Tell the EPA to reduce smog pollution

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By Alana Stamas, Environment Iowa

Environment Iowa members have helped pass new rules to cut air pollution from cars and diesel trucks and to stop the Bush administration from weakening the Clean Air Act. Now, we need your help to strengthen air quality standards for ozone "smog" pollution, which can trigger asthma attacks and harm even the healthiest lungs.

In June, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed a slight strengthening of the national air quality standard for ozone. Unfortunately, EPA's proposal falls short of what its own scientific advisors said is necessary to protect public health. We need your help to urge the administration to strengthen the standards so that they protect public health, not polluters.

The EPA wants to hear from you about smog pollution, and we want to make sure that they hear loud and clear that we want to stop smog now. We only have until October 9th, so send your comment today and be sure to ask your friends to do the same! To send your email, click on the link below:

https://www.environmentiowa.org/action/clean-air/smog-comments?id4=ES

Sincerely,

Alana Stamas
Environment Iowa Field Organizer
AlanaS@environentiowa.org
http://www.environmentiowa.org

Hi ,

When my doctor prescribes a drug for me, I want to be completely confident that she's aware of its pros and cons, especially the risks and types of side effects I might experience.

However, you may remember the horror stories about how Merck and GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) suppressed negative studies about Vioxx and Paxil. And recently the FDA issued a safety alert about health risks associated with Avandia because independent researchers analyzed the results of clinical trials posted on the GSK website (Note: they were forced to publicize the results as part of a settlement with the state of New York after their problems with Paxil).

Prescription drugs can be life savers, but big problems arise when Big Pharma hides information about the side effects of some drugs while continuing to aggressively promote them. That has to change.

Let's tell Big Pharma that we want the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth about our prescription drugs.

http://www.uspirg.org/action/health-care/big-pharma?id4=ES

Then ask your friends and family to help out too by forwarding this email to them.

Background
When we watch television commercials on prescription drugs, it always ends with the long list of potential side effects. In the case of Vioxx, Paxil, Avandia and others, there were additional side effects that were not disclosed. In all three cases, the drug maker was aware of additional side effects.

In this email, I will focus on Vioxx. In future emails, I'll pick others. To best illustrate the problems with Vioxx, I've included some excerpts from a newspaper story about a 2005 congressional hearing on Vioxx.

-- Excerpted from the San Francisco Chronicle, May 6, 2005 --

HARD SELL: How Marketing Drives the Pharmaceutical Industry Firm misled doctors on Vioxx, panel says sales staff told not to discuss risk study

Merck & Co. trained its sales staff to mislead doctors in an aggressive campaign to boost prescriptions for its painkiller Vioxx despite evidence that the drug increased heart attack risks, according to a House committee analysis of company documents.

Vioxx, which was withdrawn from the market in September because of heart attack and stroke risks, built up sales topping $2 billion during a period when safety concerns were mounting among scientific experts and federal regulators, said Rep. Henry Waxman, D-Los Angeles, at a hearing of the House Government Reform Committee on Thursday.

Doctors were induced to write millions of Vioxx prescriptions by Merck sales strategies that amounted to "disinformation and censorship," said Waxman, whose staff analyzed 20,000 documents related to the promotion of Vioxx.

A Food and Drug Administration official said Merck's practices weren't illegal. But the revelations could bolster moves by Congress to beef up the FDA's powers and possibly prove a bonanza to plaintiffs in civil suits against the drug giant claiming that Vioxx caused severe side effects, or death.

Sales representatives who visited physicians at their offices and hospitals were told to make spurious claims of superior cardiovascular safety for Vioxx, but they were forbidden to discuss Merck's own 2000 study linking the drug to heart attack risks five times greater than those with another painkiller, the report concluded.

Those sales practices continued while Merck was resisting the FDA's efforts to include a warning on Vioxx's label about cardiovascular dangers, according to the analysis.

...In the documents disclosed, Merck urged its 3,000 Vioxx salespeople to push the drug in campaigns tagged Project XXceleration and Project Offense, in which physicians' safety concerns were described as obstacles to sales that had to be overcome.

