Sunday, June 08, 2008

Green on Green


Tuesday, June 03, 2008

A step in the right direction

The city of Detroit has taken the first step in closing down the trash incinerator, informing the company running the facility that its lease will not be renewed.

Great news for the city and the environment!

Saturday, May 24, 2008

Dalai Lama wants to join the Green Party

Came across this at Green News and Opinion.

The Dalai Lama said this in Ann Arbor. Does that mean the Green Party of Michigan has a new member?

Thursday, May 22, 2008

Why we must shut down the Detroit Waste Incinerator



Call or e-mail Detroit City Council members to STICK WITH THEIR RESOLUTION to support a new waste model for Detroit.

Ask Council members to

--Allocate money to begin a pilot curbside recycling program and other projects to ramp up RECYCLING and INVESTMENT IN NEW JOBS and ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT related to resource recovery THIS YEAR;

--REJECT the Administration's current consideration of BUYING BACK the incinerator and extending contracts to keep the incinerator going for four more years. Why buy back the plant to buy time to plan for future recycling?

Council's budget deadline for offering amendments to the Mayor's proposed budget-which continues the status quo -is tomorrow, Friday,May 23.

Thanks for your help in getting a new waste plan for Detroit!


***Council members to contact first


***Council President Ken Cockrel, Jr., 224-4505
CockrelK.CNCL.COUNCIL@kcockrel.ci.detroit.mi.us

***Council President Pro-tem Monica Conyers, 224-4530
ConyersM@cncl.ci.detroit.mi.us

Councilwoman JoAnn Watson, 224-4535
WatsonJ_mb@cncl.ci.detroit.mi.us

***Councilwoman Sheila Cockrel, 224-1337
S-Cockrel_mb@ckrl.ci.detroit.mi.us

***Councilwoman Barbara-Rose Collins, 224-1298
Collins_MB@cncl.ci.detroit.mi.us

***Councilman Kwame Kenyatta, 224-1198
K-Kenyatta_MB@cncl.ci.detroit.mi.us

***Councilwoman Alberta Tinsley-Talabi, 224-1645
A_Talabi_mb@atwpo.ci.detroit.mi.us

Councilwoman Martha Reeves, 224-4510
m-reeves_mb@cncl.ci.detroit.mi.us

Councilwoman Brenda Jones, 224-1245
Bjones_MB@cncl.ci.detroit.mi.us

Friday, May 16, 2008

McKinney brings Green Party race to Detroit

The Michigan Citizen covers Cynthia McKinney's visit to Detroit.

The Metro Times on the Truth Commission for Water Rights, the event that opened her appearances in the Detroit area.

Wednesday, May 14, 2008

Moratorium NOW Coalition to Stop Foreclosures Meeting the Saturday

Coalition Meeting
Saturday, May 17, 2 PM
Central United Methodist Church
23 E. Adams, Detroit
Update from the
Moratorium NOW! Coalition to Stop Foreclosures and Evictions
phone: 313-319-0870
website: www.moratorium-mi.org
email: moratorium@moratorium-mi.org

We can stop foreclosures in Michigan! But only a mass movement can do it – by winning passage of Senate Bill 1306 (a 2-year moratorium on foreclosures) introduced by Senator Hansen Clarke last week. You can be sure the bill will go nowhere unless every progressive group and individual gets out organizing – leading up to a huge occupation of people outside the Capitol. With hundreds of thousands of foreclosures in Michigan this is possible. The bankers have already denounced the bill. Will you take on these bankers with us?

Come to the Coalition Meeting
Saturday, May 17, 2 PM
at the Central United Methodist Church, 23 E. Adams (at Woodward), Detroit

Statewide Office for the Moratorium NOW! is now open
The Moratorium NOW! Coalition now has a state-wide office. The Grand Opening was on Monday, May 12. It will serve as the nerve center for building the grassroots, mass movement that is needed to win the 2-year moratorium. We thank Rev. Rowe of the Central United Methodist Church and the Michigan Welfare Rights Organization for making this happen.

