Edit ion Number 29

VOL. 2

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July 17, 2010 www.thepopulacenow.com

“Communicating to Communities Nationwide.”“Communicating to Communities Nationwide.”“Communicating to Communities Nationwide.”“Communicating to Communities Nationwide.”

The Populace Now Page 1

Patrick A. SellersPatrick A. SellersPatrick A. SellersPatrick A. Sellers

Publisher

Bobbie CollinsBobbie CollinsBobbie CollinsBobbie Collins

Editor-In-Chief

Contributors Contributors Contributors Contributors

Jeff White, Buffy Griffin,

William Vann,

Denita Robinson,

Bill Quigley,

Patrick Sellers

What’s Inside This Issue?

• Cover Photo Haiti After the earthquakeCover Photo Haiti After the earthquakeCover Photo Haiti After the earthquakeCover Photo Haiti After the earthquake

• An Inside Look at Haiti pg. 2An Inside Look at Haiti pg. 2An Inside Look at Haiti pg. 2An Inside Look at Haiti pg. 2

• Double Standard BP and Bhopal pg. 3Double Standard BP and Bhopal pg. 3Double Standard BP and Bhopal pg. 3Double Standard BP and Bhopal pg. 3

• A Way to Economic Equality for Women A Way to Economic Equality for Women A Way to Economic Equality for Women A Way to Economic Equality for Women pg. 4pg. 4pg. 4pg. 4

• Racism, Gender Bias, and Sibling RivalryRacism, Gender Bias, and Sibling RivalryRacism, Gender Bias, and Sibling RivalryRacism, Gender Bias, and Sibling Rivalry--------All RelatedAll RelatedAll RelatedAll Related pg.5pg.5pg.5pg.5

• The Preacher’s Corner pg. 6The Preacher’s Corner pg. 6The Preacher’s Corner pg. 6The Preacher’s Corner pg. 6

• Cultural Education pg.6Cultural Education pg.6Cultural Education pg.6Cultural Education pg.6

Sellers Media Group is pleased to announce our forthcoming new radio show entitled: The Sellers Media Moments. The show will air July 27 on FM 1570 WFRL from 12:30—1:00 pm.

Page 2 The Populace Now

When you think of going to help in a disaster zone what do you envision? I hope your desire to help is truly altruistic in nature. But many Americans go with visions of the great American helping the poor indigenous peoples. In our minds we see the American flag flying and the locals lining up to thank us for our help. We do a few days of labor (or lots of picture-taking and very little work, in many cases) and go home with a great feeling of satisfaction and national pride

at how good we are as a nation.

The reality is that we as a nation only respond when the press stirs us up to a new situation and our interest wanes with the reporting of a new story. Haiti was a disaster area long before the earthquake of January 2010 and will be a disaster area for many years after the earthquake. Yet, our interest has al-ready moved to new areas. You know this to be true because since January our attention has moved from Haiti, through the string of earthquakes around the world, to the oil spill in the Gulf of Mex-ico. In fact, there is now so little press interest in Haiti it’s hard to find final death toll/injury statistics online. The press doesn’t even waste time doing wrap up stories. No, we aren’t bad peo-

ple, just short sighted.

I went to Haiti for five and one half weeks following the earthquake. It was one of the most life changing events in my life (we can’t forget baptism, wed-ding, and the birth of our child, right!). In the next couple of issues I would like to share a story and some insights from my time in Haiti. And of course, let me chal-lenge you not to forget our brothers and sisters who live in the most impoverished nation in the western hemisphere (CIA Factbook). I left Illinois for Haiti with thoughts of digging bodies out of the rubble; however, God had different plans for my work and hopefully for my life in

the future.

I landed in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic and took the bus to Haiti. The DR is a beautiful country with pristine beaches, name brand restaurants, stocked stores, and all the modern con-

veniences. “Wow”, I thought, “this won’t be as bad as I’d heard”; WRONG! Upon crossing the border in Quana-mithe, Haiti, it was like the difference between night and day. You cross from rows of neat, clean huts to tarps set along the river. From homes lit with electricity to homes lit by candles, if any-thing. From people eat-ing and drinking at bo-degas to people starving to death. From clean running water, to people drinking water so contaminated I hesitated to drink it even after running it through my purifier. I won’t mention that I had several bad weeks dealing with para-sites gotten by drinking supposedly purified

water.

