Because People Matter

Progressive News and Views March / April 2008

Let’s Talk (About Sex)!

Family communication & comprehensive sex education make the difference
by Katharyn McLearan

W
e have a preventable public health prob- prevention of sexually transmitted infections. Helpful hints for parents and other responsible
lem in this country Family Communication adults: Talk with your kids at all stages of develop-
— an estimated Consider these facts: Parents ment, not just puberty. Talk early and talk often. You
750,000 American teens will and teens agree that they are not are a role model for your teen. Set good examples.
become pregnant this year comfortable discussing sex with one Show your kids how our lives are enriched by our
and nearly four million will another yet 87% of teens say it would values. Take advantage of teachable moments. Use
contract a sexually transmitted be easier for them to postpone sexu- topics like a friend’s pregnancy or a TV show to begin
infection. al activity and avoid teen pregnancy a conversation. Give accurate, simple, and honest
Nonetheless, studies have if they were able to have open, hon- answers to questions. If your child asks a question
consistently shown that fam- est conversations with their parents. you can’t answer, it is OK to say you do not know. Use
ily communication and com- And 97% of girls said “having par- the opportunity to learn something together. Let your
prehensive sex education are ents they could talk to” could help kids know that you are available.
important factors in safeguard- prevent pregnancies among unmar- Sex Education
ing teenagers’ sexual health. It ried teens. Teens cite their parents as Comprehensive sex education supports and
can be difficult to talk to your the people who most influence their strengthens parent–teen communication. Abstinence
teen about sensitive issues, but decisions about sex. When parents Only programs that do not include family planning,
we also know how important it talk to their teens about sex, the disease prevention, and responsible decision-making
is to your child’s future. We also “Inaccurate abstinence-only education teens are more likely to delay sex, skills are dangerous and do not prevent pregnancy
need education programs in is being taught in many schools across more likely to use condoms when or disease. Information that is wrong, too little, or
our schools that include infor- California.” they finally do have sex, more likely too late can result in long-term and life threatening
mation about abstinence as photo courtesy Planned Parenthood
to talk about sexual health risks with consequences.
Mar Monte
well as contraception, healthy their partner, and less likely to have
communication, responsible decision-making, and multiple partners. See Sex Education, page 9

California Faces Repeat Attacks on Abortion Rights

Another parental notification initiative is in the works
by Chelsea Del Rio
is not the only limitation women face. In 24 states there
Look out progressive Californians, it is happening again. exist mandatory waiting periods between receiving
In 2005 we faced Proposition 73 and in 2006 we faced counseling and having the abortion performed. There
Proposition 85. Both aimed at man- are 43 states that allow health care
dating parental notification in order institutions to refuse to provide
for minors to access abortion ser- Our fight to defeat abortions. A total of 28 states
vices. Both times the people of Cali- parental notification mandate counseling prior to
fornia decided that such laws would abortion, including misinforma-
only serve to harm the young women initiatives and other tion about links between breast
of our state, often the ones already attacks on abortion cancer and abortion, fetal pain
in the most difficult and dangerous during the abortion procedure
situations. Now, in 2008, we face a rights not only protects and long term mental health con-
third parental notification initiative. reproductive health sequences for women. Combine
Sponsors of the initiative are still in these numbers with an array of
the process of signature gathering to services but also additional limitations and the fact
qualify for the November ballot but strengthens women’s that 87% of counties in the US
if history is any indication, they will have no abortion providers and
qualify by the deadline. Pro-choicers autonomy and freedom. it is easy to see just how compli-
will face yet another year of divert- cated the picture becomes.
ing time, resources and energy from providing already These restrictions indicate the continued efforts to
limited services for women in order to defeat right wing legislate and control women’s bodies. Former Arkansas
attacks on choice. Governor Mike Huckabee hopes for a “Human Life
Currently 35 states require some type of parental Amendment” to the constitution that would in effect
involvement, whether notification or consent of one or overturn Roe. Let’s consider the fact that women are not
both parents, for a minor to have an abortion. But this protected in the constitution and this guy is talking fetal
rights. What a clear indication
that right wing concern is more
about control of reproduction
and women’s bodies than it is
about life! Thus, our fight to
defeat parental notification
initiatives and other attacks
on abortion rights not only
protects reproductive health
services but also strength-
ens women’s autonomy and
freedom.
It is essential that we work
to protect access to abortion
not only for teens in California
but also for women across the
country who, more and more,
may be forced to look to Cali-
fornia. If the parental notifica-
tion initiative does qualify for
the ballot we will need your
Sacramento NOW taking the NO on 85 campaign to the street help to defeat it. Stay informed
photo courtesy Sacramento NOW via California National Orga-
nization for Women, www.canow.org. In the meantime,
consider other action you can take to ensure access to
reproductive health services. Become a clinic defense
escort and help women navigate through anti-choice
protestors to access abortion services. Sacramento NOW
provides training and coordinates weekly escorting.
Contact us at sacnowactivist@canow.org. Or, consider
housing or providing rides for women who must travel
to the area to receive abortion services. To do so, sign up
with ACCESS: www.whrc-access.org.
Chelsea Del Rio is a long time Sacramento NOW
grassroots activist and currently serves as Action Vice
President with California NOW.
Inside this issue:
Editorial.............................................. 2
Plutonium Paradise............................ 3
A Community Peace Group................ 4
The Matsui 10..................................... 4
Bonus for Bike and Bus Riders........... 4
Police State Flash Point...................... 5
Rx Dr. Bill Durston............................ 6
Single Payer Health Care.................... 6
The Fong Mansion.............................. 7
Stop Gerrymandering......................... 7
Immigration is Not the Issue.............. 8
Corporate Media Censors the News... 9
We Are Done Killing For Lies.......... 10
Poem: The God of War...................... 10
Book Review: The Israel Lobby......... 11
Sacramento Area Peace Action......... 12
The New Capitalism......................... 13
Old Boys Network............................. 13
Torture............................................... 14
Winter Soldier Hearings................... 14
MLK Inspires Us Again................... 14
Calendar............................................ 15
Progressive Media............................. 16
 Because People Matter March / April 2008 www.bpmnews.org

because
People Matter Editorial
Volume 17, Number 2
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The 9/11 lie has paralyzed us
“Hey,” says my friend, holding up the last BPM
with the cover of faces from the patriotsques-
tion9/11 site. “What is this? All 9/11—All the
time?” And he gives me that look.
I find the dismissive glances and even eye
rolling that sometimes come from activists and
other progressive about 9/11 hard to understand.
These are people who know that every word
Cheney and Bush ever uttered is a flat-out con-
scious lie (for 935 documented pre-war lies, see
www.publicintegrity.org/WarCard/).
And yet on this literally world-changing
event they decide to believe these guys? And then
call those of us who challenge the official story
stupid and crazy? C’mon…..!
Yes, I try to get something that undercuts
the official story of 9/11 in every issue of BPM.
I believe 9/11 truth info can let some air into
the vacuum-sealed US mind created by the 9/11
attacks, a mind so traumatically closed that it
seemingly cannot take in the fact—now admitted
by everyone but Cheney—that Iraq had noth-
ing to do with 9/11 and Afghanistan was only
tangentially involved. You still hear people say,
“Well, they attacked us,” or “We have to fight
them over there or they’ll come here.” Even the
inconceivable (and underreported) suffering that
the US war is causing is depreciated because it’s
the suffering of the Arab “enemy.” The same is
true for the torture. To stop this cruel, illegal war,
9/11 truth is key to breaking the spell that has
afflicted heart and reason and paralyzed action.
I think Manuel Valenzuela is on to some-
thing in his description of the psychological
effects of 9/11:
9/11 was the catalyst to the war on terror,
the spring that gave sustenance to the imperial-
istic wet dreams of corporatists and neocons. It
was a moment in time…that sent concussions
of fear and hatred and immediate calls of anger
and vengeance reverberating throughout the
land, as if a nuclear bomb of psychological war-
fare had been unleashed…transforming us into
unthinking animals, our primate psychology and
emotions set free, usurping our normal human
intelligence.
At that point, after seeing the televised
images of the horror and evil spawned that
day…repeated continuously without end, with
angle after angle of carnage and death…with
the immediate propaganda of journalist buf-
foons penetrating our pores, with stenographers
for power injecting us with their venom, we
mutated into an army of robots, unwilling to lis-
ten to reason, unwise to the lessons of humanity,
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failing to control our raw emotions, becoming,
in the end, a united herd of sheep that was easily
corralled into following and obeying the dictates
of the corporatists.
We became, with our jingoism, nationalism,
patriotism and Nazi-like militarization of the
nation a people on the verge of mass psychosis,
ready to bomb and murder entire nations, ready
to lose all sense of morality in order to attain the
vengeance our mammalian brains sought.
…The hatred we felt
was manipulated and direct-
ed, our attention made to
focus on the dark skins and
alien religion of the Middle
East. Our fear was exploited,
our fragile psychology
abused, steered toward war
against Arabs and Persians
and Muslims, for clandestine
reasons we did not wish to
know or understand. (The
Making of the Enemy, 02-08-
06 www.informationclearinghouse.info).
We need to “deconstruct” the official myth
of 9/11 to break through this helpless, hate-filled,
fear-filled state and regain the will to end an ugly
war that is bankrupting this nation morally and
financially.
Likewise, recognizing the falsity of the offi-
cial story will fire up our will to resist the assaults
on civil liberties that Bush/Cheney claim are
responses to 9/11.
In this BPM Peter Phillips (p 9) and Bruce
Fein (p 8), from both left and right, focus with
urgency on the chilling and wholesale elimina-
tion of constitutional provisions meant to protect
the people of this country from its government.
And while Bush/Cheney hack away at the rule of
law, we sit here.
What else but the traumatized mind set
described by Valenzuela can explain our public
and private apathy in the face the disappearance
of our constitutional legal protections? 9/11
scared us literally out of our wits. Those explod-
ing towers and the huge billowing clouds of dust
that roiled through the streets chasing bystand-
ers, the hours we all spent mesmerized in front
of TVs waiting for the next planes to hit—and
the mysteriously still unsolved and no longer
mentioned anthrax attacks that immediately
followed—wounded something so deep in our
psyche that we’re still paralyzed and ready to pay
any price, sacrifice any freedom, just to save our-
selves from all-powerful demonic Arab terrorists
who turned the country into a “helpless giant”
that September day.
But the 9/11 truth is that we have much
more to fear from Bush/ Cheney and the Con-
gress people from both parties who serve their
agenda than we do from Arab terrorists. We’re
being spied on, arrested without charges, secretly
detained, tortured, sometimes killed, tried in
kangaroo courts. These things are HAPPEN-
ING now—and to US citizens as well as others
unlucky enough to be caught in the nets spread
so widely and with so little legal care. And the
perpetrators of these attacks on us are NOT ter-
rorists—but very likely the
But the 9/11 truth true figures behind the events
of 9/11—which they are using
is that we have
as the rationale for destroying
much more to
our Constitution.
Every day, more promi-
fear from Bush/ nent people publicly express
their doubts about the offi-
Cheney…than cial story. New York Times
reporter Philip Shenon in The
we do from Arab Commission: The Uncensored
terrorists. History of the 9/11 Investiga-
tion, asserts that the man who
controlled what evidence commission members
saw and the direction of the investigation, execu-
tive director Philip Zelikow, under advisement by
Karl Rove, minimized White House responsibil-
ity and tried to insert a false connection between
9/11 and Iraq in the commission’s report.
The former President of Italy, Francesco
Cossiga, announced that “democratic groups in
Europe know that the attack was organized by
CIA and Mossad….” Dr Lynn Margulis, recipient
of the US’s highest science award, the National
Medal of Science, citing David Ray Griffin’s The
9/11 commission Report: Omissions and Distot-
rions, calls the official account “glaringly errone-
ous” and a “fraud” (patriotsquestion9/11.com).
And the Japanese Parliament debates the truth of
the official story in questioning whether to send
more troops to support the US wars (Rock Creek
Free Press, Feb 08).
It’s time for a new investigation. With all the
questions presented that have arisen through
these last 6 years, with access to evidence
unscreened by the White House’s Zelikow, with
subpoenas, testimony under oath from Bush and
Cheney—separately this time and recorded—and
with the bright eyes of Truthers and others
focused sharply on public proceedings, the offi-
cial story would probably collapse in a couple of
weeks—that’s how weakly it is cobbled together
and how much our factual discovery and analysis
of the its various aspects has advanced.
As scary as such an endeavor would be, it’s
what our country needs to get out of this deadly
and deathly slide to disaster.
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 www.bpmnews.org March / April 2008 BECAUSE PEOPLE MATTER 

Plutonium Paradise or Nukemare?

