General Rosales on Occupy LA

Gabe 'V-Non' Rosales
AIM West Coast General

SAI on the Occupy Movement

As I have been following the development of the Occupy movement, I've experienced much internal struggle in terms of what it means to support it, to support its intent, to support those physically protesting and physically present at any global march/rally, to support its tactics, to support its claims...to support. I am therefore writing this brief statement not as an absolute position on the matter, but more as an invitation for dialogue regarding reasons for such inner struggle, and an invitation to discuss alternatives to the current Occupying "tactics" (for lack of a better word).

When I first heard of the Occupy Wall Street movement around the second half of September 2011, I was excited to learn that there was this "enough is enough" vibe brewing in NYC which seemed to have the potential to grow into a massive protest against the inequities of wealth which are extremely obvious to most of those who are now labeled the 99%. Then, very rapidly, the news of Occupy movement events throughout the United States and other nations began to reach me in a massive way, which made me feel that this was not a small event or a march or a rally, but perhaps the beginning of a global revolution which is certainly necessary. And this may in fact be just that, a necessary revolution.

Now, being from South America and having been born and raised there in the 70's, I am not new to massive protests, to tear gas, to inequities of wealth, to corrupt law enforcement, to laws that benefit the 1% who control everything; therefore there was nothing that shocked me about the response from police throughout global cities in regards to this movent...nothing that scared me or that I did not expect (as I'm sure many people who were raised elsewhere have felt). I remember clearly being a young boy and waiting for my teenage brothers to come home for a protes, from which they would eventually show up with a broken arm or nose, with red-shut eyes from tear gas, and wet from high pressure hoses used on them by mini armored tanks.

These were common events growing up, and events which continue to this day. Not too long ago, a huge portion of the my country's capital, Quito, took to the streets and successfully outed the then president, pursuing his exit all the way to the main international airport which was completely taken over by the protesters.

But that's Ecuador, and there are huge huge differences between Ecuador and the United States (which I will use as example, simply because I am more informed about its infracstructure than England's or France's per say). The situation here in the U.S. is completely different and the power of law enforcement and military force is exponentially, overwhelmingly more massive than anywhere on the planet. This difference makes it so that an attempt to pursue a movement/protest through violent means may not be the best idea, as gangsta as some people may feel they are, or as numerous as they may feel the population of protesters is. So what we are left with, fortunately in many ways, is a non-violent Occupy movement that invites all people from all ages, races, ethnicities, economic classes, and genders to participate in peaceful ways. Because there have been many decades of brainwashing going on which have made the population here (the U.S.) believe in voting, in democracy, in freedom of this and that, in constitutional rights, in human rights for that matter....there is an air of surprise among protesters when they get beaten, pepper sprayed, gassed, abducted, (soon tortured), which quite frankly baffles me. What baffles me most is that people protesting corruption among law enforcement somehow expect law enforcement not the be corrup/brutal/violent during a protest (I thought you already knew that and that's why you were protesting); that people who are protesting against non-negotiating stinking rich evil greedy forces are expecting those forces not to retaliate.....SUP WITH THAT!!!

SO, here's an alternative way of looking at the Occupy movement, perhaps through the eyes of the 1% who control everything (which is why there's protest to begin with). The economy is greased by the working bees who call themselves the 99%. These working bees need to be rounded up and held captive because if they will not grease the economy while living in this blissful illusion of democracy through ultra consumerism, then they will grease the economy from a detention center. We therefore need to get as many people into the main cities, and kill their movement by depriving them of their immediate needs (water and food), and then we need to place them in these detention centers. First, however, we need to pass laws or to support continuity of already existing laws which allow us to grab these working bees right off the streets and detain them indefinitely. To enforce that, we need to bring back some of the troops from Iraq and from any corner of the planet where we have troops at (literally everywhere on the planet), and we need to employ them....what else would the troops do when they are brought back, other than become law enforcement? (and this is not even mentioning mercenary groups like Blackwater, Xe, Triple Canopy which we saw show their face during Katrina, that's another subject for another blog post, for another scenario).

With this scenario in mind, if you really think about it, the Occupy movement, combined with the idefinite detention laws that have existed since the 80's where FEMA just takes over, like Rex84, or the new National Defense Authorization Act, and the "bringing back the troops" reality, this somewhat "conspiracy theory" does not seem that far fetched. People actually voluntarily rounding themselves up in places where they have absolutely NO control over their food and water sources does not seem like the best idea when dealing with those who have already been identified at the ruthless greedy rich powerful fat cats with full control of all resources. Imagine being in Manhattan along with fellow protesters, by the thousands, and water is shut down, and all transportation is shut down, and supermarkets, bodegas, stores are not restocked with food because all streets coming into the city have been blocked...LEGALLY!!!! whatever that means, particularly when those making up these laws are the ones who control the road blocks....and those employed to control the roadblocks are members of "bring back the troops" unemployed work force, or private mercenary companies...then what?

