Indigenous Peoples and Human Rights

November 17, 2008

Spy drones over the border


The name of the US drone, 'Predator,' reflects what the United States has become

By Brenda Norrell
Censored News
http://www.bsnorrell.blogspot.com/

TUCSON -- The bad news is that the Border Patrol has four drones flying out of Fort Huachuca over the US/Mexico border for surveillance. One drone has already crashed near Nogales and these unmanned aerial planes, provided first by Israel's Apartheid spy technology maker, Elbit Systems, are a risk to the lives of those on the ground in Arizona.
The good news is that Airforce pilots are not flying over in their planes. Airforce pilots in Tucson were so eager to smuggle cocaine in uniform, that the FBI halted Operation Lively Green. More than 50 Army, Navy, Marine and National Guard soldiers have been sentenced for smuggling cocaine for cash, from Nogales to Phoenix.
Again, the bad news is that the Arizona National Guard soldiers are commanding an armed, remote controlled aircraft in Iraq from Tucson, drug central.
From Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, a unit controls the MQ-1B Predator, used for armed reconnaissance, surveillance and targeting in Iraq, according to the National Guard.
If drug-running soldiers weren't bad enough, now comes the news that the drones are being used by the US to spy on civilians at the US/Mexico border.
"The Reaper/Predator B UAV´s robotic killing machines are currently in operation with the USAF, US Navy and the Royal Air Force. In addition non military users of the Predator B include: NASA and Homeland security though the US Customs and Border Protection agencies," reports Michael Webster.
Webster continues to say that the drones used by FEMA and disaster management is troubling.
"Predator B carries out 'targeted assassinations' of 'terrorist suspects' across Afghanistan, Iraq and Pakistan. The deployment of the robotic killing machines in the United States for 'disaster management' is troubling to say the least and a harbinger of things to come."
If you've got the stomach for it, read more about spooks and drones over the US/Mexico border here.
As the US pours millions into spy technology, one has to wonder why there is so much crime ignored in Tucson. In 2008, there was a serial murderer, raping and murdering homeless women in Tucson. These women were raped and murdered on streets I walk down. There was little mention of this serial murderer in the news.
I wonder if any of those millions of dollars of spy technology, aimed at keeping us all safe, is ever used to keep the streets of Tucson safe.
Back at Fort Huachuca, the drones are part of the Army Intelligence Center there. This is the same place that produced the torture manual, exposed in 1996, of the School of Americas. The manual was used to train Latin military leaders, which led to the torture, rape and murder of thousands of people, including Indigenous Peoples, in Central and South America in the 80s and 90s. Corporations, under the cloak of US firepower and torture, reaped the benefits in land and resources.
Fort Huachuca is now being protested because of its training which resulted in torture in Abu-Ghraib. Read article on torture protest.
The news that Fort Huachuca now has four more drones, spy drones over the border, can not be good news.

American Indian Film Festival award winners 2008

THE 33rd ANNUAL AMERICAN INDIAN FILM FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES AWARDS WINNERS