The hidden costs of nuclear power
by Richard Nadeau

I
just can’t believe the cheerful propaganda On Christmas Eve, I drove to see the two In June 2007, Dale Klein, chair of the Nuclear
coming from the nuclear power industry and ominous towers at Rancho Seco, 25 miles south- Regulatory Commission (NRC), told a gather-
its boosters. They are telling east of Sacramento. I enjoyed a ing of industry leaders in Atlanta that he expects
us now that nuclear power is a We all breathe picnic lunch at “Rancho Seco applications for 27 new reactors over the next
“clean and safe solution” to the Park,” the recreation area SMUD two years. One corporate applicant said, “There is
crisis of global warming. Noth- easier because of created after the plant closed no serious opposition.”
ing could be farther from the so-called ‘anti- down. Congress provided help for the “revival” at
truth. In my view, we are being Rancho Seco was the first taxpayer expense. The Energy Policy Act of 2005
offered a glowing picture of a cool nuke fanatics.’ nuclear power plant to be closed had generous subsidies for nuclear power and
plutonium paradise, a false bill of down anywhere in the world as other alternatives to fossil fuels. Billions of dol-
goods if there ever was one. result of a popular anti-nuke organizing effort lars in tax credits, loan guarantees, and insurance
Just recently, The Sacramento Bee published and a public vote. In December 1986, the anti- were offered to cover licensing delays for new
two essays promoting nuclear power as a solution nuclear organization SAFE gathered enough
to global warming (12/12/2007 & 12/29/2007). signatures to place a referendum on the ballot. In See Nuclear Power, p. 11
One from a former Greenpeacer now working for a voter referendum in June of 1989, the majority
the nuclear industry claimed that current anti- of Sacramento voters said
nuclear activists such as Greenpeace are “living in “Close it down.”
the 1970s.” The day after Christ-
Another essay from a jazz-critic-turned- mas 1985, a nuclear
nuclear-revivalist sang non-improvised hosannas “event” (traced to a trip
to “nuclear power for the people.” wire in a tiny electric
Neither essay addressed the unresolved prob- box) caused the reactor
lems connected with nuclear power: reactor acci- to dramatically overheat.
dents, waste disposal, and the problem of nuclear After the Three Mile
weapons proliferation. Neither mentioned the Island incident in 1979,
astronomical costs or the fossil fuels consumed and the meltdown of
in the mining, building, maintaining, transport- Chernobyl on April 26,
ing waste, and the decommissioning of nuclear 1986, the people of Sac-
facilities. ramento had reasonable
Environmentalists fear that the promised cause to be concerned
air-conditioned plutonium paradise will produce when they voted for
a toxic, cancer-filled, irradiated earth. Sci-fi mov- closure.
ies have provided us with depictions of mutant SMUD accepted the
humans and animals evolving into monsters as results of the non-binding
a result of exposure to nuclear radiation from referendum and began
nuclear weapons testing. I call such horrifying the expensive process of
depictions “nukemares.” (Remember “The Planet decommissioning, which
of the Apes”? Remember “Godzilla”?) ends in 2008. Ranch Seco
exemplifies what Diablo Canyon nuclear plant
can happen when photo: www.britannica.com
an alert community faces the dangers
of nuclear power. We all breathe easier
because of those so-called “anti-nuke
fanatics.”
Remember what happened at Three
Mile Island in Pennsylvania on March
EXTRA!
28, 1979? There was an explosion inside The Department of Energy has released its fiscal year
a containment building, a partial melt- 2009 budget. It seeks a whopping 79 percent increase
down of the reactor core, and a deliber- in funding for the Nuclear Power 2010 program. It also
ate venting of radioactive gases into the extends the period during which companies that build
atmosphere. 140,000 people fled the area, new nuclear power plants can apply for federal loan
where elevated levels of cesium and iodine
guarantees to lower the debt-financing costs associated
were found in the milk samples collected
from dairy farms. Ironically, the movie, with the projects.
The China Syndrome, with Jane Fonda
graphic: : www.inkcinct.com.au/Web/CARTOONS was just opening. Yet, we still worship
our advanced technologies as if they are
infallible.
Does anyone remember Chernobyl in the
Nuclear links former Soviet Union? On April 26, 1986, a
powerful explosion instantly killed two people.
Centers for Disease Control report
Dozens of fire fighters died from radiation
www.cdi.org/issues/proliferation/
nuclearproliferation poisoning within a few years. Nuclear radiation
fallout spread throughout Western Europe to
Fortune Magazine article
www.money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/
the point where the people of England could not
fortune_archive/2007/08/06/100141305 eat lambs that grazed on their fields. Numerous
cancer clusters and other effects of radiation
CBS nuclear story
www.fair.org/index.php?page=3086 such as contaminated mushrooms and berries in
southern Germany, and contaminated reindeer
Anti-nuke power site
in Scandinavia, emerged throughout Northern
www.nukefree.org/
Europe and western Russia.
Anti-nuke watchdog Remember the problems at Oak Ridge,
www.prop1.org/anukelv.htm
Kyshtym, or Windscale? Remember the waste
Nuclear Reactor Maps disposal accidents at Hanford, where hundreds
www.nukepills.com/ of thousands of gallons of radioactive waste
Nuclear resource site containing plutonium leaked out of tanks
www.nirs.org/ between 1945 and 1973? Are Californians com-
fortable with the fact that coastal nuclear power
Books plants at San Onofre and Diablo Canyon are
Nuclear Power Is Not the Answer and The New susceptible to tsunamis and located adjacent to
Nuclear Danger by Dr. Helen Caldicott earthquake faults? So far, no one has been able to
The New Nuclear Danger, and The Seventh convince me that today’s generation of nuclear
Decade by Jonathan Schell power plants has eliminated the risk of nuclear
Perils of the Peaceful Atom by Richard Curtis accidents.
and Elizabeth Hogan Yet, people have short memories. There is
talk in the media about a “nuclear revival,” or a
“nuclear renaissance.”
 Because People Matter March / April 2008 www.bpmnews.org

What Makes a Community Peace Group Work?

Letting everyone have their say!
by Tom King
The peace movement is not merely a protest
against the heinousness of war, but the persistent
effort to replace the militaristic mindset embed-
ded in the culture with one encompassing the
benefits, both practical and transcendental, of
systemic peace. It is also the active pursuit of
such strategies as will cause the overwhelming
advantages of peace in all its revolutionary har-
mony to prevail.
I am cofounder of the Peace Pyramid, a
group that has flourished in the environs of Sac-
ramento for over five years. Like all who strive
for peace—a quest eternal—we cultivate humility
through frustration. Yet perhaps our longevity
is a claim to success as a working group model.
What features might be usefully practiced by
other groups?
These are some:
• No one joins; anyone is welcome to attend
without dues or even token commitment.
Sacramento • Rather than frequent meetings that stress
Progressive busy lives, we have quarterly convocations,
Events inviting spontaneous volunteer activities in
Calendar on the interim. These convocations are always
the Web on a Saturday, and convened in the warmth
of a comfortable home. The first hour is
devoted to potluck and socializing. At times
www.sacleft.org we're afforded the pleasure of musicians and
Labor, Peace, singers whose repertory will include protest
Environment, Human lyrics.
Rights, Solidarity…
• We focus each meeting upon a single crucial
Send calendar items
to Gail Ryall,gryall matter, like war, nuclear threat, depleted
@cwnet.com. uranium, imperialist US foreign policy, or
on reforms of these excesses, as exemplified
by Congressman Dennis Kucinich's initia-
tive for a cabinet-level
Department of Peace.
• We book eminently
qualified speakers, like
Cindy Sheehan; David
Dionisi, author of
American Hiroshima and
creator of the interna-
tional organization Teach
Peace; Dwayne Hunn,
founder of American
World Service Corps;
Nadia McCaffrey, creator
of Veterans Villages,
a shelter for soldiers returning from Iraq;
Leuren Moret, whistleblower on depleted
uranium.
• We promote gatherings via free news calen-
dar, email updates, word of mouth and in
materials we pass out tabling at the Farmers’
Market at 8th and W.
• Our format gently coaxes rather than insists
on militant activism.
• We pursue specific goals with vigor, most
persistently the creation of a Department of
Peace.
In contradistinction to most peace groups,
however, our activism represents only half our
energies, the other half being dedicated to giving
peace-minded citizens a voice in an environ-
ment of sympathy and support. Thus we host an
open forum providing the opportunity for all in
attendance to speak. This is the signature feature
of our organization. We enjoy the skills of a
facilitator able to elicit participation, yet “prevent
runaways.” Attendees' contributions, however,
may be directed to issues having nothing to do
Feb. 9, 2007 Peace Pyramid
speaker Dario Vanni.
photos: Larry White
with the evening's
presentation. The result is that each convocation
is afforded a fascination of the unpredictable.
Attendee’s testimonies range from sharing
what it means to them after toiling all day in the
workplace to be among like-minded peaceniks
to hair-raising tales of a son at risk in Iraq.
And many will offer unexpected stores of well-
founded information on foreign affairs, domestic
snafus, and media cover-ups, such as the ones too
easily dismissed as 9/11 conspiracy theories.
Meeting only quarterly in such vibratory
atmosphere, attendees seem reluctant to part, and
a meeting starting at five will typically run until
ten, with few drifting away earlier. Those who
come welcome this rare opportunity to vent their
hearts and share their insights, and as we listen
to one another, we realize how continually we
underestimate the unique individual who is our
fellow biped.
Tom King is the leader of the Peace Pyramid,
a Sacramento suburban grassroots group promot-
ing a cabinet-level Department of Peace.

The Matsui 10
Charges against peace activists
dropped
by Paulette Cuilla
Charges have been dropped against ten Sacra-
mento peace activists arrested for “disturbance”
in Rep. Doris Matsui’s office in September 2007
for asking her to stand up for peace and stop
funding the war by signing a Declaration of
Peace.
The “Matsui 10” entered their not guilty plea
in federal court 11/13/2007 and were given a
court date for January 2008. The judge stated that
the maximum sentence would be a $5,000 fine
and/or 30 days in jail; however the option of jail
time would not be considered and there would be
no jury trial.
We could have pled guilty, paid a fine of the nightmare of war continues. Fascism rules
$275.00 and walked away free. However, we all our country, our constitution is being destroyed,
vowed that we would not pay a fine, accept pro- and George Bush says, “it’s just a goddamned
bation, or participate in community service. piece of paper.” We are involved in an illegal war
Since we would not get a jury trial, we would to support the military industrial complex and
not be granted public defenders. However, civil our kids are being recruited from high school
rights lawyers, including several on the ACLU of (and younger) to feed the meat grinder. Corrup-
Sacramento Board of Directors volunteered their tion rules our courts, media, corporations, and
services to represent us. Preparation for court elections. The list goes on.
began with plans to subpoena Doris Matsui, The “Matsui 10” is a group of people who
her entire staff, Homeland Security, and to file believe that democracy is something you do,
appeals for a jury trial. Then, last week we were not something you have. As citizens of a real
notified that the US Attorney’s Office was drop- democracy, it is our job to speak out when we
ping all charges—maybe because we were now see our government headed for disaster. While
lawyered up and it would be too costly to actu- “practicing democracy” we were arrested. I guess
ally bring us to court, or maybe Rep. Doris Mat- sometimes the road may get rocky, but the effort
sui thought it might not look good to criminally to get our country back is worth it!
charge citizens who were asking her to stand up Paulette Cuilla is a Matsui 10 Activist.
for peace.
Activists in Sacramento have
held a 52 day sit-in at Matsui’s office,
done extensive letter writing, made
thousands of phone calls, and have
been arrested for civil disobedience at
the Federal Building. Matsui says she
wants to end the war and protect the
troops, but will not commit to stop
funding the war or sign a Declaration
of Peace. She refuses to meet with
Veteran’s for Peace, Sacramento Peace
Action, or other local peace groups.
So what makes a group of law
abiding citizens risk arrest? Most of
this group has never had more than a
parking ticket. After almost 4,000 US
solders have died, untold number of
A photo from an anonymous source shows
wounded, hundreds of thousands of the “die-in” in progress at Congresswom-
Iraqis killed, trillions of dollars spent, an Matsui’s office.

A Bonus for Bike and Bus Riders

It pays to care for the air
The City of Sacramento’s AMCO program allows
bus riders, bicyclers and carpoolers to purchase
discounted parking in city lots for intermittent use.
The cost works out to be $6.50 per day for up to 12
days of parking per quarter (3 months). This is a
great idea to reward people for taking the bus/light
rail/bike most of the time by discounting their park-
ing for days that they really need to take their car.
For more details go to www.cityofsacramento.org/
transportation/parking/offstreetdiscountalternate.
html.
 www.bpmnews.org March / April 2008 BECAUSE PEOPLE MATTER 