So, although I am not criticizing or diminishing the efforts/intentions/tactics of the Occupy movement as it exists right now, I would offer the possibility for the scenario which seems to be brewing and ideally implemented by the "law makers" and the military complex and the prison system/detention complex (state, federal AND PRIVATE) which I just mentioned. With this, I would also offer the alternative to the occupy movement, which would be to actually disoccupy the big cities and start to migrate away from these huge economic machines that we are greasing simply by living and working there. This may quite possibly result in less investment in products sold in big cities, less poor underpaid working bees supporting the wealthy who happen to live in these big cities, greater access to rural land which can expand self suffieciency and means to obtain water and food that is not being shipped from elsewhere by those who control everything including the roads in which these products are being transported, and a better fighting chance against being rounded up and caged up (which we are now making it easy to do).

Think about it, think about where you are and where the sources of water exist, where is the food grown, and entertain the idea of what would happen if you can move there. For those here in the state of NY, where I'm at, there's the Catskills, the Adirondaks, both which have enough water and food resources to last the entire population of NY and many more peripheral states for YEARS!

I will stop there and see what you think. Just a thought.

SAI
AIM East Coast General (New York)

Suburu: Don't Sell Cars Where Women Can't Drive! via change.org

Saudi women are calling on Subaru to pull out of Saudi Arabia until they have the right to drive. Join them! Amazing! Last week, a group of Saudi women activists started a Change.org petition calling on Saudi authorities to drop charges against Manal al-Sharif, a woman arrested for driving her own car. Days later, the charges were dropped! Then, they launched a second petition calling on U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to speak out publicly for Saudi women's right to drive. Clinton initially resisted, but after 20,000 Change.org members joined the call, she declared, "What these women are doing is brave, and what they are seeking is right," at a major press conference. Now, the same Saudi women are launching their biggest campaign yet: calling on car company Subaru to pull out of Saudi Arabia until women have the right to drive. Please click here to sign their petition, then send this email to everyone you know. Subaru markets heavily to women, especially in the U.S. and Europe -- and has built up a progressive brand for itself. Yet the company still sells cars in Saudi Arabia, the only country on earth where women are prohibited from driving or even riding a bike. (The ban is a huge impediment for women who are forbidden to drive to work, stores, or even a hospital. Many women can't afford male drivers, and those that can are often harassed by them.) The activists at Saudi Women for Driving tell us, "Manal was released, Mrs. Clinton spoke out, and some brave women have started driving in defiance of the ban. This is already the largest women's rights movement in Saudi history and no one here knows what will happen next, but a big company like Subaru pulling out could help change our country forever. Help us do it!" It's simple: A massive campaign to push Subaru to pull out of Saudi Arabia -- and the threat that they might leave -- will put huge pressure on the Saudi royal family and shine a bright light on the "gender apartheid" in the country. It's a chance for the company to live up to its brand and make a huge difference for nearly 13 million women. Change.org members have already won more than 200 campaigns in 2011. Let's win this one, too. Click here to stand with Saudi women and ask Subaru to pull out of Saudi Arabia until women win the right to drive:   http://www.change.org/petitions/subaru-stop-selling-cars-where-women-cant-drive Thanks, - Weldon and the Change.org team

Taking AIM at The Abyss

Wassup world. This is AK47 here. The Infamous 'President' of The Anti-Injustice Movement (aka The AIM). It's been some time since I've communicated with you all but now I feel the time is right. I want to let go of the past and push on to the future. I rarely write personal blogs here on the site but I feel I owe you an explanation as to why I have been somewhat elusive these past few months. The best explanation comes from my homeboy Friedrich Nietzsche: "If you gaze for long enough into an abyss, the abyss also gazes into you."

In short I've been in a dark, misanthropic and somewhat nihilistic place due to severe Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, a relationship break up with a long term partner and subsequent substance abuse (which I am not proud of). To be honest it was primarily the PTSD, a result of my own past experiences of being a victim of injustice, which led me to a kind of activist burn out whereby I lost my faith in the potential of the human species to change. My step back from activism recently was due to my own negative personal experiences in the world reaching a culmination point. I guess some would just say I had a nervous breakdown.