Let me describe just my first few minutes in Haiti. As we waited at the border for our documents to be processed, I was looking out of the window at life unfolding around me. I watched women washing clothes in a river so polluted that they had to push trash out of the way to get to the water. I saw thousands living under tarps while they waited for an opportunity to sneak across the border into the DR in hopes of getting a job. I watched one woman un-dress to bathe in a mud puddle at the side of the road; but worst of all, I watched her rinse her mouth in that same puddle. This scene was to play out in every village I vis-ited during my stay. The streams are for

bathing, cooking and drinking.

As I traveled to Cap Haitien, my final desti-nation, I stared in amazement at the abject poverty seen at every turn. There were homes made of bamboo and banana leaves, commonplace in tropical countries. However, sheets of tin are the norm. I looked at people living in homes dug out of hillsides, and people living in abandoned buildings and people living on side-walks. The more incredible thing was that I was nowhere near the earthquake zone. It is just how the people of Haiti live. The signs of former prosperity are every-where. But all are abandoned. Empty

stores, gas stations, and factories

abound.

We stopped for a rest break, and while hungry, I didn’t dare eat after seeing the water that was being used in the food preparation. The lack of “things” is so great that as I started to throw my empty Gatorade bottle away, an elderly man sitting next to me, asked if he could have it. Nothing is thrown away that has any possible use. People even barter and sell rusted metal and any other old junk just because someone might find a use for them. To steal a line from an old movie, "I definitely wasn't in Kan-

sas anymore.

Upon arriving in Cap Haitien, I was met by a local minister of the Church of Christ, Lucner Pierre, and a relief worker from Whites Ferry Road Disas-ter Relief. After settling into the hotel, we began our work providing relief to the 300,000 or so refugees in Cap Haitien and the very needy villages of

Northern Haiti.

In the next issue we will look at the relief efforts in Northern Haiti. Bless-

ings, Jeff

Jeff White is a minister/elder with the Freeport Church of Christ. He can be

reached at: 815-235-1008

An Inside Look At Haiti By Jeff White, Jeff White, Jeff White, Jeff White, An Illinois Correspondent An Illinois Correspondent An Illinois Correspondent An Illinois Correspondent

The Populace Now

Page 3

When President Barak Obama went after BP and demanded a $20 billion dollar fund be set up for victims of the Gulf oil spill, the people of India were furious. They saw a US double stan-dard. The US demonstrated it values human life within the US more than the lives of the people of India. BP should pay $20 billion in compen-sation, probably even more. The people of India agree with that. But people are angry because the US is treating the oil spill, called the worst environmental disaster in US history, in a radically different way than the US treated the explosion of a US-owned pesticide plant in Bhopal India, which some call the worst industrial disaster in history. The 1984 Bhopal explosion released tons of toxic chemicals into the air, claimed the lives of between 15,000 and 20,000 people within two weeks, and dis-abled hundreds of thousands of others – many still suffering from physical damage and genetic defects. The plant that ex-ploded was operated by Union Carbide India Limited, a cor-poration owned by Union Carbide of the United States. The disaster occurred in a thickly populated area close to the central railway station in Bhopal, an urban area of 1.5 million in the heart of In-dia. Most people in the area lived in shanty huts. Thousands of dead humans and ani-

mals filled the streets of Bhopal. Survi-vors complain of genetic damage which has caused widespread birth defects in children and even grandchildren of those exposed. The soil and water of Bhopal remain toxic with heavy pesticide residue and toxic metals like lead, mercury, arsenic, cadmium and chromium. While President Obama displayed out-rage at BP officials over the 11 deaths from the US oil spill, the US has refused to extradite Warren Anderson, the chair of Union Carbide, to face charges for his role in the Bhopal disaster. Recall too that Obama advisor Larry Summers, then chief economist at the World Bank, stated in an infamous 1971 memo. “Just between you and me, shouldn’t the world Bank be encouraging MORE migration of the dirty industries to

the Less Developed Countries?... I’ve always thought that under-populated countries in Africa are vastly UNDER-polluted…” Obsolete and haz-ardous industries have been systemati-cally transferred to

the third world countries to not only ex-ploit the cheap labor but also to avoid disastrous impact of these industries on the advanced countries. Union Carbide put profit for the corpora-tion above the lives and health of millions of people. Dow Chemical, which took over Union Carbide, is attempting to dis-tance itself from all responsibility. In India there were two Bhopal develop-

ments this month. The Indian govern-ment announced a compensation pack-age of $280 million for Bhopal victims, about $22,000 for each of the families of the deceased according to the BBC, and seven former Indian managers of the Bhopal plant were given two year jail sentences for their part in the explo-sion. These legal developments are a mockery of justice for one of the world’s greatest disasters.

