??? e-mails Zachary Lown's "Demonstration to Expose Recruiter's Lies in Silver Spring Friday"
from DC Indymedia:

On May 27th
at 5pm
the DC Anti War Network (DAWN)
in conjunction with Code Pink
will demonstrate in front of the Georgia Avenue military recruiting station
to expose the lies and predatory aims of military recruiters.
(Please see below for directions.)
For those of us in DC who are parents or students, for those of us who have family members or friends in the military or know someone who is thinking about joining, we have a responsibility to unmask these military salesmen as they attempt to lure DC’s youth into an unjust and illegal war. All are encouraged to join us in this action.

As the United States government finds itself sinking increasingly deeper into a classic colonial quagmire in Iraq the ranks of the soldiers being used to occupy the country are continuously thinning. With military recruitment down the US is desperate to get more boots on the ground. This has increased pressure on military recruiters who will lie and manipulate young people so as to draft them into the army.
Young people are being targeted as never before as military recruiters are invading public schools, shopping centers and playgrounds. Yet even as their sales pitch rises to a crescendo military recruiters are being confronted by students across the country. From Seattle to Connecticut high school and college students are chasing recruiters off of their campuses in a movement that has come to be known as "counter recruitment."
On January 20th at Seattle Central Community College over 300 students surrounded a military recruiting stand forcing the recruiters off campus. Jorge Torres and Darrin Hoop from Students Against War in Seattle describe the event, "The hapless recruiters tried to act as if the crowd wasn’t bothering them and continued to pass out their literature. Students ripped it up in their faces and threw it in the air like confetti. Others tore off their tablecloth and pounded on the table. After fifteen minutes the recruiters were escorted off campus. The crowd followed behind, chanting 'Don’t come back!', and 'You should be ashamed!'" Students are reporting similar actions in places like the University of Texas in Austin, City Community College in New York, and Holyoke Community College in Massachusetts.

[. . .]

The station is located three blocks from the Silver Spring Metro at the intersection of Silver Spring Ave. and Georgia Ave. From the South Side Metro Exit, walk one block east on Bonifant St. to Georgia Avenue, then right 2 blocks to the recruiting station. Driving on Georgia Ave. from DC, the recruiting station is on the left, about two blocks past East-West Highway (Rt. 410).
See also:
http://www.dawndc.net


The e-mail address for this site is common_ills@yahoo.com.

[Note: This entry originally appeared at The Common Ills.]

Lily e-mails to note shoes' "Outgrowing Capitalism Conference This Weekend" from The Mad Hatters IMC:


Topic Connecticut Action When we all want to learn many subjects, it seems we all register for a conference and travel to New York City or Washington, D.C. Why not Hartford? It's about time! All you have to bring is T-shirts, bikes (optional), art for the communal art gallery and food donations!
Outgrowing Capitalism: A Gathering of Existing Structures NEMA, IMC's, FNB's, and more will be in Hartford
Friday,
May 27-29
kicking off with a Critical Mass ride at 4:30pm
at Bushnell Park
and get this, registration is free! ($10 donations urged).
This conference seems more exciting than others because new skills are offered, such as urban gardening and composting, beer/wine making, radical menstruation (as alternatives to pharmaceuticals), free schools, jewelry making and radical walking tour of Hartford. Each conference has their own time to let your hair or bald heads down but this one has a new twist: a punk rock prom!
Click here for the schedule.
Read more from the Organizing Committee...
Hartford is organizing a gathering to unite those working in the stuggle to outgrow the constraints of a capitalist society by sharing of skills, resources, and ideas on a local and broader geographic scale The weekend with include workshops with people currently organizing in their communities to find alternatives and a meeting to organize tangible resistance against oppressive systems.

The e-mail address for this site is common_ills@yahoo.com.

[Note: This entry originally appeared at The Common Ills.]

Pru e-mails rt's "Bristol anti-war campaigner targetted with Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act" from Bristol Indymedia:

Bristol resident Dylan Thomas claims that the Regulation of Investigatory Powers have been used against him because of his anti-war campaigning. This interview discusses the alleged use of RIPA against this anti-war protestor and the sort of activities that gave rise to him being targetted with RIPA. It is not everyday that you get to interview a dead Welsh poet.
Mr. Thomas, you claim that you have been theh victim of use of the Regultion of Investigatory Powers Act. I understand that it is an offence for someone to tell you of a RIPA control order and there's a serious period of imprisonment involved. Assuming that nobody told you that you were targetted by RIPA, can you explain why you think that you have been subjected to this act, and what it actually means?
Yes of course. Well first off the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act is a very heavyweiht piece of legislation. It's one of Bliar's New Labour's serious heavy laws where the implications for the subject are very serious but there is deniability - everything's done the secret, unmentioned New Labour way so that there is no accountability. So, RIPA means that they can interfere in any aspect of your life - say your solicitor. They can demand that your solicitor sends copies of all your documents that he holds and to never tell you. If he tells you, he commits a criminal offence and can be sent off to prison. Like I said, the RIPA is heavyweight law - really powerful and it sort of sweeps lesser laws away with it's power. But it does have some problems because it clashes and conflicts with other laws because it's so heavyweight and powerful. Now where it clashes with other laws. That's where you can see the cracks. That's where you can see RIPA operating. One part of RIPA, why it's so powerful and heavy and awkward is that nobody can be tried for carrying out actions under it's authority. The issues can simply never come to court. Now from the documents I have, I am fairly certain that I had a RIPA order served on me between January and June or July 2003 and I may have had some since. I mean I know that my post is intercepted. The f***ers just steal it quite often and I just never see it. Legal documents even. They even steal legal documents sent to me. You see what happened is that at that time I was getting referred to New Deal every 2 weeks and I was appealling every one. So a sanction was getting imposed every two weeks. I've got twelve appeals in this period. That means twelve copies of documentation from the JobCentre referring me to New deal and me refusing, twelve copies from the Employment Service and twelve copies from the Appeals Service where I have lodged my appeals. Actually that's what I should have. It's not what I actually have.
Eh, Why not?
Well remember RIPA is heavyweight and clashes heavily with other laws. The trouble is that actions conducted under the authority of the act can never be tried in a court or tribunal. So what documntation have I got?. Once again, the RIPA does not sit well with repeated requests for appeals because appeals are like trials and actions under RIPA can never be tried. So the documentation is have is regualar documents, sometimes legal documents with gaps where RIPA is operating. Bingo!
Do you really have that. Really?
Well I think so. I reckon I can map what actions they took from the gaps in the documents. And i think that I have got more.
More?
Yes. Now the trouble is that it's not only the whole appeals that cannot be tried but certain aspects of them. So as these appeals progress you can study them to catch the issues that are raised but the Chairman cannot make a decision on. And when you make an administrative complaint. That's a laugh that is. It's because I'm a determined, stick-at-it little sod as well. It's only now these things are coming out.
So you mentioned administrative complaints. What happens there?
OK. so let me recap. I've got eleven New Deal appeals and one JobSeeker's Allowance appeal over the six months I was RIPAd. That should be twelve copies of documents from the Jobcentre, twelve copies from the Appeals Service and now they are starting to come through from the Social Security Commissioners. That's what finally gave it away actually.

Dominick e-mails to note Dave Lordan "'Carlo Tried To Resist: This Is The Truth' : Giuliano Giuliani" from I.E. Indymedia:

Giuliano Giuliani is a leading Italian Trade Unionist whose son Carlo was murdered by the Italian Police during the July 2001 protests in Genoa against the G8 Summit. Since Genoa, Giuliano and his wife Haidi have become stalwarts of the international anti-globalisation movement, speaking at countless events and protests as well as campaigning for justice for their son. He will speak at a public meeting organized by G8 Mobilise on Thursday 26th May in Dublin.
Four years on from Carlo's murder, do you feel any closer to achieving justice for him?
It is very difficult after waiting for four years to even think about achieving justice. But we are doing everything possible to ensure that the truth be acknowledged. Carlo was killed while he was trying to defend the others and himself from being shot at by the police. Carlo tried to resist: this is the truth. Along with this truth, we also want to find out the exact chain of command on those days, and we want someone to take political responsibility for Carlo's murder. This is absolutely necessary for our country, for democracy, and in particular for all the other young people who are looking for a better world.
How have the police behaved during the investigation?
Terribly, no investigation has really been carried out, not even into the most disgraceful and violent behaviour of the police. After he was hit by a bullet, Carlo was kicked while he was lying on the ground and then one policeman broke his forehead with a stone. This is the behaviour of Nazis. So was what they did at the Diaz school or at the Bolzaneto barracks or in the streets: torture, extremely violent beatings, both physical and mental. These facts are unworthy of a civilized society and they cannot remain unpunished. Instead they are trying to cover, to hide and to mix up everything. Some Judges are also not doing their jobs, because dismissing a case, like Carlo's murder, contributes to the truth being hidden.

The e-mail address for this site is common_ills@yahoo.com.

[Note: This entry originally appeared at The Common Ills.]

Boston's Indymedia has ""Nationalization or death!" Uprising in Bolivia / "¡Nacionalización o muerte!" gritan los movimientos sociales:"

* After holding an emergency meeting, the FEJUVE (Federación de Juntas Vecinales de El Alto) has descended from the mountains to the Altiplano of Bolivia and the capital city of La Paz to "take over the National Congress." In addition, they ratified a citywide strike as it entered its third day with no end in sight.
* Meanwhile a group of Army officials disassociated themselves with Carlos Mesa and called to the military to be united with the mobilizations.
* It is uncertain what will happen next. It is clear however that the road blockades at Copacabana, Desaguadero, Achacachi and Oruro with strong concentrations in the localities of Pallcoco, Batallas, Huarina, Warisata y Escoma (towns around La Paz, the capital) will be lasting. The protestors manning the blockades are members of the inidigenous Aymara community that have once again left their towns and villages to make their presence felt and voice heard in front of a deaf state. They are confronting the state’s partiality to the transnational companies and the state’s forgetfulness of the national majorities.en espanol: http://bolivia.indymedia.org/es/2005/05/17382.shtml