Why am I telling you this? I guess to offer an explanation and apology for pulling back from the movement for a few months (although I have been doing some work for it). However I also think I've come to a place of realization that I want to share with you. Not that my opinion is worth any more than the next person's but nor is it worth any less. The truth is I don't know whether or not we can make the world a better place. I mean for every victory against injustice there are hundreds of thousands of injustices perpetrated throughout the world. For every oppressor we destroy there are many more ready to fill their jack boots. For every mind we free there are millions more manipulated by the global elite's desensitized global consumer culture and it's puppet master theocracies which ensure we bond by exclusion. For every SAI, Lyrical Agent or Gabe 'V-Non' Rosales who utilize hip-hop as a weapon of truth there are thousands of mind murdering candy rappers out there who want to force feed you lies for blood money and bling. Damn there are even 'conscious rappers' who spit about the revolution for nothing more than ego, fashion or money. So what's the fucking point? The point is it's not a numbers game; so move beyond the myth of the moral utopia. If we work our asses off to change the world and only save a few lives, a few minds, or even a few more moments in a person's life then that's all the fucking reason we need.

In the grand ontological scheme of things I don't believe this indifferent universe is singular, this planet is significant or that this parasitic species is anything more than a cruel blunder made by the 'Blind Watchmaker' of evolution. Give any species too much rope and they'll fuck it up. Whether or not you agree or disagree with my atheistic world view is irrelevant because what we should agree on is that each tiny life is significant; if to nothing else than to itself or by virtue of its mere existence. I think theists, agnostics and atheists alike must all respect the sanctity of life, the right of every living being to it's own self-determination, and the right of all animals (human or otherwise) not to suffer needlessly. Such a worldview may be relative but there are philosophical, scientific and emotive reasons (based largely on a empirico-rationalist compatibalist approach to ethics) why it is indeed compelling. Perhaps we share these same fundamental ethical principles, but for different reasons, and that is why our religion or lack of it should not divide us from working together in solidarity against global injustice. The point is that if you don't want to surrender yourself to being merely an oppressor or victim (or both at different times) then protect those who need protection. Apathy is a bore, the hurling masses are asses and every crowd needs a silver lining so be it! Take AIM!

This reasoning I have outlined demonstrates why I have now flipped the bird at my recent nihilistic worldview. Free falling into darkness, drugs, drink, and destruction, or merely watching chewing gum TV, is just way too fucking easy. We are defined by overcoming our weaknesses in order to become stronger as individuals and as a species; so let's sweat it out for the global struggle.

I have chosen to put everything I have back into making this movement everything I believe it can be. Not only because of my recent philosophical reasoning or because I am slaying my own personal demons right now, but also because of the inspiration I feel in response to other members of AIM Clika and the core supporters of it. I salute those real freedom fighters who never gave up the fight for this movement and it's objectives, even when I almost did. Mad props to those who stand by their ethics, comrades and causes even when the chips are down and their pockets won't be lined with profits nor their egos massaged by promotion. I want to thank all the members and supporters of AIM Clika (as we are affectionately known), new and old, who have stood by myself, Santa Maria and the movement during the tough times. Particularly Gabe, SAI, Coffy, Enki, Chinita, Rainbow Castro, Paria B, Greydon, Pers, Stream and Warrior. I also want to thank our loyal supporters and comrades for bearing with us in a time of turbulence which has inevitably led to a new era of transformation, regeneration and growth.

The AIM is not about publicity, profit or promotion it's about heart. Through the tough times we have learnt who uses the movement to fight injustice and who merely uses the movement. Now we move forward to the next phase as a strong collective of individuals who must use their own inspiration, initiative and work ethic to take AIM against injustice like never before. Are you ready?

I'd also like to to take this opportunity to publicly welcome our new AIM members to the family. First off I'd like to welcome back AIM West Coast/UK MC Proclaim after a well deserved break. I'd also like to welcome sharp spitting UK MCs Plato and Knew Eyes to the AIM Clika. Not to mention our new beatmeisters; the legendary Hellbound of Demonios Sekt and Paria B's super spinnin DJ DUWOPRose. Last but definitely not least I'd like to welcome aboard our new General of AIM Texas; the ass kicking atheist and activist Kate the Great.

That's all folks! ;)

"Fighting with words as our weapons."

~AK47~

~AIM President~

Taking AIM on the Airwaves!

AIM East Coast (NJ) General & MC Enki Graftin Hard for AIM Clika & Guerrilla Republik

Listen to real revolutionary internet radio with The First and Last Radio on Blog Talk Radio, hosted by AIM East Coast Dirty Jerz General Enki and his homie The Apprentice. The First and Last is a potent combination of anti-bullshit political commentary and raw intelligent hip hop. The AIM Raptivist Collective and Guerrilla Republik artists took over the airwaves and killed the ratings records for the third week in a row. Our AIM East Coast New Jersey shot caller Enki has been working on this weeks' playlist to make sure this coming Thursday is just as sick as always. Hit the link to hear previous shows muthafuckas. AIM!

