Aboriginal News Group

Health Results Shock Maori Party

2009-11-06T21:37:00.000-08:00

Scoop:

Press Release: The Maori Party

Nelson/Marlborough Health Results Shock Maori Party

Hon Tariana Turia and Rahui Katene

Thursday 5 November 2009

Results from a report examining the lifestyles of Maori in 150 Nelson and Marlborough households have shocked Maori Party co-leader Tariana Turia and local member Rahui Katene.

The research, involving 187 Maori adults and 135 children, has revealed an inferior quality of care being provided by family doctors.

“A result which really stood out was the finding that while more than 80% of Maori adult had visited a GP in the year of the survey; only 15% were aware that the cholesterol level in their blood was high” said Mrs Turia.

"Despite this, when the study tested these same adults a massive 80% had recommended levels of cholesterol; 13% of these were high risk".

"This is a level of negligence and professional indifference which cause me great concern" said Mrs Turia. "Something is going drastically wrong if GPs are failing to test Maori for cholesterol and insulin resistance as a matter of course – particularly given the high levels of obesity reported in the study".

"I'm very concerned that it appears Maori living in Marlborough and Nelson are not receiving the quality of care we should expect our health system to deliver" said Mrs Katene.

"We are often told that Maori are not accessing the health system – but this report tells us something different. It reports high levels of access to health services from Maori but poor quality of care once they get there".

"I don't find the judgemental attitude of Board Chair, John Moore, at all helpful" said Mrs Katene. "His comments about Maori having enough money to buy cigarettes appears to place all blame for poor health outcomes on Maori themselves, without also recognising the accountability required from family doctors".

"Our people need support to address addictions and to address lifestyle issues, not pointed fingers and blame" ended Mrs Katene.

The report from Massey University's Research Centre for Maori Health and Development found

· Between 33% and 49% of adult Maori tested were insulin-resistant, indicating a risk of diabetes.

Half the adults smoked, including two thirds of mothers, half of these during the first year of their child's life or during pregnancy;
Three-quarters of adult Maori were overweight and at risk of cardiovascular and other diseases

ends

Michigan woman imprisoned by Israel

2009-11-06T20:48:00.000-08:00

Image via Wikipedia

Scoop: "Press Release: Palsolidarity

Michigan woman imprisoned by Israel following settler take over of Palestinian home

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Imprisoned American citizen and Michigan resident Ahlam Mohsen to be deported to the US after being arrested in a Palestinian home taken over by Israeli settlers in Occupied East Jerusalem.

Ahlam was a guest of the al-Kurd family when on the morning of 3 November 2009 Israeli settlers burst in and seized part of the building. Contrary to eyewitness accounts, the police claim the 21- year-old attacked them.

From the Givon prison in Ramle where Ms. Mohsen is currently awaiting deportation she reported that: “The Israeli police were violently pushing an elderly Palestinian woman. So I stepped in front of them. They told me to move and when I refused they started forcefully pushing me. Then they grabbed me and carried me into a police van. While I was waiting at the Israeli Ministry of Interior, the police officers kept telling each other that I was a ‘dirty Arab’ and introducing me as 'Osama Bin Laden’s sister'. One of them, threatened to ‘break my head’. None of the other non- violent demonstrators were targeted; the way they treated me, it’s obvious that I was arrested because I’m of Arab descent.”

The 40 settlers, accompanied by private armed security and Israeli police forces, entered a section of the home, threw out the family’s belongings and locked themselves in.

The take-over came after an appeal submitted by the family's lawyer was rejected by the District Court. In their appeal, the Palestinian family was challenging an earlier court decision that deemed a section of the house illegal and ordered that the keys be given to settlers. The settlers proceeded to enter the house, while the court did not grant them the right to enter the property.

The al-Kurd home was built in 1956. An addition to the house was built 10 years ago, but the family was not allowed to inhabit the section because the municipality refused to grant them a building permit. Visibly unequal laws are used to make it possible for settlers to move into a home where it was declared illegal for Palestinian residents to inhabit. The Israeli authorities exercise their abilities to demolish and evict Palestinian residents, while ignoring building violations from the Israeli population in East Jerusalem.

The al-Kurds have become the fourth Sheikh Jarrah family whose house has been occupied by settlers in the last year. So far, 60 people have been left homeless. In total, 28 families living in the Karm Al- Ja'ouni neighbourhood of Sheikh Jarrah, located directly north of the Old City, face imminent eviction from their homes. See video: http://edition.cnn.com/video/#/video/world/2009/11/03/hancocks.fight.for.jerusalem.cnn

ends

Africa Action Applauds Decision to Lift HIV Ban

2009-11-06T20:46:00.000-08:00

Scoop:

Africa Action Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Africa Action Applauds U.S. Decision to Lift HIV Travel Ban, Calls for Sustained U.S. leadership on Global Health Ahead of Global Fund Board Meeting

Friday, November 06, 2009 (Washington, DC) – Africa Action congratulates President Obama and the administration’s leadership in lifting the 22-year-old HIV travel and immigration ban in the U.S. Reducing stigma and discrimination associated with HIV is an integral part in the fight against HIV/AIDS and the promotion of human rights internationally.

Ahead of this weekend's 20th Board Meeting of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, it is vital that the U.S. fulfill its commitment to fight HIV/AIDS and fully fund The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.

Last year, the Board approved 94 new grants worth $2.75 billion over two years to support programs fighting the three diseases and it was the largest round in the history of the organization, well over twice the size of any previous round. However, this year the Fund is facing a severe funding gap in the midst of a global financial crisis.

Gerald LeMelle, Executive Director of Africa Action said, "While lifting the travel ban was a positive step forward, President Obama must now sustain his commitment to fight HIV/AIDS and fulfill the U.S. obligation to fully support the Global Fund"

The Global Fund is a public-private partnership; funding grants that are designed to counter AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria. It has become the main source of finance for global health initiatives. To date, the Global Fund has committed $15 billion in grants to 140 countries, saving approximately 2.5 million people from diseases.

Michael Stulman, Associate Director of Policy and Communications said, "The Global Fund has proved to be a very effective tool in the fight against AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria. Unfortunately, the financial crisis has slowed down donor country's willingness to fill the gap and achieve the goal of universal access to treatment in 2010."

The Global Fund's budget for the fiscal year 2011 calls for approximately $5.25 billion to finance ongoing grants and secure the Round 10 grant cycle. The $5.25 billion request is to satisfy the $2.5 billion needed for grant renewals and the estimated $2.75 billion to fund new proposals in Round 10. Africa Action's updated talking points on the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria calls for the U.S. to contribute its fair share: a minimum of $1.75 billion.

Africa Action highlights an urgent call from over 50 Francophone African civil society organizations, demanding that their political representatives put forward a new resolution to the Board on the following issues:

· To set up an exceptional procedure which would allow countries which were refused from round 8 and 9 to present a new proposal within 4 months so that these countries would avoid going from an emergency health situation to a catastrophe.

· Set up a round 10 in 2010, which would be open to all countries without restrictions.

Read the civil society letter regarding decisions currently being made at the Global Fund Board Meeting here. For French, click here.

For more information and all the latest analysis on global health, please visit www.africaaction.org/ or read the civil society report, "The Future of Global Health: Ingredients for A Bold & Effective U.S. Initiative"

[Abahlali] WDF Protest, Durban. Friday 6 November

2009-11-05T12:53:00.001-08:00

Image via Wikipedia

The Wentworth Development Forum will be marching in protest tomorrow. Abahlali baseMjondolo (AbM) will be sending a delegation to support the protest. For comment on support for this protest by AbM contact Mnikelo Ndabankulu on 079 745 0653.

CALLING THE COMMUNITIES

COMMUNITIES FROM ALL OVER DURBAN WILL BE PROTESTING BECAUSE OF A LACK OF SERVICE DELIVERY FRIDAY 6^TH NOVEMBER

The communities of South Durban and other parts will no longer sit idle while its fundamental rights are compromised. Like other communities, we have rights to decent housing, redevelopment, affordable electricity rates, ownership of long rented and paid for units, affordable rent, proper recreational facilities, a pollution free environment and a right to be listened to when we voice our views. The South Durban community are strongly concerned with the lack of housing delivery for the overcrowded of their community. They are worried with the fact that the flats they presently live are not upgraded and maintained yet the municipality and Provincial Housing wants to transfer to ownership.

ESKOM and the eThekwini municipality has recently as 1^st July2009 increased the electricity and water tariff’s to unaffordable rate and since then we have seen communities deprived of water and lights. Further tariff increases by Eskom will affect the poor and marginalized which will result in an increase in electricity cut offs to their homes.

