Michelle Obama Highlights Hooping Culture

Michelle Obama, the youngest first lady since 31-year-old Jacqueline Kennedy, is 45 and America’s new embodiment of health and femininity. Obama was photographed hula hooping on the White House South Lawn to promote physical fitness at the Healthy Kids Fair last week. She also double-dutched and completed an obstacle course.



“Hooping is a strong symbol of health and power,” said Cressie Mae Akin, 22, a hooping enthusiast and freelance hoopmaker. “Some people think that it’s just a toy from childhood, but it’s so much more.”

Akin has been hooping as long as she can remember and notes the growing popularity of the holistic art form.

“The pill hype has died down and I see that women are tired of dieting,” says Akin. "Fitness is definitely a more logical approach.”

Hooping is known to strengthen and tone your core, improve balance, provide a cardio workout, and build self-esteem. For women, it’s hard to not feel good about yourself while hooping because your natural beauty really shines through, said Akin.

Akin discovered the hooping community while taking a circus course in her hometown of Brewster, N.Y. She discovered a very supportive network of hoopers, who she says range from circus hippies to mothers to students, teachers and fashion designers.

“Hooping is addictive,” said Akin. “I liked it so much that I started ordering supplies to make my own.”

Akin’s hoops are decked in colorful tapes that range in color and style. In addition to her glittery purple, white, and silver hoops, she has one that is reggae-inspired (black, yellow, red and green). She also makes pairs of hoops that can be used by the arms, which are thinner and smaller.

She plans on organizing hoop-making sessions where she will invite a group of prospective hoopmakers over to teach them how to build original hoops of their own.

The poly tubing usually used for irrigation is ideal for hula-hoops, says Akin. Tubing usually comes in 100-foot coils, and can be found at irrigation supply stores, and at some Home Depot and Lowe’s retailers. Prices range from $15-$25 per 100 feet, enough to make eight hoops. You connect the hoops by fusing them together using heat from a blow dryer or hot water and then adding a “connector” made of plastic. Hoop makers also use tape to add candy-cane-like stripes, and the tape can be ordered from a website called identi-tape.com.

Other forms of hoops are known as fire hoops, where fire is vented from a number of holes in the tube and the LED (Light Emitting Diode) hoop - a hoop that emits bright fluorescent color lights that is visually stunning to the viewer.

Hoops can also be made from metal, wood or vines. In ancient Egypt, over 3,000 years ago, children would fashion circles made from dried grape vines, swing them around their waists, roll them on the ground and toss them to each other. There is also a Native American hoop dance known for storytelling, used in a festival that takes place every year.

A growing subculture of hula hoopers is expanding in range and popularity. Some hoopers have adopted a hooping dance form, which interprets forms of rhythmic gymnastics, hip-hop, freestyle dance, fire dance, twirling and other dance and movement forms. A feature documentary, called The Hooping Life, consists of intimate video blogs by hoopers (they also call themselves hoop-dancers), who claim that the art form has saved their life. A hippie jam band, String Cheese Incident, throws hoops out into the crowd at their shows. Even the virtual world game system, Wii Fit, has hopped on the hooping bandwagon, and some at-risk youth are using them along with fitness gurus and modern circus dancers.



“Once you learn how to make your own hoop it’s going to be with you for life,” said Akin. “Its like your own personal dance partner.”

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Speaking Out on the Issue of "Rape"

The rape that occurred in the city of Richmond is a wake up call to society as a whole. The fact that there were at least 20 bystanders watching and laughing while this 15-year-old girl was getting assaulted at her homecoming dance is pitiful.
It is a call to the Richmond Unified School District as well as to all school districts that rape is not just a problem that happens on college campuses. It happens to high school students and to students who are still in middle schools and even elementary schools. I have no doubt in my mind that these children had the worst sexual education a school could give. The best way to make students aware of sex, rape, and other issues is not to keep silent. The best ways to address these issues is to speak about it.

