Cobb and Libertarian Michael Badnarik, who are jointly filing the recount demand, are named as defendants, along with their attorneys, in the restraining order sought by the Delaware County prosecuting attorney. The Delaware County judge issued the temporary restraining order without contacting or seeking any input from the candidates or their attorneys.

"This is an illegal and outrageous attempt to suppress our rights to participate in the democratic process. As a candidate, I have a right under Ohio law to demand a recount. If the Delaware County Board of Elections has a problem with that, they need to take it up with the Ohio legislature," said David Cobb.

"The Green Party's dedication to protecting the integrity of the election process has led me to file for a recount in both New Mexico and Nevada. We want to ensure that every vote is counted and verify the accuracy of the electronic voting machines, particularly those which produce no paper trail," said David Cobb.

related: [ Collection of Green Letters to the Editor on Ohio Recount ]

The free school is a counter-community dedicated to effecting social change through the application of anarchist principles in every sphere of life.

Who's Streets? Our Streets!!!

So says the Portland Progressive Community as it takes to the streets time and time again to voice its vigorous dissent and dissatisfaction with the policies and practices of the Administration of George W. Bush--an administration that continues to torture prisoners, spit on the Bill of Rights, destroy the environment, lie to the American public, engage in an illegitimate war and exhibit a criminal disregard for the rule of law.

Despite how the police tried to portray the August 22, 2002 and March 2003 demonstrations as protestor riots, the truth has finally come out. It was the police acting in a criminal manner similar to the President they were attempting to protect. The actions of the Portland Police showed a blatant and criminal disregard for basic humanitarian principles and human rights in this town.

We won, the police state lost. Chalk a big one up for Portland's activist community.

This is the first time that we have seen any real police accountability in this town

Round two is next and we are ready.

[ A22 stories (Aug. 22, 2002 Bush protest) | Iraq invasion protest stories: Day X (Mar. 20, 2003) | Week of Bombing (Mar. 21-29, 2003) ]

[ Day 2 of the Parry Center Strike (11/30/04) | Group of Concerned Citizens Occupies Parry Center Offices (11/29/04) ]

[ Jobs With Justice ]

Wildcat Community Development, a not for profit grassroots community based organization, has launched a campaign in support of the Lower Elwha Tribal Community to protect the Tse-whit-zen Village. As of this time over 250 complete human remains, 700 partial remains, six longhouses, and over 5000 artifacts have been uncovered in the preliminary construction phase. It is time to say "enough is enough" to the actions of the State and Federal governments that seek to totally destroy this village by covering it with concrete and seawater.

The first step of this campaign was to launch an online petition. This will be followed up with website additions to include contact information for agency officials and other actions that will be taken to defend this village site and burial grounds from being totally destroyed to build Hood Canal replacement parts.

Pauling's credentials as a scientist are of the highest order yet when he presented his research on mega dose vitamin therapy and AIDS to the medical establishment in the United States and abroad in the 1980's the entire western health care industry went to work to discredit his findings. Creating rigged short-term studies produced in months to refute years of research the Pauling Institute carefully conducted.

Pauling and his fellow researchers had been under this onslaught from the Western medical establishment prior to their AIDS work.

[ Other articles by Lloyd Hart ]

We, Indigenous peoples' delegates from different countries, undertake this action, with the support and solidarity of Indigenous Peoples and organizations from around the world, to call the world's attention to the continued attempts by some states, as well as this UN process itself, to weaken and undermine the Draft Declaration developed in the UN Working Group on Indigenous Populations and adopted by the UN Subcommission for the Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities in 1994.

Linda Meng, the City Attorney, is the first person to speak, and she reiterates that her office is recommending that the City settle for that amount. She also says she hopes this is the "last such case" in which protesters are able to band together and sue the City as a group. She alludes to "litigation strategies" her office has been developing to avoid this situation again, but demurs from discussing them "at this juncture", the implication seeming to be that such talk would be better behind closed doors. (That was my personal impression anyway).

related: [ Alan Graf's Press Conference Speech rebutted ]

Until now, the only way to send books to people incarcerated in Oregon state prisons was by ordering them online through Amazon.com or Powells.com. For many working class people, this option is out of the picture. BtOP has solicited donations of brand new books from book publishers and distributors, and for a $5 suggested donation, anyone can select two books from our catalog and we will send them to an incarcerated friend or family member.

The Grand Opening of Reflections features an art show by former Black Panther Billy X, on Saturday December 4th at 6 pm.

The plaintiffs, with the exception of Lloyd Marbet, were satisifed with a cash payment and no changes in the Police Department policies and practices, nor were the guilty parties punished in any way. The litigants settled by using the tax payer's money and calling it done. Tax payer money isn't the problem; police brutality and poor decision making is the problem. This suit in no way effects either of the two. In fact, it simply reinforces the City position that it can buy its way out of any problem, and that criminal actions by City employees can be ignored.

Comment: No, the real problem we have is that people would rather whine than act creatively and intelligently, and sling mud and pick nits with the people who are already doing so. Have a little vision! Let me offer you a very realistic scenario how this judgment can be very useful: [ more comments ]

"Stop the Destruction of Iraq, Bring the Troops Home"
Demonstration Against the War Honoring International Human Rights Day
Thursday, November 25, 2004 at the Detroit-Windsor Tunnel Entrance, Jefferson at Randolph, Downtown 4:00-6:00 p.m.
March Thru Downtown at 6:00 p.m.

The Michigan Emergency Committee Against War & Injustice (MECAWI) is Calling for a Demonstration on International Human Rights Day, Dec. 10

Alan Graf writes: I agree with some of the posts on this site and with Lloyd Marbet that this settlement has not as of yet made any noticeable difference in the brutality and oppression of the Portland Police.

However, for those of you who know me, I have been involved in trying to bring accountability to the police for years. See the Majority Report on the city of Portland website. I don't do this for recognition or for monetary gain. My grandparents were dragged out in the middle of the night by nazi thugs in uniform to be gassed to death at Auschwitz. I am genetically inclined to do battle with the forces of oppression for the sake of my grandparents and my children and grandchildren. Like everyone else, I appreciate appreciation, but don't expect it.

I, like Lloyd, would have preferred some written policy changes. However after negotiating for five months, the city offered us only watered down policy directives that were meaningless. I was not ready to recommend some meaningless piece of paper to my clients. [ read more ]

Related: [ The deadly effects of oppositional thinking and the power of contemplative practices | Northwest Constitutional Law Center ]

What do Bhopal, India and North St. Louis have in common? Both suffered from large corporations constructing toxic chemical and industrial plants in "poor, unorganized communities where black, brown, red and white people live." A discussion on the 20th anniversity of one of the most tragic chemical disasters took place Wednesday night as part of the Black and Green Night in St. Louis. The Organization for Black Struggle along with the Gateway Green Alliance recognized that "Bhopal is St. Louis and St. Louis is Bhopal."

Jamala Rogers, activist and columnist for the St. Louis American, explained that corporations in North St. Louis and Bhopal have one thing in common - "the racist policies of two irresponsible corporations [that] will affect those communities for a long time." Along with Rogers, the discussion included Nishant Jain, from the Association for India's Development. Jain, who traveled from Austin, Texas, showed a brief documentary on the Bhopal tragedy of 1984 and led the group in discussion about the effects that the chemical leak had on Bhopal and its longer lasting effects on the residents.

