Raza climate change. Indio writing opp. Snowden award. Comic relief.

Climate change affects Raza más

When the next major summer heat wave hits East Los or other barrios, you'll want to remember Tony Barboza's July article on urban heat islands. He cites a new study of the effects of extreme heat waves on minorities--us brown ones, too.

Michael Sedano foto, East Los

The UC Berkeley study focused on neighborhoods with few shade trees and muchísimo street pavement, concrete and roofing. Microclimates that get a pinche 5–10º hotter during heat waves. Where latinos are 21% more likely to live than Anglos  (blacks, 52% more). The heat-absorbing barrios and ghettos. Call it racial-climate-change segregation.

As TonyB says, these "heat waves are expected to become more intense, frequent and long-lasting as cities heat up."

He also quotes, "The study recommends city planners plant more trees, paint highly reflective roofs, use pavement that absorbs less heat and consider racial and ethnic inequalities in decisions about adapting to a changing climate."

I disagree with the city planners. Raza, we gotta take what they suggest as our due. But stopping the sources that create climate heating would end the problem. Like: Stop Keystone XL Pipeline!  Or at least donate to the campaign. 

Go here to read all of TonyB's piece and leave him some chignón comment.

Imagining Indigenous Futurisms

From Cynthia Ward, comes this: Imagining Indigenous Futurisms is an annual writing contest that recognizes authors who wield science fiction as their weapon of choice in the pursuit of social justice. Such sci-fi writers focus on Indigenous futures. The contest offers a $1000 award and is run by Grace L. Dillon, editor of Walking the Clouds: An Anthology of Indigenous Science Fiction (University of Arizona Press, 2012), and professor in the Indigenous Nations Studies program at Portland State University, Portland, Oregon.

  

4th Annual Science Fiction Writing Contest open to any [indio-descent] emerging writer with an interest in exploring Indigenous issues through the medium of science fiction.

Submit: One paragraph personal statement containing background and goals in sci-fi. A previously unpublished sci-fi writing sample up to 4,000 words.

By November 1, 2013

To: Professor Grace L. Dillon (Anishinaabe) dillong[ala]pdx.edu

Judged by acclaimed sci-fi, experimental, and horror writer Stephen Graham Jones (Blackfeet tribe).

You can read details and join Imagining Indigenous Futurisms on Facebook.

Gringo Finalist For European Human Rights Award

Edward Snowden is a finalist for the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought. He is maybe currently in Russia, with temporary asylum and is a U.S. fugitive charged with espionage. I guess Europe sees the world more like me than like Obama.

"The Sakharov Prize honors 'exceptional individuals who combat intolerance, fanaticism and oppression," [from their website]

"The surveillance of whole populations, rather than individuals, threatens to be the greatest human rights challenge of our time," Snowden said in a statement to the Parliament. The winner is announced on Oct. 10.

Go here to read details.

In San Antonio today:

Comic relief

 

If you don't know where your government is and it's still shut down, you might need a break from The Reign of Morons. 

You can go here and leave a comment or maybe add a cartoon of what else should be shut down, now that we're drifting leaderless.

I would add Gitmo, Congresspeoples' salaries and expense accounts, and ex-Presidents' pensions, but that's not enough.

Es todo, hoy,

RudyG