All too often issues like rape are kept secret while children are struggling to understand and trying to grapple with the thoughts or experiences that they are going through. I blame these rapes on the adults in our society.
I began to understand how crucial sex education is after watching the documentary, No! It was a documentary by Aisha Simmons who was a rape and incest survivor. The documentary confronted rape in the black community and the stigma that was associated with victims of rape crimes. The statistics stated that one in three women would be sexually assaulted in her lifetime. The documentary also brought to light that people of the same race as the victim commit rapes and the victims are usually silent.

Rape survivors and activists were the main people who were interviewed in the documentary so they were able to offer a framework behind why rape happens. One of the women said that rape is a “community based issue.” The fact is that children that commit acts of rape know very little about sex. And most of these children and minors have misconstrued assumptions about a female’s right to say no.

“Why are we silent about one of the most barbaric, intensely painful, ultimately destructive acts that any community can endure?” Asked Johnetta B. Cole, Ph.D, and former president at the Bennett College for Women in North Carolina.
According to the Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network (RAINN) 44% of rapes happen to minors.
The fact that most rapes go unreported does not mean that the victim’s suffering do not exist. The psychological effects of rape are real and they need to be addressed because victims of rape are three times more likely to suffer from depression and are 13 times more likely to abuse alcohol.

What we need is visible support in our communities. Rape awareness needs to be advocated more in sexual education classes and sexual education needs to be addressed in the home. While rape and sex may be very uncomfortable things to talk about they need to be addressed or we are going to have a generation of youngsters who know nothing about sex or rape and despite their ignorance they are still going to be pressured by obscene images on the television screen.

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NY Fed stays undiversified...possibly more corrupt

Op-Ed

By Crystal Carter and The GreenLining Institute

Our economy collapsed because of corporate greed and malfeasance and we have just added two more greedy moguls to the mix. The New York Fed, an institution that is supposed to pursue maximum employment and to “support financial stability in the U.S. and abroad,” just named Jeffrey Kindler and James Tisch to fill their public interest positions. These two men had an estimated compensation of over $22 million dollars for the year of 2008; all while the people living at or under the poverty level was 37.3 million in 2007.

If success was measured by how much money you had then these men are successful but one must wonder why the Fed couldn’t find more qualified directors especially in light of the fact that communities of color have been hardest hit by the current economic crisis. For instance, while the national unemployment rate is 9.7 percent, African-American unemployment is 15 percent and Hispanic unemployment is at 13 percent, stated Chairman Edolphus Towns at a recent House Oversight and Government Reform meeting. With the addition of these two directors, there are only white board members and only one woman on this board.

We call on President Obama and his constituents to investigate this appointment, especially considering the controversial pasts of the New York Fed. Witnessing the resignation of Stephen Friedman because of a conflict of interest with Goldman Sachs, which he owned in the nineties. Also AIG awarding highly inappropriate bonuses to its executives after receiving over $180 billion in government bailout money is a wake up call that the NY Fed needs a lot of alterations.

Pfizer, under CEO Jefrrey Kindler, has a net income of $8.1 billion as of 2008. While receiving a 100% on the corporate equality index it has spent a lot of its earnings bribing people. This company has been sued at least four times in the past decade for off-label promotional practices and fraudulent promotion and bribery by paying medical providers to promote drugs for uses not approved by the Food and Drug Administration.

Loew’s Corporation’s President and chief executive officer, Tisch is busy pouring all of his company’s money into cigarette companys is in it for the money and obviously not about the American people’s health.

In addition, the Fed should adopt strict new rules that more adequately define the public interest that includes somebody with a proven track record of standing up for consumers’ and not on its own need to make a quick profit.

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Landmark Town Hall Meeting in Bay View Hunter's Point

Very first Town Hall Meeting hosted by the Asian Pacific Islander Community in Bay View Hunter's Point

A Community that was once separated by religion, district, and color has come together. No one is untouched.

