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Saturday, July 16, 2005
BAUAW NEWSLETTER-SATURDAY, JULY 16, 2005
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1) Bay Area United Against War has a new meeting schedule:
We will meet every third Tuesday of the month
at 7:00 p.m. beginning:
Tuesday, July 19, 2005,7:00 p.m.
474 Valencia Street, near 16th Stree
Agenda will include Board of Education picketing update,
September 24, Marx in Soho performances,
Campus Not Combat petition update and publicity
campaign, and new business.
All are welcome. Bring your ideas and help
Organize against this war!
2) SAN FRANCISCO MIME TROUPE
PRESENTS: "DOING GOOD"
A play based loosely on the book, "Confessions
of an Economic Hit Man", by John Perkins.
JULY 16, PRECITA PARK
MUSIC: 1:30 P.M.
SHOW: 2:00 P.M.
(This play is fresh, new, brilliantly performed,
insightful, full of content, and the music is the
icing on the cake!...BW)
SPONSORED BY BAY AREA UNITED AGAINST WAR
Help get the word out about the ballot proposition
and upcoming antiwar events. Free antiwar posters!
FREE!
3) BAUAW Benefit Presentation of Howard Zinn's
one man show, MARX IN SOHO
Starring Jerry Levy as Karl Marx
Directed by Michael Fox Kennedy.
Thursday, August 4, 7:00 p.m.
Friday, August 5, 7:00 p.m.
Saturday, August 6, 2:00 p.m.
Jon Sims Center for the Performing Arts
1519 Mission Street between 11th Street
and South Van Ness*
Advance tickets: $10
Door: $20.00
Call:415-824-8730 or email: giobon@sbcglobal.net for
Advance tickets.
4) Cut all Public School Ties to the Military!
Speak up and Picket the S.F. Board of Education
the Fourth Tuesday of Each Month.
Next picket line: Tuesday, July 27, 6:30 P.M.-7:30 P.M.
(The July Board of Ed. meetings have been cancelled. But we
will still hold a picket July 27 at 6:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m.
in front of the Board of Education building.)
The next picket line after July 27 is August 23, 6:30 P.M.
-7:30 P.M. (just before school starts back.)
August 23, 6:30 p.m.-7:30 P.M.
555 Franklin St., S.F,
To get on the speakers list call:
415-241-6427, 241-6493 or 241-6000
(For more info call: 415-824-8730)
5) Convicted, Executed, Not Guilty
By BOB HERBERT
Published: July 14, 2005
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/07/14/opinion/14herbert.html?hp
6) Lawmakers Agree to Renew
Patriot Act
By ERIC LICHTBLAU and CARL HULSE
Published: July 14, 2005
WASHINGTON, July 13 - Lawmakers on three separate
Congressional committees moved Wednesday to impose
restrictions on some of the more controversial elements
of the law known as the USA Patriot Act, suggesting
continued resistance in Congress to the idea of giving
the government unchecked authority to fight terrorism.
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/07/14/politics/14patriot.html
7) Homeland Security Chief
Announces Overhaul
By ERIC LIPTON
Published: July 14, 2005
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/07/14/politics/14homeland.html
8) Yasser Salihee is dead.
from the black commentator - 7/14/05-
www.blackcommentator.com
9) Karl Marx-Winner of the Greatest Philosopher Vote
BBC RADIO 4 - UK RADIO STATION OF THE YEAR
"Workers of the World Unite! You have nothing to lose but
your chains", "Religion is the opium of the people", and
"From each according to his abilities, to each according
to his needs". That should be enough for most of you to work
out whom Radio 4 listeners have voted as their favorite
philosopher: the winner of the In Our Time Greatest
Philosopher Vote, chosen from 20 philosophers nominated
by listeners and carried through on an electoral tidal wave
of 28% of our 'first-past-the-post' vote is the communist
theoretician, Karl Marx.
So, when you strip away the Marxist-Leninism, the Soviet
era and later Marxist theory, who was Karl Marx? Where does
he stand in the history of philosophy? He wrote in his
Theses on Feuerbach, "Philosophers have only interpreted
the world in various ways, the point, however, is to
change it"-which begs the question, is he really
a philosopher at all?
Contributors
Anthony Grayling, Professor of Philosophy at Birkbeck
College, University of London
Francis Wheen, journalist and author of
a biography of Karl Marx
Gareth Stedman Jones, Professor of Political
Science at Cambridge University
July 14, 2005
http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/history/inourtime/inourtime.shtml
10) The Battle after the Battle
By Les Blumenthal
The News Tribune
Sunday 10 July 2005
Soldiers say military pushes them to discharge
before medical needs are met
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2005/071105X.shtml
11) Defend a Woman's Right to Choose! Stop the anti-abortion "Crusade for Life"
Saturday, July 16th and Friday, July 23rd
8am- noon
815 Eddy St. (at Franklin), SF
"Crusade for Life" will be in
San Francisco from July 15-24, protesting
against reproductive rights.
Planned Parenthood is collecting names and
phone numbers of anyone interested
in being on an "on-call" list in the
event of problems or harrassment
by protesters. We are invited to join
Planned Parenthood, Radical Women,
Code Pink, and various others to defend a
woman's right to choose.
The "Crusade for Life" plans to
disrupt our community by harassing women at
health clinics from July 15-27.
We need your help to defend our clinics and
to send the message that the Bay
Area is pro-choice and stands up for
reproductive rights!
Saturday, July 16 and 23: Meet at
Planned Parenthood to be a visible
pro-choice force.
12) G.E. Profit Increases 24 Percent
in 2d Quarter
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: July 15, 2005
http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/business/AP-Earns-General-Electric.html?
13) UFPJ MEMO TO EXPLAIN THE DISUNITY ON SEPT. 24 IN D.C.
www.unitedforpeace.org | 212-868-5545 | Click to subscribe
14) American Soldiers Charged
With Abuse
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: July 16, 2005
http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/international/AP-
Iraq.html?hp&ex=1121572800&en=163cdddfd9b064f4&ei=5094&partner=homepag
e
15) Ruling Lets U.S. Restart Trials
at Guantánamo
By NEIL A. LEWIS
Published: July 16, 2005
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/07/16/politics/
16gitmo.html?hp&ex=1121572800&en=63f317612f1e5198&ei=5094&partner=hom
epage
16) San Francisco State Sued For Violating
Students' Rights
From: Katrina Yeaw
Date: July 15, 2005 1:32:39 PM EDT
Reply-To: CampusAntiwarNetwork@yahoogroups.com
17) Hello all,
This is not good news, it shows how we have to unite together
and stand strong against this evil system.
Please read the entire article. Below is a call to
participate in a rally
Wednesday 20th July from 5:00pm -6:00pm
in support of Sheila Detoy and Cammerin Boyd.
Please spread the word and
attend the rally if you can.
in solidarity,
Donna (more below)
18) Venezuela Discovers More Oil - Bush Plans Invasion
Clif Ross
07/11/05 /Epicenter News Service/
http://www.eastbaynews.org/stages/word_stage1.php?EBN= 0711_1_word
19) George Galloway - Battle cry for radical change
What do sweatshop workers in Bangladesh have in common with
the people who work in your local supermarket? More than you
might think, writes George Galloway, Respect MP
The only way to make poverty history is to make the G8
history. I don't mean simply the annual jamboree for the
leaders of the world's richest and most powerful states.
I mean the whole nexus of exploitation and privilege that
the G8 and its attendant institutions represent.
http://www.socialistworker.co.uk/article.php4?article_id=6889
20) ANSWER UPCOMING EVENTS:
In this message:
* Postering for Sept. 24 Anti-War March in SF
* Statement on Racism in the LGBT Community
* Weekly Badlands Boycott Picket
* ANSWER Activist Meeting - Get Involved!
* ANSWER Speaker and Venezuela Film Screening in San Bruno
* ANSWER ANTI-WAR TEACH-IN:
The U.S. War Drive & the Anti-War Movement
For more info on the following events, call 415-821-6545.
21) Army Guard Misses Recruiting Goal Again
By JOHN J. LUMPKIN, Associated Press Writer
Tuesday, July 12, 2005
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/n/a/2005/07/12/national/
w053441D69.DTL
22) Army study:
U.S. facing hard choices
Lack of GIs may force cut in mission goals
By Michael Kilian
Washington Bureau
Published July 12, 2005
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-
0507120251jul12,1,6312103.story?ctrack=1&cset=true
23) President and Prime Minister Sharon
Discuss Economy, Middle East
Prairie Chapel Ranch
Crawford, Texas
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2005/04/20050411-2.html
24) Defend a Woman‚s Right to Choose!
Stop the anti-abortion „Crusade for Life‰
25) Peace and Justice News from FPIF
http://www.fpif.org/
July 15, 2005
Introducing the latest policy analysis from
Foreign Policy In Focus
A Strategy for Ending the Iraq War
By Tom Hayden
26) FREE HIP HOP SHOW AND RALLY TO CLOSE CYA YOUTH PRISONS
Join us as we bring the community together with amazing Bay Area
talent to speak out against the California Youth Authority and the
prison industrial complex!
WHAT: 4th Annual "Not Down with the Lockdown" Hip Hop Show and Rally
to Close the CYA Youth Prisons
WHERE: Frank Ogawa Plaza, 14th St. and Broadway (Downtown Oakland)
WHEN: Saturday, July 16, noon-2pm
FREE! All ages!
WITH SPECIAL GUEST PERFORMERS:
-Mista F.A.B.
-Boogie Shack
-Company of Prophets
-Fiyawata
-Dream Dance Company
and many more
Sponsored by Books Not Bars and Let's Get Free
( http://www.booksnotbars.org ) and The Beat Within.
Contact Books Not Bars:
e-mail: bnb@ellabakercenter.org
phone: 510.428.3939
Get more information about the Books Not Bars
"Alternatives for Youth" Campaign:
http://ellabakercenter.org/bnb/campaign
We can't survive without the support of individuals like you.
Please take a moment to support us today. Donate here:
http://www.ellabakercenter.org/donate
* Not on our list-serve yet? (Maybe this message was
forwarded to you.) Sign up to get e-mail updates
directly by going this web page:
http://ellabakercenter.org/subscribe
27) Please forward widely Please forward widely
JUSTICE FOR Sheila detoy and cammerin boyd
COMMUNITY RALLY
5:00-6:00 PM
WEDNESDAY JULY 20, 2005
SAN FRANCISCO CITY PLAZA
DR. GOODLETT DR. ( ACROSS FROM S.F. CITY HALL)
For ten years San Francisco Police Offices have
killed with impunity.
We say no more
We call on the San Francisco Police
Commission to end this reign of terror.
Sheila Detoy: On May 13, 1998 san
Francisco Police Officers Shot Up
A Car full
of Unarmed Teenagers and killed 17 year
Old Sheila Detoy. SFPD then tried
to blame her friends for her death.
Cammerin Boyd: On Wednesday, May 5, 2004,
San Francisco police officers
shot and killed 29 year-old Cammerin
Boyd in front of dozens of witnesses. Cammerin,
who was disabled, was clearly and vocally
surrendering. He had his hands above his
head. But the police shot him anyway.
In the coming weeks the San Francisco
Police Commission will begin holding hearings
on both of these cases, come out and let
them know we will accept nothing less than justice.
For more information call (510)428-3939 x, 242 or e-mail
malaika@ellabakercenter.org
28) CUBA-A REVOLUTION IN MOTION
MARIN INTERFAITH TASK FORCE ON THE AMERICAS
PRESS RELEASE
Contact: Marin Interfaith Task Force on the Americas
29) Recruiters OUT of our schools!
From: "No Draft No Way!"
Date: Thu, 14 Jul 2005 14:27:35 -0400
To: swosfo@pacbell.net
Cc: action.news@organizerweb.com
Subject: "College Not Combat" - Recruiters OUT of our schools
---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*--------
1) Bay Area United Against War has a new meeting schedule:
We will meet every third Tuesday of the month
at 7:00 p.m. beginning:
Tuesday, July 19, 2005,7:00 p.m.
474 Valencia Street, near 16th Street
Agenda will include Board of Education picketing update,
September 24, Marx in Soho performances,
Campus Not Combat petition update and publicity
campaign, and new business.
All are welcome. Bring your ideas and help
Organize against this war!
---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*--------
2) SAN FRANCISCO MIME TROUPE
PRESENTS: "DOING GOOD"
A play based loosely on the book, "Confessions
of an Economic Hit Man", by John Perkins.
JULY 16, PRECITA PARK
MUSIC: 1:30 P.M.
SHOW: 2:00 P.M.
(This play is fresh, new, brilliantly performed,
insightful, full of content, and the music is the
icing on the cake!...BW)
SPONSORED BY BAY AREA UNITED AGAINST WAR
Help get the word out about the ballot proposition
and upcoming antiwar events. Free antiwar posters!
FREE!
---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*--------
3) BAUAW Benefit Presentation of Howard Zinn's
one man show, MARX IN SOHO
Starring Jerry Levy as Karl Marx
Directed by Michael Fox Kennedy.
Thursday, August 4, 7:00 p.m.
Friday, August 5, 7:00 p.m.
Saturday, August 6, 2:00 p.m.
Jon Sims Center for the Performing Arts
1519 Mission Street between 11th Street
and South Van Ness*
Advance tickets: $10
Door: $20.00
Call:415-824-8730 or email: giobon@sbcglobal.net for
Advance tickets.
The premise of the play is that Marx dies yet he is
able to see what's happening on earth for 100 years
since his death in 1883. He is supposed to go back to
Soho in London but, by mistake, is sent to Soho
in New York and finds himself on stage before an
audience. Imagine all Karl Marx would have to say
after one hundred years of just being able to watch...
The single actor in this one-man play is Jerry Levy,
who has been teaching sociology at Marlboro College
and been acting with the Actors' Theater of Brattleboro
since he moved there from Chicago in 1975. Originally
directed by Michael Fox Kennedy of the Actors' Theater,
Levy has been on the road with Zinn's version of Karl
Marx for a year, performing at benefits, colleges, small
theaters and other venues around the state. At Middle
Earth he was sponsored by the Bradford-based Coos Peace
and Justice Alliance and performed free of charge but
charged with mighty talent and a bottomless love of the play.
WWW.BAUAW.ORG
Contact person: Bonnie Weinstein 415-824-8730-office/home
415-990-4237-cell
*The Jon Sims Center is located at 1519 Mission Street
(between 11th Street and South Van Ness), South of Market,
San Francisco, CA 94103
BY CAR:
From the East Bay: Take 80 North then 101 North to the
Mission Street exit. Stay on the right hand side of the exit.
Turn right off the exit, and stay on Mission Street. The Jon
Sims Center is two blocks past Van Ness, next to Firestone.
From the South Bay: Take 101 North to the Mission Street
Exit. Stay on the right hand side of the exit. Turn right off
the exit, and stay on Mission Street. The Jon Sims Center
is two blocks past Van Ness, next to Firestone.
From the North Bay: Take 101 South to Lombard, make
a right on Van Ness and then a left onto Mission. Jon Sims
Center is two blocks past Van Ness, next to Firestone.
Parking: Daytime parking is very difficult. We encourage
day users to take public transportation. In the evening,
street parking along Mission Street, Minna Street and
11th Street is not horrible (in San Francisco terms) after
6:00 PM, but the closer you are to 6:00 PM, the better
your chances of finding parking. There is no parking
along Mission between 4-6 PM, and you will be
promptly towed.
VIA BART/MUNI/SAMTRANS:
Go to http://www.transitinfo.org for more information
about Bay Area public transportation.
BART: Take BART to the Civic Center station, then transfer
to the outbound Muni J,K,L,M or N train. Exit at the next
stop (Van Ness Station). Walk 1 block south, cross Mission,
and the Jon Sims Center is next to Firestone.
MUNI: The Jon Sims Center is 1 block south of the Van
Ness Muni underground station, accessible from any Muni
streetcar. Additionally, the 14 Mission, 42 Loop 49 and
47 Van Ness bus stop at Mission and 11th Street, only
1/2 block from the Jon Sims Center. Current Muni fare is $1.25.
SamTrans: The SamTrans DX, KX, MX, NX, PX, RX and
TX buses stops at Mission and 9th Streets. Walk three
blocks west (towards Sutro tower) to reach the Jon Sims
Center. Current SamTrans fare is $1.10. Please note that
SamTrans buses to the City only run during rush hours.
---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*--------
4) Cut all Public School Ties to the Military!
Speak up and Picket the S.F. Board of Education
the Fourth Tuesday of Each Month.
Next picket line: Tuesday, July 27, 6:30 P.M.-7:30 P.M.
(The July Board of Ed. meetings have been cancelled. But we
will still hold a picket July 27 at 6:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m.
in front of the Board of Education building.)
The next picket line after July 27 is August 23, 6:30 P.M.
-7:30 P.M. (just before school starts back.)
August 23, 6:30 p.m.-7:30 P.M.
555 Franklin St., S.F,
To get on the speakers list call:
415-241-6427, 241-6493 or 241-6000
(For more info call: 415-824-8730)
---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*--------
5) Convicted, Executed, Not Guilty
By BOB HERBERT
Published: July 14, 2005
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/07/14/opinion/14herbert.html?hp
---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*--------
6) Lawmakers Agree to Renew
Patriot Act
By ERIC LICHTBLAU and CARL HULSE
Published: July 14, 2005
WASHINGTON, July 13 - Lawmakers on three separate
Congressional committees moved Wednesday to impose
restrictions on some of the more controversial elements
of the law known as the USA Patriot Act, suggesting
continued resistance in Congress to the idea of giving
the government unchecked authority to fight terrorism.
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/07/14/politics/14patriot.html
---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*--------
7) Homeland Security Chief
Announces Overhaul
By ERIC LIPTON
Published: July 14, 2005
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/07/14/politics/14homeland.html
---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*--------
8) Yasser Salihee is dead.
from the black commentator - 7/14/05-
www.blackcommentator.com
He was on his way to drive his family to a swimming pool in
western Baghdad when he was struck by a single bullet to head
- he died instantly.
Some say he was an unintentional casualty of war. Some whisper
"the wolves got him."
You see, since May, Dr. Salihee, had been reporting on the
similarities between the death squads used in El Salvador
to obliterate their "insurgency" and the US military's
creation of the "Wolf Brigade" that has been unleashed to
eliminate the Iraqi "insurgency." Our government calls it
Operation Lightening.
To be clear, there is no shame in the game of the US military
- they make no secret that the Wolf Brigade is modeled after
the death squads in El Salvador. In fact, up until April 2005,
the main advisor to the Wolf Brigade was a man named
James Steele.
According to New York Times Magazine, Jim Steele was in charge
of a team of 55 Special Forces advisers in El Salvador who
"trained front-line battalions that were accused of significant
human rights abuses." In fact while Jim Steele was in charge,
"whole villages were targeted by the armed forces and their
inhabitants massacred.''
When battered and methodically beaten dead bodies started
showing up in Iraq, Dr Salihee started reporting. Dr Salihee
wrote about bodies in the morgue with their hands tied or
handcuffed behind their backs. Bodies with their eyes
blindfolded appearing to have been tortured, whipped with
cords and subjected to electric shocks. Bodies beaten with
blunt objects and shot to death, often with a single bullet.
Bodies found in mass graves and bodies floating in rivers.
Dr Salihee also reported that many of the members of the
Wolf Brigade came from Saddam Hussein's Special Forces and
Republican Guards. Indeed, these men were decorated
veterans of homicide, genocide and torture.
On June 28th 2005, the Philadelphia Inquirer ran Dr Salihee's
last article. The very first sentence read: "Days after
Iraq's new Shiite-led government was announced on April 28,
the director of Baghdad's central morgue began noticing
that the bodies of Sunni Muslim men were turning up after
the men had been detained by people wearing Iraqi police
uniforms."
Dr Salihee, along with reporter Tom Lasseter, went on to
state: "further evidence that a police force created,
trained and funded by the United States has been abusing
human rights ...would complicate the Bush administration's
efforts to muster greater domestic support for its Iraq policy."
The most chilling words however, were the words from
the mouth of a young man who was abducted by men in police
uniforms. "The commandos told me to keep the body outside
of the refrigerator so that the dogs could eat it because
he's a terrorist and he deserves it."
Yasser Salihee, translator, physician, special correspondent,
husband, father to two-year-old Danya, was killed 4 days
before his story ran.
The Wolf Brigade says that they are patriots. They utilize
television to depict the insurgency's humiliation. In fact,
"Terrorist in the Grip of Justice" is the most watched TV
program in the country. They wear snappy red berets and ride
around in white $55,000 vehicles. When children get too out
of hand their parents threaten them with "calling the wolves."
One young man was quoted as saying "when I see them I feel
safe. I feel we have a country with a government."
It appears Operation Lightning has quite a fan base.
I remember a time in the United States when bodies with their
hands tied behind their backs were found floating in rivers.
Bodies never identified by loved ones. Bodies buried in mass
graves.
The organization that put them there has quite a fan base too.
A few weeks ago, during the trial of the Klansman that helped
kill and then bury the bodies of three young men, former
Mayor Harlan Majure, testified that Klansman Edgar Ray Killen
was a good man and the Klan "did a lot of good up here".
Three young men, civil rights workers, were shot and killed
forty years ago because "the law" in the land of Mississippi
branded them trouble makers.
In 1892, Fredrick Douglas said "Crime has a power to reproduce
itself and create conditions favorable to its own existence."
Yasser Salihee is dead. Lizz Brown is host of the Morning
Wake Up Call, WGNU Radio, St. Louis. She can be reached
through her website: http://www.lizzbrown.com/
Marxism mailing list
Marxism@lists.econ.utah.edu
http://lists.econ.utah.edu/mailman/listinfo/marxism
---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*--------
9) Karl Marx-Winner of the Greatest Philosopher Vote
BBC RADIO 4 - UK RADIO STATION OF THE YEAR
"Workers of the World Unite! You have nothing to lose but
your chains", "Religion is the opium of the people", and
"From each according to his abilities, to each according
to his needs". That should be enough for most of you to work
out whom Radio 4 listeners have voted as their favorite
philosopher: the winner of the In Our Time Greatest
Philosopher Vote, chosen from 20 philosophers nominated
by listeners and carried through on an electoral tidal wave
of 28% of our 'first-past-the-post' vote is the communist
theoretician, Karl Marx.
