Monthly Archives: April 2005

Mystery of the Democrats’ New Spine

Mystery of the Democrats' New Spine Consortiumnews  By Robert Parry Across the nation's capital, perplexed political pundits have been rubbing their chins wondering what has happened to the Democrats, who were supposed to quiver in fear of the [“victorious”] George … Continue reading

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Volunteer Opportunity: Living Lands and Waters Needs YOU!

Volunteer Opportunity: Living Lands and Waters Needs YOU! Who:  Living Lands and Waters, Woodson Spring, Coordinator U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Joe Lundh, Forester What: Invasive honeysuckle bush removal with the help of local schools and community volunteers How:  Advance … Continue reading

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New Iowa Political Blog: Iowa Matters

New Iowa Political Blog: Iowa Matters Lucas Forte, the former volunteer coordinator for the Art Small for Senate campaign, has started up a great new Iowa political blog called Iowa Matters.  Click here to check out the blog for yourself.  … Continue reading

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Phase-Out: In Prime Time!

Phase-Out:  In Prime Time! We finally saw a live press conference dealing with the issue of Social Security, amongst other things.  (The highlight of watching it on NBC was seeing the Q&A session being cut off to make sure The … Continue reading

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Howard Dean to Keynote Iowa Democrats’ Hall of Fame Dinner

 Howard Dean to Keynote Iowa Democrats’ Hall of Fame Dinner Well, he's finally coming back to Iowa.  It's about time. Governor Howard Dean, Chairman of the Democratic National Committee, will headline the Iowa Democratic Party’s 2005 Hall of Fame Dinner … Continue reading

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LAST CHANCE for a voter-verified paper ballot

  LAST CHANCE for a Voter-Verified Paper Ballot Act now or you'll miss the LAST CHANCE for a voter-verified paper ballot (VVPB) law to pass in Iowa this session. Iowa lawmakers wrap up the legislative session on Friday, April 29. … Continue reading

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Cheese Trade Causing Problems For Dairy Farmers

Cheese Trade Causing Problems For Dairy Farmers


 
Some days, you really learn just how dependent we are on trusting others to pay a fair price for goods and services.  This article comes by way of A.V. Kreb's Agribusiness Examiner.  A group of dairy farmers is protesting the ability of Big Dairy to manipulate prices to the advantage of the buyers.



IT'S A STRUGGLE BETWEEN
SMALL DAIRY FARMERS
AMD MULTINATIONALS IN
MERC CHEDDAR CHEESE PIT

JEREMY GRANT, LONDON FINANCIAL TIMES: Every morning, about 30 people gather in a corner of the Chicago Mercantile Exchange to conduct one of the world's most unusual auctions: buying and selling cheddar cheese.

Traders with telephones pressed to their ears shout orders to two men standing in front of a white board, on which they mark up bids and offers. The session is the only one of its kind in the U.S. and probably one of the shortest commodity auctions, never lasting more than 15 minutes.

Cheese trading has carried on largely unnoticed for years, but this week it has become an unexpectedly public battleground in the struggle between small farmers and “big dairy” multinationals.

A coalition of farmers and consumer groups gathered outside the exchange on Monday, many dressed in cow suits, to protest against alleged price manipulation on the market. Their targets were dairy co-operatives such as the Dairy Farmers of America, the largest grouping in the country's second biggest agricultural sector, and multinational food companies such as Kraft Foods.
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Darfur Benefit Dinner in Iowa City April 30th

Darfur Benefit Dinner in Iowa City April 30th Iowans For Peace and Sudanese Community Services present: DARFUR BENEFIT DINNER 100% of admissions go to refugee relief in Darfur SUDANESE CUISINE, SPEAKERS, MUSIC Saturday, April 30 Wesley Center, 120 N. Dubuque … Continue reading

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Harkin Works to Make Television More Accessible for the Visually Impaired

  Harkin Works to Make Television More Accessible for the Visually Impaired by Caroline Vernon This guy is my hero! He's always looking out for the underdog… being a disabled person myself, I am eternally grateful for the work he … Continue reading

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Big Benefits in Small Wind Projects for Iowa

Big Benefits in Small Wind Projects for Iowa Iowa Policy Project Economic Advantages Seen in Local Wind-Power Projects DES MOINES, Iowa – Megawatt for megawatt, small, locally-owned wind projects deliver greater economic benefits in Iowa communities than do large projects, … Continue reading

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