Because People Matter Progressive News and Views January / February 2009 Follow the Bullets, Find the Guns How Sacramento City’s ammunition ordinance helps

By Amanda Wilcox to treatment are morally right and necessary for true violence prevention. The enforcement of laws that keep It is said that a child in the US is far more likely to firearms out of inappropriate hands is also essential. catch a bullet than to catch the measles. Every year in Laura’s killer had a houseful of illegal weapons. The our country, about 30,000 people die from gun violence Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence believes that and over 70,000 people are injured dangerous weapons should be kept by gunfire. Drive-by shootings and Last year, Sacramento out of dangerous hands. There are firearm homicides are becoming City Councilmember classes of people, who, based on common occurrences in the Sacra- past behaviors, are deemed to be at mento area. Have you had enough? Kevin McCarty high risk of committing violent acts Join the Campaign to keep illegal introduced a city with firearms. We have laws that guns off our streets and help curb prohibit these persons—such as the Laura Ligon Wilcox 1981-2001 gun violence in Sacramento. Ask ordinance that tracks dangerously mentally ill, gang mem- Age 19 at the time of her death. Sheriff McGinness and the Sacra- ammunition sales. bers, violent felons, or wife batter- photo courtesy Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence mento County Board of Supervisors ers—from purchasing or possessing to adopt an ammunition ordinance firearms or ammunition. We have regularly uses the ammunition log information in the that will save lives. laws, such as the Brady Background Check, that regulate investigation of gun crime. My family has been personally touched by gun vio- the transfer of weapons and provide the means for keep- After eight months of data (Jan 2008—Sept 2008), the lence. In 2001, my only daughter, Laura, was murdered ing guns out of dangerous hands. The City of Sacramento results are astounding. The Sacramento Police Depart- while home on winter break from college. Laura was and the State of California are leaders in adopting such ment reports that 117 prohibited people purchased filling in as a receptionist at a Behavioral Health clinic in laws, which need to be expanded to other jurisdictions ammunition. Of these prohibited people, 80% had felony Nevada County, when without warning, a patient suffer- or states. convictions and 6 were gang members. 67% of the illegal ing from severe paranoid schizophrenia opened fire with Last year, Sacramento City Council Member Kevin ammunition purchased was primarily ammunition used a semiautomatic handgun and shot Laura four times at McCarty introduced a city ordinance that tracks ammu- in handguns. It is important to note that handguns are point blank range. Laura was killed instantly. When the nition sales in order to deter and detect ammunition the weapons of choice for criminals. shooting rampage at the clinic and at a nearby restaurant purchases by criminals, gang members, and other unlaw- As a result of the information from the ammunition ended, three people lay dead, three were severely injured, ful purchasers. The ordinance requires gun dealers to logs, the Sacramento Police Department was able to a community was shaken, and the world was diminished maintain a log of ammunitions sales, including identify- execute 28 search warrants and recover 56 illegal fire- by the loss of an incredible young woman. ing information about the purchaser. The Sacramento arms, 800+ rounds of illegal ammunition, and 3 stolen The circumstances surrounding Laura’s death dramati- Police Department cross-checks these logs with the firearms. Arrests, felony charges and convictions have cally highlight the tragic intersection of untreated severe existing state database of prohibited persons and can taken place. The Sacramento Police Department reports mental illness and inappropriate access to firearms. determine who is illegally buying ammo and may be that “the ordinance and the enforcement program which Certainly, improved mental health care and better access illegally armed. Furthermore, the Police Department see Ammunition, page 6

The Elephant in the Room Even before the invasions of War and the economy Afghanistan and Iraq, the US was an elephant in the room spending as much on its military No country in the history By Bill Durston which few people seem to as the next ten militarized of the world, from Ancient notice or talk about. War is Greece to the former Soviet he National Bureau of Economic Research the gigantic pachyderm that countries of the world combined. Union, has been able to declared in December, 2008 that the US economy most pundits overlook in consistently devote massive is officially in the throes of a recession, with the the middle of our country’s economic mess. And almost human and financial resources toward war and prepara- Tnation’s gross domestic product having declined for the no one in a position of power is suggesting, as a solution tion for war without collapsing from within. It would past two quarters. The recession has economic experts to the current economic crisis, that we stop wasting vast be foolhardy to believe that the United States can be any and political leaders, including President Obama and his human and financial resources on war and preparation exception to this rule. As the 1987 United Nations con- newly assembled economic team, scratching their heads for war, and that we instead redirect these resources ference on Disarmament and Development concluded: and trying to figure out how we got into this mess—and toward more constructive uses. see Economy, page 14 how we can get out of it. We’ve spent over $800 billion already on the military A number of factors have been cited as contributing invasions and occupations of Afghanistan and Iraq. to the economic downturn, including the sub-prime Nobel Prize winning economist Joseph Stiglitz estimates mortgage debacle, the burst of the housing bubble, the that long-term costs will approach $3 trillion. But even deregulation of the financial industry, increasing energy before the invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq, the US was costs, and tight credit markets. The solution to the eco- spending as much on its military as the next ten milita- Inside this issue: nomic crisis, we have been told, is to spend trillions of rized countries of the world combined. Editorial...... 2 dollars to bail out Wall Street, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, When President Dwight Eisenhower stepped down AIG, the auto industry, and other corporate interests after his second term as President in 1960, he warned: Rick Nadeau Dies...... 3 fortunate enough to be considered by those controlling “…we must guard against the acquisition of unwar- Soapbox Needs Your Help...... 3 the government purse strings as essential to an economic ranted influence…by the military-industrial complex. SB840: We Will Be Back...... 4 recovery. The potential for the disastrous rise of misplaced power But during press conferences and Congressional hear- exists and will persist.” What Will Happen to Big Media?...... 4 ings concerning the country’s economic woes, there is Few would disagree that America needs a strong Conscientious Objectors...... 5 defense, but conventional Dorothea Lange Exhibit...... 5 military force is not effective in combating Foreclosures...... 6 terrorism. And when we KKK in Sacramento...... 7 spend as much on our West Coast Eco-Socialism...... 7 own military as the next ten militarized countries The American Worker...... 7 of the world combined, Proposition 8 Resistance...... 8-9 we cannot construe this Proposition 11...... 10 as “defense spending.” The vast sums of money Nuclear Threats...... 10 being wasted on war and August Peace Event...... 10 preparation for war rep- Declaration of Human Rights...... 11 resent war profiteering, enabled by “the disas- Who Owns Black History Month...... 11 trous rise of misplaced Reporting Live from the West Bank....12-13 Your tax dollars at work: a view of the American Embassy in power” by the military- Book Review: Much Too Promised Land.14 Iraq, originally estimated at $1 billion, just one of many sink- industrial complex that holes into which our money is disappearing. President Eisenhower Calendar...... 15 photo: MSNBC warned us about. Progressive Media...... 16 2 Because People Matter January / February 2009 www.bpmnews.org

because Editorial Page People Matter Volume 18, Number 1 Jacqueline Diaz Coordinating Editor for this issue Published Bi-Monthly by the Sacramento Community for Peace & Justice P.O. Box 162998, Sacramento, CA 95816 Looking Back to Move Forward (Use addresses below for correspondence) Editorial Group: Jacqueline Painful but necessary security policy basis for the range of counter- and Diaz, JoAnn Fuller, Jeanie United States, and International Law have been anti-terrorism measures taken by the Adminis- Keltner by Jeanie Keltner ignored or ridiculed. If we are to have Justice, tration in addressing the very real and present Coordinating Editor for Cut him some slack, Jeanie, my professor they must be called to account for their crimes. challenges faced by the United States and other this Issue: Jacqueline Diaz friend says, chiding my criticism of Obama. My If we are to have Peace, nations in addressing terror- Design and Layout: Ellen Schwartz friend had been part of that joyful victory crowd all future administrations Oh, how we want to ism.” (“Washburn Consensus Calendar Editor: at the Raddison election night and his heart was must know that they too believe in the change on Post-9/11 Principles,” Chris Bond still high. But that was over a month ago—and will be called to account http://jurist.law.pitt.edu/ Advertising and Business it’s hard for me to feel too optimistic about a man in their turn. …[F]uture Obama promised— forumy/2008/11/way- Manager: Edwina White who chooses a cabinet that is “almost perfect”— actions alone can never be forward-post-911-principles. Distribution Manager: to believe that this according to Joe Lieberman! Or “reassuring”—to enough to heal this nation php). Paulette Cuilla country can and will Subscription Manager: Karl Rove! (“Empire classic or empire lite?” and restore its place in the A public investigation into Gordon Kennedy www.therealnews.com) civilized world unless there change to something the Bush/Cheney Adminis- All the conservative pundits yelling at Obama is a reckoning with the past. tration’s actions would go a HOW TO REACH US: to “govern from the center,” to abandon his South Africa needed its closer to its ideals. long way toward showing the Subscriptions, letters, “socialistic” ideas (raising the capital gains tax?) Commissions of Truth and excesses and illegalities such punditry: must be overjoyed. (Why is it only when Dems Reconciliation before it could move forward. We misdefinitions lead to. We’ve got to look back to 403 21st Street win that we hear this insistent call to bipartisan- too must have Accountability. Those who have move forward. Sacramento, CA 95814 ship and the “center.”) committed crimes must be brought to Justice. …” Well, it’s a wild understatement to say that 444-3203 “I don’t want to just end the war,” Obama had Swanson continues, “…A vocal social move- Obama faces enormous challenges. He’s stepping Ads or other business: said during the campaign. “I want to end the ment pursuing accountability for the crimes of into a minefield of tightly structured, incredibly 446-2844 mindset that got us into war.” But you couldn’t the Bush Administration will serve as a deterrent powerful, pre-existing special interests, and if All e-mail prove it by his cabinet choices, so many of whom against the newly elected (or any future) admin- a leader does really want to change direction, it correspondence: helped create our tragic situation. istration following the same path.” (Press release may be sound strategy to bring in close—even to [email protected] Already Obama’s cabinet choices—because of from David Swanson) the cabinet—people connected to past decisions HAVE A CALENDAR their connections to previous administrations— Obama’s plans to leave residual troops in Iraq, for them to feel part of the change. ITEM? have made certain needed directions far less to intensify the war in Afghanistan (which is as So I will give Obama the benefit of the doubt. Send an e-mail with “calendar likely. And one of those directions is BACK. falsely “motivated” and illegal as the war in Iraq), But of course, ultimately it’s the people that item” in the subject line. Make Oh, how we want to believe in the change to confront Iran and Pakistan, and to rebuild the count. And Obama’s words roused so many it short, and in this order, Obama promised—to believe that this country US military to global supremacy suggest that as people. One of the best parts of working on Bill please: Day, Date. Name of can and will change to something closer to its Pepe Escobar said in “Empire classic or empire Durston’s campaign for congress was calling event. Description (1–2 lines). ideals. We long for change, and we want, many lite?” on TheRealNews.com, Obama is still a the list of newly registered Dems. Judging from Time. Location. INFO: phone#; e-mail. of us, to put the outrages of the Bush/Cheney “conceptual prisoner of the war on terror frame- their answering machines (Wassup?!) many were regime behind us. We don’t even want to think work.” What does that mean? young—and energized and appreciative of Dur- HAVE A STORY? about them any more, so tired we are of the At a recent symposium on “The Rule of Law ston’s peace and justice stance. We start planning the next anger/cynicism/disgust/sadness/despair such and the Global War on Terrorism,” three inter- They’re the ones who must make the change we issue of BPM the day the contemplation can arouse. national law specialists, urged correction of this need. Can we reach them, work with them, get current issue hits the streets. And so I hear people saying, “We’ve got a new conceptual misdirection: them info beyond corporate media views, keep Let us know by e-mail as soon as you have an idea for a story administration. We need to turn the page, get “The phrase ‘Global War on Terrorism’ should them energized? Against all the powers at the top so we can consider it early in over it, look to present tasks and the future. Let no longer be used in the sense of an on-going arrayed against progressive change, we need to the process. bygones be bygones.” We want to believe that ‘war’ or ‘armed conflict’ being waged against ‘ter- keep pushing Obama in OUR direction. “our long national nightmare is over.” But it’s not. rorism.’ Nor should it serve as either the legal or That means we must visitwww.change.gov/ HAVE SOME TIME? Somehow this country allowed the president page/s/ofthepeople often and share our ideas (HA HA HA!) Well, you might and his people to break laws and violate the for the future. At least now we have someone have, and BPM always needs help with big and small tasks. constitution, to wiretap and spy on us all without who says he wants to hear. Call 444-3203. warrants, to arrest and hold without charges, to For progressives the struggle goes on. torture, to construct phony pretexts for real wars, Jeanie Keltner is an editor with Because People COPY DEADLINES: to destroy countries, kill hundreds of thousands Thanks! Matter. For the Mar. / Apr. 2009 Issue: of innocent people and drive millions more into Articles: Tell us about your exile, all the while pulling millions into their own article by Jan. 15; article must Our sincere thanks to be received by Feb. 1, 2008. bank accounts. Calendar Items: Jan. 10, 2008 And now we’re going to let them just walk those of you who made Learn the true news and then Cultural events welcome! away? Let them go back to their ranches and contributions to BPM Teach Peace For details, see our website, lodges, suites and compounds—only just richer Check out www.teachpeace.com the www.bpmnews.org than when they left? Let them come back later through our holiday website of the same-named organiza- BECAUSE PEOPLE MATTER is an all- into positions of power (as the Iran-Contra volunteer endeavor to present culprits did) because they were not held account- fundraising letter or in tion in Davis. If you’re a teacher, you’ll alternative, progressive news able, their crimes were not exposed, evidence was memory of Rick Nadeau. be especially interested in their materi- and views in Sacramento. We not made public, and they did not have to answer als for teaching peace to people of all invite and welcome your re- sponses. To discuss a proposed for their illegal actions. You know who you are; ages. But here we want to point out the article, or help distribute the Are those people above the law? we know who you are site’s other extensive resources. Along paper, inquire about ad rates, I agree with David Swanson, co-founder of with important articles from the world or help out in some other way, www.AfterDowningStreet.org about “the and we thank you! press on crucial topics in the news (like call or write using the phone necessity of ending the Culture of Impunity. The number and address listed un- Russia, Georgia and Ossetia), there is demands of the people that the Bush Adminis- der ”How to Reach Us” above. also an extensive library of all the latest Please reproduce from any of tration obey the Constitution, the Laws of the the written contents, but do political documentaries to watch with a credit the author and BPM. click of your mouse. Printed at Herald Printing by Graphics Communication Union DC2 pressmen. We appreciate your support! Please fill out this form and mail to: BPM, 403 21st Street, Sacramento, CA 95814  This is a great paper! I’ll gladly subscribe for a mere $20.  WOW! You sound desperate! I’m enclosing $ extra to Help keep BPM on the streets: help out! Subscribe today! Already a subscriber?  This is my opportunity to break into journalism and help get the Buy a subscription to BPM for a friend truth out! I’ll help: Writing, Editing, Distributing, or family member! Proofreading, Anything! Place an ad for your business or non- On the cover Name...... profit group: continuing business card The Depression photographs of Dorothea Lange have a Address...... size ads are only $30 per issue. message for us today. They City...... Zip...... Phone...... will be on display at Sacra- Volunteer! We need distributors to help mento State through March 7. Email...... get the word(s) out! See story on page 5. www.bpmnews.org January / February 2009 BECAUSE PEOPLE MATTER 3 BPM Editorial Board Member Richard Paul Nadeau Rick NadeauDies (1944-2008) by Diana Tumminia manager and later director of Greenpeace San Activist, Sociologist/Philosopher, Labor Diego. At that time, he could be seen wearing Advocate, Feminist, Environmentalist, Public a magenta t-shirt with a whale saying “Save the Intellectual, Blogger, Political Essayist, Jokester. Humans.” Known affectionately by locals as Mr. Rick Nadeau died in his wife’s arms and in the Greenpeace and by news crews as Mr. Sound company of a close friend on November 20, Bite, Rick made local and national news when 2008. A well attended public memorial service he attended a press conference, arguing against was held on December 13th at Sacramento State the Exxon Valdez being towed to San Diego. He University. and others in small boats tried to stop the Exxon Rick’s spirit is loved by many for his gener- Valdez from docking. Rick resigned from Green- ous friendships and ferocious representation of peace when the national office objected to his underdogs. successful local community organizing around Born in New England during WWII, Rick malathion spraying. They wanted him to focus grew up in a Catholic working-class family with on international issues and official Greenpeace two brothers and two sisters. As a young boy, he issues. Before leaving San Diego to work for a experienced an early love for nature playing with faculty union, he and others led a protest march baby ducks and growing a garden at his riverside against the first Iraqi War, an act that shocked home. He remembered standing up to local bul- and awed other politicos frozen by inertia. lies who shot birds, taking away their bb guns In 1990s, Rick began labor organizing and and chasing them home. Despite disabilities, par- defending faculty rights as an arbitration special- ticularly severe asthma, back pain, and problems ist for the California Faculty Association (CFA). walking, he developed such a large public pres- After many years of stellar service, he won the ence and powerful articulation for social justice F. Ben Mansell Academic Rights Award for that many considered him the strongest person Excellence in representation in 2005. He was they ever knew. well-known on all the California State campuses Rick majored in sociology and philosophy, for his intense and dauntless advocacy of faculty mastering a wide range of intellectual paradigms rights. “Numerous CSU faculty owe their careers from Hegel to the beat poets and from Marxist to his representation efforts,” said his friend, Beau writings to postmodernism. In college, he sent Grosscup of CSU, Chico. his papers to noted critical theorist, Herbert Mar- For many years, he wrote strident letters to the cuse, who invited him to attend graduate school editor of the Sacramento Bee, which sparked vig- at UC San Diego where he obtained a graduate orous discussions at local coffee shops and politi- photo: Diana Tumminia degree in the 1970s. cal circles. In the early morning, Rick offered His college years offered him a first career, so daily political analysis to a circle of friends at the to speak, as an activist, political essayist, and local coffee shop where he will be sadly missed. Rick Nadeau was a dedicated member of our protest organizer. He helped organize the first After retirement from CFA, Rick joinedBecause editorial board. During his tenure with BPM he protests against the Vietnam War on his college People Matter as editor and writer, adding his contributed numerous articles, worked tirelessly campus and the November 1969 anti-war pro- loving and fiery energy and insight to his articles on the issues he produced as coordinating editor, test, aptly named the largest anti-war protest, in on: immigration, Bush wars, Palestinian-Israeli distributed papers and developed a great rapport Washington, DC. He worked as one of the origi- conflict, the prevalence of denial in American with all of us because of his openness and enthusi- nal Earth Day organizers in 1970. During 1970s politics—despite the effects of chemotherapy for asm. At meetings Rick was a charmer with a sweet and 1980s, Rick wrote for various underground liver cancer. In addition, he blogged for OB Rag, tooth, who could as easily serve up an analysis newspapers, OB Rag (now online), The Whole Media Left, and was published by Z magazine. of world events as a home cooked meal. We are Damn Pie Shop, The New Indicator, Triton Weeks before he died, Rick donated his exten- thankful for the time he chose to share with us and Times, and Daily Onion. He also worked with the sive jazz collection to CSUS music students. to his wife, Diana Tumminia, for welcoming us American anti-apartheid movement to promote Wherever Rick was, he added his life-affirming into their home and hearts. freedom for Blacks in South Africa. contribution. His tender-heartedness fueled —BPM Editorial Board Known for his prodigious oratory, Rick lent his his passion for the underdog. He will be sorely highly informed voice to the major social justice missed by a large circle of family, friends, people, causes of the time, lecturing for free in local animals, plants and trees. communities, colleges, and political rallies. In his Memorial donations in his name can be made spare time, he taught sociology at junior colleges. to BPM, Trees for Life International, or Trees for Throughout 1988-1990, he worked as field Life Zatoun.