Also from Boston IMC, Brenda e-mails to note h-fries' "'Zine Library Opens in Harvard Square:"


A new library has opened up right in Harvard Square. But they don't have any books. Instead, they have 'zines. 'Zines are self-published magazines that address universes of different topics. There are 'zines about being a substitute teacher, how to compost, growing up as an immigrant, animal rights and high school crushes. They're becoming increasingly popular as everyone starts to make their own 'zine. Now there are 'zine libraries all around the country. This radio piece documents the opening of Boston's new 'zine library.
See also:
http://baamboston.org/papercut

From Chicago Indymedia Zach e-mails to note Ted Forsyth's "Animal Rights Activist Could Face 82 Years in Jail and Hundreds of Thousands of Dollars in Fines:"


Chicago animal rights activists drove to Madison to lend solidarity to Peter Young, who was arraigned today on charges of violating the Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act and conspiracy to interrupt interstate commerce. The maximum penalty he faces is 82 years in jail and hundreds of thousands of dollars in fines.
Young was arrested on March 21st in San Jose, CA. He has been "WANTED" since 1998 after being indicted on charges of violating the Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act by freeing more than 7,000 mink from five Midwestern fur farms.Young’s lawyer, Mr. Chris Kelly, entered the plea of not guilty to the alleged crimes being prosecuted against his client by the United States government represented by Mr. Robert Anderson.
Young was not alone as about 40 people showed up to lend support from across the Midwest packing the courtroom.
The hearing was held to address three items: 1) to enter a plea, 2) to set up a date to have a telephonic scheduling conference with Judge Crocker, and 3) to determine if Young could be released from detention.
The presiding judge, Judge Theresa M. Owens, stated that Young could be a flight risk and would not grant release from detention. Young's lawyer, Kelly, stated that his client would preserve the right to have a subsequent hearing on the matter. The presiding judge agreed and the prosecution had no objections.
Young is currently being held in Dane County Jail with the possibility of being moved to Jefferson County Jail. For information on sending books or writing directly to Peter, or donating money to his legal defense fund please see: SupportPeter.com###
See also:http://supportpeter.comhttp://madison.indymedia.org/newswire/display/24399/index.php

From Tennessee IMC, Durham Gal e-mails to note Joanna's "Coping With the Personal and Family Costs of War:"


Since the soldiers began returning from the Iraq war at the turn of the year, my therapy practice has been inundated with a variety of problems that come from the soldiers' experiences in this war.
One result that all therapists expected was PTSD, post traumatic stress disorder. Symptoms may include nightmares, flashbacks (even reenactment), disturbed sleep and hyper vigilance. This can be caused by a variety of incidents, from life threatening experience for the soldier himself to the experience of a good friend or buddy being injured or killed.
Many soldiers I've seen have PTSD symptoms due to the inhuman things that they had to do in this war. One was forced by his superior to run over a woman and child trying to stop a convoy on a road where many convoys were attacked. Another shot into a crowd that contained women and children and saw children die. Another was attacked by a kid he had befriended and given food to; then he had to kill the boy to save his own life.
One NCO had nightmares of watching two of his soldiers being blown up when they picked up what turned out to be a live bomb, on the orders of an officer who was collecting booty for his "trophy room." This NCO, a career soldier, then lost faith in the military when he was forced to lie about the incident to protect the officer.
Even jobs that some thought were "safe" from direct fire or war were not safe from this type of experience. One soldier in communications was stringing lines when he and his partner ran into an Iraqi soldier in a bunker. They hollered at him to get out, but he didn't. Although he didn't actually raise his weapon to them, he continued holding it loosely, and the soldier shot him, again under orders. Then he was wracked by guilt that the soldier didn't understand, might have been saved if he had acted differently, that the Iraqi was someone's son, someone's brother.
PTSD caused by this type of thing seems to be more difficult to treat, more difficult to recover from than the usual war experience of fire fights because the soldiers feel that they have lost an important part of themselves and fear that they are damaged permanently by behaving against their core beliefs. The violence of war creates violence at home when soldiers return. They most noticeable evidence of this is the dramatic increase in domestic violence, even the killings of spouses, since the soldiers started returning.

Margot e-mailed Sheree Sunday's "DU Bill passes in LA!" from New Orleans Indymedia. We're printing it in full partly because it's a press release and partly because it's an important story:

On May 12th, Peter Kovacs, the Managing News Editor of the New Orleans Times- Picayune, the region's major daily newspaper, in a telephone conversation with veterans advocate Bob Smith, and a Times-Picayune political analyst stated that a story concerning a bill giving the right for service women and men from Louisiana to a best practices health-screening test for exposure to depleted uranium would not be published.
The reason Kovacs gave was because the bill was not costing the state any money. Kovacs went on to say that the Times Picayune criteria for newsworthiness was how much it would cost. The fact that the bill supports the troops’ health concerns is not the criteria.
Four other media outlets in the region have already covered the story expressing concerns for the troops.
On Tuesday, May 3 , The Louisiana State House of Representatives passed a bill to give the right to all Louisiana Servicemen and women returning from Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom for testing for depleted uranium contamination.
Louisiana is the first state in the nation to have their House pass this type of bill. The vote was 101 to 0 in favor. The Louisiana Brigade, with approximately 4,500 National Guardsmen, is expected to return home from Iraq between October and December 2005.
DU is radioactive and can cause leukemia, DNA breakdown, various other cancers, and birth defects in offspring of soldiers who have come into contact with it. The VA and the DOD have been conducting testing that is not sensitive enough to detect whether a soldier has been contaminated.
This bill would have helped alleviate that by pressuring the State’s Adjutant General to insure that the test mandated by DOD orders and Army regulations would be executed.
The "money" criteria used by the New Orleans Times-Picayune is shocking in light of the fact that the country is at war and legislation supporting the troops health concerns is of utmost importance.
F O R I M M E D I A T E R E L E A S E
Bob Smith Chair
Depleted Uranium Awareness Committee
Louisiana Activist Network
www.newdemocracyrising.com/uranium.asp

The e-mail address for this site is common_ills@yahoo.com.


[Note: This entry originally appeared at The Common Ills.]

Colorado Indymedia is up and running again. We're going to note three stories from the site tonight. I hope no one feels they're being favored at the expense of other sites. Having been hacked and now being back up, we're highlighting them entirely for this entry because a) I'm really happy they're back up and b) to get the word out.

From "Denver Three announce 'Don't Privatize My Freedom Campaign'-Congressman Mark Udall endorses campaign:"

Two months after being physically removed from the Bush Town hall meeting in Denver, the threesome announces it's Don't Privatize My Freedom" campaign with two goals: to increase awareness of the White House pattern of removing citizens from meetings based soley on viewpoint, and two, to demand anwers from the White House about who removed us, who trained them and gave them their "marching orders".
Denver – Two months after three Denver residents were removed from a presidential town hall meeting on Social Security because of the bumper sticker on their car, the Denver Three and victims of similar incidents in other states announce their kick-off of the "Don't Privatize My Freedom" campaign. Congressman Mark Udall's (D-CO) endorsement of the campaign was also announced .
The campaign will increase awareness of the White House pattern of removing citizens from town hall forums based solely on viewpoint, and will demand answers from the White House about how event staff are trained.
Similar viewpoint exclusion and removal tactics have been used by White House event staff at town hall forums in Colorado, North Dakota, Arizona, and New Hampshire.After the March 21 incident in Denver, Udall sent a letter to the White House demanding answers, but received none.
The Secret Service has now opened a criminal investigation into the matter, 8 out of 9 Members of Congress from Colorado have condemned the removal of the Denver 3, and Members of Congress from numerous states involved have demanded answers.
"When the same thing happens in four different states, it's not an isolated incident, it's a policy," said Alex Young, one of the Denver 3. "The White House has done everything possible to stonewall any question about who is training event staff to violate the rights of citizens at public events. With the Don't Privatize My Freedom campaign, we are demanding answers - and we'll get them."
The campaign gets underway with today's announcement, and will continue with a trip to Washington, DC to meet with members of Congress to ask for answers and "real" town hall meetings in all 4 cities and Washington, DC. to discuss social security in an honest and open way. The group and it's lawyers will be speaking on First Amendment rights and will be running in the Freedom Run in Denver on July 4th. To support Free Speech and the Don't Privatize My Freedom campaign, visit www.denverthree.org and buy a t-shirt or sticker today (no profits are made on the sales).

That's the entry in full. (It's in the public domain.) With the other two items, we'll do excerpts.

From "Why Such Drastic Changes Sought by Neo-cons?" (this article and the one above are credited to "Anonymous Poster"):

Of course it is the inevitable, looming oil crisis that awaits the US (becauseof her thirst for oil) that has given this Administration the justification toinvade Iraq on the "pack of lies" (1. Honorable George Galloway) that came out of this White House. That, although not justified in many people's minds, is pretty much understood by the rank and file.
The pre-emptive doctrine conjured up by Wolfowitz and Pearle in '92 wasfiled under "R" for "ridiculous" at the time. But it was dusted off and accepted by both major parties a few years ago (with little if any debate) because we simply must have a constant supply of oil - PERIOD. Well that does not explain the emergence of the recent, drastic changes in "domestic policies" that we are seeing advocated of late, such as:
1) the attempt at dismantling the Senate's ability to Filibuster,
2) the dissecting of the Bill of Rights (such as illegal search> protection, among others),
3) the attempt to diminish the safety net for retirees,
4) the changes in bankruptcy laws and attempts at tort reform,
5) the wiping away of decades of environmental protection,
These have now, suddenly, been heavily pushed. And in the case of the PatriotAct, it was passed with the help of democrats that hadn't even read the massive bill. They quite possibly will have very long term effects on the average American's life.
The Filibuster fight had to do with judgeships in the Appellate and Supreme Court which can have a major effect on American's lives.

