Wednesday, April 27, 2005
SWOP homepageSWOPblogger On Location
I will be on location in San Antonio, Tx starting today through Sunday to participate in Grassroots Global Justice's member convention.
Michael Guerrero, SWOP's former co-director, is coordinating GGJ.
It looks to be an exciting agenda, with member groups from all over the United States scheduled to be present. One item on the agenda is next year's United States Social Forum, as part of the World Social Forum.
SWOP's lead organizer, Victoria Rodriguez, is also going.
Check back later for more info and updates!
Michael Guerrero, SWOP's former co-director, is coordinating GGJ.
It looks to be an exciting agenda, with member groups from all over the United States scheduled to be present. One item on the agenda is next year's United States Social Forum, as part of the World Social Forum.
SWOP's lead organizer, Victoria Rodriguez, is also going.
Check back later for more info and updates!
Tuesday, April 26, 2005
SWOP homepageIs there such a thing as the "Mainstream Media?" -- Or alternately titled: The Revolution Will Not Take Place In Blog-landia
Another scuffle in blog-landia has one saying he won't read anymore blogs who use the term "mainstream media" to refer to the mammoth that has become the telecommunications industry, and another saying there is a difference between bloggers and "the corporate media."
I've always had a problem with the term. I mean, how "mainstream" can the big five be? Or is it big four? It is well documented that 4 or 5 companies (it gets smaller every day) own the means to distribute somewhere over %80 of everything we see, read or hear - companies like Time/Warner, General Electric, NewsCorp, Disney and Viacom.
If you own the stream, are there any other streams out there?
More accurate terms would be the "only stream" or the "corporate stream."
These companies hardly represent the "mainstream" of this country's diverse set of viewpoints and perspectives. In fact, most people - including all those with different views - are disgusted with the corporate-streamed media. We understand they're sensationalist, that they don't report on issues that affect our everyday lives and that they're beholden to the bottom line.
Bloggers are offering more views, and Informed Comment's Juan Cole is right to make the distinction between blogging and, say, General Electric. And he also understands bloggers can't ultimately compete with the Disneys and Viacoms. (Matthew Haughey just isn't being honest with himself if he thinks he's as powerful General Electric just because he was on MSNBC once or twice.) But is Juan really outside the mainstream as he professes? Doubtful. And if he is, it's only because 5 companies say so.
Unfortunately, Bloggers have their own set of problems to overcome. And it's going to take a little more than blogs to achieve informed consent.
I repeat, the revolution will not take place in blog-landia.
In the end media ownership rules must be changed and allow for more points of view, particularly those with a public interest, to be broadcast on the public's airwaves.
Free broadband and community-lead, low-power FM radio stations on every block wouldn't hurt either.
I've always had a problem with the term. I mean, how "mainstream" can the big five be? Or is it big four? It is well documented that 4 or 5 companies (it gets smaller every day) own the means to distribute somewhere over %80 of everything we see, read or hear - companies like Time/Warner, General Electric, NewsCorp, Disney and Viacom.
If you own the stream, are there any other streams out there?
More accurate terms would be the "only stream" or the "corporate stream."
These companies hardly represent the "mainstream" of this country's diverse set of viewpoints and perspectives. In fact, most people - including all those with different views - are disgusted with the corporate-streamed media. We understand they're sensationalist, that they don't report on issues that affect our everyday lives and that they're beholden to the bottom line.
Bloggers are offering more views, and Informed Comment's Juan Cole is right to make the distinction between blogging and, say, General Electric. And he also understands bloggers can't ultimately compete with the Disneys and Viacoms. (Matthew Haughey just isn't being honest with himself if he thinks he's as powerful General Electric just because he was on MSNBC once or twice.) But is Juan really outside the mainstream as he professes? Doubtful. And if he is, it's only because 5 companies say so.
Unfortunately, Bloggers have their own set of problems to overcome. And it's going to take a little more than blogs to achieve informed consent.
I repeat, the revolution will not take place in blog-landia.
In the end media ownership rules must be changed and allow for more points of view, particularly those with a public interest, to be broadcast on the public's airwaves.
Free broadband and community-lead, low-power FM radio stations on every block wouldn't hurt either.
Blogosphere Racist?
After looking around the local blogosphere (and seeing how white it is) I did some quick research (google) to see if others have noticed how few people of color are writing blogs.
"Blogging Beyond the White Men's Club," by Steven Levy, senior editor of Newsweek, noted how few women and people of color are on the Top 100 blog list as rated by Technorati when he attended a self-congratulatory conference of the nation's top bloggers.
"It's white people linking to other white people!" exlaimed Haley Suitt, one of the few women at the conference.
A quick browse of the city's newest blog collective - Duke City Fix - seems to confirm Suitt's analysis.
The digital divide can't take all the blame here, especially in a city with such a large population of people of color - particularly Chicana(o)s, Latina(o)s and Native Americans, and smaller Asian and Pacific Islander and African American communities.
From the Levy article:
...at the Harvard conference, Suitt challenged people to each find 10 bloggers who weren't male, white or English-speaking—and link to them. "Don't you think," she says, "that out of 8 million blogs, there could be 50 new voices worth hearing?"
I'd say more than just worth hearing, but rather vital to the debate.
"Blogging Beyond the White Men's Club," by Steven Levy, senior editor of Newsweek, noted how few women and people of color are on the Top 100 blog list as rated by Technorati when he attended a self-congratulatory conference of the nation's top bloggers.
"It's white people linking to other white people!" exlaimed Haley Suitt, one of the few women at the conference.
A quick browse of the city's newest blog collective - Duke City Fix - seems to confirm Suitt's analysis.
The digital divide can't take all the blame here, especially in a city with such a large population of people of color - particularly Chicana(o)s, Latina(o)s and Native Americans, and smaller Asian and Pacific Islander and African American communities.
From the Levy article:
...at the Harvard conference, Suitt challenged people to each find 10 bloggers who weren't male, white or English-speaking—and link to them. "Don't you think," she says, "that out of 8 million blogs, there could be 50 new voices worth hearing?"
I'd say more than just worth hearing, but rather vital to the debate.
Monday, April 25, 2005
SWOP homepageKOB-TV Coverage of "Border Justice" Rally Skewed, Airs Weird Clip
50 - plus people, many from NM community and advocacy organizations, rallied outside the Roundhouse in Santa Fe at noon today against vigilante groups and an increasingly militarized border. The message from the folks who rallied in the rain at the capitol to governor Richardson was clear: Vigilante groups, like the 'Minute Man Project,' are not wanted in NM.
(Above: Rachel of Enlace Comunitario addresses the crowd.)
The participants in today's rally - including people from the Southwest Network for Environmental and Economic Justice, SWOP, Enlace Comunitario, Sage Council, Somos Un Pueblo Unido, Concerned Citizens of Wagon Mound and others - hoped to present a letter with their demands to Governor Richardson in person, but according to his receptionist he was in a finance meeting. The groups signed up for a meeting at a later date with the Governor. No date for the meeting is scheduled as of yet.
(Above: Rachel of Enlace Comunitario addresses the crowd.)
The participants in today's rally - including people from the Southwest Network for Environmental and Economic Justice, SWOP, Enlace Comunitario, Sage Council, Somos Un Pueblo Unido, Concerned Citizens of Wagon Mound and others - hoped to present a letter with their demands to Governor Richardson in person, but according to his receptionist he was in a finance meeting. The groups signed up for a meeting at a later date with the Governor. No date for the meeting is scheduled as of yet.
(Above: SWOP crew at the rally)
In front of a lively crowd holding red flags reading "Unidos sin Fronteras," speakers at the rally urged the Guv to denounce vigilante groups and press armed groups patrolling the US/Mexico border to stay out of New Mexico. Speakers and demonstrators also spoke about the many deaths along the border - including the over 300 women who have died in Juarez in recent years and the many who die while trying to cross - since the passage of the North American Free Trade Agreement.
(Above: Participants left 30 crosses at the Governor's office, each representing
100 of the over 3000 deaths on the US/Mexico Border over the last decade.)
The demonstrators pointed to NAFTA for forcing people to migrate and for the violence on the border, and said the agreement is unfair because it allows for unfettered trade while it shuts down the border for people and labor.
Weird Coverage
Looks like KOB-TV Channel 4 used the opportunity to run a strange clip of SWOP organizer Tomasita Gonzalez and devote yet more coverage to 'Minute Mam Project' spin. The clip in question, which KOB-TV will hopefully put on their website later, was a classic out-of-context quote cut in the middle of a sentence. It really didn't make sense, so it's hard to paraphrase the quote here.
But it was obvious KOB was trying to put words in the spokesperson's mouth, rather than report what she said. Reporters are supposed to go out and get the story, not mold the quotes for a desired effect.
Letter to Journal Editors Published
The Journal asked the question last week in an editorial: Who should Provide Hospital Interpreters? The editorial was in response to a lawsuit filed by the NM Center on Law and Poverty and the ACLU on behalf of local community groups, including SWOP.
To me the answer was simple. The hospital.
Everyone in our community deserves the best possible health care.
Today a letter to the editor was printed in response to the Journal's editorial, signed by myself on behalf of SWOP, Kim Posich of NM Center on Law and Poverty and Keith Franklin of the Albuquerque Metro Native American Coalition.
The following links are from coverage of the lawsuit brought by local community groups:
Abq Tribune's coverage
UNMH Sued Over Interpreters - Abq Journal
To me the answer was simple. The hospital.
Everyone in our community deserves the best possible health care.
Today a letter to the editor was printed in response to the Journal's editorial, signed by myself on behalf of SWOP, Kim Posich of NM Center on Law and Poverty and Keith Franklin of the Albuquerque Metro Native American Coalition.
The following links are from coverage of the lawsuit brought by local community groups:
Abq Tribune's coverage
UNMH Sued Over Interpreters - Abq Journal
Groups Oppose Vigilantes, Militarization of Border
Wednesday, April 20, 2005
SWOP homepageChiapas Youth Delegation Fundraiser
A delegation of young(er) people, organized by SWOP's youth group, will be headed to Chiapas this summer and they're looking to raise some funds. Sounds like an interesting event...
I can smell the posole now as I post. Don't miss out.
From an email:
I can smell the posole now as I post. Don't miss out.
From an email:
What: Dinner, Entertainment and Information
Enchiladas, Posole, Beans, Red Chile & Dessert!
Flamenco Music by Cielo
Spoken Word
Artisan Sales
Former Zapatista Political Prisoner Checo Valdez to speak
When: Thursday, April 21st at 7:00 pm
Where: First Congregational Church, 2801 Girard NE at Lomas
Donation: $10.00 - All proceeds go directly to support the Youth Delegates
For more information, to buy tickets, or to donate to the SWOP Youth Delegation, please call SWOP at 247-8832 or call SOLAS at 277-6847 or email: sandrita@unm.edu
Co-sponsored by the Student Organization of Latin American Studies (SOLAS) and the SouthWest Organizing Project (SWOP)
What's Wrong With Kids These Days?
A recent mock City Council meeting, created as a program of Common Cause New Mexico, saw Albuquerque high school students imposing a curfew on themselves.
What?! I suppose even young people are affected by all the fear mongering going on these days.
In my day (just a few years ago) we would have passed a bill to lower the drinking age or to kill the party patrol. Something rebellious. Anything.
But a curfew? Never.
With a vote of 4-3 in favor of a bill, the mock council imposed a children's blackout between 11:45 p.m. to 5 a.m. on Sunday evening through Thursday morning, and 1:30 to 5 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday.
Celia Fraire, an intern at SouthWest Organizing Project, played the part of an ACLU spokesperson and participated in a similiar program at Valley High School.
Celia has also played a leadership role in organizing a rally to stop a change in the Children's Code of NM's state constitution at the roundhouse.
Above: from rally at round house this year - the rally
featured a curfew battle and breakdancers against the curfew
"I tried to get a bill passed for free college education for everyone in my government class at Valley," she said. "It didn't pass."
She did say that the main debate at Valley was about lowering the drinking age. That's a relief.
What about anti-war legislation? Livable wages? Lowering the voting age? What about being able to make a living in our poor state?
"Nope."
"I think we're concerned about those things, but no one listens to each other," she said. "We're just like everyone else."
Celia will be working at SWOP over the summer creating a pro-youth platform with other young people for the city's October elections.
A curfew isn't likely in that platform. Seriously folks, curfews won't solve our problems. I understand the impulse to protect young people, but come on. Empowering and investing in the potential of young people is our only hope.
As Jeanne Gauna, SWOP's late co-director (and my mom), used to say: "There's genious in the 'hood."
What?! I suppose even young people are affected by all the fear mongering going on these days.
