September 2000

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FREE SPEECH: YOU HAVE IT OR YOU DON’T

by: Bob Fischer

The GAP, Inc., the corporate deity that recently granted the prayers of the Mayor and the Chief of Police and chose Fresno to be its distribution hub for the entire Pacific Northwest, has some very serious problems. Some of those problems are financial. The GAP, Inc reported that its July retail sales had dropped from a 2% increase last year to a 1% decrease this year. Worse than that, the GAP's stock prices have plunged 57% from their 52-week high of $53.75. The reason for the GAP’s huge financial problems is its even larger ethical problems, namely its complicity in gross violations of human rights and human decency.

Take Saipan for example. Saipan is just one country out of fifty or so where the GAP does business with what it calls independent clothing factories, but which are actually gigantic, global sweatshops. Saipan is a U.S. protectorate where U.S. labor laws do not apply, and it is a virtual slave colony for thousands of young women who are forced to work up to 12 hours a day, 7 days a week. When they don’t make their daily quotas, they are required to do "voluntary work." These young women were lured from the Philippines and China with promises that they are going to America where they have good paying jobs waiting for them. They are flown instead to Saipan by coyotes, who are referred to in the mythology of sweatshops as independent labor contractors. Most of the women and girls are forced to sign contracts that say they will not attend religious services, will not marry, will not join a labor union, and will not quit the job until they pay back the money they owe their labor contractor and their employer. They are paid only a few pennies an hour, so they spend the entire year of their "one-year contract" ineffectually trying to pay off their "recruitment fees" that can run as high as $10,000. They must also pay off the inflated cost of their round trip plane fare. Exorbitant payments for their food and lodging are taken directly from their paychecks. They can’t quit and go back home because they can’t get out until they pay off their debts. They are forced to live indefinitely in overcrowded, unsanitary housing surrounded by barbed wire. They have no family or state agencies to protect them from molestation, battery, rape and forced prostitution. If they become pregnant, they are forced to have abortions.

Each so-called independent factory is actually an integral piece of the GAP's slave empire. Independence is just the propaganda of plausible deniability. Without those independent factories, Millard Drexler, the GAP's CEO, would not have made $47.1 million in 1998, and Donald Fisher, the chairman of the GAP, would not have a personal fortune of over $8 billion.

The people who protest against the GAP's sweatshop slavery are not acting as individuals, but as representatives of a variety of respected national organizations and community groups. In every demonstration in front of Fashion Fair, or Old Navy in Clovis or River Park, there have been people from the Community Alliance, United Students Against Sweatshops, the Green Party of Fresno County, Global Exchange, the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom, St. Benedict Catholic Worker, the Fresno Center for Nonviolence, Gaia House, Proyecto Campesino, The Wheelchair Project, and a number of local labor unions.

What these groups want is for the GAP to disclose the locations of its factories, its wages, working hours, health and safety. They want the information verified by independent non-governmental organizations and human rights groups. They want all garment workers to receive decent housing and what is a working wage in the country where they are employed. They want the workers to have the right to organize labor unions of their own choosing. They want workers’ human rights respected, crimes against women and children stopped, and an end to forced abortions. They also want an end to the policy of sewing "Made in America" labels on clothing that is manufactured in factories overseas.

On May 6th of this year, nineteen people, me included, were arrested by Fashion Fair¹s private police force and handed over to the hundred or more Fresno police officers who swarmed over the area. The Fresno police handcuffed us, while a police helicopter hovered overhead making an aerial video of the scene of the crime. We were marched off to a waiting police bus and taken away. Strangely, two of those arrested that day were nowhere near Fashion Fair. They are both active members of groups that did have members there, but they weren’t even at the demonstration. Why their names appeared on the District Attorney’s list of those arrested for protesting "illegally" one can only wonder. The other seventeen were definitely there. Some were exercising what was once protected speech. Others were just watching what was going on. It didn’t matter. Fashion Fair’s privatized police force made the arrests, and if the Fashion Fair Police chose you, the Fresno Police took you away.

On August 7th, we were arraigned. The District Attorney changed the charges against us from simple trespassing to intimidating customers and merchants, and interfering with commerce, which is more serious and more nonsense. Five of our number cannot afford the amount of time a trial requires. Consequently they chose to plead guilty, or enter conditional pleas, which will be dropped after six months if they do ten hours of community service, and don’t get arrested for being in an "illegal" demonstration during that time. Twelve of us chose to plead not guilty, so we can have a trial before a jury.

On September 22nd, we twelve will be back in court to give the judge our arguments for our motions to dismiss, and for our discovery motions. The date of our trial will most likely be set for sometime in October.

Seven of Fresno’s most progressive lawyers have stepped forward to be our legal defense team. The attorneys are providing their services pro bono, because what happened was such an obvious misuse of police power against people who were simply trying to tell the truth about a really rotten situation. We are all nonviolent, reasonable and pleasant protestors, and we were only doing what we have done at Fashion Fair several times before, and at other places several times since, without being arrested or even given a second look by the police.

Our seven attorneys are graciously taking on this case without fee, but there are expenses involved in winning a legal battle to defend free speech. We figure that its going to run about $1,500 to get all the necessary paper work done and properly distributed. If you would like to invest in making a little piece of Fresno history, and at the same time contribute to a victory for free speech and working people, you can make a donation to our legal defense fund. Send a check to the Community Alliance, and indicate that it is for "the GAP Protest Defense Fund." In October, you can lend your moral support by coming with us when we go to court.

FROM LA: AN ALTERNATIVE CENTRAL VALLEY PERSPECTIVE ON THE DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION

By Mark Stout, Organizer, Fresno County Green Party

During the week of August 12th through the 17th, dozens of Fresno-area activists descended on Los Angeles to take part in the protests and other activities (known as D2KLA) surrounding the Democratic National Convention (DNC). After months of organizing meetings, progressives from the central San Joaquin Valley were ready to let their voices be heard on issues ignored by the Democrats and Republicans. Their concerns covered a wide range, including sweatshops, immigrant rights, a growing wage/wealth gap, unchecked corporate power, electoral reform, genetically engineered foods, the racist death penalty, and exclusion of third party candidates from the upcoming debates.

