Issue #114, January 11 – 31, 2008 the indypendentA FREE PAPER FOR FREE PEOPLE

This Game primary is rigged coverage begins, p6

rusty zimmerman

Bike Stories Darfur without Hollywood’s p3 Celebrities New Cold War p8 Remembering Fantasy Brad Will, p6 p13

nyc.indymedia.org • indypendent.org • us.indymedia.org 2 January 11 – 31, 2008 THE INDYPENDENT Zimmerman. Rusty Eric and Wolf Amy Wishnia, Vindigni, Xavier Steven Volpe, Dana Tarleton, Thompson, Erin John Tayo, Szpunt, Gabriella Sykora, Caroline Stern, Andrew Schneider, Ann Scahill, Jeremy Reynoso, Frank Powers, Nicholas Peterson, Louis Donald Perry, Ari Cat Nogueira, Paneth, Ana Martin, Moore, Gary Nik Moore, Lewis, Jennifer Samantha Lee, Alex Jessica Lew, Kelton, Ivanova, Ruth Irina Kane, Heglar, Mary A.K. Grey, Gupta, Liana Gorelick, Samantha Gold, Anna Garcia, Leo Dunsmuir, Feltz, Renee Faerber, Ryan Susan Jeff Davidson, Chadha, Ellen Rahul Chenelle, Cavanaugh, Matt Cauley, Kepfram Carmona, José Burke, Mike Bass, J. Charlie Jed Brandt, J. Bouwer, Lani Baumer, Balagun, Bennett Chris Eleanor Kazembe Arnerich, Allanach, Bader, Steven Nicholas Anderson, Alcoff, Sam W similar with missions. individuals and organizations from adsand grantssubscriptions,donations, the from profit. of away drive people, the of hands the in back creativity and communication of means the placing and dialogue open espouse We tools communicate. to seeking media those to space and providing by communities ecosystems and individuals, analyze to affecting cultural seek issues and We political using self-representation. facilitate organization to media community-based are We a issues. in-depth of coverage progressive, accurate and providing by ethic activists. media volunteer of work net- international an is (IMC) Center Media Independent the world, the throughout cities 150 than more in chapters autonomous With W itiue for distribute and door.You write canopen anhas IMC The V your participation in the editorial process. cles for length, content and clarity. We welcome of participation. forms all encourage we support, volunteer on lying re- organization an As office. the run us help to the web, or articles publish take photos just self- website, the update rallies, and events o h I is hat h Indypendent The media new a create to seeks IMC The The print team reserves the right to edit arti- staff lunteer at city york new m independent [email protected]

can NYC: nyc.indymedia.org NYC: GLOBAL: indymedia.org GLOBAL: center edia U.S.: us.indymedia.org ndymedia I do indypendent.org h Indypendent The NY, 10276 NY 212-221-0521 P.O. Box 1417

to E- pho M W

: get mail is funded by benefits, benefits, by funded is ai e ? ne b

involved l , videotape videotape , ? Jan.15, 7 pm, at 4 West 43rd St, Suite 311. All are welcome. are 311. All Suite St, 43rd 4West at 7pm, Jan.15, Indypendent The for meeting editorial next The Please send event announcements to [email protected]. community calendar sions. Just how democratic is is I democratic how Just sions. not discus- in does much up brought get that issue an is and on spot is democracy Israel’s of I Davidson’sEllen think critique Arabs Need Not Apply,” Dec. 8 Responseto“Israeli Democracy: PEACE BLOCKING reader comments Also with New York’s Wobblies and a UNIONS” with historian Peter Cole. DISCUSSION: “ORGANIZING WOBBLY 7pm • $5 suggested 18 JAN FRI 212-242-4201 • brechtforum.org Brecht Forum, 451 West St OF HOWARD ZINN’S “MARX IN SOHO.” PERFORMANCE: BENEFIT SHOWING 8pm •sliding $10/$15/$25 scale 18 &19 JAN &SAT FRI Criminal Court building, 100 Centre St “Arrest Bush” protest. arrested at UN/Dag Hammarskjold Plaza COURT SUPPORT: Trial begins for some 9:30am • Free 17 JAN THU [email protected] 1047 Amsterdam Ave • 212-316-7490 Cathedral of St. John the Divine, song and refreshments. Followed by multimedia display, even- dancers, musicians and a mass choir. official U.S. ban on slavery, with actors, Celebrating the 200th anniversary of SERVICE: “LET MY PEOPLE GO.” 3pm • Free 13 JAN SUN 212-787-3903 • peoplesvoicecafe.org The Workmen’s Circle, 45 E 33rd St Tony Bird. MUSIC: PEOPLE’S VOICE CAFE with 8-10:30pm • $12 general/$9 members 12 JAN SAT Torture. nyrcat.org • witnesstorture.org the National Religious Campaign Against Court sponsored by Amnesty Int’l and DC: Actions at the Mall and Supreme Campaign to Shut Down Guantanamo. Sponsored by Witness Against Torture’s NY: Foley Sq near 26 Federal Plaza. SHUT DOWN GUANTANAMO. ACTION: INTERNATIONAL DAY TO 12:30pm • Free 11 JAN FRI srael’s government? government? srael’s N ot very very ot t thoseregimesarepropped upby howofmentionmany to bother their inch-deep analysis does not neighbors are not democratic but Israel’showabout nouncements appeals and mealy mouthed pro- in emotional offer They them substance. address not do often ment’s govern- transgressions and crimes Israeli the for excuses move. every government’s Israeli the oppose not do who citizens Israeli ish Jew- at stops and continues list This Jerusalem). in protests ter coun- Pride Gay (see GLBT are 212-777-6028 • bluestockings.com Bluestockings, 172 Allen St screening of a short film. Sponsored by Granny Peace Brigade. the war using shared cell phones. members voicemail messages against Recruit pedestrians to leave Congress ACTION: ANTIWAR PHONE-A-THON. 12-1:30pm • Free 24 JAN THU 212-727-8110 • filmforum.org Film Forum, 209 W Houston St and others recall this brilliant man. Plimpton, Norman Mailer, Paul Auster about Harold L. Humes (aka Doc Humes). FILM: “DOC” directed by Immy Humes 1:15, 3:15, 6, 8, 10pm • $10.50 29 JAN 23-TUE JAN WED 212-777-6028 • bluestockings.com Bluestockings, 172 Allen St increasingly globalized world. hydroelectricity, an act of genocide in an Chilean river that was dammed to create A documentary by Manel Mayol on a SCREENING: “APAGA Y VAMONOS” 7pm • $5 suggested 22 JAN TUE Stephanie: 201-787-6035 LIC Qns • Billy: 646-645-6284 Meet at Wild Edibles, 2151 Borden Ave, MLK day. Sponsored by IWW. to urge Starbucks to give holiday pay on WAGE SLAVERY. Combination initiative MARCH: MLK DAY MARCH AGAINST 11am-5pm • Free 21 JAN MON 212-222-0633 • socialism.com Freedom Hall, 113 W 128th St Socialist Party. by Murry Weiss. Sponsored by Freedom Discussion of Marxist Feminist manifesto TION & WOMEN’S EMANCIPATION” MEETING: “PERMANENT REVOLU- 6pm • Free 19 JAN SAT sible at this moment. at this sible pos- even is that if peace settlement, any to barriers the greatest are feels Davidson writer the what wonder I peace, to ers barri- certainly are Orthodox to mind, not to mention Iraq). A i if you democratic are a Palestin- an. an. he rabia, Egypt and Pakistan come Those who offer knee-jerk knee-jerk offer who Those huh ay f h ultra- the of many Though A N mericangovernment (Saudi ot very democratic if you if democratic very ot is Tuesday, Tuesday, is — A n o n ym o u s

Cheney-Bush-Laden enterprises. Dickothercompanies, anddrug in oil companies, Carlyle Groups, fordthings like stock investments often well-to-do folks arewho propaganda,can af- Complex tary Ave) • [email protected] Station, 76 W 125th ( btw Lenox & 5th for students. U.S. Military Recruiting with speakers, tabling and literature ACTION: COUNTER RECRUITMENT 1-3pm • Free Broadway • grannypeacebrigade.org On west side of Union Sq Park, 16th St & 1pm • Free 27 JAN SUN RSVP: [email protected] the Rock Dove Collective. WINTER HEALTHCARE. Sponsored by SKILLSHARE: IMMUNE-BOOSTING & 1pm-3pm wsf2008.net autonomously by participants. ACTION. Events worldwide organized WORLD SOCIAL FORUM DAY OF 26 JAN SAT d o not simply in knee-jerk mode born sea half-way around the globe.) items are airlifted, not shipped by critical all and items, critical be tual — life saving supplies would non-fac-supplies”ising it when evidence(e.g., “blocking lifesav- thing unpatriotic, typically not in andthen accused of doing some- reader) uneducated an of mind the in stick might feel they ever what- or anarchist, communist, leftist, liberal, (i.e., labels given first are they war aprotests one any- whenever that notice Ever Shipments in Olympia,” Dec. 8 Military the Delay Hundreds onLine: “Bodies to Responses CALLING NAME THE BEHIND N 7pm • Free T 4 West 43rd andSt. Fifth (btw Sixth Aves.), Suite 311. Indypendent thechildren’s newspaper NewYork City Indymedia projects, including The Indypendent yourIsYear’sNew resolution maketomedia? Come learn moreabout three current f belief in the onslaughtthebeliefin fof ia-Industrial-Intelligence- J ue e — Typically,these same people, if w Y H. Mich H. 22 22 an C ork january , a short documentary, meet volunteers and learn how to get involved! I ity a O center media ndependent Sw el IndyKids ee n M and the revived video working group. Watch M e ili e y - - allsoulsnyc.org Hall, 1157 Lexington Ave (at E 80th St) ments. All Souls Church, Reidy Friendship human face of Iran, Part II. Refresh- SLIDE SHOW & DISCUSSION: The Next Issue February 1. nchomsky.meetup.com/105 Cafe, 177 Ludlow Matters St Earth Reading byGroup. the NYMAA Wayne With Price, sponsoredTIVES.” PERSPEC- & MARXIST ANARCHIST OF “ABOLITION THE STATE: TALK: 6:30pm • Free 31 JAN THU [email protected] Church, 521 W 126th St Churchill and others. St Mary’s Episcopal in her appeal. With Lynne Stewart, Ward RALLY: TO SUPPORT LYNNE STEWART 7pm • Free 28 JAN MON of-conscious. people- Olympia brave the to Thanks well. as am I in. be- lieved they what for up weapons stand to chemical from skin and eyes burning and clubs ly bil- from and bruises sleep, of cold lack the endured pro- testors young mostly the night, of t commitment and courage the by moved extremely was I OYLMPIANS BRAVE he demonstrators. demonstrators. he online at at online comments your submit or 10276 NY NY, 1417, Box P.O. write to [email protected] Email dialogue! the Join P hoto H pen Continued on Page 15 on Continued Indypendent Editors, Editors, Indypendent indypendent.org : F newspaper collective, ouse R rank ! — N C ight after after ight eynoso iti z . e , The

n local

A Silent Roadside Reminder tenants’ voice By Andalusia Knoll

hen Kevin Kaplicki stumbled upon the crash scene of Liz Padilla, a 29- Wyear-old lawyer, who was killed while biking on Fifth Avenue in Brooklyn BEAT The Deep Freeze Park Slope, he decided that something s temperatures plunge, many New needed to be done to acknowledge New York City tenants will break out their York City cyclist fatalities. Aski masks, wool gloves, long-under- Inspired by a street memorial project wear and down coats — just to stay warm called Ghost Bike that began in St. Louis in inside their apartments. 2003, Kaplicki and the art collective Visual New York City’s Housing Maintenance Resistance decided to install a bike memorial Code requires that landlords provide hot wa- for Liz Padilla and two others on Houston ter year round and heat from October through St. in Manhattan. The memorials are junk May when it’s cold. Not having heat and hot bikes painted a ghostly white, adorned with water during the winter can turn deadly for flowers and a plaque with cyclist’s name, the most vulnerable New Yorkers. Below are age and date of death, and are chained helpful tips to getting the heat and hot water permanently at the accident scene. turned on: Originally, Ghost Bike installations were Keep one thermometer outside and one anonymous. Now, the project has expanded or two inside your apartment to measure under the umbrella of the NYC Street Memorial Biker’s Memorial: On Jan. 6, more than 250 riders took to the street to honor bicyclists killed on the temperature. Between Oct. 1 and May Project and includes 41 Ghost Bikes, memorial New York City streets. photo: Alex nathanson 3, if the outside temperature (from 6 a.m. to rides and a support group for the family and 10 p.m.) falls below 55 degrees, the inside friends of those killed. There are now 30 Ghost commonly viewed as accidents, as opposed respect humanity. We have countries like temperature must be at least 68 degrees ev- Bike projects across the world. to crimes for which the driver should be South Korea, China, France where you have erywhere in your apartment. If the outside “Putting up a Ghost Bike shows that this held accountable. cyclists and they take into consideration temperature falls below 40 degrees from 10 person existed, that life was lost, and that’s Audrey Anderson’s 13-year-old son, An- giving them the right of way … we don’t take p.m. and 6 a.m., the inside temperature must something not to forget,” said Leah Todd, dre, was killed while biking in Far Rocka- that consideration as we drive, so we have be at least 55 degrees. an NYC Street Memorial Project member. way, Queens, in 2005. She says that al- the irreplaceable loss of life,” says Rancher. If you lack either heat or hot water: Every year, a memorial ride is held the first though her son was struck from behind by In recent years, New York City has seen • Keep a log to accurately document when Sunday of the new year in New York to pay a man who witnesses say was driving reck- some positive developments for cyclists, you were without heat and hot water. You tribute to the cyclists and pedestrians who lessly, NYPD neglected to give the driver including new buffered street bike lanes can call Met Council on Housing for a copy were killed in the past year. On Jan. 6, 250 a breathalyzer test and did not launch an and a free helmet program. of a log at 212-979-0611 or download it at people rode to honor the more than 20 cyclists investigation into Andre’s death. Anderson Caroline Samponaro, Bicycle Campaign http://metcouncil.net/factsheets. and 150 pedestrians who were killed in 2007. believes when vehicles are the weapons, the coordinator with Transportation Alternatives, • Call your super and write a certified letter These numbers are a rough estimate based on killers are rarely prosecuted. believes further infrastructure improvements to the landlord. press reports, as the NYPD only releases this “In New York you are allowed to kill on are necessary. “If we’re really going to see • Call 311 and encourage your neighbors to data on a yearly basis. As of the first week of the streets and just walk away from it. It’s change in our transportation system ... call and report the problem. The more calls January, the NYPD still has not released the wrong,” said Anderson. [W]e’re going to need a system that favors from a building, the quicker the city will re- 2007 pedestrian or cycling fatalities statistics. Karen Rancher’s son Elijah was killed in pedestrians, cyclists and mass transit and spond to the problem. Ryan Knuckel, a co-founder of the Ghost St. Albans, Queens, shortly after his 12th stops putting all of its attention and resources • If you experience extended periods of no Bike project, says that while the people birthday. She returned from her military towards the car-driving minority.” heat or hot water, you can deduct money the memorial rides honor are as diverse as deployment in South Korea to attend from the rent (usually a day’s rent for every New York City itself, one thing that they the memorial ride. “We’re in an age of For more information, visit ghostbike.org. day without heat and hot water) or withhold all have in common is that their deaths are technological advancements, but we don’t rent completely. Consult an attorney or ten- ant organizer before doing this. Lack of heat and hot water is a class “C” housing code violation — the most seri- ous class of violations. If the Department Iranian Couple Cycles the World of Housing Preservation and Development records a heat and hot water violation and for Peace and Conservation you are rent regulated, you should also file a rent reduction application with the New York State Division of Housing and Community By Jennifer Redfearn basics — tent, cookware and clothing — Renewal along with a printout of the city’s from city to city. So far, they have planted violation finding. odern Iran shows a variety of 14 trees and screened a video about Iran’s You can also file an emergency HP (Hous- perplexing faces to the world: natural wonders in communities all along ing Part) action in housing court. This is Mhard-line President Mahmoud their route. when a tenant sues the landlord for repairs Ahmadinejad, sophisticated academics, “People are very confused about Iran,” and housing code violations. A judge will or- outspoken exiles. Yousefi said. “They think Iranian people der the landlord to turn the heat on or face One young Iranian couple, determined are terrorists or aggressive or that we ride civil penalties. In the worst cases the city not to leave their country’s public relations camels. Iran is a rich country, but no one can make emergency repairs to your build- to others, is bicycling around the globe to knows about it. So we think it is our duty ing’s boiler and heating system. spread a message of peace and environmen- to show our culture to people.” Contact a tenants’ rights organization to tal conservation. Face-to-face contact with people in Europe organize your neighbors. Collective action Somayeh Yousefi, 28, and Jafar Edrisi, 29, and Canada countered many of the couple’s will always get the best results. met nine years ago atop Mount Damavand, own misconceptions of different cultures. the highest peak in Iran, and married four But they said violent images from Hollywood Bennett Baumer is an organizer with years later. After selling their car and movies and the media still made them wary Housing Conservation Coordinators. furniture for $12,000 last April, they set of traveling through the United States. The Other Face of Iran: Iranian bicyclists off to educate the world about Iran and to “At first, we were very afraid ofA merican Somayeh Yousefi (above) and Jafar Edrisi are plant trees across the globe. They cycled people,” said Yousefi. “We imagined that on a mission to dispel myths about Iran, while through Turkey, crossed Europe and then American people are aggressive with a lot THE INDYPENDENT January 11 – 31, 2008 skipped across the Atlantic Ocean before of guns and tattoos.” cycling the world and planting trees. arriving in New York City in November. But the couple has been surprised by the Photo: Jafar Edrisi This is their first trip outside of Iran. Americans they have met since crossing the “We don’t want to judge other countries by Canadian border on Nov. 19. In Vermont, These memories are recorded on a hand- the bad stuff happening on the news,” said a stranger invited them to camp out in her painted banner they plan to carry from Yousefi, who was Iran’s female rock-climbing home that was under construction. They the United States to Japan, Korea, China, champion for six years. “We wish to convey met former U.N. weapons inspector Scott Nepal, Pakistan and Iran, the final leg of a message of peace and friendship from the Ritter in Albany. Ritter encouraged the their journey. people of Iran to other countries,” she said. couple to educate Americans about Iran, “After my wedding ring, this is the most The couple plans to cover a total of 12,500 they said. In Poughkeepsie, New York, a precious thing I have in my life,” said Yousefi, miles during their two-year odyssey. Living fellow cyclist drove them to their friend’s holding up the banner covered in signatures. on an average of $10 a day, they haul the house when it was too dark to bike.