On 6 November 2009, the South Durban community together with sister organizations and communities will lead a march to the City Hall after which it will proceed to the offices of the provincial housing department to issues memorandums to both these government structures. We will also be sending a letter to the Department of Social Welfare and Development demanding that all pensioners be exempt from paying tax and bank charges. Our list of demands to the provincial and metro governments is the following:

MEMORANDUM OF GRIEVANCES

We the community of Wentworth gathered here today hereby demonstrate our anger and disappointment with the following:

1. The water and electricity bills that are extremely exorbitant thus being unaffordable to the pensioners, the grant earners, the poor and unemployed;

2. The bellicose attitude adapted by the EThekwini Metro council in dealing with the Barracks community and the arrogance that council displayed when it refused to entertain any further discussions regarding the Lansdowne project. Remember that Nigel Gumede told the community to go to hell and threatened to allocate people from outside Wentworth in the Lansdowne project which was intended for the Barracks community;

3. Lack of provision of basic services like:

3.1 Street cleaning

3.2 Cleaning of parks and repair of recreational facilities;

3.3 Refuse removal

4. Threatening to rezone residential land in order to extend pollution

We therefore demand the following:

a) The reduction of water and electricity costs as basic human necessities so as to make it available and affordable to all in line with the provisions of the constitution of the Republic of South Africa, Act No 108 of 1996 as amended from time to time;

b) That there be a meeting between the WDF/Barracks Committee and Metro representative (housing) as a matter of urgency to discuss the Lansdowne Road project further;

c) That we be given written guarantees that basic services shall be provided and that a task team consisting of Metro staff and members nominated by the community be established to monitor the provision of the basic services;

d) That the plan of rezoning the residential land in order to provide Engen with more land be abandoned forthwith

For Further information or transport: Call Desmond D’Sa cell 0839826939.

A People United will never be defeated

Desmond D'Sa

SDCEA Co-Ordinator

Tel: 031 461 1991

Cell: 083 982 6939

Mail: sdcea3@mail.ngo.za

--
Uyishayile!

To view the short video by Umhlanga Rocks on the attack on Abahlali baseMjondolo in the Kennedy Road settlement visit http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-8gQv19cD4Y

Abahlali baseMjondolo, together with with Landless People's Movement (Gauteng), the Rural Network (KwaZulu-Natal) and the Western Cape Anti-Eviction Campaign, is part of the Poor People's Alliance - a national network of democratic membership based poor people's movements.
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Abahlali baseMjondolo http://www.abahlali.org

Khayelitshastruggles http://www.khayelitshastruggles.com/

Western Cape Anti-Eviction Campaign http://antieviction.org.za/

To contact Abahlali baseMjondolo in Cape Town please email abmwesterncape [at] abahlali.org or phone Mzonke Poni on 073 246 2036

To contact the Western Cape Anti-Eviction Campaign, also in Cape Town, email aec [at] antieviction.org.za or phone Ashraf Cassiem at 076 186 1408.

To contact the Landless People's Movement in Gauteng email Bongani Xezwi at bongani.xezwi [at] gmail. com or phone Maureen Mnisi on 082 337 4514.

To contact the Rural Network in KwaZulu-Natal contact email ruralnetwork.kzn[ at] gmail.com or phone Reverend Mavuso on 072 279 2634.

AbM Facebook Group:http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=19659923423

AEC Facebook Group:http://www.facebook.com/pages/Western-Cape-Anti-Eviction-Campaign-AEC/8432492420

International Indigenous Peoples Forum on Climate Change (IIPFCC)-Statement on the Barcelona negotiations

2009-11-04T12:34:00.000-08:00

International Indigenous Peoples

Forum on Climate Change

Foro Internacional de los Pueblos Indígenas

sobre Cambio Climático

International Indigenous Peoples Forum on Climate Change (IIPFCC)

Statement on the Barcelona negotiations for outcomes in Copenhagen

Adopted in Barcelona, 02-06 November 2009

We, Indigenous Peoples, express our profound concern over the lack of political will and commitment of state Parties to conclude the climate change negotiations in Copenhagen with a legally binding agreements on ambitious emission reduction targets.

Indigenous peoples around the world are directly and critically impacted by climate change, and by any outcomes of the current negotiations. Climate change has a range of grave implications for the effective enjoyment of indigenous peoples' human rights, including food sovereignty, health, traditional/ancestral knowledge, rights to our lands, territories and resources, cultural integrity and wellbeing, among others. We have intrinsic contributions towards addressing the climate crisis through our traditional knowledge and customary resource management systems that have proven to be ecologically sustainable. It is then critically important, and a matter of life and death for indigenous peoples that any agreement on climate change must ensure the legal recognition of our human rights and the protection of our traditional knowledge to achieve a just and equitable outcome of the climate change negotiations.

We therefore call on all state parties and the global community to fulfill and respect their current commitments and outcomes from Copenhagen that must include the following:

1. A legally binding outcome in the form of an amendment to the Kyoto Protocol for the further commitment period 2013-2020.

2. A binding aggregate emissions reduction target for developed countries (Annex 1) of 49% below 1990 levels by 2020 and at least 95% by 2050.

3. Recognition that international human rights standards serve as a guide to tackle climate change, underscoring the fundamental, moral and legal obligations to protect and promote the full enjoyment of our human rights including our rights to lands, territories and resources, right to subsistence, food sovereignty, right of traditional knowledge and free, prior and informed consent, among others, as enshrined in the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

4. The full and effective participation of indigenous peoples in all climate change related processes at the global, national and local levels.

5. Ensure the direct financing to and by indigenous peoples and local communities for adaptation and mitigation measures.

6. Establishment of an Expert Group on Indigenous Peoples and Climate Change under the Conference of Parties (COP) of the UNFCCC, and under the Meeting of Parties (MOP) of the Kyoto Protocol, with indigenous expert members and the full and effective participation of indigenous peoples.

The survival of our peoples, the human family and Mother Earth is at stake. State Parties must stop obstructing real solutions. We have only one Mother Earth, and all Parties must fulfill their responsibilities and obligations.

IIPFCC, 4 November 2009

Demonstration in Solidarity with Six Nations Land Rights! | rabble.ca

2009-11-03T16:12:00.000-08:00

Submitted by IIN Investigative Blog-Journalist John John from rabble.ca:

*Saturday Nov. 7th -- Rally in Solidarity With Six Nations Land Rights!*

Rally at 1 PM, Victoria Park, (Corner of George St. and Darling St., Brantford). Potluck dinner and social to follow at 5PM at the reclaimed Kanata Village site.

Down with the Brantford Injunction!
No Developments on Six Nations Land!
Drop all charges against Six Nations land defenders!
Meaningful negotiations now!

Speakers include:

Aaron Detlor (Lawyer for the Haudenosaunee Development Institute)
Bev Crawford (Haudenosaunee Hoskanigetah)
Bill Squires (Mohawk Workers)
Chris Harris (Black Action Defense Committee, Toronto)
Dawn Martin-Hill (Dept. of Indigenous Studies, McMaster)
Jan Watson (Co-founder of Community Friends in Caledonia, CAW 555)
Janie Jamieson (Former spokesperson for the DCE Reclamation)
Jim Windle (Brantford TRUE)
Missy Elliott (Young Onkwehonwe United)
Phil Monture (Six Nations Land Claim Expert)
Ruby and Floyd Monture (Six Nations Land Defenders)
Steve Watson (CAW Educational Department)
Tim Reynolds (Brantford TRUE)
Tom Keefer (CUPE 3903 First Nations Solidarity Working Group)
Vince Gilchrist (Haudenosaunee Hoskanigetah)

(Note: Group affiliation in the brackets is for informational purposes only and does not necessarily indicate that the speaker is speaking on behalf of their group).
Brantford, Ontario has become "ground zero" in the struggle over Indigenous rights in Ontario. Most of the city is under landclaim, but instead of halting development until the status of the disputed land can be negotiated, Brantford city council is carrying out an aggressive policy of encouraging the criminalization of Six Nations land defenders. Since 2006, when protests in nearby Caledoniaerupted, over 60 people from Six Nations have faced more than 160 criminal charges as they have tried to peacefully stop illegal developments from taking place on their lands.

It is time for allies and supporters of Six Nations to stand up and bring pressure to bear on our governments and institutions in order to demand that they respect and honor the treaties and agreements we have made with Indigenous nations. The Six Nations Solidarity Network - a group made up of non-native activists from communities in and beside the Haldimand tract, is calling all supporters of Six Nations land rights to join us in a peaceful protest on Saturday, Nov 7th 2009, at 1pm in Brantford's Victoria Park (corner of Market St.and Darling St.).

The demonstration will march through Brantford and stop at a variety
of sites including:

* City Hall (where local politicians have criminalized Six Nations land rights through injunctions and arrests)

*MPP Dave Levac's Office

* Harmony Square (where Six Nations land is being expropriated to make room for the new YMCA)

* Indian Affairs Office

* Brant's Crossing (on the unceded Nathan Gage tract)

* Erie Ave at Birkett Lane (on the Eagles Nest tract and where Six Nations land defenders have most recently been charged).

At each of these stops, the demonstration will be addressed by speakers about the pressing issues relating to each stop.

The demonstration will conclude with a potluck and social which will begin at 5:00pm at the reclaimed Kanata Village Museum. The space is being made available by the Mohawk Workers. Bring food to share!

There are buses leaving from Toronto (11am from Keele Station), Kitchener-Waterloo, Guelph, and Hamilton. Carpooling is being organized from Paris, Caledonia, Oshweken, and other nearby cities and towns. To reserve a space on the bus or in a car, to endorse the demonstration or get in touch with the organizers, please email 6nsolnet@gmail.com. Visit 6nsolidarity.wordpress.com for more information.

