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Free Healthcare Comes to Appalachia on Wheels

LibertySugar — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 03:00:00 -0700

Each year the Remote Area Medical clinic provides free healthcare services to residents of Appalachia's coal mining counties, but people from as far as Indiana travel there for care. This region of the Eastern US is one of the nation's most impoverished, and this clinic-on-wheels wants to help the under- and uninsured.

Some of the 2,500 patients spend the night in their cars, hoping to see one of the 1,400 volunteer medical personnel. The free two-and-a-half day clinic is the largest of its kind in the US, and mostly provides vision and dental services.

The Remote Area Medical clinic sets up in Wise, VA. About 20 percent of Wise County's population are families living below the poverty level, making less than $21,200 per year. What more can be be done to provide regular care for the nation's disadvantaged so they don't have to wait overnight and sleep in their cars?

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Citizen Recap: 30 Days Working in a Coal Mine

LibertySugar — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 00:00:49 -0700

Did you think I forgot to watch the season premiere of 30 Days, with all of Tuesday's Democratic nomination wrap up, and the accompanying speech mania? Well, don't worry, because even though this recap is a day late, I still caught the episode which had filmmaker Morgan Spurlock working under the earth's surface for 30 days as a West Virginian coal miner.

Morgan spent his 30 days living with 35-year veteran miner Dale Lusk and his wife Sandy. Every morning before Dale left for the mines at around 2:00 a.m. he wrote Sandy a love note, just in case a disaster prevented him from returning home that day. The episode helped explain what motivates miners like Dale to take such risks - and the biggest incentive seemed to be cash. Dale, who has no college degree, makes over $100,000 a year.

Morgan slowly became accustomed to the dark, and labor-intensive life of a miner. To find out more about his experience, read more.

In fact, he soon appreciated the tranquility and novelty of working beneath the earth's surface. But, near crises shocked Morgan out of his false sense of security, as did the reality that many miners, and some he had built relationships with, face debilitating health conditions like black lung.

Coal mining makes up 50 percent of America's energy supply. This episode reminded me that when I work or play on my computer, with my television, or anything else that requires electricity, I am depending on the routine and dangerous efforts of a West Virginian Coal miner.

Did you catch the episode? Stay tuned next week for 30 Days in a Wheelchair . . .

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Front Page: Haiti Faces Weather Catastrophe, Ice Sheet Breaks Loose, Gas Explosion Kills Miners in China

CitizenSugar — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 07:00:02 -0700

Haiti Faces Weather Catastrophe:
After being hit by three storms in less than 21 days, killing 170 people and causing thousands to flee their homes, Haiti's president says the country is facing a "catastrophe." The latest storm, Hanna, could cause more destruction than the one in 2004 that killed 3,000 people. The Haitian leader is holding emergency talks with donor countries appealing for aid.

Ice Sheet Breaks Loose:
A chunk of ice shelf almost the size of New York City has broken away in Canada's northern Arctic. Scientists say it's a dramatic indication as to how much warmer temperatures are. The 19-square mile shelf is part of the 4,500-year-old Markham Ice Shelf and is now adrift in the Arctic Ocean.

Gas Explosion Kills Miners in China:
A gas explosion has killed 23 and trapped four others in a mine in China's northeast. A spokesman confirmed the explosion but would not say more. China's coal mines are among the world's deadliest with fires, floods, and other disasters killing an average of 13 miners a day.

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On the Newsstand: Time Magazine's 21 Ways to Serve America

CitizenSugar — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 06:00:36 -0700

Hot on the heels of last week's candidates' service forum, Time magazine has an issue devoted to "21 Ways to Fix Up America."

The best bit is the 21 item "User's Guide," filled with tips, tidbits, and pieces from everyone from Ted Kennedy advocating for his Serve America Act to Miley Cyrus on starting young, the list is full of unique ways to volunteer. If you've got time to spare, here are five ways you can serve America too:

Citizen Schools:
The program has 3,200 adult volunteers running after-school programs for 4,500 kids at middle schools in 21 cities. Projects include building solar cars, and trying out their legal skills in mock trials.
Day of Service:
Giving just one day, this year on Sept. 27, the ServiceNation coalition is hosting more than 1,600 service events planned across all 50 states.
Start Young Says Miley Cyrus:
It's never too early to serve: "My family has been visiting Kentucky coal-mine towns since I was little. We take clothes, gifts and school supplies. It's an eye opener for me, seeing families here in America living in Third World conditions."

To see other ways to give back, read more.

The Taproot Foundation:
This organization helps connect talented professionals with nonprofits in need of their talent.
Locks of Love:
Nonprofits like Locks of Love and Wigs for Kids make wigs and hairpieces for kids who have lost their hair because of cancer treatments or medical conditions. If your ponytail is at least 10 inches long, you're a candidate.

The whole list is packed with ways to give. Which one could fit into your schedule?

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Let's Watch Season Three of Morgan Spurlock's 30 Days

CitizenSugar — Mon, 26 May 2008 09:30:00 -0700

Morgan Spurlock of Where in the World is Osama bin Laden fame is kicking off season three of his TV show 30 Days on June 3 (that's a Tuesday at 10 p.m.) Since Liberty and I don't always see completely eye-to-eye, we're excited to watch the show - and pick sides to root for.

The show takes a look at social issues in America by making people live an alternate life that requires them to "see the world through another's eyes" for - you guessed it - 30 days. The season includes these topics: working in a coal mine, animal rights, living in a wheel chair, same-sex parenting, gun nation and life on an Indian reservation. Who's watching with us?