Police State Flashpoint

Criminalizing “extremist” thought
by Bruce Fein
lent radicalization, homegrown terrorism, and at its birth. The only difference between expres-
[By the time BPM goes to press, Congress may have ideologically based violence in the United States.” sion of an opinion and an incitement in the nar-
already enacted] the “Violent Radicalization and And “violent radicalization” is defined as “the rower sense is the speaker’s enthusiasm for the
Homegrown Terrorism Prevention Act of 2007,” process of adopting or promoting an extremist result.”
probably the greatest assault on free speech and belief system for the purpose of ideologically Lengthy lists of persons, organizations and
CAAC Goes
to the Movies
association and association in the US since the based violence to advance political, religious, or thoughts to be shunned will be compiled. Por- Almost Every
1938 creation of the House Un-American Activi- social change.” tions of the Holy Koran are likely to be taboo. Month
ties Committee (HUAC). Under the Act, William The lives of countless innocent citizens will be The Central America
Sponsored by Jane Harman …the Act aims Lloyd Garrison would have been shattered. That is the lesson of the House Un- Action Committee
(Dem CA), the bill passed the to identify and guilty of promoting “violent American Activities Committee and every prior shows interesting
and informative
House on Oct 23 by a 404-6 vote radicalization” for publishing the government enterprise to identify “dangerous”
under a rule suspension that cur- stigmatize anti-slavery Liberator in 1831, people or ideas; for example, the 120,000 inno-
videos on social
justice, labor
tailed debate. Only 3 Democrats persons and which “facilitated” John Brown. cent Japanese-Americans herded into concentra- struggles, and so
voted against the bill: Dennis Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth tion camps during World War II. much more! Call to
Kucinich (Ohio), Neil Abercrom- groups who Cady Stanton would have been The ideological persecutions invited by the see what’s playing
bie (Hawaii), and Jerry Costello hold thoughts condemned for assailing laws Act will do more to create than to deter home- this month…
WE ALSO HAVE A
(Ill). disenfranchising women and cre- grown terrorism. Mark Anthony’s words in
The Senate companion bill the government ating an intellectual atmosphere “Julius Caesar” are a fitting commentary on what
VIDEO LIBRARY YOU
CAN CHECK OUT.
(SB 1959), sponsored by Susan decrees receptive to violence. And Martin Congress is prepared to enact: “O judgment! thou 1640 9th Ave (east
Collins (Rep Maine), has encoun- Luther King, Jr. would have fallen art fled to brutish beasts, and men have lost their
tered little opposition. Especially correlate with under the Act’s suspicion for reason.”
off Land Park Dr)
INFO: 446-3304
in an election year, Congress- homegrown denouncing Jim Crow and prac- Bruce Fein is a constitutional lawyer with
members crave every opportunity ticing civil disobedience, which Bruce Fein & Associates and chairman of the
to appear tough on terrorism. Few terrorism. “facilitated” H. Rap Brown. American Freedom Agenda. He served as associ-
if any care about or understand The commission will certain- ate deputy attorney general under Reagan and
either freedom of expression or the Thought ly hold choreographed public hearings. Witnesses was a member of the ABA Task Force on presi-
Police dangers of SB 1959. Denuded of euphe- will testify that non-Christian ideas or vocal dential signing statements. See full article from
misms and code words, the Act aims to identify challenges to the status quo promote “an extrem- Washington Times online 12/27/2007, at www.
and stigmatize persons and groups who hold ist belief system” that facilitates ideologically prorev.com/2007/12/democrats-close-to-pass-
thoughts the government decrees correlate with based violence. Internet communications, the ing-police-state.html
homegrown terrorism, for example, opposition media, schools, religious institutions and home
to the Patriot Act or the suspension of the Great life will be scrutinized for promoting pernicious
Writ of habeas corpus. thoughts.
The Act will inexorably culminate in a Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes observed
government listing of homegrown terrorists or in Gitlow v. New York (1925): “Every idea is an
terrorist organizations without due process; a
complementary listing of books, videos, or ideas
incitement. It offers itself for belief and if believed
it is acted on unless some other belief outweighs
Have you volunteered for BPM and
that ostensibly further “violent radicalization;” it or some failure of energy stifles the movement NO ONE EVER CALLED YOU
and a blacklisting of persons who have inter-
sected with either list. BACK?
Political discourse will be chilled and needed
challenges to conventional wisdom will flag.
There are no better examples of sinister congres- New Reads Well, we get overwhelmed sometimes, and
sional folly. don’t follow up on the good help energy
The Act inflates the danger of homegrown in Town
terrorism manifold to justify creating a National You may see the Rock Creek Free Press that many readers have sent us. So would
Commission on the Prevention of Violent in the back of some BPM stands and in
Radicalization and Ideologically Based Violence other places you find BPM. It’s a great new
you consider trying again? We can use
Commission paper from Washington DC with emphasis help proofreading, distributing, organiz-
Since 9/11 no American has died from on the undernews. Check it out.
homegrown terrorism, while about 120,000 have Likewise, we are greatly impressed with ing volunteers.
been murdered. the lively goodlooking Midtown Monthly. Call 916-444-3203.
In the post-9/11 so-called “war” against It’s not political, but it has the kind of useful
international terrorism, Mr. Bush has detained and delightful info about life, art, food and Or email bpmnews@nicetechnology.com
only two citizens as enemy combatants. One was
voluntarily deported to Saudi Arabia; the other
music in Sacramento and beyond that cre- with “volunteer” in the subject line.
ates the sense of community needed for an
was indicted, tried and convicted in a civilian uncertain future.
court of providing material assistance to a foreign
terrorist organization.
And employing customary law enforcement
tools, the US has successfully

Best   Burger
prosecuted several pre-embryonic
terrorism conspiracies amidst
numerous false starts.
Prior to 9/11, homegrown
terrorism consisted largely of
Timothy McVeigh, Eric Rudolph,
the Unabomber and the D.C.

The burgers and fries are  described  as   legendary

Metropolitan area snipers. The Act,
nevertheless, against all facts, finds
“homegrown terrorism ... poses
a threat to domestic security”
that “cannot be easily prevented Biting into this feast, the Harris Ranch Steak freshly
through traditional federal intel-
ligence or law enforcement efforts.”
first thing you notice is that ground and formed into a
Twelve members of the com- you can taste the beef. The 1/3 lb. patty. Stop by soon.
mission will be appointed by the
president and leaders in the House French Ground Steak Burger Nationwide Freezer Meats
and Senate. They will predictably
serve the political needs of their
w/cheese is the thing to order. 1930 H Street, Sacramento
political masters. That is a mouthful to say, (H and 20th Streets) 444-3286.
The commission’s Big Brother
task is to discover ideas and and it’s definitely more than Just remember H20 stands for
political associations, including
connections to non-US persons
a mouthful to eat. Featuring H and 20th Street ««««
and networks that promote “vio-
 Because People Matter March / April 2008 www.bpmnews.org

Rx: Dr Bill Durston

Some of the Global peace through local elections
Places You Can
Find BPM by Glenda Marsh
Sacramento Area Most Americans would say that current US poli- ning for Congress in Congressional District 3
Coffee Works cies reflect nothing of our priorities or our values. against Republican Rep. Dan Lungren.
Crest Theater One of the most important ways to democratize It’s pretty simple: Bill Durston supports our
Dimple Records,
national security and decisions about war is to Peace and Security Principles so we support him.
Arden Wy
Dose Coffee Shop elect people to national office who agree with our We want to end the Iraq War, so does Bill. Dan
Flowers Restaurant grassroots driven policies, such as those found in Lungren doesn’t. We win if Bill wins. You can
Galleria (29th & K) Peace in the Precinct’s Peace and Security Prin- help elect Bill by working with local groups plan-
Grinders ciples, or Physicians for Social Responsibility’s ning to organize those who support ending the
Hart Senior Center SMART security plan. Dr. Bill Durston is run- Iraq war.
Lido Cafe Two organizations are planning such cam-
Light Rail:
65/Folsom
paigns: Peace in the Precincts, a local non-par-
2nd Ave/Freeport tisan community group, is working in Rancho
Los Jarritos Cordova, and Capital Area Progressives, a local
Luna’s Cafe & Juice Bar Democratic Party-affiliated group, is working
Mercy Hospital, 40th/J in Elk Grove. Both need volunteers this spring
Pancake Circus, 21st/ Bill and Diane Durston at the Big Band Dance Party
to walk precincts, talk with voters and recruit photo: Durston for Congress campaign
Broadway
volunteers, to mobilize volunteers and register
Planned Parenthood:
Franklin Blvd, Watt unregistered voters in these precincts during the
Ave., 29th St. summer and fall, and finally to turn those folks
Queen of Tarts out to vote.
Quick Market Let’s have progressive candidates running up
Sacramento Bagel, and down the ‘ticket.’ Let’s fill the Peace Pipeline
47th/H up and down the ‘ticket.’ Never before in our
Sacramento Natural
Foods Coop
area has there been such a great opportunity to
Sacramento Public work with local allies in labor, affordable housing,
Library (Main & many the environment and peace to make wins in our
branches) favor.
Sargent Coffee House To volunteer, contact: Glenda Marsh, Peace
(Alhambra & M) in the Precincts, 916-452-4801, or Cathlyn Daly,
Starbucks (B'wy & 35th)
Capital Area Progressives, dalywood@comcast.
The Beat
Time Tested Books net.
Bill dancing with Joan Quinn, of Sacramento for
Tower Theater (inside) Glenda Marsh is chair of Peace in the
Democracy, at the Big Band Dance Party
Tupelo (Elvas & 57th) Dr. Durston speaking at a January 2007 Big Band Precincts. photo: Battershell Photography
Underground Books Dance Party
(35th St. near B'way) photo: Battershell Photography
Weatherstone Coffee
Chico Area

Single Payer Universal Care: SB 840 Alive and Kicking

Davis
Bogey’s Books
Espresso Cafe Roma
Davis Natural Food Coop
Newsbeat
University Mall
Schwarzenegger and Nuñez healthcare reform, isn’t
Greenhaven area by Charlene Jones In January the committee, chaired by Senator recognized human services cost analysis firm,
Buckthorn’s Coffee,
Voters expressed significant concern about the Sheila Kuehl, heard testimony for 11 hours from as a viable universal model of care covering
7465 Rush River Dr
healthcare deal put together by Governor Arnold analysts, supporters and those in opposition more people for more services for less money.
Nevada City Schwarzenegger and Assembly Speaker Fabian to the proposed law. Most prominent was the Contracted by the state to compare healthcare
US Post Office Nuñez, according to findings of a poll released bipartisan Legislative Analyst’s Office report that proposals, the Lewin report estimated CHIRA
last fall by the California Nurses Association. amplified doubt about California’s capacity to would provide savings to families, individuals
For a complete list, visit More than two-thirds of California voters said fund and enforce a complicated income eligibil- and businesses by basing funding on premiums
our web site:
they prefer “making sure we pass healthcare ity system that would mandate all Californians assessed by personal income and payroll expens-
www.bpmnews.org.
Where would you like to reform that gets it right and improves the system, carry healthcare insurance. The LAO stated es—not by what insurance companies decide to
see BPM? and not take the risk of passing bad legislation.” It that reasonable projections for the ABX1 1 plan charge. The great majority of those who pay for
Let Paulette Cuilla know, appears some state legislators agreed. expenditures would surpass revenues within five benefits would pay less and get more. CHIRA
916-422-1787. Members of the Senate Health Committee years. Such estimates did not include any “worst would replace the chaos of multiple public and
refused to pass in early 2008 what many advo- case” scenario. private insurers with a single insurance plan
cates believed was a dangerously defective reform Many of those opposed, including California that provides comprehensive care and choice of
measure packaged as Assembly Bill X1 No.1 Nurses Association, California Teachers Associa- providers. This could save about $20 billion in
(ABX1 1) by Nuñez and Schwarzenegger. tion, League of Women Voters and Consumer administrative costs. California would buy pre-
Federation of California, support Senate Bill 840, scription drugs and durable medical equipment
Kuehl’s single payer universal healthcare plan. in bulk and save about $5 billion in the first year
They insisted ABX1 1 would provide neither alone. State and local governments would also
affordable nor accessible care, and continue to save millions in health benefits provided to gov-
leave hundreds of thousands without cover- ernment workers and retirees.
Because People’s Healthcare Matters age. Health care premium increases would be
borne by consumers, they asserted, and families
Although vetoed by the governor last year,
SB 840 remains alive and kicking in the state
We do what we do... would also continue to carry the weight of high legislature. Health care activists across the state
deductibles, co-pays and ever spiraling medica- and co-sponsoring organizations continue to
Primary Care by providers who look at the whole tion expenses. California Council of Churches, collect endorsements for the single payer solu-
person Church IMPACT described the effort to regu- tion from elected officials, public interest, labor,
Non-drug treatment for ADD and ADHD late people to buy coverage from an industry professional and government groups. As Ehren-
MDs and FNP, trained and experienced hardly regulated as “reprehensible.” ABX1 1 was reich summoned, “Fellow citizens, where is the
Natural options (homeopathy, herbs, vitamins) in revealed to represent what social critic Barbara old macho spirit that has sustained us through
treating acute and chronic illness Ehrenreich described as national political atten- countless conflicts against enemies both real and
Iscador (Mistletoe) for Cancer tion to the country’s healthcare crisis. “After fac- imagined? In the case of health care, we have
Therapies: spirit and art for healing ing down the Third Reich, the Japanese Empire, identified the enemy, and the time has come to
Raphael House the USSR, Manuel Noriega and Saddam Hussein,
the United States has met an enemy it dares not
crush it.” Contact Health Care For All for infor-
mation about the campaign.
Multidisciplinary Complementary Medicine confront—the American private health insurance www.healthcareforall.org, 916-424-5316
7953 California Avenue industry” (Barbara’s Blog, 09/20/07). www.onecarenow.org/index.html
Fair Oaks CA 95628 Kuehl has championed a single payer financ- http://dist23.casen.govoffice.com
ing structure that removes insurance industry http://ehrenreich.blogs.com/barbaras_
(916) 967 8250 raphaelassociation@earthlink.net
profit making from health care delivery. SB840, blog/2007/09/we-have-seen-th.html
the California Health Insurance Reliability Act, Charlene Jones is a member of Sacramento
was confirmed by the Lewin Group, a nationally Media Group.
 www.bpmnews.org March / April 2008 BECAUSE PEOPLE MATTER 

The Fong Mansion

Reminding us discrimination did
and does exist
by Rick Bettis
Across from Southside Park near 6th and V in
Sacramento is a large elegant Mediterranean
Revival style home now known as the “Inn at
Parkside.” Built in 1938, this was the family home
of Yue Fong who immigrated from China in
1908. He owned several prosperous businesses
and also served as unofficial cultural ambassador
for the Chinese Nationalist government.
Using Feng Shui principles, the home was
designed and served as an informal meeting
place for Chinese youth as well as Chinese
dignitaries and community organizations. The
basement houses a mirrored wall ballroom with
a spring supported dance floor. The home stands
out among the more modest residences in the
neighborhood. However, it serves as a legacy to a
pervasive legal and social problem that haunts us
to this day.
Fong wanted to build his home in either of
the fashionable wealthy communities of East
Sacramento—Fabulous Forties or Land Park.
However properties there were encumbered
by Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions
(CC&Rs) excluding racial minorities from own-
ing homes. Affluent Land Park, ironically, has
since become the home of many successful Asian
Americans and has had a Chinese American City
Councilman for more than 25 years.
CC&Rs are a complicated system of built-in
“deed restrictions” in a planned development. In
the 1920s and 1930s covenants restricting the sale
of property on the basis of race, ethnicity or reli-
gion were common. They were first invalidated
by the US Supreme Court in 1940 in the case
Hansberry v. Lee. Playwright Lorraine Hansberry
wrote the acclaimed play “Raisin in the Sun”
based her father’s experience as lead defendant in
that case.
CC&Rs continued to be used, primarily as
means to regulate the external appearance of
houses in planned developments with a hom-
eowners association. In 2003 Dr. Bill Durston,
a Vietnam veteran, emergency room physician,
and then the president of Sac-
ramento Physicians for Social
Responsibility wanted to fly
a UN flag at his house. Based
CC&Rs, the homeowners
association board of directors
ruled that Durston, now a
candidate for US Congress in
the 3rd District, could not fly
the UN flag. Durston took the
issue to the state legislature,
where then Assemblyman and
now Senator Darrell Steinberg
co-authored Assembly Bill
1525 making it illegal for
homeowners associations to
ban residents from displaying
noncommercial flags, posters
The Inn at Parkside, formerly the Yue Fong Mansion
or banners.
Although the race based
CC&Rs are no longer legal, housing discrimina- that it is not economically viable to mix housing
tion continues. Discrimination can still be based low-income residents with “market rate” develop-
on national origin, gender, sexual orientation, ments. This results in income-based “ghettoiza-
age, familial status and disability. The ACLU tion” and the many associated social problems,
and many other civil rights/equity organizations such as unequal education and employment
such as Californians for Disability Rights are opportunities, leading to a downward spiral of
attempting to correct these abuses. For example, alienation, despair and conflict.
the Greenlining Institute was formed to address In 2002 a study in Time magazine rated
the problems of “redlining,” the discriminatory Sacramento the most “diverse” city in the nation.
practice of avoiding investment in inner-city and This diversity has contributed to the cultural
minority neighborhoods and overcharging for vitality of the city. However, conflict still exists
services and products to these communities. and it cannot be said that we have become a true
Starting with the federal Fair Housing Act, community exemplified by trust and cooperation
Title VIII of the 1968 Civil Rights Act, many among all groups.
federal and state laws have been passed and When driving by the impressive Fong Man-
executive orders issued in an attempt to eliminate sion, we should keep in mind that it represents
this insidious problem. There are now numer- one of our most serious human faults, the ten-
ous federal, state, and local entities, including dency to exclude from our lives those different
the federal Department of Housing and Urban from ourselves. As Dr. Martin Luther King so
Development, the California Fair Employment eloquently stated, we must strive to judge our
and Housing Commission, and the Sacra- fellow humans by the “content of their charac-
mento County Human Rights and Fair Housing ter” and not be swayed by much less significant
Commission. dissimilarities.
Currently we face a form of de-facto dis-
crimination and exclusion based on economics. Rick Bettis is a member of Common Cause,
Attempts to pass and implement meaningful Sacramento Media Group and League of Women
“inclusionary” local housing ordinances have met Voters, and volunteers as a docent with the Sac-
strong opposition. Builders and developers claim ramento Old City Association.

