Saturday, December 31, 2005
Relinked by reader request
"...all mi sayin, all mi sayin, is yu don' introduce an den SOLVE di main charAKter's mos'important CRISis in di damn PILot, an expec fi geneREETE an entire SERIAL's wort' of epiSODES afta dat. DAT's why Dyeep Speece Nine is raas..."We chatted up Minister Faust, author of The Coyote KIngs of the Space Age Bachelor Pad (Ballantine Books, 2004) over the phone last summer after his appearance at DreamHaven Books and Diversicon here in Erotic City. He and Sherri R. Thomas, editor of the anthology Dark Matter: Reading the Bones (Aspect, 2004) were featured guests at Diversicon 13, a gathering of creators and fans of science fiction from August 19-21 at the Holiday Inn at the International Airport/Mall of America (cold shiver). For whatever reason, even though their DreamHaven reading and book signing was on my calender for weeks, my wires got crossed and I trudged out to the MOA (cold shiver) for the second time in ten years by light rail when I should have been in my own hood at DreamHaven. Hence the phone interview.
(Note: if you think the MOA is annoying when you're shopping, try bidding time there when you're not. The bloodless sensation you feel is similar to driving through Nebraska).
Minister Faust hails from Edmonton, Alberta -- Canada's northern most city by population -- and credits his mother for providing his first artistic sparks. He took two degrees from the University of Alberta -- English and education -- and took some creative writing as well, where he said the courses were poorly taught.
Coyote Kings is his first pubished work and tells the fantastic tale of Hamza and Yehat -- the Coyote Kings and working-class best friends: one is a disgruntled dishwasher (what dishwasher isn't?) and the other a video store clerk. One day they meet beautiful and mysterious Sherem in Edmonton, who propels them into a world parrellel to those that exist in the plethora of comics and science fiction the two men gorge themselves on and quote prodigously. Faust's words are italicized.
My mother, an Alberta farm girl, always motivated me to read sci fi as a kid: Star Trek and writing and writing and reading and acting...My dad was a member of the Kenya Land and Reform Party (Mau Mau) like most Pan Africanists.
ON ART and POLITICS:
Art and politics? there's no separation. Politics is about the power groups use to get what they want; art is our attempt to use aesthetics to describe reality and our future. One is more fun, though politics can be fun, and some art can be dreary.
Why are you as an artist exempt from making the world better? We don't get to stand down on those particular issues affecting community.
Langston Hughes said that the decision to create non-political art is itself a political decision. If you are writing about flowers, the system probably benefits you; if you are writing about oppression, you're probably having a hard time.
BLACK MOVIES, WHITE MOVIES
Remeber House Party, or the Spike Lee revolution? Why isn't anyone doing anything like that now? THough it was comedy, House Party looked at the routine stops of African American males in North America by the police -- played for laughs, but portrayed as a fact of life.
In white movies race doesn't exist. In our art, whether it's referenced directly or indirectly, all we have to do is reference ourselves.
INTERVIEWING PUBLIC ENEMY
Flava Flav's eyes looked like pickeled cherries when I interviewed PE a few years ago. Chuck was great, but Flav?...
RACISM LA CANADA/RACISM DE USA
In the US, one thing that really shocked me -- cuz Canadiens are reserved -- but all the time, white people start conversations with me...but I find it interesting that Americans are given this astonishing jingoistic racism from very young, but even with that, [white] Americans would just talk to me. I'm not saying they acted like they wanted me to date their daughters or give me a job, but even with all the racial propaganda it's not a perfect poison; I've known people that were straight up evil.
Growing up in Canada can be very lonely, alienating when you look around and nobody looks like you. Textbooks? Your face isn't even there; TV? Your face isn't there, and if it is, it's because the criminal looks like you. But it's the only climate I've ever lived in. One of the big differences between Canada and the US is the way any strength can become a weakness. I would have loved it if more Africans were here. Most of us are Carribean, Tanzanian, Kenyan: I was raised Catholic and went to school other than my siblings.
Most whites think that racism consists of calling someone 'nigger." It's not the word, it's the power system behind it. For jobs, our parents didn't get the call, our hand isn't recognized when it's raised in class, denied, and there is an enormous amount of information on racial profiling, especially Toronto.
It's the other ways our lives are going to be curtailed, maybe not jail or senseless killing at the hands of the police or mob violence, it's the institutional racism, it's absolutely institutional -- it doesn't require a con
RECENT AMERICAN PRESIDENTS
It scares me now that you have an [twice] unelected president, but the one before that oversaw eight years of sanctions against Iraq that killed a million people. One thing that makes me sad is African Americans coming up with Clinton being the first "Black" president. It's one thing if a comedian says it, here's a guy who bombed Sudan, and act of international terror against an African country, and we're supposed to look at this as a Black president?
ON WRITING CKOTSBP
Coyote Kings was written as a screenplay when I was 25. I've written five novels, one is published, two since CKOTSBP.
In my future work I plan to utilize the experiences of the Pan-African Diaspora; stories of (Kwame) Nkrumah, Lumumba and Mandela -- I have a novel planned about a sci-fi version of the Congo War.
WHAT'S THE BEST OF CONTEMPORARY SCI FI?
Farscape (now cancelled), especially the second and third seasons. Until then, most sci fi shows were one Star Trek afte another. The new Battlestar Galactica picks up where Farscape left off -- West Wing in Space. But BG now is good! Remember the brother Col. Ty in the first one? Ty was one of those genteel Blacks; now he's a horrible, battle-grizzled alcoholic.
CONTACT MINSTER FAUST AT minister@ministerfaust.com.
Rashard Zanders conducted this interview and accepts reader responses at rashard.zanders@gmail.com.
"Re-educating the African in the 21st Century:
Call for Papers
"Re-educating the African in the 21st Century:
Through Balance, Peace and Justice (Ma'at)"
1st World Conference 2006
John Henrik Clarke-C.L.R. James African World Research
Institute
Aswan (Egypt)
19-25 July 2006
Historical Context:
According to John Henrik Clarke, Edward Wilmot Blyden, a
prominent Caribbean activist and a theologian from the
Virgin Islands, called for Africans all over the world to
reclaim their Africanness in 1881. Early in the twentieth
century, people of the African world were searching for a
definition of themselves and their relationship to the rest
of the world. African people in the United States of America
were still recovering from the Civil War and the subsequent
disappointment and betrayal of the Reconstruction period.
1900 witnessed the first Pan-Africanist Congress, which was
a response to Blyden's call, referred to as the African
Consciousness Movement by Caribbean activists. H. Sylvester
Williams, a young Trinidadian lawyer, was the major convener
of the first Pan-Africanist Congress in London.. He assigned
a name to the effort by calling it Pan-Africanism. At this
meeting, Williams and others concluded that the struggle in
the Caribbean, Africa and the United States of America was
basically the same, the struggle for direction and
definition.
At the first Pan-Africanist Congress and subsequent ones,
Pan-Africanists were trying to answer questions such as:
Whom do we need and who needs us? They were attempting to
regain what slavery and colonialism had taken away. In many
ways Clarke tells us that the Pan-Africanist Movement opened
the pathways for the struggle of civil rights in the United
States of America, for the federation of the islands in the
Caribbean, the end of colonialism, and for the independence
and unification of all of Africa. At later Pan-Africanist
Congresses, W.E.B Dubois, George Padmore, C.L.R. James, and
Kwame Nkrumah became the seminal voices of this Movement.
