g8 and G20 in Toronto

http://2010.mediacoop.ca/ - G20 live updates protest news aggregator

Toronto Media Co-op is is a reader-funded and member-run news organization which is part of the Media co-op network in Canada.

Argentia - world cups best team!

Argentines winning team in solidarity with Abuelas de plaza de mayo
http://abuelasdelapaz.com.ar/

South African World Cup: Red Card to Corporate Abuses!

Over the next 5 weeks Khulumani Support Group Red Card Campaign will take you on a journey into the various aspects of the so-called ‘Apartheid Litigation’ against five multinational corporations that are charged with aiding and abetting the commission of apartheid gross human rights violations. For the quick and easy answer to all your questions, check out the Frequently Asked Questions section.

The case in question has been undertaken by the Khulumani Support Group, a South African social movement with 55,000 members across all races, rural, urban, rich and poor who have all been affected by the gross human rights violations of the apartheid-era. While South Africa celebrates hosting the world this month, Khulumani celebrates the victories it has had on the long road of the lawsuit, and calls for support from people across the globe to stand up for corporate accountability. Let us show the corporations that now sponsor football teams in the World Cup that we demand accountability for their sponsorship of apartheid abuses!

During this month we’ll shine a spotlight on some of the plaintiffs in the case, the corporations in question, and some of the bigger issues of reconciliation and reparations in South Africa. We also profile the work of our members and their continued struggles for human rights and dignity; as well as their actvities at the Soweto-based Khulumani People’s Justice Fan Centre. Finally, this is your place to hear that latest fantastic tunes from a local and international Hip Hop collective’s awesome album produced specifically for the red card campaign: Niet vir Niet/Nothing for Nothing.

Join us in this global people’s movement for justice and corporate accountability!

The Lawsuit 101: Enough is Enough – End Corporate Impunity!

9 Jun

The Red Card Campaign was established to raise awareness about the Khulumani lawsuit against 5 multinational corporations that are alleged to have aided and abetted the apartheid government in crimes against humanity. For those of you new to the case, and the reasons for bringing it, here’s the 101 version (also check out the FAQ section for more details).

In 2002 Khulumani through American attorney Michael Hausfeld lodged a complaint in the NY District Court on behalf of its members who had suffered from torture, extrajudicial killings, arbitrary detention and other abuses. The complaint alleged that 23 multinational companies across sectors of Banking, Oil, Transport, Technology and Arms all aided and abetted the South African military and government to commit the brutal systemic acts which came to define Apartheid as a Crime Against Humanity. By providing financing to the military, oil to fuel tanks, technology to implement pass laws, and components to manufacture weapons the complaint alleged these companies provided the means for the apartheid government to brutally repress the vast majority of South Africans. None of these companies ever engaged with the TRC business hearings, or in any way acknowledged their complicity. They profited off the lives of Black, Indian and Coloured South Africans and so this case is an attempt for South African people to say ‘enough is enough’ – it’s time to end corporate impunity!

Over the last 8 years the case has been through many ups and downs: we’ve seen changes in governments and changes in their support for the case, refined the complaint to its present format and won unimagined victories that set precedents for what kinds of actions corporations can be held accountable for. The five companies left in the lawsuit are: Daimler, Ford, IBM, General Motors and Rheinmettal. Over the next month we will be giving full profiles of each of these companies, detailing their alleged involvement with the apartheid regime. We will also introduce you to some of the plaintiffs – Khulumani members who continue to deal with the after-effects of their brutal treatment under apartheid.

Presently we are awaiting a decision from the court about whether or not the companies will be forced to open their records fully and expose all their business relations with the apartheid government. We need your support to show that people around the world demand full transparency and accountability from these corporations!

Boston protest: Say 'No' to Anti-Immigrant Racism! Say no to Arizona Gov. Jan Brewe

A CALL FOR A UNITED MASS DEMONSTRATION:
Say no to Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer when she comes to Boston!
Say 'No' to Anti-Immigrant Racism!

Saturday, July 10 in Boston
East Coast Protest at the National
Governors Association annual meeting

Click here to add your endorsement.









