MediaMouse.org: Grand Rapids, Michigan News and Independent Media

Black Friday "Really, Really Free Market" Offers Alternative to Consumerism

Sat, 22 Nov 2008 10:39:25 -0500

This month's Really, Really Free Market (RRFM) in Grand Rapids will take place on November 28 on the biggest shopping day of the year. Organizers hope that in the spirit of "Buy Nothing Day" the event will encourage people to build community rather than commerce:

"Instead of spending a hectic day at the mall, why not spend it with others, becoming a community.

Be a part of Buy Nothing Day, a tradition that is practiced throughout the country on the Friday after Thanksgiving.

Bring anything you don't need, leave with things you do!

Things to share:
Skills, talents, food, goods, art, anything."

This RRFM will be hosted at The Division Avenue Arts Co-Operative (The DAAC) at 115 S. Division from 1pm to 5pm.

Group Explains why it Disrupted Mount Hope Church

Fri, 21 Nov 2008 17:30:48 -0500

Across the country, a protest by a queer and transgendered group in Lansing two weeks ago continues to get news coverage from mainstream outlets such as the Associated Press and Fox News.

In response to this attention and requests from reporters, Bash Back! has released a statement providing more background information on why they chose to disrupt a church service at Mount Hope Church. Aside from an interview in the Michigan newspaper Between the Lines, Bash Back! has been relatively silent in the media and much of the coverage has focused on tactics rather than Mount Hope Church.

In light of this, we are reprinting the Bash Back! statement here:

Bash Back! responds to the backlash

In the past weeks there has been an unprecedented amount of controversy and reaction to the Bash Back! action at Mount Hope Church, in Lansing Michigan. Thanks to the media (who have failed to cover this with any amount of effort or concern for the truth), as well as incessant bloging. Many important pieces of information have been lost, and at times, changed completely. We would like to set some things..."straight"! In order to provide a full explanation, we will break this into parts.

* Why Mount Hope Church?
* Why these tactics and what did we hope to
accomplish?
* Dispelling myths.

Why Mount Hope Church?

The first issue we would like to address is the nationally wide-spread question of, "Why Mount Hope Church?" (MHC) Good question. The first thing to realize is we did not just randomly pick a place, nor did we pick the biggest place. A lot of issues went into our decision; I will discuss the major ones: First, MHC's stance on queer identities. In their recent press release, Dave Williams (or D-Willy as we affectionately refer to him) states that they simply see being gay as a sin equal to any other, such as, lying or stealing. This is a sneaky way of getting off the hook. You can see for yourself that they take it much more seriously.

According to one of MHC nearly all forms of sexual expression (and specifically homosexuality) are considered "sexual addiction". Openly lumping homo's in with such sinners as peeping-Toms, flashers and even rapists!!! These "addictions" they work to "cure" through strict "support groups" such as Dunamai (see web link at bottom).And at times even send men to live in brainwashing camps such as Pure Life Ministries (see bottom). They also organize with other ex-gay organizations such as Love in Action, Homosexuals Anonymous, and L.I.F.E. Ministries. It is clear that MHC takes an active approach to repress queer identity and all forms of sexual expression outsideof the Christian, straight, married and husband controlled structure. This ruins people's whole lives and families by making them repress their desires so completely that they grow to hate themselves and/or act out against or ignore their spouses and families. This church is nothing short of a disease in the community, and in the minds of those who attend.

"D-willy", Pastor of Mount Hope, (and personal enemy of Bash Back!) stated that he did not "choose to identify MHC as anti-choice". However, every Halloween the Church puts on the heavily protested "Hell House", an extremely offensive and yes RADICAL approach to shock people into their right wing belief structure. One of the rooms within this Hell House completely inaccurately depicts a womyn receiving an abortion. In the act, the doctor uses dirty tools, and horrible machine sounds play over loud speakers. With the presence of demons, and her screams of pain, one leaves feeling like they just witnessed a most violent atrocity. How is this not actively anti-choice?

Another important reason that MHC was chosen, was the deep personal tie many organizers have to the church. Some members of Bash Back! have been members of MHC. Others were raised in evangelical churches very similar in message and method. For them, this was a liberating step. A personal confrontation with those who had made the journey to adulthood and personal identity a struggle wrought with self-hate, repression, guilt and loneliness. All of which eventually evolved into healthy anger, strength, free sexual expression, and activism. This has helped to build a strong community within Bash Back! And we support their choice to confront those that would choose to put them back in that dark place of self-hate!

From here I could go into all the other reasons MHC should be confronted. For example, the undeniable fact that mega-churches are really just big business. Seen by the way they pressure their "congregation" (or audience) to buy their books and DVD's and other products. Or the incredible amount of money grossed by that church in a year. Another reason is the international church plantings. MHC has No regard for indigenous culture. There are dozens of reasons we chose Mount Hope Church.

Related links:

L.I.F.E. Ministries:
http://www.freedomeveryday.org/men/index.php

Pure Life ministries:
http://www.purelifeministries.org/

Dunamai:
http://www.dunamai.org/

related article that mentions MHC's involvement in ex-gay work:
http://www.ecinc.org/RealChanges.htm

"Our culture is permeated with sexual imagery. Magazine racks offer pictures of girls in teensy bikinis. Primetime situation comedies almost continually revolve around sexual storylines involving teenage promiscuity, extra-marital affairs, homosexuality and worse."

"At times, a pastor or counselor may very well find himself helping men who frequent adult bookstores, strip clubs, massage parlors and prostitutes. On occasion, he may also be compelled to minister to men involved with peeking in windows, exposing themselves to women, making obscene telephone calls, sexually assaulting others, or even having sex with animals. He will most certainly deal with promiscuity--among teenagers and adults. More than likely he will minister to homosexuals--both male and female."

What did Bash Back! hope to accomplish? Why these shocking tactics?

There were a few main points and goals of this action:

* To confront the oppressors that run the church and show them some of us are unafraid and will resist them. Calling them out IN FRONT of their congregation was an important part of that. Showing that we are angry with their destructive behavior was also an important part of the message.

* To provide a space for those who had been mentally tortured by MHC and other places similar to confront their "demons" and fight back! Their emotional health was a very real concern of this action.

* To show the youth we are not alone! With an action of great energy and helpful fliers we wanted to send a message of acceptance and understanding. We realize that thinking you might be queer in a church like that is terrifying. And unbearably lonely. By tossing out a thousand flyers we provided a way "out". Or at least planted the seed.

* And to generate visibility to Bash Back!! To build momentum and give us energy to our movement. I think we nailed that one.

National and International Headlines for November 21

Fri, 21 Nov 2008 11:22:31 -0500

Headlines from Democracynow.org, a daily TV/radio news program, hosted by Amy Goodman and Juan Gonzalez, airing on over 650 stations, pioneering the largest community media collaboration in the US.

S&P 500 Index Falls to Lowest Level in 11 Years

Stocks plunged on Wall Street Thursday for a second straight day. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index fell to its lowest level in eleven years. The S&P 500 is now more than 52 percent below its October 2007 record high, making the current bear market the second biggest on record. The current decline is exceeded only by the 83 percent drop between 1930 and 1932.

Report: Citigroup Board Considers Selling Off Company

Stocks in Citigroup fell a record 26 percent yesterday as concern grows over the future of what was once the nation's largest bank. Citigroup shares have lost half their value this week even though the government injected $25 billion into the bank last month. Citigroup's board is holding an emergency meeting today. The Wall Street Journal reports the board is considering selling off the entire company to another bank or to sell off parts of the firm. Earlier this week, Citigroup announced plans to lay off 52,000 workers.