Location: 4th floor of the Central United Methodist Church, 23 E. Adams, Detroit

Hours: Monday-Friday, 11 AM - 3 PM

Hours will certainly expand as the movement picks up steam.
We need organizing centers around the state
Every city, every town and every village in this state needs to be organized! Become an organizing center. It's not hard, and we will help you in any way that we can. Call 313-319-0870 today!

Already, the Moratorium NOW! coalition has an organizing center in Benton Harbor. If you live in or near Benton Harbor, please contact Pastor L. Andre Golliday, of the World Embassy Church, at 269-325-7816, to get involved in this very important campaign.

Email your elected state representatives
We have made it easy to do. Go to www.moratorium-mi.org and click on the
JOIN the Email Campaign for a Moratorium NOW link.

Then call your own state senator and representative repeatedly, and insist that they support Sen. Clarke's bill calling for a 2-year moratorium on foreclosures. The phone numbers are available at the website.

"The Foreclosure Crisis: What Can We Do About It?"
Senator Hansen Clarke will be giving a speech "The Foreclosure Crisis: What Can We Do About It?", the Saturday, May 17, at 10 AM at the Royal Oak Community Center, 3500 Marais, Royal Oak.

Leaflets and Background info
Get leaflets and background material on the foreclosure crisis at the Moratorium NOW! website. We will post them as soon as they becomes available.


A Home is a Right!,
Mike Shane
Moratorium NOW! Coalition

Monday, April 28, 2008

Cynthia McKinney to visit Detroit May 3-5


Cynthia McKinney who is seeking the Green Party nomination for President, will be appearing here in Detroit this weekend.

On Saturday, she'll sit on the Truth Commission on Water Rights, hosted by the Michigan Welfare Rights Organization. (flyer)

That evening from 7 - 9 pm, Cynthia will be at a public event to be held at Friends School in Detroit, 1100 St. Aubin Street Detroit, MI 48207-2896

On Sunday afternoon, a fundraising event will be held at Central United Methodist Church, 23 East Adams at Woodward Ave. (flyer)

Stay tuned for more details and events as they are scheduled.

In the meantime, visit www.runcynthiarun.org

Tuesday, April 22, 2008

Green Party of MI selects Convention Delegates

McKinney Wins 13 of 19 Statewide Votes for 1st Ballot at GPUS Convention July 10-13 in Chicago; 3 for Nader; 1 Each for Mesplay, Swift, Uncommitted; Locals Will Pick, Instruct 5 More Delegates

Party Starting Drives to Boost Membership, Recruit Record Number of Candidates; Will Post "Announced" Candidates List Online by May 13 to Help Groups Considering Endorsements

more here.

Tuesday, April 15, 2008

April 18th rally to support AAM strikers

Click here to view the rally flyer

UAW members and supporters will rally at 11:30 am on April 18th at Detroit’s Hart Plaza to support striking workers at American Axle.

More than 3,500 UAW members from UAW Locals 235, 262 and 2093 in Michigan and UAW Locals 424 and 826 in New York have been on strike since February 26 to protest unfair labor practices.

“The support our members have received during this strike is overwhelming,” said UAW President Ron Gettelfinger. “We’ve heard from members of the clergy, from local businesses, from community leaders - and of course from UAW members and the entire labor movement.”

“Our rally on April 18th will be a great time to show solidarity with American Axle strikers, and to demonstrate support for keeping manufacturing jobs here in the United States,” said Gettelfinger.

“Even business publications, like the Automotive News, can’t understand how American Axle can justify giving pay raises to executives while demanding pay cuts from workers,” said UAW Vice President James Settles Jr., who directs the union’s American Axle Department.

“In addition to their unjustified economic demands,” said Settles, “AAM has refused to provide us the information we need for bargaining, and has illegally cut off disability payments and health care for injured workers, as well as compensation — including health care– for laid off workers. That’s why this is an unfair labor practices strike.”

“Our members at American Axle are standing up for what’s right - and we’re inviting our entire community to stand with us on April 18th at Hart Plaza.”


Click Here
for more information about the rally from the U.A.W.’s Main Site

Tuesday, April 08, 2008

Film Showing: The Water Front

THE WATER FRONT is a newly released documentary with a gripping plot following a post industrial community in their struggle against water privatization. The sound track includes the soulful tunes of Detroit bluesman Joe L. Carter’s and resonates with anyone who uses their water tap and takes pride in their home.

-- www.thewaterfrontmovie.com --

Date: Wednesday April 9th, 2008, 6:30 – 7:30 (film) Panel following 7:30 – 8:30
Admission: FREE
Location: 1500 SSB (Social Science Bldg), University of Michigan-Dearborn
UM-Dearborn, 4901 Evergreen Road, Dearborn, MI, http://www.umd.umich.edu/maps_directions/

Panel: Marian Kramer & Maureen Taylor of Welfare Rights, Diana Seales of East Michigan Environmental Action Council,director Liz Miller, film producer and urban planner Curtis D. Smith, Detroit bluesman Joe L. Carter

Contact: Bruce Pietrykowski 313-593-5096 Liz Miller – 860.922.3995
Curtis D. Smith 313.590.6317

Thursday, April 03, 2008

Shut it down!

If for no other reason than the increased rates of asthma and other respiratory diseases in the area, the Detroit incinerator must be shut down.

If for no other reason than the over 1 Billion dollars of Detroit taxpayers money that has literally gone up in smoke, the Detroit incinerator must be shut down.

If for no other reason than it consumes much of the valuable waste that would otherwise feed the recycling stream, the Detroit incinerator must be shut down.

Shut it down!

The big burn (Metro Times Detroit)

Saturday, March 29, 2008

Southeastern Michigan Greens Get Together, Sunday in Ferndale

Southeastern Michigan Greens Get Together -- March 30 -- 2 - 5 pm

All Greens and their family, neighbors and friends are invited for a
Southeastern Michigan Greens get together.

Snacks provided. Those who want to can go out together for
dinner afterwards.

Location:

Kulick Community Center
1201 Livernois, Fendale MI 48220
(between 8 and 9 Mile Roads)

map.

Proposed discussions include:

Discussion of the current political and economic situation in the nation,
state and locally and Green responses

The Cynthia McKinney Presidential Campaign
Information on the Ralph Nader Presidential campaign
Any other Green presidential campaigns

Targeting local and statewide races
Proposals for common work and actions

Announcements

We will work up an agenda and times based on who is there and what they
want to talk about and work together on.

See you there.

Fred Vitale
State Chairperson

Wednesday, March 26, 2008

Support the Union of Part-Time Faculty at Wayne State University

An appeal to Union of Part-Time Faculty (UPTF) supporters:

In recent weeks, the Union of Part-Time Faculty at Wayne State
University has reached a critical juncture in our negotiations for our first contract that began in November 2007. The WSU administration has said "no" to job-security for our members, even those with many years of service to the university. Rather than recognizing longevity as a contractual basis for future employment, the administration has proposed a vague concept: "first consideration." As a replacement for the simple and democratic principle of seniority, first consideration is both inadequate and ill-defined. The UPTF has informed the administration that it will not accept a contract without serious job security provisions. The union is also dismayed by Wayne State's attempt to maintain 15 separate wage scales for instructors doing the same work.

To support the union's proposals, contact WSU President Irvin Reid and tell him that you support the fundamental right of job security and equal pay scales for UPTF members. If writing an email to Reid please cc it to: uptf@aftmichigan.org.

For more information and/or background on the UPTF visit: www.uptf.org.

Thank you for your support.