Against this backdrop, the John Henrik Clarke-C.L.R. James
African World Research Institute will host its First World
Conference. The Theme is: Re-educating the African in the
21st Century: Through Balance, Peace and Justice (Ma'at).
Nature and Scope:
What are the reviews and implications of the United Nations'
Decade for the Eradication of Poverty (1997-2006)? Further,
why is the conversation about the eradication of poverty,
the call by many African nations to eliminate huge national
debts from multi-national agencies, and the intense
spotlight on Africa critical for Africans on the continent
and in the African Diaspora?
The First World Conference hosted by the John Henrik
Clarke-C.L.R. James African World Research Institute brings
together a slate of the foremost African-descended scholars,
thinkers, artists, and activists to lead the conversation
about what this United Nations' Decade for the Eradication
of Poverty has meant for Africa and the African Diaspora.
Given the focus on Africa, what are the implications for the
re-education of Continental and Diasporic Africans beyond
2006? Participating delegates from Africa, Asia, England,
Europe, the Americas, the Pacific and the Caribbean will
have the opportunity to exchange information about the
multi-dimensional implications of this UN Decade with
respect to the re-education of African descended people
globally.
The John Henrik Clarke-C.L.R. James African World Research
Institute First World Conference in Aswan, Egypt provides
comprehensive conference facilities including a full program
of featured speakers, papers, panel presentations, small
group plenary sessions, publishing opportunities and book
exhibitions. Quality contributions for papers, panels,
posters and round table discussions, which will be double
blind reviewed, are invited.
The John Henrik Clarke-C.L.R. James African World Research
Institute First World Conference strives to balance
relevance and rigor. In pursuit of this aim, we will attract
both academics and practitioners. The presentations are
expected to be around the conference theme, as cited above.
The topics include the following: economic development in
relationship to the family, health, culture, politics,
religion, gender, intergenerational relationships, science,
and global technological strategies to connect and maintain
the global African family. It is our intention for the
presentations to be informative and set the tone for
interesting research and consulting opportunities.
Submission Instructions:
Submissions can be made in the following categories:
Completed research papers, research-in-progress papers,
panels and posters, and round table discussion papers.
Please follow the guidelines in preparing your submission.
Completed research papers: Typically 5,000 words (excluding
abstract and references)
Research-in-progress papers: Typically 2,500 words
(excluding abstract and references)
Posters and round table discussion: Typically a 1,000-word
synopsis of the topic area to be presented
Panel proposal: Typically a 1,000-word description,
identifying the panelist to be involved.
Documentary (Film/video): Typically a 500-word description
with a 20-30 minute DVD format.
Spoken Word Artist panels/performance: Typically 4-5
versatile performance pieces on preferably DVD format
In preparing your papers, please use the APA referencing
style. In text citation should be in an Author (date) format
with the bibliographical list inserted at the end of the
paper.
Submission and review process will be handled
electronically. Please make your submission as one MS Word
file. Include all figures and tables in relevant places in
the text. The title page should indicate the title, author
affiliations including, telephone number, fax and email. In
case of multiple authors, corresponding author details
should be clearly identified. The title page should also
identify the track for which you wish your paper to be
considered. All submissions will be double blind peer
reviewed. NOTE: The deadline for submission of papers has
been extended to February 15, 2006. The new Selection
Notification date is March 15, 2006.
Contact:
Dr. Clinton Crawford
John Henrik Clarke—C.L.R. James African World Research
Institute
P.O. Box 473592
New York 11247
USA
Phone: +1-718-756-8904 and 718-270-5140
Email: sankofawp@netscape.net and firstwc2006@netscape.net
Web: http://www.sankofaworldpublish
1st World Conference Call for Papers
Friday, December 30, 2005
Thursday, December 29, 2005
Wednesday, December 28, 2005
The Black Commentator - Cover Story: The 'Most Corrupt' Congress Ever
BC: "However, even the rip-off of billions in this scam (and the theft of billions in Iraqi oil revenues) does not come close to describing the enormity of the crime: an attempt to steal the resources of a vast swath of the Earth, far beyond the boundaries of Iraq, and to transfer the proceeds to private hands, all the while billing the American public for the military muscle required.
Now, that's corruption, by anybody's definition."
Saturday, December 24, 2005
Happy Kwanzaa, Merry Christmas, Happy Hannakkah, or just have a nice weekend!
BLACKLOGIC wishes you and yours a blessed and peaceful holiday.
We will be back online Tuesday, December 27.
We will be back online Tuesday, December 27.
Friday, December 23, 2005
Calls for a Progressive Majority
LEFT VOICES CALL FOR BUILDING A PROGRESSIVE MAJORITY
Harry Targ, Professor Department of Political Science, Purdue
University
Over 100 activists, including 20 speakers on five panels, from the
labor, anti-racist, peace, women’s, and socialist movements met to
talk about “Building A Progressive Majority” on Saturday, December 10
at the SEIU 1199 meeting hall on 42nd street in New York City. The
event was sponsored and organized by The Committees of Correspondence
Education Fund.
Although difficult “how to do it” questions remain, attendees
agreed with Leslie Cagan, United for Peace and Justice (UFPJ)
coordinator, that the Left must make every effort to help build a
broad Left/Center coalition that connects issues of peace and justice.
Cagan underscored that this means mobilizing Left forces and taking
Center voices seriously.
Carl Bloice, freelance journalist and member of the National
ExecutiveCommittee of the Committees of Correspondence for Democracy
and Socialism (CCDS), agreed that Left/Center unity is a necessity
to fight war, racism, and poverty.
He stressed that three pitfalls needed to be avoided. First, Left
and progressive activists should not forget that the system is in
crisis because of the growing anger and activism of masses of people.
(Frances Fox Piven, Professor, City University of New York, on the
same panel documented the connection between mass protest and
progressive public policy in the history of the United States).Second,
activists must avoid factionalism on issues and ideology. And
third,progressives must be prepared to challenge the "2006 betrayal of
the Democrats," that is they must reject the Democratic Leadership
Council Democrats who embrace the war in Iraq and cuts in social
spending.
Fighting racism and white supremacy is central to the possibility of
creating a progressive majority, added Damu Smith, Black Voices for
Peace. Addressing the racist corporate/government response to the
devastation of Hurricane Katrina “is a litmus test for the progressive
movement.” If there is to be a movement, it must incorporate the
efforts of grassroots groups from the Gulf region who are trying to
regain control of their lives and property from government. “Katrina
did not hit New Orleans”, Smith said, “FEMA hit New Orleans.”
Reinforcing Smith, Chuck Turner, Boston City Councilman, issued a
challenge to the peace movement to address the connections between the
military-industrial complex and the lack of resources for the African
American community.
Manning Marable, Professor, Columbia University, referred to the “New
Racial Domain,” a global political economy driven by transnational
capitalism and state- enforced neo-liberal policies that rests “on
mass unemployment, mass incarceration, and mass disenfranchisement.”
Each of these is related to the other two. Millions of dispossessed
poor and people of color at home and abroad are increasingly
marginalized at the same time that global capital seeks to privatize
every institution and natural resource in the service of profit.
Elizabeth Rothschild, National Organizer, Young Democratic
Socialists, also highlighted the relationship between struggling
against racism and building a progressive majority. In addition, she
related capitalism to racism, sexism, and the threat to democracy.
“Capitalism is an undemocratic global system of power distribution
that reinforces and reproduces and exacerbates racism and sexism.”
Democracy “can only be attained when we challenge capitalist
production-because democracy cannot be had in a system which requires
massive poverty.” She outlined the ways in which the system was
tormenting youth:college costs are rising, student loans are
declining, jobs are scarce for youth at all educational levels, and
wages are low. For thousands of youth, military service, is the only
remaining option.
