anvil vs. west nile - syracuse peace council · anvil vs. west nile ... certainly in the short term...

If I had a hammer?

Anvil vs. West NileWhat You Should Know About the Pesticide `Solution'

Brian Dominick

A growing number of Onondaga County resi-dents are joining people throughout New York Stateand New England in challenging local governments'decisions to employ Anvil and other pesticides tocombat a virus that poses an extremely low humanhealth risk. Among the concerns being raised are thefollowing:

Onondaga County health officials areresponding inappropriately to the actual riskposed by the West Nile Virus.

0 officials did not respond early enough with publiceducation and risk assessment campaigns;q the dangers of wholesale pesticide spraying maywell exceed the dangers of WNV infection;q the County Health Department has intentionallyexaggerated the risk of WNV infection and ignoredentirely the risks accompanying generalized pesticideapplication;O officials have failed to effectively forewarn residentsthey were about to be exposed to toxic chemicals;q numerous alternatives have not been seriouslyconsidered by health officials ; andq it is unlikely that spraying to kill adult insects(adulticide) on nearly any scale, would effectivelyreduce the spread of WNV

When proposals for solutions to public health prob-lems place the public itself at risk, residentsshould have the prerogative to decide for them-selves what course of action is most appropriate.This means:

q more effective and accurate education, fromdiverse sources, through various means, regardingpublic health issues and all possible solutions; andq public referendum, following said education cam-paign, where all residents have the opportunity tochoose a collective course of action

Swattingmosquitos

with aSledgehammer

The decision of the Onondaga County Health Department(OCHD) to fight a perceived threat of the West Nile Virus with ahazardous pesticide known as Anvil took most of Central NewYork, including environmental activists, by surprise . Some of us

have spent the past couple of weeks scrambling to become experts.Numerous concerns have driven our interest in the issue, not leastamong them the virus itself, the wholesale application of a danger-ous pesticide, and the summary circumvention of democracy inCounty Health Commissioner Lloyd Novick's decision to fight aminor public health threat with another public health threat ofunknown severity.

While it's extremely unlikely that Anvil, a relatively low-grade pesticide, will cause any deaths in Central New York,certainly in the short term and probably in the long run, it's alsoextremely unlikely the much-hyped West Nile virus (WNV) willclaim any lives either.

It seems the OCHD has taken a cue from NATO and developedthe ability to impose a "solution" to a problem which only causesmore problems . Onondaga County has long maintained a rela-tively dormant anti-mosquito division, complete with a small fleetof pesticide spray trucks, just waiting for something to justify itsbudget . This should sound eerily familiar to PNL readers . ..

Continued on page 13

rublished Monthly by the Syracuse Peace Council - Founded in 1936 - ISSN 0735-41341

September 2000 PNL 694

Anvil vs West Nile Brian Dominick Cover

SPC Page 3

Technology and Schools Bill Griffen 4Needed : Totally Different Schools Bill Griffen 5At the Root, A Struggle for Dignity Karen Hall 6What is a Sweatshop Nickie Remetta °° 7Insurrection in the Streets Gretchen King 8

Bush Speech a Cause for Concern Doug George-Kanentiio 9FLAwed Logic vs Workers Rights Consortium Curtis Dahn 10"GE" Foods J.Freund 11

Peace Camp Doug George- Kanentiio 11

Calendar Andy Molloy 15

To the editor,Dick Keough, Janet Bezila and I tres-

passed at the Hancock Air Base in Syracuseon March 11th to call attention to US policycausing the deaths of innocent civilians in

Iraq . The National Guard's 174th FighterWing is involved in military actions that arein violation of the rules of international lawas sanctioned by the US Constitution, Ar-

ticle VI.On August 16th, Judge Jack Schultz

sentenced us each to 100 hours of commu-nity service to be completed in two months

at local Veterans' Administration hospi-tals . The Judge set aside for an Octoberhearing the government's demand for$39,000 in restitution for so-called securityexpenses in handling our peace witness . He

said this was a fitting sentence for protestorssince it put those of us who exercised free

speech rights together with veterans who

"shed their blood" in protecting those rights.Is it really that simple? Is that what the

military "shed blood" for? History recordsthat the overwhelming majority of military"blood shedding" has to do with protectingand furthering the interests of the powerful, in

all countries . Whether pharaohs, pirates or

profiteers, the elites of the world consolidatetheir nationalistic and imperialistic con-quests.

Yes, veterans spill blood, but not prima-rily for reasons as pure and simple as the right

to protest . Those in power make sure that

protests are protected as long as they don'tthreaten the entrenched system of power.And that system includes the judicial system.The veterans, myself included, also served,and many died to protect our Constitution

and to uphold international law.Free speech protesting is reduced to the

ritual of "protest - its a free country, have

your day in court, take your punishment,

and don't forget to honor the military who

guarantee this ritual" . The judge com-

mended us for being upstanding citizens butrefused to acknowledge what we stood up

for . Our reasons for upholding international

law were given no weight in court. We tres-

passed, we were guilty, "justice" had beenrendered.

Since the ritual of "virtual justice" de-nies the message "stop the killing of civil-ians in Iraq", I look forward to completing100 hours of community service for my

veteran brothers and sisters by serving andsharing with them the reasons we and othersthroughout the country took such actions.I'm confident that my community with otherveterans will be a productive and useful

means to discuss the sanctity of all life andour precious environment.

Sincerely, Bill Griffen

The People's 60 MinutesThe Peace Council's TV show8 pm every Sunday nightCable TVChannel 3- City • 12- Suburbs

Watch it - Tape it - Share it!

2 Peace Newsletter 9/2000

(lave N ew (eazCentral New York's Voice for Peace and Social Justice

3q Enclosed $12 for one year .

q This is a new subscription.

q $ additional donation for all your great work! q This is a renewalI

q Please contact me about volunteering .

q My address has changed

the Syracuse Peace Council • 924 Burnet Avenue, Syracuse, NY 13203 I

I

about the coverOVERKILL!Whether it is with spray-

ing or bombing, over-reaction has seriousconsequences . Even if

you get the mosquito,what else does the

sledgehammer smash? How about reasonedresponse, not dangerous reaction.

Paul Pearce

l

Address:

City

Subscribe to the PNL — Still only $12 a year for 12 issues!

I

0 nName:

Phone :

State : Zip

$YAc1U$E PEACE eOLINeft PAGESPC is cosponsoring a Rallyfor New Priorities slated

to begin at noon on Friday, Sept. 8 at the Federal Building indowntown Syracuse . The rally, organized by Peace Action of CNY,will focus on the Star Wars weapon system, funding for nuclearweapons ($30 billion per year), and alternatives for spending themoney devoted to such weaponry . Education and human servicesquickly come to mind. Join Peace Action, SPC, the local NAACP andother community organizations at the rally . For more information, callPeace Action at 478-7442.

Sr. Megan Rice, a Syracusan imprisoned for her resistance tothe School of the Americas, has been transferred from a local jail inColumbus, Georgia to Danbury, a federal prison . Send letters ofsolidarity to Sr . Megan Rice, #88101-020, FPC Danbury, Rt. 37Pembroke Station, Danbury, CT . 06811-3099.

Local activist Shirley Novak traveled to Chiapas, Mexico toobserve the election of a state governor on August 20, 2000 . She wentthere as part of an international delegation sponsored by GlobalExchange, a human-rights organization based in San Francisco, andAlianza Civica, a Mexican group working for clean elections in thatnation . We look forward to her comments about the election in whichthe PRI candidate, handpicked by a political machine, was defeatedby a candidate supported by many organizations opposed to the PRI.

Lori Berenson is getting a new trial!

Statement of PurposeThe Syracuse Peace Council (SPC), founded in 1936, is an

antiwar/social justice organization . It is community-based,autonomous and funded by the contributions of its supporters.

SPCeducates, agitates and organizes for a world where war,violence and exploitation in any form will no longer exist . Itchallenges the existing unjust power relationships among na-tions, among people and between ourselves and the environ-ment . As members, we work to replace inequality, hierarchy,domination and powerlessness with mutual respect, personalempowerment, cooperation and a sense of community.

