Port Of Oakland Truckers Protest

Capitol Beltway truckers protest

Do you remember the truckers who were supposed to clog up the Capitol Beltway to the point of a traffic standstill and then keep traffic clogged until President Obama resigned? Do you remember the quite small numbers of truckers who actually showed up to participate in this action? This is now considered something of a footnote because it really didn't amount to much.

But this protest is something different. Truckers were out there protesting "unsafe working conditions and unfair labor practices". This wasn't actually a union protest, since these truckers who serve the Port of Oakland are not allowed to organize one, but there they were, protesting anyway.

A line of truckers from the Oakland protest

Among their issues is the fact that the Port hasn't raised cargo payments for 10 years, while the cost of diesel fuel skyrockets. Then, truckers generally have to sit in line for hours, waiting for a shipment to load, and of course time is money - but there isn't any pay for this idle time; they'd like that to change. Then, of course, there is the issue of humane working conditions - truckers have to drive for up to 14 hours with no bathroom breaks - uh, unless you're carrying urinals and are male, that presents some physical dilemmas.

Oakland Police gathered to face off with the truckers

So, the city of Oakland pre-staffed the port area with a significant police force with night sticks drawn and aggressive readiness postures. The Oakland mayor managed to prevail upon judicial intervention, so a judge ordered that the truckers not block pedestrian passage nor the Port entrance. Doesn't that mitigate the effect of the action?

ILWU members joined the protest

But there is a union at the Port - the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) - and all the members walked off the job, in solidarity with the truckers, and effectively stopped the business of the largest terminal. So far, no one knows how long this protest will continue, but the ILWU has offered its assistance in helping the truckers with negotiation. And the Port really should start to do some serious negotiating, because every minute means a loss of revenue and could result in the pile-up of rotting vegetation.

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What Is This Controversy over the Washington R??????s Name?

Washington Redskins Mascot Poster

According to WIKIPEDIA, the term "Redskin" was used by English-speaking people to refer to Native Americans during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Originally when applied to the Algonquins, it didn't refer to skin color, but to the color of face and body paint they used. Between 1875 and 1930, books published around that time show an increasingly pejorative use of the term to imply such characteristics as dirty and lying, while the combination of "noble Redskin" became used in a patronizing way. Today, many consider the term "Redskin" to be a racial insult. As with all racial insults, it really shouldn't be a name of a professional sports team.

Okay, so take a look at the Washington R??????s poster. Okay, if that depicted people with your ethnic background, what would you think? Would this be okay with you? Then, look at the R??????s helmet, with the logo. Does that look like a cartoon, or caricature? Why would you want people from your ethnicity to be depicted that way?

Sportscaster Bob Costas

So, why this controversy and why now? Well, last weekend Bob Costas brought up the issue during halftime at the Washington R??????s vs Dallas Cowboys game on "Sunday Night Football". Specifically Mr. Costas stated, " But think for a moment about the term “Redskins,” and how it truly differs from all the others. Ask yourself what the equivalent would be, if directed toward African-Americans, Hispanics, Asians, or members of any other ethnic group. When considered that way, “Redskins” can't possibly honor a heritage, or noble character trait, nor can it possibly be considered a neutral term. It’s an insult, a slur, no matter how benign the present-day intent." So, if this is the case, why have that as the name of your football team?

The Washington Redskins logo

But, it's one thing for a sportscaster to give his opinion, but what do Native Americans feel? The National Congress of American Indians focused on the perception of young Native Americans in a report "Ending the Legacy of Racism in Sports & the Era of Harmful 'Indian' Sports Mascots", "The report also reviews in-depth studies that show the harm negative stereotypes and “Indian” sports mascots have on Native youth. The rate of suicide is highest for Native young people at 18 percent, twice the rate of the next highest of 8.4 percent among non-Hispanic white youth." Although Bob Burns, who is an elder in the Blackfeet tribe had been quoted as saying that the issue was silly and the name and mascot don't bother him, he also contended that he was misquoted. He really felt this way, "'Redskins' is part of that mentality from colonial times when our people were hunted by soldiers and mercenaries who were paid for the scalps of our men, women and children. How can anyone claim this is a proud tradition to come from?  The labels, racism and hatred that Indian people continue to experience are directly tied to those racial slurs." In my opinion, when it concerns a specific group of people and those people are offended in this manner, it is time to listen to those people, our Native Americans, and drop the name, which they find so offensive.

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Unified Theater

As the name implies, this program is about togetherness. It combines students who have disabilities with those who don't in the creative enterprise of performing - together. Micaela Connery was 15 years old when her relationship with her cousin, Kelsey, who has multiple disabilities, inspired her to develop a way for kids to spend time together in a theater program. Kelsey and Micaela were both born only 3 months apart, but enjoyed common interests together. Micaela wanted other kids to experience what she did with her cousin, and realize that people, no matter what their abilities, can learn from each other.

