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Impressions of the Bolivarian Revolution
http://www.flaction.org/uploads/docs/venezuelareportb.pdf is my impression of the situation in Venezuela and the aspirations of the Venezuelan people. It’s an impression gathered from reading everything I could get my hands on in the three-month period between December 2007 and February 2008, and a three-week visit to the country in January and February, during which I discussed Venezuelan affairs with people day in and day out.
What weight to give to my impressions? I speak fluent Spanish and have traveled extensively in Central and South America. The parts of my CV that lend credibility to my impressions are experience as an American Friends Service Committee observer in Honduran refugee camps in 1982; two years documenting human rights violations in Guatemala and Mexico (Chiapas); working in development in Nicaragua during the Sandinista Revolution between 1983 and 1990; and two years working with the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) in the Philippines.
See the article at:
http://www.flaction.org/uploads/docs/venezuelareportb.pdf
Good reading!
Jo McIntire (jomcintire@bellsouth.net
St. Pete for Peace 2007 Slideshow
Check out the St. Pete for Peace 2007 in Review slideshow on YouTube (shown in two parts):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JzX7xmt1Uc4&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p_s2xTGmBMk&feature=related
Immokalee Workers Slide Show
Go to the CIW site now to see the new slideshow by clicking on the link below:
http://www.ciw-online.org/news.html
Debunk This...
For several months now, Burger King and the Florida tomato growers' lobby have joined forces to "debunk the myth" of farmworker poverty, in their effort to fight back against workers demanding a raise in the picking piece rate.
The piece rate -- defined as the price paid to pickers for every 32-lb bucket of tomatoes they pick -- has remained effectively stagnant for nearly thirty years. In 1980, the going piece rate was 40 cents per bucket. Today, twenty eight years later, workers are paid an average of only 45 cents per bucket.
We are happy to be able to share with you an incredible new gallery of photos from Immokalee's fields by a young photographer out of Gainesville, Scott Robertson.
The pictures were taken in December of 2007. They capture work and life as a tomato picker in Immokalee as it is today: Looking for work before dawn, picking for 10 to 12 hours a day under Florida's relentless sun, and returning after a long day to the one-room cinder block apartments and broken-down trailers that are home during Immokalee's 8-9 month-long season.
Burger King and Florida's tomato growers say farmworker poverty is a "myth." The US Department of Labor says farmworkers are "a labor force in significant economic distress," suffering "low wages (and) sub-poverty annual earnings."
What's myth and what's reality? We hope these pictures can help you decide for yourself.
Thanks - Coalition of Immokalee Workers
Florida For Peace Focus on Nelson
Sponsored by: CodePINK (Tallahassee Chapter)
Date(s): 2007-09-01 through 2007-10-30
Description: PLEASE DISTRIBUTE WIDELY
Dear Florida Peacemakers,
The "Focus On Nelson" campaign is producing amazing results thanks to Florida For Peace members who continue to push and prod our senior senator into voting for the end of the war in Iraq.
Florida For Peace members traveled from north, south, east, west and central Florida to meet with Senator Nelson in Kissimmee on Tuesday, August 7, 2007.
Eleven members shared concerns about his support of the war in Iraq, funding torture, terrorism, Iraqi civilian atrocities, our 1st and 4th amendment rights, support for our troops and their families, Florida's financial deficits, homeless and veteran issues, his responsibilities to his Florida constituents who want to end the war, permanent bases in Iraq and his voting record on all of these issues.
We challenged the senator to form a group of 67 senators who would stand as a solid block to the Bush administration. He actually gave us the name of other senators who might come to our way of thinking.
There was a curt discussion on his recent vote on the FISA bill (S. 1927) which gives six months additional power to the White House and Attorney Alberto Gonzales. This after Senator Nelson just sent a vote of no confidence to the Attorney General. Too much political double speak.
Your help is still desperately needed. The postcard campaign action, Phase III of Focus On Nelson, hasn't ended yet. There is plenty of time to download cards and get them signed. We will begin sending them into his offices in September 1, 2007.
Please go to www.codepinkalert.org/focusonnelson to connect directly the Focus On Nelson campaign page and click on the download button.
Everyone loves signing the cards. I have a few hundred printed and will gladly send you a stack - NO CHARGE. Contact me at codepinktally(at)yahoo.com
Please, join the Florida For Peace yahoo group below. Phase IV of Focus On Nelson begins on September 1, 2007. Helps us demand that Senator Nelson vote to bring the troops home from Iraq.
Thank you for all you do.
Peace, Always Lydia Vickers
More Information: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FloridaForPeace
FOCUS ON NELSON - Let's turn up the HEAT
FOCUS ON NELSON - Let's turn up the HEAT
DATES: 6-11-2007 through 6-19-2007
DESCRIPTION: Announcing the first of 8 meetings at Senator Nelson's offices in Florida. Help us put the HEAT on NELSON this summer. He needs to explain to us WHY he is voting for continued funding for illegal torture. We want to know WHY Senator Nelson gave Bush billions more to fund the war we told him to STOP in November! Visits are scheduled at Nelson's offices beginning Monday, June 11th and continuing through Tuesday, June 19th. If you can't meet at the office, can you commit to calling the office for 2 hours during the visit? Tell the Senator's aides that Lydia and the other people visiting represent YOU!
The schedule is as follows:
Date of Visit Office Location Times Telephone #'s
Mon, June 11, 2007 Tampa 2:00-4:00pm 813-225-7040
Tues, June 12, 2007 Fort Myers 2:00-4:00pm 239-334-7760
Wed, June 13, 2007 Coral Gables 9:00-11:00am 305-536-5999
Wed, June 13, 2007 Davie 2:00-4:00pm 954-693-4851
Thurs, June 14, 2007 West Palm Bch 2:00-4:00pm 561-514-0189
Fri, June 15, 2007 Orlando 2:00-4:00pm 407-872-7161
Mon, June 18, 2007 Jacksonville 2:00-4:00pm 904-346-4506
Tues, June 19, 2007 Tallahassee 2:00-4:00pm 850-942-8415
this meeting is scheduled with an aide in Senator Nelson's office. To join this meeting contact codepinktally(at)yahoo.com
Please Distribute This Widely!
For more information about the plan to "Focus on Nelson" go to:
www.groups.yahoo.com/group/FloridaForPeace and sign on to join the effort.
Lydia Vickers, CodePINK Tallahassee
codepinktally(at)yahoo.com