This event is endorsed by Brantford TRUE, CUPE 3903 FNSWG, AW@L, CAIA York, OPIRG York, Upping the Anti, and is being organized by the Six Nations Solidarity Network which includes local environmentalists and activists from a variety of union locals including the CAW, CUPE and Steelworkers.

Double feature film fundraiser for mumia friday nov 6th

2009-11-03T16:03:00.000-08:00

Liberation - Forum

FRIDAY NOV 6 AT ST. MARY'S CHURCH, DOUBLE FEATURE FUNDRAISER FOR CIVIL RIGHTS CAMPAIGN EVENTS IN WASHINGTON FOR MUMIA ON NOV 12

For further information call 212-330-8029 or visit www.freemumia.com
Friday, November 6, 2009 7:00PM
St Mary's Episcopal Church
521 West 126th Street (btw. Amsterdam & Old Broadway) 1, A, B, C
or D train to 125th Street. Admission & Refreshments included $10.

"MOVE"
2004 Documentary
This film exposes the history of violence perpetrated by the city
of Philadelphia against the revolutionary organization MOVE,
as well as the struggle that continues today to free eight MOVE
members who have spent 30 years in prison for a crime that
they did not commit. The film is narrated by world-famous
historian Howard Zinn and made its debut at numerous film
festivals throughout the United States in 2004.

"IN PRISON MY WHOLE LIFE"n
2008 Documentary
A look at the life of imprisoned political activist and former Black
Panther member, Mumia Abu-Jamal, whose death sentence for
killing a police officer was overturned in 2001 due to errors made
during his original 1982 sentencing hearing. Mumia still faces
capital punishment because Lynn Abraham, the presiding DA is
appealing the case to the highest court in the land. It is likely the
death sentence will be overturned.

For further information call 212-330-8029 or visit [www.freemumia.com
Friday, November 6, 2009 7:00PM, St Mary's Episcopal Church
521 West 126th Street (btw. Amsterdam & Old Broadway) 1, A, B, C
or D train to 125th Street. Admission & Refreshments included $10.

__._,_.___

--Mumia is Innocent! Stop the Frame Up! Free Mumia!--

Free Mumia Abu-Jamal Coalition, NYC
P.O. Box 16, College Station, NY, NY 10030
212-330-8029, http://www.FreeMumia.com Free Mumia Abu-Jamal Coalition, NYC, info@FreeMumia.com__________________

MNN Uncharted Waters of Akwesasne

2009-11-03T15:56:00.000-08:00

UNCHARTED WATERS OF AKWESASNE

MNN. Nov. 2, 2009. Some things don’t change. Polar Inuit said in 1930: … white men have quite the same minds as small children. They are easily angered. When they cannot get their way, they are moody and, like children, have the strangest ideas and fancies. [Perkins, John. To the Ends of the Earth. Pantheon. NY. 1981].

The Defenders of the Land, a non-native organization, invited three women from the Akwesasne Peoples Fire to their Ottawa meeting on Saturday, November 1, 2009. About 35 non-native people were there. They walked to the Federal Court Building. A few said some words on the steps. One of the Mohawk women spoke for less than two minutes about the border issue at Akwesasne.

Suddenly about ten RCMP surrounded her, all non-natives. One pushed a cell phone at her and told her Major Turcotte, a non-native Aboriginal liaison officer, wanted to speak to her. Turcotte asked her if she had the permission of the Algonquins to be in Ottawa and that she had to ask Chief Commanda if she could visit the city. Otherwise she had no right to be there. It sounded crazy. She hung up and proceeded to Victoria Island. No non-natives were asked if they had authority to be in Ottawa.

Misinformation! Ottawa is on the south shore of the Ottawa River which is Haudenosaunee Territory. We never gave these squatters permission to be on our territory according to our law and protocol.

Sounds like another ridiculous scheme of CSIS [Canada Secret Intelligence Service] to intimidate, isolate and try to degrade us.

Jaggi Singh of Montreal is involved with the Defenders of the Land. He tried to organize our youth in Kahnawake to prop up their own causes without doing anything for us. MNN stopped associating with him. Singh became aggressive and rude. He acted like one of those heavily financed gatekeepers who pretend to be activists to divert the agenda. Recently allegations were made that cops were intimidating his organizations!!

The bewildered CBSA Canada Border Services Agency thugs have not been on Kawenoke Island [the island formerly known as Cornwall Island] since May 31, 2009. They fled when we didn’t want these foreigners to be armed for war in the middle of our community so they could shoot or bomb us. They fantasize that we will get tired of freedom and peace and go home!

The Mohawks now have a permanent building next to the empty Canada customs check point in the middle of Kawenoke.

The CBSA have set up a temporary shack on the north shore at the foot of the International Bridge. The Bridge tolls that were on Kawenoke Island are now on the bridge, which is utterly foolish and dangerous. If there’s an accident, don’t blame the Mohawks.

Canada must stop their criminality. Their confused border Gestapo have grabbed at least 40 vehicles from selected Mohawks. If we don’t report to them when they decide, they extort a $1,000 bounty without due process. These racist car jackings could be reported to the police and insurance providers as theft.

Another group trying to sabotage the Kaianereh’ko:wa [Great Law] are the Camel Toe Treaty people. Ahab the Arab [the sheik of the burning sand], his partner Fatima of the 7 Veils [without the rings on her fingers or bells on her toes] and some of their followers recently did something interesting. They apparently loaded the cement border marker on St. Regis Road and took it somewhere. Their emotionally charged internet guru and handler, Natasha, must have gushed.

Those turning their backs on the Kaianereh’ko:wa are committing treason [Wampum 58]. They are supposed to be banished from Onowaregeh [Great Turtle Island]. They’re also violating the Two Row Wampum by accepting another law, leaving the canoe and boarding the colonial ship. When will they get on their camels and leave?

Donations to finish the building are needed. www.akwesasnepeoplesfire.com. 613-937-1813.

Kahentinetha MNN Mohawk Nation News, www.mohawknationnews.com kahentinetha2@yahoo.com Note: Your financial help is needed and appreciated. Please send your donations by check or money order to “MNN Mohawk Nation News”, Box 991, Kahnawake [Quebec, Canada] J0L 1B0. Or go to PayPal on MNN website. Nia:wen thank you very much. Go to MNN BORDER category for more stories; New MNN Books Available now!

Native Youth Movement: Send the Olympic Torch Back to Europe! | No Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics On Stolen Native Land

2009-11-03T15:36:00.000-08:00

Confront Invasion: Protest 2010 Olympic Torch Relay

International Native Youth Movement (NYM) Statement
A call to Indigenous People and Supporters
Send Olympic Torch back to Europe!

Confront Invasion: Protest 2010 Olympic Torch Relay

106 Days of Action!

"We have this in common. We have a common oppressor, a common exploiter and a common discriminator. But once we realize that we have a common enemy, then we can unite--on the basis of what we have in common... "- Malcolm X, 1954

Indigenous Sisters band Brothers of the North, what the invaders call
KKKanada, for the next 106 days the Olympic Torch will run our Great Lands.
The Olympic torch, a flamed staff that represents white supremacy, is
running through Indigenous Nations and Territories, symbolizing their theft
and dominance of our Lands and Ways. For 106 days every Indigenous Nation
in these Lands has the opportunity to talk to the world about your issues
and show Unity between all Nations here who have a common oppressor, and
common Invader, KKKlanada (“Canada”). Let us Unite voices and show the
World we are a Proud and Independent People who will never Surrender our
Lands.

Not only is the Torch running our Lands, they are also going to get Native
people to participate in their evil ceremonies, KKKanada wants the world to
think Native people are compliant and even eager to be assimilated into the
white way of life.

We call on all Native Nations of the North to show the World we are Strong
and Dignified People, the Survivors of a 500-year old Holocaust that has
taken 250 million Indigenous lives, whose Lands are illegally occupied and
destroyed, who are a People who will never accept defeat.

Ever since their Invasion we have resisted, as this is written Indigenous
People are Blockading roads to prevent destruction, Original People are
still living on the Land not dependent on the Invading governments for
survival, only needing clean Land, Air and Water for Sustenance. The goal
of the Invaders is to make us fully dependent on them to survive, giving us
no choice but to live white, when we refuse we are arrested or murdered.

This is a unification call to the Proud and Strong Nations of the North, the
Songhees, Kwakwaka'wakw, Nuu-chah-nulth, Halkomelem, Cowichen, Tuchone
Tlinget, Inuit, Innu, Mohawk, Six Nation Conferderacy, Annishinabe, Cree,
Algonquin, MikM’aq, Maliseet, Wabanaki, Siskita, Dakota, Nakota, Stoney,
Dene, Gwich’in, Tahltan, Gitsan, Wetsuitan, Haisla, Nisga, Sekani, Dakelh,
Tsimshian, Nuxalk, Heiltsuk,Tsilcotin, Secwepemc, Nlaka’pamux, Okanagan,
Ktnuxa, St’at’imc, Stolo and all unmentioned Nations .

When the Torch passes through your Lands and communities, this is your
opportunity to let the world know what is happening in your Land, tell them
the true story and the real relationship between the Invaders known as
KKKanada and your Indigenous Nation. Let the world know the Land and Water
can never be sold, Natural Law is more powerful than man-made law, they fear
our Unity. Plan some form of action when the torch passes your area, stop it
or chase them to the edge of your Lands and let the next Nation pick up
where you left off. No evil Invader Torch on Native Land!