Soapbox needs your help! By Jeanie Keltner

Do you watch Soapbox? (Ch 17-Mondays at 8pm)? Have you appreciated our interest in the things you’re passionate about—NEVER covered by the corporate media? Have you enjoyed our conversations with local activists and analysts about—among other top- ics—media consolidation, war resistance, the death penalty, keeping the Internet free, peak oil, bikes, buses and light rail, the Black Panthers, vitamin D, and current politics from a truly left point of view? out to me, Jeanie Keltner, since the show has no (Even more, have you been on Soapbox talking bank account (I promise to not fly to Rio with the about your issue?) money). Then would you consider making a contri- We believe Soapbox serves the progressive bution to keep it on the screen? We have few community—and reaches the many people who expenses because everyone (almost) works only don’t pick up BPM or tune in to Democracy for Pieces’ heavenly pizza and undying glory. Now—but who DO channel surf—and end up on But we want to cover Access membership Soapbox getting progressive info almost in spite fees—for the show itself and for the wonderful of themselves! crew—as well as other small expenses. Any gift of $40 or more will receive a set of ten Times are very hard to be sure but please, if postcard reproductions of original Keltner Paris you can, consider sending check, cash or money watercolors. order to 403 21st St Sacramento 95814, made PLEASE HELP US! 4 Because People Matter January / February 2009 www.bpmnews.org SB840: We Will Be Back Fighting for universal healthcare for California by Charlene Jones scope. California buys a lot of healthcare, paid steady decline of benefits and quality of care, “Politically unfeasible is just another way of directly though social programs and indirectly by and fewer employers able to provide for their saying that folks are scared to stand up to purchasing thousands of insur- “We will bring this employees, the situation insurance companies. I don’t accept that. It’s ance policies as an employer. If only worsens. Disjointed time to take a stand for what we really want. health care costs rise about issue back again and and feeble attempts at health It’s time to have hope.”—State Senator Sheila five times faster than wages, again until everyone care reform have brought Kuehl, 2008 according to a study released in California a system that is October 2008 by Families USA, in California has inconceivably costly and Senate Bill 840 authored by Senator Sheila a national nonpartisan public access to high quality scandalously ineffective. Kuehl passed a final vote in the California leg- interest group, and taxes that This governor and assorted islature this summer and was sent to Governor pay for health care are a func- healthcare.” State legislators are unwilling to Schwarzenegger who vetoed the promise of tion of wages, it’s no surprise Senator Mark Leno confront the health insur- health care for all Californians for the second Californians are digging a hole ance industry to pursue time during his administration. A similar bill was deeper and deeper each year. solutions, but thousands of approved in both the State Assembly and Senate Despite mounting data about spiraling costs, Californians are willing. by a 62 percent vote in 2006 but the governor seven million Californians without coverage, With term limits forcing Kuehl from senate refused to sign. His vetoes erased the prospect more bankruptcies and growing deficits, the leadership, State Senator Mark Leno will continue of comprehensive health care for all California Legislative Analyst’s Office (LAO) was directed to advance the cause. “The Governor lost yet residents that would preserve a patient’s right to late in the 2008 legislative session to answer ques- another golden opportunity to bring relief and CAAC Goes choose a doctor and hospital, and save consum- tions incompatible with SB840’s model to fund justice to millions of uninsured working families to the Movies ers, employers and state and local governments the bill. Undermining feasibility of a single-payer and employers struggling with rising healthcare ALMOST EVERY millions of dollars in health insurance costs using universal plan appeared to be the purpose that costs in our state,” said Leno in September 2008. MONTH a single-payer financing structure. led Schwarzenegger and a few legislators to inac- “The stakes are too high for us to be deterred, The Central America SB 840 would have established a universal curately claim SB840 would bankrupt the state. and that is why I am proud to have been asked Action Committee public insurance plan built on California’s exist- Upon full examination, however, the LAO to continue this critical fight next year in the shows interesting and informative ing private health care delivery system. This report agreed a single-payer health care system legislature. We will bring this issue back again videos on social comprehensive coverage would be achievable saves money and lowers the rate at which health and again until everyone in California has access justice, labor through a streamlined claims and single-payer care costs grow each year. In addition, it identi- to high quality healthcare that puts people before struggles, and so reimbursement system, which has proved to fied substantial savings on administrative costs insurance company profits.” much more! Call to save billions of dollars in administrative costs. A and bulk purchase of drugs and durable medical SB840 is supported by a growing network of see what’s playing payroll tax would take the place of all premiums, equipment. According to a June 2008 essay by more than 500 organizations across the state, this month… co-pays and deductibles currently paid by those Kuehl, legislators directing the LAO review asked representing tens of thousands of nurses, doc- WE ALSO HAVE A VIDEO LIBRARY YOU who are insured. The bill would also allow Cali- no questions about how the bill could lower tors, school employees and teachers; counties, CAN CHECK OUT. fornia to use its enormous purchasing power to healthcare spending in the year it was to have cities and school districts; hospitals and busi- 1640 9th Ave (east negotiate bulk rates for prescription drugs and been enacted. They asked only whether the fund- nesses; medical and health profession students; off Land Park Dr) durable medical equipment, such as wheelchairs. ing, modeled to finance the bill two years in the church groups, community organizations and INFO: 446-3304 Savings would be used toward covering the unin- past, would pay for it three years in the future— many others. Join the fight and stand up for real sured and reducing total health care spending in after five years of rampant health care inflation. change, change that means comprehensive qual- California. Predictably, the LAO found a funding model ity care for all Californians, all families and all Failing implementation in 2006, health- for healthcare spending in 2006 would not be suf- communities. care costs have soared. Because the state is an ficient in 2011. However, this estimated “deficit” Contact: 916-424-1653 www.healthcare- employer, as well as the safety net for many could be seen as costs passed on to Californians forall.org residents, those costs have intensified the pres- as a result of the governor’s 2006 veto of SB 840. Charlene Jones is a member of Sacramento ent state budget crisis, now extraordinary in its With unchecked growth in premiums, Media Group.

