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ENDORSE THE A.N.S.W.E.R. CALL TO ACTION
March 17-18, 2007
GLOBAL DAYS OF ACTION ON THE
4TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE WAR!
http://answer.pephost.org/site/Survey?SURVEY_ID=3400&ACTION_REQUIRED=URI_ACTION_USER_REQUESTS&JServSessionIdr011=k7a3443r73.app8a
http://answer.pephost.org/site/PageServer?pagename=ANS_homepage
Please circulate widely
www.answercoalition.org
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"Punk Ass Crusade" antiwar Flash music video featuring new
music by The Coup
http://punkasscrusade.cf.huffingtonpost.com/
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Rights activist held in Oaxaca prison
Three students arrested and held incommunicado in Oaxaca
http://nyc.indymedia.org/en/2006/11/80142.html
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Subject: Forward Far and Wide ! Police Attack against
Activist Juanita Young
Contact: New York October 22nd Coalition, 866 235 7814,
oct22ny@yahoo.com
Steve Yip: 917-868-6007
Sally O'Brien 718-930-3625
PRESS CONFERENCE:
Defend Anti-Police Brutality Activist Juanita Young Against
Escalating and Continuing Police Attacks
Thursday, November 30, 2006
10:00am
Steps of City Hall, New York, NY
Sponsors: The October 22nd Coalition to Stop Police Brutality,
Repression and the Criminalization of a Generation and the
Justice Committee of the National Congress for Puerto Rican Rights
Speakers: Representatives of the Family of Juanita Young,
the October 22nd Coalition, the Justice Committee, Council
Member Charles Barron, Lynne Stewart, Djibril Toure of the
Malcolm X Grassroots Movement, Lourdes Hunter of Safe
OUTside the System (Audre Lorde Project), and others
* * *
On Thursday, November 30th at 10:00am, attorneys, city
council members, supporters and family members of Juanita
Young will hold a press conference on the steps of City Hall
demanding an investigation of events leading to the brutality
and arrest of the anti-police brutality activist and that she
be immediately unshackled and released from handcuffs
as she lies helpless in her hospital bed.
On Sunday evening, November 26th, an ambulance was called
for Juanita's daughter. Cops came to the apartment first when
the ambulance arrived. Based on her previous bad experiences
with the police, Juanita wouldn't let the cops in and told them
to leave. The ambulance crew called for backup. Eight cops
barreled into the apartment, and the sergeant started grabbing
people. Juanta told them not to touch her daughter. The sergeant
grabbed Juanita and threw her in a room, and as one of them
tried to hold the door shut, others beat her. After she was able
to run out of the room, all eight of them jumped on her at once,
kicking her in the chest and back as they handcuffed her. Her
daughter pled for them to stop, telling them that Juanita has
asthma. Juanita was arrested and brought to the 43rd precinct.
Because she was having difficulties breathing, she was brought
to the emergency room at Jacobi Hospital, under police custody.
Since then, she has been handcuffed to the bed, guarded by
a cop at all hours, and not allowed phone calls, while suffering
from severe asthma triggered by trauma, pain from brutal
treatment, and the police that continually enter her rooom
to harrass her. Family and friends have not been allowed
in to see her, and her attorney was finally allowed access
only after obtaining a "pass" from the 43rd precinct. Just
after midnight this morning, she was shackled by the police
on duty - alleggedly "protocol" for "flight risks," according
to the a sergeant of the 49th precinct.
Juanita Young is a major activist and public speaker in the
fight to stop police brutality. She and her family have been
targets of police harassment on several occasions, including
an illegal eviction from her home executed by the NYPD.
Her son Malcolm Ferguson was killed by NYPD in March 2000,
a week after he was arrested for being part of a protest
against the verdict in the Amadou Diallo case. She has
been a key organizer of the October 22nd Coalition
to Stop Police Brutality, Repression and the Criminalization
of a Generation since 2000, for the Stolen Lives Project,
and as a member of the Justice Committee of the National
Congress for Puerto Rican Rights. She has stood with
and supported many victims of police violence.
***
Statement from Juanita Young, from her hospital bed
(from November 28, 2006):
This is not the first time the 43rd attacked me and my family.
In March of 2001, during a rally for my son Malcolm Ferguson,
the cops pushed me into the crowd, hoping to incite a riot.
It was evident that they have no intentions of releasing the
pressure they've put on me and my family based on all the
attacks they have put us through. Being the mother of five
children, my responsibility is to protect
the four children I have left, and still cry
out for justice for Malcolm.
Due to the excessive force that they applied to my body,
I'm now in the hospital in severe pain, handcuffed to the
hospital bed until my hand is swollen. The cops are harassing
me and still abusing me as I lay in my hospital bed in severe pain.
Thank you for all your support. Your help is needed.
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Dear Friends of Lynne Stewart,
I am pleased to announce that Lynne Stewart and Michael Ratner have
just accepted our invitation to tour the Bay Area. The confirmed
dates are February 23-25, 2007. Lynne, accompanied by her husband
Ralph Poynter, will stay on several more days for additional meetings.
Our first tour planning meeting to begin work on the tour is set for:
Saturday, December 2 at 10:30 AM
Socialist Action Bookstore
298 Valencia Street (14th and Valencia)
San Francisco
This will be a joint planning meeting of the tour co-sponsors and
friends including:
The Lynne Stewart Defense Committee
The Mobilization to Free Mumia Abu-Jamal
The National Lawyers Guild, Bay Are Chapter
The Middle East Children's Alliance
The Peninsula Peace and Justice Center
KPFA
Everyone is welcome!
By agreement with Lynne and Michael, the tour proceeds are to be
divided by the Lynne Stewart Defense Committee and the Mobilization
to Free Mumia Abu-Jamal. The basic themes of the tour will be defense
of civil liberties and democratic rights. Jeff Mackler will join
Lynne and Michaal to focus on Mumia's case and the associated issues.
Michael is the President of the Center for Constitutional Rights, the
organization that won the historic law suit in the U.S. Supreme
Court, in regard to Guantanamo detainees, defending the right of
habeas corpus. This victory was reversed by recent congressional
legislation that essentially legitimized torture, while redefining
it. Michael recently returned from Germany, where he and the Center
for Constitutional Rights are central to the effort to bring
President Bush and others in his administration to the German courts
to face charges of war crimes.
Lynne has informed us that federal prosecutors have filed an appeal
of the 2-year jail sentence issued by Federal District Court Judge
John Koeltl. The government, originally seeking to imprison Lynne for
30 years, is seeking a much longer sentence than 2 years and has
appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit to get
it. Lynne is also in the early stages of appealing her original 2003
frame-up conviction on charges of aiding and abetting terrorism.
The tour of Lynne and Michael was initiated by the Mobilization to
Free Mumia Abu-Jamal and the Lynne Stewart Defense Committee a long
time ago. Unfortunately, the initial dates we confirmed, January
26-28, 2007 had to be changed. The February 23-25 dates are now
certain.
We have taken the initial steps to block out some of the main tour highlights.
1) With the help of Barbara Lubin and the Middle East Children's
Alliance we are in the process of securing King Middle School
(capacity 800) in Berkeley for the major East Bay meeting on Saturday
night, February 24. KPFA will be a co-sponsor.
2) The National Lawyers Guild will take central responsibility for
the first large evening meeting in San Francisco on Friday, February
23.
3) The Peninsula Peace and Justice Center has secured a large hall in
Palo Alto at the Unitarian Church for Sunday, 2-4 PM on February 25.
We have a huge job ahead of us to make this tour a smashing success.
The tour will include many other meetings, press conferences, special
receptions, media interviews, campus and law school engagements and
all the rest. To meet our highest expectations it must be the product
of our collective efforts.
Please don't miss this Saturday's first planning meeting.
In solidarity,
Jeff Mackler,
West Coast Coordinator, Lynne Stewart Defense Committee
Co-Coordinator, Mobilization to Free Mumia Abu-Jamal
O: 415-255-1080
Cell: 510-387-7714
H: 510-268-9429
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ANTI-CORPORATION FILM FESTIVAL!
December 1 thru 3, 2006 (Friday thru Sunday!)
Victoria Theatre, Mission District
2961 16th St @ Mission St (across from the BART station)
** GREAT FILMS ** ACTIVISM ** SPEAKERS ** PARTIES ** DISCUSSION **
$5 per film or $40 all weekend pass - Students and activists
$10 per film or $75 all weekend pass - General admission
Your ticket price is a donation to cover our costs.
*---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*
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JROTC WILL GO "POTLUCK" CELEBRATION!
CELEBRATE WITH BAY AREA UNITED AGAINST WAR
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2006, 7 P.M.
COMPANEROS DEL BARRIO (First floor, to the left and all the
way back to the children's center.)
474 VALENCIA STREET
SAN FRANCISCO, NEAR 16TH STREET
Bring some food to share and let's celebrate a tremendous victory
in ridding our schools of JROTC. Let's put our heads together
and brainstorm:
--community involvement in alternative programs
--continued counter-recruitment activity in the schools
--repealing the No Child Left Behind Act up
for reauthorization in Congress in 2007
--other school, student, parent and community needs
--organizing antiwar work in the schools and the community
and any other ideas you have for future action. Any plans already
under way?
Everyone welcome--please circulate
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please circulate:
Leonard Peltier Court Hearing December 7, 2006
From: abeltranjurisdr @ aol.com
Subject: Dec 7th Peltier argument Second Circuit, Manhattan
Date: Nov 30, 2006 12:24 PM
To: Leonard Peltier Supporters
From: Leonard Peltier Defense Committee
Subject: Court hearing on December 7, 2006
Location: U.S. Court of Appeals 500 Pearl Street, 9th Floor,
Ceremonial Courtroom, Manhattan.
On December 7, 2006 at 10:00 a.m., Buffalo attorney Michael Kuzma will
be arguing before a three judge panel of the United States Court of Appeals
for the Second Circuit for the full release of all documents maintained
by the Buffalo field office of the FBI relating to Leonard Peltier and RESMURS.
As a result of this lawsuit, and a similar case brought against the FBI in
Minnesota under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), we have learned
that the *FBI actually possesses 142,579 pages* of material pertaining
to Leonard Peltier and RESMURS. Although these documents are over
30 years old, the Government continues to block release of this
information on the basis that disclosure would, among other things,
hamper the "war on transnational terrorism" and reveal the identities
of confidential sources.
Come out on December 7, 2006 to show your solidarity and support
in our struggle to pry loose these secret FBI files and, in the process,
come one step closer to liberating Leonard from federal prison!
Thank you,
Leonard Peltier Defense Committee
http://www.leonardpeltier.net/
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A NEW LOOK AT U.S. RADIOACTIVE WEAPONS
Join us in a campaign to expose and stop the use of these illegal weapons
http://poisondust.org/
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Oaxaca under attack:
APPO had planned a peaceful rally surrounding the city center where the
police are, but a PRI provocation has led to tear gas and broader
fighting initiated by the police.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/oaxacastudyactiongroup/messages
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URGENT APPEAL TO SAVE IRAQ'S ACADEMICS.
Call for action to save Iraq's Academics
A little known aspect of the tragedy engulfing Iraq is the systematic
liquidation of the country's academics. Even according to conservative
estimates, over 250 educators have been assassinated, and many
hundreds more have disappeared. With thousands fleeing the country
in fear for their lives, not only is Iraq undergoing a major brain drain,
the secular middle class - which has refused to be co-opted by the
US occupation - is being decimated, with far-reaching consequences
for the future of Iraq.
http://www.brussellstribunal.org/
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Condi and George W. are A Love Story
http://www.blackagendareport.com/
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TAX THE RICH! FEED THE POOR! MONEY FOR HUMAN NEEDS, NOT WAR!
www.bauaw.org
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!VIVA FIDEL! LONG LIVE FIDEL! LONG LIVE THE CUBAN REVOLUTION!
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SCROLL DOWN TO READ:
EVENT ANNOUNCEMENTS
GENERAL ANNOUNCEMENTS
ARTICLES IN FULL
LINKS AND VERY SHORT STORIES
*---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*
EVENT ANNOUNCEMENTS
*---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*
ANTI-CORPORATION FILM FESTIVAL!
December 1 thru 3, 2006 (Friday thru Sunday!)
Victoria Theatre, Mission District
2961 16th St @ Mission St (across from the BART station)
** GREAT FILMS ** ACTIVISM ** SPEAKERS ** PARTIES ** DISCUSSION **
$5 per film or $40 all weekend pass - Students and activists
$10 per film or $75 all weekend pass - General admission
Your ticket price is a donation to cover our costs.
Films such as Century of the Self and The Corporation will
be shown, complemented by new cutting-edge films about
corporate power such as The Forest for the Trees, a documentary
about the legal case of Judy Bari made by the daughter of Bari's
attorney. The final program will be announced in November.
Speakers on Saturday night will begin at 7:00 pm and offer
further insight into the films, corporations, and the structure
of our economy as a whole. In addition, there will be a festival
after-party on the evening of Sunday, December 3 with
refreshments and entertainment.
CounterCorp is an anti-corporate nonprofit organization
accepting no corporate donations. All of your donations
go to exposing the truth about corporations and finding
Alternatives to corporate ownership of our communities.
If you would like to support us, please visit
www.countercorp.org/countercorp-support.htm
and click on "Donate Now." Every little bit helps. Thank you!
Built in 1908 as a vaudeville house, the 500-seat Victoria
Theatre is the oldest theater currently operation in San Francisco.
We thought this would be a perfect setting to begin to dream
beyond the memes of timed obsolescence and creative destruction
that corporations have injected into our societies, to a time before
the corporate agenda prevailed above all else. For directions
and info, please visit www.victoriatheatre.org.
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED! Volunteering both before and/or during
the festival will earn you a FREE PASS to all films and parties!
Please contact volunteers@countercorp.org!
www.countercorp.org -for more info!
*---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*
please circulate:
Leonard Peltier Court Hearing December 7, 2006
From: abeltranjurisdr @ aol.com
Subject: Dec 7th Peltier argument Second Circuit, Manhattan
Date: Nov 30, 2006 12:24 PM
To: Leonard Peltier Supporters
From: Leonard Peltier Defense Committee
Subject: Court hearing on December 7, 2006
Location: U.S. Court of Appeals 500 Pearl Street, 9th Floor,
Ceremonial Courtroom, Manhattan.
On December 7, 2006 at 10:00 a.m., Buffalo attorney Michael Kuzma will
be arguing before a three judge panel of the United States Court of Appeals
for the Second Circuit for the full release of all documents maintained
by the Buffalo field office of the FBI relating to Leonard Peltier and RESMURS.
As a result of this lawsuit, and a similar case brought against the FBI in
Minnesota under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), we have learned
that the *FBI actually possesses 142,579 pages* of material pertaining
to Leonard Peltier and RESMURS. Although these documents are over
30 years old, the Government continues to block release of this
information on the basis that disclosure would, among other things,
hamper the "war on transnational terrorism" and reveal the identities
of confidential sources.
Come out on December 7, 2006 to show your solidarity and support
in our struggle to pry loose these secret FBI files and, in the process,
come one step closer to liberating Leonard from federal prison!
Thank you,
Leonard Peltier Defense Committee
http://www.leonardpeltier.net/
*---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*
Please forward widely:
Join military resisters, their families, veterans and concerned
community members taking public action!
National Days of Action to:
SUPPORT GI RESISTANCE & GI RIGHTS
END WAR & EMPIRE
RALLY & PROCESSION
SAT DEC. 9, 1pm
War Memorial Veterans Building
401 Van Ness Ave at McAllister St
(Civic Center BART)
Featuring:
Iraq War Resisters:
Darrell Anderson, Iraq War Veteran and War Resister
Kyle Snyder, AWOL Iraq Veteran and War Resister
Anita Dennis, mother of Darrell Anderson
Bob Watada & Rosa Sakanishi, father and stepmother of Lt. Ehren Watada
Jeff Paterson, Gulf War 1 Marine resister
Also joining us will be members of IVAW and their cross-country bus!
more TBA
Plus:
Performance and word by:
Local High School Student activists with AWE Youth Action Team
Also join us earlier for a
PUBLIC FORUM 11am:
GI Rights, GI Resistance and Ending the War
War Memorial Veterans Building
401 Van Ness Ave at McAllister St
(Civic Center BART)
In-depth stories and discussion with:
Maxine Hong Kingston, author,poet and co-author of
the new book, “Veterans of War, Veterans of Peace”
Darrell Anderson, Iraq War Veteran and War Resister
Anita Dennis, mother of Darrell Anderson
Kyle Snyder, AWOL Iraq Veteran and War Resister
Bob Watada & Rosa Sakanishi, father and stepmother of Lt. Ehren Watada
more TBA!
