DuPont Lied and Harmed You, GOP Lies about Wildfires, Maryland Trans Sanctuary, AI Labor Busting, Workers Fight Back, More!
Owning the libs vs breathing is a thing now
Hey there,
Jenn here – Happy Thursday! I’m working on a new project I’m so excited to share with you soon! I will be able to do so a bit later this month…
I hope you’re doing well! Things are hard right now for everyone, but we are in solidarity. Know that you are a good person and you’re not alone.
Here’s the news you may have missed, condensed and easy to read.
In This Edition of Courage News Wrap-Up:
Virginia's Air is Hazardous, and Governor Glenn Youngkin Doesn't Care
Manufacturers of Dangerous' Forever Chemicals' Knew Exactly What They Were Doing - What's Up 3M and DuPont?
Communications Workers of America Members on Strike at Five Companies
George Santos' Lawyer, Office Manager Were Part of the January 6th Capitol Insurrection
Julian Assange Dangerously Close to Extradition
Maryland Governor Wes Moore Makes the State a Trans Sanctuary
Long Covid Can Lead to a Lower Quality of Life on Par With Cancer
Climate Refuge Crisis Will Ramp Up Severely, Impacting Half of Humanity
Nazis Were Not Socialists
Corporations Like Amazon Use AI for Union Busting
Fox News and Friends Use Anti-Masking Talking Points to 'Own the Libs' in the Face of Massive Wildfire Smoke and Horrendous Air Quality
Strippers in Portland Aim to Become the Second Stripper Union in the US
Virginia's Air is Hazardous, and Governor Glenn Youngkin Doesn't Care
Virginia's air quality has been deemed hazardous due to wildfire smoke, but Governor Glenn Youngkin wants to exit the 11-state Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), which incentivizes utility companies to cut carbon emissions.
Manufacturers of Dangerous' Forever Chemicals' Knew Exactly What They Were Doing - What's Up 3M and DuPont?
Manufacturers of PFAS (per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances), 'forever chemicals,' used in nonstick pans, stain-resistant fabric and carpets, cosmetics, products that resist grease, water, and oil, and waterproof clothing knew about the dangers of their products for more than 40 years before the public, according to secret industry documents analyzed in a new study by the University of California San Francisco and published by The Intercept and academic journal JAMA Network Open.
DuPont began producing PFOA in the 1950s and knew by the early 1960s it was accumulating in the blood of its workers.
The companies used the same tactics as Big Tobacco, including suppressing their own research so they couldn't be regulated as they should.
The cancer-causing chemicals are now ubiquitous in our water, air, and soil. This includes our drinking water.
These chemicals can also lead to decreased fertility, developmental delays, and other health issues, affecting the liver, thyroid, pancreas, kidneys, and other organs. One PFAS, PFOA (perfluorooctanoic acid), has been linked to high cholesterol, ulcerative colitis, thyroid disease, testicular cancer, kidney cancer, and pregnancy-induced hypertension.
Manufacturers are spending billions to settle lawsuits and fight federal regulations.
The cost of cleaning up the chemicals in drinking water nationwide will top $400 billion.
Even after phasing out PFOA, other PFAS chemicals continue to be produced. They are virtually indestructible.
In 2019, a case was launched against 3M, DuPont, and other PFAS manufacturers. This legislation is ongoing.
Communications Workers of America Members on Strike at Five Companies
CWA members and other workers were on strike at five companies demanding fair treatment, equity, a voice on the job, and better worker protections.
Newsguild-CWA journalists at Gannett walked off the job for a day to demand that Gannett reinvest in local news and sent a letter to Gannett's board urging a no-confidence vote against the CEO. They believe that newsrooms have been hollowed out under the CEO's leadership, and the company has not been bargaining in good faith around demands for living wages and resources needed by journalists.
IUE-CWA Local 14430 members who work at Northstar Aerospace are striking to demand a fair contract as an essential part of the defense industry.
Call Center Worker United-CWA members are striking across five states to protect the layoff of 700 workers. They demand protections against unfair layoffs, a living wage of $25/hour, opportunities for career advancement, and an investigation into labor practices by Health and Human Services Secretary Becerra.
Insider union members began an open-ended strike to reach a fair contract after management refused to remedy its outstanding Unfair Labor Practices. In November 2022, company leadership illegally changed the workers' health insurance unilaterally, forcing them to spend more on healthcare while reducing their coverage.
CWA District 4 leafleted multiple Ohio businesses owned by the same family that owns the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Workers at the Pittsburg Post-Gazette have been on strike for the last 7 months over not receiving a pay raise in over 15 years and illegal cuts to their healthcare. Activists explain that advertising on a Block Commuications-owned network means supporting millionaires over working people. They have demanded that the Hancock Hotel and Auglaize Audiology stand with workers and stop their advertisements on WLIO until the strike is resolved.