Present social injustices cannot be understood in isolationfrom each other nor can they be overcome without recognizingtheir economic and militaristic roots . SPC stressesa strategy that makes these connections clear. Weinitiate and support activities that help build thissense of community and help tear down the wallsof oppression . A fundamental basis for peace andjustice is an economic system that places human need abovemonetary profit . We establish relationships among people basedon cooperation rather than competition or the threat of destruc-tion .

Our political values and personal lives shape and reflect eachother . In both we are committed to nonviolent means of conflictresolution and to a process of decision-making that responds tothe needs of us all .

Police State News

Access To Syracuse Streets Denied

After decades of parades through the city of Syracuse tocommemorate the Hiroshima/Nagasaki bombings, the Syra-cuse police forced this year's parade from Salina Street to thecrowded sidewalk . Very large puppets dominated the proces-sion which made the event awkward and ineffective.

Just as in previous years, the Peace Council had secureda valid permit from the police department . The reason forforcing the parade to the sidewalk was never clearly articu-lated by officers on the scene . Chris Spies-Rusk and membersof Peace Action are trying to meet with the police to get anexplanation and assure that this will not happen in the future.

Great Puppet MassacreIn Philadelphia, puppet makers at the Republican Na-

tional Convention were arrested and the police trashed theirwork. The police were acting on a tip about instruments ofcrime . See page 8 for details.

LAPD Blocks Satellite FeedThe live satellite feed from the Los Angeles Independent

Media Center, covering the Democratic National Conven-tion, scheduled to broadcast between 8 and 9 :30 pm. CST, wasreplaced by the following message:"FSTV live coverage of Democratic Convention kept offthe air by Los Angeles Police Department . Please call

LAPD toll free 1-877-275-5273 ."The Los Angeles Independent Media Center [http ://la.indymedia.org] carried this statement:

"Breaking News 6 :54pm - Based on an anonymous tipgiven to LAPD this morning that there was a bomb in a van,at 4 :30 PM, the County police detained the two owners of thevan, and blocked the parking lot including the area with thesatellite truck . This has eliminated our broadcast . "

A bomb was never found .

Michael Eisenmenger

Paper Tiger Television

9/2000 Peace Newsletter 3

Technology & Schools:A Partnership of Exploitation or Promise

Bill Griffen

Technology, particularly computer tech-nology, functions in the present to movecapital globally, accelerate production andconsumption, and anesthesize the drivenpopulation with commodified entertainmentand diversionary cyberspace action . Thistechnology-intensive economic system be-comes all things to all people : a billionairemaker, a Wall Street casino for the newnet-dwellers, a number to indicate theeconomy is the "best ever" and the means tocorporatize the world in the image and like-ness of dot.com

But for the average American family thereality is falling or stagnant income, increasedhours at work, less job security and fewerbenefits . In addition, this facade of a healthyeconomy disguises some of the worst inequi-ties our nation has ever experienced . The top1% of the US holds more wealth than thebottom 95% combined . More than one infive children are living in poverty . US CEO'saverage compensation was $2100 per hour in1995 while factory workers averaged $11 .46per hour in that year.

Why, then, if the new information tech-nology plays such a vital role in maintainingthe above-cited inequalities, do the eco-nomic victims persist in computer worship?The computer, driving and reproducing aneconomic order that is grossly unjust in termsof the resulting power and wealth concentra-tions is now presented as the magic solutionto those still questing to make it . The per-sonal computer is given a friendly face andenters the marketplace with the ultimatemodem promise : PROGRESS . All on boardand for this ride you will need a computer andif you are a parent or educator, your kids needcomputers too.

But now look at the social life of thecomputer. As every other technology in thissystem, computers represent potential power.That power will be used for some ends and notothers . Considering the present ownership ofcomputer technologies, what is the likeli-hood of computer-derived power being ap-

plied to remedy the staggeringmal-distribution of wealth and power citedabove?

In the rush to jump on thecomputer-for-every-human bandwagon, thedigital, data-glutted vision-deprived cul-ture is thoughtlessly supported in our schools.The opportunity to think about our age ofinformation culture and the quality of lifebeyond one's first job and a commercial,materialistic future is almost universallyignored by our schools . Instead, like lem-mings, educators see the new education "goldstandard " in terms of students-to computerratios (one to one being nirvana), classroomswired, software owned, computer coursesoffered, etc . The economic class destinationof all those computer-skilled graduates willbe similar to that of their parents and the newgeneration will make up a workplace, careerhierarchy in which future inequalities willbe played out, not phased out as promised.

For schools to represent the needs of themajority of their students rather than thealready privileged, critical rethinking of thesocial role of technology, computers and theso-called relevant partnership with voca-tional education must take place . The basicpedagogical question would no longer be:"What are the skills, knowledge and valuesneeded for employment in the corporateworld?" Instead, schools would raise thedemocratic question : "How might individu-als be helped in the direction ofself-actualization consistent with caringcommunities grounded in ecological san-ity? " Guided by such a basic premise friendlyto humans and the environment, a simple yetprofound insight would surface . The presentpolitical and economic system meets theneeds of only the few at the expense of boththe majority and the environment. Such afundamental understanding of our realitycould shape a schooling that rejects thepresent "one against all" divided society infavor of a future based on ecological andsocial justice . It would become possible toimagine a society of equals in which familieswith real communities worked for individualand social needs because these needs wouldnow be symbiotic, not divisive.

People with commitments to social

goals of caring, compassion and justicewould not likely be so consumed by thelatest computer add-on or virtual reality ifthe basic needs of nutrition and health careof members of the community were unmet.New priorities would replace the produce,service, consume, discard, pollute way of thepresent profit -and-grow-at-any-cost system.Present schools functioning to prepare stu-dents to support and join this hyper con-sumer materialistic culture would start togive way to other possibilities . The sacredcash market would be demystified . Schoolswould encourage the young to envisionother kinds of living : one not obsessed withthings and converting feelings into prod-ucts and services ; a living where wealth isn ' ta number on the stock index but a healthylake or a clean air supply ; a living where"multicultural" is recognized as a shallowbuzz word distorted to mean that ethnic,national and religious groups blindly ac-cept the monocultural wired world ofcyberspace and commerce where the bottomline is economic growth (profit) or die.

Hundreds of schools, having shakenloose from the hypnotic materialist mantraof "grow or die" will now accept and live bythe sobering realization : grow and die . Wewill have started to transcend that tragic partof the Enlightenment when in a nanosecondof geological time humans violently inter-vened with the physical environment reduc-ing nature to commodities and space to beconquered . Schools would now function tomove the collective consciousness frombiophobia to biophilia. Schools would em-brace a passion for and love of life anddevelop an informed skepticism of technol-ogy whose ultimate goal is virtual reality.Schools would become places where theyoung pondered the wisdom of elevatingthe artificial over the natural.

Finally, the collective wisdom perco-lating up from thousands of liberated schoolswill conspire to point out the obvious : Mo-dem global capitalism is incompatible withearthlings and their nest . We will begin theexhilarating struggle of birthing a civiliza-tion free from technological determinismand the enslavement of ecocidal markets.


NeededTotally Different Schools

Blll Griffen

Does anything in our culture seem morecertain than business-as-usual, only moreso? More computers, more web-sites, moreTV channels, more commercials, more prod-ucts, more services, more highways, moremalls, more sports and entertainment spec-tacles all driven by the unchallenged beliefthat growth is good . Unfortunately for ourgrandchildren and our earth nest, all this isaccompanied by more pollution, unsolv-able waste problems, more ozone layer ero-sion, more violence - to ourselves in suicide,and to each other with war and crime . All thisis played out in a worldwide class systemwith 1 .1 billion people living in grinding,unrelieved poverty . Their claim to all of theabove "more"? - less than $700 a year perfamily member. At the top end of the planet' sclass system are 358 (and rapidly increas-ing) billionaires claiming the bulk of themore of everything . Those billionaires,centimillionaires, deca-millionaires andtheir millionaire cohorts own the resourcesand much of the lives of those who supportand/or work for the corporations . And whileschool children still "learn" about the na-tions comprising the world, the fact is that ofthe world's 100 largest economies, 50 arecorporations . And yet the myth of nation-state entities determining people ' s lives andfutures continues to mask the reality of acorporate-elite driven global order. Privatepower is effectively hidden as governmentis made scapegoat for every imaginablehuman problem.