So, when you strip away the Marxist-Leninism, the Soviet
era and later Marxist theory, who was Karl Marx? Where does
he stand in the history of philosophy? He wrote in his
Theses on Feuerbach, "Philosophers have only interpreted
the world in various ways, the point, however, is to
change it"-which begs the question, is he really
a philosopher at all?
Contributors
Anthony Grayling, Professor of Philosophy at Birkbeck
College, University of London
Francis Wheen, journalist and author of
a biography of Karl Marx
Gareth Stedman Jones, Professor of Political
Science at Cambridge University
July 14, 2005
http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/history/inourtime/inourtime.shtml
--------*---------*---------*---------*---------*--------
10) The Battle after the Battle
By Les Blumenthal
The News Tribune
Sunday 10 July 2005
Soldiers say military pushes them to discharge
before medical needs are met
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2005/071105X.shtml
---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*--------
11) Defend a Woman's Right to Choose! Stop the anti-abortion "Crusade for Life"
Saturday, July 16th and Friday, July 23rd
8am- noon
815 Eddy St. (at Franklin), SF
"Crusade for Life" will be in
San Francisco from July 15-24, protesting
against reproductive rights.
Planned Parenthood is collecting names and
phone numbers of anyone interested
in being on an "on-call" list in the
event of problems or harrassment
by protesters. We are invited to join
Planned Parenthood, Radical Women,
Code Pink, and various others to defend a
woman's right to choose.
The "Crusade for Life" plans to
disrupt our community by harassing women at
health clinics from July 15-27.
We need your help to defend our clinics and
to send the message that the Bay
Area is pro-choice and stands up for
reproductive rights!
Saturday, July 16 and 23: Meet at
Planned Parenthood to be a visible
pro-choice force.
---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*--------
12) G.E. Profit Increases 24 Percent
in 2d Quarter
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: July 15, 2005
http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/business/AP-Earns-General-Electric.html?
---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*--------
13) UFPJ MEMO TO EXPLAIN THE DISUNITY ON SEPT. 24 IN D.C.
www.unitedforpeace.org | 212-868-5545 | Click to subscribe
United for Peace and Justice is circulating this memo to
explain the political reasoning behind our organizing
approach for the September 24-26 mobilization , and to
respond to concerns about our decision not to merge our
September 24 demonstration with a separate anti-war event
being organized that same day.
We have reached a real turning point in the Iraq War. The
Bush Administration is experiencing incredible pressure
to change course as a result of declining U.S. popular
support, growing calls within Congress and the media for
military withdrawal, and continued chaos and bloodshed
within Iraq.
UFPJ is organizing our three-day mobilization in
Washington, D.C. from September 24-26 to increase the
pressure at this strategic time. This mobilization is
different from the large anti-war demonstrations we have
organized in the past in several key respects, and these
differences have shaped the organizing decisions that
UFPJ's leadership -- a national steering committee
elected by our member groups -- has made about the
mobilization.
END THE WAR ON IRAQ!
Visit the
Fall Mobilization Section
of the UFPJ website
to download leaflets,
endorse the Sept. 24-26 events,
and/or make a much-needed financial contribution
to our work.
The September mobilization comes as anti-war sentiment
is dramatically growing throughout the United States.
New polls indicate that up to 60% of people in this
country oppose the war and believe some or all U.S.
troops should be withdrawn from Iraq. If we organize
in an inclusive way, with broad demands, accessible
language, and an inviting style, we have the potential
to organize the largest and most diverse demonstration
against the war to date , with people from all walks
of life coming together in a clear call to bring our
troops home now. If we are willing to go outside our
comfort zones and speak to people our movements don't
typically reach, we have the potential to mobilize
large numbers of people from outside the usual activist
circles, people from a wide range of communities who
are fed up with the carnage in Iraq and ready to stand
up publicly for peace and justice. A truly massive
turn-out for our September 24 march against the war
rep color and ethnicity, every economic status, and
resenting communities large and small, of every religious
creed -- will dramatize to the Bush administration
and Congress how unpopular and
politically untenable this war has become.
The September mobilization also comes as years of
intense anti-war organizing are beginning to pay off
in the legislative realm , with movement in both
houses of Congress to call for U.S. withdrawal from Iraq.
To build on this crucial new political momentum, our
three-day September mobilization against the war will
focus not just on the White House but also on Congress;
it will include not just the major protest march on
Saturday, September 24, but also, on Monday, September 26,
large-scale grassroots lobbying and a mass nonviolent civil
disobedience action.
Finally, the September mobilization comes as the anti-war
movement is organizing more strategically than ever ,
pursuing a series of grassroots campaigns that target the
most vulnerable aspects of the Bush administration's war
drive. These include the increasingly effective nationwide
efforts to counter military recruitment, a rapidly growing
campaign of anti-war organizing in faith-based communities,
and the multi-state campaign against the use of the National
Guard in Iraq. As part of our three-day mobilization, we
will be providing a range of ways for people to plug into
these campaigns, including an interfaith religious service,
grassroots training sessions, and "interactive stations"
at the anti-war festival following our Saturday march.
As part of our effort to build the most inclusive and
diverse possible mobilization, UFPJ has chosen two simple,
broad demands for the weekend: End the War on Iraq, Bring
the Troops Home Now! These main slogans are accompanied
by five additional demands that link to specific campaigns:
Leave no military bases behind; End the looting of Iraq;
Stop bankrupting our communities; Stop the torture;
No military recruitment in our schools.
We have chosen these overarching demands for the mobilization
because we believe it is politically imperative to bring the
largest number of people together right now in opposition
to the war on Iraq. This September, we are seeking to
mobilize all opponents of the war, no matter what their
positions are on other political matters, and so we have
kept our demands broad and simple. At the same time,
United for Peace and Justice, as a coalition, has taken
strong stances on an array of issues related to the Iraq
War: opposing the Israeli occupation of Palestinian
territories and U.S. support for that occupation; stopping
torture and illegal detentions; preventing future
"pre-emptive" wars against Iran, North Korea, Syria,
Venezuela, Cuba or other countries; supporting the
democratic struggles of the Haitian people; and
challenging U.S. nuclear hegemony by demanding the
elimination of nuclear weapons worldwide.
For the September mobilization, UFPJ warmly welcomes
our allies in the wide array of peace and justice
movements to participate in the mobilization in ways
that highlight the links between their struggles and
issues and the absolute necessity to end the war on
Iraq. We invite all those struggling for peace and
justice abroad or at home to organize contingents in
our march or feeder marches to the demonstration.
The September 24 march is a powerful opportunity for
labor, women, communities of color, lesbian/gay/
bisexual/transgender people, immigrants, youth
and students, and many other communities to stand
together and say, "We cannot make headway on any
of our issues without ending the war and bringing
the troops home."
Some people have urged UFPJ to consider a joint
demonstration with the Sept. 24 National Coalition,
initiated by A.N.S.W.E.R., which is also organizing
an anti-war protest on September 24. We take seriously
the concerns from local organizers about the potential
for confusion if there are two separate marches on
September 24. Therefore, we have agreed to US Labor
Against the War's proposal to convene a meeting with
A.N.S.W.E.R. to work through logistical issues about
the day, including the possibility of bringing the marches
together. We are committed to working in good faith on
this process. But because of our different approaches to
organizing and how demands are articulated, we are not
proposing a "unified" program that day. (See our May 23
memo to our member groups for a more detailed explanation.)
We urge all those who seek to bring this war to an end
-- from national groups to local organizations to
concerned individuals -- to put maximum effort into
bringing new people and organizations into the nation's
capital for September 24-26. The streets of Washington,
D.C. are big enough to contain all of our events and movements
that weekend. The important thing is that the streets
be filled with as many people as possible, all holding
the Bush Administration and Congress accountable for
the continuing devastation of this illegal and
unjustified war.
END THE WAR ON IRAQ! BRING THE TROOPS HOME NOW!
Massive 3-day mobilization in Washington, D.C.
September 24-26, 2005
Visit our website today to download leaflets, endorse
the mobilization, and learn more about the plans for
this powerful weekend of action
http://www.unitedforpeace.org/fallmobe
ACTION ALERT * UNITED FOR PEACE AND JUSTICE
http://www.unitedforpeace.org | 212-868-5545
To subscribe, visit http://www.unitedforpeace.org/email
---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*--------
14) American Soldiers Charged
With Abuse
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: July 16, 2005
http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/international/AP-
Iraq.html?hp&ex=1121572800&en=163cdddfd9b064f4&ei=5094&partner=homepag
e
---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*--------
15) Ruling Lets U.S. Restart Trials
at Guantánamo
By NEIL A. LEWIS
Published: July 16, 2005
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/07/16/politics/
16gitmo.html?hp&ex=1121572800&en=63f317612f1e5198&ei=5094&partner=hom
epage
---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*--------
16) San Francisco State Sued For Violating
Students' Rights
From: Katrina Yeaw
Date: July 15, 2005 1:32:39 PM EDT
Reply-To: CampusAntiwarNetwork@yahoogroups.com
For Immediate Release
Friday, July 15, 2005
San Francisco State Sued For Violating Students' Rights
Free Speech, Military Recruiting, Discrimination Against Gays At Issue
Contact Sharon Adams at 925.906.9026, Kent Klaudt at 415.652.9254
or Carlos Villarreal at 512.507.7700
San Francisco - Attorneys filed suit Friday against San Francisco
State University (SFSU) in the name of the National Lawyers Guild
(NLG) and on behalf of two student groups, Students Against War (SAW)
and the International Socialist Organization (ISO). The suit arises
from a protest against military recruiters on March 9th of this year
that took place on the SFSU campus. The NLG accuses SFSU
administrators of violating their own policies against discrimination
based on sexual orientation by allowing recruiters on campus, and of
violating the due process rights of the student organizations by
punishing them at the end of an unfair disciplinary process.
"It was clear from the evidence we've collected that certain
individuals at SFSU were bent on punishing these student groups and
didn't seem to care about ensuring the student groups had a fair
hearing," said Sharon Adams, an attorney member of the NLG who filed
the papers in the Superior Court for the City and County of San
Francisco . "It is appalling that the University would choose to
punish students for basic free speech activity, while allowing
military recruiters on their campus in violation of their own
anti-discrimination policy."
The SFSU policy on nondiscrimination states in part: "No person shall,
on the grounds of race, color, national origin, sexual orientation,
religion, or age be excluded from participation in, be denied the
benefits of, or be otherwise subjected to discrimination, including
harassment, in any program of the California State University."
"In this case, SFSU decided it wouldn't or couldn't honor its own
policy and allowed the military, which discriminates against gays and
lesbians, to practice their homophobic policy on campus," said Carlos
Villarreal, Executive Director of the NLG San Francisco. "These
student groups were both opposing the war in Iraq and enforcing SFSU's
own policies, and now they are being punished through a sloppy and
biased process that again has SFSU administrators violating their own
processes."
Recruiters eventually left the March 9th job fair when they realized
they would not be able to recruit students - an enormous victory for
these student groups.
The National Lawyers Guild was founded in 1937 and includes thousands
of members across the country, including hundreds of lawyers, law
students and legal workers in the Bay Area.
# # #
Students Against War (SAW) is a member of the Campus Antiwar Network
http://www.campusantiwar.net
Charlie Jenks
Website Manager; Chair of Advisory Board
Traprock Peace Center
http://www.traprockpeace.org
UNITED FOR PEACE & JUSTICE | 212-868-5545
<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ufpj-news/
---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*--------
17) Hello all,
This is not good news, it shows how we have to unite together
and stand strong against this evil system.
Please read the entire article. Below is a call to
participate in a rally
Wednesday 20th July from 5:00pm -6:00pm
in support of Sheila Detoy and Cammerin Boyd.
Please spread the word and
attend the rally if you can.
in solidarity,
Donna
Forwarded from PRISONACT email list:
From: mcleod9@gmail.com
Subject: [PRISONACT] Justice delayed yet again in Sheila
Detoy case (San Francisco)
Date: July 14, 2005 5:02:06 PM PDT
7/13/05: Tonight, I received a call from Sgt. Reilly, the secretary of
the San Francisco Police Commission. He informed me that late this
afternoon Superior Court Judge, James L. Warren, granted a stay in my
friend Sheila Detoy's Case. The motion for a stay was filed by the
attorneys for Sgt. Greg Breslin, the cop who killed my 17 year old
friend, Sheila Detoy.
Full article:
http://sf.indymedia.org/news/2005/07/1717168.php
Judge delays hearing to discipline killer cop
by Shannon Altamirano, special to SFIMC
Thursday, Jul. 14, 2005 at 9:24 AM
Stay ordered, which stalls disciplinary action against cop who
killed Sheila Detoy over seven years ago.
---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*--------
18) Venezuela Discovers More Oil - Bush Plans Invasion
Clif Ross
07/11/05 /Epicenter News Service/
http://www.eastbaynews.org/stages/word_stage1.php?EBN= 0711_1_word
---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*--------
19) George Galloway - Battle cry for radical change
What do sweatshop workers in Bangladesh have in common with
the people who work in your local supermarket? More than you
might think, writes George Galloway, Respect MP
The only way to make poverty history is to make the G8
history. I don't mean simply the annual jamboree for the
leaders of the world's richest and most powerful states.
I mean the whole nexus of exploitation and privilege that
the G8 and its attendant institutions represent.
http://www.socialistworker.co.uk/article.php4?article_id=6889
---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*--------
20) ANSWER UPCOMING EVENTS:
In this message:
* Postering for Sept. 24 Anti-War March in SF
* Statement on Racism in the LGBT Community
* Weekly Badlands Boycott Picket
* ANSWER Activist Meeting - Get Involved!
* ANSWER Speaker and Venezuela Film Screening in San Bruno
* ANSWER ANTI-WAR TEACH-IN:
The U.S. War Drive & the Anti-War Movement
For more info on the following events, call 415-821-6545.
Postering for the Sept. 24 Anti-War March in San Francisco
This weekend, we will be doing neighborhood postering in SF
and the East Bay. Get involved! Help spread the word about
the next mass action against the war September 24.
POSTERING
* Friday, July 15, Postering in SF, meet at Polk and Turk, 6pm
* Saturday, July 16, Postering in the East Bay, meet at
Telegraph and Alcatraz, 2pm
* Saturday, July 16, Postering in SF, meet at
24th and Dolores, 2pm
Call if you would like to be paired up with someone in
your neighborhood to do postering at another time. Speak
to Nati or Silvio, 415-821-6545.
New posters and bilingual flyers are available to download at http://
www.actionsf.org/ or pick some up anytime at the
ANSWER office, 2489 Mission St. Room 24 (at 21st St.)
San Francisco.
----------
Racism in the LGBT Community
The Fight in San Francisco Continues!!!
A statement from Lesbians and Gays of African Descent
for Democratic Action (LGADDA) and LGBT Black Rap: Standing
for Civil Rights & Social Justice for Black LGBT & Allies,
on behalf of a coalition of African American LGBT leaders
and organizations.
Click here to view the statement on Racism in the LGBT
Community
----------
Saturday, July 16, 10pm-12 midnight
Weekly Boycott Picket at SF Badlands
In front of S.F. Badlands on 18th Street between Castro
and Collingwood
Stand against racism and demand accountability for
widespread racial discrimination and create inclusion
in the Castro. Join the ANSWER Coalition and other
community and labor groups on the picket line.
For more info, visit http://www.andcastroforall.org/
Tuesday, July 19, 7pm
Weekly ANSWER Activist Meeting
2489 Mission St. Room 30 at 21st St., San Francisco
Join us for a political update and discussion by Mario
Santos from Alliance for Just and Lasting Peace in the
Philippines. Also, a report on the union struggle at the
SF Chronicle for a fair contract. Get involved - join
in our weekly outreach planning for the Sept. 24 Anti-War March.
Wed. July 20, 6:30pm-9pm
Film Showing and ANSWER Speaker:
"Chavez, Venezuela and the New Latin America"
Panaderia Eduardo, 617 San Mateo Ave., San Bruno
(2blks west of Huntington)
6:30pm - Pastries/coffee 50 cents and up
7pm-8pm - Video screening
8pm-9pm - Discussion with Gloria La Riva of the
ANSWER Coalition. Gloria has participated in several
delegations to Venezuela.
This groundbreaking new documentary by
Aleida Guevara (Che Guevara's daughter),
"Chávez, Venezuela and the New Latin America,"
explores Venezuela's explosive revolutionary terrain
post-April 2002-when Hugo Chávez survived a coup
attempt instigated by the United States. Featuring
interviews with Hugo Chávez, President of the
Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, and Jorge García
Carneiro, newly appointed head of the Venezuelan
Armed Forces, along with others who are involved in
the country's many social programs. This film affords
a rare opportunity to glimpse through the blockade of
information imposed by the United States into
a country rich with hope, dreams and... oil. 2004,
55min. Spanish with English subtitles.
This is a bilingual event co-sponsored by the San
Bruno Greens and ANSWER.
----------
SAVE THE DATE:
Saturday, July 30, 2-5pm
San Francisco Women's Building
3543 18th St. (btwn Valencia & Guerrero)
ANSWER ANTI-WAR TEACH-IN:
The U.S. War Drive & the Anti-War Movement
A discussion on the war and how we can continue to build
a powerful anti-war movement here.
Join us for a unique discussion assessing the state of
the U.S. war, including the crisis in the Middle East,
the expansion to other parts of the globe, and the turning
tide of U.S. public opinion against the war.
We will discuss: what are the points of unity and
controversy within the anti-war movement? What are
the implications of different political tactics and
demands? Find out more about the next major national
anti-war mobilization on September 24 and what you can
do to get involved.
$3-10 donation (no one turned away for lack of funds).
Wheelchair accessible.
Call 415-821-6545 to reserve free childcare.
---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*--------
21) Army Guard Misses Recruiting Goal Again
By JOHN J. LUMPKIN, Associated Press Writer
Tuesday, July 12, 2005
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/n/a/2005/07/12/national/
w053441D69.DTL
---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*--------
22) Army study:
U.S. facing hard choices
Lack of GIs may force cut in mission goals
By Michael Kilian
Washington Bureau
Published July 12, 2005
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-
0507120251jul12,1,6312103.story?ctrack=1&cset=true
---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*--------
23) President and Prime Minister Sharon
Discuss Economy, Middle East
Prairie Chapel Ranch
Crawford, Texas
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2005/04/20050411-2.html
---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*--------
24) Defend a Woman‚s Right to Choose!
Stop the anti-abortion „Crusade for Life‰
The „Crusade for Life‰ plans to disrupt our community
by harassing women at health clinics from July 15-27.
We need your help to defend our clinics and to send
the message that the Bay Area is pro-choice and stands
up for reproductive rights!
Please join Radical Women at the following actions:
Saturday, July 16 and 23: Meet at Planned Parenthood
to be a visible pro-choice force. 8am-noon, 815 Eddy
Street (at Franklin), San Francisco
Monday, July 25: Clinic Defense and pro-choice
presence at Women‚s Choice Clinic, 570 14th St.,
Oakland starting at 8am. Wear reproductive rights
t-shirts. Call 510-836-5676 for more information.
What Else You Can Do
Call your local Bay Area clinic and let them know
you are willing to help. Sign up for escort or clinic
defense training. The anti-abortionists will be in
San Francisco from July 15-24. They are planning to
be in Oakland on July 25, Berkeley on July 26, and
Richmond on July 27.
Drive by local reproductive health centers on a
regular basis (especially at night) to ensure the
safety of the facility.
Support the Abortion Rights and Reproductive Justice
Network by sending tax-deductible donations payable to
Women‚s Choice Clinic, 570 14th St. #3 Oakland, CA
94612. Call 415-864-1278 for information on Network
meetings.
Issued by Radical Women
415.864.1278 rwbayarea@yahoo.com
www.radicalwomen.org
---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*--------
25) Peace and Justice News from FPIF
http://www.fpif.org/
July 15, 2005
Introducing the latest policy analysis from
Foreign Policy In Focus
A Strategy for Ending the Iraq War
By Tom Hayden
In January 2005, a group of fifty peace activists
from the Vietnam and Iraq eras issued a global appeal
to end the war (online at
http://www.alternet.org/waroniraq/20996/). The appeal
proposed undermining the pillars of war (public opinion,
funding, troop recruitment, international allies) and
building the pillars of peace and justice (an independent
anti-war movement linked to justice issues, a progressive
Democratic opposition, soldiers and families against the war,
a global network to stop the US empire). This is an update
on implementation of the strategy.
Among friends and local activists, practice discussion
of these multiple scenarios with plans for responding to each:
1. Status Quo/Quagmire. How do we expand local anti-war
coalitions, and double membership of local groups, going into
the 2006 elections?
2. Bush escalates (e.g. sends more troops, invades Syrian border,
bombs Iran, resumes draft). In any of these cases, is more radical
action called for? How will it impose a cost on Bush, how will
it expand the movement?
3. Bush mimics Nixon, promises peace, withdraws 10,000 troops
as Iraq adopts constitution and elects new government. Would
this defuse the anti-war movement going into 2006? Or will we
be in a mode to keep on the offense? How will we argue that
the strategy will not bring peace?
4. What do you need to respond? In each scenario, what
resources or adaptations does your local group need to respond?
Tom Hayden was a leader of the student, civil rights, peace
and environmental movements of the 1960s. He served 18 years
in the California legislature, where he chaired labor, higher
education and natural resources committees. He is a professor
at Occidental College, Los Angeles and a contributor to
Foreign Policy In Focus (http://www.fpif.org).
See new FPIF paper online at:
http://www.fpif.org/fpiftxt/155
With printer-friendly pdf version at:
http://www.fpif.org./pdf/papers/0507endwar.pdf
The Left and the Iraq War
By Clive Hamilton
The left has been snookered by the U.S. invasion of Iraq, for
it is deeply opposed to the war yet supports the spread of
democracy and civil freedoms. It is in the interests of the
world that democracy should succeed in Iraq but that the U.S.
has its nose bloodied in the process.
