Story Archives 2000

by Gloria Esteva--Voces de Inmigrantes en Resistencia

Scroll down for English

by Staff Writer

We, the people, the oppressed need to be heard.

We are at the bottom of the pyramid.

The have nots of society.

Who are falsely accused of being the minority when we're really the majority, criminals, free, failures, immigrants, gang bangers.

These are just labels, ways to classify us, they're all lies.

Sons and daughters of the oppressed.

Who dream of a better future.

Who feel unheard, yet powerful.

Who need freedom, your help, and your voice to fix our community.

Who fear becoming another statistic.

Who gives a damn no matter what color, gender, or race.

Who would like to see a government that cares, people treated like human beings, and the people united, so stop labeling us.

Who will fight for what's right, be successful, stop ignorance, and prove them wrong.

Learn to survive.

We are the social justice academy, we fight for hope, justice, and freedom for generations to come, we are the people, the majority, the world.

We are not going to be judged by our race, but judged by the things we have done.

We did not get to choose, we were born as we were meant to be.

We will not be the pawns of society.

The people, united, will never be defeated because the people, united, can never be divided.

by Staff Writer

Last Friday in the San Francisco Chronicle I read independent booksellers didn’t do well in the Antitrust case against Borders, Barnes & Nobles Book stores.

I’m not going into details, lets say U.S. District Judge William H. Orrick saw the big chain’s view.

What can small independent book sellers do?
Yes. Barns, Borders, Crown, and other giants have blocks of room for volumes of new and popular works, large advertising budgets, and coffee shops for patrons wanting to slow down to sip their hot tan to black liquid with pastry, bagel, English muffin, French or American Toast.

Where did the coffee shop idea come from? It was originally from modest independent bookseller’s with innovative ways of thinking.

They had to compete against other shops for customers.

Most if not all big chains think:bottom-line, what will get people to buy and not browse, bigger=better is their notion and if coffee shops, bar and bakery combos will get the public in they’ll spend the money raising/cutting prices on food items for added cash revenue.

Big Book chains are Glitzy, posh, expensive, and slightly innovative. How can independent booksellers compete? They don’t; like successful Mom& Pop or one-owner bookstores of the past they can do-be innovative, different in ways huge chains cannot.

Remember "The Purple Onion" or "Hungry Eye" in the 1950’s and 60’s with poets, comedians individual stand-up or groups and of course authors of various works.

Then there is malt shops, PC, I-net spaces and independents joining for a better diversified customer base.

Not following the chain crowd could be what saves independents. It seems when chains have a successful model they don’t change they tend to look the same and if an ordinary behind-the-counter has an idea dumb or brilliant she/he may not be listened to because of the Chain-of-Command top-down structure of most chains.

in a small shop with four or less people one person with a dumb or brilliant idea can ask the boss too without c-o-c wait and his or her idea can be tried.

Think of chain bookstores as slow moving monoliths that may communicate swiftly with other monoliths but c-o-c’s make ‘em get in their own way.

Sometimes bigger is better and at other times what is wanted and needed is
a small nook for books not well known, like small diamonds and gems constantly overlooked.

remember all new books get old eventually and big chains have to move their products.

Small stores with combo café’s, author visits, PC-net services will always be an alternative to large chains because readers are interested in so many kinds of books that chain stores may disdain or dislike not taking the effort because of adverse publicity.

>p>The "If its not here its not anywhere" attitude will no longer be applied as long as independents say. "These ideas, works, authors, theories, whatever are here for readers, not for big chains to pick and choose what our tastes are to fill their already full coffers.

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by Muteado Silencio/PNN Voces de inmigrantes en resistencia

For English Scroll Down

Hace ya muchos años,y aun en mi mente sigue vivo lo dicifil que es dejar todo una vida, una familia, dejar a una esposa y lo dificil que esdejar a una madre llorando,", Sergio Guerrero es unos de los muchos In/migrante sabios autores del libro Los Viajes una antologia leteraria producidad por Poor Magazine.

Diciembre 18 es reconozido como “Dia Internacional del Migrante” en el mundo, Hay 200 millones de In/migrantes viviendo fuera de su lugar de origen en el presente.