AIM POR VIDA! NO FRONTIN SINCE 2010!

~AK47~

4Ward Ever UK Email Alerts

4Ward Ever are having some technical issues which are preventing their email bulletins from being issued. They are working hard to resolve the issue and in the meantime some alerts are still being issued. I have received the below and wanted to share in case others have not received it, and also to encourage everyone to subscribe to the feeds of this great organisation.


IPCC investigates after east London man dies in police custody

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2011/apr/19/ipcc-investigates-death-police-custody

The GuardianThe independent police watchdog is investigating after a father-to-be died in police custody following an apparent altercation at a pub in east London. Sweeney's death came as the IPCC continues its investigation into the death in police custody of the musician Smiley Culture, who died of a suspected stab wound after officers carried out a raid.

Smiley protest march brings attention to deaths in custody

http://www.ligali.org/article.php?id=2197

LigaliThe protest which was organised by the Campaign for Justice for Smiley Culture alongside other community campaigners such as Minkah Adofo, of the United Friends and Family Campaign (UFFC) campaign against deaths in police custody and Maxie Hayles, of the Birmingham Racial Attacks Monitoring Unit (BRAMU) followed Smiley’s Friday funeral.

Watch Video here > http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WzUglZXtyy0

In-custody death rate is highest in B.C.

http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/westcoastnews/story.html?id=9579f00e-8b35-4cc8-b1bf-63c9ae274ae3
Canada.com

More than half of all RCMP in-custody deaths in Canada over the past five years occurred in B.C. despite the fact only a third of the force's officers work here, an internal report prepared by the force has found. The report, obtained by The Vancouver Sun through the Access to Information Act, provides a detailed analysis of all 80 RCMP in-custody deaths from 2002 through 2006, including police shootings.


Temporary email bulletins from 4WardEver UK

4WARDEVER CAMPAIGN supporting campaigns for justice

Contact tel no: 0843 289 8535 (ansaphone service provided)
Websites: http://www.4wardever.org http://4wardever-gallery4justice.org
Sign-Up for Newsmail: http://tinyurl.com/35xlxcv


4WardEver UK raises money for the charity INQUEST as it searches the
web with Everyclick.com - http://tinyurl.com/43gd26u

Gang Signs

While I was walking to HQ yesterday to visit AK and do a little work, I spotted this on one of the sidewalks.

I sure hope there is more of this out the somewhere!

4th anniversary of Gilly Mundy’s death

15 March 2011 will mark four years since the death of one of the stalwarts of the campaign movement against deaths in police custody and abuse by police and prison officers in the United Kingdom. Gilly saved three lives and restored the sight of two others when he donated his organs after his death in March 2007. Read more of this >

Friend and colleague Kevin Blowe said: “As a campaigner and activist, Gilly managed to cram so much into his own life and touch the lives of so many others that it is almost too painful to imagine what more he could have achieved.

“As well as supporting victims of racist violence in East London while at the NMP, he worked for the Lawrence Family Campaign during the inquiry into Stephen Lawrence’s murder.”

As a campaigner and activist, Gilly Singh Mundy, who died suddenly aged 36, managed to cram so much into his own life and touch the lives of many in a positive, life-affirming way. For the last nine years of his life he had been senior caseworker for INQUEST, the charity that advises relatives of those who have died in custody.

Born to Mota Singh and Surinder Mundy, Gilly and his brothers, Jas and Rippee, grew up within Leamington Spa’s close-knit Sikh community, roots that he was intensely proud of. He was closest to his brothers and school friends, but his inspiration for a lifetime of political activism came from his father, whose values led Gilly to a passionate opposition to racism and injustice.

He was a student activist at Edge Hill College, Ormskirk, Lancashire, before starting voluntary work for the community, anti-racist organisation Newham Monitoring Project (NMP) in London and becoming its caseworker from 1993 to 1997. This was a turbulent time for black communities in east London, with the election of the first BNP councillor in Tower Hamlets and the racist attack by eight white youths on the 17-year-old Quddus Ali in Stepney.

Gilly provided support for victims of racist violence, and coordinated anti-fascist campaigning, bringing together black and white working-class communities in the first anti-fascist festival in Canning Town, then the heartland of BNP support. During the inquiry in 1998 into Stephen Lawrence’s murder, he also worked for the Lawrence family campaign. Read more of this > 

Gilly’s friends and family remember him fondly > 

Tippa Naphtali of 4WardEver UK/Mikey Powell Campaign said: “Gilly was a rock to our family when my cousin, Mikey Powell, died in police custody in 2003. Gilly made several trips to Birmingham to see us during those early painful months. He will be sorely missed, but the legacy of compassion and care that was at his core will live on through all those whose lives he touched.”

