Internet May Have Global Governance October 1, 2016 and Possible Censorship By Various Governments and Others - But You Can Still Call Congress To Stop This!

The U.S. announced plans to pass the oversight of the internet to a global governance model on October 1, 2016 despite criticism of this move by many American organizations. To justify doing this, the Obama Administration claims, despite the evidence and analysis by many, that this will have no practical effects on the internet's functioning or its users.

Unfortunately, the absence of the U.S. in overseeing internet governance could be an end to free speech on the internet, as well as free enterprise, as we have already had a number of attempts by the UN, various nations such as China, Russia, Saudia Arabia and organizations to do just that.

 The Geneva Declaration of Principles makes clear that the UN, run by a majority of authoritarian governments, wants a decisive role for governments in internet governance.

Civil society groups and activists are calling on Congress to sue the Obama Administration -- to perhaps at least postpone the date of any changes until more Americans are aware of the plan.

http://docs.techfreedom.org/Coalition_Letter_IANA_8.10.16.pdf

Here is an article with more details regarding this:

http://www.wsj.com/articles/an-internet-giveaway-to-the-u-n-1472421165?mod=djemMER

As this article notes, "The only thing worse than a monopoly overseen by the U.S. government is a monopoly overseen by no one—or by a Web-censoring U.N."

It is not too late.You can still call your Congressional representative.

Please consider that.

"Free Speech Is the Basis of a True Education. A university should not be a sanctuary for comfort but rather a crucible for confronting ideas."

In my opinion, freedom of speech is vital for an alive Dharma practice. Therefore, I have previously written and spoken of the importance of freedom of speech in Dharma life practice.

I was glad to read the article "Free Speech Is the Basis of a True Education", from which I will quote some significant passages below (and link to). After the article excerpts are some links to my previous work.

"Students grasp the complexity of collecting, analyzing, interpreting and deriving meaning from evidence of multiple forms. They learn to imagine alternatives, to test their hypotheses and to question the accepted wisdom. A good education gives students the intellectual skills and approaches essential to success in much of human endeavor.

One word summarizes the process by which universities impart these skills: questioning. Productive and informed questioning involves challenging assumptions, arguments and conclusions. It calls for multiple and diverse perspectives and listening to the views of others. It requires understanding the power and limitations of arguments. More fundamentally, the process of questioning demands an ability to rethink one’s own assumptions, often the most difficult task of all.

Essential to this process is an environment that promotes free expression and the open exchange of ideas, ensuring that difficult questions are asked and that diverse and challenging perspectives are considered. This underscores the importance of diversity among students, faculty and visitors—diversity of background, belief and experience. Without this, students’ experience becomes a weak imitation of a true education, and the value of that education is seriously diminished.

Free expression and the unfettered exchange of ideas do not always come naturally. Many people value the right to express their own ideas but are less committed to granting that right to others.

Over the years, universities have come under attack from a range of groups, both external and internal, that demand the silencing of speakers, faculty, students and visitors. The attack is sometimes driven by a desire of an individual or group not to have its authority questioned. Other times it derives from a group’s moral certainty that its particular values, beliefs or approaches are the only correct ones and that others should adhere to the group’s views. Some assert that universities should be refuges from intellectual discomfort and that their own discomfort with conflicting and challenging views should override the value of free and open discourse."

The rest of this article by the President of the University of Chicago, Robert Zimmer, with interesting comments by other readers, is at:

http://www.wsj.com/articles/free-speech-is-the-basis-of-a-true-education-1472164801

And here is another link with details of the related actions by the University of Chicago:

http://www.wsj.com/articles/the-chicago-school-of-free-speech-1472168075

Here is a recent blog which summarizes some of my thoughts on the importance of freedom of speech in Dharma life practice:

Freedom of Speech - A most important Dharma protection even for those with whom we disagree, especially for those with whom we disagree.   http://clouds-genmyo.blogspot.com/2016/03/freedom-of-speech-most-important-dharma.html

Here are two Dharma talks on this:

Freedom of Thought, Freedom from Thought   5/22/15
Freedom of Thought, Freedom from Thought Part 2   5/23/15

http://prairiezen.org/Sesshin_audio.html

The dictums of the political world.