[ After 20 Years, Will Bhopal Finally Get Justice? | Environmental and community destruction | STLIMC article on Stericycle Medical Waste Incinerator June 2002 | Aug. 2002 | International Campaign for Justice in Bhopal]

What: Multnomah County Resolution Expressing Commitment to Protect Civil Rights
Who: People who live, work, study, worship and travel in Multnomah County
When: December 9, 2004 - 9:30 to 10:30 AM
Where: 501 SE Hawthorne Boulevard, Portland
Action: Sign a letter of support as an individual, an organization, or come to the hearing.

SEJ was asked to participate along with many other groups across the country due to our previous interactions with intelligence agencies and police. In 2000-2001, an undercover police officer, posing as a student, infiltrated SEJ for six months before being identified by one of our members. The infiltration was approved by our university president, Peter McPherson [ 1 | 2 ] and included work by both the MSU police and the FBI.

When I first arrived upon the scene I saw a small cluster of waving american flags. Within the group was a woman holding a sign "Give Peace a Chance" so I thought they were patriotic dissenters. However, upon closer scrutiny I found that they were Pro-Bush, Pro-War, Pro-Republican, Anti-Peace, Anti-Eco, and Anti-Friendly folks. One woman's sign - decorated with a flower - read "Peace through Superior FirePower".

I walked over to their camp and asked a couple of the young men if they were ready to go and fight. They said that they would do their duty if they are called. I asked "why aren't you there now then". They hemmed and hawed until an older man butt in and told me that he already served and then started spewing the same old tiring rhetoric: "get a job", "thank me for your freedom"... When he asked me what I have done for this country, I told him that I do things everyday, adding that I have worked with homeless veterans. He paused for a moment but than came right back at me in a very angry provocative tone.

[ Other articles by peace rebel girl ]

About 20 Jackson County residents had gone to Victoria's Secret to highlight endangered forest destroyed to ship more than million panty catalogs a day every day of the year. Forests in northern or boreal reaches of Canada are destroyed to make constantly the soft porn catalogs with zero recycled content, shipped nearly everywhere.

Along with the Medford protest, more than 100 actions took place today at Victoria's Secret stores around the country. Negotiations between the corporation and the San Francisco-based environmental organization ForestEthics broke down earlier this Summer. ForestEthics has promised to organize against the company until Victoria's Secret leads the catalog industry out of endangered forest destruction and into 50% postconsumer fiber within five years.

The group rushed outside to put their clothes back on and was chatted at by security guards. The group caught the MAX to Lloyd center to do the same thing. When the first group went in, however, the gates were closed and there were security guards in front. The first group tipped off the second group, who was getting coffee. The second group called Victoria's Secret's HQ to ask what store hours were for Lloyd's Victoria's Secret and they said they would be closed all day.

“For years since the creation of charter schools, since Proposal A in 1994, and especially since the state takeover in 1999, Lansing has systematically starved and deprived our district,” said George Washington, attorney for the Keep the Vote No Takeover Coalition.

"The Nevada Secretary of State's office presented us with hefty bill and a ridiculous list of tasks to be completed in an unreasonably short period of time," said Blair Bobier, Media Director for the Cobb-LaMarche campaign.

"We were asked to pay $349,000 but were not provided a detailed breakdown of the actual costs and we do not have confidence that our money will be spent wisely."

"We are very pleased that the judge recognized our right to a recount and that the recount will go forward in each and every county in Ohio," said Cobb.

The judge also provisionally granted the motion by the Kerry-Edwards campaign to intervene in the lawsuit in defense of the position of Cobb and Libertarian Michael Badnarik.

related: [ Voter Fraud in Florida and Ohio: Kerry Won the Election by at least 1,7 Million Votes | pdx indymedia sElection Fraud stories ]

In January of 2004, I flew to Mumbai, India for the World Social Forum (WSF). I had heard about the previous WSFs held in Porto Alegre, Brazil and made up my mind to go and cover it on the Portland Independent Media Center. WSF 2004 was held in India and not Brazil, as the previous three were. I first read the story of the Bhopal Gas Tragedy on the Corporate Watch website (corpwatch.org). Since I was planning on traveling in India for several weeks after the WSF, I made up my mind that I would seek out people working on Bhopal issues at WSF and see Bhopal for myself.

[ Internatonal Campaign for Justice in Bhopal | The Bhopal Medical Appeal and Sambhavna Trust ]

As Dow has repeatedly noted, Dow cannot and will not take responsibility for the accident. ("What we cannot and will not do... is accept responsibility for the Bhopal accident." - CEO Michael Parker, 2002.) The Dow position has not changed, despite public pressure.

[ DowEthics.com ]

Of the seven activists arrested, six were charged with infraction trespassing, while protester Kim Starr received a misdemeanor charge of resisting arrest in addition to a misdemeanor trespassing.

"We were ready to get arrested," said Starr. "The sheriffs always act as [Pacific Lumber's] personal goons."

[ North Coast Earth First! ]

Protestors from Ottawa, Toronto, Montreal and all surrounding areas converged on Ottawa on November 30th in the thousands. The rally began at noon in front of Ottawa city hall. Speakers representing Ottawa city council, unions, the Mohawk nation and many other groups set the tone for the massive march: George W. Bush is not welcome in Ottawa. By the time the march reached its final destination the crowd swelled from about 8,000 to about 15,000, blanketing the large front lawn of the parliament with anti-bush banners, placards and slogans.

In Halifax the march began at about 10:30 or so, to the sound of drumming and chanting. The march made its way towards Pier 21, along the waterfront, where Bush was delivering his warmongering message of the need for more Canadian participation in the "War on Terror" as well as the Ballistic Missile Offense system. It was recognized in advance by many of the organizers that Pier 21 was a set-up for trouble, or even a trap...

[ Ottawa IMC | Maritimes IMC ]

Sadly, the judge did not accept the surety and bond offered. The Crown argued, and the judge agreed, that it has to be someone in BC putting up $200k - $300k in cash or equity. Plus someone who can prove they can "control" Tre and be his "jailer in the community" 24 hours a day.

The bond and surety offered by James, Tre's father in Florida, and Mike here in BC were rejected by the judge. Tre was ordered detained, and he's back in maximum security at North Fraser Pretrial Centre.

[ Tre Arrow Legal Defense Fund | Stories about Tre on pdx indymedia ]

Governor of Oaxaca and enemy of the indigenous, Jose Murat, has for some years been pursuing his Air-electric Corridor of the Isthmus of Tehautepec, which envisions the production 2,000 MW of air-electricity by the year 2010 and requires the use of 100 thousand hectares in the region. The isthmus also falls conveniently into the geographical envelope of President (former Coca-Cola executive and member of the PAN, party of the Ultra-right) Vicente Fox' #media_2221;left#

The Firebrand Collective identifies itself as anarchist- communist. To us this means we strive for the abolition of the state, capitalism, and all oppressive social structures. We want to build a world based upon equality and free- dom. A world where decisions come from the rank and file, where we workers run this society; a directly demo- cratic world. We want everyones needs to be met and for everyone to engage in productive and meaningful work to the best of their abilities.

"The seeming paranoia of conspiracy theorists is not necessarily the result of some underlying mental dysfunction or of stupidity," declares Jonathan Vankin, author of "Conspiracies, Cover-Ups, and Crimes." "The dysfunction is with American society, maybe even civilization as a whole. The structure of civilization itself requires mass adherence to faith in the institutions that built civilization and make it run. Conspiracies theorists question those authorities and, because they do, they skirt the fringes of society."

Actively skirting the fringes of society is Sander Hicks, founder of Soft Skull Press and now Vox Pop/Drench Kiss. Hicks gained national notoriety when he published Jim Hatfield's controversial Dubya biography, "Fortunate Son." The scathing, well-documented expose of the Bush dynasty resulted in near financial ruin for Soft Skull, a brilliant film documentary, and Hatfield's tragic suicide. Through it all, Hicks remained focused and ever-searching.

