How much of Earth's atmosphere must we contaminate? How much of our lands and waters must we pollute? How much of our resources must we plunder, deplete? How many species must we ravage, despoil, extinguish? How many people must we degrade, deprive, destroy with toxic wastes and wars, before we learn to respect one another, to live in harmony on this planet, our Home? "All living beings are brothers and sisters, nourished from the same source of life.." -- Thich Nhat Hanh
I was born in Eastern Europe during the height of the Stalinist regime's reign of terror. Thus, I know what it is like to live under a repressive, dictatorial regime. The fear and terror -- as dissident friends and family members were tortured, imprisoned and some were executed -- is indelibly etched in my memory. That is the reason I have always been an ardent advocate of freedom, social justice, civil liberties, human rights and a voice of peace. The way I see it, war is morally wrong, regardless of who wages it, for whatever reason. No piece of land or commodity is worth the sacrifice of one human life. We are all members of the same race - the "human race" - and must learn to coexist peacefully. Our planet cannot sustain us much longer if we do not stop our wars, nukes, polluting, deforestation, and the wasteful, gluttonous consumption and depletion of our natural resources.
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âA satisfyingly virulent, comical, absurd, deeply grieving true portrait of how things work today in the sleek factories of conglomerate book producers... A skillful novel of manners -- of very bad mannersâ
âHerb Gold, LA Times
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WHY IS THE OPP HELPING THE U.S. “ATF” SPY ON SIX NATIONS? ARE THEY TRYING TO SET UP A “WACO TEXAS” STYLE MASSACRE?
MNN. June 10, 2006. It was reported that Canadian Prime Minister Harper allegedly said on television about the 102 day Six Nations-Caledonia situation, “The protesters are either going to kill the Indigenous people or the Indigenous people are going to kill the protesters!” [he hopes?] What does he mean? Indian Affairs Duncan Campbell Scott’s 100 year plan was to turn all the settlers against the Indians and eliminate the “Indian problem” for good, completing their theft of Turtle Island.
Is this why the Canadian government has invited the lethal American ATF – Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms – onto Six Nations? Why, now of all times, when the Americans are closing their borders to ordinary Canadian? Why is Canada inviting covert Americans operatives to spy on Six Nations? The ATF went to Waco Texas and on April 19, 1993, surrounded a community of fundamentalists and attacked and killed 63 people, among them many children. Cameramen and reporters happened to be there at the ready to video tape the carnage that followed. They say the attack began when an ATF agent accidentally shot himself in the foot. Noxious and flammable tear gas fortified with kerosene was thrown into the Branch Davidian compound, as armored vehicles rolled in. The compound burst into flames and the ATF with their M60 tanks smashed everything down. The FBI and the US Army came in afterwards to destroy the evidence that the ATF left behind. Two years later on April 19th, 1995, the ATF offices were blown up in Oklahoma City killing over 685 people.
More and more people are beginning to suspect that the US government is being torn apart by internal gang wars. If this theory is true, the ATF is in the thick of it. This is one of the oldest and most lethal agencies involved in covert operations against citizens. Canadians have always tried to steer clear of the fanatical fringes of American society. This is one of the main reasons why the Canadians have never joined the United States and have remained separate, north of the border.
The Americans have tried to invade Canada many times before and the Six Nations were always there as staunch allies. Since becoming independent from Britain Canadians seem to be forgetting their history. They’re being dragged deeper into the maelstrom of US power politics. Strange things are happening these days. Suddenly we’re not allowed to go south of the border unless we have passports. But the OPP and other Canadian agencies are helping Americans to spy on us. What gives? Who is this show time for right now?
Read Hazel Hill’s Update from Six Nations, June 9, 2006.
Kahentinetha Horn
MNN Mohawk Nation News
www.mohawknationnews.com
kahentinetha2@yahoo.com
UPDATE FROM GRAND RIVER
June 9, 2006. Today has been a day of unrest at the land reclamation site. While we won't go into great detail on what has happened today as a press release is being prepared, let us say that the intimidation tactics and pressure from the outside has been worked up to the point that 1000 OPP [Ontario Provincial Police] officers are being dispatched to the area surrounding the reclamation site. Caledonia residents are up in arms, demanding the removal of our people from the site. They are even going so far as to set up a barricade on the recently opened Plank Road (Argyle Street) leading into Caledonia.
