Student Congress Details

The following is not complete (you’ll recognize the holes) – but this is the information as best as we have it, as Tuesday noon. We’ll have another wrap-up tomorrow. Speaking of tomorrow (Wednesday) we will get together during Seminar to craft a Resolution for the Congress.

Travel
We will go by car pool, myself (Mr H) and Ms P.

Our Time Line
Thursday September 20
Leave City 9:30 am– after the finish of First Block
Arrive Lansing 10:45 am
Saturday September 22
Leave Lansing 4:45
Return City High 6:00 pm.

Housing
We will be staying at The Radisson Hotel in downtown Lansing.
111 N Grand Ave
Lansing, MI 48933
(517) 482-0188

Costs
Housing
The most you will pay is $70.
We have applied for a grant from the PTSA and hope to reduce this charge significantly. More on that by Wednesday (tomorrow)
Food
There are fast food places within walking distance.
As we will arrive before lunch – so you can cut costs by packing your lunch for the first day.

Assignments

Technology (Evan, Reggie, Mr H)

Much of sub-Saharan Africa is entirely rural, with miles between villages, and even greater distances to a possible health care provider. The expanded range of cell phones could allow doctors to reach patients more quickly. Strengthened and broader Telemedicine, through use of PDAs and laptops, would allow physicians access to patient records in rural areas. The US Water for the Poor Initiative would help with sanitation technology issues if its emphasis were redirected from the Middle East to sub-Saharan Africa

Education (Julia)

Proper public health education is an important part of decreasing infection rates of many of the disease affecting this region. One change that could be implemented by the United States government would be to not support abstinence-only sexual education. By teaching proper condom usage and the risks associated with being sexually active, HIV infections may also decrease. Proper agricultural development education has many possible advantages including increasing crop production, decreased malnutrition as well as decreased poverty in many areas. Water sanitation is another area where proper education coupled with access to resources could stop the spread of many infectious agents such as cholera and diarrhea.

Environment (Riet)

One of the most effective ways to spread disease and toxins is through water. Industrial toxic waste that is dumped into a river can hurt and even kill people, animals, and the rest of the environment for miles. Although the 1989 Basel Convention was meant to stop international dumpers, there are many who violate this agreement. While the organic revolution spreads throughout America, many African countries continue to use toxic pesticides and herbicides, both for lack of an alternative and education on the issue. More than thirty percent of sub-Saharan citizens are malnourished. Not only is this a public health issue, but also the connection between malnutrition and disease is undeniable.

Science (Nathan)

As the HIV/AIDS epidemic seems to spin out of control in sub-Saharan Africa, we not only see high infection rates, but also significantly decreased life expectancy of those infected compared to those in “developed countries” who are also infected. Part of the reason for this is because of decreased access to anti-retroviral drugs. The availability of generic versions of AZT and other such medication would help to deal with this issue. There is a whole host of neglected tropical diseases that are often forgotten about when researchers begin developing new vaccines and treatments, but can be just as fatal as the more popular diseases. A focus on vaccines instead of just treatment research could potentially curb spread of certain diseases.

Executive Branch (Christina, Ms P)
Duties of the executive branch include:

• Developing an executive stance or position on various legislative items. The executive branch may suggest legislation to committees, lobby for specific concepts or language in bills, or participate in the hearing process for the drafting of proposals.
• Holding hearings, in conjunction with organizational representatives, on specific bills or issues of interest.
• Monitoring legislative debate in both assemblies, including periodic conferencing with legislators and other participants.
• Finalizing executive action on legislation by veto or endorsing proposals, including an option to "sign" bills passed by both assemblies. Review of executive vetoes by the legislature can only occur after initial deliberation on all bills.
• Making special presentations to either legislative body, usually by the elected President and Vice President, on significant issues. With legislative approval, a State of the Union address would be an option.

Press Corps (Catherine, Esther)
This description describes the planned activities can be found in the next post.