The following article excerpts are a good summation of an interesting exploration of the life views and the perspectives of politicians. The article and the excerpts also highlight some of the social, cultural and political issues roiling the United States and world today.

As you read on, please reflect upon how the analysis, insight and critique of this article might be relevant to a life of practice, in whatever form your life practice takes.

"What exactly is this form of narcissism that is destroying—if it hasn’t already destroyed—our families, friendships, workplace atmosphere, and democratic republic?

The short form is this: What you believe, or claim to believe or say you believe—not what you do or how you act or what the results of your actions may be—defines you as a person and makes you “good.” It is how your life will be judged by others and by yourself.

In 19th-century France, the gastronome Jean Brillat-Savarin told us that “you are what you eat.” In 21st-century America, almost all of us seem to have concluded that “you are what you say you are. You are what you proclaim your values to be, irrespective of their consequences.” That is moral narcissism.

It is a narcissism that emanates from a supposed personal virtue augmented by a supposed intellectual clarity...."

"...This is a narcissism of political and social thought, a narcissism that evolved as religion declined, a narcissism of ideas and attitudes, a narcissism of “I know best,” of “I believe therefore I am.” It is our identity tied up inextricably to our belief system in a way that brooks no examination. It is a narcissism of group think that makes you assume you are better than you are because you have the same received and conventional ideas as your peers, a mutual reward system..."

"...If your intentions are good, if they conform to the general received values of your friends, family, and co-workers, what a person of your class and social milieu is supposed to think, everything is fine. You are that “good” person. You are ratified. You can do anything you wish. It doesn’t matter in the slightest what the results of those ideas and beliefs are, or how society, the country, and in some cases, the world suffers from them. It doesn’t matter that they misfire completely, cause terror attacks, illness, death, riots in the inner city, or national bankruptcy."

This seems to be a form of self-centeredness in a nutshell, and to be the opposite of a practice of presence, serving and intimacy.

Though the issues of narcissism have a long provenance, as I noted, the following updated analysis and spotlighting of the current cultural and political world is worth looking at if you have an interest in the subject:

https://www.commentarymagazine.com/articles/moral-narcissism-least-great-generation/

apropos of the previous article, here is a recent news report:

http://www.latimes.com/politics/la-pol-sac-climate-change-disadvantaged-communities-20160822-snap-story.html

Borgen - An interesting TV series look at politics through Danish eyes - from which we might learn something useful for US politics on the left and the right in the USA..

"Borgen (Danish pronunciation: [ˈb̥ɒːˀʊ̯ən]) is a Danish political drama television series created by Adam Price. It tells how Birgitte Nyborg, a politician, becomes the first female Prime Minister of Denmark against all the odds."

This has been compared to "House of Cards" which is about a US couple, politically corrupt, who have contempt for voters,  a "sham" marriage and in which many people in their way end up dead.

"The ['Borgen'] show follows the newly elected Prime minister of Denmark Birgitte Nyborg and her Spin- doctor Kasper Juhl. While the first season was criticized for being a far cry away from any realistic depiction of politics, the second season have climbed to be a great story about the life of politicians in Denmark. While the drama is sometimes is exaggerated compared to that of real-life (which is to be expected) the stories are however quite believable as many of the themes are inspired by true stories and problems Denmark's politicians have faced during the last 20 years. 

While the characters went from stereo-types in season 1, many of them have grown into dynamic believable characters in the second installment. If one can survive the pretentious opening titles and the dumb-wise Machiavellian quotes, the sopping drama from time to time, especially in the first run, second season we offer a rich and engaging story which must be applaud for its eminent storytelling and drama which is both entertaining and relevant for anyone interested in politics."

 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1526318/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Borgen_(TV_series) 

Here is an interesting analysis from another perspective especially relevant to this political season of Clinton, Trump and Sanders;

“ 'Borgen' captures this: History is human. Political leaders are driven by personal imperatives every bit as much as—often more than—public ones.

