IWW film night takes on Coca Cola
This Thursday, the Grand Rapids branch of the IWW will be hosting a screening of the new film The Coca Cola Case. The film investigates the brutal reality of union workers targeted for assassination in Colombia and the campaign to hold Coca Cola accountable for these crimes.
According to the film site, “Columbia is the trade union murder capital of the world. Since 2002, more than 470 workers’ leaders have been brutally killed, usually by paramilitaries hired by private companies intent on crushing the unions. Among these unscrupulous corporate brands is the poster boy for American business: Coca-Cola.”
The film is powerful and will challenge what you think about one of the most widely branded companies in the world. After the film there will be discussion on this case and the Killer Coke Campaign.
Thursday, March 24
7pm
IATSE Hall 931 Bridge St. NW
Grand Rapids
While Michigan has been stunned by our new governor’s war on the working class, and while the Midwest has been battling to prevent union-busting in several states, conservatives continue their witch hunt of undocumented workers. This past month has been a high-pitched one, both in the country at large and in Michigan.
A week ago, Tennessee Representative Curry Todd compared undocumented workers to rats. During a panel discussion with prenatal care professionals, Todd asked them if they demanded that patients provide proof of citizenship before being treated. One panelist told the Congressman that that question was illegal because the child, when born, would be a U.S. citizen. And it was the child who was receiving the services. “They can go out there like rats and multiply, then,” Todd said in disgust.
Later, Todd said that he had been “harsh” in his wording, and said he should have used the term “anchor babies” instead—apparently feeling “anchor babies” would less offensive than something on the order of “baby rats.”
Meanwhile, not to be outdone, Todd’s colleague Geoff Davis, Congressman from Kentucky, posted a new section on his website about the repeal of the 14th Amendment. It includes this statement: “I am extremely concerned about illegal immigration and its impact on national security and the economy. Vulnerable borders and porous ports of entry leave our country susceptible to terrorist attacks and illegal trafficking.”
This seems to indicate that the Congressman feels that every person who crosses the border is either engaged in terrorism or illegal trafficking—of what, he fails to indicate. And his back-up documentation? Nada.
Here in Michigan, Representative Dave Agema is also enthusiastic about appealing the 14th Amendment, and feels that Michigan’s version of Arizona law SB 1070 is the road to get there: “When you get a whole bunch of states on board with this [anti-immigration legislation], we’ll try to get the Congress to change the 14th Amendment back to what it should be, “said Agema in 2010.
Agema followed through this year by sponsoring HB-4305, which is virtually identical to the Arizona law. Why do we need it? Agema calls his bill “common sense.” Agema’s statement that the law is necessary is discredited by the facts. Michigan has one of the lowest estimated populations of undocumented workers in the nation—about 70,000, compared to approximately 1.5 million in Texas, 2.9 million in California, and a half-million in Illinois.
His fellow Representative Kim Meltzer explained “It [HB-4305] just makes sense for Michigan, with all of its national boundaries, to enact similar security for our citizens.” Oddly there are no news stories of Canadians crossing the Great Lakes in the dark of night because they are so determined to live in the United States—in fact, America is something of a national joke to the Canadians.
But the pressure on undocumented workers continues: the beginning of March was marked by a series of ICE raids in which 20 people were arrested and either held for trial or deported. Kalamazoo DPS Chief Jeff Hadley praised the ICE officers because “they are ridding our community of bad people.”
Why this sudden uptick of activity, denouncements, and hate speech? It could have to do with an announcement this month that the 2010 census indicated Latino/as have probably already become the “majority minority.” Results also showed that minorities as a group would become the majority population by about 2050.
An article in the Grand Rapids Press on March 13 about the census news triggered a rash of hate-speech commentary, although many of the comments have since been pulled down by the online editorial staff. Here’s a sampling:
I am thankful for the vast majority of Americans who want our immigration laws enforced and borders protected. What I’m not thankful for is that many Americans are out of work, yet illegals all over this state are stealing jobs, either with false soc sec. numbers or under the table and not paying taxes. Not to mention; driving on roads with no license, no insurance, kids burdening the schools, commiting violent crime, stealing benifits, falsifying documents, lying to employers, free health care, stealing federal grants for schools over citizens, and taking jobs and school spots from Americans.
The rise of the Hispanics have caused riots, like the ones that happened in Libery City portion of Miami years ago. When is the Obama administration going to step up to the problem? Answer: never as they see Hispanics as potential Democrat voters.