Reception this Friday at Amer's
312 N State Street
6:00 - 9:00 PM

Never forget the role of U.S. law enforcement officials in incidents that took place in the 1970s on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) tirelessly tried to prejudice the fair trial rights of American Indian Movement leaders charged with serious crimes during that turbulent period and knowingly presented false evidence to illegally obtain my extraction from Canada in December 1976.

The public meeting was held at the usual place, in a meeting room in the public library in Roseburg. But the crowd that came could not all fit - over 200 people showed up, mostly large-sized men with loud voices. There was also the right-wing state senator Bill Fisher, the super right-wing county commissioner Dan Van Slyke, the just elected super super right-wing county commissioner Marilyn Kittleman.

The Forest Service started out by giving a presentation of why they are decommissioning roads -- LSR, Key Watershed, and virtually no money for road maintenance. They can only maintain 27% of existing roads. They did a good analysis of how many acres would have reduced fire protection and mitigated it by keeping some roads open for ATV for fire suppression only. There is another 4,800 miles of roads on the Umpqua NF they are not decommissioning. But the presenter was a young woman with a soft voice that sometimes had to talk over jeers and laughter.

The group, Hands Off Venezuela, will be showing the movie and discussing, "Venezuela Bolivariana." It explains the "campaign in the Venezuelan and international media of lies and misinformation," by both the American and international media. It will be showing Saturday, December 11th at the Lemp Arts Center, and Saturday, December 18th at the University City Library.

"Weapons of Mass Deception" will be showing at the Tivoli Theatre Friday night. Again, focusing on the necessity for alternative media, WMD explores U.S. journalism throughout the war on Iraq and "to challenge media complicity with the government and its cooperation in presenting the Iraq War the way it did."

As you also may know, Paul Loney and Stu Sugarman, aka The Belmont Law Center, have been fighting for various lefty causes since attaining adulthood, in a variety of roles. Since 1992, they have been at the forefront of Green Party politics, run a state wide nonprofit environmental group, fought for legalization of marijuana, defended forests and the environment, and defended animal rights. The Belmont Law Center has defended or helped defend every forest protester, and then every Oregon protester, in criminal court since 1995.

We would like to make it clear upfront we are impressed with the commitment of time and energy by the Plaintiff's lawyers in this case. Only lawyers who have sued the cops and other governmental entities, as have we, can understand the immense amount of work that goes into prosecuting such a case.

In "Fast Food Activism," Alan writes "all of the Plaintiffs and lawyers, other than Lloyd, have committed to funding the Northwest Constitutional Rights Center, a project of the National Lawyers Guild." In fact, Paul and Stu are members of the legal team on this suit but have not committed to funding the NWCRC at this time.

Other settlement stories: [ Team of Activists and National Lawyers Guild Attorneys Bring City of Portland to its Knees (12/1/04) | Katz and Council humbled, but unapologetic about $300k A22 settlement (12/2/04) | Alan Graf's Press Conference Speech rebutted (12/2/04) | Fast Food Activism: Some thoughts from Alan Graf on the A-22 and Iraq war settlements (12/2/04) ]

Aug. 22, 2002 Bush protest: [ A22 action page | A22 archive page ]
Iraq invasion protest stories: [ Day X (Mar. 20, 2003) | Week of Bombing (Mar. 21-29, 2003) ]

We can change this, and make a pretty decent wage while we are at it. You would still have to do regular cop stuff, like arresting wife beaters and chasing people who drive too fast, but you could be the good cops we are always hearing about who don't pepper spray protestors and build nazi shrines.

[ Oregonians for Health Security ]

"The minimum wage was 432 gourdes (10.50 Euros/12 Dollars) a week. We had to work on production lines of 14 people. If we managed to finish 10,000 items, we could earn 900 gourdes (22 Euros/26 Dollars). But I never managed. It was impossible. At best, 6,000 or 7,000 items, no more."

Louissane witnessed threats of physical violence and verbal abuse on a daily basis "We were often pushed around while we were working. Some women were approached by men who wanted to 'have a chat' with them. They were threatened with dismissal if they didn't allow themselves to be taken advantage of."

Coronado believes the indictment is in response to his continued organizing against AZGFD controversial policies such as the killing and removal of lions from the Coronado National Forest and the trophy hunting of sandhill cranes and desert bighorn sheep in southern Arizona.

The Tualatin Valley Skins will be distributing racist literature in Portland on Jan.8, 2005. They will be meeting at Gabriel Park SW 45 & Vermont at 1:00pm. Are there any Anti-Racist groups/people that are or would be intersted in organizing to counter this event????? If anyone has any suggestions, group contacts, or info, email me

The offical reason the Forest Service is giving for the dropped units is unit 5d would not be cost effective to log because helicopters would have been required for yarding and it was deemed not profitable. They are saying unit 3d was dropped because steep slope skyline yarding would have caused adverse impacts.

Mckenzie Watershed Guardians must ask the question: Why is the Forest Service suddenly concerned about steep slopes and erosion when we have been telling them for the last 3 years that Blue River Face Timber Sale is an environmental nightmare?

Motivated by our strong affinities (detesting Bush) everyone from labor to environmentalists, students to elders, and Dean enthusiasts to anarchists worked admirably together! At the meeting we set up something of a "spokescouncil" model (like the spokes on a wheel), with two primary planning groups, and a of variety of satellite groups and projects.

An initial flyer [pdf] [jpg] is now available!
Next meeting big planning meeting is on Wednesday December 15 (location TBA soon).

The Willamette Week hires snotty, writers with snotty attitudes. They have a chance to make a difference but instead simply spout snotty reactions and judgements with regards to the protesters.

Anyone out there who is an animal lover should let the WW know that that paper sucks and that any newspaper with any merit would not have to sell escort services to support themselves.

[ Fur Free Friday report-back on pdx indymedia ]

some previous smack-downs of the WW:

• Willamette Week is wearing a steel toe boot with a starbucks logo and stomping on the poor (Jun. 1, 2004)
• "Thoroughly Starbucked" Response (May 30, 2004)
• Poem to the Willamette Week regarding Goldschmidt cover (May 14, 2004)
• Willy Week Claims That Cops Shooting Unarmed Citizens Isn't Murder (Apr. 19, 2004)
• Willamette Week publishes an article on Starbucks in Seven Corners struggle (Jan. 21, 2004)
• Willamette Week cover story on Jake Sherman characterized as "full of crap", "disgusting", "sensational", "shit", and "an execrable piece of yellow journalism" (Nov. 27, 2003)
• RESPONSE to WWeek Article (Apr. 24, 2003)
• Willamette Week's Nick Budnick should be charged with reckless endangerment (Mar. 26, 2003)

Meanwhile, activists have been taking matters into their own hands, staging demonstrations both locally and elsewhere, and plan to rally on and before Dec. 13, when electors will sit to certify their states' results.

LOCAL EVENTS:
Two events at State Capitol Building, Salem:
Sun., Dec. 12, Noon - Protest & Rally
Mon., Dec. 13, 11am-2pm - Protest while Oregon's electors vote
more info: [ newswire post | TruthInVoting.org ]

Capitol Building in Olympia:
Sat., Dec. 11, Noon-2pm - 'Let Every Vote Count' Rally
details: [ newswire post ]

NATIONALLY: [ 51CapitalMarch.com ]

recent local efforts: [ ActionSpeaks meeting notes | Report-back from Democracy Is Dying gathering ]

related: [ A STOLEN ELECTION - THE VIEW FROM MY BLACK HELICOPTER | Columbus, Ohio: Protesters hand deliver letter to Blackwell | Conyers Hearings on Ohio Vote Fraud Coverage/Portland Indy | truthout reports from D.C. hearing on Ohio votefraud ]

Y'all have certainly noticed changes in lower East Burnside. It is officially a PDC urban renewal area (mostly a good thing, though that could be argued long and hard).