By Cindy Benitz
Photo: Best film, Before Tomorrow

SAN FRANCISCO -- The American Indian Film Institute (AIFI) and Title Sponsor, the Seminole Tribe of Florida, are proud to announce the winners for the 33rd annual American Indian Film Festival. The award winners were presented at the annual American Indian Motion Picture Awards Show on Saturday Nov. 15 at 6:00p.m at the historic Palace of Fine Arts in San Francisco.
The American Indian Motion Picture Awards Show, (established in 1978), has recognized excellence in American Indian cinematic achievement, making the annual awards show one of the most prominent Indian Country and Native Cinema showcases.
Outstanding performances varied across the talent venue, on awards night which included:
new country music artist Crystal Shawanda, You Can Let Go (single) -Dawn of a New Day CD; recording artist Shea Keck along with Grammy award winner Micki Free; violinist Swil Kanim and Raven dancer Gene Tagaban; Yaaw Tei Yi Tlingit Dancers from Juneau, AK; comic Charlie Hill; and singer Claude McKenzie.
Best Film: Before Tomorrow, Director: Marie –Helene Cousineau and Madeline Piujuq Ivalu, Canada
Best Director: Georgina Lightning, Older than America, USA
Best Actor: Trevor Duplessis, In a World Created By a Drunken God, Canada
Best Actress: Candace Fox, Moccasin Flats: Redemption,Canada
Best Supporting Actor: Wes Studi- Older than America, USA
Best Supporting Actress: Misty Upham- Frozen River,USA
Best Documentary Feature: River of Renewal, Director – Carlos Bolado, USA
Best Documentary Short: Byron Chief- Moon: Grey Horse Rider, Directors: Philip Szporer and Marlene Miller, Canada:
Best Live Action Short: Niigaanibatowaad: Front Runners, Director –Lori Lewis, Canada
Best Animated Short: By the Rapids, Director – Joseph Lazare, Canada
Best Music Video: You Can Let Go, Director: Margaret Malandruccolo, USA
Best Public Service: Modern Day Warriors, Director –Jenni Monet, USA
Cindy Benitez, Public Relations, American Indian Film Institute, 333 Valencia Street, Suite 322, San Francisco, CA 94103, Fax: 415-554-0542, email: publicrelations@aifisf.com, www.aifisf.com

Russell Means: Lives still at risk from blizzard

Russell Means: Twelfth Day of Snow Emergency
.
By Brenda Norrell
Censored News
http://www.bsnorrell.blogspot.com/

PINE RIDGE, S.D. -- Russell Means at the Republic of Lakotah said the blizzard is threatening Lakota lives on Pine Ridge. Amanda Milk, in her eighties, has no legs and is a dialysis patient. She has been snowed in and presummed dead.
"Many hundreds of American Indians are still snowbound and without electrical power or water on Pine Ridge Indian Reservation," Means said today, Monday, Nov. 17, 2008. Sofia Romero, age 98, is also snowed in, with no power, no water and her food situation is unknown. Emme Zimiga, age 96, is snowed in, with no power, no water, and the food situation is unknown.
In Hisle, there are 38 households, with an average of 17 persons per household, still snowed in with out power or water. In the Lost Dog Community, there are five families snowed in, with no power, no water, and their food situation is unknown.
The Lacreek Electric Association reports that over 1,000 power distribution poles were broken by the storm and have been replaced. However, dozens more are still down, while repair efforts have been diverted to the some of the main distribution lines still partially inoperative.
Means said, "The Red Cross effort is vehemently incompetent."
The American Red Cross sent a contingency of one volunteer, Monica Turkleson, who departed the Reservation prematurely on Saturday, November 15th. "Ms. Turklesonʼs 'aide' consisted of'nothing and her behavior was reported as impatient, rude and racist," Means said. Means suggests that this organization change its name to the “White Cross.”
Read more ...

Honoring Australia's Patrick Dodson: Renewal and Justice

Change Robed in Justice
Australia's Indigenous National Leader Emerges as Patrick Dodson is awarded Sydney Peace Prize
By the Westender, Brisbane's Urban Voice

It was not the honour of the Sydney Peace Prize that conferred the status of 'national leader' on Patrick Dodson, the platform simply gave him the opportunity to demonstrate his mantle. Like the vibration of the yidaki around the islands of the Arafura sea - his speech rang out. "Our nation, Australia, now has the chance to construct a new society built on equality and justice and in harmony with the land and its people. It is not an impossible task provided that we have the love and enthusiasm to begin the journey – the rest will follow." Patrick Dodson
As America elected its first African American President, Australia’s national Aboriginal leader spoke for the first time at the Opera House last night. The packed concert hall witnessed something special. It is ironical but not surprising that today’s Australian media, transfixed by Obama, let the event go by without acknowledgement. Perhaps it will be Obama himself and other world leaders who will now recognize that Australia has a co-leader.
Read news article with acceptance speech:
http://www.westender.com.au/news/231
.