Illustration: Brian Ponto 3 4 January 11 – 31, 2008 THE INDYPENDENT the Domestic Violence w paperworkthat tofile shewaitedforashim ship in five five years. in ship citizen- for apply can She resident. manent Find Safe Harbor Immigrant Women Endangered couple before she returned to Trinidad. the returned she before couple with living while witnessed she abuse physical and emotional verbal, the scribing birth certificates fortheir two sons. statements certificate, from their joint marriage bank account and her gathered She lyn. t marriagegoodfaithaprove in beenhadshe A attorney. immigration a staff A a 2005, late in began holder card green a ing becom- to visa travel expired an on States my family.” with munication “Mentally, it broke me down. I had no com- three. of mother 26-year-old petite the said of society. members isolated desperately for protection provide to con- tinues reform immigration of example rare o spouses battered as citizenship for petition their own filing whoare abusedimmigrants laid just shock.” in there I me of off came he When dead. c never did. S Feltz Renee By Federal law eases journey from battered wife to legal resident local o Jerome Earl, Jr., a

ouldn’t breath,” said said breath,” ouldn’t t the Bronx office of the the of office Bronx the t f id Society, after she shared her story with with story her shared she after Society, id ould allow her to become a n U H “This so-called man … calls her names like de- statement a wrote sister twin Her In order to filean I-360 petition, she had to “She ‘I you said think Safiya, have acase.’ O there,” back go to want ever don’t “I A I hard so me choking was he time “One U d we started filing,” A filing,” d we started nlike recent punitive legislation, this this legislation, punitive recent nlike l er journey from living in the the in living from journey er n Sept. 17, Sept. n .S. citizens, a right granted to them by them to granted right a citizens, .S. lete is one of an increasing number of number increasing an of one is lete f saaig bs fo hr husband her from abuse escalating of years five endured immigrant, dadian afiya A lte a udcmne Trini- undocumented an llette, A llette became a legal per legal a became llette U .S. .S. citizen from Brook A A llette. “So, I played played I “So, llette. gainst Womengainst llette said. llette N U ew ew .S. .S. citizen. He Y ork Legal Legal ork U nited nited A ct. ct. - - clients like like clients stupid, bitch and whore,” the statement reads. to pursue a nursing degree. degree. anursing to pursue savemoney and children her support jobto a on finding she she said is country, focused A Development. fee only The Community and second attorney to help a more hire battered to funding women grant used recently office shelters. in live often who R Dominican the Mexico, from immigrants are who clients her for process application now waived. is fee the self-petitions filing women battered from $190 to increased $375.grants But for year. each appropriated be must funding but 2005, in it reauthorized unanimously Congress 1994. in law came to relive what the client went through.” out for someone on the other side of the table i Services] Immigration and [Citizenship CIS what know welaw, the know we “Because t state emotional fragile a in is who someone g t I-130 incomplete His pe- fees. the necessary fin- ished it he because wanted her to never family pay he said she but paperwork, her it.” todo going he’s okay, like, was I you.’ for papers tion immigra- your file to going I’m ‘Okay, like was he — me got what is this and — said him,” call phone. over the touch in kept stayed but months, and several for away shelter a into moved she time over times the of One course marriage. their t public grants, including a grant derived from i immigration with survivors violence mestic in her self-petition for citizenship. for self-petition her in s looking for.looking s ssues, helped A helped ssues, o go through this on her own,” he ition is one of the documents documents the of one is ition al al e l c A T N A immi- most for fees petition 30, July On T T for difficult very be would it think “I of part filed Earl and home returned She would I and number the block would “I W lette paidlette was $70 to get her fingerprints. public, Honduras and the Caribbean and and Honduras the public, Caribbean ome to the end point where A he he Legal Legal he he Violence Violence he u l N o endy endy lette said she left her husband several several husband her left she said lette strie said this could further ease the the ease further could this said strie id Society Bronx office who assists do who assists office Bronx id Society w that w that ew N “It was a door that opened for her,” for opened that door a was “It ew A A Y u A ustrie, a staff attorney in the Le a attorney staff ustrie, A r Ct Dprmn of Department City ork strie said. “She’s young and and young “She’s said. strie Y llete said. “Finally, one time he he time one “Finally, said. llete A she’s able to start fresh and and fresh start to able she’s llette is funded by private and and private by funded is llette ork Legalork llette is a of resident llette legal this A A llette file her petition. her file llette d oit’ assac for assistance Society’s id learn from her past.” her from learn nd you’re sort of fleshing it fleshing you’reof nd sort of New York can be be legal-aid.org. or can 212-577-3300 at York reached New Society of Aid Legal The A ant Women gainst A id Society’sBronx id A A A llette is now. ustrie ustrie said. llette used used llette A t be ct Y outh - - - OUT IN w THE OUT denying emergency shelter to families. P to families. emergency shelter denying rules new oncity in Dec.Bronx the 13 to protest "sleep-out" held an Homeless the all-night Picture deemed to have housing alternatives that that t alternatives housing have to deemed been emergency had who families deny to shelter to overnight DHS the by decision recent a to response in held was sleep-out ant chants and a press conference. policy in the form of a candlelight vigil, defi- the Department of Homeless (OHS)Services to opposition voicing from groups activist and leaders community keep families, not homeless did temperatures Frigid shelter. emergency people denying of policy Ser- vices’ Homeless of Department 13 the Dec. against protest “sleep-out” the to home [ neediest. city’s the of many endangering while night, of legiti- nowhere mate having claims to go for the with families denies policy the say that homeless the for advocates However, circumstances housing DHS. by assessed being since havechanged their that can who show those are shelter eligible emergency remain for who families only the cy, t she could live back there with them,” said Pic- in two rooms. DHS is telling that person that peopleseventhat’s so children, her of three with down came she and apartment two-room friend’s her at briefly stayed had she domesticaviolenceis survivor. P Kane Alex By hadjumped to more than 800 a month, with a month. However, by July 2007, the number suchtemporary shelteronly 75—wassmall applyingfor families ofaveragenumber the the to cording u by workers. shelter a.m. 6 at early awoken be the to only until morning, sleep to place a receiving not sometimes — city to the bused around shelters be then would Families shelter. 5 p.m. and applyafter Bronx for emergency a have arrive to could option” housing deemed available “an were they because DHS with shelter permanent for qualify not did to Homeless Face aColdFight ure the Homeless organizer hey were not using. using. not were hey te P the t sed sparingly by many shelter seekers.shelter many by sparingly sed Organized by Picture the Homeless, the the Homeless, the Picture by Organized “I spoke with a woman who came down came whowoman a withspoke “I h oeos rcs ws n ta was that one was process onerous The U N ntil October 2007, any family who who family any 2007, October ntil ew revention oees aiis n h Box was Bronx the in families homeless (P Housing A Y TH intake center facility in the the in facility center intake TH ork]sheMassachusetts,and from e a the e Yr Times York New A A ssac ad Temporary and ssistance H itk fclt for facility intake TH) r: Braving winter temperatures, organizers and community members with with members and organizers community temperatures, winter Braving U dr h nw poli new the nder N ikita Price. A t onepointt , in 2006 2006 in , h o to: Mauricio Quintero Mauricio to: A c - - 2006 and 2006 a some families relying on the system for weeks dangerous place.” dangerous a be might women that go, for and battered to else someplace have turned they being because down are women battered that is issue this around concern “Our said. Lob violence. domestic of victims by on relied programs assistance public improving to dedicated organization grassroots the a Women, of Lob, Voices of Susan director explained policy, this by asked. for?” Price we’re looking solution the this is But down. be will bers double and uptriple … of your num- course to told and shelters city from away turned are people homeless “When away. turned being are shelter of need in people that ing say- ridiculous, as success of claim the ize no longer applying for shelter. shelter. for applying no longer options” housing “available with of families percent 73 with percent, 46 by seekers shelter temporary of number the reducing of effect had the policy the lease, immediate to the point where ‘no’ really no.”means Times the told services homeless of er p shadowentire a the on cast to giblefamilies situations. living crowded in to stay who abused by simply did not families want being was system the that claiming natives, alter- housing with those to shelter deny to them allowing decision legal 2005 a use to decided city the seekers, shelter temporary porary shelter seekers soared 102 percent. t a time. rocess,” ter are being turned away.”turned being are ter shel- of need in thatpeople success as of ridiculous, saying claim the characterize “Advocates for the homeless “For them, “For it’sthem, a life and death situation,” hard hit especially are women Battered A A “We cannot allow ofsubculture this ineli- of influx rising the handle to order In dv c odn t a Ot2 DS rs re press DHS Oct.29 an to cording in September 2007. “We need to get get to need “We2007. September in cts o te oees character homeless the for ocates A R A ccording to DHS, between obert V. Hess, the commission the Hess, V. obert ugust 2007, the number of tem ofnumber2007, theugust e York New A ugust - - - - national Labor Unions Eye Gains in 2008

By Bennett Baumer gary martin n 2008, labor unions will spend big when the WGA took an 80 percent cut in and mobilize hundreds of thousands of home video residuals to help boost VHS Iworkers to organize new members and technology. As VHS took off and gave way campaign for Democratic Party candidates. to DVDs, the WGA did not regain its share The nuts and bolts of labor struggles are of- of the new technology’s profits. Accord- ten lost in the presidential race, however. ing to the WGA, writers receive about four Union membership has continued its de- cents for every DVD sold. That is a small cades-long decline, with only 12 percent of fraction of the Entertainment Merchant the workforce and 7.4 percent of the private Association’s estimated DVD industry of sector now unionized. Last year saw a ma- $16.5 billion. jor setback in labor regulation that could The writers’ big demand – four extra make it harder for workers to join unions. cents for DVDs and 2.5 percent of new Nonetheless, the writers’ strike is still go- media gross income. If the WGA obtains a ing strong and tens of thousands of Verizon greater residual percentage, it sets a prec- workers are poised to unionize. edent for other media unions and future media technologies, and, most importantly, Writers’ Strike it wins the strike. The Writers Guild of America (WGA) strike against the Alliance of Motion Picture and Card Check Television Producers (or, as David Letter- In September 2007, the Bush administra- man calls it: “Cowards, Cutthroats and tion-appointed majority on the National Weasels”) is one of the rare occasions when Labor Relations Board (NLRB) further a labor stoppage grips America’s attention weakened workers’ right to join unions span. On Nov. 5, 2007, about 12,000 writ- through “card checks.” ers in the West and East Coast branches Because systematic anti-union activity of the union struck over a number of de- by management has made union elections mands, including the core issue of writers so difficult for labor to win, unions have wanting a greater percentage of “residuals” initiated “card check” campaigns to orga- (a payment each time one of their works is nize workers. The card check process oc- consumed). curs when a majority of workers sign union “We all know that no payments on new representation cards or petitions calling for media equals a rollback in residuals. And a union. Most card checks are part of “neu- nized the company’s other plants. Workers giant by having Congress members certify given pattern bargaining, getting rid of our trality agreements” in which the employer usually join labor unions either through the process was valid. residuals means getting rid of residuals in- agrees not to interfere with workers’ right voting in a secret ballot election that is or- Though only 360 workers are currently dustry wide,” wrote WGA strike captain to organize. ganized and certified by the NLRB or card petitioning for unionization, it could lead Alfredo Barrios on a blog about the labor The NLRB struck a blow against card checks — the employer agrees to union- to tens of thousands of Verizon workers stoppage. check campaigns in its “Dana/Metaldyne” ization when a majority of employees sign joining unions in the future. Verizon signed The advent of the new media technology ruling. It allowed union decertification if union cards. a neutrality agreement in 2000 with the (Internet, cell phone downloads) has hurt just 30 percent of employees file petitions Though the NLRB handed down the Communication Workers of America and the earnings of writers as the studios refuse demanding decertification as soon as a ma- anti-union ruling it did not stop the UAW the International Brotherhood of Electrical to pay residuals when consumers stream jority of the workforce gains card check from organizing 2,500 workers at 11 differ- Workers, the two unions that represent ap- content regardless of revenue generated. recognition. The petitions are presented to ent plants through card checks in 2007. proximately 97,000 Verizon workers. The The studios now pay just 1.2 percent the NLRB, which then holds a decertifica- agreement prohibited Verizon from inter- of the distributor’s gross income to WGA tion vote. Verizon and “Neutrality” fering with the effort to organize 35,000 members for media that consumers pur- Anti-union employees at the separate In 2008, labor unions will undoubtedly see non-union Verizon workers. chase online or through cell phones. On top Dana and Metaldyne auto-parts manufac- more anti-union employees file for decerti- The two unions contend Verizon is ig- of that, the WGA estimates that over the turing corporations filed decertification fication after card check certifications. Of noring the neutrality agreement, however. next three years big media and production petitions weeks after workers joined the 360 New York and New England Verizon In the wake of the Dana/Metaldyne ruling, companies will earn more than $4.6 billion United Auto Workers (UAW) through the technicians, 57 percent signed union cards look for Verizon — and other corporations in new media advertisements that accom- card check process. in March 2007. Verizon has refused to rec- — to begin decertification drives and un- pany guild members’ work. Neutrality agreements usually occur in ognize the process. In response, union orga- dermine neutrality agreements in 2008. The strike’s roots began in the mid-1980s non-union shops where unions have orga- nizers tried to pressure the phone company

