[Afsckc-peacealert] KC AFSC Peace and Justice Alerts – June 2, 2011
Ira Harritt
IHarritt at afsc.org
Thu Jun 2 19:01:41 EDT 2011
KC AFSC Peace and Justice Alerts – June 2, 2011
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Educate Yourself. Share your knowledge. Take Action!
For information about the American Friends Service Committee,
contact us at 816 931-5256 or afsckc at afsc.org<mailto:afsckc at afsc.org>
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“Some men see things as they are and ask 'why' ?
Others dream of things that never were and ask 'why not' ?”
~George Bernard Shaw
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Dear Peacemakers,
Cracks are growing in the previously impenetrable support of war by our elected officials. See below for articles on the growing dissatisfaction with our war in Libya and the avoidance of a vote on a bill to withdraw U.S. troops from that war.
And read an insightful analysis by Tom Hayden of Obama’s upcoming decision to begin the withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan. Hayden outlines Obama’s options ranging from removing a token number of troops to complete withdrawal. Now is a good time to contact the Whitehouse and push for complete withdrawal. Even though that is unlikely it places the withdrawal of a significant number of troops (e.g. 50,000+) as a compromise position. (Whitehouse Switchboard: 202-456-1414)
Please tell your Senators to make significant cuts to military spending in the House’s 2012 National Defense Authorization Act ($690 billion defense bill plus an additional $119 for the Iraq and Afghan wars) and move the money to human needs and job creation. Demand that that the dangerous language giving Presidents virtually limitless power to make war (“authority to use all necessary and appropriate force during the current armed conflict with al-Qaeda, the Taliban, and associated forces”) and to imprison “belligerents” be struck from the reconciled bill. (Call toll-free 1-888-231-9276.)
We invite you to join with us in our efforts to creatively work for a more just and peaceful world. We are excited about our work but we need your involvement.
Please consider joining one of our planning committees to:
* End the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan- Next meeting –Monday, June 13; 6:30pm at the AFSC Office, 4405 Gillham Rd., KCMO See below for details.
* “Move the Money” in our federal budget from military spending to investing in people and jobs for our future; or
* Deepen our community members’ vision of a just and peaceful world. - First planning meeting for the October 2011 Visions of Peace at the Crossroads Festival on Tuesday, June 7, 6:30pm at the AFSC office. See below for details.
Contact us at afsckc at afsc.org<mailto:afsckc at afsc.org> to volunteer
See below for a description of our committees and work.
There are lots of things we can do to change public opinion and mobilize citizens to end the wars, reprioritize federal spending and create a culture of peace! Please join us in this work! You may be just the person who can make these campaigns even more successful than we imagine! Contact us if you can help – 816 931-5256 / afsckc at afsc.org<mailto:afsckc at afsc.org>
And finally we encourage you to support Iraq Veterans Against the War’s Operation Recovery campaign which is working to prohibit troops suffering from PTSD, TBI, Military Sexual Trauma from being deployed back into combat. (See below for details.)
Thank you for your support and work for a peaceful and just community and world.
Peace,
Ira Harritt
KC AFSC Program Coordinator
iharritt at afsc.org<mailto:iharritt at afsc.org> 816 931-5256
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Get involved in KC AFSC Peacemaking Work
We have restructured this work and are forming three committees to better plan and carry out peace campaigns. We are dividing our work among:
· Anti-War Committee – will organize campaigns to end the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan (Libya…) including: organizing actions to mark the 10th Anniversary of 9-11 and the Afghan war and planning events for the Windows & Mirrors Afghan Mural exhibit in November and December – (http://afsc.org/project/windows-and-mirrors) – Next meeting Monday, June 13, 6:30pm;
· Cutting Military Spending / U.S. Budget Priorities Committee– will organize education and advocacy campaigns on military spending and budget issues including a people’s budget resolution campaigns; (Hear my interview from the May 5th Heartland Labor Forum show on Military spending vs. Human needs<http://afsc.org/story/ira-harritt-discusses-military-budget-vs-human-needs> starting at 30minutes into the program and see June 20 Green forum below)
· Peace-building Committee – will organize activities to promote a positive vision of peace including holding an annual Visions of Peace at the Crossroads Festival, October 7, 2011 – we just received confirmation that we can hold the event at the same parking lot as we used last year. - Next meeting Tuesday, June 7, 6:30pm
Elizabeth Tembo, our Youth Outreach Intern, is working to involve high school-aged youth in two projects: making murals as part of the KC display of the Windows and Mirrors: Reflections on the War in Afghanistan<http://afsc.org/project/windows-and-mirrors> exhibit and making short videos for the ”If I Had A Trillion Dollars” Youth Film Festival<http://afsc.org/resource/2nd-annual-if-i-had-trillion-dollars-ihtd-youth-video-festival>.