The importance of rebuilding a trade union movement that comes from
the grassroots was emphasized by Charles Ensley, President, Social
Service Employees Union, Local 371, AFSCME and Bill Henning, Vice
President, Communications Workers of America, Local 1180. Henning
spoke of the influence of United States Labor Against the War (USLAW)
on the recently endorsed AFL-CIO resolution opposing the Iraq war.
Ensley made it clear that labor has resources, human and financial, to
participate in a progressive coalition.
Michael Honey Professor and labor historian, connected the
anti-racistmovement of the 1960s to poor and working class movements
of that day.He recalled that Dr. King was marching in solidarity with
Memphis sanitation workers at the time when he was assassinated. The
assassination occurred just days before the start of the Poor People’s
Campaign mobilization in Washington D.C. Honey suggested that a
progressive majority today can build on the 1960s tradition, linking
class, race, and gender.
In an inspiring keynote address, Amy Goodman, host and producer of
Democracy Now, described the pain and suffering of Iraqi’s caused by
the war and the fate of victims of the Gulf Coast hurricane. She
compared the realities on the ground with the character of media
coverage of these events. She credited some journalists with more
accurate coverage of Hurricane Katrina compared with the pro-U.S.
military coverage in Iraq. The difference, she suggested, resulted
from the fact that journalists were “embedded” in Iraq and somewhat
independent of government and military control in Louisiana and
Mississippi. She insisted that progressives should work to build an
independent media.
In the closing session, Charlene Mitchell, Co-Chair, CCDS,
talked about the need for Left dialogue and action in this period of
economic and political crisis. She said that people are angry and
activists from the labor, anti-racist, peace, and socialist movements
have an obligation to come together to help build a progressive
movement based on an understanding of the connections between class,
race, and gender.. The Symposium was important to begin the
conversation, she suggested. Now it was time to move toward activism.
Envisioning some next steps, Joseph Wilson, Professor and Director,
Center for Worker Education, CUNY, recommended that a national
convention be called to launch the creation of a new national
progressive coalition. He called for energies to be channeled toward
the construction of radical think tanks to generate ideas for
progressive social change. Finally, he endorsed the idea of recreating
a progressive media, print and electronic, to better inform potential
participants in a new progressive majority.
Symposium participants left energized by the presentations and
dialogue, and expressed their support for the building of a “new
progressive coalition."
Harry Targ, Professor Department of Political Science, Purdue
University
Over 100 activists, including 20 speakers on five panels, from the
labor, anti-racist, peace, women’s, and socialist movements met to
talk about “Building A Progressive Majority” on Saturday, December 10
at the SEIU 1199 meeting hall on 42nd street in New York City. The
event was sponsored and organized by The Committees of Correspondence
Education Fund.
Although difficult “how to do it” questions remain, attendees
agreed with Leslie Cagan, United for Peace and Justice (UFPJ)
coordinator, that the Left must make every effort to help build a
broad Left/Center coalition that connects issues of peace and justice.
Cagan underscored that this means mobilizing Left forces and taking
Center voices seriously.
Carl Bloice, freelance journalist and member of the National
ExecutiveCommittee of the Committees of Correspondence for Democracy
and Socialism (CCDS), agreed that Left/Center unity is a necessity
to fight war, racism, and poverty.
He stressed that three pitfalls needed to be avoided. First, Left
and progressive activists should not forget that the system is in
crisis because of the growing anger and activism of masses of people.
(Frances Fox Piven, Professor, City University of New York, on the
same panel documented the connection between mass protest and
progressive public policy in the history of the United States).Second,
activists must avoid factionalism on issues and ideology. And
third,progressives must be prepared to challenge the "2006 betrayal of
the Democrats," that is they must reject the Democratic Leadership
Council Democrats who embrace the war in Iraq and cuts in social
spending.
Fighting racism and white supremacy is central to the possibility of
creating a progressive majority, added Damu Smith, Black Voices for
Peace. Addressing the racist corporate/government response to the
devastation of Hurricane Katrina “is a litmus test for the progressive
movement.” If there is to be a movement, it must incorporate the
efforts of grassroots groups from the Gulf region who are trying to
regain control of their lives and property from government. “Katrina
did not hit New Orleans”, Smith said, “FEMA hit New Orleans.”
Reinforcing Smith, Chuck Turner, Boston City Councilman, issued a
challenge to the peace movement to address the connections between the
military-industrial complex and the lack of resources for the African
American community.
Manning Marable, Professor, Columbia University, referred to the “New
Racial Domain,” a global political economy driven by transnational
capitalism and state- enforced neo-liberal policies that rests “on
mass unemployment, mass incarceration, and mass disenfranchisement.”
Each of these is related to the other two. Millions of dispossessed
poor and people of color at home and abroad are increasingly
marginalized at the same time that global capital seeks to privatize
every institution and natural resource in the service of profit.
Elizabeth Rothschild, National Organizer, Young Democratic
Socialists, also highlighted the relationship between struggling
against racism and building a progressive majority. In addition, she
related capitalism to racism, sexism, and the threat to democracy.
“Capitalism is an undemocratic global system of power distribution
that reinforces and reproduces and exacerbates racism and sexism.”
Democracy “can only be attained when we challenge capitalist
production-because democracy cannot be had in a system which requires
massive poverty.” She outlined the ways in which the system was
tormenting youth:college costs are rising, student loans are
declining, jobs are scarce for youth at all educational levels, and
wages are low. For thousands of youth, military service, is the only
remaining option.
The importance of rebuilding a trade union movement that comes from
the grassroots was emphasized by Charles Ensley, President, Social
Service Employees Union, Local 371, AFSCME and Bill Henning, Vice
President, Communications Workers of America, Local 1180. Henning
spoke of the influence of United States Labor Against the War (USLAW)
on the recently endorsed AFL-CIO resolution opposing the Iraq war.
Ensley made it clear that labor has resources, human and financial, to
participate in a progressive coalition.
Michael Honey Professor and labor historian, connected the
anti-racistmovement of the 1960s to poor and working class movements
of that day.He recalled that Dr. King was marching in solidarity with
Memphis sanitation workers at the time when he was assassinated. The
assassination occurred just days before the start of the Poor People’s
Campaign mobilization in Washington D.C. Honey suggested that a
progressive majority today can build on the 1960s tradition, linking
class, race, and gender.
In an inspiring keynote address, Amy Goodman, host and producer of
Democracy Now, described the pain and suffering of Iraqi’s caused by
the war and the fate of victims of the Gulf Coast hurricane. She
compared the realities on the ground with the character of media
coverage of these events. She credited some journalists with more
accurate coverage of Hurricane Katrina compared with the pro-U.S.
military coverage in Iraq. The difference, she suggested, resulted
from the fact that journalists were “embedded” in Iraq and somewhat
independent of government and military control in Louisiana and
Mississippi. She insisted that progressives should work to build an
independent media.
In the closing session, Charlene Mitchell, Co-Chair, CCDS,
talked about the need for Left dialogue and action in this period of
economic and political crisis. She said that people are angry and
activists from the labor, anti-racist, peace, and socialist movements
have an obligation to come together to help build a progressive
movement based on an understanding of the connections between class,
race, and gender.. The Symposium was important to begin the
conversation, she suggested. Now it was time to move toward activism.