It's time for us to escalate public pressure and action in support of
the growing movement of thousands of courageous men and women GI’s who have
in many different ways followed the their conscience, upholding
international law, taking a principled stand against unjust, illegal war and
occupation and stood up for their rights. Widespread public support and pressure
will help create true support for courageous troops facing isolation and
repression, and help protect their civil liberties and human rights. We
call for the following: 1) Support for War Objectors 2) Protect the
Right to Conscientious Objection 3) Protect the Liberties & Human Rights of
GI's 4) Sanctuary for War Objectors.
Your participation in these days of action—and beyond-- is crucial to
realizing these goals: together, we do have the power to end this war
and prevent the next one. As the antiwar movement builds its support for
these brave people and their important actions, we hope more will take a
stand if we show them they won't be alone.
Sponsored by: Courage to Resist, Watada Support Group (San Francisco),
Veterans for Peace-Chapter 69, AWE Youth Action Team
Days of Action Sponsored by (partial list):
Iraq Veterans Against the War, War Resisters Support Campaign (Canada),
Gold Star Families for Peace, and the Central Commitee for
Conscientious Objectors
Other Bay Area Events:
Fri Dec 8, 7:30pm:
College of Marin, Student Center
College Avenue, Kentfield, California, $5-10
Iraq Combat Veteran, turned war resister, Darrell Anderson
Plus segments of the new film “The Ground Truth"
Sponsored by Courage to Resist; College of Marin, Students for Social
Responsibility; and Marin Peace & Justice Coalition
Info: green-girl@comcast.net 415-454-5470 http://www.mpjc.org
Campus map: http://www.marin.cc.ca.us/com/files/COM-MAP06.pdf
Fri Dec 8, 7:30pm:
Buena Vista United Methodist Church
2311 Buena Vista Ave., Alameda, CA 94501
7:30 Film, "The Ground Truth"
8:30 Panel, Rev. Michael Yoshii moderator, with Bob Watada and Rosa
Sakanishi
Sat Dec 9, NOON - 4pm:
San Jose
Peace Vigil to Support Lt. Watada!
Gather in front of MLK, Jr. Library
150 E. San Fernando St.
San Jose, CA
Sponsors: South Bay Mobilization, UFPJ in San Jose
For more info about the "National Days of Action to Support GI
Resistance and GI Rights" and an updated list of participating events nationwide
visit: http://www.CouragetoResist.org or contact: courage@riseup.net
*---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*
"Ode to Joy and Struggle"
Event for Lynne Stewart and co-defendants
Saturday, December 9th ,
6:30 or 7:00 pm [I'm looking into that. -t.]
Judson Memorial Church
55 Washington Square South
From: PatLevasseurP @ aol.com
Subject: Govt. seeking authorization to appeal Lynne Stewart‚s
sentence
Govt. seeking authorization from Solicitor General to appeal
Lynne Stewart's sentence (and that of her co-defendants)
Hello All,
I am writing to update you on that status of Lynne Stewart's
case after her sentencing on October 16th. While we were all
relieved that Lynne did not get 30 years, the Government has
announced that it has gone to the Solicitor General of the
United States Justice Department for authorization to appeal
her sentence and that of her co-defendants. They are not
challenging the bail pending appeal but state that they will
only agree to one 30 day adjournment of the filing of the
appeal because they want everyone serving their sentences
as soon as possible. What does all this mean for Lynne?
Lynne's attorneys are not surprised that the government wants
to appeal her sentence. Although sentences are not usually
appealed it does happen and case law in the 2nd Circuit
which governs Lynne's case shows that although rare, when
a sentence is appealed and the Circuit sends the case back
for resentencing the result is a far longer sentence. We are
hopeful that Judge Koeltl‚s meticulous sentencing decision
will carry the day but we have no guarantees and must
continue our vigilance in the face of this latest move
by the government. Of course Lynne's attorneys
will be filing the appeal of her conviction within the year.
Remember to save the date and join us in an
"Ode to Joy and Struggle
December 9th 6:30 to ?
The evening will be held at the beautifully renovated Judson
Memorial Church, 55 Washington Square South
(near Thompson St.) in the West Village, New York City.
The event is mostly one of joy but of course the struggle
continues. We will also be commemorating Mumia Abu Jamal's
25 years behind bars and to that end we will hear from:
Lynne Stewart - her case and current legal status
Pam Africa
Chair of International Concerned Family
and Friends of Mumia Abu-Jamal
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit is currently
determining whether Abu-Jamal will be granted a new trial
or sent back to death row, which is the district attorney's
preference. Speaking about this at our event is Pam Africa,
who will be joining us after the annual rally in Philadelphia,
which recognizes the day Mumia Abu Jamal was shot and framed.
and
Robert Meeropol
Executive Director, Rosenberg Fund for Children
ABOUT ROBERT MEEROPOL
Robert Meeropol is the founder and Executive Director of the
Rosenberg Fund for Children (RFC). For the last 30 years he
has been an activist, writer and public speaker. He has
successfully sued the federal government and through the
RFC, has assisted hundreds of children whose parents also
have been attacked for their social activism. Robert is also
the author of AN EXECUTION IN THE FAMILY (now available
in paperback from St. Martin's Press.) This political memoir
chronicles Meeropol's journey from childhood victim of
McCarthy-era repression; to 1960's militant activist; to politically
engaged parent and law student; to founder and leader of the
Rosenberg Fund for Children. ODE TO JOY AND STRUGGLE
Join Lynne Stewart and the Lynne Stewart Defense Committee in
THANKING YOU !
for your support over these last 4+ years
and uniting for the struggle ahead
Saturday, December 9th , 7pm till .......
Judson Memorial Church
55 Washington Square South
New York, NY
Speakers:
Lynne Stewart
Pam Africa, International Concerned
Family and Friends of Mumia Abu-Jamal
Robert Meeropol. Executive Director,
Rosenberg Fund for Children
Music by:
Selah Eric Spruiell and The Fort Greene Project
Urbano Sanchez, Latin Jazz
Professor Louie and Fast Eddy
Professor Irwin Corey and Randy Credico
and MUCH more
(comedy, Latin jazz, rap)
Great Food & Drink provided
Judson Memorial Church resides on the southern edge
of Washington Square Park between Thompson
and Sullivan Streets. Accessible by subway.
Trains: A, C, E, F to West 4th; R to 8th St.; 1 to
Christopher St.-Sheridan Sq.
Mobility Handicapped please enter through
Thompson Street entrance.
Lynne Stewart Defense Committee
350 Broadway, Suite 700
New York, NY 10013
212-625-9696
www.lynnestewart.org
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Drums Across America for Peace
December 16, 2006 simultaneously across
the country at 11:00 to 11:30 A.M. PST
For More Information contact:
Marilyn Sjaastad
541-344-8088
Jade Screen Clinic
*---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*
UFPJ calls for march on DC Sat, Jan. 27, local
actions on March 17
www.unitedforpeace. org
212-868-5545
Please forward widely!
Tell the New Congress:
Act NOW to Bring the Troops Home!
Join United for Peace and Justice in a massive march on Washington ,
D.C. , on Sat., January 27, to call on Congress to take immediate
action to end the war.
On Election Day the voters delivered a dramatic, unmistakable mandate
for peace. Now it's time for action. On January 27, 2007, we will
converge from all around the country in Washington , D.C. to send a
strong, clear message to Congress and the Bush Administration: The
people of this country want the war and occupation in Iraq to end and
we want the troops brought home now!
Congress has the power to end this war through legislation. We call on
people from every congressional district in the country to gather in
Washington, DC -- to express support for those members of Congress who
are prepared to take immediate action against the war; to pressure
those who are hesitant to act; and to speak out against those who
remain tied to a failed policy.
The peace and justice movement helped make ending the war in Iraq the
primary issue in this last election. The actions we take do make a
difference, and now there is a new opportunity for us to move our work
forward. On Election Day people took individual action by voting. On
January 27 we will take collective action, as we march in Washington ,
DC , to make sure Congress understands the urgency of this moment.
Join United for Peace and Justice in this crucial push for peace!
1) Make a donation right now to support the January 27 mobilization and
help give us the funds we need to make this a truly massive outpouring
for peace.
2) Pass this email along to everyone you know, post it on blogs and
websites -- do everything you can to help us get the word out about
January 27th.
3) Make sure your organization endorses the January 27th mobilization.
Click here to add your endorsement.
4) Start making plans to bring people from your congressional district
to Washington on January 27. We will soon have a form on our website,
where you or your group can sign up to be the coordinator for people
coming to DC from your area, so you can meet up, coordinate
transportation, housing, etc.
5) Keep checking the UFPJ website for more details in the coming weeks!
You might have also heard that United for Peace and Justice was calling
for a demonstration in Washington to commemorate the 4th anniversary of
the war in Iraq on March 17. Because of the new developments and our
decision to organize the January 27th mobilization, we are now calling
for local and regional antiwar actions that weekend instead. We will
soon be issuing more information about the plans for the 4th
anniversary.
Help us continue to do this critical work: Make a donation to UFPJ
today.
ACTION ALERT * UNITED FOR PEACE AND JUSTICE
www.unitedforpeace. org | 212-868-5545
To subscribe, visit www.unitedforpeace. org/email
*---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*
MARCH 17, 2007 GLOBAL DAY OF ACTION ON THE 4TH ANNIVERSARY
OF THE WAR!
DEMONSTRATIONS IN WASHINGTON, D.C.; LOS ANGELES;
SAN FRANCISCO; SEATTLE; CHICAGO AND OTHER CITIES AND
TOWNS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY AND THE WORLD. THE
A.N.S.W.E.R. COALITION URGES EVERYONE IN THE ANTIWAR
MOVEMENT TO COME TOGETHER IN UNITY AGAINST THE
CRIMINAL ACTIONS OF THE U.S. GOVERNMENT
http://www.pephost. org/site/ PageServer? pagename= ANS_homepage
---------*-- -------*- --------* --------- *-------- -*------- -
May Day 2007
National Mobilization to Support Immigrant Workers!
Web: http://www.MayDay2007.net
National Immigrant Solidarity Network
No Immigrant Bashing! Support Immigrant Rights!
webpage: http://www.ImmigrantSolidarity.org
e-mail: info@ImmigrantSolidarity.org
New York: (212)330-8172
Los Angeles: (213)403-0131
Washington D.C.: (202)595-8990
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GENERAL ANNOUNCEMENTS
---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*
My Name is Roland Sheppard
This Is My ‘Blog’
I am is a retired Business Representative of Painters District
Council #8 in San Francisco. I have been a life long social activist
and socialist. Roland Sheppard is a retired Business Representative
of Painters District Council #8 in San Francisco. I have been
a life long social activist and socialist.
Prior to my being elected as a union official, I had worked
for 31 years as a house painter and have been a lifelong socialist.
I have led a unique life. In my retire age, I am interested in writing
about my experiences as a socialist, as a participant in the Black
Liberation Movement, the Union Movement, and almost all social
movements.
I became especially interested in the environment when I was
diagnosed with cancer due to my work environment. I learned
how to write essays, when I first got a computer in order to put
together all the medical legal arguments on my breakthrough
workers’ compensation case in California, proving that my work
environment as a painter had caused my cancer. After a five-year
struggle, I won a $300,000 settlement on his case.
The following essays are based upon my involvement in the
struggle for freedom for all humanity. I hope the history
of my life’s experiences will help future generations
of Freedom Fighters.
For this purpose, this website is dedicated.
http://web.mac.com/rolandgarret/iWeb/Site/Roland%27s%20Blog.html
*---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*
The Corporate Looting of the Gulf Coast
Robin Hood in Reverse
http://www.counterpunch.org/quigley11132006.html
More Info:
www.justiceforneworleans.org
For a detailed report:
Big, Easy Money: Disaster Profiteering on the American Gulf Coast
by Rita J. King, Special to CorpWatch
August 15th, 2006
http://www.corpwatch.org/article.php?id=14004
*---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*
TAX FACT SHEET
http://www.urban.org/UploadedPDF/901006_taxpolicy.pdf
*---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*
Communist Manifesto illustrated by Disney [and other cartoons) with
words by K. Marx and F. Engels--absolutely wonderful!...bw]
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j1oGIffyVVk&NR
*---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*
Asylum Street Spankers-Magnetic Yellow Ribbon
http://www.youtube. com/watch? v=bfMgRHRJ- tc
*---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*
Homer Simpson Joins the Army
Another morale-booster from Groening and company. [If you get
a chance to see the whole thing, it's worth it...bw]
http://hotair.com/archives/2006/11/12/video-the-simpsons-salute-the-lazy-and
-uneducated/
*---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*
A Look at the Numbers: How the Rich Get Richer
Clara Jeffery (May/June 2006 Issue
IN 1985, THE FORBES 400 were worth $221 billion combined.
Today, they re worth $1.13 trillion more than the GDP of Canada.
THERE'VE BEEN FEW new additions to the Forbes 400.
The median household income
has also stagnated at around $44,000.
AMONG THE FORBES 400 who gave to a 2004 presidential
campaign, 72% gave to Bush.
IN 2005, there were 9 million American millionaires,
a 62% increase since 2002.
IN 2005, 25.7 million Americans received food stamps,
a 49% increase since 2000.
ONLY ESTATES worth more than $1.5 million are taxed.
That's less than 1% of all estates
http://www.motherjones.com/cgi-bin/print_article.pl?url=http://www.motherjon
es.com/news/exhibit/2006/05/perks_of_privilege.html
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Do You Want to Stop PREVENT War with Iran?
Dear Friend,
Every day, pundits and military experts debate on TV when, how and where
war with Iran will occur. Can the nuclear program be destroyed? Will the
Iranian government retaliate in Iraq or use the oil weapon? Will it take
three or five days of bombing? Will the US bomb Iran with "tactical"
nuclear weapons?
Few discuss the human suffering that yet another war in the Middle East
will bring about. Few discuss the thousands and thousands of innocent
Iranian and American lives that will be lost. Few think ahead and ask
themselves what war will do to the cause of democracy in Iran or to
America's global standing.
Some dismiss the entire discussion and choose to believe that war simply
cannot happen. The US is overstretched, the task is too difficult, and
the world is against it, they say.
They are probably right, but these factors don't make war unlikely. They
just make a successful war unlikely.
At the National Iranian American Council (NIAC), we are not going to
wait and see what happens.
We are actively working to stop the war and we need your help!
Working with a coalition of peace and security organizations in
Washington DC, NIAC is adding a crucial dimension to this debate - the
voice of the Iranian-American community.
Through our US-Iran Media Resource Program
http://niacouncil.c.topica.com/maafjioabumkFbIfQs8eafpLV5/
http://niacouncil.c.topica.com/maafjioabumkFbIfQs8eafpLV5/ , we help
the media ask the right questions and bring attention to the human side
of this issue.
Through the LegWatch program
http://niacouncil.c.topica.com/maafjioabummRbIfQs8eafpLV5/
http://niacouncil.c.topica.com/maafjioabummRbIfQs8eafpLV5/ ,
we are building opposition to the war on Capitol Hill. We spell out the
likely
consequences of war and the concerns of the Iranian-American community
on Hill panels
http://niacouncil.c.topica.com/maafjioabumkGbIfQs8eafpLV5/
http://niacouncil.c.topica.com/maafjioabumkGbIfQs8eafpLV5/
and in direct meetings with lawmakers. We recently helped more than a dozen
Members of Congress - both Republican and Democrats - send a strong
message against war to the White House
http://niacouncil.c.topica.com/maafjioabumkHbIfQs8eafpLV5/
http://niacouncil.c.topica.com/maafjioabumkHbIfQs8eafpLV5/
But more is needed, and we need your help!
If you don't wish to see Iran turn into yet another Iraq, please make a
contribution online or send in a check to:
NIAC
2801 M St NW
Washington DC 20007
Make the check out to NIAC and mark it "NO WAR."