We call on the people of the US and the people of India to join together to demand our governments respect the human rights of all people, no matter where they live. Together we must bring about change in corporate development. We have to emphasize social production for the needs of people and improved social relations. If we continue to value some lives more than others, and to allow corpora-tions to spoil some areas with impunity, our world will not last. Unless we respect the human rights of all people and demand corporations do that as well, we will be damned to live out the Cree Indian prophecy “Only when the last tree from this earth has been cut down, only when the last river has been poisoned, only when the last fish has been caught, only then will humankind learn that money cannot be

eaten.”

A Collaborative Article A Collaborative Article A Collaborative Article A Collaborative Article By Bill Quigley Bill Quigley Bill Quigley Bill Quigley and and and and Alex Tuscano Alex Tuscano Alex Tuscano Alex Tuscano

Double Standard: BP and Bhopal

By Bill Quigley and Alex Tuscano. Bill is the Legal Director of the Center for

Constitutional Rights and a law professor at Loyola University New Orleans. You

can reach Bill at quigley77@gmail.com Alex directs Praxis, a human rights

organization in Bangalore, India. You can reach Alex at alextuscano@gmail.com

Page 4 The Populace Now

Black is what people are 'Labeled' when others want to keep them away... Black is the color of shadows cast...Black is the end of the day. Lord you know my own people mistrea me, and you know this just ain't right... They don't like my hair, they don't like my skin, as they say I'm too dark or too light! Lord, don't you think it's time to make a change? Why don't you redo creation and make eve-ryone the same? GOD's Reply: Why did I make you black? Why did I make you black? I made you in the color of coal from which beautiful diamonds are formed... I made you in the color of oil, the black gold which keeps people warm. Your color is the same as the rich dark soil that grows the food you need..... Your color is the same as the black stallion and panther, Oh what majestic creatures indeed! All colors of the heavenly rainbow can be found throughout every nation...

When all these colors are blended, you become my greatest creation! Your hair is the texture of lamb's wool, such a beautiful creature is he... I am the shepherd who watches them, I will ALWAYS watch over thee! You are the color of the midnight sky, I put star glitter in your eye... There's a beautiful smile hidden be-hind your pain... That's why your cheeks are so high! You are the color of dark clouds I made your lips so full and thick, so when you kiss...they will remember! Your stature is strong, your bone struc-ture thick to withstand the burden of time... The reflection you see in the mir-ror, that image that looks back,..that is MINE! So get off your knees, look in the mir-ror and tell me what you see? I didn't make you in the image of dark-ness.... I made you in the image of ME!

Why did you make someone the world would hold back? Black is the color of dirty clothes, of grimy hands and feet… Black is the color of darkness, of tired beaten streets... Why did you give me thick lips, a broad nose and kinky hair? Why did you create someone who re-ceives the hated stare? Black is the color of the bruised eye when someone gets hurt... Black is the color of darkness, black is the color of dirt. Why is my bone structure so thick, my hips and cheeks so high? Why are my eyes brown, and not the color of the sky? Why do people think I'm useless? How come I feel so used? Why do people see my skin and think I should be abused? Lord, I just don't understand...What is it about my skin? Why is it some people want to hate me and not know the person within?

Why am I Black

In an article written by Earl S. Wynn over at Hub Spot, the USA has a 23% differ-23% differ-23% differ-23% differ-ence in wages between men and ence in wages between men and ence in wages between men and ence in wages between men and womenwomenwomenwomen. If you are viewing this post off-line, here is a quick link to the article http://ht.ly/28SHc and a fact sheet posted at Institute For Women’s Policy Research (iwpr.org) direct link to the fact sheet is http://www.iwpr.org/pdf/

C350.pdf

It’s been said that economic equality is the new civil rights movement (in refer-ence to minorities, yet primarily focusing on African Americans). Many years later, this movement is still pressing forward. In this post, we’re looking more so at economic equality for women, or the lack thereof and how woman are finding ways

to advance in their career's) of choice.