On Saturday, July 10, thousands will protest against anti-immigrant racism at the National Governors Association annual meeting in Boston.

Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer’s racist law, SB 1070, has ignited a firestorm of protests around the country at the very time when immigrants and their supporters are standing up for reform. In addition to SB 1070, which legalizes racial profiling and is aimed at all people of color in Arizona, the state has passed a bill, HB 2281, which bans ethnic studies from public classrooms. Other states are reportedly considering similar moves.

In Massachusetts, a series of anti-immigrant amendments were passed into the State Senate's version of the budget, restricting access to basic social services like healthcare, education and housing. Also included is the creation of an anonymous tip line for the public to report on undocumented people and mandating the state to investigate all reports made.

These attacks come at a time when all people are suffering from the wave of budget cuts and mass unemployment that makes racism and anti-immigrant xenophobia so dangerous.

It’s time for Brewer and the rest of the state governors to be met with the outrage felt by millions of immigrants and their supporters.

Immigration must be on the agenda of the annual meeting of the National Governor’s Association—and our voices must be heard!

Join us on Saturday, July 10 to demand:

* Repeal Arizona’s SB 1070 and HB 2281!
* From AZ to MA: No to all anti-immigrant legislation!
* No human being is illegal—Full rights for all!
* End all racial profiling and police brutality! Stop the raids and deportations now!
* Stop the budget cuts! Jobs, healthcare, education and housing—not war!

Call to Action issued by

• ANSWER Coalition
• Vamos Unidos USA
• Boston Mayday Committee
• Mass Global Action
• Unidad Latina en Acción
• Hermandad Mexicana Nacional
• Muslim American Society Freedom
• La Iglesia San Romero de Las Americas-UCC
• Rev. Graylan Hagler, National President of Ministers for Racial, Social and Economic Justice
• Barrio Unido para Amnistía Incondicional
• Ugnayan ng mga Anak ng Bayan (Linking the Children of the Motherland)
• Damayan Migrant Workers Association
• Partnership for Civil Justice Fund
• March Forward!
• Alliance for Global Justice
  ... and many others.

Click here to add your endorsement.

For more information, contact ANSWER in Boston at boston@answercoalition.org or call 857-334-5084.

Inpressions of the Caravan Festival 2010 in Jena (Germany)

Caravan Festival: In memory of victims of the fortress Europe - African Masquerade and Music Parade in 2010
http://karawane-festival.org/
http://thecaravan.org
http://thevoiceforum.org/

The Caravan Festival is set - Statement and Call for Participation

Open-Air Caravan Festival 2010

From 4-6 June, 2010 in Jena, Germany

A Bastion of humanity and solidarity


“Unite Against Colonial Injustice in Memory of the Dead and Victims of Fortress Europe”


Festival Statement and Call for Participation



Hurrah!!! The Caravan Festival is set!

In less than two weeks, the long awaited Caravan Festival 2010 kicks off in Jena, Thuringen from the 4th till the 6th of June 2010. The Caravan-for the Rights of Refugees and Migrants will be organising this Festival of political and cultural resistance against colonial injustice and in memory of the mortal victims of the construct known as “Fortress Europe”. Through art and dance, critical analysis and discussion, we hope to re-energise and re-define the struggle against colonial injustice and bring into focus again, one of its most cruel and deadly modern manifestations: deportation. It will be a Festival in memory of the lives lost to Fortress Europe and a celebration of the lives of all those who continue to defy and survive the politics that is intentionally designed to divide, isolate and destroy us. We uphold the sanctity of our inviolable human dignity and physical presence here and anywhere in the world as our ultimate value! We reject and refuse to accept the reasons and mechanisms used to build the wall of ignorance and humiliation, racism and discrimination against our presence here or anywhere else. We are reclaiming what rightfully belongs to us and what we cannot be denied.

The Caravan Festival is about our physical presence and dignity, our life experiences and those of the dead, our struggle and resistance, solidarity and humanity. It is a show of defiance, a bastion of solidarity. We are defying the oppressive and repressive machinations that have been the hallmark of European and American intervention in our lives for ages. Together in this Festival, we are uniting against their will and demonstrating our strength to resist the aims and methods of this barbarism. We are here because they destroy our countries. We are here and we will fight.