ALL donations are welcome, both big and small. And just so you know,
your donations make a huge difference. Before you leave the office
today, please make a contribution to stop the war.
Sincerely,
Trita Parsi
President of NIAC
U.S. Labor Against the War (USLAW)
www.uslaboragainstwar.org
http://www.uslaboragainstwar.org/
Email: info@uslaboragainstwar.org
PMB 153
1718 "M" Street, NW
Washington, D.C. 20036
Voicemail: 202/521-5265
Co-convenors: Gene Bruskin, Maria Guillen, Fred Mason,
Bob Muehlenkamp, and Nancy Wohlforth
Michael Eisenscher, National Organizer & Website Coordinator
Virginia Rodino, Organizer
Adrienne Nicosia, Administrative Staff
---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*
Enforce the Roadless Rule for National Forests
Target: Michael Johanns, Secretary, USDA
Sponsor: Earthjustice
We, the Undersigned, endorse the following petition:
This past September, Earthjustice scored a huge victory for our roadless
national forests when a federal district court ordered the reinstatement
of the Roadless Rule.
The Roadless Rule protects roadless forest areas from road-building
and most logging. This is bad news for the timber, mining, and oil
& gas industries ... And so they're putting pressure on their friends
in the Bush Administration to challenge the victory.
Roadless area logging tends to target irreplaceable old growth forests.
Many of these majestic trees have stood for hundreds of years.
By targeting old-growth, the timber companies are destroying
natural treasures that cannot be replaced in our lifetime.
The future of nearly 50 million acres of wild, national forests
and grasslands hangs in the balance. Tell the secretary of the
USDA, Michael Johanns, to protect our roadless areas by enforcing
the Roadless Rule. The minute a road is cut through a forest, that
forest is precluded from being considered a "wilderness area," and
thus will not be covered by any of the Wilderness Area protections
afforded by Congress.
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/112283692?z00m=6687205&z00m=668720
5<l=1162406255
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Mumia Abu-Jamal - Reply brief, U.S. Court of Appeals (Please Circulate)
Dear Friends:
On October 23, 2006, the Fourth-Step Reply Brief of Appellee and
Cross-Appellant, Mumia Abu-Jamal was submitted to the U.S. Court
of Appeals for the Third Circuit, Philadelphia. (Abu-Jamal v. Horn,
U.S. Ct. of Appeals Nos. 01-9014, 02-9001.)
Oral argument will likely be scheduled during the coming months.
I will advise when a hearing date is set.
The attached brief is of enormous consequence since it goes
to the essence of our client's right to a fair trial, due process
of law, and equal protection of the law, guaranteed by the Fifth,
Sixth, and Fourteenth Amendments to the U.S. Constitution.
The issues include:
Whether Mr. Abu-Jamal was denied the right to due process
of law and a fair trial because of the prosecutor’s “appeal-after
-appeal” argument which encouraged the jury to disregard the
presumption of innocence and reasonable doubt, and err
on the side of guilt.
Whether the prosecution’s exclusion of African Americans
from sitting on the jury violated Mr. Abu-Jamal’s right
to due process and equal protection of the law,
in contravention of Batson v. Kentucky, 476 U.S. 79 (1986).
Whether Mr. Abu-Jamal was denied due process and equal
protection of the law during a post-conviction hearing
because of the bias and racism of Judge Albert F. Sabo,
who was overheard during the trial commenting that
he was “going to help'em fry the nigger."
That the federal court is hearing issues which concern
Mr. Abu-Jamal's right to a fair trial is a great milestone
in this struggle for human rights. This is the first time
that any court has made a ruling in nearly a quarter
of a century that could lead to a new trial and freedom.
Nevertheless, our client remains on Pennsylvania's death
row and in great danger.
Mr. Abu-Jamal, the "voice of the voiceless," is a powerful
symbol in the international campaign against the death
penalty and for political prisoners everywhere. The goal
of Professor Judith L. Ritter, associate counsel, and
I is to see that the many wrongs which have occurred
in this case are righted, and that at the conclusion
of a new trial our client is freed.
Your concern is appreciated
With best wishes,
Robert R. Bryan
Law Offices of Robert R. Bryan
2088 Union Street, Suite 4
San Francisco, California 94123
Lead counsel for Mumia Abu-Jamal
---------*-- -------*- --------* --------- *---------*---------*
Antiwar Web Site Created by Troops
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
A small group of active-duty military members opposed to the war
have created a Web site intended to collect thousands of signatures
of other service members. People can submit their name, rank and
duty station if they support statements denouncing the American
invasion. “Staying in Iraq will not work and is not worth the price,”
the Web site, appealforredress.org, says. “It is time for U.S. troops
to come home.” The electronic grievances will be passed along
to members of Congress, according to the Web site. Jonathan
Hutto, a Navy seaman based in Norfolk, Va., who set up the Web
site a month ago, said the group had collected 118 names and
was trying to verify that they were legitimate service members.
October 25, 2006
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/25/washington/25brfs-005.html
---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*
Judge Orders Release of Abu Ghraib Child Rape Photos
Submitted by davidswanson on Mon, 2006-10-23 20:54. Evidence
By Greg Mitchell, http://www.editorandpublisher.com
http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/node/14864
---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*
Profound new assault on freedom of speech and assembly:
Manhattan: New Rules for Parade Permits
By AL BAKER
After recent court rulings found the Police Department's
parade regulations too vague, the department is moving
to require parade permits for groups of 10 or more
bicyclists or pedestrians who plan to travel more than
two city blocks without complying with traffic laws.
It is also pushing to require permits for groups of 30
or more bicyclists or pedestrians who obey traffic laws.
The new rules are expected to be unveiled in a public
notice today. The department will discuss them at
a hearing on Nov. 27. Norman Siegel, a lawyer whose
clients include bicyclists, said the new rules
"raise serious civil liberties issues."
October 18, 2006
http://www.nytimes. com/2006/ 10/18/nyregion/ 18mbrfs-002. html
---------*-- -------*- --------* --------- *-------- -*------- -
Soul-Sick Nation: An Astrologer's View of America
Jessica Murray
Format: Paperback (6x9)
ISBN 1425971253
Price: $ 13.95
About the Book
Astrology and geopolitics may seem strange bedfellows, but
Soul-Sick Nation puts the two together to provide a perspective
as extraordinary as the times we are living in. Using the principles
of ancient wisdom to make sense of the current global situation,
this book invites us to look at the USA from the biggest possible
picture: that of cosmic meaning. With a rare blend of compassion,
humor and fearless taboo-busting, Soul-Sick Nation reveals
America's noble potential without sentiment and diagnoses
its neuroses without delusion, shedding new light on troubling
issues that the pundits and culture wars inflame but leave
painfully unresolved: the WTC bombings, the war in Iraq,
Islamic jihad, media propaganda, consumerism and the
American Dream.
In her interpretation of the birth chart of the entity born
July 4, 1776, Murray offers an in-depth analysis of America's
essential destiny--uncovering , chapter by chapter, the greater
purpose motivating this group soul. She shows how this
purpose has been distorted, and how it can be re-embraced
in the decades to come. She decodes current astrological
transits that express the key themes the USA must learn
in this period of millennial crisis—including that of the
responsibility of power—spelling out the profound lessons
the nation will face in the next few years.
Combining the rigor of a political theorist with the vision
of a master astrologer, this keenly intelligent book elucidates
the meaning of an epoch in distress, and proposes a path
towards healing—of the country and of its individual citizens.
Murray explains how each of us can come to terms with this
moment in history and arrive at a response that is unique
and creative. This book will leave you revitalized, shorn
of illusions and full of hope.
About the Author
"Jessica Murray's Soul-Sick Nation raises the symbol-system
of astrology to the level of a finely-honed tool for the critical
work of social insight and commentary. Her unflinching,
in-depth analysis answers a crying need of our time. Murray's
application of laser beam-lucid common sense analysis
to the mire of illusions we've sunken into as a nation is
a courageous step in the right direction... Just breathtaking! "
--Raye Robertson, author of Culture, Media and the Collective Mind
" Jessica Murray,..a choice-centered, psychospiritually- oriented
astrologer.. . has quietly made a real difference in the lives of her
clients, one at a time. In "Soul Sick Nation," she applies exactly those
same skills to understanding America as a whole. Starting from
the premise that the United States is currently a troubled adolescent,
she applies an unflinching gaze to reach an ultimately compassionate
conclusion about how we can heal ourselves and grow up."
- Steven Forrest, author of The Inner Sky and The Changing Sky
http://www.authorho use.com/BookStor e/ItemDetail~ bookid~41780. aspx
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Shop for a Donation at Al-Awda!
Interested in furthering your knowledge about Palestine
and its people?
Want to help make the Palestinian Right to Return a reality?
Looking for ways to show your support for Palestine and
Palestinian refugees?
Why not shop for a donation at Al-Awda
http://al-awda. org/shop. html
and help support a great organization and cause!!
Al-Awda offers a variety of educational materials including interesting
and unique books on everything from oral histories, photo books
on Palestinian refugees, to autobiographies, narratives, political
analysis, and culture. We also have historical maps of Palestine
(in Arabic and English), educational films, flags of various sizes,
and colorful greeting cards created by Palestinian children.
You can also show your support for a Free Palestine, and wear with
pride, great looking T-shirts, pendants, and a variety of Palestine pins.
Shop for a Donation at Al-Awda!
Visit http://al-awda. org/shop. html for these great items, and more!
The Educational Supplies Division
Al-Awda, The Palestine Right to Return Coalition
PO Box 131352
Carlsbad, CA 92013, USA
Tel: 760-685-3243
Fax: 360-933-3568
E-mail: info@al-awda. org
WWW: http://al-awda. org
Al-Awda, The Palestine Right to Return Coalition (PRRC), is a broad-
based, non-partisan, democratic, and charitable organization of
grassroots activists and students committed to comprehensive public
education about the rights of all Palestinian refugees to return to their
homes and lands of origin, and to full restitution for all their confiscated
and destroyed property in accordance with the Universal Declaration
of Human Rights, International law and the numerous United Nations
Resolutions upholding such rights (see FactSheet). Al-Awda, PRRC
is a not for profit tax-exempt educational and charitable 501(c)(3)
organization as defined by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) of the
United States of America. Under IRS guidelines, your donations
to Al-Awda, PRRC are tax-deductible.
---------*-- -------*- --------* --------- *-------- -*------- -
Before You Enlist
Excellent flash film that should be shown to all students.
http://www.youtube. com/watch? v=ZFsaGv6cefw
---------*-- -------*- --------* --------- *-------- -*------- -
QUOTE OF THE DAY:
In an interview in March 1995 entitled, "Jesse Helms: Setting the
Record Straight" that appeared in the Middle East Quarterly, Helms
said, "I have long believed that if the United States is going to give
money to Israel, it should be paid out of the Department of Defense
budget. My question is this: If Israel did not exist, what would
U.S. defense costs in the Middle East be? Israel is at least the
equivalent of a U.S. aircraft carrier in the Middle East. Without
Israel promoting its and America's common interests, we would
be badly off indeed."
(Jesse Helms was the senior senator from North Carolina and the
chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee at the time.)
http://www.meforum. org/article/ 244
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TWO AMICUS BRIEFS FILED FOR MUMIA ABU-JAMAL WITH
THE 3RD CIRCUIT FEDERAL APPEALS COURT IN JULY 2006
These pdf files can be found on Michael Schiffmann's web site at:
http://againstthecr imeofsilence. de/english/ copy_of_mumia/ legalarchive/
The first brief is from the National Lawyers Guild.
The second brief is from the NAACP Legal Defense
and Educational Fund, Inc.
Howard Keylor
For the Labor Action Committee to Free Mumia Abu-Jamal
www.laboractionmumi a.org.
---------*-- -------*- --------* --------- *-------- -*------- -
Asylum Street Spankers-Magnetic Yellow Ribbon
http://www.youtube. com/watch? v=bfMgRHRJ- tc
*---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*
SIR! NO SIR!
I urge everyone to get a copy of "Sir! No Sir!" at:
http://www.sirnosir .com/
It is an extremely informative and powerful film
of utmost importance today. I was a participant
in the anti-Vietnam war movement. What a
powerful thing it was to see troops in uniform
leading the march against the war! If you would
like to read more here are two very good
publications:
Out Now!: A Participant' s Account of the Movement
in the United States Against the Vietnam War
by Fred Halstead (Hardcover - Jun 1978)
and:
GIs speak out against the war;: The case of the
Ft. Jackson 8; by Fred Halstead (Unknown Binding - 1970).
Both available at:
http://www.amazon. com/gp/search/ 103-1123166- 0136605?search- alias=books&
rank=
+availability, -proj-total- margin&field- author=Fred% 20Halstead
In solidarity,
Bonnie Weinstein
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Endorse the following petition:
Don't Let Idaho Kill Endangered Wolves
Target: Fish and Wildlife Service
Sponsor: Defenders of Wildlife
http://www.thepetit ionsite.com/ takeaction/ 664280276?
z00m=99090&z00m= 99090<l= 1155834550
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END ALL U.S. AID TO ISRAEL!
Stop funding Israel's war against Palestine
Complete the form at the website listed below with your information.
Personalize the message text on the right with
your own words, if you wish.
Click the Next Step button to send your letter
to these decision makers:
President George W. Bush
Vice President Richard 'Dick' B. Cheney
Your Senators
Your Representative
Go here to register your outrage:
https://secure2. convio.net/ pep/site/ Advocacy?
JServSessionIdr003= cga2p2o6x1. app2a&cmd= display&page= UserAction& id=177
---------*-- -------*- --------* --------- *-------- -*------- -
Idriss Stelley Foundation is in critical financial crisis, please help !
ISF is in critical financial crisis, and might be forced to close
its doors in a couple of months due to lack of funds to cover
DSL, SBC and utilities, which is a disaster for our numerous
clients, since the are the only CBO providing direct services
to Victims (as well as extended failies) of police misconduct
for the whole city of SF. Any donation, big or small will help
us stay alive until we obtain our 501-c3 nonprofit Federal
Status! Checks can me made out to
ISF, ( 4921 3rd St , SF CA 94124 ). Please consider to volunteer
or apply for internship to help covering our 24HR Crisis line,
provide one on one couseling and co facilitate our support
groups, M.C a show on SF Village Voice, insure a 2hr block
of time at ISF, moderate one of our 26 websites for ISF clients !
http://mysite. verizon.net/ vzeo9ewi/ idrissstelleyfou ndation/
http://groups. yahoo.com/ group/isf23/
Report Police Brutality
24HR Bilingual hotline
(415) 595-8251
http://groups. yahoo.com/ group/Justice4As a/
---------*-- -------*- --------* --------- *-------- -*------- -
Appeal for funds:
Dahr Jamail's Iraq Dispatches
Visit the Dahr Jamail Iraq website http://dahrjamailir aq.com
Request for Support
Dahr Jamail will soon return to the Middle East to continue his
independent reporting. As usual, reporting independently is a costly
enterprise; for example, an average hotel room is $50, a fixer runs $50
per day, and phone/food average $25 per day. Dahr will report from the
Middle East for one month, and thus needs to raise $5,750 in order to
cover his plane ticket and daily operating expenses.
A rare opportunity has arisen for Dahr to cover several stories
regarding the occupation of Iraq, as well as U.S. policy in the region,
which have been entirely absent from mainstream media.
With the need for independent, unfiltered information greater than ever,
your financial support is deeply appreciated. Without donations from
readers, ongoing independent reports from Dahr are simply not possible.
All donations go directly towards covering Dahr's on the ground
operating expenses.
(c)2006 Dahr Jamail.
---------*-- -------*- --------* --------- *-------- -*------- -
Legal update on Mumia Abu-Jamal's case
Excerpts from a letter written by Robert R. Bryan, the lead attorney
for death row political prisoner, Mumia Abu-Jamal.
...On July 20, 2006, we filed the Brief of Appellee and Cross
Appellant, Mumia Abu-Jamal, in the U.S. Court of Appeals
for the Third Circuit, Philadelphia.
http://www.workers. org/2006/ us/mumia- 0810/
---------*-- -------*- --------* --------- *-------- -*------- -
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Nick Mottern, Consumers for Peace
nickmottern@earthlink.net
Howard Zinn joins Kathy Kelly, Dahr Jamail, Ann Wright and Neil MacKay in
endorsing "War Crimes Committed by the United States in Iraq and
Mechanisms for Accountability."
