Dr. Mehdi Heravi is a retired college history professor, author, and editor, born in Tehran and educated in Iran, England and the US. His interest was in international relations (with a focus on the Middle East and American government). This led him to the School of International Service at American University. In the early 1970’s the Shah of Iran was afraid of both the Red Revolution (Russian communist’s) and the Islamic Marxists in the small villages. His grandfather encouraged him to go to the US. He said 87 people hold 50% of the world’s wealth and they promote their political self interest VS the peoples interest. He talked about ISIS and said Iran was the only Middle East Power that could defeat ISIS.

The Sentencing Project is a non-profit organization engaged in research and policy advocacy of criminal justice reform. Marc Mauer has frequently testified before Congress and state legislative bodies. US prisoners are up sharply since 1972 as a result of the break down of black families and drugs in the large cities. US has 5 times as many prisoners than Europe. Blacks are 1/3rd of the prison population; Hispanics 1/6th and Whites are 1/17th. Marc thinks drug prison terms are too long and California’s ” 3 strikes and you are out” is an injustice because the 3rd offense can be trivial. Though more prisoners for longer terms reduces crime by 25%, the annual cost per prisoner is $25,000.

Rotarian Eric Collier works for Mercy Ship, which operates the floating charity hospital “Africa Mercy.” The ship provides a wide range of free surgery to poor unfortunate people around the world, mostly Africa. The ship docks for 10 months in each location and has visited 70 ports to date. Hundreds of people line up in each location for triage and to be considered for help. Eric explained that the most debilitating and urgent cases are given priority. More surgeries are performed on the ship each year than at any other hospital. About eight surgeons are offering their services at present. About 1,200 volunteers rotate, putting about 450 people on active duty at any one time. All personnel, including the ship’s captain, are unpaid volunteers. The average cost per month of running the hospital ship is $1,000,000. Eric showed before and after pictures of people whose often great deformities had been alleviated. “Africa Mercy” is often called “the love boat.”