Bay View Opera House (3rd Street @ Oakdale)

July 16, 2009

"I think the Bay View has great needs, especially when it comes to it's economic needs. Bay View has a very rich history. Home to people who migrated to California from the south. They were part of an industry that was flourishing at the time.
There is some of the highest home ownership in the entire city, right in the Bay View. There are families who have been there for generations. Unfortunately as certain industries closed, the economic base of the community deteriorated. For a community to thrive it needs to have an economy that sustains income and revenue.
Every community needs to have a grocery store and a dry cleaners a family doctor and local physician. In San Francisco, we pride ourselves on being able to walk everywhere we need to go. In Bay View, you could be walking for a very long time in order to maintain a healthy, productive life. Bay View should be a focus for the entire city in terms of what we should be doing in order to achieve job prosperity." ~ District Attorney Kamala Harris, July 2009



On my way to the weekly townhall meetings that take place in the BayView Hunter's Point I walked through the scene of a drive by. There were cop cars surrounding the car that had the front door open and the side window shot out. I asked one of the brothers, " what happened?" He told me that another brother was shot while two kids sat in the back seat. I wondered where was all of the love behind this hood tragedy.

The BayView is plagued by a high murder rate and gang activity. Just recently has it gained access to a super market that sold fresh and healthy foods.

The townhall meetings offer hope to community that is in need. This specific townhall meeting was sponsored by the Pacific Islander community. The reception was very welcoming and I was quite happy to see so many black and Samoan people in the same place, having dialogue about how they can come together and make their community better. For so long the powers that be have divided people of color, tonight proved that the fact is no longer true.

Pastor Alex Toeaina started the meeting by stating, "Our Communities are Suffering."

Minister Christopher Muhammad touched on the issues of gentrification and how the "greedy corporate entities" are not focused on communities of color and their family but instead on the single, urban professional. He focused on the fact that the city does not want to clean up the BayView Shipyard for the sake of the current residents but will clean it up for new development.

JT the Bigga Figga, a well-known bay area rapper stated his concern for his community by stating that children are at the center of his movement. He wants children to realize their God given talent. He says through the cohesiveness of community children will be given the love and attention that they need.

It was great to see the number of young adults in attendance. I could see the hurt in these young scholars eyes but I also saw the glimmer of hope and that they are willing to fight for justice and equality. They brought up the fact that the number of women (the bearers of life) being incarcerated is rising. They were aware that the system works against them. They understood the fact the drugs might be cut in the community but the people in the community do not bring them there. They understood the ethnocentric educational system.

Willie Ratcliff, editor of the BayView Hunters Point Newspaper, remembered when people in the BayView didn't have to lock their doors. He urged the point to support locally owned black businesses and to understand the importance of economic sustainability.

Another woman from the audience stated that when she took her daughter to the doctor the doctor suggested that she move out of BVHP because the air is toxic. She wants to know why don't they move the poison out.

According the Bay Area Air Quality Management District, Lennar, a housing development agency, was cited by the city because they were not monitoring asbestos containing dust correctly. Instead of going to court, Lennar paid the BVHP community $515,000 to pretend that nothing happened. There is still a debate going on about what should be done with the money that the community was given. A great suggestion would be to set up a clinic that will assess the impact that the asbestos containing dust had on the community.


BayView has some of the most beautiful views in the city of San Francisco but at the same time it is home to one of the most toxic waste sites in the country. I am amazed and inspired by the fighting spirit of the people in BVHP. They are exposed to toxins that make them more susceptible to cancer, asthma, still births, bloody eyes and nose bleeds on a daily basis and they are thoroughly concerned. How can this be justified and why isn't the government doing something about it? They are fighting for their right to life, liberty and the pursuit of land and they are not giving up.

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CARAVAN FOR JUSTICE III

JT the Bigga Figga, rapper and activist, poses with scholars on the steps of the State Capitol in Sacramento after he spoke at the podium. – Photo: Francisco Da Costa



Students from Le Conte Elementary School in Berkeley stand behind their teacher during her time at the podium. – Photo: Francisco Da Costa




Caravan for Justice III brings the heat to the lawmakers
by Crystal Carter

May 28, 2009


Signs reading “Justice for Oscar Grant,” “Abolish the Three Strikes Law” and “Demandamos Justicia Ya!” floated above a sea of ralliers of different ages, religious beliefs, genders and ethnicities.
From Bakersfield up to Sacramento, activists, teachers and family members came together to rally against laws that have failed to serve the betterment of their communities.

The third installment of the Caravan for Justice took place Tuesday, May 26, on the steps and inside the State Capitol building in Sacramento.

