Old Fucking Punk @lwriemen@librem.one

Why We Should All Be Using the Framework of Reproductive Justice

re•pro•duc•tive jus•tice

noun

1. The right to make decisions about child-bearing and childrearing free from economic, legal or social coercion

“The sin to me is bringing a child into this world and not taking care of them. The sin for me is that this state does not provide adequate care.” —Alabama state Sen. Linda Coleman-Madison (D), in response to legislation effectively banning abortion in her state

Is this the same as the right to choose?

Reproductive justice includes abortion rights, but it’s more than that.

A spontaneously formed Black women’s caucus coined the phrase “reproductive justice” to highlight two things at an Illinois Pro-Choice Alliance conference in 1994: first, that the movement’s narrow focus on the legal right to abortion ignored the need for accessible, affordable providers; and second, that poor women and women of color often face additional issues that jeopardize their ability to have and raise children in safe, supportive environments— from a history of forced sterilizations to police killings of Black youth.

Loretta Ross, a co-founder of leading reproductive justice group SisterSong, writes: “One of the key problems addressed by Reproductive Justice is the isolation of abortion from other social justice issues that concern communities of color: issues of economic justice, the environment, immigrants’ rights, disability rights, discrimination based on race and sexual orientation, and a host of other community centered concerns … directly affect an individual woman’s decision-making process.” 

What are the biggest threats to reproductive justice right now?

New “fetal heartbeat laws” (like Georgia’s) are incredibly dangerous, criminalizing abortion after just a few weeks; Alabama went even further, banning all abortions except when the life of the mother is threatened. “The human right of our own bodily autonomy is under attack,” says Monica Simpson, executive director of SisterSong. In response, the Illinois House recently passed what could become one of the country's most progressive abortion laws.

More broadly, reproductive justice is hindered by such issues as the high maternal mortality rate for Black mothers, the lack of gender-affirming healthcare for trans parents, the exclusion of undocumented immigrants from Medicaid, a punitive child welfare system that criminalizes parents for being poor, and the poisoning of children by lead in Flint, Mich., and elsewhere. 

What’s the path forward for reproductive justice?

It’s crucial to understand that reproductive oppression is both product and tool of other forms of oppression. Advocates often take an intersectional approach, positioning their struggle as tied up in the struggles for the decommodification of healthcare, prison abolition, immigrant rights, environmental justice and disability rights. The movement’s policy priorities include beating back new abortion restrictions, repealing the Hyde Amendment (which prevents federal tax dollars from funding abortions), a Medicare for All that covers full reproductive health services, and universal childcare. 

This is part of “The Big Idea,” a monthly series offering brief introductions to progressive theories, policies, tools and strategies that can help us envision a world beyond capitalism. For recent In These Times coverage of reproductive justice in action, see, "Interviews for Resistance: Reproductive Justice Is About Way More Than Abortion" and "Democrats’ Waffling on Abortion Rights Isn’t Just Wrong, It’s a Huge Political Mistake."

UAW Election at Volkswagen Set for June 12th-14th – Payday Report - http://paydayreport.com/uaw-election-at-volkswagen-set-for-june-12th-14th/

Early humans deliberately recycled flint to create tiny, sharp tools

A new study finds that prehistoric humans 'recycled' discarded or broken flint tools 400,000 years ago to create small, sharp utensils with specific functions. The artifacts were discovered at the site of Qesem Cave, located just outside Tel Aviv.

The #Albany #GDC and Upstate New York GMB of the #IWW have just kicked off a GoFundMe to raise funds to protect access to safe, legal abortions and to tell March4Life to go fuck themselves. Please consider pitching in:

https://www.gofundme.com/protect-abortion-rights?member=2315376&fbclid=IwAR1ZAahXzAS52MAsWQN6ybUVkROHCgTUjN7_30_wKWsGjFgZ0Sdho3t16zM

#solidarity #EnjoyTroy #schenectady

'Fettuccine' may be most obvious sign of life on Mars, researchers report

A rover scanning the surface of Mars for evidence of life might want to check for rocks that look like pasta, researchers report. The bacterium that controls the formation of such rocks on Earth is ancient and thrives in harsh environments that are similar to conditions on Mars, said a geology professor.