What brought us together is that all of these issues are being swept under the rug by centrist, corporate-friendly Democrats and Republicans in striking examples of “bipartisan consensus” that ignore the growing numbers of disenfranchised voters left out by the current political process. Even though many of us might have particular issues we focused on during the week, there was solidarity among our Valley contingent, shown by substantial participation across the board in each day’s protests. According to Fresno D2KLA and Green Party organizer Dallas Blanchard, roughly 35 area residents participated over the course of the week.

Fresno activists arriving throughout the weekend of August 12th-13th, many of who joined the several thousand turning out for Sunday’s march and rally for Mumia Abu-Jamal, a journalist on Pennsylvania’s death row. The festivities cranked into high gear with a beach party underneath a restaurant on the Santa Monica Pier where conservative, “Blue Dog” Democrats were being wined and dined by top supporters, including Philip Morris and the NRA. After hundreds of protesters gathered at the GAP on the Third Street Promenade to oppose this corporation’s use of sweatshop manufacturing, we began a spirited march to the Pier highlighted by imaginative costumes and musical accompaniment. The mood was upbeat and police presence was relatively restrained.

At the beach, Valley Green Party members were interviewed by a Fresno Bee writer and photographer, who helped to bring our messages home to a wider audience. According to the Tower District’s Will Heasley, one of those interviewed, "I don't like the direction our country is heading... The gap between rich and poor is growing ever wider." Several speakers, including Green Party U.S. Senate candidate Medea Benjamin and Democratic State Senator Tom Hayden, talked about making our democracy more inclusive. Afterwards, a large group of us headed up to the grassroots Green Party fund-raiser going on in a restaurant next door to the corporate-funded Blue Dog party. In a remarkable show of cross-party progressive solidarity, Senator Hayden joined us at Green fund-raiser, while a balloon declaring “End Corporate Rule” floated above the Democratic tobacco-fest.

Monday’s theme was “Human Needs Not Corporate Greed”, highlighted with a march to a fenced-in “protest pit” next to Staples Center. The hundreds of police guarding the parade route seemed very tense and confrontational when faced with the thousands of non-violent protesters taking it to the streets with large, colorful banners and puppets, including a 15-foot Ralph Nader likeness that demanded “Let me into the Debates!” When we made it to Staples Center, the politically charged band “Rage Against the Machine” treated over 8,000 of us to a high-energy concert, inspiring us to work for social change. From their balcony above, hundreds of Democratic Party delegates looked out at this teeming sea of humanity disconnected from the scripted “show” on the DNC floor. Dolores Huerta, co-founder of the United Farm Workers as well as a Democratic Party delegate, came over to our stage to encourage the gathered activists in their pursuit for social justice.

EDITORIAL

Whoever wins the KFCF 88.1 FM board of directors recall election, the station will never be the same. Over the last couple of months there has been a debate, intense at times, about the future of the station. Two different visions of the radio station’s future have been argued on the air, in the pages of the Community Alliance newsletter, and on several Internet listserves. In essence, the debate is about is how responsive KFCF will be to local progressive groups who want to be on the air and who will make that decision.

However the vote goes, the Community Alliance urges both sides to honor the decision of the voters and the democratic process. When the voters have spoken it is time for the winning side to implement their vision for the future of the station without ongoing conflict. The KFCF board of directors have been dysfunctional for almost a year now and it is time for the fighting to end. If the board majority wins the recall election we call on the Community Radio Coalition (CRC) to give the board majority the opportunity to run the station as the voters have decided. If CRC board members can not be supportive of the board majority they should step aside and allow new participants on the board who will work in a cooperative and positive direction. If the CRC wins the recall then there will be a new election for all board seats. The CRC slate, having won the recall, will almost certainly sweep the full board elections. The current board majority must be gracious in the transfer of power to the CRC.

KFCF will never be the same! During this election the members of the board majority have said that they will continue and expand the new local programming, look into a local community advisory board, and move the studio out of the private residence (where it now is) and into a publically accessible location. All these are good developments. If the CRC wins the elections the community can expect to see the same developments, probably at a faster pace. The CRC will also move to eliminate all conflicts of interest from the board.

It has been an interesting debate about the future of KFCF and now that it has attracted the attention of the entire progressive community in this area, there is no going back to business as usual. The votes will be counted on September 5, 2000.

THE GREEN PARTY PAGE

This month we are pleased to include information from the Fresno County Green Party within the pages of the Community Alliance newsletter. They have decided to join the Fresno Center for Nonviolence in sponsoring their own page within this newsletter. The Fresno County Green Party has full editorial control of the content on their page, which is on page 7.

We are excited to have these two great community groups include in this newsletter and encourage other progressive organizations to consider joining us within these pages. Our goal is to have a newsletter that builds unity, inspires people to take action, and links groups involved in the struggle for social & economic justice.

AMNESTY MARCH SET FOR OCTOBER 14

A number of immigrant rights groups who have formed the Amnesty Coalition of the San Joaquin Valley, are planning a march to support general amnesty. The march which is scheduled for October 14 coincides with the traditional celebration of “Dia de la Raza” (Columbus Day). The march will begin at the Federal Building and proceed west on Tulare to Centtro Bellas Artes on E street in Chinatown.

In other Amnesty support work the Community Alliance has secured a total of 18 local organizations which support the AFL-CIO call for general amnesty. Additional groups that have signed on since June include:

The groups plan to arrange meetings with local Congressional candidates in the next month. If you would like to help with this project call Leonel at 490-1087 or Mike at 233-3978.

