Help Protect 700 Women

I am writing today to ask you to take one simple action to protect women from violence. Please, join me in signing the 700women.org petition.

Every day 700 women are assaulted by their intimate partners--and four are murdered.

In September, Congress will consider the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), which is the most important legislation ever enacted to protect women from domestic violence and sexual assault.

If it is not reauthorized, victims of domestic violence, sexual violence and the organizations that support them are at risk of losing aid and protection.
Please, join me in supporting the reauthorization of VAWA. It's simple and important - and will only take you a minute. Click here: 700women.org
Follow This Link to visit the website.
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Talking about Pittsfield woman shot in the head - News - MSNBC.com

this happened about 3 blocks away from my home...one block away from the elementary school that my son attended...

A Soldier's Thoughts

A Soldier's Thoughts

The End Of The World As We Know It

It’s The End of The World as We Know It

Rem — Lyrics

That’s great, it starts with an earthquake, birds and snakes, an aeroplane

Lenny bruce is not afraid. eye of a hurricane, listen to yourself churn

World serves it’s own needs, don’t misserve your own needs. feed it up a knock,

Speed, grunt no, strength no. ladder structure clatter with fear of height,

Down height. wire in a fire, represent the seven games in a government for

Hire and a combat site. left her, wasn’t coming in a hurry with the furies

Breathing down your neck. team by team reporters baffled, trump, tethered

Crop. look at that low plane! fine then. uh oh, overflow, population,

Common group, but it’ll do. save yourself, serve yourself. world serves its

Own needs, listen to your heart bleed. tell me with the rapture and the

Reverent in the right - right. you vitriolic, patriotic, slam, fight, bright

Light, feeling pretty psyched.

It’s the end of the world as we know it.

It’s the end of the world as we know it.

It’s the end of the world as we know it and I feel fine.

Six o’clock - tv hour. don’t get caught in foreign tower. slash and burn,

Return, listen to yourself churn. lock him in uniform and book burning,

Blood letting. every motive escalate. automotive incinerate. light a candle,

Light a motive. step down, step down. watch a heel crush, crush. uh oh,

This means no fear - cavalier. renegade and steer clear! a tournament,

A tournament, a tournament of lies. offer me solutions, offer me alternatives

And I decline.

It’s the end of the world as we know it.

It’s the end of the world as we know it.

It’s the end of the world as we know it and I feel fine.

The other night I tripped a nice continental drift divide. mount st. edelite.

Leonard bernstein. leonid breshnev, lenny bruce and lester bangs.

Birthday party, cheesecake, jelly bean, boom! you symbiotic, patriotic,

Slam, but neck, right? right.

It’s the end of the world as we know it.

It’s the end of the world as we know it.

It’s the end of the world as we know it and I feel fine...fine...

(it’s time I had some time alone)

wisdom

"The day the child realizes that all adults are imperfect he becomes an adolescent; the day he forgives them, he becomes an adult; the day he forgives himself, he becomes wise."

Aiden Nowlan

'The Power of Nonviolence' from The Nation

The Power of Nonviolence
by David Cortright

As protests against corporate globalization resume following the trauma of September 11, it may be helpful to reflect again on the role of nonviolence in the global justice movement. The violence that led to one death and hundreds of injuries in Genoa last July prompted a great deal of soul-searching within the movement. Even before Genoa, many global justice activists were beginning to question the vandalism and streetfighting tactics that have emerged at globalization protests. The battles that erupted in Seattle, Prague, Quebec and other cities have frightened away potential supporters and tarnished the movement's image, eroding the good will that is crucial to political success. The answer to this dilemma, an increasing number of activists recognize, is a return to Gandhian principles, and an unequivocal commitment to nonviolent discipline as the key to effective social action.

Some activists believe that nonviolent methods are too weak, that more militant forms of disruption are needed to bring about social change. They are right to emphasize the importance of disruption. During the civil rights movement and other historical campaigns for justice, disruptive tactics were crucial to political effectiveness. Sociologist William Gamson called this phenomenon the "success of the unruly." But disruption does not necessarily mean violence. In Seattle, Quebec and other cities, street lockdowns effectively blockaded key intersections. Groups of civil resisters occupied major crossroads, immobilizing themselves and refusing to leave. They courageously held their ground in the face of police attack and managed to remain in the streets long enough to disrupt official proceedings. These effective disruptive actions had nothing to do with the trashing of stores and the throwing of bricks and firebombs.