The

People’s a project of the Lawyer National Lawyers Guild NYC A Crack Opens in Drug Law Sentencing by Ann M. Schneider who were disgusted by having to impose se- 1990, “There is as much coke in the stock ex- would only help future offenders. vere jail time on the young, immigrant women change as there is in the Black community. But Mandatory minimums are still a problem. wenty-three years after this country be- who were most likely to be drug mules, while those guys are harder to catch. Those deals The Sentencing Commission only adjusted gan its disastrous experiment with man- prosecutors dithered about drug kingpins. The are done in office buildings, or in somebody’s mid-level sentences, saying it lacks power to Tdatory federal guidelines for sentencing, eminent Judge Jack Weinstein resigned from home. But the guy standing on the corner, he’s change the federal statutory minimum for drug what has been obvious for those on the receiv- the bench in 1993 in order to avoid having to almost got a sign on his back. These guys are offenses. So further action is needed by Con- ing end has finally trickled up to the highest impose such sentences. just arrestable.” gress to truly eliminate this racial disparity. policy-making bodies of our government. In 2006, more than 80 percent of the defen- Meanwhile, the U.S. Sentencing Commission In New York State, Drop the Rock coalition On Dec. 10, the Supreme Court gave federal dants sentenced for crack offenses were Af- also addressed the crack-coke disparity issue has achieved a measure of victory with a law judges the freedom to depart from federal sen- rican American, despite the fact that only 24 on Dec. 11, by giving 19,500 prisoners the right that permits some retroactive modification of tencing guidelines, implicitly recognizing that percent of crack users were African American. to apply for retroactive sentence reductions. the notorious Rockefeller drug laws. But the the 100 to 1 disparity in sentencing between Seventy-two percent of admitted crack users The Sentencing Commission had recom- measure that was passed in Albany allows THE INDYPENDENT January 11 – 31, 2008 crack cocaine and powder cocaine is a mani- were white or Hispanic, according to the Na- mended doing away with the disparity before. prosecutors to determine what the charges festation of racism. The penalty for possession tional Survey on Drug Use. Strikingly, in 1986, But Congress (who created the body in 1984) will be, placing all discretion in the hands of or distribution of 500 grams of powder cocaine before the enactment of mandatory minimums, refused to listen to their own experts. In an the district attorney. New York Assemblyman is five years in prison, but one need only have the average federal drug sentence for Blacks amazing display of political consciousness, Jeffrion Aubry’s bill, still pending, would repeal five grams of crack to be sentenced to a mini- was 11 percent higher than for whites. Four inmates in five federal prisons rioted in Octo- the mandatory minimums, thereby restoring mum of five years. years later, the average federal drug sentence ber 1995, the day after the House voted against full discretion to the trial judge; and increase The Supremes gave a break to Derrick Kim- for Blacks was 49 percent higher. sentencing reform. Five days earlier, Minister funding for drug treatment. brough, a Marine veteran of the Persian Gulf Coincidence? Louis Farrakhan’s demanded such a change While much reform is still needed, these de- War who was charged with using a gun in con- The 100 to 1 disparity has been in place since at the Million Man March in Washington, D.C. cisions represent a sea change in public and junction with distributing crack. The Kimbrough 1988 when Congress vastly increased the pen- The militancy of the prisoners was especially political attitude toward mandatory minimums case expanded on a 2005 Supreme Court ruling alties in order to curb “crack-fueled violence.” impressive, since the measure then pending that is probably unstoppable, like the march to- that gave a glimmer of hope to federal judges But as a Chicago Narcotics Officer stated in in Congress wouldn’t have applied to them. It ward the elimination of the death penalty. 5 6 January 11 – 31, 2008 THE INDYPENDENT Voters Desperate forSolutions h es wl b tee” e epns “I responds. he there?” be will else who it’scredible, and commitment, a makes and i to status some haveto enough big minority a of that fringe-candidate from support ‘2013.’” war. It is not acceptable the for ofDemocrats versionto sayDemocratic a to Iraq in war days two later.) withdrew and distant a f finished year, a withdraw the troopsall within for Edwards d deadline only definite a but discussed war, has Iraq the end to government promise fiercely They coverage.) either private or purchase to everyone require would two other the universal; be insurance. (Obama’s plan would not actually buy would people uninsured million which 47 the in systems through but universal healthcare, promise all former Edwards, John Sen. and Clinton, Obama, contenders, presidential Democratic proclaimed. voice,”myown Clinton found I process the in as well. supporters program. economycitedthe often Clinton Behind” B President of mandates and the teach-to-the-test college of cost especially high the and education, warming, and global environment healthcare, the the war, ending Iraq state as the issues Barack four top their around identified Sen. universally almost over Democrats win Obama. narrow the her her w view might populist rhetoric skeptically, but it resonated contributors corporate upstands for ofall us.” who President a had we time “It’s primary. n the crowdtold 8, triumphant Clinton a Jan. Hillary them,”for up stands whopresident a of years seven had student- have companies loan predatory companies, insurance M Wishnia By Steven acetr a. Pol dd o vt for a vote a not did at “People supporters bar. Manchester of group loud but a told small Kucinich pay,” to ability on based attentioncall to those issues. the to re-election his House seat — but wants win to to going not presidential nomination — he isis also seeking he that realizes system, single- healthcare nonprofit national payer a and Iraq from withdrawal running on a platform of immediate fifth, vote. The Cleveland congressman, finished garnering only 2 percent of the who race, the in Democrat left-wing most the Kucinich, Dennis R election 2008 nfluence. “ nfluence. ourth in in ourth change from a from change ig o ( so. oing ight of her victory in the in victory her of ight s’ “ ush’s cado, h pegd to pledged who ichardson, ith The problem for Kucinich is raising his his raising is Kucinich for problem The T leading three The “I listened to you, and senator’s the of roster the reading Those “Healthcare should never be a privilege privilege a be never should “Healthcare AN hat frustrates frustrates hat CHESTE N w aphr vtr, h gave who voters, Hampshire ew N o Child Left Left Child o N N U ew Hampshire Hampshire ew ew Mexico Gov. Bill Bill Gov. Mexico ew nless someone comes forward comes someone nless R , R N epublican version of the the of version epublican H—“The H—“The oil companies, R Candidates Offer Soaring Rhetoric ep. “ N deliver.” actually plan to what the candidates more thanoften promisingare —is the candidates what they believe however —and What voters want, ew Hampshire Hampshire ew p o against have invoked phraseology. similar others the “change,” says Obama “fighting as much as almost interests” corporate about entrenched fulminating pugnacious, most the is Edwards Though generation. a in rhetoricpro-labor most the “green-collar million j five create will believes we she “green says creating Clinton on infrastructure.” billion $25 spend to wants Edwards energy.” clean for a Project it “Manhattan a vows calls and crisis” “planetary Obama issues. environmental me.” like candidate a for way the open will it of unpredictability very The convention. the to way the all go to going is race this think religious right, but the plutocrats dismiss dismiss plutocrats the but right, religious the in he’sisHuckabee’s base Mike upper-class. but right-winger, cluelessly pureand obviouslyopportunistic often a to closest filled with finance, real-estate and high- overwhelmingly won and Obama offices.) real-estate tech finance, with filled edge- m old the Boston Manchester, (In development. and city yuppie now towns experiencing factory old cities, largest two came victory f of different margin noticeably Clinton’s blocs. from support drew fuel- raising and transit mass well expanding as as 2020, by power biofuel and wind solar, to consumption fossil-fuel current of half proposals:converting detailed most the revolution,”had“energy an for called who a hws n wrigcas religious working-class c and hawks war plutocrats, unite to enough belligerent and R obs” in the next ten years. years. ten next the in obs” o Mnhse and Manchester rom onservatives. rotecting rotecting n issues, but in in but issues, n aa o Gog Bs wos personable who’s Bush George or eagan ills by the Merrimack Merrimack the by ills Clinton and Obama are not far apart apart far not are Obama and Clinton on solid more are Democrats The mirn sniet n h gie of guise the in sentiment immigrant A i a a ik Te number The hick. a as him n pnn t epot anti- exploit to opening an merican jobs. So they are using using are they So jobs. merican b l R ikely leave the leave ikely r on ar omney is probably the the probably is omney pehrtrs keyboard speechwriter’s class issues, they will will they issues, class is missing all the digits digits the all missing is not credible on working- N R 50 per miles gallon. to standards economy appear fractured, fractured, w appear s t t e s u h c a g s s defeated a M easily McCain, who John Sen. national a priority.” and planet” warming “makeglobal the up “clean to vowing by 7 a Concord in speech Jan. opened race, GOP the in w global acknowledging e human beings. human beings. doctrinaire more the overnor Mitt cp 9 n 1. and 9 xcept illegal illegal immigrants are denounce McCain for e ew Hampshire they they Hampshire ew arming. arming. t no ith and saying that that saying and torture against being vn some Even A If the Democrats are Democratsare the If publicans are are publicans su, h state’s the Nashua, t this point, the the point, this R N R d Giuliani’s udy ew Hampshire Hampshire ew vr r now are iver R R R epublicans epublicans epublicans epublicans ichardson, ichardson, R A R omney omney rizona rizona onald onald A nd a Claremont, Hanover-Lebanon-Lyme. and Keene, Durham, of areas university the in exactly the same as the Canadian system, system, Canadian the as same the exactly rationales. The Edwards healthcare plan isn’t nothing,” he replies. than better “It’s insurance told. is he for plan, her payunder to have still you’d But supporting Clinton because of her who’s healthcare proposals. graduate college recent a D.C., Washington, of Sloan Chris says insurance,” health with job a get I’ll Hopefully, plan. health parents’ the deliver. “I just got what to kicked off plan my actually candidates than often more are is — promising candidates believe and the they — what however from Hanover. manager restaurant 29- year-old a Josephson, backerTim Edwards of says corporations,” instead the people from h be to speaking seems He working class. the for to fighting committed really struggle.” “He’s a without nothing “Power Douglass dictum: concedes venerablethe Frederickof view their is the perhaps utopian, biggest difference between him and magical Edwards a not is he people are desperate to hear it.” but platitude, a is hope of talk “This up best: it sums perhaps 57, Wetherell, Walter novelist Lyme Lebanon. in Obama’s speech after declares Keane Tommy white-haired I’d JFK,” than better thoughtwas also guy this but this, say never it “I elders. but their young, reaches idealistic the among strongest of is appeal acrimony. That instead partisan hope of politics a bring can he polls. doing was the outside placards “visibility,”up who holding volunteer Clinton a sign,” says thumbs-up the me giving were u significant a is support a that woman, is she because will Hillary voters female that automatic A who represented me.” House White the in felt there was a leader I when life adult my in time first the was It war.no was There house. a buy to was able “I day. primary on volunteer to Boston 44-year-old from up came whowaiter a Gramazio, w didn’t ’90s “The President. country far-right a have the when 1980 since time only the as administration Clinton Bill the remember many and experience, and brains but he got only 17 percent there. have would place a logical forbeen Edwardsto succeed, closings, factory by battered small city in the Connecticut Connecticut the in city small eart, eart, for the drurn. “ ndercurrent. l r go t m, says me,” to good ere Edwards supporters offer similar similar offer supporters Edwards want, voters What that emphasizing now is Obama Though Obama’s strongest appeal is his claim that her cite frequently supporters Clinton huh t s not is it though A merican merican A l h women the ll R alph R iver valley iver that the Iraq war would end if if end would war Iraq the that L Westfrom consultant environmental an 50, Vargas, Jose says minimum,” there’sa least he’sI think promises he’ll making keep.” office worker from 47-year-old Lebanon, but, “it’s a good one. a Paynter, Juanita says i a than year for the Iraqis to take over. more take will itbelieves buthe Claremont, in snowdrift thigh-high a by sign “Hillary” a Don with standing Vermontteacher a says McGee, dumb,” absolutely was It Iraq. into gone have shouldn’t “We withdrawal. gradual forproposal her on slack candidate “and — paying for war the war” Iraq — was issues the “one, Merrimack, from Marine We can’t just leave it alone.” country. their up messed “We’ve but, Iraq, in war the end will president Democratic a believes She Concord. from representative into evolve could and achievable politically medicine.” socialized before the primary. night the undecided still was he vagueness, had to to sacrifice pay for it. ji, says jail,” n ebanon. “ ebanon. “If there’s “If a way for people to afford it, at Toe w i te ht Hue belong House White the in two “Those o Mlom obs 7, rtrd ex- retired a 73, Forbes, Malcolm For it’s saying by plan his defends Edwards But frustrated by the candidates’ candidates’ the by frustrated But Democrats, but Clinton backers cut the the cut backers Clinton but Democrats, asingle-payerenough people if system ILLUSTRATIONS: RUSTY ZIMMERMAN RUSTY ILLUSTRATIONS: a hoe ulc oeae over coverage public choose A mong lot of lot war appears near universal universal near appears war A rvt pas “h nt go not “Why plans. private bby Krim, 46, a marketing marketing a 46, Krim, bby A for single-payer? If he really f the people and lead.” ghanistan instead, and and instead, ghanistan wants to challenge the big Opposition to the Iraq Iraq the to Opposition ncivbe educate unachievable, A insurance companies, companies, insurance Dnt a ta it’s that say “Don’t e hud come should he mericans are afraid of afraid are mericans h u ad a that,” say and out two and three.” He He three.” and two responds Eric Sawyer, who’s staying with with staying who’s u from carpenter a 53, N is in-laws in in-lawsin is pstate ew Hampshire Hampshire ew al-Qaeda in in al-Qaeda s y the ays t s n i a g a s e t a t S N g n i t h g i f A ew d l u o h s mericans mericans Nashua. U e b nited nited Y ork THE INDYPENDENT january 11 – 31, 2008 7 ts c  du o r es quity c $84,936 h P h $390,513 $261,784 $940,459 —A.K.GUPTA $323,528 $865,856 $976,574 $4,505,199 $566,250 $269,436 $819,508 $176,800 $713,012 $935,658 $3,939,008 $4,735,730 $9,596,748 ur $7,940,424 $2,292,188 lt te E o a $883,125 $489,909 a es to to eliminate who chal- contenders viable Street- the Wall lenge on candidates backed tough topics such as the Iraq war, NAFTA, foreign health- policy, care and the environ- ment. riv