Part of the project is creating an "anchor" complex at the end of the bridge. The PDC is entertaining three proposals - two of which would involve bringing "big box" retail stores (a Home Depot or a Lowe's) into the heart of Portland. The third proposal would house all local businesses (including a "chef's cooperative"). An article about the issue can be found here.

Residents of Ohio have continued organizing in resistance of Ohio's stolen election [1 | 2]. Following the storming of the Ohio State House on November 5, protests have continued there. A December 4 protest brought over 400 to Columbus, Ohio's capital.

The effort to force a recount in Ohio has been led by the Green Party, which has raised $150,000 in 4 days. Ohio Secretary of State Kennneth Blackwell announced the formal certification of the recount on Monday, November 6. The Ohio Democratic Party has also joined the recount effort, albeit more quietly.

Regular updates can be found at: VoteCobb.org

Photos (at bottom of post).

N.P.R. not only didn't criticize what Panzerfaust was doing, they actually played their songs and had only one person say anything in rebuttal to the blatant hate being spouted by the Panzerfaust rep.

related: [ Area skinheads announce racist flyer outreach contest | Organizing Below The Radar | Withstanding Fascism & Brutality ]

Yet, every year, you cave in and go shopping.

The relentless onslaught of advertising exerts constant pressure. So do the unified bleatings of herds of shoppers, who call you "Scrooge" if you fail to enthusiastically join their ritual orgy of consumption. Friends and family needle you with gift requests, store windows beckon with shiny colorful packages, the same "classic" holiday jingles are piped constantly through every speaker in town.

Today was different. A new girl, Amy, had transferred to her school from a school in another city. When the time came for the Pledge of Allegiance, she remained sitting, drawing on her notebook. No one ever gave much thought to the process before, until that day, but it was as if someone had scraped their fingernails on the chalkboard. Everyone felt very uncomfortable and they knew it was because one student was not reciting the pledge but they did not know why this bothered them.

The students began scanning each other, looking out the corners of their eyes, with an expression of incredulity. Never, in all their years, had they seen someone sit down and draw during the pledge. Amy seemed completely unaware of the tension and happily drew upon her notebook.

• WHAT: International Human Rights Day
• WHEN: Friday, Dec. 10th 5-6:30 p.m.
• WHERE: 3415 SE Powell Blvd.

previous stories: [ Community support is needed on the Parry Center picket line! I Parry Center Strike I Call Kim Scott and Demand Binding Arbitration to End This Strike I Call for Support for Parry Center Strike, Pics, and Report on Parry Center Rally I Parry Center, the striker's demands I Day 2 of the Parry Center Strike I Pictures from Parry Center Strike and Supporters' Building Occupation I Report from the Parry Center Strike I Breaking News: Group of Concerned Citizens Occupies Parry Center Offices I Portland Social Workers Go On Strike For Children ]

related links: [ SEIU Local 503 I Jobs With justice ]

Donations can be accepted Saturday, December 11th at 10:00 am - 4:00 pm at the corners of Kingshighway and Delmar (at the old Schnucks store) or at the Community Arts and Media Project (314-776-1721). You can also can contact St. Louis Project for Haiti directly at 314-454-9005 or 314-540-2226. [Read on]

[Red Cross Photo Gallery of Hurrican Devastation 1 | 2 | 3]

On December 2, the ACLU filed Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests all over the county to expose this nest of vipers. According to an ACLU press release, they filed FOIA requests in 10 states (including Oregon) and the District of Columbia "seeking information about the FBI's use of Joint Terrorism Task Forces and local police to engage in political surveillance." Said the press release:

"The FOIAs seek two kinds of information: 1) the actual FBI files of groups and individuals targeted for speaking out or practicing their faith; 2) information about how the practices and funding structure of the task forces, known as JTTFs, are encouraging rampant and unwarranted spying."

Obviously this message is more important than the usual billboard garbage from the fascists at Clear Channel. I figure this billboard improvement is likely true. I was surprised to learn that 50% of NYC residents believe that Bush and Crew consciously allowed 911 to happen for their own dark purposes.

When some monopolistic dictatorial company like Clear Channel has managed to swindle control of all the billboard space in Portland, then it is inevitable that people will fight back against their dominating control. I would enjoy seeing a new clear channel billboard improved every single day.

• MONDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2004, 5 PM
• Public Workshop to gather input from presentations of Burnside Bridgehead Developer Proposals
• State of Oregon Bldg
• 800 NE Oregon, Rm 140

Well if we don't speak up, this vision will become a reality. They want to build a Home Depot or a Target on the east end of the Burnside Bridge, just a few blocks from locally owned Hippo Hardware. With enough public support, however, we could influence the planning comission to instead build a complex of locally owned businesses.

previous:[ The Start of the Battle over the "Burnside Bridgehead" ]

A commenter adds: Channel 6 had a brief account on their 5pm news, saying there were "dozens" of protesters... a quick shot of the crowd ... a smirking news reporter. Pretty disappointing, not even a serious attempt to research what the rally was about or that it was nationwide. No interviews with attendees.

PHOTOS: [ 1 | 2 | 3 ]

related: [ Report-back from Democracy Is Dying gathering (11/21/04) ]

Nostalgia was back in fashion last week when Bill Clinton opened his Presidential Library in the pouring rain in Arkansas. Even George W. Bush came and was full of praise for his predecessor in retirement. Clinton showed his appreciation. Bush was a "good man" like the defeated democratic candidate John Kerry. Kerry and Bush saw the world with different eyes. In Washington, Tom Daschle said goodbye. The leader of the democrats in the Senate defeated in the November 2 election appealed to his party to seek a "common center".

[ more articles/translations posted by Marc Batko to pdx indymedia | Marc Batko translations ]

Thank you everyone.

At this time what I need from you all is continued support in whatever capacity you are willing and able to contribute.

[ Official Tre Arrow website / legal defense ]

Regardless of the circumstances of Mr. Webb's death, authentic, muckraking journalism has lost a true champion.

[ Dark Alliance: San Jose Mercury News Exposes CIA Complicity In Crack Epidemic | "Gary Webb Speaks": A Parascope special report ]

I attended a rally today and spoke on behald of the Pacific Green Party. The crowd was about 100 people when the rally started and grew to about 200 just before noon when we went and witnessed Bill Bradbury oversee the Electoral Process.

There were tons of High School students around the capitol performing a holiday concert in the Rotunda so the place was pretty active. Corporate media was represented by a few radio and TV stations. OPB was there. KBOO too.

[ PHOTOS ]

previous election fraud actions: [ Report-back from "You Stole My Vote" rally (12/12/04) | Report-back from Democracy Is Dying gathering (11/21/04) ]

Santa's arrival caused the Kangaroo and sign waver to scurry inside to talk to their managers who promptly had them lie low -- I found out later that no pay was docked from them. Support from drivers was fantastic -- nearly every other car gave me a thumbs up, laughing and honking their horn...based upon this reaction, I'd say there's very strong community support for more fair and just alternatives.

The room was crowded, with a constant line of newly arrived people at the check-in table the entire time I was there. I was encouraged to see that so many people in the area care about what happens in their city. How seriously the PDC takes citizen input is a question that remains to be answered, of course.

