Organizing Notes

Bruce Gagnon is coordinator of the Global Network Against Weapons & Nuclear Power in Space. He offers his own reflections on organizing and the state of America's declining empire....

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Location: Brunswick, ME, United States

The collapsing US military & economic empire is making Washington & NATO even more dangerous. US could not beat the Taliban but thinks it can take on China-Russia-Iran...a sign of psychopathology for sure. @BruceKGagnon

Saturday, October 27, 2012

THE LATE SHIFT ON JEJU ISLAND


The South Korean government and Samsung (the lead Navy base contractor) are now working 24 hours a day.  This means that all night long the cement trucks roll into Gangjeong village and the people must be there to try to block their entry.

The people are tired and are getting little sleep.  They are feeling worn down.  Several have been taken to the hospital as they have been injured by the hordes of police who have been brought in from the mainland to push them away from the construction gate.

There is an urgent need for more people to go to Jeju to help offer support to the villagers.  There is urgent need for people to call the South Korean embassy in your country and tell them to stop the Navy base construction.  There is urgent need to help spread the word about this fight.

This video tells more about the story.

Visit the web site Save Jeju Now.

Boycott Samsung.


REVERSE THE ROLES



Former Florida conservative congressman Joe Scarboough, host of MSNBC's Morning Joe program, challenges Obama's drone program while the "liberal" defends it.  The role reversal is interesting.

Friday, October 26, 2012

PROTECTING ALCOHOL PROFITS



White Clay, Nebraska borders Pine Ridge Indian reservation in South Dakota.  Pine Ridge does not allow alcohol sales.  White Clay has a population of 14 citizens and four alcohol stores.

The Nebraska police and state government protect the liquor business.

Nebraskans for Peace, American Indian Movement, and other activists have been organizing in recent years trying to get the White Clay liquor business shut down.  This is a video about the story.

The genocide of native cultures continues.  Capitalism comes first. Racism holds fast.

WE ARE ALL ON DRUGS

Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Thursday, October 25, 2012

PAINTING THE TRUTH

Fellow Mainer Robert Shetterly interview about his series called Americans Who Tell the Truth

Wednesday, October 24, 2012

HONORING RUSSELL MEANS


I drove about three hours to Kyle, South Dakota today which is on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation.  It was snowing while I drove.

I had heard on KILI radio (The voice of the Lakota Nation) as I got near the Black Hills yesterday that a ten-hour memorial service would be held for Means today.  He died the day after former South Dakota Sen. George McGovern passed on.  So I was determined that I would go join the honoring of Russell Means.

I got there about 1:00 pm and there had to have been 400 or so people there by then.  I stayed four hours and many more came and went during that time.

Family and fellow American Indian Movement (AIM) activists told moving stories about Means.  He grew up tough and had to learn to fight as he stood up to the ever present racism that exists in Indian country and across the nation.  His youngest son talked about having picked up the newspaper today and saw that the KKK was active again in the Black Hills town of Custer - named after the Army general who was sent to drive the Lakota people out of their sacred lands once gold had been discovered there in 1874. 

Several speakers talked about the untiring efforts of Means to teach his people about their treaty rights (Treaty of Ft. Laramie 1868) which recognized that the Black Hills belonged to the native people.  But like so many other treaties the U.S. government violated it and stuck the people on reservations.

Today the people live in grinding poverty.  But this remarkable gathering today showed that thanks to leaders like Means and many others the people still maintain their dignity, humor, love of nature and family, and their connection to the Great Spirit.

I made the long drive back to my small, cold cabin in the Black Hills through the wind-driven snow.  Very few cars were to be seen on the hilly, curvy roads in the dark.  Earlier in the day I had seen deer, buffalo, and antelope as I made my way to Pine Ridge.

It was truly an honor to spend the day with these good people.  It's a day I will never forget.

Tuesday, October 23, 2012

SHADOW BOXING IN SHADES OF GRAY




THE REAL CHOICES WE FACE


CALIFORNIA LEADS THE WAY



The same corporations that said DDT and Agent Orange were safe have now put millions of dollars into the campaign against our right to know what's in our food. In November, Californians will vote on the most important issue to ever affect our food supply. As Goes California, So Goes the Nation.

Monday, October 22, 2012

MONEY TALKS


"I AM HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY SERIOUS QUESTIONS"



This is what the Democrats bring us today......Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL) not only serves in Congress but is also chair of the Democratic Party.  Hold your nose.

Sunday, October 21, 2012

THE FINAL DEBATE


BLOCKED FROM THE PROCESS

SUNDAY SONG