CALIFORNIA 'HOUSE OF LABOR' SUPPORTS MUMIA

In an historic move, the California Labor Federation, AFL-CIO voted, without dissent, to demand Justice for Mumia Abu-Jamal and to support the 'Labor for Mumia' Campaign. At its Convention in Anaheim, CA on July 18, 2000. California's 'House of Labor' opened the door for the Labor Movement nationally to champion Mumia's case. As noted in the final section of the resolution, reproduced below, the California Labor Federation "forwards this resolution and encourages its adoption by the national Executive Council of the AFL-CIO."

In a flyer prepared for the Convention, 'Labor for Mumia' points out, "Among various initiatives, we are launching a mass letter-writing campaign. We will be circulating letters for union members to sign, protesting the planned execution and the continuing denial of Mumia's Constitutional and Civil Rights. We must demand that the Justice Department launch an investigation. 29 separate Constitutional violations have been documented. It shouldn't take 18 years to discover just one, which is sufficient grounds to throw the case out. Refusal to investigate this matter amounts to complicity. The Labor movement cannot afford to sit back or look the other way."

“The Labor Movement must continue to champion the struggle against injustice. As we have in the past, we must stand shoulder to shoulder with the African American community in combating racial injustice. This is true even when that injustice is handed down by a white man in a black robe, shrouded by the aura of the criminal justice system."

"Please add your name to the campaign. Secure the endorsement of your Union, Council or affiliated organization. Organize a Mumia Awareness Committee in your local. Help us reach out to the ranks of labor to win this struggle for freedom, justice and equality."

California Labor Honors Mumia & Supports

'Labor for Mumia' Campaign

Resolution for Justice for Mumia Abu-Jamal

WHEREAS, Mumia Abu-Jamal is an outstanding African-American journalist and member of the National Writers Union-UAW who campaigned against police abuses and who, with no previous criminal record, has been on Pennsylvania's death row since 1981, convicted of shooting a police officer in a trial in which there was compelling evidence of his innocence and of gross misconduct on the part of the police, prosecutor and judge; and

WHEREAS, his execution was stopped only by massive international protests, yet he still faces imminent execution if Federal District Court Justice William Yohn refuses to hear evidence on 29 charges of Constitutional violations, even while new witnesses have come forward and new evidence announced by Rubin Hurricane Carter clearly shows perjury and prosecutorial subornation of perjury; and

WHEREAS, despite his life and death need to put his case before the public, Mumia Abu-Jamal showed courageous solidarity with locked out NABET/CWA workers by his refusal to be interviewed by a scab ABC television crew, helping to bring national attention to NABET's just struggle and has also championed the ILWU's bold efforts in solidarity with the Liverpool dockers in regard to the Neptune Jade scab ship ; and

WHEREAS, Mumia Abu-Jamal's struggle for a new trial is supported by a broad range of Labor Organizations which stand up for social justice, city governments, organizations such as the NAACP, Amnesty International, American Friends Service Committee and the European Parliament, and by such well known figures as Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Nelson Mandela, Martin Luther King III, Alice Walker, Paul Newman, Maya Angelou, Ossie Davis and many others who seek justice and human rights; and

WHEREAS ever increasing numbers of people are being freed from death row because of new evidence of innocence that has brought about public (including political) questioning of the fairness of the death penalty; and

WHEREAS, should he be executed without a new trial, it would be an affront to all who believe in fairness, and it would be an irreversible, tragic miscarriage of justice and a disgrace to the United States of America as a whole; now

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that this Twenty-third Biennial Convention of the California Labor Federation, AFL-CIO commends Mumia Abu-Jamal for his principled and courageous acts of union solidarity and we continue to take our place alongside those labor organizations who stand up against racism and injustice, demanding justice and a new trial for Mumia Abu-Jamal; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that we call upon Justice Yohn to hear Mumia Abu-Jamal's new evidence and witnesses, and if he refuses, we call upon the President of the United States to intercede and order a new trial; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that we support the LABOR FOR MUMIA Campaign urging the entire Organized Labor Movement to educate and organize our members and to bring Organized Labor's Power to bear to assure Justice for Mumia Abu-Jamal; and

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that the California Labor Federation adopts this resolution at its Convention on July 17-19, 2000, and forwards this resolution and encourages its adoption by the national Executive Council of the AFL-CIO.

Adopted - California Labor Federation, AFL-CIO July 18, 2000 - Anaheim, California

WHO IS 19TH C.D. CANDIDATE DAN ROSENBERG AND WHAT DOES HE STAND FOR?

By: Ray Ensher

Dan Rosenberg looked about from his home in North Fork and determined that the 19th Congressional District was not being well represented by the incumbent Congressman George Radanovioh and that he has had a free ride during his last 3 campaigns. He believes he can do a better job of truly representing the district and constituency of the area. He has been working hard to prove in this predominately Republican district that if elected he can better serve the people with issues of their concern and need. He states in his literature, "I am working for an America that should be judged on how well we take care of our senior citizens; on how well we educate our children; on how well we protect our environment; on how safe we keep our cities; and on how diligent we are in striving to improve the quality of life for everyone."

Mr. Rosenberg's positions regarding some of the local and nation's key concerns include:

MEDICARE - He wishes to ensure the long term viability of Medicare(including coverage of prescription drugs) so that seniors can live with dignity.

EDUCATION - He believes that public funds should support public schools. Supports Headstart, Title 1, Pell Grants and classroom size reduction. He does oppose the use of private school vouchers.

SOCIAL SECURITY - He believes in preserving Social Security for future generations of Americans by preventing the use of Social Security fund for any other use.

GUN CONTROL - He believes that guns should be kept out of the hands of criminals and children through more effective enforcement of existing gun safety legislation.

ENVIRONMENT - He believes that industry and local cities must work together to balance economic and environmental needs.

