovascular disease, injuries and premature deaths related to extreme weather events, changes in the prevalence and geographical distribution of food- and water-borne illnesses and other infectious diseases, and threats to mental health.” (CDC)
Ironically, so far to date CDC has failed to declare racism a threat to public health, even though the evidence is overwhelming in so many indices, including the racial makeup of the very areas they describe in the above quote. To help them think more about it, sign the petition at https://petitions.moveon.org/sign/racism-meets-criteria
The Trump administration is responsible for much of this, as they have injected culture war politics into the public health arena by dictating to CDC what terminology is forbiddenwhen applying for funding--a direct violation of the traditional separation of science/medicine and political interference.
When the executive and legislative branches of government fail to act on an actual emergency such as our worsening climate crisis, the grassroots, the people, can do so. Check out Extinction Rebellion (https://rebellion.earth) to learn of nonviolent uprisings that are beginning. When enough direct action imposes peaceful but significant economic costs, case studies from around the world show that policies can change.
—30—
Leslie Gregory is a PA and is Executive Director, Right to Health. Dr. Tom H. Hastings is PeaceVoice Director and on occasion an expert witness for the defense in court.
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THE RAVEN AGE
GLOBALLY RELEASE SOPHOMORE RECORD
CONSPIRACY
AVAILABLE TO STREAM TODAY AT
ON TOUR WITH IRON MAIDEN
TICKETS ON SALE NOW FOR
LEGACY OF THE BEAST TOUR
English melodic metal band The Raven Age have globally released their sophomore album Conspiracy today through Explorer1 Music. Complete with a brand new track "Fleur De Lis", the second chapter of this band's story takes on a fantasy world through 13 tracks. They are as brilliantly catchy as they are deviously heavy, delicately balancing classic and modern metal influences with an alt-rock twist. Fans can stream Conspiracy, complete with the new track today at http://hyperurl.co/qszww1.
From epic opener "Bloom Of The Poison Seed" right through to grand finale "Grave Of The Fireflies," the latest opus traps lightning in a bottle and laces cinematic flavors within concrete heaviness in a way very few have done before - dragging the listener deeper and deeper inside their dark dystopian reality. Truth be told, this is a band that are every bit as explosive as a blockbuster movie.
The band has been taking North America by storm while on the road with Iron Maiden for the Legacy Of The Beast Tour this fall. Delivering a live performance that combines both masterful musical skills alongside an electrifying stage presence, The Raven Age are leaving a lasting impression on fans across the US and Canada while looking forward to visiting South America, then finishing year off with a European tour supporting Alter Bridge and Shinedown.
Tickets for the Legacy Of The Beast Tour are on-sale now at https://www.theravenage.com/.
Upcoming Tour Dates:
Sept. 17 - Phoenix, Ariz. @ Talking Stick Resort Arena
Sept. 19 - Albuquerque, N.M. @ Isleta Amphitheater
Sept. 21 - Dallas, Texas @ Dos Equis Pavilion
Sept. 22 - Houston, Texas @ The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion
Sept. 25 - San Antonio, Texas @ AT&T Center
Sept. 27 - Mexico City, Mexico @ Sports Palace
Sept. 29 - Mexico City, Mexico @ Sports Palace
Sept. 30 - Mexico City, Mexico @ Sports Palace
Oct. 04 - Rio de Janeiro, Brazil @ Rock In Rio
Oct. 12 - Buenos Aires, Argentina @ Velez Sarsfield Stadium
Oct. 15 - Santiago, Chile @ Estadio Nacional
Founded by guitarists Dan Wright and George Harris in 2009, The Raven Age has toured with the diverse likes of Iron Maiden, Tremonti, Mastodon, Killswitch Engage, Anthrax and Delain. After the announcement of new vocalist Matt James last year and a steady stream of new music and non-stop touring, it's an exciting time for the group who were awarded Best New Band 2017 by Planet Rock and championed as "the UK's next brightest metal hope" by Metal Hammer.
With a strong touring schedule, a new global partnership with Explorer1, the Hollywood, California based full service music company, and new music on the horizon, the next 12 months are set to be a monumental year for The Raven Age. Stay tuned to https://www.theravenage.com/ for more information coming soon.