Envisioning some next steps, Joseph Wilson, Professor and Director,
Center for Worker Education, CUNY, recommended that a national
convention be called to launch the creation of a new national
progressive coalition. He called for energies to be channeled toward
the construction of radical think tanks to generate ideas for
progressive social change. Finally, he endorsed the idea of recreating
a progressive media, print and electronic, to better inform potential
participants in a new progressive majority.
Symposium participants left energized by the presentations and
dialogue, and expressed their support for the building of a “new
progressive coalition."
Dungy's loss brings pain without answers
The folks at Blacklogic.blogspot express our deepest condolences to Tony Dungy and his family on the loss of their son and brother, James Dungy
Do something for yourself for KWANZAA
Do you every wonder what could be if the $700 billion Blacks spend annually to be treated like crap stayed in Black communities?
What would happen if the racist corporations had to go without a total of $700 billion in profit margin? Would they be less inclined to practice their racism? Would they finally learn the meaning of all the things MLK and Malik El-Shabazz died for?
Until a significant number of us realize we subsidize the racism we live with and the oppression of others as well by our blind participation in this 'burning house' economy, than we will continue to exist on the wrong end of every disparity study that comes out.
What would happen if the racist corporations had to go without a total of $700 billion in profit margin? Would they be less inclined to practice their racism? Would they finally learn the meaning of all the things MLK and Malik El-Shabazz died for?
Until a significant number of us realize we subsidize the racism we live with and the oppression of others as well by our blind participation in this 'burning house' economy, than we will continue to exist on the wrong end of every disparity study that comes out.
Republicans fear lobbyists plea bargain
And it ain't just Republicans who are afraid -- this case points to the inherent corruption within our political structure that both wings of the one-party system benefit from -- disguised as a tool of democracy, but really just preserving the same white supremacist impulses that inspired the genocide of Native Americans, the enslavement and dehumanization of Africans, the Nazis, the 'wars' on drugs, terror, etc.
The Australian: Wal-Mart's free lunch costs it $236m [December 24, 2005]
Once again we have to look to a foreign press for information about Corporate corruption at home.
Thursday, December 22, 2005
New York Police Covertly Join In at Protest Rallies - New York Times
"Beyond collecting information, some of the undercover officers or their associates are seen on the tape having influence on events. At a demonstration last year during the Republican National Convention, the sham arrest of a man secretly working with the police led to a bruising confrontation between officers in riot gear and bystanders."
So the brownshirting of those sworn to serve us, protect us, and in fact FACILITATE our freedom of speech is official.
So the brownshirting of those sworn to serve us, protect us, and in fact FACILITATE our freedom of speech is official.
Wednesday, December 21, 2005
The Black Commentator - Cover Story: 2005: The Year of Living Dangerously for Black Folks
Blackcommentator.com is the best site on the internet.
AfterDowningStreet.org | CensureBush.org
Congressman John Conyers is our last best hope to rid this nation of this criminally bent administration.
Dick Cheney has put it on the table as bluntly and thuggishly as a mobster setting down a crowbar.
Except for WWs I & II, the U.S. military might has always been used exclusively against nation's of color. What does this nation stand for, white supremacy or democracy?
Tuesday, December 20, 2005
BBC NEWS | Americas | Venezuela gives Exxon ultimatum
"THis means that Venezuela, which has the world's largest petroleum reserves, now calls the shots in what the foreign guests can and cannot do."
Hallelujah!
PS: Buy your gas at CITGO....
or bike.
Hallelujah!
PS: Buy your gas at CITGO....
or bike.
Monday, December 19, 2005
Times Online--Bolivian President to legalize coca
Morales is a stauch participant in the homegrown people's revolutions taking place throughout the hemisphere that are putting people ahead of multinational corporate interests.
Local: Take action in the TCs January 4!
Blacklogic: In this 2003 photo by Emmett Timmons for the MN Spokesman Recorder, Police Community Relations Council Co-chair Ian Bethel and former MPD Chief Robert Olson sign the agreement that could have been the template for better police-community relations for other cities to follow.
Hello Everyone,
Many of you will recall that a little over 2 months ago, we
organized and
attended a meeting of the Public Safety and Regulatory Services Committee
of the Minneapolis City Council. We were able to fill the chambers and,
subsequently, force the issue of non-compliance with the Federal Mediation
Agreement to center stage during the course of the Mayoral election. Many
of us were hopeful that this action might prompt a higher level of
participation
on the part of the MPD and the City of Minneapolis with the PCRC (Police-
Community Relations Council). Charges of electioneering were leveled,
the Mayor insisted that the Agreement had been over 80% implemented--
an assertion which no one on the UCT (Unity-Community Team) shared.
The Police Federation under John Delmonico, moreover, has weighed in
on the side of the community on some of the points revolving around the
neglect of the Mediation Agreement.
Last week the PCRC met and the members of the UCT and the Police
Federation entered a vote of "no-confidence" in the hiring process portion
of the Agreement. The final vote was 8-7 and the motion carried. Neither
Mayor Rybak, Assistant Chief Dolan, or Chief McManus bothered to attend
this meeting. It was left up to Deputy Chief Harris and Compliance Lt. Doyle
to take the heat for the City of Minneapolis. Personally, I have no problem
identifying where the hold-up is with the implementation--and it ain't
Deputy
Chief Harris.
On 1\4\2006, the Public Safety & Regulatory Services Committee
will meet for the first time under the New Council. Apparently, Don Samuels
will now head up that Committee. With a wistful indifference to protests
from the Community, the City officials encharged with our trust to move
ahead and heal the widening gulf between segments of our community,
seem to think that the matter will just go away. Many of us want to send
a clear "No!" to this persistent disregard for the citizens of Minneapolis.
Therefore on 1\4\2006 at 1:30 we will be organizing--AGAIN--to send
a message--AGAIN--that it just plain NOT ok to discriminate against
those whose
skin is not white, whose religion is not christianity, whose sexual
preference
may not be heterosexual, who speak a language other than English. Nearly
40 years after the death of Mr. Luther King, I personally find it repugnant
that we continue with the same set of issues. So, let's turn out on the 4th
of a new year and send a solid message that the days of neglect of the
community are over and will no longer be tolerated.
I am tired of hearing--from various people--that this issue is
'ancillary'
to this or that perspective. This is the bedrock of any semblance of our
fundamental Civil Rights. If anyone doubts this, let's have coffee and go
over the factual basis that has prompted this action. Time for all of us
to quit napping and get miffed.
If anyone would like a digital copy of the Mediation Agreemnent,
please
contact me and I will send you one.
Take care and I hope all of you can attend,
Guy Gambill
First they came for the Communists,
and I didn't speak up,
because I wasn't a Communist.
Then they came for the Jews,
and I didn't speak up,
because I wasn't a Jew.
Then they came for the Catholics,
and I didn't speak up,
because I was a Protestant.
Then they came for me,
and by that time there was no one
left to speak up for me.
by Rev. Martin Niemoller, 1945
Hello Everyone,
Many of you will recall that a little over 2 months ago, we
organized and
attended a meeting of the Public Safety and Regulatory Services Committee
of the Minneapolis City Council. We were able to fill the chambers and,
subsequently, force the issue of non-compliance with the Federal Mediation
Agreement to center stage during the course of the Mayoral election. Many
of us were hopeful that this action might prompt a higher level of
participation
on the part of the MPD and the City of Minneapolis with the PCRC (Police-
Community Relations Council). Charges of electioneering were leveled,
the Mayor insisted that the Agreement had been over 80% implemented--
an assertion which no one on the UCT (Unity-Community Team) shared.