For anyone with an appreciation of the history of U.S. foreign
policy, the Bush administration's dewy-eyed homilies in praise
of democracy in the Middle East are nauseating. If he were
serious he would act against regimes in those countries that
could most easily be converted to democracy; those where
autocrats rule only by dint of U.S. support. He could begin
with the U.S. client regime in Saudi Arabia.
The decision to go to war in Iraq was wrong, not because
Saddam was not a monstrous tyrant, but because it violated
the first principle of international relations: respect for
sovereignty. Without respect for sovereignty, international
relations are reduced to the will of the powerful.
Dr. Clive Hamilton is Executive Director of The Australia
Institute, a public interest think tank and a contributor
to Foreign Policy In Focus (http://www.fpif.org).
See new FPIF commentary online at:
http://www.fpif.org/fpiftxt/154
With printer-friendly pdf version at
http://www.fpif.org/pdf/gac/0507left.pdf
General Abizaid, I'm Glad You Asked
By Col. Daniel Smith (Ret.)
In testimony before the Senate Armed Services Committee
on June 23, General John Abizaid, head of Central Command,
told the committee: "Maybe it's something we're not doing
right in the field. But I can tell you that when my soldiers
... ask me the question whether or not they've got support
from the American people or not, that worries me. And they're
starting to do that. So I would say we better have a frank
discussion with ourselves. I am not against the debate."
Combined with Abizaid's acknowledgement that the insurgent
and resistance fighters in Iraq are as strong as they were
six months ago, this statement is a remarkably candid warning
to U.S. politicians that the present course of U.S. policy
in Iraq is in trouble.
I would expect nothing less than absolute candor from
Abizaid - and the public should accept nothing less from
everyone in the Bush administration.
Dan Smith is a military affairs analyst for Foreign Policy
In Focus (online at http://www.fpif.org), a retired U.S.
Army colonel, and a senior fellow on military affairs at
the Friends Committee on National Legislation.
See new FPIF report online at:
http://www.fpif.org/fpiftxt/158
With printer-friendly pdf version at
http://www.fpif.org/pdf/reports/PR0507abizaid.pdf
For Related Analysis from Foreign Policy In Focus
How the World Can Help Americans Halt Bush Administration
War Crimes
By Jeremy Brecher and Brendan Smith (June 2005)
http://www.fpif.org/papers/0506haltbush.html
Ending the U.S. War in Iraq: How to Bring the Troops Home
and Internationalize the Peace
By Phyllis Bennis and Erik Leaver (January 2005)
http://www.fpif.org/papers/0501occupation.html
An "Affirmative Measure" to Help Prevent the Commission of
War Crimes by the Bush Administration
By Jeremy Brecher (December 2004)
http://www.fpif.org/papers/0412affmeasure.html
The Peace Movement One Year Later
By Mark Engler (March 2004)
http://www.fpif.org/papers/2004peace.html
Produced and distributed by FPIF:"A Think Tank Without
Walls," a joint program of International Relations Center
(IRC) and Institute for Policy Studies (IPS).
For more information, visit http://www.fpif.org. If you
would like to add a name to the "What's New At FPIF"
specific region or topic list, please email:
communications@irc-online.org with "subscribe" and
giving your area of interest.
To manage your subscription to the Peace & Justice
listserv: http://www.irc-online.org/lists/
You can join the IRC and make a secure donation by
visiting http://www.irc-online.org/donate.php Thank. you
International Relations Center (IRC)
http://www.irc-online.org/
Siri D. Khalsa
Outreach Coordinator
Email: communications@irc-online.org
P.O. Box 2178
Silver City, NM 88062
---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*--------
26) FREE HIP HOP SHOW AND RALLY TO CLOSE CYA YOUTH PRISONS
Join us as we bring the community together with amazing Bay Area
talent to speak out against the California Youth Authority and the
prison industrial complex!
WHAT: 4th Annual "Not Down with the Lockdown" Hip Hop Show and Rally
to Close the CYA Youth Prisons
WHERE: Frank Ogawa Plaza, 14th St. and Broadway (Downtown Oakland)
WHEN: Saturday, July 16, noon-2pm
FREE! All ages!
WITH SPECIAL GUEST PERFORMERS:
-Mista F.A.B.
-Boogie Shack
-Company of Prophets
-Fiyawata
-Dream Dance Company
and many more
Sponsored by Books Not Bars and Let's Get Free
( http://www.booksnotbars.org ) and The Beat Within.
Contact Books Not Bars:
e-mail: bnb@ellabakercenter.org
phone: 510.428.3939
Get more information about the Books Not Bars
"Alternatives for Youth" Campaign:
http://ellabakercenter.org/bnb/campaign
We can't survive without the support of individuals like you.
Please take a moment to support us today. Donate here:
http://www.ellabakercenter.org/donate
* Not on our list-serve yet? (Maybe this message was
forwarded to you.) Sign up to get e-mail updates
directly by going this web page:
http://ellabakercenter.org/subscribe )
---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*--------
27) Please forward widely Please forward widely
JUSTICE FOR Sheila detoy and cammerin boyd
COMMUNITY RALLY
5:00-6:00 PM
WEDNESDAY JULY 20, 2005
SAN FRANCISCO CITY PLAZA
DR. GOODLETT DR. ( ACROSS FROM S.F. CITY HALL)
For ten years San Francisco Police Offices have
killed with impunity.
We say no more
We call on the San Francisco Police
Commission to end this reign of terror.
Sheila Detoy: On May 13, 1998 san
Francisco Police Officers Shot Up
A Car full
of Unarmed Teenagers and killed 17 year
Old Sheila Detoy. SFPD then tried
to blame her friends for her death.
Cammerin Boyd: On Wednesday, May 5, 2004,
San Francisco police officers
shot and killed 29 year-old Cammerin
Boyd in front of dozens of witnesses. Cammerin,
who was disabled, was clearly and vocally
surrendering. He had his hands above his
head. But the police shot him anyway.
In the coming weeks the San Francisco
Police Commission will begin holding hearings
on both of these cases, come out and let
them know we will accept nothing less than justice.
For more information call (510)428-3939 x, 242 or e-mail
malaika@ellabakercenter.org
---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*--------
28) CUBA-A REVOLUTION IN MOTION
MARIN INTERFAITH TASK FORCE ON THE AMERICAS
PRESS RELEASE
Contact: Marin Interfaith Task Force on the Americas
Colleen Rose ∆ 415/924-3227 ∆ mitf@igc.org
CUBA-A REVOLUTION IN MOTION
Author discusses new book
Marin Interfaith Task Force on
the Americas presents author Isaac Saney
on Sunday, April 24, 3:00 PM at
the Mill Valley Community Center, Forest
Room, 180 Camino Alto, Mill Valley.
In his book Saney writes, "The central
contention of this book is that the
Cuban experience offers significant
insights into not only a different paradigm,
but a paradigm that has been largely
successful-especially given the objective
limitations of a small, poor, underdeveloped
island nation-in utilizing the
country‚s resources and wealth for the
public good. This book, intended
as an introduction for students and the
general reader, explores Cuba
as it enters the twenty-first century,
a lone island of anti-imperialism,
anti-capitalism and socialism in the
so-called Œage of globalization.‚
This work seeks to explain what some
have called the Œmiracle‚ of
the Cuban Revolution‚s survival in
the face of an unprecedented
economic contraction."
Isaac Saney is a member of the faculty
at Dalhousie University in
Halifax, Nova Scotia and regularly
lectures on, writes about and
conducts research in Cuba.
For more information, please contact
415/924-3227, mitf@igc.org,
or www.mitfamericas.org.
A $5-10 donation is requested. No one
turned away for lack of funds.
Refreshments. Wheelchair accessible.
Proceeds to benefit Pastors
for Peace Cuba Caravan, July 2005.
###
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29) Recruiters OUT of our schools!
From: "No Draft No Way!"
Date: Thu, 14 Jul 2005 14:27:35 -0400
To: swosfo@pacbell.net
Cc: action.news@organizerweb.com
Subject: "College Not Combat" - Recruiters OUT of our schools
Recruiters OUT of our schools!
Donate
to help build a national movement against military
recruiting and the draft.
Across the country, parents, teachers, and activists are
taking action to protect students from the lies, manipulation,
and abusive tactics of military recruiters.
In School Board meetings, Parent Teacher Associations,
Student Governments, and other meetings across the U.S.,
parents and students are taking action--concerned parents
have become such an obstacle that recruiters have identified
them as the biggest obstacle to meeting their quotas. We
need to continue to build on our success and drive military
recruiters out of our schools.
Recruiters have no place in public schools--they are
predators, who lie to young people and manipulate their
economic situation in order to drag them away to fight wars
of occupation. We have a right and an obligation to demand
that they not be allowed to use schools to recruit cannon
fodder for their illegal wars.
San Francisco - "College Not Combat!"
In San Franciso, parents and antiwar activists submitted
a local ballot measure on Monday, July 11, that will, if
passed, put the city on record opposing the presence of
military recruiters in public high schools and colleges.
Organizers are working to gather enough signatures to
place the initiative, called "College Not Combat," on
the November ballot. It would encourage school officials
to deny access to recruiters, even if that means the loss
of Federal money. The initiative also encourages the
creation of scholarships and training programs to challenge
the military's appeal to disadvantaged youth.
One of the organizers, Ragina Johnson said, "We do not see
George Bush's daughters signing up. It is poor and
working-class people who need a job and education at the
same time billions are being spent on this war."
Seattle - "School is no place for recruiters!"
The Parent Teacher Student Association of Garfield High
School took a decisive step in May, voting 25 to 5 to adopt
a resolution that says "public schools are not a place for
military recruiters."
"The mission of the PTA is to protect and defend kids,"
said Amy Hagopian, a mother of three whose son is a Garfield
senior. "It's not just limited to education issues - which
explains why the PTA takes positions on kids' health,
violence, and other serious issues."
She added, ""They're spending $4 billion a month in Iraq,
but we have to cut our race relations class, which costs
$12,500. That's an important class for our kids."
Steve Ludwig, whose son is a senior at Garfield, made
a point shared by many in the PTSA: Garfield does not allow
organizations that promote illegal activities to recruit
students to perform those activities, nor does it allow
organizations that discriminate on the basis of race,
gender, national origin, or sexual orientation to recruit
on campus.
Ludwig told the Christian Science Monitor, "Planned
Parenthood, as far as I know, does not advocate or perform
illegal acts. The US military does. He said he would not
object if Army representatives came to Garfield to debate
their ideas on torture or aggressive war. "What I object
to is their coming here to recruit students to perform
those acts," he said. "It's not about free speech."
Help Remove Military Recruiters from your schools!
The Army Recruiting Handbook for High Schools (available
on the No Draft, No Way
website) says that their goal is "school ownership." Our
goal is to deny them that ownership. The schools belong
to the people, not to the Pentagon.
Join the national movement against military recruiting.
No Draft No Way is calling on parents, students, and local
activists to work with your PTA, union, school board,
city council, or student government to pass a resolution
barring recruiters from your local schools. We are
currently compiling a list of all such local initiatives
-- if you are organizing a local initiative, you can list
it here .
Or contact us http://nodraftnoway.org/ndnwcomments.shtml
for information and help to organize a local campaign.
Help Equip Local Counter-Recruiting Activists!
Activists across the country are joining the struggle to
shut down military recruiting. No Draft No Way now has
hundreds of local activists in all 50 states mobilizing
to challenge recruiters and organize against the draft.
It is imperative that we provide information and tools to
these local organizers.
We Won't Go - A Guide to Counter-Recruiting and Draft
Resistance will be an important contribution to this effort.
This pocket-sized, 120-page book will be full of useful
information and organizing tools for local activists.
This bood will include chapters on:
Military Recruiters' Lies - the truth behind the promises
of easy college money and high-tech job training.
Invasion of the Body Snatchers - the No Child Left Behind
Act, JROTC, and the new Pentagon Database
Challenging Recruiters on Campus - including a section on
students rights on campus, leaflets, petitions
Opting Out - how to organize a Opt Out campaign in your
school so that students' personal information is not
released to military recruiters
Information about organizing a local resolution opposing
military recruiting.
and much more
The book will be released with an accompanying CD which
will contain:
Recrutiers Lies - leaflets and posters exposing the
recruiting sales pitch point by point with space for local
contact information.
Petitions against ROTC and JROTC
Opt Out forms with an explanation of the No Child
Left Behind Act
We are rushing to get We Won't Go - A Guide to
Counter-Recruiting and Draft Resistance to publication
so that thousands of activists can use this material
a part of a national campaign to educate and mobilize
youth against militarism and the war. This book must be
at the printers by July 31 in order for us to have it
ready for the start of the new school year.
Can you help us with this urgent effort to publish We
Won't Go - A Guide to Counter-Recruiting and Draft Resistance?
We will include a special acknowledgement section in the book,
showing appreciation for those who make a contribution to
this effort. Your name can be listed there, or you can donate
anonymously. (You can donate online at
http://nodraftnoway.org/donate-new.shtml )
Please join us in this national campaign by helping to
organize, do outreach, distribute educational materials,
and donate to help with all aspects of organizing, especially
the immediate publication of this book, which will be an
invaluable resource for young people all over the country
who want to oppose the very real dangers of militarization and war.
Donate
to help build a national movement against military recruiting
and the draft.
Organize
a local No Draft No Way chapter.
Sign up for Updates.
Anyone can subscribe.
Send an email request to
Action.News-subscribe@organizerweb.com
To unsubscribe Action.News-unsubscribe@organizerweb.com
Subscribing and unsubscribing can also be done on the Web at
http://www.organizerweb.com/mailman/listinfo/action.news
---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*--------
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1) Bay Area United Against War has a new meeting schedule:
We will meet every third Tuesday of the month
at 7:00 p.m. beginning:
Tuesday, July 19, 2005,7:00 p.m.
474 Valencia Street, near 16th Stree
Agenda will include Board of Education picketing update,
September 24, Marx in Soho performances,
Campus Not Combat petition update and publicity
campaign, and new business.
All are welcome. Bring your ideas and help
Organize against this war!
2) SAN FRANCISCO MIME TROUPE
PRESENTS: "DOING GOOD"
A play based loosely on the book, "Confessions
of an Economic Hit Man", by John Perkins.
JULY 16, PRECITA PARK
MUSIC: 1:30 P.M.
SHOW: 2:00 P.M.
(This play is fresh, new, brilliantly performed,
insightful, full of content, and the music is the
icing on the cake!...BW)
SPONSORED BY BAY AREA UNITED AGAINST WAR
Help get the word out about the ballot proposition
and upcoming antiwar events. Free antiwar posters!
FREE!
3) BAUAW Benefit Presentation of Howard Zinn's
one man show, MARX IN SOHO
Starring Jerry Levy as Karl Marx
Directed by Michael Fox Kennedy.
Thursday, August 4, 7:00 p.m.
Friday, August 5, 7:00 p.m.
Saturday, August 6, 2:00 p.m.
Jon Sims Center for the Performing Arts
1519 Mission Street between 11th Street
and South Van Ness*
Advance tickets: $10
Door: $20.00
Call:415-824-8730 or email: giobon@sbcglobal.net for
Advance tickets.
4) Cut all Public School Ties to the Military!
Speak up and Picket the S.F. Board of Education
the Fourth Tuesday of Each Month.
Next picket line: Tuesday, July 27, 6:30 P.M.-7:30 P.M.
(The July Board of Ed. meetings have been cancelled. But we
will still hold a picket July 27 at 6:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m.
in front of the Board of Education building.)
The next picket line after July 27 is August 23, 6:30 P.M.
-7:30 P.M. (just before school starts back.)
August 23, 6:30 p.m.-7:30 P.M.
555 Franklin St., S.F,
To get on the speakers list call:
415-241-6427, 241-6493 or 241-6000
(For more info call: 415-824-8730)
5) Convicted, Executed, Not Guilty
By BOB HERBERT
Published: July 14, 2005
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/07/14/opinion/14herbert.html?hp
6) Lawmakers Agree to Renew
Patriot Act
By ERIC LICHTBLAU and CARL HULSE
Published: July 14, 2005
WASHINGTON, July 13 - Lawmakers on three separate
Congressional committees moved Wednesday to impose
restrictions on some of the more controversial elements
of the law known as the USA Patriot Act, suggesting
continued resistance in Congress to the idea of giving
the government unchecked authority to fight terrorism.
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/07/14/politics/14patriot.html
7) Homeland Security Chief
Announces Overhaul
By ERIC LIPTON
Published: July 14, 2005
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/07/14/politics/14homeland.html
8) Yasser Salihee is dead.
from the black commentator - 7/14/05-
www.blackcommentator.com
9) Karl Marx-Winner of the Greatest Philosopher Vote
BBC RADIO 4 - UK RADIO STATION OF THE YEAR
"Workers of the World Unite! You have nothing to lose but
your chains", "Religion is the opium of the people", and
"From each according to his abilities, to each according
to his needs". That should be enough for most of you to work
out whom Radio 4 listeners have voted as their favorite
philosopher: the winner of the In Our Time Greatest
Philosopher Vote, chosen from 20 philosophers nominated
by listeners and carried through on an electoral tidal wave
of 28% of our 'first-past-the-post' vote is the communist
theoretician, Karl Marx.
So, when you strip away the Marxist-Leninism, the Soviet
era and later Marxist theory, who was Karl Marx? Where does
he stand in the history of philosophy? He wrote in his
Theses on Feuerbach, "Philosophers have only interpreted
the world in various ways, the point, however, is to
change it"-which begs the question, is he really
a philosopher at all?
Contributors
Anthony Grayling, Professor of Philosophy at Birkbeck
College, University of London
Francis Wheen, journalist and author of
a biography of Karl Marx
Gareth Stedman Jones, Professor of Political
Science at Cambridge University
July 14, 2005
http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/history/inourtime/inourtime.shtml
10) The Battle after the Battle
By Les Blumenthal
The News Tribune
Sunday 10 July 2005
Soldiers say military pushes them to discharge
before medical needs are met
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2005/071105X.shtml
11) Defend a Woman's Right to Choose! Stop the anti-abortion "Crusade for Life"
Saturday, July 16th and Friday, July 23rd
8am- noon
815 Eddy St. (at Franklin), SF
"Crusade for Life" will be in
San Francisco from July 15-24, protesting
against reproductive rights.
Planned Parenthood is collecting names and
phone numbers of anyone interested
in being on an "on-call" list in the
event of problems or harrassment
by protesters. We are invited to join
Planned Parenthood, Radical Women,
Code Pink, and various others to defend a
woman's right to choose.
The "Crusade for Life" plans to
disrupt our community by harassing women at
health clinics from July 15-27.
We need your help to defend our clinics and
to send the message that the Bay
Area is pro-choice and stands up for
reproductive rights!
Saturday, July 16 and 23: Meet at
Planned Parenthood to be a visible
pro-choice force.
12) G.E. Profit Increases 24 Percent
in 2d Quarter
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: July 15, 2005
http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/business/AP-Earns-General-Electric.html?
13) UFPJ MEMO TO EXPLAIN THE DISUNITY ON SEPT. 24 IN D.C.
www.unitedforpeace.org | 212-868-5545 | Click to subscribe
14) American Soldiers Charged
With Abuse
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: July 16, 2005
http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/international/AP-
Iraq.html?hp&ex=1121572800&en=163cdddfd9b064f4&ei=5094&partner=homepag
e
15) Ruling Lets U.S. Restart Trials
at Guantánamo
By NEIL A. LEWIS
Published: July 16, 2005
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/07/16/politics/
16gitmo.html?hp&ex=1121572800&en=63f317612f1e5198&ei=5094&partner=hom
epage
16) San Francisco State Sued For Violating
Students' Rights
From: Katrina Yeaw
Date: July 15, 2005 1:32:39 PM EDT
Reply-To: CampusAntiwarNetwork@yahoogroups.com
17) Hello all,
This is not good news, it shows how we have to unite together
and stand strong against this evil system.
Please read the entire article. Below is a call to
participate in a rally
Wednesday 20th July from 5:00pm -6:00pm
in support of Sheila Detoy and Cammerin Boyd.
Please spread the word and
attend the rally if you can.
in solidarity,
Donna (more below)
18) Venezuela Discovers More Oil - Bush Plans Invasion
Clif Ross
07/11/05 /Epicenter News Service/
http://www.eastbaynews.org/stages/word_stage1.php?EBN= 0711_1_word
19) George Galloway - Battle cry for radical change
What do sweatshop workers in Bangladesh have in common with
the people who work in your local supermarket? More than you
might think, writes George Galloway, Respect MP
The only way to make poverty history is to make the G8
history. I don't mean simply the annual jamboree for the
leaders of the world's richest and most powerful states.
I mean the whole nexus of exploitation and privilege that
the G8 and its attendant institutions represent.
http://www.socialistworker.co.uk/article.php4?article_id=6889
20) ANSWER UPCOMING EVENTS:
In this message:
* Postering for Sept. 24 Anti-War March in SF
* Statement on Racism in the LGBT Community
* Weekly Badlands Boycott Picket
* ANSWER Activist Meeting - Get Involved!
* ANSWER Speaker and Venezuela Film Screening in San Bruno
* ANSWER ANTI-WAR TEACH-IN:
The U.S. War Drive & the Anti-War Movement
For more info on the following events, call 415-821-6545.
21) Army Guard Misses Recruiting Goal Again
By JOHN J. LUMPKIN, Associated Press Writer
Tuesday, July 12, 2005
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/n/a/2005/07/12/national/
w053441D69.DTL
22) Army study:
U.S. facing hard choices
Lack of GIs may force cut in mission goals
By Michael Kilian
Washington Bureau
Published July 12, 2005
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-
0507120251jul12,1,6312103.story?ctrack=1&cset=true
23) President and Prime Minister Sharon
Discuss Economy, Middle East
Prairie Chapel Ranch
Crawford, Texas
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2005/04/20050411-2.html
24) Defend a Woman‚s Right to Choose!