Stop Gerrymandering!
Fair, independent, redistricting standards today put California voters FIRST
by JoAnn Fuller
must agree to any plan and there are multiple jfuller@commoncause.org or call (916) 443 1792
Legislators get out of the way! Real redistricting safeguards to keep one party from gaming the extension 11.
reform is coming to California in 2008. Califor- system. The checks and balances in the selection Volunteers are gathering signatures now to
nia Common Cause, the League process are designed to put the initiative on the November ballot. To do
of Women Voters of California, Instead of back identify a group that is this, we need to collect almost one million sig-
AARP and many other organiza- knowledgeable, diverse natures by April 15th. Legislators and the special
tions are organizing to end the room deals, the and impartial to carry out interests won’t give up power easily, but Voters
serious conflict of interest by state bright lights of a the redistricting. FIRST can win. Petitions are available at the Sac-
politicians when they draw their By closing the back ramento office with the simple rules for gathering
own voting districts by creating an public discussion door politics, Voters signatures and other materials. Redistricting is
independent, diverse and political- are guaranteed FIRST ensures that but one part of a complex electoral system, but it’s
ly balanced Citizens’ Commission everyone comes through a part that can be fixed with the California Vot-
to draw voting district lines. in Voters FIRST by the front door. Instead ers FIRST Act. Join us and make this important
California Voters FIRST meetings being of back room deals, the structural reform a reality.
Act will replace a broken system bright lights of public
where legislators draw their own open and the discussion are guaranteed
districts in order to ensure a safe minutes posted on by meetings being open
re-election, even if it means split- and the minutes posted
ting up the communities they the Internet. on the Internet. The
are supposed to represent. Voters California Voters FIRST
FIRST (Fair Independent Redistricting Standards Commission will hold hearings and take public
Today) would create a 14-person commission to testimony; in fact, all discussions are required to
take public testimony and hold hearings subject be held in public. This promotes public participa-
to open meeting rules. Instead of incumbents tion and ensures that testimony from all groups
drawing safe seats to protect against challengers, as to where voting district lines should be drawn
the districts would be drawn according to clear will be considered.
mapping rules based on the Census, the Voting The mapping criteria that the commission
Rights Act, and a respect for neighborhoods, cit- would have to follow are listed in priority order
ies and counties. and include a mandate to keep cities, coun-
The 14-person redistricting commis- ties, neighborhoods or communities of interest
sion would be politically balanced with five together so people can organize to effectively
Democrats, five Republicans, and four others push their political objectives. To learn more
from third parties or independent voters. It is about the initiative, go to www.commoncause.
mandated that three members from each group org/cavotersfirst or contact JoAnn Fuller at
 Because People Matter March / April 2008 www.bpmnews.org

Immigration Is Not the Issue

Part One: At the Border
the US interior to alert
by Felicia Martinez

M
the Border Patrol con-
ainstream media and US politicians trol room of movement.
have made great strides in framing Meanwhile, cameras
issues of imperialism, globalization, and night vision gog-
and international migration as domestic prob- gles assist in identifying
lems. Contrary to what such framing would have what has triggered the
us believe, immigration is not the issue. The issue sensors. And besides a
is a worldwide system that destroys the lives of fleet of trucks and all
working people. In the next issues, I will examine terrain vehicles, the
just how US immigration policies contribute to Border Patrol counts on
this problem and what communities are doing to the largest law enforce-
respond. I’ll begin with the border. ment air force in the
At first glance, the Terrace Park Cemetery, world and, by the end
outside of Holtville, CA (population 5,400) of this year, will have
appears a pleasant place to visit. It boasts shade 18,000 personnel at its
trees and a lawn full of well kept headstones. disposal. Eight years
Behind the cemetery, however, beyond a chained- ago, it had half of that.
off road and a “No Trespassing” sign, lie the The fundamental Fence extends into the ocean at the San Diego/
remains of over 600 Mexican and Central Ameri- flaw of the CPB’s initia- Tijuana border.
can migrants, many unidentified, who perished tives is that they are photo: Felicia Martinez
while trying to reach the US. Thousands more working in vain against
remains are scattered around North America. another set of US projects, namely NAFTA him.
Some bodies have been recovered, identified, and and its free-trade offspring, which have further All of this, the exchange of gunfire for
shipped home to rest. The least fortunate lie yet impoverished Latin American countries and stone-throwing, the walls, the cameras, aircraft,
undiscovered, somewhere in a desert or possibly induced a 400% increase in Mexican migra- and motion sensors is part of a long-term plan
a canal, waiting for the Border Patrol or another tion alone since NAFTA’s implementation in to be able to track who is moving where at any
migrant to find them. What the dead will never 1994. Operation Gatekeeper (1994) militarized given time within the region. With 2,000 miles of
California’s southern US–Mexico border and
border with the intent of …potentially the Border Patrol’s area
forcing migrants to jour- 50,000 square of operation extending
ney further east through 25 miles north of any
treacherous desert ter- miles of federal, point of entry, potentially
rain. Made on foot, often state, tribal, and 50,000 square miles of
through regions so rough federal, state, tribal, and
even Border Patrol ATV’s privately owned privately owned land are
will not follow, the feds land are on their on their way to constant
know such journeys can be government surveillance.
deadly and in fact planned way to constant That in and of itself
for that very danger to government should be a concern for
deter people from trying to US residents. The day
cross. But it hasn’t. surveillance. that I visited the Tijuana
Since 1994, more than beach, peering through
4,500 people have been documented holes in the fence into the US, a helicopter with
as losing their lives trying to arrive a green Border Patrol stripe appeared overhead,
at their destinations in the US. This circled briefly, then retreated. I wondered how
is a rate of about one death every day closely it could see me, if the agents inside know
for the past fourteen years. Neverthe- that my jacket was blue, that I was wearing glass-
less, plans for further militarization es, or that I was speaking English with my friend.
Phoenix hunger strickers protest the deaths at the border proceed full speed. In 2007, a leading How much of my own taxes, I wondered, paid for
photo: Feb 6, 2007, Francisco J. Dominguez, copyright 2007
manufacturer of war aircraft, Boeing, that helicopter to check on me checking out San
was awarded a $67 million contract to Diego, the city of my birth.
know is exactly how much the US federal govern- enhance surveillance infrastructure at the bor- Guillermo Martinez Ramirez was lucky. His
ment has invested in assuring that their journey der. As part of the deal, nine 98-foot spy towers death was witnessed by his brother and his funer-
would fail. have been erected in rural areas south of Tucson al in Tijuana attended by his mother, a priest, and
The US Customs and Border Patrol (CBP), which have large visible cameras atop them and others who came to give him a proper goodbye.
housed in the Department of Homeland Security were intended to implement the use of radar, For those that lie off the back roads of Holtville,
is in the midst of implementing the Secure Bor- infrared, lasers, microwave, iris biometrics and however, things are different. It seems incongru-
der Initiative, a project estimated to end up cost- facial biometrics. ent that the US government, which willingly
ing $30 billion. Scheduled for completion in the The problem with these towers? For one spends billions of dollars on a border policy that
next three years, the initiative is part of a larger thing, they don’t work. Nevertheless, the CBP intentionally forces migrants to undertake life-
project that has changed the face of the US-Mex- contracted a private security company to park threatening journeys, would bury its successes
ico border in unprecedented ways. I recently vis- a guard at each tower day and night. The com- like this, inaccessible to those citizens who want
ited the Pacific Coast in Tijuana where a twelve pany is none other than Pinkerton Government to know if our country’s investments are paying
foot fence marking the international border juts Services, a division of the same Pinkertons made off. After all, each body buried at Holtville repre-
from the beach directly into ocean waters. When famous by their anti-labor activities of the late sents one more person that the Border Patrol has
I was a child, walking with my family along this 1800’s. worked hard to keep from living in the US, and
very same beach, that fence didn’t exist. Now it is Then there are the Border Patrol agents keep them from living it has.
just one of many fences that interrupt the natural themselves, armed with guns, tear gas, pepper
patterns of the land. spray, and charged with stopping a movement of Felicia Martinez is a poet currently attending
The US Mexico border is the most mili- people propelled by international policy beyond Mills College. She has worked directly with immi-
tarized border in the world between any two any one agent’s control. The results of this set-up grants and for immigrant rights organizations.
countries not at war, a fact made evident by are increased incidents in which Border Patrol
the very material the making up these border agents fire, sometimes
fences. In the San Diego area, the 1994 Operation across the border into
Gatekeeper fence consists of steel slats originally Mexico, in what they say
used by the US military in Iraq during the first is self defense against
Gulf War. In some areas along 320 miles of the people who attack them,
border, a second layer of fence already rises 15 often by throwing stones.
feet into the air, and a third layer is planned. In Such an aggressive retali-
areas where construction is already underway, ation technique can be
the earth parallel to the border has been stripped fatal. In January 2006 a
of vegetation and rough canyons smoothed over Border Patrol agent shot
into roads that Border Patrol vehicles maneuver 18-year-old Guillermo
as they monitor the areas between fences. Martinez Ramirez as he
But there’s more to this plan than just fences. tried to cross into San
All along the border, giant stadium lights aimed Diego in an effort to
south light up the night. Motion sensors are reach Fresno where he Cement rods show the 2nd layer of fence-in-progress in San Diego.
imbedded into the earth, sometimes miles into had an uncle waiting for photo: Felicia Martinez
 www.bpmnews.org March / April 2008 BECAUSE PEOPLE MATTER 

Corporate Media Censors the News

What have you been missing?
by Peter Phillips

T
he corporate media in the US likes to US since just after the Civil War.
think of themselves as the official most Additionally, under the code-name
accurate news reporting Operation FALCON
of the day. The New York Times Our corporate (Federal and Local Cops
motto of “all the news that’s fit media in the Organized Nationally)
to print” is a clear example of three federally coor-
this perspective. However with past year failed dinated mass arrests
corporate media coverage that to adequately occurred between April
increasingly focuses on celebrity 2005 and October 2006.
updates, news from “official” inform us about In an unprecedented
government sources, and sensa- important move, more than 30,000
tionalized crimes and disasters “fugitives” were arrested
the self-justification of being the changes in our in the largest dragnets in
“most fit” is no longer valid. civil rights and the nation’s history. The
We need to broaden our operations, coordinated
understanding of censorship in liberties. by the Justice Depart-
the US. The dictionary defini- ment and Homeland
tion of direct government control of news as Security, directly involved over 960 agen-
censorship is no longer adequate. The private cies (state, local and federal) and are the
corporate media in the US significantly under first time in US history that all of the
covers and/or deliberately censors numerous domestic police agencies have been put
important news stories every year. under the direct control of the federal
The common theme of the most censored government.
stories over the past year is the systemic erosion Finally, the term “terrorism” has been
of human rights and civil liberties in both the dangerously expanded to include any acts
US and the world at large. The corporate media that interfere, or promotes interference,
ignored the fact that habeas corpus can now be with the operations of animal enterprises.
suspended for anyone by order of the President. The Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act
With the approval of Congress, the Military (AETA), signed into law in November 2006
Commissions Act (MCA) of 2006, signed by expands the definition of an “animal enterprise”
Bush in October 2006, allows for the suspension to any business that “uses or sells animals or ani-
of habeas corpus for US citizens and non-citizens mal products.” The law essentially defines protest-
alike. While media, including a lead editorial in ers, boycotters or picketers of businesses in the
the New York Times October 19, 2006, have given US as terrorists.
false comfort that American citizens will not be Most people in the US believe in our Bill of
the victims of the measures legalized by this Act, Rights and value personal freedoms. Yet, our cor-
the law is quite clear that ‘any person’ can be tar- porate media in the past year failed to adequately Women in Media and News Resource
geted. The text in the MCA allows for the institu- inform us about important changes in our civil Guide
tion of a military alternative to the constitutional rights and liberties. Despite our busy lives we
justice system for “any person” regardless of want to be informed about serious decisions Bitch: Feminist Response to Pop Culture
American citizenship. The MCA effectively does made by the powerful, and rely on the corporate www.bitchmagazine.org
away with habeas corpus rights for all people media to keep us abreast of significant changes. Magazine devoted to commentary on media-driven world.
living in the US deemed by the President to be When a media fails to cover these issues, what Bust
enemy combatants. else can we call it but censorship? www.bust.com
A law enacted last year allowing the gov- A broader definition of censorship in Magazine calling itself “fierce, funny and proud to be female.”
ernment to more easily institute martial law America today needs to include any interference, Feminista!
is another civil liberties story ignored by the deliberate or not, with the free flow of vital news www.feminista.com
corporate media. The John Warner Defense information to the American people. With the Online journal of feminist essays, editorials, fiction, poetry,
Authorization Act of 2007 allows the president to size of the major media giants in the US, there is interviews and reviews.
station military troops anywhere in the US and no excuse for consistently missing major news
Minnesota Women’s Press
take control of state National Guard units with- stories that affect all our lives.
www.womenspress.com
out the consent of the governor or local authori- Peter Phillips is a professor of Sociology at
Newspaper on issues and events affecting women’s lives.
ties, in order to “suppress public disorder.” The Sonoma State University and Director of Project
law in effect repealed the Posse Comitatus Act, Censored. Censored 2008 (Seven Stories Press) Ms.
which had placed strict prohibitions on military is available in bookstores or at www.projectcen- www.msmagazine.com
involvement in domestic law enforcement in the sored.org. Magazine with women’s perspectives on culture and public
policy.
New Moon:A Magazine for Girls and their
Dreams