In unity and solidarity,
The UPTF Union Council

**********

Office of the President
Attention: President Irvin D. Reid
Wayne State University
4200 Faculty/Administration Building
Detroit, MI 48202
Phone: (313) 577-2230 / Email: president@wayne.edu
Fax: (313) 577-3200

Letter to President Reid.pdf

Monday, March 17, 2008

Friday, March 14, 2008

Detroit Demonstration Against the Wars at Home and Abroad - Saturday, March 15th

On the 5th Anniversary of the Iraq War March and Rally to Demand:

* Troops Out NOW! from Iraq & Afghanistan

* Money for Our Cities - Not for War!

* Stop the War on Palestine – End the Siege of Gaza

* U.S. Hands off Iran

The United States’ plans for global domination are being met by worldwide resistance.

· The occupations of Iraq and Afghanistan are a military disaster.

· Iran – which threw out the U.S. installed dictator (the Shah) in 1979 – refuses to bend its knee to Washington and Wall Street, so Bush and Co. are threatening a new war.

· Israel, armed and directed by the United States, rains down death and destruction upon the Palestinians. Yet the Palestinian people continue to demand their right to a homeland and the right to return to their homes in Zionist Israel. In Gaza where the Palestinian people are subjected to a brutal siege – no food, water or electricity allowed in – over 500,000 Palestinians broke through huge border wall with Egypt to get supplies. This was the greatest jailbreak in history!


Saturday – March 15, 2008 – Noon

Gather at Coleman A. Young Municipal Center

(Woodward Ave. at E. Jefferson Ave, Detroit)

March up Woodward Avenue - 1:00 PM

Rally in Central United Methodist Church – 2:00 PM (Woodward Ave. at Adams St.)


Sponsored by: Michigan Emergency Committee Against War & Injustice

313-680-5508


Michigan Emergency Committee Against War & Injustice

Tuesday, March 11, 2008

The Detroit Cynthia McKinney for President March Meeting is tomorrow, Wednesday March 12

Meetup.com Meeting Reminder

The Detroit Cynthia McKinney for President Meetup
Your Meetup has a meeting Wednesday, March 12 at 7:00PM!

What:
The Detroit Cynthia McKinney for President March Meeting

When:
Wednesday, March 12 at 7:00PM

Where:
Cass Cafe
4601 Cass Ave
Detroit MI 48201

*Fred Vitale*
/Organizer of The Detroit Cynthia McKinney for President Meetup/


The Detroit Cynthia McKinney for President March Meeting

Monday, March 10, 2008

Join American Axle workers on the picket line today

Detroit Greens and other supporters will join the
striking American Axle workers on the picket line today,
Monday March 10 from 6:30pm - 7:30pm.

Meet at:
UAW Local 235
2140 Holbrook, Hamtramck
(just E. of the I-75 Holbrook exit)

Please bring canned food for those working the picket line.

Wednesday, March 05, 2008

Detroit Greens Meeting

We'll be meeting on Thursday, March 6 at 6:30pm

at Central United Methodist Church
23 East Adams at Woodward Ave
Detroit MI

Detroit Greens Meeting Info

Saturday, February 23, 2008

Cynthia McKinney: The New Face of the Green Party

In an interview with Cynthia McKinney in Essence Magazine:

Essence.com: Why should people consider taking a harder look at the Green Party?

Cynthia McKinney: As I travel, talking to Americans across the country, I’ve learned that there is life outside of the two-party paradigm. We have a generation of folks who watched in horror as young people protested the Vietnam War outside of the Democratic National Convention and saw how they were subsequently treated. That was a tipping point for a lot of people. Today, some feel that their votes won’t be counted because of election integrity. There are people who want to see an end to the war, and that hasn’t happened, despite the Democratic majority in Congress. So you have all these different people who have reached the same conclusion that the two-party paradigm doesn’t serve their interests anymore. But let’s not withdraw from it; let’s change it.

The whole interview is here.

Sign up for the Detroit Cynthia McKinney for President Meetup.

What will Nader say on Meet the Press tomorrow?

Many are suggesting that Ralph Nader will formally announce his run for the Presidency as he did in 2004.

I hope so.

Find out on Channel 4 at 10:30am.

UPDATE: He did!

http://www.votenader.org

Saturday, February 16, 2008

Urgent! Please donate to the Arizona Greens Today!

The Arizona Greens have less than 3 weeks to finish their ballot access drive and they need additional financial donations, so they can hire more petitioners! Nationwide, we’re closing in on our fundraising goal for them, but we still need more donations!

So please donate TODAY, as time is of the essence!
(Any amount would be fine!).

To donate via credit card or PayPal, go to: http://www.azgp.org/donate.shtml
and click on the “direct donation” link in the 2nd section of the page

Please make checks payable to:
Green Ballot Access
P. O. Box 77312
Tucson, AZ 8570

Thanks so much for helping out!

flyer available at:
http://www.detroitgreens.org/AzGreensNeedOurHelp.pdf

Wednesday, February 13, 2008

Why Is Recycling So Important?

by Sylvia Inwood, co-chair of the Detroit Greens Local

Ever wonder what happens to your garbage after it’s picked up? Of course, Detroiters know our garbage is burned in the huge incinerator at Russell and Ferry near Eastern Market. But, what happens to the garbage after it’s burned? Like all matter, it doesn’t just disappear and, in this case, it’s transformed into poisonous gases that pollute the air.

The Detroit incinerator is one of the largest sources of nitrogen oxides and sulfur dioxides in Wayne County. These pollutants aggravate asthma and other respiratory illnesses and contribute to acid rain. Detroit’s highest asthma hospitalization rates are in the neighborhoods closest to the incinerator. Wayne County is fifth in the country in asthma-related deaths among the African American population and has some of the worst air quality in the country.

The benefits of recycling go beyond reducing waste. Recycling conserves more energy than incineration can produce, by creating new products from recycled rather than new materials, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Using less energy means lower greenhouse gas emissions (the cause of global warming). Additionally, recycling of paper allows more trees to remain standing in forests, thus reducing our carbon footprint on the planet.

In January 2007 the Detroit City Council Environmental and Recycling Task Force approved a plan for the future of Detroit's solid waste management. The plan calls for closing Detroit's trash incinerator in 2009. The report emphasizes the creation of jobs and improvements in public health through pollution prevention by implementing a comprehensive recycling program. According to Waste News, Detroit is the only city of the thirty largest cities in the United States that does not have any form of curbside recycling. The report conservatively estimates that a 50% recycling rate in Detroit would likely result in creating more than 1,000 new jobs in the city of Detroit.

Until the incinerator is shut down and until Detroit has curbside recycling, what can we do? We can separate our recyclable items from the trash and take them to a drop-off center. There are several recycling centers in the city area. Neighbors can help one another by carpooling to recycling drop off locations. Recyclean is the recycling contractor for the city with a monthly eastside drop off at Jefferson and Chalmers. Paper can be recycled in the green and yellow bin behind 2300 Marseille (a fundraiser for Hanstein School). (See listing on this page for drop off locations and details of recyclable materials.)

Sylvia Inwood has lived in Cornerstone Village since 2003


Detroit Greens

Monday, February 11, 2008

WSU SDS Iraq Moratorium Rally & March

Wayne State University

Students for a Democratic Society

In cooperation with the Iraq Moratorium

invite you to a

Peace Rally and March

Wayne State Student Center Ballroom (2nd Floor)
February 15, 2008
Rally at 4PM • March at 5PM

Answer the Call
Please join us for the Detroit area’s fourth Moratorium march. A national call has gone for local groups to stage peace events on the third Friday of each month. 100 people marched down Mack on January 18. Lets continue to increase our numbers.

Meeting Place
Gather at the Student Center for rally at 4 PM. March will begin at 5PM, and will return to the Student Center.

The March
The route will follow Woodward into Detroit’s cultural district, passing by the Detroit Institute of Arts. It will proceed to MLK Drive, turn right, then right again on Cass, back to the student center.

More Information
For more information, contact Hans Barbe by email at hans3755@gmail.com or call 313-333-7104.