Muchos In/migrantes tienen la necesidad the abandonar su lugar nativo por la escases de trabajo en sus comunidades. Con la crisis economica en el mundo muchos mas seran forsados a emigrar en busca de trabajo para sostener sus familias.

Era un acontecimiento multicultural y lei a los niños- niños con las caras Africanas, caras Filipinas, caras Mexicanas, cara Laosianas- caras hermosas- cada cara era una senilla de la esperanza, una flor, Un extracto por Tony Robles, Filipino Americano del libro Los Viajes.

Migracion es un fenomeno global, como la migracion de los hermanos y hermanas de Africa quien estan emigrando para Europa, y el Sur de America al Norte, como tambien la gente rural quienes estan emigrando a las cuidades en busca de mejores oportunidades.

Este “Dia Internacional del Migrante” nosotros como In/migrantes no solo celebramos, tambien tomamos responsabilidad en mostrar el poder que tenemos como In/migrantes.

La Liga Global, La Liga de sustentadores de la comunidad global es un ejemplo de como podemos mostrar nuestro poder como comunidades transnacionales. La Liga Global promueve, la participacion de In/migrantes remitentes y nuestras familiias como impulsores activos de la economia global, con el poder de decidir sobre nuestras vidas. Creando un futuro donde la migración sea una opción, no una necesidad.

La formación de una democracia económica donde los miembros de la comunidad tiene acceso general a los bienes communes: cooperatives, comercio justo, renta básica universal o crédito social; y promoción de desarrollo a través de iniciativas a nivel local o regional.

Para aprender mas detalles visite www.laligaglobal.org

Al transcurso del tiempo no importa la situación , sea la economia o lo que sea, la gente inducumentada y In/migrantes lo usan como excusa, con la excepción de los Nativos Americanos y Afro-Americanos, quien fueron traido ala fuerza, todos somos In/migrantes en este pais. Nosotros cruzamos la frontera, pero los Europeos cruzaron un Oceanó. Tenemos que crear una nueva conciencia y estrategias para trabajar más allá de nuestra clase y division de razas para construir un mundo major par alas proximas generaciones.

http://www.laligaglobal.org/multimedia/video/

Engles Sigue:

After many years, the thought of having to leave everything is still alive in my mind; leaving my life, my family, my wife, and the hardest, leaving a crying mother.
Excerpt by Sergio Guerrero, who is one of many In/migrant scholars featured in the book Los Viajes, The Journeys, a literary anthology on In/migrants.

December 18th is recognized as International Migrants Day. In the world, they are presently 200 million In/migrants living outside their place of origin.

Many In/migrants need to leave their native land for the lack of work in their communities. With the economic crisis consuming the world, many more will be forced to migrate and look for work to sustain their families.

It was a multicultural event, and I read to children with African faces, Filipino faces, Mexican faces, Laotian faces—beautiful faces—each face a seed of hope, a flower.
~An excerpt by Tony Robles from Los Viajes, The Journeys.

Migration is a global phenomenon that includes brothers and sisters migrating from Africa to Europe, from the global south to the global north, and people from rural areas moving to cities in search of better opportunities.

This International Migrants Day we as migrants do not only celebrate, we take a stand together to exercise the power we hold as In/migrants.

La Liga Global, the Global League of Community Sustainers, is an example of how we can use the power we hold as a transnational community. La Liga Global recognizes that migrants and their families are sustainers of the global economy and promotes transnational humanity instead of corporate-driven globalization from above, and gives us the power to decide our own lives by encouraging us to use our collective voice and economic power to build a future in which migration is an option, not a necessity.

In an economic democracy community members have access to the commons—co-operatives, fair trade, universal basic income or social credit, and the promotion of development through initiatives at local and regional levels.

Over the years no matter what is going on, be it the economy or whatever, undocumented workers and In/migrants are the scapegoats. With the exception of Native Americans and African-Americans, who were brought here by force, we are all In/migrants. We might have crossed the border, but Europeans crossed an Ocean. We need to build a new conscioucness and new strategies to work beyond class and race divisions to build a better world for future generations in a nation of In/migrants.

