Labour pledges to abolish prescription charges in England
The Canary | thecanary.co | 2019-09-22
Prescription charges will be abolished in England if Labour enter government, the party has announced.Shadow health secretary Jonathan Ashworth used a speech at the party's conference to set out the policy which would bring England in line with the rest of the UK.Prescriptions are currently free for patients living in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, but cost £9 per item for those in England who do not qualify for an exemption.The party said the fees can be a burden for people with long-term conditions such as asthma and chronic kidney disease who can spend up to £104 a year on medication &#150…
thecanary.co/uk/news/2019/09/22/labour-pledges-to-abolish-prescription-charges-in-england/

With 5 billion set to miss out on health care, UN holds landmark summit to boost coverage
United Nations | un.org | 2019-09-22
Some five billion people risk missing out on health care in 2030, unless countries close glaring gaps in health coverage, a new report revealed on Sunday, as the UN prepares to host a landmark summit to speed up progress on universal health care.
news.un.org/feed/view/en/story/2019/09/1…

GM Workers Strike for Fair Pay as Executives and Investors Rake in Billions
Staff | truthout.org | 2019-09-22
| On Monday, September 16, nearly 50,000 General Motors workers across the United States went on strike, picketing for better wages, affordable healthcare, profit sharing, job security, and a pathway to permanent jobs for temporary workers. | Over the past 10 years, GM has gone from bankruptcy to record profits, paying out billions of dollars i…
truthout.org/articles/gm-workers-strike-…

A New Generation of Activists Put Their Bodies on the Line to Defend California's Forests
Leighton Akio Woodhouse | theintercept.com | 2019-09-21
The deforestation of the Amazon is recognized around the world as a catastrophe for global climate change. Far less recognized is the threat of deforestation of temperate rainforests, such as the enormous coastal forest that stretches from Northern California to Alaska. By some estimates, temperate rainforests sequester from 2 to 7 times as much carbon per acre as tropical rainforests like the Amazon. Keeping these ecosystems healthy and intact is an imperative part of avoiding a future of cataclysmic global warming. | In Humboldt County, California, activists have been fighting for decades to preserve the forest…
theintercept.com/2019/09/21/environmenta…

Fighting for Healthcare in America's Forgotten Towns
Savannah Kinsey | commondreams.org | 2019-09-21
I'm from Johnstown, a town of about 20,000 people in Western Pennsylvania. We used to be a booming steel mill town. But once the mills closed, Johnstown went downhill.
commondreams.org/views/2019/09/21/fighti…

Lend a hand: Here's a list of General Motors picket lines
Labor Notes Staff | nationofchange.org | 2019-09-21
This week 49,000 auto workers are walking the picket lines at General Motors factories across the U.S. in the biggest private sector strike in more than a decade. And you can help! | Despite flush profits, the company wants workers to pay more for health care, accept a raise lower than inflation, and continue its system of unequal tiers of workers. But GM didn't count on the solidarity of the rank and file. Strikers are making a stand for equality for temps and second-tier workers. | "We're not accepting concessions from a company posting billions of dollars of profit," said Shawn Edwards, a worker at the Detr…
nationofchange.org/2019/09/21/lend-a-han…

25 Ways the Canadian Health Care System is Better than Obamacare for the 2020 Elections
Ralph Nader | counterpunch.org | 2019-09-20
Dear America: Costly complexity is baked into Obamacare, and although it has improved access to healthcare for some, tens of millions of Americans still cannot afford basic medical care for their family. No healthcare system is without problems but Canadian-style single-payer — full Medicare for all — is simple, affordable, comprehensive and universal for all basic and…
counterpunch.org/2019/09/20/25-ways-the-…

Bill de Blasio calls off doomed presidential bid that 'nobody wanted' — here's what he 'contributed' to 2020 campaign
rt.com | 2019-09-20
New York's Mayor Bill de Blasio has abandoned hopes for the Oval Office and called it quits on his 2020 presidential campaign, which consistently failed to crack one percent in the polls and was plagued by a torrent of gaffes. | "I feel like I've contributed all I can to this primary election and it's clearly not my time," de Blasio told the hosts of Morning Joe on Friday. "So I'm going to end my presidential campaign." | The Democratic candidate's shelf life had been nearing expiration for some time, having failed to qualify for the third round of presidential debates and showing anemic, rock-bottom performan…
rt.com/usa/469256-deblasio-ends-campaign…