(Photos: Native Youth Movement set up anti-torch message on the Trans-Canada
highway, Secwepemc Territory.)

Native Youth Movement Warrior Society

NO OLYMPIC ON NATIVE LAND
SEE YOU IN 2010
NOS VEMOS EN 2010
RIOT 2010

Read on...

[Abahlali] Corruption continues at the N2 Gateway Flats. Residents demand the closure of the HDA!

2009-11-03T13:57:00.000-08:00

Press Release: 3 November 2009

We are in a crisis here. The HDA replaced Thubelisha, but still, nothing has changed.

As far as crime is concerned there remains many problems. This includes fraudulent activities of staff members who used to work for Thubelisha Homes but are now reporting to the Housing Development Agency (HDA).

One of the problems is that the lights in the corridors outside of our units are being stolen. No response to this has came from the HDA.

Also, on the 9^th of October, a resident named Thabo was hijacked at gunpoint at 23h55 in the evening in his own parking area. The hijackers even stole his closes leaving him naked. What surprised us as residents is that Thabo stays very close to the entrance gate in full view of the Flats' security guards. But guards claim not to have seen the incident. Thabo was not helped by the security guards with the company saying that the HDA is only paying them for access control and not to keep the Flats safe.

As the committee of the N2 Gateway Flats, we approached the senior security guard, Mr. Nobhatyi (073 878 6461) but only to find out that he had already tried to contact the N2 Gateway residents committee. Mr Nobhatyi told us that Bongani Bhele, the HDA caretaker of the N2 Gateway flats, prevented him from meeting with the residents. We also have evidence that Bongani is involved in a number of fraudulent activities here and therefore is trying to prevent residents and the security guards from working together.

We know that the underpaid security guards are not at fault. It is the corrupt people from the HDA who are preventing the security from being accountable to the community.

We have also approached the Langa Police seeking for their intervention. But as you know, they are always short of staff. We could not get much help...or should I say we could not get any help at all.

We approached the HDA directly because of various crime, fraud and mismanagement related issues.

We complained to the HDA about Bongani selling N2 Flats. We complained about people from outside the community being allowed in to kick the doors in and occupy many of the vacant flats. When confronted, these people told us that Bongani Bhele and someone named Eric asked them to pay a security deposit upfront. They claimed that Bongani and Eric would then disappear with the money leaving them without a flat.

The committee has helped one particular lady to write up an affidavit regarding this issue at the local police station. We have copies of her statement to show to anyone who is interested.

The HDA responded to our complaints by saying that there was nothing they could do because they 'did not have a mandate' to intervene. But it is their own people who are causing these problems!

We then approached the Housing MEC who came to meet with us on the 25^th of October. Mr. Figlan, a member of Parliament, accompanied him. But the meeting was not fruitful. He told us that “there is not much we can do. We are tied up as far as the N2 Gateway Pilot Project is concerned”.

Then on the 31^st of October in the early morning, a boy aged 19 was stabbed to death outside his own home while the security guards slept on.

Why must residents die? Who is next?

Why doesn't the government come talk to us so that we can come up with a solution to the problems that they have caused?

Why does the government always say their hands are tied when they are the ones who created the problems in the first place?

The residents of the N2 Gateway Flats are very angry because the government and the HDA have tried to avoid each and every problem with their housing project.

First it was the contractors cutting corners and issuing us with keys that opened everyone else's flats.

Then it was other problems of substandard housing and fraud. The auditor general found these problems. SCOPA found these problems. Even the Geneva based COHRE found these problems.

Now people are being attacked and even killed because the government refuses to work with us and solve the problems that they caused. The HDA is causing more problems and corruption. Its the same as Thubelisha Homes which preceded it. We didn't need Thubelisha and we don't need it the HDA.

Here is our call for government to finally intervene – meaningfully:

We, as the residents of the N2 Gateway Flats can manage our own community. We can create our own form of cooperative governance for our own community. And we can do it without corruption and mismanagement.

Contact the N2 Gateway Flats Committee for more information:

Luthando at 079 896 6126
Zongie at 082 438 9319
Nolundi at 073 229 2126

ENDS

Rights groups: UN General Assembly must adopt Goldstone recommendations

2009-11-03T13:34:00.000-08:00

ei:

Press release, various undersigned, 3 November 2009

On 4 November 2009, the Report of the United Nations Fact Finding Mission on the Gaza Conflict (Goldstone Report) is scheduled to be tabled before the Plenary of the UN General Assembly in New York. Following the Report's endorsement at the Human Rights Council on 21 October 2009, it now falls to the General Assembly to ensure that the Report is endorsed and its recommendations acted upon. The General Assembly must promote and support the primacy of international law in the necessity of ensuring justice and accountability for the war crimes and possible crimes against humanity that characterized Israel's assault on Gaza in December 2008-January 2009.

The Palestinian human rights community fully endorse the Report and urge the General Assembly to adopt each of its recommendations. We are calling for the GA to:

a) fully endorse the Report of the Fact Finding Mission on the Gaza Conflict;

b) urge the Security Council to endorse the Report, and to expeditiously pursue all accountability mechanisms presented therein; and report to the GA on the progress in this matter;

c) demand that credible internal domestic investigations and prosecutions be carried out by the parties to the conflict in accordance with international standards of impartiality, independence, promptness and effectiveness;

d) remain fully appraised of the matter until appropriate action is taken at the domestic or international level in order to ensure justice for victims and accountability for perpetrators;

e) establish an escrow fund for the purpose of compensating the victims of violations of international law committed during Operation Cast Lead;

f) request Switzerland to convene a conference of the High Contracting Parties to the Geneva Conventions to ensure its respect;

g) promote an urgent discussion on the use of munitions such as white phosphorous (as mentioned in the Report), and a moratorium on their use by Israel.

It is no less crucial that over the coming weeks and months, given the statements from several of the Permanent Member States of the Security Council that they will oppose consideration of the Report in that forum, that the issue be pursued by all appropriate international mechanisms and UN Bodies. Should the Security Council fail to ensure accountability as demanded in the Report, and by the victims, the GA should prepare for further action. The focus of the General Assembly and of the Security Council must at all times be on ensuring accountability for the crimes documented in the Goldstone Report.

The Palestinian Authority and Palestine Liberation Organization, as the representatives of the Palestinian people, must also strive to ensure full implementation of the Report. Palestinian advocacy and activism at the General Assembly is crucial in ensuring that lessons are learned from recent experiences which saw international legal obligations sidelined in favor of political expediency.

The international community of States, along with civil society, and the general public must stand firm and united in upholding the conviction that both State and non-state actors must respect international human rights and humanitarian law; that there is no peace and security without justice; and that accountability for violations of international law is fundamental.

Undersigned organizations: Adalah - Legal Center for Arab Minority Rights in Israel, Addameer, Al Dameer Association for Human Rights, Al-Haq - Law in the Service of Man, Al Mezan Centre for Human Rights, Badil Resource Center for Palestinian Residency and Refugee Rights, Defence for Children International-Palestine Section, Ensan Center for Human Rights and Democracy, Jerusalem Legal Aid Center, Palestinian Centre for Human Rights, Ramallah Center for Human Rights Studies, Women's Center for Legal Aid and Counselling

MNN Consensual Decision Making Process

2009-11-02T16:35:00.000-08:00

MNN. Oct. 31, 2009. The meetings in Kahnawake to set up a justice system are supposedly based on the decision making process of the Rotino’shonni:onwe. [Wampums 5 to 11, Kaianereh’ko:wa]. Our ancestors brought rational thinking to a principle. To keep our identity, we have to be free in body, mind and energy. We have to make up our own mind based on all the facts. There are many similarities in the nature based philosophies of all Ongwehonwe on Onowaregeh [Great Turtle Island] and beyond. These are the basic principles of our decision making process.

GOAL. The decision must be in the best interests of all the people. Consensus does not mean that all agree but that all understand the decision.

NOTE. Whatever ideas are put into the process, the needs and attitudes of each is considered and complements the decision. The individual has a duty to be directly involved, and to bring their ideas into the discussion within their clan. The final decision will be fully satisfactory to some, satisfactory to others and relatively satisfactory to the remainder, and will reflect elements from each group. This is a slow careful process requiring the reaching of a full understanding by each individual and not a decision made by a leader.

WAR CHIEF. Presides over the meeting to make sure that collective rational thought and behavior are followed.

CLANS. The people are divided into three clans: Bear, Wolf and Turtle. Each have 3 chiefs for a total of 9.

ASSISTANT WAR CHIEF. Each clan selects a temporary spokesperson called an Assistant War Chief.

WELL-KEEPER announces the subject for discussion and passes the issue over the Council Fire.

The three clans deliberate.

Then the Assistant War Chief either reports or asks questions or reports a final decision. If the Clans disagree or there is an error or the proceedings are irregular, the Assistant War Chief calls attention to it on behalf of his clan. They once again deliberate.

The issue is then passed by all three clans.

THREE CRITERIA.

When an issue is discussed, the clans consider the short term and long term pros and cons of the issue. Three criteria must be met:

1.PEACE. Does it preserve the peace that is already established?

2.RIGHTEOUSNESS. Is it morally correct? And

3.POWER. Does it preserve the integrity of the nation? What does it do for the present and how does it affect the future seven generations from now?

DURING DELIBERATIONS.
Each must follow the criteria of peace, righteousness and power at all times. Persons are asked throughout the process if they fully understand. If not, the process stops until this is accomplished. One cannot simply be stubborn and refuse to understand as they will be questioned.

Every Person has a responsibility to expand and exercise their minds. The forces of life have given the human being the potential to use the mind to create a better life through peace, power and righteousness.

In the decision-making process:

-all opinions have to be considered;

-all must be completely reasonable;

-all should come with an open mind;

-all must fully understand the other’s viewpoint;

-each participant cannot repeat a position once it has been fully explained and understood;

-if a person does not agree with the views that have been stated, they must fully explain their dissenting views;

-no one can impose their will nor make decisions for another;

-all must understand the viewpoint and agree of their own free will; and

-if there is no consensus, the consensus is to retain the status quo.

The Chiefs and the War Chief who preside over the meeting make sure that the Kaianereh’ko:wa and collective rational thought and behavior are followed.

All human beings are capable of rational thought, which leads to solving even the most difficult problem. The underlying philosophy is that human beings are loving, caring and wish to interact in a positive way. People cannot think clearly when they are in psychological plain, or have feelings of rage or lose hope. The process must bring us from despair to hope. We have to resist being manipulated or having decisions made for us or pacifying us. We all have a responsibility to develop our minds. To think is to create a sane world for the present and future generations, a world safe from the emotional, irrational behavior controlled by fear, hatred, greed, jealousy, suspicion and conflict. The main obstacle to our survival is fear.

We are a distinct nation with our own law, government, people and territory. We have to always assert this.

For more details: Horn, Kahentinetha. The Confusion Between the Great Law and the Handsome Lake Code. Mohawk Issues for Dummies Series. #2. The Longhouse Conflict in Iroquois Communities. MNN Mohawk Nation News. 2007. $20.
Hall, Karonhiaktajeh. Gayanerekowa. The Great Law of Peace As Brought to the Confederacy of the Iroquois By Dekanawida the Peacemaker. Ohontsa. 1993. $20. 6 hour video available. Book & video. $80.

[Abahlali] Open Letter to the Mayor: Broken promises of electricity in Blikkiesdorp formal shack settlement

2009-11-02T16:31:00.000-08:00

Image via Wikipedia

To: The Mayor – Dan Plato

From: Blikkiesdorp Anti- Eviction Campaign (Western Cape)

Subject: Installation of Electricity

It has become common knowledge that the government and politicians ignore the poor. Members of the Blikkiesdorp community have been trying to set up a meeting with Mayor Dan Plato for several weeks now regarding the installation of electricity in the area

Our first contact with Dan Plato occurred in May 2009. As has become customary for politicians, he arrived in our area with scores of bodyguards and great words of promise about how he was going to role out electricity in Blikkiesdorp Phase 1 and 2 by August 2009. As has also become customary with politicians, these words were a lie. Today, we are still standing without any electricity. In the mean time three shacks in Blikkiesdorp have burnt down because people have to continue to use paraffin for cooking. During these fires, sadly two people were injured. Added to this, at a public meeting, one community member also recounted how she is incurring serious health problems as she can’t refrigerate her insulin, which she needs to control her diabetes. So we continue to suffer.

Up until now we have tried to give Dan Plato the benefit of the doubt. We have continuously tried to make follow up appointments with Dan Plato about his promise to provide electricity. In September 2009, we contacted him to remind him of his promise and call him to a meeting. His curt response was that he was due to go on an overseas trip, but that he would make sure to set time aside for a meeting with us after the 15th of September 2009. Sadly, this promised meeting never happened as again his words turned out to be hot air.

This morning, 2nd of November, we once again contacted Plato to remind him of his promises. Again we asked for a meeting to discuss the issue of rolling out electricity in our area. This time round Dan Plato simply refused to meet with us. Sadly, this is yet another instance of the poor simply being brushed aside by politicians. First they dump us in Blikkiesdorp and then they ignore our outcries – ‘democracy’ South African style! So while Dan refuses to see us, shacks carry on burning and the sick become sicker. Clearly, Dan Plato doesn’t care - his plush Mayoral House, and the houses of the rich who he actually serves, have electricity!

Since Dan was not willing to help us we thought we would go straight to Eskom. Eskom was no more helpful than Dan. Eskom told us that the electricity poles, minus the electricity, that have been installed have been installed in the wrong places. They said these poles will have to be removed and maybe if we are lucky we will get electricity in 2010!. Are we actually to believe this?

We will not be ignored. We will also continue to contact Dan Plato and Eskom until we have our electricity. We call on all social movements, NGOs and unions to assist us by also contacting Dan at mayor.mayor@capetown.gov.za and Eskom at jacob.maroga@eskom.co.za. Power to the people in more ways than one!

For more information contact:

Willy at 073 144 3619
Marieta at 078 834 5339
Steven at 073 062 1309

Public meeting: Trade, labour mobility and development in the Pacific

2009-11-01T22:03:00.000-08:00

SPEAKERS:
Maureen Penjueli (Fiji)
Coordinator, Pacific Network on Globalisation (PANG)

John Salong (Vanuatu)
Director, Vanuatu Women’s Development Scheme (VANWODS)

The Australian government has been pushing for greater regional economic integration in the Pacific islands, and promoting a regional trade agreement known as PACER-Plus. But what will free trade and increased overseas investment mean for workers and local communities in the Pacific? What are the costs and benefits of increased labour mobility in the Pacific and seasonal work schemes which provide access for Pacific workers to the Australian and New Zealand labour markets?

Join us to hear from two leading campaigners for trade justice in the Pacific:

* Maureen Penjueli from Fiji is co-ordinator of the Pacific Network on Globalisation (PANG), which links regional community, church and women’s organisations to raise awareness about the social, cultural and economic impacts of PACER-Plus and free trade in the Pacific.

* John Salong from Vanuatu is director of the Vanuatu Women's Development Scheme (VANWODS), a non-government microfinance group, which provides disadvantaged women with access to credit and income earning opportunities. John has been active in the debate about remittances, seasonal labour mobility and development options for rural communities in Vanuatu.

6.00pm, Monday 16 November 2009

Meeting room 1, Ground floor, Trades Hall
(Corner Lygon and Victoria Streets Carlton – enter off Victoria Street)

For further information contact:
Gary Lee (Aidwatch) on (02) 95578944 or Nic Maclellan on 0421840100.

PLEASE CIRCULATE THIS NOTICE.. thanks!

Respect Māori rights in any new foreshore law

2009-11-01T19:48:00.000-08:00

Scoop:

Press Release: Green Party

2 November 2009

Respect Māori rights in any new foreshore law

It is crucial that any new foreshore and seabed legislation respects Māori customary rights, said the Green Party today.

“It is vital that Māori customary rights are protected under any new foreshore and seabed legislation. It is great news that the Foreshore and Seabed Act is likely to be repealed but what comes next is now the issue,” said Green Party Co-Leader Metiria Turei.

The Government is likely to announce a repeal of the Foreshore and Seabed Act later today.

“The National Party has an atrocious record on issues that effect Māori. For example, it opposes Māori being represented in Auckland and refuses to recognise the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples,” said Mrs Turei.

“I’m really worried that any new legislation that they develop will undermine Māori interests and access to justice.

“John Key is on the record as saying Māori ‘have had nothing taken off them’ by Labour’s Foreshore and Seabed Act. This is clearly untrue and if he still thinks this, then any new legislation he develops could spell trouble for Māori.”

The Green Party has always opposed the Foreshore and Seabed Act 2004 because it fails to provide environmental protection and is a confiscation of Māori customary title.

“We have argued from the start that Te Ture Whenua Māori Act should be amended to make sure that the foreshore and seabed land can never be sold. This would address the public concern that this treasured land could be sold to private interests,” said Mrs Turei.

For further details

Green Party submission to the Foreshore and Seabed Review Panel at www.greens.org.nz/node/20913

Hindus laud Hollywood star Ethan Hawke for supporting Roma cause in Romania

2009-11-01T19:39:00.000-08:00

Ethan Hawke via last.fm

For immediate release

Hindus have applauded Oscar nominated Ethan Hawke (Training Day) for supporting Roma cause in Romania.

Acclaimed Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada (USA) today, said that with celebrities like Hawke and Golden Globe winner Madonna (Evita) highlighting the Roma maltreatment in Europe, it would find an early solution.

Hawke was reportedly in Romania on October 31 to promote his mother’s charity supporting education for Roma children, for which he had been going to Romania since 2000. He reportedly praised entertainer Madonna for speaking about discrimination against Roma during her recent concert in Bucharest (Romania) which brought boos and jeers from thousands of her fans.

Zed, who is the president of Universal Society of Hinduism, pointed out that alarming condition of Roma people was a social blight for Europe and the rest of the world as they reportedly regularly faced social exclusion, racism, substandard education, hostility, joblessness, rampant illness, inadequate housing, lower life expectancy, unrest, living on desperate margins, language barriers, stereotypes, mistrust, rights violations, discrimination, marginalization, appalling living conditions, prejudice, human rights abuse, racist slogans on Internet, etc.