Sales representatives were offered $2,000 bonuses for making Vioxx sales goals and encouraged to compare their efforts to the struggles of historical figures like Martin Luther King Jr. -- a tactic that evoked outrage from Rep. Elijah Cummings, a black Democrat from Maryland.

---end excerpt---

Newspaper stories like this one help to illustrate that we have a problem.

To tell drug makers that you, your doctor and your family deserve the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth about a drug, please click here:

http://www.uspirg.org/action/health-care/big-pharma?id4=ES

Sincerely,

Meshawn Ayala
Iowa PIRG Citizen Outreach Director
MeshawnA@iowapirg.org
http://www.IowaPIRG.org

I'm having trouble posting, so this is for an event coming up on September 9 in Black Hawk County in protest of the proposed coal fired power plant set for that area. I have attached a GREAT flyer that the group Community Energy Solutions made and wanted to get it out there in cyberland. Again, use your own discretion as to how best to post this and how best to utilize this flyer.

This comes to me from:

Kristi Lohmeier
Outreach Coordinator
Iowa Policy Project
120 N. Dubuque St. Suite #206
Iowa City Iowa 52245
319.338.0773
309.716.7757 (cell)
www.iowapolicyproject.org

Make the Media Tell the Truth!

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By Ilya Sheyman, National Community Organizer DFA

Ending the war in Iraq has been DFA's priority from day one, and we will not stop until every soldier is home. Now we're at another critical juncture. On September 11, General Petraeus is expected to report to Congress on the success of the "surge" in Iraq. He's supposed to outline our progress and our setbacks over the past few months.

But, we already know that's not going to happen. The General's report is going to "actually be written by the White House, with inputs from officials throughout the government."¹ President Bush will try to mislead the public again with a whitewashed progress report from Iraq.

We won't let him get away with it.

America needs the truth about what's happening in Iraq. The media must be stopped from blindly "reporting" more positive spin from the Administration.

At your September Link-Up Event, please write letters to the editor of your local paper. In your own words, demand that they report the truth about the situation in Iraq. Tell them you're tired of yes-men and faulty White House reports with cherry-picked facts that hide the big picture. It's time for the media to "Tell the Truth" about what's happening on the ground.

On September 12, we'll follow up with something the media won't be able to ignore. Organize a "Tell the Truth" event outside your local media outlet.

Here's how to do it:

• Pick a local T.V. station near you. If you have a FOX affiliate pick them, but any of the networks will do.
• Keep it simple. Make at least a dozen signs in advance, the bigger the sign the better, with only three words: TELL THE TRUTH
• Don't stand still. Think of the event as a picket line, not a vigil.
• Think visually. What you wear will help sell the message. If possible - veterans, clergy, etc. should be easily identifiable.
• Timing matters. Hold your event during the evening news. Networks love to report live. Make sure your event happens from 5 to 7pm.

Post your event on our website so other DFA members can find it:

http://www.DemocracyforAmerica.com/planmediarally

The Republicans are planning to exploit the memory of September 11 to support their failing war of choice. The Bush administration's rhetoric can not go unchallenged. The media is not at the command of the White House Press Secretary. You have the power to pressure the media to tell the truth.

Thanks for all you do,

Ilya Sheyman
National Community Organizer

P.S.  When organizing your event, you might find the links below helpful.

Find a list of media outlets in your community at:
http://www.congress.org/congressorg/dbq/media

September agenda, talking points and material are available at:
http://www.DFALink.com/Resources

Women's Equality Day Event

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By Cindy Forbes

You are invited to attend a celebration for Women's Equality Day on Sunday, August 26th. We will have an after hours reception at the Hotel Ft Des Moines from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Guest speakers to include Former First Lady Christie Vilsack and Dr. Andy McGuire. Please come and join us for a fun get together and discussion of women's issues. Be a part of 19 events across Iowa to celebrate the 19th amendment! Please RSVP to forbesfancygoods@ msn.com<about:

Hope to see you there!

Cindy Forbes

The ratification of our Constitution' s 19th Amendment on August 26, 1920, marked a turning point for America as women were guaranteed the right to vote. On Women's Equality Day, we celebrate this milestone and pay tribute to the inspiring individuals who stepped forward and asked our Nation to live up to its founding principle of equality for all.