What Will Happen to Big Media? Media reform activists energized Send an Open Letter by JoAnn Fuller nications policy changes. Ben Scott, Free Press To: The President, policy director, noted, “The core of the Obama Congress, or the Media Media reform activists are excited about the agenda aligns squarely with the public inter- changes the Obama Administration will bring to est goals of creating a more democratic media media policy and the Federal Communications system and promoting universal access to com- OpenLetters.freeforums.org Commission. The Bush Administration tried munications technologies. We look forward to… to further concentrate Big Media’s ownership, holding accountable those who will be charged Discuss Hot Topics, or increasing the number of television and radio with delivering on its promises.” FreePress high- voice an opinion stations, newspapers and other communication lights the four public interest priorities below. Protect an Open Internet: services one corporate conglomerate controls in a Internet com- Big Business and Lobbyists media market. Under President Bush, telephone panies want to charge users more for sending companies and Internet service providers were some messages quickly. Instead, Congress and have no problem letting also allowed to ignore constitutional protection the FCC should pass legislation and regulations the President know what of privacy and spy on communications. And that keep the Internet open and free for all. they want. Now it is our thousands of Americans continue to stand on the Promote Universal Affordable Broad- turn to let him know what other side of the digital divide, with no means or band: the FCC should increase access to the we need. Send an Open Let- access to the Internet and its opportunities. Internet and other communication tools by ter or comment: Now the media reform community is talking setting new speed standards, and ensuring rural OpenLetters.freeforums.org about moving forward on requirements that and low income communities have access to would increase diversity in media ownership, computers and the Internet while stimulating [email protected] protect Internet neutrality as well as boost public competition. interest obligations of broadcasters and their Increase Diversity in Media Owner- programming on issues important to local com- ship: the FCC should reverse pro-consolidation munities. The goal is a new policy encouraging policies and increase competition, diversity and the spread of fast, low cost Internet access. Japan content. and countries in Europe have access to much Renew Public Media: Congress should Video Resources faster Internet connections at much lower prices increase funding for all levels of public media, Citizen’s media is on the rise. because governments required providers to make protect public media from political interference Want some non-corporate news but Hate to better services available. The US is far behind and and promote local cable access channels. Read? Check out… President Obama highlighted this failing in his Read the whole document at www.freepress. On your computer: technology innovation agenda, saying this needs net/files/2009techpolicy.pdf. www.ringoffireradio.com/blogengine/ to change. JoAnn Fuller is active with the Sacramento www.youtube.com/user/golefttv— In response to Obama’s agenda, FreePress, a Media Group. To take effective action on media www.therealnews.com national nonpartisan organization working to issues, join us. For more information, contact On your TV set: reform the media, outlined their comprehensive SMG at [email protected] or 443- Media Edge and Soapbox recommendations for key media and telecommu- 1792 extension 11. www.bpmnews.org January / February 2009 BECAUSE PEOPLE MATTER 5 Conscientious Objection on the Rise The tale of Tony Anderson, from Courage to Resist By Sarah Lazare ment. Anderson was ordered to deploy to Iraq 19 year-old Army private Tony Anderson was immediately. This time, he simply refused. court martialed in November of 2008, sentenced Objection to war to 14 months of confinement, and given a dis- Anderson is not alone: a growing number of honorable discharge from the military for “deser- US troops are refusing to fight in the so-called tion with intent to avoid hazardous duty” and “war on terror.” Accordin to the Associated “disobeying a lawful order.” The Press, Army soldiers are resist- young soldier refused to deploy “The 14 month ing service at the highest rate to Iraq in July of last year on the sentence is one of since 1980, with an 80 percent grounds of conscientious objec- increase in desertions, defined tion to war. the longest given as absence for more than 30 Members of Iraq Veterans to a US military days, since the invasion of Iraq Against the War and Colorado in 2003. Over 150 resisters have Springs peace organizations serviceperson for come out publicly against the attended the Ft. Carson, Colo- refusing to fight in war, and some cases, such as Lt. rado court martial to show their Ehren Watada, the first army Tony Anderson support for the young soldier. Iraq.” officer to refuse to deploy to photo: Courage to Resist Immediately after sentencing, Iraq, have garnered widespread Anderson was placed in handcuffs and taken to support and attention. tious objector applicants go up. For some, it can the Colorado Springs Criminal Justice Center, Meanwhile, an increasing number of active be the most liberating thing ever.” where he was held for a few weeks until he was duty GIs have been joining Iraq Veterans Against “There is a huge problem with people being moved to an army stockade. the War (IVAW), an organization comprised of discouraged by the chain of command from The 14 month sentence is one of the longest over 1,200 US veterans who have served since going through the process of applying for CO given to a US military serviceperson for refusing September 11, 2001. With 12 active duty mem- status,” said Andrew Gorby, who was discharged to fight in Iraq. bers at Anderson’s base alone, IVAW has taken a from the Army in May 2007 as a conscien- Who is Tony Anderson? position of open support for GI resisters. tious objector and now works for the Center on Hailing from the small city of Wilkes-Barre, The rising numbers of troops who do not want Conscience and War, a counseling organization Pennsylvania, Anderson says he was never very to join the war face a challenge because conscien- that works to defend the rights of conscientious attracted to military life, but joined the service tious objector status is difficult to obtain. COs objectors. “But being granted CO status is pos- at the behest of his father, who had regretted not must prove that they are opposed to war in all sible. It is a matter of getting in touch with a joining the military himself. Once in the ranks, forms, that their objection is based on “religious qualified CO counseling organization.” Anderson realized that he had made an unfor- training and belief,” which can include moral or Court Martial tunate decision. During basic training, he found ethical training, and that their beliefs are “sincere Anderson, who remained in tears during much himself ethically opposed to taking a human life and deeply held.” The application process is ardu- of his trial, did not have family present at his in a military conflict. He was disturbed by see- ous and includes written applications, a series of court martial. His mother sent a statement saying ing soldiers on his base return from Iraq deeply examinations, and a hearing with an investigative she does not agree with what her son did, but traumatized from their experience in combat. “I officer—processes that can take up to a year and believes that he was sincerely trying to follow his didn’t want to mess myself up for the rest of my cannot forestall deployment. Applicants must conscience. life doing something I didn’t want to do to begin face commanding officers who “accidentally” lose Anderson’s civilian lawyer, James Branum, with,” he says. applications, impose informal punishments on expressed frustration with the lack of fair process Anderson had vague thoughts about filing for applicants, or give false information about the for cases of conscience, and said, “I am disap- conscientious objector (CO) status but was dis- process, as in Anderson’s case. pointed by how long Tony’s sentence was. 14 couraged from doing so by his commanding offi- There has been no reliable study of the dif- months is on the high end, but it could have been cers. They told him that it would not be possible ficulty of obtaining CO status. The Government worse. At least Tony was able to have his day in for him to obtain, and even falsely informed him Accountability Office (GAO) released a report court.” that he was “not the right religion.” Anderson was finding that between 2002 and 2006, the Marine At the trial, Tony read a statement explain- led to believe that filing a CO application would Corps and Coast Guard approved a third of CO ing that he was deterred from for conscientious be futile. applications, Army officials approved 55 percent, objector status at every step, leaving him with Anderson says that when he was ordered to the Air Force approved 62 percent, and the Navy the impression that his only option was outright deploy to Iraq on July first, he “freaked out.” approved 84 percent. Critics claim, however, that refusal. He expressed regret that he did not “What upset me most was the thought of having these figures are grossly misrepresentative, since persist in obtaining his conscientious objector to hurt or kill someone else,” he said at his trial. they do not factor in the number of potential application. Anderson closed by saying, “I only “I know this may be hard to believe, but I never applicants who are deterred from completing ask that you remember that I was trying to do the really thought about the idea of hurting or killing their applications at all stages of the process. right thing.” another human being before I joined the military. Elizabeth Stinson, Director of the Sonoma Sarah Lazare is a project coordinator with And then in training, it just didn’t seem real.” County Peace and Justice Center, urges potential Courage to Resist. For more information, the Just hours before boarding his flight, he went CO applicants not to be deterred. “Applying for original version of this article, or to donate to AWOL. After 22 days he turned himself in, in conscientious objector status is hard,” she says. Tony’s legal defense, please visit: www.courag- hopes of diminishing the severity of his punish- Still, I would love to see the amount of conscien- etoresist.org.

What does a depression look like?

See for yourself at Sacramento State’s University Library Gallery where photographs of influential photojournalist Dorothea Lange will be on view as part of the California Central Valley Museum of Working Class Art and Culture Project. Known as the mother of documentary photography, Lange photographed migrant farm workers and sharecroppers of the 1930s Depression—many of them in the Sacramento valley—and the spare immediacy of her work forced viewers to connect with those suffering the worst in a time of hard times. Project director Moore says, “In her photographs there’s a great deal of hope in the future, and I think that there’s a real connection to today.” The exhibition runs through March 7, 2009—from 10am to 5 pm, Tuesday through Saturday. 6 Because People Matter January / February 2009 www.bpmnews.org Foreclosure’s Hidden Victims Renters face eviction Some of the “…These are economic earthquakes of crisis Places You Can proportions, and invisible in the foreclosure crisis Find BPM are the people–homeowners and renters–who are Sacramento Area becoming homeless.” Bob Erlenbusch, President, Coffee Works National Coalition for the Homeless Crest Theater Dimple Records, Arden Wy By Rachel Iskow Flowers Restaurant Galleria (29th & K) Elena Costas, her sister and parents rented a Grinders home in Elk Grove for several years. This year, Hart Senior Center they were shocked to receive a notice that they Lido Cafe had two months to leave their home because a Light Rail: bank had taken it back in a foreclosure action. 65/Folsom Her parents were devastated, wanting to provide 4th Ave/Freeport stability for their children in their last years of Los Jarritos Luna’s Cafe & Juice Bar school. Elena contacted the lender and begged Mercy Hospital, 40th/J for an extended stay until the bank could sell the Pancake Circus, 21st/ home, hoping the new owner would maintain it Broadway as a rental. The loan servicer said he had no abil- Planned ity to negotiate. After a desperate search, Elena’s Parenthood:Franklin family found a smaller, more costly rental in Sac- Blvd, Watt Ave., 29th St. ramento farther from the girls’ schools. Queen of Tarts Elena’s family managed to stay together, Quick Market although their new rental is causing them more Sacramento Bagel, economic stress. Many renters facing eviction 47th/H due to foreclosure are not so fortunate and end Press conference and rally at the State Capitol highlights Sacramento Natural up the streets. Most likely, this situation will not legislation to help victims of foreclosures. Foods Coop let up for years, and all renters will suffer in a photo:Andrea Porras Sacramento Public Library (Main & many tighter rental market. branches) It is difficult to advocate for families whose as it becomes a landlord’s market. Families find closures for 180 days during which time loan Starbucks (B'wy & 35th) stories are hidden. Behind the headlines of the themselves in a desperate, often failed search for servicers should be required to work out loan The Beat mortgage crisis is the dire situation faced by housing. Foreclosure victims further exacerbate modifications and convert to affordable, fixed­- The Bread Store renters living in foreclosed homes and the com- the pressures on the rental market and homeless rate mortgages. Time Tested Books plete lack of support for both these renters and shelters. Tower Theater (inside) Tips for renters: Tupelo (Elvas & 57th) homeowners forced out into an increasingly tight Other outcomes for renters in foreclosed hous- Underground Books rental market. ing include damaged credit scores due to their If served with notice that the bank is buying (35th St. near B'way) Across the nation, foreclosures wipe out tenant eviction from foreclosed homes; landlords in the property you rent, start searching immedi- Weatherstone Coffee leases and their rights under these leases. When a default refusing to pay utility bills for which the ately for housing. Chico Area property being used as a rental goes into foreclo- landlords are responsible under lease agreements; Keep paying your rent! If you believe you have Davis sure, the lender taking over the home most often and landlords and banks that take over properties the right to stop paying rent, see an attorney first. Espresso Cafe Roma evicts the tenant. The newly vacant property is failing to make needed repairs. In most cases, you must keep current on your Davis Natural Food Coop Newsbeat taken out of the rental housing inventory. Vacan- Unscrupulous landlords have found ways to rent or you will lose the noticing period allowed University Mall cy rates decrease and rents are forced upward take advantage of renters in crisis. Owners of by state law. Grass Valley foreclosed properties don’t inform renters that Don’t fall prey to banks pressuring you into Briar Patch they no longer own the properties and continue taking a “cash for keys” deal in which you are Sacred Bee collecting rent. This puts renters in default when offered cash to leave your rental home sooner Greenhaven area banks, the new owners of the properties, come than state law allows. If you want to take the cash, Buckthorn’s Coffee, 7465 Rush River Dr collecting. In many other cases, former owners make sure you know where you will stay and that and banks refuse to return security deposits. the cash you are offered will cover the costs of For a complete list, visit California has one of few state laws protecting moving and security deposits. Have an attorney our web site: renters living in foreclosed housing. In July 2008, review the agreement proposed by the landlord. www.bpmnews.org. the Perata Mortgage Relief Bill, SB 1137, was You can sue the former owner in small claims Where would you like to signed into law. Tenants must now be given 60 court for defaulting on his mortgage which see BPM? days notice when a bank takes back a home. This caused him to break your lease. You may sue to Let Paulette Cuilla know, 916-422-1787. is the only California state legislation protecting recover moving costs and the difference in the renters in this situation. There has been no fed- rent you were paying and the rent you will need eral law or local Sacramento ordinance passed to to pay now for a comparable unit. protect renters in foreclosed housing. For help, renters can call: How concerned citizens and Legal Services of Northern California. activists can help: 916/551-2150 To become an advocate contact: Press for laws that require leases to survive California Reinvestment Coalition 916/340-6080 foreclosure. For more information visit: Advocate for laws that require owners to main- http://www.nlihc.org tain their properties. Rachel Iskow is the Executive Director of Sac- Demand that tenants receive more notice prior ramento Mutual Housing Association. To obtain to termination of leases. information about affordable housing opportuni- In California, demand a moratorium on fore- ties, go to www.mutualhousing.com.

