Phlair Carter (upper right) taking his voter drive to the streets after the Bud Billiken Parade in Washington Park.
Photo courtesy of L’Evated Marketing
But if Christensen’s Lake County neighbors have their way, those photos will be the only way the couple will be able to see the cranes again.
October 2004 | Choice News
Voter Shout Out
Hip-Hop, a music style that started as a form of protest to express inner-city angst, has grown into a multi-billion dollar industry that has created a culture with enough power to influence the way young people dance, dress, talk and now maybe the way they vote.
Or at least that’s what The People For President Campaign, a non-partisan “get out the vote” organization in Chicago hopes. The group has sent out interactive street teams throughout Chicago with music and bullhorns in an effort to encourage the Hip-Hop generation to register to vote.
“We can use [Hip-Hop] to sell batteries and Skippy peanut butter... why can’t we use it to pick the next president,” said Phlair Carter, CEO of L’Evated Marketing, Media and Entertainment, a Chicago-based company working with the campaign.
The campaign has targeted the group that accounts for the majority of Hip Hop fans and traditionally produces the lowest voter turnout on election day: men in their early twenties. Only nine percent of 22-year-old men who registered to vote showed up to cast ballots in the spring primaries. Less than 20 percent of registered voters between the ages of 20 and 30 cast ballots, according to an analysis of the March 16, 2004 primary election conducted by Cook County Clerk David Orr’s office.
The campaign has a grassroots goal, said TJ Crawford, executive director of People For President in Chicago.
Crawford’s group is seeking out the people who may feel most disenfranchised by the electoral process.
“We want to empower young people and get them to take responsibility for what goes on in their community,” Craw- ford said. “Why would you give someone else the authority over your destiny?”
The first ever National Hip-Hop Political Convention was held in Newark, N.J. in June as part of the Hip Hop Civic Engagement Project. Since then it’s spread to about 18 other cities across the country and has a national goal of registering 120,000 new voters before the October 5 deadline.
In September People for President had already registered about 10,000 new voters in Chicago. The organization’s goal is to gain 10,000 more before the registration deadline.
Crawford said many young people don’t register to vote because they feel separated from the political system and this is what the campaign is trying to change.
“You can’t complain about a problem without being part of solving that problem,” Crawford said. Hip Hop convention organizers are planning to start early for the 2008 election by hosting the next convention in 2006 in Chicago, but no further details have been established.
“We set up aggressive campaigns launched at attracting young minds,” Carter said. “We go out into crowds. We take it to the streets.”
“The Hip-Hop movement has all come full circle,” Carter said.
To find out how to register to vote visit www.elections.state.il.us/. — Caroline Casper
Hormone Horses Need Homes
WITH THE drop in demand for female replacement hormones, some horse rescue groups are hard-pressed to find homes for foals born to mares on PMU (pregnant mare urine) ranches.About 10 foals are expected to be delivered from Manitoba and Saskatchewan to the Virginia, Ill. farm of Kristine Piiparinen in late September. Piiparinen’s farm is part of FANI, Foal Adoption Network Inc. The foals will range in age from four to six months old.
“The last two years we batted 100 percent in placements, but this year we are struggling. The horse market is down in general all over the country,” said Piiparinen.
The need is especially urgent because some animal rights activists fear many of the horses on PMU ranches may have been slaughtered.
The good news is living conditions appear to be somewhat better than in the past for the equines and sales of Premarin are down.
But animal advocates and horse lovers still question why these horses have to be confined, bred and sometimes euphonized.
Premarin’s (an HRT drug made from PMU) sales fell dramatically in 2002 after the publication of a study suggesting the drug may be physically harmful to women. Because of this drop, two rounds of cuts of PMU farms in Canada and North Dakota began in fall 2003.
The industry has existed since 1941; the drug was first produced by Wyeth Ayerst, and is now by Ayerst Organics in Manitoba.
Both horses and women have won a victory because of less forced breeding and more awareness of the effects of Premarin, but the biggest remaining area of worry is where hundreds, even thousands, of these foals and mares have gone. No one seems to be keeping exact count. The disappearance of so many large animals is shrouded in mystery.
Dr. Andrew Lang, DVM, an equine specialist and manager of Animal Health in the Animal Placement Department of the ASPCA in New York, has long kept a concerned eye on the PMU industry. He has not been able to obtain exact numbers, but industry figures put about 34,000 mares in production before last October.