Again, excerpt. There's more to the article and you can click on the link to continue reading.

And lastly, we'll excert from "A BREATH OF FRESH AIR SWEEPS INTO HELL" (also credited to "Anonymous Poster" which I'm assuming is for posting, the article carries the byline of John Chuckman):

Like a refreshing breeze blowing briefly over those damned to endure the hell created by America's government came the words of British M.P. George Galloway to an American Senate Committee. The man was simply magnificent. Tough, brave, and articulate - hurling unanswerable truth at blubbering political lowlifes in silk suits.
Washington is the most dishonest place on earth, and with that fact goes another, that the American people are among the earth's worst governed. These creepy American Gauleiters had wronged Galloway with faked accusations of his profiting from oil trading with Saddam Hussein. My God, it's just one filthy lie after another. They tried smearing Kofi Anan with the same kind of stuff.
Why is it so rarely Americans who take on their own lying, murderous political establishment? It has always been the same. How few Americans stood up to that bellowing angry drunk, political wife-beater, Senator Joseph McCarthy, or that ugly maggot sucking at the nation's liberties, J. Edgar Hoover.
George Galloway's real crime is to have been a sharp thorn in Tony Blair's side, a powerful critic of the stupid Iraq War. Blair dreamt he would rise to Churchillian heights by attending training classes in Crawford, Texas, on how to rig an illegal war. Today he looks more like the sad, depleted Lloyd George expressing his admiration for that rising new star in Europe, Hitler.

Again, that's an excerpt. Click the link to continue reading.

And congratulations to Colorado Indymedia on being back up. There are many other articles there. I picked those three, you might find something you enjoy more, so consider checking it out.

The e-mail address for this site is common_ills@yahoo.com.

[Note: This entry originally appeared at The Common Ills.]

 

Quote of the week:

"60 American troops have been killed and that you are hearing this for the first time from me is obscene."


That's Randi Rhodes of The Randi Rhodes Show. There have been 64 American trooops killed in Iraq thus far this month.

(I'm assuming the quote is from this week. If not, it still fits. It was in an Air America news e-mail Gina forwarded.)

In other Air America Radio news:

Chuck D back "On the Real"
Air America Radio expands its programming with "On the Real," an inspirational Sunday night show co-hosted by Public Enemy founder and previous Unfiltered host, Chuck D and writer, actress, producer Gia Garel. "On the Real" launches Sunday, May 29th from 11:00 p.m.-1:00 a.m. ET. Actor Jamie Foxx will be included in the guest line-up.

American Workers Find Voice on Air America
On Monday, May 16, Labor News was launched on WLIB 1190 AM in New York, the flagship station of Air America Radio. The United Federation of Teachers and The Associated Musicians of Greater New York Local 802 AFM sponsored the Workers Independent News segments, which are interspersed throughout Air America programming.

The e-mail address for this site is common_ills@yahoo.com.

[Note: This entry originally appeared at The Common Ills.]

At CounterPunch, you can find Camilo Mejia's "Prisoners of Conscience:"


These findings represent important accomplishments for the antiwar movement, as they seem to indicate that military authorities are handling public dissent within the ranks with a bit more caution, as more members of the military are speaking out against the occupation. It would be interesting to see if these are isolated cases, or if the military is indeed making an effort to uphold the law.
Service men and women should know that expert testimony at my trial as well as at Pablo's trial, was that the invasion and occupation of Iraq are illegal under international, domestic, and military law. At my trial, professor Francis Boyle of the University of Illinois, testified that the Iraqi invasion and its aftermath is a crime against humanity, and a violation of Army Field Manual 27-10, which incorporates the Geneva Conventions. At Pablo's trial, Professor Marjorie Cohn from San Diego's Thomas Jefferson School of Law, testified that the war in Iraq violates the United Nations Charter, which authorizes the use of force only in self defense, or with the Security Council's approval. She also noted that according to the Nuremberg Principle and the Army Field Manual, disobeying an unlawful order is a duty, and claiming to be following superior orders constitutes no legal defense in the commission of war crimes. Interestingly, neither at my trial nor at Pablo's, did the prosecution ever put on evidence to counter the defense international law expert testimony.

From Independent Media Center, Keesha e-mails to note "June 10-12, 2005 'Weekend of Resistance' for Political Prisoner Jeff 'Free' Luers:"

In June 2001, 23 year-old forest defense activist Jeffrey "Free" Luers was sentenced to 22 years and 8 months in prison for the burning of three Sport Utility Vehicles (SUV's) in Eugene, Oregon. To make a statement about global warming, Jeff and his codefendent, Craig 'Critter' Marshall, set fire to 3 Sport Utility Vehicles at a Eugene car dealership. Their stated purpose was to raise awareness about global warming and the role that SUVs play in that process. No one was hurt in this action nor was that the intent. An arson specialist at trial confirmed that the action did not pose any threat to people based on its size and distance from any fuel source. Despite the fact that this action hurt no one, caused only $40,000 in damages and the cars were later resold, Jeff was sent to prison for a sentence considerably longer than those convicted of murder, kidnapping and rape in Oregon state. Jeff is recognized as a political prisoner by the Jericho Movement and the Anarchist Black Cross Network and Federation and continues to write and agitate for his release while imprisoned at Oregon State Penetentiary. His appeal was filed in January 2002. You can read the latest on his appeal here.
The June 10-12th Weekend Of Resistance is three weeks away. Events for 2005 have already been planned in North America and around the world. Check out the Ideas for Action to plan an event in your community. Read about last year's June 12 Day of Action here and the FBI and Fox News' lies here.