Away with the fear and lets regain our Freedom

For centuries the powerful have used fear as their weapon of choice. Through fear, human beings are forced into submission and isolation from one another. Through the power of fear we learn and teach that silence and bowing our heads, indifference to resistance and defending ourselves are tantamount to survival. Through fear, the visible wounds on the visible human beings become invisible, hidden behind the false and malicious narrative of superiority and inferiority, civilised and savage, poor and rich, weak and strong and of course innocent and guilty. In order to maintain this control over our minds and our bodies, the powerful develop the complex to fit in those narratives into past, present and future, which we are all required to adhere to. In their narrative we are taught to be receptive to injustice and war, and to accept the creation of the Untermenschen that they have made of us. We are meant to adore the supposed superiority of a violent and dominant culture. We are expected to co-operate and collaborate with them in the perpetuation of that false representation of our inferiority and never to question their false and self-deluded notion of the superiority of Western and European identity. Any challenge to this narrative and hegemony is met with vitriolic rhetoric and ultimate brutal and violent actions sometimes resulting in deaths at the hands of state agents. But with this Festival, we are confronting and defying them and we are conquering that fear. We are making a stand that we have no fear to say what we know for a fact and that we mean what we say. We are calling on them to look beyond their nose, to acknowledge their history and take a stand for humanity because it is a fact that since the brutal advent of colonialism, the European identity has been constructed on the wicked presumption of superiority over all other cultures and people. In order to create the fundamental belief of the greatness of European ideals and values, the “Other” had to be constructed into the polar opposite of that greatness. Thus, Africans, Asians and Latin Americans are still violently relegated into that category of inferior and salvages. For centuries, forced and inhuman separation, rape, abuse and enslavement of millions of people were the handiwork and hallmark of European and American adventurers into the so-called third world countries. These were closely coordinated under the uncontrollable greed and wanton exploitation of our land and the destruction of our cultures.: http://thecaravan.org/files/caravan/Festival_2010_flyer_en.pdf and
http://thevoiceforum.org/node/1570

Incredibly, in spite of the hundreds of millions of victims of slavery, colonialism, and imperialism, not to mention when the chicken came home to roost in the homebred National Socialism, most Europeans and their descendants throughout the world continue to believe in their superiority of thoughts, ways of being and actions. Even with all these atrocities, they are consolidating the very system that produces intolerance, unbridled greed and hate, and intensifying the consequent ruthlessness of that brutality at home and abroad (:
http://www.karawane-festival.org/de/hintergrund/ueber-koloniales-unrecht...).

Rise up against Deportation and the deadly Frontex machine of Europe

Once again, the age-old mechanism of fear is being viciously deployed to justify the deadly and wholly inhuman project FRONTEX. Rather than deal with their greed-induced and self-inflicted systemic and structural problems arising from war and imperialism, resulting in harsh migration processes, human and environmental destruction, the narrative of fear is again being woven around migrants. Not only do they want that migrants are afraid to come here they also want to make the populace here afraid of migrants-swarming them.

In order to mask their true intention and perpetuate colonial injustice, they are re-doubling their efforts to continue to portray migrants and potential migrants as the lazy and naive that must be kept at bay by FRONTEX. They portray victims of their brutal system as those who need their very (European) military protection and border militarisation. In this manner, the “good people of Europe” dubiously narrate clear acts of violent exclusion and oppression as a humanitarian act with FRONTEX as a noble project.

There is hardly a more glaring and painful example than the Island of Gorée off the coast of Senegal. During the time of slavery and colonial rule, Gorée served the Europeans as one of the major “gateways to hell”, through which millions of Black Africans kidnapped, were deported from their lands to build the economies of Europe and the Americas. This as we all know became the most barbaric and brutal forced migration in human history. Today in continuation of their colonial injustice and barbarity, they have now extended their FRONTEX border regime beyond the immediate European borders and a FRONTEX post is in Gorée.

