J. Lee Lehman
One of the hottest issues in privacy is the policy of the Department of Homeland Security that allows for the seizure of laptops and other electronic devices from anyone entering the country - citizen or not. Needless to say, this policy has been justified by claiming national security and the war on terrorism. What is perhaps more amazing is that, despite the specific constitutional injunction against unreasonable search and seizure, this policy has been upheld by a US appellate court! These are seizures
without cause - any agent can seize any laptop or cell hpone for any reason, require passwords to be given, copy an file, or even take the unit and maybe send it back weeks or months later, with no explanation. This is outrageous. While there have been hearings the Summer eelated to this issue, nothing has been done to curb this. Is everybody asleep at the wheel?
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Why do we need to keep Talking about this?
Sheville Staff
Do you ever stop wondering about why you feel you need to go to places like Sheville to find out what other women think? You might be interested in a recent piece by Deborah Howell in the Washington Post. What she details are the actual facts and figures related to the relative paucity of Op-Ed pieces by women, people of color, not to mention younger people. Middle aged white men dominate there - as usual.
Annelinde Metzner
“I’m a child of the soil,” says Wangari.
“I don’t think you need a diploma to plant a tree.”
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News or Press Release
Thirty years ago, in the country of Kenya, 90% of the forest had been chopped down.
Without trees to hold the topsoil in place, the land became like a desert.
When the women and girls would go in search of firewood in order to prepare the meals, they would have to spend hours and hours looking for what few branches remained.
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The Endangered Internet
News or Press Release
Just how safe do you think the Internet is? Our friends at MAIN are reporting on some troubling tendencies which look like corporate interests may be getting a stranglehold on Internet access. Please see their page at: http://www.main.nc.us/savethenet/
Shonnie Lavender
I am compassionate, educated and curious. Until I stepped into my first session of Building Bridges last Sept. 12, however, I was also woefully unaware of the real status of black/white race relations in our country. more...
Free Press
Hundreds pack 'Town Meeting on the Future of Media' in Asheville FCC Commissioners hear more than five hours of public testimony. more...
What do Trees have to do with Peace?