tagged w/ Maritime
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Attacks on Jones Act, Gulf Clean Up, Attack Unions and Our Allies
by Mike Hall, Jul 1, 2010
Right-wing radio gabbers, anti-worker Republican politicians and conservative think tanks are at it again. This time they charge that the Jones Act, a U.S. maritime law, is the culprit standing in the way of Gulf clean-up efforts. The Jones Act says that ships operating between U.S. domestic ports—for example from New York to Miami—be crewed, built, owned and flagged American. Most if not all other major maritime nations have laws that basically require the same thing.
Those behind the campaign attacking the Jones Act have two aims: To discredit the federal response to the disaster and to attack unions. They falsely state that the Jones Act is keeping ships that fly foreign flags from the Gulf operations and that the Obama administration has turned away offers of aid from many nations because the maritime unions want to skim up all the disaster-related profits.
Not true. In fact, the Obama administration has not turned down any offers of assistance because of the Jones Act. According to FactCheck.Org:
The Jones Act has yet to be an issue in the response efforts. The Deepwater Horizon response team reported in a June 15 press release that there are 15 foreign flagged ships currently participating in the oil spill cleanup. None of them needed a waiver because the Jones Act does not apply.
The assertion that Obama has invoked the Jones Act on behalf of maritime unions is the “the most ridiculous” of the Jones Act lies, says Seafarers (SIU) President Michael Sacco. Not only did it never happen, he says,
it is offensive for anyone to suggest that American maritime labor would hinder cleanup operations in the Gulf, in any way, shape or form….In those cases where no U.S.-flag tonnage is available, our industry has said from the beginning that we will not stand in the way of Jones Act waivers intended to facilitate the cleanup.
Backing up Sacco, McClatchy News Service reported yesterday that the State Department
announced that new offers of aid would be accepted from 12 foreign countries and international organizations, but spokesman P.J. Crowley noted that booms donated by Mexico, Norway and Brazil had been in use since May 11, and that 24 foreign vessels from nine foreign countries already have been helping with the cleanup.
The Associated Press reported June 18 that while U.S. disaster aid is almost always free of charge, other nations expect the United States to pay for help.
Reports claiming that the federal government has refused help are not only incorrect—foreign assistance has been utilized—but are also misleading: purchasing resources and expertise is vastly different from accepting “foreign aid.
“These offers are not typically offers of aid,” said Lt. Erik Halvorson, a Coast Guard spokesman. “Normally, they are offers to sell resources to BP or the U.S. government.
Why are Republican politicians and lawmakers once again let fiction trump fact? Sen. Daniel Inouye (D-Hawaii) says the attacks on the Jones Act smack of
pushing a political agenda than any genuine interest in helping Gulf coast communities with their cleanup.
Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) has introduced a bill to repeal the Jones Act. Edward Wytkind, President of the AFL-CIO Transportation Trades Department (TTD) says that repealing the Jones Act
would mean the elimination of hundreds of thousands of good jobs in maritime, longshore, ship building and other vital industries. The McCain bill would threaten national security by depleting the pool of American vessels and skilled mariners who can be deployed during times of war and military conflict.
This legislation would open our waterways to foreign entities that don’t employ U.S. workers, don’t pay taxes to our treasury and do not operate under our safety and security regime.
McCain, like all the other Senate Republicans, is blocking the jobs bill that would create critically-needed employment for America’s jobless workers. Now, on the eve of the the nation’s celebration of America, he wants to actively slash good U.S. jobs as well.Attacks on Jones Act, Gulf Clean Up, Attack Unions and Our Allies
by Mike Hall,... more
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An historical look at the United States Coast Guard over the 1st 200 Years. (U.S. Coast Guard video)An historical look at the United States Coast Guard over the 1st 200 Years. (U.S.... more
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Ryan Seacrest is getting $45 million for hosting the next three seasons of 'American Idol.' You could get on TV and make that kind of money, too! Just make sure your demo reel doesn't look like these.
Viral Video Film School is a recurring segment on the weekly television show infoMania. In each episode of VVFS, Professor Brett Erlich teaches you valuable skills in the discipline of Viral Video making. So sit down, take notes, and try not to piss him off. For more Brett visit http://current.com/viral-video-film-school-im/ and Current TV.
infoMania is a half-hour satirical news show that airs on Current TV. The show puts a comedic spin on the 24-hour chaos and information overload brought about by the constant bombardment of the media. Hosted by Conor Knighton and co-starring Brett Erlich, Sarah Haskins, Ben Hoffman, Bryan Safi and Sergio Cilli, the show airs on Thursdays at 10 pm Eastern and Pacific Times and can be found online at http://current.com/infomania/ or on Current TV. And make sure to check out our facebook profile for special features at http://infomaniafacebook.com.Ryan Seacrest is getting $45 million for hosting the next three seasons of... more
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This week on infoMania Judge Sotomayor gets judged herself. The news has some super helpful summer hints. Dating advice has Sarah confused. Online demo reels have Brett entertained. And Lauren Conrad's new novel has Ben engrossed.
infoMania is a half-hour satirical news show that airs on Current TV. The show puts a comedic spin on the 24-hour chaos and information overload brought about by the constant bombardment of the media. Hosted by Conor Knighton and co-starring Brett Erlich, Sarah Haskins, Ben Hoffman, Bryan Safi and Sergio Cilli, the show airs on Thursdays at 10 pm Eastern and Pacific Times and can be found online at http://current.com/infomania/ or on Current TV. And make sure to check out our facebook profile for special features at http://infomaniafacebook.com.This week on infoMania Judge Sotomayor gets judged herself. The news has some super... more
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Analysis: Somalia Piracy Began in Response to Illegal Fishing and Toxic Dumping by Western Ships off Somali Coast
President Obama vowed an international crackdown to halt piracy off the coast of Somalia Monday soon after the freeing of US cargo ship captain Richard Phillips, who had been held hostage by Somali pirates since last Wednesday. While the pirates story has dominated the corporate media, there has been little to no discussion of the root causes driving piracy. We speak with consultant and analyst Mohamed Abshir Waldo. In January, he wrote a paper titled “The Two Piracies in Somalia: Why the World Ignores the Other?”
Guest:
Mohamed Abshir Waldo, a consultant and analyst. He joins us on the line from Mombasa. He is Kenyan of Somali origin. He wrote a piece in January titled “The Two Piracies in Somalia: Why the World Ignores the Other?”Analysis: Somalia Piracy Began in Response to Illegal Fishing and Toxic Dumping by... more
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The wreck of a ship which has been found off the Channel Islands has been confirmed as the legendary warship HMS Victory which sank in 1744.
The wreck, which could contain more than $1bn of gold, was discovered at the bottom of the English Channel by Odyssey Marine Exploration in May.
It was found 100km from where it was thought to have sunk near Alderney.The wreck of a ship which has been found off the Channel Islands has been confirmed as... more
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