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Articles Featured on indymedia.us for January 2011
February 2011 >> << December 2010
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Jan 01 2011
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Photos/Video: First Night 2011- Boston Anti-War and Gaza Actions |
Anti-war and Palestine activists held actions during Boston's First Night/New Years Eve 2011 festivities. Members of Boston's Stop the Wars Coalition held a large banner as well as signs outside the Boston Public Library... About a half block away, members of the Boston Coalition for Palestinian Rights staged street theater to dramatize the Israeli blockade of Gaza. Read More< & Pics/a> | More Photos | Video
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Jan 03 2011
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Thurston County (WA) imposes 12-month moratorium on biomass permits! |
On Tuesday, Thurston County Commissioners imposed an emergency 12-month moratorium on biomass permits. This could spell the death of the Evergreen State College's forest-destroying gasification plant! The County Commissioners will use this extra year to research the environmental consequences of using biomass (destroyed forests) for energy. Evergreen needs to enter a contract to build the facility by June 2011 to receive a $3.7 million grant from the state, but likely cannot do so if it has not received permits from the county.
While Thurston County is safe (for the next year) from dirty biomass energy, neighboring Mason County may not be so lucky...
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Jan 05 2011
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American Studies Program Suspended at UCSC |
UC Santa Cruz has suspended the American Studies program, with a possible permanent termination of the major, according to an email sent to students on January 3rd. American Studies is the second major at UCSC to be suspended in the past year. It is widely speculated that Feminist Studies and The History of Consciousness are next to be eliminated.
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Jan 06 2011
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Take action now to Stop the Jordan Cove LNG terminal |
The Oregon Department of State Lands (DSL) is currently accepting public comments on the application to dredge Coos Bay in order to accommodate the proposed Jordan Cove LNG terminal. The amount of material that they propose to dredge out of the Coos Bay estuary would fill the Rose Bowl stadium in Pasadena nearly 14 times! Help us reach the goal of submitting 500 comments to the Department of State Lands asking them to deny the application from Port of Coos Bay for massive dredging to accommodate the Jordan Cove LNG terminal. Follow this link to our action page for an easy way to send a comment. | weagreenolng.org | KS Wild's Action page | Read More
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Jan 08 2011
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Mothers and Other Caregivers Speak Out |
Mothers & other caregivers speak out against child welfare injustices, budget cuts, criminalization and war. Together they planned joint actions to demand that child “protection”, welfare and other government policies end the trashing of mothers and recognize the value of their caregiving work. Story and photos: Community Dialogues in four US Cities: Mothers and Other Caregivers Speak Out by Global Women's Strike
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Jan 09 2011
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Justice Denied: Activists Imprisoned, SOA Remains Open |
Once again, the justice system's complicity with the abuses taught at the School of the Americas was exposed today at the trial of anti-militarism activists Nancy Smith and Christopher Spicer. Nancy, from New York, changed her plea to no contest and was immediately sentenced to 6 months in prison by Magistrate Judge Stephen Hyles. In the SOA Watch tradition of using the courts to put a spotlight on the SOA/WHINSEC, Nancy affirmed that she "felt a strong moral imperative" to carry out her nonviolent act of civil disobedience "on behalf of those who have suffered so terribly". Read More by SOA WatchRelated: Nancy Smith, an SOA Watch prisoner of conscience, was interviewed by Tamar Sharabi shortly after the trial of Father Louis in November, in Georgia.
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Jan 10 2011
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Stop the Torture of Bradley Manning |
"Over the course of my visits to see Bradley in Quantico, it’s become increasingly clear that the severe, inhumane conditions of his detention are wearing on Manning. The extraordinary restrictions of Manning’s basic rights to sleep, exercise, and communicate under the Prevention of Injury order are unnecessary and should be lifted immediately.Please add your name to my letter urging the Quantico Brig Commanding Officer to lift Bradley Manning’s unnecessary POI order. I’ll deliver your signature to the Quantico Brig when I visit Bradley next month..." Read More by David House with General Joe and friends
Image from kasamaproject.org
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Jan 12 2011
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Haiti Earthquake Anniversary Press Conference |
The two demands of our press conference are:1. Occupation Troops Out of Haiti NOW!!!
2. Release ALL Emergency Aid to Haitian Popular Organizations NOW!! Read More
RELATED: WNU #1062: 2011 in Haiti—“Year of Revolt” or More of the Same? | Haiti worse off than ever | Haiti: Where’s the Money?
