To start with the Pride month celebrations in Redwood City, la ciudad tendrá el izamiento de la Bandera Arcoíris, la cual es símbolo de la lucha por los derechos LGBTTTIQ+ y que busca visibilizar a cada uno de los colectivos que lo representan.
Únete a la celebración este miércoles 31 de mayo a las 17:30 horas en la Plaza del Palacio de Justicia, ubicado en el 2200 de Broadway Street en Redwood City.
La bienvenida y comentarios iniciales estarán a cargo del alcalde Jeff Gee y Dana Johnson, comisionada LGBTQ+, copresidenta de la Iniciativa PRIDE y miembro de la junta del Centro CoastPride para el Condado de San Mateo, quienes compartirán sus pensamientos en torno a tan emblemática celebración.
Sea parte de esta ceremonia y conviértase en testigo del izamiento de la vibrante Bandera del Orgullo, un símbolo de amor, aceptación e igualdad.
Durante el evento se estrenará y lanzará «Alex is a Queen», un cautivador cortometraje que explora el viaje del autodescubrimiento y la autoexpresión. La película será presentada por Tony Gapastione, director del mini filme.
A su vez, se realizará la proyección de la película «Kinky Boots», un clásico del cine británico que presenta una conmovedora historia que celebra la diversidad, la aceptación y el poder de abrazar el verdadero yo.
Diviértete tomándote una o varias fotos en el stand de Corazón del Orgullo, pon tu mejor pose y comparte tu Orgullo y amor.
Además de la diversión y la cultura, el ayuntamiento ofrecerá una mesa de recursos, donde los asistentes encontrará información valiosa del Pride Center, la Comisión LGBTQ+ del condado de San Mateo y la biblioteca.
Con flores, canciones, relatos y recordando algunos de los actos que arrebataron la vida a los migrantes que buscaban el «sueño americano» y que cayeron en su ruta a EE. UU., líderes de organizaciones llevaron a cabo un acto de protesta en la que defendieron el derecho al asilo.
Así, la tarde de este martes 23 de mayo se honró la memoria de los migrantes caídos en su ruta, esto durante el evento «La frontera está aquí, alto a la militarización de la frontera»” que se llevó a cabo en la librería Medicina para Pesadillas, en San Francisco, California.
La reunión inició en voz de Francisco Herrera, miembro de la Fundación Cultural Caminante, quien entonó parte de la canción «Caminando», del grupo estadounidense de música folclórica Rising Apppalachia.
«Caminando, caminando, vamos caminando hacia el sol. Caminando, caminando, vamos caminando hacia la libertad…», cantó para luego invitar a las personas a nombrar a quien les abrió camino en este país.
«Estamos honrando a nuestros hermanos caídos y a estos hombres de Guatemala y, con ello, estamos honrando a todos los migrantes del mundo», señaló María Cristina Herrera de la misma organización, quien también invitó a abrir «los corazones y el estómago» para sentir el ritual.
«Hay que hablarlo. Que nunca tengamos miedo de hablar de nuestros migrantes y menos de los caídos», agregó la activista.
A través de un ritual donde presentaron elementos significativos que portan estos migrantes en su camino en búsqueda de una mejor vida, Cristina explicó que los zapatos son las personas que cruzan la frontera: «todos somos migrantes, caminantes por el mundo, necesitamos libertad, buscamos el amor y amamos mucho a nuestros seres queridos».
La mochila ‒que carga con las fotos de la familia, medallitas u otras joyas, emoción, esperanzas y sueños‒ significa «voy a trabajar y cambiar el mundo de mi familia, voy a enviarles para que coman. Con esta mochila van cargando la vida de todo un pueblo».
Las chamarras significan el amor de las mamás y la esposa, cuida tu salud, un «regresa por nosotros» de las familias. Mientras que los galones de agua nunca terminados representan la esperanza de vida, «siempre guardan la última gota de agua».
El ritual terminó con el encendido de velas para enviar «luz» a todos los migrantes que están saliendo de su hogar, por sus sueños, así como para los «hermanos caídos».
