Fair Trade vs Free Trade; the JTTF Fear Brigade; and Haiti One Year After in Need of Aid

A year after a massive earthquake struck Haiti  January 12^th 2010 – and despitte the promises of aid that poured in from around the world -  More than 1 million Haitians continue to live in hundreds DIY salvaged and scavenged shelter.  At least 230,000 people were killed. Cholera has claimed more than 3,600 lives over the past three months.  Haiti is still suffering.  The Haitian people however, never give up hope.  They don't need any more American troops or well-fed, bouncing beauties from various NGOs.  They need the resources and the material to rebuild their country.  And as far as counseling, Haitians could give Americans help in managing loss and renewal.  This Wednesday evening – the anniversary of the quake – SHAC invites Portland to ‘REMEMBER HAITI’ 6:00 pm at the Harrison Elementary Auditorium 2225 SE 87^th.   www.shacnorthwest.org or call Air Cascadia guest, Judith Gelin 503-257-1014.

Hang onto your Tinfoil hat!  Get this:  The Scene:   Stanford Institute for Economic Policy,  Palo Alto ‘Silicon Valley’ California.  Enter:   President Obama hands the U.S. Commerce Department authority over a forthcoming cybersecurity effort to create an Internet ID for Americans.  Action:  Well, do something.  Write to your elected representatives.  Ask them if they know exactly what this ‘trusted identity’ businesss is all about.  Cut to Flashback:   That news, first reported by CNET, effectively pushes the department to the forefront of the issue, beating out other potential candidates including the National Security Agency and the Department of Homeland Security – for that matter, What the Fuck about handing it to the FCC?   Privacy and civil liberties groups that have raised concerns in the past over the dual roles of police and intelligence agencies.  This should raise their collective hackles.   U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke  says The Commerce Department will be setting up a national program office to work on the  project.   Details about the "trusted identity" project are unusually scarce. DHS:  Department of Homeland Security or Holy Shit!