Photos © Tony Savino
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Jan 13 2011
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FBI informant infiltrates Minnesota anti-war and international solidarity organizations |
The anti-war and international solidarity activists who are being called before a grand jury in Chicago have learned that beginning a few months before the protests against the Republican National Convention in the 2008 in St. Paul, Minnesota, a law enforcement officer infiltrated the Twin Cities Anti-War Committee (AWC). The infiltrator went by the name Karen Sullivan, joined the AWC in April 2008, and about a year later she joined the Freedom Road Socialist Organization.read more | Video & Updates
PICTURED: FBI Informant "Karen Sullivan" on right (Image credit: StopFBI.net)
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Jan 14 2011
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Critical Mass Bikers demand end to Metro bag searches |
The Jan 7 Critical Mass bike ride did something unusual: Everyone stopped at Metro's headquarters for an impromptu rally against Metro's bag searches. Read More | Video Coverage
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Jan 15 2011
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Protest for Bradley Manning and WikiLeaks in Santa Cruz |
Dozens of people came together in Santa Cruz on January 8th to rally at the clock tower and march down Pacific Avenue in solidarity with WikiLeaks, Julian Assange, and Bradley Manning. Protesters lined Mission St. with homemade signs in defense of free speech and calling for the prosecution of U.S. government war crimes. Read More on Santa Cruz ActionActions were also held in San Francisco and Berkeley
Related: Protest for Bradley Manning in Back Bay from Boston IMC | Protesters at FBI, Quantico Marine Barracks demand release of Bradley Manning from DC-IMC
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Jan 16 2011
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5,000 Acre Public Land Give-Away in SW Oregon |
Governor Kitzhaber and Secretary of State Kate Brown will decide at a February 8th 2011 State Land Baord Meeting on whether to move forward on auctioning off 4,920 acres of Common School Fund Land in Josephine and Jackson counties. Most of these parcels if sold would likely be bought by local timber industry interests and subsequently clearcut. In 2010 this has been the case for sales and exchanges of CSF lands in western Oregon. It could happen near you.
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Jan 17 2011
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Help Needed for IMC-Africa Convergence — PLEASE DONATE NOW! |
January 17, 2011 — The Indymedia-Africa Working Group is organizing a special conference in Dakar, Senegal in a few weeks to coincide with the international gathering of activists at the World Social Forum. Delegates from nine African countries, including seven active or forming imcs, have coordinated to attend the gathering, which is the fourth Indymedia networking and training session to be held in Africa.Despite hard work, several expected funding sources have not come through, leaving us short of funds for transportation. CLICK HERE for details on each delegation plus information on how to donate.
The work that these Indymedia activists are doing in Africa is amazing and courageous, especially in the context of the brutal repression they have faced in the past. Recently, Indymedia on Air and Uprising Radio interviewed Sphinx, one of the organizers of the Dakar project visited Los Angeles and a member of IMC-Ambazonia, about the stakes of this work: Conversation with an Indymedia Activist by Uprising Radio | Interview with Sphinx from Indymedia Africa (Ambazonia) by Indymedia On Air
Image from Sphinx's Video: Standing with the Students (23 Minutes Summary)
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Jan 18 2011
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All Power to the Peoples Court: The Struggle for Community Control of the Police in West Philly |
This is an in-depth analysis of the neighborhood based Peoples Court movement which emerged in September in response to the near death beating of Askia Sabur.The story quickly circulated the internet and the grapevine, grabbing the attention of the Poor Righteous Party of the Black Nation, which called for a mass community build on September 11th at the scene of the crime. These local organizers set up a microphone, an amp, and emceed while person after person stepped up and testified about their experiences with the police [...] In next two days more People’s Courts were held at the same corner, attended by twice as many people. Read More
Past Coverage: Sept9: Domestic Terrorist-Philadelphia Police Brutalized brother Askia Sabur | Sept17: March to 19th Police District Demands Justice for Askia Sabur and an End to Domestic Terrorism | Oct30: Could Mayor Nutter's Police and Community meetings have backfired?