There, FRONTEX controls all Ships leaving Africa towards Europe to make sure that no “illegal immigrant” leaves Africa. In effect, we are experiencing an increased militarisation of the borders and Seas including spheres of international waters. All in their attempt to prevent the migration of a needy, defenceless and deprived people they find difficult to control but determined to exploit.

Thousands of refugees and migrants die at the ever extending and increasingly militarised European borders yearly and many more are forced to drown, "thanks" to FRONTEX. These lots cannot even reach the European borders alive. Any attempt to render any help and rescue them results in criminal prosecution. If European dogs or cats are in danger, emergency service and ambulance assistance are immediately made available, but if its human beings drowning and calling for help, the only help for them is to hasten and help them to drown through FRONTEX. In Spain, scenes reminiscent of the Franco years were replicated a few years ago when Spanish soldiers suddenly joined their police compatriots in shooting and killing innocent, unarmed and defenceless refugees and migrants in Ceuta and Melilla, all in the name of protecting Spain from being swarmed with the ‘unwanted’. Europe with its valued freedom and equality, human right and dignity fell silent and accepted it.

Further, border control and persecution against migration are already extended to inland control of African States. African governments are being pressurised and blackmailed into signing dubious agreements to act as conduits for European deportation machine with FRONTEX as its monster agency. Led by Italy and supported by the mentality of Fortress Europe, African countries are being coerced to accept their newly given status of European dumping grounds as exemplified by the scandalous and nauseating agreements with Libya and other North and sub-Saharan African states. Human rights and human dignity, the supposedly “core European values” are tossed away in a flash when it comes to dealing with the “Other”. We are not even venturing into the issue of dumping toxic waste materials in African countries by Europeans-that’s another story entirely. Memory sounds a fresh note of warning on the brutal migration control politics of Fortress Europe and colonial injustice. The “Frontexation” of European border system is a deadly physical and ideological weapon of the Fortress Europe where the militarisation of the seas and land borders is forcefully deployed against migration. It is meant to strengthen the ignoble system of divide and rule and the globalised apartheid of selection and exploitation (
The 'Fortress Within': Restriction of Movement and Refugee Self-Organisation
http://thevoiceforum.org/node/1300).

There must be an end to this inhumanity and broad day barbarism, because there is another way. We refuse to accept their lies, their manipulations and their uncontrollable gluttony that has only served to unleash human suffering, environmental disaster and perpetual wars. With this Festival, we call on all well-meaning human beings to unite and oppose FRONTEX and the system behind it and to once again revel in the spirit of humanity and solidarity. We unite to defy and deny their aims; we show solidarity to uplift the human spirit.

But then 
in spite of the abuse and oppression, the intimidation and humiliation, we are partakers in our own fate. Instilled with fear, each try to deal with our own problems on our own, thinking that if we just behave well and stay out of trouble then we will be left alone - allowed to live peacefully. But peace is not that cheap, not least, for us. Many people do not realise, - even those who suffer most directly from the problems, the viciousness of the system. We are often led to think and feel lonely and falsely harbouring the prospect of even fighting and winning alone. We must do it together to defeat the monster.

Statistics vary below 1 and 3% of all refugees that are ever actually granted the status worthy of protection. And of those that have been granted asylum, such as some refugees from Iraq and Syria, many have had their status taken away and are sent back to countries deemed “safe” by European bureaucrats. But when these same bureaucrats advise their citizens planning vacations, they advise them not to go to these countries or if they must, they should wear bullet proofs because it’s not a safe place. Double standards, dubious morality, or pure liars? You judge. Those of us they failed to deport are forcefully consigned into the humiliating and inhumane category of “illegal immigrants” – their favoured position to best exploit to our bone marrows and deny us any human dignity and or rights. That much is on offer for the much-vaunted European values. 


Call for Participation

We want to call on all well-meaning people to support our call to overcome the fear to unite in dignity. We want to unite and rise up against social exclusion of refugees and migrants in Europe and consolidate our solidarity to uplift the human spirit. As we are all part of this problem, we also have to become part of the solution. If we can join together and overcome our fear, if we can stick together in dignity and solidarity and if we express our own narratives of resistance, then the so-called “powerful” will loose the very power with which they have managed to manipulate and dominate us for more than 500 years. In Germany, we want to expose the racist hypocrites who preach freedom and equality, human right and human dignity that is “unantastbar” but continue with institutional discrimination and treat us like criminals through “Residenzplicht”, so as to fan the flame of societal racism against us.