US healthcare workers face rise in workplace violence
wsws.org | 2019-09-20
One in four nurses is assaulted on the job on any given day as the healthcare crisis creates a toxic workplace environment.
www.wsws.org/en/articles/2019/09/20/nurs…

Striking GM workers push for fairness for everyone on the job
Earchiel Johnson, John Wojcik | peoplesworld.org | 2019-09-20
BOLINGBROOK, Ill. — Talks between General Motors Co. and the United Auto Workers continued Friday morning as nearly 50,000 workers struck the auto giant for the fifth consecutive day. The two sides are arguing about job security, health care benefits, seniority, the status of temporary workers and other matters. Terry Dittes, UAW vice president and …
peoplesworld.org/article/striking-gm-wor…

Documentary "Blowout" Follows Climate Cost of Oil Boom from Fracking to Exports
Staff | therealnews.com | 2019-09-20
The new film follows the U.S. oil supply chain, covering health, climate and environmental justice impacts. And it points to the president who was central to creating the current reality: Barack Obama.
therealnews.com/stories/documentary-blow…

With Trump, We're in the Realm of 'The Handmaid's Tale'
Sasha Abramsky | thenation.com | 2019-09-20
With Trump, We're in the Realm of 'The Handmaid's Tale'…
thenation.com/article/health-medicaid-cl…

Roaming Charges: Pompeo and Circumstance
Jeffrey St. Clair | counterpunch.org | 2019-09-20
+ The Saudis want to "fight the Iranians to the last American." — Secretary of Defense Bob Gates, February 2010 + Who needs John Bolton, when you've got Pompeo Maximus declaring the attack on the Abqaiq refineries in Saudi Arabia: "An act of war." + By Pompeo's logic, the death of every Yemeni kid from cholera…
counterpunch.org/2019/09/20/roaming-char…

25 Ways the Canadian Health Care System is Better than Obamacare for the 2020 Elections
Ralph Nader | dissidentvoice.org | 2019-09-19
Dear America: Costly complexity is baked into Obamacare, and although it has improved access to healthcare for some, tens of millions of Americans still cannot afford basic medical care for their family. No healthcare system is without problems but Canadian-style single-payer — full Medicare for all — is simple, affordable, comprehensive and universal for all basic and …
dissidentvoice.org/2019/09/25-ways-the-c…

Despite progress in childbirth safety, one woman or baby dies every 11 seconds
United Nations | un.org | 2019-09-19
Childbirth survival rates are now a "staggering success" compared with the year 2000, but one pregnant woman – or her child – still dies every 11 seconds from largely preventable causes, UN health experts said on Thursday.
news.un.org/feed/view/en/story/2019/09/1…

California Is Ready to Ensure Every Public College Student Has Access to Abortion
aclu.org | 2019-09-19
The state legislature has passed the first bill in the nation ensuring medication abortion is available on UC and CSU campuses. | In a year when we've seen states throughout the South and Midwest move to ban abortion and restrict access to reproductive health, California could soon cement its reputation as a leader in reproductive freedom. This past week, the state legislature passed SB 24 to ensure that medication abortion is available to college students in public universities. | Jessy Rosales, a UC student, stru…
aclu.org/blog/reproductive-freedom/abort…

Purdue Pharma Hired PR Firm That Rebranded BP After Deepwater Horizon Spill
Andrew Perez | theintercept.com | 2019-09-19
Purdue Pharma, the pharmaceutical firm that manufactures OxyContin and allegedly helped fuel widespread addiction to painkillers, has turned to some of the same corporate spin doctors hired by BP after the 2010 Deepwater Horizon disaster. | The relationship was revealed in a legal document disclosed on September 15 when Purdue filed for bankruptcy protection. The filing, designed to settle thousands of lawsuits over its role in the opioid epidemic, revealed creditors seeking payments from the Connecticut-based pharmaceutical giant. | Bankruptcy documents have offered a window into corporate dark money in recent y…
theintercept.com/2019/09/19/purdue-pharm…

In struggle over Safehouse, opioid users' lives at stake
Princess Harmony | workers.org | 2019-09-19
For decades, Philadelphia has been known as a heroin haven, with heroin of such high quality that people moved there for the sole purpose of having access to it. In recent years, the opioid epidemic ravaged the city while, over time, a particular section of the city, Kensington, became known . . . | Continue reading In struggle over Safehouse, opioid users' lives at stake at Workers.org…
workers.org/2019/09/19/in-struggle-over-…