Does your faith community, neighborhood or civic group have a summer youth group which might want to be involved in one of these projects? Contact us to find out how they could be involved!
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Peace Intern Openings Available
We are getting ready to hire peace interns for the 2011-2012 school year. Applications will be due by June 16, 2011. Students committed to working for peace who will be attending a Kansas City area college or university in the 2011-2012 school year can find out how to apply for our paid Campus Peace Internship by going to: http://afsc.org/document/kc-campus-peace-intern-2011-2012 (Also click the link to read reflections from recent interns). And we are inviting applications for AFSC Peace Fellows – an unpaid Fellowship providing training and resources to conduct peace campaigns on university campuses . http://afsc.org/document/kc-afsc-peace-fellowship-2011-2012
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Volunteer To Help Rem Learn To Drive
Do you have a few hours over the next several weeks to help Rem, an Iraqi refugee, learn and practice her driving skills? She lives in NE Johnson County.
Call Roz if you can help at– 913) 722-6583 or 816) 668-9909.
Just a little of your time can make a big difference in Rem’s life!
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Upcoming Peace and Justice Activities
Click on link or scroll down for more information about the peace and justice activity
June 3, 8:30 – 10:00AM Central Time, Ten Years after 9/11: Evaluating a Decade of Conflicts on the Rules of War<http://click.newsletters.usip.org/?qs=5caad0b063d1f92e2fcd6d36ae1ab4a146e054a4fddb9572c23b4fa92058ae69> Almost ten years after the devastating attacks of 9/11, the United States engaged in two wars that sent tens of thousands of American troops to fight in Afghanistan and Iraq. A new survey conducted recently by the American Red Cross about the attitudes of the first post-9/11 generation of American youth reveal for the first time their opinions about the rules of war and what is or is not acceptable behavior in wartime. The United States Institute of Peace (USIP) and the American Red Cross invite you to join us for a timely discussion on the relevance and importance of international humanitarian law and the rules of war at a time when civil conflicts are also erupting in the Middle East and North Africa. --Webcast: You may participate in this event in two ways. You can register to attend the event<http://click.newsletters.usip.org/?qs=5caad0b063d1f92e337473b8fd8049e018ab99115767ce203b8d6358296fe02d> (in Washington, DC), or you may watch the live webcast beginning at 9:30am EST on June 3, 2011 at www.usip.org/webcast.<http://click.newsletters.usip.org/?qs=5caad0b063d1f92ea831a95eab7ebcb42775ab8c6eb9defc6dd8a06e6e4d9cb3> You may also join the discussion on Twitter at http://twitter.com/usip<http://click.newsletters.usip.org/?qs=5caad0b063d1f92ec178185791278a27b26e8586d44f16a6b51c2c34bacf3407>. Hashtag: #rulesofwar - More info at: http://www.usip.org/events/ten-years-after-911-evaluating-decade-conflicts-the-rules-war <http://www.usip.org/events/ten-years-after-911-evaluating-decade-conflicts-the-rules-war%20%20>
June 3, Friday, get signatures on the new “petition—registry of support” for prohibiting production of parts for nuclear weapons. Come to First Friday at the Crossroads, find KC Peace Planters close to 2012 Baltimore, and take a petition to the night’s fun-seekers. This new registry lets people (KC residents and otherwise) indicate support for jobs other than nuke-parts jobs at the new facility at Mo. Hwy. 150, close to Grandview. The registry also has space for volunteering, requesting bumper stickers or yard signs, and offering to host a speaker for a group. Contact: Jane Stoever, 913-206-4088, janepstoever at yahoo.com<mailto:janepstoever at yahoo.com>. For the downloadable registry, go to http://www.peaceworkskc.org/kcplant.html#registry. Or register online at http://www.peaceworkskc.org/registry-form.html.