Jobless Claims Jump to 16-Year High

The number of workers seeking unemployment benefits has reached a sixteen-year high. Last week, 542,000 workers filed claims for unemployment benefits. More than ten million people are now unemployed and looking for work. On Thursday, the Senate approved a measure to provide up to three months of extra benefits for those whose unemployment benefits have run out or are about to expire.

Congress Holds Off on $25 Billion Automakers Bailout

Congressional leaders have decided to hold off on approving a $25 billion bailout of General Motors, Ford and Chrysler. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi have given the automakers until December 2 to submit a new proposal.

Nancy Pelosi: "It is all about accountability and about viability. Until we can see a plan where the auto industry is held accountable and a plan for viability on how they go into the future, until we see the plan, until they show us the plan, we cannot show them the money. And that is really where we are with this."

Report: Obama to Nominate Clinton for Secretary of State

The Associated Press reports President-elect Barack Obama plans to nominate Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton as Secretary of State after Thanksgiving. The two met privately last week to discuss the idea of Clinton becoming the nation's top diplomat.

Pritzker Withdraws from Consideration for Commerce Secretary

Meanwhile, the Chicago billionaire Penny Pritzker has withdrawn from consideration as Commerce secretary.

Waxman Elected to Chair Energy and Commerce Committee

On Capitol Hill, House Democrats have voted to oust Michigan's John Dingell as chair of the Energy and Commerce Committee and replace him with California's Henry Waxman. As the new committee chair, Waxman is expected to help advance President-elect Barack Obama's proposals to curb global warming, develop alternative fuels and expand health insurance coverage. John Dingell had been the top Democrat on the committee for nearly thirty years. Dingell represents greater Detroit and has close ties to the auto industry. He has long been criticized for slowing or blocking action on stricter vehicle emissions standards, fuel-economy improvements and other regulatory efforts. Congressman Waxman spoke to reporters after he won the secret ballot vote.

Rep. Henry Waxman: "The prevailing view in the caucus and the argument we made was that we needed a change for the committee to have the leadership that will work with this administration and members in both the House and the Senate in order to get important issues passed in healthcare, environmental protection, in energy policy."

Coleman's Lead Over Franken Down to 126 Votes

In Minnesota, the statewide recount continues in the race between incumbent Republican Senator Norm Coleman and Democrat Al Franken. With 46 percent of the ballots now recounted, Coleman's lead over Franken has fallen to just 129 votes out of 2.8 million cast.

Mukasey Hospitalized After Collapsing During Speech

Attorney General Michael Mukasey was hospitalized last night after he collapsed during a speech. Early this morning, a Justice Department spokesperson said he was "conscious, conversant and alert."

Judge Orders Release of Five Guantanamo Prisoners

A federal judge has ordered the immediate release of five Algerians held at Guantanamo. US District Judge Richard Leon said the government's evidence linking the men to al-Qaeda was not credible, because it came from a single, unidentified source. The men have been held for seven years.

Bush Administration Attempts to Weaken Endangered Species Act

The Washington Post reports the Bush administration is finalizing changes to the Endangered Species Act that would ensure that federal agencies would not have to take global warming into account when assessing risks to imperiled plants and animals. The new regulations would eliminate a longstanding provision of the Endangered Species Act that requires an independent scientific review of any federal project that could affect a protected species. On Thursday, White House Press Secretary Dana Perino dismissed the importance of the Endangered Species Act.

Dana Perino: "I know conceptually what we support, and I know that the Endangered Species Act is a tangled web that doesn't actually help support any species, including our own."

Six Long Island Teenagers Arraigned in Immigrant Stabbing Case

Six teenagers have been arraigned in Long Island, New York on multiple counts of gang assault and hate crimes in connection with the stabbing death of Marcelo Lucero, an Ecuadorean immigrant. Prosecutors said the teenagers regularly got together to hunt down and hurt Latino men. On the same day Lucero was murdered, some of the teenagers shot a Latino man with a BB gun. Suffolk County District Attorney Thomas Spota said, "To them, it was a sport. We know for sure that there are more victims out there." A seventh defendant, Jeffrey Conroy, has been charged with second-degree murder and manslaughter as a hate crime in Lucero's death.

LA Considers $13M Settlement Stemming from Immigration Protest Crackdown

In California, the City of Los Angeles is considering paying nearly $13 million to settle police brutality claims filed by immigration protesters and bystanders who were injured by the police at a May Day immigration protest last year. The Los Angeles Times reports that if the settlement is approved by the City Council, it would would mark one of the largest payouts ever made to resolve LAPD misconduct.

CIA Accused of Lying over Agency's Role in Downing of Plane in Peru in 2001

An internal CIA investigation has determined agency officials lied to members of Congress and withheld crucial information about the CIA's role in the downing of a civilian plane in Peru in 2001. An American missionary and her infant daughter died when a Peruvian military jet shot down their plane after a CIA surveillance aircraft had mistakenly identified their plane as a drug-smuggling aircraft.

Report: 90 Trade Unionists Murdered in 2007; 39 in Colombia

A new report has found more than ninety trade unionists were murdered last year while defending workers' rights. Thirty-nine of the murders occurred in Colombia. Guy Ryder of the International Trade Union Confederation said, "Governments have failed to do enough to protect workers' rights, either at home or in their international diplomatic, economic and trade relations."

Ex-Marine Reveals Gov't Created Dossiers on Muslims and Arab

The San Diego Union Tribune is reporting a former Marine has revealed the federal government created dossiers on Muslims and Arabs living in Southern California. Many of the files are said to have centered on the meeting spots of "people of interest," including places of worship, businesses and travel plans. Gary Maziarz, a former Marine intelligence specialist, said he gave the secret government files to an antiterrorism watch group. Maziarz pleaded guilty last year to mishandling classified material and stealing government property. Until this week he had never spoken publicly about the secret dossiers.

Dershowitz Says He Pressured Obama Not to Let Carter Speak at DNC

Harvard Law Professor Alan Dershowitz has publicly claimed he pushed Barack Obama not to allow former President Jimmy Carter to speak at the Democratic National Convention in Denver. Dershowitz told Shalom TV, "Barack Obama had to make a choice between his Jewish supporters and his anti-Israel supporters like Jimmy Carter, and he did not choose Jimmy Carter... It was a good decision, a wise decision, a moral decision." Dershowitz has harshly criticized Carter for publishing the book Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid.

War Resister Sentenced to 14 Months

And a nineteen-year-old Army private named Tony Anderson has been sentenced to fourteen months of confinement after he refused to deploy to Iraq. Anderson said, "I don't regret following my conscience. I know there must be consequences for my actions, and I must accept this fact."

Speaker Addresses Possible Changes With New Administration

Thu, 20 Nov 2008 15:48:10 -0500

On Wednesday, the Progressive Women's Alliance hosted a speaker from Grand Valley State University (GVSU) who talked about the necessity of changing how government functions.

Professor Danny Balfour's talk was entitled "Righting the Ship of State," which he said was a presentation on the importance of changing how government functions particularly while the country is in transition from the Bush administration to the new Obama administration. Balfour is also a co-author of the book, Unmasking Administrative Evil.

The speaker began by saying that he believed that with the new administration coming to power "there is a space now to talk about policy instead of politics." Professor Balfour believes that the Bush administration has been ideologically driven and that there seems to be evidence that the new administration will not continue that trend. The presenter offered no evidence other than to mention some of the campaign rhetoric.

The presenter's basic thesis for the evening was that the US is a country that has moved from being a country that is run as a Nation State (1900 - 1990) to one that one that is governed as a Market State (1990 - ?). A Market State is where "government exists to maximize opportunities for citizens. In other words there has been an increasing reliance on market-based governance." He says this in effect began just before the Clinton administration took office.