To learn more details on La Liga Global visit www.laligaglobal.org
http://www.laligaglobal.org/multimedia/video/

by Andy DellaRocca/PNN Media intern

"Andy, grab yourself something to eat." I was startled to hear somebody
call me by my first name. How did this woman know my name? Why was she so
concerned about my diet? I then remembered the name tag that I had been
given at the front entrance, on which I wrote "Andy: Poornewsnetwork." The
tag hung from my upper chest, and as I sat in the wooden fold-up chair in
Susan Cieutat's living room, I pondered how nice it would be if we all wore
name tags, all of the time. "Please, you must be hungry."

I wasn't at all hungry, I had just eaten. But after a third person
requested that I take advantage of the platter that was spread out in the
dining room, I rose and squeezed past the others to arrive at the table.
There before me stood a table full of bagels, cream cheese, and fruit salad.
"Have you been eating enough fruit?" rang my mother's voice in my head,
and despite the affirmative responses I've always given her, I knew that I
hadn't been, so I filled my plate with blueberries, bananas, melon, and
apples, and went back to my seat. I ate the food quickly, eager to get back
to reading the pamphlets that were handed to me concerning Oregon's
comprehensive Health Care Finance Act, Universal Health Care in San
Francisco, and the Universal Single Payer Health Care Resolution. As I read
these, and ate my fruit, I thought about how justified my mother's concerns
were, both that I was living without a health plan, and that I didn't eat
enough fruit.

"I have to pay $100 dollars to find out if I still have cancer? That's
immoral," Jose Ramirez, a Cuban emigrant, now living in the United States,
told us he had said to a doctor from whom he received treatment in the past,
and who had presented to him a bill for a medical exam. We were all
introducing ourselves, and when I heard the statement by Jose, I realized
that I'd better start the tape recorder.

Health Care For All San Francisco, a local non-profit group, was hosting
this event in Susan Cieutat's living room. Amongst the tall bookcases that
lined the walls of her bright home sat about 25 adults of all ages, who
represented a variety of organizations such as the Gray Panthers, Neighbor
to Neighbor, and Health Care for All. The featured guest was Anne
Sunderland, who works for the Institute of Global Health at the University
of California, San Francisco. She recently attended the World Health
Organization's conference on biotechnology and health in Havana, Cuba, and
was here to speak about Cuba's biotech industry, as well as the state of
health care around the world. My tape recorder whirred as she stood up to
speak.

"Although it's relatively easy to be unaware of this while living in the
United States, we are really living in a time of great crisis in terms of
health around the world. And this crisis is fueled in large part by what
are referred to as 'diseases of poverty'. These are infectious diseases
that disproportionally affect poorer regions of the world."

Her discussion had begun, and she outlined for us the statistics that many
of our brothers and sisters are coping with in the more impoverished areas
of the world. Ten to fourteen million people dead of infectious diseases
each year, 90% of whom live in developing countries. Sixty-five to 75% of
the 40 million individuals infected with HIV live in sub-Saharan Africa.
Ninety percent of the one to two million malaria deaths that occur each year
are children, under the age of five, living in the same region. And two
million people die each year of tuberculosis. The numbers are astounding.

"Imagine looking around the room today and knowing that, without a doubt,
one in every four of us was HIV positive."

The room was overwhelmingly filled with middle-class white folks, and I was
fairly confident that very few of those around me, if any, were infected
with the virus. In sub-Saharan Africa however, almost everyone would be
poor and black, and one in four would be positive.

"How many of you in the room have been impacted by tuberculosis, or have had
a loved one impacted?" Anne asked.

Two hands went into the air, and one of the women that raised hers conceded
that it were elephants in the zoo which she knew were infected.

Anne explained that much of the disparity between health care systems around
the world is due, in large part, to the lack of biotech industry in
developing countries. Biotechnology is the application of biological
knowledge and techniques to create new products and technologies. It is the
medical implications of this technology that is relevant to international
health. Vaccines, for example, are a biotechnological creation. The
establishment of biotech industries in richer countries, and the absence of
such industry in poorer ones, has been labeled the "genomics divide."

"Only 1% of the new drugs that were brought to market between 1975 and 1997
were developed specifically for a disease of poverty. Why is this
happening? Well, essentially, most of the biotech capacity, in terms of
technology and infrastructure and funding and trained scientists, just
resides in the developed world. Many of these resources reside in companies
of the developed world which function in market economies, where making a
profit is the overwhelming objective.

