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Do Democrats Really Care about Women’s Rights?

The past few days have been filled with images of Nancy Pelosi baying for the blood of the current President as has social media and the news. Celebrities have been lining up to ‘get rid ‘of this ‘dreadful’ man. So-called women’s rights campaigner Meghan Markle has taken a back step to protect her sensitive soul. Kamala Harris is busy preparing to ascend her throne. NOT one of them put their narcissism and agenda aside to speak out for LISA MONTGOMERY. Not one of them put their pride aside to plead for her life. Last night as the wolves circled their prey, this poor woman who has abused her whole life by men was dragged to a male prison and executed in the middle of a Pandemic. Every woman who did not speak out should hang their head in shame. I followed the events on social media signing petitions, tweeting and writing letters. Scarlett Johannson’s narrative of Lisa’s life was brutal and poignant. I defy one woman who heard it not to be moved. It is a shame on America that no one else of consequence raised their voice and pleaded personally with Donald Trump. Quite Frankly, in the interest of healing the nation, they should have put aside their ranting and focussed on commuting Lisa’s sentence. How can the Democrat women say they are a party who cares about women’s right when they let her die?
Shame on them

The following is a statement released by Lisa Montgomery’s attorney late last night. The craven bloodlust of a failed administration was on full display tonight. Everyone who participated in the execution of Lisa Montgomery should feel shame. No one disagrees that Mrs. Montgomery was the victim of unspeakable torture and sex trafficking. No one can credibly dispute Mrs. Montgomery’s longstanding debilitating mental disease – diagnosed and treated for the first time by the Bureau of Prisons’ own doctors. Our Constitution forbids the execution of a person who is unable to rationally understand her execution. The current administration knows this. And they killed her anyway. Violating the Constitution, federal law, its own regulations, and longstanding norms along the way. The government stopped at nothing in its zeal to kill this damaged and delusional woman. After we, her attorneys, contracted COVID-19 during our travels to visit her after her execution was scheduled, the government fought tooth and nail against any delay to allow us to recover so we could represent her effectively. Then they violated the law in multiple ways in rescheduling her execution for the final days of the Trump Administration. As courts agreed Lisa’s case presented important legal issues warranting serious consideration – including whether she was competent to execute – the government hammered onward with appeals. By insisting on an execution during a pandemic, this administration demonstrated its reckless disregard for human life of innocent citizens. Executions are super-spreader events. The government knows this. Yet, they put the lives of every single person who must participate in these “events” as well as every one of those persons’ friends, families, neighbors, co-workers, and who knows how many other people. Because this administration was so afraid that the next one might choose Life over Death, they put the lives and health of US citizens in grave danger. In the midst of all this litigation, Lisa’s request for clemency remained before President Trump. It was supported by thousands of organizations and individuals – faith leaders, anti-violence advocates, conservative leaders, international organizations, and many more. But the President did nothing. He had not even the decency to formally deny – or even acknowledge – Lisa’s clemency application, though it is hard to imagine a case more deserving of executive intervention than this one. Lisa Montgomery’s execution was far from justice. She should never have faced a death sentence in the first place, as no other woman has faced execution for a similar crime. And Lisa was much more than the tragic crime she committed, a crime for which she felt deep remorse before she lost all touch with reality in the days before her execution. Lisa was also much more than the horrors inflicted upon her, the sexual violence and abuse she endured at the hands of those who were supposed to love, nurture, and protect her. Lisa was a loving mother, grandmother, and sister who adored her family. She was a devout Christian who loved Christmas and created beautiful angels for those lucky enough to receive her gifts. Lisa often became trapped in the prison of her mind, losing touch with reality for periods of time. But when not gripped by psychosis, she was a gentle and caring person whom I was honored to know and to represent. Lisa Nouri, Amy Harwell and I represented Mrs. Montgomery for eight years. We loved her very much and she loved us. She honored us with her truth and trusted us to share it in a way that not only told her story, but that could help other women. Even though President Trump could not be the hero we asked him to be, we are here to say to every woman and girl who has been the victim of violence and degradation: You matter. Your pain matters. You are more than a victim. You are a survivor. Do not let anyone humiliate or shame you. You deserve to be loved. In the past week, we have seen just how far President Trump and his administration will go in their disdain for justice and the rule of law. This failed government adds itself to the long list of people and institutions who failed Lisa. We should recognize Lisa Montgomery’s execution for what it was: the vicious, unlawful, and unnecessary exercise of authoritarian power. We cannot let this happen again. -Kelley Henry, attorney for Lisa Montgomery-January 13,

New Fast Food Chain in China is Positive News

Positive News from China in Animal Welfare.

When fast-food chains add plant-based ingredients to their menus, they’re typically sold as an alternative: Burger King didn’t stop selling Whoppers when it launched the Impossible Whopper. But now if you visit Chinese chain Dicos and order a breakfast sandwich, it automatically comes with a plant-based egg.

The restaurant chain, which has about 500 locations across the country, is the first major fast food company to swap plant-based ingredients in place of the animal version on multiple items on its menu, including three different breakfast burgers, three bagel sandwiches, and a “Western” breakfast plate. “It’s pretty rare to see outright replacement of an item on a menu, let alone doing it across seven different menu items simultaneously,” says Zak Weston, foodservice and supply chain manager at the Good Food Institute, a nonprofit focused on plant-based food. “As well as doing it across 500 locations.”

Every step towards eating less meat and no meat is a step closer to the end of the dog meat trade forever.

See Full Article
https://www.fastcompany.com/90591619/this-chinese-fast-food-chain-is-swapping-almost-all-its-eggs-for-plant-based-alternatives

Veterinarians agree ‘wet’ markets must close

For the third time in two decades that strains of Coronavirus have spilt over into humans. Veterinary research scientists advocate working closely with policymakers and sharing knowledge and experience. They agree that to promote sustainable measures to manage the environment and animal welfare in line with the One Health UN Global Goals there has to be a significant change. They recognise that live slaughter of animals in markets is particularly unsanitary and that human consumption of wildlife and endangered species must end. China recently banned eating wildlife and formally recognised dogs and cats as pets, not food but more needs to be done throughout Asia. In Vietnam and Indonesia, the practice of eating dogs and cats and exotic wildlife is still highly prevalent. Traders have been promoting ‘ exotic’ meats as a cure to Coronavirus.

Full Research Findings ( Link)

Coronavirus: China Relaxes Social Distancing

For the first time since the outbreak began, in China there have been no new confirmed cases caused by local transmission reported for five consecutive days up to 23 March 2020. This is an indication that the social distancing measures enacted in China have led to control of COVID-19 in the country. At the peak of the outbreak in China (early February), there were between 2,000 and 4,000 new confirmed cases per day.

Dr Kylie Ainslie, co-author of the report from the MRC GIDA and J-IDEA at Imperial College London, explained: “Our report shows initial evidence that, after successful containment of COVID-19 with strict social distancing measures, those strict measures may be relaxed, and economic activities resumed without the recurrence of local transmission.”

Full Article

 

Coronavirus: China Bans Eating Wildlife — NoToDogMeat Blog

For years our charity has lobbied about the health risks associated with the way Asia tortures and eats animals indiscriminately. Now finally, as a result of coronavirus China has fast-tracked a decision to prohibit the consumption of wildlife and this law comes into effect immediately China’s wildlife trade and consumption industry is a multibillion-dollar industry […]

via Coronavirus: China Bans Eating Wildlife — NoToDogMeat Blog

New Laws mean Music Publishers need to “clean up” MetaData to get paid faster

Now that the U.S. Copyright Office has designated the NMPA, NSAI, and SONA-backed Mechanical Licensing Collective (MLC) to begin implementation of the Music Modernization Act (MMA), the time has come for the music publishing industry to get its act together regarding data.

https://eu.tennessean.com/story/opinion/2019/10/07/how-music-publishers-can-improve-their-data-hygiene/3896091002/