«Nadie sale de su país nada más por el hecho de decir que no le gusta», sentenció Cristina. Esta idea fue apoyada por Terry Valen de la Alianza Internacional de Migrantes ‒IMA, por sus siglas en inglés‒, quien agregó que las personas se ven forzadas a dejar sus casas por la economía de sus países, así como situaciones de violencia que viven en su comunidad.
El evento fue organizado por el Gremio Nacional de Abogadas y Abogados en el área de la Bahía, Testigos en la Frontera, Global Exchange, Península 360 Press, Comité de Acción Haití, así como la Fundación Cultural Caminante.
Entre los participantes, estuvieron representantes de las organizaciones Acción Latina, Instituto Familiar de la Raza y la IMA.
En su momento, Camilo Antonio Pérez Bustillo, director del Gremio Nacional de Abogadas y Abogados en el Área de la Bahía, nombró a Luis Ángel y Anadith Tanay, dos menores de edad quienes fallecieron bajo la custodia de las autoridades en Estados Unidos.
El primero de ellos tenía 17 años de edad, era originario de Honduras y su vida terminó el pasado 10 de mayo en un albergue de Florida. Luis Ángel estaba solo y bajo la custodia de las autoridades federales.
Anadith Tanay tenía 8 años y más de una semana en un centro de detención de inmigrantes en Harlingen, Texas, perdió el conocimiento y murió el pasado 17 de mayo. Ella sufría problemas en el corazón y sus padres aseguran que su hija duró días quejándose de no poder respirar y que los agentes solo llamaron a la ambulancia cuando ya era demasiado tarde.
Asimismo, recordaron el caso del pasado 27 de marzo en Ciudad Juárez, cuando un incendio en un centro de detención de migrantes cobró la vida de 39 personas. Por el hecho, seis personas fueron detenidas: tres funcionarios del Instituto Nacional de Migración, dos guardias de seguridad privada y la persona que presuntamente inició el incendio.
The 5K run was a part of the Community Wellness Fair. Photo: Noah Braunstein. P360P.
“Thank you all for coming out to this event that supports mental health with awareness and community resources! Make sure to grab your finisher pin.”
As the runners crossed the finish line in the race 5K Mental Health Matters ‒Mental Health Matters‒, it was clear that there were more winners than just runners with race numbers.
Early Sunday, May 21, community groups and runners gathered at Seal Point Park in San Mateo, to “Mental Health Matters», a community event sponsored by Star Vista and the San Mateo Police Activities League ‒PAL‒ to raise awareness about mental health and wellness resources.
The 5K race was just one part of this community event that also featured yoga sessions, self-care activities, wellness art, service dogs and a community partner fair.
Before and after the race, more than 30 community partners hosted tables with information, demonstrations, activities and giveaways, all focused on promoting health, mental health and well-being.
The Mental Health Matters 2023 community event was organized by Star Vista and the Police Activities League (PAL).
Co-organizer Lourdes Enríquez explained the origin of the event.
“In 2016, my 16-year-old daughter expressed concern about the mental health and well-being of her peers. As we discussed the topic, I became aware of my own contributions to her stress as a parent. We set out to raise awareness and sought out community partners to help us plan an event where community leaders and organizations could work together to promote discussion and education about health and wellness topics. San Mateo PAL partnered with us and this was the genesis of the 5K Run/Walk and Wellness Fair,” Enriquez said.
Community groups offered information, services, activities, and giveaways at booths throughout Seal Point Park and Ryder Park in San Mateo.
The need for this event resonated clearly with over five hundred community members of all ages who came out to run or enjoy the dozens of booths and activities.
Participant Mai Le explained why her family joined the 5K race and activities. “It’s a special time of year for me because my father, who suffered from schizophrenia, passed away last year. We decided to do this race in his honor. It’s so nice to be here with the rest of the community to see people doing great things for mental health awareness,” Le said.
San Mateo Police and Marine Corps Officer Capt. Luke Thornburg attended the race with many fellow Marines, and stressed the importance of the event’s focus. “The event is so important for law enforcement and the armed services to be aware of, and to promote awareness of, mental health issues,” Thornburg noted.
Thornburg's dog Archie also enjoyed the race and was the first to cross the finish line.
