Wednesday, October 3, 2012

12-10-03 Misc news of the abuse...


Periodic reality check... jz

Iraq: Ten Years, a Million Lives and Trillions of Dollars LaterBy Dennis Kucinich



We must learn from this dark period in American history to ensure that we do not repeat the same mistakes. And we must hold accountable those who misled the American public.
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article32628.htm


Report decries suicides, isolation cells in California prisons

An Amnesty International report says conditions in the state's security housing 'breach international standards.' State officials rebut the findings. Many of the suicides occurred in isolation units.


USA: California authorities urged to end shocking conditions in prison isolation units

More than 3,000 prisoners in California endure inhuman conditions in solitary confinement.
More than 3,000 prisoners in California endure inhuman conditions in solitary confinement.
© Rina Palta/KALW
“The conditions and length of imprisonment in California’s isolation units are simply shocking”
Angela Wright, US Researcher at Amnesty International who visited a number of prisons in the state
Thu, 27/09/2012


The US state of California must make substantial changes to their prison isolation units and halt the inhuman suffering of thousands of prisoners, Amnesty International said in a new report out today.

Police Officer Brutally Attacks Man In Wheelchair

Video


Hunger in America: 2012 United States Hunger and Poverty Facts
World Hunger Education Service
Hunger in the United States
Three years after the onset of the financial and economic crisis, hunger remains high in the United States. The financial and economic crisis that erupted in 2008 caused a dramatic increase in hunger in the United States. This high level of hunger continues in 2010, according to the latest government report (with the most recent statistics) released in September 2011 (Coleman-Jensen 2011 ).
  • In 2010, 17.2 million households, 14.5 percent of households (approximately one in seven), were food insecure, the highest number ever recorded in the United States 1(Coleman-Jensen 2011, p. v.) 
  • In 2010, about one-third of food-insecure households (6.7 million households, or 5.4 percent of all U.S. households) had very low food security (compared with 4.7 million households (4.1 percent) in 2007. In households with very low food security, the food intake of some household members was reduced, and their normal eating patterns were disrupted because of the household’s food insecurity (Coleman-Jensen 2011, p. v., Nord  2009 , p. iii.) . 
  • In 2010, children were food insecure at times during the year in 9.8 percent of households with children (3.9 million households.) In one percent of households with children,one or more of the children experienced the most severe food-insecure condition measured by USDA, very low food security, in which meals were irregular and food intake was below levels considered adequate by caregivers (Coleman-Jensen 2011, p. vi).
  • The median [a type of average] food-secure household spent 27 percent more on food than the median food-insecure household of the same size and household composition (Coleman-Jensen 2011, p. vi)..
  • Background: The United States changed the name of its definitions in 2006 that eliminated references to hunger, keeping various categories of food insecurity.  This did not represent a change in what was measured.  Very low food insecurity (described as food insecurity with hunger prior to 2006) means that, at times during the year, the food intake of household members was reduced and their normal eating patterns were disrupted because the household lacked money and other resources for food. This means that people were hungry ( in the sense of "the uneasy or painful sensation caused by want of food" [Oxford English Dictionary 1971] for days each year (Nord 2009 p. iii-iv.).
Poverty in the United States
The official poverty measure is published by the United States Census Bureau  and shows that:
  • In 2010, 46.9 million people were in poverty, up from 37.3 million in 2007 -- the fourth consecutive annual increase in the number of people in poverty .  This is the largest number in the 52 years for which poverty rates have been published (DeNavas-Walt 2011 , p. 14).
  • The 2010 poverty rate was 15.1 percent, up from 12.5 percent in 1997.  This is the highest poverty rate since 1993, but 7.3 percentage points lower than the poverty rate in 1959, the first year for poverty estimates.  (DeNavas-Walt 2011 , p. 14).
  • The 2010 poverty rate for Hispanics was 26.6 percent, for Blacks 27.4 percent. 
  • In 2010, the poverty rate increased for children under age 18 from 20.7 percent to 22.0 percent. (DeNavas-Walt 2010  p. 14).
  • 20.5 million Americans live in extreme poverty. This means their family’s cash income is less than half of the poverty line, or about $10,000 a year for a family of four (DeNavas-Walt 2011 , p. 19).
  • 49.9 million people or 16.3 percent of the American people, do not have medical insurance (DeNavas-Walt 2011 , p. 23).
http://www.worldhunger.org/articles/Learn/us_hunger_facts.htm















No comments: