That was the week that was! Somehow the more things are changing, the more they are staying the same…
Weren’t we supposed to have a budget in October?….then November…then December…a line in the sand, January. Then a weekend shutdown and a 6-year deal for CHIPS, but no provision for community health centers where 40% of those kids are served. Ouch! Nothing for the Dreamers. Who is negotiating here? The 45th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, the women’s marches and rallies on Saturday and July 2017. TONI VAN PELT, national president of NOW, will talk with us. She is also president of the NOW Foundation and chair of the NOW Political Action Committee. Van Pelt oversees NOW’s multi-issue agenda, which includes: achieving constitutional equality for women, advancing reproductive rights and justice, promoting racial justice, stopping violence against women, winning civil and human rights for the LGBTQIA+ community, and ensuring economic justice. She was a speaker at the Women ‘s March in Washington, DC and will be a keynote speaker at the upcoming Florida Health Care Summit February 16th and 17th in West Palm Beach (Arlene is on the planning committee for the Summit.)
We simply cannot allow the suppression of change particularly for women. Remember – the more things change, the more they seem to stay the same. Our world is no longer sustainbly viable. Back to the women’s marches and rallies – one of the main themes was power to the polls. Voter suppression was a big factor in the 2016 election. What are we going to do locally to change things? LISA PERRY, Women’s March Florida – St. Pete and Lakeisha Black, Women’s March Florida – Tampa/Hillsborough chapter will join us to bring us up to date on last weekend’s events as well as their plans and hopes.
There will be an important day in Tallahassee next Wednesday from 10 AM to 4 PM, “Reclaiming Florida’s Future for All.” Several organizations including the Physicians for Social Responsibility, the Sierra Club and Rethinking Energy Florida among others will be engaged with representatives. It will include such issues as supporting renewable energy, banning fracking, protecting Florida waters, Florida Forever funding and climate action. There will be training sessions the evening before, on the bus rides up and the morning of these sessions – a wonderful opportunity for citizen’s involvement. Florida’s future needs you! DR. LYNN RINGENBERG, Emeritus Professor of Pediatrics at the University of South Florida in Tampa and past president of national Physicians for Social Responsibility will join us on the show. Dr. Ringenberg’s interests and passions lie in medical education and underserved healthcare. She co-founded Physician’s for Social Responsibility (PSR) Tampa Bay with Dr. Don Mellman in 2008.
We are writing our own herstory. Let’s make it a good one. Time’s Up in more ways than one! Tune into From a Woman’s POV Thursday at 10 am.
Again, thanks for your support!
Mary and Arlene
Be the change you want to see