I actually wouldn’t mind this, in hindsight. The women are better looking too, and the ones who are uncorrupted by our unions and other “natives” still work hard…
No matter how nice the Mexicans are or how hard they are willing to work the facts are now clear. They have left a Crap hole of a country and are turning this one into the same. Unfortunately, they resemble a plague of Locusts stripping the land and they have turned into a massive mob of parasites. They are gobbling up tax payer money faster that the taxpayers can respond. Even when the jobs go away they still hang in there for the free items and services.
Where DO they all go? In the mornings (including Saturday) there is a large crowd of adults and children descending on the schools. Why you ask? For the free food of course. My advice? Never give money to the schools. It is only used here to house Mexican Nationals and free day care.
….MSNBC and other mainstreams love when illegals threaten and attack people, protest for illegals, exploit brainwashed kids at rallys, attack the consitution, hold fascist and Nazi signs, and destroy public buildings…
English is still the language of success. I live in Ca now and all the spanish speakers are stuck with leaf blowers on their backs.
Even though we have a lot to worry about in Michigan these days, it’s clear this at-the-boil hatred is a situation that bears continued monitoring.
Michigan Governor Rick Snyder will be in Grand Rapids tomorrow (Monday) morning to present his budget proposal to officials from the City.
According to a Lansing-based news source, “Snyder will deliver a special message on community development and local government reforms.” The WILX story also stated, “The governor will transmit the message electronically to legislators before beginning his 9:30 a.m. address in Grand Rapids. Snyder wants state and local governments to offer better government accountability and transparency, spend less on employee compensation and share or consolidate more services.”
Snyder has been under attack from numerous civil society sectors in recent weeks because of his budget proposal and other government restructuring ideas that many feel are designed to weaken unions, defund public services, privatize public services and to take away more local government autonomy.
Snyder’s last draconian suggestion is to have local municipalities compete for state funds based on “best practices,” which means that tax revenue that would normally come back to all local governments will now be doled out based on how well these local communities have survived after several years of suffering from a spiraling economy.
In response to the Snyder visit there are two Facebook announcements for protests in Grand Rapids for Monday morning. One is called Protest Rick Snyder and is scheduled from 9 – noon at the Calder Plaza in downtown Grand Rapids. People are invited to come to this protest and make some noise.
The other Facebook announcement is called Protest Snyder at Grand Rapids City Hall. This protest is scheduled for 9 – 11am and says that Snyder will be presenting his proposal at 9:30 in room 660 in City Hall.
Seems like a great opportunity for people to voice their opposition to the Governor’s policies and to meet people who might be open to other organizing possibilities around these anti-democratic proposals.
Interview with “Art in Public” author Lambert Zuidervaart
On Thursday and Friday, Grand Rapids had the opportunity to be part of the kick-off to a new book tour by author and educator Lambert Zuidevaart.
Zuidervaat, a former Calvin College professor who now teaches in Toronto, came to Grand Rapids to unveil his new book Art in Public: Politics, Economics and a Democratic Culture. The importance of his book tour beginning in Grand Rapids was also because of his relationship to the Urban Institute for Contemporary Arts (UICA), where Lambert served as board president during the time the organization was moving into the Sheldon street location.
On Thursday, Zuidervaart gave a lecture at the Grand Rapids Art Museum that basically summarized the main points of his book. He talked about the function of art in the public, particularly its role in promoting a democratic culture.
On Friday, the UICA hosted a symposium in collaboration with Civic Studio and the Art Department of GVSU that included Zuidervaart and several people involved in the arts and culture in West Michigan. The Friday symposium continued the themes that Lambert laid out on Thursday, but involved a larger conversation about these issues, particularly as it relates to Grand Rapids.
Issues of funding for art, civil society, the role of government in art, and democratic culture were discussed along with the commercial pressures that art and artists face in contemporary capitalism. This commercial pressure is what Zuidervaart referred to as hyper-commercialism where art and culture are subordinate to the profit motive.
About 35 people attending the Friday event generated some lively conversation around these themes, but despite the 3-hour forum there was not enough time to deal with all of the complexities and perspectives raised by both the invited speakers and those in attendance.
GRIID was fortunate to have an opportunity to sit down with Lambert Zuidervaart on Friday morning to discuss some of the themes in his book, with some of the discussion centered around Grand Rapids art issues, including ArtPrize.
The local group Healing Children of Conflict is hosting an open meeting for people who are interested in hearing the perspective of a Jewish writer/activist who will talk about the Israeli/Palestinian conflict.
Mark Braverman, noted author of Fatal Embrace: Christians, Jews, and the Search for Peace in the Holy Land and co-founder of Friends of Tent of Nations North America, will be speaking this Monday at the Christian Reformed Church headquarters in Grand Rapids.
