Archive for the ‘activism’ Category
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From Moveon:
- The polls may be wrong. This is an unprecedented election. No one knows how racism may affect what voters tell pollsters—or what they do in the voting booth. And the polls are narrowing anyway. In the last few days, John McCain has gained ground in most national polls, as his campaign has gone even more negative.
- Dirty tricks. Republicans are already illegally purging voters from the rolls in some states. They’re whipping up hysteria over ACORN to justify more challenges to new voters. Misleading flyers about the voting process have started appearing in black neighborhoods. And of course, many counties still use unsecure voting machines.
- October surprise. In politics, 15 days is a long time. The next McCain smear could dominate the news for a week. There could be a crisis with Iran, or Bin Laden could release another tape, or worse.
- Those who forget history… In 2000, Al Gore won the popular vote after trailing by seven points in the final days of the race. In 1980, Reagan was eight points down in the polls in late October and came back to win. Races can shift—fast!
- Landslide. Even with Barack Obama in the White House, passing universal health care and a new clean-energy policy is going to be hard. Insurance, drug and oil companies will fight us every step of the way. We need the kind of landslide that will give Barack a huge mandate.
If you agree that we shouldn’t rest easy, please sign up to volunteer at your local Obama office.
I made it over the finish line. I didn’t do the full 39.5 miles due to some problems, but I did about 35 or so and walked over the finish line today!!
Follow me through me through my walk on my boobie blog: anauruburo.wordpress.com
Hiatus and update
Posted on: July 28, 2008
So I am going to ACT more in the next couple of months versus preaching as I have been. My aunt passed away in May from breast cancer that spread to her lungs. So i’ll be participating in the avon walk in nyc on oct 4-5. I will be writing about the experience on another blog I set up in memory of my aunt: anauruburo.wordpress.com. I will walk 39 miles and raise at least $1800 to support treatment and research.
All support is appreciated: spread the word, donate, cheer, advice…anything! Thanks.
- In: activism | heroes | politics
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via rumproast:
It was such a pleasure to watch this priest “bitch-slap” one of Bill O’Reilly’s idiots:
And if you are interested in learning more about MLK the man and his criticisms of this country’s policies (domestic and foreign) check out this podcast from The Brian Lehrer Show interviewing the Michael Eric Dyson, author of a new book April 4 1968.
The Folly of Attacking Iran
Posted on: February 13, 2008
- In: activism | democracy | peace
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This video introduces a tour arranged by Just Foreign Policy to counter the Bush administration’s calls for military confrontation with Iran. Please watch the video and check the site for dates when it will be near you!
We don’t need anymore war!! Peace and dialogue are the only way to ensure the survival and spread of democracy. And I don’t mean some Western definition of democracy but rather context-specific and self-defined.
Mike Gravel was right when he exclaimed “his lips are moving, the President’s lying“. IPS interviewed Chuck Lewis from the Centre for Public Integrity on a report that documents the lies told by the administration to justify invading Iraq.
Eight key players in the George W. Bush administration, including the president himself, made at least 935 false statements in the run-up to and aftermath of the invasion of Iraq in 2003.
The analysis shows that Bush made the most false statements of all eight officials. His namesake, who couldn’t even lie about chopping a cherry tree down, must be rolling in his grave!! But who am I kidding? That’s just another lie in America’s history of lies.
I can’t say it better than Mr. Lewis:
What the world needs most, though, is real-time truth, not years later. Maybe, because of this debacle of the past five years, reporters and citizens will become more sceptical and discerning of politicians and those in power.
And while some may dismiss bloggers as being less credible and professional than journalists, journalism as an industry is in a crisis. Mr. Lewis describes the state of U.S. journalism like this:
Not good, emaciated economically, thousands of reporters and editors fired since 2000, still too easily misled, not sufficiently sceptical of officialdom, of government, of power.