Ammunition from page 1 has resulted from it have proven to be effective paign Chapter are seeking a countywide ammu- tools for locating firearms violators.” nition ordinance. Sheriff McGinness and the The level of gun crime and gun violence in the Sacramento County Board of Supervisors would Sacramento area has become disturbingly high. be foolish not to avail themselves of this effective Disarming criminals and other prohibited per- tool for reducing gun violence. sons is a critical step for improving public safety. For more information or to sign a petition The Sacramento City Ammunition Ordinance in support of the Ammunition Ordinance, visit provides a means of identifying and disarming www.gopetition.com/petitions/prevent- criminals and other prohibited persons. However, gun-violence.html illegal guns and illegal ammo do not stop at city For more information about the Sacramento lines. To the extent that Sacramento County and Valley Brady Campaign Chapter, visit other neighboring jurisdictions adopt similar www.bradycampaign.org/CA ordinances, the surrounding communities will Amanda Wilcox is Interim President of the become safer. To that end, Councilmember Sacramento Chapter of the Brady Campaign to McCarty and the Sacramento Valley Brady Cam- Prevent Gun Violence. www.bpmnews.org January / February 2009 BECAUSE PEOPLE MATTER 7 An Invisible Empire The Ku Klux Klan in Sacramento By Rick Bettis national organization while four remained with unpublished essay “Hooded Americans,” CSUS, This year we will be observing Black History the local Kleagle. 1961. According to Joseph McGowan in his 1981 Month, marching to honor the birthday of Dr. Sacramentans had read nationally syndicated work for the Sacramento Historical Society, Ku Martin Luther King, and celebrating the inaugu- articles describing Klan Klux Klan in Sacramento, ration of the first African American President of atrocities, especially against The “Empire” reached Hooded Klan members the United States. Our nine member Sacramento Blacks. Undaunted by Sacramento in late would enter Protestant City Council now includes three African Ameri- public outcry, the Klan held churches during services, cans, one Asian American and one Jewish mem- an initiation ceremony in 1921 when a County give the pastor a substan- ber. However, as Santayana observed, “Those who April, 1922 at a privately- Sheriff’s Deputy became tial donation and offer do not learn from history are bound to repeat it.” owned hall at 35th Street their services to fight the We should not forget the rise and activities of and 5th Avenue in Oak the Kleagle, the local “forces of evil.” the self-styled “Invisible Empire,” the Ku Klux Park, then a white upper recruiter and organizer Since the Black popula- Klan. Confederate Army officers founded the middle class suburb and tion in Sacramento in the Klan in 1865. Started as a prankish fraternal now a predominantly early 1920s was small and group it soon became an underground terrorist African American inner city community. An subordinated the “Empire” focused on the large organization committed to destroying the Recon- estimated 250 to 300 attended the two-hour and prosperous Catholic community, saying that, struction era rights given the freed slaves. During ceremony while hooded guards were stationed “Romanism is absolutely unchristian and nearly the 1870s, the Klan faded when many members on the street and the roof of the hall. Later meet- all the bawdy houses, bootleg joints and other were arrested, but the social and political sub- ings were held in secluded rural areas near Elk dives are owned or controlled by Romanists” ordination of African Americans was tacitly Grove and near Folsom Boulevard in what is now (Sacramento Bee, 06/12/1922). reestablished. Rancho Cordova. Although it attempted to keep Following Klan violence in southern Califor- The Klan was reincorporated in Georgia and its membership secret, the Klan claimed a total of nia, the Sacramento Klan was subject to close in 1915 spread throughout much of the nation in 400 members including doctors, bankers, teach- scrutiny and was charged with fraud. The Kleagle response to the migration of African Americans ers, ministers and government officials. When fled Sacramento in 1923 with all the collected to the north. It reached an estimated peak mem- compared to the county’s population this would funds. And the “Empire” faded into obscurity. bership of approximately 3 million in the late be equal to approximately 5,500 today. Sacramento and the nation have progressed 1920s, and was infamous for terrorist activities Since its origin the Klan’s avowed concerns far from the heyday of the Klan but racism and including kidnapping and lynching. had expanded to include all people of color and hate crimes still exist. We must not forget the past The “Empire” reached Sacramento in late 1921 Roman Catholics and Jews. “They associated while continuing to work toward true equality when a County Sheriff’s Deputy became the these groups with nearly all social ‘sins’ such as regardless of race, gender, religion, ethnicity and Kleagle, the local recruiter and organizer. Dues bootlegging, night clubs, road houses, violation sexual orientation. were a substantial ten dollars, which, when com- of the Sabbath, unfair business dealings, infidel- pared to average incomes, would equal approxi- ity and other scandalous behavior” according to Rick Bettis is a community activist and a mem- mately $300 today. Six dollars was sent to the Donald J. Merlino. Merlino is the author of the ber of the Sacramento Historical Society. Conference Premieres Eco-Socialist Movement on West Coast Can socialism save the planet? By Karl Kramer est shadow that hangs over us is neither terror, Every region of the earth is facing the coming environmental collapse, nor global recession. It dislocations of ecologies, economies, and public is the internalized fatalism that holds there is no health brought by global climate change. possible alternative to capital’s world order.” Since Many socialists believe that a socialist perspec- then, there have been several meetings held in tive can provide a necessary analysis of the roots Europe to address this vital question. Exchange, Green Festivals and Global Citizen of the problem in capitalism’s imperatives of Socialists, environmental activists, and work- Center; Adam Scow, Food and Water Watch; growth and profit. ing class and community organizations are com- Dan Bacher; Christine Frank; Carl Bloice; To that end, the Northern California’s Com- ing to the conference to study hard science, share Larry Shoup; Gene Coyle; Jeff Mackler; David mittees of Correspondence for Democracy and experiences on physical mitigation and the social Makofsky; Jack Rasmus; Salvatore Engel- Socialism’s West Coast Regional Conference will fight back, and to discuss the likelihood that only DiMauro, SUNY New Paltz; and George T. feature “Climate Catastrophe and Social Change, a socialist transformation can prevent capitalism Martin, Senior Editor, Capitalism Nature an Eco-Socialist Perspective,” on January 10 and from killing the planet and that accomplishing Socialism. 11, 2009. The conference will have a couple of this will take an extreme concentration of social For more information, contact the Commit- plenary sessions, multiple workshops, and a Sat- or people power. tees of Correspondence for Democracy and urday evening event. The conference will take place at Laney College Socialism, 415-863-6637, staff@ncalcofc. The keynote speaker will be at 900 Fallon Street, Oakland (near Lake Merritt org. BART station). The plenary session will start in Karl Kramer is West Coast Organizer Joel Kovel, Editor-in-Chief the Forum lecture hall between Buildings A and for the Committees of Correspondence for of the journal Capitalism B. Registration is $10 to $30, sliding scale. Democracy and Socialism. . Sponsors and participating organizations Nature Socialism include the Committees of Correspondence for Democracy and Socialism, Capitalism Nature The keynote speaker will be Joel Kovel, Socialism, the Global Citizen Center, Green Party Editor-in-Chief of the journal Capitalism Nature of Alameda County, KPFA radio, Niebyl-Proctor Socialism, a founding member of the Ecosocialist Marxist Library, Socialist Action and Solidarity, The American Worker International Network and author of The Enemy among others. By Rick Kepler for Truthout.org of Nature. Kovel also promulgated the “Ecosocial- Other speakers and presenters include Henry I am an American worker, and you are damn right I want the wealth to ist Manifesto” with Michael Lowey in 2001. In the Clark, executive director, West County Toxics be shared and spread. I am talking about the wealth my hard work helped manifesto, Kovel and Lowey write, “The deep- Coalition; Kevin Danaher, co-founder of Global to create, but was taken from me by George Bush’s base, the very rich, or as I know them, my corporate bosses. For the past eight years I have watched W’s and McCain’s (Country Club First) base grab the largest share of our country’s wealth. Where did they take it from? They took it Pizza by the slice from my family’s pocketbook, and my co-workers’ families’ pocketbooks. They stole the wealth that I was trying to build for me and my family PIECES when they stripped my pension plan from me and told me to invest in a 401k. “The most delicious and The American worker doesn’t want a handout. Never did. We do want socially responsible a hand up from our government. We still believe and have hope that this pizza in town” is a government of, by and for the people. We do want to know that our —Jeanie Keltner government will finally stand with us against this onslaught, this Robin 1309 21st St Between M and N Hood in reverse, being conducted by the bosses against the workers. www.truthout.org/112108L 8 Because People Matter January / February 2009 www.bpmnews.org Talk about Galvanizing a Movement! Proposition 8 broke hearts but brought a community together

By Sarah Sol

t’s been an interesting time since Proposition 8 passed in California. Whether its passage was pri- “We’re not going to go marily a result of money, lies, fear and politicking or anywhere. … We’re Ithe intention of more than half of California’s voters to express an opinion about who is deserving of basic civil your neighbors, we’re rights, it hit me hard. your sisters, we work I called in sick on Nov 5, a mixture of bad allergies, a sore back from being out in the cold the night before at for you, and we’re here a polling place, staying up to watch election returns, and and we want our rights the sick realization that my state had just passed a law restricting my rights and pursuit of happiness. back.”—Activist Jade I had some of the same emotions on Nov 5 as I had Baranski to News10 Sept 12, 2001. Not the same shock—it’s not a big surprise that a minority would have a hard time making a case for itself in the face of a massive effort to scare, threaten and manipulate voters—but definitely the anger, disappoint- ment and concern about what might be coming next. Prop 8 was one big hate crime. It was perpetrated not just by a few errant and mean-spirited religious organiza- tions, but also by our neighbors, colleagues and family members. In my first blog posting for the website Equal- ity Action Now, I recapped things that motivated me and gave me some comfort in the two weeks following Election Day. To my surprise, it was a long list and just the beginning.

1. Positive Election Day experiences: I was one of on election night crushed but sensing a real movement about 7,500 Election Day volunteers for the “No on might be starting. It was! Prop 8” effort, and conversations I had made a lasting 2. Signs of a cooler White House: Though it felt like impression. I went with two volunteers to a polling place too little too late when he said it, President-elect Barack in Land Park. The idea was to encourage those who Obama included the word “gay” in his election night opposed Prop 8 to make it past the presidential candi- acceptance speech. Obama plans to end discrimination dates to vote all the way through to the end of the bal- based on sexual orientation and gender identity; expand lot. After a frustrating early experience with one angry hate crime statutes; supports passing the Matthew neighborhood resident (who stormed out of his house Shepard Act; and end “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” according shouting at us, took our signs, threatened to blind my to his website. eyes, and called the police on us), we had great encoun- www.change.gov.agenda/civil_rights_agenda ters with people we’d never met before. 3. Challenges to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter- The police returned our signs. Then a poll worker day Saints: As has been widely reported, the church was sent out yummy chocolate chip cookies, which greatly one of the largest proponents of the amendment that improved standing around in the cold and dark. We had took my rights away. Its members made phone calls, supportive conversations with the vast majority of voters walked precincts, produced ads, and donated millions of who stopped to talk. dollars toward the campaign. It’s unclear whether anyone Most importantly, a voter who’d passed by earlier with can prove the church violated the law in promoting Prop his wife and son went home, changed his clothes, and 8, but if it did, it must be held accountable. The state has rode back on his bike to stand with us. He held a No on agreed to look into the church’s role in the campaign. Prop 8 sign for the next hour and a half. I came home See Galvanizing, next page

Prop 8 Revises California’s Constitution What ever happened to equal protection?

By Jack D. Forbes equal protection of the law since it clearly denies the right women. Many individuals exhibit personal character- Is it possible for a bare majority of voters to change of secular marriage to persons simply because of who istics usually belonging to the opposite gender. Her- the California Constitution to enforce a religious view they choose to marry. It also denies marriage to persons maphrodites do possess physical characteristics of both of marriage, thereby overturning the May 15, 2008 deci- who are not man or woman, that is, to young couples or genders. Since they are both man and woman can they sion by the State Supreme Court allowing same-gender to persons who possess attributes of both genders. be denied the right to marry? Certainly not, since such a couples to legally be joined together in a state-approved The promoters of Proposition 8 seem to believe that prohibition would be a denial of equal protection. civil (not religious) ceremony? they can change the equal protection guaranteed by the And surely the Fourteenth Amendment to the federal Proposition 8 fails the California Constitution with simply a declarative state- Constitution would seem to trump any discriminatory ment. And very importantly, they are ignoring Proposi- revision, as well as the separation of church and state constitutional test tion 209, also part of the Constitution, which outlaws doctrine. The proposed amendment establishes a Jewish- because it revises the discrimination on the basis of sex. Can they impose gen- Christian tradition as the law, excluding California der discrimination without amending 209 specifically? Native American and other traditions and perspectives. constitution rather than Can they violate equal protection without specifically The proposed amendment would also require Cali- simply amending it. changing the language of the California Constitution? We fornia to deny the validity of all boy-girl marriages per- can be certain that to discriminate on the basis of gender formed in other states. Such couples could not move to Among many other issues, California’s Proposition 8 could only be adopted by a formal amending process, California and retain married status, since they are nei- fails the constitutional test because it revises the constitu- which commences in the legislature. ther man nor woman. Male and female, the age-inclusive tion rather than simply amending it. This is because Prop Prop 8 limits marriage to only “man” and “woman.” terms, are not used by the proposed amendment. 8 revises the text of Prop 209, which is now part of the This would make marriage impossible for girls and boys. Proposition 8 is a poorly conceived attempt at revis- California constitution. Prop 209 specifically and unam- Many states allow persons who are not adults to marry, ing the California Constitution without following the biguously prohibits giving preferential treatment on the especially with parental consent. Girls and boys do not process prescribed by that very constitution. It is null basis of sex in any governmental actions. To deny mar- become men and women until at least 18 and probably and void. riage on the basis of sex is quite clearly an open revision not until 21 (in terms of complete emancipation from Jack D. Forbes has written several articles about mar- of Prop 209 and cannot stand since marriage by a public restrictions). To deprive young people of the right to riage and Proposition 209. His latest book is the newly official is obviously a governmental action. marry would seem to revise the constitution as well. revised edition of Columbus and Other Cannibals, But Prop 8 also revises the California guarantee of There are no absolute differences between men and exploring Native American spirituality and ethics. www.bpmnews.org January / February 2009 BECAUSE PEOPLE MATTER 9

This page and page 8: photos of the rally at the state Capitol, November 9, after the passage of Propo- sition 8. photo: Sarah Sol