Stop the anti-abortion „Crusade for Life‰
25) Peace and Justice News from FPIF
http://www.fpif.org/
July 15, 2005
Introducing the latest policy analysis from
Foreign Policy In Focus
A Strategy for Ending the Iraq War
By Tom Hayden
26) FREE HIP HOP SHOW AND RALLY TO CLOSE CYA YOUTH PRISONS
Join us as we bring the community together with amazing Bay Area
talent to speak out against the California Youth Authority and the
prison industrial complex!
WHAT: 4th Annual "Not Down with the Lockdown" Hip Hop Show and Rally
to Close the CYA Youth Prisons
WHERE: Frank Ogawa Plaza, 14th St. and Broadway (Downtown Oakland)
WHEN: Saturday, July 16, noon-2pm
FREE! All ages!
WITH SPECIAL GUEST PERFORMERS:
-Mista F.A.B.
-Boogie Shack
-Company of Prophets
-Fiyawata
-Dream Dance Company
and many more
Sponsored by Books Not Bars and Let's Get Free
( http://www.booksnotbars.org ) and The Beat Within.
Contact Books Not Bars:
e-mail: bnb@ellabakercenter.org
phone: 510.428.3939
Get more information about the Books Not Bars
"Alternatives for Youth" Campaign:
http://ellabakercenter.org/bnb/campaign
We can't survive without the support of individuals like you.
Please take a moment to support us today. Donate here:
http://www.ellabakercenter.org/donate
* Not on our list-serve yet? (Maybe this message was
forwarded to you.) Sign up to get e-mail updates
directly by going this web page:
http://ellabakercenter.org/subscribe
27) Please forward widely Please forward widely
JUSTICE FOR Sheila detoy and cammerin boyd
COMMUNITY RALLY
5:00-6:00 PM
WEDNESDAY JULY 20, 2005
SAN FRANCISCO CITY PLAZA
DR. GOODLETT DR. ( ACROSS FROM S.F. CITY HALL)
For ten years San Francisco Police Offices have
killed with impunity.
We say no more
We call on the San Francisco Police
Commission to end this reign of terror.
Sheila Detoy: On May 13, 1998 san
Francisco Police Officers Shot Up
A Car full
of Unarmed Teenagers and killed 17 year
Old Sheila Detoy. SFPD then tried
to blame her friends for her death.
Cammerin Boyd: On Wednesday, May 5, 2004,
San Francisco police officers
shot and killed 29 year-old Cammerin
Boyd in front of dozens of witnesses. Cammerin,
who was disabled, was clearly and vocally
surrendering. He had his hands above his
head. But the police shot him anyway.
In the coming weeks the San Francisco
Police Commission will begin holding hearings
on both of these cases, come out and let
them know we will accept nothing less than justice.
For more information call (510)428-3939 x, 242 or e-mail
malaika@ellabakercenter.org
28) CUBA-A REVOLUTION IN MOTION
MARIN INTERFAITH TASK FORCE ON THE AMERICAS
PRESS RELEASE
Contact: Marin Interfaith Task Force on the Americas
29) Recruiters OUT of our schools!
From: "No Draft No Way!"
Date: Thu, 14 Jul 2005 14:27:35 -0400
To: swosfo@pacbell.net
Cc: action.news@organizerweb.com
Subject: "College Not Combat" - Recruiters OUT of our schools
---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*--------
1) Bay Area United Against War has a new meeting schedule:
We will meet every third Tuesday of the month
at 7:00 p.m. beginning:
Tuesday, July 19, 2005,7:00 p.m.
474 Valencia Street, near 16th Street
Agenda will include Board of Education picketing update,
September 24, Marx in Soho performances,
Campus Not Combat petition update and publicity
campaign, and new business.
All are welcome. Bring your ideas and help
Organize against this war!
---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*--------
2) SAN FRANCISCO MIME TROUPE
PRESENTS: "DOING GOOD"
A play based loosely on the book, "Confessions
of an Economic Hit Man", by John Perkins.
JULY 16, PRECITA PARK
MUSIC: 1:30 P.M.
SHOW: 2:00 P.M.
(This play is fresh, new, brilliantly performed,
insightful, full of content, and the music is the
icing on the cake!...BW)
SPONSORED BY BAY AREA UNITED AGAINST WAR
Help get the word out about the ballot proposition
and upcoming antiwar events. Free antiwar posters!
FREE!
---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*--------
3) BAUAW Benefit Presentation of Howard Zinn's
one man show, MARX IN SOHO
Starring Jerry Levy as Karl Marx
Directed by Michael Fox Kennedy.
Thursday, August 4, 7:00 p.m.
Friday, August 5, 7:00 p.m.
Saturday, August 6, 2:00 p.m.
Jon Sims Center for the Performing Arts
1519 Mission Street between 11th Street
and South Van Ness*
Advance tickets: $10
Door: $20.00
Call:415-824-8730 or email: giobon@sbcglobal.net for
Advance tickets.
The premise of the play is that Marx dies yet he is
able to see what's happening on earth for 100 years
since his death in 1883. He is supposed to go back to
Soho in London but, by mistake, is sent to Soho
in New York and finds himself on stage before an
audience. Imagine all Karl Marx would have to say
after one hundred years of just being able to watch...
The single actor in this one-man play is Jerry Levy,
who has been teaching sociology at Marlboro College
and been acting with the Actors' Theater of Brattleboro
since he moved there from Chicago in 1975. Originally
directed by Michael Fox Kennedy of the Actors' Theater,
Levy has been on the road with Zinn's version of Karl
Marx for a year, performing at benefits, colleges, small
theaters and other venues around the state. At Middle
Earth he was sponsored by the Bradford-based Coos Peace
and Justice Alliance and performed free of charge but
charged with mighty talent and a bottomless love of the play.
WWW.BAUAW.ORG
Contact person: Bonnie Weinstein 415-824-8730-office/home
415-990-4237-cell
*The Jon Sims Center is located at 1519 Mission Street
(between 11th Street and South Van Ness), South of Market,
San Francisco, CA 94103
BY CAR:
From the East Bay: Take 80 North then 101 North to the
Mission Street exit. Stay on the right hand side of the exit.
Turn right off the exit, and stay on Mission Street. The Jon
Sims Center is two blocks past Van Ness, next to Firestone.
From the South Bay: Take 101 North to the Mission Street
Exit. Stay on the right hand side of the exit. Turn right off
the exit, and stay on Mission Street. The Jon Sims Center
is two blocks past Van Ness, next to Firestone.
From the North Bay: Take 101 South to Lombard, make
a right on Van Ness and then a left onto Mission. Jon Sims
Center is two blocks past Van Ness, next to Firestone.
Parking: Daytime parking is very difficult. We encourage
day users to take public transportation. In the evening,
street parking along Mission Street, Minna Street and
11th Street is not horrible (in San Francisco terms) after
6:00 PM, but the closer you are to 6:00 PM, the better
your chances of finding parking. There is no parking
along Mission between 4-6 PM, and you will be
promptly towed.
VIA BART/MUNI/SAMTRANS:
Go to http://www.transitinfo.org for more information
about Bay Area public transportation.
BART: Take BART to the Civic Center station, then transfer
to the outbound Muni J,K,L,M or N train. Exit at the next
stop (Van Ness Station). Walk 1 block south, cross Mission,
and the Jon Sims Center is next to Firestone.
MUNI: The Jon Sims Center is 1 block south of the Van
Ness Muni underground station, accessible from any Muni
streetcar. Additionally, the 14 Mission, 42 Loop 49 and
47 Van Ness bus stop at Mission and 11th Street, only
1/2 block from the Jon Sims Center. Current Muni fare is $1.25.
SamTrans: The SamTrans DX, KX, MX, NX, PX, RX and
TX buses stops at Mission and 9th Streets. Walk three
blocks west (towards Sutro tower) to reach the Jon Sims
Center. Current SamTrans fare is $1.10. Please note that
SamTrans buses to the City only run during rush hours.
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4) Cut all Public School Ties to the Military!
Speak up and Picket the S.F. Board of Education
the Fourth Tuesday of Each Month.
Next picket line: Tuesday, July 27, 6:30 P.M.-7:30 P.M.
(The July Board of Ed. meetings have been cancelled. But we
will still hold a picket July 27 at 6:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m.
in front of the Board of Education building.)
The next picket line after July 27 is August 23, 6:30 P.M.
-7:30 P.M. (just before school starts back.)
August 23, 6:30 p.m.-7:30 P.M.
555 Franklin St., S.F,
To get on the speakers list call:
415-241-6427, 241-6493 or 241-6000
(For more info call: 415-824-8730)
---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*--------
5) Convicted, Executed, Not Guilty
By BOB HERBERT
Published: July 14, 2005
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/07/14/opinion/14herbert.html?hp
---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*--------
6) Lawmakers Agree to Renew
Patriot Act
By ERIC LICHTBLAU and CARL HULSE
Published: July 14, 2005
WASHINGTON, July 13 - Lawmakers on three separate
Congressional committees moved Wednesday to impose
restrictions on some of the more controversial elements
of the law known as the USA Patriot Act, suggesting
continued resistance in Congress to the idea of giving
the government unchecked authority to fight terrorism.
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/07/14/politics/14patriot.html
---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*--------
7) Homeland Security Chief
Announces Overhaul
By ERIC LIPTON
Published: July 14, 2005
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/07/14/politics/14homeland.html
---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*--------
8) Yasser Salihee is dead.
from the black commentator - 7/14/05-
www.blackcommentator.com
He was on his way to drive his family to a swimming pool in
western Baghdad when he was struck by a single bullet to head
- he died instantly.
Some say he was an unintentional casualty of war. Some whisper
"the wolves got him."
You see, since May, Dr. Salihee, had been reporting on the
similarities between the death squads used in El Salvador
to obliterate their "insurgency" and the US military's
creation of the "Wolf Brigade" that has been unleashed to
eliminate the Iraqi "insurgency." Our government calls it
Operation Lightening.
To be clear, there is no shame in the game of the US military
- they make no secret that the Wolf Brigade is modeled after
the death squads in El Salvador. In fact, up until April 2005,
the main advisor to the Wolf Brigade was a man named
James Steele.
According to New York Times Magazine, Jim Steele was in charge
of a team of 55 Special Forces advisers in El Salvador who
"trained front-line battalions that were accused of significant
human rights abuses." In fact while Jim Steele was in charge,
"whole villages were targeted by the armed forces and their
inhabitants massacred.''
When battered and methodically beaten dead bodies started
showing up in Iraq, Dr Salihee started reporting. Dr Salihee
wrote about bodies in the morgue with their hands tied or
handcuffed behind their backs. Bodies with their eyes
blindfolded appearing to have been tortured, whipped with
cords and subjected to electric shocks. Bodies beaten with
blunt objects and shot to death, often with a single bullet.
Bodies found in mass graves and bodies floating in rivers.
Dr Salihee also reported that many of the members of the
Wolf Brigade came from Saddam Hussein's Special Forces and
Republican Guards. Indeed, these men were decorated
veterans of homicide, genocide and torture.
On June 28th 2005, the Philadelphia Inquirer ran Dr Salihee's
last article. The very first sentence read: "Days after
Iraq's new Shiite-led government was announced on April 28,
the director of Baghdad's central morgue began noticing
that the bodies of Sunni Muslim men were turning up after
the men had been detained by people wearing Iraqi police
uniforms."
Dr Salihee, along with reporter Tom Lasseter, went on to
state: "further evidence that a police force created,
trained and funded by the United States has been abusing
human rights ...would complicate the Bush administration's
efforts to muster greater domestic support for its Iraq policy."
The most chilling words however, were the words from
the mouth of a young man who was abducted by men in police
uniforms. "The commandos told me to keep the body outside
of the refrigerator so that the dogs could eat it because
he's a terrorist and he deserves it."
Yasser Salihee, translator, physician, special correspondent,
husband, father to two-year-old Danya, was killed 4 days
before his story ran.
The Wolf Brigade says that they are patriots. They utilize
television to depict the insurgency's humiliation. In fact,
"Terrorist in the Grip of Justice" is the most watched TV
program in the country. They wear snappy red berets and ride
around in white $55,000 vehicles. When children get too out
of hand their parents threaten them with "calling the wolves."
One young man was quoted as saying "when I see them I feel
safe. I feel we have a country with a government."
It appears Operation Lightning has quite a fan base.
I remember a time in the United States when bodies with their
hands tied behind their backs were found floating in rivers.
Bodies never identified by loved ones. Bodies buried in mass
graves.
The organization that put them there has quite a fan base too.
A few weeks ago, during the trial of the Klansman that helped
kill and then bury the bodies of three young men, former
Mayor Harlan Majure, testified that Klansman Edgar Ray Killen
was a good man and the Klan "did a lot of good up here".
Three young men, civil rights workers, were shot and killed
forty years ago because "the law" in the land of Mississippi
branded them trouble makers.
In 1892, Fredrick Douglas said "Crime has a power to reproduce
itself and create conditions favorable to its own existence."
Yasser Salihee is dead. Lizz Brown is host of the Morning
Wake Up Call, WGNU Radio, St. Louis. She can be reached
through her website: http://www.lizzbrown.com/
Marxism mailing list
Marxism@lists.econ.utah.edu
http://lists.econ.utah.edu/mailman/listinfo/marxism
---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*--------
9) Karl Marx-Winner of the Greatest Philosopher Vote
BBC RADIO 4 - UK RADIO STATION OF THE YEAR
"Workers of the World Unite! You have nothing to lose but
your chains", "Religion is the opium of the people", and
"From each according to his abilities, to each according
to his needs". That should be enough for most of you to work
out whom Radio 4 listeners have voted as their favorite
philosopher: the winner of the In Our Time Greatest
Philosopher Vote, chosen from 20 philosophers nominated
by listeners and carried through on an electoral tidal wave
of 28% of our 'first-past-the-post' vote is the communist
theoretician, Karl Marx.
So, when you strip away the Marxist-Leninism, the Soviet
era and later Marxist theory, who was Karl Marx? Where does
he stand in the history of philosophy? He wrote in his
Theses on Feuerbach, "Philosophers have only interpreted
the world in various ways, the point, however, is to
change it"-which begs the question, is he really
a philosopher at all?
Contributors
Anthony Grayling, Professor of Philosophy at Birkbeck
College, University of London
Francis Wheen, journalist and author of
a biography of Karl Marx
Gareth Stedman Jones, Professor of Political
Science at Cambridge University
July 14, 2005
http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/history/inourtime/inourtime.shtml
--------*---------*---------*---------*---------*--------
10) The Battle after the Battle
By Les Blumenthal
The News Tribune
Sunday 10 July 2005
Soldiers say military pushes them to discharge
before medical needs are met
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2005/071105X.shtml
---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*--------
11) Defend a Woman's Right to Choose! Stop the anti-abortion "Crusade for Life"
Saturday, July 16th and Friday, July 23rd
8am- noon
815 Eddy St. (at Franklin), SF
"Crusade for Life" will be in
San Francisco from July 15-24, protesting
against reproductive rights.
Planned Parenthood is collecting names and
phone numbers of anyone interested
in being on an "on-call" list in the
event of problems or harrassment
by protesters. We are invited to join
Planned Parenthood, Radical Women,
Code Pink, and various others to defend a
woman's right to choose.
The "Crusade for Life" plans to
disrupt our community by harassing women at
health clinics from July 15-27.
We need your help to defend our clinics and
to send the message that the Bay
Area is pro-choice and stands up for
reproductive rights!
Saturday, July 16 and 23: Meet at
Planned Parenthood to be a visible
pro-choice force.
---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*--------
12) G.E. Profit Increases 24 Percent
in 2d Quarter
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: July 15, 2005
http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/business/AP-Earns-General-Electric.html?
---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*--------
13) UFPJ MEMO TO EXPLAIN THE DISUNITY ON SEPT. 24 IN D.C.
www.unitedforpeace.org | 212-868-5545 | Click to subscribe
United for Peace and Justice is circulating this memo to
explain the political reasoning behind our organizing
approach for the September 24-26 mobilization , and to
respond to concerns about our decision not to merge our
September 24 demonstration with a separate anti-war event
being organized that same day.
We have reached a real turning point in the Iraq War. The
Bush Administration is experiencing incredible pressure
to change course as a result of declining U.S. popular
support, growing calls within Congress and the media for
military withdrawal, and continued chaos and bloodshed
within Iraq.
UFPJ is organizing our three-day mobilization in
Washington, D.C. from September 24-26 to increase the
pressure at this strategic time. This mobilization is
different from the large anti-war demonstrations we have
organized in the past in several key respects, and these
differences have shaped the organizing decisions that
UFPJ's leadership -- a national steering committee
elected by our member groups -- has made about the
mobilization.
END THE WAR ON IRAQ!
Visit the
Fall Mobilization Section
of the UFPJ website
to download leaflets,
endorse the Sept. 24-26 events,
and/or make a much-needed financial contribution
to our work.
The September mobilization comes as anti-war sentiment
is dramatically growing throughout the United States.
New polls indicate that up to 60% of people in this
country oppose the war and believe some or all U.S.
troops should be withdrawn from Iraq. If we organize
in an inclusive way, with broad demands, accessible
language, and an inviting style, we have the potential
to organize the largest and most diverse demonstration
against the war to date , with people from all walks
of life coming together in a clear call to bring our
troops home now. If we are willing to go outside our
comfort zones and speak to people our movements don't
typically reach, we have the potential to mobilize
large numbers of people from outside the usual activist
circles, people from a wide range of communities who
are fed up with the carnage in Iraq and ready to stand
up publicly for peace and justice. A truly massive
turn-out for our September 24 march against the war
rep color and ethnicity, every economic status, and
resenting communities large and small, of every religious
creed -- will dramatize to the Bush administration
and Congress how unpopular and
politically untenable this war has become.
The September mobilization also comes as years of
intense anti-war organizing are beginning to pay off
in the legislative realm , with movement in both
houses of Congress to call for U.S. withdrawal from Iraq.
To build on this crucial new political momentum, our
three-day September mobilization against the war will
focus not just on the White House but also on Congress;
it will include not just the major protest march on
Saturday, September 24, but also, on Monday, September 26,
large-scale grassroots lobbying and a mass nonviolent civil
disobedience action.
Finally, the September mobilization comes as the anti-war
movement is organizing more strategically than ever ,
pursuing a series of grassroots campaigns that target the
most vulnerable aspects of the Bush administration's war
drive. These include the increasingly effective nationwide
efforts to counter military recruitment, a rapidly growing
campaign of anti-war organizing in faith-based communities,
and the multi-state campaign against the use of the National
Guard in Iraq. As part of our three-day mobilization, we
will be providing a range of ways for people to plug into
these campaigns, including an interfaith religious service,
grassroots training sessions, and "interactive stations"
at the anti-war festival following our Saturday march.
As part of our effort to build the most inclusive and
diverse possible mobilization, UFPJ has chosen two simple,
broad demands for the weekend: End the War on Iraq, Bring
the Troops Home Now! These main slogans are accompanied
by five additional demands that link to specific campaigns:
Leave no military bases behind; End the looting of Iraq;
Stop bankrupting our communities; Stop the torture;
No military recruitment in our schools.
We have chosen these overarching demands for the mobilization
because we believe it is politically imperative to bring the
largest number of people together right now in opposition
to the war on Iraq. This September, we are seeking to
mobilize all opponents of the war, no matter what their
positions are on other political matters, and so we have
kept our demands broad and simple. At the same time,
United for Peace and Justice, as a coalition, has taken
strong stances on an array of issues related to the Iraq
War: opposing the Israeli occupation of Palestinian
territories and U.S. support for that occupation; stopping
torture and illegal detentions; preventing future
"pre-emptive" wars against Iran, North Korea, Syria,
Venezuela, Cuba or other countries; supporting the
democratic struggles of the Haitian people; and
challenging U.S. nuclear hegemony by demanding the
elimination of nuclear weapons worldwide.
For the September mobilization, UFPJ warmly welcomes
our allies in the wide array of peace and justice
movements to participate in the mobilization in ways
that highlight the links between their struggles and
issues and the absolute necessity to end the war on
Iraq. We invite all those struggling for peace and
justice abroad or at home to organize contingents in
our march or feeder marches to the demonstration.
The September 24 march is a powerful opportunity for
labor, women, communities of color, lesbian/gay/
bisexual/transgender people, immigrants, youth
and students, and many other communities to stand
together and say, "We cannot make headway on any
of our issues without ending the war and bringing
the troops home."
Some people have urged UFPJ to consider a joint
demonstration with the Sept. 24 National Coalition,
initiated by A.N.S.W.E.R., which is also organizing
an anti-war protest on September 24. We take seriously
the concerns from local organizers about the potential
for confusion if there are two separate marches on
September 24. Therefore, we have agreed to US Labor
Against the War's proposal to convene a meeting with
A.N.S.W.E.R. to work through logistical issues about
the day, including the possibility of bringing the marches
together. We are committed to working in good faith on
this process. But because of our different approaches to
organizing and how demands are articulated, we are not
proposing a "unified" program that day. (See our May 23
memo to our member groups for a more detailed explanation.)
We urge all those who seek to bring this war to an end
-- from national groups to local organizations to
concerned individuals -- to put maximum effort into
bringing new people and organizations into the nation's
capital for September 24-26. The streets of Washington,
D.C. are big enough to contain all of our events and movements
that weekend. The important thing is that the streets
be filled with as many people as possible, all holding
the Bush Administration and Congress accountable for
the continuing devastation of this illegal and
unjustified war.
END THE WAR ON IRAQ! BRING THE TROOPS HOME NOW!
Massive 3-day mobilization in Washington, D.C.
September 24-26, 2005
Visit our website today to download leaflets, endorse
the mobilization, and learn more about the plans for
this powerful weekend of action
http://www.unitedforpeace.org/fallmobe
ACTION ALERT * UNITED FOR PEACE AND JUSTICE
http://www.unitedforpeace.org | 212-868-5545
To subscribe, visit http://www.unitedforpeace.org/email
---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*--------
14) American Soldiers Charged
With Abuse
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: July 16, 2005
http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/international/AP-
Iraq.html?hp&ex=1121572800&en=163cdddfd9b064f4&ei=5094&partner=homepag
e
---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*--------
15) Ruling Lets U.S. Restart Trials
at Guantánamo
By NEIL A. LEWIS
Published: July 16, 2005
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/07/16/politics/
16gitmo.html?hp&ex=1121572800&en=63f317612f1e5198&ei=5094&partner=hom
epage
---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*--------
16) San Francisco State Sued For Violating
Students' Rights
From: Katrina Yeaw
Date: July 15, 2005 1:32:39 PM EDT
Reply-To: CampusAntiwarNetwork@yahoogroups.com
For Immediate Release
Friday, July 15, 2005
San Francisco State Sued For Violating Students' Rights
Free Speech, Military Recruiting, Discrimination Against Gays At Issue
Contact Sharon Adams at 925.906.9026, Kent Klaudt at 415.652.9254
or Carlos Villarreal at 512.507.7700
San Francisco - Attorneys filed suit Friday against San Francisco
State University (SFSU) in the name of the National Lawyers Guild
(NLG) and on behalf of two student groups, Students Against War (SAW)
and the International Socialist Organization (ISO). The suit arises
from a protest against military recruiters on March 9th of this year
that took place on the SFSU campus. The NLG accuses SFSU
administrators of violating their own policies against discrimination
based on sexual orientation by allowing recruiters on campus, and of
violating the due process rights of the student organizations by
punishing them at the end of an unfair disciplinary process.
"It was clear from the evidence we've collected that certain
individuals at SFSU were bent on punishing these student groups and
didn't seem to care about ensuring the student groups had a fair
hearing," said Sharon Adams, an attorney member of the NLG who filed
the papers in the Superior Court for the City and County of San
Francisco . "It is appalling that the University would choose to
punish students for basic free speech activity, while allowing
military recruiters on their campus in violation of their own
anti-discrimination policy."
The SFSU policy on nondiscrimination states in part: "No person shall,
on the grounds of race, color, national origin, sexual orientation,
religion, or age be excluded from participation in, be denied the
benefits of, or be otherwise subjected to discrimination, including
harassment, in any program of the California State University."
"In this case, SFSU decided it wouldn't or couldn't honor its own
policy and allowed the military, which discriminates against gays and
lesbians, to practice their homophobic policy on campus," said Carlos
Villarreal, Executive Director of the NLG San Francisco. "These
student groups were both opposing the war in Iraq and enforcing SFSU's
own policies, and now they are being punished through a sloppy and
biased process that again has SFSU administrators violating their own
processes."
Recruiters eventually left the March 9th job fair when they realized
they would not be able to recruit students - an enormous victory for
these student groups.
The National Lawyers Guild was founded in 1937 and includes thousands
of members across the country, including hundreds of lawyers, law
students and legal workers in the Bay Area.
# # #
Students Against War (SAW) is a member of the Campus Antiwar Network
http://www.campusantiwar.net
Charlie Jenks
Website Manager; Chair of Advisory Board
Traprock Peace Center
http://www.traprockpeace.org
UNITED FOR PEACE & JUSTICE | 212-868-5545
<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ufpj-news/
---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*--------
17) Hello all,
This is not good news, it shows how we have to unite together
and stand strong against this evil system.
Please read the entire article. Below is a call to
participate in a rally
Wednesday 20th July from 5:00pm -6:00pm
in support of Sheila Detoy and Cammerin Boyd.
Please spread the word and
attend the rally if you can.
in solidarity,
Donna
Forwarded from PRISONACT email list:
From: mcleod9@gmail.com
Subject: [PRISONACT] Justice delayed yet again in Sheila
Detoy case (San Francisco)
Date: July 14, 2005 5:02:06 PM PDT
7/13/05: Tonight, I received a call from Sgt. Reilly, the secretary of
the San Francisco Police Commission. He informed me that late this
afternoon Superior Court Judge, James L. Warren, granted a stay in my
friend Sheila Detoy's Case. The motion for a stay was filed by the
attorneys for Sgt. Greg Breslin, the cop who killed my 17 year old
friend, Sheila Detoy.
Full article:
http://sf.indymedia.org/news/2005/07/1717168.php
Judge delays hearing to discipline killer cop
by Shannon Altamirano, special to SFIMC
Thursday, Jul. 14, 2005 at 9:24 AM
Stay ordered, which stalls disciplinary action against cop who
killed Sheila Detoy over seven years ago.
---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*--------
18) Venezuela Discovers More Oil - Bush Plans Invasion
Clif Ross
07/11/05 /Epicenter News Service/
http://www.eastbaynews.org/stages/word_stage1.php?EBN= 0711_1_word
---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*--------
19) George Galloway - Battle cry for radical change
What do sweatshop workers in Bangladesh have in common with
the people who work in your local supermarket? More than you
might think, writes George Galloway, Respect MP
The only way to make poverty history is to make the G8
history. I don't mean simply the annual jamboree for the
leaders of the world's richest and most powerful states.
I mean the whole nexus of exploitation and privilege that
the G8 and its attendant institutions represent.
http://www.socialistworker.co.uk/article.php4?article_id=6889
---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*--------
20) ANSWER UPCOMING EVENTS:
In this message:
* Postering for Sept. 24 Anti-War March in SF
* Statement on Racism in the LGBT Community
* Weekly Badlands Boycott Picket
* ANSWER Activist Meeting - Get Involved!
* ANSWER Speaker and Venezuela Film Screening in San Bruno
* ANSWER ANTI-WAR TEACH-IN:
The U.S. War Drive & the Anti-War Movement
For more info on the following events, call 415-821-6545.
Postering for the Sept. 24 Anti-War March in San Francisco
This weekend, we will be doing neighborhood postering in SF
and the East Bay. Get involved! Help spread the word about
the next mass action against the war September 24.
POSTERING
* Friday, July 15, Postering in SF, meet at Polk and Turk, 6pm
* Saturday, July 16, Postering in the East Bay, meet at
Telegraph and Alcatraz, 2pm
* Saturday, July 16, Postering in SF, meet at
24th and Dolores, 2pm
Call if you would like to be paired up with someone in
your neighborhood to do postering at another time. Speak
to Nati or Silvio, 415-821-6545.
New posters and bilingual flyers are available to download at http://
www.actionsf.org/ or pick some up anytime at the
ANSWER office, 2489 Mission St. Room 24 (at 21st St.)
San Francisco.
----------
Racism in the LGBT Community
The Fight in San Francisco Continues!!!
A statement from Lesbians and Gays of African Descent
for Democratic Action (LGADDA) and LGBT Black Rap: Standing
for Civil Rights & Social Justice for Black LGBT & Allies,
on behalf of a coalition of African American LGBT leaders
and organizations.
Click here to view the statement on Racism in the LGBT
Community
----------
Saturday, July 16, 10pm-12 midnight
Weekly Boycott Picket at SF Badlands
In front of S.F. Badlands on 18th Street between Castro
and Collingwood
Stand against racism and demand accountability for
widespread racial discrimination and create inclusion
in the Castro. Join the ANSWER Coalition and other
community and labor groups on the picket line.
For more info, visit http://www.andcastroforall.org/
Tuesday, July 19, 7pm
Weekly ANSWER Activist Meeting
2489 Mission St. Room 30 at 21st St., San Francisco
Join us for a political update and discussion by Mario
Santos from Alliance for Just and Lasting Peace in the
Philippines. Also, a report on the union struggle at the
SF Chronicle for a fair contract. Get involved - join
in our weekly outreach planning for the Sept. 24 Anti-War March.
Wed. July 20, 6:30pm-9pm
Film Showing and ANSWER Speaker:
"Chavez, Venezuela and the New Latin America"
Panaderia Eduardo, 617 San Mateo Ave., San Bruno
(2blks west of Huntington)
6:30pm - Pastries/coffee 50 cents and up
7pm-8pm - Video screening
8pm-9pm - Discussion with Gloria La Riva of the
ANSWER Coalition. Gloria has participated in several
delegations to Venezuela.
This groundbreaking new documentary by
Aleida Guevara (Che Guevara's daughter),
"Chávez, Venezuela and the New Latin America,"
explores Venezuela's explosive revolutionary terrain
post-April 2002-when Hugo Chávez survived a coup
attempt instigated by the United States. Featuring
interviews with Hugo Chávez, President of the
Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, and Jorge García
Carneiro, newly appointed head of the Venezuelan
Armed Forces, along with others who are involved in
the country's many social programs. This film affords
a rare opportunity to glimpse through the blockade of
information imposed by the United States into
a country rich with hope, dreams and... oil. 2004,
55min. Spanish with English subtitles.
This is a bilingual event co-sponsored by the San
Bruno Greens and ANSWER.
----------
SAVE THE DATE:
Saturday, July 30, 2-5pm
San Francisco Women's Building
3543 18th St. (btwn Valencia & Guerrero)
ANSWER ANTI-WAR TEACH-IN:
The U.S. War Drive & the Anti-War Movement
A discussion on the war and how we can continue to build
a powerful anti-war movement here.
Join us for a unique discussion assessing the state of
the U.S. war, including the crisis in the Middle East,
the expansion to other parts of the globe, and the turning
tide of U.S. public opinion against the war.
We will discuss: what are the points of unity and
controversy within the anti-war movement? What are
the implications of different political tactics and
demands? Find out more about the next major national
anti-war mobilization on September 24 and what you can
do to get involved.
$3-10 donation (no one turned away for lack of funds).
Wheelchair accessible.
Call 415-821-6545 to reserve free childcare.
---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*--------
21) Army Guard Misses Recruiting Goal Again
By JOHN J. LUMPKIN, Associated Press Writer
Tuesday, July 12, 2005
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/n/a/2005/07/12/national/
w053441D69.DTL
---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*--------
22) Army study:
U.S. facing hard choices
Lack of GIs may force cut in mission goals
By Michael Kilian
Washington Bureau
Published July 12, 2005
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-
0507120251jul12,1,6312103.story?ctrack=1&cset=true
---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*--------
23) President and Prime Minister Sharon
Discuss Economy, Middle East
Prairie Chapel Ranch
Crawford, Texas
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2005/04/20050411-2.html
---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*--------
24) Defend a Woman‚s Right to Choose!
Stop the anti-abortion „Crusade for Life‰
The „Crusade for Life‰ plans to disrupt our community
by harassing women at health clinics from July 15-27.
We need your help to defend our clinics and to send
the message that the Bay Area is pro-choice and stands
up for reproductive rights!
Please join Radical Women at the following actions:
Saturday, July 16 and 23: Meet at Planned Parenthood
to be a visible pro-choice force. 8am-noon, 815 Eddy
Street (at Franklin), San Francisco
Monday, July 25: Clinic Defense and pro-choice
presence at Women‚s Choice Clinic, 570 14th St.,
Oakland starting at 8am. Wear reproductive rights
t-shirts. Call 510-836-5676 for more information.
What Else You Can Do
Call your local Bay Area clinic and let them know
you are willing to help. Sign up for escort or clinic
defense training. The anti-abortionists will be in
San Francisco from July 15-24. They are planning to
be in Oakland on July 25, Berkeley on July 26, and
Richmond on July 27.
Drive by local reproductive health centers on a
regular basis (especially at night) to ensure the
safety of the facility.
Support the Abortion Rights and Reproductive Justice
Network by sending tax-deductible donations payable to
Women‚s Choice Clinic, 570 14th St. #3 Oakland, CA
94612. Call 415-864-1278 for information on Network
meetings.
Issued by Radical Women
415.864.1278 rwbayarea@yahoo.com
www.radicalwomen.org
---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*--------
25) Peace and Justice News from FPIF
http://www.fpif.org/
July 15, 2005
Introducing the latest policy analysis from
Foreign Policy In Focus
A Strategy for Ending the Iraq War
By Tom Hayden
In January 2005, a group of fifty peace activists
from the Vietnam and Iraq eras issued a global appeal
to end the war (online at
http://www.alternet.org/waroniraq/20996/). The appeal
proposed undermining the pillars of war (public opinion,
funding, troop recruitment, international allies) and
building the pillars of peace and justice (an independent
anti-war movement linked to justice issues, a progressive
Democratic opposition, soldiers and families against the war,
a global network to stop the US empire). This is an update
on implementation of the strategy.
Among friends and local activists, practice discussion
of these multiple scenarios with plans for responding to each:
1. Status Quo/Quagmire. How do we expand local anti-war
coalitions, and double membership of local groups, going into
the 2006 elections?
2. Bush escalates (e.g. sends more troops, invades Syrian border,
bombs Iran, resumes draft). In any of these cases, is more radical
action called for? How will it impose a cost on Bush, how will
it expand the movement?
3. Bush mimics Nixon, promises peace, withdraws 10,000 troops
as Iraq adopts constitution and elects new government. Would
this defuse the anti-war movement going into 2006? Or will we
be in a mode to keep on the offense? How will we argue that
the strategy will not bring peace?
4. What do you need to respond? In each scenario, what
resources or adaptations does your local group need to respond?
Tom Hayden was a leader of the student, civil rights, peace
and environmental movements of the 1960s. He served 18 years
in the California legislature, where he chaired labor, higher
education and natural resources committees. He is a professor
at Occidental College, Los Angeles and a contributor to
Foreign Policy In Focus (http://www.fpif.org).
See new FPIF paper online at:
http://www.fpif.org/fpiftxt/155
With printer-friendly pdf version at:
http://www.fpif.org./pdf/papers/0507endwar.pdf
The Left and the Iraq War
By Clive Hamilton
The left has been snookered by the U.S. invasion of Iraq, for
it is deeply opposed to the war yet supports the spread of
democracy and civil freedoms. It is in the interests of the
world that democracy should succeed in Iraq but that the U.S.
has its nose bloodied in the process.
For anyone with an appreciation of the history of U.S. foreign
policy, the Bush administration's dewy-eyed homilies in praise
of democracy in the Middle East are nauseating. If he were
serious he would act against regimes in those countries that
could most easily be converted to democracy; those where
autocrats rule only by dint of U.S. support. He could begin
with the U.S. client regime in Saudi Arabia.
The decision to go to war in Iraq was wrong, not because
Saddam was not a monstrous tyrant, but because it violated
the first principle of international relations: respect for
sovereignty. Without respect for sovereignty, international
relations are reduced to the will of the powerful.
Dr. Clive Hamilton is Executive Director of The Australia
Institute, a public interest think tank and a contributor
to Foreign Policy In Focus (http://www.fpif.org).
See new FPIF commentary online at:
http://www.fpif.org/fpiftxt/154
With printer-friendly pdf version at
http://www.fpif.org/pdf/gac/0507left.pdf
General Abizaid, I'm Glad You Asked
By Col. Daniel Smith (Ret.)
In testimony before the Senate Armed Services Committee
on June 23, General John Abizaid, head of Central Command,
told the committee: "Maybe it's something we're not doing
right in the field. But I can tell you that when my soldiers
... ask me the question whether or not they've got support
from the American people or not, that worries me. And they're
starting to do that. So I would say we better have a frank
discussion with ourselves. I am not against the debate."
Combined with Abizaid's acknowledgement that the insurgent
and resistance fighters in Iraq are as strong as they were
six months ago, this statement is a remarkably candid warning
to U.S. politicians that the present course of U.S. policy
in Iraq is in trouble.
I would expect nothing less than absolute candor from
Abizaid - and the public should accept nothing less from
everyone in the Bush administration.
Dan Smith is a military affairs analyst for Foreign Policy
In Focus (online at http://www.fpif.org), a retired U.S.
Army colonel, and a senior fellow on military affairs at
the Friends Committee on National Legislation.
See new FPIF report online at:
http://www.fpif.org/fpiftxt/158
With printer-friendly pdf version at
http://www.fpif.org/pdf/reports/PR0507abizaid.pdf
For Related Analysis from Foreign Policy In Focus
How the World Can Help Americans Halt Bush Administration
War Crimes
By Jeremy Brecher and Brendan Smith (June 2005)
http://www.fpif.org/papers/0506haltbush.html
Ending the U.S. War in Iraq: How to Bring the Troops Home
and Internationalize the Peace
By Phyllis Bennis and Erik Leaver (January 2005)
http://www.fpif.org/papers/0501occupation.html
An "Affirmative Measure" to Help Prevent the Commission of
War Crimes by the Bush Administration
By Jeremy Brecher (December 2004)
http://www.fpif.org/papers/0412affmeasure.html
The Peace Movement One Year Later
By Mark Engler (March 2004)
http://www.fpif.org/papers/2004peace.html
Produced and distributed by FPIF:"A Think Tank Without
Walls," a joint program of International Relations Center
(IRC) and Institute for Policy Studies (IPS).
For more information, visit http://www.fpif.org. If you
would like to add a name to the "What's New At FPIF"
specific region or topic list, please email:
communications@irc-online.org with "subscribe" and
giving your area of interest.
To manage your subscription to the Peace & Justice
listserv: http://www.irc-online.org/lists/
You can join the IRC and make a secure donation by
visiting http://www.irc-online.org/donate.php Thank. you
International Relations Center (IRC)
http://www.irc-online.org/
Siri D. Khalsa
Outreach Coordinator
Email: communications@irc-online.org
P.O. Box 2178
Silver City, NM 88062
---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*--------
26) FREE HIP HOP SHOW AND RALLY TO CLOSE CYA YOUTH PRISONS
Join us as we bring the community together with amazing Bay Area
talent to speak out against the California Youth Authority and the
prison industrial complex!
WHAT: 4th Annual "Not Down with the Lockdown" Hip Hop Show and Rally
to Close the CYA Youth Prisons
WHERE: Frank Ogawa Plaza, 14th St. and Broadway (Downtown Oakland)
WHEN: Saturday, July 16, noon-2pm
FREE! All ages!
WITH SPECIAL GUEST PERFORMERS:
-Mista F.A.B.
-Boogie Shack
-Company of Prophets
-Fiyawata
-Dream Dance Company
and many more
Sponsored by Books Not Bars and Let's Get Free
( http://www.booksnotbars.org ) and The Beat Within.
Contact Books Not Bars:
e-mail: bnb@ellabakercenter.org
phone: 510.428.3939
Get more information about the Books Not Bars
"Alternatives for Youth" Campaign:
http://ellabakercenter.org/bnb/campaign
We can't survive without the support of individuals like you.
Please take a moment to support us today. Donate here:
http://www.ellabakercenter.org/donate
* Not on our list-serve yet? (Maybe this message was
forwarded to you.) Sign up to get e-mail updates
directly by going this web page:
http://ellabakercenter.org/subscribe )
---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*--------
27) Please forward widely Please forward widely
JUSTICE FOR Sheila detoy and cammerin boyd
COMMUNITY RALLY
5:00-6:00 PM
WEDNESDAY JULY 20, 2005
SAN FRANCISCO CITY PLAZA
DR. GOODLETT DR. ( ACROSS FROM S.F. CITY HALL)
For ten years San Francisco Police Offices have
killed with impunity.
We say no more
We call on the San Francisco Police
Commission to end this reign of terror.
Sheila Detoy: On May 13, 1998 san
Francisco Police Officers Shot Up
A Car full
of Unarmed Teenagers and killed 17 year
Old Sheila Detoy. SFPD then tried
to blame her friends for her death.
Cammerin Boyd: On Wednesday, May 5, 2004,
San Francisco police officers
shot and killed 29 year-old Cammerin
Boyd in front of dozens of witnesses. Cammerin,
who was disabled, was clearly and vocally
surrendering. He had his hands above his
head. But the police shot him anyway.
In the coming weeks the San Francisco
Police Commission will begin holding hearings
on both of these cases, come out and let
them know we will accept nothing less than justice.
For more information call (510)428-3939 x, 242 or e-mail
malaika@ellabakercenter.org
---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*--------
28) CUBA-A REVOLUTION IN MOTION
MARIN INTERFAITH TASK FORCE ON THE AMERICAS
PRESS RELEASE
Contact: Marin Interfaith Task Force on the Americas
Colleen Rose ∆ 415/924-3227 ∆ mitf@igc.org
CUBA-A REVOLUTION IN MOTION
Author discusses new book
Marin Interfaith Task Force on
the Americas presents author Isaac Saney
on Sunday, April 24, 3:00 PM at
the Mill Valley Community Center, Forest
Room, 180 Camino Alto, Mill Valley.
In his book Saney writes, "The central
contention of this book is that the
Cuban experience offers significant
insights into not only a different paradigm,
but a paradigm that has been largely
successful-especially given the objective
limitations of a small, poor, underdeveloped
island nation-in utilizing the
country‚s resources and wealth for the
public good. This book, intended
as an introduction for students and the
general reader, explores Cuba
as it enters the twenty-first century,
a lone island of anti-imperialism,
anti-capitalism and socialism in the
so-called Œage of globalization.‚
This work seeks to explain what some
have called the Œmiracle‚ of
the Cuban Revolution‚s survival in
the face of an unprecedented
economic contraction."
Isaac Saney is a member of the faculty
at Dalhousie University in
Halifax, Nova Scotia and regularly
lectures on, writes about and
conducts research in Cuba.
For more information, please contact
415/924-3227, mitf@igc.org,
or www.mitfamericas.org.
A $5-10 donation is requested. No one
turned away for lack of funds.
Refreshments. Wheelchair accessible.
Proceeds to benefit Pastors
for Peace Cuba Caravan, July 2005.
###
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29) Recruiters OUT of our schools!
From: "No Draft No Way!"
Date: Thu, 14 Jul 2005 14:27:35 -0400
To: swosfo@pacbell.net
Cc: action.news@organizerweb.com
Subject: "College Not Combat" - Recruiters OUT of our schools
Recruiters OUT of our schools!
Donate
to help build a national movement against military
recruiting and the draft.
Across the country, parents, teachers, and activists are
taking action to protect students from the lies, manipulation,
and abusive tactics of military recruiters.
