Press Advisory
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Mike Welch (National Office) 202-471-5833, mike@votenader.org, Peter Lewis (Local) 630-947-5708

RALPH NADER CAMPAIGNS IN TULSA WITH NEWS CONFERENCE, RALLY

On Thursday, September 18 at 12:45 p.m., Independent Presidential Candidate Ralph Nader will hold a news conference in room 156 of North Hall at Oklahoma State University. Following the news conference, he will be holding a rally in the auditorium, also in North Hall, 700 N Greenwood Ave, Oklahoma State University, Tulsa, OK 74106.

1,008 Group Meditation for World Peace

The power of your mind can make the world a better place! Participate in a 30-minute guided meditation for inner-peace with 1,008 people to radiate peace locally and globally. This is a special kick-off event for International Peace Day 2008 in Oklahoma City.

The goal for this event is to have 1,008 participants to gather in one place and radiate concentrated positive energy to our local community and ultimately the rest of the planet.

Please invite your family and friends (ages 16 and up) to come to this phenomenal event!

Saturday, September 20, 2008

6 PM to 7 PM

Check-in begins 4 PM

Oklahoma State Capitol North Plaza

2300 N Lincoln Blvd

Oklahoma City, OK 73105

between Will Rogers Building and Sequoyah Building at the State Capitol Complex

(click here for driving directions from your place)

$10.00 per participant

(50% of proceeds to benefit victims of Hurricane Gustav)

Outdoor event

With all the issues facing America the upcoming election will be crucial to cleaning up some of the messes the current administration will surely saddle us with. Our economy needs stabilizing. The War in Iraq is a mess in need of a practical solution and withdrawal plan. A change is needed from the mindset of the last eight years to a new style of leadership.

The American economy is struggling right now and the billions of US dollars being poured into Iraq per month could be used here at home. The reasons for remaining have worn thin especially as there was no reason to invade in the first place. Most Americans no matter their political affiliation agree pulling out is the best option at this point. Even the Iraqi government expresses the wish for us to leave and allow it to handle its own destiny.

After three calls to Senator Coburns office and two calls to Senator Inhofes office since Wednesday July 16th, there is still no statement as to the position these senators take on the continued imprisonment of Omar Khadr.

The current federal administration considers Omar Khadr to be a significant terrorist threat to the security of the nation, however in phone calls to the Senators offices, staff was unaware of the existence of Khadr and had no statement on behalf of the senators as to the continued illegal imprisonment and torture of this young man. Recall Omar was imprisoned in Guantanamo six years ago when he was 15 years old. Recently released video footage by the Canadian government shows a frightened and disturbed child pleading for help while he details some of the abuse.

With the rising costs of college, gasoline, food, health care, and other expenses, credit cards are becoming the "safety net" for an entire generation. Unfortunately, credit card companies are using unfair and even predatory practices to increase their profits at the expense of the financially vulnerable or inexperienced. You can read more about these anti-consumer practices here.

There are several efforts in Congress and in the Federal Reserve Board to reign in these anti-consumer practices. In fact, the Credit Cardholders’ Bill of Rights will probably be considered in the House Financial Services Committee by the end of the month.

Robert Greenwald's production company Brave New Films has just released a new video called "Oklahoma Vets and Jim Inhofe." It features four Oklahoma Veterans, Miranda Norman, Chris Ritter, Nathaniel Batchelder and Dr. Katherine Scheirman. The video reveals the truth about Inhofe's abominable voting record on veteran's issues. He would have us all believe that he supports the troops, but this is a lie. To see Inhofe's vet votes go here: http://oklahomavets.org/

I am bringing back this article because it is the twilight of the Demockracy that it describes. Note that this article includes among other things, the two greatest creations of the English language, my prior experiences with military forums, the truth of the PGW and 9/11, an explanation of pit bulls, the fate of Jim Morrison of the Doors, and the arrival of the prophet Elijah in November 1995.

Summary: In Washington, D.C., Babylon on the Potomac was found "the blood of the saints and of all who have been slain on the earth." (Rev. 18) "O God! Pride of Man, fallen in the dust again!" Quicksilver Messenger Service. 9/25 Bacterial cancers? 9/30 "Worshipping stupidity, heh?"

A protest against the proposed Trans-Texas Corridor was held at the Texas state capitol in Austin on April 5. According to Texans United for Reform and Freedom (TURF), “thousands” attended.

