From the Washington Post: Appalled by instances of what federal prosecutors have described as slavery, executives of one of the nation’s largest food service companies promise to boycott Florida tomatoes if growers do not agree to improve conditions and increase pay for farmworkers.

via Putting the Squeeze on Tomato Growers to Improve Conditions for Farm Workers – washingtonpost.com.

Ratify CEDAW Petition

To:  U.S. Senate
Dear Senators:

We, the undersigned, are writing to urge your strong support for ratification by the United States of the Treaty for the Rights of Women, formally the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW). It is the most comprehensive international agreement on basic human rights for women.

185 nations have already ratified this important Treaty. However, the United States is one of only eight countries yet to ratify CEDAW, alongside Sudan, Somalia, Qatar, Iran, Nauru, Palau and Tonga.

This Treaty has enormous support within the United States. Over 200 leading organizations representing millions of people across this country form a strong coalition in support of U.S. ratification. The coalition groups range from the AARP and Amnesty International, to Business and Professional Women USA, and the American Association of University Women, to B’nai B’rith International and the American Bar Association.

THE REPUBLICAN PERSPECTIVE ON HEALTH CARE…. Rep. Zach Wamp (R-Tenn.) is not in a position to speak for the entire congressional Republican caucus, but if his perspective is the norm inside the GOP, we probably shouldn’t look for too much bipartisan cooperation in the debate over health care reform.

“Listen, health care a privilege…,” says Rep. Zack Wamp. “For some people it’s a right. But for everyone, frankly, it’s not necessarily a right.” 

The Washington Monthly

Many Americans think that ECT has gone the way of bloodletting, but it continues to be regarded by American psychiatry as a respected treatment, especially for patients who are “treatment resistant” to drugs. Although ECT for young children is nowhere near as common as for adults, most U.S. states do not prohibit ECT for kids. California prohibits ECT for children under the age of 12 but allows children between 12 and 15 to receive ECT if three psychiatrists are in favor of it.

Psychiatrys Shock Doctrine: Are We Really OK With Electroshocking Toddlers? | Health and Wellness | AlterNet

A couple in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada founded the International Campaign to Ban Electroshock (ICBE)  in 2007. The ICBE website has ECT articles, links, videos and other pages. The ICBE deems ECT to be unethical, barbaric an atrocity and a crime against humanity.

Today, President Barack Obama signed his first major piece of legislation, boosting workers’ ability to bring pay-discrimination lawsuits.

Hooray: Obama Signs the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Restoration Act | Rights and Liberties | AlterNet

President Obama has ordered an abrupt halt in the Gitmo Show Trials. From Peter Finn at the Washington Post:

In one of its first actions, the Obama administration instructed military prosecutors late Tuesday to seek a 120-day suspension of legal proceedings involving detainees at the naval base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba — a clear break with the approach of the outgoing Bush administration.

Obama Fulfills Promise: Starts Moving Quickly on Gitmo | PEEK | AlterNet

Just how quickly will Obama move on closing Guantanamo? Apparently, we can expect action very soon

Obama Will Order Gitmo Shutdown in First Week | Rights and Liberties | AlterNet

Psychologists for Social Responsibility (PsySR) issued this statement on In response to the recent passage of ballot initiatives banning same-sex marriage in California, Florida, and Arizona. The statement and more information is also available on their website 

In accord with the commitments to individual liberty and equal protection under the law enshrined in the U.S. Constitution and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Psychologists for Social Responsibility(PsySR) affirms its support for the legalization of same-sex marriage in the United States. Keenly aware of the deeply destructive effects of prejudice, discrimination, and social stigma on unjustly marginalized members of society, PsySR stands opposed to any national or state legislation that seeks to deny same-sex couples the right to marry.

We further believe that psychological research provides compelling support for this clear social justice imperative. After reviewing the empirical evidence, the American Psychological Association, the American Psychiatric Association, and the National Association of Social Workers have concluded that (1) the institution of marriage offers social, psychological, and health benefits to couples, (2) lesbian and gay parents are as fit and capable as heterosexual parents, and (3) the children of same-sex couples and heterosexual couples are equally well-adjusted and psychologically healthy.*

Psychologists for Social Responsibility therefore strongly supports efforts by concerned citizens and social justice advocates to reverse current state bans and to advance the legalization of same-sex marriage

Local gay, lesbian, straight citizens to protest passage of anti-gay constitutional amendments in Arizona, Florida, California 

A group of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT) and straight citizens will take to the streets of dozens of cities to protest the passage of Proposition 8, California’s anti-gay marriage amendment, as well as other anti-gay ballot initiatives in Arkansas, Arizona and Florida. 

Every day since Election Day, thousands have protested up and down streets in cities across California, including in Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco and Sacramento. A national, grassroots coalition of LGBT activists have followed in their footsteps. 

On Nov. 15, 1:30 p.m. EST/10:30 a.m. PST, in large cities and state capitals across the country, Pro-Equality supporters will raise public awareness of the need for LGBT equality in marriage and in other civil right

JOIN THE IMPACT: UNITE FOR LGBTQ EQUALITY – Join the Impact

Come join Boston Psychologists for an Ethical APA, Physicians for Human Rights and other sponsors in protesting the American Psychological Association’s continued acceptance of psychologists involvement in military interrogations.