The struggle for women's rights is a story of strong women joining together to break down the barriers to equality. With courage and determination, Lucretia Mott, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Susan B. Anthony, and other suffragists inspired generations of women and helped change the path of our Nation's history. The Seneca Falls Convention of 1848 sparked a mass movement for women's voting rights that gained support from women of all ages and backgrounds. In 1890, Wyoming became the first State whose constitution allowed women to vote, and by 1918, women could vote in 14 additional States. Two years later, women secured nationwide suffrage with the passage of the 19th Amendment. By demanding participation in the democratic process, these visionaries helped spread freedom, justice, and hope for generations to come.

CALLING ALL CANDIDATES!

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By I'm for Iowa

If you live in one of IowaÂ’s 950 cities, we need YOU to run for city council.  The deadline to file to run is either August 30 (this coming Thursday) or September 20, depending upon your city.  Filing requires a simple, notarized form and between 5 and 25 signatures.  Call your city clerk or county auditor for precise details, and see http://www.sos.state.ia.us/elections/electioninfo/CityElections.html.  
 
Iowa desperately needs more people with vision and passion leading our cities, counties, state and nation.  This year, Lynn and I have advised 22 candidates or prospective candidates in fourteen communities across the state.  If you were one of them, and youÂ’re still thinking of running for city council or mayor, itÂ’s crunch time!  If you havenÂ’t yet given it a lot of thought, but are interested and would like to discuss the possibilities, send us a message.


JOHN ED WARDS TAKES ON CORPORATE LOBBYISTS

Throughout my fourteen years as a legislator, I challenged the role of big money, special interests and corporate lobbyists in state government.  The situation is even worse at the federal level.  Over the past twenty years, I have volunteered for eight different presidential candidates.  At last, I can throw my enthusiastic support behind one who (1) totally gets the problem of big money in politics, and (2) is best positioned to win the 2008 general election.

Many of you supported me when I ran for governor in 2006, and you understand the importance of campaign finance reform.  I highly recommend you check out John EdwardsÂ’ “End the Game” speech in New Hampshire earlier this week, in which he says, “We cannot replace a group of corporate Republicans with a group of corporate Democrats . . . We need full public financing to reform the system once and for all.  But we donÂ’t need to wait to reform our party. Two weeks ago, I called on all Democrats to reject contributions from federal lobbyists.”

Read the full speech at http://www.johnedwards.com/news/speeches/20070823-hanover-speech/.


SOME UPCOMING EVENTS

Sunday, August 26 (Downey)

Cedar County Democrats Annual Music Fest
Secrest Historic Octagonal Barn, 12:30 – 5:30 p.m.
5750 Osage Street, near Downey
Featuring Brandon Ross, Sheila Knoploh-Odole, Jesus DonÂ’t Like KillinÂ’, Truth Hawk and Wind Horse, Ed Fallon (performing at 4:30), the Octagonal Barn Square Dance Band, Stones in the Field and The Gilded Bats.
Bring lawn chairs or blankets, and suggested donation is $10.
Contact Linda Carrillo at (319) 643-2195 or www.orgsites.com/ia/cedarcountydems/.


Sunday, August 26 (Iowa City)

Fundraiser for Michael Wright, candidate for Iowa City City Couincil, 6:30 – 8:00 p.m.
Featuring Ed Fallon, giving a short concert and speaking on behalf of Michael
225 N. Lucas Street, I owa City
Suggested donation is $25
RSVP to (319) 358-9344.


Tuesday, August 28 (Brooklyn)

Poweshiek County Democratic Party Event
Food and speeches (Ed will speak on behalf of John Edwards), 6:00 p.m.
Farmer Nick's, 4127 Highway 21(Exit 201 off I-80), Brooklyn


Wednesday, September 5 (Iowa City)

University of Iowa Energy Expo 2007, 9:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Contact (319) 335-5241


Thursday, September 6 (Iowa City)

Nobel Laureate Shirin Ebadi to give Levitt Lecture, 4:00 p.m.
"Human Rights in Iran and the Middle East"
Iowa Memorial Union - University of Iowa Campus, Second floor ballroom
The lecture is free and open to the public.