June 4, Saturday, 11:30 am. Bradley Manning Rally And Vigil in Leavenworth, KS<http://www.facebook.com/l/161223pll4Y4y1g2lSJL6DTbEMQ/www.gonzotimes.com/2011/04/bradley-manning-rally-and-vigil-in-leavenworth-ks/> Bradley Manning has been moved to the Leavenworth Correctional Facility. A Rally and Vigil in his support will be held at Bob Dougherty Memorial Park, N 2nd St. and Kickapoo St. in Leavenworth, Kansas For more info about the rally See information below - Bradley Manning, the soldier accused of leaking information to Wikileaks, has being held by the military and subject to unnecessarily severe and inhumane treatment according to Amnesty International. Bradley Manning has not been convicted of nor even charged with any offence, but military authorities appear to be punishing him with detention. More info at http://www.bradleymanning.org/
June 7, Tuesday, 6:30pm, Visions of Peace At the Crossroads Festival Planning meeting. Join us in planning another dynamic peace festival to take place on the First Friday in October. Last year’s Festival was filled with mural making, peace parades, video interviews, music, poetry, storytelling and much more. This will be our first planning meeting so join us and help shape a power peacemaking event. At the AFSC office: 4405 Gillham Rd., KCMO for info call 816 931-5256 or email afsckc at afsc.org<mailto:afsckc at afsc.org> (See pictures from 2010 Visions of Peace Festival here>> http://www.flickr.com/photos/afsc-iowa/sets/72157625101941484/show/ ) (http://afsc.org/event/visions-peace-planning-meeting-6-7-11)
June 13, Monday, 6:30pm, AFSC Anti-War Organizing . Join us to organize actions to mark the 10th Anniversary of 9-11; campaigns to end the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, plan for the Windows & Mirrors Afghan Mural exhibit… At 4405 Gillham Rd., KCMO. For more information call 816 931-5256 or afsckc at afsc.org<mailto:afsckc at afsc.org>. (http://afsc.org/event/kc-afsc-anti-war-organizing-meeting )
June 20, 7:00 to 9:00pm, Greens Forum: The Federal Budget: Making It An Instrument For The Common Good. Panel members will discuss how the Federal Budget can be a tool to move this country to a prosperous, peaceful and just future. Panelists will identify ways the budget can be used to redirect our resources away from war and destruction to improved the quality of life, invest in job creation and correct the increasing disparity of income and wealth. Various budgets will be discussed including the Paul Ryan’s House Republican budget, the Progressive Caucus’ Peoples Budget, The Obama Budget, and the New Freedom Budget.
Panel members will include: Ira Harritt, KC AFSC Program Coordinator; Sharon Lockhart, certified financial planner, KKFI “Every Woman” radio host and peace activist; and Dee Berry, KC Greens activist. At Aquarius Book Store, 3936 Broadway, KC, MO (Park in back and use back stairs)
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EVERY Sunday: Iraq Peace Vigil, 4pm, JC Nichols Fountain, 47th & Main, Streets, Kansas City, MO http://www.kciraqtaskforce.org/
EVERY Tuesday, JOIN THIS Peace Demonstration Every Tuesday between 5PM - 6 PM in the median strip on the south corner of the intersection at 63rd & Ward Parkway, Kansas City, Mo. For more information email '63rd Street Patriots' at schwartzkatz at sbcglobal.net<mailto:schwartzkatz at sbcglobal.net>
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[cid:image003.jpg at 01CC214E.EA2264B0]Saturday, June 4 ~ Leavenworth, Kansas
11:30 am – Gather
at Bob Dougherty Memorial Park, N 2nd St. and Kickapoo St. (map<http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=Bob+Dougherty+Memorial+Park,+Leavenworth,+KS&aq=0&sll=39.32616,-94.912938&sspn=0.003631,0.008256&gl=us&g=Leavenworth,+KS&ie=UTF8&hq=Bob+Dougherty+Memorial+Park,+Leavenworth,+KS&ll=39.326422,-94.912176&spn=0.007262,0.016512&t=h&z=17>). Unrestricted street parking is available around the park. Toilets will be available as well.
Noon – Rally
1:00 pm – March
to the intersection of Metropolitan Ave. and N 7th St. (map<http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=Metropolitan+Ave.+and+N+7th+St.,+Leavenworth,+KS&aq=&sll=39.326422,-94.912176&sspn=0.007262,0.016512&gl=us&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Metropolitan+Ave+%26+N+7th+St,+Leavenworth,+Kansas&ll=39.328356,-94.920738&spn=0.007262,0.016512&t=h&z=17>), six blocks north-west of the rally.
