John Nichols: Against austerity: ‘Water is a human right’
The United Nations formally “recognizes the right to safe and clean drinking water and sanitation as a human right that is essential for the full enjoyment of life and all human rights.†A new European Citizens Initiative declares, “Water is a public good, not a commodity.â€
John Nichols, The Cap Times
Detroit's Water War: a tap shut-off that could impact 300,000 people
A right-wing state and corporate push to cut off water is economic shock therapy at its most ruthless and racist, but resistance is growing.
Martin Lukacs, The Guardian
Support Builds for Friday March to End Water Shutoff
Support is growing from labor, community, clergy, and environmental activists, along with those attending the national Netroots Nation convention in Detroit this week for a march and rally Friday July 18 to call for an immediate moratorium on the water shutoffs.
National Nurses United
Jul 14, 2014
No Water For Motown: Why Detroit Is Denying Its Citizens This Basic Human Right
When Netroots Nation convenes its 9th annual conference in Detroit this month, I hope that attendees arrive pre-hydrated. Because despite living at the hub of the largest group of freshwater lakes on the planet—taken together, the Great Lakes represent more than one-fifth of the world’s surface freshwater—Detroit residents are running out of running water. They’re also running into city and state bureaucracies that, alarmingly, don’t seem to care.
Katrina vanden Heuvel, The Nation
July 18 March, Rally from Netroots Nation to Sound Call: 'Turn on the Water. Tax Wall Street'
Registered nurses, Detroit residents, clergy, labor, environmental activists, and attendees from the Netroots Nation convention in Detroit will hold a march and rally Friday July 18 to call for an immediate moratorium on the water shutoffs in Detroit that they call a public health emergency and a major violation of human rights.
National Nurses United
Jul 9, 2014
No More Excuses: Contra Costa County Property Tax Windfall Can Save DMC
Registered nurses, joined by community leaders and residents announced today that since the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors now knows the county will receive a $19 million increase in property tax revenue over last year, they have no excuse but to keep Doctors Medical Center (DMC) in San Pablo operating as a full service hospital.
California Nurses Association
Jul 8, 2014
RNs Urge Tougher Federal Oversight on Unproven Medical Technology on which Hospitals Spend Billions
National Nurses United is calling on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to enact meaningful oversight and public protections on the use of unproven medical technology that is rapidly spreading through the nation’s healthcare system. NNU, the largest U.S. organization of nurses, made its appeal in formal comments submitted Monday to the FDA which has just concluded a comment period on its proposed “Risk-Based Regulatory Framework and Strategy for Health Information Technology Report.â€
National Nurses United
Jul 8, 2014
Big bucks are driving big data
The current rage for building, selling and using “bedside analytics†and big-data technologies is all about financial gain for investors and corporations, it is not about the best interests of the public. Whatever advances the Kaiser technology offers are all proprietary and hidden. Nothing is tested/vetted scientifically by other academic experts.
Modern Healthcare
John Nichols: High court ruling not the death knell for public-sector unions — yet
There were undoubtedly justices on the most anti-labor U.S. Supreme Court in modern judicial history who wanted to strip public-sector unions of their ability to collect dues from workers they represent.
But they were not quite prepared to strike the devastating blow that labor activists feared would be delivered Monday.
John Nichols, The Capital Times
Tell the FDA— Protect the Public's Health—Regulate Healthcare Technology!
The Food and Drug Administration has already suggested that it thinks that regulation of Health Information Technology and Clinical Decision Support systems are NOT necessary! The FDA is now taking public comments and they need to hear your voice to protect our patients.
National Nurses United