George Santos' Lawyer, Office Manager Were Part of the January 6th Capitol Insurrection
New evidence shows that George Santos' lawyer Joseph Murray and his office manager Angela Ng were present during the January 6th Capitol insurrection.
Murray has been Santos' lawyer through his legal troubles after being elected to office.
Former Queens GOP district leader Philip Grillo says he saw Murray "leading the charge up the hill" and urged others to follow.
Murray and Ng were spotted near several people charged for their activities at the Capitol, including former MI gubernatorial candidate Ryan Kelley and a rioter known as "Insider-#2330" by Sedition Hunters.
Rep. George Santos has not disclosed his whereabouts on January 6th, but there are claims he was spotted at former President Trump's speech wearing a stolen scarf.
Julian Assange Dangerously Close to Extradition
Julian Assange's wife, Stella Morris, has announced on Twitter that he will be making a renewed application for an appeal to the High Court next week.
The US government has been trying to extradite Assange for three years on 18 counts concerning Wikileaks' publication of classified documents.
The court initially ruled against extradition due to Assange's mental health.
The Court of Appeals overturned the decision because of diplomatic assurances by the US government.
If he's extradited, Assange potentially faces 175 years in prison.
Maryland Governor Wes Moore Makes the State a Trans Sanctuary
Maryland is the 12th declared sanctuary state for transgender people fleeing other states.
The order prohibits the use of state resources to enforce subpoenas that target trans individuals from outside of Maryland.
State agencies are mandated to protect those who come to Maryland for gender-affirming care.
States such as West Virginia have banned gender-affirming care for most trans youth.
States like New York may develop similar policies to protect trans rights.
Long Covid Can Lead to a Lower Quality of Life on Par With Cancer
A study by University College London and the University of Exeter found that many people with long Covid have a lower quality of life than people with some advanced cancers.
Fatigue has the most significant impact - many with long Covid have fatigue scores worse than or similar to people with cancer-related anemia or kidney disease.
Long Covid's impact on patients' daily activities was worse than for stroke patients and on par with those with Parkinson's disease.
**** I (Jenn!) have long Covid after catching covid-19 reporting at Rudy Giuliani's hair-dye melting press conference. It has been horrible, and I thank all of you who support me through extreme fatigue and other issues that make me feel 100 years old at 38. The pandemic is not over, folks - I live it every day.
Climate Refuge Crisis Will Ramp Up Severely, Impacting Half of Humanity
A study published in Nature Sustainability has led to warnings that the climate crisis leaves more than 600 million people stranded outside of environmental conditions that best support life.
The study shows that by the end of this century, between a third and a half of humanity could be trapped outside this zone.
People will face extreme heat, food scarcity, and higher death rates.
Emissions must be sharply curtailed.
Resistance to international migration must lessen.
The data shows the world is approaching a tipping point.
Even small increases in average global temperature can have dramatic effects.
Nazis Were Not Socialists
Despite a common right-wing talking point, Nazis were not socialists. They were hypercapitalists.
The Nazi regime frequently intervened to support private business and emphasized private property and free competition. A struggle of all against all.
Nazis promoted social Darwinism and viewed the "unproductive" as wasteful expenses, judging human life based on profit.
Nazis used the term "socialism" to gain access to socialist strongholds and fool working-class voters.
Corporations Like Amazon Use AI for Union Busting
AI is being used by companies like Amazon to detect union-friendly phrases and behaviors by employees to union bust.
AI-driven systems determine who should be eliminated.
This AI-driven system uses real-time data uploaded constantly by electronic devices employees have with them at all times.
Fox News and Friends Use Anti-Masking Talking Points to 'Own the Libs' in the Face of Massive Wildfire Smoke and Horrendous Air Quality
Wildfires in Canada have led to horrible and hazardous air quality in many cities.
The fires are a result of climate change.
Conservative politicians and right-wing talking heads are denying the reality of this crisis.
Big Oil's Steve Milloy said on Larua Ingraham that the smoke is "not a health risk" and "has got nothing to do with climate change."
On Newsmax, Greg Kelly said the smoke is "manageable" and has a "beautiful, interesting aura."
Rep. Marc Molinaro said on Fox & Friends that "this "isn't the moment to start lecturing people about the science of climate change."
Strippers in Portland Aim to Become the Second Stripper Union in the US
Strippers from the Magic Tavern in Portland, Oregon, have filed paperwork to become the second stripper union in the US.
The dancers are organizing rallies outside of the Magic Tavern to discuss the working conditions they are fighting for.
The Actors' Equity Association is supporting the dancers in their efforts to unionize.
More to come!
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Solidarity Forever,
Jenn