2:00 pm – Vigil (until 3:00 pm) along Metropolitan Ave, primarily at N 4th St. and N 7th St. (N 7th St. is the main entrance to Fort Leavenworth. The military stockade, where Bradley is held, is deep inside the base. The federal prison, which is visible from Metropolitan Ave., is a few blocks west at N 13th St.)
3:30 pm – Organizers meeting
Back at Bob Dougherty Memorial Park (subject to change). Hosted by Bradley Manning Support Network, Courage to Resist, and Veterans for Peace organizers, a discussion regarding future regional and national efforts in support of Bradley Manning.
Please do not bring any weapons, alcohol, or illegal drugs, to our gathering.
For more information, see below, check this page, or call Courage to Resist at 510-488-3559
Facebook event page and contact information of local activists:
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=204793382876169, contact(at)mokanfreebradley.info<http://mokanfreebradley.info>
Information
Local activists have secured a meeting room at the Super 8 motel (303 Montana Court, Leavenworth) for folks to check in as they arrive Friday afternoon and Saturday from 8am to 10 am.
The Super 8 motel (303 Montana Court, Leavenworth) is one housing option. The special event rate for June 3rd and June 4th is $59.99 per room, for up four persons per room. However, most rooms are currently booked with a few smoking rooms remaining.
Commander’s Inn (1118 N 6th Street, Leavenworth, phone: 913-651-5800) on Metropolitan is also recommended for lodging.
Camping is available at the city park on the riverfront. For additional camping information, please contact local activists at: contact(at)mokanfreebradley.info<http://mokanfreebradley.info>
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Support IVAW’s
Operation Recovery: A Campaign to End the Deployment of Traumatized Troops<http://www.facebook.com/home.php?sk=group_150686925000528>
Service members who experience PTSD, TBI, MST, and combat stress have the right to exit the traumatic situation and receive immediate support, and compensation.
Too often, service members are forced to redeploy back into dangerous combat, or train in situations that re-traumatize them. We say, individuals suffering from trauma have the right to remove themselves from the source of the trauma. Service members who are not physically or mentally healthy shall not be forced to deploy or continue service. –IVAW http://www.ivaw.org/operation-recovery
William Stewart-Starks<http://www.facebook.com/n/?profile.php&id=16827807&mid=4486d4bG1e4cdf70G6a61bdcG96&bcode=ZIhBbanl&n_m=iharritt%40afsc.org>, Iraq Veterans Against the War Invites you to support the Operation Recover campaign on FaceBook and to become a member of the Facebook group.
William Stewart-Starks posted in Operation Recovery: A Campaign to End the Deployment of Traumatized Troops<http://www.facebook.com/n/?home.php&sk=group_150686925000528&mid=4486d4bG1e4cdf70G6a61bdcG96&bcode=ZIhBbanl&n_m=iharritt%40afsc.org>.
View Post on Facebook<http://www.facebook.com/n/?home.php&sk=group_150686925000528&mid=4486d4bG1e4cdf70G6a61bdcG96&bcode=ZIhBbanl&n_m=iharritt%40afsc.org>
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(Check this out –
My garden is even one of those featured in the tour- Ira Harritt, AFSC Program Coordinator)
Urban Farm & Garden Tour Invite
Greetings friend,
Here is an update invitation to the upcoming Urban Farms & Gardens Tour.
Events for the fourth biennial Urban Farms & Gardens Tour will kick off in just two weeks on Wednesday, June 15th, launching a 12 day celebration of growing and eating of good food in our city. All event details are now available on the tour website: www.urbanfarmstourkc.com<http://www.urbanfarmstourkc.com/>.
The self-guided Tour, organized by Cultivate Kansas City (formerly the Kansas City Center for Urban Agriculture) and many volunteers, gives people the opportunity to connect with the farmers that feed them and explore the diverse and wonderful ways that people are growing food in our city. This year's theme is "Get Your Grow On!" with hopes to inspire YOU to get out, get engaged, and find a way to grow, eat and advocate for more fresh, healthy food in our city.
On Saturday & Sunday, June 25th & 26th, thirty-eight urban farms, community gardens, school gardens, and urban homesteads across the metro area will be open to the public from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. with live music, cooking demonstrations, and children's activities lined up throughout the weekend.