(Taken from 4Ward Ever UK article here.)

Stop Air Canada Transporting Lab Animals (via SHAC-UK)

It was recently disclosed that Air Canada are transporting monkeys after an
employee at Toronto international airport tipped off the campaigners that a
shipment of 48 monkeys destined for Montreal was being held at the airport
after arriving from China.

Please contact Air Canada and urge them to end their involvement in the
transport of primates for vivisection!

Emails; (1 block of 22):
Calin.Rovinescu@aircanada.ca, David.I.Richardson@aircanada.ca,
Duncan.Dee@aircanada.ca, Michael.Rousseau@aircanada.ca,
Lise.Fournel@aircanada.ca, Benjamin.Smith@aircanada.ca,
Kevin.Howlett@aircanada.ca, David.Legge@aircanada.ca,
Susan.Welscheid@aircanada.ca, Alan.Butterfield@aircanada.ca,
Nick.Careen@aircanada.ca, Yves.Dufresne@aircanada.ca,
Marcel.Forget@aircanada.ca, Lucie.Guillemette@aircanada.ca,
Amos.Kazzaz@aircanada.ca, Craig.Landry@aircanada.ca,
Priscille.LeBlanc@aircanada.ca, Scott.Morey@aircanada.ca,
Claude.Morin@aircanada.ca, David.Shapiro@aircanada.ca,
Carolyn.Hadrovic@aircanada.ca, Chris.Isford@aircanada.ca

Sample Letter below, (feel free to write your own):

--

Dear Air Canada representative,

I was extremely disappointed to learn that your company transports monkeys for
use in biomedical research, and would like to inform you that I'm extremely
uncomfortable with the idea of laboratory animals being transported on the same
plane as myself and my luggage.

The vast majority of passenger airlines now have strict policies against the
transport of laboratory animals and therefore I will not fly with Air Canada
until you enact a policy ending your transport of lab animals!

I hope you will consider my concerns,

****YOUR NAME HERE****

-------------------------------------

Disclaimer and Information:

The details in this action alert are provided for information purposes only,
and should not be used for any illegal activities as defined by the
jurisdiction you live in. SHAC does not support or encourage any form of
harassment; nothing in this alert has the purpose of inciting such behaviour,
and we request that all communications are kept polite.

For general information on the campaign to close Huntingdon Life Science and
for the latest news, please visit our website: http://www.shac.net/

Tell Egypt's Mubarak: Make Tweets, Not War

The people of Egypt are in in the streets protesting the corruption and political tyranny of Hosni Mubarak's 30-year tenure as President. Mubarak's government has stuck to its roots though and called in the army to crack down on the protesters. Tell Mubarak to respect the Egyptian people's rights. » Egyptian authorities have also detained and beaten journalists and photographers, shut down the websites of two independent Egyptian newspapers and blocked access to social media sites, including Facebook and Twitter. They've even gone so far as to completely cut Egypt's international connections to the internet. Egyptian authorities must stop this violence and end the censorship of the people. It's time for free speech and a dialog open to all Egyptians about how to move the country forward. It's time to make tweets, not war. Act now to tell President Mubarak to stop the violence and allow the Egyptian people to exercise their right to free speech. » Thanks for taking action! Samer ThePetitionSite

Tell Egypt's Mubarak: Make Tweets, Not War

Take action link: http://www.care2.com/go/z/e/AgBb3/zK.0/A99wP

Gabby Giffords - Please Support US Gun Law Reforms

For all our communities, Congress needs to keep guns out of the wrong hands. Tell your representatives in Congress to fix the gun loopholes.

Earlier this month we witnessed a tragic shooting in Tucson, AZ, leaving 6 dead, and 20 others — including Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords — injured. While rhetoric from the far-fight that feeds distrust and hatred towards our politicians (especially among the mentally ill) needs to be called out and countered, another factor jumps out. Someone like Jared Lee Loughner should never have been able to buy a gun.

We already have laws that make it illegal for criminals and the mentally ill to purchase guns. But a broken background check system and wide enforcement loopholes -- kept in place by the gun lobby and the National Rifle Association (NRA) -- have made it difficult to keep guns out of the wrong hands. It's time to close these gaps once and for all. You can help.