The report was published internationally by 10 organizations in October.
"This report on the war crimes of the current administration is an
invaluable resource, with a meticulous presentation of the
evidence and an astute examination of international law.
- Howard Zinn.
The 37 page report, written by Consumers for Peace with the
consultation of international humanitarian law expert Karen
Parker, JD, is available for free download at
http://www.consumersforpeace.org/pdf/war_crimes_iraq_101006.pdf
---------*-- -------*- --------* --------- *-------- -*------- -
Today in Palestine!
For up to date information on Israeli's brutal attack on
human rights and freedom in Palestine and Lebanon go to:
http://www.theheadl ines.org
---------*-- -------*- --------* --------- *-------- -*------- -
Oklahoma U's First African-American Speaker
Dear Representative Johnson:
Congratulations on your bill for creating an
African-American Centennial Plaza near the
Capitol.
I have a suggestion for including an important
moment in Oklahoma African-American
history in the displays.
The first African-American speaker at the
University of Oklahoma was Paul Boutelle,
in 1967.
He is still alive but has changed his name
to Kwame Somburu. I believe it would be
very appropriate also to invite Mr. Somburu
to attend the dedication ceremony for
this plaza. I correspond with him by email.
Here is a 1967 Sooner magazine article about his appearance:
http://digital.libraries.ou.edu/sooner/articles/p25-27_1967v40n2_OCR.pdf
Sincerely,
Mike Wright
Norman
329-6688
---------*-- -------*- --------* --------- *-------- -*------- -
Interesting web site with many flash films. The site is managed
by veteran James Starowicz, USN '67-'71 GMG3 Vietnam In-Country
'70-'71 Member: Veterans For Peace as well as other Veterans
and Pro-Peace Groups. Also Activist in other Area's, Questioning
Policies that only Benefit the Few, supporting Policies that Benefit
the Many and Move Us Forward as a Better Nation and World!
Politics: Registered Independent
http://imagineaworldof.blogspot.com/
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Taking Aim with Ralph Schoenman and Mya Shone has a new Internet
address: http://www.takingaimradio.com
THE HIDDEN HISTORY OF ZIONISM
BY RALPH SCHOENMAN
Essential reading for understanding the development of Zionism
and Israel in the service of British and USA imperialism.
The full text of the book can be found for free at the
new Taking Aim web address:
http://www.takingaimradio.com
---------*-- -------*- --------* --------- *-------- -*------- -
JOIN THE LYNNE STEWAR DEFENSE - THE CASE IS NOT OVER!
For those of you who don't know who Lynne Stewart is, go to
www.lynnestewart. org and get acquainted with Lynne and her
cause. Lynne is a criminal defense attorney who is being persecuted
for representing people charged with heinous crimes. It is a bedrock
of our legal system that every criminal defendant has a right to a
lawyer. Persecuting Lynne is an attempt to terrorize and intimidate
all criminal defense attorneys in this country so they will stop
representing unpopular people. If this happens, the fascist takeover
of this nation will be complete. We urge you all to go the website,
familiarize yourselves with Lynne and her battle for justice
www.lynnestewart. org
---------*-- -------*- --------* --------- *-------- -*------- -
Visit the Traprock Peace Center Video Archive at:
http://www.youtube.com/TraprockPeaceTV
Visit the Traprock Peace Center
Deerfield, MA
http://www.traprockpeace.org/
---------*-- -------*- --------* --------- *-------- -*------- -
NATIONAL COMMITTEE TO FREE THE CUBAN FIVE
Comité Nacional por la Libertad de los Cinco Cubanos
Who are the Cuban Five?
The Cuban Five are five Cuban men who are in U.S. prison, serving
four life sentences and 75 years collectively, after being wrongly
convicted in U.S. federal court in Miami, on June 8, 2001.
They are Gerardo Hernández, Ramón Labañino, Antonio Guerrero,
Fernando González and René González.
The Five were falsely accused by the U.S. government of committing
espionage conspiracy against the United States, and other related
charges.
But the Five pointed out vigorously in their defense that they were
involved in monitoring the actions of Miami-based terrorist groups,
in order to prevent terrorist attacks on their country of Cuba.
The Five's actions were never directed at the U.S. government.
They never harmed anyone nor ever possessed nor used any
weapons while in the United States.
The Cuban Five's mission was to stop terrorism
For more than 40 years, anti-Cuba terrorist organizations based
in Miami have engaged in countless terrorist activities against
Cuba, and against anyone who advocates a normalization
of relations between the U.S. and Cuba. More than 3,000 Cubans
have died as a result of these terrorists' attacks.
Gerardo Hernández, 2 Life Sentences
Antonio Guerrero, Life Sentence
Ramon Labañino, Life Sentence
Fernando González, 19 Years
René González, 15 Years
Free The Cuban Five Held Unjustly In The U.S.!
http://www.freethef ive.org/
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Eyewitness Account from Oaxaca
A website is now being circulated that has up-to-date info
and video that can be downloaded of the police action and
developments in Oaxaca. For those who have not seen it
elsewhere, the website is:
www.mexico.indymedi a.org/oaxaca
http://www.mexico. indymedia. org/oaxaca
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REMINDER TO ALL GROUPS: BE SURE AND POST ALL ACTIONS AND
EVENTS TO WWW.INDYBAY. ORG TO REACH THE MOST PEOPLE
AGAINST THE WAR IN THE BAY AREA!
http://www.indybay. org
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Iraq Body Count
For current totals, see our database page.
http://www.iraqbody count.net/ press/pr13. php
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The Cost of War
[Over three-hundred- billion so far...bw]
http://nationalprio rities.org/ index.php? optionfiltered=com_
wrapper&Itemid= 182
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"The Democrats always promise to help workers, and the don't!
The Republicans always promise to help business, and the do!"
- Mort Sahl
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"It's better to die on your feet than to live on your knees."
- Emilano Zapata
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Join the Campaign to
Shut Down the Guantanamo Torture Center
Go to:
http://www.shutitdo wn.org/
to send a letter to Congress and the White House:
Shut Down Guantanamo and all torture centers and prisons.
A.N.S.W.E.R. Coalition
Act Now to Stop War & End Racism
http://www.ANSWERco alition.org http://www.actionsf .org
sf@internationalans wer.org
2489 Mission St. Rm. 24
San Francisco: 415-821-6545
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Great Counter-Recruitment Website
http://notyoursoldi er.org/article. php?list= type&type= 14
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DEFEND IMMIGRANT RIGHTS AND
CIVIL RIGHTS!
Last summer the U.S. Border Patrol arrested Shanti Sellz and
Daniel Strauss, both 23-year-old volunteers assisting immigrants
on the border, for medically evacuating 3 people in critical
condition from the Arizona desert.
Criminalization for aiding undocumented immigrants already
exists on the books in the state of Arizona. Daniel and Shanti
are targeted to be its first victims. Their arrest and subsequent
prosecution for providing humanitarian aid could result in
a 15-year prison sentence. Any Congressional compromise
with the Sensenbrenner bill (HR 4437) may include these
harmful criminalization provisions. Fight back NOW!
Help stop the criminalization of undocumented immigrants
and those who support them!
For more information call 415-821- 9683.
For information on the Daniel and Shanti Defense Campaign,
visit www.nomoredeaths. org.
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FYI
According to "Minimum Wage History" at
http://oregonstate. edu/instruct/ anth484/minwage. html "
"Calculated in real 2005 dollars, the 1968 minimum wage was the
highest at $9.12. "The 8 dollar per hour Whole Foods employees
are being paid $1.12 less than the 1968 minimum wage.
"A federal minimum wage was first set in 1938. The graph shows
both nominal (red) and real (blue) minimum wage values. Nominal
values range from 25 cents per hour in 1938 to the current $5.15/hr.
The greatest percentage jump in the minimum wage was in 1950,
when it nearly doubled. The graph adjusts these wages to 2005
dollars (blue line) to show the real value of the minimum wage.
Calculated in real 2005 dollars, the 1968 minimum wage was the
highest at $9.12. Note how the real dollar minimum wage rises and
falls. This is because it gets periodically adjusted by Congress.
The period 1997-2006, is the longest period during which the
minimum wage has not been adjusted. States have departed from
the federal minimum wage. Washington has the highest minimum
wage in the country at $7.63 as of January 1, 2006. Oregon is next
at $7.50. Cities, too, have set minimum wages. Santa Fe, New
Mexico has a minimum wage of $9.50, which is more than double
the state minimum wage at $4.35."
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NO BORDERS! NO WALLS! NO FENCES! GENERAL AMNESTY FOR ALL!
OUR HOMELAND IS WHERE WE LIVE!
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REPEAL THE NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND ACT IN 2007!
Check out: 10 EXCELLENT REASONS NOT TO JOIN THE MILITARY
http://www.10reason sbook.com/
Public Law print of PL 107-110, the No Child Left Behind
Act of 2001 [1.8 MB]
http://www.ed. gov/policy/ elsec/leg/ esea02/index. html
Also, the law is up before Congress again in 2007.
See this article from USA Today:
Bipartisan panel to study No Child Left Behind
By Greg Toppo, USA TODAY
February 13, 2006
http://www.usatoday .com/news/ education/ 2006-02-13- education- panel_x.htm
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The Declaration of Independence of the Thirteen Colonies
http://www.law. indiana.edu/ uslawdocs/ declaration. html
http://www.law. ou.edu/hist/ decind.html
http://www.usconsti tution.net/ declar.html
http://www.indybay. org/news/ 2006/02/1805195. php
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Bill of Rights
http://www.law. cornell.edu/ constitution/ constitution. billofrights. html
http://www.indybay. org/news/ 2006/02/1805182. php
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"The International"
Lots of good information over at Wikipedia, as often the case:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Internationale
What I've always found fascinating is the wide variety of translations (or
perhaps it would be better to call them "interpretations" or "variations")
that exist, even in English. It's also fascinating to read all the different
verses of the song.
One thing I learned at Wikipedia is that the original intention was that the
song would be sung to the tune of the Marseillaise, but that shortly
thereafter different music was written. Good thing, in my opinion, I'd hate
to see the identities of two stirring songs be confused. Each deserves their
own place in history.
Lyrics to the Marseillaise are here - pretty stirring in their own right. As
with the Internationale, all sorts of unknown verses:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Marseillaise
Eli Stephens
Left I on the News
http://lefti.blogspot.com
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ARTICLES IN FULL:
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1) ANTI-JROTC STUDENT RECEIVES THREATS
Bay Arera Reporter
by Heather Cassell
h.cassell@ebar.com
Published November 30, 2006
http://www.ebar.com/news/article.php?sec=news&article=1367
2) 30,000 Union Workers Accept Buyouts at Ford
By NICK BUNKLEY
November 29, 2006
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/29/business/30fordcnd.html?hp&ex=1164862800&en=db4df88534f7b28b&ei=5094&partner=homepage
3) U.S. Troops Kill 5 Girls in Assault on Insurgents
By EDWARD WONG
November 29, 2006
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/29/world/middleeast/29iraq.html
4) From Norman Morrison to Malachi Ritscher
Self-Immolation as Anti-War Protest
By JOE DeRAYMOND
http://counterpunch.org/deraymond11292006.html
5) Labor Speaks Against War on Iran
http://www.stopwaroniran.org
6) That Our Children May Have Peace
By Gregg Shotwell
Live Bait & Ammo #85, November 28, 2006
www.soldiersofsolidarity.com
7) Bolivia enacts broad land-reform bill
Conservatives fear the leftist president is headed toward authoritarian rule.
By Patrick J. McDonnell
Times Staff Writer
November 30, 2006
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-bolivia30nov30,1,5739880.story?coll=la-headlines-world&ctrack=1&cset=true
8) Business Becomes a Big Casualty
Inter Press Service
Dahr Jamail and Ali al-Fadhily
http://dahrjamailiraq.com
9) THE ROAD FROM OAXACA
[Col. Writ. 11/9/06] Copyright 2006 Mumia Abu-Jamal
10) INB 12/1/06: Raids in Kentucky, Atlanta, NYC & NJ
Immigration News Briefs
Vol. 9, No. 41 - December 1, 2006
11) Huge War Spending Bill to Test Democrats
The Associated Press
Friday 01 December 2006
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15984616
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/120206Y.shtml
12) "Conservative" Radio Host Punks his listeners
by Rock Strongo
Fri Dec 01, 2006 at 11:14:28 PM EST
http://www.dailykos .com/story/ 2006/12/1/ 225750/658
http://rock-strongo.dailykos.com/
13) Full text of speech by Army General Raúl Castro
Speech by the Second Secretary of the Central Committee of the Party,
First Vice-President of the Councils of State and Ministers, Minister
of the Revolutionary Armed Forces, Army General, Raúl Castro Ruz,
at the Political Ceremony, Military Review and March of the Combatant
People in Commemoration of the 50th Anniversary of the Landing
of the Granma Yacht and the Day of the Revolutionary Armed Forces,
and in Celebration of the 80th Birthday of the Commander-in-Chief,
Fidel Castro Ruz, Given on December 2nd, 2006,
"Year of the Energy Revolution in Cuba"
2006-12-02 | 09:26:52 EST
http://www.juventudrebelde.co.cu/cuba/2006-12-02/full-text-of-speech-by-army-general-raul-castro/
14) Police Shooting Reunites Circle of Common Loss
By SARAH KERSHAW
December 2, 2006
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/12/02/nyregion/02victims.html?hp&ex=1165122000&en=cf09d9b4869a4091&ei=5094&partner=homepage
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1) ANTI-JROTC STUDENT RECEIVES THREATS
Bay Arera Reporter
by Heather Cassell
h.cassell@ebar.com
Published November 30, 2006
http://www.ebar.com/news/article.php?sec=news&article=1367
Mara Kubrin, the student who was pictured in the Bay Area Reporter
delivering a petition signed by more than 800 students in support of
phasing out the Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps program and told the
Board of Education that many students were afraid to attend the meeting
on November 14, began receiving e-mail threats directly to her private
MySpace account three days later.
The board voted 4-2 earlier this month to phase out the JROTC program
in part because of the military's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy that
prohibits gays from serving openly.
Reportedly, students allegedly hacked into Kubrin's account posting her
personal information on a bulletin board on the Web with photos and a
disclaimer "by viewing this you agree to release said author from all
damages resulting from any physical or mental damages resulting from
violence as a result of this bulletin," according to Marc Norton, Kubrin's
mother's partner, and her father David Kubrin. The bulletin also
provided an easy link to post the information on other bulletin boards. Mara
Kubrin reported the incident to the police, but after three follow-up
phone calls to police the family hasn't received any information
regarding the progress of the investigation into the alleged threats, David
Kubrin told the B.A.R. Police didn't respond to a call from the B.A.R.
seeking comment.
Mara Kubrin brought the threats to the attention of Doug Bullard, the
JROTC instructor at Lowell High School. "Mara came to me at the end of
last week and showed me something that she had downloaded from her Web
site," Bullard said, but admitted that he hadn't alerted Amy Hanson,
principal of Lowell, nor had he informed Robert Powell, director of Army
instruction for the San Francisco Unified School District, as of Monday,
November 27.
"I wasn't sure it was a threat. I was trying to find out where it came
from and who might have sent something like that and I had asked
students in my program about it and none of them know anything about it,"
said Bullard, who said he assumed Mara Kubrin had taken it to school
administrators.
When the B.A.R. asked Powell about the situation he was surprised and
stated that he would be shocked if any of the JROTC students were
involved. He repeatedly denied that JROTC instructors could take any
disciplinary actions to reprimand the students even within the program.
"We would inform the principal, just like any other disciplinary action
that occurs in high school. We don't have any authority to discipline
any kid other than the high school rules and regulations," Powell said.
Mark Sanchez, a commissioner on the school board who voted in favor of
phasing out the JROTC program, also received a threatening e-mail that
was forwarded to him by Commissioner Eric Mar. The e-mail message was
forwarded to the board's legal counsel. Sanchez mentioned that incoming
board member Jane Kim also received a harassing e-mail, but she was
unavailable for comment at press time.
