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16 Views
03:00:35 12/06/11
60 Minutes Asks: 'Why Aren't We Prosecuting Wall Street?'
[LESS INFO] 16 VIEWS | ADDED 03:00:35 12/06/11
Big banks, bailouts, and secret bailouts , the defective and even fraudulent mortgages that have already led to foreclosure on millions of American's homes; finally, a mainstream media news source is asking why none of the companies involved - or their executives - have been prosecuted.
Steve Kroft and 60 Minutes talks with two whistleblowers, Eileen Foster, a former senior executive at Countrywide Financial, and Richard Bowen, a former vice president at Citigroup.
In a script note from "60 Minutes" producer, James Jacoby, begins with "It's been three years since the financial crisis crippled the American economy, and much to the consternation of the general public and the demonstrators on Wall Street, (Emphasis mine) there has not been a single prosecution of a high-ranking Wall Street executive or major financial firm even though fraud and financial misrepresentations played a significant role in the meltdown."
A significant "win" for the Occupy Wall Street movement to be mentioned in such a groundbreaking investigative report? If nothing else, perhaps the Wall Street titans will cringe a little more with each spotting of a protest sign or "mic check."
Part one of the program begins, with the second part of the video at the bottom of the page, and a link to the final portion that's contained in the 60 Minutes Overtime report: >
Steve Kroft: Do you believe that there are people at Countrywide who belong behind bars?
Eileen Foster: Yes.
Kroft: Do you want to give me their names?
Foster: No.
Kroft: Would you give their names to a grand jury if you were asked?
Foster: Yes. >
But Eileen Foster has never been asked - and never spoken to the Justice Department - even though she was Countrywide's executive vice president in charge of fraud investigations. At the height of the housing bubble, Countrywide Financial was the largest mortgage lender in the country and the loans it made were among the worst, a third ending up in foreclosure or default, many because of mortgage fraud. >
It was Foster's job to monitor and investigate allegations of fraud against Countrywide employees and make sure they were reported to the Board of Directors and the Treasury Department. >
Kroft: How much fraud was there at Countrywide?
Foster: From what I saw, the types of things I saw, it was-- it appeared systemic. It, it wasn't just one individual or two or three individuals, it was branches of individuals, it was regions of individuals.
Kroft: What you seem to be saying was it was just a way of doing business?
Foster: Yes. >
In 2007, Foster sent a team to the Boston area to search several branch offices of Countrywide's subprime division - the division that lent to borrowers with poor credit. The investigators rummaged through the office's recycling bins and found evidence that Countrywide loan officers were forging and manipulating borrowers' income and asset statements to help them get loans they weren't qualified for and couldn't afford.
Foster: All of the-- the recycle bins, whenever we looked through those they were full of, you know, signatures that had been cut off of one document and put onto another and then photocopied, you know, or faxed and then the-- you know, the creation thrown-- thrown in the recycle bin.
Full transcript available here .
Part 2 of "Prosecuting Wall Street":
The rest of the report can be viewed on the video for 60 Minutes Overtime available online here.
17 Views
17:03:45 10/05/11
Philosopher Matt Zwolinski on "Bleeding-Heart Libertarians," The Poor, and Social Justice
[LESS INFO] 17 VIEWS | ADDED 17:03:45 10/05/11
Philosopher Matt Zwolinski on "Bleeding-Heart Libertarians," The Poor, and Social Justice
"Libertarians ... when they try to convince people of libertarianism, they do it by talking about the way in which free markets make life better for the poor," says Matt Zwolinski, a philosopher at the University of San Diego and a creator of the web site Bleeding Heart Libertarians. While the notion of "social justice" has long been anathema to some libertarians, Zwolinski says that a bleeding-heart libertarian realizes that an abiding concern for the most vulnerable in society is an essential part of any moral political system. "But, simply being committed to social justice does not mean that you have to be committed to the view that government must directly try to promote the well-being of the poor and vulnerable members of society," says Zwolinski. Instead, the bleeding-heart libertarian looks at the empirical evidence and accepts that small government and free markets are the best methods by which to provide for the poor. Interview by Zach Weissmueller. Shot by Paul Feine. Edited by Weissmueller. Approximately 10 minutes. (visit Bleeding Heart Libertarians at bleedingheartlibertarians.com). Visit Reason.tv for downloadable versions and subscribe to Reason.tv's YouTube Channel to receive automatic notifications when new material goes live. From: ReasonTV Views: 9013 297 ratings Time: 09:35 More in News & Politics
9 Views
19:00:00 10/03/11
#OccupyWallStreet Protester Lets Fox News Have It
[LESS INFO] 9 VIEWS | ADDED 19:00:00 10/03/11
This is just wonderful to see. Jesse LaGreca, also known as the Daily Kos blogger MinistryOfTruth , gets in front of a Fox News reporter and lets him know what he and the other 99 percent think of their news coverage.
Here's the transcript: >
Fox: Jesse, so Ray, your partner here, your ..
Ray: comrade.
Fox: Your colleague, she’d seen the protests in Greece and Europe and elsewhere. Did you guys take your cue from that? Are you hoping to cite certainly what was a lot of the tension, if not police activity. I know over the weekend there were over 100 arrests and you guys got things fired up. Are you taking your cues from the international movement and how do you want to see this? If you could have it in a perfect way, how would it be?
Jesse: Well I don’t know, its really difficult to answer questions leading to those conclusions. I’d say that we didn’t take our cue leading off of anybody really. It became a more spontaneous movement. As far as seeing this end, I wouldn’t like to see this end. I would like to see the conversation continue. This is what we should have been talking about in 2008 when the economy collapsed. We basically patched a hole on the tire and said let the car keep rolling. Unfortunately it’s fun to talk to the propaganda machine and the media especially conservative media networks such as yourself, because we find that we cant get conversations for the department of Justice’s ongoing investigation of News Corporation, for which you are an employee. But we can certainly ask questions like you know, why are the poor engaging in class warfare? After 30 years of having our living standards decrease while the wealthiest 1% have had it better than ever, I think it’s time for some maybe, I don’t know, participation in our democracy that isn’t funded by news cameras and gentlemen such as yourself.
Fox: But, uh, yeah well, let me give you this challenge Jesse.
Jesse: Sure.
Fox: We’re here giving you an opportunity on the record […] to put any
message you want out there, to give you fair coverage and I’m not
going to in any way
Jesse: That’s awesome!
Fox:…give you advice about it. So, there is an exception in the case, because you wouldn’t be able to get your message out there without us.
Jesse: No, surely, I mean, take for instance when Glenn Beck was doing his protest and he called the President, uh, a person who hates white people and white culture. That was a low moment in Americans’ history and you guys kinda had a big part in it. So, I’m glad to see you coming around and kind of paying attention to what the other 99 percent of Americans are paying attention to, as opposed to the far-right fringe, who who would just love to destroy the middle class entirely.
Fox: Alright, fair enough. You have a voice, an important reason to criticize myself, my company and anyone else. But, let me ask you that, in fairness, does this administration, President Obama, have any criticism as to the the financial situation the country’s in…?
Jesse: I think, myself, uh, as well as many other people, would like to see a little but more economic justice or social justice—Jesus stuff—as far as feeding the poor, healthcare for the sick. You know, I find it really entertaining that people like to hold the Bill of Rights up while they’re screaming at gay soldiers, but they just can’t wrap their heads around the idea that a for-profit healthcare system doesn’t work. So, let’s just look at it like this, if we want the President to do more, let’s talk to him on a level that actually reaches people, instead of asking for his birth certificate and wasting time with total nonsense like Solyndra.
[h/t Observer.com ]
13 Views
04:18:48 03/25/11
Left Forum 2011 Opening Plenary: Toward a Politics of Solidarity (1)
[LESS INFO] 13 VIEWS | ADDED 04:18:48 03/25/11
Subscribe to Essential Dissent Share this video to email, Facebook, Twitter, or embed into your website. Click the wedge-shaped icon under bottom right of video. See Part 2 of Left Forum 2011 Opening Plenary
See all Left Forum 2011 videos on Essential Dissent
Left Forum 2011
Pace University, NYC
March 18-20, 2011
A unique phenomenon in the U.S. and the world, Left Forum convenes the largest annual conference of a broad spectrum of left and progressive intellectuals, activists, academics, organizations and the interested public. Conference participants come together to engage a wide range of critical perspectives on the world, to discuss differences, commonalities, and alternatives to current predicaments, and to share ideas for understanding and transforming the world. The conference is held each spring in New York City.
BARBARA EHRENREICH is a social critic and essayist, and an honorary chair of the Democratic Socialists of America . Her book, Nickel and Dimed , was a national bestseller in the United States. She is the the author of twenty books, and has written for the New York Times, Mother Jones , The Atlantic Monthly , Ms , The New Republic , Z Magazine , In These Times , Salon , Harpers , and the Progressive . Her latest book is Bright-sided: How Positive Thinking is Undermining America .
One of America's most provocative public intellectuals, CORNEL WEST has been a champion for racial justice since childhood. His writing, speaking, and teaching weave together the traditions of the black Baptist Church, progressive politics, and jazz. West has written more than 20 books, and teaches in the Center for African American Studies and Department of Religion at Princeton University.
Former Air America Radio host LAURA FLANDERS is the host and founder of GRITtv with Laura Flanders. She is the author of the NYT best-seller, BUSHWOMEN: Tales of a Cynical Species ; her latest book is At The Tea Party . She also writes for Nation and Huffington Post , and is a regular contributor to MSNBC. Flanders has appeared on shows from Real Time with Bill Maher to The O%rsquoReilly Factor .
PAUL MASON is the economics editor of the BBC%rsquos flagship current affairs program Newsnight and appears frequently on BBC World News America . He has covered globalization and social justice stories from locations around the world, including Latin America, Africa and China. His book, Live Working, Die Fighting , was longlisted for the Guardian First Book Award.
FRANCES FOX PIVEN is Professor of Political Science and Sociology at CUNY Graduate Center. Her books include Regulating the Poor, Poor Peoples
2 Views
11:57:31 11/30/10
Global food justice
[LESS INFO] 2 VIEWS | ADDED 11:57:31 11/30/10
With more than one billion people around the world considered overweight, why are so many others still starving and struggling to fill their plates?
288 Views
11:57:31 11/30/10
Global food justice
[LESS INFO] 288 VIEWS | ADDED 11:57:31 11/30/10
With more than one billion people around the world considered overweight, why are so many others still starving and struggling to fill their plates?
0 Views
21:43:11 01/12/10
Upper Room Giving The Invisible People A Voice
[LESS INFO] 0 VIEWS | ADDED 21:43:11 01/12/10
Mark Horvath was a TV executive before alcoholism cost him everything. He ended up homeless on the streets of LA, but thanks to a local church, he rebuilt his life. The economic downturn, however, put his home into foreclosure and Mark found himself homeless once more. He is now a tireless advocate for America's homeless, traveling all over the country to capture the stories of people who would otherwise be "invisible." Mark shares his incredible testimony on Upper Room. He says it is the church's responsibility to care for the poor and gives practical ways in which we can help.
0 Views
02:30:34 09/23/09
Malkia Cyril Seattle 2009
[LESS INFO] 0 VIEWS | ADDED 02:30:34 09/23/09
Media Power Is One Path to Justice Communities of color, poor people and other disenfranchised communities face serious barriers to public participation and democratic inclusion. Building media power through digital inclusion, content standards and fights for representation strengthens not only our First Amendment rights but also our ability to participate as world citizens. Find out how grassroots organizers are transforming an exclusive elite media system into an inclusive democratic tool for justice.
6 Views
19:48:13 06/11/09
Poor People's Justice
[LESS INFO] 6 VIEWS | ADDED 19:48:13 06/11/09
Carolina Lamas and Michael Friedman on basic rights for people encountering the police.
2 Views
05:56:48 01/31/09
2009 Fair Trade Nicaragua Coffee Farmers #3 Organic Coffee Beans Nicaraguan Women Are Respected
[LESS INFO] 2 VIEWS | ADDED 05:56:48 01/31/09
Northern Michigan University students Sarah Swanson and Lisa McCarthy stand near the mouth of Masaya Volcano in Nicaragua. Members of Lutheran Campus Ministry, the students were with a group of Americans participating in a Lutheran World Relief study project.(Marquette, Michigan) - While Upper Peninsula residents endured an arctic blast, two Northern Michigan University students started the New Year learning about Fair Trade during the peak of the coffee growing season in Nicaragua.Three videos of the student's presentation about their Nicaragua trip were produced by Lutheran Campus Ministry at Northern Michigan University and the non-profit Cedar Tree Institute in Marquette, MI.------- Video #1Role of faith communities, Nicaragua coffee farmers, and coffee cooperatives in Fair Trade movement; Northern Michigan University students talk about work that goes into growing coffee including wet mills, dry mills and the process of quality/taste testing called “cupping.”Video #2The Fair Trade movement efforts of Lutheran World Relief, Equal Exchange and the Center for Global Education.A look at Fair Trade Principals including prohibiting child labor, protecting the environment, the need for fair wages and help the entire community (not just coffee farming families).The students describe staying with coffee farming families in a small village in a mountainous area, interacting with the children and some of the interesting and inspiring people they met.Video #3The students describe how the women of Nicaragua are treated with respect, the importance of families and the environmental protection efforts of one Nicaragua’s organic farmers.-------(Photos at St. Mark's Lutheran Church by Greg Peterson) Since their return on January 12, Lisa McCarthy and Sarah Swanson have begun a series of presentations at U.P. churches to encourage Americans to buy Fair Trade coffee that ensures poor Nicaraguan farmers don't lose money in the labor-intensive industry of coffee production.From staring into the mouth of the Masaya Volcano to traveling narrow mountain roads to stay with coffee-farming families to picking beans and participating in all phases of coffee production, the trip was a myth-shattering experience. The students are the latest of hundreds of faith community representatives traveling to Central American over the last decade with Lutheran World Relief (LWR) to get a quick course on Fair Trade while erasing misconceptions about Nicaragua's hard-working low-income farmers who take pride in their coffee.Known for loving a strong cup of hot coffee, U.P. residents are the perfect audience for the two students who were impressed by the work ethic and friendliness of Nicaraguans.The Fair Trade movement was born during the "coffee crisis of 1990s" when prices "really imploded - it was terrible," said Swanson, 20, an NMU junior majoring in speech language and hearing sciences.The fluctuating market price for Nicaraguan coffee in early January 2009 was $1.13 per pound, said Swanson, who is a native of Rapid River, MI.Both students are members of NMU Evangelical Lutheran Church of America (ELCA) Lutheran Campus Ministry (LCM) and their trips were funded by U.P. parishes and donors. The students met with other groups involved in the Fair Trade effort including Equal Exchange and the Center for Global Education."Equal Exchange was the first Fair Trade distributor of coffee in the United States," said McCarthy, 19, an NMU sophomore majoring in photography.Citing the Underground Railroad run by churches during the American Civil War and sanctuary for refugees during the war in El Salvador, Rev. Jon Magnuson of Marquette said the Fair Trade movement was started by "churches to create an alternative economy to the one that was oppressing small farmers."It's a part of the church's work, part of the faith community's mission and a part people don't know about,' said Magnuson, who is the NMU LCM campus pastor."Sarah and Lisa are going to be encouraging churches to sell Fair Trade coffee and chocolate in their basements," said Rev. Magnuson.Some U.P. Lutheran churches have been on board for years."Fair Trade Coffee sold at Messiah Lutheran Church in Marquette is sold at cost," said Messiah member John Carlson of Marquette. "This is a ministry for helping this program of Fair Trade.""During the coffee crisis they had to bring it (the coffee) through Canada," said McCarthy, a native of Greenville, WI. "They had to go through all these measures to get it (the coffee) here."The students said Nicaraguan coffee producers seek respect for their heritage, and want foreigners to understand what goes into growing that coffee they love each morning.Nicaraguans hope emissaries like the NMU students will spread the word about Fair Trade far and wide thus getting people to only buy coffee originating from democratically-run cooperatives that represent the farmers.Lead by his children, a Nicaraguan coffee farmer carries a heavy sack of beans on his shoulders. They are on the way to his local democratically-run cooperative.(Nicaragua Photos by Lisa McCarthy)"One thing we can do is respect them," said McCarthy during a recent presentation at St. Mark's Lutheran Church in Marquette that was attended by residents from 18 to 80 years old and as far away as Rapid River. "It was really great to go on this trip because it's hard to respect a faceless thing."You buy the coffee and respect Fair Trade but going there and seeing that and knowing the work that goes into one cup of coffee - brings it home," McCarthy said. It's important for Americans to know "the amount of work that goes into everything."LWR "really stresses the accompaniment model that they use with all their programs - They are not just throwing money at them,"Swanson said. LWR works with Nicarguans "to find out what these farmers want and the things that the need" to accomplish their individual dreams.Americans sometimes mistakenly think that Nicaraguans "want all the things that we have," said Swanson."Most Nicaraguan farmers have never tasted their quality coffee because it's way more beneficial for them to ship it out, than for them to drink even a cup," McCarthy said. "They drink the bad quality stuff.""One of the new projects" for the farmers is "trying to get people in Nicaragua to buy high quality coffee because that's a whole other market they haven't touched."The students received a history lesson on Nicaragua and assistance from employees of the Center for Global Education in Managua including program coordinator and interpreter Juan Carlos Lopez and study abroad facilitator Joe Connelly.Lopez and Connelly, who host numerous ecotourism study project coffee tours each year, "came with us on our trip and added to our experience by sharing with us what they know from working there," Swanson said.(Nicaragua Photos by Lisa McCarthy)McCarthy and Swanson were happy to learn that "women in Nicaragua are known as being strong women." Something they learned first hand and was more impressive to the pair than even the current status of women's rights in the U.S.Instead of receiving an expected lecture from men at the co-ops, the students were greeted by a female co-op board secretary, who "spoke to us so passionately and with such great knowledge, that is just blew me away," McCarthy said. "I saw in-person that it's not a factor if you are a man or a women."(Nicaragua Photos by Lisa McCarthy)"Even though it has been fought for here (in the U.S.) it's still part of our culture that the man is the alpha male," McCarthy said."Just seeing that and seeing her was one of the more impactful things for me," McCarthy said, adding she was impressed with "how proud they (women) are of the co-op."A Nicaraguan woman is raking the coffee beans for even drying at SOLCAFE(Nicaragua Photos by Lisa McCarthy) LWR stresses respect for the Nicaraguan farmers who are not looking for a handout rather a fair wage for their hard work.‘They envision a world where all people live in justice, dignity and peace," said Swanson, who told the story of a young women repaying a $200 loan used to buy a home."You could see how this was helping her maintain her dignity because she was paying is back," Swanson. "She wanted to buy her house - they don't want it to be handouts from people.The students visited the SolCaf
5 Views
05:31:55 01/31/09
2009 Fair Trade Nicaragua Coffee Farmers #2 Nmu Students On Lutheran World Relief Study Tour
[LESS INFO] 5 VIEWS | ADDED 05:31:55 01/31/09
Northern Michigan University students Sarah Swanson and Lisa McCarthy stand near the mouth of Masaya Volcano in Nicaragua. Members of Lutheran Campus Ministry, the students were with a group of Americans participating in a Lutheran World Relief study project.(Marquette, Michigan) - While Upper Peninsula residents endured an arctic blast, two Northern Michigan University students started the New Year learning about Fair Trade during the peak of the coffee growing season in Nicaragua.Three videos of the student's presentation about their Nicaragua trip were produced by Lutheran Campus Ministry at Northern Michigan University and the non-profit Cedar Tree Institute in Marquette, MI.------- Video #1Role of faith communities, Nicaragua coffee farmers, and coffee cooperatives in Fair Trade movement; Northern Michigan University students talk about work that goes into growing coffee including wet mills, dry mills and the process of quality/taste testing called “cupping.”Video #2The Fair Trade movement efforts of Lutheran World Relief, Equal Exchange and the Center for Global Education.A look at Fair Trade Principals including prohibiting child labor, protecting the environment, the need for fair wages and help the entire community (not just coffee farming families).The students describe staying with coffee farming families in a small village in a mountainous area, interacting with the children and some of the interesting and inspiring people they met.Video #3The students describe how the women of Nicaragua are treated with respect, the importance of families and the environmental protection efforts of one Nicaragua’s organic farmers.-------(Photos at St. Mark's Lutheran Church by Greg Peterson) Since their return on January 12, Lisa McCarthy and Sarah Swanson have begun a series of presentations at U.P. churches to encourage Americans to buy Fair Trade coffee that ensures poor Nicaraguan farmers don't lose money in the labor-intensive industry of coffee production.From staring into the mouth of the Masaya Volcano to traveling narrow mountain roads to stay with coffee-farming families to picking beans and participating in all phases of coffee production, the trip was a myth-shattering experience. The students are the latest of hundreds of faith community representatives traveling to Central American over the last decade with Lutheran World Relief (LWR) to get a quick course on Fair Trade while erasing misconceptions about Nicaragua's hard-working low-income farmers who take pride in their coffee.Known for loving a strong cup of hot coffee, U.P. residents are the perfect audience for the two students who were impressed by the work ethic and friendliness of Nicaraguans.The Fair Trade movement was born during the "coffee crisis of 1990s" when prices "really imploded - it was terrible," said Swanson, 20, an NMU junior majoring in speech language and hearing sciences.The fluctuating market price for Nicaraguan coffee in early January 2009 was $1.13 per pound, said Swanson, who is a native of Rapid River, MI.Both students are members of NMU Evangelical Lutheran Church of America (ELCA) Lutheran Campus Ministry (LCM) and their trips were funded by U.P. parishes and donors. The students met with other groups involved in the Fair Trade effort including Equal Exchange and the Center for Global Education."Equal Exchange was the first Fair Trade distributor of coffee in the United States," said McCarthy, 19, an NMU sophomore majoring in photography.Citing the Underground Railroad run by churches during the American Civil War and sanctuary for refugees during the war in El Salvador, Rev. Jon Magnuson of Marquette said the Fair Trade movement was started by "churches to create an alternative economy to the one that was oppressing small farmers."It's a part of the church's work, part of the faith community's mission and a part people don't know about,' said Magnuson, who is the NMU LCM campus pastor."Sarah and Lisa are going to be encouraging churches to sell Fair Trade coffee and chocolate in their basements," said Rev. Magnuson.Some U.P. Lutheran churches have been on board for years."Fair Trade Coffee sold at Messiah Lutheran Church in Marquette is sold at cost," said Messiah member John Carlson of Marquette. "This is a ministry for helping this program of Fair Trade.""During the coffee crisis they had to bring it (the coffee) through Canada," said McCarthy, a native of Greenville, WI. "They had to go through all these measures to get it (the coffee) here."The students said Nicaraguan coffee producers seek respect for their heritage, and want foreigners to understand what goes into growing that coffee they love each morning.Nicaraguans hope emissaries like the NMU students will spread the word about Fair Trade far and wide thus getting people to only buy coffee originating from democratically-run cooperatives that represent the farmers.Lead by his children, a Nicaraguan coffee farmer carries a heavy sack of beans on his shoulders. They are on the way to his local democratically-run cooperative.(Nicaragua Photos by Lisa McCarthy)"One thing we can do is respect them," said McCarthy during a recent presentation at St. Mark's Lutheran Church in Marquette that was attended by residents from 18 to 80 years old and as far away as Rapid River. "It was really great to go on this trip because it's hard to respect a faceless thing."You buy the coffee and respect Fair Trade but going there and seeing that and knowing the work that goes into one cup of coffee - brings it home," McCarthy said. It's important for Americans to know "the amount of work that goes into everything."LWR "really stresses the accompaniment model that they use with all their programs - They are not just throwing money at them,"Swanson said. LWR works with Nicarguans "to find out what these farmers want and the things that the need" to accomplish their individual dreams.Americans sometimes mistakenly think that Nicaraguans "want all the things that we have," said Swanson."Most Nicaraguan farmers have never tasted their quality coffee because it's way more beneficial for them to ship it out, than for them to drink even a cup," McCarthy said. "They drink the bad quality stuff.""One of the new projects" for the farmers is "trying to get people in Nicaragua to buy high quality coffee because that's a whole other market they haven't touched."The students received a history lesson on Nicaragua and assistance from employees of the Center for Global Education in Managua including program coordinator and interpreter Juan Carlos Lopez and study abroad facilitator Joe Connelly.Lopez and Connelly, who host numerous ecotourism study project coffee tours each year, "came with us on our trip and added to our experience by sharing with us what they know from working there," Swanson said.(Nicaragua Photos by Lisa McCarthy)McCarthy and Swanson were happy to learn that "women in Nicaragua are known as being strong women." Something they learned first hand and was more impressive to the pair than even the current status of women's rights in the U.S.Instead of receiving an expected lecture from men at the co-ops, the students were greeted by a female co-op board secretary, who "spoke to us so passionately and with such great knowledge, that is just blew me away," McCarthy said. "I saw in-person that it's not a factor if you are a man or a women."(Nicaragua Photos by Lisa McCarthy)"Even though it has been fought for here (in the U.S.) it's still part of our culture that the man is the alpha male," McCarthy said."Just seeing that and seeing her was one of the more impactful things for me," McCarthy said, adding she was impressed with "how proud they (women) are of the co-op."A Nicaraguan woman is raking the coffee beans for even drying at SOLCAFE(Nicaragua Photos by Lisa McCarthy) LWR stresses respect for the Nicaraguan farmers who are not looking for a handout rather a fair wage for their hard work.‘They envision a world where all people live in justice, dignity and peace," said Swanson, who told the story of a young women repaying a $200 loan used to buy a home."You could see how this was helping her maintain her dignity because she was paying is back," Swanson. "She wanted to buy her house - they don't want it to be handouts from people.The students visited the SolCaf
6 Views
04:19:37 01/31/09
2009 Fair Trade Nicaragua Coffee Farmers #1 How Your Morning Coffee Arrives Fair Trade Principals
[LESS INFO] 6 VIEWS | ADDED 04:19:37 01/31/09
Northern Michigan University students Sarah Swanson and Lisa McCarthy stand near the mouth of Masaya Volcano in Nicaragua. Members of Lutheran Campus Ministry, the students were with a group of Americans participating in a Lutheran World Relief study project.(Marquette, Michigan) - While Upper Peninsula residents endured an arctic blast, two Northern Michigan University students started the New Year learning about Fair Trade during the peak of the coffee growing season in Nicaragua.Three videos of the student's presentation about their Nicaragua trip were produced by Lutheran Campus Ministry at Northern Michigan University and the non-profit Cedar Tree Institute in Marquette, MI.------- Video #1Role of faith communities, Nicaragua coffee farmers, and coffee cooperatives in Fair Trade movement; Northern Michigan University students talk about work that goes into growing coffee including wet mills, dry mills and the process of quality/taste testing called “cupping.”Video #2The Fair Trade movement efforts of Lutheran World Relief, Equal Exchange and the Center for Global Education.A look at Fair Trade Principals including prohibiting child labor, protecting the environment, the need for fair wages and help the entire community (not just coffee farming families).The students describe staying with coffee farming families in a small village in a mountainous area, interacting with the children and some of the interesting and inspiring people they met.Video #3The students describe how the women of Nicaragua are treated with respect, the importance of families and the environmental protection efforts of one Nicaragua’s organic farmers.-------(Photos at St. Mark's Lutheran Church by Greg Peterson) Since their return on January 12, Lisa McCarthy and Sarah Swanson have begun a series of presentations at U.P. churches to encourage Americans to buy Fair Trade coffee that ensures poor Nicaraguan farmers don't lose money in the labor-intensive industry of coffee production.From staring into the mouth of the Masaya Volcano to traveling narrow mountain roads to stay with coffee-farming families to picking beans and participating in all phases of coffee production, the trip was a myth-shattering experience. The students are the latest of hundreds of faith community representatives traveling to Central American over the last decade with Lutheran World Relief (LWR) to get a quick course on Fair Trade while erasing misconceptions about Nicaragua's hard-working low-income farmers who take pride in their coffee.Known for loving a strong cup of hot coffee, U.P. residents are the perfect audience for the two students who were impressed by the work ethic and friendliness of Nicaraguans.The Fair Trade movement was born during the "coffee crisis of 1990s" when prices "really imploded - it was terrible," said Swanson, 20, an NMU junior majoring in speech language and hearing sciences.The fluctuating market price for Nicaraguan coffee in early January 2009 was $1.13 per pound, said Swanson, who is a native of Rapid River, MI.Both students are members of NMU Evangelical Lutheran Church of America (ELCA) Lutheran Campus Ministry (LCM) and their trips were funded by U.P. parishes and donors. The students met with other groups involved in the Fair Trade effort including Equal Exchange and the Center for Global Education."Equal Exchange was the first Fair Trade distributor of coffee in the United States," said McCarthy, 19, an NMU sophomore majoring in photography.Citing the Underground Railroad run by churches during the American Civil War and sanctuary for refugees during the war in El Salvador, Rev. Jon Magnuson of Marquette said the Fair Trade movement was started by "churches to create an alternative economy to the one that was oppressing small farmers."It's a part of the church's work, part of the faith community's mission and a part people don't know about,' said Magnuson, who is the NMU LCM campus pastor."Sarah and Lisa are going to be encouraging churches to sell Fair Trade coffee and chocolate in their basements," said Rev. Magnuson.Some U.P. Lutheran churches have been on board for years."Fair Trade Coffee sold at Messiah Lutheran Church in Marquette is sold at cost," said Messiah member John Carlson of Marquette. "This is a ministry for helping this program of Fair Trade.""During the coffee crisis they had to bring it (the coffee) through Canada," said McCarthy, a native of Greenville, WI. "They had to go through all these measures to get it (the coffee) here."The students said Nicaraguan coffee producers seek respect for their heritage, and want foreigners to understand what goes into growing that coffee they love each morning.Nicaraguans hope emissaries like the NMU students will spread the word about Fair Trade far and wide thus getting people to only buy coffee originating from democratically-run cooperatives that represent the farmers.Lead by his children, a Nicaraguan coffee farmer carries a heavy sack of beans on his shoulders. They are on the way to his local democratically-run cooperative.(Nicaragua Photos by Lisa McCarthy)"One thing we can do is respect them," said McCarthy during a recent presentation at St. Mark's Lutheran Church in Marquette that was attended by residents from 18 to 80 years old and as far away as Rapid River. "It was really great to go on this trip because it's hard to respect a faceless thing."You buy the coffee and respect Fair Trade but going there and seeing that and knowing the work that goes into one cup of coffee - brings it home," McCarthy said. It's important for Americans to know "the amount of work that goes into everything."LWR "really stresses the accompaniment model that they use with all their programs - They are not just throwing money at them,"Swanson said. LWR works with Nicarguans "to find out what these farmers want and the things that the need" to accomplish their individual dreams.Americans sometimes mistakenly think that Nicaraguans "want all the things that we have," said Swanson."Most Nicaraguan farmers have never tasted their quality coffee because it's way more beneficial for them to ship it out, than for them to drink even a cup," McCarthy said. "They drink the bad quality stuff.""One of the new projects" for the farmers is "trying to get people in Nicaragua to buy high quality coffee because that's a whole other market they haven't touched."The students received a history lesson on Nicaragua and assistance from employees of the Center for Global Education in Managua including program coordinator and interpreter Juan Carlos Lopez and study abroad facilitator Joe Connelly.Lopez and Connelly, who host numerous ecotourism study project coffee tours each year, "came with us on our trip and added to our experience by sharing with us what they know from working there," Swanson said.(Nicaragua Photos by Lisa McCarthy)McCarthy and Swanson were happy to learn that "women in Nicaragua are known as being strong women." Something they learned first hand and was more impressive to the pair than even the current status of women's rights in the U.S.Instead of receiving an expected lecture from men at the co-ops, the students were greeted by a female co-op board secretary, who "spoke to us so passionately and with such great knowledge, that is just blew me away," McCarthy said. "I saw in-person that it's not a factor if you are a man or a women."(Nicaragua Photos by Lisa McCarthy)"Even though it has been fought for here (in the U.S.) it's still part of our culture that the man is the alpha male," McCarthy said."Just seeing that and seeing her was one of the more impactful things for me," McCarthy said, adding she was impressed with "how proud they (women) are of the co-op."A Nicaraguan woman is raking the coffee beans for even drying at SOLCAFE(Nicaragua Photos by Lisa McCarthy) LWR stresses respect for the Nicaraguan farmers who are not looking for a handout rather a fair wage for their hard work.‘They envision a world where all people live in justice, dignity and peace," said Swanson, who told the story of a young women repaying a $200 loan used to buy a home."You could see how this was helping her maintain her dignity because she was paying is back," Swanson. "She wanted to buy her house - they don't want it to be handouts from people.The students visited the SolCaf
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06:38:22 11/17/08
Radical Richard Peace March 11 16 08
[LESS INFO] 0 VIEWS | ADDED 06:38:22 11/17/08
Stopping Wars Abroad And Stop Police Violence of Poor People Radical Richard organized and leads a “Peace March” through down town to the central police station. A dozen concerned activists of all ages spend an hour marching for peach and justice through the city. The gathering started at he Iron Elephant on 6th and Burnside at the North Park blocks. They followed Richard to stand across from Powel’s Books for a while, then over to Pioneer Square, and then on to the police station on 3rd street. Holding a few signs and yelling a few chants along the way. No problems to report, this was a peaceful march of concerned citizens. Exercising their right of free speech.Mostly the group was met with respective waves and honks of acknowledgement, by cars or other people along the sidewalks. The invitation for next week at the same time and same place is extended to all by Richard at the end of the march. I was unofficially given the following text regarding Richard’s reasons for this“call-out against injustice here locally and abroad” It was added at the end of the 9:30 minute YouTube video, titled “Radical Richards Peace March” _________________(quote) "I, Radical Richard, am calling for a mobilization at the Iron Elephant in the North Park blocks."I call on people to make clear to the Obama presidency that we want no new expansion of the Wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. We must make this clear."I call for a stop to targeted ticketing and harassment of community activists and poor people by police."It is my duty as an activist to call on our federal and local governments to stop these wars on poor people.
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09:02:33 07/29/08
Trans Day of Action 2008
[LESS INFO] 4 VIEWS | ADDED 09:02:33 07/29/08
The 4th New York City Trans Day of Action for Social & Economic Justice started at City Hall Park and march throughout the city to march for Social and Economic Justice. TGNC People of Color (POC) recognize the importance of working together alongside other movements to change the world we want to see. We live in a time when people of color, immigrants and poor people are disproportionately underserved, face higher levels of discrimination, heightened surveillance and experience increased violence at the hands of the state. The march spoke out about dismantling the transphobia, racism, classism, sexism, ageism, ableism, homophobia and xenophobia that permeates throughout our movements for social justice. Here are highlights from the event.