Sex Education www.newmoon.org/magazine

Magazine for girls who want their voices heard.
from page 1 Off Our Backs
www.offourbacks.org
You might feel confident that your local Monthly news journal by, for and about women.
school would never teach factually inaccurate,
Teen Voices
biased information in their sex education pro-
www.teenvoices.com
gram. Since California law (set by SB 71 of 2003) Magazine by, for and about teenagers and young adult
rejects abstinence-only instruction for scientifi- women.
cally supported comprehensive sex education,
you might assume that all public schools comply Women’s eNews
with the law; however, this is not the case. Inac- www.womensenews.org
curate abstinence-only education is being taught Online news service covers women’s perspectives on public
policy.
in many schools across California, and one of
them may be yours. Many of these schools will Women’s Review of Books
not change their programs without active over- www.wcwonline.org/womensreview
sight from parents and the community. Magazine offers informed discussion of writing by and about
For more information, including a Sex women.
Education Report Card you can use to evaluate Women’s Wire
the curriculum being taught in your local high www.womenswire.net
school, contact sacramentopa@ppmarmonte. International online magazine funded by the United Nations
org. Children’s Fund.
For more information and resources for World Pulse Magazine
parents and teens, call the Facts of Life Line at www.worldpulsemagazine.com
1-800-711-9848. Schools will not change their programs without Magazine/online publication dedicated to leadership of
Katharyn McLearan is Director of Public active oversight from parents and the community.
photo courtesy Planned Parenthood Mar Monte women and youth.
Affairs for Mar Monte Planned Parenthood.
10 Because People Matter March / April 2008 www.bpmnews.org
We Are Done Killing for Lies
A Marine corporal speaks out
by Matt Howard
I
n 2003 I illegally invaded the sovereign
nation of Iraq with 1st Tank battalion 1st
Marine Division. My commander in chief
unleashed the world’s fiercest fighting force upon
the country and people of Iraq, and now those
of us used and betrayed by him are demanding
justice.
Four and a half years after our opening
“shock and awe” Bush’s lies are known through-
out the world, and yet he continues to act with
impunity. Four and a half years later the Bush
regime has unleashed a hell upon the country
of Iraq that only those who have been there can
truly understand.
As a two-tour combat veteran of this brutal
war, I have a responsibility to speak honestly
and openly about what has been done and what
continues to be done in our name. We veterans
know that this war is not the one being sanitized
on the nightly news. It has nothing to do with
the liberation of the people of Iraq; instead it
has everything to do with the subjugation and
domination of these people in the name of US
imperial economic and strategic interests.
We did not go to war with the country of
Iraq, we went to war with the people of Iraq.
During the initial invasion we killed women.
We killed children. We senselessly killed farm
animals. We were the United States Marine
Corps, not the Peace Corps, and we left a swath
of death and destruction in our wake all the way
to Baghdad.
Let me say again so that there is no misun-
derstanding. I stand here today as a former US
Marine saying we are killing women and children
in Iraq. This is the true nature of war. War lends
itself to atrocities. Don’t think you can use an
organization designed to kill other human beings
for anything humanitarian. That has never been
our mission. That was crystal clear from the
moment I was forced to bury the crate of human-
Antigone
Antigone
By Sophocles
In a version by Bertolt Brecht
Directed by Frank Condon


  A community paper Once War begins, a Peace will then





itarian food given to me in Kuwait.
Four and a half years later we as soldiers,
sailors, airmen and marines are done.
We are done being told under threat of court
martial to run over children that get in the way
of our speeding convoys. We are done raiding
and destroying the homes of innocent Iraqis on a
nightly basis. We are done abusing and torturing
prisoners. We are done being hired thugs for the
160,000 contractors and US corporate interests
in Iraq. We are done being poisoned by depleted
uranium, the unspoken Agent Orange of this war.
We are done coming home broken, from two,
three, four tours of duty—only to find our com-
mander in chief has actually tried to cut funding
to the Department of Veterans Affairs. To find
our doctors being told to diagnose us with pre-
existing personality disorders instead of post
traumatic stress syndrome.
We are done killing for lies.
So Iraq Veterans Against the War is tak-
ing back our history—the history that has been
robbed from us. We are dispelling the myth that
the Vietnam War ended when the Democrats
started voting against it. Instead we are spreading
the truth about how the American War in Viet-
nam ended.
The Vietnam War ended when soldiers put
down their weapons and refused to fight; when
pilots dropped their bombs in the ocean.
We are re-educating the public to let them
know that the power ultimately lies with the
people. Just take a look at the thousands of pages
of internal documents from the Department of
Defense explicitly detailing how at the end of the
Vietnam War the military had collapsed.
It was literally in a state of mutiny. And that
movement is slowly starting again. Because ulti-
mately in every war waged throughout human
history, those forced to fight quickly realize they
have much more in common with those they are
being told to kill than with those telling them to
An Inept Ruler
An Unpopular War
A Woman Defiant
April 19–May 18, 2008
Make reservations NOW by calling the box office at
916-691-7364 or go to www.seeaplay.com


do the killing.
And we are re-educating the public about
the true nature of sectarian violence. No, the
Middle East is not inherently violent. In fact,
in the 1,400-year schism between Sunnis and
Shias—there has never been a civil war fought.
They have always lived in the same neighbor-
hoods and even intermarried. The US has caused
this civil war using the classic colonial techniques
of divide and conquer.
George Bush is a war criminal who has vio-
lated international law, the Geneva convention
and the Nuremburg standards and needs to tried
accordingly for crimes against humanity.
I ask every red-blooded American today:
What would you do if your homeland was sav-
agely invaded and occupied by another country?
The Iraqis will continue to resist and fight until
the last American has left their homeland. Period.
End the violence in Iraq? End the occupation.
We veterans are speaking out to stop the vio-
lence being perpetrated in our name. When we
voted in the Democrats on an anti-war mandate,
the Bush regime expanded the war. As we are
marching against further occupation, the Bush
regime is making threats against Iran.
And we will not continue to be silenced by
the mainstream media. Top generals and bottom
privates are all speaking in unison now. We know
the truth about the slaughter of upwards of one
million Iraqis. Why is no one listening? We will
not stand by as this regime tricks the country
into thinking that if you oppose the war you do
not support the troops. We are the troops and
we have never felt support from this administra-
tion. Stop mindlessly supporting the troops. Start
demanding that we come home—and maybe
think about apologizing to us when we get back.
Matt Howard gave this statement at a recent
protest at the Vermont Statehouse. He attained
the rank of corporal in the United States Marine
Corps and heads Vermont’s chapter for Iraq Vet-
erans Against the War.
The God of War
The God of War is a hungry god.
He eats up human hearts.
He bites off heads and arms and legs
and wolfs down other parts.
He gnaws on bones.
Their marrow makes
some very tasty dishes.
and, most of all,
the brains, he finds
exceedingly delicious.
The generals and the presidents,
he invites to drink a toast.
With goblets made of human skulls,
they eulogize their host.
Instead of wine, these cups are filled
with blood from human young.
Butchered by errant shells and bombs,
they leave their songs unsung.
Young men, of course, are sacrificed
upon War’s sacred altar.
They follow blindly where he leads.
They dare not ever falter.
Yet women, too, give up their hearts
to satisfy his lust.
For even Cupid shoots his darts.
“In the God of War we trust.”

become shameful defeat.





 needs community The weapons-makers pay their bribes












 
 support: Subscribe! and kiss the great god’s feet.

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 www.bpmnews.org March / April 2008 BECAUSE PEOPLE MATTER 11

Book Review
The Israel Lobby and U.S. Foreign Policy by John J. Mearsheimer and
Stephen M. Walt. Hardcover, 496 pages, Farrar, Straus and Giroux (Aug 27, 2007).
The US-Israel “special ponent of the lobbying community whereas oth- is OK with Israel hav-
ers self-censor because they are no fonder of the ing nuclear, chemical
relationship” makes the US less Israel Lobby’s protests and smears when they go and biological weap-
safe. off message, than politicians. ons, but claimed it
That the tiny pro-Israel community in the attacked Iraq because
by Brigitte Jaensch US is disproportionately influential is long it might have had
acknowledged. In the 1940s and 50s, it was them, and is threaten-
Most reviews of The Israel Lobby and US Foreign referred to as “the Jewish vote,” or the “the ethnic ing Iran. We pay big
Policy have discussed the Israel Lobby compo- vote.” By the 1960s, it was simply called “domes- money, use obviously
nent of this book and are silent about the much tic political considerations.” Today, one of the double standards, and
more important part, i.e., that the “special rela- major players, the American Israel Public Affairs shred our values for
tionship” between the United States and Israel Committee (AIPAC) both boasts of its lobby- a relationship which
is a “strategic liability” for the US. It not only ing success and denies it plays any role at all. makes us more vul-
jeopardizes US national security, makes us more Nonetheless, the two authors have been pilloried nerable and tarnishes
vulnerable, straight-jackets US foreign policy, by the US press and think tank talking heads for our image throughout
but is a relationship most writing about the Israel the world.
Americans (including Lobby and how it does Bottom line: US
most Jewish Americans) [The Lobby] forced business. taxpayers have paid
do not support. Congressman Obey of Over the last 60 years, Israel hundreds of
Two professors with only once did a US presi- billions of dollars*
impeccable credentials Wisconsin to withdraw dent successfully defy the and that relation-
(John Mearsheimer is co- a provision that Bush Israel Lobby: President ship makes us less
director of the University Eisenhower, after Suez, in safe and underscores
of Chicago’s Program on needed Congressional 1956. Every other time, the inconsistency
International Security and approval before any either the US president between our values and our support for illegali-
Stephen Walt is political caved or the Lobby did ties whenever Israel is the actor. To stay in power,
science professor and attack on Iran. an end run around him US politicians listen when the Israel Lobby
former academic dean of by getting Congress to speaks, knowing more obedient replacements
the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard) do what it wanted. The current President Bush’s are always at the ready. The Israel Lobby and US
wrote a courteous, meticulously sourced (105 White House is full of pro-Israel neo-cons. Foreign Policy is an engrossing read, particularly
pages of notes) book about the Israel Lobby and AIPAC booed Nancy Pelosi when she suggested in an election year.
how it influences US foreign policy. The authors a troop pullback from Iraq and it forced Con-
repeatedly defend the right of the Israel Lobby to gressman David Obey of Wisconsin to withdraw * Exact figures are difficult to pin down because
try to influence US policy, but conclude that what a provision that President Bush needed Congres- of the many categories through which “aid” flows.
that lobby activity yields, is a US foreign policy sional approval before any attack on Iran. (The The lowest is $3 billion per year. But whenever
which hurts the US. Israel Lobby is intent on the US attacking Iran.) Israel does anything, they get more “aid.” For
The authors use the term Israel Lobby to refer US aid in the form of grants and (forgiven) example they “store” weapons for the US—which
to the “pro-Israel community,” which consists loans—which Israel insists be paid Euros not store was replenished and enhanced after the
of hundreds of organizations and thousands of weak dollars—pump up Israel’s economy. The Lebanon war. In other words, our weapons store
individuals who are single-mindedly determined, US gives Israel the latest US weapons systems. is used by them whenever they want. When the
totally committed, exceedingly well-funded, and Every time Israel attacks its neighbors or com- +/- 8000 Israeli settlers were pulled out of Gaza
a model of coordination. This community knows mits war crimes against the Palestinians, the or when immigrants come from other countries,
how to use the US political system to advance US government vetoes any censure attempt in the US pays relocation money. Joint research
its goals: to perpetuate and intensify the US gov- the UN Security Council. (Most US vetoes have projects are usually funded with US dollars, etc.
ernment’s “special relationship” with Israel, and been to protect Israel.) Then US tax dollars help The US shares intelligence that the US pays for.
to silence any voices critical of this relationship. rebuild what Israel has bombed. The Congress
Silencing is directed at all aspects of US society, terms Israel’s actions “defensive” because it’s Brigitte Jaensch is a Sacramento-based
not just politics. Some media are an active com- illegal to send US weapons to aggressors. The US human rights advocate.