The Raven Age is George Harris (guitar), Matt Cox (bass, backing), Jai Patel (drums), Tony Maue (guitars) and Matt James (lead vocals).
Dear Dave,
My husband and I are in our thirties. We have $15,000 in debt spread across student loans, credit cards, and a car payment. We make decent money, and we’ve each got around $50,000 in our 401(k) plans. What steps can we take toward becoming good investors?
Heather
Dear Heather,
When you’re building wealth, everything will fall apart unless you have a rock-solid foundation. If someone has an eye toward investing, I always recommend they first become debt-free. Another thing I advise ahead of investing is saving up an emergency fund of three to six months of expenses. This is money you never touch, except in the case of a real emergency.
Once these two elements are in place, you’ve constructed that solid financial foundation from which you can begin building wealth. Most people skip these two steps, and jump right into funding things like 401(k)s, mutual funds, and Roth IRAs. These are all great investment tools, but when you do it this way it’s like building a house by starting the framing before you’ve laid the foundation. This kind of approach is likely cause setbacks and all kinds of other problems down the road.
What I’m recommending makes up the beginning Baby Steps in my plan. The very first Baby Step is to get a starter emergency fund of $1,000 in the bank. Baby Step 2 is paying off all debt, except for your home, using the debt snowball method. And Baby Step 3 is to finish growing your emergency fund until you have three to six months of expenses saved. Investing is Baby Step 4, and that means 15 percent of your household income going toward retirement.
In your situation, debt isn’t really the problem. It’s a symptom of you two buying things you couldn’t afford. Start living on a written, monthly budget. Give every dollar a name before the month begins, and break that debt cycle by developing a permanent financial game plan. Once you do that, I’ll bet both of you will end up feeling like you got a raise.
Even better, you’ll have started down the path to freeing up your largest wealth-building tool—your income!
—Dave
* Dave Ramsey is CEO of Ramsey Solutions. He has authored seven best-selling books, including The Total Money Makeover. The Dave Ramsey Show is heard by more than 16 million listeners each week on 600 radio stations and multiple digital platforms. Follow Dave on the web at daveramsey.com and on Twitter at @DaveRamsey.
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‘God Wants Me Here For Now: God’s Protection through Psychiatric Medication Adverse Reactions’ released
WARSAW, Ind. – Kaydee Ledger has felt a need to tell her story since for her, so many have been affected by psychiatric medication mismanagement and it is important that the ones who have not been personally affected, understand it. This feeling led her to write “God Wants Me Here For Now: God’s Protection through Psychiatric Medication Adverse Reactions” (published by Xlibris).
This is an account of the psychiatric medication mismanagement Ledger has endured and that difficult journey. Though the book is a continuation of her life story, so much of it (her family, her employment, her finances, her relationships, and her health) has been impacted by what she calls the misprescribing of psychiatric drugs. The Christian community has also impacted her road to healing in many ways and she discusses the impact (both positive and negative) of many well-intended (and maybe some not-so-well-intended) people.
“I believe many people will either be able to relate or be educated by my story. I am very honest and candid about my experience,” Ledger says. “Everyone has been misunderstood or abused by someone else or experienced disappointment, loss, or conflict with others. Many have also been disbelieved by their doctors. My story will help confirm that they are not alone.”
“God Wants Me Here For Now: God’s Protection through Psychiatric Medication Adverse Reactions” aims to remind readers that if they have suffered through psychiatric medication adverse reactions and drug mismanagement, they are members of a large and growing group. For Ledger, more protections need to be in place for patients about medications and the doctors who prescribe them. “Taking psychiatric medications should be a rare occurrence and should be the choice of last resort. Drugs like gabapentin that research has demonstrated damages the brain should be removed from the market or greatly limited in use,” she adds.
“God Wants Me Here For Now: God’s Protection through Psychiatric Medication Adverse Reactions”
By Kaydee Ledger
Hardcover | 6 x 9in | 640 pages | ISBN 9781796048810
Softcover | 6 x 9in | 640 pages | ISBN 9781796048803
E-Book | 640 pages | ISBN 9781796048797
Available at Amazon and Barnes & Noble
About the Author
Kaydee Ledger was raised in a Christian family, the second of five children, and the daughter of a physician. She is a college educated, married mother of three with a degree in elementary education, having taught three years before staying home to raise her children. During those years, Ledger also finished several master’s classes in education and counseling. She wrote newspaper articles for her daughter’s gymnastics team and her son’s “Odyssey of the Mind” team in the 1990s. She completed several writing programs, including Laubach Literacy and one through the Institute of Children’s Writing. She has ghostwritten several books for another author.