Galvanizing, from page 8

4. Political commentator Keith Olbermann on MSNBC: Olbermann’s six minutes against the passage of Prop 8 were reasoned and passionate. He reached mil- lions of TV viewers nationwide plus thousands on You- Tube. www.youtube.com/watch?v=cVUecPhQPqY 5. Elected officials’ support: Governor Arnold Schwar- zenegger expressed sympathy for the gay and lesbian community after the election and urged us to fight back. A few dozen California legislators signed a friend-of-the- court brief urging the California Supreme Court to inval- idate Prop 8. The Legislature introduced a resolution opposing Prop 8, and legislators and mayors across the state have participated in countless rallies and vigils since the election. The California Supreme Court also accepted three lawsuits attempting to invalidate the proposition. Oral arguments could come as early as March. 6. Tireless local activists: Turnout at Sacramento’s major rallies has been amazing. Additional events are keeping up the momentum, including the National Day Without Gay, boycotts of individuals who funded the mento Bee, the Sacramento News & Review, Capital and economic groups, and we need to do more to reach proposition, blue lights in windows and on porches for Public Radio and other media are covering it all, out. support, and Sacramento’s silent all-night march. As including events, the legislative battle ahead and related 13. More people coming out: Comedian Wanda Sykes event organizer Jade Baranski told News10, “We’re not issues. They’ve got video from rallies, photo albums and had been vocal in the past about Prop 8, but the election going to go anywhere. … We’re your neighbors, we’re archives of news coverage. moved her to talk about her own relationship and work your sisters, we work for you, and we’re here and we want 8. The whole world is watching—and participating: harder for equality nationwide. our rights back.” In mid-November, rallies were scheduled in nearly 300 14. Support from straight folks: Like my ex-husband, 7. Local media coverage: Fox40, KOVR, The Sacra- American cities, with Prop 8 generating news coverage who’s been blogging, running sound at rallies, holding and debate in international media. We are not alone. candles at vigils, working on the Equality Action Now 9. Petitions: OK, we don’t typically website and just generally being a great person. overturn election results through petitions, Sarah Sol is a former Navy journalist, former copy edi- except maybe to get another initiative on tor for SN&R and current technical editor at ICF Jones & the ballot. But the number of signatures Stokes in Sacramento. gathered by the Courage Campaign and similar organizations is encouraging. 10. Blogs and bloggers: Angry Black Bitch, The Huffington Post, Kel Munger for California Constitution SN&R’s Snog, Broadsheet and many others Article 1. Declaration of Rights have been all over this, offering humorous headlines and insights. 11. Creative fund-raising: For example, Section 1. All people are by the Los Angeles Gay & Lesbian Center’s nature free and independent and “Invalidate Prop 8,” where you can make have inalienable rights. Among a tax-deductible donation, in the name of these are enjoying and defending the president of the Mormon church, to life and liberty, acquiring, pos- support organizations working to invali- sessing, and protecting property, date Prop 8 and to fund grassroots activi- ties in support of full marriage equality. and pursuing and obtaining safety, 12. Reality checks and perspectives happiness, and privacy. on communicating with all voters: Not that the basic rights of a minority group should be up for popular vote in the first place, but if our next step is another ballot initiative—hell, even if it isn’t—we need to improve how we reach out to those out- Take Action Against Prop 8 side our pride parades and social circles. www.couragecampaign.org/page/s/repealprop8 Authors, radio hosts and linguists have been discussing phrases like “civil rights” www.petitiononline.com/mod_perl/signed. and “family values” and how they play in cgi?seg5130 various religious and cultural communi- www.equalityactionnow.org ties. We should be paying attention. Lesbi- ans and gays exist in all cultures, religions 10 Because People Matter January / February 2009 www.bpmnews.org Proposition 11 Passed! Who will benefit in redrawing voting districts? By JoAnn Fuller

The redistricting reform initiative passed in As the LA Times found in this Nov 6 article, of Equalization. November, taking away the power to draw vot- “Reporting from Sacramento—Democratic hopes The Commission selection process starts ing districts from the legislature and giving it to of ending budget gridlock in Sacramento by win- with the State Auditor inviting applicants for a citizen commission. During the election, the ning a super majority in the California State Leg- the commission which will be vetted to weed opposition (made up largely of desperate incum- islature fell short Wednesday even though their out those with conflicts of interest or those too bents) resorted to political scare tactics—they presidential candidate, Barack Obama, took more closely tied to a politician. The initiative details told Democrats this was a Republican power grab than 60% of California’s vote.” how members of the commission will be cho- and then turned around and told Republicans Why? sen. It also requires the commission to abide by that this was Democratic power grab. “The great irony,” noted Dan Schnur, who open meeting laws, open hearings, and to post Supporters, including California Common directs the Jesse M. Unruh Institute of Politics at their deliberations on the Internet. Criteria for Cause, the League of Women Voters of CA and the University of Southern California in the San drawing the new districts have also been set. AARP, just told voters the truth. Prop 11 will Diego Union Tribune, “is that if there were more While the redistricting commission won’t end gerrymandering abuses where incumbents competitive districts this year, the Democrats begin work until after the results of the next put their interests ahead of cities and communi- almost certainly would have increased their ranks census in 2010 are known, Common Cause ties (often splitting them into several legislative in the Assembly, the Senate and the House of has already begun work to ensure the commis- districts). We advocated for an independent Representatives…The only thing that protected sion is made up of citizens who represent the redistricting commission that would give people Republican legislators in such a big Democratic state’s ethnic, racial, and geographic diversity a more effective voice in government. year was the fact that the party agreed to gerry- and is gender balanced. If you think you have In 2000, California legislators with Democrats mandered districts.” the experience and ability to serve or for more in the majority designed a gerrymander that Every 10 years, legislative political boundar- information, contact California Common protected incumbents of both parties by drawing ies or districts are redrawn to reflect population Cause. districts that were super-Republican or super- changes. Until the passage of Prop 11, state JoAnn Fuller is associate director of Cali- Democratic. As a result, just one legislative or legislators controlled that process. After Prop fornia Common Cause. She can be reached at congressional incumbent has been voted out of 11, an independent commission will design new [email protected] or 443-1792 office in the eight years since. districts for the state Assembly, Senate and Board extension 11.

Sacramento Soapbox Progressive Talk Show Access Sacramento, Nuclear Threats Are Real Channel 17 with Jeanie Keltner. Monday, 8pm, Tuesday It happened at the opera noon, Wednesday, 4am. Now in Davis, Channel By Mary Bisharat 15, Tuesday, 7pm. never taken place.” I’m one of the thousands of opera lovers Israel is attempting to gag Vanunu to keep him Remembering across America who attends live opera in local from creating a linkage between Israel’s nuclear theaters via satellite, shown on a huge screen status and the US/Israel drive to pressure Iran Hiroshima in HD with multi-channeled surround sound. from continuing its nuclear research. Vanunu has But one I attended on November 8 was not the repeatedly defied orders not to give interviews, usual story of lovelorn, star-crossed lovers. It was talk to foreigners, or talk about his work. He has and a contemporary opera, “Dr. Atomic,” commis- been re-arrested and is under continuing house sioned by the San Francisco Opera a few years arrest. Successive American administrations have ago and composed by John Adams. The story was a turned a blind eye to Israel’s nuclear arsenal and Nagasaki based on the events leading up to testing of the the American press has been strangely incurious first atomic bomb in New Mexico, an exploration except for Seymour Hersh’s “The Samson Option” of real people and the issues involved: Edward (1991). Annual August peace event seeks Teller, Army Commander General Leslie Groves, Few voices have been raised until Vanunu’s volunteers and starring J. Robert Oppenheimer, the brilliant call to awareness. There is a straight line from physicist who directed “The Manhattan Project,” Dr. Oppenheimer to Vanunu: in 1946, one year Will the US Congress push to develop new America’s secret plan to create an atomic bomb. after the US bombed Hiroshima and Nagasaki, nuclear weapons this session or will they The libretto by Peter Sellars was fashioned from Oppenheimer proposed banning nuclear weap- respond to initiatives to reduce the US arsenal a wide variety of sources, including US govern- ons; he characterized them as unparalled instru- and take nuclear bombs off hair trigger alert? ment documents and communications from the ments of coercion, antithetical to world safety. One important way our community opposes the scientists and military personnel involved in the He was punished for his stance by having his development and use of nuclear weapons is by project. Thus, it was based on historical reality, high-level security withdrawn. Vanunu is being remembering the atomic bombing of Hiroshima which gave it a convincing authenticity. It was a punished for having gone public about Israel’s and Nagasaki by the United States. Every August gorgeous melodic opera, a hair-raising, fascinat- status as a nuclear power. His is the same goal we gather on the anniversary of the bombings ing exploration of knowledge and man’s ultimate as the late Dr. Oppenheimer—to banish nuclear to renew our opposition to any further use of use of it. weapons. nuclear weapons. The importance of this work is The composer noted how “opera has a curious We are at a critical point for nuclear disarma- emphasized today, as the US and other nations ability to handle life’s biggest themes in a way no ment as President Obama enters the White continue to commit vast amounts of resources to other art form can.” He is right: I was under its House. We must demand he take the following weapons development, while failing to stop the spell for several days, haunted by its terrifying actions: work for complete nuclear disarmament, spread of nuclear weapons. beauty and its daunting message: Who has the adopt a policy of no first use, renegotiate START A group of volunteers will meet in February to requisite moral authority to put global nuclear (Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty) with Russia, plan the next August Peace Event, at the Crepe threats on the front burner? No one! But we all due to expire at the end of 2009, ratify the Com- Escape restaurant at the corner of Freeport Blvd. have the moral authority to fight to save our prehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT), and rescue and 10th Ave. just north of Sacramento City Col- planet from nuclear annihilation and to defend the Non Proliferation Treaty (NPT). lege. For exact date, contact JoAnn Fuller at 441- Peace Action those who are persecuted for their actions in the The original nuclear five (US, France, Great 2085. Every year we hear that this free, family on the Web struggle. Britain, Russia, and China) have been joined oriented event is the “best yet.” Please join us and Keep up to date A case in point is nuclear whistle blower Mor- by India, Pakistan, North Korea, and Israel. help make this year’s program another “best yet.” on peace activism dechai Vanunu, the Israeli nuclear technician Vanunu’s long poem, “I am Your Spy” written Another way to be active is to tell the story in Sacramento. who revealed to the Times of London in 1986 the from Ashkelon Prison, ends as follows: “I’ve of Sadako, the Japanese girl who inspires us to Check out facts of Israel’s nuclear weapons. He provided 60 heard the voice of my conscience/and there is no never again allow the use of nuclear weapons. As www.sacpeace.org. photos with the exact location of Israel’s approxi- place to hide./…I’m on your mission. I am doing she sickened due to radiation poisoning, Sadako mately 200 bombs. From London, he was spirited my duty.Take/ it from me/. Come and see for labored to fold 1,000 origami cranes so she could off to Israel, tried in a secret court and given an yourselves. Lighten my/ burden. Stop the train./ write peace on their wings and send this message 18-year sentence, eleven of which he spent in Get off the train. The next step—nuclear/disaster. around the world. If you would like to help pres- solitary confinement. Released in 2004, he was The next book,/the next machine. No. There is no ent the story of Sadako and help children fold re-arrested in his walled sanctuary at St George’s such thing.” cranes, contact Kazuyo Morishita at 487-1414. Anglican Church by 29 machine gun wielding We must listen, lighten his burden and save police commandos in bullet-proof vests. The ourselves. bishop wrote the Israeli Prime Minister “In 100 Mary Bisharat is a retired therapist and peace years of the cathedral’s history, such an event had activist. www.bpmnews.org January / February 2009 BECAUSE PEOPLE MATTER 11 Happy Birthday, Universal Declaration of Human Rights! Time to ratify the International Covenant By Susan Scott

When Tom Brokaw asked during the second stitution. So, in 1966, the UN adopted two presidential debate whether healthcare was treaties to bind members to the UDHR com- a “right,” McCain said he thought it was a mitments. The International Covenant of “responsibility,” Obama said “it should be a right Political and Civil Rights (ICPC)—covering for every American.” the rights to vote, Actually, it not only [T]he US…is one of to an impartial SHOULD be a right; court, to speak out it IS a right—in most the only industrialized and associate, and countries, that is. nations that has refused to not be discrimi- The Universal Decla- nated against—was ration of Human Rights, to make a commitment to ratified in 1977, Eleanor Roosevelt holding the Univer- the first internationally the economic, social and signed by President sal Declaration of Human Rights recognized definition Carter in 1977, photo: udhr.org of the basic rights of all cultural rights of its people. and ratified by the Now why would that be? Could it have to do human beings, drafted US Congress in 1992. with our (now bankrupt) capitalist system that with the support of Eleanor Roosevelt, was Much like the practice of George W. Bush’s defines health care, housing and—increasingly— signed by the US and 47 of 55 members of the signing statements, however, the US ratified the education, water and even security as a com- newly created United Nations on December 10, ICPCR with several “reservations,” including modity? Could the preeminent role of private 1948. Only the Soviet Bloc, Saudi Arabia and requiring additional legislation by Congress for property in our constitutional system be imped- South Africa abstained. On December 10, 2008 enforcement. Nevertheless, its provisions are ing the ability the American people to savor their hundreds of thousands throughout the world universally recognized. internationally recognized human rights? Coffee from celebrated its 60th anniversary. Economic, social and cultural rights, however, Of course signing on to a Covenant doesn’t Nicaragua Americans might be surprised to know that were too controversial for the US to sign even mean actual compliance, but at least signatories Support Sacramento’s the US government has defined human rights to with reservations—and were therefore split off are obligated to make regular progress reports sister city, San Juan include not only free and fair voting, fair trials, into a separate treaty. The International Cov- and move toward compliance. And since last de Oriente, Nicaragua, free speech and prohibition against slavery and enant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights summer, people who claim violation of their by purchasing organic discrimination, but also health care, housing, was signed by Jimmy Carter in 1977 but has yet rights under the ICESCR have a forum at the UN whole-bean coffee social security and employment. even to be submitted to Congress for ratification. to make their complaint. grown in the rich volcanic soil on the As Article 25 of the UDHR states: “Everyone The ICESCR has now been ratified by 162 of Many of us walked out of Michael Moore’s island of Omotepe, has the right to a standard of living adequate for the 192 UN members, including virtually all of Sicko wondering why our country is so out of Nicaragua. the health and well-being of himself and his fam- Europe and Latin America. step with the rest of the industrialized world Thanks to the efforts of ily, including food, clothing, housing and medical So the US—supposed leading light for human when it comes to healthcare. We blamed it on the Bainbridge-Omotepe care and necessary social services and the right to rights and whose first lady helped draft the Bush and the Republicans. But the history of US Sister Island Association security in the event of unemployment, sickness, document 60 years ago—is one of the only resistance to the ICESCR indicates that some- in Washington, we are able to bring you this disability, widowhood, old age or other lack of industrialized nations that has refused to make thing else is going on. Republicans and Demo- wonderful medium roast livelihood in circumstances beyond his control.” a commitment to the economic, social and cul- crats alike consider government responsibility for coffee. Article 23 provides for the right to work and pro- tural rights of its people—rights long enjoyed Americans’ economic, social and cultural rights Your purchase helps the tection from unemployment as well. in Europe and most industrialized countries to be “socialist” and inconsistent with our “way farmers on the island But the UDHR was only a “declaration,” not a and now finally being fulfilled in much of Latin of life.” and helps support treaty enforceable in US courts under our Con- America. To avoid hypocrisy, perhaps we should un- Sacramento’s long sign the UDHR, like Bush did with the Kyoto relationship with San Juan de Oriente. Protocol. All profits go directly Or better, perhaps we should pressure our new back to the Nicaraguan administration and Congress to help us celebrate communities. Who Owns Black History Month? UDHR’s 60th Anniversary by finally ratifying the $9.00 a pound. InternationalSOCIALLY-CONSCIOUS Convenant on Economic, Social Available in Sacramento organizer David Walker? Are not these people and Cultural Rights—without “reservations.” at: The Book Collector, Reclaiming the past 1008 24th St. By Roger White and struggles part of our history as well? Former Sacramentan Susan Scott is a lawyer Today Black History Month is an artifact of whoINVESTING Chairs the National Lawyers Guild’s Task Every February the debate continues. Do we the same mid-twentieth century black bourgeois ForceAlign on the Americas your investmentsand has organized of sev- really need Black History month anymore? Isn’t culture that brought us “First Negro” books eral delegations to Venezuela. Black History fully integrated into the standard and back page Jet and Ebony “announcements” with your values American History curriculum? Isn’t it, at best, detailing the grand achievements of our up and a slightly patronizing gesture that promotes coming. The banal and the pretentious walk 916/444.2233 Bob Dreizler the marginalization of black achievement and, hand as they seduce blacks eager to believe that Chartered 2012 H St. #200 Financial at worse, a divisive relic of the past that black they too, somehow, have arrived. In this land of Consultant Midtown Sacramento Americans should have outgrown by now. And make-believe there is little room for the overtly Author of besides don’t we have a black president anyways? political or even mildly upsetting. [email protected] Tending Your Money Garden Well, whatever one may think of Black History But the fact that Black History Month has www.bobdreizler.com