Energy drinks may increase risk of heart function abnormalities and blood pressure changes

Three to four hours after drinking 32 ounces of energy drinks, the heart's electrical activity was abnormal compared to drinking a placebo drink. Two different commercially available energy drinks produced the same results, suggesting that energy drinks as a class should be consumed with caution.

Climate driving new right whale movement

New research connects recent changes in the movement of North Atlantic right whales to decreased food availability and rising temperatures in Gulf of Maine's deep waters. Right whales have been showing up in unexpected places in recent years, putting the endangered species at increased risk. The study provides insights to this key issue complicating conservation efforts.

Black Economic Problems Are Pretty Similar to White Economic Problems

Alicia Garza, head of the Black Futures Lab, reports on the results of the Black Census Project, which she presents as “the largest independent survey of black people ever conducted in the United States.” Here’s a snippet from her New York Times op-ed: Nearly three in four respondents said they voted in the 2016 presidential […]

Former Infowars Writer Spoon-Feeds Right-Wing Trolls Their Own Garbage - http://www.rightwingwatch.org/post/former-infowars-writer-spoon-feeds-right-wing-trolls-their-own-garbage/

American "representative democracy" is really either a plutocracy or oligarchy.

Mitch McConnell Confirms His Brain-Melting Hypocrisy Over the Supreme Court - https://splinternews.com/mitch-mcconnell-confirms-his-brain-melting-hypocrisy-ov-1835081331

'Loser effect' evolves separate from fighting ability in animals

The 'loser effect' -- which causes animals to shy away from violence after losing a fight -- evolves independently of any change in fighting ability, new research suggests.

Does being seen really make cyclists safer on the road?

Researchers have determined motorists tended to give cyclists wearing high-visibility vests more room on the road, compared to cyclists without high-visibility clothing. The vests, with arrows directing traffic away from pedestrians and cyclists, have shown to reduce the number of traffic accidents involving these groups.

A source that claims someone "ripped," "demolished," "destroyed,"...or so on...someone else on Twitter is full of shit.

Hyperbole for clicks is tabloid bullshit & should inform you of the quality of reporting. Not the important stuff, just the easiest, lazy crap...social media.

Paying Disrespects

The Supreme Court allows Indiana to require burial of fetal remains, but not ban certain abortions.

Louvre Workers Strike, Citing 'Unprecedented Deterioration' Amid Crowds : NPR - https://www.npr.org/2019/05/28/727592823/the-louvre-is-suffocating-museum-closed-as-workers-strike-citing-overcrowding

Raw Data: The US Trade Deficit With China

Just in case you’re wondering, here is our total trade deficit with China over the past couple of decades, shown as a percentage of GDP: Our trade deficit with China more than doubled between 2002 and 2007, but that was it. Since then it’s been dead flat. In 2018 it amounted to $380 billion.

A warming Arctic produces weather extremes in our latitudes

Atmospheric researchers at the Alfred Wegener Institute, Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research (AWI) have now developed a climate model that can accurately depict the frequently observed winding course of the jet stream, a major air current over the Northern Hemisphere.

New cable-free brain imaging method may take social neuroscience to the next level

Researchers developed a cable-free recording method that can measure brain activity associated with social behavior in mice. The method was based on a bioluminescent indicator of membrane voltage called 'LOTUS-V', which was delivered to cells via a gene expression system; it is therefore minimally invasive. LOTUS-V enabled cable-free detection of brain activity in freely moving mice. Activation in the primary visual cortex was found during social interaction.

Structure of a 'master switch' controlling cell division

Unregulated cell division is a hallmark of cancer, and one of the key proteins involved in controlling cell division is called FoxM1. Abnormal activation of FoxM1 is a common feature of cancer cells and is correlated with poor prognosis, metastasis, and resistance to chemotherapy. Now researchers have determined the structure of this protein -- a kind of 'master switch' for cell division -- in its inactive or 'off' conformation.

New mutations for herbicide resistance rarer than expected

New evidence suggests that herbicide resistance in weeds is more likely to occur from pre-existing genetic variation than from new mutations.