Keep Left NYC: Progressive News From the Big Apple

keepleftnyc — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 08:36:25 +0000

“Do not forget your dying king. Show this world that this is still a government of the people, for the people, and by the people. Nothing as long as you live will ever be more important. It’s up to you.” JFK, Oliver Stone

To Whom It May Concern Remix by Adrian Mitchell

Come all ye -
wartbrain psychics
with astroid sidekicks
prostate agents
and plastic Cajuns

royal doggerellas
cluster bombsellers
alternative surgeons
torturesport virgins

heavy vivisectionists
columnists, Golumnists,
priests of the beast
who are secretly policed
by highranker bankers
playing pranks with tankers

ghost advisers
death advertisers
vampire preachers
sucked-dry teachers
beheaded dead bodies
of blank-hearted squaddies

billionaire beauticians
fishing for positions
from poison politicians
with obliteration missions –
I’m alone, I’m afraid
And I need your aid
can’t you see – can’t you see – can’t you see?

I was run over by the truth one day
Ever since the accident I’ve walked this way
So stick my legs in plaster
Tell me lies about Vietnam

Heard the alarm clock screaming with pain
Couldn’t find myself, so I went back to sleep again
So fill my ears with silver
Stick my legs in plaster
Tell me lies about Vietnam

Every time I shut my eyes, all I see is flames
I made a marble phone-book, and I carved all the names
So coat my eyes with butter
Fill my ears with silver
Stick my legs in plaster
Tell me lies about Vietnam

I smell something burning, hope it’s just my brains
They’re only dropping peppermints and daisy-chains
So stuff my nose with garlic
Coat my eyes with butter
Fill my ears with silver
Stick my legs in plaster
Tell me lies about Vietnam

Where were you at the time of the crime?
Down by the Cenotaph, drinking slime
So chain my tongue with whisky
Stuff my nose with garlic
Coat my eyes with butter
Fill my ears with silver
Stick my legs in plaster
Tell me lies about Vietnam

You put your bombers in, you put your conscience out
You take the human being, and you twist it all about
So scrub my skin with women
So chain my tongue with whisky
Stuff my nose with garlic
Coat my eyes with butter
Fill my ears with silver
Stick my legs in plaster
Tell me lies about –
Iraq
Burma
Afghanistan
BAE Systems
Israel
Iran

Tell me lies Mr Bush
Tell me lies Mr Blairbrowncameron

Tell me lies about Vietnam

http://www.guardian.co.uk/culture/2008/dec/22/adrian-mitchell-vietnam

Using Social Media For Change in NYC

keepleftnyc — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 20:16:32 +0000

Now a staple activist hub itself, the New York City based Idealist.org is featuring a post about using social media for change (in collaboration with Mashable’s Summer of Social Good charitable fundraiser and Max Gladwell’s “10 Ways” series) that the group hopes will go viral :

10 ways you can use social media to show your support for issues that are important to you:

1. Write a Blog Post
2. Share Stories with Friends
3. Follow Charities on Social Networks
4. Support Causes on Awareness Hubs
5. Find Volunteer Opportunities
6. Embed a Widget on Your Site
7. Organize a Tweetup
8. Express Yourself Using Video
9. Sign or Start a Petition
10. Organize an Online Event

Full Post

You can also check out the Idealist NYC Blog

Meanwhile many new yorkers are employing some of these strategies and innovating their own resources. NYCis is a new citizen journalist site for residents. People can use the site to promote their blog or any story that they feel is of special importance or interest to the New York City audience. You can also author stories directly on the site. Very similar to the Canadian based Now Public , NYCis, may have a lot of potential connect people about important issues locally including politics & preservation.

On Twitter, NYCis offered an interesting post from the Knight Foundation talking a look at needs and resources for social bloggers. We all learned the extraordinary potential Twitter has for advancing human rights campaigns with the recent explosion of Iran Election tweets that also spilled over into main stream media. The Economist evaluated “the real winners and losers” in the coverage of demonstrations and the NY Times looked at “Twitter on the Barricades: Six Lessons Learned“

Facebook has great potential uses according to Heath Tucker, 23, who used the website to organize the first protest of Proposition 8 in the city. Tucker had only been in New York for 6 weeks and was working with only a handful of others. He’s now a member of Civil Rights Front and was featured on an Our Scene Tv, an LGBT Online TV Network, segment The Young And The Restless: A Generation Y Gay Activist’s Story.

Civil Rights Front merged with members of Join the Impact in New York City, previously. Join the Impact had equally impressive results “It began on November 7th, 2008 with two friends emailing back and forth about the California passage of Proposition 8.” Source The founders were able to use Wet Paint, to faciliate organizing only days after the Proposition 8 referendum was voted on. Similarly, activists used wet paint to organize Day of Decision rallies well ahead of the California Supere Court decision.

Another great local example is No Impact Man a blogger who made a commitment with his family to live eco-friendly including practices like composting right in the heart of the city. A new movie is will feature their story:

Teach In For Troy Davis Tonight in NYC

keepleftnyc — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 19:17:39 +0000

You can find out about more local events surrounding prisoner rights, prison reform, and death penalty abolishment by following the NYC Campaign to End The Death Penalty on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/cedpnyc

Teach-In For Troy Davis

Please join the Campaign to End the Death Penalty, Amnesty International and others in a “teach-in” about Troy’s case, learning the facts behind this shocking injustice, and debating what the next steps are for a movement to stop Troy’s executions – and all executions.

Wednesday, July 15, 2009

7-9PM

St. Mary’s Episcopal Church

521 West 126th st

(between Amsterdam and Broadway)

Featuring:

*AMY GOODMAN, host of Democracy Now!

*Michael Letwin, activist, member of the Association of Legal Aid Attorney

Musical groups:? The Welfare Poets

And many others!

Troy Davis — sentenced to death in 1991 — remains on death row despite a compelling case of innocence. With no physical evidence, the case against him consisted entirely of witness testimony which contained inconsistencies event at the time of the trial. All but two of the state’s on-police witnesses have now recanted or contradicted their testimony. This new evidence has never been reviewed in a court of law. His case has become a symbol of the racism and inequality that exists of the U.S. criminal justice system and the death penaty machine, with an international movement of solidarity springing up around him. Public pressure has helped halt his execution three times so far – but today he is nearing the end of his legal options, and could be send to the death chamber as soon as October if the US Supreme Court rules against him.

You can learn more about Troy Davis at Amnesty International.

July 4th In NYC For Activists!

keepleftnyc — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 15:34:11 +0000

Photo By tinylockets July 3rd Coney Island Fireworks

Norman Siegel reads the Constitution & Declaration of Independence at Noon. Location: Strawberry Fields, Central Park. More Information: http://tinyurl.com/ljv3vl

Petitioning With Yetta Kurland from Noon – 4pm (Today & Tomorrow). Location: The Brecht Forum More information: http://tinyurl.com/nhy5ks

Single Payer Leafleting & Petitioning with PHIMG, PNHP, ACT-UP from 2-4pm. Location: Seating area on Broadway between 42nd & 43rd. More information: http://tinyurl.com/molbwg

Vegan Picnic & Protest with WAR (Win Animal Rights) at 2pm. Location: Columbus Ciricle 59th St. & Broadway (Meet in the Main Lobby @ Whole Foods). Protests begin after the picnic. Should be informative!

Vox Pop 4th of July Bash at 4pm-Midnight. Location: Vox Pop Cafe, Brooklyn. More information: http://www.voxpopnet.net/

1st Amendathon with Reverend Billy Talen, Yetta Kurland, & Norman Siegel from 4-6pm. Location: Union Square Park. More Information: http://tinyurl.com/mvz887

“9/11 was 8 years ago. We can all fight violence now with trust and play in public space. Our 1st Amendment freedoms will grow our safety.” Reverend Billy Talen

Know Your Rights Bike Ride with Times Up! 4:30pm leaving from the 1st Amend-a-thon. More information: http://tinyurl.com/nawyry

4th On Fire Concert & Cookout For Brecht Foru m & Left Turn starting at 6pm. Location: SURREAL ESTATE 15 Thames St., Brooklyn. NY More information: http://tinyurl.com/ksytjl

Photo By tinylockets of July, 3rd Coney Island Fireworks

Working Families Party Excludes Rev Billy From Forum

keepleftnyc — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 05:45:22 +0000

Last night the Working Families Party of New York held a forum for mayoral candidates in the city. But one prominent candidate was missing from the forum: NYC Icon and Green Party Candidate Reverend Billy Talen.

The forum hosted Bloomberg, Thompson, & Avella, but Billy Talen who stated via Twitter that he did, in fact, apply for the forum – was not processed as a participant.

The WFP responded on Twitter that the forum was for candidates who applied.

I was given the following information by the WFP when I, as an independant citizen, inquired via email the day of the event why my personal candidate of choice wasn’t being included:

Thank you for checking in with us about that. Please know that our Forum is for those candidates seeking the WFP endorsement. This is a long process that Rev. Billy did not choose to participate in – it’s not a question of leaving him out on purpose.

It’s easy to think that we excluded him on purpose, but our Forum is not a ‘nonpartisan’ event aimed at evaluating all candidates. It’s a WFP forum for those seeking our support.

I hope you’ll continue to be supportive of our work!

Best,

Charles

________________________________

Completely Bogus! You can bet I no longer support the WFP. If they’ll give misinformation about this then god knows what else they’ll lie about!

Rev Billy’s Statements: http://www.twitter.com/revbillytalen

Dismissive WFP: http://twitter.com/workingfamilies

Meanwhile a blogger at No Power Grab, believes the WFP might even endorse Bloomberg: http://nopowergrab.blogspot.com/2009/07/working-families-party-set-to-endorse.html

Given the sketchy nature of the WFP’s concealment of ignoring the good Rev I could almost believe it.

Reverend Billy & Avella Featured in City Limits

keepleftnyc — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 02:05:11 +0000

Though City Councilman Tony Avella and “Reverend” Billy Talen have an uphill battle to beat Goliath this fall, they’re banking on grassroots dissent against Bloomberg to propel their bids for office. > By Jarrett Murphy

Full Story

You can come out tomorrow night (Wednesday July, 1st) at 7pm and train for a half an hour at Reverend Billy Headquarters to gather petitions to get him on the Ballot! VoteRevBilly.Org

Reverend Billy Talen – A Voice For Every New Yorker!

A Voice for the Neighborhoods! A Voice for Coney Island! A Voice for Union Square! A Voice for you 1st Amendment Rights! A Voice for an uncommercialized New York City with an emphasis on environmental responsibility!

Local SoHo neighborhood businessmen and supporters of the Vote Rev Billy campaign for New York City Mayor on the Green Party ticket.

As Mayor of New York City, Rev Billy Talen wants to represent Richard St. Arromand.

As Mayor of New York City, Rev Billy Talen wants to represent Lamont Hutchinson.

All photographs are copyright of the Reverend Billy For Mayor Campaign and are used in good faith without permission. Please Contact the Blog owner if there is any infringement.

Cynthia Mckinney Threatend By Israeli Naval Ship

keepleftnyc — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 07:31:19 +0000

Just before leaving, originally uploaded by freegazaorg.

Update IV: Emergency Protest Wednesday 4-6pm @ Israeli Mission 800 2nd Ave. @ 43rd Street

Update III: Greenparty Watch features latest on Israel/McKinney Situation by WBAI in Exile: http://www.greenpartywatch.org/2009/06/30/don-debar-reports-on-mckinney-for-wbai-in-exile/

And Next Left Notes reports from the Charles Barron Press Conference about the situation @ The UN today: http://antiauthoritarian.net/NLN/?p=612

Update II:

IAC Petition for Cynthia McKinney:

http://www.iacenter.org/palestine/gazashippetition/

Update:

Cynthia Mckinney & those aboard the Spirit of Humanity have been taken by the Israeli Navy – Code Pink Condems the action:

WASHINGTON – After this morning’s Israel’s abduction of 21 human rights workers, including Noble laureate Mairead Maguire and former U.S. Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney, from their aid ship to Gaza while in international waters, the women’s peace group CODEPINK calls on the Israeli government to immediately release the passengers on the ship, the Spirit of Humanity, part of the “Free Gaza” movement, as well as for release of the boat and its humanitarian cargo. CODEPINK also calls on the Obama administration to condemn the Israeli action in the strongest terms.

Click text above to read the full statement on Code Pink’s Website

Green Party Watch is reporting that former presidential candidate Cynthia McKinney has been stopped in her effort to give aid to Gaza. An Israeli naval ship has has cornered off the “Spirit of Humanity” ship and intermittently jammed the navigation system calling providing Gaza with aid illegal.

The ship McKinney is on has had to navigate using a compass and is trying to remain in international waters. Earlier McKinney had requested anyone recieving this notice contact the White House after the Israeli ship threatend to fire. More information can be found at:

Free Gaza.org

Also please follow the group on Twitter for updates: http://twitter.com/freegazaorg

CALL or FAX Major Liebovitz from the Israeli Navy at:
Tel + 972 5 781 86248 or +972 3737 7777 or +972 3737 6242
Fax +972 3737 6123 or +972 3737 7175

CALL Mark Regev in the Prime Minister’s office at:
Tel +972 2670 5354 or +972 5 0620 3264
mark.regev@it.pmo.gov.il

CALL Shlomo Dror in the Ministry of Defence at:
Tel +972 3697 5339 or +972 50629 8148
mediasar@mod.gov.il

Governor David Paterson – Grand Marshall @ Pride 2009

keepleftnyc — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 02:59:21 +0000

_1030985M, originally uploaded by Governor Paterson 2010.

David Paterson For Governor 2010 http://www.patersonforny.com/

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/GovernorPaterson

Twitter: http://twitter.com/govpaterson2010

Reverend Billy Talen For Mayor of NYC Zine & Petition Training

keepleftnyc — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 01:49:45 +0000

Reverend Billy Talen, Green Party candidate for Mayor of New York City 2009, has released a Zine! in support of his campaign! How cool is that!?

Buttons are available at the headquarters at 250 Lafayette, 10012 and petition training to help get the Rev on the Ballot is this Wednesday July 1st at 7pm. More Information at VoteRevBilly.org

Citizen Action Petition To NY Senate Republicans

keepleftnyc — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 01:29:02 +0000

The New York Senate posted examples of how other senates have handled gridlock in the past on its own website. Now the NY state Democrats have drafted such a bipartisan operating agreement, but the Republicans have so far refused to sign it.

Citizen Action of New York

has drafted a petition to the republican senators. Please sign it now!