Mark Braverman is a Jewish American with deep family roots in Israel/Palestine — his grandfather, a fifth generation Palestinian Jew, was born in Jerusalem and emigrated to the U.S. as a young man. Growing up in the United States, Braverman was reared in the Jewish tradition, studying Bible, Hebrew literature, and Jewish history. Trained in clinical psychology and crisis management, Mark worked with groups and individuals undergoing traumatic stress.
He now devotes himself full time to the work for a just peace in the Holy Land. Traveling to the Holy Land in 2006, he was transformed by witnessing the occupation of Palestine and by encounters with peace activists and civil society leaders from the Muslim, Christian and Jewish communities.
He has written and spoken on the role of religious beliefs in the current discourse in the United States and has worked with Christian denominations and ecumenical bodies on education and activism for a just resolution of the Israel-Palestine conflict. Mark serves on the advisory board of Friends of Sabeel North American and on the Board of the Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions-USA. He is also a charter member of American Jews for a Just Peace and has recently been appointed Consultant for Evangelicals for Middle East Understanding. Find out more at www.markbraverman.org.
Monday, March 21
2:00 PM
CRC Headquarters building
2850 Kalamazoo SE, Grand Rapids
Michigan Activists Play Yes Men-like prank on Enbridge
(This article is re-printed from the Yes Men.)
Earlier this week, the world learned of oil transport giant Enbridge’s strategy for handling inevitable oil spills along its proposed pipeline through pristine British Columbian wilderness: mop it up with human hair.
The cockamamie “MyHairCares” hoax, dreamed up by former oil workers and involving outreach to over 1000 hair salons, was promoted in a slick Video News Release and involved a flurry of conflicting press releases. The original story ran in a number of major news outlets (archive will be posted shortly here), but was pulled with no retraction or explanation after a terse denial by Enbridge that seemed to miss the point entirely. (For a longer, better denial click here.)
“This was a funny way to dramatize the fact that neither Enbridge nor any other oil company can prevent spills, and that they basically have no cleanup plan,” said Shannon McPhail, a former Canadian oil worker and Canadian spokesperson for People Enbridge Ruined in Michigan (PERM), the group responsible for MyHairCares. “What’s happening in Michigan proves that.”
Between 1999 and 2008 Enbridge recorded an average of more than one oil spill every week. Just last summer, an Enbridge pipeline spilled more than 800,000 gallons of oil into Michigan’s Kalamazoo River. Enbridge is expected to face federal criminal charges for neglecting to maintain that pipeline; they are also accused of merely covering up, not actually cleaning up the oil. Further, a joint investigation by the Center for Public Integrity and CBS News found that Enbridge was coercing Kalamazoo spill victims into signing liability waiver forms. “Enbridge is manipulating and exploiting people who trust the company to do the right thing,” said former US Congressman Jim Oberstar, D-Minn., Chairman of the House Transportation Committee.
“We don’t want Canadian rivers or coastlines to end up like the oily mess that Enbridge has left in a number of places around here,” said US PERM spokesperson Rick Smith.
“In the U.S. Enbridge failed to maintain their pipeline, failed to clean up their mess, and are exploiting the victims,” said McPhail. “It would be madness to let them build a pipeline in Canada, especially through one of our planet’s last great wildernesses.”
Enbridge’s proposed Northern Gateway Pipeline would cut across the Rocky Mountains, the pristine Great Bear rain forest, and over 1,000 streams and rivers. The pipeline would carry 700,000 barrels a day of petroleum products across 1,170 kilometres between Alberta’s Tar Sands and the Pacific Coast, where supertankers would carry the crude though the treacherous Douglas Channel—an area in which currents render conventional oil containment booms useless.
“A major spill on the coast or in a river would be devastating and irreversible,” said McPhail. “Canada must not trade in our wilderness just to make some foreign oil companies rich.”
One salon owner contacted after the ruse lauded the activists’ approach to getting the media to pay attention to one of the most pressing environmental issues in North America. “I wasn’t tricked, I was educated,” said Brian Phillips, owner of World Salon in Toronto. “I had no idea what the people in Michigan were going through with Enbridge. We shouldn’t invite that treatment here in Canada.”
People Enbridge Ruined In Michigan (PERM) cooked up the “My Hair Cares” action with guidance from The Yes Men, as part of the Yes Lab for Creative Activism. Tomorrow, Canadian members of PERM will introduce themselves to the public during a noon press conference in front of Enbridge’s Vancouver offices. Free haircuts will available for all, and all clippings collected then (as well as any clippings mailed in by salons) will be donated to Michigan PERM members still struggling to clean up Enbridge’s mess in their community.
“Enbridge spends millions trying to convince people there’s no problem,” noted McPhail. “We had to be a bit clever to compete with that.”
