Sunday, May 16, 2010

STOP SNITCHING?

In light of "a string of break-ins" and "thugs" "hanging outside" in Flatbush, we were wondering if this "problem" would have cause so much stir at the Ditmas Park blog had the perceived "perps" were white teens. This video from ABC clearly shows that there is a double standard of how crime is perceived. Businessdictionary defines racism as

"Determination of attitudes and policies on the basis of racial characteristics, often due to racialism. Racism manifests in hatred and fear of people of different ethnicity, and in overt or covert attempts to keep them in subordinate (less important and less powerful) positions. Whereas individual racism is expressed usually in open antagonism and prejudice, institutional racism involves subtle structuring of organizations and systems in a tacit understanding to keep 'them' down or out."

As the video from ABC shows, the practices of the Ditmas Park blog is eerily similar to the reactions on the ABC experiment. The overzealous posts and obsession with "crime" while ignoring significant problems and police misconduct within the same precinct is uncanny. As these videos show. There is a huge problem with the "stop snitching" phenomenon, the problem is white people refusing to snitch on other white people, while they are tripping over themselves to snitch on minorities. Likewise as the video shows, it is highly likely that the reason that these car break-ins have not been solve is because the perpetrators could have been white teenagers.



Thursday, May 13, 2010

Put an End to Workplace Discrimination

It may be hard to believe, but the original version of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) was first introduced in Congress more than a generation ago. LGBT people have made a great deal of progress in the decades since; however, the need for Congress to act and finally pass ENDA could not be stronger.

Today, it remains legal to fire or refuse to hire someone for being lesbian, gay or bisexual in 29 states—while transgender workers can be denied or refused jobs in 38 states. These numbers clearly demonstrate the pressing need for the federal government to expand employment non-discrimination protections to LGBT workers.

ENDA will allow all American workers who stand side-by-side at the workplace and contribute with equal measure in their jobs to also stand on the same equal footing in the eyes of the law. It is fundamentally unacceptable that in present-day America there is a group of people who go to work and are forced to deny their families and loved ones—and have to hide who they are for fear of losing their livelihood.

The House of Representatives will soon be voting on a fully-inclusive version of ENDA that will protect workers from discrimination on the basis of both sexual orientation and gender identity. This critical and long-overdue legislation will not succeed without the support of Americans who are committed to fairness and equality in the workplace.


>> Take action! Please ask your representative to support ENDA today.

Wednesday, May 12, 2010

It’s My Park! Day at Prospect Park

It’s My Park! Day at Prospect Park

Saturday, May 15

9:30 a.m. – 2 p.m.

What: Hundreds of Volunteers will help care for 585-acre Prospect Park as part of a citywide effort to tidy up and support our urban greenspaces on It’s My Park! Day.

When and Where: Volunteers will meet at 9:30 a.m. for registration at the Wollman Rink at Prospect Park. To get ready for the work ahead, members of RaĆ­zes do Brasil Capoeira Brooklyn (a local martial arts studio) will lead volunteers in warm-up exercises.

Around 10:15 a.m. Volunteer groups will then head to 10+ locations around the park, including the Lake edge, Concert Grove, Park Circle, the Lullwater and BBQ areas (see our interactive park map).

From approx 10:30 a.m. until around 1:30 /2 p.m., volunteers at these locations will be doing various projects such as cleaning and trash pick-up, weeding and removal of invasive plant species, raking and mulching.