The old format, what he called the Nation State, is where "government and corporations promote and provide for the welfare of the nation. Therefore, the reliance is more on bureaucracy."

The speaker said:

"There has been an increasing sense that government cannot be trusted and that the Market State has made it nearly impossible for corporation to remain efficient and have the ability to serve the public good. A Market State provides opportunities and incentives as opposed to rules and regulations under the Nation State model. Government has become less and less trusted to provide basic services and have been replaced by the market and non-profit sector."

The mantra has been, according to the speaker, "the market can do it better."

Professor Balfour believes that corruption, under the Market State model, will increase. He provides some data on the increase in federal employees, particularly the use of privatize contractors. In 1999, there were 4.4 million contracted federal employees, which increased to 7.6 million by 2008. He also showed a graph, which said that federal spending on private contracts increased from $209 billion in 2000 to $415 billion in 2006. Unfortunately, the speaker provided no source for this data. The majority of contracts, he said, were for general management and support services, which previously was for products and services. He used the aftermath of Katrina as an example of this shift in contracting. He shows that most of the contracts were no bid contracts, thus insulating the public from the private. This provided an opportunity to do what Naomi Klein has called the "Shock Doctrine." The "Shock Doctrine" is when government restructures economic systems through a catastrophe (Katrina) or through military force (Iraq).

This "Market State" approach can also be seen in the increase of private security forces being used in Iraq and Afghanistan. Contracts for private services through the State Department were at $2.55 Billion in 2000 and increased to $4.85 by 2006. He looked at Blackwater Worldwide as an example of the cost of these privatized services. Blackwater contracts went from $205,000 in 2000 to $1.2 Billion by 2007. The speaker also mentions that the bulk of these contracts had no transparency. Blackwater is now expanding its contracts with other countries, now that they have an infrastructure, which was paid for by US taxpayers.

The speaker then asked the question, "Why was their contract renewed in 2007, even after the bad publicity?"

Balfour gave two reasons for the contract being renewed. First, the laws that were put in place in Iraq under Paul Bremer prevented real prosecution of private contractors and second, the State Department is now in a position where they are dependent on contractors like Blackwater since there aren't enough US military personnel to do what the private contractors do.

The speaker asked, "What are the challenges that are faced by the new administration?" Balfour believes the new administration should cut poorly performing contracts with private entities, add contract management staff and have a system of greater accountability. He stated that many of the current Bush staff will burrow--meaning that they will be re-titled and will not be removed, thus making it harder for a change in how the government functions. However, the speaker thought that since much of the current government staff is near retirement there is a need to recruit thousands of new employees, which could provide an opportunity for new energy in government.

The speaker concluded by pondering the question, "What has Obama promised?" Balfour believes that the new administration will "go through the budget line by line," to make sure there is greater accountability in how government spending. He said that Obama wrote letters to the federal employees during the campaign to win their trust, but also acknowledged that he wanted their vote. Balfour also believes that an Obama administration will "pursue fewer but larger contracts for economies of scale, promote transparency & accountability, and add staff to Social Security, the EPA and Homeland Security. Balfour believes that without addressing the governance issues it will be impossible to change the system. He seemed hopeful that this will happen, at least to the degree that the president-elect has given verbal commitment to these changes.

During the question and answer period, Balfour was challenged on a few points. Someone said that they had a problem with the Bush administration's faith-based initiatives program and that the Obama administration has already said they will continue it. Balfour's response was that the difference will be the new administration will take each contract with faith-based groups under consideration, whereas the Bush administration wasn't interested in oversight.

MediaMouse.org asked if the speaker felt that the list of people who have been chosen for the new administration, many of which are former Clinton people, indicates little change to the "Market State" model. Balfour responded by saying that while it is true that some of the new appointees were in the Clinton administration they are smart enough to see that the current economic model isn't working and that they will be looking for "a new paradigm that will fit within the global economy."

Killer Coke Campaign Criticizes University of Michigan and Coke

Thu, 20 Nov 2008 14:08:50 -0500

The Killer Coke Campaign has issued a new report responding to both an International Labor Organization study about Coca-Cola's labor practices in Colombia and the Coca-Cola's response to the study.

For the past several years, student activists at the University of Michigan have been campaigning to get the University to stop selling Coca-Cola products due to Coca-Cola's human rights abuses in Colombia. The campaign has gone through a number of ups and downs, with victories at some points such as temporarily suspending the sale of Coke products, and setbacks.

In October, a much anticipated study by the International Labor Organization was released. The University of Michigan and Coke both heralded the study as showing that concern over Coke's labor abuses are misplaced. However, the Killer Coke Campaign has released a report thoroughly debunking the assessment. From the summary:

"Both The Coca-Cola Co. and the University of Michigan are trying to use the United Nations' International Labor Organization (ILO) Evaluation Mission report to whitewash the allegations of widespread labor and human rights abuses in Coke bottling plants in Colombia. Although the report is actually damaging to Coke, it in no way touches upon or was meant to be an investigation of human rights abuse allegations involving Coca-Cola bottlers in Colombia as was claimed by the company since Spring 2006."

The Killer Coke report is highly critical of the limits of the study--it looks only at current and not past abuses--and the way in which it has been used by some to bolster the soft drink manufacturer's standing. However, Killer Coke points out that regardless of the response of some, the ILO report shows serious labor relations problems with outsourced workers who are used by Coke as a means of preventing workers from forming unions.

Coca-Cola has downplayed this finding, pointing to information in the study showing that Coca-Cola respects the labor rights of "direct employees" hired by the company.

Elsewhere in Michigan, campaigns against Coca-Cola have been undertaken at Michigan State University and Aquinas College here in Grand Rapids. In response to student pressure, Aquinas stopped selling Coke products.

Anonymous Donors Dominated Michigan Supreme Court Campaign

Thu, 20 Nov 2008 13:13:52 -0500

Anonymous donors dominated the race for Chief Justice of the Michigan Supreme Court, contributing more than 60% of the total spending in the race according to a new review by the Michigan Campaign Finance Network.

In the race between Chief Justice Clifford Taylor and Judge Diane Hathaway, much of the spending was "off the books" in that it was candidate-focused "issue" advertising that is not subject to disclosure laws. This money--which is not reported in campaign finance reports--included a number of controversial ads:

The Michigan Democratic Party spot that featured a dramatization of a sleeping judge and testimony of a litigant who claimed that Chief Justice Taylor slept during oral argument of her case.
The Michigan Chamber of Commerce spot that encouraged viewers to contact Judge Hathaway and tell her not to be soft in sentencing sex offenders, as an unnamed assistant prosecutor asserted she had been in the past.
The Michigan Republican Party spot that showed a bikini-clad woman frolicking on a beach and said that Judge Hathaway previously had pursued a seat on the Court of Appeals so she could have a light work load and enjoy leisure time on the beach.

According to the Michigan Campaign Finance Network, the Michigan Chamber of Commerce, the Michigan Democratic Party and the Michigan Republican Party spent $3.75 million on television ads in the race.

Unfortunately, this unaccountable spending is nothing new. Since 2000, issue ad spending has almost equaled the amount of money raised by candidates.

The Michigan Campaign Finance Network is advocating for three policy reforms to improve the situation:

Require full disclosure of the receipts and expenditures for campaign advertisements that feature the name or image of a candidate, whether the ads mention voting or not.
Update disqualification standards for the Michigan Supreme Court to acknowledge the potential for conflict of interests when justices hear cases that involve major financial supporters of their election campaigns.
Develop a system of public financing for Supreme Court campaigns, so candidate committees have a viable alternative to soliciting financial support from interest groups and attorneys who may be involved in future cases.