The intimidation tactics leading up to today were constant..... including army helicopters and others flying overhead all hours of the day and night. They hovered overhead between 2 and 4 in the morning with their lights off and their nigh vision on , and then on occasion, shining high powered lights down onto the people on the site. [this is all the same as their tactics in Oka in 1990].
We are being faced daily with people driving by, hollering racial remarks including "go home you f'n Indians", "get a job", "your gonna die" etc. Garbage is being thrown at us. Besides the "flipping of the bird", there have been times where firecrackers are being thrown out the car windows toward us. These incidents, however, are not investigated by the OPP because “they are not breaking any laws”. [See ‘Rocks at Whisky Trench, National Film Board]. [what about hate laws, human rights and racial discrimination?]
Today a United States Border Patrol vehicle was retrieved with high powered surveillance equipment in it. The first story from the OPP was that the "A.T.F. Officer" was just visiting friends in the neighborhood and taking pictures "kinda like a tourist". [Right! With a high tech surveillance van? He left the family car at home?] He was spotted just down from the front line barricade. We followed them to the back door of the reclamation site. Later we questioned what the United States ATF was doing snooping around taking pictures of us with the OPP riding in the back with them. They changed the story saying that they had been invited in by the OPP. [Why? Was the OPP getting lonely looking at each other? Did they need more maniacs to make themselves feel more comfortable?] What were they doing here? What is their mandate? The OPP refused to tell us why these people have gotten high government official clearance to be so far out of their jurisdiction. An OPP officer was hospitalized as a result of this incident. A CHTV Newsperson/cameraman had to get stitches as a result of a previous run-in with our people. [CHTV 11 not only reports the news, they “create” the news].
This situation is not good. [All reports from CHTV 11 are anti-Indigenous].
The incidents of today are a direct result of the constant intimidation tactics of the OPP, the military and the continued racist acts instigated against us by the Caledonia people [with their professionally made “Bring in the Army” signs always in their car trunks, just in case the cameras are there]. Other strategies are the recent blocking of our children from using the arena for lacrosse games and the back tracking by the Ontario government at the “talks”. This is supposed to push everything up to the ultimate goal of Canada and Ontario. They want to justify stopping the talks about returning our lands to us.
At our fire tonight, we realized that Canada does not want to deal with the Onkwehonweh people because they know we are absolutely right in our position on the land, our sovereignty and upholding our Law.
This violence today occurred as a result of the underhanded and direct attempts at inciting an action from us to justify another attack against us. They want to make it look like we are uncontrollable. Why else have they been playing the "terrorists in Canada in court in Brampton" back to back with the "Six Nations land reclamation in Caledonia" on all the news stations? Canada, with the help of corporate media, is making sure the mental brainwashing of its citizens against the Onkwehonweh continues. [Across Canada people are not buying this corporate brainwashing].
How convenient that CHTV 11 was there even before this all started! How coincidently that the couple who sparked the violence with their racial attacks and their attempt to run over our people, drove straight to the Canadian Tire parking lot! How convenient that a "by-stander" happened to have a video camera across the road at the Tim Horton’s coffee shop video taping the whole scene [with a Boston Cream donut in the other hand]. He directly reported to CHML radio which happens to be co-owned by CHTV 11. Was it a co-incidence! Or were they already on standby knowing that a story was about to break. [Another high-priced promotion failed!]
It is unfortunate that our people fell for it. [Our guys are the only ones legally here]. The reality is, we are dealing with the constant mental, emotional and physical intimidation of the corrupt bureaucrats. Also, we face racial violence constantly. Does anyone know for sure how they would react in the same situation?
The potential for violence against us here in the next while is tremendous. [Expect this to happen. This is their “bad act” and no one’s buying any tickets for it!] The Caledonia people want to take us off our land. The OPP are maintaining a line between the Caledonia residents and the reclamation site. [Just like the people in Chateauguay in 1990. See “Act of Defiance” by the National Film Board]. We don’t know how long this is going to last. Our people are on alert. We are on the site unarmed. We are trying to maintain the peace. We are keeping the people within the inner perimeter. We will continue to forward updates. Please forward to others. Stay Strong and keep the Peace. Hazel
thebasketcase@on.aibn.ca
You support is crucial now. Do whatever you can. Use your good mind and heart. Stand by us in solidarity and support.
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9:49 PM
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3:33 AM
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Premier's statement on incidents at Caledonia
EDMONTON, June 9 /CNW/ - The following statement was issued by Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty:
"It was with great disappointment that I learned of the violent incidents in Caledonia today. I would like to express sympathy and concern for those injured.