“It’s a hot day today,” said Minister Christopher Muhammad. “But it’s going to be even hotter for the legislators if they don’t listen to our demands.”

Minister Muhammad, the leader of the Nation of Islam as well as the executive director of Muhammad University of Islam in San Francisco, is one of the main organizers in the Caravan for Justice.

So far the Caravan for Justice movement has been a success. Their last visit to the Capitol on April 8 caused two legislators, Tom Ammiano and Leland Yee, to initiate a bill promoting “civilian oversight” to handle complaints against the Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) police in the wake of Oscar Grant’s death. The protest has also focused on issues involving gang injunctions and succeeded in prompting Sen. Roderick D. Wright and Leland Yee to inject a bill to combat them.

Dana Blanchard, a fifth grade teacher from Berkeley, brought 14 of her students with her to participate while voicing her concerns to the crowd. She understands that not everyone can get to the protests but she offered other alternatives: signing petitions, writing letters and attending events when you have the time.

“I brought my students with me so they can learn how to stand up for what they believe in,” she said.

Blanchard said that the state we live in doesn’t care about its students. She is worried about where her students will end up if they don’t know their rights. She says that she tries to let her students understand that there may be things that they disagree with and there may be things that they don’t understand but she always makes it a point to let the children know that their opinions do matter.

Tom Helme, 26, graduate of Humboldt State University, spoke about the project that he and a group of other community members started called Cop Watch in the city of Modesto.

“We decided to take matters into our own hands after realizing how much police can get away with,” said Helme. “Now when we see someone getting wrongfully harassed by the cops, we pass them out our ‘know your rights’ card.”
The know your rights card spells out a step by step process of what one should do when being questioned by the police. One part of the card reads:

“If the police stop you, ask, ‘Am I free to go?’ If not, you are being detained. If yes, walk away. Ask, ‘Why are you detaining me?’ To stop you, the officer must have a ‘reasonable suspicion’ to suspect your involvement in a specific crime (not just a guess or a stereotype).”

“Getting involved in protests like this gives us a sense of community,” said Helme. “We are transforming energy into action.”



Bisola Marignay, an activist who participated in the caravan insisted that although there are a number of issues that were addressed in the protest that she would not have it any other way.

“Separation is a weakening factor,” she said. “When we come together, our energy is that much stronger.”

Oralia Cortez, 62, along with her group, Families to Amend California’s Three Strikes (FACTS), came from Bakersfield to get their word heard. Cortez has a vested interest because her son is serving 35 years to life for his third strike for stealing $1,000 dollars. She says that in order to influence the legislature, you must use your words as your weapon.

On Nov. 2, 2004, the state’s voters rejected an amendment to the statute - offered in Proposition 66 - that would have required the third felony to be either “violent” and/or “serious” in order to result in a 25-years-to-life sentence. In the last week before the election, Gov.

Arnold Schwarzenegger launched an all-out campaign against Prop. 66. “It would release 26,000 dangerous criminals and rapists,” he stated. When, in fact, there were only 8,000 people sentenced to 25 years to life under the Three Strikes Law.

Currently, there are more than 8,400 inmates serving possible life terms under the three strikes law, according to the state Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.

“Wickedness prevails when good people do nothing,” she said. “An unjust law is no law at all.”

According to Minister Christopher Muhammad, the fourth Caravan for Justice is scheduled to take place sometime next month. Plan to get on one of the dozens of buses that will take you there from around California. For more information, visit www.caravanforjustice.com, email info@caravanforjustice.com or call toll-free (877) 549-8657.

Crystal N. Carter, a 2008 graduate of San Francisco State University, is a member of the Bay Area Black Journalists Association (BABJA). She writes for ColorLines Magazine and can be reached at ccarter6@gmail.com.

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RESPONSE to PAWNED SOVEREIGNTY: Sharpened Black Perspectives on Americanization, Africa, War and Reparations

Crystal Carter
May 28, 2009

Comparative Analysis : Two African Countries Affected by the US Economic Crisis
Senegal and Ghana

INTRODUCTION

“People from Africa are so used to struggling,” said Tifsihet Hailemariam, 28, an immigrant from Ethiopia. “We have to deal with so little, we really are not that surprised when hit with a crisis like this.”
For people who live on the world’s poorest continent the current global crisis is old news. They face a crisis of survival everyday. Some will find it hard to believe that a continent comprised of 47 countries and an abundance of natural resources is facing a decline in GDP, but it is.