From NYC Indymedia, we'll note NYCLU' "NYCLU: Prologned Detention Prior to Arraignment a Common Occurance:"

May 24, 2005 -- The New York Civil Liberties Union has called on the City Council to pass landmark civil rights legislation that will be introduced tomorrow. Known as the "Charge or Release" bill and introduced by Council Member Bill Perkins, it would mandate that individuals arrested in New York City are arraigned within 24 hours of arrest. The legislation seeks to resolve the serious problem highlighted during the Republican National Convention when hundreds of protesters were held far in excess of 24 hours and often charged with minor violations. The NYCLU and New York City Bill of Rights Defense Campaign revealed new research that indicates that holding arrestees for longer than 24 hours is routine in many parts of the City, particularly in communities of color."The law states that no one should be held for longer than 24 hours without being formally charged before a judge," said Donna Lieberman, Executive Director of the NYCLU. "But we are concerned that the practice of prolonged detention targeted protesters charged with minor offenses at the RNC, and on a daily basis, has a disproportionate impact on people of color. The Charge or Release bill will bring New York City into compliance with the 24-hour rule."

Also from NYC Indymedia, Sam e-mails to note "The Indypendent Issue #70:Riding out the Storm:"

The latest issue of the Indypendent is online and on the streets, with a focus on how Critical Mass is faring after 9 months of police repression.
Critical ConditionStill We RideNotes from the Underground Press2200 Call for Media UpheavalMedia: Go Where People AreWashington Sq. ShowdownThe Folk Song Riot of 1961Pot Gains in AlbanySRO Disappearance ContinuesResidential Hotel Turns Hostel on TenantsImperial Commander-in-ChiefBush's Botched CrusadeNuclear MythsAfrican Organic TechnoWhodunit?Second to NunWhere to Find the IndypendentDownload Full PDF

The e-mail address for this site is common_ills@yahoo.com.

[Note: This entry originally appeared at The Common Ills.]

From Democracy Now!:

Cámara de Representantes rechazó solicitud de retiro estadounidense de Irak
En el Capitolio, la Cámara de Representantes rechazó una medida que solicitaba al presidente Bush que desarrollara un plan para retirarse de Irak. A pesar de que ciento veintiocho miembros de la Cámara apoyaron la medida, la derrota fue abrumadora. Es la primera vez que el Congreso discutió oficialmente el retiro de Irak. La moción fue propuesta por la representante demócrata Lynn Woolsey, quien dijo "ya es hora de devolver Irak a su gente."

y:

Amnistía: Bahía de Guantánamo es "el gulag de nuestra época"
Mientras tanto, en su informe anual de derechos humanos, Amnistía Internacional atacó al gobierno de Bush por el maltrato a detenidos en el mundo. La Secretaria General de Amnistía, Irene Khan, describió la Bahía de Guantánamo como "el gulag de nuestra época", en referencia a los campos de trabajo forzado en la ex Unión Soviética. Amnistía también criticó al gobierno de Bush por no realizar una investigación completa e independiente de la tortura en Abu Ghraib y por no responsabilizar a ningún funcionario de alta jerarquía. Khan agregó que, "Estados Unidos, como el país de mayor supremacía política, militar y económica, marca la tendencia de comportamiento de los gobiernos a nivel mundial. Cuando el país más poderoso del mundo interviene en la ley y en los derechos humanos, le deja libre el camino para que otros cometan violaciones impunemente". El editorial de The Wall Street Journal respondió diciendo que las acusaciones de Amnistía eran una "propaganda a favor de Al-Qaeda."

Again, we are trying to get the word out on Democracy Now!'s latest addition: "NEW FEATURE: Democracy Now! is now offering the program's daily news summary translated into Spanish. Los Titulares de Hoy" which is read or listen.

Francisco picked out the two items from today's Democracy Now!'s Headlines. Here are the same two items above but in English:

House Rejects Call for U.S. Withdrawal From Iraq
On Capitol Hill, the House of Representatives has rejected a measure calling for President Bush to devise a plan to withdraw from Iraq. One hundred twenty eight members of the House supported the measure but it was overwhelmingly defeated. It marked the first time that Congress officially voted on withdrawing from Iraq. The motion was proposed by California Democrat Lynn Woolsey. She said "It's time to give Iraq back to its own people."

and:

Amnesty: Guantanamo Bay is the "Gulag of Our Time"
Meanwhile -- in its annual report on human rights -- Amnesty International has attacked the Bush administration for its mistreatment of detainees around world. Amnesty's Secretary General Irene Khan described Guantanamo Bay as the "Gulag of our time" -- a reference to forced labor camps run by the former Soviet Union. Amnesty also criticized the Bush administration for failing to carry out a full and independent investigation of the torture at Abu Ghraib and for failing to hold any senior officials accountable. Khan went on to say "The USA -- as the unrivalled political, military and economic hyper-power -- sets the tone for governmental behaviour worldwide. When the most powerful country in the world thumbs its nose at the rule of law and human rights, it grants a licence to others to commit abuse with impunity.'' The Wall Street Journal's editorial page responded by saying Amnesty's accusations amounts "to pro-al Qaeda propaganda."

