Tag Archives: activism

Gene Wu: Backyard Progressivism

Posted on June 27, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

The following is from a series of guest posts that I will be presenting over the next few weeks. Before I became involved in politics, I learned that there are real people in our communities who need hands-on assistance, people … Continue reading →

Posted in Show Business for Ugly People | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Gene Wu: Backyard Progressivism

Rally for women’s rights in Austin April 28

Posted on April 11, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Seems like there’s been an awful lot of these lately. Here’s the next one: Go here to learn more and to register. I’ve generally been skeptical about rallies in the past, but at this point I’m glad to see evidence … Continue reading →

Posted in Show Business for Ugly People | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Rally for women’s rights in Austin April 28

HISD announces public meetings to address proposed school start time changes

Posted on March 24, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

From the HISD News Blog: HISD has scheduled 10 public meetings to gather community input on a plan to add 19 minutes to the average student’s school day by coordinating the bell schedule among the district’s 279 schools. If approved, … Continue reading →

Posted in School days | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on HISD announces public meetings to address proposed school start time changes

Hens for Houston

Posted on March 21, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Looking for a new cause to get involved in? Here’s a movement to allow people to raise hens in Houston. Vision: “Hens for Houston” is working to promote a sustainable and progressive Houston in which city dwellers can keep 4-6 … Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | Tagged , , , , , | 9 Comments

It’s time to go on the offensive for women’s health

Posted on March 7, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

I believe that just as Democrats must make the 2012 elections in Texas about public education, they must also make them about health care, in particular access to health care for women. There’s some polling data to suggest this will … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2012 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 11 Comments

Take the HISD start time survey

Posted on March 5, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

As we know, HISD is contemplating uniform start times for its campuses for next year. They have said they want public feedback on their proposals. Here’s your chance to give it. Implementing uniform schedules across the Houston Independent School District’s … Continue reading →

Posted in School days | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

How you can help support policies and funding for public schools

Posted on February 28, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

From the inbox, sent by Sue Dimenn Deigaard: Over the past week I have heard several legislators make the misleading claim that they increased funding for public education this past session.  As a parent with a child that is in … Continue reading →

Posted in Budget ballyhoo | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Not really buying it, Komen

Posted on February 3, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

So Komen has supposedly reversed itself on Planned Parenthood. I’ve read their statement, as well as TBogg’s improved version of it, and I don’t see a “reversal” so much as I see a bunch of weasel words that may very … Continue reading →

Posted in National news | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Komen outrage

Posted on January 31, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

I’m speechless. In a shocking move Tuesday afternoon, Susan G. Komen for the Cure, the country’s most famous breast cancer charity, pulled its grants for breast-cancer screenings from Planned Parenthood. Komen claims that their reason is that Planned Parenthood is under investigation … Continue reading →

Posted in Society and cultcha | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

National single payer health care conference in Houston this weekend

Posted on January 23, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

From the inbox: Healthcare-NOW! National Single Payer Strategy Conference in Houston  WHAT: Over 120 Representatives from 25 states and 52 organizations meet in Houston to plan strategies to advance a single payer national health insurance plan in the USA. The … Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on National single payer health care conference in Houston this weekend

Help keep access to birth control

Posted on December 2, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

As you know, it’s been a rough year for advocates of reproductive freedom, here and elsewhere in the country. There’s a lot of work to be done, starting with the next election, to repair the damage and move things forward … Continue reading →

Posted in National news | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Help keep access to birth control

Rally redux

Posted on March 14, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Many of the folks who rallied in Austin on Saturday stayed around for an encore today. “At a time when our educators and our educational system is under attack more than ever before, we are here to let our lawmakers … Continue reading →

Posted in Budget ballyhoo | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Thousands attend the Save Texas Schools rally

Posted on March 13, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Our voices have been heard. Whether we are listened to remains to be seen. Parents, educators, and students from across the state marched to the Capitol Saturday for the Save Texas Schools rally to express their concern over what could … Continue reading →

Posted in Budget ballyhoo | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Rally Day

Posted on March 12, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Thanks in part to our only Governor, those attending today’s rally are even more fired up about it. As thousands of teachers, school staffers and parents prepare for a state Capitol rally Saturday against education cuts, they’ve found new recruits … Continue reading →

Posted in School days | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Getting ready for the Save Texas Schools rally

Posted on March 10, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

This needs to be big. Teachers, parents and school district employees will head by the thousands to the state Capitol over Spring Break for two rallies, hoping to show lawmakers what’s at stake with budget cuts to education. They’re ready … Continue reading →

Posted in School days | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on Getting ready for the Save Texas Schools rally

Push for HB275

Posted on March 9, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

HB275 is the bill by Rep. Jim Pitts to spend money from the Rainy Day Fund to close the budget shortfall from the 2010-11 biennium. Here’s an update about it from a group called Spring Branch Speaks, sent to me … Continue reading →

Posted in Budget ballyhoo | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Push for HB275

Activists for the disabled protest in front of Perry’s office

Posted on March 3, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Go for it! About 35 Texans in wheelchairs, denouncing proposed state budget cuts, staged a sit-in outside Gov. Rick Perry’s Capitol office late Tuesday. Protesters with the disability rights group Adapt of Texas vowed to stay until they were removed … Continue reading →

Posted in Budget ballyhoo | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Deadline to RSVP for March 14 Lobby Day event

Posted on February 28, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Just a reminder about this. Monday, March 14th, 7 am – 7 pm: Legislative Day at the Texas Capitol in Austin, organized by Houston Federation of Teachers. HFT has invited parents to join them in meeting with as many state … Continue reading →

Posted in Budget ballyhoo | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Just a reminder: Save Texas Schools

Posted on February 27, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Just a reminder: Save Texas Schools – Fund Public Education Now! Our Schools, Our Kids, Our Future Texas students are tough, but they’ve never faced a crisis like this. In every school district across the Lone Star State, the same … Continue reading →

Posted in Budget ballyhoo | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Why aren’t we investing more in non-road transportation?