Commissioner Dan Kelly, who voted to phase out JROTC and will be ending
his 16-year tenure on the board in January, said about the incident, "I
think that's very sad. The adults need to put the disappointment into
perspective for the kids and not in a platform for their own anger,
their own resentment, and that's hard to do. It's important for us adults
to say when a decision has been made, 'OK, we disagreed with the
decision, but now it's time to move on.'"
It is unknown if any other students have been harassed or received
threats. Mara Kubrin was unavailable for comment.
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2) 30,000 Union Workers Accept Buyouts at Ford
By NICK BUNKLEY
November 29, 2006
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/29/business/30fordcnd.html?hp&ex=1164862800&en=db4df88534f7b28b&ei=5094&partner=homepage
DEARBORN, Mich., Nov. 29 — Thirty thousand Ford Motor Company
workers — nearly half of the automaker’s unionized work force —
have agreed to leave their jobs in exchange for a buyout or a
package of early retirement benefits, the company said this
morning.
All of the 75,000 Ford employees represented by the United
Automobile Workers union were offered eight different deals
worth as much as $140,000 in September, and had to decide
by Monday whether to accept.
In all, 38,000 U.A.W. workers at Ford have now agreed to take
buyouts this year, including 8,000 who accepted packages offered
at specific plants earlier in the year, before the company made
the deals available to its entire hourly work force.
The departures will leaves Ford with its smallest workforce
in decades.
Combined with almost 34,000 employees who took buyouts
over the summer — reducing G.M.’s hourly payroll by about
one-third — the Ford announcement brings tp 72,000 the number
of workers at Detroit’s automakers who have voluntarily agreed
to leave an industry that can no longer can guarantee them the
high wages and job security enjoyed by their parents and
grandparents.
The “take rate” at Ford surpassed the expectations both of
management and of Wall Street analysts, and will allow Ford
to reduce its costs faster than called for in the company’s
much-discussed overhaul plan, called the Way Forward. Ford
said earlier in the year that it needed to eliminate 25,000 to
30,000 jobs as it closes plants and sheds production capacity
left idle as the company’s market share in the United States declines.
Union leaders were apparently surprised by the high take rate
as well: before the Monday deadline, news reports said they
expected only about 15,000 workers to accept a buyout.
Investors reacted positively, bidding up Ford’s stock price by
about 20 cents, or 2.5 percent, to $8.35 a share in morning
trading on the New York Stock Exchange.
“While I know that, in many cases, decisions to leave the company
were difficult for our employees, the acceptances received through
this voluntary effort will help Ford to become more competitive,”
Ford’s new chief executive, Alan Mulally, said in a statement.
“We’d also like to thank the U.A.W. for working closely with us
in developing packages that will help employees to move
productively into a new phase of their lives. It is clear that
we were successful in providing appropriate options; this,
in turn, is helping the company to meet its cost objectives.”
Ford said “just over half” of the workers who accepted
buyouts chose a package that gives them a lump-sum
payment, plus tuition reimbursement or scholarship money
for family members, but absolved the company from having
to pay them retirement benefits. Other packages included cash
payouts of up to $35,000 and allowed workers to receive health
insurance and other benefits as if they had retired in the usual
manner.
Workers will begin leaving Ford in January and must be gone
by September.
Ford lost $7 billion through the first nine months of this year,
and has said it does not expect to earn a profit in North America
until 2009 at the earliest. On Monday, Ford said it planned
to mortgage most of its assets in the United States, along with
its stock in Volvo and the Ford Motor Credit Company, in order t
o raise $18 billion to finance its overhaul. Never before in its
103-year history had Ford pledged major assets to raise money.
The automaker has not said how much it expects the buyout
program to cost. G.M. has pegged the price of its buyouts at
$3.8 billion, or roughly $100,000 for each worker.
Ford also intends to eliminate about 14,000 salaried positions
through buyouts. Those workers still have time to decide whether
to accept a package and leave.
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3) U.S. Troops Kill 5 Girls in Assault on Insurgents
By EDWARD WONG
November 29, 2006
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/29/world/middleeast/29iraq.html
BAGHDAD, Nov. 28 — American troops killed five girls, including
at least one baby, and what the military described as either a boy
or a man, when the troops attacked a house Tuesday in volatile
Anbar Province after they suspected insurgents of firing at them
from the roof.
Another person, which the military described in a written statement
as either a girl or a young woman, was wounded in the attack and
refused treatment by the Americans.
The military said the killings occurred after the Americans spotted
two suspected insurgents before dawn near a roadside bomb
in the town of Hamaniyah, west of Baghdad. The men fled
to the roof of a nearby house. When the Americans began
defusing the bomb, the suspected insurgents began shooting,
the military said.
The military said the Americans returned fire with machine guns
and small arms and rounds from the main gun of one or more
tanks. After the firefight, the Americans discovered the six dead
Iraqis in the house.
It was unclear what happened to the suspected insurgents, but
the military said “it was reported” that one was wounded in the
fight and carried away by other insurgents.
“In a very tragic way, today reminds us that insurgents’ actions
throughout Iraq are felt by all,” Lt. Col. Bryan Salas, a Marine
spokesman, said in the statement. “Efforts are under way
to coordinate and offer available assistance to surviving family
members.”
Anbar Province, a vast swath of desert and Euphrates River
towns stretching from Baghdad to Iraq’s western border,
is the heartland of the Sunni Arab insurgency, which is battling
to drive out the Americans and unseat the majority Shiites
from the Iraqi government.
American troops in Anbar are fighting a holding action, unable
to make any real headway against the insurgency while facing
a mostly hostile civilian population. The pressures have already
led to prominent incidents of civilian deaths — one unit
of Marines is being investigated for whether it wrongfully
killed 24 unarmed civilians in the town of Haditha last year.
In Baghdad, an Air Force spokesman, Brig. Gen. Stephen Hoog,
said the military was still recovering parts from an F-16 fighter
jet that crashed near the capital on Monday. It was unclear
whether the jet and its pilot had been attacked, he said. Using
an aerial drone, the military had observed insurgents in the
area of the crash site, the general said.
The military said a marine died on Monday in Anbar from
combat injuries.
Violence continued to roil Iraq a day before a scheduled meeting
between President Bush and Prime Minister Nuri Kamal al-Maliki
in Amman, Jordan. At least 30 bodies were discovered in Baghdad,
an Interior Ministry official said. Four people were killed
and 40 wounded when two car bombs exploded behind
the morgue at Yarmouk Hospital in western Baghdad. A barrage
of mortar rounds in the Sunni neighborhood of Ghazaliya
hurt at least 20 people.
At least 19 people were killed or found dead in Diyala Province,
a police official said. In Kirkuk, at least one civilian was killed
and 22 wounded when a suicide belt bomber exploded near
a convoy carrying the governor of Tamim Province.
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4) From Norman Morrison to Malachi Ritscher
Self-Immolation as Anti-War Protest
By JOE DeRAYMOND
November 29, 2006
http://counterpunch.org/deraymond11292006.html
"When you own a big chunk of the bloody third world, dead babies just
come with the scenery"
- Chrissie Hynde, from "Middle of the Road", by The Pretenders
In November of 2005, the United States used white phosphorus
munitions against the people of Fallujah, Iraq. Jeff Englehart, a
former marine who spent two days in Fallujah during the battle, said
he heard the order go out over military communication that WP was to
be dropped. Mr Englehart, now an outspoken critic of the war, says:
"I heard the order to pay attention because they were going to use
white phosphorus on Fallujah. In military jargon it's known as Willy
Pete ... Phosphorus burns bodies, in fact it melts the flesh all the
way down to the bone ... I saw the burned bodies of women and
children." (as reported by Andrew Buncombe and Solomon Hughes: 15
November 2005, The Independent)
On November 3, 2006, on an off-ramp during rush hour in Chicago,
Malachi Ritscher immolated himself. News reports have made much of
the fact that his death had no immediate impact, since he was not
identified for many days, and because the national news did not pick
it up for several weeks. He is characterized as a troubled man. These
are the words he left behind in his suicide note: "Here is the
statement I want to make: if I am required to pay for your barbaric
war, I choose not to live in your world. I refuse to finance the mass
murder of innocent civilians, who did nothing to threaten our
country... If one death can atone for anything, in any small way, to
say to the world: I apologize for what we have done to you, I am
ashamed for the mayhem and turmoil caused by my country."
In March of 1965, President Lyndon B. Johnson authorized the use of
napalm against the people of Vietnam. Napalm is a burning gel that
sticks to the skin, and made flame throwers and incendiary explosives
a staple of the US arsenal against Vietnam. A Business Week article
(February 10, 1969) termed the chemical "the fiery essence of all
that is horrible about the war in Vietnam."
On November 2, 1965, Norman Morrison immolated himself within sight
of Robert McNamara's window at the Pentagon, to protest the war in
Vietnam. Norman did not leave a suicide note. His friend John Roemer
described his action as follows, "I don't know. I don't know. He
fought the war more and more deeply. I mean, when are you one of the
Germans?...You have to be mentally different to fly in the face of
received wisdom in this country. He played it out in his mind, I
think, in terms of being a moral witness", and, "In a society where
it is normal for human beings to drop bombs on human targets, where
it is normal to spend 50 percent of the individual's tax dollar on
war, where it is normal...to have twelve times overkill capacity,
Norman Morrison was not normal. He said, 'Let it stop' ".
The Vietnamese canonized Norman Morrison. Streets were named after
him, a postage stamp was printed with his image, poems were written
in his memory. The most quoted, by To Huu, includes this stanza:
McNamara!
Where are you hiding? In the graveyard
Of your five-cornered house
Each corner a continent.
You hide yourself
From the flaming world
As an ostrich hides its head in the
burning sand.
Norman was one of several people who chose to become a victim of the
fire of the Vietnam War. Others include Vietnamese Buddhist monks,
Quang Duc, June 1963, in Saigon; an unnamed monk in Phanthiet,
August, 1963; Thich Nu Thanh Quang, in Hue, 1966. Each death
galvanized opinion and resistance to the war within Vietnam. On March
16, 1965, Alice Herz, an 82 year old pacifist, immolated herself on a
Detroit street corner. She stated in her suicide note, that she was
protesting "the use of high office by our President, L.B.J., in
trying to wipe out small nations." And "I wanted to call attention to
this problem by choosing the illuminating death of a Buddhist." A
week after Norman Morrison's death, Roger LaPorte burned himself in
protest in front of the United Nations in New York. In May of 1970,
George Winne, Jr., burned himself in protest of the Vietnam War on
the University of California campus in San Diego. (See Frances
Farmer's Revenge.)
Coverage of the sacrifice of Malachi Ritscher has been obsessively
concerned with his sanity. The AP article on his death includes this
conclusion, "Mental health experts say virtually no suicides occur
without some kind of a diagnosable mental illness." Our government
and its experts expect that rational citizens living rational United
States lives understand that the burning of civilians is just part of
the scenery, a necessary element of foreign policy. A person who
actually takes responsibility for the purposes to which his/her tax
monies are being devoted is by definition insane. It is a world
turned upside down, in which torture, napalm and white phosphorus are
"legal", and peaceful protest criminal. It is no mystery to me that
there are human souls who cannot bear the light of truth, and choose
to join the victims of our culture's madness.
Joe DeRaymond lives in Freemansburg, PA. He can be reached at:
jderaymond@rcn.com
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5) Labor Speaks Against War on Iran
http://www.stopwaroniran.org
Help build a movement to stop a war on Iran:
Sign the Petition
http://stopwaroniran.org/petition.shtml
Donate
http://stopwaroniran.org/donate.shtml
Tell a Friend
http://stopwaroniran.org/friend.shtml
For updated news,see the Stop War on Iran
http://stopwaroniran.blogspot.com/ blog
The following resolution, opposing U.S. military action and threats
against Iran, was passed unanimously by the San Francisco
Labor Council.
This is an important victory for antiwar activists in the labor
movement. Let's keep the momentum going--We encourage
you to work to get similar resolutions passed in your unions,
Labor Councils, City Councils, churches, schools, student
governments, clergy associations, tenant organizations,
community groups, etc. Send us copies of the resolutions
you pass--ALL these resolutions will be posted on Stop War
on Iran web site. (Send them to resolutions @ stopwaroniran.org.)
San Francisco Labor Council Resolution - Adopted by
Unanimous Vote Nov. 27, 2006
Resolution on Threat of Military Action Against Iran
Whereas, no evidence has been offered that Iran possesses
weapons of mass destruction, even after many inspections
by the International Atomic Energy Agency; yet the Bush
administration continues to threaten aggressive measures
against Iran on the grounds that Iran may be developing
nuclear weapons; and
Whereas, the U.S. government seeks to impose U.N.
sanctions on Iran for continuing to develop its uranium
enrichment program, which Iran asserts is strictly for
non-military production of nuclear energy. At least ten
other nations enrich uranium in order to produce
nuclear energy, and the US is not threatening to
attack them; and
Whereas, Iran has signed the Non-Proliferation Treaty
and was the first state to call for a Nuclear-Free Zone
in the Middle East; and
Whereas, Israel, Pakistan, India, North Korea, as well
as China, France, the U.S., Russia, and Great Britain --
all have nuclear weapons, with the U.S. possessing
a larger stockpile than of all the rest of the world
combined; and
Whereas, the U.S. government campaign against Iran's
development of enriched uranium appears to be much
like the misinformation campaign waged by the Bush
administration before the war on Iraq to justify its
unprovoked invasion and occupation of Iraq; now the
Bush administration once again seeks to stoke unjustified
fears to win public support for military action against Iran; and.
Whereas, the U.S. government has dispatched a Navy carrier
group to the Persian Gulf off Iran's western coast, as well
as ships capable of mining harbors, for naval exercises that
some observers believe could serve as the prelude to an
attack or other military action, such as mining Iran’s
harbors; and
Whereas, published reports of intelligence recently
gathered by U.S. Special Operations forces in Iran suggest
that the U.S. has identified hundreds of targets in Iran,
in preparation for a possible military attack on that country; and
Whereas, the U.S. government has a long history of
interference in the internal affairs of Iran, including the
well-documented CIA-engineered 1953 overthrow of Iran's
democratically elected Prime Minister Mohammad Mossadegh,
who nationalized Iran's oil; and the US role in installing
and backing the brutal regime of the Shah of Iran;
Therefore be it resolved, that the San Francisco Labor
Council, AFL-CIO, hereby declares its opposition to U.S.
military action against Iran, and urges all organizations with
which it is affiliated to demand that Congress take measures
to prevent any such military assault, and rather, to promote
diplomatic non-military solutions to any disputes with Iran; and
Be it finally resolved, that the San Francisco Labor Council
join with other antiwar forces to organize mass popular
opposition to any military assault on Iran, and to respond
rapidly should such an assault occur.
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6) That Our Children May Have Peace
By Gregg Shotwell
Live Bait & Ammo #85, November 28, 2006
www.soldiersofsolidarity.com
“In the progress of politics, as in the common occurrences of life,
we are not only apt to forget the ground we have traveled over,
but frequently neglect to gather up experience as we go.”
—Tom Paine
The bad news is, I have a long commute since I transferred back
to GM from Delphi. The good news is, I’m working the road to rule.
I drive slower than a mule with hot cargo and expired plates. Screw
the oil companies. I get forty miles to the gallon. I relax like
a poor man with a radio and nowhere to go. I lean like a lowrider
whose vehicle is the destination. I pause in motion with an unlikely
simile—a silo in a wind— knowing I’ve already arrived where I am.
I treat the highway of American industry and commerce like a place
of idleness and repose. This isn’t Zen, it’s revolt. My time is worth
more than money to me because I can’t earn any more of it…
I can only spend it wisely.
I work in a warehouse which is a place where goods are stashed
and money is made literally hand over fist. It’s all in the turn over.
We produce nothing. We add no value. We receive the goods and
we ship the goods and the mark up for the time between makes
the loan sharks on Shake St. look like Saint Vincent DePaul. But the
magnum of profit doesn’t halt the speed up. We can’t march fast
enough for the General. There’s only one solution: shoot
the drummer.
Is it maximum profit or minimum conscience that drives our
nation to compete for the lowest standard of living? Even children
are sideswiped in the race to the bottom line. Schools are turned
into sweatshops. Hospitals are managed like maquiladoras.
