08/29/17 RTIR Newsletter: Harvey, Amazon/Whole Foods, Benefits of Being Unpopular

01. Who Wins in Amazon/Whole Foods Merger?
02. Harvey: NOW Can We Talk About Climate Change?
03. When Your Life is Under Water – How to Recover
04. Labor Day and NAFTA
05. Seniors are the New American Nomads
06. UK Parents Desperate for U.S. Doc to Save Son
07. Trump Moves Ahead with Transgender Ban
08. America’s Vets Need Your Help
09. BTS for Parents: Uh-Oh, the Principal Called
10. Parents Need Homework Help, Too!
11. Backpacks Linked to Lower Grades
12. Test Stress – Help for Anxious Kids
13. What If You Could Prevent Alzheimer’s?
14. Millions Unaware They Have this Silent Disease
15. Not Popular? That’s Good for Your Mental Health!
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1. ==> Who Wins in Amazon/Whole Foods Merger?

As of Monday, Amazon and Whole Foods have merged, but
not everyone is happy. The group Food and Water Watch
has released a statement blasting the Federal Trade
Commission for rashly rubber stamping the $14 billion
merger—to the detriment of farmers and consumers across
the U.S. The statement reads in part: “On the campaign
trail, Trump vilified Amazon as an unfair e-commerce
monopoly, but his administration quietly approved a
deal that will affect farmers and consumers coast-to-
coast. The past few years have seen an agribusiness,
supermarket and food company mega-merger mania that is
harming farmers and consumers, and the federal
antitrust regulators have been asleep at the switch —
under both Trump and Obama. It is long past time for
Washington to stand up to the merger mania sweeping
everything from seed companies to supermarkets into its
monopolist maw.” Contact Patrick Woodall, research
director and senior policy advocate at FWW, at
pwoodall@fwwatch.org or Patty Lovera at
plovera@fwwatch.org, @foodandwater

2. ==> Harvey: NOW Can We Talk About Climate Change?

Scientists know climate change is affecting Americans
now, but many in power turn a blind eye. How many
calamities and broken weather records will we require
before taking responsibility for our role in creating,
or at least worsening, so-called “natural” disasters
such as Tropical Storm Harvey? How high a price—in
deaths, disease, trauma, dislocation, property damage,
and money—are we willing to pay for the luxury of
inaction? Ellen Moyer, Ph.D., says climate change and
other environmental insults such as wetland destruction
exact a high price. “What we don’t know can definitely
hurt us, and is hurting us now. Government needs to
advise us about the costs so we can decide whether to
address environmental damage in order to prevent or
lessen such misery. If a preventive approach costs
less, we deserve to know!” Moyer will discuss practical
and cost-effective ways to create better weather and a
healthier world for ourselves. Moyer is a registered
professional engineer with a B.A. in anthropology, an
M.S. in environmental engineering, a Ph.D. in civil
engineering, and 30 years of environmental engineering
experience. “Our Earth, Our Species, Our Selves: How to
Thrive While Creating a Sustainable World” is her third
book, and she is a regular contributor to “The
Huffington Post.” Contact her at (413) 862-3452;
ellenmoyer@em-green.com

3. ==> When Your Life is Under Water – How to Recover

Victims face a myriad of obstacles in the aftermath of
a disaster like Tropical Storm Harvey. With entire
homes swept away and families displaced, imagine, once
safe, you realize all of your financial records,
important documents and tax returns are gone. What do
you do? Invite tax and financial expert Abby Eisenkraft
to explain how to rebuild your financial records and
ways to avoid this type of problem in the future.
Eisenkraft is the author of “101 Ways to Stay Off the
IRS Radar.” Frequently quoted by the press, she is one
of the leading experts on IRS problems and how to avoid
them. Contact her at (347) 598-0111;
abby@reallifetaxadvice.com

4. ==> Labor Day and NAFTA

Mexico and Canada are being “very difficult” in
negotiations for the new NAFTA, President Trump said
with the second round of talks to begin on Friday,
adding in a tweet, “may have to terminate?” At issue is
the chronic trade deficit with Mexico, with the U.S.
importing some $60 billion more in goods from Mexico
than it exports there. Those lost dollars mean lost
jobs and lower wages, says James A. Stuber, author of
the new book, “What if Things Were Made in America
Again.” Stuber says only consumers can solve the NAFTA
problem, and the best thing we could do to help our
workers this Labor Day is to bring some of our spending
home. “If Nabisco and Carrier know that American
consumers won’t buy cookies and air conditioners made
in Mexico, they won’t move their U.S.-bound production
there. Through the power of consumer choice, we can
stop sending jobs abroad, and start bringing them
home.” Stuber is the founder of Made in America Again,
a movement of consumers dedicated to rebuilding the
American middle class by buying things made in American
communities. He is an attorney and entrepreneur who
formerly served as legislative assistant to a member of
the United States House of Representatives. Contact him
at (610) 608-5074;
james.stuber@themadeinamericabook.com