nks l R ls/He a nvestment nternet ca I tilities l Ba w Firms tur a te i La euti e a c ne U Na c Ron Paul ac st n ho a rack Obama (4) rack Obama (4)  rack Obama (3)   rack Obama (3)   rack Obama (5)  rack Obama (3)   rack Obama (2)  rack Obama (3)   rack Obama (5)  rack Obama(2)  l E rm urities & I illary Clinton (2) a a a a a a a a a a a mmer mputers/ a c wyers/ H M R H R J B B C B B H H H B B B B H B B B gribusiness  itt Romney (1) edge Funds & P  udolph Giuliani (1) $1,157,900 o illary Clinton (1) o rack Obama (1)  e  (1) Clinton illary e  illary Clinton (1)   ha illary Clinton (1) nergy/ udolph Giuliani (1) elep ohn McCain (1) a (1) Clinton illary

nsur hristopher Dodd (1) arack Obama’s campaign has soaredhiscampaign has on Obama’s arack rhetoric of “change.” Many people have A C C E H I L P R S T He says he won’t accept contributions from According to reports, he’s maintained ties Paul support, as by proved his has significant Paul Voters should be but appalled, not surprised. Dem- a during came example brazen most The WHO’S BUYINGWHO’S OBAMA B (Allopensecrets.org.) from isinformation responded favorably, apparently tired disastrous of the Bush presidency and leery storing of a re-divisive Clinton one. But doeshowchange Obama really represent? much evencommitteespoliticallobbyistsaction — or though he has. Obama raised more thanmillion $80through the first nine monthsit’sand ofnot coming from sales.bake 2007, to lobbyists to shake the money tree, and, next to Hillary Clinton, is the top recipient of money fromcorporations federallegislationthatgame policyand fortheir interests. The following a is sample of which corporate sectors and indus- triesstackshe backinghowareObama,and up againstthe other leading recipients. record-breaking daily fundraising haul of haul $6has fundraising daily mil- he record-breaking that claims campaign Paul’s 16. Dec. on lion surveys online prominent from excluded also been in the last months several and was also initially presidential Republican a attending from blocked June. in Iowa, Moines, Des in forum Leaders in both parties are pulling dirty tricks ocratic debate last summer in Detroit after the took mainstream candidates heat for their sup- Follow- deals. trade free and War Iraq the for port John caught microphone open an debate, the ing Edwards telling Hillary Clinton guys “our should can- other the out pushing about apparently talk,” serious.” not are “they because didates - - orth Star N leo garcia merica will no -sponsored Demo- -sponsored A merica’s merica’s acknowl A mericans did generations nitedStates there mil are 11 A , writes of the 850,000 people merica to the truth that are we fast Des Moines Register Des Moines frican- A d Obama will bring some relief as the n ut we will. By 2050 Nobodies B Obama styles himself as Lincoln’s heir. dismissTo Obama is to miss a chance to Obamastandmay the at podium, calling A ABC’s decision came after Kucinich was blocked blocked was Kucinich after came decision ABC’s Kucinich. muffled ABC time first the not was It Ron Paul has faced similar roadblocks. Fox olds. They follow the same udge A n the instant between abor. In abor. the U that seeLatinoas workers daydon’t we but ago, the new slaves. longer be a majority-white nation. grants Immi- are not welcomed, but are strangers. seenbeforelong How nativist anxiety as turns into pogroms? How long can a house divided against itself stand? Many on the left snicker, but there is dan- seeingnotin gerthe significance symbol-of ic change. Symbolism is real. n becoming a true rainbow. is His not campaign the solution, but his important story than is he is. more Should he enter White theHouse, we have to wedge our voices i lion illegal immigrants. John Bowe, author of who leave the Global South every year for our borders. They die in rafts deserts, in fall the off ocean and suffocateh in cargo edgment of its debt and its assumption that it’s been paid, and knowing people call want desperately.it for real change, on the “better angels of our only can we nature,” let them fly. but unspoken apology for slavery. But will he bring relief to the slaves of today? We still have them, because we still want l coerced is is effectively of an endorsement the candidates ABC.” by selected from said the newspaper The Iowa. in 13 Dec. debate cratic office “official” an have not did Kucinich because supporters’ of out operated campaign (his Iowa in candidate. legitimate a not was he homes), ABC 19 Aug. the After de- News-sponsored Dis- the Iowa, in bate ney-owned network posted an “Who survey asking, online won the Democratic debate?” and then removed the results lead. the in was Kucinich after 6 Repub- Jan. the to join him invite not did News percent 10 garnered he though even debate, lican 4 of the vote, Iowa far Rudy than more Giuliani’s the who New was percent, In invited. response, “part- a as withdrew Party Republican Hampshire forum. the from ner” - - fri A merica; A merica’s displaced merica’s A According to According a joint ABC-Face- eagan was the cowboy riding R book book survey, however, Kucinich polled higher than New Mexico Gov. who Bill Richardson, was in- vited to the filed debate. Kucinich Com- with the Federal a complaint munications Commission on Jan. Jan. 5 ABC News-sponsored New 5 Jan. ABC News-sponsored Hampshire debate after the net- work claimed Kucinich failed in place not did to he because qualify the top four in Iowa or poll higher percent. 5 than mericarather than knowhow to A ow, ow, Sen. Barack Obama brings us mericans have tried for the White N live” live” posters in the Third World fron A bama is a symbol of of symbol a is bama ericas” campaign struggles. We want a A O But he doesn’t bring us hope; he takes It’s why Sen. Edwards’s clear-eyed “Two This This is not some back-room conspiracy; it’s from the was excluded for example, Kucinich, m r ur hope to the last door of power. andidate’s. an- ier. ier. c seamless divisionsTheare.anxiety,causedivided we manyrespondeagerlyto soso which why is Obama’s patriotic illusion. Edwards’s nar- rative is viable when the system is broken and isn’t, it not totally. So “hope” we over theover hills to bring morning to t guilt and desired innocence. It narrative,hasas it nearly every presidential drives his c the first Bush’s“thousand pointsof light” were missiles raining on Iraq; Clinton was a sexual swashbuckler who openedStreet purses; Wall and this Bush is also a cow- boy, plastering Bin Laden “Wanted Dead o euphoria has the same self-congratulation that surrounded Colin candidacy. Powell’s “He’ll prove possible we’re not racist,” the unconscious dialogue went, “If only all Blacks could be like him, articulate, well-mannered, patient and forgiving.” “hope.” o House like strengthening tides; first Shirley Chisolm in ’72 then Jesse Jackson’88.andEachinside.edged nevercloser but in ’84 If Obama wins and isn’t shot there will be a sigh of relief because we will once again have chosen feel-good wholesomeness over the hard healing. of work A 4, claiming that ABC “is violating its obligation to its obligation violating ABC “is that 4, claiming operate in the public interest” and that it could with-not debate primary be a “true presidential but instead candidates, credible all out including how how the is system process works. The electoral who to slanted can raise hun- those candidates and corporations from dollars of millions of dreds the wealthy. Those with who populist media agendas, giant the as such interests, vested threaten “democratic the to entry denied are corporations, process.” Dennis Kucinich Dennis nd nd here A ow thevery ow N braham Lincoln’s A mericastandsembarrassed A merica cost so much blood. A

d “conversion” is what he inspires. he limits of the presidential election process process election presidential the of limits he has penned voters between and candidates backed a hard place corporate- after

n

needhope. to Exhausted the by left’s fa- Barackaroundeuphoriatalism,sift the I Obama for something real. Here is a w we must clean ourselves. s it because it s integrate A His success is tempting. He’s converted So I pull back from “hoping,” becausethe “hoping,” from back pull I So Is it because whites see beyond his skin I Their attempts to gain a national national a gain to attempts Their Both Both veteran have politicians a

o

atinopackedmeninprison. lack man walking in T

By Jessica Lee blindness is still who we are. sheer force of will. But inside that willed and try to find the future in the dark by wonder without insight as we shut our eyes sion” sion” is often willed blindness. It grants raised around Christians, I know “conver- B so many whites already, but having been the racism that slavery left behind. footsteps daring us to free ourselves from dent. a people good enough to elect to enough good a presi- Black a people of of their own character, to see themselves as does his skin reflect the wished-for content color color to the content of his character? Or wipe the blood off our hands on his skin. comes an ambitious buppie who’ll let us N found no WMDs, no connection to 9/11. before the world? We invaded Iraq and to But how can we “hope” after each attempt L nign neglect as schools decayed, Black and Leaders shot. People jailed. Decades of be- claim a Black man as their symbol. white majority that stood by is eager to I By Nicholas Powers

Not Apply Not Populists Need Need Populists

Hope

White White The Great Great The from debates. from given them fair coverage and have excluded them them excluded have and coverage fair them given thwarted by the corporate media, which have not not have which media, corporate the by thwarted tention across the nation. the across tention been have candidacies and ideas their for platform — and have fought mightily for at- mightily fought — have and with with libertarians and nativists cinich with cinich and progressives Paul and New Hampshire primary. Hampshire New and — Ku- following grassroots strong outcomes of both the Iowa caucus caucus Iowa the both of outcomes tional tional debates, likely affecting the Paul (R-Tex.), were iced out of iced were (R-Tex.), na- Paul Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio) Kucinich and Dennis Ron both both antiwar candidates, Reps. AFRICA