Homelessness is mental health therapy. Prison is substance
abuse treatment. Every program or agency whose purpose
is to serve the public interest is underfunded, abused, and
degraded. Our families suffer under the yoke of double wage
earners without disposable income or time to spend with their
children. Meanwhile Congress debates whether a minimum
wage which snorkels the poverty line will ruffle the feathers
and furs on Wall Street.
The madness of the method isn’t just about money. The vultures
already have all the money. They have plans for all the money you
and I will ever make in our lifetime. They have plans for our pensions,
our 401k’s, the money that falls through the hole in the doughnut
they call prescription drug coverage for seniors. They have plans
to profit off the deaths of our brothers and sisters in Iraq and
Afghanistan. It’s not just about the money. It’s about control.
When the debt comes due, when the dollar deflates, when property
values tank, and the market collapses, what will the wealthiest
of the wealthy do? Seize everything of value. Buy up the homes
of workers for a dime on the dollar; snap up utilities at bargain
basement prices; then jack up rents and rates in tandem. They’ll
commandeer all the hard assets, the natural resources, the oil and
the gold. Just thinking about it makes me drive slower.
And the slower I go the more the knowledge of where I’ve been
and where I’m going comes into focus. The more I listen to the
radio spin circles around my vehicle, the more I notice what’s
missing from our conversation about the common good, namely,
the working class. There is no “middle class” and “lower class”
in America. There are only workers who have decent jobs, and
workers who don’t have decent jobs. Those who do hold decent
jobs are only one catastrophic illness, one plant closing,
or one indefinite layoff from destitution. The victims of capital’s
creative destruction aren’t strangers. They are working-class
Americans made destitute by a system that requires unemployment
to hold down inflation.
Lou Dobbs is wrong about the growing demise of the middle
class in America. There is no middle class to demise. The mantle
of middle class status presumes a degree of security and upward
mobility which doesn’t exist. The notion of safety draped like
the boss’s arm around one’s shoulder is based on the premise
that hard work pays off and loyalty is rewarded. The middle class
dream is as dead as the deer I see splattered on the highway
everyday. There is no middle class for special workers. There
is only a working class, and we—however special we may feel—
all work in the same demoralized place, under the same relentless
pressure to sacrifice our lives for the success of a godless
corporation. Where will it end?
Despite expectations to make a billion dollars in net profit,
Harley-Davidson in Milwaukee demanded the union impose
a two-tier wage and benefit cut in order to secure “new” work.
Union members voted the double-cross down soundly. But union
leaders pursued a vigorous campaign to promote the competitive
ideal. On the second try the traitor’s deal was narrowly ratified.
The soul of a union leader who pushes two tier is darker than
the pupil of a well digger’s eye. Every union leader knows there’s
no water at the bottom of that hole. Two tier is not just about
money, it’s about control. Harley-Davidson’s extortion didn’t
stop at the doorstep of the union hall. The state of Wisconsin
agreed to provide help with infrastructure improvements, training
costs, and even capital. The assault on workers is state sponsored.
Health, education, and social programs get slashed while the
corporate blitzkrieg on the working class is subsidized. Mussolini
would be impressed, but Tom Paine would shoulder the musket
of conviction: "If there must be trouble, let it be in my day,
that my child may have peace."
Two tier is not just about the money, it’s about who owns whose
soul. The most effective way to break the spirit of the working
class is to compromise our moral code by forcing a choice between
fighting back or betraying what is most precious—our children.
We stand at the crossroad knowing full well where both roads
lead. One road to leads to dishonor and the other to the dignity
of struggle. One road points to the hope and courage of collective
action and the other to shame, despair, and isolation.
After such knowledge, what forgiveness?
Will reduced wages mean the work will be safer or more humane?
Will reduced benefits mean more security? Or will it simply
mean the collective power of workers will be harnessed to serve
our masters’ driving passion—maximum profit for minimum wage.
The corpos must think we are dumber than horses. The yoke never
lightens, the hardship never wanes, and the hope for retirement
in dignity fades like a dope smoker’s dream.
Last year while Delphi was making headlines with threats and
intimidation, Hastings Piston Ring, an auto supplier in northern
Michigan, quietly and with the blessing of the Federal court,
cut off pension and health care for retirees. Production of piston
rings didn’t miss a beat and the profit kept pumping like
a flathead eight on a straightaway.
Two tier for new hires and a kick down the stairs for retirees.
That’s the refrain. Verses in between change only the names
not the scheme.
Hastings Piston Ring, Harley-Davidson, and Delphi are not
isolated cases. The degradation of the working class is chronic
and contagious. We need collective action not more concessions.
We need to try our souls in the temper of our times that our
children may have peace.
www.soldiersofsolidarity.com
Live Bait & Ammo #85, November 28, 2006
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7) Bolivia enacts broad land-reform bill
Conservatives fear the leftist president is headed toward authoritarian rule.
By Patrick J. McDonnell
Times Staff Writer
November 30, 2006
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-bolivia30nov30,1,5739880.story?coll=la-headlines-world&ctrack=1&cset=true
LA PAZ, BOLIVIA — Allies of President Evo Morales on Wednesday
celebrated the surprising passage of an ambitious agrarian reform
bill, a cornerstone of Morales' provocative leftist agenda.
"The time of the humble ones has arrived," declared Sen. Felix Rojas
of Morales' Movement Toward Socialism party, known as MAS.
"They will inherit the land." But passage of the bill, signed into law
by an exuberant Morales near midnight Tuesday, also bared anew
the deep divides in South America's poorest nation.
Morales, a former leader of coca leaf cultivators, has presented
himself during his first year in office as a champion of the country's
impoverished indigenous masses, long beholden to an elite
of European and mixed-race ancestry.
Conservative forces fiercely opposed to Morales' socialist vision
vowed to continue efforts to block what they view as Morales'
proclivity toward authoritarian rule styled after Venezuelan
President Hugo Chavez, Morales' political mentor.
"If the government continues in this manner, it is the beginning
of a dictatorship," said Fernando Messmer, opposition leader
in the Chamber of Deputies.
Incendiary political battles swirl around other Morales initiatives,
notably his efforts to exert control over autonomy-minded
provinces and his plan to dominate an assembly rewriting
Bolivia's Constitution. A general strike is planned for several
regions Friday to protest Morales' alleged power grab.
The sweeping reform bill could result in the redistribution
of 10,000 square miles of land. It was approved by the
Senate after thousands of Indians marched on the capital,
demanding 100 acres per family.
"We are suffering from hunger and misery, and many of
us must leave our homes for other countries," said Sofia
Martinez, 30, a mother of three from the southeast who
said she marched for several weeks to arrive at the capital.
"We are joining this fight, with our blood if necessary, to
recover our lands."
The march on La Paz appeared to turn the tide in the
contentious battle over the bill, which had been kept from
passage by a walkout of conservative lawmakers in the Senate.
The Morales-dominated lower house had approved the measure.
With the Senate stalled, Morales threatened to put the
law into effect via decree. But his party managed to
convince several opposition senators to vote for the bill,
ensuring its narrow passage.
"This is the struggle of our ancestors, the struggle for
power and land," Morales told a cheering midnight crowd
at the presidential palace as he signed the bill into law.
"The change is in our hands."
The land decree comes more than six months after
Morales nationalized Bolivia's fossil fuels sector,
including the lucrative natural gas industry.
The energy nationalization had overwhelming popular
support in Bolivia but was strongly opposed
by foreign investors.
Land reform has been a pillar of Morales' "socialist
revolution," though the government has sought to allay
landowners' fears by saying only nonproductive properties
would be seized. Determining whether lands are productive
is likely to be a process fraught with controversy.
Much of the land taken over is likely to come from the
relatively wealthy eastern portion of Bolivia, including
Santa Cruz province, where a potent autonomy movement
is underway.
patrick.mcdonnell@latimes.com
Special correspondent Oscar Ordoñez in La Paz and Andrés
D'Alessandro of The Times' Buenos Aires Bureau
contributed to this report.
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8) Business Becomes a Big Casualty
Inter Press Service
Dahr Jamail and Ali al-Fadhily
http://dahrjamailiraq.com
*BAGHDAD, Nov 29 (IPS) - "Iraq got the foreign investment rules long
sought by U.S. corporations," Antonia Juhasz, a visiting scholar at the
Institute for Policy Studies in Washington, and author of 'The Bush
Agenda: Invading the World, One Economy at a Time' told IPS earlier.*
Juhasz said the new laws, which were a part of the 100 'Bremer Orders'
instituted by former U.S. administrator Paul Bremer when he headed the
Coalition Provisional Authority during the first year of the occupation,
provided a flood of benefits for U.S. companies.
These included "100 percent repatriation of profits earned in Iraq by
foreign companies; 100 percent foreign ownership of Iraqi businesses,
including banks; privatisation of Iraq's state owned enterprises; 100
percent immunity for U.S. contractors and soldiers from Iraq's laws; and
'national treatment' which allowed for Iraqis to be all but excluded
from the reconstruction for years while the U.S. government paid 50
billion dollars to some 150 U.S. corporations for work in Iraq."
What followed was "a U.S. corporate invasion of Iraq," Juhasz said.
"Many companies had their sights set on privatisation in Iraq, also made
possible by Bremer, which helps explain their interest in 'major
overhauls' rather than getting the systems up and running."
In contrast, there was much state support for businesses under the
previous regime, which followed a socialist system under which the
government allowed Iraqis to establish their own factories and
workshops, and supported them in many ways.
Businesses were granted low interest loans and permission to transfer
foreign currency. They could get state-owned land to build on.
Administrative laws facilitated enterprise, and so small industry
business bloomed during the 1970s and 1980s.
Major industries in Iraq for oil products, phosphates and cement, along
with the military industry, were mostly state-run under the previous
regime. Foreign companies were allowed, under state supervision, to
build factories as Iraq moved towards increasing industrialisation.
This growth was reversed during the 1990's under the U.S-backed UN
economic sanctions. The sanctions crippled the Iraqi dinar and people's
ability to purchase goods and services.
The business situation worsened further during the U.S.-led invasion
when most factories ceased to function. Many were bombed, and for other
factories employees stayed at home. Following the invasion several were
looted, and were never able to start again.
Some private businesses held out, but eventually security problems, lack
of electricity and fuel, a staggering inflation rate (70 percent) and
lack of safe transportation led many of these too to close down.
Unemployment now stands at more than 50 percent û but most people
believe the real situation is far worse.
Thousands of business and factory owners sold what they could and fled
to neighbouring countries. Those who did not now wish they had.
"I used to employ more than 30 workers in my plastic products factory,
and business was good before the occupation," Abbas Ali told IPS in
Baghdad. "It is impossible to work now, and I had to go back to my old
job as school teacher. I was offered 200,000 dollars for the business,
but now it is not worth anything. I blame myself for not selling it to
flee, like some of my colleagues who live safely in Syria now."
And still, there are steel, textile, and other factories that continue
to produce what they can.
Kais al-Nazzal built a set of steel factories about 60km west of Baghdad
near Fallujah, and is fighting to keep them going. "We imported the best
quality steel manufacturing equipment and spent millions of dollars on
modern buildings to meet international standards," Kais al-Nazzal told IPS.
"We have been able to work through the occupation period, but we must
admit there are hardships under the recent domestic disturbances that
are causing us considerable losses."
Local studies have found 85 percent unemployment in the industry sector.
Many of the 15 percent who remain employed are registered at a few state
factories that pay their employees even if they produce nothing.
"We are trying to do some work here, but the whole situation is not
encouraging, so it seems that we will wait until a miracle takes place,"
a manager at a state-owned cement factory on the outskirts of Baghdad
told IPS.
The business and economic morass Iraq finds itself in today is evident
in the market places across the capital city.
About 80 percent of domestically manufactured goods were distributed
prior to the invasion and occupation through the Shorja market in the
centre of Baghdad. The wholesale market is a bazaar along narrow roads
where hundreds of small shop-owners display their merchandise.
"There is no Iraqi brand any more," plastic products distributor Johar
Aziz told IPS. "Iraqi products flourished during the quarter century
before occupation, but now we only sell imported products of the lowest
quality, and people have to buy them because there is no alternative."
Other markets in Baghdad are suffering a similar crisis, like the
Samarraii compound where tyres are sold, the Jamila market for fruits
and vegetables, and the Sinaa market for computers.
The main shopping centres like Saadoon Street and Rasheed Street, and
the once upmarket Mansour area and the Karrada district are now like
ghosts of what they once were.
"We used to open our shops for at least 16 hours a day, but now we only
open for a few hours because of the security threats," Duraid Abdullah,
an electrical appliances shop owner in Karrada told IPS. "We are facing
all kinds of threats starting from being abducted for money or sectarian
reasons, as well as being evicted from our shops by gangs supported by
government forces."
A businessman who once owned a small textile factory that has gone
bankrupt said he had not expected the coming in of a U.S. administration
to be bad for business.
"The picture of Japan after World War II dominated the minds of
businessmen in Iraq after occupation," he said. "Most of us thought the
American invasion of Iraq was bad for many things, but it must be good
for business in general and industry in particular. We were terribly
wrong. The Iraqi economy was meant to be destroyed for political reasons."
(c)2006 Dahr Jamail
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9) THE ROAD FROM OAXACA
[Col. Writ. 11/9/06] Copyright 2006 Mumia Abu-Jamal
Several weeks ago, a long, dusty trail of thousands winded their way
from the southern city of Oaxaca, to the capital of Mexico City, some
800 kilometers (or over 250 miles) to support democracy, and demand the
removal of the governor, who got there through a stolen, and deeply
corrupt election.
The marchers, a motley crew of teachers, students, farmers, vendors, and
the like, made their tortuous way over mountain and valleys, through
slashing rains, blistering heat, and numbing cold, marching for 19 days,
to take their complaints to the seat of government.
The group, calling itself the Popular Assembly of the People of Oaxaca
(or APPO, the Spanish acronym for Asemblea Popular del Pueblo de
Oaxaca), has rocked Mexico with its strong, principled insistence that
elections be truly fair and free of corruption, and that the will of the
People be heard.
I've actually been reading about the events in Oaxaca for several weeks,
and every time I read about them, I thought of Americans, who quietly
accepted the corrupt elections of 2000, and of 2004, like lambs being
led to shishkabobs.
For, the stolen elections of 2000 in Florida, and later 2004 in Ohio,
have done unprecedented damage to the very notion of democracy, and
shattered the faith of millions in the electoral process.
The people of Oaxaca, braving not just the natural elements, but the
political ones as well, indeed, the terrorism of the 'instruments of the
state' (police and military violence), have proven by their march and
protests that true democracy is deeply important to the people.
The APPO, which has sparked resistance throughout Mexico City, and in
other parts of the country, has created a political crisis in the
nation, by its fervent demand for the removal of Oaxaca governor, Ulises
Ruiz, and the restoration of democracy.
The crisis arises from the fact that many of the country's political
parties are doing their damnedest to silence, derail, or intimidate the
people; for if they are successful (they fear) there will be two, three,
a dozen Oaxacas all across the country.
Oaxaca, although the poorest state in Mexico, and one with the largest
indigenous population, is inspiring people far and beyond its southern
Mexican borders.
The Oaxaca resistance was born in repression, when Governor Ruiz ordered
the police assault on the striking Oaxaca teachers' union in June. The
teachers fought back, and within days, over 300,000 people gathered in a
mass march to support the union. Out of that massive outpouring of
support came the APPO, the Popular Assembly. The continuing crisis in
Mexico may push social forces to join the radicalizing efforts of the
APPO, or may open the door to the threatened terror of the 'instruments
of the state.' To be frank, what began in repression may indeed end in
more repression; but that will not, nor could truly be the end.
That's because the forces that gave rise to APPO are still rumbling
barely beneath the surface, ready to emerge in another state, where
workers and the poor are struggling to resist the ravenous forces of
globalism.
When the poor are treated poorly, when workers are poorly paid, the
conditions for resistance are already present.
And while the temptation of the State to use its brutal 'instruments'
may be strong, it's also very possible that it may spark more
resistance, deeper and broader.
Oaxaca is spreading like the wind, and the examples of popular and
indigenous resistance from Mexico, like the APPO, and the Zapatistas,
and various struggles from throughout Latin America, are spreading also.