"Despite the huge numbers of potential patients in the developing world for
treatment for a disease of poverty, they don't necessarily represent BUYERS,
or customers, in the fact that neither they, nor their government in many
cases, can afford to pay the prices that the drug companies feel they need
to charge to recoup their investment costs to get a profit... to give you
the background of the INDUSTRY perspective of why this market failure has
occurred and is continuing to occur."

Cuba is important because it stands as an exception to the rule of the
genomics divide. Cuba's biotech industry is extensive. This is due to the
country's leader, Fidel Castro's, commitment to health and the health
sciences and his continued investment in the biotech sector. Even during
the 1990's, after the collapse of the Soviet Union and the economic aid for
Cuba that went with it, Fidel put one billion dollars into the industry.

What has been the result of this investment? The development of original
vaccines for certain forms of hepatitis and meningitis. The production of
generic drugs which have been exported to regions of the world where the
high prices demanded by the biotech corporations of the industrialized world
cannot be paid.

Cuba's health system has treated many individuals from outside of Cuba.
Persons from the Ukraine, who were affected by the Chernobyl disaster, went
to Cuba for treatment. Many Americans have likewise been treated by the
Cuban health system.

"We are really talking about a needs-based system where the health needs of
the citizens dictate what products are researched or developed by the
industry. The meningitis vaccine, for example, was developed after an
outbreak of meningitis in the 1970s."

As she said this, I couldn't help but think about the way that the market
has failed to address the health needs of the capitalist world. At POOR, we
once discussed "sleeping sickness," a disease for which there is a very
simple treatment. However, many people throughout the poorer regions of the
world continued to die from the disease. The cure, in the meantime, was no
longer being produced, because it was deemed unprofitable. Once the drug
was discovered to help relieve acne, however, companies began to produce it
once again. Only because well-to-do adolescents were worried about
"pizza-face" were impoverished individuals in the poor world allowed access
to the easy treatment of sleeping disease.

The state-run health system of Cuba, which is free to all of its citizens,
has resulted in infant mortality rates and life expectancy rates almost
identical to those in the US, "despite the fact that Cuba continues to live
in what we consider third world poverty, in terms of material poverty,"
emphasized Anne.

The successes of Cuba's health sector lies in stark contrast to the
deficiencies of the United States health care system, where I've been denied
coverage because of a past bout with bronchitis, and where Jose needs to
fork over $100 for his doctor to tell him the results of his cancer test. I
looked around the room and saw many seniors in the chairs, listening to Anne
talk. Some of them may be dealing with health issues as we speak. Perhaps
their retirement portfolios have dissolved in the wake of the Wall Street
scandals. Who is going to provide them with the necessary health care? If
I break my foot and can no longer work my job, will I need to go onto the
street because I can't cover my medical expenses?

Health Care for All has been advocating a Universal Single Payer Health Care
Resolution for the state of California. To learn more, check their website
at www.healthcareforall.org.

by Joe B.

Words,Women,And Men

Last time I explained what metrosexual meant and how to me its like an elaborate economic scam.

Before KPFA's radio show in Berkeley I had cleaned,bathed myself in a comfortable shower get properly spruced up for the outside.

The first order of business is withdrawing money from the bank for travel to Berkeley.

While the radio script I hear a young females voice say "I hope they don’t shoot him."

My reaction was to ignoring it because most times except for a few women in my life I’m not praised much then it occurs to me maybe they were talking and loudly about me!

For what? Being clean, intent on something other than leering a young girls and older women? I know the woman speaking is a young black woman.

Women in general don’t praise men it takes time and getting to know them before they say anything positive or negative.

I’ve been on sixth street for a long time going about by business, minding my own business and many people congregate so I like they are like fixtures here.

They must have seen me so many times say a polite though respectful no to those selling weed,crack, or other drugs on the street no use making enemies its like a game they ask I say no and its alright.

Do women know how powerful their voices of praise and derision are?

Some time ago I was with a woman in Berkeley before I had become homeless I tried keeping it from her but eventually told her even before that she offered me the key to her house but I didn’t take it I wasn’t raised that way my mother warned me to always have your own space.