It was like an undeclared apartheid and it was almost total societal exclusion of Roma. The maltreatment of Roma was outside even the European Union norms. Roma issue should be one of the highest priorities of human rights agenda of Europe and world, Rajan Zed argued. According to a recent report of European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights, one in two Roma considered that they had been discriminated against, at least once, in the previous 12 months.

Hindu statesman urged other Hollywood and entertainment celebrities of the world not to stay apathetic and silent spectators and use their status to highlight the apartheid conditions faced by about 15-million Roma people of Europe. Many Hollywood and other entertainment bigwigs had successfully worked against South Africa’s apartheid in the past.

Rajan Zed further said that references to Roma people in Europe reportedly went as far back as ninth century AD. How many more centuries Roma had to reside in Europe to prove that they were “real and equal” Europeans like any other, Zed asked.

Ethan Green Hawke, 38, is an American film actor-writer-director. Roma are believed to have their roots in the Indian subcontinent.

###

UN Shocked As Displaced Yemenis Come Under Attack

2009-10-31T13:18:00.000-07:00

Scoop:

Press Release: United Nations

UN Agency Shocked As Displaced Yemenis Come Under Attack

New York, Oct 30 2009 4:10PM

The United Nations refugee agency said it is shocked and saddened at reports that an unknown number of displaced Yemeni civilians have been killed and wounded during an exchange of fire in the strife-torn northern part of the country yesterday.

The victims belong to a group of some 500 internally displaced persons (IDPs) who found shelter in Al Sam camp on the outskirts of Sa’ada city, one of the two remaining camps in the embattled area, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) said in a news release.

Some 150,000 people have been driven from their homes by sporadic fighting between Government forces and Al Houthi rebels in northern Yemen that resumed in mid-August.

According to UNHCR, civilians, including some 35,000 IDPs, in and around the city of Sa'ada remain trapped by the fighting and are unable to reach safer parts of the country.

"They live in dire conditions, facing extreme hardship as food and other commodities are running out and water is available only sporadically," the agency stated.

The UN has been calling for a ceasefire and the opening of humanitarian corridors in northern Yemen to allow civilians to leave the conflict zone and enable aid workers to deliver much needed assistance to thousands of IDPs.

UNHCR is also calling on Saudi authorities to offer safe shelter and assistance to vulnerable displaced Yemenis who may seek refuge across the border as they flee the heavy fighting.

Brazil: FAG premises raided by police - Anarkismo

2009-10-30T15:34:00.001-07:00

Brazil: FAG premises raided by police - Anarkismo: "Thursday, 29 October 2009, from 4.00 pm on

In this moment the Civil Police of Rio Grande do Sul under the command of the governor Yeda Crusius is searching the headquarters of the Federa�o Anarquista Ga�cha (FAG). The government's search warrant allows them to seize political propaganda material accusing the government of corruption, files regarding the World Bank loan and the murder of landless peasant, Eltom Brum. This is an act of pure provocation by the Ga�cho executive, which is tainted by corruption and unexplained situations, such as the death of Marcelo Cavalcante in February this year. We call upon the forces of the Ga�cho left to react in a more unified way to this outrage.

In solidarity,
Federa�o Anarquista Ga�cha

Translated by FdCA-International Relations Office

Related Link: http://www.vermelhoenegro.org/fag"

Collection Of Essays On African Traditional Religions/African Diasporic Religious Belief Systems

2009-10-30T15:25:00.000-07:00

Image by minusbaby via Flickr

Proposals are invited for an edited collection of scholarly essays and autobiographical essays on African Traditional Religions/African Diasporic Religious belief systems. The editors of this collection seek to explore the following questions (but are not limited to such queries): Who are ATR practitioners? How do they function in African Diasporic communities where Christianity and/or Islam religious practices are expected? Who is out of the "broom closet"? Should they be out of the "broom closet"? How do they define relationships, associations, and/or boundaries with other religious/cultural traditions—and where do boundaries become less certain? What are their intersections with other communities of faith or identity? How are ATR practitioners transforming discourses on communal and/or national ethics and morality, as well as complicating or challenging notions of cultural unity? How do literary genres such as speculative fiction, science fiction, and/or Afro-futurism create or expand discursive practices, as well as explore cultural performances of identities, transgressions and/or subversions of boundaries,borders, and traditions with regard to ATR?

Submitted proposals may explore but are not limited to the following areas of focus in their essays:

* GLBT involvement in ATR
* Youth and ATR
* Identity Politics and ATR
* Multiracial/Multicultural participation in ATR practices
* Orthodox/Non-Orthodox notions of ATR praxis/ritual, exclusionary politics
* Paganisms and ATR
* ATR and corporate workspaces
* Legal issues and ATR
* Sexism and ATR
* Gender and ATR
* ATR and Scientific/Medical discourse
* ATR and Science Fiction/Afrofuturism/Speculative Fiction

We seek autobiographical, creative, and academic submissions that tackle the complex ways in which African Traditional Religions frame these and other discussions. Abstracts are welcome from a variety of academic disciplines and perspectives.

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES: Abstracts: 250 words in length.
Deadline for Abstracts: February 28, 2010
Deadline for Complete Papers: June 30, 2010

Please submit proposals to Cherie Ann Turpin cturpin@udc.edu or cherieanntupin@mac.com or Anika T. Cazenave anikacazenave@yahoo.com

Cherie Ann Turpin, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Department of English
University of the District of Columbia
4200 Connecticut Avenue, NW Room 41/400-08
Washington, DC 20008 (202) 274-5625-office
Email: cturpin@udc.edu

Black Woman Faces 15 Years in Prison for Cutting Line at Walmart: KKK Threatens Her Family

2009-10-29T11:48:00.000-07:00

Monday, October 19, 2009
Black Woman Faces 15 Years in Prison for Cutting Line at Walmart: KKK Threatens Her Family

For Immediate Release

Please call (901) 413-0203 or email information@BoyceWatkins.com for interviews

Kennett, MO. – Heather Ellis, a young college student out of Kennett, MO is now facing 15 years in prison if she is sentenced after being accused of cutting line at a local Walmart. Her case has gotten the attention of the nation, and has been the subject of extensive online protests.

Heather was in a Walmart store 3 years ago with her cousin. The two split up to find the shortest line. Since her cousin was in the shorter line, Heather joined him. That's when the clerk accused Heather of cutting in front of the other customers. An argument ensued, leading to the manager and security guard being called, and finally the police.

The incident left Ellis, an honor student on her way to medical school, charged with disturbing the peace, trespassing and two counts of assaulting a police officer. After Heather refused to sign a plea agreement, Stephen Sokoloff, the town's prosecutor, filed felony charges against Heather.

Ellis goes on trial on November 15th and faces 15 years in prison. The community has expressed its outrage with rallies and protests, which have led to threats from the Ku Klux Klan. A police officer delivered a card to the family from the Klan and Heather's father believes that the officer's delivery of the card was part of a broader plot to intimidate the family. He also argues that Walmart should release the surveillance tape to show that his daughter is innocent.

Dr. Boyce Watkins, a prominent black professor at Syracuse University, has stepped in to become involved in Heather's case. Watkins, along with the Your Black World Coalition and National Action Network, have created a website, "SaveHeatherEllis.com," and have generated thousands of signatures in support of her case. He has also called for the prosecutor in the case, Stephen Sokoloff, to be investigated by the Justice Department.

"I have spoken with the family and other residents of the Kennett community, and the truth is that there does not appear to be justice for African Americans in this town," says Dr. Watkins, who appears weekly on the Al Sharpton Radio show. "This requires that the prosecutor be made to realize that his power is not omnipotent and that he cannot destroy lives at his own discretion."

Watkins is planning to participate in a rally to be held in Kennett at the courthouse near the date of the November 18th trial. The date and location for the rally have not been set, as the family has received resistance when attempting to get permits to hold rallies. For more information, you can visit SaveHeatherEllis.com or you can join the Your Black World Coalition by visiting www.YourBlackWorld.com.

Dr. Boyce Watkins is a professor at Syracuse University and Resident Scholar for AOL Black Voices. He is also the founder of the Your Black World Coalition. For interviews with Dr. Watkins or a family member of Heather Ellis, please call (901) 413-0203 or email information@boycewatkins.com.

###

John Shafer: [Noii-announce] Tomorrow! Resistance without Reservation]

2009-10-28T17:24:00.000-07:00

Image by Getty Images via Daylife

RESISTANCE WITHOUT RESERVATION!

As part of Indigenous Sovereignty Week and building resistance to the
Olympic Torch Relay, join us in an evening of powerful films, dignified
food, inspiring speakers, and rebel performers.

Thursday Oct 29.
Doors and food @ 6 pm
Event begins @ 6:30 pm
On facebook: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=133963917949

706 Clarke Drive (3 blocks south of Hastings)
Bus route #22, 10, 16, 20
Child-friendly. Bus tickets available

* Kat Norris: founder of Indigenous Action Movement and survivor of the
Kuper Island Residential School. Kat joined the American Indian Movement
and has been anl activist since. Most recently, she has been organizing
against police abuses and her biggest success is the Frank Paul Inquiry.