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Jan 19 2011
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KPFT "Retools" of Voice of Pece - BDS Proposal emerges |
From the open publishing newswire: A victory was won in getting the Israeli consulate off KPFT. The replacement that ran this week (listen) was hosted by Michael Duke, the associate editor of the Jewish Herald Voice. The show he produced wasn't about the local Jewish community, wasn't about Jewish culture, or events, it was again Israeli propaganda. It failed to talk about peace related issues, but instead co-opted the word "peace," describing as a "peace-initiative" the new cleaned up Jesus Trail which allows tourists to Israel to see bird routes and expansive vistas. Like the last show produced by the Israeli consulate, the purpose of the show was promoting Israel and tourism to Israel. [Read the full article] The KPFT BDS Ad Hoc Committee is a group of KPFT listeners and activists united to push for KPFT to support the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions Movement. We are organizing for KPFT to pass our proposal supporting BDS. [Read Full article]
Statement of KPFT management on "re-tooling" of Voice of Peace | KPFT BDS Ad Hoc Committee | Illustration: Shelby/FPH
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Jan 20 2011
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Eric McDavid - 5 Years Imprisonment |
[January 14, 2011] — Yesterday marked the 5th year of Eric's arrest and imprisonment. Every year, at this time, we are forced to reflect on all that has happened. It is never an easy process, but this year feels different. This year we know that Eric will be in prison for the duration of his sentence. All of his appeals have been exhausted. 5 years is a long time - but we aren't even halfway there...
We have watched in horror these last few years as more and more of these kinds of cases have appeared across the country. It is hard not to think of this as a time of mourning. So maybe instead of a day of mourning, today can be a day of defiance. Today can be a celebration of thought crime. Won't you celebrate with us?
Please remember that other folks are sitting in prison for very similar reasons as Eric! They deserve your support. Marie Mason and Sadie (Joyanna Zacher) both have birthdays this month. Please consider sending them a note of support. Finally, we recently set up a wishlist on Microcosm for Eric. If you would like to send him something, please visit: http://microcosmpublishing.com/wishlist/31412">microcosmpublishing.com. [Read More | Image from Eric's New Zine]
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Jan 21 2011
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Wyden finds more KORUS FTA resistance in Southern Oregon |
Oregon Senator Ron Wyden met more resistance to the Korean Free Trade Agreement when he held his Town Hall in Medford, Oregon on 1/19/11. Unionists Ivend Holen (IBEW steward, retired) and Ralph Browning (AFSCME President Medford employees) asked pointed questions at Wydens's Medford Town Hall. Their points were largely missed by mainstream media coverage so we are pleased to present their remarks here on Rogue Indy. -- rogue imc volunteeThe Medford forum follows the Senator's Portland stop on 1/14/11 at a Multnomah Town Hall where he heard from Bruce Dennis who told the Senator how damaging a Korean FTA would be for working families... Korea FTA resistance greets Sen. Wyden in Portland, OR | Video: Portland Rally Opposing Korea FTA
Wyden got his facts wrong when he stated that longshoremen favor the KORUS Free Trade Agreement: ILWU Opposes Korea-United States Free Trade Agreement
Image from: San Francisco Protest | More: Labor and Allies Say "No" to Another NAFTA
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Jan 22 2011
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Fracking Debate Heats Up in Common Council |
The Buffalo Common Council Chamber was the scene of a spirited discussion Tuesday, January 18,2011 as those on both sides of the hydraulic fracturing issue clashed. The Common Council will decide on a moratorium for the controversial method of drilling for natural gas will be allowed in the city limits of Buffalo. This decision is mostly symbolic considering there are few places in the city suitable for such drilling. However, the common council’s decision will be seen as setting precedent for the future of fracking. read more
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Jan 23 2011
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Transmisogyny, cis people, violence and the murder of Krissy Bates |
Krissy Bates was found murdered in her apartment last week, in all likelihood by someone she knew and feared. She’d appealed to her landlord to fix a broken window so that she’d be safer, but the landlord told her that she’d have to pay for the repair herself.The media coverage, where it exists, has been sordid--from stories that mis-gender her to the City Pages’ ghoulish blotter coverage of her sex work and her last voicemail. Once again, the death of a unique, valuable person can be turned into a media spectacle because that person is a trans woman. read more
Image from Outfront Minnesota
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Jan 24 2011
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NO arrests at DOJ blockade, 24 hour blockade declared |
Nobody was arrested when Witness Against Torture blocked traffic leaving the Department of Justice after a meeting with the Attorney General was refused. READ MORE | Night interviews with protesters maintaining a 24 hour vigil after blockading existing traffic
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Jan 25 2011
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Rally and Meeting to Save KUSF |
On January 20th, a meeting on the USF campus was held in protest of the sudden and unannounced shutdown of the 34-year old college station the day before. A $3.75 million dollar sale occurred January 20th, in a secret deal in which nobody at the station had prior knowledge. Shocked and outraged station personnel, supporters, students, a media studies professor, and other media made up close to 500 people who rallied outside the packed auditorium. Supporters plan to attend the Board of Supervisor's meeting January 25th at City Hall.
