Author name: ghadmin

UN Treaty Could Enact Global Bankruptcy Process and Stop Predatory Funds Jubilee USA Urges and Prays for US Support

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The UN General Assembly votes Tuesday on a convention that could enact a global bankruptcy process and stop predatory hedge funds. Bolivia proposed the resolution that if voted upon is expected to pass by a majority. The executive board officers of Jubilee USA sent United States UN Ambassador Samantha Power a letter urging her to support the resolution. Jubilee’s 400 US faith communities are holding the Ambassador in prayer as she prepares to vote.

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Banks and Investors Call for New Debt Rules In Wake of Argentina Hedge Fund Case

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The International Capital Market Association (ICMA), a group of banks and investors, will call Friday for reforms aimed at preventing repeats of the Argentina/NML Capital debt dispute. The ICMA’s plan would reduce the ability of hold-out creditors to litigate and undermine debt restructurings, in part by using contract clauses to bind all bond-holders to debt restructurings that 75% of all holders agree on.Additionally, the plan will argue that the “pari passu” or parity clauses in existing bond contracts should always mean that hold-out funds should always receive the same restructured bonds that the majority of investors agree on.

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Ride the Bus from Binghamton to the People’s Climate March in NYC on September 21

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The Susquehanna Group of the Sierra Club is offering bus transportation to the People’s Climate March on September 21. The march through the streets of New York City demonstrate support for climate action and will coincide with a week of events supporting United Nations Climate Summit.

Cost of the bus is $25 per person round trip; $15 for students and low-income individuals.

The bus will leave at 7:30 a.m. from the Sears entrance of Oakdale Mall, Johnson City, and return by 10:30 p.m., subject to change. Those who register on the website will receive updates.

To reserve your seat on the bus, visit the below address. If you can’t get an immediate response, cut and paste this into the website address line.

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/bus-trip-from-binghamton-to-nyc-peoples-climate-march-tickets-12614585565

For more information, call Julian Shepherd at 722-9327 or Scott Lauffer at 341-3746.

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Doctors and Health Professionals Warn About Health Impacts from Gas Drilling

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250 doctors, health professionals and researchers sent a letter asking Gov. Andrew Cuomo to impose a three- to five-year ban on fracking in NY to allow more time for scientific studies on the health risks of gas drilling/fracking.
“I have seen kids in West Virginia with chronic nosebleeds, people who have these hacking coughs that don’t go away, who have memory problems,” said Gorby, a microbiologist , who has family in West Virginia.
American Academy of Pediatrics, Physicians for Social Responsibility, and the medical societies of Otsego and Tompkins counties and 29 doctors and nurses from the Bassett Healthcare system in Cooperstown, Otsego County signed this letter to their Governor Cuomo. Larysa Dyrszka, founder of the anti-fracking group Concerned Health Professionals of New York, said more science continues to emerge about potential risks to air and water quality from gas drilling/fracking. I keep hearing of the health impacts and risks to our health in our Shalefields of Susquehanna County, Pa. Folks report the nosebleeds, stomach ailments, respiratory issues near gas drilling where water and air contamination is present.
Contact the State Health Dept. and tell them your symptoms near the gas drilling; They are keeping a data base of reactions and ailments near gas drilling; Do we have to wait for “cancer clusters” to appear to know that our environment has been polluted?
Gov. Corbett has closed down a bunch of Health Departments in our rural communities like in Montrose , Pa..
We can’t even afford all the health depts. we had prior to gas drilling or it’s the Governor’s way to hide further the negative impacts and risks near gas drilling.
Dr. McKenzie, 215-662-2354, will see patients for evaluation for shale gas health complaints. She is associated with http://www.med.upenn.edu/ceet/
We also have a clinic for gas drilling health impacts in southwestern Pa.. They can be found at :
Southwest Pennsylvania Environment Health Project http://www.environmentalhealthproject.org
Submitted by Vera Scroggins

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Sierra Club Presents History Lesson on Climate Change and Fracking Movements

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“A History Lesson: The Climate Change and Fracking Movements in New York”
In the Southern Tier, we are at a rare and powerful political crossroad. Isaac Silberman-Gorn will discuss the history of the climate change movement and give a political history of the fracking movement in New York. Silberman-Gorn works with Citizen Action of NY to fight fracking in the Southern Tier and across the state.