Africa has made some of its biggest gains in the past few years as China, India, Europe and the US has competed for its natural resources. But now that the money has dried up, Africa, along with the rest of the world is starting to feel the heightened affects of the global economic woes. Africa is unique in this global crisis because the affects will be more paralyzing than a country whose economy was thriving in the beginning.

In times of economic unrest and instability people are apt to become more competitive and money hungry. Citizens begin to see a person who was once a comrade betray them to ensure their place on the economic ladder of wealth, success and so-called financial independence. During times like this it is hard to remember that family and relationships come first.

Although we are in hard financial times, we have discovered just how interconnected the whole globe is. Although large bodies of waters and different languages separate us we must understand that when one country fails, we realize that all countries will fail. It is because of this that we must realize that we must do away with the fact that capitalistic competition is good and embrace the term: cooperation.

Nature, history and the global economic system have combined to deprive Africans of much potential wealth and well being. Until about 100 million years ago, the earth’s landmasses were bound together as a supercontinent known as Pangaea. The southern landmasses constituted Gondwana, with present-day Africa the keystone. Through the phenomenon, of plate tectonics, or continental drift, Africa’s “children” began to leave the nest and scatter to their present positions. The presence of deep rift valleys in eastern Africa suggests that this continental separation is not yet complete. Africa’s destiny began with much potential in expanding the growth of the earth as well as the exploration of humans and nature into new and unchartered land. We must not take this beautiful story for granted. We must connect the dots.

Between the Indian and Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean and Red Seas lies a vast, curving land mass called Africa. It is home to the great Pyramids of Egypt, the first written language, and the first astronomers and explorers. Many great resources are found here: silver, gold, diamonds and more. A lot of blood was shed in order to have strict control over this country and a number of countries are at their current economic standing because of the free labor that indentured servitude that the hands, wombs and backs of Africans provided.

Because of the current recession that seemed to have started with the US banks and money grubbing politics. There is less money chasing resources and more and more people are becoming unemployed. No one knows when the recession will end and because of this investment is becoming scarce and people in the Third-World are facing another dilemma.

THESIS

Senegal and Ghana are said to be one of the most successful economies in West Africa. So a comparison and contrast of these two countries will help be a marker on how well other countries are doing in comparison to their neighboring countries as well as the US in its current economic crisis.

SENEGAL: SEEK INVESTMENT IN NEIGHBORING COUNTRIES

The country of Senegal has seen sparks of economic growth here and there but for the most part things of have been quite unstable. A major spark of success that Senegal has seen was its thriving fish industry, which accounts for 25% of exports. But because of the financial crisis that is being felt all over the world there has been a drop in overseas order leaving many fishermen unemployed. In an interview conducted by Al-Jazeera, some laid-off fisherman said that they have had to take work helping grocery shoppers to their cars.

Tons of exotic Senegalese seafood is being left to rot as Europeans stop buying from producers. Falling demand has caused the businesses to cut their prices in order to survive. Sadly, some of these fish are too expensive for the people of Senegal.
On the business side of the fishing market, a local business owner had to cut 90% of his staff and reduce exporting to major buyers like the UK, Italy and the US. In the last attempt at a stimulus plan Senegal has looked to fellow African countries to do trade with, especially Ghana and the Ivory Coast. According to the blog called Trade Africa, Ghana remains the easiest place to do business in West Africa and one of the top 10 economies in Africa by overall aggregate.

GHANA: OPTIMISTIC ABOUT OIL

Whereas Ghana is known for having a vibrant democracy and being economically sound. Although Ghana has signs of a growing economy it is still not up to par. There have been signs of corruption within the government; there is not an abundance of clean running water and proper sanitation. The Health Ministry of Ghana reported that eight people are killed per hour because of the unhealthy water.