We left the CARE compound. “Be care- into the foamy currents, hands out like a and shouting. Five men on horses pulled me At the CARE office, Françoise shook her Darfur Q & A ful,” Joseph said and I scrunched my eye- tightrope walker. He was sucked in. The men away. They raped me. I remember the whole head. “They are planning [to send] 20,000 brows. “You won’t get shot, but men will reeled him from the river and he stumbled thing. I couldn’t walk. I lay there for two soldiers here. Where are they going to stay? stick you up. It’s a poor country. People are onto land, wiping his face. He went out, was days. I thought I was going to die. I wanted The only way peace will come is if there is a desperate.” sucked under again and reeled back. On the to die. Someone saw me and gave me water. framework for [the] return [of the refugees] fifth try he wobbled out on the other side of At first I didn’t say anything because I was and I don’t see that happening for years.” The NGO Economy the river. They took the rope, tied it to the ashamed. I told my husband. He knew the I flew to N’Djamena to catch the first of Each day in N’Djamena some foreigner told truck and signaled the other driver. He start- situation with us. I’m always thinking about three flights home. We filed into the jet and me a new story of a murder or mugging. ed his engine and drove pulling the truck in what happened. I want to go home. There is flew into the night. I saw North Africa be- Every warning was a brick in an invisible wall and through the waves. My driver turned to nothing new here.” neath me. It was a black desert with small Where is Darfur? surrounding me. If I traveled, it was by car. If me, “Chadians don’t build bridges, but we Her eyes were wet and bright. Pain emanat- patches of light like spilled glitter. Darfur is composed I bought water or exchanged money, a local know how to cross rivers.” ed from her like a ringing bell. I stumbled out In New York, I sat on the subway train, of three provinces in was hired to do it. I rode around, staring out We drove on as day faded to evening. Our and we drove back to the CARE compound. rocketing through the tunnel. In Chad it was western Sudan. It is slightly larger than the of the window of CARE jeeps and imagined driver turned on the headlights, and we Night came and I climbed on the truck and easy to measure their poverty by our wealth. state of California and borders Libya, the above dirt roads our superhighways, passed like a submarine, illuminating cargo rubbed my chest. It was tight as if my heart At home I measured our wealth against their Central African Republic and Chad. The A Hunger For Home beside each crumbled building our glinting trucks caked in mud as men slept on the tires was pumping Fatime’s voice. I sat there see- poverty. My mind imposed a dirt road on region has historically been marginalized, skyscrapers. cradling machine guns. We turned away but ing her face every time my eyes closed. every highway, a mud hut next to every sky- first by British colonizers and then by the I met BBC reporter Stephanie Hancock at the afterimage floated in the night. scraper. In my apartment, I stood over my Sudanese government. Southern Darfur is, Stranded in the desert, Darfur’s refugees live the Café Glacier. We ordered coffee and she In Iriba, I met my translator, Zoubeida. As Leaving toilet and flushed, amazed at the water swirl- however, rich in oil. The Chinese National ran down the situation. “Deby is shrewd. He we rode to the camp she told me, “The main On the U.N. flight back to Abeche, I studied ing down. Petroleum Corporation holds the largest oil with an endless war. used the crisis in Darfur to position himself tribes in this camp are Zaghawa and Fur. the land below. Grass traced underground Later, I read a Reuters Africa report by concession in southern Darfur. a victim of the Sudan saying the Sudanese In July 2003 they came over the border into veins of water. My trip had been similar. I Stephanie, the BBC reporter I met in N-Dja- President Omar Al-Bashir is helping the Chad. They were hungry, afraid. Feet blis- flowed into Chad on the veins of Western aid, mena. Gunmen had barged into aid offices Who Janjaweed and the Chadian rebels. Deby is tered from walking. Women were pregnant. riding its jeeps and planes, sleeping on its beds in Iriba and beat the staff. A shiver went lives in right, but he supports the Darfur rebellion When they delivered, their babies died.” Our and writing its story. The trickle of money and through me as I thought of my friends. Sudan Darfur? by allowing rebel groups like the Justice and truck heaved over a hill. I saw a burnt tank equipment from the other side of the world Chad Roughly six Equality Movement to go into the camps and in the sand. She waited for my eyes to return. sustains life here. Darfur million people recruit. “In beginning of this camp they sit all day from dozens of “At least 170,000 Chadians are displaced, and cry. When you ask them question they ethnic groups. and Deby hasn’t given food or stopped the cry deep.” Traditionally, fighting. Instead, in 2006 Deby armed Chad- local subsis- ians, handing out 400 Kalashnikov machine The Refugees tence farmers Photos and Text By Nicholas Powers bought weapons for the Arab herders creating guns to the Dajo tribe. He is as guilty as Al- We ride into camp and walk through a maze of shared this arid East African plateau with a militia we now know as the Janjaweed. Bashir. So when the Save Darfur Coalition huts. We enter one and Zoubeida tells a young nomadic pastoralists from northern Sudan. rom the edge of her village in eastern They galloped into villages; shooting men blames the Sudan I think it fits the American woman who I am. She nods and we sit. “Her Darfur, she saw helicopters over the down, ripping women apart, stuffing bod- war on terrorism narrative. Arabs, Al-Bashir name is Saida Vakhid. She is 22 years old.” what are the origins of the long Fhuts, turning and shooting at the peo- ies into wells or ravines. Refugees fled to the and Muslim terrorists are folded into one.” Saida talks to me as Zoubeida translates. darfur conflict? ple below. Fatime ran over hills, across dry neighboring nations of Chad and the Central “Stephanie,” I hesitated not liking what I “When I was 16 my father engaged me to It began in the 1970s, simmered in the 1980s river beds, around bush. She ran with family African Republic. In the years that followed, was going to say. “It seems the NGOs are the his sister’s son who was in Libya. He never and 1990s and erupted in 2003 as the central away from the fading gunfire. 2.5 million people were driven from their only business in town that brings money to came back so he told me to marry the man’s government in Khartoum stoked ethnic ten- The sun rose and fell, spinning their homes and up to 255,000 were killed. the people.” Her eyebrows rose as she nod- brother instead. If I did not agree, I must sions around access to increasingly scarce shadows like a needle on a broken com- ded, “I know what you’re getting at. War is leave house. I had baby. After baby I didn’t arable land and water. Some call it the first pass. They walked on swollen feet, breathed Careworn an industry. Every Chadian with an NGO talk for a year.” I ask of the age difference. war to be sparked by climate change. Sudan though dry throats, watched the horizon. My story begins in Chad. Last summer, I job supports 20 people, unlike the govern- “He was 30 she was 16.” I tap the notepad. had previously endured a civil war from 1955 Someone shouted. Men on horses trotted arrived in Chad’s capital city of N’Djamena ment. Even now, the schools are shut down “Where is her family now?” Zoubeida trans- to 1972 between the North and South. into the open, pulled the reins and galloped and was driven through a sun-lit haze of dust and teachers on strike because they haven’t lates, “She is alone.” “Tribes wear the mask of toward Fatime. and traffic to CARE, the international aid been paid in six months. Just five years ago We leave to go to a meeting of village el- Who are the Janjaweed? agency that had agreed to host me. Joseph the main road was quiet, no cars only goats. ders. “Zoubeida, how are women treated?” The Janjaweed are an ethnic militia that the a political party to benefit Lost in Translation Makusa, a CARE finance officer, shook my Now they are busy with NGO Toyotas and She nods and lowers her voice, “Women have Sudanese government has used as a proxy I learned about Darfur in 2006. On TV, hand and took me to his office. motorcycles.” many problem. Women to women it’s easy to force to ethnically “cleanse” Darfur and re- themselves,” Joseph said. sorrow-creased faces begged for help. It re- “First thing to know is people are afraid talk. Woman to man is hard. A lot of beat- settle it with Arabs from the North. From minded me of flooded New Orleans, fami- to say what they think here. It is dangerous.” An Endless Border ings happen. Men are angry.” 2003 to 2006, it’s estimated that a quarter “No one feels they belong lies on roofs reaching up for rescue. It took His eyes searched the air for the right words. On the following day, I flew to Abeche, We enter a building with a large group the true face of war: Fatime Saleh was abducted and raped by five men on horseback after million Darfurians were killed and more than a day to buy a ticket to New Orleans and be “The president Idriss Deby and his tribe keep Chad’s main eastern city, and headed to the of men sitting on the rug, the women in the fleeing attacks on her village in Darfur. “I’m always thinking about what happened,” she says two million displaced, with many fleeing to to the same nation.” there, giving out food and picking up stories. the money and power. The rebels reached the local CARE office. On the way the driver back. The chiefs are on chairs. One with a from a refugee camp in eastern Chad. “I want to go home. There is nothing new here.” (above) neighboring Chad. The violence in Darfur It took almost two years to stomp the water city last April, but the French troops helped yelled at boys fighting in the street. One had glowing white turban and an ornate cane A Darfurian refugee family living in another camp in eastern Chad receives a ration of millet, the provoked an outcry in the West against the and screams out of my mind. the president.” curly Arab hair; the other was African. As held court. I ask the universal question. “Do grain that is a staple of the local diet. (Below) government of Sudan. The Janjaweed are I taped a map of North Africa over my bed I ask, “Even after liberation, France has we drove on, I watched them in the side-view you get paid enough?” They laughed. “We also accused of pushing their attacks into and studied Darfur. The war appeared in the troops here?” Joseph nods, “They never left. mirror, struggling in the dirt and wondered need four times as much,” they said. neighboring Chad and supporting Chadian media in 2004 but it had begun in the 1890s Deby needs them. The country is poor; prices how many years before someone gave them “What would you like to say to Ameri- rebel groups in their fight against the Chad- when the English drew borders that boxed are rising. Oil money is flowing, but not to guns to finish what fists could not. cans?” ian government of Idriss Deby. the Arab north and African south inside the the people. The other tribes want power.” We pulled into the compound, where the The chief with the cane spoke with confi- same nation now known as Sudan. The Eng- I ask what tribe Idriss Deby is from. Joseph CARE officer Françoise ran around show- dent joy as Zoubeida translated. “We know What is Chad, and who in the world lish developed the north but left the south a says, “He is Zaghawa. Here tribal identity ing workers floors that needed brick, electric about Malcolm X and Martin Luther King, is Idriss Deby? desert. After Sudan gained its independence comes before national identity. Tribes wear wires to be routed and computers to be in- Jr. We know when the African-American Chad is a large, landlocked nation of 10 in 1956, the Arabs saw themselves a degree the mask of a political party to benefit them- stalled. “We just moved in, so you came at a people hear our story they will help us.” I million that gained its independence from better than the Africans, and since then both selves. No one feels they belong to the same bad time,” she said. When we sat down, she winced knowing his solemn words would be France in 1960. Average life expectancy is 48 have fought over the identity of the nation. nation.” traced her life across Africa. “I was in Mali, drowned out in the music, movies and celeb- years. President Idriss Deby has ruled Chad In between the rounds of war, old rituals I push him, “Is the Zaghawa a minority?” in Kenya and now here.” She leaned in, “I’m rity gossip sloshing in our ears back home. since 1990. He infuriated France by signing continued. Each season, Arab herders drove He looks up, “Yes.” The see-saw picture he not an expert, but tribal identity starts young. I think of Zoubeida and wonder what a major oil concession with Exxon-Mobil in cattle to the southern region of Darfur, described to me of Chadian politics seemed Adults will interpret what a child does as Za- she’d like to ask. “The anger from the war, 1998 and has been accused of supporting where Fur, Masaaleit and Zaghawa tribes a slippery slope to violence. I ask if the im- ghawa or Yoruba. It creates the divisions in does any of it cause abuse of women?” They rebel groups fighting his rival, Sudan’s mili- THE INDYPENDENT J welcomed them. The cattle fertilized soil and balance of power could someday lead to the the child that grow into civil war.” squint at the question, shake their heads. tary dictator Gen. Omar al-Bashir. helped carry supplies. In 2003, a drought in kind of ethnic bloodletting that occurred in “You are going to Iriba tomorrow,” she “No we don’t have that problem here.” the North dried wells, turning earth to sand Rwanda in 1994. Joseph, who is Rwandan, said. “I made the trip, it’s beautiful. You’ll The next morning, I asked Zoubeida if the What’s the latest from troubled and forcing Arab herders south. They want- sighed, “I know what happened in my coun- be going with good drivers.” We left the next Janjaweed use rape as a weapon. She took Darfur? THE INDYPENDENT ed more than grazing for cattle; they wanted try but ….” morning heading north. I watched the dry me to a hut where a young woman sat qui- A joint force of 26,000 U.N. and African Union new land. He blinked and then glared, “I hate tribes. yellow land rise and fall, waved to peasants etly. Zoubeida told her who I was and she peacekeepers is scheduled to be deployed anuary 11 – 31, 2008 9 Rifles were handed out to African tribes- I hate African politics. It uses you in a way who waved at us. We wrestled the land with spoke. “My name is Fatime Saleh,” Zoubeida in Darfur this month. The mission, however, men. Anger crystallized into rebel groups, you don’t want to be used.” I ask him if he the jeep, swaying as the driver lurched up translated. “Three years ago the Janjaweed has been hampered by a lack of equipment. among them the Sudanese Liberation Army lost anyone in the genocide. “Yes … I lost hills, our heads bumping. attacked. They came on horse and helicopter. and the Justice and Equality Movement. After many friends, many relatives,” he stared into We stopped at a rain-swollen river. On our We ran. Some of us were separated from fam- —John Tarleton the rebels raided a military outpost, the Arab- his hands. “But,” he lifted his eyes. “We must side a large semi truck puttered. The driver ily. I saw them kill my uncle. They shot him.

11 – 31, 2008 anuary dominated government, flush with oil money, keep things straight.” tied a rope around an older boy who waded We were running from the village, crying 8 J 10 January 11 – 31, 2008 THE INDYPENDENT G be disposed of at the will of its leader. of its will of at the disposed be to property a heirloom, family a as treated being is (PPP) Party People’s Pakistan The grotesque. anyless it make not does official now is this that fact The children. his to on title the pass doubt, no and, person-for-life chair- become then will He age. Bilawal, of comes son, 19-year-old Benazir’s till ty par- the run will and ciphers two an courts) Europe- three in charges corruption facing still and country the in politicians credited D dysfunctional Pakistan’s proach that would cost her — tragically advice tragically the heeded she Had — life. own her — her cost would that proach ap- an predecessors, its as mode autocratic medi- charade. eval disgusting, this than better deserve Both supporters. Party People’s Poor stan. A S Ali Tariq By for her son. noroom for doubt. She could certainly answer tentative, was modern-day her equivalent left announcedworldthetomedia. WhereMary contents subsequently its and out readbeing Bhuttozirhear toherlastandtestamentwill tentates gathered in the home of the slain Bena- 1587. was year The him.” for answer for I cannot as so in he far deserves, “ international ... ab sif Zardari (one of sif Zardari the and most venal dis N Benazir’s last decision was in the same same the in was decision last Benazir’s A OnDec.30, 2007, conclavea offeudal po- A e triumvirate consisting of her husband, husband, her of consisting triumvirate o r s for my son, I commend him to you to him commend I son, my for s brother-in-law, Henry III of France: France: of III her Henry to wrote brother-in-law, executed, Scots was of Queen she Mary, before hours ix hn mr, ohn ls. or Paki Poor less. nothing more, thing i e mocracy S lla pz un t - - John does not augur well for its future. its for well augur not does still country to the gift last Her alive. might have been she election parliamentary his or, Musharraf even later, to decided boycott to Pervez with agreed deal not Washington-brokered the and leaders party some of tional state and has been in this situation decades. situation four almost for this in been has and state tional o sense the in state” “failed a not is Pakistan for over by erned of half the military its life. gov- been has that country a in important family. one of any ment instru- the not money, was big to addiction an despite Party, Democratic the that nore to comparing ig- but chose Kennedys, to the her family of fond was Benazir strength. not weakness, of sign a is politics Dynastic sidelined. have but they been party, side the in- politicians principled and incorruptible as te wr agrd y dcso that decision a by angered were they cause if’s goons who physically assaulted judges be- l conveniently over- so judiciary the on sault t institu- stable of emergence sta- the and political bility prevented has that this is It worse. has rule made things riod pe- of military each and army the by domination the S tary,David Miliband. The first attack onthe A politicians are not in a position the to Butcast documented.stones. amply been have and torrent. aheadlong into waters choppy focused has is that rock the so. This does still unfortunately, and, with business do it can institution only as the military the regarded always has it since responsibility, ooked by the ions. Here the the Here ions. upreme Court was mounted by f the Congo or or Congo the f f How can Western-backed politicians be be politicians Western-backed can How A enormously is democracy of issue The The military’sThe weaknesseswellare known ter all, Musharraf did not pioneer the as pioneerthenot did Musharraf all, ter t N the heart of this dysfunctionality is is dysfunctionality this of heart the implemented. There is a tiny layer of layer tiny a is There implemented. egroponte,andBritishForeign Secre if inner-party democracy was was democracy inner-party if U and his future. his and concerning the young prince prince young the concerning mouth sycophantic niceties niceties sycophantic mouth treat they if seriously taken A .S. .S. Deputy Secretary of State, their supporters as serfs, serfs, abroad courtiers their as while supporters their and fiefdom a as party their U l l this could be transformed R nited States bears direct direct bears States nited ad. t s dysfunc a is It wanda. N awaz Shar - - - - A c new a start might People’sParty the death, he was prime minister during the 1990s. whenmaster’sinterests their tocounter ran Ali is an editor of of editor an is Ali elec- t pending chairperson him appointed have should she faction and family beyond capable of been thinking hore. Had Benazir La- in arrest confine- house under still solitary is He ment. in kept and emergency j chief of the dismissal the movement against popular the in role heroic a played ciation, A longer version of this article originally in originally appeared article this of version longer A favor. or astart. be would It out fear murder with- judges Benazir’s to investigate Court Supreme sacked the of the reinstatement and months, six within elections uine gen- for basis the prepare to unity of ment govern- all-party an figure, contentious less would require replacement Musharraf’s by a 155 First Ave. 155 First City New the for Theater W.55 St. 13th Lounge) (Student School New The 451 St. West Forum Brecht Place Mark’s 6 St. Video Kim’s Ave.B 37 Union Credit LES St. 9th E. 307 MUD Mercer 206 Books St. Mercer St. Crosby 126 Works Housing Houston E. 49 Up! Times St. 172 Allen Bluestockings 14 Below tariqali.org. is website unreliable. hence and poodle Saudi a as seen is Sharif a the for only other alternative them is Gener- President. the of dumping sec- and t legitimacy lacks still Musharraf emergency, of state a imposing by skin cal politi- own his saving in succeeded Having afortune. tomake ate desper- careerists bandwagon segment: ary reaction- most its for except followers PPP traditional many the hit will succession the downfall. wife’s horror the of have emotions subsided, Once his for responsible held and activists many by loathed was Mr. Zardari later. than rather sooner party the in Where do I get my copy of ustice. Mr. Mr. ustice. ions of ions the N party. the within ions hapter. hapter. l itzaz itzaz Some Some of us had hoped that, with Benazir’s A Their problem is that, with Benazir dead, dead, Benazir with problem is that, Their crisis. in country a is there Meanwhile split a be will certainly almost result The A th solution to the crisis is available. This This available. is crisis the to solution shraf Kiyani, head of the army. the of head Kiyani, shraf St. A A hsan, president of the Bar Bar the of president hsan, fter all, one of its main leaders, leaders, main its of one all, fter U A The Independent Independent The .S. establishment are thinking thinking are establishment .S. hsan was arrested during the the during arrested was hsan 26 Edgecombe Ave. Council Tenant Harlem &Claremont St. 121st Church Riverside W. St. 536 112th Books Labyrinth &Broadway 114th St. Video Kim’s 96 a Ave. &Ninth 23rd Restaurant Sq. Chelsea 9 W. St. 19th Revolution Books 777 Tenth Ave. Coordinators Conservation Housing St. W.537 59th Network hood Neighbor- Manhattan 14 96 N b th th th e ove w Left Left w to s S o such luck. o such t. T . R (UK). Tariq Tariq (UK). eview N 57 7th Ave. 7th 57 Ave. 5th 249 Shop Coffee Ozzie’s Ave. Church 2242 Castle Veggie Ave. &7th St. 9th Ave. &7th St. Union Tea Lounge Aves. &Atlantic 3rd. YWCA Ave. DeKalb 248 Brooklyn of Tillie’s Rd. Cortelyou 1022 Vox Pop Ave. Lafayette 30 BAM Pkwy Eastern 200 Museum Brooklyn Brooklyn 156 St. & Amsterdam &Amsterdam St. 156 Bookstore Sister’s Uptown ton Ave. E. 106th St. & Lexing- Cultural Center Julia de Burgos A . His His . awaz awaz sso -

the the Family Dynasty Silences Voice to seek a third term as prime prime as term third minister. a seek to Last Pakistan to returned billion. she October, $1.5 to grown have to estimated was fortune family’s her 1999, in exile into went Bhutto When contracts. his government kickbacks on for skimming known of Percent” practice was Ten “Mr. and as Industry Minister of as served Zardari, Asif husband, Her charges. on corruption times both office from driven be to only minister, prime twice elected was Benazir daughter his After 1988, in faithful. restored was rule civilian party this the to by revered day still is He in 1979. executed and coup military by a deposed was he before 1977 1971- from country Ali the led Bhutto, Zulfiqar founder, party’s family. The founding its of Bhuttos, enrichment the personal the for but majority has also been a vehicle T i of thePeople ndypendent ndypendent 940 Garrison Ave. Garrison 940 Point The b Flushing Ave, Skillman 49-22 Aubergine Café Elmhurst St, Glean 40-19 Café Terraza Queen 25 4th Ave. 4th 25 Library Street Pacific St. Bogart 49 Archive The Ave. Graham 323 Café Phoebe’s Ave. Bushwick 243 Ave. Graham 345 Burrito Loco El Ave. Myrtle 505 Cafe Pillow St. 5th &N. Ave. Bedford Café Verb A FREE p A FREE the cause of Pakistan’s poor poor Pakistan’s of cause the championed long has (PPP) Party People’s Pakistan he ronx a p s — f er J ohn o 500 Washington St. Washington 500 News Daily Hoboken St. 74 Hudson Restaurant Spa The H St. 14 Zariskie Library Branch Heights The City Jersey St. Bay 208 Café Book Goes Everything St. Bennett 75 Library Branch Richmond Port Ave. 5 Central Library George St. I Staten 928 Intervale St. Intervale 928 Move the on Mothers s p r free T o ? land arle b oken t on e opl e THE INDYPENDENT January 11 – 31, 2008 11 - - y a s orth .S. is N n U AFTA). er N d i y Aw e a armer t ll lott i efugees Interefugees s F R million farmers small have many many as two com losttheir land. s: S is is expected drive hundreds of to e. fect in 1994, as ational Assembly. er K FTA went into ef ovember and 245 inand ovember thousands of more N ark ot The tariff measure ee A N p N nd small Mexican farmersMexican small out of business. Since nn ug gto ef reS n dons Coup P i R su q st Defe ea aan aan are blaming loggers for his washi ra e re N o z Par sts o e e A M e : th f T n v n . to I r a ot an an had disappeared two months earlier S AF . a ai hoto upreme Court and the t t the beginning of the year under the 50 in October to 362toOctober 50in in aid Ken Bacon, presidentof Bacon, Ken aid world briefs world P Mexican farmers carried out street protests and roadblocks in three states on Jan. 9 to protest the elimination of all tariffs on corn, beans, sugar and milk that went into effect a American Free Trade Agreement ( Chavez’s action came less than a month af- ter his government lost a bitterly contested referendum to overhaul Venezuela’s consti- tutionexpandand his powers. “It's matter a of turning the page. We want a country that movestoward Chavezpeace,” said. U A new Bush administration 1,000 plan Iraqi refugees per month toto the bring AssociatedPress,the to faltering.According the number of Iraqis granted asylum fromsince fell effectfall intothiswent program the 4 December. “This is quite a shocking result," s national. "We keep hearing they are bolster- ing the program, but the figureskeep going down.” An estimated 2.4 million Iraqis have another and country war fled the their to due twointernally been million have displaced. R chieftainsupportersPenan of and familyThe Keleasu deathafter finding December. remains his in N and his body was found with several broken bones, prompting 100 report a closestthe60lodgeatwalkmilesto Penan villagers to police station and demand an investigation. Logging on the southeast Asian island has been rampant since the slightly more 1980s. than 50 In percent 2005,rainforest of Borneo's remained. More growthplantationsoil palm increasedof has recently, the pressure on the forests. Palm oil is severalone of biofuels being touted alternative as to fossil fuels. a green N Pr Ch Venezuelan president Hugo in Chavez the new rang year by granting amnestynumber to of a opposition to leaders the short-lived connected military coup against his government in April 2002 and a two-month oil industry shutdown estimated $10 which billion dollars damage caused to the 2003.January an in ended Amongand economy the beneficiaries of the amnestyare those who wrote and signed a decree during the coup that dissolved a number of democrati- institutionspublicelected cally the including S Bo - - t t un .ne pz a s we learntwe s eer A lla S e i r aljaz . S. troops in the ab . G operate from Kenyan bases and conducts joint exercises with U region. For the latest news, visit Kenya.indymedia.org glish .S. ear, 30 women and chil : en Y wandagenocide, this blood will ew R o injustice,o howeverheinous, war

N photo nion. The U N .S., Odinga calls I hold all the aforementioned persons lows. frican U nder pressure from antstheinnocents.murderof ng the fromthe also be on the hands of all those who will turnblindthisaon eye simmering conflict. This is why we cannot, and must not turn a blind eye on this violence and other vio- lent situations around the world. r dren were burnt alive in theya had sought refuge.church They diedwhere because someonefound fit to rig itelectoral an pro- cess and someone else found it fit to either facilitate or condone have that died rigging.because no Theyone at was prepareda to quell ahigh fire that consumedlevel highways,bywaysandvillages thisof great nation.They havedied because mass intol- erance has been borne from a huge politi- cal deception. responsible for these deaths and any other deaths that may result from this tragic sit- uation. The blood of these fellow Kenyans isprimarily on the hands of the politicians who trampled on the fundamental votingrights of our people. This innocent isblood also on the guilty hands of those whose acts of violence inflicted irreversible death b i Jan. 7 Jan. U the U off planned protests and agrees to meet with Kibaki in talks mediated by the A supplies roughly $1 billion per year in aid to Kenya, which allows American forces to - airobi for

nity. He also U o gather in N an advantage and that he did “not know whether Kibakiwon the election.” Jan. 3 Jan. Police beat and tear gas protesters trying t a scheduled “million- man” rally against President Kibaki. ational N ailaOdinga hasrefused ac to R

Kenyaisinstatenowa panic.of OnJan. I blame the people who commissioned ith faults.ith ibaki’s Party of conceded that there were widespread irreg- ularities, which resulted in extended delays inannouncing results. Both local andinter- national observers have explicitly reported that while the actual votingclean, the tallying process of the was votes was riddled w ceptthese results. Millions Kenyans have of refused to accept these results. Commerce has been paralyzed across the country and it is not business as usual. Lives have been lost and cannot we on go like this. 1, when the rest of the world was celebrat- communities. Even the supposedly official results show that he only led in two prov- inces out of eight. Consequently, members of all other communities generally feel that the president has robbed them. riggingthesethecondonedelections.and of While I realize thatblame rigging most for losers their usually losses, ticular rigging claims these are not mere specula- par- tion. Samuel Kivuitu, the chairman of the ElectoralCommission alreadyhas Kenya of presidentialannouncedthe he admitted that results under pressure from the K President after his election victory is announced. Protests and riots erupt across the country. Jan. 3 Jan. The head of Kenya’s electoral commission, tells reporters that votes had been tampered with to give the President Dec. 30–Dec. 4 Jan. Hundreds of people are killed and a quarter million are displaced by inter-ethnic violence. Many victims are members of Kibaki’s Kikuyu community. The Kikuyu’s are the largest of Kenya’s 42 tribal communities and have dominated Kenya’s political and economic life since the country gained independence from the British in 1963. -

aila Odinga Odinga aila MwaiKibaki R lection officials Dec. 30Dec. Kibaki is sworn in for a second termhours Dec. 30Dec. E announce that incumbent president Mwai Kibaki has won the final count by 220,00 votes. aila Odinga, the opposi R aila

R

t t one point, he led with almost one

OBI, Kenya—On Dec. 27, I stood in a in stood I OBI,Kenya—On Dec. 27, enya’s enya’s

A xplosion ter two days of a house arrest of sorts, R f

I

airobi. nside nside A When the tension escalated, I had to move move to had escalated,tensionI theWhen

f N ppositionleader ater ater that night, ead. ead. jin communityjin tribalothertogetherwith 38 the presidentgreatlythehasangered Kalen-the from her community. Due to his own fault, fault of hers, the president happens to be from the Kalenjin community. Due to no communityneighborswhileher mostof are the town of Eldoret.the fromof towntheKikuyuisShe ceed because I needed to call my friend in a tense and excited mood. But I had to pro- people who were sitting by the roadside in pass a human roadblock of more than 50 are also beginning to retaliate. couldnot I so, dotried to I whenhouse. But ing the brunt of an angry people and they it was extremely important that I leave the cally, Kikuyuscally, countryaroundthe bear- are President Mwai Kibaki comes from. Tragi- thebiggest tribe in andKenya also one that neighborhood dominated by the Kikuyu, to my brother’s house because I stay in a these disputed election results.election thesedisputed of of Kenyans have lost their lives because of that. What I can’t live with, is that hundreds that with,is live can’t I What that. l to win a disputed victory. I can live with civic elections. When the votes were counted counted were votes the When elections. civic the incumbent president squeezed through my country’s presidential, parliamentary and parliamentary presidential, country’s my million votes. But somehow, Mwai Kibaki a.m. — waiting for my turn to cast a vote in turn vote castmy a to for waiting a.m. — line for six hours — from 5:30 a.m. to 11:30 11:30 to a.m. 5:30 from — hours six for line NA Kenya Indymedia l By John Bwakali David near-unassailable a takingbegan leader, tion o tally room in the capital count in the central from watching the vote observers are barred International election election commission. days by the national delayed for three advantage. The vote count is insurmountable 27–30Dec. votes, a seemingly leadingby over milliona o results show Odinga politicalprisoner and 27Dec. Preliminary election pollsshow former elections.Pre-election second-evermulti-party linestovote Kenya’s in Millionsstand longin Odingaleading.to be Dec. 27Dec. “second Rwanda,” the turmoil can more accurately be ascribed to smoldering resentments about a rigged political system. political rigged a about resentments smoldering to ascribed be accurately more can turmoil the Rwanda,” “second While the Western media has focused on scenes of shocking inter-tribal violence in Kenya and the possibility of a of possibility the and Kenya in violence inter-tribal shocking of scenes on focused has media Western the While timeline of an of electoral disastertimeline

E

K I 12 January 11 – 31, 2008 THE INDYPENDENT U g Commissioner for for Commissioner p dis- million vil- 2.2 and killed 255,000 been had lagers estimated an to up 2007 in billion. of $802.9 budget “defense” 2008 a projected administration Bush the Meanwhile, year. previous the twice than U of renovation the and operations, keeping peace- tribunals, international budget, ular the to unfriendliness House. White at the off stopped in countries.” 39 … visits official 57 during miles on go the … I 125,000 flew been have I … still sat not have “I said, he office, in year first his Of inspiring. or ing, clichés. emitted noteworthy. he spoke, Ban situations. perate and des- issues up of motions critical taking o scheduled. were meetings UN Paneth Donald By Donald Paneth has covered the U.N. at at 1945. U.N. December since the intervals covered has Paneth Donald N delegates’ l the into went and “Guernica,” of Picasso’s replica tapestry the passed eral, secretary-gen- thefor the spokesman of fice of- the by stopped I here. rounds the made I capacity. resupply and mobility critical lack would force the helicopters, the Without met. been not had helicopters 24 for pro- commitments and troops vided, of number the in short fallen However,had force the 2008. in early ment most in Syria and Jordan. The 7,000 will aid. food will receive also 7,000 The Jordan. and Syria in most outside, million 2.2 Iraq, inside million 2.4 — uprooted currently are Iraqis million 4.5 than More families. 7,000 to $200 to $100 the charge, in U Korea, South of Ki-moon 2007. during nothing achieved the that discouraging up its ounge. There were few people about. about. people few were There ounge. raqi refugees, the the refugees, raqi an distributing distributing an laced since 2003? 2003? since laced ther year as a as year ther . nion force had been scheduled for deploy scheduled been had force nion n ations was headed for entombment. for headed was ations What happened in Darfur, Sudan, where where Sudan, Darfur, in happened What Ban T back, got he when Frequently, A an- of perspective the From reflected. I n nte wr rn, n gsue to gesture a in front, war another On A Ban Secretary-General, new a With N Mission UnaccomplishedMission Nations United Stagnant the East River All Quiet on ited ited ITED ITED he he t s . this rate, it seemed to me, the the me, to seemed it rate, this correspondents here observed, when when observed, here correspondents U headquarters to $2.3 billion, more more billion, $2.3 to headquarters U . N N nited States again demonstrated its its demonstrated again States nited ations simply went through the the through went simply ations . arrears as of31 . Oct. arrears for the reg NA N TIO othing informative, interest informative, othing U A ill . N N TM cards in amounts of amounts in cards TM R U us . correspondent, it was was it correspondent, . S, S, efugees on Dec. 14be Dec. on efugees . joint joint A N t U ra U N nited nited . Office of the High High the of Office . nited nited tio . Y —n a. , I 2, Jan. .—On n : J N U enn N ations It ran ran It ations . N ations had had ations if .- N er A U othing othing l frican frican nited nited e w N o - - - - countries declaring victory. Despite the the home Despite their c victory. to declaring returned countries Bali Indonesian of the island on talks climate Nations environmental equity. Today, ideas like like ideas Today, equity. environmental or social to never obstacle an but has anything but been inequalities, global bating exacer- and wealth concentrating at good very is century, 18th late the in from origins invention its artificial capitalist rather world a The market, climate. the of tion disrup- the against progress meaningful to obstacle greatest single the perhaps become reduce emissions? their to can corporations market” induce “free eventually so-called the that so on value gases greenhouse other and monetary dioxide carbon sufficient a place we can How question: narrow extremely one on focused climate-damaging have emissions dioxide reducing carbon about tions cuts.” emissions fake in market exuberant “an termed aptly has Monbiot George columnist British what of opment a The result, scale. later, decade is the devel- global a on implemented be to was “cap-and-trade” scheme so-called a time first the but a nearly the decade, Kyoto was Protocol i concept been had pollute” to The rights “marketable of emissions. of market- of trading scheme based a on based were implementa- tion their if reductions emissions U the that delegates assembled the promised He negotiations. climate in deadlock first such the breaking with credited was Gore d Cana- from support With Montreal. in ago that came out of a meeting two similar years to the plans for renewed global climate talks timetable vague a beside little added map” a cajole to able were moment last very the at on negotiations reducing emissions of and gases, greenhouse continued for consensus mild a reached negotiators the delegation, W Tokar Brian By ible alterations in the earth’s climate. irrevers- and catastrophic forestall to 2020 by necessary are emissions gas greenhouse that reductions of 25 to 40 percent in annual ing footnote) to the overwhelming consensus non-bind- a (except in references all deleted ally formerof n wide circulation in the the in circulation wide n niud btutoim f the of obstructionism ontinued nd pressure the a, Japan and Japan a, n This ideological focus on the market has has market the on focus ideological This conversa- most now, decade full a For road- “Bali so-called the end, the in But I ited States would support mandatory mandatory support would States ited n Kyoto in 1997, then-Vice President President 1997,then-Vice Kyotoin n accompanies such gatherings, gatherings, d such usually that accompanies fanfare the all ith elegates to the December December the to elegates A R ustralia, the ustralia, ussia, and the acquiescence acquiescence the and ussia, U nited States to sign on. U nited States for for States nited U .S. delegation .S. U nited nited U .S. .S. A l climate and energy policies and and policies energy and climate U technologies. my and econo- our in changes real postponing for excuses main the become have elsewhere) while reductions emissions polluting, for paying nominally continue can rich in countries people (so “offsets” of purchases and credits, dioxide carbon market-traded 2. action. of global urgency to- way the problem the and raise long ward humanizing a go can implications these droughts, home Bringing floods. major and increased wildfires from consequences severe facing already are South global in the people and issue, justice global a is ing warm- global eloquently, so described port year’s last t mili- and pointed more far a need we day To- changes. real for expectations their in minimal and outlook, their in timid rather t to do governments some- their and pressure warming global reality catastrophic the potentially of dramatize to begun have tries posite way.posite op- the vote blithely and thing right the say who consistently on politicians pressure the go a could long way toward raising country the across actions Similar changes. climate catastrophic more prevent to steps real and war the to end an demanding Washington, in building office to a congressional trances o banner past the under gathered people This October, Sweden. or Switzerland of tion consump- national total the to equal are — U day, and that worldwide consumption by the a oil of gallons million 3.5 consume region Gulf Persian the in troops that documented p the on activity energy-wasting grotesquely most in the question, war without between is, the which Iraq, links particularly adventures, the tary ramatizing n to up events public most But consequences. the see already can we that and real is ing warm- global that evidence “unequivocal” the documenting Change, on Panel Climate the 2007 report from the Intergovernmental has as impact, educational positive mostly c is warming not just andissue, a it’s scientific Global disruptions. climate global of tions 1. elements: central four have at least would agenda an Such Justice. Climate for n apoc, gnie People’s genuine a approach, ant hing about it. it. about hing ertainly not mainly about polar bears. bears. polar about mainly not ertainly f “ today. lanet ow, at in the least . n Over the past year, activists across the the across activists year, past the Over S. military — about four times as much much as times four about — military S. R ited States and in other industrial coun industrial other in and States ited D ihihig h sca jsie implica- justice social the Highlighting a N dic o War, a lg U ra . N N o Warming” blocked the en the blocked o Warming” A . Human Development Development Human . phic A uthor Michael Klare has has Klare Michael uthor l Gore’s movie has had a had has movie Gore’s l Climate Justice U s nited States, have been States, nited .o r g An Agendafor U .S. mili .S. A genda genda U R A .S. .S. e s - - - - 3. R Tokar’s include Brian books of world. kind adifferent for struggle and status-quo the beyond look to but we need warming, to also global be able will is litical the main obstacle to addressing people to work installing decentralized, technologies. decentralized, energy-saving installing work to people to of likely millions put and more cities inner our far benefit also are out, has Center pointed Baker Ella Francisco’s San of Jones Van as warming, global to solutions that solutions false o status-quo for to bleak, settle too far outlook the and urgent, en- renewable production. ergy community-controlled experiments in are So and life everywhere. of thriving quality the local- more improving are living ly, in experiments high. Small all-time an at be to appears life” of e pow- nuclear of wave first the halted ago, who years 30 of activists anti-nuclear the Like communities. empowered and energy politically lower-consumption new, a clean nvisioning decentralized, of world 4. less! consume to need we do; won’t ucts prod- “green” more Buying world. industri- alized the throughout consumption in for funds solar and energy, wind and reductions large public policies, transportation and utility re-orient to requirements tion, pollu- dioxide carbon on a tax reductions, emission mandated need We so. doing incapable of structurally are they but emis- sions, reduce to way only expedient the as politically trad- described are Carbon offsets and trees. food ing and from grasses, obtained crops, fuels liquid fuels): so-called agro- termed of appropriately (more biofuels expansion massive the and others), among Obama, (sup- Barack by power, ported technologies nuclear coal” “clean of mythical revival a as such on solu- schemes wasted are funds false pub- private in and lic dollars numerous of Billions the elites. world’s the by xposing promoted warming global to tions ht istsato wt tdys high- today’s with time c same dissatisfaction the at that alternative, so- lar-based controlled, locally a for exist technologies already The world. post-petroleum, a post-mega-mall for possibilities uto- again even pian, positive, we the dramatize to need communities, solar-powered democratic, directly of vision inspiring an r in the the in r nupin hg-et “ high-debt onsumption, nly appear to address the problem. problem. the address to appear nly e

A too is warming global of reality The designing Life? designing E E l Gore is correct when he says that po that says he when correct is Gore U nited States, while articulating articulating while States, nited Gene Traders. Gene , and A Earth for Sale, for Sale, Earth merican way way merican R eal eal - THE INDYPENDENT January 11 – 31, 2008 13 - - cad A fghani A novel novel such a reviews Kite Runner

The —Judith Mahoney Pasternak wards. rab/Muslim evil and, most of all, our A f my A my ven celebrating our conduct in y Charlie Wilson’s War to multiple e country’s fundamental right to absence rule. of that challenge The may be precisely what made mega-hit; the mixed message may well car- r e stan playing to widespread uneaseIraqwithout challenging the basic premises about o - - merican peo merican A ssef(Elham Eh A fghanistan. also We A usoufzai). rabs and Muslims (they’re (they’re Muslims and rabs A aron Sorkin, Hollywood and A mir (Zekeria Ebrahimi) and the A bdul Salam Y d like n fghanistan isn’t Iraq. The Iraq. fghanistanisn’t A A A ere the good guys inguys the good ere f young as/ ple may feel bad about Iraq, but we think we we but Iraq, about bad feel may ple w the public also like to have it both ways. We We bothways. it have alsolikepublic to the condemnwhileIraqthewarcondoning and s that suspectstill enemies. our are they?) same,aren’t the cially flat are the crucial failureof courage o pureevilthe villainous of

- - - - nion mir, mir, a U A Charlie Wilson’s War Directed by Mike Nichols Universal Pictures, Participant Production, 2007 The Kite Runner Directed by Marc Forster 2007 Productions, Participant Dreamworks, Goes Hollywood to Afghanistan i n The Kite Runner hmadKhan Mah dig A n is about the world Char- world the about is is is the story of nion nion and the subsequent

A note at the end quotes U fghanistan, meaning that aron — can’t any of you say say you of any can’t — aron fghanistan in 2001. in fghanistan A Dana Vi A fghanistan.)com Thenovel’s A A n epic tale of war, violence — in mir loses his friend through a shame a through friend his loses mir A A fghanculture, and ually they bite their own people, too. The The too. people, own their bite they ually The Kite Runner Runner Kite The s ut ut A ited States’ number three best-seller in arlie, Mike, Mike, arlie, S. foreign policy, it fudges or rescinds in The novel, by Khaled Hosseini, was the Shot in western China, But that’s not is But really what happened, that’s it? U The Kite Runner B n . .S. attack on on attack .S. ad to leave to ad n f villainsf hate,to love the we Soviet gainst gainst the Soviet nd-game” in U 2005. cluding public execution and homosexual pedophilic rape (twice!) — betrayal and re- demption, it featured not one but two sets o betrayal, then and loses ful cowardice act of turns the Soviet invasion the when his home family into refugees. Thirty years later, he has the chance — if he can find the courage — to return to Kabul who and leader rescue Taliban vicious Hassan’s a from son young sexual plaything.a as child the keeping is midzadatouchingishero-the tenderasand worshiping child Hassan. (He has received such harsh criticism for playing the victim of a homosexual rape that he has allegedly h plex plot, has however, been compressed to fit the movie, and withmuch nuance lost, many passages are unconvincing. Espe- the failure to help rebuildfailurethecountrythe help to to led the rise the of Taliban. armCh you when happens what It’s “blowback”? fight to like much don’t you people of set one people you like even less: the guys you arm time. Big ass. the in you bite and back come film the both although behind, left war Wilson’s lie based is film the which on novel the and movie are essentially silent about the covert a war U and the Taliban. coursecrash rich a and at look to gorgeous is o motherless youth in 1970s Kabul, who loves loves Kabul,who 1970s in youth motherless Hassanand friend best his father, macho his kite contests in which kite strings coated in kite ground glass are opponents’ usedcut to strings. The winner is the one with the last one flying,who gets to collect the cut kites. the — kites those of finder best the is Hassan bestkite-runner Kabul.in — U the next sentence. the “fuckeddeclarationup Wilson’s we that e ------.S. Dr. Dr. U oberts fghani R A ward win ward t that timethat t mendment, A A aron Sorkin, aron A A and creator of ) nd nd he shall pu A vrakotas who helps helps who vrakotas ights cademy cademy ep. Charles Wilson A R A R .S.operationto covert ussians” ussians” (to the tune, Messiah ; Julia nion invaded U R U ichols, ichols, Hollywood’s last N . . The filmcontains bravura .S. interventionism is mega U aron Sorkin sometimes over fghanistan; and the well-loved agent Gust agent A A liberal Democrat from Texas, A A ichols, however, is no Stanley no Ku is ichols,however, A A Few Good Men icaragua’sSomozadictatorship to ot since Slim Pickens’ death-defy- ing ride on an atom bomb in Strangelove has anyone had as N N w w Mike ike o

chard Krile, was written by by written Krile,was chard edicaid, the Equal They called him Good-Time Charlie, Charlie Wilson’s War isn’t satire, just a M N He didn’t likedidn’tcommunism,He though. Hav-