It demonstrates, knowingly or not, that to be of the left in the Western political context is to operate in a broad, deep, richly populated liberal-world that rarely if ever is pierced by contrary thought. They are in a bubble they can’t see, even as they accuse others of living in bubbles. Birgitte sees herself as practical and pragmatic, and she is—within a broader context of absolute and unquestioned ideology.

It reminded me that as a general rule political parties and political actors do not change their minds based on evidence or argument. They have to be beaten. Only then can they rationalize change to themselves and their colleagues: “We keep losing!” Defeat is the only condition in which they can see the need for change. They have to be concussed into it."

Here is the rest of this review with many comments by readers [when screened as Reader Recommended], which helps clarify fundamental issues of this current election season:

http://www.wsj.com/articles/a-dramatic-lesson-about-political-actors-1471561376

I have only seen bits and pieces of this series, but look forward to seeing some more parts of the later seasons, when I have the time and availability, based on the recent reviews that have been brought to my attention.

Satisfactory-Unsatisfactory 8/21/16 Dharma Talk

http://prairiezen.org/Sunday_audio.html

Real 8/14/16 - A Dharma Talk

http://prairiezen.org/Sunday_audio.html

Entanglements of cause-effect, "where there is this, there is that," and the unintended and harmful consequences of political actions II

Here is another instance of the unintended consequences of human plans, and in this case, messing with "nature" for self-centered reasons.

"Scheming Buffalo Herd Roams Amok at Grand Canyon - Descendants of ‘beefalo’ outfox hunters, refuse to relocate; ill-fated ‘catnip’ plan.

The park’s so-called bison problem is getting worse with no clear solution in sight. The U.S. National Park Service estimates the size of the herd is 600 and growing at an average rate of 30% a year. The animal has no natural predators here, except for one: Man. So far, the bison have evaded him.

Hunting isn’t permitted in national parks and somehow, these “beefalo”—as they are still colloquially called by some—are on to that...

....It doesn’t matter that the current animals aren’t purebred, or even that their ancestors were imported to the area, Mr. Plumb says. They look and act like regular bison. The bison is on the park badge, he says. It is on the park logo. Today’s animals don’t have enough cattle genes to be considered “beefalo” by USDA standards.  

“These animals have standing. We can’t go back to the time before we screwed the animal up,” he said.  Mr. Plumb is waiting for the results of a new park study—due in September—before deciding what to do with them. Options range from using volunteer hunters or paid sharpshooters to cull the herd to trying yet again to relocate some animals."   

For the rest of the article see:


http://www.wsj.com/articles/scheming-buffalo-herd-roams-amok-at-grand-canyon-1471620343

Entanglements of cause-effect, "where there is this, there is that," and the unintended and harmful consequences of political actions.

When we make changes in life, whether personal or political, social or psychological, it is important to remain aware so that we can see and respond expediently to the cause-effect consequences and reactions, our own and that of others.

Below is an interesting, and if accurate, very sad consequences of the ongoing changes in the national and state marijuana policies and politics.

"Okay, I'm going to say it: The heroin epidemic was caused by the legalization of marijuana.

We wanted legal weed, and for the most part, we got it. Four states have legalized it outright, others have decriminalized it, and in many jurisdictions police refuse to enforce the laws that are on the books, creating a de facto street legalization.

Good news, right?

Not for the Sinaloa Cartel, which by the time Colorado passed Amendment 64 in 2012 had become the dominant cartel in Mexico. Weed was a major profit center for them, but suddenly they couldn't compete against a superior American product that also had drastically lower transportation and security costs.

In a single year, the cartel suffered a 40 percent drop in marijuana sales, representing billions of dollars. Mexican marijuana became an almost worthless product. They've basically stopped growing the shit: Once-vast fields in Durango now lie fallow.

More good news, right?

Yeah, no. Guzmán and his boys are businessmen. They're not going to take a forty-point hit and not do something about it. They had to make up those profits somewhere.....

At the same time, American drug and law-enforcement officials, concerned about the dramatic surge in overdose deaths from pharmaceutical opioids (165,000 from 1999 to 2014), cracked down on both legal and illegal distribution, opening the door for Mexican heroin, which sold for five to ten bucks a dose.