The people of Oaxaca should be supported, not just with words, but with
similar organizing against flawed and corrupt elections, from folks all
over the world.
It should begin with the people of the U.S.
Copyright 2006 Mumia Abu-Jamal
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10) INB 12/1/06: Raids in Kentucky, Atlanta, NYC & NJ
Immigration News Briefs
Vol. 9, No. 41 - December 1, 2006
1. More Kentucky Construction Raids
2. Atlanta Airport Raid
3. More Raids in NYC, NJ
Immigration News Briefs is a weekly supplement to Weekly News Update on the
Americas, published by Nicaragua Solidarity Network. Contact nicajg@panix.com for info.
1. MORE KENTUCKY CONSTRUCTION RAIDS
On Nov. 29, US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents
arrested 32 suspected undocumented workers--including one woman--
in northern Kentucky. Thirteen of the workers were arrested at
two parking lots near a construction site in Covington, Kentucky,
just south of Cincinnati, Ohio. The other 19 were arrested in a
parking lot at the Home Depot store in Florence, in Boone County,
Kentucky, where they were waiting for transportation to the
Covington construction site. ICE spokesperson Gail Montenegro
said those arrested were taken to the Boone County jail. They
were to appear in US District Court in Covington on Nov. 30.
The immigrants had been contracted to do commercial drywall work
for the Spectrum Interiors firm. Dugan and Meyers is the main
contractor on the Covington construction site, where a $55
million, 21-story condominium project--the "Ascent at Roebling's
Bridge"--is being built. "Home Depot was a pickup location where
they all got in a van and went to Covington," explained Tom
Scheben of the Boone County Sheriff's Department.
Scheben said the ICE agents are "not trying to pick up one or two
here or there. They're trying to get large numbers and they're
trying to get the people who are employing them." The arrests
followed a coordinated investigation by ICE, the Internal Revenue
Service's Criminal Investigation Division, the Department of
Labor, and the US Marshals Service. ICE was also assisted in the
investigation by the Florence, Covington and Lexington police
departments, the Boone County Sheriff's Office, the Kenton County
Sheriff's Office and Boone County Jail. [WCPO.com 11/29/06;
Cincinnati Enquirer 11/30/06; Cincinnati Post 11/30/06; ICE News
Release 11/29/06]
Between May 9 and June 2, ICE arrested at least 89 people in the
same area of northern Kentucky in a raid targeting immigrants
employed by subcontractors for the Fischer Homes construction
firm [see INB 5/14/06, 5/21/06, 6/18/06]. Five Fischer Homes
supervisors were indicted on federal charges in connection with
the arrests, but on Nov. 15 US District Court Judge David Bunning
dismissed the charges because a key witness, subcontractor Nelson
Trejo, could not be found. Trejo had said he would cooperate with
federal prosecutors in exchange for a lighter sentence. Two other
subcontractors who made similar deals are still facing charges.
Fischer Homes as a corporation was not implicated or charged in
the case. [WCPO.com 11/29/06; Cincinnati Enquirer 11/16/06]
2. ATLANTA AIRPORT RAID
On Nov. 29, ICE agents arrested six undocumented Mexican
immigrants who worked installing drywall at the Hartsfield-
Jackson International Airport in Atlanta, Georgia. They worked
for T.C. Drywall, Inc. of Alpharetta, according to ICE. The
workers had security badges that gave them access to restricted
areas of the airport, including the tarmac. None of the men was
considered a security threat. They were arrested in Hartsfield's
south terminal as they arrived for work in the morning. [Atlanta
Journal-Constitution 11/29/06] The operation was conducted with
the assistance of the Hartsfield Department of Aviation and the
Atlanta Police Department and coordinated with the Department of
Homeland Security's Transportation Security Administration. [ICE
News Release 11/29/06]
3. MORE RAIDS IN NYC, NJ
In a seven- or eight-month investigation ending Nov. 30, ICE
agents joined with officers of the New York City Department of
Probation in arresting 81 immigrants with prior criminal records
in Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx and Manhattan. The raids were part
of "Operation Retract," an ongoing effort by ICE's New York
office to arrest immigrants on probation for prior misdemeanor or
felony convictions and place them in removal proceedings. Of the
total number arrested, 45 were legal permanent residents and 36
were out of status. All but nine of the arrested immigrants were
from either Latin America (52) or the English-speaking Caribbean
(20). They came from the Dominican Republic (28), Mexico (13),
Jamaica (10), China (5), Trinidad (4), Colombia (4), Guyana (3),
Ecuador (3), El Salvador (3), Korea (2), Antigua (1), Barbados
(1), India (1), Grenada (1), Honduras (1) and the United Kingdom
(1). ICE agents transported the immigrants to detention
facilities where they will be held during removal proceedings.
[ICE News Release 11/30/06]
On Nov. 29, ICE arrested 45 immigrants in Brooklyn, Queens, the
Bronx and Manhattan who according to ICE are "child predators and
criminal alien sex offenders." The arrests were made under ICE's
"Operation Predator" and were separate from those made under
"Operation Retract," although the arrested immigrants were also
on probation in New York City for prior misdemeanor or felony
convictions. Those arrested were citizens of Bangladesh, Bosnia,
Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Ghana,
Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, India, Jamaica, Mexico,
Nigeria, Panama, Peru, Romania and Trinidad. [ICE News Release
11/29/06]
Another 137 people were arrested in New Jersey between Nov. 13
and 18 in "Return to Sender" raids, which target people with
prior removal orders. ICE said 54 of those arrested had been
ordered removed by an immigration judge; the other 83 were simply
without status. Only 17 of the 137 had criminal records. Those
arrested came from 21 countries, including Poland, Mexico,
Honduras, Guatemala, Pakistan, Egypt, India, Slovakia, Costa
Rica, Albania, Macedonia and the United Kingdom. [Press of
Atlantic City 11/21/06; ICE News Release 11/20/06]
National Immigrant Solidarity Network
No Immigrant Bashing! Support Immigrant Rights!
webpage: http://www.ImmigrantSolidarity.org
e-mail: info@ImmigrantSolidarity.org
New York: (212)330-8172
Los Angeles: (213)403-0131
Washington D.C.: (202)595-8990
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11) Huge War Spending Bill to Test Democrats
The Associated Press
Friday 01 December 2006
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15984616
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/120206Y.shtml
The Pentagon increasingly is using war spending bills for costs not
directly related to Iraq and Afghanistan. Last month, Deputy Defense
Secretary Gordon England said the four military services could add
projects connected to the broader fight against terrorism, which
critics said could be interpreted to cover almost anything.
Washington - The Bush administration is working on its largest-
ever appeal for more Iraq war funds - a record $100 billion, at least,
and that figure reflects cuts from wish lists originally circulating
around the Pentagon.
The measure will give Democrats, who take control of Congress
next year, an early chance to try changing the conduct of the war.
But they are limited and do not want to be cast as unsympathetic
to U.S. troops.
"We're not going to do anything to limit funding or cut off funds,"
says Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid, D-Nev.
$200 Billion Iraq-Afghanistan War Budget
Senior Pentagon officials have trimmed initial requests from
the Army and Air Force. But with $70 billion already approved
for the budget year that began Oct. 1, and more money needed
to replace lost or worn- out equipment, spending levels for 2007
easily will be at the highest since the Iraq war began in 2003.
Precise figures have not been set by either the Pentagon
or the White House. The requests in February for Iraq and
Afghanistan probably will be about $100 billion, but could
climb as high as $128 billion if the services get their way,
said Jim McAleese, a Virginia lawyer who specializes in national
security law.
Including the money already approved, the cost of the total
military spending for Iraq and Afghanistan could come close
to $200 billion in 2007. About $120 billion was spent in the
2006 budget year, according to the Congressional Budget Office.
Despite widespread discontent over the Iraq war and
President Bush's handling of it, Democrats are expected
to grant the vast majority of the request. Yet evidence
is accumulating that the figure the White House sends
to Capitol Hill will not be limited to dollars critically
needed for troops and war-fighting.
Dems Promise Greater War Budget Scrutiny
There is much sentiment among Democrats to protect
troops and fear about being portrayed as unsympathetic
to men and women in uniform. These factors probably would
overwhelm any efforts by anti-war Democrats to use the
debate over the Iraq money to take on Bush's conduct of the war.
"Although the Democrats are very uncomfortable with
the way the Iraq policy is being executed, they are at pains
not to appear that they are shortchanging troops in the field,"
said Loren Thompson, chief operating officer of the Lexington
Institute, a Washington-area think tank.
"This is their opportunity to show that they, too, are pro-
defense," Thompson said.
Democrats are promising to give the upcoming request
greater scrutiny than Republicans did when considering
Bush's previous requests.
"It won't just be a rubber stamp on what they give us," said
Kirstin Brost, spokeswoman for the incoming chairman
of the House Appropriations Committee, Rep. David Obey, D-Wis.
Deteriorating Security, Harsh Conditions Increase Costs
There is increasing concern about the cost of the war and
the fact that Iraq spending is kept on a set of ledgers separate
from the rest of government operations.
It is possible that the recommendations of the Iraq Study
Group could affect the spending request.
Since the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, Congress has approved
about $500 billion for Iraq, Afghanistan and other terrorism-
fighting efforts.
The Vietnam War cost an inflation-adjusted $121 billion
at its height in 1968, according to the Congressional Research
Service. The overall tally for Vietnam is $663 billion, adjusted
for inflation, while Iraq so far come to about $350 billion.
The cost of the war has risen dramatically as the security
situation has deteriorated and more equipment is destroyed
or worn out in harsh conditions.
Broad-Ranging "War" Projects
The Pentagon increasingly is using war spending bills for
costs not directly related to Iraq and Afghanistan. Last month,
Deputy Defense Secretary Gordon England said the four military
services could add projects connected to the broader fight
against terrorism, which critics said could be interpreted
to cover almost anything.
"He was telling the services to put any damn thing they
wanted into the supplemental," said Winslow Wheeler of the
Center for Defense Information, a think tank policy group,
in Washington. Such costs include buying cargo planes and
restructuring Army outfits into smaller, more nimble fighting
units.
England's memo led to inflated requests that are now being
"scrubbed" by higher-ups at the Pentagon. While that could
lower the price for the February request, Wheeler said, the
services are likely to try again in future bills.
Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman had no comment
on the upcoming request for money.
Democrats have not been shy about adding money not
sought by the president to war bills. Most notably, the Senate
in August included $13 billion for Army and Marine Corps
combat readiness in a Pentagon budget measure that had
$70 billion in Iraq.
Farm-state lawmakers such as Sen. Kent Conrad, D-N.D.,
may try to use the Iraq debate to push billions of dollars
in agricultural disaster aid.
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12) "Conservative" Radio Host Punks his listeners
by Rock Strongo
Fri Dec 01, 2006 at 11:14:28 PM EST
http://www.dailykos .com/story/ 2006/12/1/ 225750/658
Even though this story took place almost a week ago, I couldn't find
a diary about it. if it is actually out there, please let me know
and I will delete this.
Rock Strongo's diary
http://rock-strongo.dailykos.com/
On Sunday afternoon, Washington, DC radio host Jerry Klein
of WMAL was commenting on the Muslim Imams kicked off
a flight. Klein suggested that all Muslims in the United States
should be identified with a crescent-shape tattoo or a distinctive
arm band, the phone lines jammed instantly.
Among the callers:
"Not only do you tattoo them in the middle of their forehead
but you ship them out of this country ... they are here to kill us."
and:
Another said that tattoos, armbands and other identifying
markers such as crescent marks on driver's licenses, passports
and birth certificates did not go far enough. "What good
is identifying them?" he asked. "You have to set up
encampments like during World War Two with the
Japanese and Germans."
Finally a half hour into his show, Klien revealed the game:
"I can't believe any of you are sick enough to have agreed
for one second with anything I said. For me to suggest
to tattoo marks on people's bodies, have them wear
armbands, put a crescent moon on their driver's license
on their passport or birth certificate is disgusting.
It's beyond disgusting.
Because basically what you just did was show me how
the German people allowed what happened to the Jews
to happen ... We need to separate them, we need to tattoo
their arms, we need to make them wear the yellow
Star of David, we need to put them in concentration
camps, we basically just need to kill them all because
they are dangerous."
This story actually led off the 11pm news on the
Washington DC CBS affiliate WUSA the night it happened.
They have the video here:
Radio Spoof Draws Support From Muslim Activists
http://www.wusa9.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=53930
A Reuters story came out today that refered to the hoax:
In U.S., fear and distrust of Muslims runs deep
By Bernd Debusmann, Special Correspondent Fri Dec 1, 9:05 AM ET
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20061201/lf_nm/usa_muslims_fear_dc_1
Both stories were used in this diary.
But there was no other reporting on this from what I can tell.
Even though it was quite an eye opener on how some view
muslims in this country.
One other note, WMAL is the talk radio station that had
a controversy last year when one of their show hosts linked
Islam and terorism. That host, Michael Graham was offered
the opportunity to apologize by management, and when
he refused he was fired.
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13) Full text of speech by Army General Raúl Castro
Speech by the Second Secretary of the Central Committee of the Party,
First Vice-President of the Councils of State and Ministers, Minister
of the Revolutionary Armed Forces, Army General, Raúl Castro Ruz,
at the Political Ceremony, Military Review and March of the Combatant
People in Commemoration of the 50th Anniversary of the Landing
of the Granma Yacht and the Day of the Revolutionary Armed Forces,
and in Celebration of the 80th Birthday of the Commander-in-Chief,
Fidel Castro Ruz, Given on December 2nd, 2006,
"Year of the Energy Revolution in Cuba"
2006-12-02 | 09:26:52 EST
http://www.juventudrebelde.co.cu/cuba/2006-12-02/full-text-of-speech-by-army-general-raul-castro/
Comrades:
Past, present and future combatants:
We welcome good friends of the Cuban Revolution who have
offered their essential support and solidarity over these last
50 years of prolonged battle for sovereignty and freedom.
Among them I would like to mention the GuayasamÃn Foundation
and the relatives of this great Ecuadorian friend and painter,
who conceived this noble gesture of paying homage to comrade
Fidel on his 80th birthday, an occasion which has brought
to Havana Heads of State or Government, as well as other
dignitaries and senior personalities from the political and
cultural scenes of various countries. On behalf of our people
we thank them for honoring us with their presence at this forum.
Another reason why we are gathered here today is to celebrate
the anniversary of a momentous event in our history. We are
here to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the landing
of the Granma yacht on December 2, 1956, a date which
marks the birth of the Rebel Army and of its true successors:
the Revolutionary Armed Forces.
It is to the combatant people, heroic protagonist and legitimate
pillar of the Armed Forces, and to their founder and Commander-
in-Chief that this Military Parade is dedicated. This is divided
into sections representing the beautiful history of 138 years
of struggle by the Cuban people for their final independence.
Firstly, the Liberation Army that fought the colonial yoke, then
the rebel army against neo-colonial tyranny followed by the
Revolutionary Armed Forces that defend the Homeland,
the Revolution and Socialism; One army of the people
in three different stages of history.
This is a perfect time to reaffirm the full validity of the words
spoken by comrade Fidel in his Central Report to the First
Congress of the Communist Party, 31 years ago, as he said:
"The Rebel Army was the soul of the Revolution. Its victorious
arms opened the way for a new free, beautiful, striving
and invincible new homeland. Its soldiers vindicated the
blood generously shed in all the struggles for independence
and with their own blood laid the foundations of Cuba’s
socialist present. They gave to the people the weapons
wrested from the oppressor in an epic struggle, and merged
with the people to become forever onward the armed people”.
When “...there was not yet (...) the Party which would emerge
later on, the Army was the factor of cohesion and unity
of the entire people and the same that guaranteed power
for the working people and the existence of the Revolution ...”
And “... upon the foundation of our Party, the vanguard
of our working class, the symbol and synthesis of the ideals,
aspirations and history of the Cuban Revolution from the
glorious days of La Demajagua until now, and follower
of the work of Marti's Revolutionary Party and of the
courageous founders of the first Marxist-Leninist party
of Cuba, our army, heir to the heroism and patriotic honor
of the Liberation Army, that has victoriously carried on its
struggles, placed in the hands of the Party the banners
of the Revolution and has ever since and forever been its
most loyal, disciplined, humble and staunch follower”.
