Occupy Wall Street, Divide & Conquer, Medical Marijuana

Posted on October 18, 2011 by abby

Media Roots Radio – Occupy Wall Street, Medical Marijuana by Media Roots

MEDIA ROOTS- Abby & Robbie Martin cover the Occupy Wall Street movement: Bay Area activism compared to other cities nationwide, the divide and conquer tactics being used to discredit OWS, the different schools of thought and ideology within the movement and the original demands made by the US Day of Rage; the Obama administration’s shocking crackdown on medical marijuana and new federal law banning medical marijuana card holders from owning firearms within their homes and apartments; Blackwater and the privatization of the armed forces: is the corporatization of the US military what is preventing an anti-war rebellion similar to that seen in the 60s?

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Insight Out News Covers Occupy LA

Posted on October 18, 2011 by abby

MEDIA ROOTS- Margot Paez is an independent journalist based in LA and the host of Insight Out News. She has been covering Occupy Los Angeles since October 1st, and has been compiling daily footage from the local protest on her blog. Her best video footage includes exclusive interviews from Tom Morello, Dan Choi Day and on the spot interviews with the protestors.

Day 8: Tom Morello

The first big day of action marked the second week of Occupy Los Angeles where actor Danny Glover, and musician Tom Morello of Rage Against The Machine came out to speak to the thousand member crowd. Tom Morello performed four of his songs at the rally, including ‘World Wide Rebel Song’, which became notorious during the Wisconsin protests. Day eight’s coverage includes on the spot interviews with LA protesters and an exclusive interview with Tom Morello.

Day 12: Dan Choi Day

The heart of the second week of Occupy Los Angeles took place at City Hall in downtown LA. Dan Choi, one of the leading activists for the repeal of Don’t Ask Don’t Tell, made a surprise visit to the occupation. Choi toured the encampment, informally spoke with the occupiers and then addressed the General Assembly in the evening. This report highlights the day’s events, contains man on the street interviews with protesters and features an exclusive interview with Dan Choi.

Day 15: International Day of Action

The first day of Occupy LA’s third week coincided with the International Day of Action. Over 10,000 protesters marched from Pershing Square to the financial district where they stopped to protest at various corporate offices of banks like Citigroup and Bank of America. Occupy Los Angeles led the march, but there was a diverse represenation of LA citizens participating including senior citizens, union members, and families. Peter Joseph, creator of the Zeitgeist film series, gave the keynote speech at the rally.

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New videos of Occupy LA posted everyday at www.insightoutnews.org or follow them on twitter www.twitter.com/insightoutnews.

Photo by Johnny Firecloud

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights

Posted on September 29, 2011 by abby

MEDIA ROOTS- The vast majority of the world is unaware of the existence of a Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The Declaration was drafted after the atrocities of WWII and was the first global declaration of rights to which all human beings are inherently endowed. Its 30 articles have since served as the basis for numerous human rights treaties and laws. This is a beautiful video rendition of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights by the Human Rights Action Center.

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Created by Seth Brau, Produced by Amy Poncher, Music by Rumspringa courtesy Cantora Records

PREAMBLE

Whereas recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world,

Whereas disregard and contempt for human rights have resulted in barbarous acts which have outraged the conscience of mankind, and the advent of a world in which human beings shall enjoy freedom of speech and belief and freedom from fear and want has been proclaimed as the highest aspiration of the common people,

Whereas it is essential, if man is not to be compelled to have recourse, as a last resort, to rebellion against tyranny and oppression, that human rights should be protected by the rule of law,

Whereas it is essential to promote the development of friendly relations between nations,

Whereas the peoples of the United Nations have in the Charter reaffirmed their faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person and in the equal rights of men and women and have determined to promote social progress and better standards of life in larger freedom,

Whereas Member States have pledged themselves to achieve, in co-operation with the United Nations, the promotion of universal respect for and observance of human rights and fundamental freedoms,

Whereas a common understanding of these rights and freedoms is of the greatest importance for the full realization of this pledge,

Now, Therefore THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY proclaims THIS UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS as a common standard of achievement for all peoples and all nations, to the end that every individual and every organ of society, keeping this Declaration constantly in mind, shall strive by teaching and education to promote respect for these rights and freedoms and by progressive measures, national and international, to secure their universal and effective recognition and observance, both among the peoples of Member States themselves and among the peoples of territories under their jurisdiction.

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Read the articles within the Universal of Human Rights, and learn more about Article 19 in particular, the article that stresses the universal right to communicate without barriers.

MR Interview with John Dau, One of Sudan’s Lost Boys

Posted on September 19, 2011 by abby

MEDIA ROOTS- John Dau is one of Sudan’s Lost Boys, a group of more than 20,000 boys who escaped the genocide during the Sudanese Civil War, where 2.5 million Southern Sudanese were killed and millions of others were displaced. John gives Media Roots a moving account of his escape, his life growing up in the refugee camps, his experience coming to America for the first time and his work with the John Dau Foundation, where he established the first comprehensive & sustainable community medical clinic in his home village of Duk Payuel.

Interview with John Dau conducted, produced and edited by Abby Martin

Trailer for National Geographic’s award winning documentary called ‘God Grew Tired of Us’, based on John Dau’s story. Check out more about the film at http://www.godgrewtiredofus.com/

Learn more about the John Dau Foundation and how to help at http://johndaufoundation.org/

Interview with Former US Senator Mike Gravel

Posted on September 12, 2011 by abby

Media Roots Radio – Interview with Former Senator Mike Gravel by Media Roots

MEDIA ROOTS- Mike Gravel is a former US Senator and a former candidate in the 2008 presidential election. As Senator, Gravel became nationally known for his attempts to end the draft during the Vietnam War and for putting the Pentagon Papers into the public record in 1971. He is an advocate of direct democracy and began a 2006 US presidential run to promote the idea.

Gravel endorses the 9/11 Ballot Initiative movement across the country, saying the measure would create a “citizens commission rather than a government commission” with subpoena power against top U.S. officials to “make a true investigation as to what happened” regarding the terrorist attacks.

Abby and Robbie Martin interview Gravel about his political history, presidential candidacy, the 9/11 ballot initiative and what citizens can do to make direct change.

Find out more about Mike Gravel at his website http://www.mikegravel.us/

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