The Police Federation under John Delmonico, moreover, has weighed in
on the side of the community on some of the points revolving around the
neglect of the Mediation Agreement.
Last week the PCRC met and the members of the UCT and the Police
Federation entered a vote of "no-confidence" in the hiring process portion
of the Agreement. The final vote was 8-7 and the motion carried. Neither
Mayor Rybak, Assistant Chief Dolan, or Chief McManus bothered to attend
this meeting. It was left up to Deputy Chief Harris and Compliance Lt. Doyle
to take the heat for the City of Minneapolis. Personally, I have no problem
identifying where the hold-up is with the implementation--and it ain't
Deputy
Chief Harris.
On 1\4\2006, the Public Safety & Regulatory Services Committee
will meet for the first time under the New Council. Apparently, Don Samuels
will now head up that Committee. With a wistful indifference to protests
from the Community, the City officials encharged with our trust to move
ahead and heal the widening gulf between segments of our community,
seem to think that the matter will just go away. Many of us want to send
a clear "No!" to this persistent disregard for the citizens of Minneapolis.
Therefore on 1\4\2006 at 1:30 we will be organizing--AGAIN--to send
a message--AGAIN--that it just plain NOT ok to discriminate against
those whose
skin is not white, whose religion is not christianity, whose sexual
preference
may not be heterosexual, who speak a language other than English. Nearly
40 years after the death of Mr. Luther King, I personally find it repugnant
that we continue with the same set of issues. So, let's turn out on the 4th
of a new year and send a solid message that the days of neglect of the
community are over and will no longer be tolerated.
I am tired of hearing--from various people--that this issue is
'ancillary'
to this or that perspective. This is the bedrock of any semblance of our
fundamental Civil Rights. If anyone doubts this, let's have coffee and go
over the factual basis that has prompted this action. Time for all of us
to quit napping and get miffed.
If anyone would like a digital copy of the Mediation Agreemnent,
please
contact me and I will send you one.
Take care and I hope all of you can attend,
Guy Gambill
First they came for the Communists,
and I didn't speak up,
because I wasn't a Communist.
Then they came for the Jews,
and I didn't speak up,
because I wasn't a Jew.
Then they came for the Catholics,
and I didn't speak up,
because I was a Protestant.
Then they came for me,
and by that time there was no one
left to speak up for me.
by Rev. Martin Niemoller, 1945
Democracy Now! | How Many Are Missing and Dead After Katrina? Three Months After the Hurricane, the Numbers are Still Unknown
Three Months After the Hurricane, the Numbers are Still Unknown
Saturday, December 17, 2005
The Raw Story | New York Times admits it held domestic spying story for a full year
The MSM has always been a tool for advancing a racist agenda for the corporate/military elite, however subtly;
Some free press we have here. I don't even trust the sports pages anymore.
Smash the digital divide.
Some free press we have here. I don't even trust the sports pages anymore.
Smash the digital divide.
Friday, December 16, 2005
African Philosophy Resources
African Philosophy Resources
Among the many problems I'm having with my server is posting this brilliant and important site to my links. I type it in verbatim and it still won't upload from my template; hence I'm posting it here.
You can all thank me later.
PS: This site makes a clear case for why we must eliminate the digital divide.
Among the many problems I'm having with my server is posting this brilliant and important site to my links. I type it in verbatim and it still won't upload from my template; hence I'm posting it here.
You can all thank me later.
PS: This site makes a clear case for why we must eliminate the digital divide.
Reports: Bush Authorized NSA to Spy in U.S. - Yahoo! News
As his adminstration finishes the looting of the people his pappy and Ray-gun started.
Body Found at Big Bird's Nest - Dec 15, 2005 - E! Online News
Just when you think you're out of childhood illusions to watch go up in smoke...
Thursday, December 15, 2005
Bush Accepts McCain's Ban on Torture - Yahoo! News
Thank a zoo handler.
Images courtesy of www.desperatetimes.com.
Two of the items on my reading list this year were:
"...all mi sayin, all mi sayin, is yu don' introduce an den SOLVE di main charAKter's mos'important CRISis in di damn PILot, an expec fi geneREETE an entire SERIAL's wort' of epiSODES afta dat. DAT's why Dyeep Speece Nine is raas..."We chatted up Minister Faust, author of The Coyote KIngs of the Space Age Bachelor Pad (Ballantine Books, 2004) over the phone last summer after his appearance at DreamHaven Books and Diversicon here in Erotic City. He and Sherri R. Thomas, editor of the anthology Dark Matter: Reading the Bones (Aspect, 2004) were featured guests at Diversicon 13, a gathering of creators and fans of science fiction from August 19-21 at the Holiday Inn at the International Airport/Mall of America (cold shiver). For whatever reason, even though their DreamHaven reading and book signing was on my calender for weeks, my wires got crossed and I trudged out to the MOA (cold shiver) for the second time in ten years by light rail when I should have been in my own hood at DreamHaven. Hence the phone interview.
(Note: if you think the MOA is annoying when you're shopping, try bidding time there when you're not. The bloodless sensation you feel is similar to driving through Nebraska).
Minister Faust hails from Edmonton, Alberta -- Canada's northern most city by population -- and credits his mother for providing his first artistic sparks. He took two degrees from the University of Alberta -- English and education -- and took some creative writing as well, where he said the courses were poorly taught.
Coyote Kings is his first pubished work and tells the fantastic tale of Hamza and Yehat -- the Coyote Kings and working-class best friends: one is a disgruntled dishwasher (what dishwasher isn't?) and the other a video store clerk. One day they meet beautiful and mysterious Sherem in Edmonton, who propels them into a world parrellel to those that exist in the plethora of comics and science fiction the two men gorge themselves on and quote prodigously. Faust's words are italicized.
My mother, an Alberta farm girl, always motivated me to read sci fi as a kid: Star Trek and writing and writing and reading and acting...My dad was a member of the Kenya Land and Reform Party (Mau Mau) like most Pan Africanists.
ON ART and POLITICS:
Art and politics? there's no separation. Politics is about the power groups use to get what they want; art is our attempt to use aesthetics to describe reality and our future. One is more fun, though politics can be fun, and some art can be dreary.
Why are you as an artist exempt from making the world better? We don't get to stand down on those particular issues affecting community.
Langston Hughes said that the decision to create non-political art is itself a political decision. If you are writing about flowers, the system probably benefits you; if you are writing about oppression, you're probably having a hard time.
BLACK MOVIES, WHITE MOVIES
Remeber House Party, or the Spike Lee revolution? Why isn't anyone doing anything like that now? THough it was comedy, House Party looked at the routine stops of African American males in North America by the police -- played for laughs, but portrayed as a fact of life.
In white movies race doesn't exist. In our art, whether it's referenced directly or indirectly, all we have to do is reference ourselves.
INTERVIEWING PUBLIC ENEMY
Flava Flav's eyes looked like pickeled cherries when I interviewed PE a few years ago. Chuck was great, but Flav?...
RACISM LA CANADA/RACISM DE USA
In the US, one thing that really shocked me -- cuz Canadiens are reserved -- but all the time, white people start conversations with me...but I find it interesting that Americans are given this astonishing jingoistic racism from very young, but even with that, [white] Americans would just talk to me. I'm not saying they acted like they wanted me to date their daughters or give me a job, but even with all the racial propaganda it's not a perfect poison; I've known people that were straight up evil.
