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Killing of the United Healthcare CEO Sparked Long Overdue Conversation About Greed

Originally published by PEACEVOICE, peacevoice.info Call him a misguided hero or villain, but the man who killed the United Healthcare CEO struck a nerve, exposing a deep rage shared by many Americans across the political spectrum — anger at an industry that earns obscene profits from the suffering of others.…

Syria: Past, Present and Possibilities

Reconstructed from notes on a lecture given December 16, 2024 sponsored by Palestine Action of South Sound (PASS) In examining Syria today, it is important to begin with the needs, desires, concerns and possibilities of the Syrian people, especially the popular classes, women, and ethnic and religious groups that have…

When Israel’s army destroyed a hospital in Gaza on Dec. 27

On December 27, 2024 the Israeli army stormed Kamal Adwan Hospital, setting it on fire, and forcibly removed patients and staff from the hospital. At the time Kamal Adwan was the last remaining major medical facility in north Gaza. Dr Mads Gilbert posted this description of what took place that…

Aspirational Genocide

Originally published by PEACEVOICE, peacevoice.info Is Putin conducting genocidal acts on Ukrainians? Looks like Israel is, ironically, attempting some sort of genocide against Gazans, with Hamas trying their version of a genocidal attack against Israel on 7 October 2023. How about China’s aggression against the Uyghurs or Myanmar’s against Rohingyas?…

Community Spotlight January 15-March 1, 2025

Housing Instability – A Solutions Forum – Capitol Convention Center, 6005 Tyee Drive SW, Tumwater – January 15, 6:30 to 8:00pm sponsored by The League of Women Voters, NAACP, and Olympia for All : We encourage progressives and socialists to show up at this event and make our voices heard…

Index – October 2024

INDEX Local News State Lands Commissioner Race Will Decide Whether Legacy Forest Remains in Our Capitol State Forest—and Statewide Candidate Statement: Bob Iyall for State Senate District 22 Information on Registration (Even Same Day), Ballots and Ballot boxes for November 5 Election Vote NO on All Four Initiatives: 2066, 2109,…

Federal Suit filed in the Deschutes Estuary Restoration Project

Environmental and Open Government advocate Arthur West has filed a suit in the United States District Court in Washington DC claiming that the Deschutes Estuary Restoration Project (“Project”) violates the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). This follows on the heels of a September 27 suit filed in Thurston County Superior…

Will Protecting the Oregon Spotted Frog Protect our Water Supply?

I don’t know but its worth finding out. Pavement, warehouses, roads and new housing. All create ‘polluted’ runoff. The Clean Water Act was established to protect our water. And in order to get a permit to build, one must get a suite of permits, one of which is a permit…

Flying into the Center of a Hurricane

Before a strong hurricane hits, millions of people are evacuated from the area. Why would anyone deliberately head into the danger zone? That is exactly what Red Cross volunteers do. I interviewed Stephanie Gilstrom, an Olympia resident who is a licensed mental health clinician. Since retiring six years ago, she…

Hands On Children’s Museum Set to Expand on East Bay Toxic Hot Spot

The Hands On Children’s Museum on the East Bay waterfront is planning a fourth expansion since it opened in 1996. The HOCM sits atop one of the most contaminated hotspots on Port property. From the late 1880’s until 1968, it was the site of timber-related industries which caused soil and…

When it Comes to Criminal Justice, Inconsistency Rules

Throughout courtrooms across America we hear words like “fair”, “harsh”, and “too lenient” being thrown around as if crime deserves an equal standard when being addressed regardless of what state or territory it’s conducted in. But wait a minute… This brings up a good point: Why shouldn’t there be a…

No! We Did Not Survive the First Term

As a seemingly comforting phrase for those struggling with the results of the recent U.S. presidential election, I’ve heard variants of “It’s okay, we survived the first term.” While this may be a well-intentioned attempt to provide comfort to those in distress, it deserves a more thoughtful examination. A parent…

Donald Trump Rides Patriarchy Back to the White House

Across the country, millions and millions of citizens who supported Kamala Harris’s presidential campaign are no longer walking around in a haze, instead moving toward the light. Still, there is emotional fallout that needs our attention. Our nerves are frayed; it’s impossible to ignore the stress. It’s a good time…

A Call to Post-Election Action

He Ran the Table Unbelievably, Donald Trump not only won the presidency – capturing the popular and electoral votes necessary to do so fair and square – but he also ran the table, meaning his party likely controls both houses of Congress and the Supreme Court. Whatever he wants to…

A Government for the World

Donald Trump’s latest rollout of his hyper nationalist “America First” policy underscores the world’s long-term slide toward catastrophe. Within nations, when conflicts inevitably erupt, there are laws, as well as police, courts, and governments that enforce the laws. On the global level, however, the situation approaches international anarchy. Although the United Nations, the International…

Can Politics Merge with a Sane Future?

“America is for Americans – Americans only!” The words are those of Stephen Miller, speaking last month at the infamous Madison Square Garden rally, but they define Donald Trump. This is the message – the cry from the mountaintop – he brought to the country . . . at least to…

Visualising U.S. Military Spending vs Other Top Countries

Originally published by Visual Capitalist, at https://www.visualcapitalist.com/u-s-military-spending-vs-other-top-countries/ U.S. Military Spending vs Other Top Countries The U.S. is well known for its immense military and defense spending. In 2020, the nation ranked #1 in the world in terms of military spending at $778 billion outpacing the next nine highest spenders, which…

COMMUNITY CALENDAR DEC 1, 2024- JANUARY 15, 2025

DSHS Mobile Office is Coming – Olympia library parking lot 313 8th Ave SE – December 2, 11-3pm Hop on board to apply for food, cash, and/or medical benefits. You can also drop off paperwork, complete a review, make changes to an existing case or request a replacement EBT card. Emergency Financial First Aid…

Special Election 2024 Announcement

  In the September and October issues of Works in Progress, WIP published articles and opinion pieces related to the November 5, 2024 election. As a reminder, as usual those opinions do not represent the opinions of WIP, but rather those of the authors. Despite WIP requesting statements from all…

Memorial for Glen Anderson

Works in Progress will publish remembrances of Glen Anderson in this issue and the next. Please send your remembrances, even if only a few lines, to olywip@gmail.com

Candidate Statement: Bob Iyall for State Senate District 22

Works in Progress asked candidates in all Thurston County races to submit statements, but did not receive responses from all candidates.   I’m Bob Iyall, a long time Thurston County resident, Nisqually Tribe elder, and proud candidate for State Senate. I’m a retired, 45-year member, of the Bricklayers and Allied…

Vote NO on All Four Initiatives: 2066, 2109, 2117, and 2124

Initiative 2066: “This measure would repeal or prohibit certain laws and regulations that discourage natural gas use and/or promote electrification, and require utilities and local governments to provide natural gas to eligible customers” (from the Voters’ Pamphlet, General Election November 5, 2024). This initiative is quite complex: it will repeal…