“After two waves of cuts, I believe that number was reduced to about 11,600 or 11,700. The number of ranches went from over 400 to under 200. I figure, guesstimate that is, that 25,000 horses were affected including a few stallions and “replacement stock” if you don’t count the unborn foals — most of the mares were pregnant. The industry claims some ranchers are going into breeding and keeping their horses.” However, he has received no updated figures since February. “My feeling is that hundreds if not thousands went to slaughter.”
When he approached Wyeth, company officials responded that “their trust fund and compensation for the ranchers are adequate, and ultimately the fate of the horses is in the hands of the ranchers who own them.”
For information on adopting a foal visit the PMU Foal Adoption Network Website: www.pmufoaladoption.org — Deborah Straw
Sculpting Peace
OCT. 2, 2004 marks the 135th birthday of Mahatma Gandhi, one of the premiere practitioners of non-violence for social change and global unity in the 20th century.To mark and celebrate the event the north suburban village of Skokie plans to unveil a statute of Gandhi’s in a newly created park.
The memorial statue will be the first of many planned monuments to be located in Skokie’s new Heritage Park at the intersection of Dempster Street and McCormick Boulevard. The park is designed to showcase a total of 13 sculptures celebrating Skokie’s cultural diversity and village unity.
“Gandhi, of all the twentieth century leaders, was the one who represented what Skokie is all about: peace and harmony,” Skokie Mayor George Van Dusen announced at the July ground breaking.
The statue, created in Ahmedabad, India by artist Jasu Shilpi, cast in bronze, stands eight feet tall and weighs about 1,500 pounds. At the bottom of the four-foot-tall base there is a depiction of the lotus blossom, the national flower of India. Additionally, paved bricks will extend to form a 31-foot wide circumference around the statue, with granite benches positioned inside of the circle for visitors to rest and reflect upon the great teacher’s life.
“Wherever there are statues there are questions always asked by young children,” said Arun Kumar, Council General to India. “When you bring your children and grandchildren here ... you will talk something about [Mahatma Gandhi]. This message of peace will travel from the senior citizens to the junior citizens to the junior-most citizens, and that is what we require, the message of peace to be embedded in the smallest people, so that the world of tomorrow that we are going to live in will be a world of peace.”
Indeed, on hand for the groundbreaking were members of representatives from nine different religions, each offering a brief prayer or blessing for the success of the project. The interfaith gathering was an extension of Gandhi’s teachings and was representative of his message for peace and understanding between all people and religions of the world.
Also integral to the project’s success was the sacred Hindu ceremony, Bhoomi Pujan. Literally, Bhoomi Pujan means ground breaking, but there is a deeper meaning as well. “It means worship of our Mother Earth, asking her for use of her general resources. We seek permission from her before we use one of those parts here for the erection of Mahatma Gandhi’s statue,” Satish Chander, the master of ceremonies said.
The process of creating this lasting tribute to Mahatma Gandhi began in January of 2002 when members of Skokie’s Indian-American community decided to organize and form the Gandhi Memorial Trust Fund. It is their belief that the statue will help to inspire people to resolve their disputes and differences through non-violent and peaceful means, according to the fund’s president, Omprakash Kamaria.
Mel Septon, a long-time resident of Skokie and a member of the Jewish faith, was the first contributor to the Gandhi Memorial Fund back in 2003. “I’ve always loved living in Skokie, but I think I’m prouder today than I’ve ever been, if that’s possible,” Septon said. “To look at all of the different ethnicities and religions, all together here for one cause, this is the way it’s supposed to be.” — Erin Meyer
CTA Partners with I-Go
THE CHICAGO Transit Authority has agreed to partner with I-Go, Chicago’s only not-for-profit car-sharing program, and provide I-Go spaces at CTA stations throughout the city. So far the only station in the program is in the Wicker Park neighborhood where I-Go car users will be able to pick up cars at the CTA’s Blue Line stop at Damen and North Avenues. But there are plans to add more CTA parking lots to the joint program.
Partnering with the CTA also helps reduce I-Go’s parking costs, said Sharon Feigon, CEO of I-Go.
I-Go recently added four cars to its fleet, including two Honda Civic hybrids, bringing its total to 14 cars at 10 locations. It plans to add six more vehicles before 2004 is over.
Unlike rental cars, I-Go members only use the cars for single trips or a number of hours. They pay a $75 one-time fee to be able to use the cars at a rate of $6 an hour and 50 cents per mile. Between the hours of 11 p.m. and 7 a.m. users are just charged for mileage.
Since the program’s inception in March, 2002, 525 people have signed up. I-Go began with two cars parked in an Edgewater lot, said Feigon.