WOMEN'S ISSUES - He believes abortions should be rare, legal, and safe, and that unplanned pregnancies be prevented through responsible behavior and education.

LABOR ISSUES - He believes increasing the federal minimum wage, stopping right-to-work legislation, supporting employee collective bargaining, maintaining the Davis-Bacon Act and supporting OSHA safety standards.

Mr. Rosenberg believes that once the full record of the incumbent is out before the voters it will speak for itself. Hopefully he will be able to do that during the many planned public forums and debates and show the constituency of the 19th C.D, that he will be "A Voice for the Central Valley" and all its people. Contact office: (559) 222-VOTE(8683) for more issues and volunteering.

RESPONSIBLE CHOICE CANDIDATE FORUM

By: Vinh Ngo

The Steering Committee of Responsible Choice Candidate Forum has met and selected October 4, 2000 for our Candidate Forum. On this occasion we will have candidates debate each other on the following issues:

  • Human Rights and Civil Rights

  • Family Stability (e.g., employment, education, violence prevention, crime prevention)

  • Labor / Wages

  • Immigration Issues

  • Health Care

  • Separation of Church and State

  • Environment

A panel of moderators were selected with Naomi Strom and Melanie Kim serving as the moderators. Three races are going to be highlighted. They are the Mayoral, Supervisorial, and the 19th District U.S Congressional races. If the incumbent for the Congressional seat, U.S. Representative Radanovich, does not respond to this forum, we will replace that debate with the four candidates for the City Council race.

This debate will be held again at Wesley Methodist Church, 1343 E. Barstow (4th and Barstow) on October 4, 2000 from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Sponsors for this forum are: Americans United for Separation of Church and State, California Latina Leaders In Action, Central California Alliance, Central Valleys AIDS Foundation, Fresno Coalition Against the Misuse of Pesticide (FRESCAMP), Fresno Center for New Americans, Fresno County Democratic Women's Club, Fresno County Green Party, Khmer Society of Fresno, Community Alliance, National Organization for Women, Fresno Chapter, National Women Political Caucus, Planned Parenthood Mar Monte, Republican for Choices, Vietnam Human Rights Network, Central California Chapter, Women's International League for Peace and Freedom and Wesley Methodist Church.

For more information, please call Lynn Storey at 439-5152, Robin Greiner at 431-8361, or Vinh Ngo at 488-4913.

George W. Bush, in his own words

"When I was coming up, it was a dangerous world, and you knew exactly who they were. It was us vs. them, and it was clear who them was. Today, we are not so sure who the they are, but we know they're there."
-- Iowa Western Community College, Jan. 21, 2000.

"How do you know if you don't measure if you have a system that simply suckles kids through?"
-- Explaining the need for educational accountability in Beaufort, S.C., Feb. 16, 2000.

"Will the highways on the Internet become more few?"
-- Concord, N.H., Jan. 29, 2000.

"This is Preservation Month. I appreciate preservation. It's what you do when you run for president. You gotta preserve."
-- Speaking during "Perseverance Month" at Fairgrounds Elementary School in Nashua, N.H. As quoted in Los Angeles Times, Jan. 28, 2000.

"I know how hard it is for you to put food on your family."
-- Greater Nashua, N.H., Chamber of Commerce, Jan. 27, 2000.

"What I am against is quotas. I am against hard quotas, quotas they basically delineate based upon whatever. However they delineate. Quotas, I think, vulcanize society. So, I don't know how that fits into what everybody else is saying, their relative positions, but that's my position."
-- Quoted by Molly Ivins, San Francisco Chronicle, Jan. 21, 2000 (Thanks to Toni L. Gould).

"This is still a dangerous world. It's a world of madmen and uncertainty and potential mental losses."
-- At a South Carolina oyster roast, as quoted in the Financial Times, Jan. 14, 2000

"Rarely is the question asked: Is our children learning?"
-- Florence, S.C., Jan. 11, 2000

The state of Texas, under the leadership of Governor George W. Bush, is ranked:

  • 50th. Spending for teachers salaries

  • 49th. Spending on the environment

  • 48th. Per capita funding for public health

  • 47th. Delivery of social services

  • 42nd. Child support collections

  • 41st. Per capita spending on public education

  • 5th. % of population living in poverty

  • 1st. % of poor working parents w/o insurance

  • 1st. % of children without insurance

  • 1st. Air and water pollution

  • 1st. Executions (avg. 1 every 2 weeks for Bush's 5 years)

DICK CHENEY ON THE ISSUES

Dick Cheney was first elected to Congress in 1978 (from Wyoming - 3 electoral votes) and served until leaving to work in Bush Sr.'s cabinet in 1989. In his time in Congress, Cheney distinguished himself as one of the most conservative members of the House.

"Cheney's voting record is slightly more conservative than mine."
- Newt Gingrich

CHOICE

As a member of Congress, Cheney cast 26 out of a possible 27 votes against choice and voted against funding for abortion services for low-income women, U.S. servicewomen stationed overseas and Peace Corps volunteers even in cases of rape and incest or when the woman's life was in danger.

SOCIAL SECURITY AND MEDICARE

Cheney voted in Congress to increase the retirement age to 67 for Social Security.

Cheney has said, "I don't believe there is a crisis in our health care system."

In 1985, Cheney voted against legislation that prevented the divestment of Social Security Trust funds and other trust funds.

GUNS - THE NRA'S BEST FRIEND

In December of 1985, Cheney was one of 21 House members to vote against the ban on cop-killing bullets.

In 1988, Cheney was one of only 4 House members to vote against a ban on plastic guns that could be brought through airport checkpoints.

In 1988, Cheney voted to repeal the seven-day waiting period for gun purchases.

ENVIRONMENT

The League of Conservation Voters gave Cheney a 13% environmental rating for his votes in Congress.

