#Policy Change

[ivygorgon]

AN OPEN LETTER to THE PRESIDENT & U.S. CONGRESS; STATE GOVERNORS & LEGISLATURES

Support Marijuana Decriminalization for a more Equitable USA

4 so far! Help us get to 5 signers!

I am writing to express my strong support for the decriminalization of marijuana at both the federal and state levels. The current approach to cannabis, rooted in policies dating back to 1971, requires urgent reconsideration given evolving social norms and scientific understanding.

The revelation by President Richard Nixon's domestic policy chief, John Ehrlichman, that the war on drugs was designed to target Black communities underscores the urgent need to rectify the injustices perpetuated by decades of punitive drug policies. The disproportionate impact of these policies on communities of color has fueled systemic inequities in our criminal justice system.

Decriminalization of marijuana would shift our focus from ineffective punitive measures to evidence-based public health strategies, emphasizing harm reduction and regulated use, whether medicinal or recreational. It's crucial to differentiate between decriminalization and unregulated use, prioritizing public health and equitable access.

I urge you to champion legislation that decriminalizes marijuana and addresses the racial disparities entrenched by outdated drug policies. By investing in research and public health initiatives related to cannabis, we can develop policies that protect public health while respecting individual freedoms.

In conclusion, federal and state-level decriminalization of marijuana is imperative to rectify the failures of past policies and promote equitable, evidence-based drug reform. I urge you to seize this opportunity to advance sensible, ethical drug policy reforms that reflect our evolving understanding of cannabis regulation.

Thank you for considering my perspective on this critical matter. I look forward to your leadership in championing meaningful drug policy reform.

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💘 Q'u lach' shughu deshni da. 🏹 "What I say is true" in Dena'ina Qenaga

[thesoulspulse]

No More Uberduck

Well it was fun while it lasted, but this is probably for the best given all the AI drama still going on that’s been disrupting the livelihood of many talented artists, voice actors, singers, writers, and actors in the film industry. We should definitely support the work of real people as much as we can because sadly, like any tool, technology can always be abused if used the wrong way. Don’t get me wrong I really enjoyed being able to imagine Danny or Vlad saying certain lines of dialogue, however, we should always remember it was the voice actors who played them back in the day that brought these amazing characters to life in the first place.

Without them, none of these characters would exist let alone have a voice. Literally!

So yeah, just a heads up the policy has changed for uberduck which means the fan uploaded character voices are no longer available for public use. You can read that here: https://uberduck.ai/blog/new-voice-hosting-policy Thankfully I don’t have to take down or delete any of the audio clips I’ve already shared on tumblr which means you’re free to check them out for a bit of nostalgia. And on one final note, I think we all probably know who to blame for AI trying to take over the world right now am I right? This whole mess screams Technus!

[swkrullimaging]

Becoming a Change Agent

After seeing numerous social media posts following the election, I thought it might be a good time to add my thoughts on how to become a change agent in the new government. The election is over and many people are happy with the results, many are not. One thing that must be remembered though, the government is not just one man. There are three branches of government, 100 senators, 435…

[blaze-papers]

China Raises Retirement Age for First Time Since 1950s

In a historic policy shift, China has announced a gradual increase in retirement age, marking the first adjustment since the 1950s. The decision, approved by the top legislative body on Friday, aims to tackle the challenges posed by an ageing population and a strained pension system.

Starting January 1, 2025, the statutory retirement age will be raised from 50 to 55 for women in blue-collar jobs and from 55 to 58 for those in white-collar roles. For men, the retirement age will increase from 60 to 63. These changes will be implemented progressively over the next 15 years.

The reform comes as China faces mounting pressure from a rapidly ageing population and a pension system under financial strain. Currently, China’s retirement ages are among the lowest globally, necessitating this significant policy overhaul. The new plan also introduces additional requirements for pension contributions. Beginning in 2030, employees will need to make larger contributions to the social security system. By 2039, a minimum of 20 years of contributions will be required to qualify for a pension.

The Chinese Academy of Social Sciences has previously warned that the main state pension fund could be exhausted by 2035, a projection made before the economic fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic was fully understood. The policy changes are intended to extend working years and increase pension contributions to address these concerns.

China's population has been shrinking for two consecutive years, with a declining birth rate and an increasing average life expectancy of 78.2 years. This demographic shift is placing additional pressure on the pension system.

Reactions to the announcement have been mixed. On Chinese social media platform Weibo, some users expressed frustration and speculated that retirement age might be further extended in the future. Others accepted the changes, noting that they align with global trends in retirement age.