On this week's show: SAFE and divestment from Israel, Students Organizing for Labor and Economic Equality, the Protest Art Show, and the Men Against Violence Against Women Campaign.

BlackBox Radio is an all-volunteer group comprised of students and non-students from the Ann Arbor area. There are opportunities to get involved in many ways, including research, field recording, interviewing, audio editing, and more.

Listen to the show! [high quality (25.3MB) | lower quality (15.8MB)]

To send feedback or learn more, email mi-radio AT lists.michiganimc.org.

Circle A Radio, the twice-monthly anarcha-feminist program on KBOO (90.7) has shows archived on PDX IMC!

Action against five Southeast Michigan banks over their support of Israeli military
TIME: Friday, December 17, 2004, 3:30-5:00 PM
PLACE: Main Street, between Huron and Washington, downtown Ann Arbor, MI
CONTACT PERSON: William Thomson (734) 668-8479, wthomson (nospam) umich.edu

Recent coverage: ADC protests IDF sponsorship by Michigan banks | Palestine is still the issue in Ann Arbor

The suit, detailed here, alleges that a manufacturer of voting machines, Triad Election Systems, which serves 43 counties in the state, is tampering with the recount. It is unclear exactly what recourse the plaintiffs' seek; the filing adds on to an original suit to have the recount take place before Ohio electors meet, which failed in the courts. Green Party spokesman Blair Bobier did not respond to immediate calls for comment.

related: [ Conyers: "Maintenance" violates state and federal laws | Ohio's election laws need fixing | Ohio hand recount suspended after exposing tabulator malfunction | Conyers? letter to FBI in response to allegations of Triad tampering ]

On Tuesday December 14, the people of Bil'in accompanied by international and Israeli activists and journalists marched peacefully against the construction of the illegal Israeli Apartheid Wall. The village of Bil'in, located west of Ramallah, has been told that three-quarters of its land will be confiscated and handed over to the neighbouring Israeli settlement during wall construction.

Dec 14.: We took a tour of led by a few Tulkarm activists and the School Health Officer, an articulate and well dressed young woman, of the poorest schools in the area. We brought lice shampoo from a Tulkarm organization for distribution in the schools. The first school we visited had 320 students from 1st to 3rd grades in 9 classrooms. The school was so overcrowded that some classrooms had as many as 46 students in them. The students sat two to a desk, with desks lined up in rows and along the walls. The school had no central heating, and therefore is very cold and damp in the winter, forcing the children to wear their coats inside the classroom. Many children come from very poor families, since many of their fathers are out of work, or have been killed or injured in the intifada. Taking these conditions into account, I am always impressed by how highly Palestine as a society values education, and how many students go on to receive a higher education.

Well, Mr. Sten, I can't believe I thought you were different. But I hear on KBOO this morning that you and all the other city council members passed Ms. Katz' "emergency" measure and took a stand against the homeless again today.

I understand that you, because you work downtown, have to politely deny panhandlers every day, and I know how this must make you feel. I too had to turn down the "spare change?" question multiple times a day for years. It makes you feel a wee bit guilty, a wee bit used, a wee bit angry, a wee bit disgusted... But it's wrong to tell these people they can't do that, and it's wrong to tell people they can't hang out in a public right-of-way - even if it is all day in the same spot. These people do not block the sidewalks. They do not even prevent people in wheelchairs from getting around. They also do not prevent access to businesses. I've been downtown. No one has any trouble getting around.

“In this country, citizens should not have to fear arrest or that the police will invade their home simply because they advise friends of their constitutional rights,” said Kary Moss, director of ACLU of Michigan.

Sean King, a resident of Brooklyn, Michigan was visiting a friend in December 2002 when he saw that the doors and trunk of another friend’s parked car were open. When he went outside to see what was happening, he found Columbia Township police officer Kevin Ambs searching the car. He asked the officer what he was doing and Ambs told him to go back into the house or he would face arrest for hindering an investigation. King went into the house and Officer Ambs followed.

Oh, I knew they were there, all right. They've lived there for several years now. I used to watch them through a telescope from my upstairs bedroom, before I realized I could watch them from much closer if I wanted to. I talk to them at night when I wander around the garden. And yes, I even feed them sometimes. They built elaborate tunnels snaking under the tomato patch, through the squash, and in and out of the chicken hut. Every night after the chickens go to bed, the rats tunnel into their coop and gather up the leftover grain. Some are as small as my fist, others are as big as my foot, and none seems to mind my presence. They know who tends the garden and where the grain comes from.

[ Other stories from Catwoman ]

It's an exponentially easier task to do with exponentially less liklihood of ever getting caught at it, regardless of who is at the helm....

I really don't think Alexander Cockburn has put a lot of time into thinking about this. But you can do better. You can look into it, feel it, and see if electronic vote fraud capability really means nothing in comparison to the history of election fraud. This isn't about protecting or saving the Democraps - for me and many other Greens, regardless of Cobb's his crowd's purpose - this is about exposing the awful potential of e-voting fraud.

The statistical studies already show it happened.

Click here for the audio.

Kelly Bornshlegel Awaits Deportation 19 Dec 2004

An update on the case of Kelly Bornshlegel, a journalist from Madison,who is currently being held in an Israeli detention center. This story ran on WORT's feminist news program, Her Turn, heard on Sundays from 11 to 11:30 AM.

Click here for the audio.

Contents:
1. Nation vs. Liberation (On the secession question)
2. "Let Them March All They Want, as Long as They Pay Their Taxes" (On Protesting)

We recieved the call Friday that a number of Republican attempts to stop the re-count had failed and so the recount was on.

Apparently Curt Gleaves, who works at Foster Pepper Tooze, which is on the 19th floor of ODS, is on the Board of Directors of Trillium Family Services---the parent company of Parry Center. He refuses to deal with the SEIU and supports union busting activities.

They sat on the sidewalk drumming for over 1/2 hour, which freaked out the whole building and the building management and ruined the lunch hour X-Mas tunes on the baby grand in the lobby...sigh.

[ previous stories about Parry Center struggle on portland indymedia ]

This would have been a satisfactory answer had the US been forced to go to war before it was ready to do so. In March 2002, Bush came to three Senators & Condoleezza Rice and said "F--- Saddam. We're taking him out.", thereby indicating that a decision on the Iraq War had long since been made. The New York Times pointed out that serious, in-depth planning for the invasion and occupation of Iraq began in April 2002. The project was reportedly of uneven quality, but successfully predicted many of the problems that would later befall the occupation.

And it's not like it took so long for things inside Iraq to start going sour.Has the situation in Iraq improved in the meantime? Apparently not. A Phildelphia soldier is accused of arranging for a relative to shoot him so that he wouldn't have to return to Iraq. Retired Col. David Hackworth had recieved numerous emails about poorly and under-equpped units by August 2003, only three months after Bush's infamous aircraft carrier landing. It's been a long, long time since the Department of Defense needed to reexamine their strategy.

[ Soldiers For The Truth features special report on armoring of Humvees | Comment on Medal of Freedom winners | ]

The main press is keeping an eye on the situation, you can be sure of that. They know that you people are out there looking for the truth. And you are getting very close to blowing it wide open.....an eye wittness to e-vote manipulation, and a whistle blower of e-vote flip programs.

You are being relied upon to bring the truth out, and you are doing a fantastic job. My sickness caused by the Nov. 2 election is gone because of all of the couragous people taking a stand and working to find the truth.

We will inform you of the next time we gather to send more packages.

Click here for the audio.

this workshop will cover what is consent and what it is NOT, ways to understand people's sign's for consent and ways to ask for consent, as well as figuring out ways to reach the ultimate in safe and healthy sex.