The Sierra Club gave Cheney some of the worst environmental rankings in Congress including a 0% ranking for the 1987-1988 term.

Cheney was one of 26 House members who voted to sustain President Reagan's veto of the Clean Water Act

Voted to postpone sanctions against clean air violators in 1987.

Supported drilling for oil in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.

Cheney's oil company, Halliburton, operates a facility in Duncan, Oklahoma. According to the EPA, the Duncan facility is in the top 20% of dirty facilities in the country.

EDUCATION

Voted against Head Start funding.

Voted against the creation of the Department of Education.

CIVIL RIGHTS

Cheney was one of 29 members who opposed the collection of hate crime data in 1988.

Cheney voted against a resolution calling for the government of South Africa to release Nelson Mandela and opposed sanctions against South Africa on 9 separate occasions.

WELCOME: We are pleased to announce the appointment of David James as our new full-service Treasurer. David is a pastor and also acts as business manager for Habitat for Humanity. He has already re-organized and reconciled our books. We welcome him and his much-needed skills. We also want to thank Bob Baker for his interim stint maintaining the computerized records of our treasury.

BEE COVERAGE, AGAIN: We were fortunate to have David Ferry, of Voices in the Wilderness, in Fresno again to address us at the vigil we held on Aug. 4 on behalf of the people of Iraq. The Bee, not surprisingly, elected to black out coverage of this event. It seems so strange--they have obviously made an editorial decision to start questioning the sanctions (finally!), printing several substantial articles on the subject in the past few weeks. At the same time, they refuse to pay attention to related local actions. Ellie Bluestein had a letter on this subject printed in The Bee on Aug. 12. The Center corresponded directly with Charlie Waters, executive editor, who ended our letter by asking: "Does The Bee not recognize that local citizens have concerns that go beyond the county lines?...Your staff is not alone in making judgments about what is important nationally and internationally: we would at least like our existence acknowledged."

GORE OR NADER? Our Sept. 12th program is meant as an in-house conversation on how each of us is deciding whether to support Gore or Nader. The purpose is not to come to consensus, but simply to hear the values and priorities that others are using to make their decision. The 7:00 p.m. program will be preceded by a 6:00 pot luck.

SPEAKING OF VALUES...Here are two chances to bring your beliefs into play. The Center has been invited to present a 4-hour workshop to "at-risk youth" on violence reduction and conflict resolution. Anyone interested in working with Richard Stone & Vincent Lavery on this, call Richard at 266-2559. We are also funded for another "PEACE CHALLENGE FOR YOUTH". We plan to continue the format of group projects but we need a larger working committee to do effective outreach. Can you help? This can be a great program if enough people become involved! Call Richard at 266-2559 if you're willing.

REMEMBER STYLISH SECONDS...SEPTEMBER 16th. SUPPORT THE CENTER, ENJOY YOURSELVES. Thrift store fashions, food, entertainment, silent auction.

STIR IT UP, Center-style, featuring Vince Lavery, 2nd Wed. each month at 3:30 p.m., KFCF 88.2 FM.

THE WELCH REPORT
August 14, 2000 • Jack H. Welch, M.D.

SANCTIONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION AND IRAQ

The economic sanctions on Iraq have continued for ten years, and are now considered the most comprehensive economic blockade imposed on a nation-state in modern history.

The entire Iraqi health care infrastructure has been decimated by a lack of basic pharmaceuticals, x-ray machines and other vital supplies. Education, once excellent, now suffers under the weight of the embargo with books and other items in short supply. Malnutrition has sky-rocketed, and children are dying from the most curable diseases. (Campaign of Conscience for the Iraqi People, an initiative of the American Friends Service Committee and Fellowship of Reconciliation, www.forusa.org/CCIraqFrame.html)

More Iraqi children have died as a result of sanctions than the combined toll of two atomic bombs on Japan and the recent ethnic cleansing in the former Yugoslavia!

WHO reports that the vast majority of Iraq's population has been on a semi-starvation diet since imposition of UN sanctions. It is estimated that only 41 percent of the population has regular access to clean water. The Iraqi unemployment rate is 50 percent.

The oil-for-food program is well intentioned but inadequate. Human Rights Watch refers to it "as a temporary program which does not encompass the planning and investment required to restore Iraq's infrastructure to a level needed to meet the most basic civilian necessities." This statement challenges WHO's evaluation that Iraq has a disciplined food rationing system.

Why should economic sanctions be lifted? It is morally wrong to inflict suffering on a vulnerable people for the purpose of pressuring its political leaders who are unlikely to be influenced by that suffering. These sanctions violate the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The strong consensus among Security Council members in support of sanctions has eroded. Sanctions have wiped out the middle class and they can no longer serve as an effective political opposition to Saddam Hussein.

Comprehensive sanctions should end but sanctions specifically affecting government leaders should be maintained (freezes on assets, etc.). Iraq should be allowed to develop its economy again while the international community strengthens an embargo on weapons technology and military material to the country. (Friends Committee on National Legislation, Washington D.C., www.fcnl.org) Scott Ritter, former UN arms inspector, has stated that "chemical, biological, nuclear and long-range ballistic missile programs that were a real threat in 1991 had, by 1998, been destroyed or rendered harmless." The policy of the Clinton administration is to maintain economic sanctions until Saddam Hussein is removed from office, a policy having no prospect for success. It is time for a new approach toward Iraq built upon diplomatic engagement. (The Boston Globe, March 9, 2000)

The US Congress should pass HR 3825, the Humanitarian Exports Leading to Peace Act (H.E.L.P.), which allows the export of food and medicine to Iraq. The US government must stop the bombing of Iraqi which in 1999 killed 156 people, many of them civilians and children. (Fresno Center for Nonviolence has information on Campaign of Conscience for the Iraqi People.)