In ‘Can Newspaper Journalism Survive Blogs, Fox News, and Karl Rove?‘ David Wessel addresses several of the problems newspapers are facing today, but is rather positive about the future of newspapers and journalism. He also reveals an important validation for blogs: keeping reporters honest.
It’s very hard for the press, if it ever wanted to, to conspire to keep secret the foibles of the president today because some blog will put it out and everybody will be talking about it, and we feel we’ll have to respond.
There are people out there challenging the lies we are told everyday. Dismissing us as not credible or as crazy liberals is just another lie, much like calling extreme environmental activists ‘terrorists’. I don’t see blogs as a replacement for journalism, but as serving a check and balance role and giving ordinary citizens a chance to have their say. Why should we wait for the elite? It’s our freedom too. In my view, the elite only enrich themselves and protect their own interests.
- In: activism | fair trade | protest
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I think one of the most frustrating things for me while living in Europe was listening to people exclaim the greatness of Europe (rolling my eyes) and complain about the U.S. The ease with which many Europeans ignore their history of imperialism and complicity in the destruction of the third world is astounding to say the least. The ease with which they ignore the EU’s attempts to further strangle the third world is just another example of the Eurocentric arrogance of today’s neo-imperialism.
I love the way Tetteh Hormeku discusses the free trade negotiations in IPS: Q&A: “The EU Is a Bandit in Trade Negotiations”
IPS: The EU constantly points out that it is the largest aid donor in the world. So the picture you paint of the EU would come as a shock to Europeans who believe it is trying to help developing countries.
TH (holding a beer bottle): People who believe that, have too much faith in European institutions. The EU is a bandit in international negotiations. It is no different to the Americans. Or the only difference is that the Americans say ”I want your beer, baby, and if you do not give it to me, I’m gonna shoot you”. The Europeans say ”I want your beer because it is in your own interests to give it to me”.
Tja, blind faith, brainwashed Europeans (not just Americans are brainwashed): wouldn’t it be better to stop putting down the US and make yourself useful by doing something about your own governments’ attempts to continue raping the developing world? Put down your beer. Put down your wine. And take some action. Or maybe you are really busy trying to stop US imperialism so you can control it all to yourselves?
Ugh, I so can’t stand hypocrisy.
Is Pitt New Orleans’ savior?
Posted on: December 17, 2007
It’s celebrity activism week here in my blog. I’ve been on a short hiatus since Time Warner took a month to show up and install Internet at my new place. At one point I got Internet on my cell, which saved my sanity, but wasn’t really ideal for reading and writing.
So now I am catching up on news and happened to be skimming through NPR’s Popular Culture category. First, Garrett caught my eye and now Pitt. Two very different looks, but well they are both sexy.
Anyways, Pitt’s New Orleans project Making It Right is intriguing to say the least. As a designer the simple beauty of the homes pleases me immensely and the environmental aspects are icing on the cake.
I hope that Pitt and the project have the staying power to make this thing work. It’s a serious, long-term commitment. Budgeting and project management will have to be creative and flexible, but tight and determined.
I also hope that out of the tragedy of Katrina, the city’s most vulnerable residents, will actually benefit from this project. In other words, that it doesn’t turn into some sort of gentrification that forces the weakest and poorest out. Finally, I hope the homes are truly functional and comfortable for the people who have to live in them and this doesn’t turn into yet another planned community failure, like projects of the past (i.e. De Bijlmer, Brasilia, etc.).
Is Pitt’s team really talking to the residents? How much input will they have in the process?
- In: activism | politics | popular culture
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When I was 14 I fell in love with Midnight Oil. Punk and politics, a combination I can’t resist. Like me beloved Beasties this band used their success to fuel their activism and let their activism fuel their music. Peter Garrett, former lead singer, has gone into politics.
From NPR:
Garrett is the environment, heritage and arts minister in Australia’s new government.
Good-bye John Howard. Who’s beds are burning now?
I just can’t wait to say “Good-bye GW and good riddance.”
latin american princesa {LAP} 