* Carol Martin: Nisga'a/Gitanyow and member of Downtown Eastside Elders
Council, Sweetgrass All Nations Healing Centre, and Feb 14th Memorial
March Committee. Carol is a long-time advocate and grassroots voice for
Indigenous peoples and for women and men in the DTES, especially in the
lead up to the Olympic Games.

* Dustin Rivers: a young and outspoken Skwxwú7mesh-Kwakwaka’wakw activist,
artist, and writer.He's had an obsession with history from a early age,
but also raised in a time of cultural re-generation, he uses his ancestors
legacy of political uprising to accomplish his vision of decolonization.

* David Dennis: Nu-Chan Lith Nation and President-Elect of the United
Native Nations. David was instrumental in the formation of the Native
Youth Movement and has been active in Indigenous land struggles and urban
Indigenous issues for decades.

* 'Writing the Land' (7 mins, Kevin Lee Burton): This 2007 film
meticulously combines film language with Hunkamenum words to recreate
Musqueam elder Larry Grant’s experience of rediscovering his language and
cultural traditions.

* 'Resist 2010' (15 mins, Burning Fist Media with no2010): A short,
fast-paced documentary focusing on the negative impacts of the 2010 Games
and the ongoing resistance by Indigenous & other social movements.

Defenders of the Land, a cross-Canada network of First Nations in land
struggle and fighting for Indigenous rights, has issued a call to organize
a cross-Canada week of educational events on Indigenous Rights and
Indigenous struggles from October 25-31, 2009. The purpose of this week is
to disseminate ideas of Indigenism and to contribute to building a
cross-Canada movement for Indigenous rights, sovereignty, and justice that
is led by Indigenous communities with a broad base of informed support.

As non-native multiracial supporters, we are allies of frontline
Indigenous communities who organize in defense of their land, freedom, and
autonomy. As a grassroots anti-racist and anti-imperialist migrant justice
group rising to liberation, No One Is Illegal strongly believes that our
movement must always be in active solidarity with self-determination
struggles of Indigenous communities who struggle across Turtle Island
against centuries of imposed racist, sexist, criminalizing, impoverishing,
and genocidal policies.

Our event is organized in this spirit of respect with the diverse
realities of Indigenous peoples to survive and resist, especially in the
face of our society's apathy, the normalization of colonialism, and
increasing state repression. We hope you will join us and we encourage
others to organize additional events and actions during Indigenous
Sovereignty Week. No Justice on Stolen Land!

Organized by No One Is Illegal-Vancouver, Coast Salish Territories.
For more information, email noii-van@resist.ca or call 778-833-4484
Visit http://noii-van.resist.ca

NO 2010 WINTER OLYMPICS ON STOLEN NATIVE LAND

2009-10-28T06:56:00.000-07:00

Petition

Submitted by John John:

--

The Olympics are not about the human spirit & have little to do with athletic excellence; they are a multi-billion dollar industry backed by powerful elites, real estate, construction, hotel, tourism and television corporations, working hand in hand with their partners in crime: government officials & members of the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

Colonialism & Fascism
The modern Olympics have a long history of racism, from its early founding members (i.e., Pierre de Coubertin, a French Baron who advocated sports as a means of strengthening colonialism) to recent IOC presidents. The 1936 Berlin Olympics empowered Hitler%u2019s Nazi regime. Both the 1988 Seoul and 2008 Beijing Summer Games helped legitimize authoritarian regimes in Asia. The 1968 Mexico City Olympics (where over 300 student protesters were massacred by soldiers, days before the Olympics began) also helped legitimize state terror. IOC President Avery Brundage, an infamous US racist and Nazi sympathizer, didn%u2019t even acknowledge the massacre. But when two Black US athletes raised their fists in a Black power salute on the medal podium, he had them immediately stripped of their medals and ejected from the Games! Another well-known fascist IOC president was Juan Antonio Samaranch (IOC president from 1980-2001), a former government official in Franco%u2019s fascist regime in Spain.

No Olympics on Stolen Land
BC remains largely unceded and non-surrendered Indigenous territories. According to Canadian law, BC has neither the legal nor moral right to exist, let alone claim land and govern over Native peoples. Despite this, and a fraudulent treaty process now underway, the government continues to sell, lease and %u2018develop%u2019 Native land for the benefit of corporations, including mining, logging, oil & gas, and ski resorts. Meanwhile, Indigenous peoples suffer the highest rates of poverty, unemployment, imprisonment, police violence, disease, suicides, etc.

Ecological Destruction
Despite claims to be the %u201Cgreenest Olympics%u201D ever, and PR statements about %u2018sustainability%u2019, the 2010 Olympics will be among the most environmentally destructive in history, with tens of thousands of trees cut down & mountainsides blasted for Olympic venues in the Callaghan Valley (near Whistler) & the Sea-to-Sky Highway expansion. In the summer of 2007, a record number of black bears were hit on the Sea-to-Sky Highway, with at least 11 dying (attributed to loss of habitat). Massive amounts of concrete used in construction have also caused millions of Salmon to die in the Fraser River, where tons of gravel are being mined to make concrete.

Homelessness
Since winning the 2010 Winter Games in 2003, Vancouver has lost over 850 units of low-income housing; during the same period, homelessness has increased from 1,000 to over 2,500. It is estimated by 2010, the number of homeless may be as high as 6,000. Since the 1980s, Olympic Games have caused the displacement of over 2 million people (Fair Play for Housing Rights report, 2007). In Seoul 1988, some 750,000 poor were displaced, in Atlanta 1996, over 30,000, and for Beijing in 2008, an estimated 1.5 million have been displaced. Yet still today Olympic officials talk about %u2018sustainability%u2019 and %u2018Olympic legacies%u2019!

Criminalization of the Poor
To %u2018clean out%u2019 the poor and undesirables, Olympic host cities routinely begin a campaign to criminalize the poor. In Vancouver, the city has launched Project Civil City and new by-laws to criminalize begging for money, sleeping outdoors, etc. It has also included hundreds of thousands of dollars for increased private security (i.e., the Downtown Ambassadors). New garbage canisters on streets make it more difficult for the poor to gather recyclables, and new benches make it impossible to lay down. These measures fit with government plans to remove poor downtown residents to mental institutions, %u201Cdetox centers%u201D on former military bases, and the %u2018fly-back%u2019 scheme by police to return persons wanted on warrants in other provinces. This is nothing less than a process of social cleansing!

Impact on Women
Events such as the Olympics draw hundreds of thousands of spectators and cause large increases in prostitution and trafficking of women. In Vancouver, over 68 women are missing and/or murdered. Many were Native, and many were reportedly involved in the sex trade. In 2007, the trial of William Pickton occurred for six of these murders, and he is to be tried for an additional 20 more. In northern BC, over 30 young women, mostly Native, are missing and/or murdered along Highway 16. The 2010 Olympics and its invasion of tourists and corporations will only increase this violence against women.

2010 Police State
Some 12,500 police, military and security personnel are to be deployed for 2010, including Emergency Response Teams, riot cops, helicopters, armoured vehicles, etc. The RCMP plan on erecting 40 km of crowd-control fencing along with CCTV video surveillance cameras. Special security zones will be established to control entry near Olympic venues. For 3 weeks, Vancouver will be an occupied Police State! And once the Olympics are over, there is no guarantee many of these security measures will not remain (i.e., CCTV).
Repression also involves attacks on anti-Olympic groups & individuals, including arrests of protesters, raids of offices, surveillance, media smear campaigns, cuts to funding programs, etc., all in an effort to undermine anti-2010 resistance. This repression has already been used against anti-poverty & housing groups, environmentalists and Natives, in Vancouver.

Public Debt
VANOC and government officials claim the 2010 Games will cost some $2 billion. However, this amount doesn%u2019t include the Sea-to-Sky Highway expansion, the Canada Line Skytrain to the airport, the Vancouver Convention Center, or the lower mainland Gateway Project. Including these costs, since they were necessary to win the bid and had to be completed by 2010, makes the true cost of the Games some $6 billion, which must be paid for through public debt, money that could%u2019ve been spent on social services, housing, drug treatment, healthcare, etc.

Olympic Corruption
The modern Olympics are well known for their corruption, including both top IOC officials involved in bribery scandals (i.e. Salt Lake City 2002) or athletes found to be using performance-enhancing drugs (such as steroids). Yet the IOC still claims the youth need an inspiration and a %u201Cmodel%u201D of good sportsmanship! Despite published reports of bribery scandals involving IOC members and host cities (i.e., The New Lords of the Rings, by Andrew Jennings), the Olympics continue to be seen as an honorable & noble enterprise, thanks to the corporate media.

Corporate Invasion
Government%u2019s and business use the Olympics as a means to attract corporate investment. In BC, the Liberal government has %u2018streamlined%u2019 application processes, cut taxes, and offered other incentives to increase certain industries such as mining, oil & gas drilling, and ski resorts. This includes large increases in transport systems, including new ports, bridges, expanded highways & rail-lines. This is all part of their Investment to 2010 Strategy. The results have been dramatic, record-breaking increases in these industries, resulting in greater environmental destruction and more corporate power & influence over our daily lives.