Flyer and map

Thursday, February 07, 2008

NPR: Could There Be a Third-Party Candidate?

NPR covers independent and 3rd party presidential candidates including Cynthia McKinney and Ralph Nader.

Tuesday, February 05, 2008

Cynthia McKinney on Democracy Now!


Former Democratic Rep. Cynthia McKinney Seeks Presidency as Green Party Nominee

"Former Democratic Rep. Cynthia McKinney is now seeking the Green Party presidential nomination. McKinney is among the most outspoken critics of the Bush administration, and one of her last measures in office was to introduce a bill for the impeachment of President Bush and Vice President Cheney. She joins us to talk about her new campaign and why she left the Democratic Party after more than a decade in public office"

Thursday, January 31, 2008

Throw in the Towel? Or Fight Back?


Here’s a safe bet: the two major political parties will nominate Presidential candidates from the corporate wings of their parties.

What will that leave us in this election year?

Corporate control as usual.

If this happens, we have two choices – throw in the towel.

Or fight back.

If we choose to fight back, here’s a good option:

Join with a person whose life is one of dedicated service to the public interest.

To help him organize a political campaign in every state against corporate control over our lives.

Luckily, that person – Ralph Nader – is considering such a campaign.

But he will need active and informed citizens in every Congressional district in the country.

He will need volunteers.

He will need funds.

He will need dedication.

That’s why we’ve signed on at Nader’s exploratory web site: www.naderexplore08.org

Check it out.

And spread the word.

In 2008, it’s either sit back and watch the drift.

Or get off the couch and fight back.

Hope you will join us.

Thank you.

The Nader Team



Nader 2008 Presidential Exploratory Committee — Join with us today

Sunday, January 27, 2008

Stop The Spying



Make a call to Senator (D-Michigan) Carl Levin's Office
Phone: (202) 224-6221
District Phone: (313) 226-6020


Make a call to Senator (D-Michigan) Debbie Stabenow's Office
Phone: (202) 224-4822
District Phone: (517) 203-1760


UPDATE: Call Sen. Stabenow and ask her why she voted for immunity!

Stop The Spying

Monday, January 21, 2008

Support For Elaine

Detroit Greens Resolution on Elaine Brown

Detroit Greens are in solidarity with Elaine Brown. She is a prominent African-American political leader, author and thinker who joined the Green Party of Georgia, ran for office, and offered her candidacy to the Green Party for president in 2008. Now, she has renounced her membership and resigned from the presidential campaign. Her life-long devotion to ending racial oppression and commitment to revolutionary political struggle was not respected in the Green Party. An opportunity to work on transforming the Green Party into an organization where Elaine Brown, and the hundreds of fighters like her across the United States, are welcome and respected was lost. She was badly treated by some leaders and other members of the party.

We urge the Steering Committee, representing the Green Party, to apologize, in writing, to Elaine Brown for slanderous and demeaning comments about her character that were made by a staff member. A follow-up phone call by a member of the Steering Committee would also be in order. This apology to Elaine Brown should consist of something like the following:

We apologize for inexcusable and unsubstantiated comments that were made by a GP staff person and echoed by others. We can understand how demoralizing it must be for you with your long history in the social justice struggle. Such comments are unacceptable and are ammunition for those who seek to destroy attempts to develop independent political action.

We seek avenues to restart collaboration with you because we believe that, whether you are part of the Green Party or stand outside, we need to work together on social justice issues as well as finding ways to build a movement for independent political action.


The Detroit Greens express our deep regrets for comments unbecoming of movement activists which were completely insensitive to you as an African-American woman who has spent most of your life fighting for social justice.

Sunday, January 20, 2008

Fifth Annual MLK Day Rally & March in Detroit



Event: Fifth Annual MLK Day Rally & March for 2008
Date: Monday, January 21, 2008, Gather at Noon
Location: Central United Methodist Church, Woodward at
East Adams in Downtown Detroit
Sponsors: Detroit Martin Luther King, Jr. Committee
Contact: http://www.mlkdetroit.org
Phone: 313.671.3715

Detroit MLK Day Rally & March to Feature Rev. Dr. Lucius Walker of IFCO and Pastors for Peace

Monday, January 21, 2008 is designated as the federal holiday to honor the life and legacy of the slain civil rights and anti-war martyr, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The upcoming holiday will mark the fifth annual MLK Day rally and march in downtown Detroit as organized by the local planning committee composed of activists in the ongoing struggle for social justice and peace.

This year we are honored to have as our keynote speaker the Rev. Dr. Lucius Walker of the Inter-religious Foundation for Community Organization (IFCO) and Pastors for Peace. Rev. Dr. Walker is a veteran activist in the civil rights and anti-war movements and has travelled internationally to represent the people of this country in various efforts aimed at building a better world for the oppressed and exploited.

At present Rev. Dr. Walker is involved in a national campaign to recruit young people from the United States to study at the Latin American School of Medicine in Cuba. Several students from the Detroit area who are currently enrolled at the school will be in attendance at this year's MLK Day event at Central United Methodist Church.

Each year the Detroit MLK Committee presents a "MLK Spirit of Detroit" award to a notable activist in the community. The awardee for 2008 will be Judge Deborah Thomas of the Third Circuit Court of Michigan. Judge Thomas has been a proponent of representative jury pools and the need for citizens to become involved in reforming the legal system in Wayne County and throughout the state.

In addition to the granting of this award, there will be cultural presentations from various locally-based artists including: Rev. Robert Jones, the Mosaic Youth Theater, Big A & Zhaoski, Invincible, Markeeta Moore, the Matrix Theater as well as the display of essays, poems and art work from students that will be attending from metropolitan-area schools.

At this critical juncture the annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day March & Rally is an essential component of the Detroit community's response to the challenges we face in southeastern Michigan and throughout the state and nation.

The continuing wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have claimed over 4,000 American lives as well as over one million Iraqis and Afghans. This is taking place utilizing a $729 billion annual defense budget which is designed to maintain the occupations of both of these predominately Muslim nations in the Middle-east and Asia. Moreover, the Pentagon has plans to establish military bases in Africa through the "African Command" (AFRICOM) as well as the persistent efforts to carry out a destabilization campaign leading to war against Iran.

On the domestic front we are facing rising unemployment in Michigan, the epidemic of home foreclosures, virulent racism and gender oppression, anti-LGBT biogtry, over 47 million people without health care in the country and within Detroit itself, there are tens of thousands who will live this winter without homes or even with housing, they are facing the torment of surviving absent of water services, electricity, heating and transportation.

The Fifth Annual MLK Day Rally & March provides an opportunity for local activists and organizers to demonstrate their long term committment to transforming society. This event is co-sponsored by the Detroit City Council and Central United Methodist Church among a host of other community, religious, peace and labor organizations.

For more information on the upcoming Fifth Annual MLK Day Rally & March please contact the Detroit MLK Committee at: http://www.mlkdetroit.org
Phone: 313.671.3715



Volunteers are need for the march on Monday. Tasks include cleanup, ushers, leaflet istribution, and march marshals. If you are interested, please show up at 10 AM at the Central United Methodist Church. Thank you.

Tuesday, January 15, 2008

Council Member Jo Ann Watson holds Meeting on Incinerator

The Largest Solid Waste Incinerator is in Detroit

Are You Aware of the Detrimental Effects Caused by Exposure to the Byproducts?

Have You Ever Wondered Why Detroit is the Only major City that Lacks a Comprehensive Recycling Program?

How Much Money Is It Costing the Citizens of Detroit to Maintain this Impractical Form of Waste Disposal?


The office of City Council Member Jo Ann Watson Invites You To An Environmental Justice Task Force Meeting


WHEN: Thursday, January 17, 2008

WHERE: Coleman A. Young Municipal Center
2 Woodward Avenue at Jefferson
13th Floor Auditorium

TIME: 4:00 p.m.