UNIFIED THEATER is a school-based performing arts program. Since it started it has been incorporated into fifty schools, involved more than 4,000 students, and has appeared in front of more than 10,000 audience members. So, within the program, teens staff all of the production roles. Since the production is original, students write the entire show, make the costumes, invent dance moves, and handle the lighting and sets. There is no classification of participants; everyone participates fully. This is not just a one-time program, as commercial programs that are purchased by some schools turn out to be. This is meant to be a year-round program and is incorporated into the curriculum and can also continue from year to year. The focus is on the schools and programs have been developed for middle school, high school, and college. The latest feature has been developing local collaborations with theater groups.

So, what has happened to the two inspirations behind this wonderful concept? Well, Micaela still works with Unified Theater as Executive Director. In 2009, she graduated from University of Virginia with high distinction. She continues to advocate for inclusion in many different venues. Kelsey graduated from Middletown High School and delivers newspapers for the Newport Daily News. And Unified Theater continues to provide life-changing experiences for the students who continue to participate. As I suspect, from the many photos, it is also a joyful experience, as well.

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Heavenly Hats

Anthony Leanna, the founder of Heavenly Hats.

Back when he was just 10 years old, Anthony Leanna started the HEAVENLY HATS FOUNDATION. Two years previously, Anthony's beloved grandmother had developed cancer and during her chemotherapy, she lost her hair. This youngster found out from his grandmother that having a new hat would boost her mood, and from there, Heavenly Hats came to be.

Now 22 years old, Anthony maintains contact with the Foundation he started and is still its inspiration. The brand new hats are a comfort and provide hope for those who lose their hair from an illness or its treatment. They are seeking to provide hats to both hospitals and individuals to give people that extra boost to enable them to fight through their condition. The Foundation keeps its costs down by utilizing the services of volunteers to assemble the packages, process requests, and accept donations. They also accept donations of brand new hats and monetary donations.

One of the smiling recipients of a Heavenly Hat kit.

One of their projects is the Hat Parade, which officially occurred on Oct. 11, this year. However, any organization can hold a Hat Parade at any other time. The objective of a Hat Parade is to raise money to help defray the shipping costs of providing hat kits to the recipients. Anthony also provides a list of some other fun activities which can help schools and other groups in their fund raising activities. The best part of this Foundation, though, is the people who it benefits. When you turn sadness and fear to smiles and hat modeling, when there are moments that people with severe illness don't have to dwell on their conditions, that is what this Foundation is all about.

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Ryan's Well Foundation

Back in 1998, a six-year-old boy, Ryan Hreljac, found out that clean water was scarce in Africa. So, he started to save chore money he earned until he had $70 saved. By 1999, Ryan's efforts led to the first well being constructed by this young boy's efforts. Eventually, the project grew into RYAN'S WELL FOUNDATION in 2001. The continuing legacy of this foundation has built over 800 water projects, more than 1000 latrines and benefited hundreds of thousands of people. Money is raised through speaking engagements at schools and involves young children in its mission.

But Ryan wasn't the only young person involved in building this project. You see, there was a pen pal from Africa, Jimmy Akana, who lives in Uganda, who gave Ryan a personalized view of how his life differed from Ryan's. A few years after they started writing, the situation in Uganda became rather dangerous for Jimmy and he was captured by the Lord's Resistance Army, a rebel group. After a lot of work by a family across the ocean and interested people in Africa, Jimmy was able to move to Canada and become part of Ryan's family. Both Ryan and Jimmy, now young men, have continued roles within Ryan's Well Foundation.

Today, Ryan's Well Foundation remains active in completing water, sanitation, and hygiene projects throughout Africa in Burkina Faso, Ghana, Togo, Kenya, Uganda, and outside of Africa in Haiti. In the United States, this Foundation has entered the school curriculum to educate students about the importance of water as a resource, and also to see a need and take action. Various groups can organize fund-raising activities through the Foundation and know that the money they raise will be used in specific projects that are already under way. Donors can keep track of the latest information through the web site, a blog written by Ryan, and other social media.

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AfricAid

The story of this organization started back in 1996, when an 11-year-old American girl made a trip to Africa with her family. She, at that young age, noticed how poor many of the families were and came away with a vow to do something to help. At first, it was collecting school supplies, then it became sponsoring 10 girls through the high school level. Eventually a charity with a board of directors, partner organizations, and Tanzanian school partnerships, was formed with the name AFRICAID. This organization is still involved in providing an education to girls in a country where 95% of girls don't complete high school.

At the young age of 16, the founder, Ashley Shuyler, received the Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes as an inspiration to all youth. But Ashley's involvement didn't end there. She now serves as a member of the US Board of Directors, along with other members of her family. She continues studies at the Stanford Graduate School of Business to increase her knowledge of entrepreneurship.

Meanwhile AfricAid has continued to have a large role in the lives of the girls and young women of Tanzania. Through educating girls, AfricAid spreads their influence into the future families they form and out into the community. Education makes it much harder to exploit these girls and allows them to become the next generation of doctors, nurses, and teachers. There is success written all over their lives.

Now, AfricAid has started a new project, the Kisa Project. Young women are provided with scholarships to complete their secondary education and then undergo an additional two years of leadership training, including sessions with Tanzanian mentors. Once they complete the entire process, these women return to their villages and mentor other young women in the same way they were. So, in this way, there is a passing down of new leadership abilities from one generation to another.

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