A Cross Country Tour to discuss Abortion options, Reproductive, and Sexual health

The Doohickey Project is coming to Arizona!!!
Workshops will include but are not limited to:
-Physiology of Menstruation and Fertility Cycles
-An Overview of the fertility-menstrual cycle, the hormones involved and basic fertility signs
-Anatomy: An overview of vulva-clitoral genitalia and internal sexual and reproductive organs
-Abortion options: Including a brief overview of the clinical/medical abortion procedure, current access and legality information, an introduction to inducing menses herbally and other options.
Discussion on creating local health groups and taking reproductive and sexual health into your own hands.

Tucson: Wenesday December 6th, 5:30-8:30pm @ SBS Annex/Women's Studies Conference Room (University of Arizona)
1443 E. 1st St.(East of Mountain Ave.)
There will be childcare, American Sign Language translation, and Spanish translation provided. Contact: doohickeytucson@gmail.com for more info

Phoenix: Friday December 8th, 5:30pm @ The Tribe
2238 N. 24th St. (24th and Oak)
Vegan Food and childcare will be provided

Flagstaff: Saturday December 9th, 5pm, $2
321 Lonetree Rd

All Genders are welcome at these events although there may be an option for guided self exam after the main event which would be limited to people with uteruses.

Check out the Doohickey Website for more info: www.doohickeyproject.org

Impacts of Biotechnology to be Examined at Conference before Grand Opening of New BIO5 Institute

On Wednesday, November 29th at 7pm in the Aeronautical and Mechanical Engineering Building (NE corner of Mountain & Speedway), Room 202, at the University of Arizona in Tucson, Ms. Teresa Leal and Mr. Carlos Marentes will speak on the topic 'Biotechnology, globalization, and social justice: Why it's time for food sovereignty.'

The University of Arizona Institute for Collaborative Bioresearch, commonly known as Bio 5, will hold a grand opening of its new building this December 1st. Bio 5, a consortium of many departments and research labs across five research areas, is funded with federal grants, Arizona sales tax funds, and corporate research contracts. While most of Bio5’s work is in medical biotechnology and basic biological sciences, they do a lot of agricultural biotechnological research.

Agricultural biotechnology has been a controversial development for years, more so in Europe, Latin America or Asia than the US, even though the US has more acres of biotech crops than any other country and more GM foods on supermarket shelves, unlabeled, than anywhere else.

Read more...

Calls for action to oppose the opening of BIO5:
Let's Rain on their Parade
Vegetable & Livestock Bloc

After Years of Official Impunity, Cochise County Jury Convicts "Godfather of Border Vigilantism"

A victory was won for human rights in Arizona on November 22nd when a Cochise County jury found border vigilante Roger Barnett guilty of unlawful imprisonment and assault, awarding the victims close to $100,000 in damages.

The charges stem from an October 2004 incident when Roger Barnett, along with his wife and brother, pulled loaded assault weapons on a latino family who had accidently wandered onto land leased by Barnett while on a hunting trip.

This incident was not the first time Barnett has faced accusations of abuse. Lawsuits have been filed by immigrants and U.S. citizens alike, charging Barnett with assault and battery, false imprisonment, trespass and impersonating an officer.

Despite a pattern of violence, Barnett has enjoyed almost official impunity, with Sheriff Larry Dever refusing to arrest Barnett and the Cochise County Attorney's Office refusing to prosecute. In April of 2005 a petition was filed with the Organization of American States’ Inter-American Commission on Human Rights charging the U.S. government with human rights violations for failing to prosecute border vigilante groups and activities.

The trial began on November 14th and included emotional and intense testimony from the children, their parents, psychologists, land surveyors, sheriffs’ deputy, Arizona Game and Fish employee, and other bow hunters who had also been physically assaulted and barraged with racist insults by Barnett. It took the jury only three hours to return with its verdict. Despite this legal victory, the struggle for justice on the border continues.

for more coverage, please see "Jury to AZ Border Vigilante: Guilty!"

Arizonans Join Global Oaxaca Solidarity Actions

"On November 20, blockades will be set up to show the Mexican government we mean business. We are calling upon YOU to join in these blockades. That could mean blockading the consulates’ websites, jamming their phone lines with calls about the conflict in Oaxaca, occupying the offices of the consuls, or shutting down the roads around the consulates in whatever way you see fit." – EZLN

The EZLN has announced that it will help coordinate a nationwide shut-down on November 20. This call has been matched by people in Phoenix and Tucson to show that the world has not taken its eyes off Oaxaca, that on the contrary, the mobilization in support of those who struggle there is only gathering momentum.

If we do not show Vicente Fox that paramilitaries and federal forces cannot brutalize Oaxaca with impunity, the blood of an entire murdered resistance movement will be on our hands. Now is the time to act in solidarity with those who struggle in Oaxaca, in solidarity with the Zapatistas who have called on us to support them, and in solidarity with all who struggle against government and capitalism across the world.

