Meet at 10 PM, Saturday April 25, at Washington Circle

For DC residents, two of America’s so-called “favorite pastimes,”baseball and soccer, have become the nightmare that plagues our budget and exacerbates the local financial crisis.

Chicago is one of four finalist cities for the 2016 Summer Olympics, though Chicago's bid for the thirty-first Summer Olympiad has drawn controversy among Chicagoans. The Chicago 2016 committee has hired the controversial PR firm Hill & Knowlton, and surveys of Chicagoans show a degree of skepticism over Chicago. Despite promises to keep Chicago tax funds out of any payment for the Olympics, the city and mayor have evidently broken that promise.

If history is any guide, should Chicago win the bid, Chicagoans have economic disaster and a trail of human rights and civil rights abuses to look forward to in the wake of Olympics. Some Chicago community groups have objected to the Olympics, while others sought community benefits agreements with the city, and even protested within City Hall.

The stakes will be raised in on April 2 when the International Olympic Committee visits Chicago for a week-long visit. No Games Chicago, a coalition of Chicago communities, is organizing opposition against the Olympic bid.

Additional Resources: Unlympics Organizing Committee | Video: No Games Chicago on the Economy | More Videos from No Games Chicago | Radio interview with the Unlympics Organizing Committee | Radio interview with Jitu Brown about a Community Benefits Agreement

The Turkey Bowl is an annual flag football game played in Adoue Park in Galveston's East End every Thanksgiving since the 70's. This past Thursday brought around 50 people to the park, in the first Turkey Bowl since Hurricane Ike. By 10:15 at least 25 people had shown up, we gathered in a circle and shared how many turkey bowl's people had attended. This ranged from many people's first game to more than a couple people who have been to more than 20. Many also shared things they were grateful for, many addressed Hurricane Ike and its impact on their families and careers.

Despite the hardships of damage to property, what was a near universal perception of a slow and inadequate State and Federal response, and the cuts of 3,000 jobs at UTMB (described by some as worse than the hurricane), everyone I spoke too was optimistic about the future of the Island, and role that they would play in it. [Full Story, Photos, and Audio]

McDonald's Targeted for Sponsoring the Olympics

In the early morning of August 25th, three windows were broken and a surveillance camera knocked off the roof of the Ocean Street McDonald's in Santa Cruz. In a post on Santa Cruz Indymedia, not lovin' it writes, "The Beijing Olympics have ended, but the repressive apparatus set up for the Games remains in place: some 300,000 surveillance cameras, 400,000 informants, and a general tightening of government control. McDonald's, one of the major sponsors of the Olympics, also remains omnipresent and continues to reaps its profits with four new restaurants and a large share of the advertising spectacle."

Something clicked when reading about Spain's basketball team doing the Chinese eye thing. My mind wondered back to The story a couple years ago of the German solders making derogatory comments about Harlem and black People. Both of these stories highlight socially unacceptable behavior being committed in an environment of different social norms. At first I thought the word was hypocrisy, where always doing things here In America that would be considers socially abhorrent elsewhere.

"China- Time to Know the Truth" is a powerful new YouTube video

With all eyes focused on the Olympics in China, Tibetans and supporters worldwide are protesting the Chinese government's use of the Olympics as a political tool to legitimize its illegal occupation of Tibet.

On June 3, 2008 I spoke with Videographer Tom Sepe about Tibetan history since 1959, the Chinese crackdown and the upcoming 2008 Olympics. Tom told us about plans for his documentary: "I can document, try and document some of the stories, try to find out for myself what's going on. I can go there"

and so today as the Olympics are actually taking place "live" Tom Sepe and his colleague Andrea Vecchione have introduced their powerful new video on YouTube.

Take a look at the 7.5 minutes of film and listen to Tom's interview on the 6/3/08 edition of my radio show--Wes Brain, Producer, Brain Labor Report

The Worcester World Cup tournament returns on August 9th and 10th with teams representing 12 different countries vying to be recognized as Worcester's best. Celebrate Worcester's immigrant communities with food, children's games, music and more.

The Nolympics(!) '08 demonstration is scheduled for next Sunday, August 3rd 1-3pm at the city park located at the intersection of 5th and Hall Blvd. in Beaverton. Our goal is to inspire a boycott of this year's Olympics (beginning August 8th) and draw media attention to the human rights situation in China/Tibet. We would be honored to have you join us in the continuing fight to raise awareness. We hope to see you there!

On Wednesday, April 9th, the Olympic Torch came to San Francisco. Thousands of people gathered in an Francisco to either cheer or protest. Supporters of China waved Chinese flags and supporters of Tibet hung "Free Tibet" banners from buildings but few saw the torch as the relay did not go along the announced route and the closing ceremony was canceled. One torchbearer, Majora Carter, tried to display a Tibetan flag while running with the torch on Van Ness Avenue but the SFPD quickly took the torch from her and pushed her onto the sidewalk...

The Olympics will be taking place between August 8th and August 24th in Beijing, China. Many human rights groups are concerned that China is cracking down on dissidents ahead of the games...[while] some activists groups are concerned that protests against China are motivated more by US government military and economic interests rather than real concerns about human rights. Read Full Report With Coverage Roundup | Related from Portland IMC: Banner drop protesting Olympic Games & China's policies toward Tibet & Sudan

[Ruckus Press Release]: Right now three activists, including one of our beloved Ruckutistas, are climbing up the suspension cables of the Golden Gate Bridge in an action to support Tibetan independence. San Francisco is the only city hosting the torch in the United States, and Students for a Free Tibet are responding. The message is clear and visionary: "One World, One Dream: Free Tibet"

Actions in Paris and London have already shown one of the ugly truths of standing up against injustuce - the bravery of nonviolence is met with the cowardice of violence. This is true in Tibet, where 180 people have been slaughtered since March in their attempts to send a message to the world through the layers of repression of Chinese rule.

The Tibetan dream of independence is our common dream, and we're asking you to do one thing if you are moved by the strength and perseverance of the Tibetan people and Tibetan-led Students for a Free Tibet: donate to support today's action and the actions to come.

Banner Hang photos: 1, 2

Statement from Students for a Free Tibet | more protests are planned Extinguish the Flames of Genocide in Darfur! | Guardian Commentary | Guardian Coverage of Paris Protests of Olympic Torch relay | UK Indymedia coverage of 4/4/08 protests | Free Tibet Prisoners - Callout for Independent Media in Tibet http://www.ruckus.org/

The Worcester World Cup Tournament took place at the Elm Park Community School on August 11-12th, 2007 and was organized by Cultural Exchange Through Soccer (CETS), Pleasant St Neighborhood Network Center, Worcester Common Ground. Watch the 16 min video here