CAMPAIGN FOCUSES ON KMJ

We are writing to encourage all citizens - including professors, present and past students, and members of the Bulldog Foundation - in the Fresno-Clovis and adjoining communities to join with us in writing letters and E-mails and making calls to California State University Fresno President, John Welty <john_welty@csufresno.edu> 278-2324. Those letters and calls would insist that Welty get the University to sever all ties and affiliation with KMJ Radio so long as KMJ persists in presenting a wholly unbalanced programming agenda that is acutely slanted toward the corporate-controlled, conservative-Republican side alone. The progressive and working family segments of our communities are currently totally left out! The radio airways are owned by ALL the people, not just a handful of corporate-bought locals who are told what to say and do by the fat-cat corporates! We ALL, as citizens, are the ones who give KMJ the right to use those airways by granting them, through our government, a broadcast license. Do we not ALL, then, have the right to be equally represented and served over the airways that we ALL own?!

The KMJ Radio Station is owned by Viacom/CBS/Westinghouse, which is one of the huge "BIG-6" Media Monopolies. KMJ Runs 15-18 hours a week of Rush Limbaugh - Arch Conservative, corporate mouthpiece! Just read "The Way Things Aren't - A Reign of Error" by FAIR (Fairness and Accuracy In Reporting) for well-documented proof on how Limbaugh runs his show on the power of a steady stream of his bald-faced lies. In addition, KMJ runs at least 10 hours a week of Michael Medved, who puppets the Limbaugh line; 10 hours a week of the Limbaugh wanna-be, Ray Appleton; and 20 hours a week of Bill Manders, an offensive Appleton-approved relief hitter.

What about the other side? KMJ runs O hours a week of Democratic, Liberal, Progressive, or Populist opinion! Non-Conservative talk-show hosts like Jim Hightower have been made available to KMJ, but KMJ flat refuses to use them! The communities own the airways, but the corporations (like Viacom), through Arch Conservative/corporate-mouthpiece talk show hosts, are ruling the airways! (To our knowledge, there are about 60 Conservative, but only about 6 Progressive hosts on all syndicated U.S. radio talk shows!)

Very much like the public radio airways, California's university system belongs to ALL Californians, not to just a corporate-bought few. Surely, all Californians aren't Limbaugh "ditto-heads!" We, therefore, call on all of you to write or call CSUF President, John Welty, and your favorite lawmakers. Insist that Welty and his administration have the University sever all ties and affiliation with KMJ Radio, including all sports programming, until such time as KMJ Radio fully balances its programming agenda to represent the entire community, not just the corporate-bought, corporate-propagandized bunch! Let them know that all of us won't stop our equal-representation campaign until we get OUR SHARE of ALL the airways back!

Stan Poss
Joan Poss
Julius P. Rasmussen Jr.

WHO SAYS THE TWO MAJOR PARTIES ARE THE SAME?

By: Ray Ensher

The Democratic Party was first organized by Thomas Jefferson (1792) as a Congressional Caucus to fight for the Bill of Rights and it became the "party of the common man" in 1798. It remains to this day to be the champion of the common man and now women of this nation to bring some equity to the great wealth of the minority of its citizens and corporations.

During the unsung debates and public forums the voter will easily discern the differences between Vice President Gore and Governor Bush - differences which will affect the lives of millions of Americans; issues such as ensuring workers rights to organize free from harassment, providing quality affordable health care for all, guaranteeing that women are the ones in charge of their own reproductive health care choices, the ending of racial discrimination, protecting gay and lesbian rights, enacting sensible gun regulations and much, much more. On these issues, the Vice President and the Democratic Party are in the right while the Republicans are in opposition to every single one.

In a recent Time Magazine poll of 1,006 registered voters by Time/CNN the question was posed, which candidate "cares about the "average American." Vice President Gore received 64% of the votes of those who responded. The American people know which party supports and defends the working people and labor of Americans and which party will continue to do so in a Gore-Lieberman administration. Sure, along the way there will be disagreements on global expansion and other issues but at least there will be a Democratic administration who will listen and compromise what must be for the betterment of the U.S. economy and its labor force and workers. The American people will reject the tax scheme put forth by Governor Bush that's not only risky, but also reckless. He has proposed a $1.9 trillion tax scheme that disproportionately benefits the wealthiest Americans and as a result of this scheme, he may have to cut out Medicare, health care, and education and dip into the Social Security Trust Fund.

To continue the 22 million new jobs and low unemployment rate (4.1%)Vice President Gore will work to expand prosperity to every community in our nation, including the Central Valley. He has always believed we should build on our strong economy with responsible economic management: paying down the national debt, balancing budgets, lowering interest rates and prudently using the surplus.

Education is a key to continue economic prosperity and remains his national priority. That's why his education plan provides universal preschool, fixes failing schools, modernizes older schools and builds new ones. He plans to lower class sizes and make college education more affordable for families.

In the area of health care, Vice President Gore will fight to expand access to health care for every child in every community. Preventive care now is better than expensive care later. He believes America's families deserve a health care plan that protects and strengthens Medicare and Medicaid, offers serious access to affordable prescription drugs, and provides every American with a Patient's Bill of Rights. Mr. Gore is experienced, ready and able to be an outstanding President of our great country and will lead us on to truly be a compassionate nation for all our citizens. To assist in the election of Al Gore contact the Fresno Democratic Party Office, 255 N. Fulton Ave. #104 or call (559) 486-5422 to volunteer. The party office will be open on Saturdays after Labor Day.

The Life and Death of a Polish Shtetl

Edited by Feigl Bisberg-Youkelson and Rubin Youkelson
Translated from Yiddish by Gene Bluestein
University of Nebraska Press
2000
$12.95

Book review by: Mike Rhodes

NEVER AGAIN! I haven't been so moved about fascism and Nazism since visiting the National Holocaust Museum in Washington DC several years ago. This little book tells the story of one town in Poland and how it was impacted by World War 2. One of the things that makes this book so compelling is that it is about the town that Fresno's very own Ellie Bluestein's family came from.