Unemployment Rises to 9.3% in Michigan

Thu, 20 Nov 2008 12:26:43 -0500

Sadly, we don't have anything great to offer as a solution, but it seems worth noting that the latest unemployment numbers for Michigan continue to bring bad news.

Unemployment rose slightly according to the Michigan Department of Labor & Economic Growth, reaching 9.3%. The rate was higher than a year ago when unemployment was at 7.5%. Moreover, the unemployment rate is the highest monthly rate since 1992. An Associated Press article predicts that the numbers will rise into the double digits based on the economic situation in the US and the problems facing the auto industry.

The national unemployment rate also rose last month and is now at 6.5%.

IGE Talks: Psychologists and Torture

Thu, 20 Nov 2008 11:42:50 -0500

Here is the latest "IGE Talks," a monthly cable access show hosted by the Institute for Global Education (IGE) and aired on Grand Rapids' public access television. As part of our ongoing efforts to support independent and do-it-yourself media here in West Michigan, we will be posting these shows each month. In this episode, "IGE Talks" focuses psychologists and torture:

The topic for the next show is "Psychologists In Aid Of Torture." It will be taped on December 4th at 7:00pm at the IGE office. IGE is located at 1118 Wealthy Street SE. The public is welcome to participate in the discussion.

National and International Headlines for November 20

Thu, 20 Nov 2008 10:28:23 -0500

Headlines from Democracynow.org, a daily TV/radio news program, hosted by Amy Goodman and Juan Gonzalez, airing on over 650 stations, pioneering the largest community media collaboration in the US.

California Court to Review Legality of Prop 8

California's state Supreme Court has agreed to decide the legality of Proposition 8, the ballot measure that repealed the right of gay and lesbian couples to marry in California. The passage of Prop 8 has sparked nationwide protests by gay rights activists. Multiple lawsuits have been filed over the past two weeks. The Los Angeles Times reports gay rights advocates argue that the measure was a constitutional revision, instead of a more limited amendment. A revision of California's constitution can be placed before the voters only by a two-thirds vote of the legislature or a constitutional convention. Proposition 8 reached the ballot after a signature drive. A hearing on the lawsuits is expected to be held as early as March. The court has refused to allow any more same sex weddings until a ruling has been made.

Dow Jones Falls Below 8,000, First Time Since 2003

In economic news, the Dow Jones index fell over five percent Wednesday, ending the day below 8,000, its lowest level since March 2003. The market is now down 43 percent since it hit a high point in October 2007. USA Today estimates nearly $10 trillion in wealth has been wiped out over the past year. Wall Street stocks fell Wednesday after reports showed the biggest monthly drop in the consumer price index in sixty-one years. Meanwhile, the Commerce Department reported that construction of new homes plunged last month to the lowest level in the forty-nine years that the government has kept records.

White House: "Celebrate the Victory" in Iraq

In Iraq news, the White House said the Iraqi cabinet's approval of the status of forces agreement means the US can celebrate victory in Iraq. The agreement mandates that all US troops leave Iraq in three years. White House Press Secretary Dana Perino made the comment after being asked why this agreement is not the timetable that the President fought so hard against.

Dana Perino: "We believe that the conditions are such now that we are able to celebrate the victory that we've had so far and establish both a strategic framework agreement, which is a much broader document and talks about all sorts of cooperation that we'll have with Iraq from here on out, from trade and healthcare and exchanges on science, and a real strong bilateral agreement that you would hope we would have with any of our allies."

UK Judge: Attack on Iraq Violated International Law

One of Britain's most prominent judges, Lord Bingham, has accused Britain and the United States of acting like a "world vigilante." He said the attack on Iraq was a serious violation of international law. Lord Bingham also said the legal advice given to Tony Blair by the attorney general prior to the Iraq war was fundamentally "flawed." Bingham's comments came in his first speech since retiring.

Daschle Picked for Secretary of Health and Human Services

President-elect Barack Obama has reportedly picked Former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle to become secretary of Health and Human Services. As secretary, Daschle is expected to play a major role in working with Congress on Obama's campaign promise to expand healthcare coverage for Americans. Since losing a bid for re-election four years ago, Daschle has served as a board member of the Mayo Clinic and a highly paid adviser to healthcare clients at the law and lobbying firm Alston & Bird. The lobbying firm has declined to disclose which healthcare industry clients Daschle had advised. The firm represents dozens of companies, including pharmaceutical companies, healthcare providers and trade groups for nurses and nursing homes. Earlier this year Dashchle published a book titled Critical: What We Can Do About the Health-Care Crisis.

Napolitano Considered for Homeland Security Chief

Gov. Janet Napolitano of Arizona is reportedly set to be offered the position of Homeland Security secretary. She is a two-term governor, as well as a former US attorney and state attorney general for Arizona. She was the first governor to call for National Guard troops to secure the US-Mexico border.

Billionaire Pritzker Expected to Become Commerce Secretary

President-elect Obama is also expected to tap billionaire Penny Pritzker to serve as Commerce secretary. Pritzker is a longtime friend of Obama's and served as his national finance chair. Pritzker was involved in running and overseeing the Illinois-based Superior Bank, which collapsed in 2001. The bank has been described as being at the forefront of turning subprime loans into securities, the risky practice at the heart of the financial crisis.

Coleman-Franken Recount Begins; Race Tightens

In Minnesota, the Senate race between incumbent Norm Coleman and Al Franken has tightened. After the first day of a statewide recount, Coleman's lead has shrunk to just 174 votes.

Taxpayers to Pay for Gonzales Defense

McClatchy Newspapers reports the Justice Department has agreed to pay for a private lawyer to defend former Attorney General Alberto Gonzales against allegations that he encouraged officials to inject partisan politics into the department's hiring and firing practices.

Rep. Barbara Lee to Head Congressional Black Caucus

In other news from Washington, Congresswoman Barbara Lee has been named chair of the Congressional Black Caucus. Lee was the only member of Congress to vote against the authorization of the use of force after the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks.

Somali Pirates Demand $25 Million from Saudis

The Somali pirates who hijacked a Saudi oil supertanker are demanding $25 million for the ship's return. Mohammed Said said, "The Saudis have ten days to comply, otherwise we will take action that could be disastrous." The supertanker was loaded to capacity with two million barrels of oil when it was seized along with twenty-five crew members. On Wednesday, Somalia's prime minister Nur Hassan Hussein said Somalia does not have the ability to stop the piracy off its coast and needs more help from the international community.

Nur Hassan Hussein: "These piracy problems are not limited only within Somalia, but it is affecting the whole region. It is affecting, globally, the world, and we see that the Transitional Federal Government doesn't have enough capacity to combat and eradicate this piracy, which is becoming a concern, a common concern for all the world."

News Execs Criticize Israeli Ban on Journalists in Gaza

Executives from the Associated Press, Reuters, New York Times, BBC, CNN and other news organizations have signed a letter criticizing the Israeli government's decision to ban journalists from entering Gaza. In a letter to Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, the executives wrote, "We are gravely concerned about the prolonged and unprecedented denial of access to the Gaza Strip for the international media." Israel has virtually sealed off the Gaza Strip and cut off aid and fuel shipments. A spokesperson for Israel's Defense Ministry said Israel was displeased with international media coverage, which he said inflated Palestinian suffering and did not make clear that Israel's measures were in response to Palestinian violence.

PETA Video Exposes Brutality At Turkey Farm

The giant poultry company Aviagen has suspended a supervisor after an animal rights group released a video showing turkeys being abused at the company's West Virginia farms.