Many of the main corporate sponsors of the Olympics are themselves responsible for massive ecological destruction and human rights violations, including McDonalds, Coca-Cola, Petro-Canada, TransCanada, Dow, Teck Cominco, etc., while others are major arms manufacturers (General Electric & General Motors).

Please tell the Olympic Orgainizing Committee to give the Olympics the Spirit back as it ones was, a Spirit of athletic Excellence and human Spirit.

Please sign this Petition and share it with your Family and Friends.Thank you!

Democracy under Threat?:

2009-10-28T05:01:00.000-07:00

Centre for the Study of Democracy (CSD) invites you to a seminar entitled:

Democracy under Threat?:

What Attacks on Grassroots Activists Mean for our Politics

DEMOCRACY requires that the right to express ourselves in association with others be enjoyed by all, not only those who are well connected and visible. Constant allegations over the past few years that grassroots social movements who are critical of the government have been subject to police action denying them those rights are, therefore, a severe threat to the credibility of South African democracy.

Until now, the evidence has suggested that attacks on the rights of grassroots citizens to free political activity have been the work of local politicians seeking to protect their turf, not of regional or national politicians. Recent violent attacks on leaders and members of the shack-dwellers’ movement Abahlali baseMjondolo in Durban’s Kennedy Road settlement have, however, been publicly endorsed by ministers in the KwaZulu-Natal provincial government, raising the possibility that senior politicians are now endorsing attempts to suppress grassroots government critics. If these fears are accurate, democracy is under grave threat: if some are denied the right to express themselves, no-one can be sure that their rights and freedoms will be preserved.

The events at Kennedy Road and the repeated allegations that grassroots political activity is being suppressed therefore require careful scrutiny and analysis. We need to understand their implications for democracy and the steps which are needed to ensure that all are entitled to speak and to associate. The Centre for the Study of Democracy at Rhodes University and the University of Johannesburg will, therefore, host a seminar at which grassroots activists, scholars and human rights campaigners will discuss threats to free political activity and their implications.

Venue: Training Centre, 6th Floor, South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC)

Time: 9am to 3pm

Date: Wednesday, 4 November 2009

RSVP: Johnny Selemani – jaselemani@gmail.com / 073 553 0726

Kate Tissington – kate.tissington@wits.ac.za / 072 220 9125 (by Friday 30 October 2009)

Your browser may not support display of this image. Your browser may not support display of this image. Your browser may not support display of this image. Your browser may not support display of this image.

--
Uyishayile!

To view Elkartasun Bideak's collection of short films visit http://www.youtube.com/user/elkartasunbideak

To view 'From the Shacks to the Constitutional Court' visit http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y_T7OKD05Vw

To view an excerpt of 'A Place in the City' visit
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fr7h6aTQp5A

To view 'Dear Mandela' visit http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=caBo002T4eI

To find out more about 'When the Mountain Meets its Shadow', a new film about life and struggle in Cape Town, visit http://when-the-mountain-meets-its-shadow.com/

Abahlali baseMjondolo, together with with Landless People's Movement (Gauteng), the Rural Network (KwaZulu-Natal) and the Western Cape Anti-Eviction Campaign, is part of the Poor People's Alliance - a national network of democratic membership based poor people's movements.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Abahlali baseMjondolo http://www.abahlali.org

Khayelitshastruggles http://www.khayelitshastruggles.com/

Western Cape Anti-Eviction Campaign http://antieviction.org.za/

To join the contact list for the Western Cape Anti-Eviction Campaign, go to: http://groups.google.com/group/antieviction/subscribe

To contact Abahlali baseMjondolo please do not use this address - please use the contact form at: http://www.abahlali.org/contact.

AbM Facebook Group:http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=19659923423

AEC Facebook Group:http://www.facebook.com/pages/Western-Cape-Anti-Eviction-Campaign-AEC/8432492420

Everyone counts

Sekwanele!

[Abahlali] AbM talk on 'Democracy at the Brink of Catastrophe' at Rhodes University, iRhini

2009-10-28T04:57:00.000-07:00

Image via Wikipedia

The Faculty of Humanities together with the Women's Academic Solidarity Association at Rhodes University invite you to attend the following lunch time seminar:

Topic: Democracy at the Brink of Catastrophe

Speakers: Shamita Naidoo & S'bu Zikode

Abahlali baseMjondolo (AbM) is a shack-dwellers' movement that grew out of a road blockade in the Kennedy Road settlement in Durban in early 2005. It now has more than 10 000 paid up members in 54 settlements across KwaZulu-Natal and, also, in Cape Town. The movement campaigns for land and housing in the cities and to democratise society from below. It has actively organised against xenophobia and has recently succeeded in having the KwaZulu-Natal Slums Act declared unconstitutional in the Constitutional Court.

In the last month more than 30 of the movement's elected leaders have had their homes destroyed, 21 of its members have been arrested and many of its leaders are living in hiding. Public death threats continue to be issued against the movement's leaders. The movement insists that the attacks are backed by senior people in the ANC in KwaZulu-Natal. The ANC has denied this.

Shamita Naidoo and S'bu Zikode will speak on recent events and their significance for democracy in South Africa.

For more information
www.abahlali.org

Venue: Faculty of Humanities
Date: Friday 30th October 2009
Time: 1 - 2pm

ALL WELCOME!

--
Uyishayile!

To view Elkartasun Bideak's collection of short films visit http://www.youtube.com/user/elkartasunbideak

To view 'From the Shacks to the Constitutional Court' visit http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y_T7OKD05Vw

To view an excerpt of 'A Place in the City' visit
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fr7h6aTQp5A

To view 'Dear Mandela' visit http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=caBo002T4eI

To find out more about 'When the Mountain Meets its Shadow', a new film about life and struggle in Cape Town, visit http://when-the-mountain-meets-its-shadow.com/

Abahlali baseMjondolo, together with with Landless People's Movement (Gauteng), the Rural Network (KwaZulu-Natal) and the Western Cape Anti-Eviction Campaign, is part of the Poor People's Alliance - a national network of democratic membership based poor people's movements.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Abahlali baseMjondolo http://www.abahlali.org

Khayelitshastruggles http://www.khayelitshastruggles.com/

Western Cape Anti-Eviction Campaign http://antieviction.org.za/

To join the contact list for the Western Cape Anti-Eviction Campaign, go to: http://groups.google.com/group/antieviction/subscribe

To contact Abahlali baseMjondolo please do not use this address - please use the contact form at: http://www.abahlali.org/contact.

AbM Facebook Group:http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=19659923423

AEC Facebook Group:http://www.facebook.com/pages/Western-Cape-Anti-Eviction-Campaign-AEC/8432492420

Everyone counts

Sekwanele!

Action Alert: Madagascar's Protected Rainforest Hardwoods Continue to be Selectively Logged

2009-10-28T01:35:00.000-07:00

By Rainforest Rescue (Rettet den Regenwald) - October 28, 2009

NOTE: This is a protest, not a petition, sending emails to many real decision makers on matters vital to the Earth.

Post-coup illegal log and wildlife trade continues to threaten Madagacar's biodiversity rich rainforest remnants, ecological sustainability and future potential for national advancement. This great nation's precious hardwoods deserve CITES protections, to ensure selective logging of any sort in its primary old forests ends.

Caption: Resource anarchy continues to reign post-coup in Madagascar's rainforests (link)

Loggers and wildlife traders continue to violate Madagascar's biodiversity rich rainforests including protected areas. In March of this year controversy surrounding leasing of agricultural land resulted in a military coup. In the chaos that ensued, armed gangs funded by Chinese traders entered Madagascar's Marojejy and Masoala National Parks, two world-renowned World Heritage Sites, and logged rosewood, ebonies, and other valuable hardwoods. NGOs operating in Madagascar report continued armed, open and organized plundering of precious wood from several natural forests, including these parks.

Selective logging of precious old forest wood in Madagascar, such as rosewood and ebony, is known to be accompanied by increases in fire and hunting. There has been an intensified smuggling of wildlife species, especially reptiles such as tortoises, to the national and international markets. There has also been a proliferation of destructive practices such as illegal mining and slash-and-burn agriculture within protected and environmentally sensitive areas.

Only about 10% of Madagascar's marvelously rich and biodiverse rainforests, including about 100 species of lemurs, remain fully intact and standing. The vast majority of Malagasy people live in extreme poverty, malnutrition and even starvation. Madagascar's biodiversity is essential to the daily lives of the rural majority of the population, providing them with water, food and energy. These natural resources also underpin the agriculture, fisheries and tourism sectors. Illegal logging of precious woods has angered local communities by trampling on their beliefs and taboo.

Madagascar's rainforests are nearly gone, and selective logging is finishing what remains. Trade in Madagascar's rapidly dwindling precious rosewood and ebony hardwoods do not receive any protection under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). Extending CITES regulation to these species may be the only way to reduce unsustainable exploitation of precious wood in Madagascar. Otherwise, island wide ecological and social collapse appears inevitable. The situation highlights the importance of working to end protect and restore old forest logging globally, and continuing to confront those suggesting Sustainable Forest Management -- legal, certified or illegal -- is possible in primary forests. Old forests are life.

Follow this link to the petition.

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Democracy under Threat?:

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Action Alert: Madagascar's Protected Rainforest Hardwoods Continue to be Selectively Logged