Month it certainly isn’t going anywhere. There’s been de-politicalized over its lifespan is true and Registered Representative with Protected Investors of America, Member NASD, SIPC. Investment Advisory Representative of First Affirmative Financial Network, LLC. First Affirmative is an independent Registered Investment Advisor registered with the Securities and just too much money in it—sponsorships, “proj- sad and almost beside the point. The lament isn’t Exchange Commission (sec file #801-56587). First Affirmative is not a subsidiary or affiliate of Protected Investors of America. ects,” tax write-offs, ticket so much that Black His- sales—you get the picture. Black history has tory has been defanged and PepsiCo, Ford, General Elec- been defanged and Disneyfied by those who tric have not only gotten into have an interest in managing the act, they happen to own Disneyfied by those our history. If we controlled the act. Each Black History who have an interest in our own history we could Month these corporations remedy that, but we don’t, combine feel-good diversity managing our history. and that’s the problem. In images with product placement, spending more a chapter entitled “Education Under Outside time explaining the merits of their products than Control,” Carter G Woodson, the founder of the achievements of black people. How much any Black History Week, stated that Black education of this commerce actually benefits black people should “not be determined from without by is a question worth asking, but the answer is forces set to direct the proscribed element in a probably fairly difficult to know for sure. What is way to redound solely to the good of others but Bob Dreizler SOCIALLY-CONSCIOUS Chartered Financial clear is that what started out as a response to the should be determined by the make-up of the Consultant systematic suppression and distortion of black Negro himself.” The lament is that the decisions Author of Tending Your Money Garden achievement that was part and parcel of Ameri- about what our Black Historical figures mean to INVESTING available in book department ca’s Jim Crow culture is today an industry largely our community and the world should be in the Align your investments external to the black community that traffics in hands of the people who knew them best and 916/444.2233 the familiar, the trite, and the safe. Aren’t there from which they came. That cannot be said today with your values 2012 H St. #200 important black cultural and political figures and and this is the great tragedy of Black History Midtown Sacramento movements that still remain largely ignored by Month. Registered Representative for securities and RegisteredInvestment Representative Advisory with Protected Representative, Investors of America, MemberProtected NASD, SIPC. Investment our Black History Month boosters? What about Roger White is a criminal justice researcher Advisory Representative of First Affirmative Financial Network, LLC. First Affirmative is an independent [email protected] RegisteredInvestors Investment of America.Advisor registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (sec file the Black Populists of the 1880’s and 90’s? What with the Service Employees International Union. #801-56587). First Affirmative is not a subsidiary or affiliate of Protected Investors of America. www.bobdreizler.com about labor organizer Lucy Parsons and rebel He lives in Sacramento. 12 Because People Matter January / February 2009 www.bpmnews.org

Sacramento Area Peace Action (SacPeace) 916-448-7157 • [email protected] • www.sacpeace.org Reporting Live from the West Bank, Palestine

The following are excerpts from the weekly Distances aren’t far here, but for Palestinians We stopped at a new friend’s home for sage reports of Sacramentans’ Maggie Coulter and in the West Bank, Jerusalem might as well be tea and delicious baked flat bread of zataar (like Patricia Daugherty, who have been living in the in California. They’re not allowed to travel to oregano) and cheese, then went off to see the West Bank, Palestine, since mid-October, 2008. Jerusalem without first getting a difficult-to-get vegetable fields, talking with people we met along The complete set of their reports and photos are at Israeli-issued permit. the way. Wadi Fukeen has 11 natural springs, http://bethlehemupdates.blogspot.com). Our Bethlehem taxi, because of its Palestin- which flow into collection pools which are then ian license plates, can only go a few miles on the used for irrigation. This spring water used to be Being Here, It’s Clear well-maintained settlement bypass roads. Then potable—but it’s no longer safe to drink. Even We have heard people say that Israel made it has to divert to a poorly maintained road to though the villagers posted signs in Hebrew Swiss cheese of the West Bank, Palestine. Being the village. Both the Jewish-only bypass road to asking them not to do this, settlers swam in the here makes that clear on a visceral level. One the illegal Israeli settlement, Beitar Illit, and the pools, contaminating the water. We’ve heard set- hill after another is topped with a settlement settlement itself, were built on land stolen from tlers deliberately contaminated water in other or military tower. The long blade of the Ari’el Bethlehem district towns and villages like Wadi areas of the West Bank too. Now Wadi Fukeen Fukeen and Nahhalin. must buy drinking water from Mekorot, Israel’s On the potholed, water company; water that Israel stole from single lane road, we the deep Palestinian aquifer. Palestinians aren’t pass along the ancient allowed to drill wells without Israel’s permission. terraced hills of olive Our guide points out a large open pipe below trees into a small the settlements. Although the settlement’s sewage beautiful fertile valley; is supposed to be piped to Jerusalem for treat- stone farm houses ment, when the system overflows, raw sewage formed the central flows out of the pipe, down the hillside, into the village. Further on, village’s vegetable fields. The village farmers have on the valley floor, tried to work around the contamination by build- are fields with lush ing raised beds and diverting the dirty water. vegetables. Since this is a dry place, seeing School Field Trip Under Occupation these beautiful green We’d waited for a bus with school kids from the vegetables is quite a Aida Refugee Camp, who were on a field trip—a sight! wonderful outing for these kids who live in very But the sight one cramped conditions. The Apartheid Wall has now can’t escape is the cut the camp off from the olive grove that was the massive, looming set- last remaining nearby open space. The bus had The Palestinian community of Abu Dis is nearly sur- tlement snaking along gotten a flat tire so it was almost dark when we rounded by the Apartheid Wall. People are cut off the ridge and spilling were all finally in the bus. We watched a harvest from their lands and they are cut off from Jerusalem. down towards village moon rise as we bumped along the road. The effect is killing the community. homes. Everyone in the Suddenly the bus came to a halt. A repeated photo: Bethlehem Updates village has already lost whisper: Jaysh (Arabic for army). The Israeli land to this illegal set- soldiers ordered the men off the bus, both Pales- settlement (started in 1978 and now covering tlement and still the land theft continues. As your tinians and internationals. As an Israeli soldier 3400 acres stolen from Palestinian villages) cuts eye follows along the ridge, you see more housing walked down the aisle, his gear got caught in a through nearly half the West Bank. The apartheid being constructed. And beyond that, the hill’s little girl’s hair. The children were quiet. When wall surrounds, divides, and cuts off Palestinian been leveled for more construction. Rocks and the men were let back on, we proceeded. villages and towns from one another. Hundreds dirt scraped from the hill were simply pushed Then there was crying and screaming. The bus of Israeli military checkpoints within the West into the next valley, burying village of Nahhalin’s lurched to a stop again. Patricia heard several Bank make travel difficult, delayed, and very olive groves. While building in the illegal Israeli kids yell “grenade!” The children were helped off unpleasant. But one does not have to come here settlements continues, Israel completely restricts the bus and several of them had to be held tightly. to understand; read our stories, see the boxed construction in the Palestinian villages. They were screaming in pure terror. Thankfully, text: “What has Happened,” or look at a current Our tour guide to the village is a Jewish-Israeli it had just been steam gushing out of a hole that map at the UN website www.ochaopt.org. man from a nearby town on the other side of had blown in the bus’s heating system. But these the green line. He has been involved with efforts children have witnessed Israeli military incur- to support the Wadi sions into their camp and into their homes. That Fukeen farmers; he there would be a grenade on the bus after the is warmly greeted soldier had walked down the aisle was a real pos- by villagers as we go sibility to them! through town. He tells That evening, at an event in the Bethlehem us that when villagers Peace Center, we heard the Representative of the recently asked Israeli Republic of Poland to the Palestinian National authorities where they Authority talk about Poland’s connection to might build in the Palestine; two peoples who have been occupied, future, they were told had their people killed and their land stolen. all remaining available He offered his hope that, like Poland, Palestine, land would be taken would one day be free from occupation and for the settlement. We would have its lands restored. wonder how Palestin- ians cope with this Villagers Resist the Taking of their Lands ever-present threat to Jayyus, a village of 3500, is near the their future and their 1948-armistice line in the West Bank. When children’s future. Israel constructed its illegal apartheid wall, it Looking at the scar uprooted several hundred of Jayyus’s olive trees. left by bulldozing the And since 2003, the residential part of Jayyus has Israeli “Security Road” carves through Palestinian ridge, we are remind- been on the east side of the wall and most of its land. ed of the huge illegal agricultural lands are on the west side. Israel has In the Military settlement we see cut off their water supply, allowing villagers very photo: Bethlehem updates & Need Help or everyday from Beth- limited access to their wells through a locked gate Want to Get Out? lehem, Har Homa. It controlled by the Israeli military. GI Rights Hotline: 800- Wadi Fukeen: A Village Surrounded had been forest but has been designated a “nature To get to their trees, local farmers have to 394-9544; girights@ Our visit to the Village of Wadi Fukeen preserve” by Israel, a euphemism for land they obtain Israeli permits. Only a limited number are objector.org, encapsulates the bittersweet experience of Pales- would eventually steal. Ten years ago, despite issued—usually to old men, and rarely to young, www.objector.org tine: persistent hope, tenacity and dignity despite international protest, the Israelis cut down trees, more able-bodied men in the family. Some farm- Courage to Resist: 510- a virulent Israeli occupation. Wadi (Arabic for flattened the hilltop and put up what looks like a ers haven’t been able to obtain permits for three 488-3559, valley) Fukeen is in the Bethlehem district. It’s concrete jungle. How sickening it must’ve been years and if a farmer doesn’t work his land for www.couragetoresist.org almost as close to the Old City of Jerusalem as for Bethlehem families to watch, knowing they three years, it’s confiscated by Israel. it is to the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem. could do nothing to change the outcome. In November, instead of waiting for a pend- www.bpmnews.org January / February 2009 BECAUSE PEOPLE MATTER 13