5. ==> Seniors are the New American Nomads

Many Americans have faced tough new realities in the
midst of massive changes in the economy and a widening
wealth gap. One hard-hit demographic is senior citizens
—many of whom saw their stable middle-class lives
disappear in the wake of the Great Recession. Suddenly,
in their retirement years, they found themselves in
need of a job in a new economy low on steady
manufacturing and retail jobs and high on short-term
seasonal labor. As a result, to survive they join an
expanding group of modern nomads: men and women who
have given up the stability—and costs—of a home life
and have hit the road in RVs, campervans, and trailers.
Journalist Jessica Bruder immersed herself in this
diverse community, buying a van she dubbed “Halen” and
driving more than 15,000 miles over the course of two
years, meeting modern nomads. She worked alongside them
in Amazon’s CamperForce team of low-wage, seasonal
workers at the company’s fulfillment centers and at the
grueling annual sugar beet harvest in North Dakota. Her
book is “Nomadland: Surviving America in the Twenty-
First Century.” Contact Johanna Ramos-Boyer at (703)
646-5137; johanna@jrbcomm.com

6. ==> UK Parents Desperate for U.S. Doc to Save Son

In the wake of the Charlie Gard tragedy where a British
infant was denied medical treatment by UK courts, the
parents of 15-month-old Alfie Evans are desperately
trying to find a specialist in the U.S. with
mitochondrial/epilepsy/coma expertise to treat their
son’s yet undiagnosed condition before UK courts
interfere in the case. Alfie was born healthy but was
admitted to the hospital after getting a chest
infection that caused epileptic seizures, which
resulted in him being placed on life support. His
parents were told he only had hours to live so they had
him christened in the hospital. Alfie has been fighting
to stay alive but the doctors have indicated that his
parents should withdraw life support and “allow him to
die peacefully” because that’s “in his best interest.”
With time running out, the response to this desperate
search for a doctor who can diagnose and treat Alfie
has gone global. Volunteers, known as Alfie’s Army,
have mobilized in an effort to raise money to bring
Alfie abroad for treatment. Contact Sarah Evans at
011-44-(783) 590-3096 (UK) or sarah_evans_3@icloud.com

7. ==> Trump Moves Ahead with Transgender Ban

Last Friday, Donald Trump signed a directive that could
lead to banning transgender people from serving in the
military. Yesterday, the ACLU announced it was suing
the Trump administration over the policy that may
affect the estimated 2,000 to 11,000 transgender
soldiers currently serving their country. With this
topic all over the news, now is the time to bring Seth
Rainess—a transgender activist—on your program to
discuss the rollback in transgender rights occurring
under the Trump administration. Seth says, “Trump’s
directive shows his lack of care for American citizens.
His is not an evidence-based decision. Trans troops
have been in the armed forces for many years. The cost
of medical expenses for transitioning individuals pales
in comparison to what it costs to fly to Mar-a-lago for
weekends.” Seth will also point out that the best
military in the world, the Israeli Army, allows
transgender troops to openly serve. Seth’s book is
“Real Talk for Teens: Jump Start Guide to Gender
Transition and Beyond.” His mission is to alleviate the
still prevalent fears and misconceptions people have
about transgender people and he’s been featured
in Time and numerous media outlets. Reach him at (732)
620-4300 (cell); (732) 291-6090 (landline)
or sjrainess@yahoo.com

8. ==> America’s Vets Need Your Help

Every day in the U.S. 50,000 military veterans
experience homelessness and 21 vets commit suicide.
These are men and women who have given their all for
their country and deserve a better, smoother process
when they transition from the armed forces to civilian
life. To help them (and their families) take advantage
of all the services that are available to them
interview Jennifer Hammond. She wrote “101+ Resources
for Veterans: The Ultimate Resource Guide” with
participation from the nonprofit group A Hero
Foundation. Jennifer is passionate about helping
veterans, having been adopted as a teenager by a
military family. A SiriusXM radio host, Jennifer has
brought veterans issues to light while interviewing
seven congressmen on Capitol Hill for the Veterans
Legislative Forum, the Veterans Homelessness Forum, and
the Military Family Housing Forum. She can discuss
organizations all military families should know about
and what we need to do to end homelessness among
veterans. Reach her at (202) 345-2343;
jhammond@ttrsir.com

9. ==> BTS for Parents: Uh-Oh, the Principal Called

You may have their backpacks and new pencils and
clothes, but back-to-school isn’t just about getting
kids ready. Parents need some help understanding what’s
expected in school, and how they can prepare kids.
Retired elementary school principal Susan Colton can
discuss everything from what to do if your child’s
principal wants to see you to how to get the most out
of Back-to-School Night to what to expect under Betsy
DeVos and how we can reverse the corporate takeover of
public schools. The author of the upcoming book
“Principal’s Passion: A Quest for Quality Public
Education,” she was once told she would never be a
principal because she was too nice. Nevertheless,
Colton was principal of two elementary schools. She was
named a National Distinguished Principal during her 22
years holding that position. Contact her at (954)
786-8220 or scolton@bellsouth.net

10. ==> Parents Need Homework Help, Too!