The video released by the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals shows workers stomping on the heads of turkeys, twisting their necks and slamming them into metal cages.

The video was recorded by an undercover investigator. Earlier this week PETA filed a criminal complaint against Aviagen alleging animal cruelty. Aviagen describes itself as "the world's leading poultry-breeding company" and supplies most of the turkey breeding stock in the United States. A supervisor at the farm was secretly recorded admitting that every worker gets agitated sometimes and kills turkeys.

PC Magazine to Stop Printing Magazine

In media news, PC Magazine has announced it is ceasing publication of the magazine after 27 years but would continue online. Many other publications have made moves recently to the web. The Christian Science Monitor is planning to cease printing its weekday paper in favor of its website. U.S. News and World Report is switching to a monthly magazine with an increased focus on the web.

Gordon-Reed and Matthiessen Win National Book Award

And this year's National Book Awards have been announced. Annette Gordon-Reed won the nonfiction award for "The Hemingses of Monticello: An American Family," a biography of three generations of a slave family owned by Thomas Jefferson. Peter Matthiessen won the fiction award for "Shadow Country."

Starbucks Trial Postponed

Wed, 19 Nov 2008 22:27:56 -0500

A trial in front of the National Labor Relations Board over the firing of a union barista at an East Grand Rapids Starbucks store has been postponed until January 7. The trial was originally scheduled to take place Thursday, November 20 in Grand Rapids.

For more on the campaign to unionize Starbucks, you can visit the Grand Rapids chapter of the Starbucks Union.

Group Calls for Limits on Michigan Coal Plants in Wake of EPA Decision

Wed, 19 Nov 2008 14:35:23 -0500

Michigan Clean Energy Now--a coalition of groups working to stop the construction of new coal plants in Michigan--is urging the state of Michigan to stop issuing air permits for new coal plants in light of an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) decision ruling that carbon dioxide pollution must be factored into the permitting process.

In a press release issue by the group, the group argues that Michigan should stop awarding permits for the plant. By doing that, the state would then be able to move towards a truly clean energy future as other technologies--including solar and wind--would need to be used to meet energy needs. According to studies by the Renewable Energy Policy Project and the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy, Michigan could create 46,000 new jobs by investing in renewable energy and efficiency. Currently, eight new coal plants have been proposed for Michigan--more than any other state.

The release was prompted by a decision in Utah where the EPA rejected a permit for a coal plant because it failed to address carbon dioxide pollution. The ruling affirms the seriousness of carbon dioxide pollution.

Advocacy groups such as Michigan Clean Energy Now hope that the decision will stop the development of some 100 coal plants proposed across the United States.

Noteworthy Articles

Wed, 19 Nov 2008 14:21:32 -0500

The following articles of interest were published elsewhere on the web today:

Reporter charged after deadly police chase
A well-known reporter covering police abuse in Detroit is being charged after a deadly police chase.
Categories: media police repression detroit michigan
VIDEO: Foreclosures in Michigan mind-numbing in number
Foreclosures continue to increase in Michigan and this video paints a painful picture of the situation.
Categories: foreclosure poverty michigan
VIDEO: Michigan Poverty Summit draws more than 5,000
Over the weekend, 5,000 people gathered in southeast Michigan to talk about poverty.
Categories: poverty michigan
Holding Obama Accountable, Part 2 of a Series -- Single Payer Health Care and the Auto Industry
The 2nd part of an ongoing series looking at how we can hold Obama accountable and ensure that he delivers the promised "change."
Categories: obama left progressives organizing
Experts: SOFA Faces Legal Uncertainty
Despite a copious amount of coverage in the corporate media, legal questions surrounding the Status of Forces Agreement with Iraq have largely gone unexamined.
Categories: iraq
No free pass for Rahm Emanuel
A critique of Obama's Chief of Staff and those who are willing to give him a free pass for his past statements.
Categories: obama racism arabamericans
Inside the Council for National Policy
A look at how the rightwing in this country--or at least a highly influential part of it--is responding to Obama's election.
Categories: religiousright rightwing
An increase in hate crimes during election season
Hate crimes against South Asians increased during the 2008 election season.
Categories: racism hatecrimes elections2008
Win or lose on Election Day, Republicans and conservatives hold majority on Face the Nation and Fox News Sunday
Despite major victories on November 4 for the Democrats, Sunday political talk shows continue to be dominated by Republican and conservative guests.
Categories: media democrats republican elections2008
Republic of Lakotah: State of Emergency on Pine Ridge Reservation
A state of emergency continues on the Pine Ridge Reservation due to massive storms.
Categories: indigenouspeoples
Consensus Builds for Universal Voter Registration
Shortly after any election, problems with registration, voting, and the entire process are often forgotten. However, despite the short memory of many, support is growing for efforts aimed at improving voter registration.
Categories: voting
Immigration Reform in 2009?
A discussion of the prospects for immigration reform under the Obama administration.
Categories: immigration obama government
Security Agreement Requires all US Troops Out of Iraq by 2011; Blocs in Parliment Move to Defeat It
Blogger Juan Cole compiles recent news on the US-Iraq Security Pact and the reactions to it within Iraq.
Categories: iraq
Real Hope: Facing Difficult Truths About an Uncertain Future
Author and activist Robert Jensen argues that there is a likelihood that we will see substantial economic and environmental collapse--even in the so-called "First World"--and asks how that should impact left and progressive organizing.
Categories: left organizing economy environment
More on Holder's Global Crossing Lobbying
A look at the lobbying activity of Obama's reported pick for Attorney General. Holder was also a bundler for Obama during the campaign.
Categories: obama lobbying

Previously archived links are available on the news links page or on Media Mouse's del.icio.us page. To recommend links, tag them with "mediamouserecommended" on del.icio.us or contact us via email.

New Radio Station Offers Independent Media for West Michigan

Wed, 19 Nov 2008 12:22:12 -0500

A former Disney Radio station is now offer a totally new format in West Michigan. WPRR (1680 AM) is now the home of Reality Radio and has begun airing popular national programs such as Democracy Now!.

According to their website,

"WPRR Public Reality Radio is a non-profit, listener supported radio station dedicated to providing quality educational programming to the public. In addition to locally produced shows and the best of progressive radio, WPRR showcases podcasts from around the world. Our mission is to bring to you intelligent and challenging programming from many diverse points of view on subjects ranging from philosophy and science to politics and religion."

Democracy Now! can be heard on WPRR (1680 AM) at 8 AM and again at 5 PM, Monday through Friday. In addition to Democracy Now!, the station is airing Free Speech Radio News weekdays at 4 PM. Free Speech Radio News is a worker-run half-hour news program. Reality Radio is also offering Alternative Radio every Wednesday at 1 PM. Alternative Radio is hosted by David Barsamian and features interviews with dissident voices from around the world. The other national show they offer is a weekly program by Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting (FAIR) called CounterSpin. CounterSpin can now be heard on WPRR every Friday at 2 PM.

In addition to these national news and information shows, Reality Radio is also airing shows such as Earthbeat, Corporate Watchdog Radio, Point of Inquiry, and Between The Lines. You can view the stations current program format and listen to programming that is streamed online at PublicRealityRadio.org.

National and International Headlines for November 19

Wed, 19 Nov 2008 11:49:40 -0500

Headlines from Democracynow.org, a daily TV/radio news program, hosted by Amy Goodman and Juan Gonzalez, airing on over 650 stations, pioneering the largest community media collaboration in the US.