Let’s aspire to that “revolutionary vision” that can redefine our dignity not by National laws or passport but by our physical presence and humanity as the ultimate universal value. Let‘s build that space of our own to relate to each other even with all the differences we may have. We hope that you participate in this event and join thousands of others who want to mourn and honour the dead victims of Fortress Europe, celebrate the presence of those who are here and build a better world for all. Join us as single individuals or activists or as group(s). We’re looking forward to seeing a lot of you.

Stop the deportations. Abolish Residenzpflicht now!
Freedom of movement is everyone’s right!
We restate and reaffirm that our freedom of movement is non-negotiable!
No Lager! No Police Brutality

No Fortress Europe! Stop “Frontex” now! 





The VOICE Refugee Forum

Video Online:
- The video is about self-organization. On the 10th of April, 2010 in Berlin, several activists from different networks met to discuss the struggles for their dignitiy and right to live and to prepare the KARAWANE-Festival 2010 in Jena, Thüringen.
Video: http://www.karawane-festival.org/de/hintergrund/video-vorbereitungstreff...

- Interview Yufanyi Mbolo zu Jena Festival 2010 auf AFROTAK TV cyberNomads
Das Interview findest Du in zwei Teilen unter
http://www.youtube.com/user/AFROTAKTVcyberNomads#p/u/1/m2WGxwPo6gI
und
http://www.youtube.com/user/AFROTAKTVcyberNomads#p/u/0/sATGmBN2ZY0

Online Premier VIDEO: "Over come your fear for freedom" - Preparing for Karawane Festival 2010
The video is about self-organization. On the 10th of April, 2010 in Berlin, several activists from different networks met to discuss the struggles for their dignitiy and right to live and to prepare the KARAWANE-Festival 2010 in Jena, Thüringen.
Video: http://www.karawane-festival.org/de/hintergrund/video-vorbereitungstreff...

AFROTAKTVcyberNomads - youtube
Interview Yufanyi Mbolo zu Jena Festival 2010 auf AFROTAK TV cyberNomads
Das Interview findest Du in zwei Teilen unter
http://www.youtube.com/user/AFROTAKTVcyberNomads#p/u/1/m2WGxwPo6gI
und
http://www.youtube.com/user/AFROTAKTVcyberNomads#p/u/0/sATGmBN2ZY0

Troy Davis Campaign: June 22 Global Day of Solidarity

Troy Davis, who has been on Georgia's death row for the past 20 years, will finally be allowed to present evidence of his innocence before a judge in Georgia at a hearing on June 23.
A vigil in support of Troy is being held in Savannah, Ga., outside the courtroom on June 23. Activists from around the world are traveling to Savannah to support Troy. Anyone interested in making the trip should read the section at the bottom of this e-mail posted from NY CEDP and Amnesty.

A global day of action has been called for the day before Troy goes to court. People are encouraged to hold rallies, vigils, speakouts, tablings and teach-ins to draw attention to Troy's case.

Martina Correia, Troy's sister said, "We need to be out there, holding events and getting the word out to show that we are watching. People from all around the world will be holding events in support of Troy. And that pressure, that attention is felt. So I urge everyone to do whatever they can to be a part of this, even if it's just to stand on a corner with a "Innocence matters - Justice for Troy Davis" sign. And I thank you all."

A MESSAGE FROM TROY

Troy Davis was recently interviewed in our newsletter The New Abolitionist. He had this to say to say when I asked him if we were making progress in our fight to end the death penalty:

We are further along the lines of ending the death penalty then ever before. Injustice is no longer tolerated; executing the innocent is NOT acceptable. Every death row inmate now has hope of the death penalty coming to an end. We can't slow down now. We will end this death penalty, and I'm blessed to have my case pushing this movement in the right direction. Encourage, Educate, organize, rally and speak out.