The public can call (718) 965-8960 for more information or email volunteers@prospectpark.org

For information on It’s My Park! Day events at other NYC Parks, visit http://www.partnershipsforparks.org/get_involved/volunteer/its_my_park_day.html

Monday, May 10, 2010

The Dangers of the Ditmas Park Blog

Racism is Universal. In the middle of a debate over levels of African migration in Australia,the 3 major news channels in Australia all seized on (similar to the practices of Politico and the Ditmas park blog) what they said was evidence that young African migrants weren't fitting in. Luckily in Australia, they actually have a Media Watch that holds the media accountable for false reporting and sensationalism. Just this past week, the ditmas park blog is continuing their sensationalist, false and sometimes racist reporting about "certain segments" of the population who are "trouble makers". In their "moderated comments" section they have people complaining about "thugs" (code word for black teens) on the corner lately since the weather has been nicer. They've got the public all wild up on the basis of a few isolated incidents, that goes on on every neighborhood in the world. They have even offered free self-defense classes because of "the latest strings of incidents." It's interesting that when a group of black teenage boys are hanging out in front of an establishment for just a few seconds, it's a "problem" that "needs to be dealt with". But a group of white hipsters hanging out in front of a bar or coffee shop, is "great for the scene" and that they are being "scene kids" and comments about "how cool it is to be outside on a warm sunny day." The latent racism of the Ditmaspark blog can be very dangerous to this community. It is used to not only degrade people, but to dehumanize. If left unchecked or not marginalized can lead to hate crimes, as was the case in Australia. The young teen in the video that had nothing to do with any "mayhem" was subsequently savagely beaten and murdered. We will continue to monitor this situation.



The Brian Lehrer Show invite

The Brian Lehrer Show presents YOUR ANECDOTAL CENSUS – a county-by-county look at the stories emerging from each neighborhood in 2010. The series continues each Tuesday at 11am through September. Guests will include county executives, mayors and other policymakers who matter in your community, as the program explores how the census affects policy.



On Tuesday, May 25th, tune in to Brian Lehrer for a special look at Brooklyn, New York. The Brian Lehrer has invited you to share your stories about the county of Kings by visiting its homepage at http://beta.wnyc.org/shows/bl/blogs/scrapbook/2010/may/04/your-anecdotal-census-schedule/.



Sample questions include:


How has the housing boom changed your community?

How have the politics of your community changed? If power has shifted in your community, how and why?

What's an untold story of change in your community that needs to be told?

How is your community different today than it was 10 years ago?

This Mother's Day, Urge your Senators to Stand Up for Women and Mothers

Iran, Somalia, Sudan, Nauru, Palau, Tonga, and the United States.

Those are the seven nations worldwide that have not yet ratified the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), a landmark international treaty that affirms women's human rights. Although the U.S. played a major role in drafting the treaty and signed it in 1980, it has never been ratified by the Senate. In fact, CEDAW has been dormant in the Senate since 2002, when it was last reported out of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. But we're happy to report that, last year, the Obama administration prioritized CEDAW ratification, prompting a reenergized campaign to join the 186 countries around the world that have ratified CEDAW.

Across the globe, CEDAW has been used to ensure primary education for girls, improve access to health care services, combat human trafficking, pass laws against domestic violence and female genital mutilation, and allow women to own and inherit property.

Domestically, ratification of CEDAW would encourage the U.S. to take stronger action against issues such as gender-based and domestic violence, as well as discrimination against women in housing, education and employment. Though ratifying CEDAW will not automatically result in changes to U.S. law, it would provide a new and significant opportunity for a national dialogue on the gains made and the challenges that remain to improve women's full equality.

>> This Mother's Day, urge your Senators to stand up for women and mothers in the U.S. and across the globe by finally ratifying CEDAW..

Party for playgrounds

Party for Playgrounds 2010
Dancin' in the Rain
Friday, May 21, 2010
7 – 10 p.m.
The Boathouse at Prospect Park
Cocktails ole1 Hors D’Oeuvres ole2 Music
Boat Rides ole3 Silent Auction
Cocktail Attire ole4 Parking Available

Tickets $75 and up

More details at http://www.prospectpark.org/calendar/event/party-for-playgrounds

A donation to Prospect Park's playgrounds is a unique way to honor a child

The Prospect Park Alliance’s Playground Committee works to support the Park’s seven award-winning playgrounds. Founded in 2004, the Committee has raised more than $150,000 to date to ensure that these spaces receive diligent care and maintenance, in addition to raising awareness and advocating on behalf of the Park’s playgrounds and open spaces.