If you are interested in volunteering during the pre-tour events or the weekend of the tour, please fill out this form<http://click.icptrack.com/icp/relay.php?r=41857612&msgid=139061&act=1X33&c=834947&destination=https%3A%2F%2Fspreadsheets.google.com%2Fviewform%3Fhl%3Den%26formkey%3DdEFhOFRiSHdDbmtHQWJUbjNiUGtMYVE6MQ%23gid%3D0> and our volunteer coordinator will be in touch with you shortly.
Visit our website<http://click.icptrack.com/icp/relay.php?r=41857612&msgid=139061&act=1X33&c=834947&destination=http%3A%2F%2Furbanfarmstourkc.com%2F> for farm biographies, a tour map, complete pre-tour event descriptions, bike tour maps and details, and all tour updates!
Special thanks to our Major Harvest sponsors: UMB Big Bash, DST Systems, and Boulevard Brewing Company, and to all of our generous sponsors for making this event possible and supporting the vision of growing and eating fresh, healthy food in our city's neighborhoods.
Janet Brown Moss,
BridgeWorks
email: janetbridgeworks at sbcglobal.net<mailto:janetbridgeworks at sbcglobal.net>
News and Alerts
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How to Rate Obama on Afghanistan
Monday, May 30, 2011 at 10:00PM by Tom Hayden
http://tomhayden.com/home/how-to-rate-obama-on-afghanistan.html
President Obama will announce troop withdrawal plans for Afghanistan in the coming weeks. (Image / PJRC)Do you know that President Obama is making his most important decision of the Afghanistan War? What will you do about it?
In the next few weeks Obama will announce his decision about how many American troops to pull out of Afghanistan between this July and the November 2012 election. Though the dynamics of war can change, there will be no further administration proposals on troop numbers after this big one. From July forward, it will be all presidential campaigning.
Since there is no single organization that commands the allegiance of millions of anti-war voters, the final judgment on whether this president deserves re-election will be made in a very decentralized process of personal decision-making. The peace bloc therefore counts, in terms of vote totals, registration, turnout, and volunteer turnout.
Only by being informed, active and critical can the peace bloc ensure that Obama works to get our support.
Here’s a way to rate Obama on these issues.
Obama has promised to “begin” American withdrawals in July and intends to end any U.S. combat role by 2014. It all comes down to these scenarios
SCENARIO 1. A token withdrawal of 10-15,000 troops starting this July. This is the Pentagon’s agenda, say no more. If this is all Obama promises, he will lose the support of the entire peace bloc, though some may vote for him on other grounds.
SCENARIO 2. A withdrawal of 30-33,000 troops to pre-surge levels. This would return U.S. forces to their numbers when Obama took office in 2009. In his presidential review that year, Obama gave his generals the additional troops they were demanding, but only with a promise that the surge would be limited in duration. Scenario 2 would split the peace vote between those seeing it as a “step in the right direction” versus those considering it more lives and tax dollars wasted for nothing. After four years, Obama would have the same number of troops on the ground as the day he was inaugurated.
SCENARIO 3. A withdrawal of 50,000 or more troops, reflecting the demand of the Democratic National Committee for a significant and substantial withdrawal by 2012. While this still would prolong the war by still leaving 50,000 US troops in Afghanistan, it would free up $60-80 billion for domestic uses, break the dynamic of the Long War, and motivate a more urgent drive towards a diplomatic exit strategy, including talks with the Taliban. Though far from perfect, this scenario would win substantial support from the peace bloc of voters.
SCENARIO 4: Complete withdrawal by 2012, and a transfer of funds to domestic priorities. This is the essential position of the broad peace and justice movement. It also appears to have broad support in opinion polls. It is consistent with Barbara Lee’s position, though with a specific deadline. Without its advocacy, the moderate #3 policy of withdrawing 50,000 troops becomes the “extreme” end of the spectrum.’
More> http://tomhayden.com/home/how-to-rate-obama-on-afghanistan.html
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From: m rector >
Date: Wednesday, June 1, 2011, 6:49 PM
Debtucation - student debt is now larger than credit card debt
The U.S. college system draws people into large debts (“Debtucation“) and student debt is now larger than credit card debt in the U.S. It is the U.S. government itself that has made college education so expensive by offering student loans to anyone who can fog a mirror but again they have shown their intentions by making student loan debt the only debt which cannot be forgiven. A 2005 decree from the Bush Administration stated that student loan debt could not be dissolved through bankruptcy proceedings. The only other scenario where this “no-escape” clause exists is debt from criminal acts and debt from fraud. In other words, student loan debt is seen, by the US Government, as being similar to proceeds from crime!