We learn about life before and after the Nazis invade Strzegowo by hearing from the survivors. Their stories give a glimpse into what life was like then and how the Jewish community reacted as life was forever changed for everyone in that town. Today, there are no Jews in Strzegowo. All but a handful were killed by Hitler's "final solution", and those who survived did not return. It is hard to imagine the atrocities committed by the German fascists, but this book takes you one step at a time through that period of history.

All of the Jews who were sent to the death camps were not sent at once. There was a long process that included making them virtual slaves for the ethnic German population in Strzegowo, establishing ghettos where they were forced to live, and executing them for offences like possessing a loaf of bread. The brutalization continued for years until most of the population was shipped by train to Auschwitz. There, one of the young men was forced to work piling bodies into the ovens. The experience was worse than death itself, and he decided to voluntarily join the line to the gas chambers. These images are hard to imagine but impossible to forget.

Gene Bluestein has produced a testimonial that I will always remember.

The Death of Ben Linder; the story of a North American in Sandinista Nicaragua

by Joan Kruckewitt
Seven Stories Press
1999
$24.95

Book review by: Mike Rhodes

If you are one of the many Fresnan's who risked their lives when they traveled to Central America during the 1980's this book is for you! If you missed that experience but want to know what would motivate someone to risk their lives for peace and social justice by going to Nicaragua and participating in the revolution then, this book is for you!

During the 1980's U.S. foreign policy in Central America was driven by an obsessive effort to overthrow the Sandinistas in Nicaragua. The Sandinistas had overthrown a dictator and were developing a society that put people before profits. They set up free health care, carried out a massive literacy campaign, and gave land to small farmers.

This threat of "a good example" was countered by the U.S. which created a mercenary army (the Contras) who set out to overthrow the Nicaraguan government. Tactics included killing teachers, destroying health clinics, and forcing the Sandinistas to spend more and more of their resources on the military.

Ben Linder was an engineer from Portland who put his life on the line to support the people of Nicaragua. Ben was also a clown and often put on his red nose and clown make-up to juggle and unicycle in poor neighborhoods, where children had never seen a clown. He worked in a small rural village in Northern Nicaragua, maybe 30 miles from Fresno's sister city of Telpaneca, near the Honduran border. Like the Fresnan's who built a school in Telpaneca during the Contra War, Ben was working on a hydroelectric project trying in a positive way to support the revolution. THE DEATH OF BEN LINDER, THE STORY OF A NORTH AMERICAN IN SANDINISTA NICARAGUA is an insightful book that reminds us why people are willing to put their lives on the line for a cause they believe in. It shows the tragic results of U.S. foreign policy that seeks to make the world safe for corporations seeking to maximize profits.

The author, Joan Kruckewitt will be in Fresno on September 23 at 2 PM. Joan will be talking at Barnes and Noble (Shaw and Blackstone) about whether or not the CIA killed Ben Linder. The event is sponsored by the Fresno/Telpaneca Sister City Association. For more information call 226-0477.

FIRST NATIONAL SUB TEACHER CONFERENCE IN DC

The "first" in history National Substitute Teachers Conference, attended by FASTA President Shirley Kirsten and Secretary/Webmaster Karla Hansston, was a huge success! About 70 substitute activists and leaders from 16 states gathered at the Martin Luther King Library in the nation's capital to assert their collective belief that substitutes should obtain greater respect, improved wages, health benefits, and due process. In the course of the two day Conference held on July 14th and 15th, a Substitute Teacher Bill of Rights was adopted and a new Organization for substitutes was formed. The National Substitute Teachers Alliance, NSTA, is dedicated to improving the plight of substitutes around the country. Its newly elected President, Shirley Kirsten, delivered the Conference Keynote address and is already back in Fresno busily convening NSTA Cyber Board/Executive meetings--hammering out a Mission Statement and Bylaws.

It's a FASTA organizing revisit with success on the agenda for the new national group. Not to forget that FASTA's bible of organizing a homegrown archive nursed along by Brenda Howard was the exhibit table feature at the DC Conference and is currently a great reference binder for the National Substitute Teachers' cause.

Karla Hansston, NSTA's Rep. from California complements the new organization by participating in NSTA decision making and by posting media coverage of the DC event on the FASTA website. Log onto www.netword.com/fasta and you can read Jodi Wilgoren's New York Times article, "Substitutes See a Time to Shine;" DC McClatchy coverage: "Fresnan teaches lesson on unity, clout to substitute teachers;" National AP; and Education Week's August feature, "Substitute Teachers Lay Foundation to Improve Their Lot," by Jeff Archer. Articles in the National School Board Journal and in Education World are soon to follow. NSTA and substitute teacher issues are definitely a media favorite. CNN and ABC news chimed in by interviewing Shirley Kirsten and other Conference principles. Clearly, the organization's Mission Statement is resonating across the country: "to promote dignity and respect for substitute teachers as they provide the highest quality of educational continuity for our nation's students...to support substitute teacher professional development and training; to promote improved wages and health benefits, and a fair evaluation/grievance process..to support full unbiased consideration for contractual employment. NSTA strongly affirms that the best way to advance these gains is by forging collective bargaining agreements with School Districts across the country ...Substitutes everywhere are chanting in chorus, "The FASTA the Better!"

CALL FOR A MORATORIUM ON PRISONS

By: Michelle Foy
CA Prison Moratorium Project

In early July a coalition of environmental, social and racial justice organizations came together to file a suit against the California Department of Corrections. The lawsuit challenges the CDC's plans to build a $335 million, 5,160 bed prison, known as Delano II in Kern County, just neighboring the already existing prison in the town of Delano. Rose Braz of Critical Resistance: Beyond the Prison Industrial Complex says, "The lawsuit is one part of a larger strategy to slow down the ever expanding California prison system. This issue is uniting a diversity of organizations in a call for schools, not jails and for sustainable economic development in the Central Valley."