Richest Members of Congress: Multi-millionaire Club
(This article is re-posted from Open Secrets.)
Mother Jones recently featured the Center for Responsive Politics in its March/April issue, using data on congressional members’ personal wealth. The magazine’s piece titled, “It’s the Inequality, Stupid,” highlighted the growing income and wealth inequality in America and used the Center for Responsive Politics to point out that members of Congress have a one in two chance of being millionaires compared to one in 22 for the average American family.
The piece also highlighted the fact that the 10 richest members of Congress all voted to extend the Bush tax cuts.
Mother Jones‘ cover story,”Plutocracy Now: What Wisconsin Is Really About,” prompted OpenSecrets Blog reporter Michael Beckel to examine union and corporate political action committees and their spending patterns over the past decade in Wednesday’s article, “Unions, Businesses Vie to Fill Democratic Pocketbook.”
Yesterday several thousand people converged on the Lansing State Capitol as part of the ongoing protests that are aimed at the draconian budget proposals and anti-workers legislation that Governor Snyder has put forth.
The protest occurred in stages with the first wave beginning at noon, followed by another at 2pm and a third one at 4:30pm. This writer was only there during the second wave.
The crowd was again dominated by organized labor groups representing many of the trade unions, nurses union, teachers union as well as government employees. However, there were also people there as students, senior citizens, environmentalists and activists of all stripes.
People carried signs that reflected their anger, some of which was targeted specifically at Governor Snyder and some of it because of the threats to local municipal autonomy, which was threatened with the new legislation that will allow the state to appoint “emergency managers” to communities that are facing a serious financial crisis.
Here is video that includes comments from a Detroit-based minister who addressed the crowd, followed by comments from a Grand Rapids member of the UAW.
After the speakers hundreds of people went into the Capitol building to confront legislators and to disrupt business as usually. Here is some footage of the Capitol occupation where people used chants about democracy, defending workers and slamming corporate bailouts. There were a few arrests reported, but most of those who came to the demonstration left willingly.
Interview with Robert Jensen
We talked with Robert Jensen who was in Grand Rapids to speak at the GVSU campus after a screening of the film The Price of Pleasure: Pornography, Sexuality and Relationships.
Our conversation centered around his analysis of pornography, particularly the harm in the production and consumption of pornography. Jensen also talked about the prevalence of racism and racist depictions in the production of pornography as well as a look at pornography through an anti-capitalist lens.
The interview included some discussion about the uprisings in the Middle East and the Midwest, then ended with his thoughts on working for social justice in the present moment.
3rd Annual Free Empowered Womyn’s Health Workshop
Empowered Womyn’s Health
1 to 5 p.m. Sat. March 19.
The Bloom Collective
671 Davis NW (Steepletown Center)
Corner of 5th & Davis, Grand Rapids
The Bloom Collective invites women of all ages for a free workshop, Empowered Womyn’s Health, 1 to 5 p.m. Sat. March 19. The workshop is a skill-share with all women attending encouraged to share their health wisdom with each other.
The workshop is intentionally free because access to health information, or healthcare for that matter, should not be based on one’s ability to pay. Volunteers from the community are facilitating the following sessions.
- 1 – 2 p.m. Foods for the Feminine: how healthy real foods relate to women in various life stages of life. The workshop starts with a potluck lunch and healthy foods cooking demo with GRCC Dining Services Chef Nancy Rutledge. Enjoy samples of Nancy’s healthy creations and bring a dish to pass! The Bloom will provide vegan options.
- 2 – 2:45 p.m. The Childbearing Year: natural pregnancy, homebirth, breastfeeding. Midwife Shannon Pawson facilitates this session. Whether or not you plan on motherhood, our world needs all women as sisters in the cause of organic birth.
- 2:45 – 3:30 Bitches Brew: hands-on herbal decoction in the kitchen with women’s needs in mind. Take some home to try. Bloom intern, Bethany Scheffer, facilitates. Steepletown volunteer coordinator, Claire AK, will share advice on vitamins and supplements.
- 3:30 – 4:30 Shared Wisdom: How to pee standing up, sew your own pads, talk back to cat-callers… bring your best sister tips. Farmer Kelsie Hakeem will facilitate.
- 4:30 – 5 p.m. Yoga Nidra Session for Deep Rest. End the workshop by experiencing a session of yoga nidra, a meditative technique that provides opportunity for deep rest, renewed energy and setting intentions.
Materials will be available for those who want to sew their own woman-healthy menstrual pads. Participants are encouraged to bring jars with lids to bring home their herbal tea and a blanket and pillow for the meditation session, if desired.
Grand Rapids Institute for Information Democracy 