When asked what he would like to say to his supporters, he wrote: "Thank you all so very much for being supportive. Together, we are making changes that will end the death penalty. All of you made them listen. You opened the eyes of the world."

The full interview is in the June 2010 issue, which is just out. If you would like to receive a newsletter or a bundle of copies, please contact Marlene at marlene@nodeathpenalty.org.

CAMPAIGN TO END THE DEATH PENALY EVENTS IN SUPPORT OF TROY:

New York City: Join us on June 22 in Union Square from 5:30 pm to 7 pm for a demonstration and vigil in solidarity with Troy and his supporters. A list of endorsing organizations is being formed. To add your organization, please contact Colleen (colleen@nyadp.org) or Lee (nyc@nodeathpenalty.org).

If you are unable to join us in Union Square, consider mobilizing at other sites in New York City.

Austin, Texas: The Austin CEDP chapter is planning a teach-in event about racism and the death penalty to mark the Global Day of Action for Troy Davis on June 22, which also happens to be the 10th anniversary of the state murder of radical activist and Texas death row prisoner Shaka Sankofa. Our event will take place at a local community center, with family members of death row prisoners and activists speaking to the audience about these two cases and others where racism has played such a blatant role. We also want to take pictures to add to the Troy Davis mosaic and encourage people to get involved in activism around Troy's case and against the death penalty. To get involved or to get more information, contact Lily at lily@nodeathpenalty.org

Denton, Texas: The Denton chapter is currently working on hosting a candlelight vigil event on June 22. This will be speakers, and someone has offered to sing during the vigil. We are working on getting a banner made that says "Innocence matters: Free Troy Davis" to display at the event. For more information, contact Laura at lauraashleylamb@yahoo.com. If other chapters have events in the works to be a part of this day of action, please send your announcement to Marlene at marlene@nodeathpenalty.org

CEDP AT THE U.S. SOCIAL FORUM JUNE 22-26

Thousands of people will be attending the U.S. Social Forum, which will be held in Detroit. It begins June 22, the same day as the global day of action for Troy, and runs through June 26. The Campaign is holding a meeting at the forum on Friday, June 25, which will feature a call-in from death row. Several of us are traveling to Detroit, and we will raise our voice in support of Troy there. Anyone interested in attending and willing to volunteer to help the Campaign at the forum, please contact Pat at patconnect@gmail.com

TROY DAVIS FACT SHEETS AND PETITION

Download fact sheets and petitions for Troy at the Campaign Web site:
here... and here...

A MOSAIC OF TROY

Amnesty International is putting together a mosaic of Troy, using pictures of people. Send in a picture of yourself to be included:
here...

FREEDOM RIDE TO SAVANNAH FROM NYC

The "Freedom Ride" to Savannah will be a total of three days. We will be leaving from New York City on June 22, spend the night in Savannah that night, and we will be leaving the following night, after having spent the day in the courtroom.

Troy's lawyers are working on having him in the courtroom during the hearing, and we think that he will probably be granted permission. This would be the first time in nearly 20 years that Troy will leave his cell and be among people who are not prison staff--and the first time ever that he will be allowed to be among his supporters, friends and family in court!

Please let me know as soon as possible if you are interested in going and also if you have a valid U.S. drivers' license. Contact Gloria at gloriacolonnello@yahoo.it.

TRAVELING TO SAVANNAH: A NOTE FROM AMNESTY

The hearing is open to the public, though seating is limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis. The hearing could be as short as one day, but it could last two, three or even more.

We are planning to have space for supporters' area across the street in the public park facing the courthouse. People will hold a vigil in the square during the day as the hearing is underway. We hope to have a large, respectful, quiet presence of Troy supporters. There will be activities throughout the day to keep folks positively engaged. Whether you are able to get into the courthouse or join us outside, your presence will make a difference. So please come out and join our community of conscience.

If you want to see about rides from neighboring Southern states, please e-mail srobintern@aiusa.org. There are many hotels and motels in the Savannah area that you can check out. If you are interested in alternative lodging, please e-mail srobintern@aiusa.org.