Xlibris Publishing, an Author Solutions, LLC imprint, is a self-publishing services provider created in 1997 by authors, for authors. By focusing on the needs of creative writers and artists and adopting the latest print-on-demand publishing technology and strategies, we provide expert publishing services with direct and personal access to quality publication in hardcover, trade paperback, custom leather-bound and full-color formats. To date, Xlibris has helped to publish more than 60,000 titles. For more information, visit xlibris.com or call 1-888-795-4274 to receive a free publishing guide. Follow us @XlibrisPub on Twitter for the latest news.
====================
The Early November
Announces New Album
Lilac
Out 9/27 via Rise Records
Pre-Order Now & Listen to New Song
"Hit By A Car (In Euphoria)": theearlynovembermusic.net
Oct 4TH | KILBY COURT | SALT LAKE CITY, UT
Tickets On-Sale Now for Fall Headline Tour
Featuring Have Mercy and OWEL
Philadelphia, PA - Lilac is in bloom. The highly anticipated 5th studio album from alternative rock icons The Early November is set to be released on September 27th via Rise Records. The band's first album since 2015's Imbue, Lilac represents a shift towards a more pop-centric sound while preserving the raw vulnerability that The Early November has become known for. Pre-orders are available now alongside a brand new video for lead single "Hit By A Car (In Euphoria)": www.theearlynovembermusic.net.
"Lilac started with the idea of trying to help someone. I was losing sleep over it, and it got really heavy for me. There were times when I got lost in wishing that things would get better," admits lead singer Ace Enders. "But over time it became a reflection of the idea that it's okay to be dark, it's okay to feel like you're at the bottom. Sometimes you dig these deep holes for yourself - you just have to realize it's up to you to get out if it."
The Early November will be supporting the release with a fall headline tour featuring support from Have Mercy and OWEL. The month-long run kicks off on September 13th in College Park, with stops in Nashville, Los Angeles, Seattle, Chicago, and more. It concludes with a hometown show in Philadelphia on October 19th. Tickets for all shows are on sale now and available at www.theearlynovembermusic.net.
The Early November are eagerly preparing to share their new album, Lilac, out September 27, 2019.
For More Information, please visit:
Website: www.theearlynovembermusic.net
Facebook: www.facebook.com/earlynovember
Twitter: www.twitter.com/theearlynov
Instagram: www.instagram.com/theearlynovember
Download High Res Press Photo Here
Download High Res Album Artwork Here
WHO: The Early November w/Have Mercy & OWEL
WHERE: Kilby Court | 741 Kilby Court | Salt Lake City, UT
WHEN: Friday, October 4th | Doors: 7pm
INFO: http://bit.ly/2YkLxpf | $20 | All Ages
Upcoming Tour Dates:
9/13 - College Park, MD @ Milkboy Arthouse
9/14 - Richmond, VA @ Canal Club
9/16 - Atlanta, GA @ The Masquerade
9/17 - Nashville, TN @ Basement East
9/18 - St. Louis, MO @ Blueberry Hill
9/20 - Houston, TX @ Secret Group
9/21 - Austin, TX @ Barracuda
9/22 - Dallas, TX @ Club Dada
9/24 - Phoenix, AZ @ Rebel Lounge
9/25 - Los Angeles, CA @ Troubadour
9/26 - San Diego, CA @ House Of Blues Voodoo Room
9/27 - Anaheim, CA @ Chain Reaction
9/28 - San Francisco, CA @ Bottom Of The Hill
9/30 - Seattle, WA @ El Corazon
10/01 - Vancouver, BC @ Biltmore Cabaret
10/02 - Portland, OR @ Hawthorne Theatre
10/04 - Salt Lake City, UT - Kilby Court
10/05 - Denver, CO @ Globe
10/07 - Kansas City, MO - The Rino
10/08 - Burnsville, MN @ The Garage
10/09 - Chicago, IL @ The Bottom Lounge
10/11 - Cleveland, OH - Mahall's
10/12 - Columbus, OH @ Ace Of Cups
10/13 - Toronto, ON @ Hardluck Bar
10/14 - Detroit, MI @ The Shelter
10/16 - Boston, MA @ Brighton Music Hall
10/17 - Brooklyn, NY @ Rough Trade
10/18 - Asbury Park, NJ @ House Of Independents
10/19 - Philadelphia, PA @ TLA
=======================
The Early November
Announces New Album
Lilac
Out 9/27 via Rise Records
Pre-Order Now & Listen to New Song
"Hit By A Car (In Euphoria)": theearlynovembermusic.net
Oct 4TH | KILBY COURT | SALT LAKE CITY, UT
Tickets On-Sale Now for Fall Headline Tour
Featuring Have Mercy and OWEL
Philadelphia, PA - Lilac is in bloom. The highly anticipated 5th studio album from alternative rock icons The Early November is set to be released on September 27th via Rise Records. The band's first album since 2015's Imbue, Lilac represents a shift towards a more pop-centric sound while preserving the raw vulnerability that The Early November has become known for. Pre-orders are available now alongside a brand new video for lead single "Hit By A Car (In Euphoria)": www.theearlynovembermusic.net.
"Lilac started with the idea of trying to help someone. I was losing sleep over it, and it got really heavy for me. There were times when I got lost in wishing that things would get better," admits lead singer Ace Enders. "But over time it became a reflection of the idea that it's okay to be dark, it's okay to feel like you're at the bottom. Sometimes you dig these deep holes for yourself - you just have to realize it's up to you to get out if it."
The Early November will be supporting the release with a fall headline tour featuring support from Have Mercy and OWEL. The month-long run kicks off on September 13th in College Park, with stops in Nashville, Los Angeles, Seattle, Chicago, and more. It concludes with a hometown show in Philadelphia on October 19th. Tickets for all shows are on sale now and available at www.theearlynovembermusic.net.
The Early November are eagerly preparing to share their new album, Lilac, out September 27, 2019.
For More Information, please visit:
Website: www.theearlynovembermusic.net
Facebook: www.facebook.com/earlynovember
Twitter: www.twitter.com/theearlynov
Instagram: www.instagram.com/theearlynovember
Download High Res Press Photo Here
Download High Res Album Artwork Here
WHO: The Early November w/Have Mercy & OWEL
WHERE: Kilby Court | 741 Kilby Court | Salt Lake City, UT
WHEN: Friday, October 4th | Doors: 7pm
INFO: http://bit.ly/2YkLxpf | $20 | All Ages
Upcoming Tour Dates:
9/13 - College Park, MD @ Milkboy Arthouse
9/14 - Richmond, VA @ Canal Club
9/16 - Atlanta, GA @ The Masquerade
9/17 - Nashville, TN @ Basement East
9/18 - St. Louis, MO @ Blueberry Hill
9/20 - Houston, TX @ Secret Group
9/21 - Austin, TX @ Barracuda
9/22 - Dallas, TX @ Club Dada
9/24 - Phoenix, AZ @ Rebel Lounge
9/25 - Los Angeles, CA @ Troubadour
9/26 - San Diego, CA @ House Of Blues Voodoo Room
9/27 - Anaheim, CA @ Chain Reaction
9/28 - San Francisco, CA @ Bottom Of The Hill
9/30 - Seattle, WA @ El Corazon
10/01 - Vancouver, BC @ Biltmore Cabaret
10/02 - Portland, OR @ Hawthorne Theatre
10/04 - Salt Lake City, UT - Kilby Court
10/05 - Denver, CO @ Globe
10/07 - Kansas City, MO - The Rino
10/08 - Burnsville, MN @ The Garage
10/09 - Chicago, IL @ The Bottom Lounge
10/11 - Cleveland, OH - Mahall's
10/12 - Columbus, OH @ Ace Of Cups
10/13 - Toronto, ON @ Hardluck Bar
10/14 - Detroit, MI @ The Shelter
10/16 - Boston, MA @ Brighton Music Hall
10/17 - Brooklyn, NY @ Rough Trade
10/18 - Asbury Park, NJ @ House Of Independents
10/19 - Philadelphia, PA @ TLA