While Ghana is known to be the second biggest cocoa producer in the world, the discovery of oil has promised Ghana much more economic independence in the future. With plans to start digging in 2010 some still remain skeptical. According to the South Africa Daily News, most Ghanaians remain among the world’s poorest people earning an average of $3.80 a day.
Oil rich countries like Angola and Nigeria have said that they see oil as a curse that has not improved the lives of the poor. Still Ghana’s leaders are optimistic and feel that oil will benefit Ghana’s future for the better. They say that oil money will go towards building roads, bridges and schools.

While there are many things to be optimistic about for the industrial expansion that is happening in Ghana, the global financial crisis is impacting foreign aid, commodity prices, remittances and private capital flows in Africa. Africa’s GDP growth, initially expected to be 4.9 percent, is now expected to fall to 2.4 percent. Africa is likely to be the worst hit region by the global financial crisis, although it is the least integrated region, the World Bank warned on April 21, 2009.

AFRICA’S DEPENDANCY ON FOREIGN AID: PROBLEMATIC

Africa’s dependency on foreign aid is a very sensitive issue. Since the economy is doing so badly right now, countries may be apt to slow down on the Aid that they are giving Africa. But this is a very bad idea because a decrease in aid may leave thousands of Africans in poverty.

According to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), banks are working towards helping protect the most vulnerable during this global crisis. They will focus on better targeting and higher social spending in Senegal. Based on a Poverty and Social Impact Analysis (PSIA) conducted in 2008, the authorities sought to mitigate the impact of the food and fuel price shock by establishing a targeted subsidized rate for small electricity users (implemented in August 2008). With support from development partners, the authorities intend to explore the scope for introducing a conditional cash transfer system, which would provide support to poor families conditional upon investment in human capital, such as sending children to school or visiting health centers.

CONCLUSION

There are many questions that have yet to be answered when it comes to the well being of Africa’s economy, especially during these trying times. One thing that we must realize is that we are not in this alone. We need to reach out to different countries and reward them for their economic uniqueness and work together to see how things can improve. One thing that we must do is to be inclusive. The best way to figure out how to make things work is to speak to everyday citizens and ask them what they would do in order to make their situation better. There is no reason that a country that is so rich in resources should be so poverty-stricken. We have to remember that this is not a competition its about cooperation.

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The Linear Time Frame

Notes taken when listening to the "Student of Life" ---
(The Student of Life is a father, R&B singer, aspiring husband, and philosopher)

- We live in a different world where we can manifest our own reality.
- We should think of our reality as a puddy.
"The world should have a main focus. And that focus should be to become a better species." --- In order for us to do that, we must change who we are fundamentally.

Meditation:

When you were a kid, when were you a kid? Was that just a moment in time or are you still in that same mindset? --- That was in the past.

* How does a brain process the past, present and the future. (That is yet to be learned)...

If we look at life in the past then we have no control over our life in the present or future. We need to be able to prepare for what happened then and what is happening now.

"NOW" is very chaotic. We must plan ahead to we can have more trust in the NOW...we must have no regrets.

Imagine if you lived in a world where everything that you dreamed really happened. We do that all the time in our dreams.

Meditation:

In your own vivid memories --- Imagine the things that you wanted to happen and then the reality of what really happened.

* Our brain is emitting what we feel emotionally. The emotions transfer to the brain and (POOF) our reality is in front of us!

The emotion comes before the thought.

Example:

My body is not hungry.

--- Try telling that to someone who's starving.

When you say that you're hungry that is actually you doubting that you can survive.

All in all, these issues are not necessary because we can change our relationship with reality.

~ EMOTIONAL STRESS KILLS LIVES AND DESTROYS FUTURES.

- Why let something that you did yesterday kill you today?

~ As a human being you have memory.

And as a rational human you can come up with a better formula for life. GET WITH THE PROGRAM.

- I am in the business of experimenting with different ways of perceiving ourselves in relationship to society. We are part of the human race. The human race are my people...we are 7 billion strong and everybody helps everybody.

- We should be each others support system. Imagine being born into a family of 7 billion. You would never have to fear anything because you always know a human being will catch you!

On education:
-Education is great but the monetary issues behind it kills a students creativity.

SEVEN BILLION STRONG!

We have some mingling to do!

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