[ The Rise of the Amerikan Nazis, Part I of III: Birth of Despotism | Other articles by Manuel Valenzuela ]

One point that surprises me is that about half of all those surveyed think it's OK for the gov't to lie to the media. They apparently don't mind being lied to. This surprises me because I strongly dislike being lied to. Especially be the media, and even more so by the government.

1. A vigorous attempt to insist that systematic disenfranchisement through whatever means is not the same thing electoral fraud, such that the Ohio disenfranchisement is less of a priority right now since it will be fixed "someday"; or
2. Silence in response to any poster who contends that, whether or not it changes the outcome, the ongoing fight to count all votes in Ohio is a fight to ensure the rights of African-American voters and thus deserves the party's public attention and commitment.
3. A cry of "tin foil hat" and arguments that nothing is "proven" so it must not be reality -- it's just bad planning, bad administration, in other words, just an unfortunate mistake.

Editor's note: After covering post-9/11 politics and the run-up to the Iraq War for a weekly in Alaska, Dahr Jamail saved his money to cover the war from the front lines.

How long have you been reporting on Iraq, and what brought you there?

DJ: I have spent 6 of the last 12 months in Iraq. As I mentioned, what brought me here was the nearly total failure of the US 'mainstream' media to show the truth of this illegal invasion and occupation. How it affected the Iraqis, as well as US soldiers. Overall, they just weren't doing their job, and this has grown even worse. I had done all the usual actions of attempting to speak up and effect change at home-calling and writing Senators/Congresspeople, attending teach-ins, spreading information. After watching the worldwide demonstrations on February 15, 2003 be brushed aside as a "focus group," I knew then that the minds of the American public had been misled by the corporate media who mindlessly supported the objectives of the Bush regime, and reporting the true effects of the invasion/occupation on the Iraqi people and US soldiers was what I needed to do.

Read Complete Interview

The subpoena, part of a civil suit in which New York City is a defendant, demands voluminous information, including all of the Independent Media Center's news reporting, emails, internal documents, and web pages relating to the World Economic Forum.

As the NYC IMC detailed in its response, the request violates reporter's privilege by seeking information that is available through other sources and that is not highly relevant to the claim.

Here is what is posted on their site: "1483 TIME CERTAIN: 10:30 AM - CANCELED. THIS ITEM WILL BE RESCHEDULED, DATE TO BE ANNOUNCED. Authorize Memorandum of Understanding and Reimbursement Agreement with the Portland Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation to participate in the Portland Joint Terrorism Task Force (Ordinance introduced by Mayor Katz")

I called Sue Parsons the Asst. Council Clerk at City Hall (e-mail: sparsons@ci.portland.or.us phone: 503 823-4085) to make sure the agenda had in fact been changed and was correct. As it turns out Sue says that the hearing was just canceled today (the 20th of December) and will most likely be put off until sometime in late January, but couldn't give me a date or time.

On this week's show: Flame retardants in your food, Juan Cole and "What's Next for Iraq," corporate outsourcing, and more local, national, and international news.

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What a telling juxtaposition; a homeless person occupying the sidewalk on the property of a financial institution, a very appropriate symbol for where the U.S. economy is going.

Really, I felt bad just taking a couple of photos and then leaving. I am never sure what to do. I give to Food for Lane County when I can and participate in local food drives. Rarely do I hand out money on the street though. I know that it is not my place to judge where the money goes, but I've never felt good about supporting an alcohol or drug habit. I worked in the field of addiction for several years and have seen the ravages of that.

PORTLAND HOMELESSNESS: [ Sisters of the Road Cafe I Street Roots I Dignity Village I Outside IN I Portland Homeless Shelters I Homeless Crisis in Portland Briefly Invades Live Television During Storm Coverage (1/04) I Jody's guide to homelessness (2002) ]

[ more stories by peace rebel girl I pdx imc homelessness page ]

"This is a time for all of us who are activists, professional investigator and journalists on the internet to distinguish and separate ourselves from those who do not employ professional standards for their investigation and reporting. These standards are used to make what is consumed by a sometimes too-trusting readership trustworthy and useful. It is a matter of love and honor for those who read what we write.

Just as the dishonest mainstream media distances itself from those of us who use this powerful medium out of fear, it is time for those of us who care about getting it right to draw an unmistakable line between ourselves and the internet "trailer trash" who detract from the very, very difficult job that Gary Webb gave his life for: Telling the truth, getting it right and proving it in a way that can be trusted... No matter what the cost.

This is what Gary Webb taught us."

indeed webb's most important lesson might be the one brought on by his death itself: that we need to always question our assumptions, always seek the truth no matter what we "wish" were so, and use our courage to guide us.

previous: [ Gary Webb, exposer of CIA complicity in cocaine trade, found dead at home (Dec. 13, 2004) ]

related: [ Alex Jones' Rebuttal To Allegations Made By Michael Ruppert Concerning Gary Webb's Death ]

VIDEO: In honor of Webb's legacy of "authentic journalism," GNN [Guerrilla News Network] presents this exclusive interview, in which Webb discusses Dark Alliance, the media maelstrom, and the story's historical importance. The video was produced by a team of GNN's video students at the School of Authentic Journalism 2002 seminar in Merida, Mexico. [ watch it ]

A lawsuit has been filed by Steven Goldberg, on behalf of the National Lawyers Guild's Military Law Task Force, on behalf of Emiliano Santiago, a member of the Oregon Army National Guard stationed in Pendleton, Oregon This suit challenges a stop loss order that requires the reservist to remain in the military beyond the term of his enlistment for duty in Afghanistan.

Santiago is ordered to return to service on January 3. This hearing is to seek an order to keep him in the country while he challenges the deployment.

But I realized also that it's been a while since I've heard anyone talking about verbal consent, or the instances of sexual assault that were tearing up the activist community in Portland and Eugene just a year and a half ago. It's great that I haven't been hearing of any further assaults in that time, although that doesn't mean they haven't happened - I maybe haven't heard or others are maybe keeping silent. Certainly sexual assault continues in society at large, but it could be considered a small blessing that it hasn't been afflicting the activist community.

'a human being' responds:
You think that God has sex organs and hormones that make up the differences between men and women? Interesting. I would have thought that God had no physical form.

'Jim Lockhart' conjectures:
It seems to me that the attempt to extract the Creator from his Creation has alienated us Creatures from both the Creator and Creation. Possibley what the story of the Fall From Grace, the Garden of Eden, and all that was attempting to tell, in parable form.

'' expounds:
The Divine can be seen as the Great Mother who gives birth to all and devours all. The Divine Mother is the mother of all things including the animate and inanimate, the stars and planets, the plants, animals and people and even the other Deities themselves. She is the primordial archetype that all things are born from. She is as beautiful to behold as she is terrible in her rage. She is the awe that is in sublime and the subtle.

In The Worldwide Ruling Class - Worker Bee Model, Still Going Strong In The 21st Century, 'Clint Clark' writes: "Old Testament religions are setup to preserve the Ruling Class - Worker Bee model, which began about 8,500 years ago. Old Testament religions are about legitimizing land ownership, taxes, the exploitation of natural resources, social stratification, and wealth generation; not about spirituality. Civilization is the domestication of humans by other humans."