TUCSON November 20th ACTIONS

11:30 a.m. – Local convergence/demonstration at Mexican Consulate
Noon – 4 p.m. – Solidarity Event w/ speakers at the UofA Mall
7 p.m. – Multimedia Presentation w/ speakers & videos at AME Building on the UofA campus

For more info please visit

PHOENIX November 20th ACTIONS

10:30 a.m. – Noon - Phoenix Anarchist Coalition Demonstration at Mexican Consulate
3:00 p.m. – 5 p.m. – Mexicanas/os and Oaxaquenas/os Demonstration at Mexican Consulate

For more info please visit

GLOBAL ACTIONS

On the Ground Coverage from AZ Indymedia in Oaxaca City

Click below for regular updates from Oaxaca City, posted as events unfold:

10/29: Update from Oaxaca pt. 1, 10/30: Update from Oaxaca pt. 2, Update from Oaxaca pt. 3
10/31: Update from Oaxaca pt. 4, 10/31: English translation of update posted to Indymedia Oaxaca, Minute-to-minute update of events on 10/31 in Oaxaca City
11/1: Update from Oaxaca pt. 5 - Update from Oaxaca pt. 6 Minute-to-minute update of events on 11/1 in Oaxaca City and Across Mexico from CML Oaxaca

11/2: Update from Oaxaca pt. 7 - PFP enter second phase of repression against the social movements. Minute-to-minute updates of events on 11/2. "November 2nd: The War of the Flea" (Chiapas Indymedia)
11/3: The Lies of the Mexican State in Oaxaca "Que Dicen La Verdad" - a song for Radio APPO

11/5: Update from Oaxaca pt. 8
11/7: Update from Oaxaca pt. 9

Breaking News in Spanish from Centro de Medios Libres Oaxaca - see also Indymedia Mexico and Narco News

Photos from Indybay journalist in Oaxaca. more photos

Over 100 Protest at Tucson Mexican Consulate to Demand Justice in Oaxaca

Seven demonstrators were cited by police for obstructing traffiic when a crowd of over 50 people blocked all but 1 lane of Stone Avenue in front of the Mexican Consulate. The protest took to the street after first entering into dialogue with the consul and his staff out in front of the building. A letter was signed by many of the approximately 100 attendees, stating demands for justice for the murdered, and end to the violence in Oaxaca, for the resignation of Oaxaca governor Ulises Ruiz, and the release of political prisoners. The letter was then turned over to the Consul for forwarding on to the Mexican federal government.
Read More>>>>

A protest was also held on 10/30 at the Mexican consulate in Phoenix. See photos and a report of the Phoenix action.

Other Oaxaca Solidarity Actions around the Nation & World

NYC Indymedia journalist and others killed by paramilitary PRI supporters

Brad went to Oaxaca in early October to document the story that Commercial Media simulators like Rebecca Romero of Associated Press distort instead of report: the story of a people sick and tired of repression and injustice, who take back the government that rightfully is theirs. In that context, his assassination is also a consequence of what happens when independent media must do the work that Big Media fails to do: to tell the truth.
Read More at Narco News

From U.S. Indymedia Center:
A shooting occurred today in Oaxaca City, Mexico, leaving New York City Indymedia journalist Bradley Will dead after being shot in the chest. He died before reaching the hospital, according to La Jornada. A photographer from the newspaper Milenio Diario, who was at Will's side, was shot in the foot and reported injured, his status unknown.
Read More at U.S. Indymedia Center

Read More at Reuters

Zaptista Other Campaign Meets With the Peoples of the Border

"What we are trying to plant here is that we have to unite as indigenous peoples. The earth dies the same in O'odham territory, Navajo, Cherokee, Tzeltal, Tzotzil, Purepecha, Nahuatl, and we must unite - not only in Mexico, but with the entire continent.

Those that are already high up, “up above”, have already demonstrated throughout the centuries that the only thing they are capable of is destroying the earth. No more – that’s enough! Now we are going to take the destiny of the earth and its defense into our hands. We won't leave it another minute in the hands of the rich.

We, who have the color of the earth - and who have hearts of corn regardless of the color of our skin - we have to do it, because if we don't the world will disappear."

click here for a full English / Spanish transcription of Marcos' speech, and here for more coverage of the meeting in Magdalena de Kino.

For further coverage of the Other Campaign, please visit Narco News

Arizona Observes National Day Against Police Brutality

The eleventh annual National Day Against Police Brutality occurs this October 22nd and Arizona communities have some plans for this day. According to Phoenix Copwatch member Sean Whitcomb, "The problem of police brutality is invisible to most people. October 22 is a chance for us to show the Phoenix area that it doesn't just happen in LA or New York, but right here in our own backyards. These events will show people how to recognize police abuse, how to prevent it from happening, and what to do if and when it happens to you or your loved ones."

