News

https://worldbeyondwar.org/world-beyond-wars-bicycle-peace-caravan-in-hiroshima-city-during-the-g7-summit/

Essertier is Organizer for World BEYOND War’s Japan Chapter.

Today Hiroshima is a “city of peace” for many people. Among those who are citizens of Hiroshima, there are people (some of them hibakusha or “A-bomb victims”) who have constantly made efforts to warn the world about the dangers of nuclear weapons, promote reconciliation with the victims of the Empire of Japan (1868–1947), and cultivate tolerance and multicultural living. In that sense, it truly is a city of peace. On the other hand, for many decades, the city was a center of military activities for the Empire, playing major roles in the First Sino-Japanese War (1894-95), the Russo-Japanese War (1904-05), and the two World Wars. In other words, it also has a dark history as a city of war.

"As Ohio goes, so goes the nation.” The Buckeye State was once considered the ultimate bellwether in electoral politics. While the state has trended conservative in recent years with Republicans, on average, out-performing Democrats in the state by a 54-46 percent margin, the State Legislature’s composition gives the illusion that Ohio is overwhelmingly in the Republican camp.

In the last few days, selected Columbus residents received a text message fake opinion “survey” from uncredentialled market research company Research-Opinions.com in a brazenly dishonest and intolerable attempt to discredit me.

A friend of mine alerted me yesterday about the survey, and its unacceptably biased portrayal of Ginther as a successful mayor with absolutely no evidence. At the same time, it grossly misrepresented me as someone who opposes affordable housing and inclusiveness, and only runs for office “so he can get his name on the news.” Contradictorily, professional politician Ginther calls me “a professional political candidate.”

Ginther, his campaign, and his hacks are blatantly slandering and defaming me. These lies about me clearly demonstrate that Ginther, his campaign, and the Columbus establishment are already frightened about the head-to-head November election between two Democratic candidates for Mayor. My record of nearly 40 years of advocacy for justice, fairness, and quality of life issues for neighborhoods and everyday people of Columbus is a proven fact across this city. I am a Democrat. Ginther is not democratic.

The event will be at 1 pm on Saturday, June 10 at the Comfort Inn, 7525 US-23, Piketon, OH 45661.

The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) abbreviation for the Portsmouth Nuclear Site is PORTS. The site is referred to locally as “the A-Plant” and continues to be referred to by agency officials and contractors simply as “Piketon,” the name of the town nearest the site. The site was used to enrich uranium, first for nuclear weapons and later for nuclear power. By far the worst contamination occurred because for decades the DOE brought in high level radioactive waste (to extract uranium from it) and ran it through all 3 process buildings (100 acres under roof). This contaminated the entire site with radioactive isotopes including plutonium, neptunium, and technetium.

Speakers at the forum will be:

On the farthest western edge of Columbus, in a patch of forest which days are probably numbered, several coyotes howl in the night. These same coyotes, believed to be three brothers, were recently witnessed dashing across 70 West near 270.

The coyote’s patch of woods is connected to a subdivision where the houses look alike. Of late there’s more “Missing Cat” signs taped to lamp posts (sushi for coyotes, believe some).

Also being squeezed out are the houseless, but their tents remain. “Brett,” who bought a 100-year-old farm house near here, said he’s called 311 nine times over the past year to have an abandoned tent (pictured above) removed from Clover Park, but no City employee has ever shown. 

The Libertarian Party of Ohio (LPO) announced today that it will be joining over 200 other organizations in the multi-partisan alliance against HJR1 and SJR2, the resolutions being advanced by Republicans in the Statehouse that could potentially usurp Ohioans’ right to amend the state constitution via a simple majority vote at the ballot box.

In 2013, when the LPO was gaining electoral traction with conservatives, independents and moderates alike, the Ohio Republican Party passed new ballot access laws to derail minor political parties' access to the ballot. The law –– called SB 193, but also known as “The John Kasich Re-Election Protection Act” –– was signed by then-Governor Kasich almost immediately.

When the relatively unheard of IQAir released its annual “World Air Quality” report earlier this year, it found the “most polluted major U.S. city was Columbus, Ohio.”

Equally alarming and unbecoming is how IQAir said Columbus has a high concentration of PM 2.5, described as some of the worst inhalable particles, which can cause depressed lung function and premature death.

PM 2.5 (particle matter) is mostly created by burning fossil fuels. Some claim automobile-centric Columbus “smells bad” around 9am, just after rush hour. But worse air quality than Los Angeles?

“Usually, Los Angeles is up there. But Columbus beat Los Angeles,” said IQAir’s CEO of North America Glory Dolphin Hammes to WOSU back in March.

Both the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission and the Ohio EPA told WOSU the methodology IQAir followed is providing inaccurate data because some of their air sensors are not up to federal EPA standards. 

Recent weeks have seen several stories of states seeking to silence legislators going against the powers that be. The expulsion of two lawmakers from the Tennessee legislature advocating for gun control efforts was followed by a session-long ban placed on Montana Rep. Zooey Zephyr for protesting the state’s proposed ban on gender-affirming care. In this race to the bottom to silence dissent and subvert the democratic process, however, Ohio’s recent effort stands out. The Ohio legislature's recent effort seeks not just to silence individual minority legislators, but to potentially ignore the will of a majority of Ohioans.           

The Central Ohio Reuse Coalition (CORC) will proudly join Columbus City Councilman Emmanuel V. Remy at this evening’s council meeting where Councilman Remy will sponsor a resolution committing the city to a reduction of plastic in Central Ohio and to encourage community members, organizations, and businesses to commit to plastic reduction. This follows CORC’s meeting with Councilman Remy where coalition representatives presented Remy with a draft resolution and requested his sponsorship.

The resolution comes just after Earth Day, and demonstrates the city’s commitment to reducing plastic, protecting the health of its citizens, and diverting waste from the landfill.

Do you talk a good Earth Day game? Can’t stand the trash that blows around Columbus throughout the Spring?

Earth Day of course is this Saturday and here’s your chance(s) to take action. Both Green Columbus and Columbus Recreation and Parks Department are hosting events where you can, for instance, fish in a recently stocked Linden pond or spend the day at Genoa Park visiting booths from 40 local environmentally friendly organizations while listening to bands, sipping on some cold beer and sample food trucks.

Green Columbus, a volunteer-driven nonprofit seeking to improve equitable environmental outcomes for people of Central Ohio, says they coordinate the “largest volunteer-driven service event for Earth Day in the country.” The event starts at noon at Genoa Park (on the bank of the Scioto River adjacent to COSI) and goes until 9 pm: