Inform Yourself: Documentary Series features Gasland (2010) & Food, Inc. (2008)

Dear Viewers,

The High Priority Party Platform serves to inform you about the harsh realities that take place right before your eyes. Please do not be afraid to act. Once we are educated about certain issues then our fear of it passes, and our ability to launch a successful offensive/defensive becomes possible and real. Inform Yourself : Documentary Series is back with a major push for issue that force viewers to react, bring awareness and cause for action. First up, Gasland (2010) directed by Josh Fox. This film is informs viewers about the serious dangers posed by "fracking," and the costs/consequences being forced onto average Americans and American Taxpayers.

Our second film is Food, Inc. (2008) directed by Robert Kenner. This film provides a discourse for discussion on food in the US. The High Priority Party will consider both films as a basis for forming an informed platform on the issue of energy and Food Consumption. Both films are featured on Netflix, and the Party asks that viewers obtain a subscription to this website to minimize the costs ($8 per month) related to this Documentary Series program. All our featured documentaries are found on Netflixs. So, this educational discourse should not be an expensive endeavor, please do not make it one, unless you can afford it. And as always, stay informed...
-Cowan Amaye-Obu

Farming for Freedom

One important platform for the High Priority Party is the teaching of farming techniques and the adoption of empty lots for farming of fruits and vegetables. The food produced would be used to feed the hungry and the homeless. This type of program would encourage the learning of farming methods in the children and adult citizens, creating a connection with the land. It would also help alleviate hunger, as this is a anti-hunger program. Furthermore, the knowledge learned from this program would have a boundless and liberating effect on the community. Thus, the High Priority Party will stand for Anti-Hunger. Thank you. 

Remembering How Bad Gov. Rick Scott is For Florida

            Just in case if you forgot how bad Rick Scott has been for the State of Florida. Let me remind you of the facts (feel free to use these!):

During Rick Scott's first term, he:

1. Ended Teacher Tenure

2. Rejected Federal Funding for High Speed Rail (originally signed by Charlie Christ in conjunction with the Obama Administration)

3. Required applicants for welfare to undergo drug screening.

4. Required women seeking abortions to have ultrasound.

5. Signed into law a bill allowing for voter suppression and requiring photo ID to vote, as well as, purging eligible voters from voting lists (which unfairly targeted minorities in the 2012 Presidential Election).

6. Restricted early voting

7. Reneged on voter passed amendments banning gerrymandering in Florida.

8. Rejected Federal Funding for Healthcare in Florida, instantly driving the cost up for eligible Floridians.

9. Let's not mention his stance on the Stand Your Ground Law...

Please don't forget how much division this "overner" has promoted in this state. His record is already public record, not to be brushed under the rug or forgotten amid catchy "Let's Get To Work," commercials, or his recent attempts to solicit the Latino vote. Florida needs a leader, and remember, Mega-millionaire 'Overnor' Rick Scott, isn't it!

-Cowan Amaye-Obu

Sources

Rick Scott Wikipedia

The Richest

MSNBC

Florida Governor

Lets Get To Work

Net Neutrality Petition

An important golden rule for internet use has been net neutrality, the treatment of all data on the internet equally. This treatment is termed 'open internet." Ultimately, the opposite of this golden rule is the ability to charge differentially, based on the user, website, and content. The ability to discriminate which users are entitled to special internet services, like faster speed and broader access to internet customers, is termed, "closed internet."

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is considering the "closed internet" model. With this new position on internet use and function, companies will have "paid prioritization," in reaching potential customers.

According to Time Magazine writer Sam Gustin, the internet has become a "new public utility," and access to and from it should remain uniform. As a High Priority Party Member, I believe the open internet platform is essential to future internet use and serves as protection from the Corporate Behemoths and their technology workers. Join me in signing this petition, with Senator Al Franken to keep our internet open to the public and not bought off by the Corporations.

Click Here to sign the petition

Other information and our sources on the subject...
Net Neutrality
Time Magazine Writer Sam Gustin
What is Net Neutrality by ACLU
Open Internet by FCC
LA Times Article
Forbes Article for Closed Internet

The Big Fix: Florida's Restaurant Industry

This article is pending review due to sensitive information.

The Putnam County Mess

"The state is the community of all people living in that state. We are the state. This applies at least to a democracy. In order to organize a functioning society, the state needs public goods. Schools, universities, public transport, utilities etc. In this context, it is interesting to see what is going on with privatization. Privatization originates from the latin word, "privare," which means "to deprive." In the process of privatization, public goods are bought by private investors. Sometimes they even receive them as a present. This is nothing else than depriving society of public goods. You can sum it up as follows: Society is deprived of a certain good, that the private investor is interested in for reasons of profit. -Herman Scheer German Bundestag"

For months, Putnam County residents have been alarmed about the attempt to privatize the Landfill Operations of the Putnam County Sanitation Department. The deal will sale off 340 acres to a private Waste Management Company, who in turn would pay a leasing fee to the County for usage. This issue was of little importance to my Putnam County family, until we discovered the Palatka Wastewater and Treatment Plant was dumping leachate water directly into sewers in our neighborhood. The need for answers or simple information became preeminent.

The question of why County Landfill Workers, were dumping this leachate water in manholes in North Palatka was only silenced when County Officials stated it was "perfectly legal."The interests of Putnam County Commissioners in the safety of their citizens and the environment seemed to be taking a backseat to the larger issue, which exposed the bids for privatization of public Putnam County Landfills.

Putnam County Commissioners were accepting bids for the privatization of their public landfills to specifically avoid a mandate by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection to remediate the County landfills which have been contaminating local groundwater sources. Putnam County Officials are also seeking to avoid US EPA sanctions on their landfill methane gas emissions. The current County landfills do not satisfy US EPA requirements and are without the Leachate collection system and liners like most modern Landfill systems.

To remediate the cost of modernizing the County Landfills, County Administrators are accepting bids to sell 340 of the County's 1,200 acre landfill. Which, ultimately is a gamble to avoid EPA penalties and to push the costs of updating the system to a third party. The costs to update the landfill is estimated by the County to be over $120 million dollars.

Now, what third party, would agree to such a precarious situation, given the price tag and pressure from the Federal government? The bid was between two private companies: Republic Services, and Advanced Disposal Services. Currently, Republic Services is projected to win the contract bid. According to Palatka Daily News, Putnam County will receive:
 1. $25 million in purchasing and permitting fee within the next 12 years.
2. $2.4 million in host fees
3. $5.5 million for closure financial assurance fees.

Somehow, through this contract, this will entitle the County to $178 to $204 million to be paid by Republic Services. However, what does Republic Services, a $19 billion dollar company and the third largest waste management company in the US, have to gain? Only time will tell. But questions like, will leachate dumping in my mother's neighborhood stop or why should the county sell its valuable, taxpayer-provided land to a private, profit-making enterprise, remain?

On, May 6, 2014, at 5pm, Putnam County Commissioners at the County Commission Chambers on Crill Avenue in Palatka, will publicly accept Republic Services. Putnam County residents will once again have another reason to hold their noses while traveling through town!

-by Cowan Amaye-Obu "The Putnam County Mess."

Sources

1. Palatka Daliy News 

http://palatkadailynews.com/view/full_story/24990949/article-Landfill-panel-signs-off-on-memo-to-commission?instance=article_results

 http://www.palatkadailynews.com/view/full_story/24652767/article-Landfill-questions-await-answers?instance=article_results

2. Putnam County PPT http://www.putnam-fl.com/bocc/images/stories/pdfs/landfill_privatization_powerpoint_updated.pdf

3. http://www.dontdumponputnam.com

4. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Landfills_in_the_United_States

5. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Republic_Services

6. http://www.republicservices.com/corporate/home.aspx

7. http://www.advanceddisposal.com/about-advanced-disposal.aspx

Inform Yourself: Documentary Series- Environmental

Inform Yourself: Documentary Series
           This week's theme is our environment. The High Priority Party will form our Environmental Policy based on information and not political stances. The issue of the best energy sources (coal, oil, solar, wind, hydro, or nuclear.), global warming/climate change, pollution, conservation, and the most important, water is gathering passionate charges for immediate action. This year alone has seen multiple oil spills in the Great Lake Regions, the Gulf of Mexico (again), the Mississippi River, the Puget Sound in Washington State, and I am sure I have missed a few. These spills should be the wake up call for everyone for two reasons: if we fail to protect our precious water sources, there will be scarce fresh drinking water sources for the future generations. Second, we need to finally address our dependence on big Coal, and Big Oil... With that said, take out your notebooks and study this week's films. Remember to subscribe to Netflix, as all our feature films will be uploaded onsite. This educational exercise should not be an expensive one!

1. First, Last Call at the Oasis (2011) is a documentary on the world's water crisis. It will help viewers become aware of what is at hand now and in the future in terms of water.

Our second feature, Pandora's Promise (2013), maybe the more important of the two at the moment. Faced with misleading information and propaganda about where we get our energy, Big Oil & Coal, has won both in terms of rewards and contracts. Our environment has suffered because of this and so, it is High Time, to re-evaluate our commitment to oil, coal, and gas as our Climate changes and our waterways are polluted. Much is at stake and nothing less than the truth is needed. Here, the High Party finds historical & current evidence to support Nuclear Power.

On a lighter note, a third movie, which is not a documentary, but a Russian-English film, attempts to shed light on the use of propaganda to sway the public. Watch the film, Branded (2012), and help yourself identify the hidden forces controlling your world.

Thank you for viewing!

-Cowan Amaye-Obu

Say No, to the "No-Zero Grading Policy!"

As a former Orange County Public School (OCPS) teacher, corrupt educational practices consciously reduced my passion and pushed me out of the teaching profession. One major issue, which I found alarmingly destructive was often disguised as productive and  “good for the students,the No-Zero Grading Policy.

Grades not only reflect how well a student is performing, but determine how effective a teacher and to a greater extent, a school is. The No Zero Policy, is a school-wide grading policy where students no longer receive grades lower than 50%. For example, a student who completes 30% of their work, and is due a 30% in the marking period, would be manually given a 50% at report card time. While a student, who receives a 55% or 65%, does not receive any special additional points or waivers of grade performance. In the short term, this policy helps students performing poorly, improve their grades through make up assignments at a drastically faster pace. In the long run, this policy produces a fictitious school-wide reflection of how well a student body is scholastically performing. Eventually, this leads to lower tests scores on Standardize tests and even a substandard curriculum which is used to constantly adjust to the abilities of the students.

In Orange County Public Schools, the biggest racket is the grading policy. Schools who institute the No Zero Policy are routinely graded and compared to schools who do not institute the No Zero Policy. Thus, giving an fictitious air of superiority to schools with A grades, and consequences to schools with D or F grades, most likely not instituting the No Zero Grading Policy. However, studies show, these school do not perform any better on State Standardized Tests. The difference is the willingness of school officials to cave into pressure from State and District Officials, who pressure the Principals, who in turn force teachers to turn in their grades with nothing less than a 50% or be reprimanded.

As a Senior Intern in 2008, I sat in a Teacher faculty meeting where the Principal handed down this new policy. And I never imagined that the “No Zero Policy” would spread from that middle school cafeteria to each of the five different schools that I taught. The policy remains fraudulent, an enabler of poor performance in students, and the primary reason, meeting education standards will continue to dwindle in the state of Florida.

Say No, to the “No-Zero Policy.”

Written by Mr. Cowan Amaye-Obu former Howard Middle School Teacher, OCPS Charter School Teacher

http://nepc.colorado.edu/files/TTR-MET-Rothstein.pdf

The High Priority Party: Looking For City Chapter Leaders & Members in Florida

"Are you in support of The High Priority Party themes?"

It is the full intention of The High Priority Party to assemble and elect qualified persons to determine public issues under the democratic processes of the United States (103.095). In addition to The High Party themes, we intend to file with the Department of Elections, local chapters to administer High Party meetings, compose High Party constitutions, and elect/remove Executives, Officers, and Members. Each Member must be registered to vote (to be amended by request of persons with privilege revoked).

It is the full intention of The High Priority Party to produce an elector registered to vote in the political party, in which he or she has so designated, and has a fundamental right to fully and meaningfully participate in the business and affairs of The High Party, without any monetary encumbrance.
The constitution, bylaws, rules, regulations, and other documents must reflect this fundamental right and provide for and contain reasonable provisions that prescribe to membership, parliamentary or townhouse practices, notification of meetings, election of officers (President, Vice-President, Treasurer, Secretary, Public Relations Fellow, and Guard), remove its officers, make High Party Nominations when required by law, conduct campaigns for party nominees, raise and expend Party Funds, select delegates to its state or national convention, and if applicable select presidential electors (103.095).

It is the full intention of The High Priority Party to fully organize the people. Leave your name and contact information, if you are interested in joining, funding, or supporting the themes of the High Party. For emails send to TheHighPriorityParty@gmail.com. Thank you!

-Mr. Cowan F. Amaye-Obu
"The struggle of the people today is real. Let us the people begin to address and solve our issues."

Inform Yourself: Documentaries Series

Knowledge is power. The High Priority Party is not a left or right leaning political association. The High Party bases it issues, views, and political stances based on information. Anyone who makes a decision to support or argue against a viewpoint, based on the source of its political party is foolish, and blindly indoctrinated to follow, whether a point is right or wrong. We shall not be marching robots, but alive living- breathing, bleeding, Stewarts of our communities. We will struggle to pull our fellow marching robot patriotic Americans from throwing our national experiment off the edge of the cliff. If we do not inform ourselves, if we do not track the public actions of our elected officials, if we continue to lie to ourselves about the heavy Corporate pressures on our democratic system, this great American experiment will cease to exist.

Inform Yourself will be our blog documentary series, where we will present informative films about issues in our communities. Viewers can use a number of viewer choices including Netflix, itunes, or Amazon Prime. We recommend a monthly subscription to Netflix, as most of our documentaries are featured on Netflix to reduce costs. Remember not to be forced into purchasing these films. Some will be available at local libraries and so, this educational exercise should not be an expensive one. This week's choices are Inequality for All (2013) and The Big Fix (2012).

Inequality for All (2013)
A documentary that follows former U.S. Labor Secretary Robert Reich as he looks to raise awareness of the country's widening economic gap.

The Big Fix (2012)
A documentary that examines the April 2010 oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico following the sinking of the Deepwater Horizon oil rig.


Feel free to leave your comments about each of the films. Express what you liked or did not liked. No work of art is without flaw. And watch with as many people as possible. Thank you.

"The struggle is real."
-Cowan F. Amaye-Obu

Al Franken's Petition Against Citizens United

Citizen United vs. Federal Election Commission (2010) is a U.S. Constitutional law case, in which the US Supreme Court ruled that the First Amendment, prohibited the government from restricting political contributions by corporations, associations and Labor Unions.

Citizens United is a conservative non-profit organization, headed by David Bossie. The group has 21 feature film documentaries with strong conservative propaganda, used to influence and endorse conservative ideas. The Citizens United documentary on Hillary Clinton (Hillary: The Movie), led to the Supreme Court case for violation of the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002. The decision to overturn provisions in the Campaign Reform Act, will allow corporations the ability to provide independent contributions.

The following sites will help viewers learn more about this issue:

Citizens United vs. Federal Election Commission
Citizens United
Huffington Post Various Articles

Please visit US Senator Al Franken of Minnesota and sign his petition to overturn or revisit this
awful decision made by the Supreme Court.

"The struggle is real..."
-Cowan Amaye-Obu


 

April 2 Rally Postponed

Please be informed, the rally originally planned for the afternoon of April 2nd, has been
postponed. A request from the Orange County permit is being processed and organizers will revisit
the call for protest after its completion. Thank you for all your support and again stay aware of
the high priorities.

Mr. Cowan Amaye-Obu

Protest Wednesdays & Boycott Saturdays

When: Wednesday, April 2, 2014 at 12:00pm

Come protest with me in Orlando, FL against the racial bigotry and anti-poverty policies of Orange County Govt & Businesses. Come protest against hunger & homelessness, and demand businesses/apartment complexes/neighborhood associations recycle their waste. Come protest against educational corruption in grading and say No, to the No-Zero Grading Policy. Come March for Florida's High Speed Rail. Come march for our right to vote without intimidation. Come demand companies doing business in this state, disclose when their products cause us harm. Come demand those companies testing human vaccines and drug trials in the most vulnerable neighborhoods to leave the state. Come march for yourself and your future Florida!

-Cowan F. Amaye-Obu
"The struggle is real over here!"

Our Party Purpose

                                                       High Priorities

1. Two Americas: Major Corporations and local businesses have installed policies that are both racist and anti-poor. These policies are thriving in Orlando and are leading to the increasingly marginalization of minorities (black & Latino) and the poor. For example, Credit Based capitalism leads to two Americas, the rich America and the poor America.

Credit Based Capitalism can keep you from creating a bank account, buying a car, prevents individuals from having access to rental facilities or the ability to finance basic living amenities, including apartments, transportation, and thereby, directly influences living standards. The effect of Credit based capitalism can force an individual into a social caste system, where having bad credit prevents any possible mobility and opens individuals to predatory business practices such as, payday loans or excessive fees, which again can send an individual into a spiraling cycle of more bad choices leading to worst credit and a permanent caste stamp. This system effectively is creating slaves to the system.

2. Failure of Corporate Disclosure: In the State of California, businesses are required to inform consumers when their products knowingly cause harm. Not in Florida. If people could see the warning sign on the front door of each McDonalds restaurant, it would affect their choice eating habits. Since it is not required by the Florida State Law, businesses are allowed to perpetrate illustrious frauds and escape persecution from doing harm to people in this state. The time for Corporate disclosure is now!

3. There are businesses in this state (Covalence & Digi Labatories) conducting drug human trials on the most vulnerable populations in the state. Covalence Labs, known for their part in bringing the Ebola Virus into the US, as depicted in the movie, Outbreak (1995), opens up their office in the middle of a low income neighborhood. Then, they solicit human candidates with $5000 experiments. Like dangling gold in front of a poor man, but having the man sign his life away before you give it to him. Get these vultures out of Florida!

4. Recycling has gone backwards in this state. Many neighborhoods, apartment complexes, and housing developments do not recycle. This is a State money maker! When you don’t recycle in the State of New York, you pay a fine. The landfills are full or privatizing, when trash is a cash cow. Demand from our local officials, a recyclable city.

5. Homelessness in Orlando, the City Beautiful, is a crime. It is a crime to be homeless. Yet in some of the city schools, over 10% of the students are without a home. We have put them in temporary housing in motels all over the city and forgotten them. A motel is no place to raise a child. That is a crime! The city granting millions of dollars in subsidies to professional sports organizations, but denying basic human rights to the most vulnerable citizens of the city, is a crime. Tell the county Commissioners not to forget our homeless!

6. Hunger in our community is growing. Programs like Blessings in a Backpack which send school kids home on Friday with a backpack full of food, is a sign. The people of this community are suffering from hunger. Evans HS had to set up snack centers in designated areas at the school, to prevent students from fainting from hunger. If the children are hungry, the adults are equally and hungry and stressed! 1 in 6 people in the US is hungry. When you have nurses, Accountants, and working professionals as well as the working poor, working but still not being able to provide food, you see how the American pie is being sliced, and who is getting the big cut and who is left with the scrapes. It is time our local officials get out of bed with Corporate America and come attend to the needs of the people who elected them.

7. High Speed Rail, will provide good paying jobs and access to parts of Florida, many Central Floridians have never dreamed. Get the Airline lobbyist out of our politics and build our damn high speed rail! Connect our city, let Central Florida thrive, not starve. High Speed Rail Today!

8. Economic boycotting is our weapon and we shall use it. Until our demands are heard, families should start staying home. Don’t go to the big grocer, Walmart, or the Hollywood Movies. Let Victoria stay secret, and let the bars & clubs close early. Instead, visit the small family stores for your needs. Boycott Saturdays in Central Florida will help our voices be heard. Boycott Saturdays!

9. Say No, To “No-Zero Grading Policies,” in OCPS. Schools using the No Zero Policy are unfairly graded and compared to schools not using the No Zero Policy. This policy also allows students to work less harder and produces an atmosphere of entitlement to good grades. Studies show, school using this policy do not perform any better on State Standardized test, which would explain the dismal scores of students from all OCPS schools on the FCAT. Say no, to “No-Zero Grading Policy.” And show our students there is no substitute for hard work!