What role should schools play in thepresent reality? Their major function is toreproduce the present industrialized,technologicalized, at-war-with-nature glo-bal disorder.

The most important function of schools

Bill Griffen is a direct action advocate forpeace (see page 2), coauthor ofTeach-ing the Vietnam War, jazz musician,professor at SUNY Cortland, and long timefriend of the Peace Council .

and teaching should be to inspire a vision.Schools that merely describe the present re-ality and prepare students to take their placein it are the problem. After decades of beatingup on or defending our schools, nothingfundamental has changed. The rich get richer,the poor get poorer, and we continue to ac-cept this as inevitable rather than as a realityin need of basic change . The environmentreceives token concern (recycle) but the realattention and actions support the growthmarketplace, be itthe mall, mail-or-der, make a lot ofmoney.com, invest-ing, or creating jobsthat reproduce the corporatism way of life.Money remains at the center of our universeand its pursuit gives "meaning" to most ofwhat we do . Not surprisingly, schools havehad little effect on changing the wealth andincome inequities noted above or reversingthe fact that ecological needs are alwayssubordinated to the pursuit of individualprofit ("making it") and the be-all, economicgrowth.

Schools have become places that eitherby design or default are deeply involved inreproducing and reinforcing a nondemo-cratic, non-egalitarian and ecologically-alienated world . Why haven't the schoolsmade a difference? The answer lies in under-standing who is affected by the normal func-tioning of schools . Who gains and who losesas schools remain irrelevant to problems ofjustice, democracy and environmental san-ity? Obvious answer - victimizers win ; vic-tims continue to lose . "Why change?" con-clude the winners and those expecting to winsomeday. "What to change and how tochange" puzzles the victims.

The real problem of changing schools isrelated to the general misunderstanding ofthe actual, not the officially stated functionof schooling . If the majority is always con-vinced that education is designed to solveproblems of the victims, including an in-creasingly immiserated working/middle class,schools will be seen not as irrelevant or sup-

portive of the victimizer's agenda, butmerely in need of reforms related to indi-vidual student goals, i .e . test scores, careerskills, credentials, and privatistic aims de-manded by the corporations.

The irrelevancy of schooling andschool reforms has become institutional-ized . Reformers, be they parents, students,teachers, school boards, others, repeatedlyask questions about educational techniques,this or that reshuffling of teacher-student-administrator or parent roles, propose orreject federal, state, or local testing require-ments or portfolios, etc. ; but don ' t ever usethe schools to critically study these ques-tions : Why the gap between wealth andpoverty? How can the endless economicgrowth identified as our major nationalpolicy not result in eventual ecocide?

Schools in the 21st century must chal-lenge the conventional, uncritical loyaltyto corporatism, the market system, and glo-bal capitalism . We must resist the global-ization of everything, because missing fromthese elite-driven plans is the globalizationof peace over power and violence, justiceover exploitation and victimization, andecological sanity over treating nature as acommodity.

J Bill's calling card

If anyone questions my ability to func-tion as a professor without a technologysupport system of computers, email, using"smart classrooms,"etc.; I offer the followingresponse:

My teaching responsibilities are metthrough being in the company of students,working in the print media realm and theoccasional use of the telephone and televi-sion . I have also relied on traditional mailservices. The breadth of information (infi-nite) needed for the level of scholarship Ipursue is available through these venues.The time saved (in some instances) by hi-tech use is not crucial in these reflections.

My scholarly and moral commitment toeco-justice prohibits me from accepting fur-ther technological support systems that arethreatening the environment and affectingthe culture's future in ways the vast majorityof people have had no voice.


At the Root, A Struggle for Dignity

ACT UP

Karen Hall

In a recent interview, RichardHolbrooke, US ambassador to the UnitedNations, was asked what the greatest prob-lem facing the world today is . In the not toodistant past, Holbrooke claimed, he wouldhave identified nuclear proliferation as theworld's greatest problem, but now he iden-tified AIDS as the greatest problem we face.

Holbrooke's conceptualization ofAIDS and nuclear proliferation as existingin the same category follows a trend tocharacterize the global AIDS crisis as athreat to national security comparable toarmed conflict . This past January the UNSecurity Council devoted itself to the topicof AIDS, dedicating its first ever session toa health issue. Al Gore chaired the sessionand said, "we must wage and win a great andpeaceful war of our time — the war againstAIDS . " While international attention toAIDS issues is welcome, those of us in thepeace and justice movement will feel littleconfidence as we watch national and UNleaders discuss militarized strategies of com-bating these issues.

Unfortunately the linking of the rheto-ric of illness and the rhetoric of war andmilitarism is not new, as Susan Sontagpointed out in her 1978 book about cancer,Illness as Metaphor, and her 1989 book,

Karen Hall acts in and studies culture fromher place of origin, Syracuse, NY .

AIDS and Its Metaphors . In the case ofAIDS, the militarized mentality of US cul-ture was at work in framing those affectedand infected by HIV/AIDS as the enemy, somuch so that an early slogan within theAIDS movement was "Fight AIDS, NotPeople With AIDS." For those infected withHIV, the presence of a virus in their blood-stream became a defining characteristic ofwho they were as individuals, dictatinghow people treated them and for manyimpacting the way they thought of them-selves . Almost immediately a new identitygroup formed and along with it came a newsocial disease, AIDS phobia.

From the very beginning of the epi-demic in 1981, AIDS has been as much asocial and political issue as it has been ahealth issue . And this has meant that HIV/AIDS issues have of necessity been of asgreat a concern to political, social and cul-tural workers as they have been to medicaland science workers.

The perception of people as the prob-lem prompted some within the politicalarena to suggest that people with AIDSshould be forced to register with the gov-ernment and other extremists to suggestquarantine and tattooing . Government agen-cies regulated against immigration forpeople with AIDS and discriminationagainst those infected and affected by HIV/AIDS has made protective legislation nec-essary and slowly available .

The socialmovement thathas grown overthe years aroundHIV and AIDS is-sues includesmany from thegay and lesbianmovement, thepeace and justicemovement andcivil rights movements of people of color.These political activists have been impor-tant in the struggles to educate the publicabout the health and social issues related toAIDS, to ensure access to affordable medi-cine and health care, to establish and protectequal access to housing, jobs and socialservices, and to ensure that people infectedand affected by HIV/AIDS receive the basicrights and dignity due all individuals.

In future issues, the PNLwill address theissues of HIV and AIDS both locally andinternationally . We will introduce you topeople and organizations involved in HIV/AIDS issues locally, report on national andinternational issues and events, and inviteyou to contribute your own stories abouthow AIDS has affected your lives . Hopefullythese columns will help to educate, agitateand organize our readership as well as totestify that AIDS is not a war, but a complexsocial, political and health issue with humandignity at its root and core.

PeachtownNative American FestivalSept. 30th Wells College in Aurora.Also, Iroqois Social Friday night, the29th, in the Sommer Center on campus.A lot of educational demonstrations,food, dancing and fun for everyone toenjoy . Anyone who is interested in work-ing toward better Hodenosaunee / Ameri-can relations should attend this event.Get to know who your O'ngwehonweneighbors are, at an event that will high-light many diverse aspects of who theHaudenosaunee are as distinct Peoples .

"Reclaiming of the Creek"The coalition organizing to stop the

construction of the sewer treatment plant atMidland and Blaine Streets is planning amajor event in October -"Reclaiming theCreek" from the Onondaga Nation to Onon-daga Lake . The excitement of this effort is thata wide range of community people will betaking part in a walk or jog or bike or canoealong the creek, stopping along the way, cel-ebrating the neighborhood, reclaiming thecreek, committing to the economic develop-ment of the creek for all residents, and saying"NO" to the sewer treatment plant proposedfor Midland and Blaine.

More information in October PNL

WESTCOTTSTREETCULTURAL FAIR

Sunday, Sep-tember 17 fromnoon to 6 pm (raindate is 9/24) . Artists, crafters and per-formers ; games and activities for allages ; a multi-cultural parade begin-ning at the Westcott Community Cen-ter at noon ; and much, much more.

THE UNIVERSITY NEIGHBORSLECTURE SERIES

The 2000-2001 season beginswith a talk on the Erie Canal bySamuel Clemence on Thursday, Sep-tember 21 at 7 pm . $10.

(7Gluliltily ''.t:gi17;v


What is a Sweatshop?