But pill users were not accustomed to the potency of this new heroin. Even heroin addicts were taken by surprise.

As a result, overdose deaths have skyrocketed, more than doubling from 2000 to 2014. More people—47,055—died from drug overdoses in 2014 than in any other year in American history. (Perhaps the most famous of these, Philip Seymour Hoffman, died on February 2, 2014, right at the height of the epidemic.) That's 125 people a day, more than five lives every hour, a fatality level that matched the AIDS epidemic's peak in 1995."

So what is the appropriate and skillful response on our part to these events? 

Can we see anything similar in our own life? Is there practice for us to learn from this? 

For the rest of the article, see the link below.

http://www.esquire.com/news-politics/a46918/heroin-mexico-el-chapo-cartels-don-winslow/

Antisemitism and the consequences for the Arab world

Here is a story from the RIO Olympics which sadly shows antisemitism and its consequences. You may have already seen this.

After the story, there is another article with an interesting analysis about this racist hatred and the consequences of hate, which ends with some hopeful changes, tiny as they may seem, for the future.

What are your thoughts about this matter? Can you see any relevance in your life, any places where hate and anger has consequences?

"Egyptian judoka refuses to shake hand with Israeli after loss

RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — Egyptian judo fighter Islam El Shehaby was loudly booed at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics after his first-round loss to Israel’s fifth-ranked Or Sasson, when El Shehaby refused to shake Sasson’s hand, in a major breach of judo etiquette.

Sasson defeated El Shehaby with two throws for an automatic victory, with about a minute and a half remaining in the bout.

Afterwards, El Shehaby lay flat on his back for a moment before standing to take his place before Sasson, in front of the referee. When Sasson extended his hand, El Shehaby backed away, shaking his head.

The referee then called El Shehaby back to the mat and obliged to him bow; El Shehaby gave a quick nod of his head."

http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/olympics/rio-2016/schedules-results/2016/08/12/egypt-israel-judo/88610564/ 

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/08/13/sports/olympics/egyptian-refuses-israeli-handshake-or-sasson-islam-shehaby.html?_r=0

Here are some comments from a deeper analysis of this.

"The Meaning of an Olympic Snub

The Arab world has a problem of the mind, and its name is anti-Semitism....

Yet the fact remains that over the past 70 years the Arab world got rid of its Jews, some 900,000 people, while holding on to its hatred of them. Over time the result proved fatal: a combination of lost human capital, ruinously expensive wars, misdirected ideological obsessions, and an intellectual life perverted by conspiracy theory and the perpetual search for scapegoats. The Arab world’s problems are a problem of the Arab mind, and the name for that problem is anti-Semitism.

As a historical phenomenon, this is not unique. In a 2005 essay in Commentary, historian Paul Johnson noted that wherever anti-Semitism took hold, social and political decline almost inevitably followed.....

Contrary to myth, the cause was not the creation of the state of Israel. There were bloody anti-Jewish pogroms in Palestine in 1929, Iraq in 1941, and Lebanon in 1945. Nor is it accurate to blame Jerusalem for fueling anti-Semitism by refusing to trade land for peace. Among Egyptians, hatred of Israel barely abated after Menachem Begin relinquished the Sinai to Anwar Sadat. Among Palestinians, anti-Semitism became markedly worse during the years of the Oslo peace process.

In his essay, Mr. Johnson called anti-Semitism a “highly infectious” disease capable of becoming “endemic in certain localities and societies,” and “by no means confined to weak, feeble or commonplace intellects.” Anti-Semitism may be irrational, but its potency, he noted, lies in transforming a personal and instinctive irrationalism into a political and systematic one. For the Jew-hater, every crime has the same culprit and every problem has the same solution.

Anti-Semitism makes the world seem easy. In doing so, it condemns the anti-Semite to a permanent darkness....

The mistreatment and expulsion of Jews has served as a template for the persecution and displacement of other religious minorities: Christians, Yazidis, the Baha’ i.