The Trans-Texas corridor is part of a massive plan to reduce freight traffic (and thereby increase trade with Mexico) with 4,000 miles of new and expanded roads, including toll roads. Most notorious is the “Northeast Texas to Mexico corridor,” part of the planned I-69 NAFTA Superhighway from Canada to Mexico. I-69 has been designated by the US Department of Transportation as a critical “Corridor of the Future.”

http://www.kbtx.com/home/headlines/17335624.html

http://texasturf.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=424&Itemi...

http://www.stopi69.wordpress.com

Mental enslavement is the act of blindly and deceitfully maneuvering a person into servitude while that person believes he/she is thinking for him/herself. In realizing that one is mentally enslaved, one can begin to constructively take strides toward freeing their mind from the shackles and re-building a solid, intelligible, unshackled, independent mind state. Thus, if one wishes to be mentally freed, he/she must become knowledgeable—informed—and separate oneself from any associations of the brainwashing mechanism.

March 2008    

Federal Court Reaffirms Frame-Up Conviction, Orders Life Behind Bars or Racist Legal Lynching

Ruling Against Mumia Shows:
No Justice in the Capitalist Courts

Do you have trouble telling this

from this?

Was that so hard?

Apparently, it is for the major newspapers in Oklahoma.

Slander against peace activists in state newspapers --
and what to do about it

On Tuesday, March 18, a front page story in the Daily Oklahoman by Anne Kelley, "Marine won't draw penalty for flag fight", contained an unbelievable slander against antiwar activists in Oklahoma and across the country.

Here's a passage:

Folks,

I am a member of the Citizen Potawatomi tribe in Oklahoma and also in exile here in Indiana. When my late wife and I moved from Oklahoma six years ago, we had just been arrested in tribal court, along with five others, for publishing a campaign ad on a private website. That's it. The ad, which we had no hand in publishing, pointed out that the tribal chairman, John "Rocky" Barrett, had smeared the reputation of a candidate for vice-chairman of the tribe. Although seven people were arrested and charged in tribal court for "criminal defamation of character," not a single lawyer in the entire state of Oklahoma could be found to prosecute us. Eventually, after thousands of dollars in legal fees, the charges were dropped.

(OKLAHOMA CITY) This Friday and Saturday, March 7th and 8th, there will be a Sexual Identity and Spirituality Conference on the campus of the University of Central Oklahoma sponsored by GATE (Gay Alliance for Tolerance and Equality), a UCO student organization, and co-sponsored by several open and affirming churches, including Church of the Open Arms, Cathedral of Hope, and Mayflower Congregational.

You can get more details at www.PFLAGokc.org .

While producing Think Peace: Portrait of a 20th Century Movement, we became aware of the role that powerful women are playing in implementing peace in this century. We shot so much insightful and moving footage at the World Peace Forum, that we could not include it all in our documentary. We invite you to listen to extra footage of three of these inspirational women:

Marianne Williamson became renowned for her dedication to the Peace Alliance and a strong advocate for a Department of Peace. Marianne spoke at the World Peace Forum on Sunday, June 25, 2006.

Medea Benjamin is a celebrated activist with Code Pink and since we talked to her she has become even more outspoken against the war. Medea talked to us at the World Peace Forum on Tuesday, June 27, 2006 about Code Pink's Peace Ribbon campaign.

For Workers Strikes Against the War!

ILWU to Shut Down West Coast Ports May 1 Demanding End to War in Iraq, Afghanistan

In a major step for the U.S. labor movement, the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) has announced that it will shut down West Coast ports on May 1, to demand an immediate end to the war and occupation in Iraq and Afghanistan and the withdrawal of U.S. troops from the Middle East. In a February 22 letter to AFL-CIO president John Sweeney, ILWU International president Robert McEllrath reported that at a recent coast-wide union meeting, “One of the resolutions adopted by caucus delegates called on longshore workers to stop work during the day shift on May 1, 2008 to express their opposition to the war in Iraq.”

Friday and Saturday, March 7th and 8th
at University of Central Oklahoma, Edmond, OK

Central Oklahoma faith communities and organizations proclaiming that homosexuality is neither sickness nor sin are announcing a two-day "Sexual Identity & Spirituality Conference," to be held March 7 and 8, on the campus of the University of Central Oklahoma, in Edmond, OK.

"We support the full inclusion of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people in the life of all faith communities, and offer this conference to share scholarly interpretations of scriptures making exactly that point," said Rev. Kathy McCallie of Oklahoma City's Church of the Open Arms, UCC, a conference organizer.