Nickie Remetta

The word sweatshop, for many people,conjures up images reminiscent of the turn ofthe century, when women and children toiledaway as seamstresses in the cramped, tinyspaces of NYC . Although this may stand asan accurate description of the early 1900's,the sweatshops in existence today take on amuch broader definition . The US GeneralAccounting Office (GAO) defines a sweat-shop owner as "an employer that violatesmore than one federal or state law governingminimum wage and overtime, child labor,industrial homework, occupational safetyand health, worker's compensation, or in-dustry regulation ." Sweatshop conditionsgenerally arise through a system of subcon-tract, which consists of farming out work bycompeting manufacturers to competing con-tractors . It is a practice that is innate to thegarment industry due to the divisions oflabor involved . In order to minimize theirfixed cost, an employer seeks out very lowrent facilities, usually substandard factoriessuch as cellars, attics, or abandoned build-ings, and then the employer crams as manyworkers into the space as possible . Thisextreme congestion leads to supplies, equip-ment and material inventories blocking theaisles and exits, which inevitably results infire hazardous conditions . In addition, thereis usually only one exit/entrance that is keptlocked at all times, dramatically escalatingthe danger of the situation.

The injustices perpetrated by these fac-tories to cut costs and raise profits are un-countable . There is no imposition of hourlywages because that would force the em-ployer to carry a certain cost of productionregardless of the worker ' s productivity . Thus,the workers are paid per piece at sub mini-mum wages . For many in the US this turnsout to be between one to two dollars an hour,

Nickie Remetta is a member of the studentcoalition on Organized Labor (SCOOL) atSyracuse University. She is a student atSUM' College of Environmental Scienceand Forestry.

while workers in the third world are earningfar less . Wages in the Dominican Republichover around sixty-four cents an hour, in ElSalvador wages stand roughly at fifty-six anhour, and in Haiti workers may only beearning twenty-eight cents an hour. Eventhough employees are generally forced towork almost nonstop, eighteen-hour days(or possibly longer for rushed orders), themoney made is barely enough to keep theirfamilies from starving. It probably goeswithout saying that overtime pay is unheardof.

Problems involving permanent eyesightdamage and respiratory illnesses such aspulmonary bronchitis result from the condi-

tions in which these sweatshops are operat-ing; that is usually hot, dusty and poorly lit.Another dehumanizing condition workersendure is having to request tickets, which arelimited, in order to use the bathroom, andbeing punished if they stay in the bathroomtoo long . Predatory supervisors are usuallyscreaming and threatening workers to workfaster so that some astronomical quota set bythe company will be met . Sexual harassmentis very common since 90% percent of theworkers are women and children betweenthe ages of 15-22 years old . There are usuallymandatory pregnancy tests before beinghired, and once working, these women andchildren are forced to take birth control . If apregnancy does occur, abortion is automati-cally induced by the use of needle injec-

tions .The sweatshop owner ensures through

the instillation of fear that dissention is notallowed . Complaining of any kind willresult in immediate termination, as will anytalk of organizing or unionizing . This iso-lation tactic, which prevents the formationof unions, stomps out any hope of workerempowerment and is a major factor in theperpetuation of sweatshop conditions . Inone example in the Dominican Republic,600 workers were fired for attempting toorganize . Unfortunately, because sweat-shops thrive in areas where poverty is highand masses of people are looking for work,this worker surplus ensures that each indi-

vidual worker is expendable, and ex-pendable workers are exploitable . All600 positions in the Dominican Re-public were filled with new workerswithin one week, serving to increasethe fear and desperation in the re-maining workers and ensuring thatthey wouldn't try to organize again.

Since the 1980's, the use of sweat-shop labor by multinational corpora-tions has been steadily on the rise.This return of sweatshops may beattributed to the decliL : of govern-ment regulation, the diminishingstrength of unions, and the overallfacts of globalization . In fact, as

global free trade increases so does the gapbetween the rich and the poor . During thelast 15 years, executive salaries in the UShave increased by 500 percent while factorypay has severely lagged behind inflation,and actually fallen by a net 2 percent . Ac-cording to the US Department of Labor over50 percent of the United States garmentfactories are considered sweatshops, andalthough this may seem outrageous, it isonly a scratch on the surface of this growingproblem . It is probable that sweatshops existin every country of the world . Whereverthere is poverty there will be masses of des-perate, exploitable workers, and as long ascorporations are allowed to monitor them-selves, they will continue to exploit thosedesperate people for the sake of profits .

4,9/2000 Peace Newsletter 7

Insurrection in the Streets around theRepublican National ConventionGretchen King

Rolling into town for the RepublicanNational Convention, delegates were wel-comed with signage declaring, "WelcomeGOP!" posted along highways and in store-fronts of downtown Philadelphia . Del-egates were also greeted by thousands ofprotesters who converged in Philadelphia,some "to disrupt the meeting of the wealthy"and some to take their issues to the streets.

Diversity of Issues and People Pro-tests around the RNC focused on a numberof issues that a diverse group of first-timedemonstrators, longtime activists, newlyorganized groups, and experienced organi-zations brought to the streets to raise local,national, and international awareness.

The week long protests had a majorkick-off on Sunday, July 30, with the fes-tive Unity 2000 march, the largest permit-ted march of the protests . The "Corpzilla"float, built by the Washington Action Group,carried a mudslinging fight between activ-ists portraying George W . Bush and AI Gorefighting for corporate dollars . The marchshowed support from a variety of groups(including NOW, Peace Action, and theNational Gay and Lesbian Task Force),leading Unity 2000 organizers to declaresuccess in coordinating one of the largestcross-interest protests at a national politi-cal convention.

This simultaneous demonstrating on avariety of issues continued all week, dumb-founding mainstream media who tried tounderstand the protests as one event indisagreement.

NEW GROUPS DESCEND UPON RNCNew faces added a fresh take on the

issues. Billionaires for Bush (Or Gore)created by United for a Fair Economy, usedglaring sarcasm to illustrate the little differ-

Gretchen King is a local activist whoalong with other activists, is gearing up forthe first national debate in Boston on Oct3 . For more information on gettinginvolved locally or caravaning to Boston,call SPC and/or check out this web site

http ://www.bostoncan .net/o3a .html

ence between Bush and Gore especially onissues concerning economic inequality . TheAnarchist Clown Bloc declared that the twoparty system "isn't having any fun" andtook to the streets during the week to livenup the protests without many of their props(their pies and water balloons were confis-cated by police), but solicited chuckleswith chants like "The pizza united, willnever be divided!"

Longtime Freedom Fighters Protestsbegan early on Monday morning with abanner drop on the opening day of the RNC,by AIDS Coalition to Unleash Power orACT UP! The banner, which read "Bush +drug company greed kills . Generic AIDSdrugs for Africanow!"hung overabill-board on the VineStreet Expresswayalong the SchuykillRiver.

"We're movingup and out of povertynow!"proclaimedad-vocates for America'seconomicallymarginalized working poor and homelesspeople at Monday's march for EconomicHuman Rights . The Kennsington WelfareRights Union (KWRU), lead organizer forthe march which proceeded five miles southof downtown Philadelphia to the First UnionCenter (location of the RNC), drew massivesupport from around the country. TheKWRU also organized "Reality Tours" todraw awareness to the 250,000 families inPhiladelphia that have been left behindeconomically . The first stop on the tour was"Rushville," a tent city setup on city prop-erty by KWRU for homeless people dis-placed because of the events around theRNC. Bushville was dismantled by policeon Monday after an anonymous tip that potwas being sold on the premises.

The thousand who marched withKWRU on Monday were flanked by copson every mode of transportation : foot, horse-

back, bike and motorcycles, patrol cars, andhelicopters. Only a handful of arrests weremade, but police activity around the pro-tests became even more glaring on Tues-day.

POLICE LOSE RESTRAINT ATBRUTALITY DEMONSTRATION

While protesters took to the streets toraise awareness about police brutality, thecriminal IN-justice system, and the racistsuse of the death penalty, police descendedupon the Ministry of Puppetganda in WestPhiladelphia . Police searched the work-shop armed with an anonymous tip thatinstruments of crime were in the space.Seventy puppet makers were arrested after

a stand off that lastedfor several hours . Thenext day, officerscommenced what thePuppetistas call "TheGreat Puppet Massa-cre," when for fourhours the police re-turned the puppets totrash.