In School Board meetings, Parent Teacher Associations,
Student Governments, and other meetings across the U.S.,
parents and students are taking action--concerned parents
have become such an obstacle that recruiters have identified
them as the biggest obstacle to meeting their quotas. We
need to continue to build on our success and drive military
recruiters out of our schools.
Recruiters have no place in public schools--they are
predators, who lie to young people and manipulate their
economic situation in order to drag them away to fight wars
of occupation. We have a right and an obligation to demand
that they not be allowed to use schools to recruit cannon
fodder for their illegal wars.
San Francisco - "College Not Combat!"
In San Franciso, parents and antiwar activists submitted
a local ballot measure on Monday, July 11, that will, if
passed, put the city on record opposing the presence of
military recruiters in public high schools and colleges.
Organizers are working to gather enough signatures to
place the initiative, called "College Not Combat," on
the November ballot. It would encourage school officials
to deny access to recruiters, even if that means the loss
of Federal money. The initiative also encourages the
creation of scholarships and training programs to challenge
the military's appeal to disadvantaged youth.
One of the organizers, Ragina Johnson said, "We do not see
George Bush's daughters signing up. It is poor and
working-class people who need a job and education at the
same time billions are being spent on this war."
Seattle - "School is no place for recruiters!"
The Parent Teacher Student Association of Garfield High
School took a decisive step in May, voting 25 to 5 to adopt
a resolution that says "public schools are not a place for
military recruiters."
"The mission of the PTA is to protect and defend kids,"
said Amy Hagopian, a mother of three whose son is a Garfield
senior. "It's not just limited to education issues - which
explains why the PTA takes positions on kids' health,
violence, and other serious issues."
She added, ""They're spending $4 billion a month in Iraq,
but we have to cut our race relations class, which costs
$12,500. That's an important class for our kids."
Steve Ludwig, whose son is a senior at Garfield, made
a point shared by many in the PTSA: Garfield does not allow
organizations that promote illegal activities to recruit
students to perform those activities, nor does it allow
organizations that discriminate on the basis of race,
gender, national origin, or sexual orientation to recruit
on campus.
Ludwig told the Christian Science Monitor, "Planned
Parenthood, as far as I know, does not advocate or perform
illegal acts. The US military does. He said he would not
object if Army representatives came to Garfield to debate
their ideas on torture or aggressive war. "What I object
to is their coming here to recruit students to perform
those acts," he said. "It's not about free speech."
Help Remove Military Recruiters from your schools!
The Army Recruiting Handbook for High Schools (available
on the No Draft, No Way
website) says that their goal is "school ownership." Our
goal is to deny them that ownership. The schools belong
to the people, not to the Pentagon.
Join the national movement against military recruiting.
No Draft No Way is calling on parents, students, and local
activists to work with your PTA, union, school board,
city council, or student government to pass a resolution
barring recruiters from your local schools. We are
currently compiling a list of all such local initiatives
-- if you are organizing a local initiative, you can list
it here
Or contact us http://nodraftnoway.org/ndnwcomments.shtml
for information and help to organize a local campaign.
Help Equip Local Counter-Recruiting Activists!
Activists across the country are joining the struggle to
shut down military recruiting. No Draft No Way now has
hundreds of local activists in all 50 states mobilizing
to challenge recruiters and organize against the draft.
It is imperative that we provide information and tools to
these local organizers.
We Won't Go - A Guide to Counter-Recruiting and Draft
Resistance will be an important contribution to this effort.
This pocket-sized, 120-page book will be full of useful
information and organizing tools for local activists.
This bood will include chapters on:
Military Recruiters' Lies - the truth behind the promises
of easy college money and high-tech job training.
Invasion of the Body Snatchers - the No Child Left Behind
Act, JROTC, and the new Pentagon Database
Challenging Recruiters on Campus - including a section on
students rights on campus, leaflets, petitions
Opting Out - how to organize a Opt Out campaign in your
school so that students' personal information is not
released to military recruiters
Information about organizing a local resolution opposing
military recruiting.
and much more
The book will be released with an accompanying CD which
will contain:
Recrutiers Lies - leaflets and posters exposing the
recruiting sales pitch point by point with space for local
contact information.
Petitions against ROTC and JROTC
Opt Out forms with an explanation of the No Child
Left Behind Act
We are rushing to get We Won't Go - A Guide to
Counter-Recruiting and Draft Resistance to publication
so that thousands of activists can use this material
a part of a national campaign to educate and mobilize
youth against militarism and the war. This book must be
at the printers by July 31 in order for us to have it
ready for the start of the new school year.
Can you help us with this urgent effort to publish We
Won't Go - A Guide to Counter-Recruiting and Draft Resistance?
We will include a special acknowledgement section in the book,
showing appreciation for those who make a contribution to
this effort. Your name can be listed there, or you can donate
anonymously. (You can donate online at
http://nodraftnoway.org/donate-new.shtml )
Please join us in this national campaign by helping to
organize, do outreach, distribute educational materials,
and donate to help with all aspects of organizing, especially
the immediate publication of this book, which will be an
invaluable resource for young people all over the country
who want to oppose the very real dangers of militarization and war.
Donate
to help build a national movement against military recruiting
and the draft.
Organize
a local No Draft No Way chapter.
Sign up
Anyone can subscribe.
Send an email request to
Action.News-subscribe@organizerweb.com
To unsubscribe Action.News-unsubscribe@organizerweb.com
Subscribing and unsubscribing can also be done on the Web at
http://www.organizerweb.com/mailman/listinfo/action.news
---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*--------
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Wednesday, July 13, 2005
BAUAW NEWSLETTER-WEDNESDAY, JULY 13, 2005
Manish Vaidya
wrote: folks from the NLG asked that the following
be passed on to activist listservs and organizations:
KNOW YOUR RIGHTS - DONT TALK - GET LEGAL ADVICE!
If you are contacted by the FBI
or other law enforcement officers, or
subpoenaed to a grand jury,
or if you are not a citizen and
have a question about the impact
of your political activity on your
immigration status, call the
National Lawyers Guild Post-9/11 Hotline, 415 285-1041.
---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*--------
BAUAW Benefit Presentation of Howard Zinn's
one man show, MARX IN SOHO
Starring Jerry Levy as Karl Marx
Directed by Michael Fox Kennedy.
Thursday, August 4, 7:00 p.m.
Friday, August 5, 7:00 p.m.
Saturday,August 6, 2:00 p.m.
Jon Sims Center for the Performing Arts
1519 Mission Street between 11th Street
and South Van Ness*
Advance tickets: $10
Door: $20.00
Call:415-824-8730 or email: giobon@sbcglobal.net for
Advance tickets.
---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*--------
CONGRATULATIONS TO COLLEGE NOT COMBAT!
CAN’T WAIT FOR THE CAMPAIGN TO BEGIN!
Press Conference to Submit College Not Combat Petitions for
November Election Took Place Monday, July 11th; noon
East steps of City Hall, San Francisco
CONTACT: Ragina Johnson at 415-412-4540 or
college_not_combat@yahoo.com http://us.f335.mail.yahoo.com/ym/
Compose?To=college_not_combat@yahoo.com&YY=45579&order=down&a
mp;sort=date&pos=0&view=a&head=b
On July 11th 2005, College Not Combat activists delivered a
remarkable 15,000 signatures to the Department of Elections at San
Francisco's City Hall. These signatures, gathered by volunteers
in just six weeks, represent public disapproval of military
recruitment in the facilities of San Francisco's public
high schools, colleges, and universities.
With the death toll of American soldiers in Iraq almost 1800, the US
military is struggling to meet its recruitment goals. Consistently
falling well below its monthly quotas, military recruiters are using
a number of tactics to persuade young people to join their ranks.
Among these tactics is the presentation of economic incentives, used
to make military service an appealing prospect to low-income youth.
Acknowledging the passing of last November's Proposition N, in which
the people of San Francisco voted by 63% to "bring the troops safely
home now", the College Not Combat petition also represents opposition
to the policy that is driving the war in Iraq.
Speakers included:
Aimee Allison - Green party member who is running for Oakland City
Council.
Cindy Sheehan, lost her son Casey, a soldier in Iraq, in April of 2004
and is the founder of Gold Star Families for Peace.
Supervisor Chris Daly
Ragina Johnson, campaign director of the College Not Combat campaign
And Others.
For more info, call 415-248-1701, or go to
www.CollegeNotCombat.org
---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*--------
1) HANDS OFF VENEZUELA SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA FILM
SHOWING: 7:00 PM, FRIDAY JULY 15
Center for Political Education
522 Valencia, Third Floor,
Near 16th Street, SF
(not wheelchair accessible)
Close the 16th Street BART
$5/$3 Students, Seniors, Unemployed
2) SAN FRANCISCO MIME TROUPE
PRESENTS: "DOING GOOD"
A play based loosely on the book, "Confessions
of an Economic Hit Man", by John Perkins.
JULY 16, PRECITA PARK
MUSIC: 1:30 P.M.
SHOW: 2:00 P.M.
(This play is fresh, new, brilliantly performed,
insightful, full of content, and the music is the
icing on the cake!...BW)
SPONSORED BY BAY AREA UNITED AGAINST WAR
Help get the word out about the ballot proposition
and upcoming antiwar events. Free antiwar posters!
FREE!
3) BAUAW Benefit Presentation of Howard Zinn's
one man show, MARX IN SOHO
Starring Jerry Levy as Karl Marx
Directed by Michael Fox Kennedy.
Thursday, August 4, 7:00 p.m.
Friday, August 5, 7:00 p.m.
Saturday, August 6, 2:00 p.m.
Jon Sims Center for the Performing Arts
1519 Mission Street between 11th Street
and South Van Ness*
Advance tickets: $10
Door: $20.00
Call:415-824-8730 or email: giobon@sbcglobal.net for
Advance tickets.
4) Cut all Public School Ties to the Military!
Speak up and Picket the S.F. Board of Education
the Fourth Tuesday of Each Month.
Next picket line: Tuesday, July 27, 6:30 P.M.-7:30 P.M.
(The July Board of Ed. meetings have been cancelled. But we
will still hold a picket July 27 at 6:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m.
in front of the Board of Education building.)
The next picket line after July 27 is August 23, 6:30 P.M.
-7:30 P.M. (just before school starts back.)
August 23, 6:30 p.m.-7:30 P.M.
555 Franklin St., S.F,
To get on the speakers list call:
415-241-6427, 241-6493 or 241-6000
(For more info call: 415-824-8730)
5) Op-Ed Columnist
It Just Gets Worse
By BOB HERBERT
Published: July 11, 2005
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/07/11/opinion/11herbert.html?hp
6) Part-Time Forces on Active Duty Decline Steeply
By ERIC SCHMITT and DAVID S. CLOUD
Published: July 11, 2005
"Eventually, the Pentagon could be forced to remobilize units
that have already been deployed especially if recruiting
problems persist, General Libby and other Guard officials
said. That would require changing the 24-month limit, something
the Pentagon says now it has no need to do. Military personnel
experts say such a move would only worsen recruiting for the
Guard and Reserve, which are both lagging behind their quotas
for the year, although strong re-enlistments have offset some
of the recruiting slump....For Pentagon planners, the main
focus of concern is the Army National Guard and Reserve, which
currently have 115,645 troops mobilized, or about 84 percent
of all reserve forces activated worldwide."
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/07/11/politics/
11reserves.html?ei=5094&en=bdef14b7f08346e6&hp=&ex=1121140800&adxnnl=1
&partner=homepage&adxnnlx=1121100417-4gI5MgdvJcxq7ckIztz9mw
7) Israeli Barrier in Jerusalem Will Cut Off 55,000 Arabs
By GREG MYRE
Published: July 11, 2005
"JERUSALEM, July 10 - Israel's separation barrier in Jerusalem
will cut off 55,000 Palestinian residents from the rest of the
city, Israeli officials acknowledged Sunday. Palestinians
responded sharply, saying they will face daily complications
in reaching jobs, schools and hospitals."
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/07/11/international/middleeast/11mideast.html
8) Cancer Drugs Offer Hope,
but at a Huge Expense
By ALEX BERENSON
Published: July 12, 2005
"Ten thousand dollars once seemed a lot to pay for
a few months' supply of a drug... But they are all highly expensive,
up to $100,000 for a course of treatment that lasts a few months.
That is hundreds of times the cost of older, more toxic cancer drugs,
and several times the annual cost of AIDS drugs, whose prices
caused widespread anger during the 1990's."
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/07/12/business/
12cancer.html?hp&ex=1121227200&en=7c40d71f337a6617&ei=5094&partner=ho
mepage
9) Man and Young Daughter Die
in Shootout With Police
By JOHN M. BRODER
Published: July 12, 2005
The child's mother, Lorena Lopez,
said she had no doubt who fired the fatal shots.
"The police killed my daughter,"
Ms. Lopez said, tearfully and in Spanish,
in the driveway of her green frame house
on the corner of Avalon Boulevard and 104th Street.
She said she had told the police during the crisis
that Mr. Pena, from whom she is separated, was
depressed about his failing business. "I told them
he needed to be helped," she said.
Ms. Lopez said that no one from the
police department had contacted her to
explain how her daughter died. "I want
the police to pay for this," she said.
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/07/12/national/12shooting.html
10) From No Man's Land to Displacement
Dahr Jamail's Iraq Dispatches
http://dahrjamailiraq.com
by Dahr Jamail
from Left Turn Magazine
11) The Battle after the Battle
By Les Blumenthal
The News Tribune
Sunday 10 July 2005
Soldiers say military pushes them
to discharge before medical needs are met.
The day before his 22nd birthday,
a bomb hanging from a tree along a road near
Fallujah exploded above Rory Dunn's Humvee.
Dunn's forehead was crushed from ear
to ear, leaving his brain exposed.
His right eye was destroyed by shrapnel;
the left eye nearly so. His hearing
was severely damaged.
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2005/071105X.shtml
12) WHEN THEY SAY "AID", THEY MEAN "RAID"
[Col. Writ. 6/13/05] Copyright 2005 Mumia Abu-Jamal
13) UN Occupation Forces Carry Out Massacre
of Poor in Port-au-Prince
On Wednesday morning, July 6th, at approximately 3:00 AM, UN occupation
forces in Haiti carried out a major military operation in the
working-class neighborhood of Cite Soleil, one of the poorest in
Port-au-Prince and also a stronghold of support for Haiti's majority
political party Lavalas and President Jean-Bertrand Aristide. Presumably,
the purpose of the operation was to crack down on illegal "gang activity",
in particular on "gang" leader Dread Wilme. In actuality, a US trade union
and human rights delegation in Port-au-Prince discovered evidence of a
massacre conducted by the UN forces, targeting the larger community
itself.
14) Indiana Hunger Strike Alert
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1) HANDS OFF VENEZUELA SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA FILM
SHOWING: 7:00 PM, FRIDAY JULY 15
Center for Political Education
522 Valencia, Third Floor,
Near 16th Street, SF
(not wheelchair accessible)
Close the 16th Street BART
$5/$3 Students, Seniors, Unemployed
---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*--------
2) SAN FRANCISCO MIME TROUPE
PRESENTS: "DOING GOOD"
A play based loosely on the book, "Confessions
of an Economic Hit Man", by John Perkins.
JULY 16, PRECITA PARK
MUSIC: 1:30 P.M.
SHOW: 2:00 P.M.
(This play is fresh, new, brilliantly performed,
insightful, full of content, and the music is the
icing on the cake!...BW)
SPONSORED BY BAY AREA UNITED AGAINST WAR
Help get the word out about the ballot proposition
and upcoming antiwar events. Free antiwar posters!
FREE!
---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*--------
3) BAUAW Benefit Presentation of Howard Zinn's
one man show, MARX IN SOHO
Starring Jerry Levy as Karl Marx
Directed by Michael Fox Kennedy.
Thursday, August 4, 7:00 p.m.
Friday, August 5, 7:00 p.m.
Saturday, August 6, 2:00 p.m.
Jon Sims Center for the Performing Arts
1519 Mission Street between 11th Street
and South Van Ness*
Advance tickets: $10
Door: $20.00
Call:415-824-8730 or email: giobon@sbcglobal.net for
Advance tickets.
The premise of the play is that Marx dies yet he is
able to see what's happening on earth for 100 years
since his death in 1883. He is supposed to go back to
Soho in London but, by mistake, is sent to Soho
in New York and finds himself on stage before an
audience. Imagine all Karl Marx would have to say
after one hundred years of just being able to watch...
The single actor in this one-man play is Jerry Levy,
who has been teaching sociology at Marlboro College
and been acting with the Actors' Theater of Brattleboro
since he moved there from Chicago in 1975. Originally
directed by Michael Fox Kennedy of the Actors' Theater,
Levy has been on the road with Zinn's version of Karl
Marx for a year, performing at benefits, colleges, small
theaters and other venues around the state. At Middle
Earth he was sponsored by the Bradford-based Coos Peace
and Justice Alliance and performed free of charge but
charged with mighty talent and a bottomless love of the play.
WWW.BAUAW.ORG
Contact person: Bonnie Weinstein 415-824-8730-office/home
415-990-4237-cell
*The Jon Sims Center is located at 1519 Mission Street
(between 11th Street and South Van Ness), South of Market,
San Francisco, CA 94103
BY CAR:
From the East Bay: Take 80 North then 101 North to the
Mission Street exit. Stay on the right hand side of the exit.
Turn right off the exit, and stay on Mission Street. The Jon
Sims Center is two blocks past Van Ness, next to Firestone.
From the South Bay: Take 101 North to the Mission Street
Exit. Stay on the right hand side of the exit. Turn right off
the exit, and stay on Mission Street. The Jon Sims Center
is two blocks past Van Ness, next to Firestone.
From the North Bay: Take 101 South to Lombard, make
a right on Van Ness and then a left onto Mission. Jon Sims
Center is two blocks past Van Ness, next to Firestone.
Parking: Daytime parking is very difficult. We encourage
day users to take public transportation. In the evening,
street parking along Mission Street, Minna Street and
11th Street is not horrible (in San Francisco terms) after
6:00 PM, but the closer you are to 6:00 PM, the better
your chances of finding parking. There is no parking
along Mission between 4-6 PM, and you will be
promptly towed.
VIA BART/MUNI/SAMTRANS:
Go to http://www.transitinfo.org for more information
about Bay Area public transportation.
BART: Take BART to the Civic Center station, then transfer
to the outbound Muni J,K,L,M or N train. Exit at the next
stop (Van Ness Station). Walk 1 block south, cross Mission,
and the Jon Sims Center is next to Firestone.
MUNI: The Jon Sims Center is 1 block south of the Van
Ness Muni underground station, accessible from any Muni
streetcar. Additionally, the 14 Mission, 42 Loop 49 and
47 Van Ness bus stop at Mission and 11th Street, only
1/2 block from the Jon Sims Center. Current Muni fare is $1.25.
SamTrans: The SamTrans DX, KX, MX, NX, PX, RX and
TX buses stops at Mission and 9th Streets. Walk three
blocks west (towards Sutro tower) to reach the Jon Sims
Center. Current SamTrans fare is $1.10. Please note that
SamTrans buses to the City only run during rush hours.
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4) Cut all Public School Ties to the Military!
Speak up and Picket the S.F. Board of Education
the Fourth Tuesday of Each Month.
Next picket line: Tuesday, July 27, 6:30 P.M.-7:30 P.M.
(The July Board of Ed. meetings have been cancelled. But we
will still hold a picket July 27 at 6:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m.
in front of the Board of Education building.)
The next picket line after July 27 is August 23, 6:30 P.M.
-7:30 P.M. (just before school starts back.)
August 23, 6:30 p.m.-7:30 P.M.
555 Franklin St., S.F,
To get on the speakers list call:
415-241-6427, 241-6493 or 241-6000
(For more info call: 415-824-8730)
---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*--------
5) Op-Ed Columnist
It Just Gets Worse
By BOB HERBERT
Published: July 11, 2005
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/07/11/opinion/11herbert.html?hp
---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*--------
6) Part-Time Forces on Active Duty Decline Steeply
By ERIC SCHMITT and DAVID S. CLOUD
Published: July 11, 2005
"Eventually, the Pentagon could be forced to remobilize units
that have already been deployed especially if recruiting
problems persist, General Libby and other Guard officials
said. That would require changing the 24-month limit, something
the Pentagon says now it has no need to do. Military personnel
experts say such a move would only worsen recruiting for the
Guard and Reserve, which are both lagging behind their quotas
for the year, although strong re-enlistments have offset some
of the recruiting slump....For Pentagon planners, the main
focus of concern is the Army National Guard and Reserve, which
currently have 115,645 troops mobilized, or about 84 percent
of all reserve forces activated worldwide."
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/07/11/politics/
11reserves.html?ei=5094&en=bdef14b7f08346e6&hp=&ex=1121140800&adxnnl=1
&partner=homepage&adxnnlx=1121100417-4gI5MgdvJcxq7ckIztz9mw
---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*--------
7) Israeli Barrier in Jerusalem Will Cut Off 55,000 Arabs
By GREG MYRE
Published: July 11, 2005
"JERUSALEM, July 10 - Israel's separation barrier in Jerusalem
will cut off 55,000 Palestinian residents from the rest of the
city, Israeli officials acknowledged Sunday. Palestinians
responded sharply, saying they will face daily complications
in reaching jobs, schools and hospitals."
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/07/11/international/middleeast/11mideast.html
---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*--------
8) Cancer Drugs Offer Hope,
but at a Huge Expense
By ALEX BERENSON
Published: July 12, 2005
"Ten thousand dollars once seemed a lot to pay for
a few months' supply of a drug... But they are all highly expensive,
up to $100,000 for a course of treatment that lasts a few months.
That is hundreds of times the cost of older, more toxic cancer drugs,
and several times the annual cost of AIDS drugs, whose prices
caused widespread anger during the 1990's."
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/07/12/business/
12cancer.html?hp&ex=1121227200&en=7c40d71f337a6617&ei=5094&partner=ho
mepage
---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*--------
9) Man and Young Daughter Die
in Shootout With Police
By JOHN M. BRODER
Published: July 12, 2005
The child's mother, Lorena Lopez,
said she had no doubt who fired the fatal shots.