'brent' replies:
it is interesting to note that both the belief in God and the belief in no God are equally ridiculous, and the suggestion is often made that somehow the belief in no God makes more sense, is more rational, when actually either position is absurd, making any argument based on so called reason nonsensicial...

it is also absurd to suggest that the universe had a beginning, which leaves us to wonder what existed in the endless eternity before this beginning, which would be nothing one must suppose, and then somehow something came from nothing, which is also absurd, just as it is incomprehensible to imagine either God or the universe being eternal with no beginning or no end

Current reports estimate that there are approximately 700 political prisoners in Haiti's overcrowded prisons, none of whom have been convicted of a crime and many who have never come before a judge. Many powerful Lavalas organizers and leaders, including Prime Minister Yvon Neptune and popular singer Annette Auguste "So Anne", have been imprisoned making it difficult for the country's most popular political party to continue to organize or to carry out many of the community education and development projects that were an integral part of the Lavalas platform.

While heavily armed Chilean UN forces and the Haitian National Police were highly visible throughout the march, there was no violence reported.

VIDEO
Only two international journalists were present at the event and coverage is so far confined to the internet and the San Francisco Bayview newspaper. The only radio station to report on the demonstration in Port au Prince said that several hundred people attended the demonstration, a figure easily disputed with this video footage.

During his tenure as mayor Moise redistributed state landholdings to many landless peasants in the area, earning him great respect among the poor and powerful enemies among the elite who had previously controlled the land. Under the Duvalier dictatorships much of the land in near Milot was owned by the state and leased to absentee landlords. These landlords would then re-lease the land to peasants at exorbitant rates up to 10 times those of the state. There is an area just below the palace of San Souci in Milot that is named Moise in honor of the man who helped the many families that now inhabit that hillside to reclaim the land that rightfully belonged to them, as dictated by Article 74 of the Haitian Constitution.

The community of Milot has changed significantly under the Lavalas government of the past decade.

previous reports to portland indymedia re. Haiti by Zoe Moskovitz and Sasha Kramer: [ The Politics of Injustice in Haiti: The Cases of Auguste and Chamblain (2004.09.01) | Hard hit Municipalities:The Attempt to Destroy Lavalas and the Consolidation of the Coup (2004.08.21) | The Dismantling of Popular Education Under the new U.S-backed Regime in Haiti (2004.08.21) | Reportback form Haiti: Resistance and Repression Six Months After the Coup (2004.08.21) ]

More info: [ HaitiAction.net ]

The documents also indicate that military interegators at Guantanamo Bay "impersonated FBI agents" in order to deflect blame should torture practices there be uncovered, and that such impersonation was authroized directly by the Deputy Secretary of Defense, Paul Wolfowitz.

The White House has denied that a Presidential Order authorizing torture exists or that Wolfowitz approved any impersonation of FBI agents.

ACLU Press Release

Here in Michigan, a person earning the minimum wage of $5.15 per hour must work 105 hours per week in order to afford a two-bedroom unit at the Fair Market Rent rate of $706 per month.

See also: Taking over the take over

previous: [ Area skinheads announce racist flyer outreach contest (12/7/04) ]

related: [ Mother of Dead Soldier Responds to TIME Magazine | TIME Magazine Names Bush | Time Magazine Names Person of the Year ]

All of the schools that we visited received some financial support from the national government during Aristide's administration and all have had their funding cut under the unelected Latortue regime. This fact is particularly striking given that Aristide was forced to work under an international aid embargo imposed by the US shortly after the Haiti's May 2000 parlimentary elections, while the unelected interim government has been promised a 1.8 billion aid package to "reconstruct the country", a move that many predict will only force Haiti deeper into debt. Given the disparity in resources and international support between the democratically elected government and the US installed interim government one must wonder where is the new aid money going if not to support schools? Isn't education the backbone of any solid development policy?

most recent report from Haiti from Sasha Kramer: [ Peaceful Demonstration in Cap Haitien a Success despite Ongoing Repression / Beloved Mayor Continues to Serve his Community from Hiding (12/21/04) ]

previous reports to portland indymedia about Haiti by Zoe Moskovitz and Sasha Kramer: [ The Politics of Injustice in Haiti: The Cases of Auguste and Chamblain (2004.09.01) | Hard hit Municipalities:The Attempt to Destroy Lavalas and the Consolidation of the Coup (2004.08.21) | The Dismantling of Popular Education Under the new U.S-backed Regime in Haiti (2004.08.21) | Reportback form Haiti: Resistance and Repression Six Months After the Coup (2004.08.21) ]

More info: [ HaitiAction.net ]

The people of Columbia City have been fighting Morse Bros for years and years. No one out there can hang out their laundry, because when they do, it gets covered with rock dust. Some days, people can hardly breathe due to the dust. But the city councilors out there sold out the people to the mining company. If anyone should be in jail, it's the board members of Morse bros.

[ Earth Liberation Prisoners ]

[ Animal Liberation Front ]

December 16 is an important date in Haitian history, as it marks Jean Bertrand Arisitide's electoral victory in 1990 in Haiti's first ever democratic elections. Many of the people who came to Milot were elected Lavalas officials and supporters who have been forced into hiding since the coup.

Our group met with Jean-Claude Debel, organizer for the Lavalas party in the central plateau and regional coordinator of the literacy program (alphabetization) in Hinche, and Garcon Rosemaire, ex mayor of Hinche. Both men were forced to leave their families and go into hiding following the overthrow of the elected government, as have approximately 4000 other people from Hinche according to the former mayor. The two men report that the situation in the Central Plateau is highly repressive.

most recent reports from Haiti from Sasha Kramer: [ Community Schools in Northern Haiti: A plea to the international community | Peaceful Demonstration in Cap Haitien a Success despite Ongoing Repression / Beloved Mayor Continues to Serve his Community from Hiding (12/21/04) ]

previous reports to portland indymedia about Haiti by Zoe Moskovitz and Sasha Kramer: [ The Politics of Injustice in Haiti: The Cases of Auguste and Chamblain (2004.09.01) | Hard hit Municipalities:The Attempt to Destroy Lavalas and the Consolidation of the Coup (2004.08.21) | The Dismantling of Popular Education Under the new U.S-backed Regime in Haiti (2004.08.21) | Reportback form Haiti: Resistance and Repression Six Months After the Coup (2004.08.21) ]

More info: [ HaitiAction.net ]

I think it's an excellent question, and even though it is clear to me that the dictator stole the election again, it is also clear that there are millions of people, mostly voting against their own class interests, who voted for George W. Bush. I have encountered plenty of bewilderment on this phenomenon right here at home?no need to go to England. What were people thinking?

The people who can best answer that question are the Republican strategists. They understand that they can manipulate much of the population to the point of delusion, using the loyal corporate-owned media, and they intend to keep on doing it. They have created a mental landscape for those fifty-nine million people, in which shadowy figures shift terrible weapons through Iraq, through Syria, to the Wal-Mart nearest you. In this fantasy world, homeless grandmas are rightly punished by the cold and rain on their donated blankets. Lovers who joyously take marriage vows after years of life as a couple are satanic perverts who would rape your children if given a chance. Dedicated activists who put their bodies on the line in an heroic effort to stop war and ecological destruction are actually dangerous terrorists with Middle East connections who bomb themselves in their manic frenzy of hatred. And it's all a sign that Jesus is coming.

[ Other posts by theresa mitchell ]

Charity was a political, public theme of building on the reciprocity of giving and taking, more than a private love program. Charity is not a caritive focus on a world to come but love for the living, for what we can experience in grace, joy, cooperation and mutual enrichment if we are not structurally encouraged to greed and fear because greed and anxiety are best suited to capitalism.

[ Other articles posted by Marc Batko | Marc Batko Translations ]

This event will be held at St. Mary's Antiochian Orthodox Church, 18100 Merriman, Livonia (between 6 & 7 Mile Roads). $10 - adults, $5 - "students of peace" and children 12 & under - free.