April Rovero, executive director of the National Coalition Against Prescription Drug Abuse (NCAPDA), hosted a booth where prescription drug kits were made available to the public. Narcan were available to the public.
Rovero is passionate about health education, having lost her son Joey in college to an overdose.
“I absolutely recognize that mental health can lead to substance use, which could lead to substance abuse,” she said. “They go hand in hand, and I want people here who are motivated to raise mental health awareness to understand how to use the fentanyl overdose awareness kits.”
Twisha Anand, co-founder of Humanest, a peer support program moderated by therapists, spoke about why she believed it was important to speak out today.
“We want the community to know that there are community support services that are tailored to each person’s needs at each moment. The moment you are motivated to take that leap, you will get the support and services you are looking for,” Anand said.
From information about mental illness, to wellness practices, to accessing Narcan kits, stress balls, and community resources, it’s clear that the community was the real winner at Mental Health Matters 2023.
A los estadounidenses les preocupa que las herramientas de Inteligencia Artificial empeoren el odio, acoso y extremismo que, de por sí, ya son altos, señaló un estudio realizado por el Centro de Tecnología y Sociedad de la Liga Antidifamación ‒ADL, por sus siglas en inglés‒.
De acuerdo a un breve estudio realizado por la organización sin fines de lucro, si bien algunas personas tienen esperanzas con respecto a algunos de los usos potenciales de las herramientas de IA generativa, existe una preocupación abrumadora de que estos avances empeoren el odio y el acoso en la sociedad.
En ese sentido, precisó que a la mayoría sustancial de los estadounidenses les preocupa que las personas utilicen las herramientas para actividades delictivas ‒84 por ciento‒, difundir información falsa o engañosa ‒84 por ciento‒), radicalizar a las personas hacia el extremismo ‒77 por ciento‒, e incitar al odio y al acoso ‒75 por ciento‒.
Asimismo, destaca que 74 por ciento de las personas piensa que las herramientas producirán contenido sesgado, mientras que otro 70 por ciento considera que las herramientas empeorarán el extremismo, el odio y/o el antisemitismo en Estados Unidos.
El estudio que encuestó a mil siete personas en todo el país, entre el 1 y el 5 de mayo de este año, reveló que los estadounidenses apoyaron abrumadoramente las intervenciones para mitigar los riesgos que plantea la IA generativa.
En cuanto a lo que deberían hacer las empresas que crean herramientas IAG, 89 por ciento de los encuestados cree que las empresas deberían tomar medidas para evitar que sus herramientas creen contenido de odio y no permitir que los usuarios generen imágenes antisemitas o extremistas.
En términos de acción gubernamental o legal, 87 por ciento de los encuestados apoyó los esfuerzos del Congreso para exigir transparencia y privacidad, en tanto que 81 por ciento de los que realizaron la encuesta, cree que los creadores de herramientas GAI deben ser considerados responsables si sus herramientas se utilizan para el odio, el acoso o el extremismo ilegales.
Finalmente, 85 por ciento apoyó que la sociedad civil tenga la capacidad de auditar herramientas de IA generativa.
Ante ello, la organización precisó que, si bien la conversación puede y debe continuar sobre los posibles beneficios de IAG, todas las partes interesadas ‒gobierno, empresas de tecnología, usuarios de redes sociales y organizaciones de la sociedad civil‒ deben colocar dichos riesgos al frente, para garantizar estas nuevas capacidades en beneficio de la sociedad.
This publication was supported in whole or part by funding provided by the State of California, administered by the California State Library.
Two minors were injured this weekend, a minor was shot and another was stabbed in Redwood City, so the city Police Department is already investigating what happened.
On May 21 at around 8:10 p.m., the Redwood City Police Department responded to a report of a subject who had been shot downtown near 750 Marshall Street.
At the scene, two minors were located with serious but not life-threatening injuries.
One of the juveniles, a 15-year-old male, suffered a gunshot wound to the upper leg. It appears to have been caused by an accidental self-inflicted discharge as a result of the juvenile having a firearm in his waistband.
The firearm was not recovered and is believed to have been taken from the scene by the boy's classmates, who have not yet been identified. However, a 9mm shell casing was found.