Hatred of Israel and Jews has also deprived the Arab world of both the resources and the example of its neighbor. Israel quietly supplies water to Jordan, helping to ease the burden of Syrian refugees, and quietly provides surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities to Egypt to fight ISIS in the Sinai. But this is largely unknown among Arabs, for whom the only permissible image of Israel is an Israeli soldier in riot gear, abusing a Palestinian.

Successful nations make a point of trying to learn from their neighbors. The Arab world has been taught over generations only to hate theirs.

This may be starting to change. In the past five years the Arab world has been forced to face up to its own failings in ways it cannot easily blame on Israel. The change can be seen in the budding rapprochement between Jerusalem and Cairo, Riyadh and Abu Dhabi, which might yet yield tactical and strategic advantages on both sides, particularly against common enemies such as ISIS and Iran.

So long as an Arab athlete can’t pay his Israeli opposite the courtesy of a handshake, the disease of the Arab mind and the misfortunes of its world will continue. For Israel, this is a pity. For the Arabs, it’s a calamity. The hater always suffers more than the object of his hatred."


http://www.wsj.com/articles/the-meaning-of-an-olympic-snub-1471303698

Sadly, here is a frightening possible future scenario - how national greed may be leading the world to a war that need not occur. The cycle of the past rolls into the present and then towards what future? What to do?

"Is Beijing Preparing to Wage a ‘People’s War’ in the South China Sea?

 

China’s leaders might have to — or risk a backlash at home

 

by JAMES HOLMES

Last week China’s defense minister, Gen. Chang Wanquan, implored the nation to ready itself for a “people’s war at sea.” The purpose of such a campaign? To “safeguard sovereignty” after an adverse ruling from the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea.

The tribunal upheld the plain meaning of the U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea, ruling that Beijing’s claims to “indisputable sovereignty” spanning some 80–90 percent of the South China Sea are bunk.

A strong coastal state, in other words, cannot simply wrest away the high seas or waters allocated to weaker neighbors and make them its own. Or, at any rate, it can’t do so lawfully. It could conceivably do so through conquest, enforced afterward by a constant military presence.

Defenders of freedom of the sea, consequently, must heed Chang’s entreaty. Southeast Asians and their external allies must take such statements seriously — devoting ample forethought to the prospect of maritime combat in the South China Sea.

That’s the first point about a people’s war at sea. A clash of arms is possible. Statesmen and commanders in places like Manila, Hanoi and Washington must not discount Chang’s words as mere bluster.

Indeed, it’s doubtful China could comply with the UNCLOS tribunal’s ruling at this stage, even if the Chinese Communist Party leadership wished to. Think about the image compliance would project at home.

For two decades now, Beijing has invested lavishly in a great navy, and backed that navy up with shore-based firepower in the form of combat aircraft, anti-ship missile batteries, and short-range warships such as fast patrol craft and diesel submarines.

Party leaders have regaled the populace with how they will use seagoing forces to right historical wrongs and win the nation nautical renown. They must now follow through.

It was foolish to tie China’s national dignity and sovereignty to patently absurd claims to islands and seas. But party leaders did so. And they did so repeatedly, publicly and in the most unyielding terms imaginable. By their words they stoked nationalist sentiment while making themselves accountable to it.

They set in motion a toxic cycle of rising popular expectations. Breaking that cycle could verge on impossible.

If Beijing relented from its maritime claims now, ordinary Chinese would — rightly — judge the leadership by the standard it set. Party leaders would stand condemned as weaklings who surrendered sacred territory, failed to avenge China’s century of humiliation despite China’s rise to great power, and let jurists and lesser neighbors backed by a certain superpower flout big, bad China’s will."

The rest of this article is here:

https://warisboring.com/is-china-preparing-to-wage-a-peoples-war-in-the-south-china-sea-7d7445b9a7f3?mc_cid=1445874b4c&mc_eid=5497961268#.xhmsltn1f 

Serving needs by cooperative use of what is so, win-win-win....

Here is a report of a program which serves, nurtures and supports the life and growth of many individuals by cooperative out-of-the-box thinking. An example for all of us to make good use of many sources and supports. And hopefully, something that can be extended to appropriate services in other areas of the country and the world, in other realms.