"Beaten Down, Worked Up": Steven Greenhouse on the Past, Present and Future of American Labor
Staff | democracynow.org | 2019-09-18
As UAW workers stand on picket lines across the country, teachers prepare to strike in Chicago, and thousands of healthcare workers with Kaiser Permanente plan to strike in October, we speak with longtime labor reporter Steven Greenhouse, author of the new book "Beaten Down, Worked Up: The Past, Present, and Future of American Labor." Among other issues, Greenhouse discusses how labor and climate activists are teaming up to push for a Green New Deal.
www.democracynow.org/2019/9/18/steven_gr…

UAW Strike Enters Day 3 as 50,000 Workers Demand GM to Share Its Billions in Profits
Staff | democracynow.org | 2019-09-18
As members of the United Auto Workers head into their third day of a nationwide strike, General Motors has cut off health insurance for the nearly 50,000 people on picket lines across the country demanding better working conditions and fair pay. The workers say GM continues to deny employees' demands for better conditions and compensation despite leading the company to record profits following bankruptcy and a federal bailout. It's the first company-wide strike against GM in 12 years. UAW had sought to have GM cover striking workers' health insurance through the end of the month. In New York City, we speak with S…
www.democracynow.org/2019/9/18/uaw_natio…

Tuesday's Daily Brief: Hope for Myanmar, UN News sits down with new Assembly President, youth speak out on climate crisis
United Nations | un.org | 2019-09-17
A recap of Tuesday's top stories: Hope for justice in Myanmar rights violations; First major interview with new Assembly President; Youth activists want a platform in solving climate crisis; Five deaths every minute due to unsafe health care; Number of migrants outpacing world population growth.
news.un.org/feed/view/en/story/2019/09/1…

AmeriCorps Adopts Health Screening Process That's Fair to Candidates with Disabilities
aclu.org | 2019-09-16
Susie was disqualified from AmeriCorps NCCC for seeking therapy. Now they're changing their screening process so everyone can apply to serve. | Susie Balcom was overjoyed when she received a conditional offer to serve as a support team leader in Mississippi with AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC), a national, residential service program for young adults. After graduating from college with a 4.0 GPA and spending two terms in the AmeriCorps state program, Susie was ready, willing, and able to fulfill her dream of serving in the national program. | However, a few weeks later, AmeriCorps NCCC to…
aclu.org/blog/disability-rights/americor…

Medicare for All: Sanders & Warren Defend Plan to Expand Healthcare Coverage to Everyone
Staff | democracynow.org | 2019-09-13
At Thursday's debate, Senators Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren defended their Medicare for All plan. They faced criticism from several rivals, including Senator Amy Klobuchar, who described it as a "bad idea," and South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg, who claimed the bill shows Sanders and Warren do not "trust the American people."
www.democracynow.org/2019/9/13/democrati…

Bernie Sanders on Democratic Socialism: We Want to Create an Economy That Works for All of Us
Staff | democracynow.org | 2019-09-13
After being questioned about the crisis in Venezuela, Senator Bernie Sanders defended his vision of democratic socialism. "I agree with what goes on in Canada and in Scandinavia: guaranteeing healthcare to all people as a human right. I believe that the United States should not be the only major country on Earth not to provide paid family and medical leave," Sanders said. "I believe that every worker in this country deserves a living wage and that we expand the trade union movement."
www.democracynow.org/2019/9/13/bernie_sa…

The Insurance Industry's War of Words Against Medicare-for-All
Roger Bybee | progressive.org | 2019-09-12
Why are we seeing all the hand-wringing about "losing" private insurance when so many people's experiences with it are so negative?
progressive.org/dispatches/insurance-war…

Planned Parenthood Has an App for That
Alice Pettway | progressive.org | 2019-09-10
Health provider counters funding setbacks by expanding access to new technologies.
progressive.org/dispatches/planned-paren…

Three Percent Security Force's Split Highlights Plague of Infighting
Hatewatch Staff | splcenter.org | 2019-09-05
The incessant power struggles that plague militia groups prompted defections in the Three Percent Security Force, robbed its leader of control and delivered the well-known antigovernment militia to the man who defied his commander.
splcenter.org/hatewatch/2019/09/06/three…

California health-care workers prepare to strike at Kaiser
Chakib Mouazoui | liberationnews.org | 2019-09-05
On Labor Day, Sept. 2, around 2,200 people, comprised of health-care workers, union organizers, and allies, gathered at Los Angeles City College to demonstrate their readiness to strike.
liberationnews.org/california-health-car…