Rise Up or Die! by Chris Hedges

by Chris Hedges
Writer, Dandelion Salad
Truthdig
May 20, 2013

Image by cool revolution via Flickr

Joe Sacco and I spent two years reporting from the poorest pockets of the United States for our book “Days of Destruction, Days of Revolt.” We went into our nation’s impoverished “sacrifice zones”—the first areas forced to kneel before the dictates of the marketplace—to show what happens when unfettered corporate capitalism and ceaseless economic expansion no longer have external impediments. We wanted to illustrate what unrestrained corporate exploitation does to families, communities and the natural world.

The Last Possible Refuge by Tristan A. Shaw

Image by stargardener via Flickr

by Tristan A. Shaw
Writer, Dandelion Salad
British Columbia, Canada
March 8, 2013

Wealth and power is the single greatest force that will lead to our species annihilation. It seems there is little historical antidote to the pathology of this class power. When a plutocracy grows into a rapacious system of exploitation, environmental destruction closely follows. Almost every past civilization has fallen in this manner, and we are not exempt.

A Protest Against Real Distress: Religion and Revolutionary Struggle by Charley Earp

by Charley Earp
Guest Writer
Dandelion Salad
Radical Progress
Originally published on www.thenorthstar.info, Feb. 22, 2013
Feb. 27, 2013

Image by Androjinn via Flickr

In response to Dario Cankovic’s Socialism and Religion, Redux:

“Religious distress is at the same time the expression of real distress and also the protest against real distress. Religion is the sigh of the oppressed creature, the heart of a heartless world, just as it is the spirit of spiritless conditions.”
— Karl Marx, Contribution To The Critique Of Hegel’s Philosophy Of Right

I have a love/hate relationship with religion and layers upon layers of both antipathy and affection for this complex reality. The same thing could be said for the revolutionary struggle.

Tunisia’s Unfinished Revolution: From Dictatorship to Democracy? by Andrew Gavin Marshall

by Andrew Gavin Marshall
Featured Writer
Dandelion Salad
http://andrewgavinmarshall.com
February 11, 2013

Image by Sarah Mersch via Flickr

On January 14, 2011, Tunisia’s 23-year long dictator Ben Ali fled the country he ruled over in the face of a popular uprising which began the previous month. Tunisia represented the spark of what became known as the ‘Arab Spring.’ Over two years later, Tunisians are back in the streets protesting against the new government, elected in October of 2011, now on the verge of collapse as ministers resign, protests increase, clashes erupt, violence flares, and the future remains unknown.

Socialist Register 2013: The Question of Strategy

Image by brent_granby via Flickr

Dandelion Salad

LeftStreamed·Feb 9, 2013

Moderated by Leo Panitch. Presentations by Joan Sangster and Meg Luxton: “Feminism, co-optation and the problems of amnesia: a response to Nancy Fraser.” Recorded in Toronto 31 January 2013.

Revolutionary Love and its Terrible Hurts by Daniel N. White

Cover of One Morning in Sarajevo: 28 June 1914

by Daniel N. White
Guest Writer
Dandelion Salad
January 29, 2013

One Morning in Sarajevo: 28 June 1914
by David James Smith, 2008

David James Smith is a British journalist and One Morning is his second book.  My copy was printed in the UK and has rave cover blurbs on it from various English publications.  I don’t recall the book making any splash this side of the Atlantic.  Something wrong with that; the book is very good.

International Media Coverage of Bahrain Revolution + Inside Bahrain

Image by ABajooka via Flickr

Dandelion Salad

PressTVGlobalNews·Jan 27, 2013

Ever since the Bahraini revolution broke out in February 2011, international news channels have covered it differently according to their geo-political priorities.

Western news channels have covered the events very sporadically and so have Arab news channels. Yet these same channels have covered unrest in Syria and Libya very closely.