According to findings at wikipedia.org factors such as labor markets, innate

ability, education, globalization, gender/race/culture, diversity of preferences, de-velopment patterns and wealth condensa-tion all play a part in economic inequality (wealth and income differences) among individuals as-well-as groups throughout

society.

A few select firms and/or organizations have begun to take note of the strong pres-ence and capabilities of it’s female coun-terparts and even reward them according to their talents and abilities as deserved. But, let’s face it, like it or not economic inequality will always be a constant battle when it comes to women working in corpo-

rate America.

Now more than ever, women are begin-ning to take control of their own futures especially when it comes to career ad-vancement's) and higher pay grades. How are they doing it? Simply by assessing true

worth based on education, experience, creativity, etc within specialized niche markets and becoming her own boss as an Entrepreneur/business owner. Organizations such as The Boss Net-work (TheBossNetwork.org) VAnet-working (VAnetworking.com) and the like help to teach, strengthen and boost qualified career women through

networking, referrals and more.

Entrepreneurship is a powerful thing for women as it enables one to create her own equality of opportunity and economic outcome. In earlier years there was the termed girly type busi-nesses such as nail and hair salons and flower shops. Now women own and create businesses in all types of markets. With strong determination and some know how, women have proven that much can be achieved even with the humblest (small) begin-

nings.

Entrepreneurship: A Way to Economic

Equality for Women By Buffy GriffinBuffy GriffinBuffy GriffinBuffy Griffin, , , , A North Carolina Correspondent A North Carolina Correspondent A North Carolina Correspondent A North Carolina Correspondent

ByByByBy an anonymous writeran anonymous writeran anonymous writeran anonymous writer

Page 5

The Populace Now

I often hear people cry racism, when they speak about what’s going on in their lives. For some it seems that they are not prepared to deal with it. Yet some deal with it by just going along with the program. And others are able to put racist acts in their proper place. Let me break this down. Racism, sex-ism, and even sibling rivalry, all stem from the age old argument: Who (or

what group) has the moral authority?

The definition of racism is the use of race to establish and justify a social hierarchy and system of power that provides privilege. The definition for sexism is behavior and beliefs that rank the sexes. The definition for sib-ling rivalry is a type of competition or animosity between brothers and sis-ters. All three definitions place a per-son or persons at the top or bottom of

a list.

Again, what person or persons have the moral authority? Moral authority is the power needed to persuade people that a particular person or groups of people are the moral authority and they have the power to control others of a different race, a certain family mem-bers. So let’s look at the meaning of power, perception, and author-ity. Power can be viewed as simply making things happen. Perception

is how a situation is viewed by one per-son, a group of people and /or oneself. Authority is the power wielded by certain persons or a group of people against an-

other.

Now that we know the definitions, how do we do battle with each one or all three at the same time? The answer to this is very simple: the less people know about you, the better off you are. Yes! Be nice, but firm. Be discriminating about what questions you answer. And don’t volun-teer information that can be used against you later. In a nutshell, you can open yourself up to racism, sexism and sibling

rivalry simply by just talking too much!

I have worked and lived in at least four different small towns and I can tell you that perception does matter. It's very diffi-cult to be attacked by racist people, sexist people or family members that don’t like you if you are loved by a larger group of people. It is easy some times for folk to attack you and bring unnecessary atten-tion or attention at the wrong time, be-cause you live a certain lifestyle that may be politically incorrect or is disagreed with

by the observer.

In some cases it could be advanta-geous for professionals or people in the public eye to project themselves as living the most boring life possible! Why you

may ask? Americans love success but hate successful people. One teacher stopped driving his Porsche to work because teachers started wondering how he could afford it on a teacher’s salary. The car was 25 years old. But because it was a Porsche, it brought attention at the wrong time. Once the teacher stopped driving this exotic car (associated with success), the undesir-able attention went away, making it harder for either racist or sexist co-workers to gather negative, stereotypi-cal information and use it for an attack. Furthermore, the teacher simply now drives the car on the weekends and/or

during the summer.

One parting thought about another thing that racist or sexist person, and certainly competitive siblings who may not care for you, might try to use against you or criticize you for. You might be surprised at what the power of dressing for success can do. Dress professionally for the job as well as off. A male wearing a suit or a woman dressed in professional clothing is in

itself, empowering.

Racism, gender bias and sibling rivalry are issues that must be put in their proper perspective and dealt with by first dealing with yourself. Don’t give other people the power you should

have and deserve!