The Susquehanna Chapter of the Sierra Club meets at 7:30 p.m. on Tues., June 17 at Central United Methodist Church, 17 Nanticoke Ave., Endicott. For more information, contact Scott Lauffer at: lauffer.scott@gmail.com

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The Mayor on Blueprint Binghamton

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The Blueprint Binghamton has gone through many changes during the review of Mayor Rich David and Binghamton City Council. The final plan will be up for a vote in July but many provisions have been stripped. Planning Commissioner Mark Bowers advocated “for changing language to ‘explore’ instead of ‘create’ for instance, to keep some important initiatives in the plan for the future.”

The Mayor’s comments (also attached to this article) on the Blueprint are quite revealing of his stands. In general, he is against nearly all restrictions on business and development and he is suspicious of government regulation. That is pro forma conservative Republican.

The first comment calls the 7,449 individuals involved in public input a Low percentage of involvement.” Considering he was elected by only 4,470 votes, this seems a little specious. Then he thinks that non-residents who come to Binghamton to work, do business (Binghamton is the county seat), or play are not contributors to our economic, social and cultural well-being and should not be heard.

He is unabashedly pro fracking, proposing that the City sell money to oil drilling companies for instance. He is wed to cars, more parking, and not so eager to embrace other transportation like bikes. “Too much roadway for bikes.” He refers to public art but he wonders if “anyone asked businesses if they want public art?”

The 19 pp document, which includes staff responses to his comments show his lack of preparedness and knowledge on many issues, while offering extensive opinions on things that he likes. For instance, he pushes Youth Success, a student program that promotes safer school and security officers in school. Or, promoting the Discover center and Zoo. But his understanding on Brownfield Opportunity areas like the Charles St area or the Brandywine Corridor is not up to speed.

Mayor David uses the Blueprint to pitch some of his ideas like city staff visiting businesses in town to assess needs and offer assistance to expand. He has a number of initiatives like the Binghamton Quick Response Team, Binghamton iNSPIRED (investment in cultural activities, Jumpstart Binghamton (provide investment capital).

All in all, it’s a good read and a good Blueprint to the Mayor’s priorities.

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Binghamton loses tradition of Big Splash, moves to Owego this year

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I’m really happy and excited to send information out about the 4th annual Big Splash this year in Owego, NY. This year’s lineup is absolutely incredible, and is going to simply be a blast. I’ll be bringing my dancing shoes!

It is with a degree of frustration that I announce this in Owego, rather than Rec Park in Binghamton as it has been for the past 3 years. Our newly elected Mayor of the City of Binghamton, Rich David, has quickly developed a reputation as being very media savvy, and rather than go on the record as being in favor of fracking, he prefers to quietly sit on permit applications until they are too late to act on. He has allowed his petty political opinions to hurt our local businesses and community by making it incredibly difficult to obtain permits for anything at all. Big Splash draws thousands of people from out of town who spend their money locally, and show an awesome side of our City, and I’m quite unhappy to see our city lose this event.

I invite you to call the Mayor’s Office at (607) 772-7zero01, and let them know that you are not in favor of his hurting local businesses by not granting permits for events which help the City.

All of this aside, here are details on the 4th Annual Owego Big Splash Sustainability Fair:

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Addressing Low Voter Turnout in a Mid-Year Election

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We have heard the pundits and read the bloggers discuss the reasons for continual low voter turnout. This problem received national attention during the special election held earlier this year in Florida. However, it is not a new phenomenon; especially here in the Binghamton area.

Historically, mid-year election voter turnout is low. However, the so-called mid year elections races are the ones that tend to have a more direct affect on our lives. A senatorial, congressional, gubernatorial, mayoral or village dog control officer race will ultimately touch on more personal topics than a presidential race. It is normally not until after all the votes are tallied that voters; especially those that did not go to the polls, begin to voice their disdain and criticism.

Many political scientists claim that it is based on “voter apathy”. I believe it goes far beyond that. It is more of the voter not being fully informed on the importance of voting during these off years. Voter education in this regard it extremely important.

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This summer: Murals in Binghamton

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A perfect storm is gathering and all the elements are aligning for what may be one of the most intriguing and exciting summers that Binghamton has ever seen.

For several years, a group of local people of all ages, who call themselves the DPA (Department of Public Art) have been planning for the time when all the forces are right, and it appears that the time is this spring and summer.

On a parallel plane, a group of students at Binghamton University have also been planning to create dynamic and exciting art for the public. These two groups will converge on the 26th of March at 7pm at the Cooperative Gallery to share and plan for this exciting time.

ManOne, a graffiti and mural artist is coming to Binghamton University campus on March 25th the old Union Hall to talk about how he helped transform downtown LA with his art. The Department of Public Art has asked that he join in the meeting on the 26th share their common goal.

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