The belief that nonviolence is meek or ineffective reflects a misunderstanding of the rich tradition of nonviolent resistance. In recent decades the Gandhian method has achieved worldwide success. In the United States nonviolent action helped to achieve historic gains for African-Americans, farmworkers and women. Nonviolent methods brought down the Marcos regime in the Philippines, undermined Communist dictatorships in Eastern Europe and helped to end apartheid in South Africa. In Serbia trained nonviolent resisters helped to overthrow the Milosevic regime. The power of nonviolence is real, and has proven to be far more effective as a method of social change than the resort to violence and destruction.

The effectiveness of social protest depends on attracting the support of third parties. As one participant in the Quebec demonstrations put it, "The movement is about winning the hearts and minds of the tens of millions of working families who must be persuaded to support necessary political change." When nonviolent activists display a willingness to sacrifice and remain dignified and disciplined in the face of repression, they are often able to win sympathy and political support from bystanders. This is what nonviolence activist Barbara Deming called the "genius" of nonviolence, what farm labor leader Cesar Chavez termed its "chemistry"--the ability of dignified suffering to attract sympathy and political support. Violence, by contrast, turns off potential supporters and pushes third parties toward the sidelines or the other side. Streetfighting tactics jeopardize the moral integrity and political legitimacy that are necessary for political success.

The contrast between the anarchical images of vandalism in Seattle and Genoa and the dignified demeanor of civil rights demonstrators forty years before is striking. Students in Nashville in 1960 sat at lunch counters wearing dresses and suits, strictly nonviolent despite the blows and curses of racist thugs. Careful training and nonviolent discipline enabled them to withstand attack without retaliation. The civil rights protesters captured and maintained the moral high ground, and preserved their ascendancy over the segregationists who attacked them. By contrast, the actions of some demonstrators in Seattle and Genoa blurred the distinction between the movement and its repressive adversaries. Destructive acts created negative media images and provided an excuse for even harsher repression.

Activists have complained about the biased media coverage they received in Genoa and other cities, but such bias should come as no surprise. As Noam Chomsky reminds us, the major news organizations reflect the interests of the powerful corporations that own them. They rarely portray social movements fairly or accurately. The media are inevitably attracted to controversy and mayhem. If a hundred people are sitting in peacefully at a street corner while five are smashing windows nearby, the cameras will cover the latter. Vandalism and streetfighting divert attention from the movement's underlying message of concern for the poor and the environment. The image conveyed is of lawless rampaging rather than a commitment to global justice. This diminishes rather than increases support for the movement's goals.

Globalization activists face hard choices now as they contemplate the future of the movement. Many have called for a greater commitment to nonviolence. The Mobilization for Global Justice, one of the leading US groups in the antiglobalization movement, issued a "visions for action" declaration last August stating: "We envision a nonviolent world; we will use means consistent with this vision." But the mobilization statement also said: "These are not philosophical or political requirements or judgments; there are many ways to resist corporate globalization." This phrasing reflects a rather tepid commitment to nonviolence and suggests a tolerance for destructive tactics that seems contrary to the declared goal of upholding nonviolence. Within the global justice movement as a whole, there has been a reluctance to mount more concerted efforts to disown vandalism and streetfighting. It's impossible to control the actions of everyone who participates in a demonstration, of course,!
but more vigorous efforts to insure nonviolence and prevent destructive behavior are possible and necessary. A 95 percent commitment to nonviolence is not enough. The discipline must be total if the political benefits of the nonviolent method are to be realized.

The first essential step, according to nonviolence trainer George Lakey, is to "fully commit to strategic nonviolent action explicitly." Movement leaders must insist upon a strict code of conduct among those who participate in global justice protests. Last summer an ad hoc group of US-based activists proposed a Nonviolent Declaration that would specifically renounce all forms of violence. The proposed declaration pledges that "we will not harm people or property" and will "treat everyone with goodwill and respect." Supporting such a nonviolent declaration does not mean abandoning civil disobedience or urban lockdown tactics. On the contrary, these and other forms of disruptive nonviolence can and should be encouraged. But attacks against the police are unacceptable under any circumstances and must be actively opposed.

The question of property damage is more ambiguous. Some forms of damage, such as hammering the nose cones of nuclear missiles, may be morally appropriate if conducted in a Gandhian spirit of respect for the adversary. Deming wrote of the need at times to "shock" people but at the same time to provide reassurance against harm and to act in ways that encourage more and more people to join us. This is a far cry from the hit-and-run tactics and random trashing of cars and stores that have marred globalization protests. The indiscriminate vandalism that occurred in Genoa and other cities should have no place in a movement that espouses global justice.