Event schedule:
5-7 p.m. Reception & Silent Auction Photo Exhibit: "Eyewitness to Gaza"
7 p.m. Presentation & Panel Discussion: Seeking Justice in Iraq, Palestine & Sudan. Huwaida Arraf, Adam Shapiro (Co-founders of International Solidarity Movement), Liz Walkers (IHM) and Fr. Peter Dougherty.

So yeah, there was this guy. His name was Josh, and he was born in the summer according to most theologians, but theologians also have supported such concepts as the divine right of king and papal infallibility, so we should take nothing they say too seriously. So let's pretend he was born in midwinter, say around the end of December on the Roman calendar.

So yeah, this guy. He was a bit of a nut, but generally a decent chap. He walked around basically being nice to people and having a good time. He danced. He drank. He was smashingly good at party tricks...

He also thought violence was a bad thing, but lost it one day and beat the shit out of a bunch of guys in a temple one day over buying and selling stuff in the temple.

[ Other articles posted by Teddy Ruxpin (The Lousy Typist) ]

Think of Adventure Club as radical skill-share. It can range from rather tame to semi-hardcore direct action. Anything from extreme hide and seek to urban squatting to billboard liberation to more clandestine activism.

We are building new traditions and rituals. Adventure Club is fundamentally meaningful, giving people intellectual and emotional tools they need to survive in the world. AC actions always have a training element, are always physical, and are completed in a single night (or day). AC is not merely fun and pranks, but that's often part of it.

In conversation with another friend I was telling her that it sickens me that Iraqi children are being murdered so that I can drive. She tried to soften my loathing by saying that she feels bad too but that she must also remind herself that it is "their karma".

O.K., I'm sorry, but that line of thinking, regardless of how eastern or new age or whatever it may be, does not work for me. The "karma" of cause and effect is very real, action and reaction, blowback. But how can we say that the past life actions of a child in Iraq poise them at the end of the barrel of a soldiers rifle? Just because some holy man once declared this idea with regard to past life actions and karma we are now suppose to believe its veracity? I personally think that we use it as a way to assuage ourselves. If we can simply toss such horrific situations (as with what is happening in Iraq) into the karmic heap, we can go about our daily business as if it does not bother or concern us.

[ other contributions from peace rebel girl ]

related: [ Tell senators to take a stand Jan. 6 on presidential vote ]

You'd think that public servants?responsible for administering elections and sworn to uphold the law?would want to get to the bottom of these allegations.

You'd be wrong.

On 23 December, 2004 Kerry's lawyer confirmed to MSNBC's 'Countdown' that John Kerry will be seeking (likely on Monday 27 Dec.) to expedite court proceedings and secure evidence in an ongoing recount suit by the Green and Libertarian parties.

related: [ When recounts count | pdx indymedia sElection Fraud stories ]

Since 1996 a core group of Detroit activists have been involved in the fight to end the growing epidemic of misconduct and brutality emanating from law-enforcement agencies throughout the city and the broader metropolitian area. This tradition dates back at least 60 or more years when the burgeoning population of African-American migrants began to radically change the demographic composition of the city.

Public drinking, let me throw my two cents in there. Have you ever noticed that in most of the country (not really in NoPo though), most anti-beer efforts are done by fundy churches that staunchly oppose gun control? Theye say "shooting people is already illegal, so we don't need extra laws that ban the guns, because guns can be used legally and you can not discriminate against the legal gun owners." Fine. Turnabout is fair fucking play, you should not be able to ban the sale of beer (even if just the singles) based on the suspicion that it might at some point be drunk illegally. Public drinking is ALREADY illegal, so making an extra law that will effect legal drinkers and infringe upon their 21st ammendment rights is wrong.

Especially if it appears that you are only doing it to black neighborhoods.

"We welcome Senator Kerry's belated interest in ensuring the integrity of the Ohio recount. This effort, initiated by the Green and Libertarian presidential candidates, has been focusing on the integrity of the election process and not on the outcome. In order to trust the election results, we have to trust the process. All presidential candidates, including George W. Bush, who are committed to an open and accountable voting system should demand an investigation into an election clouded by serious allegations of fraud and suppression," said [Blair] Bobier [Media Director for the Cobb-LaMarche campaign].

The Notice will be filed on behalf of Cobb and Libertarian presidential candidate Michael Badnarik who are both seeking a recount of New Mexico's presidential vote. The candidates paid the state a deposit of over $100,000, and say that New Mexico law does not require that the entire amount of the recount be paid in advance.

"We believe the law is on our side and look forward to a full recount of the presidential vote. There are still many unanswered questions about provisional ballots, missing votes and the integrity of voting machines which don't produce a paper trail. The people of New Mexico deserve to know that their votes will be counted fairly and accurately," said Cobb.

The judge ruled against Santiago, holding that the government would face a "hardship" if it were forced to honor the contract. Members of the public attempting to witness the legal proceedings were turned away by federal marshalls and not allowed to enter the courthouse building.

'Marian' adds: The case started promptly at 1:30 p.m. It was one of the most intense 63 minutes I have ever spent. From 1:15 when the courtroom doors opened on the 12th floor, until about 2:40, when the crowded elevator arrived back on the ground floor, not a word was spoken by the people in the courtroom, other than those engaged in the court proceedings.

It was as silent as a tomb.

previous: [ "Stop Loss" case of Oregon National Guardsman to be heard, 12/28 1:30pm at Fed. Courthouse (12/21/04) ]

Natural Disaster, Unnatural Response: Word that the U.S. government is offering a paltry $15 million in aid to those countries whose coasts were devastated by tidal waves from the largest earthquake in 40 years should be a national embarrassment. That a nation which can talk casually about $400-$500 billion annual deficits, and about spending upwards of $100 billion a year in sowing destruction in Iraq can't come up with more than pocket change for disaster relief in an event that has displaced over a million people and rocked the earth in its orbit is mind-boggling. [ read more... ]

It's a sad day for Indymedia when... A call to potential reporters. I log on and there are articles about chemtrails and terror alerts, but no substantial coverage of the huge disaster unfolding in Asia. Doesn't anyone have relatives in any of the countries affected by the massive earthquake, and subsequent tsunamis? Can anyone post first-hand accounts, if they have them? Where's the empathy? The compassion? Please, someone step up and report on this! [ read more... ]

related articles: [ Was the tsunami caused by a bomb? I 35 million for the victims of the tsunamis I Anyone know how I could volunteer? I Whats worse? Tsunami or US Foriegn Policy I An Act of God or Government? ]

"The absence of visible opposition allows Nazism to grow," says Jordana Sardo. Gabriel Park is located between 37th Ave. and 45th Ave. along SW Vermont St. and is accessible by Tri-Met bus #1.

So far, the Iraq war has cost the United States $147 billion; the additional appropriation would bring the cost to $227 billion. The $15 million pledged to help Tsunami recovery efforts represent .007% of the amount so far spent on Iraq.

Costs for President Bush's inauguration will be between $30 and $40 million, not including security costs.

In an interview today on NBC, Colin Powell noted that "clearly, the United States will be a major contributor to this international effort." He declined to say whether the amount would reach $1 billion (still only .4% of the amount spent on Iraq).

Also see: "Natural Disaster, Unnatural Response."

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Another critical mass rider notes that "While the denial of the injunction is good news I don't know if we can declare victory just yet. The lack of an injunction at the November 26th Critical Mass didn't deter the City/NYPD from arresting cyclists and scaring away hundreds more not wishing to risk arrest. I expect this draconian behavior to continue." [Read More]

The next critical mass ride is New Year's Eve.