Similarly, another 14-year-old male was found to have a minor stab wound to the upper back.
It is currently being investigated as a separate incident. However, detectives are not ruling out any connection between the two events.
The two minors were transported to the hospital for further treatment, authorities said in a statement.
Because the investigation is active, the Redwood City Police Department is asking anyone with information regarding this case to contact Detective Cagno at 650-780-7669.
According to the latest data published by the World Meteorological Organization ‒WMO‒Global temperatures are likely to reach record levels in the next five years, driven by heat-trapping greenhouse gases and the natural phenomenon of El Niño.
The international organization said in a report that there is a 66 percent probability that, between 2023 and 2027, the average annual global temperature near the surface will exceed pre-industrial levels by more than 1.5 °C for at least one year.
He also stressed There is a 98 percent chance that at least one of the next five years, as well as the five-year period as a whole, will be the warmest on record..
“These data do not mean that we will permanently exceed the 1.5°C level envisaged in the Paris Agreement, which refers to long-term warming over many years. However, WMO is sounding the alarm that we will exceed 1.5°C only temporarily and with increasing frequency,” said WMO Secretary-General Professor Petteri Taalas.
The official also said that an El Niño episode is expected to take hold in the coming months, which has a warming effect that, combined with climate change caused by human activities, will raise global temperatures to unknown limits.
"This will have far-reaching implications for health, food security, water management and the environment. We need to be prepared," Taalas said.
According to the publication Global Annual to Decadal Climate Update According to a report by the UK Met Office – the WMO’s lead centre for such predictions – there is only a 32 per cent chance that the five-year average will exceed the 1.5°C limit.
In 2015, the probability of global warming ever exceeding 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels was almost zero, but that probability has been increasing ever since. For the period from 2017 to 2021, the probability of exceeding the threshold was 10 percent, according to the WMO.
"Global average temperatures are projected to continue to rise, taking us further away from the climate we are used to," said Dr Leon Hermanson, a senior scientist at the UK Met Office who led the report.
The text states that in 2022, the global average temperature will have exceeded the average for the period between 1850 and 1900 by approximately 1.15 °C. The cooling effect exerted by the La Niña weather conditions during much of the past three years temporarily slowed the longer-term warming trend.
However, the La Niña episode ended in March 2023 and El Niño conditions are expected to return in the coming months.
Typically, El Niño increases global temperatures in the year following its formation, which in this case would be 2024.
The Arctic warming is also disproportionately high. Compared to the 1991-2020 average, the Arctic temperature anomaly is projected to be more than three times the global average anomaly, once the average for the next five long northern hemisphere winters has been calculated.
Compared to the 1991-2020 average, the average forecast for May-September rainfall in 2023-2027 suggests a higher chance of rain in the Sahel, northern Europe, Alaska and northern Siberia, while the Amazon region and parts of Australia will experience drier conditions.
Actor, writer, director, choreographer, producer, and entrepreneur D'Arcy Drollinger has been named by the City of San Francisco as its first Drag Laureate, serving as a spokesperson for the city's LGBTQ+ community, as well as producing and participating in events and programs that celebrate the area's rich history and diversity.
Among other responsibilities, the new Drag Laureate will be required to partner in an official capacity with various city agencies and community organizations; produce drag events and programming focused on celebrating and supporting the LGBTQ+ community; ensure San Francisco’s rich drag history is shared, honored, and preserved; and help promote and select the next Drag Laureate toward the completion of their 18-month term.
“I am honored and excited to have been chosen as San Francisco’s Drag Laureate, and proud to live in a city that is a pioneer in this position, while other parts of the U.S. and the world might not support drag,” said D’Arcy Drollinger.
At an event held by the city council, the new Drag Laureate highlighted that “this role will build bridges and create partnerships, whilst elevating and celebrating the Art of Drag.”
“As the first ever Drag Laureate, I am dedicated to continuing to uplift my fellow members of the LGBTQIA+ community with the support and backing of the Mayor’s Office, and I look forward to the positive impact this will have on Bay Area artists and our great city,” the artist said.
