Reading of John Hersey’s Hiroshima
to commemorate bombing in 1945


Monday, August 6, 2007
West Capitol Park, 11:00AM to 3:00 PM

"In violence we forget who we are" -- Mary McCarthy, novelist and critic

Having spent a fair amount of time in occupied Iraq, I now find living in the United States nothing short of a schizophrenic experience. Life in Iraq was traumatizing. It was impossible to be there and not be affected by apocalyptic levels of violence and suffering, unimaginable in this country. But here's the weird thing: One long, comfortable plane ride later and you're in Disneyland, or so it feels on returning to the United States.

Sometimes it seems as if I'm in a bubble here that's only moments away from popping. I find myself perpetually amazed at the heights of consumerism and the vigorous pursuit of creature comforts that are the essence of everyday life in this country -- and once defined my own life as well.

The Hunger Action Network of New York State today urged state lawmakers to come to agreement on the Healthy Schools Act to improve nutrition for school children. The bill would develop educational campaigns about the importance of proper nutrition among children, improve the nutritional quality of foods served in schools, including both meals and vending machines, and increase state funding of school meal programs.
Senate Republicans appear to oppose to the effort to expand the school breakfast program, while Governor Spitzer apparently opposes increased funding for school meals programs.

Noted Mideast scholar Joel Kovel will appear on Tuesday, June 19, 2007 at 7 PM at The Sanctuary For Independent Media, 3361 Sixth Avenue in Troy. He will speak about his new book, "Overcoming Zionism: Creating a Single Democratic State in Israel/Palestine". Admission to the event is by donation ($10 suggested, $5 student/low income). Call (518) 272-2390, email info@TheSanctuaryForIndependentMedia.org, or visit www.TheSanctuaryForIndependentMedia.org for directions and more information.

Here are photos from the demonstration on June 8, 2007 in Albany to protest the occupation of Palestine.

The End of Sovereignty and Democracy Tolls for Upstate New York, Northern New England, Quebec and the Maritime Provinces, and, Soon, for Boston and NYC Too.

It is an absolute responsibility of the anti-war movement to make an honest and straightforward assessment of the current situation and to craft a strategy that can really make a difference. Every serious organization, and especially those with the greatest mobilizing reach, must be asked to avoid posturing, make an assessment and develop an action plan that will change the political landscape in a decisive way.

Every so often I've written updates about Residents Against Mining (RAM)--our citizen's organization fighting the implementation of a hard rock mine in the southeastern Rensselaer County town of Nassau, and affecting East Nassau, West Stephentown, West Sand Lake, Averill Park, East Greenbush--and our various lake areas throughout upstate New York.

The chain link fencing has gone up around a dozen or so houses at the corner of North Lake and Hoosick. In the next few weeks our route seven-bound eyes will be witnessing a mass demolition reminiscent of the bad old days of Troy’s “urban renewal.” An attractive row of early twentieth-century bungalows, which would sit comfortably in Frank Lloyd Wright’s Oak Park in Chicago, await their execution. These happy homes will no longer greet visitors at the gateway of our fair city. In their place will be 30,000 square feet of parking and one of the 7,000 new Walgreen’s the company expects to open by 2010. Just what Troy needs, another pharmacy.

On Friday, April 20, supporters ralied outside of Albany County Courthouse to urge the Parole release of John Valverde. Here is an account by someone who was there.

Jeremy Scahill reports on the Bush Administration's growing dependence on private security forces such as Blackwater USA and efforts in Congress to rein them in. This article is adapted from his new book, Blackwater: The Rise of the World's Most Powerful Mercenary Army (Nation Books). He appears at 7 PM on Monday, April 16, 2007 at The Sanctuary For Independent Media in Troy. Co-sponsored by Women Against War and the Social Justice Center.

Hundreds of people around the Capital Region gathered in Albany to commemorate the 4th anniversary of the war in Iraq.

The vigils honored American soldiers who were wounded or killed in Iraq through a reading of personal accounts written by family members of those who have died.