Growing up in Canada can be very lonely, alienating when you look around and nobody looks like you. Textbooks? Your face isn't even there; TV? Your face isn't there, and if it is, it's because the criminal looks like you. But it's the only climate I've ever lived in. One of the big differences between Canada and the US is the way any strength can become a weakness. I would have loved it if more Africans were here. Most of us are Carribean, Tanzanian, Kenyan: I was raised Catholic and went to school other than my siblings.
Most whites think that racism consists of calling someone 'nigger." It's not the word, it's the power system behind it. For jobs, our parents didn't get the call, our hand isn't recognized when it's raised in class, denied, and there is an enormous amount of information on racial profiling, especially Toronto.
It's the other ways our lives are going to be curtailed, maybe not jail or senseless killing at the hands of the police or mob violence, it's the institutional racism, it's absolutely institutional -- it doesn't require a con
RECENT AMERICAN PRESIDENTS
It scares me now that you have an [twice] unelected president, but the one before that oversaw eight years of sanctions against Iraq that killed a million people. One thing that makes me sad is African Americans coming up with Clinton being the first "Black" president. It's one thing if a comedian says it, here's a guy who bombed Sudan, and act of international terror against an African country, and we're supposed to look at this as a Black president?
ON WRITING CKOTSBP
Coyote Kings was written as a screenplay when I was 25. I've written five novels, one is published, two since CKOTSBP.
In my future work I plan to utilize the experiences of the Pan-African Diaspora; stories of (Kwame) Nkrumah, Lumumba and Mandela -- I have a novel planned about a sci-fi version of the Congo War.
WHAT'S THE BEST OF CONTEMPORARY SCI FI?
Farscape (now cancelled), especially the second and third seasons. Until then, most sci fi shows were one Star Trek afte another. The new Battlestar Galactica picks up where Farscape left off -- West Wing in Space. But BG now is good! Remember the brother Col. Ty in the first one? Ty was one of those genteel Blacks; now he's a horrible, battle-grizzled alcoholic.
CONTACT MINSTER FAUST AT minister@ministerfaust.com.
Rashard Zanders conducted this interview and accepts reader responses at rashard.zanders@gmail.com.
Ignorance on display: Mondesire Won't Apologize For McNabb Attack
A damn shame, act a fool like TO and the whole world loves you. Do your job like McNabb, well....
Donovan, if you're not wrong, then everything is alright: Keep ya head up!
Aren't there more pressing issues in Philadelphia that their local NAACP should be concerned about?
Is the NAACP even relevant as a civil rights organization anymore?
Generation KKK: Passing the Torch
A rather bland photo montage that omits the bigots on federal and state court benches, congress, corporate board rooms as well as the White HOuse...
SignOnSanDiego.com > Sports -- Cuba blocked by U.S. from field of WBC
What is the point of having a sporting event for the world, if members of the world body who want to participate are excluded?
Wednesday, December 14, 2005
Tuesday, December 13, 2005
Capitol Hill Blue: Bush on the Constitution: 'It's just a goddamned piece of paper'
Words from your President/spiritual leader/commander-in-chief
Thanks red states.
Thanks red states.
Consortiumnews.com -- Journalism's shameful anniversary
Note: The first reports of Webb's death, the journalist who committed 'suicide' one year ago, indicated he'd shot himself in the head more than once.
Amazing.
Amazing.
GM to Nearly Triple India Production - Yahoo! News
Maybe it's time we boycott GM, and Coca-Cola, and Nike, the mainstream press (print, televised, etc.)
I wonder, if I had pursued the corporate dreams placed upon me by various mentors, if I'd be laying someone off right now, or foreclosing on someone's home.
Why is it, that when Martin Luther King and Rosa Parks forced a boycott of MOntgomery buses, no one subsequently considered how effective boycotts could be against more than one deserving target -- I mean an indefinite, sustained boycott of say, 500 companies (?) traditionally hostile to Black progress, since Black dollars do provide the profit margins for so many. Could Jessie and Sharpton make the call, or are they and other so called Black leaders in the pocket of the fortune 500?
MLK must be proud...not.
Discuss.
I wonder, if I had pursued the corporate dreams placed upon me by various mentors, if I'd be laying someone off right now, or foreclosing on someone's home.
Why is it, that when Martin Luther King and Rosa Parks forced a boycott of MOntgomery buses, no one subsequently considered how effective boycotts could be against more than one deserving target -- I mean an indefinite, sustained boycott of say, 500 companies (?) traditionally hostile to Black progress, since Black dollars do provide the profit margins for so many. Could Jessie and Sharpton make the call, or are they and other so called Black leaders in the pocket of the fortune 500?
MLK must be proud...not.
Discuss.
Independent Online Edition > 1000 days of war
The war was not finished with the capture of former US ally Saddam Hussein. That was just the beginning.
Monday, December 12, 2005
Nate Mezmer: Killing Tookie Williams
"If Stan "Tookie" Williams is executed tomorrow who will feel the negative effects? Stan was convicted of four murders 25 years ago in connection with armed-robbery, however, the key witnesses were felons wo received benefits in exchange for their testimony. I have encountered many people who say that since Stan was a gang-banger and a co-founder og the Crips that such facts alone should condemn him..."
First Pryor moments
I heard parts of my first Richard Pryor album with my ear pressed against the other side of a door my mom and her friends had shut to keep us children from listening in. We were AME folks and once in a while the 'rents would play the borderline holy-roller.
It was as much an adventure listening to them laugh to the point of breathlessness as it was discerning what the joke was -- cause we knew we were hearing some raw shiz-nit. And if they were laughing, it must have been raw. Every once in a while one of the parents would audibly start for the door to let us know, that they knew, we were trying to listen in. It was a great game; who knew that those days would be so golden compared to now, cause it wasn' t easy then.
I think they knew we heard a listened everytime, but needed cover, since we were always warned to "watch our language."
It was as much an adventure listening to them laugh to the point of breathlessness as it was discerning what the joke was -- cause we knew we were hearing some raw shiz-nit. And if they were laughing, it must have been raw. Every once in a while one of the parents would audibly start for the door to let us know, that they knew, we were trying to listen in. It was a great game; who knew that those days would be so golden compared to now, cause it wasn' t easy then.
I think they knew we heard a listened everytime, but needed cover, since we were always warned to "watch our language."
BBC NEWS | Americas | US state signs Cuban trade deal
"In 2001, Maine was the first U.S. state to pass a resolution calling for a complete end to the trade and travel ban against the Caribbean nation." --BBC.
Sunday, December 11, 2005
The Observer | International | Drowned city cuts its poor adrift
Because sometimes you have to read outside the US MSM to find out what's goin' on...
Friday, December 09, 2005
U.S. Delegation Walks Out of Climate Talks - New York Times
I wonder what they were there for in the first place.
Thursday, December 08, 2005
Science News Article | Reuters.co.uk
75 scientists who study the Great lakes say stresses from pollution to invasive species "threaten to trigger an ecological breakdown in the Great Lakes."
Wednesday, December 07, 2005
Google Image Result for http://rastafarispeaks.com/albums/africa/amunmut.jpg
Go here for a sweet African history slideshow.
German Papers: Does Anyone Believe Condoleezza Rice? - International - SPIEGEL ONLINE - News
Who better to sugarcoat and lie about torture than this daughter of the African Diaspora, who's ancestors herself were subjected to centuries of American torture?