The conference begins on Friday, March 7th, at 7:00 p.m., with a keynote lecture by Dr. Deborah Appler, professor of Hebrew Bible (Old Testament) at Moravian College, in Bethlehem, PA. Appler's lecture will be held in the Liberal Arts Building, on the UCO campus.

Where were you on February 15, 2003? New film looks at modern day Peace Movement.

The Pumpkinhead Production Company in association with DreamHouse Cinema are pleased to announce the release of their documentary DVD, Think Peace: Portrait of a 21st Century Movement. Filmed at the World Peace Forum held in Vancouver, British Columbia from June 23 - 28, 2006 the film examines the make up and direction of the peace movement in the 21st century.

On February 15th, 2003 the largest protest in human history occurred. Millions of people from all seven continents marched down the street of more than 800 cities to show that they did not support the invasion of Iraq. Yet even at the height of its power the movement was not able to stop the war. What went wrong?

Thousands of Signatures Submitted, Campaign Continues

Oklahomans for Ballot Access Reform (OBAR) completed its 90-day initiative petition drive today by turning in about 14,000 signatures to the Secretary of State. This was below the 74,117 signatures required, but it demonstrates strong support for expanding the number of choices on the ballot. Oklahoma's restrictive ballot laws resulted in it being the only state limited to just two choices for president in 2004.

“We know Oklahoma voters are ready for more choices. Oklahoma Democrats easily chose from nine presidential candidates in 2004, and Oklahoma Republicans will have eleven choices on Super Tuesday. Because of gerrymandered districts, half of state legislative races had only one candidate in the general election in 2006. Shouldn't Oklahoma voters have at least two or more choices?” said Joni LeViness, OBAR Chair.

Update: A fund has been set up for Jim. See end of this post.

Jim Goodnow and his bus, the Yellow Rose, both have suffered a terrible tragedy.

Jim, who was at Camp Casey with Cindy Sheehan in August of 2005, got the Yellow Rose shortly thereafter and has been a fixture at actions around the country ever since. In recent months, Jim has been providing transportation to Iraq Veterans Against the War for their various tours and other activities. Last night, Jim escaped a fire of suspicious origins that destroyed the bus. Luckily Jim is all right.

This message was passed on by Bill Perry, a vet and anti-war activist.

The "Yellow Rose" bus, was totaled by fire, around 9:30 pm, Friday night, 1/11/08

Andrew RiceBill would give relief to eligible low- to middle-income Oklahoma taxpayers

OKLAHOMA CITY - State Senator Andrew Rice (D-OKC) today announced he will revive his legislation to provide tax cuts to Oklahomans who care for and support their aging relatives when the 51st Oklahoma Legislature reconvenes next month.

Rice said he was disappointed that his caretaker’s tax relief plan was omitted from a larger tax reform plan adopted by the legislature last year.

“We found time and resources to cut the state income tax and declare a back-to-school tax holiday for the purchase of clothing and footwear,” he said. “It should not be much harder to help Oklahoma families who elect to care for their aging loved ones.”

Friar Louis Cappio must live

Cesar Benjamin

I look for a book on the bookshelf at home. In the face sheet I read: "To Cesar, who also walks on the same side of the same river. Gentio do Ouro, October 2001. "From inside the book falls a card that was already forgotten:" Cesar, grateful for your unexpected softness, for your lucid and firm presence. Thank you for you there. I hug you. Adriano. "I can't contain my emotion.

Between 1992 and 1993, for a year, Adriano and three more people held a walk of 2,700 km, from the springs to the mouth of San Francisco river. The book, which they gave me when I visited them in the desert-From the mouth to the source, the message of the river, Nancy Mangabeira Unger-poetically tells the works of this group of heroes whose lives are confused with the struggle for life of the river and of populations that depend on it.

Background: OU President (and former OK Democratic Senator) David Boren is hosting a political forum on Monday, 1/7 in Norman which will include Michael Bloomberg, (former Democrat, former Republican, now Independent) mayor of New York City, former Georgia Senator Sam Nunn and other retired politicians. The stated purpose is to promote a centrist, bipartisan political movement. The suspected purpose is to stroke the presidential ambitions of billionaire Bloomberg.

What: Demonstration to End The War and Bring The Troops Home.

Where: OU Campus, Norman, OK - Outside of Catlett Music Center - at Elm & Boyd.