For More Information Call Council Member
JoAnn Watson at 313-224-4535

Wednesday, January 09, 2008

Your Support for the Jared Ball campaign is needed!

Your Support for the Jared Ball campaign is needed!

Dr Jared Ball, Green Party Presidential candidate very accurately states,"Given the societal need and function of mass media and popular culture, all that is popular is fraudulent. Popularity is in almost every case an intentionally constructed fabrication of what it claims to represent." This analysis can be extended to the realm of politics and describes how the dominant parties perpetuate the myth of democracy while suppressing actual participatory democracy. Thus their debates become a carefully orchestrated fashion show of poll generated sound bites with this seasons most popular attire being a call for change.

The Green Party in putting forward real candidates and conducting real debates is providing an indisputable model for genuine political change. The January 13 Green Party Presidential Candidates debate in San Francisco California will be an important milestone in our effort to replace that "carefully constructed fabrication" of politics as usual with a discussion of the most pressing issues of our times by leaders who are of the people and for the people. Six-time Democratic Rep. Cynthia McKinney, longtime consumer advocate Ralph Nader - who is not yet an announced candidate, university professor Jared Ball and environmental engineer Kent Mesplay will participate in "Campaign 2008: A Presidential Debate that Matters."

The debate will be held Sunday, January 13 at 2 p.m. at the Herbst Theater/Veterans Memorial Building, 401 Van Ness Avenue, and is open to the public with a suggested donation of $10-25. "Peace Mom" Cindy Sheehan will co-moderate the debate.

For more information go to http://www.acgreens.org/debate.

Our candidates stand by our Green principles and do not accept corporate money, and the corporate media suppresses news of their campaigns so it is up to us to make sure that all our candidates can be present for these important debates. Your donation to the Jared Ball campaign will help us to cover the cost of attending this important campaign event.

To make a donation at our website go to: http://www.jaredball.com/donate

Or send a check to:
Jared Ball for President,
P.O. Box 7423,
Silver Spring MD 20907

Thank you for your support!
Sincerely,
The Jared Ball for president campaign team
Anita Rios & Head Roc co-campaign managers

Friday, January 04, 2008

Tuesday, January 01, 2008

Rally for Marie Thornton, Detroit School Board


91,338 Voters and Marie Thornton RALLY

Rally in support of YOUR vote

The Detroit Public Schools Board of Education has decided that YOUR vote for at-large member Marie Thornton can be disregarded and YOU won’t do anything.

The Board’s misdeeds include closing nearly one-third of the schools in Detroit, voting hundreds of millions to contractors like Aramark who left the closed schools in shambles, and doing business with their friends and campaign contributors, leading to scandals like the $46 million wire transfer deal.

Marie has voted against and closely questioned all these matters. Her questions led to the wire transfer investigation. She has withstood two years of attacks from corrupt board members and their allies like Rev. Loyce Lester, but is still staying strong on behalf of the children.

“I am YOUR school board member,” she tells viewers of her Monday morning show from 10-12 a.m. on WHPR TV 33, where she educates the public on DPS matters.

In an effort to cover up their misdeeds, the board voted to sanction her Dec. 13, barring her from informational and committee meetings where she gets important information to make crucial decisions. In her campaign to be transparent, she has relayed all non-confidential information to her constituency.

Marie won a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) against the board’s sanctions Dec. 21. The complaint says the board violated its own decorum and ethics policies, by-laws, and state law. She needs YOUR help now, both financial and moral. She has fought for YOU, now YOU must fight for her.

RALLY
Thursday, Jan. 3, 2008 6:30 to 9:00 p.m.
TULC 8670 Grand River, Detroit, MI

Free food for first 50 people

COURT HEARING ON TRO
Thurs. Jan 3, 2008 2:30 p.m.
City-County Bldg. (CAYMC) Rm. 1421

Judge Cynthia Stephens

For further info, contact Gladys Woolfork at 313-342-4256, or 313-623-0827