In my day (just a few years ago) we would have passed a bill to lower the drinking age or to kill the party patrol. Something rebellious. Anything.
But a curfew? Never.
With a vote of 4-3 in favor of a bill, the mock council imposed a children's blackout between 11:45 p.m. to 5 a.m. on Sunday evening through Thursday morning, and 1:30 to 5 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday.
Celia Fraire, an intern at SouthWest Organizing Project, played the part of an ACLU spokesperson and participated in a similiar program at Valley High School.
Celia has also played a leadership role in organizing a rally to stop a change in the Children's Code of NM's state constitution at the roundhouse.
Above: from rally at round house this year - the rally
featured a curfew battle and breakdancers against the curfew
"I tried to get a bill passed for free college education for everyone in my government class at Valley," she said. "It didn't pass."
She did say that the main debate at Valley was about lowering the drinking age. That's a relief.
What about anti-war legislation? Livable wages? Lowering the voting age? What about being able to make a living in our poor state?
"Nope."
"I think we're concerned about those things, but no one listens to each other," she said. "We're just like everyone else."
Celia will be working at SWOP over the summer creating a pro-youth platform with other young people for the city's October elections.
A curfew isn't likely in that platform. Seriously folks, curfews won't solve our problems. I understand the impulse to protect young people, but come on. Empowering and investing in the potential of young people is our only hope.
As Jeanne Gauna, SWOP's late co-director (and my mom), used to say: "There's genious in the 'hood."
Tuesday, April 19, 2005
SWOP homepageMoore's Law
Moore's Law: the number of transistors on a computer chip will double every two years.
SWOP's law: the amount of corporate welfare will double every two years.
40 years after Gordon Moore (of Intel fame) made his famous prediction, another unseen consequence of his law, besides superfund sites, has come to light. The amount of tax incentives - corporate welfare - that was needed to fulfill Moore's and Intel's prophecy.
On April Fool’s Day, 1992, Intel Corporation and the State of New Mexico announced a $1 billion Industrial Revenue Bond (IRB) proposal, the largest ever considered in the land of enchantment. By the time the IRB was approved in 1993, the total issue had increased to $2 billion and encompassed the largest construction project in the nation. Intel Corporation went on to achieve what was at the time the largest tax abatement package in the country’s history when Sandoval County, NM, approved an $8 billion IRB.
Just last year, Sandoval County approved a $16 billion IRB, another record, representing over $2 billion in tax breaks.
Pasted below: More tax news from Intel...
Friday April 1, 7:55 AM
New Intel CEO says tax reformers must look abroad
SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - The United States faces a losing battle for new semiconductor factories if it does not compete against other countries with tax incentives, Intel Corp. President Paul Otellini told a presidential advisory panel on tax reform on Thursday.
"The money is shifting outside the United States," Otellini said, referring to semiconductor makers building new plants elsewhere to take advantage of tax and other incentives.
More: New Intel CEO says tax reformers must look abroad
SWOP's law: the amount of corporate welfare will double every two years.
40 years after Gordon Moore (of Intel fame) made his famous prediction, another unseen consequence of his law, besides superfund sites, has come to light. The amount of tax incentives - corporate welfare - that was needed to fulfill Moore's and Intel's prophecy.
On April Fool’s Day, 1992, Intel Corporation and the State of New Mexico announced a $1 billion Industrial Revenue Bond (IRB) proposal, the largest ever considered in the land of enchantment. By the time the IRB was approved in 1993, the total issue had increased to $2 billion and encompassed the largest construction project in the nation. Intel Corporation went on to achieve what was at the time the largest tax abatement package in the country’s history when Sandoval County, NM, approved an $8 billion IRB.
Just last year, Sandoval County approved a $16 billion IRB, another record, representing over $2 billion in tax breaks.
Pasted below: More tax news from Intel...
Friday April 1, 7:55 AM
New Intel CEO says tax reformers must look abroad
SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - The United States faces a losing battle for new semiconductor factories if it does not compete against other countries with tax incentives, Intel Corp. President Paul Otellini told a presidential advisory panel on tax reform on Thursday.
"The money is shifting outside the United States," Otellini said, referring to semiconductor makers building new plants elsewhere to take advantage of tax and other incentives.
More: New Intel CEO says tax reformers must look abroad
