The Blog

By Bonnie Erbe

In many ways our country is united, but in just as many ways the United States seems like two nations. On Tuesday, the Supreme Court's 5-4 ruling overturning part of the Voting Rights Act exemplified our differences.

By Rebecca Morin, Intern

In a 5-4 decision The Supreme Court struck down a key part of the Voting Rights Act of 1965.  It means states and municipalities with a history of racial discrimination  do not have to ask the federal government for permission to change voting procedure.  It applied to nine states and parts of six others, mostly in the South.

By Cari Stein, Executive Producer

It may surprise many Americans that human trafficking happens right here in the United States.  In fact, victims are not only from foreign countries they include Americans.  Trafficking is estimated to be a 32-Billion dollar a year “industry” exploiting women, children, boys and men for sexual slavery as well as forced labor.

This week, To the Contrary visited Homeland Security headquarters to speak with Secretary Janet Napolitano about trafficking.  In an interview with TTC host Bonnie Erbe, Secretary Napolitano outlined a DHS campaign to bring this hidden crime out of the shadows.   The Blue Campaign aims to raise the level of awareness of the general public so regular citizens can recognize the signs of human trafficking and report it to authorities.  The campaign’s new website is https://www.dhs.gov/blue-campaign/blue-campaign

By Bonnie Erbe

Kuala Lumpur was the site of an incredibly important global conference last month on maternal and child health care. The confab drew the participation of more than 4,500 attendees including high-level United Nations officials, government leaders, renowned philanthropists and NGO chiefs. There was even a sprinkling of celebrities such as actress Mandy Moore, Chelsea Clinton and Barbara Bush (daughter, not mother of George W. Bush.)

President Obama did something incredibly important this week. He shined a spotlight on mental illness. His purpose was not only to raise awareness so more Americans can spot signs of it among family and friends and to increase treatment, but also to spread the word recovery is more attainable than ever.

U.S. society is woefully ignorant of mental illness. The President's intervention will, it is hoped, help close the knowledge gap. The President armed himself with the firepower of Hollywood stars Bradley Cooper and Glenn Close, whom he invited to the conference. They've both played mentally ill characters and in Close's case, has helped a close family member battle bi-polar disorder. The President aims to eradicate the stigma associated with the array of bio-chemical disorders including Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, bipolar disorder, depression and so on.