I also condemn the violence caused by an irresponsible few, a repugnant attempt to derail the important progress we are making.
While the provincial government has been working with the federal government, local council and Six Nations to resolve the broader Haldimand Tract Land Claims issues, it is essential that all sides remain calm and respectful of each other.
The events of the past months have placed a great strain on the community of Caledonia and the Six Nations people. However, no one can condone the violent incidents witnessed today.
The Prime Minister and I have appointed Barbara McDougall and Jane Stewart to lead discussions on the broader land claims issues. We are encouraged by progress in those discussions.
It is our responsibility as leaders, neighbours, friends and community members to resolve this matter peacefully through dedication, perseverance and goodwill. That requires calm, understanding and respect from everyone involved."
<<
Disponible en français
www.ontario.ca/premier
www.strongontario.ca
For further information: Premier's Media Office, (416) 314-8975
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1:57 AM
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Did you know that at one time there was no death penalty in the United States? The Supreme Court ruled that the death penalty was arbitrary, capricious and discriminatory - as random as being struck by lightning. But things changed with the Gregg v. Georgia ruling on July 2, 1976 and the death penalty was reinstated. In the 30 years since the Gregg decision over 1,000 people have been executed and we have become increasingly aware of how arbitrary, capricious and discriminatory our death penalty system still is.Raise your voice and call for an end to this outmoded, outlandish and outrageous system of injustice on the 30th anniversary of the Gregg decision.
Three things we're asking you to do:
- Write a letter to the editor,
- Organize an event with your friends and family, or
- Organize a public event with other concerned citizens.
How? Find out at www.amnestyusa.org/abolish/gregg/act.html. We'll give you a special grassroots organizing kit, a study guide on the Gregg decision, and a way to promote your local events.
We know this is harder than just clicking and sending an email. But we believe that you have the will and heart to go the extra mile, and will stand with us to uphold our basic human rights.
In solidarity,
Sue Gunawardena-Vaughn
Director, Program to Abolish the Death Penalty
Amnesty International USA
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1:26 AM
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Propaganda and Haditha
By Dahr Jamail and Jeff Pflueger
t r u t h o u t | Perspective
Friday 09 June 2006
In wartime, truth is so precious that she should always be attended by a bodyguard of lies.
- Winston Churchill, British Prime Minister during World War II
Propaganda is when the Western corporate media tries to influence public opinion in favor of the Iraq War by consistently tampering with truth and distorting reality. It is to be expected. And it is to be recognized for what it is. On occasions when the media does its job responsibly and reports events like the November 19, 2005, Haditha Massacre, it must also be willing and able to anticipate and counter propaganda campaigns that will inevitably follow. It is to be expected that the responsible members of the media fraternity will stick to their guns and not join the propagandists.
This piece is a summary of five most commonly deployed crisis management propaganda tactics which the State and Media combine that we can expect to see in relation to the Haditha Massacre. Listed in a loose chronological order of their deployment, the tactics are: Delay, Distract, Discredit, Spotlight and Scapegoat. Each of the five public relations campaigns will here be discussed in the context of the Haditha Massacre.
Delay
Al-Jazeera channel, with over 40 million viewers in the Arab world, is the largest broadcaster of news in the Middle East. It has been bearing the brunt of an ongoing violent US propaganda campaign. Their station headquarters in both Afghanistan and Baghdad were destroyed by US forces during the US invasions of both countries. In Baghdad, the attack on their office by a US warplane killed their correspondent Tareq Ayoub. Additionally, al-Jazeera reporters throughout Iraq have been systematically detained and intimidated before the broadcaster was banned outright from the country. These are somewhat contradictory actions for an occupying force ostensibly attempting to promote democracy and freedom in Iraq.
On November 19, 2005, the day of the Haditha Massacre, al-Jazeera had long since been banned from operating in Iraq. The station forced to conduct its war reporting from a desk in Doha, Qatar, was doing so via telephone. Two Iraqis worked diligently to cover the US occupation of Iraq through a loose network of contacts within Iraq. Defying the US-imposed extreme challenges, al-Jazeera, by dint of its responsible reporting, had the entire Haditha scoop as soon as it occurred, which they shared with Western and other media outlets, while the latter were content to participate in delaying the story nearly four months by regurgitating unverified military releases.
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12:39 AM
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