in, so we got out of take an Israeli bus from Jerusalem.” Waving our the taxi. blue USA passports, we who have been here a few We spent half an weeks can travel relatively freely. But not so for hour or so talking Yassar who has lived in Palestine his entire life. It with three teen sol- should be his birthright, but he cannot go to the diers. One said God Jordan River or the Dead Sea or …. had given Israel the At the first checkpoint on the way back to land. Another said Bethlehem, everyone’s ID was inspected. At the that no power that second there were long lines because the Israeli takes land gives it soldiers were only now and again waving the back. The third one cars through while they chatted with each other. said if they weren’t While in our time here, we have crossed a num- there, the Palestin- ber of checkpoints where the Israeli soldiers are ians would push the not deliberately holding up the cars, the fact that Israelis out. Two said their government trains and allows them to be that they didn’t like callous and even cruel to a whole group of fellow what they were doing, human beings does not bode well for them or the but had to join the Palestinians. The Apartheid Wall in Bethlehem’s Aida Refugee army and were just Camp doing what they were photo: Bethlehem Updates told. They said they’d tried to be nice to the ing court decision, the Israeli military began Palestinians. We talked about the Nuremberg re-routing part of the existing apartheid wall, a principles, that one can’t just follow orders. They Sacramento Area Peace Action maneuver that will confiscate approximately 150 said they hadn’t heard about those. We talked Palestine Speaker Series more acres than the former route, plus four vil- about what happened in 1948 and 1967, and what Weds., January 21, 2009 - History lage wells. (We’ve heard it’s not unusual for the is going on today. We suggested they read Ilan February 17, 2009 - Zionism military to preempt or ignore court orders). Pappe’s book, the Ethnic Cleansing of Palestine. March 17, 2009 Environmental Issues In response, Jayyus villagers, like those in We left the soldiers and walked away on a April 21, 2009 Divestment Burqa, Ni’lin, and Bi’lin, protested with the dirt road into the olive grove. We met two Pal- May 19, 2009 Current Realities/One State support of Palestinians from other towns, inter- estinian boys going to the village by a different June 16, 2009 Two Sacramentan’s Impres- nationals, and Israeli peace and justice activists route and followed them. Once in the village we sions (like Anarchists Against the Wall). Their first heard explosions. According to a Ecumenical demonstration on November 14 was completely Accompaniment Project Palestine-Israel (EAPPI) All events except as noted above will be held non-violent, reported a friend of ours with the report, the demonstration was mostly peaceful. on the 3rd Tuesday at 7pm at 909 12th St. Michigan Peace Team (MPT). A group of vil- The village elders kept young boys from throw- Sacramento lage women stood arm-in-arm facing the young ing stones as the demonstration moved from the Israeli soldiers chanting in Arabic, “No, no to the center towards the wells. When the demonstra- Wall.” (A full account and pictures are at www. tion began to break up and people moved back mptinpalestine.blogspot.com) to the center of the village, some of the boys did At the demonstration the following week, throw stones. The Israeli soldiers began shooting November 21, there was initially no army pres- rubber-coated steel bullets and throwing tear gas The filmPalestine Blues will be screened ence. The MTPer said that for years the villag- canisters and sound bombs. January 27, 2009, at 7pm, 909 12th St. ers had been stopped at the gate, but this day There are EAPPI volunteers throughout the Palestine Blues follows the repercussions of someone climbed the fence. Someone broke West Bank as well as in Israel. They observe at the Israeli Security Wall and Settlement ex- the lock. The razor wire got damaged. The vil- checkpoints and during curfews. Through non- pansion in the engulfed/annexed Palestinian lagers stepped out onto the military road. Their violent advocacy actions they’re trying to end farming communities of the West Bank and resistance to years of occupation and humiliation the occupation. EAPPI has had a volunteer team the Gaza Strip. Instead of focusing on the targeted the gate, the closest part of the apartheid in Jayyus since 2004. (See team reports at www. Wall as an object, Palestine Blues examines wall. Then electric sensors went off, alerting the eappi.org.) the grassroots resistance movement that has soldiers, who then forced the demonstrators back Later, we were heartened to hear some young sprung up against it. toward the village using gunfire and tear gas. The Israelis are refusing to go into the military. (See village was put under curfew. Some internation- www.december18th.org) als accompanying villagers home got arrested. (See www.mptinpalestine.blogspot.com) The Road from Jericho On Friday, November 28, we headed for Jayyus After spending a day hiking through the beau- What has happened: from Tulkarem in a collective taxi we shared tiful Wadi Qelt (see our blog for more details), we with local Stop the Wall activists (see www.stop- arrive in Jericho too late to get a shared taxi back In 1948, the Zionists took 78% of the land of thewall.org) to attend the third demonstration. to Bethlehem. A nice young similarly-stranded historic Palestine—the 1947 UN partition would But there was a new military checkpoint at the man helped us find a place to stay. have given them 51%. In that first land grab, base of the road going up to the village, which sits The next morning, an elderly gentleman, Yas- the Zionist militias drove about three-quarters on a hill. The soldiers told us it was a closed mili- sar, offered to drive us to the ruins of Hisham’s of the indigenous population, an estimated tary zone and that no internationals were allowed palace, built in the 700s. After the palace, he took 800,000 people, out of their homes in towns and us through two large 475 villages. The fleeing people sought refuge refugee camps, but in neighboring countries, the West Bank and unlike those in Beth- Gaza, and in other villages inside what is called lehem which have the “green-line,” i.e. the 1948 armistice line. permanent structures, The Zionist militias then destroyed most of the the Jericho refugee villages. camps are a mix of buildings and make- The next major wave of land theft was in 1967. shift shacks. One had Israel attacked Egypt, then Jordan and Syria and a mattress for part of took lands from each of them; the West Bank, the roof. the Gaza Strip, the Golan Heights, and Egypt’s Because Yassar Sinai Peninsula. More than 400,000 Palestin- seemed happy to drive ians were forced from their homes and lands, us and charged much some, who had already been made refugees in less than a private 1948, yet again. The Sinai was returned to Egypt cab, we asked him to in 1980-82, but the rest lands are still illegally take us to the Jordan occupied by Israel. In violation of the Geneva River. “No, the area Convention, Israel began almost immediately is sealed off by the to build illegal settlements for Jewish-Israelis, Israeli military.” How in Gaza and the West Bank; illegal settlement Israeli Military deteining Palestinian families on about the few kilo- building started in the Golan in the 1970’s. meters to the Dead Although Israel pulled its settlements out of Palestinian roads in the West Bank Sea? “No, because of Gaza in 2005, it continues a devastating de facto photo: Bethlehem Updates. the Israelis. It’s best to occupation. 14 Because People Matter January / February 2009 www.bpmnews.org

Book Review The Much Too Promised Land: America’s Elusive Search for Arab- Israeli Peace by Aaron David Miller, Bantam Books, 2008, hardback, 395 pages. By Brigitte Jaensch Miller, though, shows us it was Clinton and Author Aaron David Miller’s grandfather was Barak who had no idea “what it would take to an ardent Zionist, and he describes his father close the deal.” as a “masterful fund-raiser” for Israel who once Miller’s “Domestic Politics” observations warned presidential candidate Jimmy Carter: generally validate what John Mearsheimer and “I’ll support you, but if you ever let Israel down, Stephen Walt presented in their book The Israel I’ll never forget it.” Miller himself concedes an Lobby. By whatever name it’s called, dealing with “inherent tendency” to see things from “Israel’s that pro-Israel community, Miller says, is “every vantage point.” But after more than twenty years bit as taxing as dealing with the Arabs and the in the United States State Department’s Bureau Israelis.” President Clinton so conscientiously of Near East Affairs, he realizes the US calls itself courted pro-Israel interests that the American- a broker in Israel-Palestine negotiations, but by Israel Public Affairs Committee’s (AIPAC) Steve “catering and coordinating with the Israelis” the Grossman named him “America’s first Jewish US behaves as “Israel’s Lawyer.” In The Much Too president.” Miller describes AIPAC as “a pro-Isra- Promised Land: America’s Elusive Search for Arab- el political machine,” which works the country Israeli Peace, Miller explores US Middle East “district by district, state by state….” Miller con- policy and those who influence it. cedes his “concern for Israel’s well-being … [is] Per Miller, the Clinton administration con- like some sort of ethnic DNA,” and maybe that vened the 2000 Camp David Talks at Israeli is why Miller inexplicably fails to disclose Den- Prime Minister Ehud Barak’s insistence. Then, nis Ross’s and then Assistant Secretary of State according to administration staffers, the whole for Near East Affairs Martin Indyk’s tight ties to thing was pretty much run out of Ambassador AIPAC via its think tank Washington Institute for Dennis Ross’s hip pocket. People sat around won- Near East Policy. dering what to do next. And Secretary of State Because Miller and Mearsheimer/Walt agree And while Baker got the Israelis to let Palestin- Madeline Albright said Barak was nothing but US Middle East policy does not serve America’s ians sit at the negotiation table, Israel got to “blah, blah, blah.” As for reaching agreement on best interest, it’s important to ask: How influ- choose with whom they’d negotiate. After getting one of the three thorniest issues, the final status ential are “Domestic Politics” in shaping that Israel-acceptable Palestinians seated at the table, of Jerusalem, according to Miller, Clinton advisor policy? Mearsheimer/Walt maintain the Israel Baker went no further. He never insisted Israel John Podesta remarked incredulously that Clin- Lobby is a strong influence. But Miller’s explana- actually negotiate. Baker let the Israelis maintain ton seemed to think “you could just pull it out tion is closer to something the Anti-Defamation what Miller terms their “don’t fuck with us” of your ass….” Miller says “anyone who believes League’s executive director Abe Foxman might intransigence. that Israelis and Palestinians came ‘this close’ to devise: Pro-Israel pressure doesn’t influence US Miller includes other topics, like: Clinton’s an agreement has spent too much time with the Middle East policy, but rather, US policymakers hero-worship for Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak peace-process tooth fairy.” “self-censor” US policy into what they think the Rabin; Israeli officials collaborating with US But “this close to an agreement” is precisely pro-Israel community will want. Christian extremist groups; and he reproaches Clinton’s, Dennis Ross’s, and Madeline Albright’s To find any US peacemaker successes, besides the current Bush administration for not engag- version. They put all the blame on Palestinian President Jimmy Carter, Miller has to fudge. He ing in peace negotiations. After reading his book President Yasser Arafat because, they claim, he focuses more on the personalities of Secretar- through one has to wonder: Why even call it wouldn’t close the deal. Miller writes that just ies of State Henry Kissinger and James Baker negotiation if all the US does is play “Israel’s days after becoming Secretary of State, Colin because neither was really productive. Kissinger Lawyer”? Powell remembers Clinton “…‘ranting on the froze out the Palestinians by making it illegal for Brigitte Jaensch is a Sacramento-based human phone’ about how Arafat had ruined everything.” US negotiators to talk directly to Palestinians. rights advocate.

Economy from page 1 “The world can either continue to pursue the important than ever that we, the people, demand again—and I, for one, am committed to working arms race with characteristic vigour or move that our nation’s valuable human and financial even harder to make third time the charm. If we consciously and with deliberate speed towards a resources not be wasted on war and preparation had a Congress filled with Durstons we’d have a more stable and balanced social and economic for war, but that they be invested instead in more very different country. development within a more sustainable interna- balanced, stable, and sustainable social and eco- tional economic and political order; it cannot do nomic development. both.” The current economic crisis is both a wakeup BPM Editorial Group member Jeanie Keltner call and an opportunity for our country. We can says: Durston, emergency room physician and go the way of the other nations that throughout decorated Marine combat vet, came within 5 per- history have tried and ultimately all failed, to centage points of winning California’s 3rd district dominate the world through military might or we Congressional seat in November. Responding can lead the world in working toward peace and to urging of supporters, Bill has agreed to run prosperity by turning swords into ploughshares. The election of Barack Obama as President of the United States brings hope for a new direction for our country and the world. But the election of Barack Obama is the beginning, not the end, of Your subscription the changes that need to occur in order to move toward a more peaceful and prosperous future. keeps us going! In today’s troubled economic times, it is more Have you sent in your subscription form??

If you are a tenant and you are worried Time Tested Books working for that your landlord has allowed NOW BUYING ALLIANCE PEACE & JUSTICE the rental property to go into Political posters, handbills & pamphlets and a proud sponsor of AUDIO-VISUAL & VIDEO foreclosure, see this site for in- Books on history, labor, & politics “Because People Matter” formation that might help you! Records of blues, jazz, rock, punk, world, R&B, & spoken word. And, of course, we are selling books & records, too! www.tenantsforeclosure. LCD COMPUTER & VIDEO PROJECTORS We are located at 1114 21st Street, Sacramento. offering a SLIDE & OVERHEAD PROJECTORS 30% to 50% blogspot.com/ PA SYSTEMS – WIRELESS MICS – MIXERS Our new hours are M–Sat: 11am–7pm, Sunday: 11am–3pm discount Alison Brennan is a long-ago (Please call for appt. if selling.) SCREENS – TV MONITORS – PODIUMS AUDIO & DIGITAL VIDEO RECORDING <> <> <> tenant activist. She lives in 916-447-5696. for Peace & Sacramento. www.timetestedbooks.net (916) 451-2658 Justice events www.bpmnews.org January / February 2009 BECAUSE PEOPLE MATTER 15

