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WORDS FROM THE WISE TO OPEN THE WORLD SOCIAL State of FORUM week before the World Economic Forum Disunion convened in Davos to discuss how to further SEE YOU IN THE STREETS A the control of transnational capital over the NUMBER OF NEW ORLEANS world, people from every part of the globe gathered FEBRUARY 2007 VOL. 5 NO. 2 in Nairobi under the banner, “Another World Is RESIDENTS PERCENT OF THOSE Possible” and because of this said Desmond Tutu, that have not returned who have not returned “God is smiling.” after Hurricane Katrina: that are African The World Social Forum began with a march 175,000 American: from Kibera (the largest slum in Africa) to Uhuru 80 A MOMENTMOMENT FROMFROM (peace) Park. Simultaneously, the ecumenical AMOUNT THAT platform was holding a service in front of the LOUISIANA NUMBER OF AN UNSEEN REVOLUTION Anglican, Basilica. Dispelling the capitalist myth was told it owed FEMA ADDITIONAL that greed and competition should be the operating for aid after Hurricanes MILITARY POLICE principles of social order, Archbishop Desmond Katrina and Rita: TROOPS Tutu declared, “We are made for interdependence 3,700,000,000 being sent to New and partnership. Each according to their ability, Orleans: each according to their need. We are made for NUMBER OF US 300 sharing.” HELICOPTERS “There can be no human being who exists on that have been shot NUMBER OF US his own…That we are bound to one another is the down in the last three TROOPS fundamental reality of our being….The only way weeks in Iraq: that have been killed we can ever be free is together. The only way we 6 in Iraq: can ever be human is together. The only way we 3121 can ever be safe and secure is together.” NUMBER OF “We will never win a war against terror, PARTICIPANTS NUMBER OF 20 never, as long as there are conditions in the world in this year’s World POOREST that make people desperate. Can you imagine the Social Forum: COUNTRIES billions spent on arms? Just a small fraction of that 60,000 that are in Africa: could ensure that every person has a descent home, 13 clean water, food, and affordable healthcare.” AVERAGE NUMBER Desmond Tutu also had a message about OF BARRELS OF OIL AVERAGE NUMBER Africa, one which was repeated throughout the the US (number 1 OF BARRELS OF OIL forum: “Do not look at us as an object of pity and consumer of oil) uses China (number 2 n January 27th, 2007, there was a massive anti- in October of 1967, which became a pivotal event for the in a day: consumer of oil) uses war march on the Capitol in Washington D.C. that protest movement, as did the protester take over of a statue charity…For when there was plague in the holy O received scant attention from the national media. in Chicago’s Grant Park during the 1968 Democradtic land the people came to Africa. When the holy 20,030,000 in a day: 6,391,000 The massive crowd was described in most reports as National Convention. But back then the media covered family was persecuted they came to Africa. We being in the ‘tens of thousands’ while the organizers, protests. are a rich continent with a proud legacy. We have United for Peace and Justice, estimated the crowd at half- This was just a moment in a unreported and overcome slavery and apartheid. We in Africa CALL TO ACTION a-million. The Red Pill estimates that there were 300-400 unheard revolution building. Nationwide revolutionary, have produced a Mandela…We can teach the world thousand people in attendance. radical, and anarchist organizations are on the rise. about forgiveness and reconciliation.” The Red Pill is looking for volunteers: graphic designers, Under reported was a break away contingent of Collectives, cooperatives, radical bookstores, and “You in Europe and the northern countries writers, poets, cartoonists, artists, and photographers are radical and revolutionary youth that scuffled through the underground or radical newspapers are also growing in try to be a little honest with yourselves. Remember needed. Get your work published now. Help distribute police lines and occupied the steps of the Capitol for about strength and numbers, and not just in your liberal hot spots your history. You produced the Holocaust, fascism, The Red Pill in your community, church, and school: an hour. Organized by anarchists and SDS, Students for like Boulder, but also in towns like Colorado Springs, and and totalitarian communism. Among you is the a Democratic Society, a radical 1960s anti-war student Springfield, MO. This growing movement will become a fi rst nation to use weapons of mass destruction.” contact us at [email protected]. You can also do group reincarnated recently, the anti-authoritarian march force for change in the future. Desmond Tutu concluded his remarks by your part to keep us in print by donating time, paper, took to the streets in an un-permitted march from Dupont • deeming all those who work for peace and justice fi lm, copies, and of course money (it doesn’t print itself). Circle prior to rushing the Capitol. Most of the coverage as angels who are wiping the tears from God’s face. dedicated to the young radicals was about the Capitol And he sounded a unifying call. “We must all say being tagged with anti-war and anarchist slogans. Good to our government offi cials, ‘we will not tolerate for them. corruption. You are leaders for the sake of man. Local DC activists told me that this was the first You are there to serve. We will support you when time that protesters had been able to push their way to the you work for the benefi t of the people, and we will The Red Pill is collectively produced by Grand Junction Capital since 1972. oppose you with every fi ber of our being when you About 700 hundred people occupied the steps of oppress.” • Alternative Media, with the aim of publishing stories and the capital., many had grown weary of ‘peaceful protests’ ideas that the mainstream media won’t cover. It is distributed and preferred direct action and civil disobedience as a free, collects no advertising, and is completely staffed by means of protest against this illegal war in the Middle volunteers. All materials are copyleft, no rights are reserved. East. be the media! The symbolic nature of occupying the Capitol PHOTOCOPY AND DISTRIBUTE AT WILL! was reminiscent of the Yippies protest at the pentagon, [email protected] [email protected] THE WAR ON PUBLIC HOUSING OF MISSED OPPORTUNITIES AND REGRET...A IN NEW ORLEANS PERSONAL ACCOUNT decision to destroy the St. Bernard Project and replace it t was really a night like most other “No!” Jack emphatically replied to my with “mixed income” housing continue. winter evenings in the Grand Valley; illusions of a looting heaven. It turned out that Even in the simplest of economic terms, American I cold and insignificant. I was riding he was frightened of the ever-illusive specter tax payers should be outraged at the misappropriation of along with my friend Jack down Elm Avenue. of “getting caught.” I tried to convince him funds that was intended to rebuild New Orleans, 100 As we crossed 28 Road I noticed that some that he didn’t even have to enter the store if million dollars from a Community Development Block mysterious “something” seemed wrong, but I he didn’t want to, I was more than willing Grant and 34 million in the Katrina Go-Zone tax credits couldn’t quite put my finger on what it was. to have all the fun, I just needed a get-away have been handed over to developers. Who are using the We continued to drive along in driver. “No!” Jack once again tried to burst funds to destroy communities and then sell to private uncomfortable silence, knowing that my little bubble of brewing excitement. I then owners at a substantial profit. According to outside firms something...something just wasn’t right. tried to convince him that he had only to drop (and a leaked HUD document), the St. Bernard housing When we turned south on 28 3/4 Road, I me off and I’d find my own way home... It was complex could be repaired for 41 million dollars, but to noticed that I couldn’t see the traffic lights all to no avail. Jack couldn’t be convinced. destroy it and rebuild a smaller amount of mixed income on North Avenue or the glowing eyesore We had this wonderful opportunity units would cost 197 million in tax payer’s funds. On of Sam Walton’s legacy. It hit me like the staring us in the faces, right into our cold St. Bernard Projects top of that, according to John Fernandez, a professor of proverbial ton of bricks; we were in the midst winter chilled noses. With every second that architecture from MIT, concluded after an inspection of a blackout, a huge one at that. passed I knew the possibility of the power that, “no structural or nonstructural damage was found At once all of the possibilities flooded being restored at any moment, and thwarting ne of the battles being fought in New Orleans that could reasonably warrant any cost-effective building into my mind. With Wal-Mart dead ahead my plans, was growing larger. centers solely around the right of return and the demolition…Therefore, the general conclusions are, without any power, therefore no electronic We continued our drive, albeit detoured, O future of public housing.