I didn’t know the slang words for what we were doing except "shacking up and booty call" and later from a "Girlfriend’s", a t.v. sit-comedy another not so nice term ending in "friends or buddies"

Men are called lumbering slow witted ox’s,dogs,dumb sticks, generic,and excess fleshly with mostly small weapons attached.

If our ego’s were all that fragile men would’ve stayed hermits or turned mostly gay.

We may laugh publicly and things said to us, water,wine,hot soup,meat, and fish dishes in our faces,heads,on our shirts, and pants but it’s a public display hiding inner turmoil just as you do.

Women have taken a lot of stuff off men and visa versa but women have support system of friends men are diametrically opposite having no such support few men see others as shoulder’s to cry on, sounding boards,but as potential rivals for girlfriends or spouses affections.

What you say to us do impacts us greatly we try not letting it show bottling it up inside us.

We cry differently where as women shed tears, throw objects,scream and really let their emotions range out in healthy bursts – men rage with fists,go in bars, pick fights,or leave for days on end until anger subsides to a hoarse roar.

Personally for me if I’m praised I keep it close inside because there so many more negatives aspects are pointed out that good aspects are kept like brilliant diamond drops of gold.

Now for a friend who suffered much,given more to help others let those who can help you in their capacities.

Its Payback time from them to you,you are beloved by many,never forget that!

I cannot say love but extremely well liked but they you are a very likeable person I hope you are flooded with love –love bombed by those near and dear to you.

Rest,be calm,regroup, relax,deep dreamy sleep, and eat healthy troubles may still lay ahead but for now take time out and reassess where you are and pause before getting up and running; you don’t want fall scrape knees, hands,or head.

Take time for grief, cry,bawl,wail,don’t be dammed up whatever is there no matter how small or insignificant
identify it,see it,face it,and then let it go.

In the past year lots of obstacles have been placed in my way many of them from being stubborn, not listening,talking when mouth shut should’ve been tacit and understood.

Men’s saving grace is we keep striving to understand but sometimes act like dumb hulks when we’re really not.

Women deep down know why men are slow to change its not cowardice or limited one-track brains its when we finally do some of us go to far in either being sensitive, hard core with nothing in-between.

We’ve changed many times over the decades but the basic nature of males is to love the opposite sex at least that’s how I see it.

But after hearing so many negative portrayals no matter what we do many of us who are not homosexual,BI,trans- gendered or having sex changes and are biologically,if not socially conditioned to like,love,and marry women from other countries or emigrate to other countries for that express purpose.

Some if not most women say good riddance however I believe they are a loud minority hurting their sister’s who are as biologically,if not socially conditioned to like and love,and marry men.

It’s the same sin of men crippling their girlfriend’s,wives lives to feel empowered themselves.

Women,like men must close ranks,fight their sister if their sister’s mild or deep seated hatred not only blinds them to female/male relationships but goes to the radical step of fatherless daughter’s,son’s because its technically feasible.

Worlds without Women or Men are possible and people do adopt but would really be living or a long,slow,dreary half life limbo.

If most men wanted to live without women it would be a living hell I’d rather not live to survive in and I am sure most women giving true answers would agree and for those who wish it so let them build their woman-less/ anti male only starship separating themselves from we who like and love women and men don’t want to join their crusade.

What do you think reader’s think?


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Trying to find a way readers can write(talk back)with comments (please no nude photo's,video or DVD clips here. When I get a postbox then load it up.

kidding ladies (yes,women only-not that I'll find any in said box only wishful thinkin on my part. But readers please continue to write I need all your input.

Tell Joe:

Tell Joe:

by Jasmine Hain, Youth Poverty Scholar/PNN

"I am my father's daughter", said Georgia Congressperson Cynthia McKinney to a standing room only crowd on a warm Sunday in August. She was at the theatre below POOR Magazine's offices in the Redstone building to speak as part of a benefit tour organized by POCC Block report radio in support of the Bay View Newspaper. She spoke on a wide range of topics from Hurricane Katrina, the murder of Oscar Grant and her struggles with the Israeli government in support of Palestine to her early life as the daughter of a another Georgia politician who spoke the truth, her father, and how he inspired her to begin her political journey.

There were many parts of her speech that evoked strong feelings of agreement and understanding in me.