With approximately 300 million people aged 50 to 60 expected to retire over the next decade, China faces a significant challenge in managing its pension system. The effectiveness of these new policies in ensuring the system's sustainability and meeting the needs of its ageing population will be closely monitored.

[dynamichealthinsights]

How to Support Health Education in Your Community: A Blueprint for Empowering Wellness

In a world where information flows like a river, and discerning the currents of truth from the tides of misinformation can feel overwhelming, health education emerges as a lighthouse, guiding us towards informed decisions and empowered well-being. It’s not just about knowing the facts; it’s about understanding the ‘why’ behind healthy choices, and weaving those choices into the fabric of our…

[thoughtlessarse]

Race equality campaigners have said that the newly-elected government must prioritise tackling systemic racism, amid concerns that Labour’s previously touted plans for a Race Equality Act could be shelved after the bill was renamed to focus on employment. They argue it is crucial for Number 10 to beef up efforts to address race disparities alongside any new legislation that is introduced. Labour’s proposed Race Equality Act was four years in the making as The Voice previously reported. However the bill has now been renamed the Equality (Race and Disability) Bill. No silver bullet The proposals at the Race Equality Act’s launch, back in February, fell short of being the silver bullet to tackle systemic racism that many campaigners had called for. It was still hoped however, that the proposals would form a core part of Labour’s plans when elected to government. The recent King’s speech however, which outlined the government’s legislative plans suggested otherwise noting that “legislation on race equality will be published in draft to enshrine the full right to equal pay in law”. While equal pay was indeed a part of Labour’s initial proposals, its mention in the King’s Speech raised questions. It is unclear why it was specifically mentioned in isolation or why the bill was renamed. It’s also uncertain, when or if a final draft will be available for scrutiny and which of the original ideas included in the Race Equality Act plans will remain. Race equality campaigners have said the Black community needs clarity and answers.

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[reasonsforhope]

No paywall version here.

"Two and a half years ago, when I was asked to help write the most authoritative report on climate change in the United States, I hesitated...

In the end, I said yes, but reluctantly. Frankly, I was sick of admonishing people about how bad things could get. Scientists have raised the alarm over and over again, and still the temperature rises. Extreme events like heat waves, floods and droughts are becoming more severe and frequent, exactly as we predicted they would. We were proved right. It didn’t seem to matter.

Our report, which was released on Tuesday, contains more dire warnings. There are plenty of new reasons for despair. Thanks to recent scientific advances, we can now link climate change to specific extreme weather disasters, and we have a better understanding of how the feedback loops in the climate system can make warming even worse. We can also now more confidently forecast catastrophic outcomes if global emissions continue on their current trajectory.

But to me, the most surprising new finding in the Fifth National Climate Assessment is this: There has been genuine progress, too.

I’m used to mind-boggling numbers, and there are many of them in this report. Human beings have put about 1.6 trillion tons of carbon in the atmosphere since the Industrial Revolution — more than the weight of every living thing on Earth combined. But as we wrote the report, I learned other, even more mind-boggling numbers. In the last decade, the cost of wind energy has declined by 70 percent and solar has declined 90 percent. Renewables now make up 80 percent of new electricity generation capacity. Our country’s greenhouse gas emissions are falling, even as our G.D.P. and population grow.

In the report, we were tasked with projecting future climate change. We showed what the United States would look like if the world warms by 2 degrees Celsius. It wasn’t a pretty picture: more heat waves, more uncomfortably hot nights, more downpours, more droughts. If greenhouse emissions continue to rise, we could reach that point in the next couple of decades. If they fall a little, maybe we can stave it off until the middle of the century. But our findings also offered a glimmer of hope: If emissions fall dramatically, as the report suggested they could, we may never reach 2 degrees Celsius at all.

For the first time in my career, I felt something strange: optimism.

And that simple realization was enough to convince me that releasing yet another climate report was worthwhile.

Something has changed in the United States, and not just the climate. State, local and tribal governments all around the country have begun to take action. Some politicians now actually campaign on climate change, instead of ignoring or lying about it. Congress passed federal climate legislation — something I’d long regarded as impossible — in 2022 as we turned in the first draft.

[Note: She's talking about the Inflation Reduction Act and the Infrastructure Act, which despite the names were the two biggest climate packages passed in US history. And their passage in mid 2022 was a big turning point: that's when, for the first time in decades, a lot of scientists started looking at the numbers - esp the ones that would come from the IRA's funding - and said "Wait, holy shit, we have an actual chance."]