What will this mean with more young Americans in student loan debt than any other time? It’s anyone’s guess but it would not be out of the realm of possibility to force students who cannot pay off their debt into the military to repay their debt.
And with the US military with 800 military bases worldwide with US military personnel in 156 countries and US Military bases in 63 countries and currently occupying or attacking Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya and with other drone operations in places like Yemen and Pakistan, the US is all but ensuring that it is screwing around in enough places to eventually draw in one of the big boys. Russia, China or Iran.
And, hey, we Gotta Support the Troops, right
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Published on Thursday, June 2, 2011 by CommonDreams.org<http://www.commondreams.org>
War Is Peace. Freedom Is Slavery. Ignorance Is Strength. Tax Cuts Generate Revenue
by Paul Buchheit<http://www.commondreams.org/paul-buchheit>
The political system may be different from Orwell's time, but the corruption and propaganda remain. We all have to 'sacrifice' to balance the budget. As Time Magazine wailed<http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,2067967,00.html>: "Do the nation's leaders have the courage to cut health entitlements or Social Security?" And the horses say, "We will work harder."
But the wealthiest individuals and corporations are not paying their taxes. They say they are. The richest Americans complain that they're paying most of the federal income taxes, and that's true. But since 1980 their AFTER-TAX share of America's income has TRIPLED<http://www.taxfoundation.org/news/show/250.html>. That's a trillion dollars a year in extra income for the wealthiest 1%. Their federal income tax rate has gone DOWN during that time, from 34% to 23%.
If they're paying most of the federal income tax it's because they make almost all the money.
The wealthiest 125 U.S. corporations, meanwhile, paid only 10% in U.S. income taxes last year<http://www.payupnow.org/>. They claim that a lower tax rate will generate more tax revenue.<http://www.heritage.org/research/reports/2003/08/the-historical-lessons-of-lower-tax-rates>
Move> http://www.commondreams.org/view/2011/06/02-2
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Informative Videos
Bill Moyers: 'Journalism Undermines Itself by Putting Opinion over Reporting'
http://www.commondreams.org/video/2011/06/02-0
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How Police Brutality Helped Spain’s 15-M Protests
by Guy Hedgecoe
In recent days, music fans and political activists in Spain have been remembering Gil Scott-Heron, the singer-songwriter who died last Friday. The ongoing sit-ins and protests that started across Spain in the lead-up to May’s local elections<http://iberosphere.com/2011/05/spain-news-a-lurch-to-the-right-that-cost-zapatero-dear/2901> have seen inevitable links being drawn between Scott-Heron’s anthem The Revolution Will Not Be Televised and the 15-M/Democracia Real Ya movement<http://iberosphere.com/2011/05/spain-news-15-m-spain%E2%80%99s-lost-generation-find-a-voice/2884>. But the day after Scott-Heron’s death, when the TV showed images of Catalonia’s mossos d’esquadra local police force brutally charging into a crowd of unarmed, peaceful demonstrators in Barcelona, it seemed more fitting to think of another seventies cultural touchstone: Stanley Kubrick’s A Clockwork Orange.
Another day at the office for Barcelona's 'mossos' police. Since their re-founding as a modern regional force in the early 1980s, the mossos have racked up a long record of complaints at their brutality and inappropriate behaviour, whether it’s the handling of suspects, controlling demonstrations, or simply being an intimidating presence on Catalonia’s streets. (Iberosphere) Perhaps the mossos are such ardent fans of Kubrick’s work that they decided to commemorate the film’s 40th anniversary with a show of senseless brutality of their own. Alex DeLarge, A Clockwork Orange’s ultra-violent anti-hero, would have been proud of the truncheon-wielding zeal of the Catalan police on Saturday. But the only snag is that the mossos’ brutality is not restricted to anniversaries of Kubrick films; it’s become a disturbing habit.
