Paul Mann Award Nominee

Kraft Foods Co

Chances are you've never heard of Mondelez.
But you know the company:
Kraft,

one of the world' largest food companies.

Mondelez is the new name for Kraft, one of the world's largest food companies.

They make Oreo cookies, Ritz crackers, Philadelphia cream cheese, Toblerone, Green & Blacks, and Cadbury chocolates -- familiar brands around the world.

The company says it exists to “create delicious moments of joy for our consumers, employees and communities around the world.”

Actually, its record on workers' rights is somewhat less than stellar.

According to the IUF -- the global union federation representing food workers -- union leaders in Egypt and Tunisia have been unjustly fired in the performance of their duties and a worker was fired after losing his thumb in an accident in the factory in Alexandria.

The IUF has asked Mondelez CEO Irene Rosenfeld for a meeting to discuss this.

But she's refusing to even talk about the issues.

I realize that it's still a holiday weekend for many of you, but please take a moment to join me in sending a clear message to Ms. Rosenfeld demanding that she engage with the IUF, rectify the human rights abuses at her company, and reinstate all unjustly fired workers.

Click here to send off your message.

Thank you -- and have a great Easter and Passover.



Eric Lee

P.S. To know more about the Mondelez workers and their fight for justice, visit the new Screamdelez website.

International Women's Day in Iowa City

Iowa City celebrated International Women's Day at the Night of the 1,000 Dinners on Thursday.  Dr. "Gigi" Durham, author of The Lolita Effect, was the keynote speaker.  Her message was that we all have a long way to go for women and rights.  As a mother of two daughters, Dr. Durham understands the situation.

Iowa PandJ was a proud sponsor of the event.

USLAW LEADERSHIP: New Priorities Resolution Adopted by the Alameda Labor Council

USLAW LEADERSHIP: New Priorities Resolution Adopted by the Alameda Labor Council

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US Labor Against the War (USLAW) developed a model resolution calling for a change of national priorities and is urging its affiliates to adopt it to lay the groundwork for presentation of the resolution at the Quadrennial AFL-CIO Convention, to be held in LA in September. This is the first labor council to adopt the resolution.

New Priorities Resolution Adopted by the Alameda Labor Council Oakland, CA Resolution adopted unanimously at the Delegates meeting of March 4, 2013 for referral to the AFL-CIO Quadrennial Convention in September, 2013

Our Nation Needs New Priorities

Cut Military Spending to Invest in Our People and Communities

Whereas, Congress is embroiled in a continuing battle over spending priorities that threatens to eviscerate essential government programs in the non-defense discretionary budget, such as air traffic controllers, workplace safety and health, Head Start and other education aid, the diplomatic service, housing, environmental protection, medical research, public safety and innumerable other essential programs, services and government functions; and

Whereas, since 2002 military spending has grown by 35% since 2002 (48% if you include war costs) - a rate that is more than four times the growth in domestic discretionary spending, which increased by only 8% over the same period; and

Whereas, the military budget now accounts for 57% of all discretionary spending, and U.S. military spending now accounts for 42% of all global military spending, is five times that of China, the next highest, and exceeds the combined military spending of the next fourteen countries; and

Whereas, the war in Afghanistan continues to cost over $100 billion a year, a significant portion of which is lost to corruption, fraud, waste and abuse; and

Whereas, our economic policies must create millions more jobs but money spent on the military creates many fewer jobs than the same money spent on education, health care, and clean energy; and

Whereas, the problem of terrorism is more effectively handled by police and intelligence activity, choking off financing, diplomacy, development aid and other non-military means; and

Whereas, true national security must include security in people's health, education, employment, retirement, food and environment, as well as a functioning modern infrastructure to support sustainable economic activity;    

therefore be it:

Resolved, that the Alameda Labor Council calls upon the Congress and President to end the Afghanistan war with a rapid and full draw down of military forces to be completed by the end of this year; and be it further

Resolved, that the Alameda Labor Council calls for a change in the nation's course and priorities by endorsing a national budgetary strategy that increases tax revenues from the wealthy and large corporations, cuts military spending by the maximum amount consistent with true security, creates stable jobs at living wages, safeguards and strengthens the myriad useful functions the federal government undertakes, and preserves the integrity of Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid and other social safety net programs on which millions of the elderly, children, disabled and others depend; and be it further

Resolved that the Alameda Labor Council calls for cuts in the military budget to be accompanied by federal policies to use money now devoted to weapons production to support conversion of military jobs to civilian purposes and to enhance manufacturing, construction and other economic activity that can absorb the labor force now employed in the defense sector of the economy, and be it further

Resolved, that the Alameda Labor Council will undertake an educational campaign on these issues among its affiliates and seek to involve its affiliates in the political tasks necessary to implement this resolution in public policy; and be it finally

Resolved, that the Alameda Labor Council will communicate this resolution to President Obama and our senators and Congressional representatives, forward this resolution to the California AFL-CIO with a request for concurrence and will submit it for adoption by the September 2013 AFL-CIO National Convention.

Eastern Congo Initiative

Congo is a region where generations have struggled under a cycle of violence and poverty, but also where people hold an unrelenting desire to realize the extraordinary potential of their country. Three years ago, Eastern Congo Initiative (ECI) was founded to work with and for the people of eastern Congo. ECI supports heroic local organizations who are creating lasting change...