Send calendar items for the Mar. / Apr. 2009 issue to [email protected] January / February Calendar by Feb. 10, with “calendar item” in the subject line. Make it short, and PLEASE use this format: Day, Date. Name of event. Description (1–2 lines). Time. Location. Price. INFO: phone#; e-mail. For the most current listing of Sacramento peace & justice events, go to www.sacpeace.org. ONGOING EVENTS For weekly updates, email [email protected] and put SacPeaceUpdates in the subject. 11th OF EVERY MONTH: 4th TUESDAYS: Peace and 5855, www.sacramento- Sacramento 9/11 Truth Justice Films. 7pm. Peace dancesofuniversalpeace. Demonstration. 11th and L Action, 909 12th Street. org. COMMUNITY CALENDAR Sts, (Nov 11 at 16 & J Sts). INFO:448-7157. 1st SATURDAYS: Health INFO: www.truthaction. 4th TUESDAYS: (Odd num- Care for All. 10am–noon. org, 916-372-8433. bered months) Amnesty Hart Senior Ctr, 27th & J. Monday, January 5, 7–9pm your loved ones by demanding peace. We will MONDAYS: Sacramento Int’l. 7pm. Sacramento For single-payer universal Paddy Quick. “Household Production and Com- display signs and banners (bring yours!) during modity Production.” See Marxist School below. this busy event, with candles and glow sticks so Poetry Center hosts poetry Friends Meeting, 890- health care. INFO: 916- we will all be visible in the dark. 20th and J in readings. 7:30pm. 1719 57th St. INFO: 489-2419. 424-5316; cnegrete@ Saturday, January 10, 6:30 - 8pm downtown Sacramento. Information: Veterans 25th Street. www.sacra- 1st WEDNESDAYS: Peace comcast.net. Demand Peace Now! Demonstration and for Peace, 916-698-8131. Weather permitting. mentopoetrycenter.org. vigil at the 2nd Saturday Art Walk, organized & Freedom Party. 7pm. 1st SATURDAYS: Sacra- by Veterans for Peace (VFP). We will display Monday, Feb. 16, 1pm 1st MONDAYS: Organic INFO: 456-4595. mento Area Peace Action signs and banners (bring yours!) during this President’s Day: Sacramento Area Coalition Sacramento: Counter 3 r d W E D N E S DAY S : Vigil. 11:30am–1:30pm. busy event, with candles and glow sticks so Against the Death Penalty Potluck Lunch. 651 ongoing threats to our CAAC Goes to the Mov- Arden and Heritage (en- we will all be visible in the dark. 20th and J in 55th St. RSVP Georgia Lyga 455-1796 or lyga- [email protected]. food. 6:30pm. INFO: www. ies. 7:15pm. INFO: 446- trance to Arden Mall). downtown Sacramento. INFO: 916-698-8131. organicsacramento.org. INFO: 448-7157. Weather permitting. 3304. Thursday, Feb. 19, 7-9pm Ann Tompkins and Lincoln Cushing. “Chinese 1st MONDAYS: Sac Media THURSDAYS: Urban Farm 2nd & 4th SATURDAYS: Sunday, January 11 Sacto 9/11 Truth demonstration. 11th & L Sts, Posters: Art from the Great Proletarian Cultural Group. 6–8pm. Coloma Stand, 4–7pm, River Gar- Community Contra Dance. Community Center, 4623 8–11pm; 7:30 lessons. facing Capitol north entrance. Time and INFO: Revolution.” See Marxist School below. den Estates, 2201 North- www.truthaction.org, 916-372-8433. T Street. INFO: 443-1792, view Dr. Coloma Center 4623 T Sunday, February 22, 12–2pm [email protected]. Street. INFO: 395-3483. Thursday, Jan. 15, 7-9pm Demand Peace Now! Demonstration and vigil, THURSDAYS: Daddy’s Here. Eugene Coyle. “The economic and environmen- organized by Veterans for Peace (VFP); bring 3rd MONDAYS: SAPA Men’s support group; info 3rd SATURDAYS: Sacra- Peace and Sustainability mento Area Peace Action tal crises and a radical but practical response to your signs and banners with peace messages. on custody, divorce, raising them.” See Marxist School below. 16th & Broadway (2500 16th St., in front of R5 Committee. 6–8pm. INFO: children. 7–8:30pm. Free! Vigil. 11:30am–1:30pm. Records), Sacramento. Information: Veterans Peace Action, 448-7157. Ctr for Families, 2251 Flo- Marconi & Fulton. INFO: Saturday, January 17, 9:30am to 3pm for Peace, 916-456-4595. Weather permitting. 3rd MONDAYS: Sacto rin Rd, Ste 102. INFO: terry 448-7157. Quarterly meeting of California Gray Panther Networks. St Paul’s African Methodist Episco- 9/11 Truth:Questioning @fathersandfamilies.com. 3rd SATURDAYS: Under- pal Church, 2024 Ashby Avenue, Berkeley, CA the “War on Terror.” 6– 568-3237x 205. ground Poetry Series, . Wheelchair Accessible . INFO: Margot Smith, 8pm. Denny’s 3rd & J St. 1st and 2nd THURSDAYS: open mic plus featured po- 510-548-9696. Senior Legal Workshop Series, INFO: sac911truth@gmail. Storytelling at the Hart ets. 7–9pm. Underground Ethel Hart Center 915 27th Street Sacramento com 372-8433. Books, 2814 35th Street Saturday January 17, 6–10pm Senior Center, 27th & J Spaghetti Western Fundraiser, sponsored by CA 95816 3rd MONDAYS: Lesbian sts. 7pm. Free. INFO: 916- (at Broadway), Sacramen- Sessions cover planning for long-term care; to. $3. INFO: 737-3333. Stages-Northern California Performing Arts. Join Cancer Support Group. 362-9013, or PaulIdaho@ us for an evening of pasta, live music, country line foreclosures, Advance Health care Direc- 6:30 Bring partners or sup- comcast.net. 4th SATURDAYS: Sierra dancing (and instruction), silent auction. Blue tives, Landlord-Denant issues. port people with you. Open Permaculture Guild gen- Goose Shed, Loomis CA. Tickets $25, available Thursday, January 22nd, 2009,1 pm FRIDAYS: Movies on a at www.Stages-PerformingArts.org Thursday, February 26th, 2009,1 pm discussions with everyone. Big Screen. Independent, eral mtg. 6:30–9pm. The INFO: Roxanne Harden- Sacred Bee, 1451 E. Main Thursday, March 26th, 2009, 1pm quirky movies and videos. Sunday, January 25, 12–2pm Thursday, April 23rd, 2009, 1pm berg; ROXANNE1040@ 7pm. 600 4th St, West Sac. St., Grass Valley.INFO: Si- Demand Peace Now! Demonstration and vigil, aol.com. erraPermaculture.org organized by Veterans for Peace (VFP); bring Thursday, May 28th, 2009, 1pm INFO: www.shiny-object. FREE TUESDAYS: Call for Peace com/screenings/. SUNDAYS: Sacto Food Not your signs and banners with peace messages. 16th & Broadway (2500 16th St., in front of R5 (916) 808-5462 Vigil. 4–6pm. 16th and J 1st FRIDAYS: Community Bombs. 1:30pm. Come Records), Sacramento. INFO: Veterans for Peace, St. INFO 448-7157. Contra Dance. 8–11pm; help distribute food at 9th 916-456-4595. Weather permitting. and J Streets. TUESDAYS: Improv work- 7:30pm beginners les- Saturday, February 7, 8pm DARWIN DAY! shop. Solve the world’s sons. Clunie Auditorium, 1st SUNDAYS: Zapatis- Opening Night of LYREBIRD. U.S. Premiere of Save the date: Sunday, Feb. 8, 2009 problems through improv McKinley Pk, Alhambra & ta Solidarity Coalition. internationally acclaimed hilarious Australian The 12th Annual Celebration of games! 7–9:30pm. Geery F. INFO: 530-274-9551. 10am–noon. 909 12th St. solo show about one man’s passion for theatre Charles Darwin’s Birthday Theatre, 2130 L street, 2nd FRIDAYS: Dances of INFO: 443-3424. and fantasy. 24th Street Theatre, 2791 24th St., Sac. $5.00, first time free. Sac. Plays Feb 5–22. $20/24. INFO/Tickets: (530) Featuring speaker Michael Shermer Universal Peace. 7:30– 2nd SUNDAYS: Atheists 656-2116 , www.SacramentoLyreBird.com. INFO: Damion, 916-821- 9:30pm. Sacramento & Other Freethinkers. 4533, dsharpeproduc- Friends Meeting House 2:30pm. Sierra 2 Center, Sunday, Feb. 8 [email protected]. 890 57th St. $5–$10 Room 10, 2791 24th St. Darwin Day Celebration. See display this page. 2nd TUESDAYS: Gray Pan- donation requested. INFO: INFO: 447-3589. Wednesday, February 11 thers. 1–3pm. Hart Senior Joyce, www.sacramento- Sacto 9/11 Truth Demonstration. 11th and L Ctr., 27th & J St. dancesofuniversalpeace. Streets, facing Capitol north entrance. INFO: 2nd TUESDAYS: Peace org, 916-832-4630. www.truthaction.org, 916-372-8433. Network (speakers and 4th FRIDAYS: Dances at Saturday, February 14, 6:30–8pm discussion), 6:30pm. Christ Unity Church, 9249 Be a Sweetheart & Demand Peace Now! Demon- Mr. Michael Shermer is a regular Luna’s Cafe, 1414 16th Folsom Blvd. All Welcome stration and vigil at the 2nd Saturday Art Walk, columnist for Scientific American, the Street. INFO: Sac Area $5–$10 donation request- organized by Veterans for Peace (VFP). Honor publisher of Skeptic Magazine, and author Peace Action 448-7157. ed. INFO: Christine 457- of Why People Believe Weird Things; The Borderlands of Science: Where Sense Meets The Marxist School of Sacramento Nonsense, and How We Believe: the Search Great Holiday January / February 2009 Activities Sierra 2 Center, Garden Room, 2791–24th Street, for God in an Age of Science. Gift Idea! Sacramento, 7-9pm The free-thought community again brings us this festive gathering with Monday, January 5, Paddy Quick. “Household Produc- refreshments, including birthday cake, tion and Commodity Production” displays and literature from many groups, Quick’s work focuses on understanding the concept of pro- interesting science-related merchandise, a duction to include production that takes place within capi- talism but outside of the capitalist sector of production, friendly crowd and a great guest speaker. namely household (and community) production. Last year, the audience was captivated by Seth Shostak, astronomer of the SETI Formerly the Thursday, January 15, Eugene Coyle. “The economic and Institute, an exciting and charming environmental crises and a radical but practical response speaker, even for those not into astronomy. to them.” Likewise, we expect Michael Shermer to be No longer distributed free: Fiscal and monetary policy alone cannot fix the economic a great speaker. It was either switch to subscriptions or crisis, nor can technology alone fix runaway climate change. Tickets on sale now! For time, place, and go out of business. The good news: There is something we can do that will address both crises we’ve added a lot more great content, at once, and ultimately is essential for each. ticket purchase info see www.HAGSA.org, and it’s CHEAP! Just $17.95/year click on “Darwin Day” button. (12 issues) when you sign up online! Thursday, February 19, Ann Tompkins and Lincoln Cushing. “Chinese Posters: Art from the Great Proletar- ian Cultural Revolution.” Resources for Enlisted it gives us hope - Brilliantly colorful images of cultural celebration, industrial Personnel & Veterans development, and agricultural production were displayed and it’s Discharges • DEP • Discrimination • Gay • darn funny in homes and public spaces across the country. Tompkins too! provides an account of living in Beijing during the Cultural AWOL/UA • Harassment • Hazing• Revolution, and Cushing presents a slideshow on the con- Conscientious Objection Current issue available text in which these posters flourished. Free, confidential information fromThe GI Rights at Newsbeat and INFO on classes and discussions: www.marxistschool.org; Hotline, www.girights.org, 800-394-9544 fine comic book stores. [email protected]; 799-1354. All activities are free and Counseling: free & confidential: 916-447-5706; open to the public. www.therapistsforsocialresponsibility.org; w w w .HumorTimes.com January / February 2009

: Reporting Live From Gaza, Black History From : Reporting Live INSIDE and of course, muchMonth, The Economy more… Because People Matter Progressive News and Views

Progressive Media

Progressive Radio Stations Great Speeches and Interviews-Local Online News Sources: Editors’ Picks! ä and national speeches and interviews www.Truthout.org: essays on current events, ä Soapbox!—Jeanie Keltner talks with KVMR 89.5 FM ä The Voice, 88.7 Cable FM; and streaming to challenge your thinking. An in-depth some videos, like Keith Olbermann’s MSNBC activists and analysts from Sacramento and audio on www.Accesssacramento.org; SAP radio program on the current issues. Countdown shows. beyond about the issues of the day. Comcast Channels 17 & 18 Where to listen and/or download: www.CommonDreams.org News Center: Where to watch: ä KYDS 91.5 FM Listen Sundays 6-8pm on Comcast Ch. 17, Breaking News & Views for the Progressive Access Sacramento cable channel 17. äKDVS 90.3 FM 18, set your TV menu to SAP or listen on Community. Every Monday at 8pm. Call in comments ä KPFA 94.1 FM Berkeley The Voice www.AccessSacramento.org www.Brasscheck.org: Progressive videos Listen or download from www. on 2nd and 4th Mondays. Repeats Tues- äKZFR 90.1 FM Chico on many subjects, from Steven Colbert’s People Powered Radio! managed and archive.org/bookmarks/sgl speech at the White House Correspondent’s day at noon, Wednesday at 4am. operated by volunteers, provides mostly Blogged on www.SacramentoForDemoc- dinner and speeches by leftwing MP George In Davis, on channel 15, Tuesdays at 5pm. locally produced and community oriented racy.org Galloway, to extensive information on 9/11 ä Media Edge—Sacramento’s own programs. and the attacks on our civil liberties. magazine format show, covering local www.TheRealNews.com: a nonprofit progres- progressive events and speakers, as well as (Other) Progressive Newspapers sive website offering daily news videos ä The Flatlander: a free community newspa- Don’t bitch at the media— including interviews and debates. They plan internationally known commentators, with per of fun, opinion and politics in the Davis become the media! soon to expand to television. clips from some of the best independent Area. [email protected]. Publication Have you taken the TV production www.GoLeft.tv: Progressive Online Television. political video being made now. every 2 months, next issue is April/May training at Access Sacramento? Would In the world of media monopoly, news has Where to watch: The Flatlander been replaced with a new invention called you like to learn or put your technical Access Sacramento channels 17 and 18 P.O. Box 72793 “infotainment.” GoLeft.tv is a progressive talents to use? Soapbox! urgently needs and Davis Channel 15. Sundays 8–10pm Davis, CA 95617 political T.V. news source that fills that gap ä crewmembers to help set up, run cam- Nevada County channel 11 Mondays Likewise, we are greatly impressed with between the media’s dumbed down info- the lively goodlooking Midtown Monthly. eras, and take viewers’ phone calls on tainment and real news reporting. 10:30pm–12:30am, It’s not political, but it has the kind of use- the 2nd and 4th Monday of each month. www.innworldreport.net: Daily professional West Sacramento channel 21 Mondays ful and delightful info about life, art, food Call 444 3203 if you’re interested viewer/listener supported journalism 9-11pm. and music in Sacramento and beyond available in over 20 million homes across in taking the training or joining us at See scheduled segments at that creates the sense of community America. Soapbox! for fun—and the best pizza in www.wethemedia.org. needed for an uncertain future. www.whatreallyhappened.com: 9/11 and town, from Pieces. other coverups. ä Democracy Now—Amy Goodman’s award-winning magazine format show. Where to watch: Look for the Rock Creek Free Press Access Sacramento TV, Cable Channels 17 in the back of some BPM stands and and 18, Weekdays 6pm, 12midnight, 5am. other places you find BPM (always at Sacramento and Central Valley INDYMEDIA: www.sacindymedia.org. Dish Network Satellite TV, Channel 9415, the downtown main library). It’s a great Free Speech TV, M–F: 9am, 4pm, 9pm, progressive paper with emphasis on the 5am, Pacific time. Link TV, Channel 9410, undernews. Monday–Friday, 8am, 3pm. KVMR 89.5 FM And just like BPM it needs support from Mon–Thu 7pm. KDVS 90.3 FM Mon–Fri noon. the people who are sick of the disinfor- KPFA 94.1 FM Berkeley, M–F 9am mation news. Check it out and subscribe NON-PROFIT (after subscribing to BPM). ORGANIZATION US POSTAGE PAID Here’s a hot tip! If you don’t have cable TV, and you do have a PC (doesn’t work on Mac), you can PERMIT NO. 2668 watch Access Sacramento programs as they are being aired by going to www.accesssacramento. SACRAMENTO, CA org and clicking on the “Watch Channel 17” button at the top of the first page.