‘Five three two oh six. Look it up. We are one of the most incarcerated zip codes in the country. We have some of the most negative statistics here in Milwaukee and in Wisconsin,” says Orlando Owens, a community advocate and until recently the director of African-American outreach for the Wisconsin Republican Party. “Crime-stricken,” interjects Pastor Jerome Smith, of the Greater Praise Church of God in Christ. “Murders. Drop-out rates. Drug addictions,” Mr. Owens continues. “We don’t have a lot of sunshine...."

"The Joseph Project began amid a confluence: Mr. Johnson was traveling around Wisconsin, and, he says, “not one manufacturer could hire enough people. But we’ve got all this inner-city unemployment, guys, how can you make that connection?” Meanwhile, Pastor Smith and Mr. Owens heard an appeal from the Sheboygan County Economic Development Corp., which was trying to fill 4,000 factory jobs. They made a tour of companies like Nemak (auto parts), Pace (aluminum die casting), Kohler (bathroom fixtures) and Johnsonville (sausage).

Sheboygan County is more than an hour’s drive north of Milwaukee, and already on the ride back Mr. Owens and Pastor Smith were formulating a plan. They drew on the insights of the black conservative intellectual Bob Woodson, who in his 2007 book “The Triumphs of Joseph” chronicled “local people finding local solutions to their local needs in their communities. These were not big-name organizations and big-name foundations; these were small ministries, small nonprofits started in someone’s church, started in someone’s attic, and they went out and did the work,” Mr. Owens says.

The duo figured they could connect unemployed or underemployed Milwaukeeans with the Sheboygan companies and use church vans that were unused during the workweek for transportation. They devised a week-long curriculum of workshops, taught by church members and Mr. Johnson’s Senate staff as a constituent service. The workshops focused on “soft skills,” like how to interview, the work ethic, financial and time management, and conflict resolution, Mr. Owens says. “We’re not teaching them how to weld, how to type—”

“The simple things,” says Pastor Smith.

Admittance to the Joseph Project is competitive, and Mr. Owens and Pastor Smith set high expectations and vet candidates. Those who persevere are promised an interview with an HR department on Friday, nothing more.

Fifteen people took part in the first class in October 2015, and 13 were offered a job and began work. Of the 130 people who have completed the program, 77 are now working with another 28 offers pending. Wages are well above the minimum, running between $12.80 and $18.50 an hour, and the vans run five shifts a day and average 12,000 miles a month.

Economically speaking, the Joseph Project removes friction from the labor market and solves a human-capital problem for employers. Since the best type of skills training happens on the job, for workers the program helps break “the cycle of cycle of poverty and despair,” as Mr. Johnson puts it."

For the rest of this article, see:

http://www.wsj.com/articles/running-to-survive-in-the-year-of-trump-1471041715

Interrupting Thought, Interrupting Defiling 8/7/16

http://prairiezen.org/Sunday_audio.html

Another instance where governmental administrative guardians are not protecting us but instead, sadly, "creating-suffering-and-harm-where-it need not be."

It should be rare that administration officials create unnecessary suffering. I have been watching the following for a while and feel it worthwhile to share.

Here are excerpts from a recent editorial titled

"Heart of Bureaucratic Darkness - Why won’t the FDA make a decision on a muscular dystrophy drug?"

:
"The Food and Drug Administration is months late deciding whether to approve a drug for muscular dystrophy, and by now there’s only one explanation: Some of the agency’s staff have exploited FDA processes to evade accountability for an unprofessional review.

Ten of 12 boys with Duchenne muscular dystrophy walk after four years of treatment on eteplirsen, which produces the protein dystrophin. FDA has pushed off approval for the first-in-class treatment, asking for more time or even months-long delays blamed on snow. In June FDA asked the drug’s sponsor, Sarepta Therapeutics, for readouts from a continuing trial, which the company said it would provide shortly. Since then, radio silence from the FDA.