The choice of nonviolence should not be left to chance. It must be integrated into every element of the global justice movement. It should be publicly proclaimed as the movement's guiding principle and method. The legitimate search for assertive and disruptive methods can and should proceed, but this must not be confused with vandalism and violence. The most radical and effective forms of social action are those that heighten the contrast between the just demands of the global justice movement and the brutal actions of the police. Only by preserving nonviolent discipline can the movement occupy and hold the moral high ground and win political support for necessary social change.

[Digital Deliverance] Recommendation: Few Know About RSS, Podcasting, Etc.

Few Know About RSS, Podcasting, Etc.

The consequences of nuking Iran

'Iraq: The Human Toll' from The Nation

Iraq: The Human Toll
by David Cortright

Living conditions for the people of Iraq, already poor before the war, have deteriorated significantly since the US invasion. This is confirmed in a new report by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Iraqi Ministry of Planning and Development Cooperation. Based on a survey of 21,000 households conducted in 2004, the study shows that the Iraqi people are suffering widespread death and war-related injury, high rates of infant and child mortality, chronic malnutrition and illness among children, low rates of life expectancy and significant setbacks with regard to the role of women in society.

Malnutrition among small children in Iraq is widespread. Nearly one-quarter of Iraqi children now suffer chronic malnutrition, and 8 percent suffer acute malnutrition. Illness levels among Iraqi children are also high, which is partly the result of unsafe drinking water and poor sanitation. According to the report, "compared to other countries in the region and to the earlier data from Iraq...the supply of safe and stable water...has deteriorated." There has also been "a steep deterioration in the sanitary situation." Forty percent of urban households report sewage in the streets of their neighborhoods.

The UNDP study found that infant and child mortality rates remain high, although there is much uncertainty about the exact numbers. The evidence "indicates a progressive worsening of the situation for children." High infant mortality rates in Iraq contrast with declining infant mortality rates in neighboring countries. In most of the world, including the surrounding countries, mortality rates for children have steadily fallen over the decades. In Iraq, however, child mortality rates have climbed. This translates into thousands of "excess" infant deaths every year. These are the quiet, unseen victims of the continuing tragedy in Iraq.

The new report sheds light on the total number of Iraqi deaths directly attributable to the war. As of mid-2004, according to the survey, the war had caused approximately 24,000 Iraqi deaths. The death toll in Iraq has continued to climb, so these numbers are larger now than when the survey was conducted. At the time of the UNDP survey, the Iraqi Body Count website estimated total deaths at 14,000-16,000. In May of this year the Body Count website estimate stood at 21,000-24,000. This would suggest that the comparable figure for war-related deaths using the UNDP methodology is more than 30,000. Many of the victims in the current war are women and children. The number of children injured since the US invasion is higher than the number of military-age men. The report said that in the ongoing war, it is members of "the civilian population that are most affected."

There is striking evidence of the insecurity of daily life in Iraq. Gunshots and weapons fire are a common occurrence. When asked about the frequency of weapon shots in their neighborhood, 37 percent of respondents said "every day," and 23 percent said "several times a week. Public insecurity has especially serious consequences for women. The survey found that nearly half of Iraqi women "think that the security in their area has worsened compared to one year ago." This has prompted an increasing number of women to stay at home, thus reinforcing a trend over the last decade of declining levels of education and literacy among women. According to the report, "the security situation is a major obstacle to individual freedom in women's everyday life."

Years of war and sanctions have devastated Iraqi society and caused widespread malnutrition, illness and premature death. The resulting public health crisis has lowered life expectancy for the entire population. According to the UNDP report, "the probability of dying before the age of 40 for Iraqi children born between 2000 and 2005 is estimated at 18 percent...approximately three times the level in neighboring Jordan and Syria."

The humanitarian crisis in Iraq is further evidence of the abysmal failure of US policy. The destruction and turmoil sparked by the invasion have led not only to widespread violence and incipient civil war but to widespread civilian suffering, especially among the most vulnerable. A war justified partly on humanitarian grounds has increased humanitarian hardships. During the 1990s a worldwide humanitarian outcry rose in response to stories of Iraqi babies dying because of sanctions. It is time for a new public outcry, to demand a change in US policy and urgently needed humanitarian relief for the Iraqi people.

The Nation

Subscribe to The Nation:

Anarchy

"Anarchy - it's not the law, it's just a good idea."
Unknown

ABCNEWS.com: Young Hero Saves Self, Mother

Young Hero Saves Self, Mother

Carl's Letter Dear Mr. Rove, Treason Is In The Air

CARL'S LETTER DEAR MR. ROVE, TREASON IS IN THE AIR

Bongo News - Satire. Parody. Jokes.

no to war

notowar,
originally uploaded by soul1383.

Stop Violence Against Women~Amnesty International

Amnesty International

What Is Your World View?