"The police killed my daughter,"
Ms. Lopez said, tearfully and in Spanish,
in the driveway of her green frame house
on the corner of Avalon Boulevard and 104th Street.
She said she had told the police during the crisis
that Mr. Pena, from whom she is separated, was
depressed about his failing business. "I told them
he needed to be helped," she said.
Ms. Lopez said that no one from the
police department had contacted her to
explain how her daughter died. "I want
the police to pay for this," she said.
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/07/12/national/12shooting.html
---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*--------
10) From No Man's Land to Displacement
Dahr Jamail's Iraq Dispatches
http://dahrjamailiraq.com
by Dahr Jamail
from Left Turn Magazine
The Iraqi/Jordanian border is a land of desolation. Coils of razor wire
stretch into the desert whilst sun-grayed plastic bags caught in their
sharpness flap in the hot, dry winds. In No Man's Land, Jamail exposes
yet another face of the human consequences of the US occupation of Iraq
- the suffering and resistance of displaced Kurdish-Iranian and
Palestinian refugees.
Long columns of trucks wait at the Jordanian border to carry their loads
of supplies into war-torn Iraq. When Iraqi drivers wish to enter Jordan,
they now wait up to 18 days to be allowed in. The al-Karama border is a
land of waiting, but not just for the truck drivers. There have been
others waiting to enter Jordan for far longer. The refugee camp situated
in this bleak area is called No Man's Land camp because it literally is
just that: an area of land caught between the borders of two countries
with nowhere else to go.
"If you leave me here I will die," said the elderly Merza Shahawaz as he
was groaning from the pain in his kidneys, "Please help me." In his tent
covered with plastic sheeting inside the camp, his wife was helping him
sit up. He cannot sit without her holding him up.
"I ask you to help me. I plead for humanitarian people to help us now,"
mumbled the 66 year-old man in dire need of dialysis. His family sitting
nearby shed tears as they brushed flies away from their faces.
His 42 year-old son pleaded, "We are all dying slowly here. You see us
with your eyes, I ask for help. He is dying in front of his family's
eyes but nobody is doing anything for him. We don't want our children's
fate to be this. Death is better than this life. If our children grow up
like this it means they are dead."
It is one example of the suffering of so many in the camp of over 700
people.
*Hunger strike*
Kurdish-Iranian refugees have a long history of suffering. Initially
having left Iran under persecution from the government over 20 years
ago, some of them were members of the Kurdish peshmerga militia who
fought against fundamentalist Islamic rule and were lucky enough to
escape with their lives. Many of them fled to Iraq, where the regime of
Saddam Hussein placed them in the al-Tash refugee camp, located 80 miles
west of Baghdad, which held over 12,000 Iranian Kurds.
Many of these refugees, after the US-led invasion of Iraq in spring of
2003, said they were threatened by armed groups and told they had to
leave. Several refugees I interviewed in No Man's Land camp said they
were instructed to leave Al-Tash by the US-backed Iraqi government.
Palestinians, Iraqis, Jordanians and Syrian refugees were also in the mix.
At the time of the invasion the Jordanian government agreed to provide
temporary protection for Iraqis fleeing the fighting and chaos in their
country. But when the Iranian-Kurds from Al-Tash camp reached the
Jordanian border, they were denied access. Others were denied access
because they lacked valid passports. Already burgeoning with refugees
from Palestine and Iraq, the government of Jordan felt it had reached
its limits and denied access to future refugees.
While the local Jordanian Hashemite Charity Organization - with help
from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), CARE
International and other organizations - has been working to assist the
refugees, it appears as though it is not enough.
A tattered sheet tied to a chain-link fence which surrounds No Man's
Land camp flittered in the wind. It read: "We Iranian Kurd refugees have
gone on hunger strike because we have been paid no attention from UNHCR
and they use demagogy policy towards our just issue and have not tended
to our demand which is resettlement in third countries. Dying once is
better than daily death."
On the other side of the fence a tarp provides shade for 21 men who were
on hunger strike, demanding more assistance from UNHCR.
Omar Abdul Aziz, is 39 years old. He was living in Al-Anbar at Al-Tash
camp near Ramadi before he came here. "We used to live 23 years at
Al-Tash camp," he explained, "After the war the horrible security came.
Due to the fact that the occupation forces didn't control the borders,
Iranian intelligence came into Iraq and began raiding Al-Tash, so we had
to leave."
The soft spoken man, weak with hunger nine days into the strike, sat on
a mat while he talked. "I am on hunger strike because UNHCR didn't do
anything for us. This is not the right place for women and kids to live
in, and we have an unknown future. We have no solution here, only moving
from camp to camp, from desert to desert."
Flies buzzed languidly about the faces of the downtrodden men in the
tent as Aziz continued. "We don't want to go to Iraq because it is
unstable and it is not our country. What has happened to us is due to
the illegal American invasion of Iraq. We ask the American people,
appealing to their humanity, to evacuate us from this horrible
situation. We are the orphans of the international community. The
international community has kept their mouths closed about us, and
especially the Americans."
Others spoke of spending over two years in the horrible conditions of
the camp where snakes, sandstorms and scorpions are a daily reality as
they languish in tents seeking shelter from the scorching desert sun.
"We are depressed and we are dying here," Zaman Shakary told me. The
frustration of the 45 year-old man was vented in anger towards UNHCR.
"Condoleeza Rice goes and shakes hands with Barzani, but does nothing
for us here. I have given an order that if I lose consciousness 10 times
I will continue my hunger strike if UNHCR does not respond and help us.
Humans cannot live this way."
Most of the refugees were asking for resettlement, but not necessarily
to another refugee camp. "We are asking for resettlement in another
country. I have been on hunger strike for 9 days, and my demands are
that if I die it is for life, I do not live for death," said Suwady
Rashat. The 43 year-old added, "I want to tell the American people that
the Iraqi government deprived us of what we need, and it is because of
the invasion which has not truly benefited Iraqis."
Nearby sat a 6 year-old boy with a lost, sad look on his face,
antagonized by flies. "I am here because my father is on hunger strike
for 9 days now," he told me, "Please, someone needs to help us here."
Another man in the camp, Hassan Sadiq, lived in the US for a year before
the recent invasion. He returned to Iraq just before the invasion, then
fled to No Man's Land Camp as chaos engulfed Iraq. Prior to his time in
America, Sadiq had fled Iran because of his Human Rights advocacy
against the regime there. He had initially spent time in the nearby
Ruwaished camp - another refugee camp an hours drive into Jordan - where
he went on hunger strike for 36 days in protest of UNHCR, who according
to him, were not doing enough to assist him from being extradited back
to Iran.
"Now UNHCR wants to close this camp and put us back in Ruwaished. When I
was there I was under constant threat of being extradited back to Iraq.
Now I'm concerned they will transfer us back to Ruwaished, which is
nothing but a jail in the desert." His situation is reflective of many
others in the camp. "I would like to say to the American government that
I remember George Bush says he is fighting for freedom. But by God, here
I need freedom and they have forgotten us. The US has been ignoring us
since 1974. The American government is responsible for us being here,
because we are displaced because of the war."
The camp was fraught with health problems - without enough clean water
or medical care, diarrhea, minor respiratory problems, sore eyes, and
dehydration abound. Many people tell me they have trouble breathing when
sandstorms hit, which is several times each week.
In another tent a man told me his 13 year old son was killed on the road
by a passing truck. His wife aborted her fetus when fighting broke out
near the Iraqi border several months ago. There have been problems in
the camp, aside from the aforementioned health and depression symptoms.
The hunger strike was aimed at UNHCR for not doing enough to help them;
however, UNHCR recently managed to move the entire camp into Jordan.
*
Dismal Place*
On May 29, with the assistance of the Jordanian Hashemite Charity
Organization and CARE International, UNHCR moved the 743 residents of No
Man's Land camp to the Ruwaished refugee camp. The long struggle to
obtain permission from the Jordanian government ended with the agreement
that UNHCR would vigorously pursue further solutions for the refugees,
who were moved in three convoys.
Jaqueline Parleviet is the Senior Protections Officer for UNHCR in
Amman, Jordan. "The hunger strike ended because of the move," Parleviet
noted. "All of the refugees I spoke with were happy to be moved. The
problems and resistance we encountered inside the camp went away when we
moved them."
UNHCR is now pursuing the solutions of either voluntary return or
resettlement to another country for each refugee in the Ruwaished camp,
which is now filled with about 880 refugees. Yet Ruwaished camp, while
at least sitting inside a country, still remains a dismal place. There
are no trees in sight of the wire fence enclosed spot in the middle of
the desert.
While there are some improvements - residents can leave for short
shopping trips in nearby Ruwaished, CARE international is providing some
vocational training and schooling, and the Jordanian Hashemite Charity
Organization is providing food, stoves, water and other necessities -
the mood remains quite bleak.
Rahma Shaban left Palestine in 1948. Under the intense midday sun, she
told me of having to leave Iraq because of the horrible security
situation after the invasion. "Baghdad is a great place," she added,
"But I must have security for my children." Other refugees blame the new
Iraqi government for there difficulties. "I can't blame Iraqis for our
problems," said Donia Baltergy, "I blame these Iraqis who came with the
invaders."
She began to cry as she continued to discuss her situation in the camp.
"It's difficult for us to live in this harsh place," she said while
holding her hands out while she pleads, "We've been sitting here for two
years. They don't let us go out, they don't like for us to talk to the
press, they don't give us rights to do anything."
Like the former No Man's Land camp, the Ruwaished camp is plagued with
sandstorms and scorpions, and the residents continue to endure health
problems and cope with ongoing depression. There was little hope for
change when I visited, and many refugees expressed discontent towards
UNHCR and other organizations for not doing more to assist them.
According to Parleviet, some of the Somali and Sundanese refugees were
resettled in the US and Australia, along with 387 Iranian Kurds
previously moved to Sweden. "We have cases pending now for the UK and
Ireland," she added. Yet despite small instances of success, the
refugees recently relocated from No Man's Land are now united with 133
other displaced people in the middle of the desert, close to one of the
worst conflict zones on the planet today.
Discontent towards what has become of Iraq, the country most of these
people love and had to leave, continues to be vented at the US. Standing
in front of a small brown tent used to teach women health classes, Rahma
Shaban exclaimed through tears, "The Americans said they were coming to
help Iraqis. Now we see their lies, proven by the fact that they have
done nothing but cause us pain, suffering, and erased our future and the
futures of our children."
And until their situation is changed, these feelings will most likely
persist.
More writing, photos and commentary at http://dahrjamailiraq.com
You can visit http://dahrjamailiraq.com/email_list/
to subscribe or unsubscribe to the email list.
Iraq_Dispatches mailing list
http://lists.dahrjamailiraq.com/mailman/listinfo/iraq_dispatches
---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*--------
11) The Battle after the Battle
By Les Blumenthal
The News Tribune
Sunday 10 July 2005
Soldiers say military pushes them to discharge before medical needs are met.
The day before his 22nd birthday, a bomb hanging from a tree along a road near
Fallujah exploded above Rory Dunn's Humvee.
Dunn's forehead was crushed from ear to ear, leaving his brain exposed.
His right eye was destroyed by shrapnel; the left eye nearly so. His hearing
was severely damaged.
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2005/071105X.shtml
---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*--------
12) WHEN THEY SAY "AID", THEY MEAN "RAID"
[Col. Writ. 6/13/05] Copyright 2005 Mumia Abu-Jamal
Recently, the news columns were full of a supposed dispute
between the Americans and the British about foreign aid relief
to Africa. If the news reports are to be believed, the British
wish to push the Americans further, to provide more debt relief
for countries staggering under their economic burdens.
The media image that arises is one of the rich, Western, White
nations caring about the lives and conditions of starving Black
Africa. And like many media images, it simply isn't true.
What is often lost in this angelic imagery is the truth behind
the so-called aid. That 'aid' that was given years ago, was given
to military dictatorships, and it was often military aid meant
to strengthen dictatorships, against, not foreign attacks, but
popular resistance, from their own people!
Indeed, in a 1960 meeting of the U.S. National Security Council,
American spies and diplomats spoke rather openly about U.S.
support for military regimes. The minutes of the meeting
record them saying:
We must recognize, although we cannot say it publicly, that
we need the strong men of Africa on our side. It is important
to understand that most of Africa will soon be independent and
that it would be naive of the U.S. to hope that Africa will
be democratic ... Since we must have the strong men of Africa
on our side, perhaps we should in some cases develop military
strong men as an offset to Communist development of the labor
unions. The President agreed that it might be desirable for
us to try to 'reach' the strong men of Africa ...
[Fr. NSA mtg., 1/14/60 as published in *Foreign Relations,
1958-1960, Vol. XIV*, pp. 73-78.]
From meetings such as this, came US 'aid' to such dictators
as Zaire's late Mobutu, who was among one of the wealthiest
men in Africa, if not the world. Through 'African strong men'
such as he, the U.S. ran many countries as neocolonies, through
which they could further exploit the people of the continent.
The late U.S. President, Richard Nixon, spoke a powerful
political truth when he said: "Let us remember that the main
purpose of aid is *not to help other nations* but to help
ourselves." [Fr. Graham Hancock, *Lords of Poverty*
(New York: Atlantic Monthly Press, 1989, p. 71].
Think about it this way: when millions of dollars in military
aid is given to a dictatorship, where does the money go? To
the receiving country, or to the arms dealers and defense
contractors which makes the weapons? So, how is this 'aid'?
It's aid to ourselves to arm forces that keep their own people
in line. Also, since at least the 1970s, U.S. food aid has
been tied to the myth of population control. In order to receive
'aid' from the nice, White, West -- African, Latin American and
Asian countries have had to pledge they would reduce their
populations.
Why would countries that are agricultural gardens of Eden
even need foo
wrote: folks from the NLG asked that the following
be passed on to activist listservs and organizations:
KNOW YOUR RIGHTS - DONT TALK - GET LEGAL ADVICE!
If you are contacted by the FBI
or other law enforcement officers, or
subpoenaed to a grand jury,
or if you are not a citizen and
have a question about the impact
of your political activity on your
immigration status, call the
National Lawyers Guild Post-9/11 Hotline, 415 285-1041.
---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*--------
BAUAW Benefit Presentation of Howard Zinn's
one man show, MARX IN SOHO
Starring Jerry Levy as Karl Marx
Directed by Michael Fox Kennedy.
Thursday, August 4, 7:00 p.m.
Friday, August 5, 7:00 p.m.
Saturday,August 6, 2:00 p.m.
Jon Sims Center for the Performing Arts
1519 Mission Street between 11th Street
and South Van Ness*
Advance tickets: $10
Door: $20.00
Call:415-824-8730 or email: giobon@sbcglobal.net for
Advance tickets.
---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*--------
CONGRATULATIONS TO COLLEGE NOT COMBAT!
CAN’T WAIT FOR THE CAMPAIGN TO BEGIN!
Press Conference to Submit College Not Combat Petitions for
November Election Took Place Monday, July 11th; noon
East steps of City Hall, San Francisco
CONTACT: Ragina Johnson at 415-412-4540 or
college_not_combat@yahoo.com http://us.f335.mail.yahoo.com/ym/
Compose?To=college_not_combat@yahoo.com&YY=45579&order=down&a
mp;sort=date&pos=0&view=a&head=b
On July 11th 2005, College Not Combat activists delivered a
remarkable 15,000 signatures to the Department of Elections at San
Francisco's City Hall. These signatures, gathered by volunteers
in just six weeks, represent public disapproval of military
recruitment in the facilities of San Francisco's public
high schools, colleges, and universities.
With the death toll of American soldiers in Iraq almost 1800, the US
military is struggling to meet its recruitment goals. Consistently
falling well below its monthly quotas, military recruiters are using
a number of tactics to persuade young people to join their ranks.
Among these tactics is the presentation of economic incentives, used
to make military service an appealing prospect to low-income youth.
Acknowledging the passing of last November's Proposition N, in which
the people of San Francisco voted by 63% to "bring the troops safely
home now", the College Not Combat petition also represents opposition
to the policy that is driving the war in Iraq.
Speakers included:
Aimee Allison - Green party member who is running for Oakland City
Council.
Cindy Sheehan, lost her son Casey, a soldier in Iraq, in April of 2004
and is the founder of Gold Star Families for Peace.
Supervisor Chris Daly
Ragina Johnson, campaign director of the College Not Combat campaign
And Others.
For more info, call 415-248-1701, or go to
www.CollegeNotCombat.org
---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*--------
1) HANDS OFF VENEZUELA SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA FILM
SHOWING: 7:00 PM, FRIDAY JULY 15
Center for Political Education
522 Valencia, Third Floor,
Near 16th Street, SF
(not wheelchair accessible)
Close the 16th Street BART
$5/$3 Students, Seniors, Unemployed
2) SAN FRANCISCO MIME TROUPE
PRESENTS: "DOING GOOD"
A play based loosely on the book, "Confessions
of an Economic Hit Man", by John Perkins.
JULY 16, PRECITA PARK
MUSIC: 1:30 P.M.
SHOW: 2:00 P.M.
(This play is fresh, new, brilliantly performed,
insightful, full of content, and the music is the
icing on the cake!...BW)
SPONSORED BY BAY AREA UNITED AGAINST WAR
Help get the word out about the ballot proposition
and upcoming antiwar events. Free antiwar posters!
FREE!
3) BAUAW Benefit Presentation of Howard Zinn's
one man show, MARX IN SOHO
Starring Jerry Levy as Karl Marx
Directed by Michael Fox Kennedy.
Thursday, August 4, 7:00 p.m.
Friday, August 5, 7:00 p.m.
Saturday, August 6, 2:00 p.m.
Jon Sims Center for the Performing Arts
1519 Mission Street between 11th Street
and South Van Ness*
Advance tickets: $10
Door: $20.00
Call:415-824-8730 or email: giobon@sbcglobal.net for
Advance tickets.
4) Cut all Public School Ties to the Military!
Speak up and Picket the S.F. Board of Education
the Fourth Tuesday of Each Month.
Next picket line: Tuesday, July 27, 6:30 P.M.-7:30 P.M.
(The July Board of Ed. meetings have been cancelled. But we
will still hold a picket July 27 at 6:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m.
in front of the Board of Education building.)
The next picket line after July 27 is August 23, 6:30 P.M.
-7:30 P.M. (just before school starts back.)
August 23, 6:30 p.m.-7:30 P.M.
555 Franklin St., S.F,
To get on the speakers list call:
415-241-6427, 241-6493 or 241-6000
(For more info call: 415-824-8730)
5) Op-Ed Columnist
It Just Gets Worse
By BOB HERBERT
Published: July 11, 2005
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/07/11/opinion/11herbert.html?hp
6) Part-Time Forces on Active Duty Decline Steeply
By ERIC SCHMITT and DAVID S. CLOUD
Published: July 11, 2005
"Eventually, the Pentagon could be forced to remobilize units
that have already been deployed especially if recruiting
problems persist, General Libby and other Guard officials
said. That would require changing the 24-month limit, something
the Pentagon says now it has no need to do. Military personnel
experts say such a move would only worsen recruiting for the
Guard and Reserve, which are both lagging behind their quotas
for the year, although strong re-enlistments have offset some
of the recruiting slump....For Pentagon planners, the main
focus of concern is the Army National Guard and Reserve, which
currently have 115,645 troops mobilized, or about 84 percent
of all reserve forces activated worldwide."
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/07/11/politics/
11reserves.html?ei=5094&en=bdef14b7f08346e6&hp=&ex=1121140800&adxnnl=1
&partner=homepage&adxnnlx=1121100417-4gI5MgdvJcxq7ckIztz9mw
7) Israeli Barrier in Jerusalem Will Cut Off 55,000 Arabs
By GREG MYRE
Published: July 11, 2005
"JERUSALEM, July 10 - Israel's separation barrier in Jerusalem
will cut off 55,000 Palestinian residents from the rest of the
city, Israeli officials acknowledged Sunday. Palestinians
responded sharply, saying they will face daily complications
in reaching jobs, schools and hospitals."
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/07/11/international/middleeast/11mideast.html
8) Cancer Drugs Offer Hope,
but at a Huge Expense
By ALEX BERENSON
Published: July 12, 2005
"Ten thousand dollars once seemed a lot to pay for
a few months' supply of a drug... But they are all highly expensive,
up to $100,000 for a course of treatment that lasts a few months.
That is hundreds of times the cost of older, more toxic cancer drugs,
and several times the annual cost of AIDS drugs, whose prices
caused widespread anger during the 1990's."
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/07/12/business/
12cancer.html?hp&ex=1121227200&en=7c40d71f337a6617&ei=5094&partner=ho
mepage
9) Man and Young Daughter Die
in Shootout With Police
By JOHN M. BRODER
Published: July 12, 2005
The child's mother, Lorena Lopez,
said she had no doubt who fired the fatal shots.
"The police killed my daughter,"
Ms. Lopez said, tearfully and in Spanish,
in the driveway of her green frame house
on the corner of Avalon Boulevard and 104th Street.
She said she had told the police during the crisis
that Mr. Pena, from whom she is separated, was
depressed about his failing business. "I told them
he needed to be helped," she said.
Ms. Lopez said that no one from the
police department had contacted her to
explain how her daughter died. "I want
the police to pay for this," she said.
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/07/12/national/12shooting.html
10) From No Man's Land to Displacement
Dahr Jamail's Iraq Dispatches
http://dahrjamailiraq.com
by Dahr Jamail
from Left Turn Magazine
11) The Battle after the Battle
By Les Blumenthal
The News Tribune
Sunday 10 July 2005
Soldiers say military pushes them
to discharge before medical needs are met.
The day before his 22nd birthday,
a bomb hanging from a tree along a road near
Fallujah exploded above Rory Dunn's Humvee.
Dunn's forehead was crushed from ear
to ear, leaving his brain exposed.
His right eye was destroyed by shrapnel;
the left eye nearly so. His hearing
was severely damaged.
