Economic Issues

End Abusive Credit Card Company Practices!

pdelatorre — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 16:34:41 -0500

With the rising costs of college, gasoline, food, health care, and other expenses, credit cards are becoming the "safety net" for an entire generation. Unfortunately, credit card companies are using unfair and even predatory practices to increase their profits at the expense of the financially vulnerable or inexperienced. You can read more about these anti-consumer practices here.

There are several efforts in Congress and in the Federal Reserve Board to reign in these anti-consumer practices. In fact, the Credit Cardholders’ Bill of Rights will probably be considered in the House Financial Services Committee by the end of the month.

School Poverty Research Positions @ OU

indy-re — Sun, 23 Dec 2007 17:58:02 -0600

OU Studies Poverty in Oklahoma Schools: Hiring VISTA Researchers

The University of Oklahoma has announced that it will expand its examination of poverty in Oklahoma schools. The Office of the Vice Provost at the University of Oklahoma plans to hire two VISTA research assistants to study the relationship between schools and community poverty in rural and urban areas of Oklahoma. The research aims to identify Oklahoma schools that are having an impact on poverty. The VISTA researchers will apply state-of-the-art community mapping software and will make use of a variety of state and non-profit resources. The VISTA researchers should have some proficiency in Spanish. Some college experience is needed and a bachelor’s degree is preferred.

Below is a copy of the OU VISTA positions announcement.

News from housing protests in New Orleans

indy-re — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 13:09:21 -0600

Follow the news of the housing protests in New Orleans on the following sites:

http://neworleans.indymedia.org/news/
http://www.defendneworleanspublichousing.org/
http://www.justiceforneworleans.org/

Guerrilla news video of 12/18/07 action:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fhyo9mk_Nxg

Living Wages for Oklahomans Forum - Norman, 11/12

indy-re — Mon, 05 Nov 2007 11:48:17 -0600

Start: 11/12/2007 - 7:00pm

End: 11/12/2007 - 9:00pm

Timezone: Etc/GMT-5

First Presbyterian Church
555 S. University Blvd., Norman, OK

Keynote Address by Dr. Barbara Boyd

Dialogue Session to Follow Refreshments

Panelists:
Holly Sklar, Author & nationally syndicated columnist
Shelley Moskowitz, Unitarian Universalist Service Committee
Kenneth Kickham, Asst. Professor - University of Central Oklahoma
Lisa Sorrells, Director Food & Shelter For Friends
Derrick Johnson, Owner - Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory
Lex Holmes, Ph.D., Chair – OU Economic Department

Primary Sponsors:
Let Justice Roll – letjusticeroll.org
United Church of Christ of Norman
Oklahoma United Methodist Church & Society
Unitarian Universalist Service Committee

Additional Sponsors:
First Christian Church of Norman
First Presbyterian Church of Norman
McFarlin United Methodist Church
Norman Unitarian Universalist Fellowship
St. Stephen’s United Methodist Church
St. Thomas More Catholic Church

People of Faith for Fair Wages - Forum in Tulsa 11/13

indy-re — Sun, 04 Nov 2007 22:54:47 -0600

Start: 11/13/2007 - 7:00pm

End: 11/13/2007 - 9:00pm

Timezone: Etc/GMT-5

People of Faith for Fair Wages, a project of the Peace with Justice Task Force of the Kansas/Oklahoma Conference United Church of Christ and Let Justice Roll, a national, nonpartisan coalition of more than 90 faith, community, labor and business organizations, will hold a free public education forum to explore what the faith community can do to resolve issues of paying fair wages and overcoming poverty, Tuesday, November 13, 7:00 – 9:00 p.m. at Southern Hills Methodist Church, 6160 South Lewis Avenue, Tulsa.

Oil Companies Are Using a Simple Trick to Bilk Consumers out of Billions

indy-re — Fri, 17 Aug 2007 00:06:00 -0500

By Brian Beutler, Media Consortium. Posted August 14, 2007.

Oil companies know that gasoline expands at higher temperatures and has less volume at lower ones, but they've refused to upgrade gas stations with a simple tool that would adjust the price of gas according to its temperature.