This is what Fidel said.
Also, in the context of the 50th anniversary of the
Revolutionary Armed Forces (the FAR), it is fitting to ratify
the monolithic unity between the People, the Army and
the Party; this unity has been deeply rooted over the years
following the triumph of the Revolution on January 1st, 1959;
this unity is our main strategic weapon, which has made
it possible for this small island to resist and overcome so
many aggressions from imperialism and its allies; this
unity provides a basis for the internationalist work of the
Cuban people and is the reason for the heroic deeds
of its children in other countries around the world,
following Marti's maxim that "Homeland is Humanity".
We are experiencing an exceptional moment in history.
Many thought that the demise of the socialist block and
the collapse of the Soviet Union would spell the end for
the international revolutionary movement. Some even
suggested that we abandon the ideals to which entire
generations of Cubans had dedicated their lives, while
over the last few years the US government, in the
opportunistic manner characteristic of them, have
stepped up their hostility and aggressiveness against
Cuba to an unprecedented high, in the hope of economically
suffocating the country and overthrowing the Revolution
by intensifying their subversive acts. In this regard,
the surprise and frustration of our enemies was great,
and the admiration of the oppressed masses even greater,
when they witnessed the perseverance, equanimity, maturity
and self-confidence that our people have shown
over these last four months.
Despite the maneuvers and pressure of the United States
and its allies, the prestige enjoyed by Cuba around the world
has strengthened. An example of this was the 14th Non-Aligned
Summit successfully held in our capital last September,
and more recently the unprecedented support given in the
United Nations General Assembly to the resolution condemning
the US blockade on our country.
In Latin America, the application the neoliberal formula
imposed by the United States and their European buddies
has led the continent into the sad situation of being the
region in the planet where the opulence of the oligarchy
with close links to foreign capital is the most insulting
and obnoxious when compared to the poverty, insalubrities
and ignorance in which the majority of the population lives.
Over recent years, the peoples of Latin America have been
progressively expressing their feelings of indignation and
repudiation towards the treacherous and submissive policies
adopted by traditional governments and parties. Popular
and revolutionary movements are getting stronger and
despite Washington’s multimillion-dollar campaigns
of disinformation, the blackmail and brazen interference,
new and experienced leaders are assuming the leadership
of their nations.
The attempt by the United States to economically annex
Latin America by way of the FTAA was thwarted while
a project of integration known as the Bolivarian Alternative
for the Americas, ALBA, is taking its place following a proposal
by President and brother, Hugo Chávez, to benefit the
dispossessed masses.
Recent events in the international arena bear witness to the
failure of the adventurous policies of the current US
administration. On November 7, the people of that country
showed in the ballot box their rejection of the strategic
concept of pre-emptive war, the use of lies to justify military
interventions, kidnappings and secret prisons, and the
despicable legalization of torture in the so-called war
on terrorism.
Three years and seven months after President Bush euphorically
and precipitately declared on board an aircraft carrier “mission
accomplished” with regards to the war in Iraq, the bodies
of young American soldiers killed in a war spurred by the
desire to control the region’s energy resources continue
to be sent back to the United States. Nobody dares anymore
to predict when it will end. The US government is at a dead-end:
on the one hand, it realizes that it cannot prolong occupation
in Iraq, while on the other it admits that it doesn’t have the
minimum conditions needed to pull out without damaging
their interests. Meanwhile, the number of deaths and mutilations
continues to mount among civilians subjected to an internecine
war the result of the anarchy and chaos created by the US invasion.
Some in the United States are now suggesting that they simply
withdraw from the chaos that they themselves created.
We don’t know what they will do in this case with the NATO,
left high and dry by its American buddies in the conflict
in Afghanistan, which is also becoming increasingly
unmanageable and dangerous.
In the eyes of the world, the so-called “crusade on terrorism”
is unavoidably heading down the path to a humiliating defeat.
The American people, just as in the case of Vietnam, will put
an end to these unjust and criminal wars. We hope that the
US authorities will learn that war is not the solution to the
growing problems afflicting the planet; that proclaiming their
right to irresponsibly attack “sixty or more dark corners”
of the world, even when they are already stuck in two of them,
makes their differences with other countries more complex
and profound; that power based on intimidation and terror
will never be anything more than a passing illusion and that
the terrible consequences of this on the peoples of the world,
including the American, are clear to see.
We feel certain that the way to resolve the pressing conflicts
afflicting mankind is not through war, but rather political
solutions. We take this opportunity to once again state that
we are willing to resolve at the negotiating table the longstanding
dispute between the United States and Cuba, of course, provided
they accept, as we have previously said, our condition
as a country that will not tolerate any blemishes on its
independence, and as long as said resolution is based
on the principles of equality, reciprocity, non-interference
and mutual respect.
In the meantime, after almost half a century, we are willing
to wait patiently until the moment when common sense
prevails in the Washington power circles.
Regardless of this, we shall continue to consolidate our nation’s
military invulnerability based on the strategic concept of the War
of All the People which we planned and began introducing
25 years ago. This type of popular war, as repeatedly proven
throughout modern history, is simply invincible.
We will continue to improve the preparation and combative
cohesion of the regular troops and their reserves, the Territorial
Militia, the Production and Defense Brigades and other elements
of the territorial defense corps, including all levels of the party,
state and government structures. We will continue to prepare
the Theatre of Military Operations while developing communications
and the modernization of combat resources in order to improve
combative skills and adapt them to their envisaged use
in the event of an attack.
We will also continue to strengthen the important work carried
out on all fronts by the dedicated combatants of the Ministry
of the Interior.
We will preserve the freedom of the Cuban people and the
independence and sovereignty of the Homeland at all costs.
With the strength derived from hundreds of years of struggle
and the patriotic energy characteristic of our people, so noble
and heroic, let us raise our voices in harmony to proclaim:
Long Live Fidel!
Long Live Free Cuba
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14) Police Shooting Reunites Circle of Common Loss
By SARAH KERSHAW
December 2, 2006
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/12/02/nyregion/02victims.html?hp&ex=1165122000&en=cf09d9b4869a4091&ei=5094&partner=homepage
The bus from Miami rolled into the Port Authority station at 6:25 p.m. Thursday, 28 hours after Marie Rose Dorismond set out for New York City, alone on her grim pilgrimage.
It was not the first time she had returned to the place she fled after
her only son, Patrick M. Dorismond, was killed at age 26 by the police
in 2000; she comes back every Feb. 28, on his birthday, and stays
through March 16, the day he was shot in a scuffle with undercover
detectives only a few blocks from the bus station. He is buried in Queens.
This time, clutching a rolling suitcase and three sets of neatly
pressed dress clothes on hangers, Mrs. Dorismond was returning
for the funeral of Sean Bell, the 23-year-old bridegroom who died
in Queens on Saturday in a storm of 50 police bullets.
And in doing so, she returned to join again what amounts to an
anguished club: the widening circle of unintended friends made
up of the relatives of those killed by the police in the city’s streets.
She was here to make herself available to the Bell family, people she
had never met but who felt to her like instant sisters and brothers.
And when she could not find a flight that would get her to New York
on time, Mrs. Dorismond, 59, traveling alone for the first time,
decided to take a Greyhound bus.
“I don’t know what I would have done without them,” Mrs. Dorismond,
a Haitian immigrant who came to New York at 18 to study nursing,
said of the relatives of Amadou Diallo and others who died
in encounters with the police. “Nobody can understand that
pain but me, Mrs. Diallo and the others. When it was my turn,
everybody came.”
They had come and been there for her, rushing to her side to
introduce themselves — at her son’s wake, at his funeral, at the
protests on the streets. Amadou Diallo’s mother, Malcolm Ferguson’s
mother, Nicholas Heyward Jr.’s father, Abner Louima himself.
At Sean Bell’s wake yesterday, in a crowded church in Jamaica,
Queens, Mrs. Dorismond was weeping in the second row of pews,
only a few feet from the open coffin, when Amadou Diallo’s
mother, Kadiatou, arrived. Mrs. Dorismond rushed to her friend,
the two hugged for several minutes, and Mrs. Dorismond
shouted: “Again? Again? Again?”
As hundreds of people passed through the church to view
the coffin, a crowd of protesters ebbed and flowed on the streets
outside, swelling to about 500 people by the time the funeral was
over and Mr. Bell’s coffin was carried out of the church at 8:30 p.m.
Many held signs that said, “Justice for Sean Bell,” and demonstrators
denounced police brutality over loudspeakers, but the event
was largely peaceful.
It was Mrs. Dorismond’s first such funeral since her son was killed,
but others, like Nicholas Heyward, whose son was killed in 1994,
could count off half a dozen.
In addition to his son, 13-year-old Nicholas Heyward Jr., who
was playing with a toy gun when he was killed by a housing
officer in Brooklyn, recent victims of violent encounters with
the police included Amadou Diallo, killed in a hail of 41 bullets
in the Bronx; Malcolm Ferguson, a drug suspect whose death
came only five days after officers were acquitted in Mr. Diallo’s
death; Gidone Busch, a mentally ill man killed by the police
in Brooklyn; Patrick Dorismond, killed by an undercover
narcotics detective in Manhattan; and Sean Bell, killed
in Queens when five undercover detectives opened
fire on his car.
In the days before Mr. Bell’s funeral, the anguished club’s
grapevine was in full operation: Mrs. Dorismond heard, but
was not positive, that Mrs. Diallo, whose son was killed
in 1999, would come from Maryland.
Mrs. Diallo, meanwhile, was in close contact with the mothers
of Gidone Busch, whom she speaks to every month, and
Timothy Stansbury Jr., an unarmed man killed in 2004,
but neither was able to attend the Bell funeral.
Mr. Heyward had said he was going and was pleased to hear
that Mrs. Dorismond was coming. Juanita Young, whose son
Malcolm Ferguson was killed in 2000, told Mr. Heyward, now
a very close friend, that she really wanted to go, but he talked
her out of it because she had just been released from the hospital.
“I know what the families are going through right now,”
Mr. Heyward had said before the funeral. “It’s really, really tough
right now. Right now they are completely lost. Sometimes
you may think they are all right, but they are completely lost.”
Mrs. Dorismond recalled feeling exactly that way in the chaotic
and surreal days after her son’s death, which a grand jury found
to be unintentional and which resulted in no charges against
the officer.
There was also the overlaying public spectacle, with protests
at her son’s funeral erupting in violence and dozens of people
being arrested. There were marches, with the Rev. Al Sharpton
by Mrs. Dorismond’s side, the constant glare of television
cameras, a public battle between the Dorismonds and Mayor
Rudolph W. Giuliani, and Mrs. Dorismond’s and Mrs. Diallo’s
meeting with Gov. George E. Pataki.
Two weeks after her son died, Mrs. Dorismond, a retired pediatric
nurse, said she was looking out the window of her fourth-floor
apartment in East Flatbush, where she had lived for 30 years,
and saw a dead body on the building’s steps. Mrs. Dorismond
and her husband, André, a well-known singer among Haitians
whom fans called the “Haitian Frank Sinatra,” had already decided
to move to Florida, where they were building a house.
The body, appearing so soon after their son’s death, persuaded
them to leave New York as quickly as possible, and they settled
in the quiet town of Port St. Lucie with their daughter, Marie, 35,
and one of Patrick Dorismond’s two daughters, Infinity, now 11.
As she made her way from the bus terminal to a friend’s car
on Thursday and rode to Brooklyn, where she is staying with
a brother in East Flatbush, Mrs. Dorismond’s anger boiled up.
With every passing police car, every sound of a siren, she fumed.
“You might as well stay away,” Mrs. Dorismond said. “You
cannot live with Satan. New York City is like a jungle place.”
Mr. Dorismond’s other daughter, Destiny, 7, is living with
her mother in New York. The city settled a civil lawsuit in the
case and paid the family $2.25 million. Mrs. Dorismond said
all the money was in a trust fund for her son’s daughters,
who will be allowed access to what she estimated would
grow to $10 million only after they turn 25.
Mrs. Dorismond, who spent yesterday morning on Flatbush
Avenue having her nails and hair done for the Sean Bell
funeral, said that both of the girls talked about wanting
to become police officers, “so they can find out what really
happened.”
Infinity seems especially focused on what happened to
her father, writing songs that she sings aloud to him, asking
her aunt and grandmother all kinds of questions.
“I am young and I don’t know,” begins one of Infinity’s songs.
“I’m going to be a police, I want to know how they killed you.”
For a while, her aunt said, Infinity worried about what her
father was wearing when he was buried.
“Did my daddy have shoes on his feet when he was in the
box?” she asked her aunt.
“No shoes, I don’t think so,” Ms. Dorismond replied. “But
he was buried in a cream suit.”
Sean Bell was buried in a pinstriped suit, and yesterday
Mrs. Dorismond and Mrs. Diallo spent four hours sitting
next to each other, catching up — Mrs. Diallo is now the
grandmother of triplets; Mrs. Dorismond has retired —
and watching mourners file by the coffin.
When Mr. Bell’s mother, Valerie, approached her son’s
body, Mrs. Dorismond burst into tears and laid her head
on Mrs. Diallo’s shoulder.
A few minutes later Mrs. Dorismond and Mrs. Diallo walked
over to the next pew, introduced themselves to Ms. Bell and
said they were sorry. The three of them hugged, and Ms. Bell
told the two other mothers she was sorry, too, for their losses.
When they returned to their seats, Mrs. Diallo said, “She’s
numb.”
Mrs. Dorismond said, “I know.”
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LINKS AND VERY SHORT STORIES
*---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*
Bridegroom’s Legacy Remembered at His Funeral
By ALAN FEUER
December 2, 2006
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/12/02/nyregion/02funeral.html?_r=1&oref=slogin
After a Shooting, a Rapper Stages a Protest in Rhyme
By KELEFA SANNEH
December 2, 2006
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/12/02/nyregion/02papoose.html
A NEW LOOK AT U.S. RADIOACTIVE WEAPONS
http://www.iacenter.org/poison-dust.htm
Foe of Birth Control to Head US Family Planning Department
http://www.commondreams.org/headlines06/1201-07.htm
FOCUS | Widespread Corruption in Iraq Costs Taxpayers $4 Billion a Year
The Iraqi government is in danger of being brought down by the
wholesale smuggling of the nation's oil and other forms of corruption that
together represent a "second insurgency", according to a senior US
official. Stuart Bowen, who has been in charge of auditing Iraq's faltering
reconstruction since 2004, said corruption had reached such levels that it
threatened the survival of the state.
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/120206Z.shtml
Would HRW Have Attacked Martin Luther King, Too?
Palestinians Are Being Denied the Right of Non-Violent Resistance?
By JONATHAN COOK
in Nazareth
November 30, 2006
http://www.counterpunch.org/cook11302006.html
An Ancient Computer Surprises Scientists
By JOHN NOBLE WILFORD
November 29, 2006
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/29/science/30computecnd.html?hp&ex=1164862800&en=d7d28d698786f28d&ei=5094&partner=homepage
California: Toddler’s Shooting Called Accident
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
The district attorney’s office in Los Angeles will not file charges
against 11 police officers involved in the fatal shooting of a toddler
during a gun battle with her father last year. The toddler,
19-month-old Suzie Pena, was being used as a human shield
by her father, District Attorney Steve Cooley said in a memorandum.
Prosecutors found the SWAT officers were trying to defend themselves
and others when they accidentally killed the child, Mr. Cooley said.
The father, Jose Raul Pena, exchanged gunfire with the police during
the hourslong July 2005 standoff before he was fatally shot. There
were illegal drugs in his system and traces of cocaine in the toddler’s
system, officials said.
November 29, 2006
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/29/us/29brfs-TODDLER8217S_BRF.html
Nurse and 7 Guards Are Charged in Teenager’s Death at Boot Camp
By ANDY NEWMAN
November 29, 2006
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/29/us/29boot.html
Ruling Lets Women Share Rights Custody Fight
By ADAM LIPTAK
November 29, 2006
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/29/us/29mothers.html?ref=us
Anger Spills Over in Atlanta at Killing of Aged Woman
By SHAILA DEWAN and BRENDA GOODMAN
November 29, 2006
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/29/us/29atlanta.html?ref=us