hen the Soviet i oth ways — erformances by three by erformances rick, and nd nd they were right. ood fight. annon CI annon hat was the largestthe was hat aking on ng lost ng Charlie Wilson’s War. a Hanks’ based-on-reality character does in much fun with weapons on-screen as Tom c ners: ners: Philip Seymour Hoffman as the loose- b works the crowd-pleasing. Here he has it w he grabbed the chance to redeem himself MarxistSandinista revolutionaries 1979, in ute of a noble fight. Whateverit saysabout rollicking tale of a guy enjoying every min- whoopee! the won Cold We War! b lomaniacalmurderous,evenmaybe and but during the slaughter, of “ Tom Hanks as Good-Time Charliehimself. Hanks Good-Time as Tom Wilson “kill some the moribund Soviet empire. army responsible for the coup de grace to that point, many saw him as the one-man R author of Oscar. The script, based on the book by t that’s almost a shoo-in for a Best Picture minding the aid to the mujahadintheresistanceminding to aidthe smoothly ambiguous, star-studded movie women’s rightwomen’s to choose abortion and stan. By the time he had finished master- great satirist, has put Wilson’s story into a The West Wing p rify” from Handel’s g erything, especially whiskey, women and a (D-Texas) (D-Texas) liked almost everyone and ev- M not a synonym for it, and Wilson favored he arrived in the House in 1973. in House the inarrived he still“liberal”was “radical,” theopposite of interventionism — big time. i N t Texas conservative who seduces Wilson into Wilsoninto seduces who conservative Texas playing playing against type as Joanne Herring, the 14 January 11 – 31, 2008 THE INDYPENDENT reviews cheering her bravery for laying laying bare. for them bravery her cheering while myself admissions her at found wincing I right the circumstances. given crazy little a go prowling can anyone that proof Web, is the compulsively can up Pollitt as end astute and sured self-as- publicly as someone that fact the but abundant, is Humor occupations. and ages addresses, names, conquests’ his learn to ate desper- cyberspace, into soaring her sends peccadilloes numerous of evidence monogamy, be devoted to believed she what of years that discovers h she ex-boy- once an friend with obsession confesses her Pollitt “Webstalker,” aflutter. her send to admits, she male enough, is a of aggressor banter flirtatious the T 2007 House, Random Pollitt Katha By Stories Life Other and Drive to Learning Feminism Contradictory has not shed her need for male male for a need her she shed — not has winning in she participated gains — activism social nist femi- of gains the for preciation contradictions. ap- deep her despite example, For its is without feminism not Pollitt’s messages, heavy-handed of devoid is lection is col- it the while for But unsettling, also engaging. deeply personal and deeply both is identity age. of middle lectual intel- progressive widely-read, a become: has she who on flection Drive to Learning activists, anti-abortion or adminis- tration Bush the skewering of Instead for. known she’s political writing savvy the from parture pproval. pproval. e is a philanderer. philanderer. a is e Or worse. In an essay called called essay an In worse. Or The result of this foray into into foray this of result The latest book are a sharp de- sharp a are Pollitt’s book latest Katha columnist in essays eleven he A come-hither look or or look come-hither s olt’ re- Pollitt’s is akiki kato akiki A fter seven seven fter Nation machines in my life increased in in increased the life my as in machines helpless more if anything, growing, still, I, stood Only seems, it love. without seals, sex hunt have surgery, per- brain furnace, form the fix to how skills — manly forbidden to laying claim were women all me, around decades, For me? to happen this did “How writes. she man,” most her incompetent. at Pollitt 52-year-old er in published nally Origi- themed. similarly is tract, in 2001, it introduces a then then a introduces it 2001, in “I am here because I lost my my lost I because here am “I title the Drive,” to “Learning Fishy Business and and of as suchcuts fish similar-sounding between about I the difference wax joyful can sashimi), (and sushi of aficionados other Like raw was fish. it told when responded I “Eww!” to order, to assembly-line speed-up. The chief chief The speed-up. to order, to assembly-line as others, the chef, who formerly made waiters, each piece subjecting while labor, themselves, serve some customers eliminates It bar. tothesushi practices factory-floor introduced sushi”). (“turnover kaiten-zushi as known joints conveyor-belt ’s3,500 Japan of Economy of author Issenberg, Sasha class, argues corporate the for largely is This chef. favorite banter their from delectables cheery fresh and with for bars sushi wooden to up care doesn’t food quality. fast its about as sushi lunch. treats for who hole pie their in slop to M craft of a craft sushi the not is sushi Prepackaged ones. economic it’s garbage. hours, for around sitting after quickly; diminish fish raw of flavor and every vibrancy The inferior. are cuts violates The sushi. to It however. principle of and essential seasonality freshness me, disgusts and unagi A toextinction. eaten being Fish of Zen of author Corson, Trevor to argues approach sushi, Japanese traditional This particular a day. on best and freshest is what personal to forge chefs who sushi with them guide customers relationships whereby pact” oceans. emptying and cases result is a flood ofdeli limp,filling blandsushi The ingredients. expensive and labor skilled robot. a by The goal profits byis cut, eliminating to maximize unkindest the in or hands, jobs, it’s been performed by de-skilled, inferior m My attitude has changed course markedly. markedly. course changed has attitude My Issenberg describes how the conveyer belt belt conveyer the how describes Issenberg belly Japanese that myth a it’s Moreover, Beyond epicurean considerations are are considerations epicurean Beyond still sushi prepackaged of thought The With sushi so ubiquitous, it’s useless to ask ask to it’s useless so ubiquitous, sushi With “grand a is solution writer’s One ericans to forgo grabbing a pack of sushi sushi of pack a grabbing forgo to ericans o-toro . The middle class gets it fix at one one at fix it gets class middle The . princess in in princess y introduction to sushi came via via came Molly sushi to introduction y uni ; , would rescue bluefin tuna from from tuna bluefin rescue would , and and hamachi . shokunin The New York- The New R ingwald’s sushi-packing sushi-packing ingwald’s h Bekat Club Breakfast The . Like other artisanal . artisanal other Like kanpachi father and fierce, alcoholic moth- alcoholic fierce, and communist father her insecurities: her of source the on in homes Pollitt throughout attempt? masters we everything quickly for us among reassuring, who is vulnerability her Still, yon. to hither from ing barrel- wheel, the behind position Pollitt essays other — ending a has happy story this wondering, be you Should task. the master to inability ostensible her by trated frus- becoming is he but patient, complexity.” and number both The Sushi Sushi The Self-deprecation is abundant abundant is Self-deprecation is teacher, driving her Ben, chu-toro ; A anago nyone nyone The The . , Learning to Drive to Learning while offering insight, such as how the the how as such A insight, offering while catch, went prized the to Japan in bluefin fish junk a from fatty the how waters, charted well- covers He book. Issenberg’s and sushi seas. ailing from drawn endlessly be must fish of supply enormous an means also but as its popularity a meal, quick to sushi its haveorigin changes returned these that argues Issenberg stores. convenience and over.” “turned being ones —the to linger not customers encouraging McDonald’s, after of innovator i have bluefin methods. up” because to fishing “wisened be may hauls tuna in crash for the populations that blame speculating place and overfishing,” tuna squarely to about behavior and enough knows raw horse. and deer smoked as such meats sushi substitute expensive less to turning are Japanese the sushi, for appetite Chinese and bluefin p With development. latest the misses when head deficit h his saying over economics, he’s discussing but economy, bluefin Mediterranean. the niomna ipc, rtn, “ writing, impact, environmental N the misdating and case, the the is opposite when exact cheaper, exports Japanese makes a Japanese of holds cargo empty fill to quest a ( at the covering In 1997,industry. he broke the Telegraph has fishing ocean.” global the scoured “industrial because left large are all fish of percent 10 only concluded that in Clover, “ tuna industrialized to bluefin on reliant town fishing of bust and a boom the Massachusetts to prices atexorbitant off is auctioned bluefin where Tokyo in Market Tsukiji archaic and important study published in in published study important s wiping out the the out wiping s irlines returning from N from returning irlines ranching” in in ranching” rices rising because of a growing growing a of because rising rices e means surplus, arguing a strong strong a arguing surplus, means e t A One fish, bluefin tuna, is at the heart of heart the at is tuna, bluefin fish, One takeout to door the opened this Japan, In There is little dispute that overfishing overfishing that dispute little is There A globalized the describes adroitly Issenberg The environment editor of the the of editor environment The Economy The Sushi lantic bluefin trade began in the 1970s in 1970s the in began trade bluefin lantic SD b surdly, Issenberg downplays the the downplays Issenberg surdly, A Q market crash of 2000. He also also He 2000. of crash market Q

U h Ed f h Line The of End The .K.), Clover is a seasoned hand hand seasoned a is Clover .K.), modeled a chain chain a modeled kaiten-zushi A ustralia to the tuna pirates of pirates tuna to the ustralia as as A tlantic bluefin. Charles Charles bluefin. tlantic travels from the famed famed the from travels it, she gleans information about about information gleans she it, file. FBI five-inch father’s h it In she recounts in the collection. commentary moving most the is and death and father’s life Pollitt’s twenty-something. college fresh-out-of- a as novels graphic porno- editing about reminisces Pollitt piece one In deterioration. physical and aging to adjust and motherhood, with and deal compete console, women ways the assess and groups study Marxist lampoon to observation and phy er. blend autobiogra- essays Other ow a FOI “Goodbye, Lenin” zeroes in on on in zeroes Lenin” “Goodbye, orth A orth Nature merica. request led her to her her led A request , cites an an cites , N in 2003 2003 in R o one one o ussian ussian Daily Daily Y en en The New Press, 2006 Press, New The Clover Charles of The Line The End 2007 Books, Gotham Issenberg Sasha Economy The Sushi E boats. commercial capital-intensive is about complaining mostly is he He what as however, net, fishing. a wide too of casts regulation and science, which the information dominate view,” to of them allowed point has fishermen’s the of fish many species.) including and rays, shape,” sharks, bad turtles, whales, in now are species different “twenty bycatches, avoidto dolphin chefs, methods (Clover changed boats tuna because environmentalists. argues celebrity even scientists, consumers, governments, oceans: regulators, strip-mining in they play role the for hands all keelhauls locations, Clover misreporting devices. monitoring off turning boats skippers private quotas, catches, mislabeled eyes, skirt inspectors’ from away to sales boxes overfilled brief a caused It changed. little but uproar, inspections. and regulations, of quotas system elaborate an despite illegally, caught fish,” “black was Britain in sold being cod the of percent 50how of story needs. human for solely managed than rather sake, own for their preserved to be need oceans the that and problem, the is market the that see to endangered unable He’s monger. buying fish the from stop species to reader the he trip subsidies, as such to on rights” or to the “property seas, tries guilt- stricter solutions, end market-based enforcement, an advocates and better regulation for calling commercialization. toward biased are warehouse, a in lived they sustainable “maximum if as “stock,” labeled being fish or wild yield” as such terms, the ensuring than rather harvests. sustainable happy country each the of s slice their for jockeying countries 25 With capital.” European by fleets owned now pirate are major the of “Most stating, as R eas, the E. the eas, uropean uropean eading eading There is also a surprising villain: the the villain: surprising a also is There tyranny “the on blame most places Clover The End of The Line cheating: of manners all uncovered Clover A that recognizing eye, keen a has Clover s for solutions, Clover falls short. While While short. falls Clover solutions, for U U in in with rich wit. and reverence lovely, is writing life. The his governed that pushes pulls and many the understand to a Party Communist the blacklists, political and vice-versa. and political is personal the implicit, only is it when Even truism: feminist tury cen- 20th a of us remind cogently hn tes o idvda read- e individual for more others than resonate will essays some rs. rs. nd the Smith nd Smith the . is more concerned with keeping keeping with . is more concerned nion. He quotes one observer observer one quotes He nion. A Learning to Drive. to Learning n R d that’s true of every entry entry every of true that’s d egardless, Pollitt’s insights insights Pollitt’s egardless, is devastating reading. reading. is devastating —Eleanor J. Bader Bader J. —Eleanor A ct and finds a way finds and ct —A.K. Gupta —A.K. Of course, course, Of Buy The Army of None poster bluestockings radical bookstore | activist center fair trade cafe national character writ large. balances the hard-scrabble 172 Allen St. • 212.777.6028 It’s no wonder that Anderson with the baroque, as if we were bluestockings.com Transcendental needs a big canvas. Adapted from watching Greed remade by late- part of Upton Sinclair’s Oil!, the period Sam Fuller. Sun Jan 13, 2:30PM • Free film is like a classical epic Western Shaming his hollow, would-be New York Radical Teachers Navigating the education system by turned so odd and troubled that epics Boogie Nights and Magnolia, Misanthropy reading pedagogical texts, offering it’s become estranged from its Anderson here filters his epic scale solidarity and advice through There Will Be Blood own genre. The first 20 minutes through the oddball eccentricities projects and discussion. Directed by P.T. Anderson wordlessly demonstrate Plainview’s of Punch-Drunk Love, as in Thurs Jan 17, 7PM • $5 Sugg Ghoulardi Film Company, ruthless determination as he the weirdly appropriate fusion FILM: "I Had an Abortion" Gillian Paramount Vantage, and prospects for silver and then cashes of Robert Elswit’s neo-classical Aldrich's "I Had an Abortion" and Miramax, 2007 in before seeking medical help for photography with the unnerving hosting a discussion with Jennifer a broken leg. He moves on to oil, score by Radiohead’s Jonny Baumgardner, Amy Richards and and we move ahead a few years to Greenwood. It’s a credit to the other folks from the Third Wave Foundation. aul Thomas Anderson’s see him adopt a child whose father director that he doesn’t shy away There Will Be Blood could died in a well accident. It soon from depicting Sunday’s own Sun, Jan 20, 4PM • Free Dyke Knitting Circle Returns! not have been released at becomes clear that the boy’s face is exploitation of the town — he’s a P Come in and knit, make new friends, a more opportune time. With just advertising, a way to smooth charlatan and the movie doesn’t drink some tea and learn a craft. its wicked portrayal of two men over his new father’s ruthless hide it. If the preacher seems Bring yarn and needles. who willingly abuse God and business practices. less monstrous than Plainview, Tues Jan 22, 7PM • $5 SuGG family in pursuit of their own The majority of the film is it’s merely a matter of subtlety Indigenous Voices Series Screening: greedy interests, it’s the ultimate devoted to a subsequent battle of in Dano’s nuanced, careful FILM: "Apaga y Vamonos" Christmas movie. And as it wills between Plainview and Eli performance when up against A tale of a usurped nation, a forgot- weaves through the characters Sunday, the preacher and faith Day-Lewis’ titanic malevolence. ten genocide, globalization, and the of these men a tapestry of our healer of the small town of Little Seeming 11 feet tall, his eyes Biobío River, one of longest rivers Individual copies in Chile. darkest historical pursuits Boston. Having received a tip piercing through every scene, ofy an Arm of None, — the insatiable quest for and about an “ocean of oil” under the Day-Lewis takes Plainview to the Wed Jan 23, 7PM • $5 Sugg dependence on oil and religious town from Eli’s twin brother Paul, place where, like Brando’s Don artwork by David Hollenbach, Indigenous Voices Series Screening: FILM: "Mapuche: The Return fundamentalism — it becomes Plainview sets about acquiring Corleone, the character seems to can be purchased online at of a Nation" not just an Old West version of as much land as possible, while create his own mythology. Letting indypendent.org or by email, Pablo Garcia's "Mapuche: The the Bush administration, but Eli builds his church as a form down his guard in a drunken at [email protected], Return of a Nation" documents the something far richer: a pitch-black of resistance. Two sides of the conversation with a man claiming struggles of the Mapuche community mirror of the American soul. To same coin, the men struggle, to be his long-lost brother, Day- or by phone at 212-221-0521 to gain recognition as a nation while defending its language and watch the slow moral ruin of the humiliating each other in scenes Lewis is so convincing that he $5 each/bulk prices available. traditions. oil man Daniel Plainview (Daniel that are simultaneously horrifying becomes a one-man argument for Day-Lewis) and the small-town and hilarious. Building to a final misanthropy as a way of life. preacher Eli Sunday (Paul Dano) sequence of genuinely operatic is to witness the underbelly of our insanity, the film’s tone deftly —Charlie Bass

reader comments Continued from Page 2

Reponses to “Student Antiwar in New Jersey! I am so very proud Responses to “From the Punk Scene Walkouts Spark Small Town of all of you. Stand your ground. to Acoustic Theory,” Dec. 8: Backlash,” Dec. 8: This is your country also and you are entitled to your opinion and NARROW-MINDED PUNKS STUDENTS: STAY STRONG! the right to assemble! I agree in many ways with John Hail to the new revolution! —Donna Zerzan. I feel as if there have How would the school always been a lot of people in the have handled a pro-war rally? punk scene that are extremely

Intimidation? Cops? Suspensions? Response to “Kara Walker: narrow-minded and when you do THE INDYPENDENT January 11 – 31, 2008 15 Administrative leave for Shadows of the Past,” Dec. 8: not fit exactly into their view of participating teachers? This what music and politics should sentence alone speaks volumes: ONGOING RACISM look like they shun you entirely “There were more police officers Amazing that hundreds of thus creating a somewhat of there than when we have a bomb years after the Emancipation a fascist dimension to a scene threat at our school.” Proclamation, folks are still that many people subscribe to Stay persistent and your voices fighting racism/discrimination. to escape those very aspects of will grow in numbers and you will Maybe nothing much has changed mainstream culture! be heard. “The right to assemble” and the chains are off but the —Erik is what the powers that be fear. slave system is still intact/global? They want to silence anyone that Hmmm. opposes this war. Your voices have —Publius been heard. I hear ya way over here Want to learn how to produce video journalism for free? Want to do it with experienced and award-winning independent journalists?

Thanks to a generous grant from the Manhattan Neighborhood Network, the New York Join the new Independent Media Center will be equipped with video equipment, free trainings, and Indymedia video even DV tapes to get you started. All you need is a commitment to independent journalism and the collective willingness to learn, help others today! and work in a collective. Please join us on TUESday, january 22, for an introductory meeting at 4 west 43rd street. Suite 311. For more information, contact Amy at 917-463–3977 or by email: [email protected].

REGISTER NOW!

Register online, or at the following locations:

Bluestockings Vox Pop 172 Allen St. 1022 Cortelyou Rd. Manhattan Brooklyn

Registration: $20 advance/$30 at the door $15/$25 student registration with valid ID

$5 youth (18 and under) NEW LOCATION! Sunday, March 2nd, 2008 Hunter College West Building (68th Street and Lexington Avenue, Manhattan)

Illustration by Zachariah O’Hora www.zohora.com The 2008 NYC GMC is co-sponsored by the Film and Media Studies Deparment at Hunter College/CUNY