The San Francisco Drag Laureate Program is a joint initiative of the Mayor’s Office, the San Francisco Public Library (SFPL), and the San Francisco Human Rights Commission (HRC).
D'Arcy was selected by Mayor London Breed from among 15 applicants, following a vetting process that included an 11-member Review Committee from various City Agencies.
“While drag culture is under attack in other parts of the country, in San Francisco we embrace and uplift the incredible drag artists who through their art and advocacy have contributed to our city’s history around civil rights and equity,” the mayor said.
“I am proud to invest in programs that create a platform for people like D’Arcy who send a message to the nation and the world that our great city is a model of acceptance and opportunity for all,” he added.
To be considered for the Drag Laureate position, interested individuals had to meet certain criteria, including being a full-time resident of San Francisco, having a fundamental knowledge of the city's drag history, and having experience in community activism, engagement, and philanthropy.
The San Francisco Public Library will provide D'Arcy with a grant of $55,000 over the course of an 18-month period to support her work and community involvement.
The migration phenomenon is not something new, it has always existed. However, it is now necessary to recognize climate change as a key factor in migratory movements.
During a press conference organized by Ethnic Media Services, specialists pointed out that, years ago, it was more evident that migratory movements occurred between neighboring nations, however, currently it is observed that people move to more distant nations, and even cross continents. This change is caused by the climatic conditions that the planet faces.
Given the situation, it is necessary to prevent the abandonment of homes in the countries most vulnerable to adverse weather conditions, considering legal mobility a priority when facing migration crises.
Susan Fratzke, a policy analyst with the Migration Policy Institute's International Program, expressed her concern for migrants, who are forced to leave their countries of origin in search of better living conditions and who, due to a lack of support to enter the country legally, put themselves in risky situations.
"There are very few opportunities to travel legally to seek asylum or protection. If a person is at risk in their home country or elsewhere, the only way they can seek protection is through an illegal process, because it is very difficult to obtain a legal visa and this creates different crises, for example, the humanitarian one at the border with Mexico," he said.
When they leave their countries, migrants face a lack of food and water, dangerous roads, false promises from "coyotes" or scams, discrimination, and women suffer rape. In the worst cases, migrants will never reach their goal.
Andrew Rosenberg, an adjunct professor of political science at the University of Florida and author of “Unwanted Immigrants: Why Racism Persists in International Migration,” said that most people have a prejudice or racist feeling against migrants who enter their country, because they believe that they harm them economically and socially.
For Rosenberg, the migration crisis is not isolated from environmental issues around the world. “What we all need to consider is that these crises are not separate. Some have called this situation a “poly-crisis” to highlight the importance of how they are connected, while history and prejudice perpetuate each one.”
Amali Tower, founder and executive director of Climate Refugees, noted that between 80 and 90 percent of refugees come from countries vulnerable to climate change. In 2015 alone, she said, 50 countries suffered displacement due to natural disasters.
Tower said that climate change should be a global priority as it is a factor that can modify migratory movements, helping people to remain in their countries of origin; otherwise, the climate crisis will continue to put more people at risk.
“Currently, northern countries are the most vulnerable to the climate crisis, as they are spending more money covering and securing their border to keep migrants out, rather than addressing the crisis, forcing people who have left their country to become homeless.”
Finally, Hossein Ayazi, a policy analyst at the Global Justice Program at the Othering & Belonging Institute at the University of California, Berkeley, explained that people who do not migrate also face problems of climate change, which should be considered in decision-making on migration policy.
Many of those who leave their homes in search of better conditions leave their families with problems at home: food crises, political, social, economic and health conflicts, so simply leaving the country should not be seen as a final solution to so many current crises.
“This is not just about supporting climate refugees who are displaced, but about transforming the conditions that have led to their displacement,” Hossein added.
In this regard, he pointed out that it is important to address the climate change crisis from the countries of origin, considering practices that help improve environmental aspects, moving away from the use of fossil fuels, after it has been shown that regional and local economies are being built that do not depend so much on them.
The reality we live in cannot be seen as isolated factors, he pointed out. Everything that happens in countries affects the whole world, which is why migratory movements are a consequence of political and social conflicts, economic crises and the effects of climate change, such as: high or very low temperatures, melting ice, animals in danger of extinction, severe droughts and intense hurricanes, among many others.