When the interviewer Marcel Diallo, from Black New World asked her what or who had inspired her to venture into the world of Public Policy and Social Justice through Politics, she said that her father, ex-Georgia House member, was her driving force. When she mentioned this I couldn't help but make the connection between my mother and I. I have fought along side my mother in the political field around Welfare reform and social justice for welfare families and children. She mentioned that her many attempts to reach out to white farmers communities in Georgia were difficult if not impossible to get through due to racial tension, Cynthia McKinney being of African decent. This reminded me of when my mother and I spoke in legislative meetings in the state capitol where republican legislatures would try to avoid our topic or try to control how many representatives spoke on welfare policy from the non-profit organizations that came to speak. It reminded me of the struggles of trying to get through to another party of people who are on the other side of the spectrum and how at times both my mother and I felt very outnumbered. Later in her speech as I was thinking this, she said, "Politics changing Public Policy changes those statistics," By this point in the speech she had fully captured my attention.

She also spoke on the struggles she had faced in Gaza and the controversy and opposition she has faced with the Israeli Government. Her thoughts on the bombing ordered by George Herbert Walker Bush in Gaza are "For me this was just another example of the U.S. bombing another country where the people look like me," She had addressed the fear of conflict the government possesses pertaining to the Israeli Government and how ultimately this fear is costing peoples' lives. She stated, "Many congressmen live by fear. They are afraid of the pro Israel lobby and wait for the people to counteract them," She was able to speak from the perspective of a person who was formerly incarcerated in Gaza due to the Israeli influence and negative impact in Gaza. Her opinion on the government's neglect to change was it's impossible to turn a blind eye to murder and genocide that we are paying for and the Government is responsible for. She had, in my opinion, addressed a problem that isn't just international, but local. This is one of the main problems with public policy we deal with nationally, as well as internationally. People in office are afraid of change and conflict and sacrifice the well-being of the people in order to preserve this peace among the higher-ups.

This idea also played into the section of her interview that touched on the subject of Hurricane Katrina. She was asked what she thinks the people should do to address the neglect in New Orleans. Her response was to let the people tell their stories and struggles from their own mouths and to expose the hardship for what it really is. She said we can tell the story of what happened and we can recommend policy. This idea comes from the so-called radical idea that the people that are directly affected by public policy should be the ones creating that policy, for who would be a better representative in this case, then the victims of the hurricane. I thought that she had put a very new and revolutionary idea across to people, especially people in the political field.

Cynthia McKinney was asked about her opinion on the Murder of Oscar Grant and what her feelings were on how it was being handled by the youth, who are the primary leaders of the movement against police brutality. She said, "I can't thank the youth enough for bringing to life the murder of Oscar Grant." She spoke about how important it is for youth to rise up and take a stand up and create social change.

The most effective way to change policy is to become an elected official and create policy. When Cynthia McKinney made this comment, I felt it hit very close to home. As a youth activist, I find that it is integral for youth to create positions within the government and within the community that can create change. We need to bring back the roots of our communities as youth and create more grass roots originated policy and change. "We have to find a point of commonality", Cynthia said when the topic of non-native organizations out numbering native-run organizations in Oakland and throughout the Bay Area is addressed. I feel that the youth movement and the efforts to generate more of a community effort can be combined. Cynthia's words on her struggle with creating political change with her father, and her opinions on what is wrong with policy change today and how the youth can change those problems struck me profoundly and I hope that she continues being a revolutionary thinker in the political field.

by Dee

Farmer Sherwoods glass eye shone as the light from the

candle flickered off the glass. The glass was milky

white and it reminded me of my mothers arm and why it

was that I was sitting on Farmer Sherwoods lap in the

middle of the night without my pajama bottoms.

My mother's arm had been milky white also - milky

white in contrast to the crimson blood that spurted out

of the wrists she had cut.

"Go get Mrs Sherwood at the end of the hall", she

whispered faintly. It didn't make sense to me at four

years old why I should get Mrs Sherwood just because

my mother was bleeding from her wrists. Mrs Sherwood

who immediately started screaming and running around

like she was crazy the minute she saw my mother's

milky white arm covered with blood.

Mrs Sherwood's screaming and yelling caused me to get

afraid in the pit of my stomach just like later when I

looked at Farmer Sherwood's milky white glass eye -

when I was all alone with him and didn't have my

mother to protect me from the flickering candle light

on, Farmer Sherwood's glass eye, when he made me sit

on his lap in the middle of the night......

by Joseph Bolden

What A Time! I may learn late but I do learn.

I have not written much traveled a bit and through my not hearing or really listening managed to wound myself, frighten, hurt, cause distrust of someone dear.

Its been a month in a half since the self infliction.

Still don’t know if bonds can be retied to made stronger so as to never be strained to near breakage ever again.

One makes an error in judgment and pays consequence or instant karma.

That’s one good aspect of instant karma; you need not wait for another life time for retribution I’ve received mine thought a true end of the outcome has yet to be determined.

I can be really dense as a stainless steel/cobalt -diamond metal block sometimes however lessons learned this summer past will stand me in good stead all matter of strictly personal relationships.

Many people will benefit from lessons that should have been learned long ago – better lessons are learned late than never at all is my humble opinion.

With that said another less valuable lesson has taught me not to ever -volunteer monies to any organization, fraternity, or clubs sent by mail.

The National Police & Trooper Association for instance.

Yes, brave men, women, of the highway patrol keep our freeways safe and sadly loss of life does happen and donations to families of fallen officers suffer horribly in these tragic circumstances.

Most officers are fair, decent, law abiding workers protecting us every day.

I decided to send what little money I could between $35 & $45 because I was able to at the time but being one of ‘Po folk living on 6th Street dead in the middle of the Tenderloin District of San Francisco I cannot pony up that little bit of cash each month.

It begins with a phone call by an officer quickly detailing the urgent need of dollars sent.

I did heed the call saying money will be sent.

So when I sent it first to one association or organization it made me feel proud that what little sent helps a family or individual who’ve suffered a devastating, psychological, and heart wrenching loss.

Then, a month later another urgent call and I may send cash if I have it.

But then its California State Firefighters Association.

By this time there isn’t money for then between rent, food, (free and bought), dating, and travel in-around-or out of the city there’s little money left to send but the phone calls keep coming and are insistent on getting what I said I can give but circumstances no allow me able to do.

The letters come, pile up, phone messages also pile up.

I’m glad I don’t have a car because I feel a patrol car would stop me for that purpose which may or may not have happened to a few people.

My solution besides ignoring the pleads is writing this column because being as poor I should not have sent that first money order.

I wonder if wealthier city folks have tax lawyer's, accountants, or by other means have an automatic give-so-much-to policy so they’re not bothered by near harassing phone calls?

However this has taught me that whatever desire I have as a very poor though tax paying citizen only when I’m in a position to really do an annual give-to-policy only then will I then give what I can when I can.

As for other organizations I’d like to join but cannot due to my economic status they are few but when I do finally join I hope to my money’s worth because those orgs, clubs, associations, fraternities, societies, and such will loom ever more prominent as time goes on.

Which? Well, if you’ve read my past columns you’d know or have an inkling.

For now, I can only check the web, read articles, or books on the subjects that have my interests at heart.

Any comments or questions please email poormagazine.org or jsph_bldn@yahoo.com or deeandtiny@gmail
telljoe@poormagazine.org

by Muteado Silencio/PNN Voces de inmigrantes en resistencia

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El Derecho alas Tierras Ancestrales

“Para la gente Nativa Americana la tierra es todo”

Tube la oportunidad de escuchar a Danny Blackgoat, maestro (Sha’olta’i) interprete, guia de la gente Diné. Los Navajos se nombraron Diné, o “la gente’. En 1868, un “tratado de paz” fue firmado dando el derecho ala gente Navajo a regresar a sus tierras. Ahora la tribu Navajo representa la mas grande en las Amerikkkas alargandose en los altos desiertos y bosques de los cuatro esquinas de Arizona.

Ahora los Diné estan haciendo confrontados con la lucha de mantener sus tierras Ancestrales. Quienes estan haciendo desplasados y reubicados por leyes introducidas por el govierno Amerikkano.

En Montaña Grande en Black Mesa en tierras Navajo, donde

generaciones han venido y pasado, donde 150,000 lunas de oraciones han transformado la tierra y el cielo.

En lenguaje Navajo no hay una palabra para describir la reubicacion, reubicacion es desaparecer y nunca ser visto.

Estan siendo desplasados y reubicados por hecho de que en Black Mesa contiene los depositos mas grandes de carbon en Amerikkka, como 100 millones de barriles de petroleo, 25 trillones cubicos cuadrados de gas natural, 80 billones de libras de Uranio.

En este momento los que toman desiciones en Washington D.C. planean formas para quitarles las tierras y extraer minerales de la tierra. Las
Compañia de carbon estan dando fondos a los Republicanos y Democratas porque tienen interes para que los ayuden.

Peabody Compañia de Carbon es las mas grande en el mundo, yactualmente planea expander sus operaciones.

Peabody Compañia de Carbon ha destruido tumbas, lugares sagrados, santuarios designados especificamente para ofrendas, prevencion de practicas rituales.

Podemos analizar como una y otra vez corporaciones desplasan a gente Indigena no solo en Norte Amerikkka pero tambien la tribu Mapuche en Ecuador en Sur America donde luchan contra Chevron que derramo petroleo en la Amazona.

Donde gente esta siendo forzada de tomar agua contaminada o morir de sed, donde se encuentran toxicos en la tierra.

“ El genocidio continua contra la gente Indigena con mucha fuerza, que podemos hacer”

Habra una caravana de gente una vez mas quienes viajaran cruzando estados de la union Amerikkkana para mostrar su apoyo a la gente de la Montaña Grande, en la nacion Navajo. En parte de la gente, sus tierras Ancestrales sagradas y por la futuras generaciones, estas comunidades siguen luchando y resistiendo los efuerzos del govierno, quien actua a favor de los intereses de Peabody Compañia de Carbon, cuales a desvastado comunidades y ecosistemas tambien el clima del planeta con la violacion de Black Mesa.

En este mes de la Historia Nativa Americana nos levantamos, protestamos, luchamos juntos a nuestros hermanos y hermanas de cualquiera manera necesaria.

“Una lesión a uno es una lesión para todos”

Right to Remain on Their Ancestral Lands

“For native people land means everything”

I had the opportunity to listen to Danny Blackgoat, teacher (Sha’olta’i), interpreter, guide from the Diné people. The Navajo refer to themselves as the Diné, or “the people”. In 1868, a “peace treaty” was signed allowing the Navajo people to return to their homeland. Today the Navajo Tribe represents the largest Indian Tribe in the Amerikkkas and stretches across the high deserts and forests of the four corners region.

Now the Diné are been confronted with struggling to keep their ancestral land, who are been displace and relocate by a policy introduce by the government of the united snakes of Amerikkka.

In Big Mountain in Black Mesa on the Navajo reservation, where many generations have come and past, where 150,000 moons of praying have shape and bound land and sky.

In the Navajo language there is no word for relocation, to relocate is to disappear never seen again.

They are been displace and relocate for the sole reason that Black Mesa has one of the largest remaining deposits of coal in the Amerikkkas, about 100 millions of barrels of oil, 25 trillions of cubic of natural gas, 80 billions of pounds of uranium.

At this moment the decision makers in Washington D.C. are planning ways to seize tribal lands to extract mineral resources. The coal companies are funding both the Republican and Democratic parties because they have huge interests.

Peabody Coal Company is the world’s largest coal company, currently has plans to expand its strip mine operations.

Peabody Coal Company has completely dug up burials, sacred sites, and shrines designated specifically for offerings, preventing religious practices.

We see over and over again companies displacing Indigenous people not only in North America but also the Mapuche tribe of Ecuador in South America that is fighting against Chevron who spill oil in the Amazon.

Where people are force to drink contaminated water and high levels of toxics can be found on the ground.

“The genocide continues for Indigenous people in full force what can we do about it”

A caravan of work crews will once again be converging from across the country in support of residents of Big Mountain regions of Black Mesa, Navajo Nation. On behalf of their peoples, their sacred ancestral lands and future generations, these communities continue to carry out a staunch resistance to the efforts of the U.S. government, which is acting in the interests of the Peabody Coal Company, to devastate whole communities and ecosystems and greatly de-stabilize our planet’s climate with their Black Mesa coal mining operations.

In November which is Native American History Month we stand with our brothers and sisters to fight to defend to not give up, by any means necessary.

“A injury to one is an injury to all”