For more on Condi's condition, read Franz Fanon's "Black Skin, White Masks"
German Papers: Does Anyone Believe Condoleezza Rice? - International - SPIEGEL ONLINE - News
For more on Condi's condition, read Franz Fanon's "Black Skin, White Masks"
German Papers: Does Anyone Believe Condoleezza Rice? - International - SPIEGEL ONLINE - News
The March For Justice
This site contains "THE SHOCK and AWE Gallery, a collection of images depicting the effects of war against children
The March For Justice
The March For Justice
AOL News - Katrina Victims Blast Response at House Hearing
"One NO resident said she was a sunrise away from being consumed by maggots and flies."
AOL News - Katrina Victims Blast Response at House Hearing
AOL News - Katrina Victims Blast Response at House Hearing
Tuesday, December 06, 2005
ACN Presents: I Need Some Soldiers
Funny animation of Bush doing Karoeke (Kareoke?) to Destiny's Child...
...if that doesn't work go directly to the link below or put it into your nav bar....sorry.
www.americancomedynetwork.com/FLASH/soldiers.htm
...if that doesn't work go directly to the link below or put it into your nav bar....sorry.
www.americancomedynetwork.com/FLASH/soldiers.htm
The Bad News Is That the Good News Is Fake - by William Fisher
"...before the free press went down before the full-court press..." -- Gil-Scott Heron, "B" Movie
From AntiWar.com
The Bad News Is That the Good News Is Fake - by William Fisher
From AntiWar.com
The Bad News Is That the Good News Is Fake - by William Fisher
Has 'War' become a leading brand for United States? / How Bush's imperial policies are being linked to economic woes and CEO angst in America
Or rather, "Has War BEEN a leading brand for the United States?"
Monday, December 05, 2005
Bush Planned Iraq 'Regime Change' Before Becoming President
We're relaying some old but still very important, untouched by the MSM articles from Informationclearinghouse.info, a site that's changed my life, because we believe the drum still needs beating.
Bush Planned Iraq 'Regime Change' Before Becoming President
Bush Planned Iraq 'Regime Change' Before Becoming President
The Raw Story | Kerry asks Bush to replace Rumsfeld
The time to show cajones was BEFORE the 2004 election's Senator....
...and Lieberman for Sec. of Defense? Is there anyone not convinced that that man isn't a prop for the Republicans, bringing down the Democratic party one republicrat at a time?
The Raw Story | Kerry asks Bush to replace Rumsfeld
...and Lieberman for Sec. of Defense? Is there anyone not convinced that that man isn't a prop for the Republicans, bringing down the Democratic party one republicrat at a time?
The Raw Story | Kerry asks Bush to replace Rumsfeld
AOL News - DeLay Conspiracy Charges Thrown Out
Texas Judge Pat Priest loosens noose around neck of acolyte of the criminal adminsitration now in office; don't they have a knack for slipping justice. But there's still the charges of money laundering.
AOL News - DeLay Conspiracy Charges Thrown Out
AOL News - DeLay Conspiracy Charges Thrown Out
AOL News - E-Mails Show How Katrina Swamped Louisiana Governor
This artilcle again mentions the generosity of humanitarian aid offered by Presidents Castro of Cuba and Chavez of Venezuela (gas guzzlers --buy your gas at CITGO!) The Latin American School of Medicine in Havana educates, trains and sends doctors and medical professionals to througout the developing world, and even trains a number of African American med students who otherwise wouldn't get a break homeside.
AOL News - E-Mails Show How Katrina Swamped Louisiana Governor
AOL News - E-Mails Show How Katrina Swamped Louisiana Governor
Sunday, December 04, 2005
Friday, December 02, 2005
YOUR AD COULD BE HERE!
To make a conrtibution to Blacklogic, or to place your ad, write to:
Blacklogic
PO Box 300135
Minneapolis, MN 55405-0135
or call
612-578-8264
Blacklogic
PO Box 300135
Minneapolis, MN 55405-0135
or call
612-578-8264
What if everything you knew about AIDS was wrong?
I recently read a book, What If Everything You Thought You Knew about AIDS WAS WRONG, by Christine Maggiore. Christine was diagnosed as HIV positive, then negative, then positive etc. She has a nine-year old child who is completely healthy. She refused to take AZT or give AZT to her child. In some states, parents can have their children removed from the home simply for refusing to subject their child to AZT.
This book was first printed in 1996, and its fourth printing was in 2000. It is published by the American Foundation for AIDS Alternatives, 11684 Ventura Boulevard, Studio City, CA 91604. Telephone: 877-411-AIDS. Cost: $10.95 for English version. $12.95 for Spanish version. $2.00 postage per book.
A few of the reviews/comments on her book are as follows:
David Rasnick, PhD, Designer of Protease Inhibitors: " I have been studying all sides of HIV/AIDS discussion for 15 years and I can tell you that this little book captures all the important points with clarity and force."
Dr. Lois Lee, Founder, Children of the Night, Recipient of the 1984 President's Volunteer Action Award: "Why have we unquestionably believed everything the government has told us about AIDS? Why have we not asked these questions before? A must-read for everyone if we are ever to uncover the truth about AIDS."
Charles Thomas, PhD, Former Chair of the Cell Biology Department, Scripps Research Institute: "AIDS is a cruel deception that is maintained because so many people are making money from it. Take away this money and the entire system of mythology will collapse. This single, portable book explains the HIV-causes-AIDS swindle in simple, concise language that anyone can understand."
The first thing I learned is that AIDS is not a disease but a new name given by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) to a collection of 29 familiar illnesses and conditions. None of these diseases are new and there are treatments for these conditions that are unrelated to HIV. Maggiore goes explains how expanded and changing definitions of AIDS by the CDC have created an illusion of more people having AIDS--of how statistics are purposely manipulated to convince the public the AIDS rate is drastically increasing.
Does HIV cause AIDS? According to Maggiore, there is no proof to this effect. Dr. Luc Montagnier of the Pasteur Institute in France, who shared a patent with Gallo for the HIV test, has stated he does not believe that HIV alone is capable of causing AIDS. Maggiore goes on to state that "All HIV antibody tests are highly inaccurate. " She clearly explains and documents the reasoning behind her statement.
One of the most appalling facts I learned is the misuse of AZT, which was originally designed as potential chemotherapy treatment for cancer. It was shelved and no patent was ever filed. Yet, after only one highly flawed study of only four months duration, AZT was approved by the FDA as an AIDS treatment to be distributed by pharmaceutical company Burrough Wellcome (now Glaxo-Wellcome), who would, of course, make significant profits off their con. Paul Hedlund, Esq, Who's Who in American Law, Who's Who in the World, Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers, stated that it is "unconscionable to use AZT as a treatment for AIDS." What is most appalling to me is the use of AZT on expectant mothers and infants. Once you read what Maggiore has to say, you will also be appalled. You will also be surprised by the number of HIV positives that develop into "AIDS" only after taking AZT.
Maggiore explains the reality of T-cell counts, viral loads, surrogate markers PCR (technology of polymerase chain reaction), protease inhibitors, "combo cocktails,"failing drug therapy, wasting syndrome and other HIV/AIDS related terms and treatments.
Maggiore explains what is behind all of the manipulated statistics, fear and lack of alternative information regarding AIDS. The magic word, of course, is funding and corporate profits. When this book was written, total tax dollars spent on AIDS exceeded $50 billion. This funding would not happen unless the public believed AIDS posed a widespread and ever-growing threat to all Americans. Those AIDS researchers and/or experts who do not support the mainstream way of thinking do not receive money.