The mass mobi-lization of police in Philadelphia's streetswas evident in downtown as well, whereprotesters converged in the streets to dis-rupt delegates trying to get from their hotelsto the convention . The MOVE organiza-tion was out in force, advocating for freeingthe MOVE Nine (family members in jail)and for Mumia Abu-Jamal . Other groupsparticipating in the convergence were theInternational Action Center, African Ameri-cans for Mumia Abu-Jamal, and a variety ofaffinity groups, including the Black Bloc.Several groups locked down on Tuesday,each numbered from a handful to as manyas fifty participants. Forty-eight anti-deathpenalty activists locked down at the VineStreet entrance to Interstate 676 and weresubsequently arrested . Others locked downthroughout downtown blocking the del-egates' routes.

The arrests numbered close to 400, but

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04 e/te"me


the cops were not just arresting Puppetistasor protesters locked down . Several medicswere arrested while treating protesters . Onemedic reported being trapped by an officer,searched, challenged to a fist fight, and toldto "get out of town ." Demonstrators whowere vocal and/or had large banners werealso singled out by police.

ROUNDING OUT THE WEEK WITHPROTEST AND JAIL SOLIDARITY

A coalition of dedicated individualsand groups stayed in the streets afterTuesday's police misconduct . While ral-lies took place in Franklin Square in sup-port of jailed activists, on Wednesday amarch with representation spanning gen-erations, races, genders, and political ide-ologies took to the streets of downtownPhiladelphia to protest "anti-woman andanti-farmer globalization polices ." Also onWednesday, the Rain Forest Action Net-work presented Citigroup with the "honor"of being "The World's Most DestructiveBank," drawing attention to the bank recordin destroying economies and the environ-ment.

Friends and supporters continued tovoice their support of jailed activists in thestreets and at Franklin Square, which isacross from the "Round House" where mostof the arrested activists were being held.Those in jail were brutalized behind closeddoors and denied access to their legal andhuman rights (some officers only allowedone phone call per cell and the cold tem-perature maintained in the jail preventedRNC prisoners from sleeping) . Some of thePhiladelphians, who poured into the streetsduring the week to learn about the issuesand watch their police interact with protest-ers, also made their way to Franklin Squareto offer their support.

The protest created a positive politicalenergy in the face of new police tactics(preemptive strikes not just on puppets, buton "leaders," people with cell phones, andaffinity groups), brutality in the jails, andmisinformation disseminated by officials.Jail solidarity continued well after the RNCleft Philadelphia as 150 jailed activistswere on hunger strike.

For the latest information and a grow-ing archive on the protests around the Re-publican and Democratic National Con-ventions, visit http ://www .indymedia .org.

0%41

Bush SpeechA Cause for Concern

Doug George-Konen fib

The August 3 acceptance speech ofRepublican presidential candidate GeorgeW. Bush should send waves of apprehensionthrough Native communities across theUnited States.

Bush did not mention Native peoplespecifically in his remarks but he did say atone point that "Now is the time, not todefend outdated treaties but to defend theAmerican people ." Candidate Bush wasaddressing the deployment of a missile de-fense system to guard against possible rocketattacks against the US but the suggestionthat any treaty might be casually disregardedsounds an alarm bell to Native people, par-ticularly in light of Bush's 1999 statementwhen he said Indian affairs were best left tothe individual states.

Bush's statement will be interpreted bymany anti-Native groups to mean he will, aspresident, terminate all Indian treaties andsuspend the US Justice Department's role inresolving aboriginal land claims . The USSupreme Court has already ruled Congresshas the ultimate authority over Native af-fairs and may do what it pleases with Indiannations, so a Bush initiative to suspendtreaties and conclude the federalgovernment's involvement with Native na-tions could easily succeed.

Certainly, the US government hasproven to be less than competent in itshandling of aboriginal concerns, with theDepartment of the Interior's Bureau of In-dian Affairs believed to be one of the mostinefficient agencies in the entire federalbureaucracy . Currently, the BIA and theDepartment of the Interior are being sued formismanaging hundreds of millions of dol-lars in Native trust funds, a situation whichmay well lead to the overhauling of theBureau to be replaced by direct govern-ment-to-government relations.

Native nations, particularly those withformal treaty ' status with the US, might beempowered by the dismantling of the BIAbut such progress would suffer greatly ifIndians were placed at the mercy of state

governments, few of whom have provento be sympathetic to quasi-sovereign po-litical entities in their midst.

It must also be acknowledged thatIndian nations give ample ammunition totheir critics, particularly when a Nativegovernment or leader violates the civilrights of Indian people, engages in finan-cial irregularities or attempts to manipu-late the US political system through largecampaign contributions.

Casino gambling is also a factor asNatives are perceived by their opponentsto be opportunists, willing to exchangetheir culture and destroy the environmentfor quick profit. Indians also fuel the fireof resentment when they elect to placeindividual homeowners at risk throughpoorly planned lawsuits, then blanket allof their critics as ill informed racists.

Bush's pledge is frightening to Indi-ans for another reason: it comes on theheels of a motion by the Washington StateRepublican Party to supplant Native gov-ernments, using force if necessary ; this,along with recent federal legislation aimedat giving the states the right to collecttaxes on Indian territory.

In New York, the Republican admin-istration of George Pataki has proven it-self rather incompetent on Native issues.In the six years Pataki has been at the helmof New York he has yet to resolve a singleland claim or negotiate even one taxagreement . With one exception, he hasrefused to meet with a collective delega-tion of Native leaders to discuss mutualconcerns, and has he appointed no onewith expertise on Indian issues to a senioradvisory position. He is seemingly con-tent to let the claims issue stumble to-wards an unsatisfactory end while tossingcasino gambling compacts around like somuch fish bait.

No wonder Native people in NewYork, and others across the nation, arequick to take note of any statement madeby a Republican of influence to bring anend to treaties . If Bush can do so with theRussians, he would have no hesitationresponding to Republican governors andsuspending all Indian treaties .

4 ►


The FLAwed Logic vs.The Workers Rights Consortium (WRC)Curtis Dahn

no sweat

Universities today are coming underincreasing pressure from students, labor, andconsumers to take a strong stance concern-ing where and under what conditions theirapparel is manufactured . Currently they arepresented with either the corporate domi-nated Fair Labor Association (FLA), or theUnited Students Against Sweatshops (USAS)created Workers Rights Consortium (WRC)as ways to placate the public demand forjustice (and in the case of the WRC, reformtheir labor practices as well) . To understandthe difference between these two organiza-tions, it is important to understand the mo-tivations of the groups who created andsupport them, and how the organizations areactually structured.

In 1996 the Clinton administration, rec-ognizing the threat to their agenda of pro-moting global free trade (already shown tobe weak by the narrow win of NAFTA) thatthe anti-sweatshop movement posed, cre-ated the Apparel Industry Partnership (AIP),a task force made up half of NGO's and laborrepresentatives, and half of corporate repre-sentatives . In November 1998 this task forcepresented the already controversial FLAprogram . In protest of a system which theybelieved to be nothing but a corporatesmoke-screen, all of the labor and religiousrepresentatives in the partnership resigned.

It has become increasingly clear that theFLA is a corporate public relations tactic,not an attempt to reform an exploitative andoppressive system . It requires only that acompany submit a list of 10- 15% of itsfactories to be monitored for one day a yearfor all of that company's products to receivethe FLA's "No Sweat" certification . Thiscertification is intended to pacify the publicby instilling a false sense of security thatthey are buying products made free fromexploitation. In this small percentage offactories which are to be inspected, the moni-

Curtis Dahn is a student and key pointperson for the student coalition onOrganized Labor (SCOOL) at SyracuseUniversity

toring system that the FLA describes is com-pletely ineffective . The FLA claims that theinspections are to be made by independentmonitors . These so-called "independent"monitors arc paid by the corporations thatcontract with the factories being monitoredcreating a direct conflict of interests . Thesemonitors are also not people that the workerswill trust . The fear that the factory ownershave instilled in the workers will preventthem from talking to any foreign monitoringfirm which might come to visit their factoryfor a day, or worse, this fear will cause themto lie about the severity of their mistreat-ment . The FLA helps the factory ownersinstill this fear in the workers by notifyingthe factory owner in advance that the factorywill be inspected, providing time to cover upany health and safety violations, and time tothreaten the workers that if they talk to theinspectors, they will be fired . Furthermore,the code of conduct the FLA owners adhereto does not make any provisions for a livingwage. More importantly, it does not ensureworkers the right to organize; nor does itoffer them an opportunity for collective bar-gaining, leaving them dependent on a weakmonitoring system rather than on one thatempowers them.

