It's Time to Cut The Cable

I see letters to the editor from people complaining that with rises in gas and utilities they can't really handle the increase in cable, too. Guess what folks, cable is not basic need. It's time to cut the cable and save some money. Read a book, take a walk, volunteer, play with your kids.

Winter Soldier: Iraq & Afghanistan (Part 1)

Note: some of the images are disturbing:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=C0YFaLN_LFs&feature=related

Church of Stop Shopping and the Story of Stuff

Consumerism is out of control!
I replaced my 30 year old fridge last year. When I went to buy a new one, I told the sales person I need to replace my 30 year old fridge. He informed me that fridges built today do not last that long. This is unacceptable!

The Story of Stuff is a "20-minute, fast-paced, fact-filled look at the underside of our production and consumption patterns". The problem I encountered with the fridge is called Planned Obsolescence, and it is addressed in the Story of Stuff. Perceived Obsolescence is created by advertisers. It is also addressed in the Story. My tv is almost 20 years old, when it dies I will not be getting a new one.

Reverend Billy and the Church of Stop Shopping are spreading the anti-consumerism message. Last Christmas, a documentary was made about Rev Billy - "What Would Jesus Buy?" I highly recommend it. Below is the trailer:

Stop Military Rape

This must stop!

Winter Soldier Testimony dealing with military rape.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=epECbwvQshM&feature=related

http://stopmilitaryrape.org/

An Inconvenient Truth: We Are Eating Our Planet to Death

I've been a vegetarian for a long time. My goal is veganism, but it is hard to do - some days are easier than others. A vegan diet is best for our over-burdened planet.

Because of global warming, choosing a plant-food based diet is now a moral issue.

Here are two articles that explain:
http://www.drmcdougall.com/misc/2006nl/dec/truth.htm

http://www.drmcdougall.com/misc/2006nl/dec/globalwarming.htm :
"Global warming poses one of the most serious threats to the global environment ever faced in human history. Yet by focusing entirely on carbon dioxide emissions, major environmental organizations have failed to account for published data showing that other gases are the main culprits behind the global warming we see today. As a result, they are neglecting what might be the most effective strategy for reducing global warming in our lifetimes: advocating a vegetarian diet."

Michael Prysner's testimony at Winter Soldier

Here is a link to the video:
http://answer.pephost.org/site/News2?abbr=ANS_&page=NewsArticle&id=8795#video

In the must-watch video, Iraq war veteran and ANSWER organizer Michael Prysner retells his horrifying responsibilities as an occupation soldier, and denounces the Army officers who used racism and bigotry in order to justify the oppression of the Iraqi people. Prysner's eloquent and compelling testimony cuts through the Pentagon's propaganda and exposes the truth of the Iraq occupation -- please circulate this video to your friends, family members, classmates, co-workers and listservs.

Prysner joined the U.S. Army at age 17 and in March 2003, he was deployed to northern Iraq. He remained there for 12 months. Bearing witness to the many crimes of the occupation, Prysner became a staunch opponent of the war, and in 2005 he began organizing and speaking out against it. The four-day Winter Soldier event was organized by Iraq War Veterans Against the War.

Winter Soldier - eyewitness accounts of the occupations

Every single US Citizen should see at least some of the Winter Soldier testimony.
I am outraged that it was not covered by the mainstream media. Something must be done about the one-sided corporate media coverage.

I am also outraged that the mainstream media is not accurately reporting what is going on in Iraq.

Iraq Veterans Against the War sponsored the testimony. You can watch replays of the testimonies at http://www.ivaw.org.

You can also see replays at Democracy Now.