When: Demonstration begins at 10A - 11A
(Bloomberg event 11A - Noon)

Demonstration continues Noon - 1P (depending on how long the event actually goes)

Who: Led by Gold Star Fathers: Warren Henthorn and John Scripsick

The Executive Director should possess strong public relations and public speaking skills along with a cooperative interfaith mindset. The selected candidate will lead the organization; execute public programming and policy, strategic planning and fund development under the direction of the board of directors. The Executive Director must be committed to the achievement of the Interfaith Alliances vision, mission, and goals. The Executive Director has the authority to make day-to-day decisions for the organization and has significant management and oversight responsibility in all aspects of the organization.

This individual should have significant experience in interfaith community relations and be familiar with Tulsa’s community. Below is a job description:

A family members funeral was in December 2007. Everyone knows how stressful and hearbreaking it is to lose a loved one. We all thought how nice it was going and that most of the family attended. One family member works for Pontotoc County D. Richard of Ada, OK. The ones that know him well, was wondering why he was there he isn't very family oreinted. We just let it pass and didn't think anything else about it. D. Richard escorted the cars to the grave site and we thought how thoughtful of him to do this.( It was odd , because usually it is City police IF ANY AT ALL.)At the gave site, everyone was visiting with one another some comforting others..All of sudden every one had a bewilderd look on there face. D. Richard had walked up to another family member right there at the grave site and arrested the family member, a close family member of the deceased, on 5 year old warrant.

OU Studies Poverty in Oklahoma Schools: Hiring VISTA Researchers

The University of Oklahoma has announced that it will expand its examination of poverty in Oklahoma schools. The Office of the Vice Provost at the University of Oklahoma plans to hire two VISTA research assistants to study the relationship between schools and community poverty in rural and urban areas of Oklahoma. The research aims to identify Oklahoma schools that are having an impact on poverty. The VISTA researchers will apply state-of-the-art community mapping software and will make use of a variety of state and non-profit resources. The VISTA researchers should have some proficiency in Spanish. Some college experience is needed and a bachelor’s degree is preferred.

Below is a copy of the OU VISTA positions announcement.

Follow the news of the housing protests in New Orleans on the following sites:

http://neworleans.indymedia.org/news/
http://www.defendneworleanspublichousing.org/
http://www.justiceforneworleans.org/

Guerrilla news video of 12/18/07 action:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fhyo9mk_Nxg

As I was fixing to leave Goodwell Saturday afternoon to run some errands in a neighboring town, I noticed the following two racist signs on adjacent dumpsters at College Corner, a local convenience store. Of course I didn't have my camera handy at the time, so I waited until the evening to get a couple shots of the offending signs. The only identifying information I could find was on one that claimed it was paid for by some entity called "Citizens for Public Awareness." A quick drive around town suggests that College Corner was the only location where these signs were posted. Given that store's location - right across the street from the university campus - I'm guessing the perps were shooting for maximum visibility.

[Editor's Note: There was a similar story posted to OKIMC in April, Racist group strikes in Northeast Oklahoma City]

--continued--

Reposted, with permission, from Okie Funk.

It has been a tough week here for sure.

Tragically, 23 deaths have been blamed on the ice storm that stunned Oklahoma this past week. At one point, more than 600,000 homes and businesses were without power, and thousands still remain in the dark.

Some Oklahomans shivered through the storm with blankets and candles while others headed to shelters. The damage to the local tree population here is incalculable. Once the thaw is complete, we will know more, but it appears the state has lost thousands of trees. Meanwhile, the state’s college students trudged through finals week under some of the worst weather conditions possible.

Overall, it appears the state’s emergency systems once again worked well during the storm, and no one can fault the utility companies in their immediate efforts to restore power. Crews came in from other states. These crews worked long hours in biting cold weather to get the job done.

But the ice storm raises at least three major issues for Oklahoma’s leaders, and the severity of this storm demand new initiatives and open-minded, intelligent thinking. Will there be discussion and action or will this recent storm quickly recede into Oklahoma weather lore?

Here are those issues:

Senator Tom CoburnOklahoma Republican Senator is blocking a bipartisan bill aimed at enhancing investigations into older civil rights era crimes, like the murder of black teen Emmitt Till in 1957, which has never been solved.

from AP story:

The legislation would authorize $10-million annually over 10 years for the Justice Department to rejuvenate its prosecutions of pre-1970 civil rights murders. It calls for another $3.5-million annually for Justice to provide grants and other help to local law enforcement agencies.