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República Dominicana: Los retos de un país emisor y receptor de migrantes

Statement of Minority Scientists for Obama

Our nation is mired in problems such as economic instability, overseas wars, health disparities, and climate change. These problems require science-based as well as political solutions. Such challenges call for the participation of the scientific community to identify the critical scientific issues, advocate for workable solutions, and recommend the presidential candidate best suited for addressing them.

As American scientists and engineers of color, we devote our efforts to the study of nature and the development of new and important technologies. We also commit our efforts to our nation’s progress towards equity for all, because it represents the highest values that Americans uphold. Both scientific advancement and equity are fundamental to America’s future success.

Investment in science and engineering has fueled our high standard of living, improved our health, and made our country a global leader. Rather than cultivate American science and engineering, the current administration has reduced funding for basic research; disbanded the Congressional Office of Technology and Assessment; downgraded the status of the President’s Scientific Advisor; censured government scientific information; attempted to legitimize “intelligent design”; imposed severe limits on stem cell research, and; denied the role of human activity in global climate change. Clearly American science needs a change.

Consequently, we examined the positions of the Presidential candidates regarding American Science and observed significant differences. Although both Senator Obama and recently Senator McCain responded in detail to the 14 questions on science policy posed in the Science Debate 2008, John McCain has not delineated a comprehensive science policy. Furthermore, Senator McCain failed to answer questions on science policy posed by Nature, the world's most prestigious science journal.

By contrast, Barack Obama and Joe Biden have put forward a far-reaching plan “Investing in America’s Future: Barack Obama and Joe Biden’s Plan for Science and Innovation” that among many points promotes the growth of US science, encourages the training of new scientists, supports diversity among science researchers, and addresses health disparities. The plan includes previous proposed legislation such as The Genomic and Personalized Medicine Act. This bill supports basic research in genomics related to public health, targets health disparities, protects privacy, and provides support for new diagnostics and treatments.

We note that Senator Obama recognizes the need to “fully tap the diversity of our nation” in order to increase our competitive strength and capacity to innovate. His vision anticipates a diverse scientific workforce as essential for providing the wider range of perspectives and innovative solutions necessary for addressing the challenges before us.

These differences between the candidates are echoed in the positions of their running mates. Senator Joe Biden pledged to double the budgets of NIH and NSF and to expand the reach of stem cell research. Meanwhile, Governor Sarah Palin denies that human activity contributes to climate change, and advocates the teaching of intelligent design along with evolution.

These stark differences in the science agenda of the two Presidential candidates lead us to endorse Barack Obama for President of the United States.

Morales, Jose F., PhD
Associate Research Scientist, Joint Center for Systems Biology, Columbia University,

jm3259@columbia.edu
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HMz6KmMeEvQ

Election Protection Hotline

Questions about where or how to vote? Want to report a voter registration or voting problem? Visit the nonpartisan Election Protection Coalition website, or call their hotline at 1-866-OUR-VOTE.

Voter Challenges, Deceptive Practices & Voter Intimidation Every state provides some method to challenge the eligibility of a voter. However, bad-faith challenges may cross the line and can constitute voter intimidation, particularly when mass challenges are based only upon a voter’s race or status and the challenger lacks personal knowledge of the voter’s eligibility. For example, in past elections, there have been allegations of challenges based solely on voters’ Latino or Asian sounding surnames. State laws differ regarding who can make challenges, when challenges can be made, what are the proper grounds for a challenge, which party has the burden of proof, what evidence is relevant, and who decides challenges.

One on One with Jeremy Robins,

Director of The Other Side of the Water, An Interview by Dr. Steeve Coupeau

1. Why did you choose the title "The Other Side of the Water" for your documentary?

The title of the documentary comes from the full name of the rara band we follow: “DJARARA Lot Bo Dlo” – or “DJARARA – the other side of the water.” The documentary is about what happens when this ancient music is exiled, and forced to reinvented itself in a new context, so the name seemed to fit our film as well.

2. What are some of the issues that compelled you to choose this story to tell?

The issues that compelled us were different for Magi and I. Magi was most interested in representing Haitian culture in a positive way – and documenting the experience of Haitian-American community.

I came from a background in sociology and originally I was drawn to the band as complex subculture. I was interested in the rules and rituals of the subculture, and also the way the musicians formed their identity around this music –an identity that had to navigate all these layers of history, religion, class status, and also a mix of Haitian and American culture. To me it was a powerful way to explore 21st Century cities, and the way almost everyone has to re-invent their identity in some way, and re-define their relationship to their culture.

Over time my experience changed. First, we both really connected to the band and just became interested in following their story. And second I found out about this amazing 20-year back-story to the band, and found a ton of archival footage that documented the whole journey! The documentary became also a story of New York – how communities arrive and forge their identity over time and really leave their mark on the fabric of the City.

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