From the open publishing newswire: I'm in favor of asking the City Council in Portland to paint the Hawthorne Bridge pink. It would serve as our memorial, our HomoMonument to all those who were murdered for being gay, lesbian, bi, or transgendered, during and after the Second World War. The wages would be welcome in this economy, too. There is a Homomonument in Amsterdam, and its website gives the following reason for its existence:

"Immediately following the end of the Second World War there were calls to establish a memorial to commemorate the gay men and women who lost their lives in the war. However, all efforts to establish a monument failed. It took until the 1980's, almost 40 years after the war, before the time was ripe. It wasn't until then that thorough research into the persecution of homosexuals in the Second World War was properly conducted.

From the open publishing newswire: Oregon Intel calls itself a "green" company and a "good corporate citizen." However, Intel belongs to the business association Industrial Customers of Northwest Utilities, which has consistently lobbied against progress on global warming and clean energy issues in this state. Please ask Intel to live up to its green rhetoric by lobbying FOR clean energy in Oregon.

From the open publishing newswire: Do you have any ideas that could benefit humanity? I mean really? Are there any solutions? I've been checking out Indy Media here for about three weeks and it's fascinating. It really is. I've learned a lot, and had some almost productive conversations. I've read some interesting discussions about eliminating poverty, anarchic society, consumerism, pirates and Zimbabwe; it's really been an education. There is no doubt that Portland Indy media has a readership of very intelligent people.

From the open publishing newswire: Sunroot Gardens is an urban CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) farming enterprise. We bike around, growing vegetables in people's yards and "unimproved" public rights-of-way, etc. We saved a boat-load of seeds this year from a ton of veggies, herbs, and flowers, and will be making the collection available at an Exchange on Jan. 3.

From the open publishing newswire: December 18 2008 as the temperature drops to the low 30's the weekly protest/ vigil (Thursday at high noon) continue outside of the Portland office of House District 3 Representative Earl Blumenauer.

The protest vigil is "to encourage & remind him (Earl) that his constituent's want accountability and an honest and forthright presidency. By Earl Blumenauer refusing (and continuing to ignore the lawlessness) to hold the Bush administration accountable for their human rights violations and for their disrespect on holding-up (protecting) the US Constitution as our honored "law of our land" ...we (protesters) are outside his office (weekly) showing the world we (as individual's and citizens for justice) are displeased and outraged that Earl Blumenauer will tolerate and allow these violations. The group holding this protest will be here till Jan 20 (2008)when the Liar in Chief steps down from his stolen position.

From the open publishing newswire: "We still have them on the run and we intend to keep them on the run for as long as our fuel resources allow," said Captain Watson. The Sea Shepherd Conservation Society ship Steve Irwin closed in on one of the vessels of the Japanese whaling fleet at 0730 Hours GMT (1930 Hours Sydney Time) on December 26th off the coast of the Australian Antarctic Territory north of the Mawson Peninsula.

The Kaiko Maru emerged from dense fog in front of the Steve Irwin. The Sea Shepherd crew pursued and delivered 10 bottles of rotten butter and 15 bottles of a methyl cellulose and indelible dye mixture... Since Saturday, the Sea Shepherd crew have chased the Japanese fleet for 400 miles through heavy fog, dense ice and nasty weather. During that time they have not been able to kill any whales. [ Read more |Sea Shepherd News]

From the open publishing newswire: 40 people or so marched through downtown Portland streets on a very snowy Saturday night in solidarity with the insurrection in Greece and against state repression everywhere.
Chants of "from Portland to Greece, these are our streets!" and "rain or snow the police must go!" were met with cheers by many of the people who were downtown during the blizzard, some even joined the march with their own chants of "F-ck the Police!"
The march encountered only one cop who was laughed off when he asked "who is the leader?". a window broke at a large department store (nordstrom rack?), and circle A's appeared on on doors and buildings in the wake of the march.

From the open publishing newswire: The recent shrill cry from the corporate media for Somali blood has moved me to put a few points of reason into writing. I am referring to the recent condemnations of the so-called "Somali Pirates" that have been appearing in the press.

The first important point to consider is that the "ransom"* money that the Somali Pirates are collecting is supporting impoverished Somali communities and feeding malnourished children. For these impoverished people, their government and the international community has allowed them to go starving, but the "pirates" provide for their needs by redistributing some of the wealth from those who have too much to those who have too little and no time to wait.

From the open publishing newswire: 'll just call this the Great BP Blow of '08. 'Cause believe it or not, this cold weather is brought in by excessive retained solar energy, which will doubtless bring us more yet, knocking dents in our global-warming civilization. If the ice storm follows as predicted (a big if), we could call it the Fina Freeze. And so forth.

In any event, the fact that the Pacific has teased us so, has worn out the Tri-Met bus service. Days of driving with tire chains in expectation of --well, of today's phenomenon-- has overtaxed the mechanics, who have had to maintain chain repair/removal/installation stations in four locations constantly. Their fatigue is tremendous, and they are running out of chains as the bare asphalt tore them to pieces. They look like coal miners after a double shift. I feel so sorry for them.

From the open publishing newswire: Warming Centers City Hall 2008: I video taped (from my TV) [on Saturday 12.20.08] the City Hall discussion about Warming Centers in Portland Oregon that took place on Wednesday 12.17.08

From the open publishing newswire: wow. I have no problem "bringing in people that are disagreed with" and my problem is not JUST a support of measure 8. Seriously he compared me and my loved ones to beastiophiles and pedophiles. I can not think of another minority group that such direct hate and bigotry could be leveled against and cast off so easily. As you make room at the table sir, I am sad to see that I will remain at "the other table". I actually backed you in the primaries, after giving up on mainstream politics, as have many of my friends. I am sure that next election I will note this. And yes I know you democrats believe you own my vote one way or another. but once again I find myself finally feeling the need to sit it out.

From the open publishing newswire: At the United Nations, the General Assembly has approved a historic measure supporting gay rights worldwide. On Thursday, sixty-six countries voted to approve a declaration calling for the decriminalization of homosexuality and guaranteeing equal rights for gays, lesbians and transgendered people. Most of the support came from Europe and Latin America. The Bush administration refused to support the measure, joining Russia, China, the Vatican and several Arab states. Maxime Verhagen, the Netherlands' Minister of Foreign Affairs, criticized the US objection.

So if the US opposes the UN declaration affirming that gays, lesbians and transgendered people have rights (meaning the right to live and not be stoned to death for just being) then THEN why not affirm this thorough our BIOREGION. Get all of Cascadia to affirm this declaration on human rights.

Why the fuck are we remaining part of the US?

From the open publishing newswire: This Saturday Dec. 20 is the International Day of Action in Solidarity with the uprising in Greece.Solidarity demonstrations have happend all over the world, from embassy occupations, to burning cop cars, to candle light vigils, to banners and signs with words of what's to come.

Announcing a solidarity demonstration with greek radicals and students, fighting against police murder. Saturday, December 20th at 5 PM at the North Park Blocks, by the riot elephant.

We wish to relate the struggle against police murder there to the struggle against police murder here. Bring your signs, banners, masks, drums, and spirit.