Posted on February 22, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Houston Tomorrow has some disturbing news. A proposal to limit bike, pedestrian, and livability funding in the 2011 Transportation Improvement Program will come before the Houston-Galveston Area Council’s Transportation Policy Council (TPC) this Friday, February 25, at a public meeting in the … Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Two more things you can do for public schools

Posted on February 21, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

In addition to the three things I mentioned on Sunday and the live HISD TV show tonight at 6:30 about the budget, here are two more things to put on your agenda for the public schools. First, via the HISD … Continue reading →

Posted in Budget ballyhoo | Tagged , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Three things you can do to help save Texas public schools

Posted on February 20, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

1. First and foremost, make sure you understand the scope of the issue and how it will affect you. Here’s an email that was sent out by the Spring Branch ISD to its parents: Why should you care about the … Continue reading →

Posted in Budget ballyhoo | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

Budget cuts won’t just affect public universities

Posted on February 4, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

From my inbox, an email from the new President of my alma mater. Dear Mr. Kuffner: As you may be aware, the State of Texas faces an unprecedented budget shortfall of between $15 billion and $28 billion for the next … Continue reading →

Posted in Budget ballyhoo | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Budget cuts won’t just affect public universities

Closing prisons needs to be on the table

Posted on January 6, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

From Change.org: Texas’ prison population is shrinking. The state has made great strides in recent years to offer community alternatives to long sentences. But with a budget crisis looming, state prison officials are saying they won’t consider closing a single … Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

The Laura Recovery Center could use your help

Posted on December 20, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

The Laura Recovery Center in Friendswood is going through tough times. A decline in contributions has left the center with funding for 90 days, directors say. “We’ve been very blessed with the support of the community,” said founder Bob Smither, … Continue reading →

Posted in The great state of Texas | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on The Laura Recovery Center could use your help

Two environmental issues for your attention

Posted on December 14, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Are you familiar with tar sands? The Sierra Club would like to acquaint you with them this Thursday, December 16, on its Houston Frontlines tour. Elected officials and community members will gather at Hartmann Community Center on Thursday, December 16th … Continue reading →

Posted in The great state of Texas | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

DREAM drama

Posted on December 1, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

In theory, there will be a vote in the Senate on the DREAM Act during the lame duck session. I don’t have a whole lot of faith that the usual Republican intransigence can be overcome, but it’s well worth the … Continue reading →

Posted in La Migra | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

The KTRU rally

Posted on August 22, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

The Houston Press, which has largely owned this story, reports from today’s rally to save KTRU. Early this afternoon, protesters met at Valhalla, Rice’s on-campus pub, to make signs and t-shirts for the protest before marching as a group to … Continue reading →

Posted in Music | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

KTRU rally

Posted on August 21, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

For those who are into that sort of thing. Join us in a peaceful, non-violent protest to Save KTRU this Sunday, 2:00 pm at Rice University, in the Academic quad in front of the statue of William Marsh Rice. The … Continue reading →

Posted in Music | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

Public hearing on tar sands pipeline

Posted on June 16, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

The Sierra Club has an announcement. The impact of toxic tar sands oil on Houston’s air quality will be the subject of a press teleconference on Friday morning in the hours before a public hearing hosted by the State Department … Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Public hearing on tar sands pipeline

Looking for a way to celebrate Earth Day?

Posted on April 22, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

The Alliance for a Clean Texas has a suggestion: Texans expect our environmental agency to protect our health. TCEQ too often falls short of these expectations due to lax enforcement of existing clean air and water laws. The sunset review … Continue reading →

Posted in The great state of Texas | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Looking for a way to celebrate Earth Day?

To help Haiti

Posted on January 14, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

I received the following email from the American Red Cross: I’ve got a brief update for you on Haiti. The situation is dire. Hundreds of thousands of people are feared dead. Government offices, including the Presidential Palace, have collapsed. Hospitals … Continue reading →

Posted in Around the world | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

One Voice for Choice

Posted on December 4, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

I don’t usually get involved in the national stuff, but I’m totally on board with this idea and hope you will take action as you can. Ever since Stupak hijacked the health care bill, we’ve been watching.  So far, nothing … Continue reading →

Posted in National news | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on One Voice for Choice

Petition to fire Alberto Gonzales

Posted on August 3, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Once Texas Tech made the bizarre decision to hire Alberto Gonzales as a faculty member, a petition demanding that they fire him was sure to follow. You know my opinion on these things, so take whatever action you deem appropriate. … Continue reading →

Posted in The great state of Texas | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Petition to fire Alberto Gonzales