You scored as Idealist. Idealism centers around the belief that we are moving towards something greater. An odd mix of evolutionist and spiritualist, you see the divine within ourselves, waiting to emerge over time. Many religious traditions express how the divine spirit lost its identity, thus creating our world of turmoil, but in time it will find itself and all things will again become one.

What is Your World View? (updated)
created with QuizFarm.com

Sing, Stoolies, Sing!

Sing, Stoolies, Sing!

by
Mark Fiore

Care2.com

About Care2.com:

With 5,019,022 members, Care2.com is the Web's largest environmental community and offers outstanding Web services that customers use daily - then adds a unique 'green twist'. By donating 10% of its revenues to environmental causes, Care2.com helps its users make a strong financial commitment to the environment. Simply by using Care2.com's free e-card, e-mail, news, search, shopping area and other services, Care2.com users generate donations (derived from advertising revenues) to non-profit environmental organizations.

Care2 make the world greener!

The Carter Center

Jimmy Carter's site... one of the best Presidents the US has ever had

Yahoo! News Story - Rove E-Mailed Security Official About Talk - Yahoo! News

Rove E-Mailed Security Official About Talk - Yahoo! News

Yahoo! News

assdestruction

assdestruction,
originally uploaded by soul1383.

Victims of Terrorism - London bomb attack 2005

Victims of Terrorism - London bomb attack 2005

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Make a donation to the London Bombings Relief Charitable Fund

Support for relatives of London blast victims

Compassion

"Adopting an attitude of universal responsibility is essentially a personal matter. The real test of compassion is not what we say in abstract discussions but how we conduct ourselves in daily life."
His Holiness the Dalai Lama, "Imagine All the People"

Copyright Wisdom Publications 2001. Reprinted from "Daily Wisdom: 365 Buddhist Inspirations," edited by Josh Bartok, with permission of Wisdom Publications, 199 Elm St., Somerville MA 02144 U.S.A, www.wisdompubs.org.

SOUL

SOUL,
originally uploaded by kendrak.

tattoo copy

tattoo copy,
originally uploaded by VampireHeart.

very cool tat!

ABCNEWS.com: 'Midlife Crisis' Becomes Opportunity for Some Women

'Midlife Crisis' Becomes Opportunity for Some Women

ABCNEWS.com: Good Question: What Are Blogs?

Good Question: What Are Blogs?

Yahoo! News Story - NYC river tunnels lose cell service - Yahoo! News

NYC river tunnels lose cell service - Yahoo! News

Yahoo! News

Yahoo! News Story - 100 Blogs in 100 Minutes: Are You Multi-blogging? - Yahoo! News

100 Blogs in 100 Minutes: Are You Multi-blogging? - Yahoo! News

Yahoo! News

AUSTRALIA 12th APOSTLE tumbles

apocolyptic? i'm not sure, but it is pretty eerie...

"NPR : High Costs Undermine Women's Health"

*Listen to this story*

*Order a text transcript of this story*

Missing Boys Remains Found

what is wrong with this world?

Google Earth and London Bombings

very interesting...but chillingly cold view of the death, maiming, and terrorizing of thousands of innocent Brits.

London bombings: ABC News Map. 08/07/2005. ABC News Online
http://www.abc.net.au/news/indepth/featureitems/s1410301.htm
ABC News Online has created an interactive map of the scene of the London bombings for the Google Earth software To see the map you will need to have Google Earth running on your computer If you

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senseless

senseless,
originally uploaded by djune.

Being Peace

narrated by Thich Nhat Hanh

a guided meditaion

Suicide bombers kill 30 in Iraq

Americans cope with 'inevitability' of attack

A Letter To The Terrorists, From London

A Letter To The Terrorists, From London

Yahoo! News Story - 450 Sheep Jump to Their Deaths in Turkey - Yahoo! News

wow...what the hell have we done to this planet? Sheep too!

Doc Dan's Internet News Review

Doc Dan's Internet News Review

Idaho Girl Found Alive

Thank God this little baby is alive... poor little thing...how will she ever feel safe or sane again? What kind of evil can perpetrate this upon a child...children? He killed her whole family...wtf????...this is beyond my scope of comprehension...but, what is really messed up is that he was even allowed to be free after his past criminal record. This fucked up freak has been doing this since 1980...since he was 16...25 years...WTF?!?!?!...he should never have been allowed out of jail...maybe, he shouldn't even be alive?
Protect our children, doesn't anyone remember that our children are precious gifts...our future...
Peace...
Pam

"The world is a dangerous place, not because of those who do evil, but because of those who look on and do nothing."

~Albert Einstien~