Please join us, along with Mayors Against Illegal Guns and others, in making it clear to politicians that everyday Americans support common sense reform and will stand with them if they lead in keeping guns from the most dangerous among us; and please ask your friends and family to join as well. It takes just a moment:

http://act.colorofchange.org/sign/guns/

Two commonsense reforms could prevent future tragedies. First, we should ensure that all the names of people who should be prohibited from buying a gun are entered into the background check system. Then we must close the loopholes that allow people to purchase guns with no background check at all. It sounds easy — but the powerful gun lobby, led by the NRA, has stood in opposition.

The attempted assassination of a member of Congress has frightening implications for our political culture that we should take very seriously. But we should also take this moment to remember that dozens of ordinary people are murdered with guns every day.

It’s a problem that everyone should care about solving — but it disproportionately affects Black, poor, and other disadvantaged communities. Black men are 9 times more likely than white men to be murdered with guns. In too many Black communities across the country, gun violence is a constant danger.

The danger is fueled by the easy availability of guns for those who are legally prohibited from possessing them. And it is so easy for dangerous people to puchase guns because of deep flaws in the systems meant to prevent this from ever occurring. One problem is that those who should be prohibited from buying guns, such as felons and the mentally ill, don’t always make it into the federal background check database. That means gun stores who are trying to follow the law may inadvertently sell guns to dangerous people.

But perhaps more troubling, there are huge loopholes in the law that allow people to bypass background checks altogether. For instance, in the well-known “gun show loophole,” anyone can purchase deadly automatic weapons — weapons designed to kill as many people as possible as quickly as possible — from a gun show with no background check whatsoever.

If any lesson is to be taken from the tragic events in Tucson, it is that these gaps can have deadly consequences. Now, with growing public support for change, there is a unique opportunity to strengthen America’s gun laws to keep these weapons out of the wrong hands.

Please stand with us and our partners at Mayors Against Illegal Guns in asking Congress to do just that. And when you do, please ask your friends and family to do the same.

http://act.colorofchange.org/sign/guns/

Thanks and Peace,

-- James, Gabriel, William, Dani, Natasha and the rest of the ColorOfChange.org team, January 25th, 2011

Help support our work. ColorOfChange.org is powered by YOU -- your energy and dollars. We take no money from lobbyists or large corporations that don't share our values, and our tiny staff ensures your contributions go a long way. You can contribute here:

https://secure.colorofchange.org/contribute

'ANONYMOUS' Press Release 25 January 2011

 

DEAR JOURNALISTS OF THE WORLD,

You were intrigued by us when we took on the financial sector by attacking Visa, Mastercard, and Paypal as part of Operation Payback. Many of you became enamoured with us during Operation Tunisia and applauded our efforts. Some of you are now paying close attention to Operation Algeria. We know that we have gained support from even a few of you. Those few are hoping against hope that our unconventional methods will continue to have an effect on people, perhaps even the world. Those few admire us, if for no other reason than the fact that, in a world full of apathy, a world filled with people who don't even bother to read the information you painstakingly present, we are trying to do something. This intrigues you. At the very least, it inspires you to keep an eye on us, hoping we continue to take newsworthy actions.

You know that, whether you are risking your own safety - perhaps even your own life - to share the truth, or whether you are beholden to your dictators or your advertisers, unable to write anything they do not approve, we, Anonymous, are on your side and are fighting for you and your freedoms. You, the journalists, reporters, and bloggers. You, the newspapers, television networks and websites who hunt down and disseminate information. We are fighting for you.

Some of you have recorded milestones of our efforts. Some of you have reported upon them, and some of you have even participated in our fight. You are the press, and you have our gratitude.

We need your help now. From North Africa to Gaza, people are rising up and risking their lives to demand nothing more than basic rights, an end to the corruption, and a fair chance to progress in life. What the Western world is unaware of, and the Western media largely ignores, is the fact that the people protesting and the people dying in the Arab world are just like them. They have the same desire for basic freedoms, similar ambitions for themselves and for their family and friends, the same inherent intelligence and, the same keen sense of injustice as their counterparts in the West when oppressed.

Here is where we need your help. We ask you, the journalists, to bring to the rest of the world the humanity of these revolutions. What we are witnessing are not extremist acts that are committed by misled, ignorant people. Indeed, they are committed by intelligent, but desperate people - people willing to sacrifice themselves in order to inspire their fellow citizens to rally against their oppressors. The world needs human news. The world needs to know who it is that needs their support, and not just the number of casualties or the politics involved.

What we ask is simple. There are people protesting in Algeria, Egypt, Yemen, Albania, Libya, and many other countries at this very moment. Tell us who they are and what it is they want for their country and their people, for now and in the future. So many voices are raised in protest right now and all the world can hear is the noise. Tell us what the people are saying.