Again, please attempt to get the word out on this new feature at Democracy Now! Or, as Francisco says, "Propague la noticia."

The e-mail address for this site is common_ills@yahoo.com.

[Note: This entry originally appeared at The Common Ills.]

Happy birthday to community member Rebecca (Sex and Politics and Screeds and Attitude).

Though it's worth wishing her a happy birthday just to do so, we'll also note that she's going to be partying tonight and will probably not have an entry up until very late -- if then.

Please check out "the compromise that leaves us all compromised and what's on deck for tomorrow" which is her take on the filibuster compromise.

The e-mail address for this site is common_ills@yahoo.com.

[Note: This entry originally appeared at The Common Ills.]

Democracy Now! (Marcia: "always worth watching")
Headlines for May 26, 2005
- Amnesty: Guantanamo Bay is the "Gulag of Our Time"
- Amnesty: Sudan Is Suffering Worst Human Rights Abuses
- Iraq Plans to Deploy 40,000 in New Baghdad Offensive
- House Rejects Call for U.S. Withdrawal From Iraq
- Ex-Haitian PM Yvon Neptune Appears in Court
- U.S.-Supported Oil Pipeline Opens In Caspian Region
- Egyptian Police Beat Pro-Reform Protesters

FBI Files Show Guantanamo Detainees Reported Desecration of Koran Beginning in 2002One prisoner interviewed in August 2002, said that guards had flushed the Koran in the toilet. Others reported the Koran being kicked, withheld as punishment and thrown on the floor. On Wednesday, the American Civil Liberties Union released these newly declassified documents. [includes rush transcript]

Lies That Cost Lives: As Newsweek is Pressured Over Koran Report, Who Should Be Held Accountable For The Media's Mistakes Ahead of the Iraq Invasion?Last week the White House charged that "people lost their lives" because of an inaccurate Newsweek report on the desecration of the Koran at Guantanamo. Media analysts Norman Solomon and Michael Massing discuss government pressure on journalists and the media's coverage in the lead up to the Iraq war.

Dr. David Hager's Family Values: Should This Man Be Advising Bush on Women's Health?In a recent cover story, the Nation magazine examined the political and personal history of David Hager, a top advisor to the Food and Drug Administration. In the article, his former wife accused him of repeatedly raping her throughout their marriage. We talk to the reporter, Ayelish McGarvey, who broke the story and two women's health experts on how Hager's political views affect FDA policies on the morning after pill and other issues.


Now get ready for a lengthy excerpt from The Daily Howler. Here's Bob Somerby on the topic of Daniel Okrent:


But then, Okrent had to go after Krugman with those nasty, cosmos-class cheap shots (see THE DAILY HOWLER, 5/23/05), and he had to write that ludicrous item about the Times and Bill Moyers (see THE DAILY HOWLER, 5/24/05). And omigod! He had to vouch for his most famous column--the column in which he told the world that the Times is "a liberal newspaper." ("Of course it is," he blithely said.) That was one of the topics Okrent explored in his final public ed piece. Because the topic is so important--and because his item is so short--we'll cut-and-paste it in full:
OKRENT (5/22/05): Last July, when I slapped the headline ''Is the New York Times a Liberal Newspaper?'' atop my column and opened the piece with the catchy one-liner ''Of course it is,'' I wasn't doing anyone—the paper, its serious critics, myself—any favors. I'd reduced a complex issue to a sound bite. The column itself, I'll stand by; I still believe the paper is the inevitable product of its staff's experience and worldview, and that its news coverage reflects a generalized acceptance of liberal positions on most social issues.
For The Times's ideologically fueled detractors on the right, though, there was no reason to invoke this somewhat more complex analysis when they could paint my more incendiary words on a billboard: ''According to The Times's own Daniel Okrent.” I may wish they'd live by one of the same standards they ask The Times to adhere to—the fair representation of controversial opinions. But I handed them a machine gun when a pistol would have sufficed.
Of course, we criticized Okrent in real time for being so cavalier on this subject (see THE DAILY HOWLER, 7/26/04). Anyone could have seen where this column would end--with kooky-con New York Times detractors saying it proved they'd been right all along about the paper's grotesque liberal bias. Okrent now says that he gave them a gun. But that was easy to see in real time.
But Okrent's mea culpa is just a tiny bit disingenuous. "The column itself, I'll stand by," he says. "I still believe the paper['s]...news coverage reflects a generalized acceptance of liberal positions on most social issues." But that isn't quite what the gentleman said when he slammed the Times for its "liberal" ways. Back then, he was a bit tougher on the Times. Here was the nugget statement from this, his most long-lasting column:
OKRENT (7/25/04):I'll get to the politics-and-policy issues this fall (I want to watch the campaign coverage before I conclude anything), but for now my concern is the flammable stuff that ignites the right. These are the social issues: gay rights, gun control, abortion and environmental regulation, among others. And if you think The Times plays it down the middle on any of them, you've been reading the paper with your eyes closed.
Okrent wasn't talking about politics-and-policy, he said--though anyone with an ounce of sense would have known that this would be ignored when he handed Times-trashers their license to vent. But how does the Times cover social issues--the "flammable stuff that inflames the right?"
"If you think the Times play it down the middle," you’re a blind man, Okrent said. Later, he expanded his criticism:
OKRENT (7/25/04): [I]'s one thing to make the paper's pages a congenial home for editorial polemicists, conceptual artists, the fashion-forward or other like-minded souls...and quite another to tell only the side of the story your co-religionists wish to hear. I don't think it's intentional when The Times does this. But negligence doesn't have to be intentional.
According to Okrent, the Times has been "negligent" in covering these topics; the paper "tells only one side of the story." And then, he offered the "perfect example"--the Times' coverage of same-sex marriage.