And while the report stresses the urgency of limiting warming to prevent terrible risks, it has a new message, too: We can do this. We now know how to make the dramatic emissions cuts we’d need to limit warming, and it’s very possible to do this in a way that’s sustainable, healthy and fair.

The conversation has moved on, and the role of scientists has changed. We’re not just warning of danger anymore. We’re showing the way to safety.

I was wrong about those previous reports: They did matter, after all. While climate scientists were warning the world of disaster, a small army of scientists, engineers, policymakers and others were getting to work. These first responders have helped move us toward our climate goals. Our warnings did their job.

To limit global warming, we need many more people to get on board... We need to reach those who haven’t yet been moved by our warnings. I’m not talking about the fossil fuel industry here; nor do I particularly care about winning over the small but noisy group of committed climate deniers. But I believe we can reach the many people whose eyes glaze over when they hear yet another dire warning or see another report like the one we just published.

The reason is that now, we have a better story to tell. The evidence is clear: Responding to climate change will not only create a better world for our children and grandchildren, but it will also make the world better for us right now.

Eliminating the sources of greenhouse gas emissions will make our air and water cleaner, our economy stronger and our quality of life better. It could save hundreds of thousands or even millions of lives across the country through air quality benefits alone. Using land more wisely can both limit climate change and protect biodiversity. Climate change most strongly affects communities that get a raw deal in our society: people with low incomes, people of color, children and the elderly. And climate action can be an opportunity to redress legacies of racism, neglect and injustice.

I could still tell you scary stories about a future ravaged by climate change, and they’d be true, at least on the trajectory we’re currently on. But it’s also true that we have a once-in-human-history chance not only to prevent the worst effects but also to make the world better right now. It would be a shame to squander this opportunity. So I don’t just want to talk about the problems anymore. I want to talk about the solutions. Consider this your last warning from me."

-via New York Times. Opinion essay by leading climate scientist Kate Marvel. November 18, 2023.

[ivygorgon]

AN OPEN LETTER to THE PRESIDENT & U.S. CONGRESS

No more arms transfers! Ceasefire now. The hostages must come home.

637 so far! Help us get to 1,000 signers!

Last week, President Biden expressed his outrage over the Israeli military’s killing of seven World Central Kitchen workers directly to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Within hours, the Israeli cabinet voted to increase aid deliveries in Gaza — a welcome sea change in its months-long siege that can help tens of thousands of people avoid famine.

There’s no need to wait for the Israeli military to make another deadly decision for President Biden to do all he can to save lives now. President Biden should enforce U.S. law immediately to suspend U.S. military aid to Israel and ensure the indiscriminate killing of aid workers and mass starvation of Palestinians ends today. We need the focus to shift to peace negotiations, rescuing the hostages, and rebuilding.

The U.S. government is likely the only one capable of swaying the Israeli government from deepening the crisis and tipping the entire region into all-out war. It must do so. Americans overwhelmingly want the carnage to stop.

Thanks.

▶ Created on April 8 by Jess Craven · 636 signers in the past 7 days

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[sergle]

No fucking WAYYYYYY YOUTUBE CHANGED THEIR TOS TO AVOID PUNISHING SSSNIPERWOLF FOR DOXXING

[perplexingly]

I kinda wish they bonded over their dead man walking like behavior…

[jolikmc-thoughts]

Hm. Seems like YouTube is taking control away from users. Specifically, it would appear that as of November 2023, users won't be able to pick their own timestamps for YouTube mid-roll ads. I'm not sure how to decipher the other stuff or how it affects the pre- and post-roll ads, but that timestamp thing seems… arbitrary. And what do they mean, "when appropriate"?

Mystifying language. Message unclear. Receive, decode, transmit.

[dosthoeyevsky]

in light of recent news, one of my favourite tiktokers is here to slap some sense into every american with progressive leanings and a pulse.

[senatortedcruz]

Can’t stop thinking about what a trump 2 cabinet looks like. The supposed adult in the room Republicans jumped ship a long time ago and even real pieces of shit like fuckin Betsey Devos denounced the guy like what dregs of society are gonna sign up to associate their name with this guy. I don’t think people are ready for how bad this is gonna be

[ivygorgon]

[creativemedianews]

Under new PM Starmer, will UK Israel-Palestine policy change?

Under new PM Starmer, will UK Israel-Palestine policy change? #Israel-Palestinepolicy #PMStarmer #policychange