Maggiore also provides background on some of those considered to be experts in AIDS, and gives some truth and reality that will surprise the reader. Some of these "experts" on "AIDS" are Dr. Robert Gallo, Dr. David Baltimore, an AIDS expert and Nobel Laureate, Martin Delaney, Project Inform's founder (a project that seems bent on disinformation), Dr. David Ho (awards winning AIDS researcher) and others who are considered AIDS experts but do not allow alternative methods to infiltrate their fear tactics that brainwash the general public and too many "educated" public health leaders.
How did I come across this book? The answer is very interesting. In one of my Cuba and Venezuela film and discussion groups, I mentioned that Cuba has an exceptionally low HIV rate of only.1 percent--that is point one percent--of the sexually active population. This is six times lower than the U.S. and an extreme exception to the high HIV rate in the Caribbean and all of Latin America. One person in the group, a nurse, stated that HIV does not cause AIDS and tore apart all of my preconceptions about AIDS. She gave me Maggiore's book, and did I get an education!!! Once I got around to reading it, I could not put it down until I finished it.
I wondered why African countries, which have poor access to AIDS drugs, has such a high AIDS rate and why Cuba, which has AIDS drugs (ones they have to develop and produce on their own, as the US blockade prevents AIDS drugs being sold to Cuba) has such a low rate. After reading Maggiore's book, I discovered the real reasons for "AIDS" diagnosis.
In Africa there is poor access to healthcare; there is not enough nutritional food; and, much of the water is privatized, which limits the poor's access to clean water. Africa, first of all, uses only four clinical symptoms--diarrhea, fever, persistent cough and weight loss of more than 10%--and does not often require an HIV test (which most likely is a good thing). The symptoms for AIDS are identical to those conditions which are rampart in Africa--such as malaria, tuberculosis, parasitic infections, malnutrition and unsanitary drinking and bathing water. As Maggiore states, "poverty is the real culprit here."
Cuba, on the other hand, has a world-acclaimed universal health-care plan; makes efforts to ensure nutritional requirements are met, which means immunity to diseases/illnesses is better; and, has a very good public water system, so the people are not subjected to contaminated water. Also, Cuba puts great emphasis on prevention via education. Thus, Cubans, as opposed to other third-world countries, is much less likely to develop diseases/illnesses/conditions that could easily be diagnosed as HIV and developing into AIDS. Remember AIDS is not new and not a disease--but a collection of 29 familiar illnesses and conditions. After reading this book, instead of praising Cuba for its development of AIDS drugs, I am hoping they use them less and also read the book, which I have sent the Cuban Interest Section in Washington, D.C.
Just think: If much of the HIV/AIDS "problem" could be solved by the wealthy countries providing nutritional food and good, clean, public-supported water to the poor in third-world countries (including the third-world part of the U.S.), the U.S. and other wealthy countries would have to forego their excuses of not being able to help the poor in these countries to have healthier lives without diseases/illnesses/conditions that could easily be treated. Just think what a drain this would be on the pharmaceutical profits? Just think how much power this would take away from the wealthy countries' control of the third-world countries.
You may or may not agree with what Maggiore states in her book, and you may or may not come to the same conclusions I have; yet, this definitely is a book that everyone who is concerned about AIDS, especially public health officials, needs to read and encourage others to read.
Peace, hope, justice for ALL
Joan Malerich
RollingStone.com: Notorious B.I.G. : The Unsolved Mystery of the Notorious B.I.G : News
"...For months, Los Angeles' most prominent political figures and police officials, along with the city's most influential media, had been insisting that this legal claim by B.I.G.'s family was nothing more than a nuisance suit, based on an outlandish conspiracy theory that attempted to tie a group of LAPD officers -- affiliated with Suge Knight's Death Row Records and the Bloods gang -- to not only the murders of B.I.G. and Tupac Shakur, but also to the origins of the biggest police-corruption case in Los Angeles history, the so-called Rampart scandal. Yet here was one of the most respected district court judges in Southern California declaring in open court that the LAPD's lead investigator on the B.I.G. murder case for the past six years had deliberately concealed hundreds of pages of documents. The contents of these pages not only supported the conspiracy theory, but also implicated the central figure in the Rampart scandal -- the disgraced detective who was the source of the whole sorry, sordid affair -- as one of those involved in the rapper's death..."
As more attention is paid to the MSM's complicity in fabricating justifications for the war in Iraq, other details emerge about their roles in cases such as this one. We found it on BartCop.com and followed the link here to RS.
Once in a while a useful piece of information may still emerge from the otherwise totally corrupt mainstream media:
RollingStone.com: Notorious B.I.G. : The Unsolved Mystery of the Notorious B.I.G : News
As more attention is paid to the MSM's complicity in fabricating justifications for the war in Iraq, other details emerge about their roles in cases such as this one. We found it on BartCop.com and followed the link here to RS.
Once in a while a useful piece of information may still emerge from the otherwise totally corrupt mainstream media:
RollingStone.com: Notorious B.I.G. : The Unsolved Mystery of the Notorious B.I.G : News
allAfrica.com: Uganda: Uganda: LRA Rebels Ask for Peace Talks With Government
Children are the biggest victims of this war. Look for the upcoming documentary "The Lost Children of Uganda," coming soon, a US production. I had the honor of viewing an early draft of the film last winter.
allAfrica.com: Uganda: Uganda: LRA Rebels Ask for Peace Talks With Government
allAfrica.com: Uganda: Uganda: LRA Rebels Ask for Peace Talks With Government
Thursday, December 01, 2005
World Can't Wait | Drive Out the Bush Regime
Hampton University students face expulsion for protesting the Bush Administration
World Can't Wait | Drive Out the Bush Regime
The VP for student affairs is Dr. Bennie McMorris, at 757-727-5264 or bennie.mcmorris@hamptonu.edu....
World Can't Wait | Drive Out the Bush Regime
The VP for student affairs is Dr. Bennie McMorris, at 757-727-5264 or bennie.mcmorris@hamptonu.edu....
The Black Commentator - Cover Story: Obama Mouths Mush on War
The Black Commentator - Cover Story: Obama Mouths Mush on War:
"U.S. Senator Barack Obama has planted his feet deeply inside the Iraq war-prolongation camp of the Democratic Party, the great swamp that, if not drained, will swallow up any hope of victory over the GOP in next year's congressional elections. In a masterpiece of double-speak before the prestigious Council on Foreign Relations, November 22, the Black Illinois lawmaker managed to out-mush-mouth Sen. John Kerry - a prodigious feat, indeed."
"U.S. Senator Barack Obama has planted his feet deeply inside the Iraq war-prolongation camp of the Democratic Party, the great swamp that, if not drained, will swallow up any hope of victory over the GOP in next year's congressional elections. In a masterpiece of double-speak before the prestigious Council on Foreign Relations, November 22, the Black Illinois lawmaker managed to out-mush-mouth Sen. John Kerry - a prodigious feat, indeed."
t r u t h o u t - Wilkerson Continues Assault on Bush, Cheney
...but what about the former general who sat before the UN -- with a straight face -- and relayed those lies to world?
"A top aide of former Sec. of State Colin Powell said Monday that wrongheaded ideas for the handling of foreign detainees arose from White House and Pentagon officials who argued (whoa! --exasperation mine) that 'the President of the United States is all powerful' and the Geneva Conventions irrelevant.
t r u t h o u t - Wilkerson Continues Assault on Bush, Cheney
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"A top aide of former Sec. of State Colin Powell said Monday that wrongheaded ideas for the handling of foreign detainees arose from White House and Pentagon officials who argued (whoa! --exasperation mine) that 'the President of the United States is all powerful' and the Geneva Conventions irrelevant.
t r u t h o u t - Wilkerson Continues Assault on Bush, Cheney
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