In this Issue:

H4PJ and Uptown Players Present Hair: March 4 at 7 p.m.
Bush Library Threatens City’s Reputation and Safety
Learning to Speak Chinese – Commentary by Rev. Michael S. Piazza
Join H4PJ Today and Receive a Free Copy of The Real antiChrist
Business leaders form group to oppose coal plants

H4PJ and Uptown Players Present Hair
Benefit Performance – March 4 at 7 p.m.

Uptown Players has joined once again with Hope for Peace & Justice to present a special one-night only benefit performance. “Hair,” the American tribal love-rock musical, will be performed on Sunday, March 4 at 7 p.m. to raise money for the campaigns, programs and workshops of Hope for Peace & Justice. Tickets for this special performance are only $40 and include a post-show dessert reception. Seating is limited.

Come celebrate the 40th anniversary of this groundbreaking musical and recall the “Age of Aquarius” with this “rockumentary/rock musical” revival. “Hair” captures the innocence and passion of the 1960s, concentrating on the values of peace, love and understanding. The storyline follows a group of politically active young people in New York’s East Village, who band together as “The Tribe” and try to change the world.

Featuring songs like “Aquarius,” “Good Morning, Starshine” and “Hair,” this musical celebrates the hippie days of the late 60s, which still hold relevance today.

“Hair” is intended for mature audiences and contains partial nudity.

Click here to buy your tickets today!

Commentary: Learning to Speak Chinese
by Rev. Michael S. Piazza

When I was growing up conservatives were always ranting about the threat that Communist China posed to the United States. In the wake of the Korean War and in the midst of the war in Vietnam, China loomed as the biggest threat to the American way of life. Apparently, all of that is forgotten now. Richard Nixon went to China, and, while he was there, he apparently sold them our country … or at least our soul.

Actually, we shouldn’t blame poor Nixon. The current administration took office with a budgetary surplus. Thanks to almost unlimited spending with Halliburton, and the increasing military/industrial complex, and tax cuts to the richest Americans (Did you get yours?), we now have record deficits. Did you ever wonder who holds the note for all the money that we are borrowing? Actually, China is our primary creditor and now owns more debt than any other lender. How much money do we need to owe them before they are the ones controlling our economic future?

And speaking of conservatives … has no one noticed that the right-wing company based in Bentonville, Arkansas is stocking its shelves almost exclusively with products made in China? That is because in that country they can get away with paying slave wages. Conservative economists wring their hands over the increasing trade deficit, but only the liberal media reports that Wal-Mart alone accounts for 10 percent of that deficit. In small towns, you used to see signs and bumper stickers that said “Buy American,” but no more. You don’t see them any more because they aren’t sold at Wal-Mart.

When my daughters ask if they should take Spanish or French in school, I’m going to tell them neither. They should take Chinese, because their government is selling their future to China. You can buy it cheap at your local neighborhood Wal-Mart.

Related Links

Foreign Countries Buying Foreign Debt: Statement from Rep. John Tanner
Wal-Mart’s China Price

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The Real antiChrist: How America Sold Its Soul Join H4PJ and Receive a Free Copy! Bishop John Shelby Spong calls The Real antiChrist, “A searing indictment of popular Christianity by a passionate Christian.” When you sign up to support H4PJ on a monthly basis, we will send you a free copy of Rev. Piazza’s new book. Click here to sign up today! Since September 11, 2001, the Religious Right has used fear to manipulate America. It has used 19 terrorists to make us so afraid that we are willing to abandon our values and do things that are virulently anti-American and un-Christian. The sale of millions of books in the Left Behind series, which portrays the Religious Right’s apocalyptic vision, is just one example of how fear-based religion is foundational to what is going on in this country. That demon has to be named and called out if we are to be free of it.

Business leaders form group to oppose coal plants
Originally Published by the Houston Business Journal

Several high-profile Texas business leaders are orchestrating a concerted effort to oppose 16 proposed coal-fired power plants.

Dallas real estate mogul Trammell S. Crow, along with The Container Store Chairman Garrett Boone and Hotel.com founder David Litman, have organized a new group named Texas Business for Clean Air, or TBCA. They say their primary goal is to use the regulatory and legislative processes to stop the proposed power plants.

Dallas-based TXU Corp. (NYSE: TXU) proposes to build 11 of the 16 coal-powered electricity plants. Its proposal came on the heels of a report from the Electric Reliability Council of Texas, which forecasts energy shortages as soon as 2008.

TBCA leaders maintain that the proposal to build 16 coal-fueled plants fails to meet the state's short-term power needs, would ultimately lead to an abundance of unneeded energy, and would harm the environment and the state's chances of getting federal funding for highways, often dependant on the state's airquality levels.

Crow, who is reaching out to Texas businesses for backing, said he is seeing no shortage of support. Environmental groups such as the Sierra Club also oppose the power plants.

"And it's not because of my salesmanship," he said. "It's quickly apparent to a lot of people that this is what's best for the state."

In January, Rep. Charles "Doc" Anderson, R-Waco, introduced legislation calling for the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality to place a six-month moratorium on permit approval for new coal power plants in Texas. Gov. Rick Perry, last year, signed an executive order fast-tracking the permitting process, which reduced a process that used to take 18 months or longer to as quick as six months.

TXU representatives could not be reached for comment about TBCA, but company spokespersons have repeatedly said the power plants are necessary and that the company is taking several steps to ensure they are as environmentally friendly as possible.

Separately, the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality is considering getting in on the debate over the coal-fired plants, an attorney for the agency confirmed Tuesday.

Matthew Paque, an environmental attorney for the Oklahoma DEQ, said the agency has until Feb. 15 to move to be a participant in administrative hearings on the matter.

"We're worried about the impact that these facilities could have on Oklahoma," Paque said. "The applicants have said they will take offsets to ensure there are no increased emissions. We haven't seen where those offsets are memorialized in binding commitments. Without seeing where those offsets are coming from ... there could be a significant impact in Oklahoma."

The Oklahoma DEQ is reviewing air impact modeling and other information to determine the effect the new plants may have on the area.

"Air quality monitors along the Red River over last several years have had very high readings," Paque said. "Data has always indicated that the majority of those readings come from Texas and the Dallas-Fort Worth area."

The next hearing on the coal plant applications in on Feb. 21.

Related Links

Texas Business for Clean Air
Coal Debates Generates High-Dollar Ad Campaigns

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