It's probably intuitive to most people that the gasoline in their fuel tank expands in the heat -- just like doorframes and cookware and everything else on the planet. What's probably less intuitive is that, in the United States, this physical phenomenon pumps a nearly $2 billion annual windfall out of consumers' pockets and into oil company coffers, according to numerous calculations, including a recent House of Representatives study.

The North Carolina-based company Gilbarco Veeder-Root manufactures a device -- a temperature-sensitive chamber for fuel -- that, if affixed to gasoline pumps across the country, would return that money to consumers and help relieve some of our storied gas-price pressures. The device -- and others like it -- is simple, functional and, in fact, already in widespread use at gas stations all across Canada. Last month, Democratic presidential hopeful and Ohio Rep. Dennis Kucinich, chair of the Domestic Policy Subcommittee, held the second in a series of hearings to investigate why the technology has never made it into the American market.

[...]

the idea of correcting price for temperature has deep roots in the industry: oil companies have done so for gasoline wholesalers for nearly a century. The only ones in the North American energy chain who pay by volume rather than by energy value are U.S. consumers.

[Emphasis added. Continue reading from other press]

Wolfowitz to resign from World Bank

Wed, 16 May 2007 20:16:35 -0500

malaysia sun
16 May 2007
"Embattled World Bank President Paul Wolfowitz has caved in to overwhelming pressure, and is set to resign.

Sources close to the Bank say Bush administration officials and executive directors of the World Bank are now finalising the terms of his departure.

Wolfowitz attempted to withstand the inevitable, arguing the pressure to oust him was unfair and would damage the long-term reputation of the bank.

His stance however has done more damage to the institution, and to the United States for its steadfast support in trying to save him his job.

In recent weeks almost every nation, with the exception of the United States and Japan, has expressed concern at Wolfowitz continuing in the job.

Take the Money and Run Solidarity Action in Tulsa

joni — Sat, 12 May 2007 18:15:11 -0500

Start: 05/16/2007 - 12:30pm

End: 05/16/2007 - 2:00pm

Timezone: Etc/GMT-5

Call for Action:
Wednesday, May 16 - 12:30pm, corner of 6th and Boulder (in front of the Petroleum Club, where one of the many Halliburton Sales Offices is located on the third floor.

Bring your own sign, or use one of ours! Dress as a Pirate or a Gitmo detainee, or use your own imagination. If you've a Halliburton Bubble Suit, Wear it!

We'll have some Hallibacon Bucks that we could deliver to their office -- *if we're allowed in, with a file to help them Increase Sales and perhaps Cut out the Middle Man, which is our Govt. We'll pay them directly. We want KBR to build prisons in Every Neighborhood! *Satire.

461 KC Screeners Vote SPFPA YES to Unionize!

Tue, 08 May 2007 19:05:44 -0500

By a vote of 2-1, 461 KC screeners voted over a three day period to unionize with the International Union, Security, Police, Fire, Professionals of America SPFPA.

Eligible Voters 461
Official vote count
228 YES
129 NO
1 Challenge ballot

The unionization of the Firstline KC Screeners has made history since the Bush administration has prohibited collective bargaining rights for the 45,000 plus federal screeners nationwide. The only two airports to have unionized screeners is San Francisco and KC Airport which are one of six privately run airports.

170 Private Screeners working at Rochester Airport for McNeil Security will be voting to unionize with the International Union, Security, Police, Fire, Professionals of America SPFPA on May 24th.

Halliburton: "Take the Money and Run" Going Away Party!

Tue, 08 May 2007 11:28:47 -0500

Start: 05/16/2007 - 8:00am

End: 05/16/2007 - 2:00pm

Timezone: Etc/GMT-5

Halliburton's moving to Dubai and David Lesar and Dick Cheney, the current and former CEOs of Halliburton, cordially invite you to the Halliburton Shareholders Meeting and Going Away Party!

Please save the date:

8:00am Wednesday, May 16th
At the beautiful The Woodlands Resort & Conference Center,
2301 North Millbend Drive, The Woodlands, Texas 77380.
www.woodlandsresort.com

Please check www.houstonglobalawareness.org for party updates.

What to bring - a dress shirt, tie and jacket (now on sale at your local thrift shop) we will provide the Cheney and Lesar masks. We will also need noisemakers, confetti and balloons.

Please email Carol at waldo(at) riseup(dot)net to join the party planning committee. We have a 20 foot money bag and other props that need making.