Watch the Video:

Night at the Museum

   What a fantastic experience at the Iowa Children's Museum last night when the walls came alive with echos of 7th and 8th grade students who were willing to give up their Saturday night to learn about peace.  Most of the students already knew each other because of the hard work of Alisa Meggitt inviting them.  Most of the students' background in peaceful resolution was also apparent as they worked together, brainstormed ideas and freely shared their knowledge.  They were polite, kind and highly motivated intelligent young people.  They are the hope for the world.
    As they looked at societies' ills with violence as a strategy in schools, homes, around the world, war, environment, media they brainstormed so many ways they see evidence of violence.  As a culminating activity, they came up with their solutions for peaceful approaches.  One student said if we would just communicate with each other and learn each others' languages and cultures we could prevent war and talk about needs.  One student said we would all be better off "minding our own business"!
     Special thanks to Dan Tallon, a Veterans For Peace member and young war veteran for sharing information about all the war zones of the world, drones, and the fact that soldiers do more than fight.  They help build bridges and pass out blankets and food to those civilians in need. Diana Henry deserves notice for having her brainchild come alive.
     Peace Iowa, NEA Peace and Justice Caucus of Iowa and the Coralville Hy Vee sponsored a meaningful evening of peaceful strategies.  The students will share their knowledge with attendees at the ICM on April 7, Sunday, after more preparation Saturday, March 9.  ICM will hold a Peace Literacy Party for all.  You'd be impressed with the teaching of peaceful strategies by the youth to the young.
     A fun fact is that one of the students is the offspring of a first cousin of Tom Wolfe.

IA ed reform?/Violence Against Women passed in Senate

Please contact your congressmen and let them know the Violence against Women bill is the least they can do for our smaller and smaller world.

Please stay in touch with your local legislators through regularly scheduled forums.  The League of Women Voters sponsors forums the last Saturday of the month in Johnson County at various locations.  The February 23 forum is scheduled for the Coralville Public Library and begins at 9:30 televised.  Cedar Rapids has a Linn County Forum on Feb 16.  The recent proposal in Iowa by Governor Branstad on education issues should concern us all.  Contact the ISEA for further information.  See below for current details.  Melissa is our ISEA lobbyist.

1. Melissa Petersen gave a legislative update.  She informed us that the special election in HD 52 to replace was successful with the election of Dem. Todd Pritchard.

The senate moved 4% allowable growth, and 4% categorical growth.  Branstad has announced that education reform will pass before allowable growth is decided. 

Melissa has asked that we take note of what the legislators say in their home districts and forums compared to how they vote when back in Des Moines.

The Governor's education reform bill (HSB 4 and SSB 1058) will be eligible for debate possibly the 3rd week in February.  Melissa commented that much time is spent sorting fact from fiction, and that the educational task force presentations do not seem to align with proposed legislation.

The education reform bill has five basic divisions:

Division 1.  Iowa Learning Online Program.  Currently, 872 students are using the program, primarily students with IEPs.  The program is run by the state as a non-profit entity.  The bill asks for $4.5 million dollars to expand the program and build more infrastructure capacity.  ISEA sees this as a possible state option vs. the private online companies such as K-12 Learning.

Division 2.  Training and Employment of Teachers.  Creates a marketing program and mandatory posting for teachers on a state run website.

There would be a Iowa Teacher Scholar Program involving loan forgiveness for $4,000. over teaching for five years in Iowa, but no loan forgiveness after $20,000.

Teacher Pilot Program to collaborate with colleges and universities to extend student teaching for one full year.  The idea is to student teach for four days, and on the fifth day, a college education professor meets with the student teacher.

Division 3. 

Iowa Premier Diploma Seal Program.  ("Decorate Your Diploma")  Appropriate $4 million  dollars to identify high school students as college ready, career ready, or not seal for not ready, diplomas.  Three of the four million dollars would be reserved for testing purposes.  A commission of 20 members would oversee the diploma seal program, only four member would be teachers, the rest heavily industry representatives. Concerns expressed by board members were that this could be potentially discriminatory and harken back to the old days of "tracking" students.

Division 4.

Teacher and Administrative Development System.  Melissa noted that the biggest problem she sees is that the program essentially gives all power to the DOE director and State Board of Education for the development of teaching standards and evaluation methods.  No one is happy to see this kind of power turned over to eleven people, and this leaves educators vulnerable.

Division 5.

Teacher & Career Compensation Matters.  This creates five teaching levels:

1.     Initial

2.    Career

3.    Model - Minimum $2,000 stipend for 5 additional days of work.

4.    Mentor - 10 added work days at $5,000.  Out of classroom 25%

5.    Leader - 15 added work days at $10,000.  Out of classroom no less than 50%

The legislation creates minimum $35,000. salary.

The proposal provides for $10 million for community colleges.  ISEA projects at least $22 million is necessary and can be funded in light of current budget surplus.

No funding for AEAs proposed.

Talking points for legislative forums and conversations with legislators can be found on the ISEA website.

THE 50 MILLION MISSING: A Campaign Against India's Female Genocide

New message about @PMOIndia Must Immediately Remove #Rapists from #Indian #Government Posted by Rita Banerji (cause founder) Tell your friends about this SHARE THIS NOTE What is the Justice Verma Report on India's Gender Violence actually say? What made the Government of India remove this report from its website so the public does  not see it?  Here is our campaign response and also the full Verma report that you can download.  If you have more feedback share it on NDTV tonight (they have live streaming on the internet) Feb 04, at 6.30pm (India time).  Send them your opinion via twitter @TSNonNDTV or email them your opinion in a video clip tsnonndtv@ndtv.com