Still Hammering For Justice: Happy 90th Birthday Pete Seeger + Seeger: Solidarity Forever

Sent to DS by the author, thanks Stephen.

Dandelion Salad

By Stephen Dohnberg
Global Pundit
crosposted at Digit Journal with lots of photos and videos; May 2, 2009
May 4, 2009

Pete Seeger sang across the land, wrote number one hits, was hit by blacklists, enlisted southern black voters, wrote anthems that span generations & define eras, and even influenced some of the greatest orators of the 20th Century. Pete turns 90 today.

Throughout the following piece, we’ll see proof that the influence of Pete Seeger, on his 90th birthday, spans generations. People from across the globe share testimonies, songs, and poems sent specifically for this article. Six Musicians offer renditions of Seeger material (their bio’s and links are posted below), as well tributes and comments from political party leaders, schoolteachers, poets, and citizens. Enjoy!

The songs Pete Seeger wrote or popularized through recordings will outlive him, but Seeger has outlived the injustice and hardship, to shine the light of social justice on the human condition. On turning 90 this May 3rd he proves that, as Martin Luther King Jr said, “the arc of history is a long one but bends toward justice”.

War Resistor Successfully Challenges ‘Misconduct’ Charge By Stephen Dohnberg

Sent to DS by the author, thanks Stephen.

Dandelion Salad

by Stephen Dohnberg
Global Pundit
crosposted at Digit Journal with photos
April 22, 2009

War Resistor Sgt Chiroux successfully challenged his misconduct hearing, facing down the U.S. Army and offering a potential “green light” for other soldiers challenging the legality of U.S. action in Iraq and Afghanistan.

War resistor Sgt. Matthis Chiroux, who refused to deploy to Iraq under the Individual Ready Reserve, today successfully challenged his misconduct hearing and was granted a ‘General Discharge Under Honorable Conditions’.

The Modern Peace Movement: ‘Peace is Practical’ Conference Report by Stephen Dohnberg

Sent to DS by the author, thanks Stephen.

Dandelion Salad

by Stephen Dohnberg
Global Pundit
previously published Digit Journal with lots of photos, April 9, 2009
April 16, 2009

An active movement is under way in the United States to establish a cabinet level ‘Department of Peace and Nonviolence’. A 3 day conference in Washington, D.C. revealed a lot about the modern peace movement and the new urgency that surrounds it.

Given the current major economic downturn, it’s impossible for one to imagine the U.S federal government engaging in establishing a new Cabinet portfolio of any type. Particularly one, that on the surface would seem to represent a nation experiencing time for reflection — something akin to the slight cut in military budgets aka ‘the Peace dividend’ after the alleged ‘end of the Cold War’.

However, since the Department of Peace was introduced in 2001 by Ohio Congressman Dennis Kucinich, a growing national and international movement has begun to understand the urgency of “waging peace”. In defining the idea of a cabinet level organization, modern peace activists have adopted a new perspective.

Vet and Iraq War Resistor Faces ‘Misconduct’ Trial in St. Louis by Stephen Dohnberg

Sent to DS by the author, thanks Stephen.

Dandelion Salad

by Stephen Dohnberg
Global Pundit
previously published Digit Journal with lots of photos, April 15, 2009
April 16, 2009

Interview: Sgt.Matthis Chiroux -Veteran, war resistor, and outspoken critic of the both the Bush and Obama administrations Mid East and Central Asian Policy faces Military Hearing for “Misconduct” on April 21st. We spoke to Matthis about his upcoming case.

War resistor, veteran, and member of Iraq Veterans Against the War, Sgt. Matthis Chiroux, faces a “Misconduct” hearing on April 21/09 for his refusal to deploy to Iraq. His hearing will take place in St. Louis, at the courts on 1 Reserve Way, Overland, MO.

Sgt. Chiroux, an Individual Ready Reservist, publicly refused activation and deployment orders to Iraq, citing the war as “an illegal and immoral occupation”.

He has also chosen to stay on U.S. soil to ” to defend himself from any charges brought against him by the military”.

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March On The Pentagon: IVAW (Matthis Chiroux)

nextleftnotes
March 22, 2009

WASHINGTON — March 21, 2009. Members of Iraq Veterans Against The War (IVAW), including war resister Matthis Chiroux speak at a rally prior to the march on the Pentagon.

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Chiroux declared in a recent press release “My resistance as a non commissioned officer to this abhorrent occupation is just as legitimate now as it was last year”

“Soldiers have a duty to adhere to the international laws of war described as supreme in Article 6, Paragraph 2 of the U.S. Constitution, which we swear to abide by before the orders of any superior, including our former or current president.”

Nader Makes 21 Speeches in 15 Hours, ‘Massachusetts Marathon’ Breaks Guinness Record

Dandelion Salad

by Stephen Dohnberg
http://www.digitaljournal.com

The Massachusetts Marathon

Ralph Nader made 21 speeches in 15 hours, travelled 365 miles through MA in what has been dubbed the “Massachusetts Marathon”.The 74 year old independent presidential candidate dedicated the Guinness Record breaking run to childhood hero Lou Gehrig.

On Oct 23rd the Nader campaign had contacted me to let me know that Ralph Nader would be making 21 speeches throughout the state of Massachusetts during a one day period on Sat. Oct 25.

In doing so, Nader has also found himself eligible for a spot in the Guinness Book or World records. This successful campaign action should garner Nader some national attention, as the mainstream media has largely ignored his campaign.

[…]

via Nader Makes 21 Speeches in 15 Hours, ‘Massachusetts Marathon’ Breaks Guinness Record – Digital Journal: Your News Network

Obama, McCain Rebuff Protesters, Veterans Arrested During McCain’s ‘Last Chance’

Dandelion Salad

Oct 16, 2008

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Obama, McCain Rebuff Protesters, Veterans Arrested During McCain’s ‘Last Chance’

by Stephen Dohnberg

DigitalJournal.com: The Power of Citizen Journalism

Obama, McCain, and CBS rebuffed veterans and active duty service-people who sought to ask a question in the final debate. Amid arrests outside of debate grounds, the pundits’ early verdicts are not a good for McCain, as Obama held strong defense.

Hempstead, NY – Tonight at approximately 7:05 the Iraq Vets Against the War (IVAW), a coalition of veterans and active duty American service people, were stopped by police approximately one block from the gate entrance to the Hofstra University debate grounds.

The group committed an act of non violent civil disobedience and attempted to cross the lines, After a short standoff with local police on horseback and supported by police in light riot gear, 15 individuals were arrested.

A total of 15, including 5 protesters were detained and arrested after attempting to enter at the north Hofstra gate. Spokesman for Nassau Police,Dept. Lt. Kevin Smith informed Newsday, “When they insisted on coming through they were placed under arrest

… there might have been one injury. I don’t believe that it was serious and he was taken to an area hospital.”

The arrested IVAW members and protesters were held for approximately 5 hours, and the hospitalized member, Nick Morgan, an honourably discharged veteran diagnosed with PTSD, was badly injured by one of the police horses. The IVAW reports that the police initially refused Morgan treatment. Nassau County police offered no comment at this time.

[…]

via Obama, McCain Rebuff Protesters, Veterans Arrested During McCain’s ‘Last Chance’ – DigitalJournal.com: The Power of Citizen Journalism

h/t: GlobalPunditOrg

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Veterans Protest, Arrested, Outside Hofstra Debate

GlobalPunditOrg

h/t: GlobalPunditOrg on current

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Obama vs McCain 3rd Presidential Debate (link) + Who is Joe, the plumber?

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Palin-Sarah

Obama-Barack

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