Egypt’s New Pharaoh by Chris Hedges

by Chris Hedges
Featured Writer
Dandelion Salad
Truthdig
December 17, 2012

Image by MoudBarthez via Flickr

When Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini returned to Iran after 14 years in exile on Feb. 1, 1979, he set out to destroy the secular opposition forces, including the Communist Party of Iran, which had been instrumental in bringing down the shah. Khomeini’s declaration of an Islamic government, supported by referendum, saw him rewrite the constitution, close opposition newspapers and ban opposition groups including the National Democratic Front and the Muslim People’s Republican Party.

Noam Chomsky: Reform Vs. Revolution

Dandelion Salad

Here is the talk by Prof. Chomsky: Noam Chomsky On The NDAA: The U.S. Constitution Is Being Scrapped.

Image by Dandelion Salad via Flickr

with Noam Chomsky

Nov 12, 2012 by LeighaCohen

(CFPA) http://peacecoalition.org/ 33rd Annual Conference & Interfaith Service for Peace on Sunday, November 11 in Princeton featuring Noam Chomsky, Amy Goodman & Juan Cole.

Barr/Sheehan 2012 vs. The War Party by Cindy Sheehan

by Cindy Sheehan
Featured Writer
Dandelion Salad
Cindy Sheehan’s Soapbox Blog
Cindy Sheehan’s Soapbox
August 5, 2012

Image by brent_granby via Flickr

Just found out today (August 4, 2012) that Roseanne Barr and I were given the confidence and nomination of the Peace and Freedom Party of California at the nominating convention. Even though Roseanne is Roseanne and I have been a member of the party for almost four years, now, the nomination wasn’t in the bag—there were some high hurdles we had to leap first and we did it (with our great, if not small, team) in less than a week!

Ian Angus: How to make an Ecosocialist Revolution (2011)

Image by icemanpolitik via Flickr

Dandelion Salad

by Jill Hickson

At the October 2011 Climate Change Social Change conference held in Melbourne, Ian Angus, editor, climateandcapitalism.com and co-author of the book, Too Many People?, explains the concept of ecosocialism and how we can struggle for a better future.

A Leftist Guide to the Fourth of July by Billy Wharton (repost)

Repost from last year.

by Billy Wharton
Guest Writer
Dandelion Salad
Examiner.com
July 4, 2011

Image by stewartmorris via Flickr

A neighbor illustrated the problem with the Fourth of July. He broke out a new bumper sticker for his car just in time for the annual celebration. The sticker promoted the US Navy with the slogan, “Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of all those who oppose us.” This twisted take on the spirit of the day is a perfect illustration of the worst American chauvinism that often pushes leftists and other progressives away from the holiday. However, as historians such as Howard Zinn have demonstrated, there are alternatives – there is a counter-narrative to American history that represents ordinary people. The Fourth of July is the perfect opportunity to discover it.

The Julian Assange Show: Noam Chomsky and Tariq Ali (E10)

Image by Andrew Rusk via Flickr

Dandelion Salad

Jun 26, 2012 by RussiaToday

A surprise Arab drive for freedom, the West’s structural crisis and new hope coming from Latin America. That’s the modern world in the eyes of Noam Chomsky and Tariq Ali, two prominent thinkers and this week’s guests on Julian Assange’s show on RT.

Rise Like Lions – Occupy Wall Street and the Seeds of Revolution

Dandelion Salad

Image by Obiemad via Flickr

May 24, 2012 by infiniteinfiniteinfi

http://metanoia-films.org/rise-like-lions/

“Scott Noble’s film Rise Like Lions takes the people, actions, and words from the camps and streets of Occupy Wall Street and provides a radical, compelling and inspiring account of what the movement is about. Watch it. Share it. Do it!” -Ron Jacobs, Journalist, Author The Co-Conspirator’s Tale

Chris Hedges: Reviving The Left + Q & A

Image by KeizerStreetArt via Flickr

by Chris Hedges
Featured Writer
Dandelion Salad
May 23, 2012

May 21, 2012 by joefriendly

Action For Justice Sunday Service at The Community Church of New York Unitarian Universalist with invited speaker Chris Hedges, May 13, 2012. Quality audio begins at 11:30. Chris Hedges’ talk on the Death of the Liberal Class begins at 13:50.