U.S. Social Forum Writers Network November 11, 2009
This is a semi-monthly memo to the U.S. Social Forum Writers Network. Writers commit to helping spread the news about the USSF, which will be held in Detroit June 22-26, 2010. Please try to submit at least one piece of work per month to a local or national newspaper, community or professional newsletter, internet blog, or other media source. You are free to use the suggested “hooks” provided here to reach diverse audiences and to support the social movements behind the U.S. and World Social Forum process. Please send your ideas for future USSF writers story “hooks” or links pieces you’ve published to writers@ussf2010.org .
Another world is possible! We need YOU to help make it happen!
WE NEED YOUR HELP! Please distribute this call for participation. Or send people to the USSF website (www.ussf2010.org) and urge them to click “Get Involved”: Call for Participation
Thanks!
- Jackie Smith, Sociologists without Borders and member of the USSF Communications Working Group
PS: If you can volunteer to help support the writers network by, for instance, contributing to this regular update, helping place articles in mainstream or alternative media, etc. please contact me at jsmith40@nd.edu .
Suggested Story “Hooks” November 2009
Majority says Free Market is Flawed. Another World is Necessary! A poll by the BBC world service found that just 11% of respondents in 27 countries thought the “free market” system is working well. Nearly a quarter of all respondents (23%) said the system is “fatally flawed,” and even in the United States those thinking the system works well were in a minority (around 25%). Strong majorities want a greater government role in regulating the economy and in redistributing wealth. The United States Social Forum will be an opportunity for citizens around the United States to discuss strategies for responding to the financial crisis and building a national and global economy that works better for people. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/8347409.stm
Health Care “Reform” Bill Shows Need for Movement Building Most analyses of the Health Care reform bill passed in the U.S. House of Representatives this week show that not only would it limit women’s access to health care in several ways, but it would also increase the costs of insurance for most Americans. More importantly, it would increase the power of large insurance companies to shape national health policy. In the course of this legislative “debate,” the notion of a “public option” has been whittled away to practically nothing, while the very idea of a real single-payer system (which would really mean the expansion of our existing Medicare system), has been rejected out of hand. Despite the fact that most polls show that Americans would support a national health care guarantee, politicians won’t back it because it would seriously undercut the power and profits of insurance giants (who are spending hundreds of millions of dollars to affect the health reform bill).
The US Social Forum is working to build a space for building national movements for policy changes that would improve the lives of all Americans—especially those working people and the increasing ranks of vulnerable unemployed, underemployed, and disabled people. It is clear that people who believe that health care is a human right must come together and demand that our political leaders put forward a real plan for health care reform that will make health care affordable and accessible to all. Come to Detroit in June, and work to build a movement to support Obama’s (earlier?) vision of a health care system that works for us!
Resources:
Physicians for a National Health Program (www.pnhp.org) is a leading group pushing for a single-payer system.
“Is the House Health Care Bill Better than Nothing?” by Marcia Angell http://www.commondreams.org/view/2009/11/09-5 (Marcia Angell, M. D., is Senior Lecturer in the Department of Social Medicine at Harvard Medical School)
* “Six Smart Progressive Complaints About House Health Bill” by John Nichols The Nation http://www.commondreams.org/view/2009/11/09-10\
Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Article 25: “(1) Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and of his family, including food, clothing, housing and medical care and necessary social services, and the right to security in the event of unemployment, sickness, disability, widowhood, old age or other lack of livelihood in circumstances beyond his control. (2) Motherhood and childhood are entitled to special care and assistance. All children, whether born in or out of wedlock, shall enjoy the same social protection.
Thinking ahead to ….
UPCOMING EVENTS/ Story opportunities
NOVEMBER 30: 10-year anniversary of the Battle in Seattle
DECEMBER 10: International Human Rights Day
DECEMBER 7-18 United Nations Climate Change Conference, Copenhagen—World leaders debate how to respond to climate change. www.campaigncc.org
JANUARY 18: MLK Day - reframe civil rights - right to good work, right to migrate, right to a healthy environment
FEBRUARY 15 Presidents’ Day - support Obama in doing what’s right - listen to the growing voice of civil society
MARCH 8: International Women’s Day
MAY 1- May Day: - speak to the left, the progressives, the workers, consolidate support for USSF
MAY 31: Memorial Day - Veterans for Peace & Iraq Vets against the war plug USSF
- TIPS FOR WRITERS
“How to Pitch a Story” http://www.timeday.org/book-appendix-c.asp
SEND YOUR SUGGESTIONS AND PUBLICATIONS TO: writers@ussf2010.org