This code of conduct, and the generalstructure of the FLA, are virtuallyun-reformable because a two-thirds majorityvote is necessary to make these changes, andthis is difficult to obtain when the 12 membergovernance board is made up of six NGO'swho's own motivations are questionable andsix corporate representatives who can beexpected to vote for profit, rather than hu-man rights . If they had demonstrated other-wise, there would be no need for an FLA ora WRC.

The WRC, on the other hand, does notlimit the number of factories it will inspect.It will check factories based on a third-partycomplaint system, unlike the FLA, whichinspects factories based on a list provided bythe company . The WRC operates with theknowledge that the apparel industry is enor-mous, and that there are thousands of facto-ries that need to be reformed . Therefore, it

does not certify products by any company as"sweat free," since it would be impossibleto check all, or even most of the factories thata company contracts out to (especially sincecompanies regularly switch contractors af-ter an order has been completed increasingthe number of factories that would have to beinspected in a year) . Thus, the WRC will notinstill a false sense of security in the publicthrough any sort of certification process.The WRC works primarily through athird-party complaint system, based on theidea that the workers will talk to those thatthey know they can trust. It establishes rela-tionships with local NGO's who alreadyhave standing relationships with the work-ers, and uses its own NGO's to investigatethe claims of these workers by monitoringthe factories that receive the most com-plaints . In short, rather than pompouslymoving in with outside NGO's (such asPricewaterhouse Coopers) like the FLA, theWRC listens to, and works with the workersand their communities to attempt to raiseboth the working standard and the standardof living . This working standard, as definedby the WRC code of conduct, is much higherthan that of the FLA . In an industry who'slabor force is made up primarily of women,the WRC has strong provisions for women'srights . In an industry where pay is quite oftenbelow minimum wage, the WRC demandsnot just minimum wage pay, but payment ofa living wage. It is the hope that the WRCwill eventually be unnecessary through theorganization and unionization of the work-ers . The code of conduct of the WRC em-powers workers by guaranteeing them theright to organize . The FLA does not.

Inspections done by the independentmonitors are performed unannounced to thefactory owner so that the actual conditionsof the factory can be observed . If violationsare found, these factories which are found tobe in violation will receive follow up checksto ensure that they are brought up to stan-dard . Companies are penalized by the WRC

Continued on page 12


Thunder and Rain Holds Off -Making Peace Camp a Success

Doug George-Konen/i/oBe Aware of "GE" Foods

The biotechnology industry is makingsevere changes to our food and environmentby transferring the genes of one organism toanother. Molecular biologists are using bac-teria and viruses to insert the genes of otherliving organisms into the food we eat . Ge-netic engineering (GE) changes the funda-mental nature of these foods . It introducesforeign materials and organisms into the hu-man food supply . Genetic engineering couldresult in unexpected mutations in organismsand unforeseen toxins and allergens in foods.How could a vegetarian know if fish geneshavebeen inserted into a peach? (Yes, animalgenes are being put into plant foods .) Howwould someone with a severe nut allergyknow what foods had peanut genes in them?

GE foods also mislead consumers withcounterfeit freshness ; a healthy-looking,bright red tomato could be several weeks oldand of little nutritional worth . Risks to ourenvironment have increased due to the use ofherbicides and pesticides . Crops are alsobeing engineered to produce their own pesti-cides, placing more toxins into our fields andfood than ever before . Cross-pollination orcrossbreeding of GE plants with wild plantsis inevitable, and threatens ecosystems andfood chains.

Like nuclear contamination, geneticpollution is irreversible . Consumers have afundamental right to know what they eat, andfederal officials should require that all foodscontaining GE ingredients be labeled as such.

WHAT YOU CAN Do1 . Choose 100% certified organic, non-

GE foods and cotton . 2 . Write the Food andDrug Administration (FDA) to demand man-datory (non-animal!) safety tests for, and la-beling of, GE foods : Lead Deputy Commis-sioner, FDA, Fishers Lane Room 1471,Rockville, MD 20857. 3 . see http://www/foodsafetynow .org 4 . read "Eat Your Genes"by Stephen Nottingham

Sources : Sierra Atlantic; Nutrition To-day; Sierra Club Canada; The Green Guide;Organic Gardner

.1. Freund

The Onyota :aka have completed atwo day event to restore peace and har-mony given to the Haudenosaunee by thePeacemaker at the formation of the IroquoisConfederacy.

They elected to sponsor an over-night encampment, hold a social dance tolift the spirits of the people, sponsor atobacco burning and then plant a tree ofpeace on the 32 acre site.

Kevin Deer from the Mohawk com-munity of Kahnawake traveled to Oneidato assist in the events . He was joined byMohawk singers Andy Fish and DeanGeorge along with Cayuga singerDagrahadungee George.

Onyota :aka Wolf ClanmotherMaisieShenandoah welcomed the people to thePeace Camp on July 31 . A large bonfirewas kept burning throughout the nightwith the flames providing light for thesocial dancing . The heavy clouds, flashesof lightening and rumbles of thunderpassed just south of the camp but a light,misty rain cooled the people just as thesocial ended.

On the morning of August 1, KevinDeer did a tobacco burning to give thanksto the Creator for the many blessings oflife ; he was joined in his prayer by ChesterMahoody, a spiritual leader from Badgerclan of the Zuni Nation and his wifeBarbara, an Akwesasne Mohawk.

Again, the weather forecasters hadpredicted an intense thunderstorm wouldstrike the encampment area but the Thun-der Beings withheld the rains by movingto the north.

At midmorning the peace advocateswalked through the fields to the 32 acreland where they were met by MohawkNation chief Jake Swamp, his wife Judyand Jun Son from the Grafton Peace Pa-goda. A six foot eastern white pine wascarried to the planting site, located on agrassy lawn across from the Oneida Na-tion longhouse.

Monitoring the event, which at-tracted about 75 people, was a large con-

tingent of Oneida Nation police officerswhile the Men's Council held its regularTuesday session inside the longhouse . Noattempt was made to interfere with the treeplanting ceremony which took place be-neath the warmth and light of the elderbrother sun.

Chief Swamp addressed the crowd,speaking with passion about the signifi-cance of the tree of peace. He gave aninitial blessing followed by the telling ofthe story of the formation of theHaudenosaunee Confederacy and the firsttree of peace planting at Onondaga manygenerations ago.

Swamp told of the efforts by the Peace-maker to bring peace and harmony to apeople who were living in great fear and ofhow the violence of that era was replacedwith the power of the good mind.

Once the tree had been placed insidethe earth Swamp spoke another prayerwhile the people formed a large circlewhile holding hands around the tree.Chester Mahoody brushed the tree withtwo eagle feathers before the peopleplaced soil gently around the tree.

The heavy rains did fall on Oneidaterritory, but during the evening after thepeace advocates had broken camp and leftfor home.

Doug George-Kanentiio, an AkwesasneMohawk, is former editor of "AwkwesasneNotes". He currently resides on Oneidaterritory with his wife, Joanne Shenandoah.

The Tree of Peace drawing is by Mohawkeducator Ray Fadden who just turned 90.


no sweatFLAwed logic from page 10

for using cut and run tactics such as movingwork to a new factory that has not yet beeninspected, rather than working to reform thefactory where the violation has occurred,unlike the FLA, which does nothing to pre-vent this. If a company is continually foundto be violating the code of conduct of theWRC, it can be punished through loss ofcontract with the universities that are mem-ber schools of the WRC . The FLA has noth-ing more than the threat of being decertifiedas "sweat-free" (a label which most appareldoes not carry anyway) to ensure that thecode of conduct that it has created is fol-lowed.

It has been proven, based on the failuresof apparel manufactures to implement theirown codes of conduct, that the goal of anycorporation is profit, and that human rightsare a luxury which will exist only as long asthey are profitable . It is with this knowledgethat the WRC refuses to allow corporationsonto its governance board . The governanceboard is instead made up of a coalition ofstudents, labor, and human rights groups.The WRC governance structure is set up toallow the WRC to be a living organization,

free to adapt to the needs of the workers, andas unforeseen obstacles arise.

Neither the WRC nor the FLA are com-pletely altruistic ventures . The FLA seeks tohide the problem of sweatshops and instill afalse sense of confidence in the consumer,obviously to the benefit of multinationalcorporations such as Nike . The WRC, on theother hand, is supported not only by studentactivists, but labor as well . Both the studentsand labor are beginning to recognize that inan age of globalization, it is important tohave global solidarity among workers of theworld . Global exploitation affects bothworkers and students who will soon join thelabor force domestically too . The decline ofthe cost of labor and the dis-empowerment ofworkers in the third-world leads to the de-

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ANVIL Cont from page 1

IS ANVIL HAZARDOUS?While your chances of exposure to West

Nile Virus are extremely slim, if you live inOnondaga County the likelihood of comingin contact with Anvil increases nearly everyday, as the spraying continues indefinitely.

The Health Department continuallyinsists there are absolutely no health risks tothe spraying of Anvil . This simply isn't true.The New York State Department of Health,also a strong advocate of Anvil usage, is atleast responsible enough to admit there arepotentially significant adverse effects.

The more I learn about Anvil and itscontents, the clearer it is nobody actuallyknows their dangers . No tests for safe expo-sure levels have been conducted . However,there is substantial evidence that the chemi-cals in Anvil, especially in combinationwith each other, have significant side ef-fects . Beyond the immediate discomfort andillness which may be suffered by those withrespiratory ailments, the active ingredientsin Anvil are thought by some experts to havecarcinogenic and hormonal effects, and areknown to be ground water contaminants.Connections to testicular and breast cancersare suggested by some experts, yet to bedisproved.

Beyond seeping into our groundwater,the chemicals in Anvil are known to kill beesand fish . They do not break down as easilyas local health officials are claiming . Theamount of time the substances remain onitems they contact has in fact been estimatedas high as 10 days, as opposed to the singlehour OCHD claims.

IS ANVIL EFFECTIVE?The manufacturer of Anvil itself admit-

ted to me that one ground application in agiven area will not necessarily kill more than25% of the adult mosquito population . DavidPimentel, an entomologist and professor ofecology at Cornell University, suggests Anvilis effective against less than one percent ofmosquitoes in a target area. Introduce theweekly harvest of newborn mosquitoes, theresistant nature of mosquitoes which allowstheir various species to quickly adapt topesticides, and the bizarre policy of theCounty Health Department which calls forspraying areas where infected birds – butmind you no infected mosquitoes – havebeen found . This adds up to an even bigger

question : How is it the County sees theirsolution as even potentially effective againstthe elusive virus? Ask yourself if you'venoticed a significant decrease in the mos-quito population next time you are outdoorsin an area that has been sprayed . ..

DEMYSTIFYING WEST NILE VIRUSSo far this year, only three human cases

of minor illness brought on by WNV infec-tion have been reported in New York State.All three infections took place on StatenIsland, where as of this writing (8/22/00) atotal of 51 mosquito pools and 31 dead birdshave been found to be infected by West NileVirus . By way of comparison, in OnondagaCounty, where no one has yet fallen ill, whatis considered one of the most aggressivegatherings of bird and mosquito samples hasturned up a grand total of ten birds andabsolutely no mosquitoes infected withthe virus . There is no proof, in fact, thatinfected mosquitoes are circulating inpopulated areas of the County.

In abstract terms, the actual risk posedby West Nile virus seems just as remote. Lessthan one percent of - humans bitten by aWNV-infected mosquito will actually ac-quire the virus from its host. Then, becausethe human body happens to be very adept atbuilding antibodies to this particular virus,among the very few who are bitten by aWNV-positive mosquito and then becomeinfected themselves, chances of developingany illness at all are estimated between 1 in140 (for weaker immune systems) and 1 in300 (for the healthy) . Then, perhaps one inten will actually develop a terminal case ofencephalitis . So, if you were to be bitten by

an infected mosquito, your chances of be-coming ill (which would probably meansuffering flu-like symptoms) would be atworst 1 in 1400, as little as 1 in 3000 . Yourchances of dying would be, at most, one in14,000.

ARE THERE ALTERNATIVES?Onondaga County is belatedly trying

to make up for having seriously dropped theproverbial ball on the West Nile virus scare.It just so happens that early this Spring, theNYS Department of Health released its "WestNile Virus Respoi se Plan," which suggestedall New York counties conduct a publiceducation program intended to inform resi-dents to reduce mosquito breeding areas . Italso recommended proactive efforts on the

part of officials themselves in such reduc-tion attempts, plus selective use of larvacidein known mosquito breeding grounds . Itcalled for spraying with Anvil only as a lastresort . OCHD opted to ignore these sugges-tions, deferring instead to the Centers forDisease Control plan, which quite conve-niently calls for large scale adulticide spray-ing only once the virus is detected in a givenarea.

Not every county is responding the wayours is . Some have refused to spray even afternumerous birds have been found . NassauCounty, which has found several more birdsthan Onondaga County, has still not chosento expose its residents to pesticides, and hasreported no human cases of WNV-related

illness . Erie County's Health Commissioneris leaving pesticide spraying for a last resort,suggesting it is not a "do no harm" approach.

Brian and other local activists and en-vironmentalists are available to speak atpublic events concerning OCHD's responseto the West Nile Virus. A more extensiveversion of this article, as well as other re-sources, can be found on-line at

www.rootmedia.org/nospray . To get in-volved with local activists campaigning tostop the spraying, among other demands,call 423-4783.

MEETINGS ANNOUNCEMENT:A group of concerned residents is meet-

ing weekly to plan public education andother actions regarding the Anvil spraying.Meetings are open, and held weekly at theWestcott Community Center (corners ofWestcott St . & Euclid Ave), every Tuesdayevening at 7pm. Call 423-4783 for moreinformation .


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Syracuse Peace Council

To have your group's eventor meeting listed, call or sendthe info to the Peace Count

Community Calendar

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Sept 17: Save the County an-nual meeting & walk through OldFyMtions. pm. 457-7837foinfo&directions

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Film : "Tell the Truth & Run:George Seldes & the AmericanPress ."WestcottCommunyCen-ter . 7pm Sponsored byAllianceforDemocracy, CM' chapter.I

8v

Peace Vote "New Priorities"Rally. Urge our representative toreduce funding for nuclear weep-ons & NMD, and instead use it foreducation &humanservices Fed-era/ Bldg . downtown Syracuse.Noon. Sponsored by Peace Ac-lion . NAACP . SPC &others . 478-7442 .

99Sept. 9-10 : Golden Harvest Fes-tival. Beaver Lake Nature Center.10am-6pm . 638-2519.

EVERY SAT : Sharing the Earth.Animal rights&environmentalv1d-ens

10

Time-Warner cablechannels 3 & 12 . Produced byPeople for Animal Rights

EVERY SUN : People's60 Minutes . Time WarnerCable

Ch . 3 in city. Ch . 12in suburbs 8pm Producedby Peace Council . Tune in.tape it, share it'

Labor-Religion Coalition annual

EVERY TUE through 10117:Labor Day events at the State

Downtown Farmer's Market Cor-Fair 10am, "Blessing of the work- near of Salina & Wash Ingion Streets.ere," Center Court Pavilion, Noon,

7am„m 422-8284luncheon , Empire Room $10 with

pspeaker Denis Hughes, presidentat NYS AFI_-G 1O 2pm . Rally

1st & 3rd WED. : Peace Newsletter editorial meeting . 924Burnet Ave . Call for time . 472-5478.

EVERY WED : Military & DraftCounseling at the Peace Coun-9oil Noon-3pm . Marge 472-5478

10

Sept. 9-10 . Golden Hartvest Festival . Beave r LakeNature Cotter

10a''

pm638-2519

Meeting to support Dr . JenniferI9Daniels caliPeaeeGouncdfc°tmeand place 472-5478EVERYSUN :51 Percent Women's

;1

!:

Syracuse United Neighbors!Southside

meeting .