In Tempe on Wednesday, October 18 will be a showing of the Miami Model, a video which documents police repression and violence against FTAA protesters, followed by a speaker who witnessed the brutality in Miami. Planned for Saturday in Phoenix is a showing of the video Every Mother's Son followed by discussion about local cases of police brutality and killings and what to do about it. Sunday's Glendale events include a know-your-rights forum and a video showing of These Streets are Watching about your rights when interacting with the police. In Phoenix on Monday the 23rd will be a rally and vigil against police brutality starting in the location where Phoenix's Louie Arriaga Jr. was attacked by an officer. More information and details can be found here.

See also: phoenixcopwatch.org
and setlouiefree.com

In Flagstaff there will be a Public Forum with the following speakers:
Kyle Barcia Family (Kyle was killed by Flagstaff Police in August 2006)
Keith McHenry (Food Not Bombs)
Dezbah Bahee (Youth of the Peaks)
Katie Nelson (Catalyst Info Shop)
More information is here.

See also: bringtheruckus.org

EPA and Mexican Govn’t Try to Push Dump On O’odhams

On October 12, 2006, Indigenous People’s Day , members from 7 valley groups stood outside of the Phoenix mexican Consulate to say no to a proposed chemical waste dump to be located outside the O’odham sacred village of Quitovac, in Mexico. The site would potentially treat and separate up to 45,000 tons of hazardous waste materials annually, including asbestos, organochlorides, and waste sludge from industries. The project, just a few miles south of the border, has been conducted with no involvement of the Indigenous O'odham communities.

Members of Gila River Alliance for a Clean Environment , O’odham Youth Collective , Yoeme Youth Alliance, Phoenix Anarchist Coalition , Phoenix Earth First! , Glendale Food Not Bombs , and Phoenix Food Not Bombs all joined in solidarity with protesters in other cities and states to tell the mexican government they oppose this wretched dump.

Indymedia Audio and Phoenix Anarchist statement from the Protest

Indymedia Photos from the Protest

For more info please email Gila River Alliance for a Clean Environment at contaminatedinaz@yahoo.com, or O'odham Rights Cultural and Environmental Justice Coalition Coalition at uyarivas@hotmail.com

New Arizona Gun Law Targets Animal-rights Activists

The Arizona Legislature passed a new gun law that states walking into a hunter's gunfire will be fault of the person who gets shot, not the shooter.

With the passage of House Bill 2130, a person putting herself/himself in the line of fire can be charged with a misdemeanor. The law also forbids making a loud noise near a hunter about to shoot and expands the list of actions that constitute a class 2 misdemeanor for intentional interference, prevention or disruption of a legal hunt . The law takes effect Sept. 21.

Clearly, this new gun law is targeted at animal-rights direct action activists who have been using passive, non-violent tactics to protect Arizona's wildlife from hunters.

While the newspapers failed to look deeply into this new law, the fact sheet for Bill 2130 details that culprit behind the bill is the Arizona Game and Fish Department (AGFD) who want to stiffen the penalty for "interfering with hunters." The recent successful campaigns by Arizona Earth First! to protect wildlife from hunters - sandhill cranes, mountain lions, black bear, bighorn sheep, Gunnison's prairie dog - have driven AGFD to appeal to politicians for stronger laws.

Hundreds Show Support During Peaks Appeals!

San Francisco, CA - Hundreds of people gathered today in front of the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco, unified in efforts to save a sacred mountain in Arizona from desecration by a proposed ski resort development. The courts heard arguments against the ski resort’s proposed expansion and plan to make snow out of treated sewage effluent. This wastewater has been proven to contain harmful contaminants, such as pharmaceuticals, hormones and cancer causing agents.

“Just the thought of making snow with reclaimed sewer water on the San Francisco Peaks should be an affront to all people of conscience,” said Howard Shanker of the Shanker Law Firm who represented the Navajo Nation, Havasupai, Yavapai Apache, White Mountain Apache, Sierra Club, and others. “The Peaks are sacred to 13 of the Tribes in the Southwestern United States. We are here because the lower court decision was wrong. We are hopeful that this will be a case where what the court determines to be legal is also right and morally defensible.”

9th Circuit Court of Appeals hears case Sept. 14, events

The efforts continue to protect the sacred San Francisco Peaks from ski area expansion and snowmaking with treated sewage effluent. On Sept. 14th the legal battle to save the Peaks will continue in the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco, CA. Support/Awareness events will be held in California and in Flagstaff.

FLAGSTAFF EVENTS:

Charges Dropped Against No More Deaths Volunteers

Oaxacan Benefit Dinner & Video Night