More> http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2011/06/02-3
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Published on Thursday, June 2, 2011 by Salon.com<http://www.salon.com/news/libya/>
The War in Libya Growing More Illegal by the Day
by Glenn Greenwald
To the extent that the War Powers Resolution (WPR) authorized President Obama to fight a war in Libya for 60 days without Congressional approval -- and, for reasons I described here<http://www.salon.com/news/opinion/glenn_greenwald/2011/05/19/libya>, it did not -- that 60-day period expired 12 days ago<http://www.alternet.org/newsandviews/article/594145/under_the_war_powers_act,_obama%27s_authority_to_act_in_libya_expires_today/>. Since that date, the war has been unquestionably illegal even under the original justifications of Obama defenders, though I realize that objecting to "illegal wars" -- or wars generally -- is so very 2005. After making clear that they intended to contrive<http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/13/world/africa/13powers.html?_r=1> "some plausible theory" to justify this illegal war, the White House finally settled on the claim<http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/2011/05/white-house-on-war-powers-deadline-limited-us-role-in-libya-means-no-need-to-get-congressional-autho.html> that the war in Libya -- despite featuring substantial U.S. military action with the goal of destroying a foreign army and removing that nation's leader -- is too small and limited to be a real "war" under the Constitution and the WPR.
Libyans attending Friday prayers near the courthouse in Benghazi. "Waging a war for 74 days without Congressional approval is illegal enough," writes Greenwald. "Doing so when there is a growing bipartisan movement in Congress to compel an end to the war -- rather than approve it -- is even worse." (Photo: REUTERS) Even the White House seemed to recognize the absurdity of that excuse -- the WRP explicitly applies<http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/html/uscode50/usc_sec_50_00001543----000-.html> "in any case in which United States Armed Forces are introduced (1) into hostilities" -- and the President thus subsequently requested a Resolution from Congress approving the war<http://thehill.com/homenews/administration/162489-obama-asks-congress-for-a-resolution-of-support-on-libya>. That authorization, however, never came, and now it seems that Congress is closer to doing the opposite: approving a bipartisan bill opposing the war<http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/as-house-gop-leaders-fend-off-vote-on-libya-resolution-antiwar-sentiment-simmers/2011/06/01/AGYO1lGH_story.html>:
On Wednesday, 74 days after U.S. forces joined the military operation in Libya, President Obama seemed to run out of goodwill on Capitol Hill.
A group of both liberals and conservatives -- defying the leaders of both parties --- threw their support behind a bill to pull the U.S. military out of the Libya operation. That prospect led GOP leaders to shelve the bill before it came to a vote. . . .
On Wednesday, the bill at issue was far more drastic. Introduced by Rep. Dennis J. Kucinich (D-Ohio), it would demand that Obama withdraw forces from the Libyan operation within 15 days. That would be a crippling loss for the NATO-led campaign, which relies heavily on U.S. air power.
More> http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2011/06/02-5
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Published on Wednesday, June 1, 2011 by The Atlantic<http://www.theatlanticwire.com/politics/2011/06/house-blocks-vote-libya-kucinich-over-fears-might-pass/38380/>
House Blocks Vote on Kucinich Libya Bill Over Fears It Might Pass
by Elspeth Reeve
House Republicans postponed a Wednesday vote on Rep. Dennis Kucinich's resolution to end U.S. involvement in the bombing of Libya because they were afraid it would pass. Speaker John Boehner thinks the legislation--which would take effect 15 days after it's adopted--would hurt the NATO mission to topple Muammar Qaddafi, Politico's John Bresnahan and Jonathan Allen<http://dyn.politico.com/printstory.cfm?uuid=98D25101-BCC5-48F5-8088-FB11FF3ACCEE> report. Republican Dan Burton, a co-sponsor of the resolution, is urging an up-or-down vote on the resolution--sort of like Tuesday's vote on raising the debt limit, which GOP leaders held a vote<http://www.theatlanticwire.com/politics/2011/05/house-hold-vote-debt-limit-without-spending-cuts/38313/> on only because they were sure it would fail. (Likewise, last week Senate Democrats forced<http://www.theatlanticwire.com/politics/2011/05/paul-ryan-wont-back-down-medicare/38152/> moderate Republican senators to vote on Rep. Paul Ryan's Medicare overhaul just to force moderate senators to vote on it. It failed, as expected.)
House Republicans postponed a Wednesday vote on Rep. Dennis Kucinich's resolution to end U.S. involvement in the bombing of Libya because they were afraid it would pass. (Reuters) GOP leaders' official reason for pulling the measure is that they need to "compel more information and consultation" from the Obama administration.
More> http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2011/06/01-10
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Ira Harritt
KC Program Coordinator
American Friends Service Committee
816 931-5256
iharritt at afsc.org
http://afsc.org/office/kansas-city-mo
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