Too often we get side tracked when important things are going on .THIS ONE IS PROFOUNDLY IMPORTANT!!!!! When you get through with it check out this very interesting documentary The World According to Monsanto. It aired on the Sundance channel last night and is set to air again on May 17th in the am.
MAKE SOME NOISEPlease circulate now
ACLU Challenges Patents On Breast Cancer Genes (5/12/2009)
Gene Patents Stifle Patient Access To Medical Care And Critical Research
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: (212) 549-2666; media@aclu.org
NEW YORK – The American Civil Liberties Union and the Public Patent Foundation at Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law (PUBPAT) filed a lawsuit today charging that patents on two human genes associated with breast and ovarian cancer stifle research that could lead to cures and limit women's options regarding their medical care. Mutations along the genes, known as BRCA1 and BRCA2, are responsible for most cases of hereditary breast and ovarian cancers. The lawsuit argues that the patents on these genes are unconstitutional and invalid.
"Knowledge about our own bodies and the ability to make decisions about our health care are some of our most personal and fundamental rights," said Anthony D. Romero, Executive Director of the ACLU. "The government should not be granting private entities control over something as personal and basic to who we are as our genes. Moreover, granting patents that limit scientific research, learning and the free flow of information violates the First Amendment.".Because the ACLU's lawsuit challenges the whole notion of gene patenting, it could have far reaching effects beyond the patents on the BRCA genes. Approximately 20 percent of all human genes are patented, including genes associated with Alzheimer's disease, muscular dystrophy, colon cancer, asthma and many other illnesses. "Patenting human genes is counter to common sense, patent law and the Constitution," said Daniel B. Ravicher, Executive Director of PUBPAT and co-counsel in the lawsuit. "Genes are identified, not invented, and patenting genetic sequences is like patenting blood, air or e=mc2." To view the full press release please visit http://www.aclu.org/freespeech/gen/39572prs20090512.html
or http://www.cnn.com Find a way to make your voices heard.Ulali
features Pura Fé (Tuscarora),
Soni
(Mayan, Apache,
Yaqui), and
Jennifer
(Tuscarora.) In 1987, Ulali created an exciting new A Capella sound
blending their strong traditional roots with their contemporary musical
sensibilities. When they later released their solo album
MAHK JCHI,
they redefined Native American Music. Ulalis sound encompasses an array
of indigenous music including southeast choral singing (pre-blues and
gospel) and pre-Colombian (before the borders) music.
These
ladies created an album that seamlessly combined both traditional and
contemporary Native American music that has appealed to fans across
cultural boundaries. They have built a devoted national and international
following attracted to their potent vocal chemistry, unusual harmonies and
politically charged songs. This past year they have spent time adding
additional performers to the group. The amazingly gifted
Ataahua Papa,
a Maori from New Zealand has been performing with the group on a fairly
regular basis. This has enabled the three original group members to
pursue other solo and collaborative opportunities while maintaining the
bonds of the original group.
Ulali has
traveled extensively throughout the U.S., Canada, and abroad performing at
venues like Woodstock 94, the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, the 1997
Smithsonians Folkways 50th Anniversary Gala at Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy
Center, Lincoln Center, the 1998 WOMAD Festival in Seattle, the 1998 New
Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, the 1999 World Festival of Sacred Music
at the Hollywood Bowl, Red Solstice 2000 in Montréal, the Britt Festival
2000 in Oregon, V Day 2001 at Madison Square Garden, the 2001 New Orleans
Jazz & Heritage Festival, the 2002 Olympics in Salt Lake City and a wide
range of other venues and benefit performances. They have performed
abroad in Brazil, Corsica, Fiji, Germany, Italy, Japan, Morocco, New
Caledonia and Portugal. In 2004 they performed at the Kennedy Center and
the National Mall for the opening of the new Smithsonian National Museum
of the American Indian.
Ulali continues
to gain broader mainstream recognition. At the end of 2002 you could hear
them on the release of the "Grammy "
nominated" 1 Giant Leap."
In 2003 ULALI was one of three featured artists on New Yorks
nationally televised arts forum "Egg the
Arts." In August 2004 they were featured on the Sundance
Channel Series "Keeping Time: New Music
from Americas Roots I" series.
Ulali travels
throughout Indian country (U.S., Canada, Central & South America,) singing
for the people, exchanging songs, and maintaining strong ties. They often
perform at POW Wows and can often be heard on Native radio stations
throughout the U.S. and Canada. They were each awarded the "Eagle Spirit
Award" at the 25th Annual American Indian Film Festival in San Francisco,
CA in 2000. In addition they were each, one of several winners, of the
"Native American Womens Recognition Award" (NAWRE) presented by the
Friends of Ganondagon. During their week long Artist Residency in and
around Greensboro, North Carolina in September 2002, they were presented
the Key to the City.
he group performed
with the Indigo Girls during their 1997 Shaming of the Sun tour and
added their distinct voice to the Indigo Girls recording
"Shaming the Sun." Ulali also
contributed to the Indigo Girls benefit-recording,
"Honor the Earth"
and participated in the national tour of the same name.
Ulali was
featured on the sound track of the Miramax film
"Smoke Signals." They
performed at the 1998 Sundance Film Festival in support of "Smoke
Signals" which won the "Audience Choice
Award" and "Filmmakers Trophy." Ulali recorded on the sound tract for
the Turner documentary series
"The Native Americans."
Two of their songs,
"Mahk Jchi" and
"Ancestor Song" were
featured on Robbie Robertsons album,
"Robbie Robertson and the Red Road
Ensemble." Their video
"Follow Your Hearts Desire"
won "Best Music Video" at The American Indian Film Institute
Awards.
Ulali has aired
on National Public Radio several times and made their national television
debut when they performed with Robertson as featured guests on the
"Tonight Show with Jay Leno."
After performing at the Todos un Cantos del Mundo in May 2000, Ulali was
featured on the "Jô Soares Show,"
a nationally televised talk show in Brazil. In 2002, they were also
featured on Japan television while on tour with the South American
Indigenous group Sisay.
The group has
been on several compilations that have been nominated for Juno Awards (the
Canadian Grammy awards.) Ulali participated in the Aboriginal Womens
Voices Project and helped to develop songs for its
recording "Hearts
of the Nations." They were featured on
the Smithsonians Folkways compilation "Heartbeat," and can be heard on dozens
of albums, documentaries, and movies. In addition, Ulali contributed the
music to Native story teller, Dovie Thomasons,
"Lessons from the Animal People,"
which won the American Library Associations 1997 "Editors Choice
Award" and the "Notable Recording Award."
Ulali has shared
the bill with Buffy Saint Marie, Floyd Westerman, the American Indian
Dance Theatre, Sting, Richie Havens, the B-52s, Jackson Browne, Bonnie
Raitt, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Miriam Makeba and the Neville Brothers.
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