Car sharing reduces congestion and pollution, and helps people save money, according to Feigon. She says that for every shared car on the road, between six to 10 independently owned cars have been eliminated. In addition, 45 percent of members have postponed buying a car or have given up their own car in favor of sharing.
“If you participate in car sharing, you only use it for times you need it,” said Feigon. “When you own a car, you use it even when you don’t really need it.”
For more information visit their website at www.igocars.org. — Moira Bartel
Campaign Finance Laws vs Free Speech
LOCAL INDEPENDENT video producer Howie Samuelsohn has vowed to appeal to the state appellate court a decision by the Illinois Board of Elections that found he violated campaign finance laws. The board said that a documentary that Samuelsohn produced amounted to an in-kind campaign contribution to Highland Park City Councilman Steve Mandel.
So far Samuelsohn has appeared at two hearings about the documentary that he said cost him only $100 to produce about the mayoral race in the North Shore community. His supporters say the case has come to illustrate how new interpretations of state campaign disclosure laws designed to discourage wealthy interests from being able to influence elections can be used to stifle independent journalism and threaten free speech.
At issue is the documentary Samuelsohn produced about the 2003 mayoral race between pro-environment candidate Mandel and fellow councilman Michael Belsky. Belsky went on to win the race.
On Aug. 27 the board ruled that Samuelsohn’s refusal to report the video as a campaign contribution is a violation of campaign finance laws.
Samuelsohn, who has been making documentaries since 1970, said his free distribution of the tapes in his community was an exercise of his First Amendment rights and he was not obligated to report it to the election board.
But, in a unanimous vote, the seven members present at the elections board meeting found Samuelsohn guilty of violating campaign finance laws and again ordered him to report the cost of the video production and distribution as an in-kind contribution to Mandel.
“The board is in no way saying he can’t distribute the tapes,” said Colleen Burke, general council for the state board of elections. “The board encourages this type of activity. All they’re saying is: If you do that, we have a right to know.”
If he refuses to comply, Samuelsohn could face a fine of up to $5,000 and/or six months in jail.
“It’s totally absurd,” said Samuelsohn’s attorney, Rick Halprin. “He did it as a public service and that’s what is protected. It never loses its character.”
Samuelsohn said he is fighting the case based on free speech principles.
“They can lock me up if they have to, but I’m not paying a penny for my free speech,” Samuelsohn said. — Caroline Casper
Toxic Makeover
WHAT IF the same chemical that makes your favorite fragrance linger and your signature nail color chip-resistant could also make you sick?
Phthalates make the vinyl in your kitchen floor flexible, time-release coatings possible and, according to the Environmental Protection Agency and the state of California, are listed among chemicals known for their carcinogenic and reproductive toxicity. So, why are these dangerous chemicals being used in cosmetics and personal care products? To date, the cosmetic industry does not have a formal regulatory group and is not required to conduct pre-market safety testing, leaving consumers in the dark about what goes into their favorite shampoo or lipstick.
The National Environmental Trust (NET), a founding member of the ‘Because We’re Worth It!’ campaign, recently tested several beauty products including Revlon Skinlights Face Illuminator, Moon Drops Lipstick by Revlon, Lipfinity Paint by Max Factor, Pantene Pro-V Shampoo and Conditioner, Lancome Renergie Lift Makeup and L’Oreal Preference Hair Color Conditioner. All were found to contain phthalates, which are linked to an increase in a woman’s risk of breast cancer. They also are known to cause a host of birth defects and make women susceptible to reproductive impairments. What is more alarming is that the toxic chemicals are not included on the product labels.
Challenged by NET’s discoveries, the California Senate Health and Human Service Committee passed AB 2012 by a 7-3 vote. This bill requires disclosure of all chemicals in cosmetic products that cause cancer or reproductive harm and gives California consumers the power to make more informed choices about the products they use. The bill, authored by Monterey Park Assemblywoman Judy Chu (D), would ban the use of phthalates in all personal care products made or sold in the state by 2006.
Before you participate in your next cosmetic sponsored walk to raise money for women’s cancer — or even buy a lipstick — express your right to purchase safe and healthy products. Visit www.thinkbeforeyoupink.org for company contact information. Contact Estée Lauder, Revlon and Avon and ask them to stop using toxic chemicals linked to cancer and birth defects in their products. For more information, log on to www.safecosmetics.org. To find a comprehensive assessment of the ingredients in your personal care products, visit Environmental Working Group at www.ewg.org. — Elizabeth Ralser
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