US Federal Funds Earmarked For Creation 'Science' Education

Sen. David Vitter, R-La, has earmarked $100,000 in federal money to go to a religious group, the Louisiana Family Forum, "to develop a plan to promote better science education." This is the same group that successfully lobbied the Ouachita (La) School Board to adopt an anti-evolution education policy.

According to the Times-Picayune: "The group's stated mission is to 'persuasively present biblical principles in the centers of influence on issues affecting the family through research, communication and networking.' Until recently, its Web site contained a 'battle plan to combat evolution,' which called the theory a 'dangerous' concept that 'has no place in the classroom.' The document was removed after a reporter's inquiry."

It looks like the Louisiana Family Forum knows that getting tax-payer money to promote religion in public schools and corrupt science education is unconstitutional and illegal. They are trying to cover their tracks.

The earmark is on page 238 of the report of the "Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies Appropriation Bill, 2008" [link: http://tinyurl.com/yp24ff].

The bill hasn't been acted on yet, and there is time to remove the earmark. Please contact your senators asking them to remove the earmark and/or redirect the money to an organization in Louisiana that could actually improve science education in the state.

Links to more information:
http://blog.nola.com/times-picayune/2007/09/vitter_earmarked_federal_money.html
http://austringer.net/wp/index.php/2007/09/23/pork-barrel-antievolution/
http://pandasthumb.org/archives/2007/09/porkbarrel-anti.html
http://scienceblogs.com/dispatches/2007/09/vitter_gives_federal_money_to.php

Here is a letter that you can send to your senator (each senator has a webform to submit comments and letters; just google the senator for their website):

Dear Senator XXXX,

I have recently learned that US Federal Funds are being earmarked in a bill For Creation 'Science' Education. Sen. David Vitter, R-La, has earmarked $100,000 in federal money to go to a religious group, the Louisiana Family Forum, "to develop a plan to promote better science education." This is the same group that successfully lobbied the Ouachita (La) School Board to adopt an anti-evolution education policy.

According to the Times-Picayune: "The group's stated mission is to 'persuasively present biblical principles in the centers of influence on issues affecting the family through research, communication and networking.' Until recently, its Web site contained a 'battle plan to
combat evolution,' which called the theory a 'dangerous' concept that 'has no place in the classroom.' The document was removed after a
reporter's inquiry."

I am concerned that tax-payer money may be used to promote religion in public schools and corrupt science education.

The earmark is on page 238 of the report of the "Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies
Appropriation Bill, 2008" [link: http://tinyurl.com/yp24ff].

The bill hasn't been acted on yet, and there is time to remove the earmark. Please help to remove the earmark and/or redirect the money to an organization in Louisiana that could
actually improve science education in the state.

Sincerely,
XXXX

Avoid polonium contamination - use condoms!

British health officials announced Friday that a person who had been in "direct and very close contact" with former Russian intelligence officer Alexander Litvinenko has been contaminated by the same radioactive isotope that killed Litvinenko last week.

Britain's Health Protection Agency said tests showed "a significant quantity" of polonium-210 in the unnamed victim's body, and said the person was being hospitalized for further assessment.

It seems to me that these two must have been awfully close. Like an affair. Like transmission of bodily fluids. They might be trying to keep it from Litvinenko's wife, but it's really nothing to be ashamed of! Yet another good reason to USE CONDOMS!

T-Shirt Inscription Keeps Iraqi Man From Boarding Flight

Read the first hand account here.

NEW YORK, NY August 29, 2006 —An Iraqi architect says he was not allowed to board a Jet Blue flight at JFK because of the Arabic inscription on his t-shirt.

REPORTER: Raed Jarrar was wearing a T-shirt that read We Will Not Be Silent in Arabic and English, when he was approached by security officers. The officers said the Arabic script was upsetting other passengers, and told Jarrar to either turn the shirt inside out or wear something else. Jarrar protested but finally wore a T-shirt provided by a Jet Blue employee.

JARRAR: I grew up and spent all my life living under authoritarian regimes. and i know that these things happen. But I'm shocked that they happened to me here, in the U.S. Especially that I moved from Iraq because of the war that was waged in Iraq under titles like democracy and freedom.

REPORTER: A spokesman for Jet Blue says the airline is investigating to see if the security officers were with the airline, the Transportation Security Administration or the Port Authority. He also said the airline does not forbid Arabic T-shirts, but that it does take into account the concerns of its passengers.

Taliban's Language Amendment

Oh, I'm sorry, did I say the Taliban's language ammendment. Must have been Saddam? Certainly not the EU? No, it's most definately in the US of A -- the Senate of all places! Sen. Domenici from NM is the only Republican that voted NO, and at least he was following his state's constitution, which prohibits discrimination based on language. Way to go Pete! At last count, 12 democrats voted for it...

Jews in Iran

Jews are politically represented in Iran by Maurice Motamed. Check out the story about him at the sister blog, Iran Conflict Watch.

Asylum for Gay Iranians

Iran is a bad place to be if you are gay or a Christian convert (...or a woman). This week, the UK-based gay and lesbian human rights group OutRage! investigated the plight of gays and lesbians in Iran:

the government has been executing gay and bisexual men under the cover of rape and kidnapping charges.... the government has used internet entrapment of gay Iranians using foreign-based online gay dating agencies...evidence of homophobic honour killings, arrests, torture and executions.

The group is working for amnesty of gay and lesbian Iranians in the EU, UK and US. Such amnesty for gays and Christian converst was granted this week in the Netherlands.

Political Speech a Crime

When is political speech actually disorderly conduct? While this does not directly relate to the conflict with Iran, it certainly is an issue because anytime we talk about war and peace, political speech is involved. Dr. Wenyi Wang shouted out to President Bush not to let President Hu continue persecuting Falun Gong/Falun Dafa. Later, she was charged with disorderly conduct, and is awaiting further charges, still in custody. Dr. Wang was clearly not trespassing (she had press credentials), and was clearly exercising political speech. How can she be charged with disorderly conduct for clearly political speech? My guess is that they can charge her with anything they want, but that it won't fly in court. In other words, it is a form of intimidation (one that we hear a lot about) from the executive branch, but the judiciary will come down on the side of free speech, in a case this clear. Still, it would seem it has a chilling effect on free speech. Since when are you arrested and charged in the US for voicing your opinion to a public official? As we gear up for potentially more anti-war protests if the conflict in Iran deepens, this is something for the public to be aware of. Your thoughts on this are appreciated. If Britney Spears can say and do what she wants, why can't Wenyi Wang?