ByByByBy William Vann, William Vann, William Vann, William Vann, A Michigan CorrespondentA Michigan CorrespondentA Michigan CorrespondentA Michigan Correspondent

Racism, Gender Bias, and Sibling

Rivalry--All Related

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Page 6

The Populace Now

Cultural Education By Patrick Sellers, By Patrick Sellers, By Patrick Sellers, By Patrick Sellers, An Illinois Correspondents An Illinois Correspondents An Illinois Correspondents An Illinois Correspondents

During a recent SIGMA* Bible study, someone in our class asked if God hears and answers the prayers of the unsaved. Further, she desired to know how one

responds in instances such as this.

Prayerfully pondering the answer to this

question, the Lord begins to bring to my

remembrance several thoughts. First, I

recalled a revelatory meditation by Dr.

Charles Stanley in response to a similar

query from a television viewer. Then God

reminded me of His will and the main

purpose of the church found in Matthew Matthew Matthew Matthew

28:1828:1828:1828:18----33333333 known as The Great Commis-

sion: 18 -20Jesus, undeterred, went right ahead and gave his charge: "God authorized and commanded me to commission you: Go out and train everyone you meet, far

and near, in this way of life, marking them by baptism in the threefold name: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Then in-struct them in the practice of all I have commanded you. I'll be with you as you do this, day after day after day, right up to the end of the age." The Message (MSG) Bible

Most profound, however, was a one line

sermonette (as it is called) which stated:

“Untold millions are perishing“Untold millions are perishing“Untold millions are perishing“Untold millions are perishing————untolduntolduntolduntold!” !” !” !”

In an instant, I knew the answer to her

question rested in these five words; how-

ever, an even greater revelation was

God’s concern regarding our lack of de-our lack of de-our lack of de-our lack of de-

votionvotionvotionvotion to being about His business.

As we seek to study and know the mind

of God revealed through His word, the

simple answer to the question is this:

God makes up His own mind about

whose prayers He will answer. It is cer-

tainly not up to us. Further study re-

vealed God does not "hear" every prayer

that is addressed to Him. There are con-

ditions that must be met for our prayers

to absolutely be heard by God. John 9: John 9: John 9: John 9:

31313131 NLT states, 31 We know that God

doesn’t listen to sinners, but he is ready

to hear those who worship him and do

his will. God is alwaysalwaysalwaysalways lookinglookinglookinglooking for His

prodigal children to return home. He

does hear their prayer of confession by

faith as the unsaved seek salvation.

Believers are to be the guiding light –

helping to lead others to Christ.

*(SIGMASIGMASIGMASIGMA= SSSSistas IIIIn GGGGod MMMMirroring AAAAbba

based on James 1:19James 1:19James 1:19James 1:19----27)27)27)27) (WC 367)

By Denita Robinson., A Missouri CorrespondentBy Denita Robinson., A Missouri CorrespondentBy Denita Robinson., A Missouri CorrespondentBy Denita Robinson., A Missouri Correspondent

One Question, Divine

Revelation – Part I

People always ask me, why is their an article on education in almost every is-sue of The Populace Now? And I answer, “Because education is the key to the advancement of any culture.” The Popu-lace Now is a source of education, infor-mation, enlightenment as well as em-powerment; we must educate ourselves in order to secure a future for ourselves, our families and our culture. Developing a true higher level of think-ing requires one to be fully vested in the quest for education and completely mindful of its ramifications. Developing a true higher level of thinking among a culture requires much more, certain vari-ables such as social conditioning play a

major role in the education of a culture as a whole. If the people of a culture are con-ditioned to think a certain way, then before a new way of thinking can be introduced, the entire culture must undergo a de-conditioning phase and then re-conditioned into this new way of thinking. If education is knowledge, and knowledge is power, therefore education is power. Cultures that totally understand this princi-ple places education at the crux of its infra-structure and only then will they work to-gether in order to establish guidelines of implementation of this principle thus secur-ing their future as a dominant culture. Edu-cation has been used for many years as a way for the powerful cultures to remain in

power, using education to shape pub-lic policy, to control business market-places and maintain the balance be-tween rich and poor. Cultural education is an ongoing proc-ess, that is passed on from one gen-eration to the next, each generation sacrifices for the next, making the process easier as time goes on. The Achilles’ heel for some cultures is not only the fact that they have placed such a small emphasis on the impor-tance of education, but they also lack the “togetherness” needed to ensure that each generation advances further than it’s predecessor.

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