Reports: Obama Asks Eric Holder to be Attorney General

President-elect Barack Obama has reportedly asked Eric Holder to become his attorney general. If confirmed, Holder would become the first African American to lead the Justice Department. Holder served as deputy attorney general in the Clinton administration and as US attorney for the District of Columbia. He served as an adviser to Obama's campaign on legal issues and served on his vice-presidential selection team. Newsweek reports Eric Holder still has to undergo a formal "vetting" review by the Obama transition team before the selection is final and is publicly announced. Since leaving public office, Holder has worked as a partner at the D.C. law firm of Covington & Burling. His clients have included the fruit giant Chiquita. Last week on Democracy Now!, journalist Mario Murillo criticized Holder's ties to Chiquita.

Mario Murillo: "There's been talk about a close ally and friend of Obama as a potential Attorney General for the United States, Eric Holder, who is currently defending Chiquita Brands International in its defense against dozens of plaintiffs here in Colombia, working families who were targeted by paramilitaries who were funded to the tune of $1.7 million over the last several years. It's a major scandal. And if this guy becomes the Attorney General under an Obama administration, then it's going to be really hard to find justice in this case coming from the United States."

In a speech to the American Constitution Society in June, Eric Holder said the next president must "move immediately to reclaim America's standing in the world as a nation that cherishes and protects individual freedom and basic human rights." Holder is an opponent of the death penalty but has called for stiffer penalties for some drug offensives. In 2005, he was part of the legal team that developed strategies for securing reauthorization of the PATRIOT Act.

Alaskan Republican Ted Stevens Loses Senate Seat

Democrats have picked up another seat in the Senate, as Alaskan Republican Ted Stevens lost his bid for re-election. Democrat Mark Begich declared victory Tuesday after his lead increased to 3,700 votes. Stevens was the longest-serving Republican in the history of the US Senate. He was convicted last month on federal ethics charges. Begich is the first Democrat to represent Alaska in the Senate since Mike Gravel nearly thirty years ago. Begich's win gives Democrats control of fifty-eight Senate seats, two short of a filibuster-proof majority.

Recount Begins for Coleman-Franken Race in Minnesota

The outcome of Senate races in Minnesota and Georgia are still to be decided. In Minnesota, a recount begins today in the race between Republican incumbent Norm Coleman and Al Franken. Coleman is currently winning by just 215 votes out of more than 2.9 million votes cast.

Democrats Let Lieberman Keep Senate Chairmanship

Senate Democrats sought to bolster their majority on Tuesday by voting to allow independent Joe Lieberman to stay in the Democratic caucus and remain chair of the Homeland Security Committee, despite his decision to campaign for John McCain and other Republicans, including Norm Coleman in Minnesota. Lieberman will also remain head of the Armed Services subcommittee but he will surrender his position on the Environment and Public Works Committee.

Auto Execs Lobby for $25 Billion Bailout

US auto executives warned Congress on Tuesday that their industry was teetering on the brink of collapse as they pleaded for lawmakers to bail out the industry with $25 billion in government-backed loans. The CEO of Chrysler, Robert Nardelli, blamed the company's financial woes in part on healthcare and pension costs.

Robert Nardelli: "At the same time, Chrysler has billions of dollars in cash payment obligation to pay wages, pay suppliers, to pay healthcare, pensions, all in the range of about four to five billion dollars a month. Therefore, without an immediate bridge financing support, Chrysler's liquidity could fall below the level necessary to sustain operations."

Lawmakers repeatedly criticized the auto executives. Democratic Senator Christopher Dodd accused the CEOs of seeking treatment for wounds that are largely self-inflicted. Lawmakers and the Bush administration have sparred over the best way to extend help to the automakers.

US Kills 6 in Strike Deep Inside Pakistan

In Pakistan, at least six alleged militants have been killed in a US missile strike in the Bannu district. The strike marked the first time the US has hit an area of Pakistan outside the tribal regions of North and South Waziristan. The missiles were apparently fired from unmanned planes launched in Afghanistan. The US has killed over 100 people in a series of strikes in Pakistan in recent months.

EPA Moves to Ease Air Rules for National Parks

The Washington Post reports the Environmental Protection Agency is finalizing new air-quality rules that would make it easier to build coal-fired power plants, oil refineries and other major polluters near national parks and wilderness areas. The EPA's push to weaken the Clean Air protections has sparked fierce resistance from senior agency officials. Half of the EPA's ten regional administrators formally dissented from the decision, and four others criticized the move in writing.

UN: Half of World Could Face Clean Water Shortage by 2080

UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change is warning that half the world's population could face a shortage of clean water by 2080 because of climate change. The availability of drinking water is being reduced as global warming is disrupting water flow patterns and increasing the severity of floods, droughts and storms. The World Health Organization has estimated that 1.1 billion people did not have sufficient access to clean water at the beginning of the decade.

Obama Pledges "New Chapter" on Climate Change

On Tuesday, President-elect Barack Obama pledged to engage vigorously in international climate change talks after he takes office. Obama recorded a video message that was shown to the Governors Global Climate Summit.

President-Elect Barack Obama: "My presidency will mark a new chapter in America's leadership on climate change that will strengthen our security and create millions of new jobs in the process. That will start with a federal cap-and-trade system. We'll establish strong annual targets that set us on a course to reduce emissions to their 1990 levels by 2020 and reduce them an additional 80 percent by 2050. Further, we'll invest $15 billion each year to catalyze private sector efforts to build a clean energy future."

ACLU: US Is Asking Other Nations to Detain US Citizens

The American Civil Liberties Union has filed a suit alleging that the Bush administration has asked other countries to detain US citizens on their behalf. McClatchy Newspapers reports the suit centers around the case of Naji Hamdan, a US citizen who has been held for nearly three months in the United Arab Emirates without charges, access to a lawyer or contact with his family. In 2006, Hamdan moved to the UAE from the United States after being the target of intense FBI scrutiny. In August, Hamdan was questioned at the US embassy in Abu Dhabi by two FBI agents. He was detained by UAE officials several weeks later.

Texas Grand Jury Indicts Cheney and Gonzales on State Charges

And a grand jury in Texas has indicted Vice President Dick Cheney and former Attorney General Alberto Gonzales on state charges related to the alleged abuse of prisoners in private prisons in Texas. The indictment has not been seen by a judge, who could dismiss it. The indictment cites Cheney's investment in Vanguard Group, which owns an interest in private prisons in South Texas. Gonzales is accused of using his position while in office to stop an investigation in 2006 into abuses at one of the privately run prisons.

Booth Newspapers Consolidating Operations in Grand Rapids

Tue, 18 Nov 2008 17:34:52 -0500

In a story that has received relatively little mainstream news attention, it was announced last week that Booth Newspapers--the owner of The Grand Rapids Press--is looking to eliminate a number of positions in a consolidation effort that could decrease quality reporting across the state.

Booth Newspapers--which itself is a subsidiary of Advance Publications/Newhouse--owns and operates eight newspapers in Michigan: the Grand Rapids Press, the Ann Arbor News, the Bay City Times, Flint Journal, Jackson Citizen Patriot, Kalamazoo Gazette, Muskegon Chronicle, and the Saginaw News. According to reports, Booth Newspapers is consolidating design and copy editing for the entire chain in Grand Rapids and is offering buyouts to effected employees. Advertising and accounting will be located in Kalamazoo. The consolidation will likely mean fewer reporters on the ground to cover local news across the state.

Reportedly, 135 people in Grand Rapids received buyout offers as well.

The news started leaking last week, just before the Journal Register Company announced that it intends to sell some of its Michigan newspapers.

Newspapers across the country continue to face drops in circulation and advertising revenue.