There's more on Okrent and Somerby's dealing with Meet the Press and other topics as well. I'll steal from Marcia and apply her slogan (deserved) for Democracy Now! to The Daily Howler: "always worth reading."

But I will offer a (negative) criticism. Dallas and Brenda have already e-mailed wondering when today's Howler went up because they'd checked several times this morning.

At the top of The Howler, there's a heads up to an appearance that day by Bob Somerby, a radio appearance. Like Dallas and Brenda, I would've liked to listen but I missed it today.
This may have been a last minute thing or (like with me on any number of topics), it might have just slipped the mind. I'll look for an archived broadcast but I'm pretty sure that if you missed it, you missed it. Which is too bad because he was going to be discussing the Newsweek controversy. So our complaint can be boiled down as: please more lead time on the heads up.

Lloyd notes Katrina vanden Heuvel's latest Editor's Cut:

When the Republicans thought they were going to win the filibuster fight, they tried to change the term of art from "nuclear option" to "constitutional option." The GOP's lexicographer-in-chief, Frank Luntz, argued that "the implication of 'nuclear option' is way too hot and extreme." Even Trent Lott, showing a surprising lack of authorial pride, took up the new phrase, despite the fact that he personally had coined the old one.

From Guerrilla News Network, Terry e-mails "Public Backlash Over Private Water Deals:"

Water privatization was meant to solve a world crisis that has left more than two billion people without clean water or sanitation.
In the 1980s and 1990s, the private sector was seen by the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, and governments like Britain and France as the only way of raising the money needed, and international companies such as Suez, Thames and Biwater, encouraged by the IMF, rushed to privatize the water of the poor.
Many negotiated contracts which gave them monopolies for up to 30 years and guaranteed profits of up to 30-40%. Some companies ended up in the courts, accused of paying bribes to government officials.
Companies were also frequently accused of not delivering on their contracts. Prices shot up, people lost jobs, the poor often did not get the water promised, and discontent grew.
In the past decade there have been riots in Bolivia, after which western water companies were thrown out. There has also been discontent in Trinidad, Argentina, Ghana, South Africa and the Philippines.
Water privatization has become a subject of political debate in most developing countries – fiercely opposed by unions but widely backed by most governments.

From BuzzFlash, I'll note Pamela Troy's latest "Dangerous Clowns" -- this is the fourth part of the four part series. Here's an excerpt:

The far right was the first to establish a beachhead on the Internet in the early '90s, taking advantage of what was, for them, a promising demographic of mainly young white male techies from the middle class. An examination of exactly how this happened is the subject for another article. For the purposes of this piece, it's enough to simply state the early right-wing/libertarian dominance of the Internet as a given.
The resulting right-wing online echo chambers, which have dramatically sped up and broadened the dissemination of talking points, rumors, and grassroots campaigns, might not have invented the tactics of disinformation and personal attack, but they did help amplify their effects, while at the same time making them less obvious to a population still used to getting its news from television, the radio, and newspapers. Talk Radio has often been invoked as a detriment to intelligent discussion, and it certainly bears some responsibility for the decline in 21st century political discourse, but the effect of the Internet is just as often underestimated, perhaps because unlike radio, it’s less evident in the physical world. And the effect of these online and radio echo chambers on how their often youthful participants think about issues and grasp important elements of discussion like logic and context has been ignored, perhaps because the implications are too disturbing.

Read the series, it's worth reading and it's original content provided by BuzzFlash.

Also note that BuzzFlash is offering the DVD documentary Howard Zinn: You Can't Stay Neutral on a Moving Train.

The e-mail address for this site is common_ills@yahoo.com.


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[Note: This entry originally appeared at The Common Ills.]