Back-to-school means the return of nightly homework for
most students. But are you smart enough to help your
kid with their homework? Can you explain the
Pythagorean Theorem or recite the details of the Battle
of Bunker Hill? Maybe you don’t have to. Adrian Ridner,
CEO and co-founder of Study.com, has some ideas on how
parents can use online resources for homework help, and
how to avoid the pitfalls of “fake news” by ensuring
your sources are credible. Fed up with the high cost of
education, Ridner started Study.com in 2002 with the
mission of making education affordable, effective and
engaging. Today, the company helps over 25 million
students a month, from middle school through college,
with short video-based online courses. Contact Chandni
Brunamonti at cbrunamonti@study.com

11. ==> Backpacks Linked to Lower Grades

You may know that heavy backpacks are tough on kids’
backs, but carrying books and school supplies in a
backpack can actually lower school grades up to a full
letter grade and more by chronically reducing brain
oxygen! “School administrators inexplicably require
students to carry their textbook with their breathing
muscles,” says Bob Prichard, “not realizing that the
brain requires ten times more oxygen than any other
part of the body. The effects of daily carrying a
school backpack last far beyond school and can impair
productivity, promotions and pay raises at work.”
Prichard will explain what parents should look for in a
backpack, alternatives to backpacks, and why adults
should pay heed to what and how they’re carrying their
own backpacks and messenger bags. Prichard runs the
Somax Performance Institute where for over 40 years he
has been helping athletes improve their efficiency and
flexibility. For example, 18 Olympic athletes he worked
with have won 44 gold medals and set 11 world records.
An NBC Sports Olympics on-air analyst, he’s written for
many periodicals and his sports analysis videos have
over 5M views on YouTube. His new book is “Are You
Starving Your Brain of Oxygen?” Contact him at (415)
435-9880 (CA); BPrichard@SomaxSports.com

12. ==> Test Stress – Help for Anxious Kids

For many children, fear of a taking test causes a great
deal of anxiety and stress. Phobia relief expert
Kalliope Barlis says that some stress is healthy
because it causes you to be alert, but when stress
becomes extreme and debilitating, it’s time to take
action. Barlis will discuss three simple steps to help
kids keep test-taking in perspective and use the
opportunity as a way to learn what they don’t know! She
says, “There is no such thing as failure. Only feedback
about what you need to do next so you can move
forward!” Barlis is a New York City-based licensed
trainer of NLP who has appeared on CBS, NBC, Fox and
SiriusXM, among other media outlets and has helped
thousands of people conquer their phobias. She is the
author of “Phobia Relief.” Contact her at
(718)751-5105; Ask@PhobiaReliefDay.org

13. ==> What If You Could Prevent Alzheimer’s?

What if there was something you could do to prevent
this dreaded disease? And what if no one was telling
you about it? There is such a therapy and you can
interview one of the pioneers. According to Michael
Morgan, his research shows strong evidence of the
promise of craniosacral therapy in the treatment of at-
risk people and those in the early to mid-stages of
dementia. He’ll explain what craniosacral therapy is
(it’s also being used by NFL players, and children with
autism) and ways it can increase longevity. Morgan is
the author of “The BodyEnergy Longevity Prescription:
How CranioSacral Therapy Helps Prevent Alzheimer’s and
Dementia While Improving the Quality of Your Life.”
Reach him at (312) 543-4719; media@bodyenergy.net

14. ==> Millions Unaware They Have this Silent Disease

One in seven American adults, or 30 million people, are
estimated to have chronic kidney disease.
Astonishingly, 96% of those with early kidney disease
(stages 1 and 2) don’t even know they have it! With one
in three Americans at risk for this disease, it’s time
to talk about it. Michael Banks will share his own
journey through diagnosis, failure, dialysis,
transplant and recovery. You’ll also hear how his
partner Karin gave him a true gift of love when she
became his living donor. Banks is a Brit who has lived
in the U.S. for the last 28 years. A leadership expert
by profession, he wrote “Gotta Kidney?! A Journey
Through Fear to Hope and Beyond” to turn his painful
struggle into a positive that others can benefit from.
Contact him at (415) 683-8701 (voicemail messages
only); michaelbanks7@gmail.com or skype:
michael.banks25

15. ==> Not Popular? That’s Good for Your Mental
Health!

According to a recent study, people who have a few
close friends in their teen years, as opposed to having
many friends but fewer close relationships, benefit
long-term. If you have a small but tight-knit friend
group when you’re 15, researchers found that when
you’re 25, you’re likely to have more self-worth and
fewer mental health symptoms like anxiety and
depression. On the other hand, people who were more
popular at age 15 are more likely to experience social
anxiety a decade later. Clinical forensic psychologist
Dr. John Huber can discuss the short- and long-term
benefits of not being popular and why a person who is
popular in high school may not be popular in the real
world years later? Dr. Huber is the chairman for
Mainstream Mental Health, a non-profit mental health
organization. A mental health professional for over 20
years, Dr. Huber is a practitioner and a professor at
Texas State University. Contact Ryan McCormick at (919)
377-1200 or (516) 901-1103 or ryan@goldmanmccormick.com

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