Nuclear Power: No Solution

from p. 3

nuclear plants. The latest 2007 energy bill has
more of the same.
New nuclear power plants are going to go
up around the world. The US, China, France,
Japan, Iran, India, Pakistan, England, Finland,
Russia, Germany, Brazil and other modernizing
countries are planning to build a new generation
of nukes. Iran has plans for 18 new nuclear power
plants. As plants are built in more countries,
nuclear weapons proliferation will likely expand
into previously non-nuclear countries. Govern-
ments will seek more repressive laws and tighter
security arrangements to make sure the plants do
not become targets for terrorists.
The US gets 20% of its energy from nukes
and operates 103 nuclear power reactors, or a
quarter of the 440 plants worldwide. The Yucca
Mountain nuclear waste site in Nevada has been
under development for more than 30 years.
Construction has been frozen since 1997. A five-
mile tunnel was drilled 10 years ago. If it opens,
approximately 77,000 tons of nuclear waste
would travel through this tunnel to chambers
1,000 feet below the ridgeline. In a January 18,
2008, editorial on the Yucca nuclear waste site,
USA Today condemned Democratic presidential
candidates for their opposition to the site, stating:
“Opposing Yucca won’t strangle nuclear power,
which appears poised for a rebirth.”
Nevertheless, no “safe and clean” solution to
nuclear waste has been found.
France gets close to 80% of its energy from
its aging nuclear power plants, and reprocesses
95 % of its waste. It has no idea where to store the
remainder, “the worst of the worst.” It has consid-
ered dumping it in the oceans, but has encoun-
tered opposition from the Polynesians.
England’s Sellafield nuclear complex dis-
charged all kinds of radioactive nuke waste
and a quarter to a half ton of plutonium into
the Irish Sea, stirring up controversy until they
were banned from doing so in 1983. Greenpeace
discovered the discharge as divers were trying to
plug a main discharge pipe. Sellafield and the sur-
rounding areas have higher than normal child-
hood cancer rates.
Finally, a Greenpeace study following Cartoon: http://www.inkcinct.com.au/Web/CARTOONS,
9/11indicated that an air-born terrorist attack on
the Sellafield nuclear complex in England could
kill over three million people.
Countries with nuclear power plants and
huge nuclear weapons complexes, such as the
Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico
and the Lawrence Livermore Laboratory in Cali- Time Tested Books
fornia, are creating a toxic mess that will plague now buying
human and non-human life for thousands of Political posters, handbills & pamphlets
years. Books on history, labor, & politics
But will it really be a plutonium paradise? I Records of blues, jazz, rock, punk, world, R&B, & spoken word.
say no—not so fast with nuclear power! And, of course, we are selling books & records, too!
We are located at 1114 21st Street, Sacramento.
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peace Action in San Diego, now lives in Sacra- (Please call for appt. if selling.)
mento and is on the editorial board of Because 916-447-5696.
People Matter. www.timetestedbooks.net
12 Because People Matter March / April 2008 www.bpmnews.org
Sacramento Area Peace Action
Banking on
Destruction
Tax dollars going down the
weapons drain
Sacramento
Soapbox by Anie Wilson many are placing their hopes on the Democrats
Progressive Talk Show
Access Sacramento, Most of us are appalled at the billions of dol-
Channel 17 with lars funding the military occupations of Iraq,
Jeanie Keltner. Afghanistan, and Palestine. Equally appalling
Monday, 8pm, Tuesday is the amount of money funneled into weapons
noon, Wednesday, 4am. Research and Development. Not only are we
Now in Davis, Channel funding the ongoing research and develop-
15, Tuesday, 7pm. ment of modern nuclear weapons to replace our
“outdated” arsenal, or the typical tanks, aircraft,
unmanned drones, missiles, and munitions,
but we are funding outrageous “fringe science”
experiments.
Research projects include microwave tech-
nology used to penetrate skin and make people
feel like they are on fire; invisible, shoot-through,
self-healing shields for soldiers in urban battle-
fields; speaker systems that beam messages to
one person; and new applications for chemical
and biological agents. Two primary Research and
Development focuses are urban warfare and neu-
roscience, including use of “magnetic stimulation
to keep soldiers in battle awake for days while
preserving their cognitive function.”
Much of this research is being conducted by
the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency
(DARPA), which claims it is the “technological
engine” for the Department of Defense. DARPA
Coffee from created many of the unmanned drones and com-
Nicaragua mand and control systems being used in Iraq.
Support Sacramento’s Other key partners in research include public and
sister city, San Juan private universities.
de Oriente, Nicaragua, Showcasing some of this technology is the
by purchasing organic
whole-bean coffee
Discovery Channel’s program Futureweapons.
grown in the rich Now in its third season, the show has featured
volcanic soil on the stun weaponry, kinetic energy weapons, elec-
island of Omotepe, tromagnetic pulse weapons, sound weapons,
Nicaragua. advanced deadly munitions, portable lightning
Thanks to the efforts of and other weapons designed for urban warfare.
the Bainbridge-Omotepe
If that weren’t chilling enough, one episode titled
Sister Island Association
in Washington, we are the “Israeli Special” touts cutting-edge weapons
under design for the Israeli Defense Forces.
able to bring you this
wonderful medium roast It comes as no surprise that Bush’s proposed
coffee. $3.1 trillion budget pours more money down
Your purchase helps the the military drain while social programs that
farmers on the island meet real life security needs continue to be
and helps support
Sacramento’s long
shortchanged.
relationship with San
Juan de Oriente.
Get Involved:
All profits go directly Leaflet at the California Capitol Airshow
back to the Nicaraguan March 15/16; demand an end to 5 years of Iraqi
communities. occupation on March 19; and participate in
$9.00 a pound.
local Tax Day actions in April. For more info:
Available in Sacramento
at: The Book Collector, Sacramento Area Peace Action: sacpeace@dcn.
1008 24th St. org, 916-448-7157. Check the peace & justice
calendar at sacpeace.org. Call Congress weekly
202-224-3121 or toll free 800 828-0498, 800 614
2803 or 866 340 9281 and demand an end to the
US occupation of Iraq and the militarism of our
foreign and domestic policies.
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www.girights.org
800 394 9544 Sacramento Area Peace Action has a new email address: sacpeace@dcn.org
The War, the Elections, the Top Dem Donors
Neither Democratic candidate
will end the war
calling for an end to the war. On the other hand,
by Richard Becker they must assure the ruling class that they will
be trustworthy protectors of US capitalism’s vital
With the Republican candidates offering nothing interests in the Middle East. Only dutiful manag-
but more of the same pro-rich, pro-war policies, ers for the capitalists can become presidents.
to improve conditions for workers and to end the Not a ‘party of the people’
war on Iraq. But the Democrats are also beholden The same concept is applied to all major
to US corporate interests. issues in every election campaign. The Repub-
With respect to foreign policy, a glance at the licans openly represent the big money interests,
teams assembled by Clinton and Obama indi- while the Democrats pose as the “party of the
cates anything but “change.” people.” At the leadership level both represent
Hillary Clinton’s top advisors include Mad- the interest of empire. Corporate America fully
eleine Albright, President Clinton’s second-term appreciates that fact.
secretary of state, and Samuel Berger, his national A 2007 study by the Center for Responsive
security advisor. Albright and Berger were Politics revealed that the top 10 corporate cam-
involved centrally in maintaining the genocidal paign contributors are giving more money to
sanctions that killed more than one million Iraqis Democrats than Republicans. Goldman Sachs, a
from 1990 to 2003. They also played key roles in major Wall Street firm, donated 71% of its money
the 1999 US-NATO war against Yugoslavia, as this year to the Democrats.
did Gen. Wesley Clark, another Hillary Clinton Among Hillary Clinton’s top 20 contributors
advisor.
Barack Obama’s advisors
include such infamous char-
acters as Zbigniew Brzezinski,
President Carter’s national
security advisor and architect
of the counterrevolutionary
war against Afghanistan.
Brzezinski described the US
machinations: “That secret
operation—arming the
fighters who later became Al-
Qaida—was an excellent idea.
It had the effect of drawing
the Russians into the Afghan
trap. … The day the Soviets
officially crossed the border, Image from photobucket.com
I wrote to President Carter:
‘We now have the opportunity of giving the USSR are Citigroup, Viacom, Morgan Stanley, Merrill
its Vietnam War.’” (La Nouvelle Observateur, Lynch, Ken Starr’s former law firm Kirkland &
01-15-98). Ellis, and major subprime lender Bear Stearns.
Also on the Obama team is Richard Clarke, Obama’s list includes Goldman Sachs and Lehm-
“counter-terrorism czar” for both Bill Clinton an brothers. Democratic Speaker of the House
and George W. Bush., and Dennis Ross, Clinton’s Nancy Pelosi gets 62.5 % of her money from
ardently pro-Israel Middle East “negotiator.” business Political Action Committees.
Throughout history, it has not been the gov-
Not going to stop the war ernment that has created the political climate for
One of the biggest issues in the campaign is major social changes. From the labor movement
the war in Iraq, now opposed by more than 70% to the women’s movement, to the civil rights
of the US population according to public opinion and Black liberation movements of the 1960s
polls. The Democratic candidates pay lip service and 70s, substantial gains have been won by
to ending the war. In a fall 2007 campaign debate, struggles from below. The mass movements cre-
however, their real positions were revealed. ated a situation in which many politicians were
Clinton and Obama both refused to guaran- forced to grant concessions to alleviate social
tee that they would remove all US combat troops pressure. That was especially true of the Vietnam
from Iraq by the end of the next presidential War—which was largely prosecuted by Demo-
term—2013. Why? The imperialist ruling circles, cratic presidents.
as the leading Democrats and Republicans are Real hope lies in building a powerful people’s
well aware, have no intention of leaving Iraq. The movement—independent of the capitalist par-
largest embassy ever built in any country is now ties—that demands social change at home and
under construction in Baghdad. Fourteen perma- stands in solidarity with those who are resisting
nent US military bases are being built in Iraq. imperialism abroad.
Iraq is viewed by US leaders as an incredibly Richard Becker, activist, author, lecturer is
valuable prize that they have conquered, and a co-founder of the ANSWER Coalition (www.
key element in their strategy of global domina- actionsf.org) which is co-sponsoring the March
tion. They will not leave until they are forced out. 19 No Business as Usual march & rally at the
On the one hand, Clinton and Obama must Civic Center in San Francisco on the 5th anniver-
appeal to majority sentiment by rhetorically sary of the US invasion of Iraq.
Join Sacramento Area Peace Action!
Send your: Name, Address, Email and Phone,
With your check to SAPA for: $30/individual;
$52/family; $15 low-income to:
Sacramento Area Peace Action
909 12th St, Suite 118
Sacramento, CA 95814

The New Capitalism
Exploiting war and disaster for tax dollars
by Paolo Bassi
C
apitalism in its pure form as envisioned
by Adam Smith, the author of The Wealth
of Nations, adopted godfather of capital-
ism, means risky, brutal competition. For Smith,
there should be no outside interference, such as
government subsidies, and certainly no no-bid
contracts to distort the pure market. Pure capital-
ism should have no guarantees. The capitalist
must sink or swim within the existing legal and
economic structure.
However, guarantees and lack of competition
are exactly what large capitalists want. Private
contracts are well and good but the real killing
for large corporations is in doing business with
the richest client around—the state itself, sitting
atop the national treasury.
Free market ideologues vehemently oppose
“large government” but only when that govern-
ment intervenes for the benefit of ordinary peo-
ple. A powerful, large government is exactly what
the corporations want to ensure their continued
profits and social power. The paradox of the US
is that while capitalism is imposed on the people,
a form of corporate welfarism operates to benefit
the wealthy.
This corporate welfarism means that what
the corporations want, Washington delivers:
lower taxes, export subsidies, weak unions and
access to publicly funded research and develop-
‘Old Boys Network’
Women confined to pink media ghetto
by Jennifer L. Pozner
A
sk a feminist to identify the most impor-
tant issue facing women today, and
chances are she wouldn’t immediately
point to the media. But she should.
Corporate media is key to why our fast-
moving culture is so slow to change, stereotypes
are so stubborn, and the power structure so
entrenched. By determining who can and cannot
speak, which issues are discussed and how they
are framed, media have the power to maintain
the status quo or challenge the dominant order.
Without accurate, non-biased news coverage
and challenging, creative cultural expression it is
virtually impossible to significantly move public
opinion of social justice issues and create lasting
change.
And how have media used this power where
women’s rights are concerned? With a vengeance.
From the earliest days of the women’s movement
media have branded feminism “a hair-raising
emotional orgy of hatred” led by “freaks…inca-
pable of coming to terms with their own natures
as females” (Esquire, 1971), a “passing fad” (New
York Times, 1972), and a “lost cause” (Vogue,
1983), a “failure” (Newsweek, 1990) and a “dead”
movement overrun by “a whole lot of stylish
fluff ” (Time, 1998).
By the late 1990s news outlets from NBC to
PBS portrayed feminists as waging unjust “sex
wars” and heralding a “gender Armageddon.”
And by the turn of the millennium Men’s Health
magazine reported that “militant,” “hostile”
young feminists are oppressing men on college
campuses by insisting on strong sexual assault
policies and women’s studies programs.
Today, similar sentiments span outlets from
the liberal Atlantic Monthly to the conservative
Fox News Network. This antifeminist hostility
can be felt in coverage of topics editors nar-
rowly define as “women’s issues” (rape, abortion,
child care), where stereotypes are invoked and
perpetuated.
Take the ways in which sexual violence is
sensationalized and used to scare women into
sexual and social conformity. Victim-blaming is
still prevalent: “What responsibility, if any, did
the women have for what happened…?” asked
Dateline NBC after dozens of women were sexu-
ally assaulted in Central Park in June 2000.
www.bpmnews.org March / April 2008 BECAUSE PEOPLE MATTER 13
contracts. According to the Guardian, a British
ment and the untrammeled right to move jobs newspaper, since 2000 about $130 billion in
abroad to exploit cheap foreign labor. With the homeland security contracts have been awarded.
help of the corporate media, all this has been This does not include private contracts awarded
achieved with no national outcry or violence. after Hurricane Katrina.
However, this is not enough
for the corporations for there … if the military, suchOther state-run services
as prisons are being rap-
is nothing as intoxicating as security and idly privatized. Just like the
brand new markets. The real military industrial complex, a
prize seems to have become state prisons can be massive prison industry com-
services—the state after all is contracted out, plex has formed, in which a few
still the richest and most reliable
entity to do business with. The what is safe from corporations profit from crime
and incarceration.
most blatant example of the state privatization? The troubling question is
outsourcing itself is the current that if the military, security and
privatization of war and disaster—a task made prisons can be contracted out, what is safe from Peace Action
easier by the manipulation of fear following 9/11. privatization? on the Web
In Iraq, Blackwater, a secretive corpora- In the near future, what will stop the Keep up to date
tion with well-connected right-wing manage- government from privatizing the entire public on peace activism
ment provides mercenaries to the US army at a school system, freeways, bridges or fire services? in Sacramento.
cost several times the ordinary soldier’s salary. Is it possible fire engines will only come to your Check out
Infamous Blackwater is only the tip of the ice- fire if you have private insurance? Worse still, www.sacpeace.org.
berg. There are hundreds of contractors taking could police functions be placed in the hands of
advantage of Iraq—all at the expense of the US private corporations?
taxpayer. With so much public money floating After Katrina, Blackwater patrolled the
about, corruption is rife. The government itself streets of New Orleans with drawn guns. It is
admits tens of billions are unaccounted for and entirely possible they could be tomorrow’s pri-
untraceable. vate police all over America.
Likewise, after 9/11 US homeland security Whether the future will be as drastic as this
spawned a massive industry, complete with remains to be seen, but one thing is clear, we
its own army of lobbyists and ex-government are entering a new and dangerous phase in the
officials ensuring access to lucrative government development of a corporatist state.
Then there are the endless, frightening head- protects the financial interests of media adver-
lines about attempted rapists on the loose. Since tisers, investors and parent companies, while
sexual predators don’t just get bored mid-attack, denying the public information that might make
behind every story about an attempted rape is us question our personal consumer decisions or Noon Hour
the reality that some woman did something to collectively challenge corporate exploitation. Witness against the
get away. So, why no triumphant headlines about If it is clear that women have a serious stake Death Penalty.
women fighting back, fending in media coverage, it is equal- Third Mondays
off their assailants? …global trade ly important to recognize 12noon to 1pm.
A similar framing prob- stories are told from that biased content is the end 11th and L Streets
lem persists in coverage of result of a much larger insti- State Capitol
abortion, media’s favorite the perspective tutional problem—a media
hot-button “women’s issue.” of transnational system structured in favor of INFO: 455-1796
Consider how reluctant media advertisers and owners rather
have been to label shootings, corporations, not than citizens seeking informa-
fire bombings, death threats the female workers tion and entertainment; a
and other politically-motivat- system motivated by profit,
ed violence against abortion who suffer labor not the public interest.
providers as “terrorism.” and human rights We are at a crucial
Only after Sept. 11, when moment for the media indus-
newscasters received letters abuses daily. try. The deregulatory struc-
claiming to be laced with ture favored by big media
anthrax, did mainstream media finally “discover” and its favorite lap-dog, former Federal Com-
the story—reported over the past decade in the munications Commission Chair Michael Powell,
women’s and alternative press—that anti-abor- paved the way for the tightest convergence of
tion terrorists have subjected women’s health media power we have ever seen in this country,
advocates and clinics to a regular campaign of threatening to subvert women’s and public inter-
anthrax threats and violent—even fatal—crime est voices more thoroughly than ever. Powell was
for many frightening years (with more than 500 recently replaced by Kevin J. Martin.
such letters arriving pre-9/11). We have two choices: we can sit back and
When issues fall outside journalists’ pink wait until all our news is filtered through the lens
ghetto yet implicitly affect women’s survival of MSNBC-NNBCBSABCFOXAOLWB, Inc—or
(global trade, affairs of state, war), gender is we can work for progressive feminist media
rarely used as a lens for analysis. reform.
For example, poll data following Sept. 11 Jennifer L. Pozner is founder of Women In
showed women to be more moderate than men Media & News, a women’s media monitoring,
in their views about war. Yet corporate media training and outreach organization. www.wim-
presented a misleading picture of a flag-wav- nonline.org/.
ing populace united behind the Bush push for
military retaliation. Because women were nearly
invisible as sources, experts and pundits in
news debates, this notion went virtually unchal-
lenged—helping the administration drum up
support for an unending “war on terror.”
Similarly, though women and children are 90
percent of the world’s sweatshop workers, editors
almost never frame international economics as
a “women’s issue.” Instead, global trade stories
are told from the perspective of transnational
corporations, not the female workers who suffer
labor and human rights abuses daily in overseas
and domestic sweatshops. This pro-business bias
14 Because People Matter March / April 2008 www.bpmnews.org

Torture and Social the scope of action for Palestinian lawyers.

These Israeli military courts operate
Control.” In it, he describes the East Asian game
“Go” where you “win” not by defeating but by

Control throughout the territories under “Military

Order #378”. Interrogation techniques like those
described above began to be used, as well as
Israel’s treatment of Palestinian “confinement in tiny cells/closets,
prisoners forcing the body to adopt painful and
unnatural postures, for long periods
by Mary Bisharat of time (arms tied behind legs, legs
immobilzing your opponent by controlling key
points of the matrix. It should be required read-
ing for all of us who work for peace with justice
Jim Ron… in the Holy Land. And it strikes me
that AIPAC (See book review, p 11)
charges that could be called a matrix of control
“torture is in terms of its influence on Congress

I
tied up to buttocks), pulling out body and the press. Our task is to apprise
mprisonment has been one of the key strate- hair, deprivation of sleep, food, and the linch- others of AIPAC’s unacceptable sup-
gies of Israeli control of Palestinian civilians, medical care, beating and kicking the
and since 1967 more than a half million have body with particular emphasis on the
pin of the port for an apartheid Israel, and the
practice of torture on civilians. These
been prosecuted through military courts. We genitals, scalding the body with hot occupation.” are hardly Judaism’s core values.
read vague references to Palestin- water, asphyxiation, use of Israeli Knesset member Avraham
ians imprisoned by Israel, but the electric shocks, prolonged exposure Burg writes: “what is needed is a new vision of
situation is a mystery to the average to extreme temperatures, and threats a just society…. Nor is this merely an internal
American. Though torture has been against the well-being, or life of Israeli affair. Diaspora Jews for whom Israel is a
constantly in the news, from Abu family members and the detainee” central pillar must pay heed and speak out…. The
Graib to Guantanamo, most of us are (information from Al Haq, West Jewish people did not survive for 2 millennia in
ignorant of what constitutes torture. Bank affiliate of Geneva-based Inter- order to pioneer weaponry, computer security
John Conway’s book, Unspeak- national Commission of Jurists). programs or anti-missile missiles.”
able Acts, Ordinary People: The B’tselem, Israeli Information However, the US has recently upped military
Dynamics of Torture, describes the “Kindergarten Chair” Center for Human Rights in the aid to Israel, offering an unprecedented $30
five techniques which constitute a (n Arabic, the shabeh occupied territories, confirmed these billion over the next 10 years. “We are going
“scientific combination of tortures”: position) torture practices. Also America’s to stand up for our friends,” said the US State
1) Hooding to contribute to a sense Illustration by Human Rights Watch Human Rights Watch published Department spokesman. US’s unconditional aid
of isolation and disorientation, and “Israel’s Interrogation of Palestin- enables Israel to continue abusing Palestinian
to mask the torturers’ identities. 2) Increasingly ians from the Occupied Territories” by Jim Ron, rights with impunity, deepening regional hostili-
intense noise, such as compressed air escaping, who charges that “torture is the linch-pin of the ties, and distancing peace. There is no end in
for up to a week. 3) Food and water deprivation. occupation.” sight to Palestinian prisoners’ torture by their
4) Sleep deprivation. 5) Spread-eagle position at According to the Washington Report of Israeli jailers.
a wall. Denied toilet access, prisoners urinate and Middle East Affairs (Jan/Feb 2008), since 1967, Mary Bisharat is a human rights activist and
defecate on themselves. In combination, these Israel has arrested and incarcerated over 755,000 retired social worker in Sacramento.
five actions induce psychosis, a temporary mad- Palestinians, including 98,000 children under 18
ness with long-lasting after-effects. and 10,000 women. From January to November
Israel bases its systemized torture and rights 2007, 3,750 Palestinians were arrested. Cur-

violations of Palestinians on the 1945 British
Defense Regulations, but those regulations were
revoked by British authorities before withdraw-
ing from Palestine in 1948. After Israel’s 1967
preemptive war against its Arab neighbors, it
occupied what remained of mandatory Palestine
and set up military court system which narrows
rently 10,400 Palestinians are held in Israeli jails,
experiencing obstacles that systematically erode
detainees’ right to legal representation, a serious
violation of international law.
Israeli professor Jeff Halper has written
a brilliant essay on Israel’s domination of the
Palestinians called “Dismantling The Matrix of
Keeping on keeping on
MLK inspires us again
by Murray Cohen
When Martin Luther King received the Nobel
Prize in 1964, the United States was deep into its
genocidal war against the people of Vietnam, so

Iraq “Winter
far the worst in a seemingly mindless, compul-
sively imperialistic series of military interven-
destroyed Iraq and Afghanistan. Once again, our tions around the world.

Soldiers” Testify country needs Winter Soldiers.

This spring (March 13-16, 2008), Iraq Vet-
In our darkness today, some of us may look
back on those days as almost innocent compared
erans Against the War (IVAW) will assemble in to the monstrous banalities of our present clique
Reveal true nature of war Washington DC a large gathering of US veterans of desk murderers, and our own seeming impo-
of Iraq and Afghanistan to reveal the reality of tence to anything about them.
by Rick Nadeau the US occupation. US veterans as well as Iraqi King, however, had the vision and courage
In 1971, over one hundred members of and Afghan survivors will provide eyewitness to resist despair, and the courage and faith to
Vietnam Veterans Against accounts in a public testimo- embrace the world as it is: a world struggling
the War gathered in Detroit Winter Soldiers, nial called “Winter Soldier: to transcend Western “civilization” and bring
to share their stories with Iraq and Afghanistan.” to birth a truly civilized world. He graciously
America. Atrocities like the
according to Winter Soldier is asking accepted the peace award from the masters of
My Lai massacre had ignited founding father that from March 13-16, the war, washed the cheek he had turned, and went
popular opposition to the war, larger anti-war movement call on to develop his comprehensive view of what
but political and military lead-
Thomas Paine, are no national mobilizations and had to be done. For this he was murdered.
ers insisted that such crimes those who stand up that there be no local protests. Americans have yet to organize around his
were isolated exceptions. The Hearings may be televised on vision, but we can take heart from what he said in
members of VVAW knew dif-
for the soul of their Access Sacramento (Comcast his acceptance speech: “When our days become
ferently. Over three days in country, even in its ch17,18) or on KVIE. (Call dreary with the low-hovering clouds, and our
January, soldiers testified on them and ask when hearings nights become darker than a thousand mid-
the systematic brutality they
darkest hours. are on. nights, we will know that we are living in the cre-
witnessed in Vietnam. KVIE: 916-929-5843, or toll-free: ative turmoil of a genuine civilization struggling
Now we are faced with a new war. The lies 800-347-5843 to be born. In face of adversity, we must muster
are the same. Once again, American troops are Access Sacramento: (916) 456-8600 or our reserves of courage, remain faithful to our
sinking into an increasingly bloody occupation. postmaster@accesssacramento.org. calling and strengthen one another, and continue
Once again, war crimes in places like Haditha, For more info: Winter Soldier: Iraq and the brick by brick building of a society based on
Fallujah, and Abu Ghraib have turned the public Afghanistan. www.ivaw.org/wintersoldier. peace. If we do so, we to will win.”
against the war. Once again, politicians and Add your name to the 4041 people who have Murray Cohen is a retired teacher interested
generals are blaming “a few bad apples” instead signed the Statement of Support: www.ivaw. in issues of peace and social justice.
of examining the military policies that have org/wintersoldierstatementofsupport.

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(916) 451-2658 Justice events
 www.bpmnews.org March / April 2008 BECAUSE PEOPLE MATTER 15

March / April Calendar
ONGOING EVENTS
MONDAYS: Sacramento
Poetry Center hosts poetry
readings. 7:30pm. 1719
25th Street. www.sacra-
mentopoetrycenter.org
1st MONDAYS: Organ-
ic Sacramento: Coun-
ter ongoing threats to
our food. 6:30pm. INFO:
www.organicsacramento.
org
1st. M onday S :
Sacramento Media
Group. 6–8pm. Coloma
Community Center, 4623
T Street. INFO: 443-1792,
smg@commoncause.org.
3rd MONDAYS: Capitol
Outreach for a Moratorium
on the Death Penalty.
12 noon–1pm, 11th & L
Street. INFO: 455-1796.
3r d MONDAYS: SAPA
Peace and Sustainability
Committee. 6–8pm. INFO:
Peace Action, 448-7157.
3rd MONDAYS: Sacto
9/11 Truth:Questioning
the “War on Terror.” 6–
8pm. Denny’s 3rd & J St.
Info: sac911truth@gmail.
com 372-8433.
3rd MONDAYS: Lesbian
Cancer Support Group.
6:30 Bring partners or sup-
port people with you. Open
discussions with everyone.
INFO: Roxanne Harden-
berg; ROXANNE1040@
aol.com.
TUESDAYS: Call for Peace
Vigil. 4–6pm. 16th and J
St. INFO 448-7157.
TUESDAYS: Improv work-
shop. Solve the world’s
problems through improv
games! 7–9:30pm. Geery
Theatre, 2130 L street,
Sac. $5.00, first time free.
INFO: Damion, 916-821-
4533, dsharpeproduc-
tions@hotmail.com
2nd TUESDAYS: Gray Pan-
thers. 1–3pm. Hart Senior
Ctr., 27th & J St. INFO:
Joan, 332-5980.
2nd TUESDAYS: Peace
Network (speakers and
discussion), 6:30pm.
Luna’s Cafe, 1414 16th
Street. INFO: Sac Area
Peace Action 448-7157.
4th TUESDAYS: Peace and
Justice Films. 7pm. Peace
Action, 909 12th Street.
INFO:448-7157.
4th TUESDAYS: (Odd num-
bered months) Amnesty
Int’l. 7pm. Sacramento
Friends Meeting, 890-
57th St. INFO: 489-2419.
1st WEDNESDAYS: Peace
& Freedom Party. 7pm.
INFO: 456-4595.
3r d WEDNESDAYS:
CAAC Goes to the Mov-
ies. 7:15pm. INFO: 446-
3304.
THURSDAYS:Daddy’sHere.
Men’s support group; info
on custody, divorce, raising
children. 7–8:30pm. Free!
Ctr for Families, 2251 Flo-
rin Rd, Ste 102. INFO: terry
@fathersandfamilies.com.
568-3237x 205.
Fridays: Movies on a
Big Screen. Independent,
quirky movies and videos.
7pm. 600 4th St, West Sac.
INFO: www.shiny-object.
com/screenings/.
1st FRIDAYS: Community
Contra Dance. 8–11pm;
7:30pm beginners les-
sons. Clunie Auditorium,
McKinley Pk, Alhambra &
F. INFO: 530-274-9551
2nd FRIDAYS: Dances of
Universal Peace. 7:30–
9:30pm. Sacr amento
Friends Meeting House
890 57th St. $5–$10
donation requested. INFO:
Joyce, www.sacramento-
dancesofuniversalpeace.
org, 916-832-4630.
4th FRIDAYS: Dances at
Christ Unity Church, 9249
Folsom Blvd. All Welcome
$5–$10 donation request-
ed. INFO: Christine 457-
5855, www.sacramento-
dancesofuniversalpeace.
org
1st SATURDAYS: Health
Care for All. 10:30am.
Hart Senior Ctr, 27th &
J. For universal access to
health care. INFO: 916-
424-5316; cnegrete@
comcast.net.
1st SATURDAYS: Sacra-
mento Area Peace Action
Vigil. 11:30am–1:30pm.
Arden and Heritage (en-
trance to Arden Mall).
INFO: 448-7157
2nd & 4th SATURDAYS:
Community Contra Dance.
8–11pm; 7:30 lessons.
Coloma Center 4623 T
Street. INFO: 395-3483.
3rd SATURDAYS: Sacra-
mento Area Peace Action
Vigil. 11:30am–1:30pm.
Marconi & Fulton. INFO:
448-7157
3rd Saturdays: Under-
ground Poetr y Series,
open mic plus featured po-
ets. 7–9pm Underground
Books, 2814 35th Street
(at Broadway), Sacramen-
to. $3. INFO: 737-3333
SUNDAYS: Sacto Food Not
Bombs. 1:30pm. Come
help distribute food at 9th
and J Streets.
1st SUNDAYS: Zapatis-
ta Solidarity Coalition.
10am–noon. 909 12th St.
Info: 443-3424.
1st SUNDAYS: PoemSpir-
its. 6pm. Refreshments
and open mic. Free. UUSS,
2425 Sierra Blvd. INFO:
481-3312; 451-1372. Will
resume in Oct. 2007.
2nd SUNDAYS: Atheists
& Other Freethinkers.
2:30pm. Sierra 2 Center,
Room 10, 2791 24th St.
INFO: 447-3589.
Send calendar items for the May / June 2008 issue to bpmnews@
nicetechnology.com by April 10, with “calendar item” in the subject
line. Make it short, and in this order, please: Day, Date. Name of
event. Description (1-2 lines). Time. Location. Price. INFO: phone#;
e-mail.
For up-to-date online calendars of progressive events, go to www.sac-
peace.org. or www.sacleft.org
COMMUNITY CALENDAR
Tuesday, March 11
Meeting. Gray Panthers Sacramento. “SAVING
CALIFORNIA’S GOLDEN YEARS: New Standard
for Measuring Seniors’ Needs.” Speaker: Susie
Smith, Director, Californians for Family Economic
Self-Sufficiency. 1-3pm. Hart Senior Center, 27th
and J Streets. INFO: 332-5980.
Tuesday, March 11
Sacramento 9/11 Truth Demonstration, in con-
junction with Sacramento Area Peace Action.
4-6pm. 16th & J Sts. INFO: www.truthaction.
org, 916-372-8433.
Monday, March 17
Meeting. Sacramento 9/11 Truth: Questioning
the War on Terror. 6-8pm. Denny’s meeting room
- 3rd/J Sts. INFO: 372-8433.
Wednesday, March 19
Five Years is Too Many: Demonstration to de-
mand an End to the U.S. occupation of Iraq.
Bring signs. 4:30-6pm. Howe & Fair Oaks Blvd.
INFO: 481-6122.
Wednesday, March 19
Candlelight Peace Vigil on the 5th anniversary
of the start of the dreadful US war on Iraq to
protest all wars. Unitarian Universalist Society
Auditorium, 2425 Sierra Blvd., Sac. 6–9pm. INFO:
ernestsweet@aol.com; 916-481-6122.
Thursday, March 20
Movies on a Big Screen, special presentation.
Zeitgeist (Film about 9/11). 7pm. 600 4th St,
West Sacramento.
Saturday, March 22
Class. Beginning Beekeeping, taught by long-
time local commercial beekeeper Randy Oliver.
8am-5pm, break for lunch. $35 per person.
Sacramento County Coop Ag Extension Audito-
rium, 4145 Branch Center Road (1 block west of
Bradshaw at Keifer Blvd.) INFO: 451-2337.
Thursday, March 27
Seminar. Relax with Tax, presented by California
Lawyers for the Arts, A seminar on the essentials
of income tax or individual artists of all disci-
plines & small arts businesses will be presented
by Dennis Yep, an Enrolled Agent since 1968.
6:30pm. $40 general, $30 members of C.L.A.
or co-sponsors, $20 students/seniors, $5 off for
registering in advance. 1127 Eleventh St., Suite
201. INFO: 442-6210 or email clasacto@aol.com
to register.
Saturday, March 29
Lecture. The Policing of Dissent. Prof. Luis Fer-
nandez, Northern Arizona Univ., will discuss how
the police monitor and control peace and justice
organizing. 7pm. 909 12th St. Sacramento INFO:
916-448-7157; sacpeace@dcn.org.
Monday, March 31
Poetry reading. Hosted by Frank Dixon Graham,
anti-war poet and peace activist . 7:30pm. Sac-
ramento Poetry Center: HQ for the Arts 1719
25th St. INFO: 606-4303.
Saturday, April 5
Speakers Bureau Training, to become a better
advocate and speaker for SB 840! Sponsored
by Health Care For All Sacramento Valley.
9:30am–3pm. Hart Senior Center, 915 27th St.
Registration fee $15 requested. INFO: Carolyn
Negrete, (916) 424-5316.
Friday, April 11
Sacramento 9/11 Truth Demonstration. 11th
and L Streets, facing State Capitol North en-
trance. 4:30-6pm INFO: www.truthaction.org,
916-372-8433.
Friday, April 11
Talk and book-signing with Jim Hightower,
author of a new book on inspired activism,
Swim Against the Current: Even A Dead Fish Can
Go With The Flow. 7-9pm. Coloma Community
Center Auditorium, 4623 T St., Sac. $15, proceeds
benefit California Common Cause and Access
Sacramento. INFO: JoAnn, 916-443-1792 x11 or
www.commoncause.org/CA. See Box below.
Sunday, April 13
Richard Gage of Architects and Engingeers
for 9/11 truth. 7:30pm. Varsity Theater, 616
Second Street, Davis. $10/students $5. INFO:
530-757-1633
Sunday, April 20
Sacramento Earth Day 2008 celebration. Cel-
ebrate the things we love about Sacramento
…Cultivate a sustainable future! 11am-5pm.
Location: To Be Announced. (See Box announce-
ment below).
Monday, April 21
Meeting. Sacramento 9/11 Truth: Questioning
the War on Terror. 6-8pm. Denny’s meeting room
- 3rd/J Sts. INFO: 372-8433.
Monday, April 21
Lecture. What Mainstream Media Won’t Tell Us
About Iran, Iraq, and U.S. Foreign Policy, by Scott
Ritter, former UN weapons inspector who op-
posed the war on Iraq. 7:30-9pm. $20. Varsity
Theater, 616 2d St, Davis. INFO: 530-554-7061.
Tuesday, April 22
Planned Parenthood presents Capitol Education
Day. Join Planned Parenthood volunteers, activ-
ists and staff for a Day of Action at the Capitol in
Sacramento. Talk with legislators about what’s
important to you, and join hundreds of others to
support reproductive healthcare for women in
California. INFO: Katharyn 916-446-5037 x131,
katharyn_mclearan@ppmarmonte.org.

Meet Jim Sacramento

Earth Day 2008
Hightower!
How GREEN can
Join us for a talk and book-signing with
progressive political you get?
activist, author and
Hosted by ECOS (Environmental Council of Sacramento),
commentator Jim
Friends of ECOS, and Environmental Studies Dept at CSUS
Hightower. Jim will
discuss his new book Celebrate the things we love about Sacramento…
on inspired activism, Cultivate a sustainable future!
Swim Against the Join us for Sacramento Earth Day 2008
Current: Even A Dead
Fish Can Go With Sunday, April 20: 11am–5pm
The Flow on Friday, Together we can make the
April 11 from 7-9pm Sacramento region a greener,
at the Coloma Com- healthier, and truly sustainable
munity Center Auditorium, 4623 T St. place to live, work and play!
Sacramento 95819. The location of the event will
be changed due to construc-
Tickets are just $15, and proceeds benefit tion at Sacramento State.
California Common Cause and Access
Sacramento. For information on the loca-
tion of the event, on events
For more information, contact JoAnn before and after April 20, or
Fuller at 916 443 1792 extension 11. on sponsoring or volunteer-
ing, contact ECOS:
Space is limited; reserve your ticket at
www.commoncause.org/CA 916-444-0022 or earthday@ecosacramento.net
 March / April 2008
Because People Matter
Progressive News and Views
Editors Picks!
Soapbox!—Jeanie Keltner talks with activ-
ists and analysts from Sacramento and
beyond about the issues of the day.
Where to watch:
Access Sacramento cable channel 17.
Every Monday at 8pm. Call in comments
on 2nd and 4th Mondays. Repeats Tues-
day at noon, Wednesday at 4am.
In Davis, on channel 15, Tuesdays at 7pm.
Media Edge—Sacramento’s own magazine
format show, covering local progressive
events and speakers, as well as internation-
ally known commentators, with clips from
some of the best independent political
video being made now.
Where to watch:
Access Sacramento channels 17 and 18
and Davis Channel 15. Sundays 8-10pm
Nevada County channel 11 Mondays
10:30pm–12:30am,
West Sacramento channel 21 Mondays
9-11pm.
See scheduled segments at
www.wethemedia.org.
Democracy Now—Amy Goodman’s
award-winning magazine format show.
Where to watch: (Other) Progressive Newspapers
Access Sacramento TV, Cable Channels 17 ▼ The Flatlander: a free community newspa-
and 18, Weekdays 6pm, 12midnight, 5am.
Dish Network Satellite TV, Channel 9415,
Free Speech TV, M-F: 9am, 4pm, 9pm, 5am,
Pacific time.
Link TV, Channel 9410, Monday–Friday,
8am, 3pm.
KVMR 89.5 FM Mon-Thu 7pm
KDVS 90.3 FM Mon-Fri noon
KPFA 94.1 FM Berkeley, M-F 9am
WHAT IS THIS? It’s a Hydraulic Border Patrol office in Roma, Texas
MORE INSIDE: Let’s Talk About Sex • Plutonium Paradise or Nukemare? •
along the Rio Grande River. See story, “Immigration is not the
Police State Flash Point • We Are Done Killing For Lies • Corporate Media
Photo: Francisco J.Dominguez copyright 2007.
problem” page 5.
Censors the News
Progressive Media
Progressive Radio Stations
▼ KVMR 89.5 FM
Online News Sources:
www.Truthout.org: written essays on current
▼ The Voice, 88.7 Cable FM; and streaming Don’t bitch at the media— events, some videos, like Keith Olbermann’s
audio on www.Accesssacramento.org; SAP become the media! MSNBC Countdown shows.
Comcast Channels 17 & 18 Have you taken the TV production www.CommonDreams.org News Center:
▼ KYDS 91.5 FM Breaking News & Views for the Progressive
▼ KDVS 90.3 FM
training at Access Sacramento? Would Community.
you like to put your technical talents
▼ KPFA 94.1 FM Berkeley www.Brasscheck.org: Progressive videos
▼ KSAC 1240 AM (TalkCity Radio Sacramento). to use? Soapbox! urgently needs crew- on many subjects, from Steven Colbert’s
Progressive talk radio all day long with Randi members to help set up, run cameras, speech at the White House Correspondent’s
Rhodes, Rachel Maddow and others. and take viewers’ phone calls on the 2nd dinner and speeches by leftwing MP George
KSAC Sat and Sun Schedule and 4th Monday of each month. Galloway, to extensive information on 9/11
SATURDAY and the attacks on our civil liberties.
10-11am: Ask-A-Lawyer
Or consider taking the training. www.TheRealNews.com: a nonprofit progres-
Mandatory orientations are given at
Noon-3pm: Ring of Fire sive website offering daily news videos
4-5pm: Best of “The Thom Hartmann Access Sacramento at 46th and T streets including interviews and debates. They plan
Show” on the 2nd Wednesday and 4th Tuesday soon to expand to television.
5:00-7pm: CLOUT w/Richard Greene of each month from 6-7pm. To register www.GoLeft.tv: Progressive Online Television.
10-1am: Best of “The Randi Rhodes Show” call 456 8600 x O. Leave your name In the world of media monopoly, news has
SUNDAY been replaced with a new invention called
4-5am: Best of “The Young Turks”
and number if no one’s in at the time. “infotainment.” GoLeft.tv is a progressive
The basic workshops run from 3 to 24
11am-1pm:Best of “The Rachel Maddow political T.V. news source that fills that gap
Show” hours and cost from $10 to $50. Some $ between the media’s dumbed down info-
1pm-4pm: Seder on Sunday help is available. Call 444 3203 if you’re tainment and real news reporting.
4pm-5pm: State of Belief interested in joining us at Soapbox! for
5-8pm: Ring Of Fire fun—and the best pizza in town.
▼ KZFR 90.1 FM Chico
People Powered Radio! managed and
operated by volunteers, provides mostly
locally produced and community oriented
programs.
per of fun, opinion and politics in the Davis
Area. yolocats@yahoo.com. Publication Sacramento and Central Valley Indymedia: www.sacindymedia.org.
every 2 months, next issue is April/May
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