Some of you will ignore this message. It announces no new operations, as we are still focusing our efforts on Operation Algeria. This message issues no threats, as you are the press and are always safe from us. If you heed our request, however, it could make all the difference in the world, as it made a difference for the Tunisians to know that they were speaking and the world was hearing their message. Help us do this for Algeria, Egypt, and other countries where the people are imploring to be heard.

Signed,

Anonymous.

We are Anonymous.

We do not forgive the denial of basic human rights.

We do not forget those who assist the oppressed.

To the Tyrannical governments of the world... Expect us.

Source: AnonNews

http://www.pdf-archive.com/2011/01/25/jan25pressrelease/jan25pressrelease.pdf

Stop The Traffik Global Freedom Summit, London, UK

 STOP THE TRAFFIK invites YOU to the first
GLOBAL FREEDOM SUMMIT, April 11th 2011

Next year, people from across the world will descend on London, as it hosts the 2012 Olympics

Meet two of them:

He’s a world-class sprinter.
She’s a normal young girl.

He’s lured by the promise of a gold medal.
She’s lured by the promise of a better education.

His trainer smiles and whispers to him “trust me, you’re the best”.
Her trafficker smiles and whispers to her “trust me, it’s in your best interests”.

His entourage take his bags off him.
Her trafficker takes her passport and documents.

He arrives at the hotel, his national anthem running through his head.
She arrives at the hotel, her trafficker’s threats running through her head.

He will be heading to the arena to face his destiny.
She will be heading to the brothel to face hers.

How his story ends? It’s up to him.
How her story ends? It’s up to us.

 

It’s up to the staff in that hotel to notice her.
It’s up to the guests in that hotel to realise something is wrong.
It’s up to her community at home to understand she may be in a vulnerable situation.
It’s up to every one of us to ensure that it is impossible for traffickers to hide themselves and their victims in our communities.

Communities in every corner of the world offer hospitality to those on a journey; a room, a bed, a warm welcome. But we want to know that that there is no room for trafficking.

The STOP THE TRAFFIK Global Freedom Summit will ... 

• assert people's right to travel safely
• create a hospitality industry that is alert to the issue and allows no room for trafficking
• empower communities to send out their own Global Travel Alert

Join Cherie Blair, UN representatives, community activists and global leaders

Date: Monday 11th April 2011
Time: 2.00pm – 5.00pm
Venue: Oasis Academy Enfield, 9 Kinetic Crescent, Innova Park,
Mollison Avenue, Enfield, London EN3 7XH
Registration cost: £5 per person.  ACT groups and schools can apply for sponsored places.

How to register: simply email info@stopthetraffik.org with details of
the number of places you'd like to book

Enquiries: info@stopthetraffik.org

75 Westminster Bridge Road
London SE1 7HS
+44 (0)20 7921 4258 

STOP THE TRAFFIK is a Company Limited by Guarantee registered in England & Wales No.6657145 and a Registered Charity No. 1127321

Global Days Of Action In Support Of Iran

This weekend 28-30th January will see the world once again stand up together in support of political prisoners and against executions in Iran. Events are being organised in many towns and cities and it's not too late for you to join in. If there is not an event organised already near you then it's easy to organise one yourself. All you need is your voice, on top of that you could have some petitions, some pictures and placards, handouts, friends and supporters... as much or as little as you like can be done to show your support. Perhaps members of the public would sign a sheet in support of the cause, or have their picture taken, record a short video clip... the possibilities are endless and the more creative among you will have some great ideas I'm sure.

I stand with The AIM and many other people and groups in fighting against executions worldwide and in support of political prisoners. This is a global problem, not just an Iranian one. But it's important to remember that Iran is at a point of revolution and we must all stand and show support to those living within the regime that are fighting to change it.

To find out about local events, or to arrange an event in your area, please visit this post by Mission Free Iran. This event is being organised by the usual groups - Mission Free Iran, International Committee Against Stoning, International Committee Against Executions and Iran Solidarity among many others. The AIM will be taking part in Glasgow (Saturday, 2pm) and all other AIM members and supporters are encouraged to join us either in Glasgow or in their local town or city.

It is an abuse of childhood. ... ????

I was checking out what was trending on Twitter earlier on today and came across the name Melanie Philips. I had not heard of her but clicked the link to see what the tweets were about and soon became incensed. She is a writer for (among others) the UK tabloid the Daily Mail (explaining why I had not heard of her) and her latest article "Yes, gays have often been the victims of prejudice. But they now risk becoming the new McCarthyites" is about the 'gay agenda'.

As a lesbian I am looking for all the same rights as anyone else. Not more, not less. Just the same. Because, despite all the things that we can identify to separate ourselves from others, we are actually all the same.