In response, experts called for measures to be taken to improve conditions for people in their countries and to seek local solutions to the effects of climate change that can help communities in general.
However, we know that migratory movements will always be present and generating legal avenues for migrants is an essential issue.
Todos los carriles de la autopista US 101 en Sunnyvale reabrieron casi nueve horas después de que un accidente que mató a tres personas y envió a otras cinco al hospital este lunes por la mañana.
La colisión de reacción en cadena se informó alrededor de las 00:30 horas en la autopista 101 en dirección norte, justo al sur de Fair Oaks Avenue.
La Patrulla de Carreteras de California dijo que el accidente se desencadenó cuando una camioneta Ford que viajaba hacia el norte golpeó el divisor central y se detuvo, bloqueando algunos carriles hacia el norte. Luego, otros autos golpearon la camioneta y también se detuvieron en los carriles en la misma dirección.
Tres personas salieron de los autos y estaban paradas cerca cuando otro vehículo chocó con ellos, lo que provocó que dos fueran arrojados a los carriles hacia el sur, donde otro vehículo los golpeó, según el portavoz de CHP, el oficial Ross Lee.
Un total de seis vehículos estuvieron involucrados en la reacción en cadena.
Ambas direcciones se cerraron al tráfico después del accidente, pero la autopista se reabrió por completo a las 9:10 horas.
Canopies, una organización sin fines de lucro en el Área de la Bahía, busca que barrios históricamente desfavorecidos tengan una mayor cobertura arbórea para proteger la zona y a todos los que viven en ellas, por lo que ha organizado una reunión en Redwood City para encontrar solución a la falta de árboles.
Y es que, diversas ciudades vulnerables en el área sufren una menor cobertura arbórea en comparación con las zonas más prósperas, lo que provoca una mala calidad del aire y del agua, así como un mayor riesgo de calor, ruido e inundaciones.
En respuesta a este desafío crítico, Canopy, la cual está dedicada a la silvicultura urbana, está abordando el problema y promoviendo la equidad de cobertura arbórea en el condado de San Mateo.
El condado de San Mateo enfrenta disparidades significativas en la cobertura de árboles que crean desigualdades ambientales y sociales, particularmente en vecindarios históricamente desatendidos. East Palo Alto tiene una cubierta de dosel de árboles de solo el 13.5 por ciento, mientras que Atherton tiene una cubierta de dosel de árboles del 51.2 por ciento.
En el evento, que tendrá lugar este próximo miércoles 24 de mayo de 14:30 a 16:00 horas en el Espacio Comunitario de la Iniciativa Chan Zuckerberg, ubicado en el 801 de Jefferson Ave en Redwood City, se busca que los residentes aprendan a abogar por que los gobiernos locales involucren activamente a las comunidades en la gestión de la cubierta vegetal, creando un entorno más justo y equitativo para todos.
Además, se proporcionarán conocimientos y recursos para capacitar a los residentes, aumentando su comprensión de la silvicultura urbana y fomentando la participación activa en iniciativas vitales de conservación.
Al evento se sumará la experta Maya Briones, defensora asociada de Canopy, quien ha coordinado programas de plantación de árboles y administración en East Palo Alto.
Antes de Canopy, Maya investigó la eficacia del Programa de Reemplazo de Árboles del Condado de San Mateo como pasante de planificación. Es coautora de una investigación publicada sobre el acceso a los espacios verdes y, en el futuro, espera seguir investigando cuestiones de justicia ambiental en la escuela de posgrado.
Es graduada del programa de Estudios Ambientales de la Universidad Estatal de San José, donde se centró en la restauración del hábitat y la gestión de recursos, con una especialización en Estudios Mexicano-Americanos.
Actualmente, Maya es estudiante de posgrado en la Escuela de Estudios Ambientales de la Universidad Estatal de San José.
It should be noted that attendance at this event is completely free, but it is necessary to register. Además de que las personas también podrán acceder al evento a través de la plataforma virtual Zoom, donde habrá traducción simultánea a idioma español.