Activists and community members from around the state are asking if Delano or any other community should encourage prison expansion in the hope of stimulating the local economy. Stories and evidence from people in towns like Tehachapi, Wasco, Avenal and Susanville show that the state's 23 new prisons have not been the economic saviors that the CDC and the state often make them out to be. Before the first prison in Delano was built, unemployment in the town was 26%. The unemployment rate continues at 26% today. The CDC projects that 1600 new jobs will result from the construction of Delano II, however, based on figures from Delano I, only 100 of those jobs will go to local residents.

The negative economic, social and environmental impact of prisons on rural towns and counties seems to be so great that other industries and businesses shy away from those locations. Farmland comes out of production. Water capacities are over tapped. At the same time, towns and counties spend their scarce funds for roads, schools, sewers, environmental protection, and other necessities to support prisons that do not return enough to communities to help them grow and prosper.

The planned construction of Delano II demonstrates the tradeoff between funding for schools versus funding for prisons. California ranks number one in the nation in prison spending but 41st in education spending. The town of Delano is currently working to get the funding for a desperately needed high school. Delano should not have to struggle to build a second high school: not in California, the seventh largest economy in the whole world.

Jack Daniel, Legal Redress Officer for the Fresno Branch of the NAACP said, "We shouldn't be spending untold millions of dollars to house prisoners who are overwhelmingly persons of color while short changing schools. The prison system merely locks up offenders, most of whom are convicted of non-violent offenses. We should focus on preventing crime by providing communities with the economic and social resources they need."

We are asking organizations and individuals to join the effort to stop Delano II by signing on as a friend of the court as well as joining the long-term effort to stop Delano II and all prison construction in the state. Please contact The Committee to Stop Delano II at (661) 328-5684 or the California Prison Moratorium Project at (510) 893-4648 ext. 202 pmpca@usa.net.

CALL FOR MASS MOBILIZATION OCTOBER 7

The Pentagon's next NMD test (that’s national missile defense, formerly known as “star wars”) is scheduled for sometime in October. The Global Network Against Weapons and Nuclear Power in Space has put out a call for an International Day of Protest to Stop the Militarization of Space on October 7. Many Californians will gather at Vandenberg Airforce Base on that day as part of this international protest. People who cannot be there are being urged to send messages demanding no BMD systems and no arms race in space to U.S. government leaders, and presidential candidates.

Also messages of support should be sent to Lynn Woolsey, member of the U.S. Congress from California, for the legislation she introduced towards abolishing all nuclear weapons on Earth. (H.Res. 82). Rep. Woolsey's bill urges the President to bring the international community together to develop a treaty to ban nuclear weapons. She points out that eighty-seven percent of Americans want the United States to negotiate an agreement to eliminate nuclear weapons.

Call (559) 229-9807 for more information.

STOP SANCTIONS AGAINST IRAQ

By: Zay Guffy-Bill

On Friday, August 4th a vigil was held in front of the Federal Building in downtown Fresno to coincide with the Campaign for Conscience for Iraqi People. There was a good turnout of nearly thirty supporters at the vigil which called for an end to the ten year long US economic sanctions against Iraq. Since the sanctions began, half a million Iraqi children under the age of five have died torturous and completely unnecessary deaths due to the unavailability of clean water and vital medications.

David Smith-Ferri from Ukiah (in far right of photo), who is a member of the Voices in the Wilderness organization, spoke to the supporters about his recent visit of witness to Iraq and the horrendous conditions the Iraqi citizens must endure on a daily basis because of the inhumane economic sanctions we have placed upon them and refused to lift.

The Campaign for Conscience is a nonviolent initiative of the American Friends Service Committee and the Fellowship for Reconciliation. This campaign was locally sponsored by Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom, the Fresno Center for Nonviolence and Physicians for Social Responsibility.

STYLISH SECONDS

On Saturday, September 16, from 3 - 5 p.m., the Center for Nonviolence will hold its annual Stylish Seconds Fashion Show and Silent Auction at College Community Congregational Church, 5550 N. Fresno Street. This event is unique because it shows how to dress less expensively but still very fashionably, recycling at the same time. Models are recruited from diverse groups - age, ethnic origins, sexual orientation and sometimes even handicapped (last year our "groom" was blind and appeared with his guide dog). Dessert and unique entertainment included. Tickets $10.00 in advance, $12.00 at door. A raffle will also be held - includes "Lion and Lamb" donated by Margaret Hudson, a Don Price print donated by Pam Dolin and one month's family membership of delicious organic "veggies" donated by California Family Farmer. PLEASE COME AND SUPPORT THIS EVENT, IT IS FUN AND A GREAT WAY TO SPEND AN AFTERNOON RAISING FUNDS TO KEEP THE CENTER GOING! Contact Angela Price 435-6383 for details.

 

LABOR/COMMUNITY

The Community Alliance newsletter is an independent voice for workers and progressive groups in Fresno and the Central San Joaquin Valley. We support the struggle for social and economic justice and believe that all workers should be paid a living wage. The Community Alliance is affiliated nationally with Jobs with Justice. Meetings are held on the last Monday of each month at The Fresno Center for Nonviolence, 985 N Van Ness at 6:30 PM. This newsletter is published monthly.

Editor: Mike Rhodes

Editorial Board Members:
Nancy Marsh, Edwin Paraza
Jeffrey Paris, Diane Scott, Mark Stout
Richard Stone, James Todd, Pam Whalen

Community Alliance
P.O. Box 5077
Fresno, CA 93755

(559) 233-3978 / 226-3962 (fax)
E-mail: clr2@igc.apc.org
http://www.fresnoalliance.com/home/

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This project is funded in part by the Unitarian Universalist Fund For a Just Society

 

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