It’s no secret that the drug’s detractors are career employees in the neurology division, two of whom opposed approval at a public FDA meeting in April: Eric Bastings, deputy director of the division; and Ronald Farkas, a clinical team leader. The pair say the drug doesn’t produce “enough” dystrophin, or maybe any dystrophin, depending on which day you ask....

...
Drs. Farkas and Bastings have lost the public’s confidence that they can conduct a fair review, and no bureaucratic proceeding should stop the FDA from reviewing their fitness for service. A cleaning out is overdue: The neurology division takes 600 days on average to approve a drug, according to a Manhattan Institute analysis. That’s three times the figure for the oncology division, which is hardly known for promptness, and neurology’s workload is below average for the agency.

FDA could issue a decision in a day or in a month, and no one knows. Meanwhile, parents with Duchenne children are swallowing decisions like: Should I enroll my son in a risky clinical trial when a drug that works might be approved any day now? What’s hideous is that parents are forced to make choices based on the little they can glean about a dysfunctional bureaucracy."

The full article is here:

http://www.wsj.com/articles/heart-of-bureaucratic-darkness-1470784233

Endless Dimension 7/31/16 - A Dharma Talk

http://prairiezen.org/Sunday_audio.html

Continuation of Zika and "creating-suffering-and-harm-where-it need not be."

Previously, I wrote a blog on Zika and suffering

http://clouds-genmyo.blogspot.com/2016/07/creating-suffering-and-harm-where-it.html

It seems that this situation of politics hindering serving is only getting worse in terms of Zika in the US.

The conclusion of one recent article is, "Since a vaccine is probably years away, the priority is to kill the mosquitoes that transmit the virus."

In more detail, "Don’t count on making an appointment to get a Zika vaccine shot before the end of the decade—at the earliest. Meanwhile, public-health authorities should focus on controlling the mosquitoes that transmit Zika, a task that the feds have badly fumbled. A British company called Oxitec has created genetically modified male mosquitoes whose offspring self-destruct before reaching maturity. Despite successful field trials in a number of foreign countries, tests in the Florida Keys have been held up for years by the FDA’s regulatory review. Maybe, now that Zika is loose in Miami, the bureaucrats will finally feel a sense of urgency to do their job."

The rest of the article is here:

http://www.wsj.com/articles/theres-no-panacea-for-the-zika-epidemic-1470179431

And here are comments from another editorial,

"The White House that is responsible for public health is trying to blame Congress while ducking its own failures. “The keys here are sitting with Congress, and they have to turn them to unleash more federal funding,” White House press secretary Eric Schultz said Friday...

The Administration in February requested $1.9 billion for Zika research, education and prevention. Last month the Senate and House agreed to a $1.1 billion compromise that was offset by $543 million in leftover ObamaCare funds when Puerto Rico chose to expand Medicaid rather than set up exchanges. The bill also temporarily waived duplicative permitting requirements for anti-mosquito pesticides... 

Senate Democrats blocked the conference report, inventing the excuse that the bill banned funding for Planned Parenthood, restricted access to birth control and gutted the Clean Water Act. None of this is true. Planned Parenthood wasn’t specifically identified on a list of public health clinics and community health centers eligible for funding, but it also wasn’t barred from receiving federal funds as a sub-grantee. 

Even with Congress on vacation, the Administration currently has $385 million in reprogrammed Ebola funds at its disposal. Only about half of that has been obligated, which Department of Health and Human Services spokesman Bill Hall attributes to bureaucratic federal procurement regulations. Yet the Administration continues to insist it needs more money even though it can’t spend the money it has fast enough.

President Obama is fond of executive action, yet in this case he hasn’t taken lawful steps on his own to arrest Zika’s spread. For example, the Food and Drug Administration could expedite the approval of a genetically engineered male mosquito pioneered by the British company Oxitec. Due to a mutation, the mosquito and its offspring die before reaching maturity, substantially shrinking the infectious population in a few months."

What is skillful when we have responsibility for the health and welfare of others?

How do we serve the immediate needs?

How do we allow "politics", especially self-centered politics, to hinder our serving?

For the rest of the editorial see:

http://www.wsj.com/articles/zika-and-the-democrats-1470178179

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