If you want to read the article yourself you can do so here (without bumping up her reader numbers!). After reading it I was compelled to somehow counteract what I had read, and so I signed an online pledge in support of the 'It Gets Better' project. Please do so as well and offer some hope to young LGBTQ people at risk of suicide.

Alot of people think like Melanie Philips, but I like to think most don't.

ACTION ALERT: "Homosexuals Are Sexual Predators" via change.org

Censure Commissioner Bill James for his anti-gay hate speech While most Americans celebrated the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” Bill James, a County Commissioner in Mecklenburg, North Carolina, used it as an opportunity to bash LGBT people. “Homosexuals are sexual predators,” James wrote. “Allowing homosexuals to serve in the U.S. military with the endorsement of the Mecklenburg County Commission ignores a host of serious problems related to maintaining U.S. military readiness and effectiveness, not the least of which is the current Democrat plan to allow homosexuals (male and female) to share showers with those they are attracted to.” It’s not the first time Commissioner James has used his spot on the County Board to promote anti-gay bigotry. During debate over a domestic partnership bill, Commissioner James called homosexuality a “crime against nature” that should be prosecuted by police. And last year, Commissioner James turned to a colleague whose son died from complications from AIDS, and called the son “a homo.” He then compared homosexuality to alcoholism, and argued that all gay people bring AIDS on themselves. We can’t let this kind of hate speech by public officials go unanswered – and we have a chance in the next few days to do something about it. Right now, the rest of the county commission is publicly debating whether to censure James. Condemnation by the commission would send a strong signal that bigotry by elected officers holds no place in our society. Thousands of people from Mecklenburg and around the country already speaking out. Join them by signing the petition to the Mecklenburg County Board and tell them to censure James for his anti-gay attacks: http://www.change.org/petitions/view/tell_mecklenburg_county_board_censure_anti-gay_politician_who_called_lgbt_people_sexual_predators?alert_id=uezSJFIOjS_LhaGcEuIEB&me=aa Thanks for taking action, The Change.org team

Taking AIM Against Human Trafficking!

As you may have heard we are offering support to another international campaign called Anti-Slavery International. This is because one of the key issues The AIM will be tackling in the long term is human trafficking and modern day slavery whether that be sexual, domestic, agricultural or otherwise. This is a crucial issue and is close to the hearts of various AIM members. Despite what they told you slavery is alive and well in various forms all across the globe. We want to combat it on an international, national and local level because abolishing human trafficking and modern day slaveryit is central in the struggle for human rights.

New York East Coast AIM General, activist and political emcee SAI works on the frontlines combatting human trafficking and slavery. Thus he has released this new track, One Day in June, to mark the genesis of our determined effort to enable modern day slaves to liberate themselves from the shackles of their oppressors. He tackles two very real but different cases, both in relation to child trafficking in order to expose the harsh reality of the sexual and domestic exploitation of children. AIM President and vitriolic Street Poet AK47 has also added a another very personal and raw poem about her experience of being forced into prostitution as a young teenager to her Street Poetry profile page. This is to bring attention to the brutal reality of the sexual exploitation of young girls through forced prostitution which is often a result of human trafficking. Her brave and brutal poem is available here and it will hopefully encourage you to join the fight against modern day slavery.

When you're done with that, please visit http://www.flsny.org/ and tell your friends and family about the difficult work that Farmworker Legal Services is doing in the State of New York. They are fighting for the rights of farmworkers as well as low wage workers and they need your support. If you can make a donation to FLSNY, please do so because every penny counts.

" The nobility of our calling will always be rooted in two commitments difficult to observe: refusal to lie about what we know, and resistance to oppression."
(Albert Camus)

BLR / AIM - 7/7 Acapella (I Want Justice)

Shalom! When the Anti Injustice Movement hosted the Capital X & Jehuniko "I Want Justice Tour" in October, we stayed at a hotel in Tavistock place... just around the corner from Tavistock Square, the site of the bus bombing on 7/7. On the morning of our London show a few of us set out to film some footage at a few of the locations of the bombings on 7/7... here is a take from Russell Square tube station.

Source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wDyhhevr7YA

Brent Lee Regan performs a verse from Bin Laden 7/7 off his False Flags & Patsies EP outside Russell Square. This video is dedicated to all of the victims and families affected by the tragedy of July 7th, 2005 and to the family and friends of Jean Charles de Menezes.

More info @ http://www.JulySeventh.co.uk - http://www.Justice4Jean.org

Brent Lee Regan is a Frontline Raptivist from The Anti Injustice Movement, a member of Guerilla Republik UK and also runs Truth Music Directory