Myra, Desi & Mojo discuss Tonga volcanic eruption and tsunami in this episode. On 19 January, the Government of Tonga issued a State of Emergency. There are three confirmed fatalities: one British national, a female from Mango Island, and a male from Nomuka Island. The government deployed two vessels with health teams and water, food, and tents to the Ha'apai group, where the islands of Mango, Fonoifua, and Nomuka have been impacted. All houses were destroyed on Mango island; only two houses remain on Fonoifua island, and Nomuka island experienced extensive damage. Also, the government announced that 21 homes were completely damaged and 35 severely damaged in parts of the western side of Tongatapu, including Kanokupolu. Residents had been evacuated to evacuation centers and supplied with relief items. The volcano is usually not much to look at. It consists of two small uninhabited islands, Hunga-Ha'apai and Hunga-Tonga, poking about 100m above sea level 65km north of Tonga's capital Nuku'alofa. But hiding below the waves is a massive volcano, around 1800m high and 20km wide.
They also discuss civil rights attorney Robert Patillo who said most of this crime is being pushed by drug gangs throughout the country. So we need to use some of our counterterrorism laws, the same ones they're using to prosecute people for other crimes around the country, use it to prosecute many of these drug gangs that are terrorizing communities. Let's do something about importing guns and drugs across the southern border. I think Republicans and Democrats can agree on that. Let's reform the way that we police to get officers out of the car, back walking a beat, knowing the people in their community to inspire the type of trust and understanding necessary so that you can have a community that works with the police and police to work with the district. Why aren't we putting money into the types of programs that will get [young teenagers] off the streets and into STEM coding classes? Get them certifications and the kind of educational support needed so that they don't have to turn to a life of crime? And we also have to turn to our church leaders and clergy. They've traditionally held a leadership role in the community. We've got a church body now that seems more interested in building giant stadium-sized churches and being on television than getting into the community and doing the types of marches that we've seen from people like Father Pfleger in Chicago, Reverend Jesse Jackson [and] other pastors around the country who are trying to be in the community and be involved. What do you think about the volcano's explosion?