St

An .tnonysChurch M'dland&Colvin

I

St 7pm 475-7475Westcott East Neighborhood'

12EVERY TUE Community MediaAction Group meeting . 6pm CatAceforplace . 423-4783

1Sentencing of Frank Carver,Mike deWael, & Neil Golder forairbase trespass protesting Iraq

1 4ReconsiDer Forum on DrugPolicy meeting .

Onondaga~'Ave 7 30pm 422-6237

EVERY THU : Shting MeditationWomen's INFO, 601 Allen St 7 :30-8 :30am . FreeEVERY THU : Syracuse ZapatistaSolidarity meeting . 205 Bassett6 :30pm . Ace, 423-4783.

15I

"Colombia: Another Viet Nam?",video & discussion with Michael

at Lopez, pubisherof Colombia Bulle-tin . Co-sponsored by SPC &theCNY Colombia Support Network.? 30pm . WestcottCommunityCen-

St

16First AnnualE o rt

SAGE.

byWomen's Effort 2 46SAGE. Glen

1 Loch Restaurant, 2646 North StJamesville.Liveentertanment.$25

National Beach Cleanup Day.Focusing on 1 .9 mile stretch ofLake Ontario shoreline at SterlingNature Center. 10am . 947-6143.

1 13V!HOPE, Inc . meeting (grass-rootsAIDS group) . Living Room, 326MontgomerySt .5 .30pm .474-3616CNY'Columbia Support Networkmonthly meeting . 7pm, PlymouthChurch.CNY NOW general meeting.5789 Widewaters Pkwy . 7pm487-3188.Onondaga Audubon meeting.

Erie

Dewittd . 7 30pm . 457-7731.

issues radio program WRVO FM90 6-6 .3Opm.EVERY SUN : This Way Out, Gay& Lesbian

radio program onWRVO FM 90 . 630-7pm .

Association (WENA) meeting.Petit Liorary. Concord PI

7-9pm.479-'301

I

bombings .6pm,Dewitt Town HallEVERY TUE : Open Mic Night.

I Happy Endings Coffeehouse . Po-etry, music, short stones. 8pm. $2.

17Westcott Street Cultural Fair.Noon-6pm . Artists, crafters, perform-ens multicultural parade . Rain date9724EVERY SUN : Common Threads,acoustic local music on WAER FM88 .3.2-5 mpNew Environment Associationpotluck & meeting .

FriendsMeeting House, 821 Euclid Ave6pm . 446-8009 .

People forsiness mtg

mpm

RightsCll1 8 bu

488-7877 for location.

Syracuse United Neighbors/Westside meeting . Brown Me-menial Church,

corner

of S.Geddes &Delaware

7 :30pm.476 7475

19 Good meeting . 658 W.Onondaga St Noon . 478-7442.

EVERY TUE: Rough Times Live.Television produced by, for andabout Teens . 8pm . Cable AccessChannel . 478-UNIT.EVERY TUE: Middle EasternDance with Zoe Artemis . West-West-colt Community Center . 5 :15-6 :15pm . Fee. 474-7084.

21 22

"23Sept. 23-24: Onondaga NationArts & Music Festival. LacrosseField, Rte 11A, Onondaga Nation.Noon to dusk $6 adults, $ stu-dentsiseniors, under 12 free . Na-tiveartists,uefta,msicians,foods,singers, dancers. 469-0980.Household Hazardous WasteCollection drop off at OCCRA'sRock Cut Rd. or Ley Creek bansffer stations. 453-2870 to register.

20 NAACP meeting . NAACPOffice, 1125 S. Salina St.7pm . 422-6933.

Syracuse United Neighbors/Skunk City meeting . Mundy Li-brary,

Geddes St . 7:30pm.,476-7475.Sierra Club monthly meeting. 5Illick Hall, SUNY ESF. 7 :30pmMartha, 492-475 .

People's Roundtable. Topic'Why Can't We Just Get Along?Grassroots Activists & MainstreamMedia." S. Presbyterian Church,comerof S. Salina&Colvin.7-9pm.Paul, 478-1592.UpMarsityNefghborsLectureSeties presents Samuel Clementespeaking on 'The Erie Canal:Engineering & History ." WestoottCommunity Center . 7pm . $10.

24 Nation Arts & MuscFes-tival . See Sept. 23f or info.

Socialist Forum . Topic: "The Car-ousel Mall Hustle" panel discus-sion focusing on the proposed maltexpansion . Westcott CommunityCenter . 33-5pm . Free 475-2395SOLAS Concert (traditional Irishband

fund-raiser for bus to Ft.Benning, GA in Nov . Stotler Audito-rium, Cornell Univ ., Ithaca .

EllenGrady, 807-277-8932

2525

EVERY MON : Morris Danci n9:WesbcottCommuntyCenter .7g :30pm. 478-8634.

EVERY MON TUES, THURS .Golden Cafe forf'seniors at West-cottCommuniyCenter.l2pm .New

I fronds, lunch, programs 438-8634

2s + nDamiscs & Internce:26

Marley Education Center, cornerof I ving & Waverly. $20 .9am and1pm . 425-0818.EVERY TUE : Syracuse Commu-nity Radio meeting . WestcottCommon

Center.7 m . 476-4769.P

Parents,Famiy&Friedsof Les

-Mans & Gays (PFiAG) meeting.1st Unitarian Universalist Society,25OWaring Rd. 7:30pm . 4465940

27

"Confronting Hate Violence InOur Communities," a commu-nity-wideconference .RamadaInn,Buckley Rd . 6 :30am3:30pm. Callthe IMerReligious Council at 449-3552, ezt 121 .

the20 Penalty

VIgil

Columb sCircle,Syracuse. Noon-12:30pm.475-1878 .

29 30Pax Christi meeting. SlocumHouse .

9 :30am-12pm .

FrankWoolever, 446-1893.

Peachtown Native AmericanFestival . Wells College, Aurora~'Food, dancing, educational dem-onstrations.

Peace NewsletterMailing Party at SPC,924 Burnet Ave . 5 7pm.Free food!

Thornden Park Associationmeeting, 7 :30pm . Call CaroleSimeon for location, 475-2807 .

SYRACUSE

COUNCIL

Video andDiscussion Night

ColombiaanotherVietnam?

Video : In the COMPANY of FEARDiscussion with Michael Lopez

Friday September 15 - 7 :30pmsliding scale donation

Westcott Community centercorner of Euclid and Westcott

I went to law school in Madison Wisconsin, where I firstcame in contact with the Colombia Support Network . CeciliaZarate helped me connect with Padre Javier Gilado of theIntercongregational Commission of Justice and Peace in Bogota.I went there in January 96 with the idea of working with them forabout three years . In October96, I was in the City of Villavencenciowith Josue Giraldo (no relation to Javier), leader of the leftpolitical party Patriotic Union and a well known human rightsattorney.

On October 13, at around 8 :00 am we were in the empty lotin front of his house putting up a tent for his two girls (then 3 and5) to play in when a gun man came out of the high weeds andstarted shooting . I grabbed the girls and ran to the house while

the gunman followed Josue . I secured the girls in the house, wentback out and Josue was laying in the street, shot 8 times, the last inthe back of the head before the assassin ran across the lot to anotherwaiting on a motorcycle . On others advice, I left one week later.

In the two years that followed I pushed CSN to publish aquarterly called Colombia Bulletin . The magazine is still currentlybeing published by the Chicago-Colombia Committee.

I still give talks and updates on Colombia about 3-4 times peryear between Buffalo, Rochester, and, now Syracuse . I will bebringing copies of the latest issue of the Colombia Bulletin, andback copies, to distribute at the event .

Michael Lopez

ColombiaSupportNetwork

`where non-violent resistance meets stele terror '

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ONONDAGA NATIONARTS and MUSIC CULTURAL FESTIVAL

September 23 and 24 Noon till ?Native Artists, Crafts, Musicians, Foods, Singers and Dancers

$6 per person • seniors and students $4 . 12 and under freefor more information : (315)469-0980, 482-1922 Or fax 469-1355

.r.ii'r5itano'/1

'101' i uaN

EIt6 ,Abe,O M

Complimentary CopyPlease subscribe--STILL $12/yr!

924 Burnet AvenueSyracuse, NY 13203

(315) 472-5478ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

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