Thursday, September 6 – Sunday, September 9 (Iowa City)

Field to Family 2007
Culinary Walk ~ Food on Film ~ IC Farmers Market Cooking Demo ~ A Local Sample Extravaganza
For more information go to www.jclfa.org.


Saturday, September 8 – Sunday, Septemb er 9 (Solon)

I-RENEW Energy Expo 2007
Solon High School, 600 W 5th Street, Solon
Admission: $5 Individual, $10 Family
Presented by Iowa Renewable Energy Association (I-Renew)
For more information go to www.irenew.org/expo.html.


Monday, September 10 (Spencer)

House Party featuring Ed Fallon and Lynn Heuss on behalf of John Edwards, 6:30 p.m.
Home of Bev & Dwight Rutter, 1765 290th Street, Spencer
The program will include a short musical recital
Contact (712) 262-5864.


Friday, September 14 – Sunday, September 16 (Iowa City)

Health Consequences of Global Warming
Conference organized by Iowa Physicians for Social Responsibility
Hotel Vetro Conference Center, 201 S. Linn Street, Iowa City
Contact (319) 828-4789 or www.iowa-psr.org.


Sunday, September 16 (Indianola)

Thirtieth Annual Harkin Steak Fry
Indianola Balloon Field, on Highway 92 east of Indianola
Featuring presidential candidat es Clinton, Dodd, Edwards, Obama and Richardson
Tickets:  $30 in advance, $35 at the event
Contact http://www.tomharkin.com/.

International Day of Peace Events in DM

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By Catholic Peace Ministry

Central Iowa will observe the UN call for an International Day of
Peace with 2 special events. Below and attached is an announcement
from the Catholic Peace Ministry of an Ecumenical Prayer Service on
Friday, Sept. 21.

The following day - Sat. Sept 22, AFSC and twenty co-sponsoring
organizations present central Iowa's second International Day of Peace
- Peace Fair in downtown DM. Note Peace Fair attachment.

See you then.
Kathleen

Romanian Catholic Bishop to speak at
Ecumenical prayer service
Friday, September 21, 7 PM
St Ambrose Cathedral, 607 High Street, Des Moines

On Friday evening at 7, September 21, the day proclaimed by the United
Nations as The International Day of Peace, Catholic Peace Ministry
will host an ecumenical service of repentance and prayer for peace at
Saint Ambrose Cathedral, 607 High Street, Des Moines.

Preaching a homily at this service will be the Most Reverend John
Michael Botean, bishop of the Romanian Catholic Diocese of Canton,
Ohio, and the most outspoken critic of the war in Iraq among the US
Catholic hierarchy. "Beyond a reasonable doubt this war is morally
incompatible with the Person and Way of Jesus Christ," Bishop Botean
wrote in a March 2003 pastoral letter to the faithful of his diocese,
all Romanian Catholics within the borders of the United States, "With
moral certainty I say to you it does not meet even the minimal
standards of the Catholic just war theory."

Catholic Peace Ministry invites the public to this event which will be
held in union with prayer services for peace that will held at houses
of worship of many faiths around the globe on the evening of September
21.

For more information contact
Brian Terrell Catholic Peace Ministry
515-255-8114
terrellcpm@yahoo.com

Selden Spencer Launches New Site

I copied this post from the Iowa Independent and Essential Estrogen...

Neurologist Selden Spencer is continuing his quest to represent Iowa in the United States House of Representatives by launching a new interactive web site.

"A large part of any campaign these days is internet presence," Spencer said in a letter to supporters. "Our new site is fun and vibrant, with tools for you to use in helping us to send a new voice to Washington to represent Iowa's fourth district."

The site, which was previously limited to primarily blog postings, now has a calendar of events, a photo gallery, Spencer's public appearance schedule, a volunteer form and accepts online contributions. Those interested in certain policy issues are now able to contact the candidate directly via the site.

Spencer lives in Huxley while practicing medicine in Ames. He launched an unsuccessful bid against Republican Tom Latham in 2006, garnering 43 percent of the vote.