MediaMouse.org Interviewed on Local Radio Program

Tue, 18 Nov 2008 15:14:39 -0500

Last Friday, MediaMouse.org contributor Jeff Smith appeared on the local radio program Catalyst Radio to talk about the 2008 elections. In the interview, Smith discusses the media's coverage of the election--both locally and nationally--as well as the role of money in the elections. Much of the discussion centered on work done as part of MediaMouse.org's Election Watch project.

Website Promotes Locally Grown Foods

Tue, 18 Nov 2008 14:59:26 -0500

A new nationwide website called Eat Well Guide aspires to be the source free online directory to help people find local, sustainable, and organic food, stores, and farms. It's got all the latest Internet bells and whistles--user submissions, ratings, and widgets--which come together to create an incredibly useful website with a lot of potential.

For Grand Rapids, Michigan, the guide offers a number of farmers, farmers markets, and stores. The listings are a little skimpy, so it would be helpful if people submit restaurants, stores, and farms not on the list. It also features a guide to seasonal foods in Michigan--something that will be considerably more useful in the spring--and a map of rBGH free dairies in the state.

The website is similar to the Greater Grand Rapids Food Systems Council's online and print West Michigan Food Guide, but is easier to use.

Watching the Obama Transition to Monitor the "Change"

Tue, 18 Nov 2008 14:33:37 -0500

Aside from speculation about rumors of high-ranking cabinet positions, attention on who is involved in Obama's transition effort has been relatively muted over the past week.

For example, on the Sunday The Grand Rapids Press reported on some of Obama's appointments thus far, but offered little by way of substantive examination of those appointed--or the advisors helping Obama make his decision. Similarly, the online progressive and left media has not covered appointments in any systematic way, going instead for only the occasional article about a particularly egregious possible appointee or publishing opinion columns about who should be selected.

Over the past few days, Obama has continued to make announcements about who will serve on his staff or in White House positions. By and large, those selected are coming from the inside circle of Washington politicians. Ronald Klain--a former lobbyist and Clinton administration official--was named Vice Presidential Chief of Staff. Phil Schiliro was named Assistant to the President for Legislative Affairs. Schiliro formerly worked for Congressman Henry Waxman for 25 years. Obama picked longtime confidant Valerie Jarrett--who is a co-chair of his transition team--to be Senior Advisor and Assistant to the President for Intergovernmental Relations and Public Liaison. Jim Messina--a former Chief of Staff for Montana Senator Max Baucus and a supporter of the Bush tax cuts--was named Deputy Chief of Staff. Sharing that position is Mona Sutphen, a former Clinton aide.

Moreover, Obama has announced a number of members of Agency Review Teams, his Economic Team, and Department Transition Teams.

Researching any of the appointees and their positions--let alone the complicated ways in which they might impact policy--is a daunting task. However, while this may deter some reporters from examining the transition, the government watchdog group Public Citizen has launched a new project that makes the task a whole lot easier.

The organization has launched Becoming44.org that tracks the actions of Obama's transition. In addition to providing biographies and information about many of the appointees, the website has identified 19 prominent fundraisers and 27 lobbyists serving on Obama's transition.

Starbucks to Face Trial in Grand Rapids over Fired Barista

Tue, 18 Nov 2008 11:53:51 -0500

On Thursday, a trial against Starbucks will take place over the wrongful firing of barista Cole Dorsey. Dorsey was active in the Starbucks Workers Union and was fired for his organizing.

The local chapter of the Union has put out a call for people to attend the trial in support:

PACK THE COURTROOM FOR BARISTA RIGHTS!

What:

A trial against Starbucks at the National Labor Relations Board over wrongful termination of IWW barista. The proceedings are open to the public.

Who:

Starbucks baristas, supporters from the IWW and the community, Starbucks management officials.

The IWW Starbucks Workers Union will be represented by attorney Rodger Webb of Webb, Englehardt, and Fernandes.

Starbucks will be represented by corporate law firm Varnum, Riddering, Schmidt, and Howlett.

The NLRB attorney on the case is Brad Howell.

Why:

Starbucks' is preparing to fight its second trial against Unfair Labor Practices. After an investigation triggered by charges from the IWW, the Labor Board hit Starbucks with a complaint alleging the illegal termination of an employee for union activity. The barista firing at issue in the case resulted in solidarity actions from around the world. Now Starbucks will have to answer for its illegal acts in open court.

Despite the fierce anti-union campaign by the world's largest fast-food coffee outlet, baristas around the country continue to join the IWW Starbucks Workers Union to pressure the company on issues of concern including insecure work hours, poverty wages, and unaffordable health care.

Background on the complaint for which Starbucks will stand trial: "Starbucks faces another NLRB complaint", by Lauren Shepherd for the Associated Press, available online.

When:

Starting Thursday, November 20th at 10am

Where:

NLRB Region 7 at the Federal Building. David L. Basso Hearing Room, 82 Ionia in Grand Rapids, 3rd Floor.

Press Conference 930am in front of 82 Ionia

For more coverage of Starbucks Union organizing in Grand Rapids by MediaMouse.org, click here and here.

National and International Headlines for November 18

Tue, 18 Nov 2008 11:47:53 -0500

Headlines from Democracynow.org, a daily TV/radio news program, hosted by Amy Goodman and Juan Gonzalez, airing on over 650 stations, pioneering the largest community media collaboration in the US.

Iraqi Sunnis Push for Referendum on Security Pact

In Iraq, the head of the Accordance Front, Iraq's largest Sunni Arab bloc, said on Monday that the Sunni bloc still has reservations about a security pact that would let US troops stay in Iraq for another three years. Adnan al-Dulaimi, head of the Sunni bloc, told reporters that the Sunnis wanted a referendum on the pact which has yet to be approved by parliament.

Adnan al-Dulaimi: "We need guarantees for the future, since we are afraid of the future because our role will be marginalized. We will be exposed to daily arrest operations, and this should be stopped. The government and US forces should work together to assure Iraqis that they will not be arrested, searched or killed. The best solution that we see is the referendum, as the Islamic party asked before."

This comes as followers of Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr make a bid to block the Status of Forces Agreement in parliament.

US Officials: 2011 Withdrawal Date from Iraq Not Firm

Supporters of the security pact say it will force all US troops to leave Iraq by 2011, but in Washington top US officials are suggesting this may not be the case. Joint Chiefs Chairman Adm. Mike Mullen said, "Three years is a long time. Conditions could change in that period of time." White House Press Secretary Dana Perino claimed on Monday the security agreement included only "aspirational" dates for withdrawal.

Taliban Rejects Afghan Peace Talks Offer

In Afghanistan, the Taliban has rejected an offer of peace talks with Afghan President Hamid Karzai. The Taliban says it will not negotiate until foreign troops leave Afghanistan. On Sunday, Karzai offered to provide security for Taliban leader Mullah Mohammed Omar, if he agreed to negotiations.

Gov't Study Concludes "Gulf War Syndrome" is Legitimate Condition

A congressionally mandated report released Monday concluded that "Gulf War Syndrome" is a legitimate condition suffered by more than 175,000 US war veterans who were exposed to chemical toxins in the 1991 Gulf War. The report could help veterans who have battled the government for treatment of a wide range of unexplained neurological illnesses, from brain cancer to multiple sclerosis. The Research Advisory Committee on Gulf War Veterans' Illnesses said, "Scientific evidence leaves no question that Gulf War illness is a real condition with real causes and serious consequences for affected veterans." The report links the illness to a drug given to troops to protect against nerve gas and to pesticides that were widely used to protect against sand flies and other pests. For much of the past seventeen years, government officials have maintained that Gulf War veterans were merely suffering the effects of wartime stress.