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2005/071105X.shtml
12) WHEN THEY SAY "AID", THEY MEAN "RAID"
[Col. Writ. 6/13/05] Copyright 2005 Mumia Abu-Jamal
13) UN Occupation Forces Carry Out Massacre
of Poor in Port-au-Prince
On Wednesday morning, July 6th, at approximately 3:00 AM, UN occupation
forces in Haiti carried out a major military operation in the
working-class neighborhood of Cite Soleil, one of the poorest in
Port-au-Prince and also a stronghold of support for Haiti's majority
political party Lavalas and President Jean-Bertrand Aristide. Presumably,
the purpose of the operation was to crack down on illegal "gang activity",
in particular on "gang" leader Dread Wilme. In actuality, a US trade union
and human rights delegation in Port-au-Prince discovered evidence of a
massacre conducted by the UN forces, targeting the larger community
itself.
14) Indiana Hunger Strike Alert
---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*--------
1) HANDS OFF VENEZUELA SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA FILM
SHOWING: 7:00 PM, FRIDAY JULY 15
Center for Political Education
522 Valencia, Third Floor,
Near 16th Street, SF
(not wheelchair accessible)
Close the 16th Street BART
$5/$3 Students, Seniors, Unemployed
---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*--------
2) SAN FRANCISCO MIME TROUPE
PRESENTS: "DOING GOOD"
A play based loosely on the book, "Confessions
of an Economic Hit Man", by John Perkins.
JULY 16, PRECITA PARK
MUSIC: 1:30 P.M.
SHOW: 2:00 P.M.
(This play is fresh, new, brilliantly performed,
insightful, full of content, and the music is the
icing on the cake!...BW)
SPONSORED BY BAY AREA UNITED AGAINST WAR
Help get the word out about the ballot proposition
and upcoming antiwar events. Free antiwar posters!
FREE!
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3) BAUAW Benefit Presentation of Howard Zinn's
one man show, MARX IN SOHO
Starring Jerry Levy as Karl Marx
Directed by Michael Fox Kennedy.
Thursday, August 4, 7:00 p.m.
Friday, August 5, 7:00 p.m.
Saturday, August 6, 2:00 p.m.
Jon Sims Center for the Performing Arts
1519 Mission Street between 11th Street
and South Van Ness*
Advance tickets: $10
Door: $20.00
Call:415-824-8730 or email: giobon@sbcglobal.net for
Advance tickets.
The premise of the play is that Marx dies yet he is
able to see what's happening on earth for 100 years
since his death in 1883. He is supposed to go back to
Soho in London but, by mistake, is sent to Soho
in New York and finds himself on stage before an
audience. Imagine all Karl Marx would have to say
after one hundred years of just being able to watch...
The single actor in this one-man play is Jerry Levy,
who has been teaching sociology at Marlboro College
and been acting with the Actors' Theater of Brattleboro
since he moved there from Chicago in 1975. Originally
directed by Michael Fox Kennedy of the Actors' Theater,
Levy has been on the road with Zinn's version of Karl
Marx for a year, performing at benefits, colleges, small
theaters and other venues around the state. At Middle
Earth he was sponsored by the Bradford-based Coos Peace
and Justice Alliance and performed free of charge but
charged with mighty talent and a bottomless love of the play.
WWW.BAUAW.ORG
Contact person: Bonnie Weinstein 415-824-8730-office/home
415-990-4237-cell
*The Jon Sims Center is located at 1519 Mission Street
(between 11th Street and South Van Ness), South of Market,
San Francisco, CA 94103
BY CAR:
From the East Bay: Take 80 North then 101 North to the
Mission Street exit. Stay on the right hand side of the exit.
Turn right off the exit, and stay on Mission Street. The Jon
Sims Center is two blocks past Van Ness, next to Firestone.
From the South Bay: Take 101 North to the Mission Street
Exit. Stay on the right hand side of the exit. Turn right off
the exit, and stay on Mission Street. The Jon Sims Center
is two blocks past Van Ness, next to Firestone.
From the North Bay: Take 101 South to Lombard, make
a right on Van Ness and then a left onto Mission. Jon Sims
Center is two blocks past Van Ness, next to Firestone.
Parking: Daytime parking is very difficult. We encourage
day users to take public transportation. In the evening,
street parking along Mission Street, Minna Street and
11th Street is not horrible (in San Francisco terms) after
6:00 PM, but the closer you are to 6:00 PM, the better
your chances of finding parking. There is no parking
along Mission between 4-6 PM, and you will be
promptly towed.
VIA BART/MUNI/SAMTRANS:
Go to http://www.transitinfo.org for more information
about Bay Area public transportation.
BART: Take BART to the Civic Center station, then transfer
to the outbound Muni J,K,L,M or N train. Exit at the next
stop (Van Ness Station). Walk 1 block south, cross Mission,
and the Jon Sims Center is next to Firestone.
MUNI: The Jon Sims Center is 1 block south of the Van
Ness Muni underground station, accessible from any Muni
streetcar. Additionally, the 14 Mission, 42 Loop 49 and
47 Van Ness bus stop at Mission and 11th Street, only
1/2 block from the Jon Sims Center. Current Muni fare is $1.25.
SamTrans: The SamTrans DX, KX, MX, NX, PX, RX and
TX buses stops at Mission and 9th Streets. Walk three
blocks west (towards Sutro tower) to reach the Jon Sims
Center. Current SamTrans fare is $1.10. Please note that
SamTrans buses to the City only run during rush hours.
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4) Cut all Public School Ties to the Military!
Speak up and Picket the S.F. Board of Education
the Fourth Tuesday of Each Month.
Next picket line: Tuesday, July 27, 6:30 P.M.-7:30 P.M.
(The July Board of Ed. meetings have been cancelled. But we
will still hold a picket July 27 at 6:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m.
in front of the Board of Education building.)
The next picket line after July 27 is August 23, 6:30 P.M.
-7:30 P.M. (just before school starts back.)
August 23, 6:30 p.m.-7:30 P.M.
555 Franklin St., S.F,
To get on the speakers list call:
415-241-6427, 241-6493 or 241-6000
(For more info call: 415-824-8730)
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5) Op-Ed Columnist
It Just Gets Worse
By BOB HERBERT
Published: July 11, 2005
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/07/11/opinion/11herbert.html?hp
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6) Part-Time Forces on Active Duty Decline Steeply
By ERIC SCHMITT and DAVID S. CLOUD
Published: July 11, 2005
"Eventually, the Pentagon could be forced to remobilize units
that have already been deployed especially if recruiting
problems persist, General Libby and other Guard officials
said. That would require changing the 24-month limit, something
the Pentagon says now it has no need to do. Military personnel
experts say such a move would only worsen recruiting for the
Guard and Reserve, which are both lagging behind their quotas
for the year, although strong re-enlistments have offset some
of the recruiting slump....For Pentagon planners, the main
focus of concern is the Army National Guard and Reserve, which
currently have 115,645 troops mobilized, or about 84 percent
of all reserve forces activated worldwide."
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/07/11/politics/
11reserves.html?ei=5094&en=bdef14b7f08346e6&hp=&ex=1121140800&adxnnl=1
&partner=homepage&adxnnlx=1121100417-4gI5MgdvJcxq7ckIztz9mw
---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*--------
7) Israeli Barrier in Jerusalem Will Cut Off 55,000 Arabs
By GREG MYRE
Published: July 11, 2005
"JERUSALEM, July 10 - Israel's separation barrier in Jerusalem
will cut off 55,000 Palestinian residents from the rest of the
city, Israeli officials acknowledged Sunday. Palestinians
responded sharply, saying they will face daily complications
in reaching jobs, schools and hospitals."
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/07/11/international/middleeast/11mideast.html
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8) Cancer Drugs Offer Hope,
but at a Huge Expense
By ALEX BERENSON
Published: July 12, 2005
"Ten thousand dollars once seemed a lot to pay for
a few months' supply of a drug... But they are all highly expensive,
up to $100,000 for a course of treatment that lasts a few months.
That is hundreds of times the cost of older, more toxic cancer drugs,
and several times the annual cost of AIDS drugs, whose prices
caused widespread anger during the 1990's."
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/07/12/business/
12cancer.html?hp&ex=1121227200&en=7c40d71f337a6617&ei=5094&partner=ho
mepage
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9) Man and Young Daughter Die
in Shootout With Police
By JOHN M. BRODER
Published: July 12, 2005
The child's mother, Lorena Lopez,
said she had no doubt who fired the fatal shots.
"The police killed my daughter,"
Ms. Lopez said, tearfully and in Spanish,
in the driveway of her green frame house
on the corner of Avalon Boulevard and 104th Street.
She said she had told the police during the crisis
that Mr. Pena, from whom she is separated, was
depressed about his failing business. "I told them
he needed to be helped," she said.
Ms. Lopez said that no one from the
police department had contacted her to
explain how her daughter died. "I want
the police to pay for this," she said.
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/07/12/national/12shooting.html
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10) From No Man's Land to Displacement
Dahr Jamail's Iraq Dispatches
http://dahrjamailiraq.com
by Dahr Jamail
from Left Turn Magazine
The Iraqi/Jordanian border is a land of desolation. Coils of razor wire
stretch into the desert whilst sun-grayed plastic bags caught in their
sharpness flap in the hot, dry winds. In No Man's Land, Jamail exposes
yet another face of the human consequences of the US occupation of Iraq
- the suffering and resistance of displaced Kurdish-Iranian and
Palestinian refugees.
Long columns of trucks wait at the Jordanian border to carry their loads
of supplies into war-torn Iraq. When Iraqi drivers wish to enter Jordan,
they now wait up to 18 days to be allowed in. The al-Karama border is a
land of waiting, but not just for the truck drivers. There have been
others waiting to enter Jordan for far longer. The refugee camp situated
in this bleak area is called No Man's Land camp because it literally is
just that: an area of land caught between the borders of two countries
with nowhere else to go.
"If you leave me here I will die," said the elderly Merza Shahawaz as he
was groaning from the pain in his kidneys, "Please help me." In his tent
covered with plastic sheeting inside the camp, his wife was helping him
sit up. He cannot sit without her holding him up.
"I ask you to help me. I plead for humanitarian people to help us now,"
mumbled the 66 year-old man in dire need of dialysis. His family sitting
nearby shed tears as they brushed flies away from their faces.
His 42 year-old son pleaded, "We are all dying slowly here. You see us
with your eyes, I ask for help. He is dying in front of his family's
eyes but nobody is doing anything for him. We don't want our children's
fate to be this. Death is better than this life. If our children grow up
like this it means they are dead."
It is one example of the suffering of so many in the camp of over 700
people.
*Hunger strike*
Kurdish-Iranian refugees have a long history of suffering. Initially
having left Iran under persecution from the government over 20 years
ago, some of them were members of the Kurdish peshmerga militia who
fought against fundamentalist Islamic rule and were lucky enough to
escape with their lives. Many of them fled to Iraq, where the regime of
Saddam Hussein placed them in the al-Tash refugee camp, located 80 miles
west of Baghdad, which held over 12,000 Iranian Kurds.
Many of these refugees, after the US-led invasion of Iraq in spring of
2003, said they were threatened by armed groups and told they had to
leave. Several refugees I interviewed in No Man's Land camp said they
were instructed to leave Al-Tash by the US-backed Iraqi government.
Palestinians, Iraqis, Jordanians and Syrian refugees were also in the mix.
At the time of the invasion the Jordanian government agreed to provide
temporary protection for Iraqis fleeing the fighting and chaos in their
country. But when the Iranian-Kurds from Al-Tash camp reached the
Jordanian border, they were denied access. Others were denied access
because they lacked valid passports. Already burgeoning with refugees
from Palestine and Iraq, the government of Jordan felt it had reached
its limits and denied access to future refugees.
While the local Jordanian Hashemite Charity Organization - with help
from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), CARE
International and other organizations - has been working to assist the
refugees, it appears as though it is not enough.
A tattered sheet tied to a chain-link fence which surrounds No Man's
Land camp flittered in the wind. It read: "We Iranian Kurd refugees have
gone on hunger strike because we have been paid no attention from UNHCR
and they use demagogy policy towards our just issue and have not tended
to our demand which is resettlement in third countries. Dying once is
better than daily death."
On the other side of the fence a tarp provides shade for 21 men who were
on hunger strike, demanding more assistance from UNHCR.
Omar Abdul Aziz, is 39 years old. He was living in Al-Anbar at Al-Tash
camp near Ramadi before he came here. "We used to live 23 years at
Al-Tash camp," he explained, "After the war the horrible security came.
Due to the fact that the occupation forces didn't control the borders,
Iranian intelligence came into Iraq and began raiding Al-Tash, so we had
to leave."
The soft spoken man, weak with hunger nine days into the strike, sat on
a mat while he talked. "I am on hunger strike because UNHCR didn't do
anything for us. This is not the right place for women and kids to live
in, and we have an unknown future. We have no solution here, only moving
from camp to camp, from desert to desert."
Flies buzzed languidly about the faces of the downtrodden men in the
tent as Aziz continued. "We don't want to go to Iraq because it is
unstable and it is not our country. What has happened to us is due to
the illegal American invasion of Iraq. We ask the American people,
appealing to their humanity, to evacuate us from this horrible
situation. We are the orphans of the international community. The
international community has kept their mouths closed about us, and
especially the Americans."
Others spoke of spending over two years in the horrible conditions of
the camp where snakes, sandstorms and scorpions are a daily reality as
they languish in tents seeking shelter from the scorching desert sun.
"We are depressed and we are dying here," Zaman Shakary told me. The
frustration of the 45 year-old man was vented in anger towards UNHCR.
"Condoleeza Rice goes and shakes hands with Barzani, but does nothing
for us here. I have given an order that if I lose consciousness 10 times
I will continue my hunger strike if UNHCR does not respond and help us.
Humans cannot live this way."
Most of the refugees were asking for resettlement, but not necessarily
to another refugee camp. "We are asking for resettlement in another
country. I have been on hunger strike for 9 days, and my demands are
that if I die it is for life, I do not live for death," said Suwady
Rashat. The 43 year-old added, "I want to tell the American people that
the Iraqi government deprived us of what we need, and it is because of
the invasion which has not truly benefited Iraqis."
Nearby sat a 6 year-old boy with a lost, sad look on his face,
antagonized by flies. "I am here because my father is on hunger strike
for 9 days now," he told me, "Please, someone needs to help us here."
Another man in the camp, Hassan Sadiq, lived in the US for a year before
the recent invasion. He returned to Iraq just before the invasion, then
fled to No Man's Land Camp as chaos engulfed Iraq. Prior to his time in
America, Sadiq had fled Iran because of his Human Rights advocacy
against the regime there. He had initially spent time in the nearby
Ruwaished camp - another refugee camp an hours drive into Jordan - where
he went on hunger strike for 36 days in protest of UNHCR, who according
to him, were not doing enough to assist him from being extradited back
to Iran.
"Now UNHCR wants to close this camp and put us back in Ruwaished. When I
was there I was under constant threat of being extradited back to Iraq.
Now I'm concerned they will transfer us back to Ruwaished, which is
nothing but a jail in the desert." His situation is reflective of many
others in the camp. "I would like to say to the American government that
I remember George Bush says he is fighting for freedom. But by God, here
I need freedom and they have forgotten us. The US has been ignoring us
since 1974. The American government is responsible for us being here,
because we are displaced because of the war."
The camp was fraught with health problems - without enough clean water
or medical care, diarrhea, minor respiratory problems, sore eyes, and
dehydration abound. Many people tell me they have trouble breathing when
sandstorms hit, which is several times each week.
In another tent a man told me his 13 year old son was killed on the road
by a passing truck. His wife aborted her fetus when fighting broke out
near the Iraqi border several months ago. There have been problems in
the camp, aside from the aforementioned health and depression symptoms.
The hunger strike was aimed at UNHCR for not doing enough to help them;
however, UNHCR recently managed to move the entire camp into Jordan.
*
Dismal Place*
On May 29, with the assistance of the Jordanian Hashemite Charity
Organization and CARE International, UNHCR moved the 743 residents of No
Man's Land camp to the Ruwaished refugee camp. The long struggle to
obtain permission from the Jordanian government ended with the agreement
that UNHCR would vigorously pursue further solutions for the refugees,
who were moved in three convoys.
Jaqueline Parleviet is the Senior Protections Officer for UNHCR in
Amman, Jordan. "The hunger strike ended because of the move," Parleviet
noted. "All of the refugees I spoke with were happy to be moved. The
problems and resistance we encountered inside the camp went away when we
moved them."
UNHCR is now pursuing the solutions of either voluntary return or
resettlement to another country for each refugee in the Ruwaished camp,
which is now filled with about 880 refugees. Yet Ruwaished camp, while
at least sitting inside a country, still remains a dismal place. There
are no trees in sight of the wire fence enclosed spot in the middle of
the desert.
While there are some improvements - residents can leave for short
shopping trips in nearby Ruwaished, CARE international is providing some
vocational training and schooling, and the Jordanian Hashemite Charity
Organization is providing food, stoves, water and other necessities -
the mood remains quite bleak.
Rahma Shaban left Palestine in 1948. Under the intense midday sun, she
told me of having to leave Iraq because of the horrible security
situation after the invasion. "Baghdad is a great place," she added,
"But I must have security for my children." Other refugees blame the new
Iraqi government for there difficulties. "I can't blame Iraqis for our
problems," said Donia Baltergy, "I blame these Iraqis who came with the
invaders."
She began to cry as she continued to discuss her situation in the camp.
"It's difficult for us to live in this harsh place," she said while
holding her hands out while she pleads, "We've been sitting here for two
years. They don't let us go out, they don't like for us to talk to the
press, they don't give us rights to do anything."
Like the former No Man's Land camp, the Ruwaished camp is plagued with
sandstorms and scorpions, and the residents continue to endure health
problems and cope with ongoing depression. There was little hope for
change when I visited, and many refugees expressed discontent towards
UNHCR and other organizations for not doing more to assist them.
According to Parleviet, some of the Somali and Sundanese refugees were
resettled in the US and Australia, along with 387 Iranian Kurds
previously moved to Sweden. "We have cases pending now for the UK and
Ireland," she added. Yet despite small instances of success, the
refugees recently relocated from No Man's Land are now united with 133
other displaced people in the middle of the desert, close to one of the
worst conflict zones on the planet today.
Discontent towards what has become of Iraq, the country most of these
people love and had to leave, continues to be vented at the US. Standing
in front of a small brown tent used to teach women health classes, Rahma
Shaban exclaimed through tears, "The Americans said they were coming to
help Iraqis. Now we see their lies, proven by the fact that they have
done nothing but cause us pain, suffering, and erased our future and the
futures of our children."
And until their situation is changed, these feelings will most likely
persist.
More writing, photos and commentary at http://dahrjamailiraq.com
You can visit http://dahrjamailiraq.com/email_list/
to subscribe or unsubscribe to the email list.
Iraq_Dispatches mailing list
http://lists.dahrjamailiraq.com/mailman/listinfo/iraq_dispatches
---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*--------
11) The Battle after the Battle
By Les Blumenthal
The News Tribune
Sunday 10 July 2005
Soldiers say military pushes them to discharge before medical needs are met.
The day before his 22nd birthday, a bomb hanging from a tree along a road near
Fallujah exploded above Rory Dunn's Humvee.
Dunn's forehead was crushed from ear to ear, leaving his brain exposed.
His right eye was destroyed by shrapnel; the left eye nearly so. His hearing
was severely damaged.
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2005/071105X.shtml
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12) WHEN THEY SAY "AID", THEY MEAN "RAID"
[Col. Writ. 6/13/05] Copyright 2005 Mumia Abu-Jamal
Recently, the news columns were full of a supposed dispute
between the Americans and the British about foreign aid relief
to Africa. If the news reports are to be believed, the British
wish to push the Americans further, to provide more debt relief
for countries staggering under their economic burdens.
The media image that arises is one of the rich, Western, White
nations caring about the lives and conditions of starving Black
Africa. And like many media images, it simply isn't true.
What is often lost in this angelic imagery is the truth behind
the so-called aid. That 'aid' that was given years ago, was given
to military dictatorships, and it was often military aid meant
to strengthen dictatorships, against, not foreign attacks, but
popular resistance, from their own people!
Indeed, in a 1960 meeting of the U.S. National Security Council,
American spies and diplomats spoke rather openly about U.S.
support for military regimes. The minutes of the meeting
record them saying:
We must recognize, although we cannot say it publicly, that
we need the strong men of Africa on our side. It is important
to understand that most of Africa will soon be independent and
that it would be naive of the U.S. to hope that Africa will
be democratic ... Since we must have the strong men of Africa
on our side, perhaps we should in some cases develop military
strong men as an offset to Communist development of the labor
unions. The President agreed that it might be desirable for
us to try to 'reach' the strong men of Africa ...
[Fr. NSA mtg., 1/14/60 as published in *Foreign Relations,
1958-1960, Vol. XIV*, pp. 73-78.]
From meetings such as this, came US 'aid' to such dictators
as Zaire's late Mobutu, who was among one of the wealthiest
men in Africa, if not the world. Through 'African strong men'
such as he, the U.S. ran many countries as neocolonies, through
which they could further exploit the people of the continent.
The late U.S. President, Richard Nixon, spoke a powerful
political truth when he said: "Let us remember that the main
purpose of aid is *not to help other nations* but to help
ourselves." [Fr. Graham Hancock, *Lords of Poverty*
(New York: Atlantic Monthly Press, 1989, p. 71].
Think about it this way: when millions of dollars in military
aid is given to a dictatorship, where does the money go? To
the receiving country, or to the arms dealers and defense
contractors which makes the weapons? So, how is this 'aid'?
It's aid to ourselves to arm forces that keep their own people
in line. Also, since at least the 1970s, U.S. food aid has
been tied to the myth of population control. In order to receive
'aid' from the nice, White, West -- African, Latin American and
Asian countries have had to pledge they would reduce their
populations.
Why would countries that are agricultural gardens of Eden
even need foo