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Jan 26 2011
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Community Organizes Protest, Study Sessions, around the State of our Schools |
Last week was quite busy for community members looking to change the direction of the Rochester City School District. Before Superintendent Jean-Claude Brizzard gave his "State of the Schools" address, between 400 and 600 teachers protested outside of the School of the Arts. The protest, organized by the Rochester Teachers Association, focused on many issues, but the thread that tied them all together was that teachers see Brizzard as running the schools with a heavy-handed, top-down approach, rather than reaching out to teachers and listening to their expertise.Earlier, the Community Education Task Force organized a study session at the Phylis Wheatley public library titled, "What IS the plan for our schools?" (video reportback) | | READ MORE | | Jan31 UPDATE: Victory for Community Organizing: Schools 2 and 6 Stay Open
Related from Houston IMC: HISD Budget Shortfall Projected in Hundreds of Millions of Dollars
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Jan 27 2011
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Portland's Red & Black Cafe poised to BUY building, help develop affordable housing |
Workers at the Red & Black Cafe are teaming up with a newly forming low-income housing non-profit to own the cafe's current building at 400 SE 12th St in Portland. A fundraising drive was launched at the beginning of this month to raise the $50 thousand dollar down payment. Loans and donations to the project bring the current total raised to over $43,000! We have until the end of January to raise the money to make this project successful. The plan for the building is that the main floor will remain the Red & Black Cafe. The upstairs, which is currently offices, will become income restricted affordable housing. With ownership comes the security of knowing that space costs can't be pushed out of reach by a future landlord. This is especially reassuring news for the Red & Black Cafe which faced this very issue when it was forced from its original location. This is also important due to the Red & Black's controversial reputation owning the building ensures that there will be no future landlord who is tempted to not renew the lease. Read More >>
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Jan 29 2011
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No Arizona hate in Texas: Houston mobilizes against anti-immigrant laws |
The successful effort of Houston United in Austin raised our collective voice for dignity and respect in the face of legislation that threatens at the core livelihood and well-being of millions of Texas immigrant families. As part of the Houston United activities, CRECEN and America Para Todos encouraged the growing movement of TPS immigrants impacted by TX DPS cancellation of Commercial Drivers Licenses to directly petition those in authority to redress the harm inflicted by these unjust laws and practices. Truck drivers joined the effort.
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Jan 30 2011
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Mexican Border Agents Arrest Steelworkers Union Leader |
Union Condemns Retaliation for Defense of Cananea Miners at Grupo MexicoOn January 26 United Steel Workers sub-director and international representative Manny Armenta was arrested by Mexican customs agents while on his way to meet with attorneys for the Mexican mineworkers’ union, Minero. The USW has been supporting the mineworkers in Cananea, Sonora, who have waged a nearly four-year strike against Grupo Mexico at one of the world's largets copper mines, about thirty miles south of the international border.
Gerard said, “By arresting Manny, the Mexican government is trying to intimidate the USW copper miners from exercising our right to collective bargaining and showing solidarity with our brothers and sisters in Mexico.”
Commenting that Armenta was arrested on the same day the U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was in Mexico in support of that country’s law enforcement actions on illegal drug activity, Gerard said: “I hope the U.S. State Department will put as much energy into seeking justice for Manny and for the rights of workers at Cananea as they have in praising the Mexican government.” read more>>> | www.usw.org/
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Jan 31 2011
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Rally Responds to State of the Union Address |
On the day after President Obama's State of the Union address, young people and elders gathered in front of the Federal Building in San Francisco for a rally and press conference to demand more job creation efforts. They stood together to commit to the fight to save social security, calling it "America's promise to its people."[...] Organizations represented at the protest included California Alliance for Retired Americans (CARA), Jobs with Justice, the Gray Panthers, and the Raging Grannies.