Report: US Has Spent Over $4 Trillion to Combat Economic Crisis

The business news channel CNBC is estimating the US government has already spent more than $4 trillion over the past year on corporate bailouts, loans and other efforts to combat the financial crisis. That is more than what was spent on World War II if adjusted for inflation. CNBC calculated the figure based on what it described as a complicated cocktail of budgeted dollars, actual spending, guarantees, loans, swaps and other market mechanisms by the Federal Reserve, the Treasury and other offices of government.

Citigroup to Lay Off 52,000 Workers

In other economic news, the banking giant Citigroup has announced plans to eliminate 52,000 jobs, or 14 percent of its global work force. The New York Times describes this as one of the largest single rounds of layoffs on record.

John Challenger, Challenger, Gray & Christmas: "This is a big mega layoff, largest of the year, and we haven't seen many layoffs of this size over the last decade. It certainly signals the depth of the problems in financial services and in the US economy when a company of this size can do such large job cuts."

Six Top Obama Fundraisers Now Leading Transition Teams

At least a half-dozen of President-elect Barack Obama's new transition team leaders were among Obama's top fundraisers who "bundled" cash for him on the campaign trail. Four of them raised $500,000 or more for the Obama campaign. Some public interest advocates have expressed concern over the links. Craig Holman of Public Citizen said, "Any time you see these people who brought in half a million dollars to the campaign being appointed to government service, it's a red flag."

Report: Obama Unlikely to Bring Charges Against Bush Officials for Torture

The Associated Press reports Barack Obama's incoming administration is unlikely to bring criminal charges against government officials who authorized or engaged in torture during the Bush presidency. Two Obama advisers said there's little--if any--chance that the incoming president's Justice Department will go after anyone involved in authorizing or carrying out interrogations. President Bush may also decide to protect his top aides and interrogators by issuing a preemptive pardon before his term ends.

Black Church in Mass. Burned to Ground on Election Night

In Springfield, Massachusetts, a predominantly black congregation is vowing to rebuild its church after it was burned to the ground two weeks ago, just hours after the election of Barack Obama as the nation's first black president. Law enforcement officials say the fire was intentionally set, but no arrests have been made.

Hundreds of Race-Based Incidents Reported Since Election of Obama

Mark Potok of the Southern Poverty Law Center said there have been "hundreds" of race-based incidents since the election. The Associated Press has compiled a list of other possible hate crimes over the past two weeks. Crosses were burned in yards of Obama supporters in Hardwick, New Jersey and Apolacan Township, Pennsylvania. In the Pittsburgh suburb of Forest Hills, a black man said he found a note with a racial slur on his car windshield, saying, "Now that you voted for Obama, just watch out for your house." A black teenager in New York City said he was attacked with a bat on election night by four white men who shouted "Obama." In Standish, Maine, a sign inside the Oak Hill General Store read, "Osama Obama Shotgun Pool." Customers could sign up to bet $1 on a date when Obama would be killed. At North Carolina State University, four students admitted writing a sign on the campus that called for shooting Obama in the head. And in Idaho, second- and third-grade students on a school bus in Rexburg, Idaho were heard chanting "assassinate Obama."

Gov't Set to Lease 50,000 Acres in Utah for Gas and Oil Drilling

The Bush administration is coming under wide criticism for its proposal to lease more than 50,000 acres for oil and gas drilling in Utah, including areas adjacent to Arches National Park and Desolation Canyon. The Bureau of Land Management is planning to hold the auction on December 19. The Bureau announced the proposal on Election Day. The National Park Service's top official in Utah called the proposal "shocking and disturbing." Stephen Bloch of the Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance said, "This is the fire sale, the Bush administration's last great gift to the oil and gas industry."

UN Climate Agency: Emissions from Wealthy Nations Increasing

The United Nations climate agency has given a stark warning on greenhouse gases, reporting on Monday that the levels of emissions from wealthy countries are increasing.

The warning came two weeks ahead of the UN Climate Change Conference in Poznan, Poland.

Yvo de Boer: "Since the year 2000, industrialized country emissions have been clearly on the rise. Taking the 2000 base line, industrialized countries have seen an increase of 2.3 percent in emissions to 2006 because of increases in both economies in transition and in other industrialized countries. The picture is somewhat different for the group of countries which have ratified the Kyoto Protocol. In the time frame 1990 to 2006, emissions of parties to the Kyoto Protocol fell by 17 percent."

Schwarzenegger Links Wildfires to Global Warming

In California, wildfires continue to burn near Los Angeles, but firefighters are making progress in controlling them. At least 842 homes have been destroyed in the last several days. In an interview on ABC's This Week, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger directly linked global warming to the increasing threat of wildfires in California.

Arnold Schwarzenegger: "Through global warming, we have now a fire season all year round. We used to have fire seasons only in the fall. But now the fire seasons start in February already. So this means that we have to really upgrade and have more resources, more fire engines, more manpower, and all of this, which, of course, does cost extra money."

Dutch Police Arrest 80 at Anti-Coal Protest

In other climate news, Dutch police arrested more than eighty Greenpeace activists on Saturday after activists chained themselves to structures and machinery at the site of a new coal-fired power station in Rotterdam.

Saudi Oil Supertanker Hijacked Off Coast of Kenya

In news from Africa, a group of Somali pirates have hijacked a Saudi supertanker 450 nautical miles off the coast of Kenya. The supertanker is three times the size of an aircraft carrier. The tanker holds up to two million barrels of oil, more than one-quarter of Saudi Arabia's daily exports. It is the largest vessel ever seized by a Somali gang. According to Al Jazeera, there have been sixty-three reported incidents of piracy this year off the coast of Somalia. Thirteen vessels are still being held with a total of 275 crew members.

Pentagon Admits 12 Juveniles Held at Guantanamo

The Pentagon has acknowledged that the United States held twelve juveniles at Guantanamo Bay, four more than previously acknowledged. The Pentagon made the announcement a week after the Center for the Study of Human Rights in the Americas issued a study concluding the US has held at least a dozen juveniles at Guantanamo, including a Saudi who committed suicide in 2006. Eight of the twelve juvenile detainees identified by the human rights center have been released. The Saudi who hanged himself, Yasser Talal al-Zahrani, was seventeen when he arrived at Guantanamo.

Vatican Threatens to Excommunicate Priest Who Supports Ordination of Women

The Vatican has threatened to excommunicate a well-known Catholic priest this month unless he recants his belief and public statements that support the ordination of women in the Church. Roy Bourgeois, a Maryknoll priest, took part in a ceremony this summer to ordain a member of the group called Roman Catholic Womenpriests. Bourgeois has been a priest for thirty-six years. For the past two decades, he has organized the annual protest against the US Army's School of the Americas at Fort Benning, Georgia. The 2008 protest is scheduled for this weekend.

Miriam Makeba Memorial Held in South Africa

And in South Africa, over 2,000 people gathered on Saturday to hold a public memorial for Miriam Makeba, one of Africa's best-known singers and a champion of the fight against apartheid during three decades in exile. Makeba died at the age of seventy-six on November 9th. Makeba, who was known as Mama Africa, was the first black South African musician to gain international fame and was a longtime critic of the apartheid system.

South African Deputy President Baleka Mbete: "We have come together to pay tribute to a soul that loomed larger than life. We are here to commiserate with the family, relatives and friends of Mama Africa and to share in the loss of this beloved African heroine, about whom we can say she was an outstanding patriot and a Pan-Africanist. We take this moment to say to the Makeba family, your pain is our pain, your loss is the loss of the entire world. I am sure we can agree that we are here to pay homage and celebrate a life lived to the fullest. It is for this reason that the tears we shed are not tears of pain but are tears of joy, for Mama Makeba left us a legacy that will be in our historical memory for generations to come."