MNN: Commander's crime should not be associated with Mohawks

CFB COMMANDER WILLIAMS' CRIMES SHOULD NOT BE ASSOCIATED WITH MOHAWKS

By Kahentintha Horn
Mohawk Nation News
http://www.mohawknationnews.com

The following story is dangeous b.s. meant to associate Mohawks with one of the most horrendous crimes in Canada. Who is this writer serving and what is the real story?

As an Indigenous person, I always look at "pat" stories with a critical eye. This story sounds like the kind of false propaganda that is always being put out about the Mohawks, that our women are prostitutes, are in the prison system, we are criminals, dealing in contraband, etc. These PR stories are put out about us to justify railroading us into jail for the rest of our lives and to demonize us. Often they don't have the right person or the facts. It's meant to scare us into towing the line.

Why is this writer trying to make us think they are native? Why is this writer connecting us with prostitutes being released into the streets of Kingston? Why is this writer trying to misrepresent the city of Belleville and the Mohawk women from Tyendinaga, as if we are displaying ourselves at the local bars to pick up soldiers? Is this association meant to look like this officer had a motive for picking up an indigenous looking person with dark skin and hair?

Something's seriously wrong here. This writer says that Indigenous are being released into the streets of Kingston. This is not true anymore. The Prison for Women was closed down about ten years ago [Arbour Inquiry Report]. A documentary was made and televised on it. Today Indigenous women are scattered throughout Canada and kept where they are arrested.

This story distorts the relationship between the Mohawks and the Trenton military establishment. There is no love between us. There is no overt underlying hatred between us either. We just don't like trespassers. We did stop that army convoy from going through our community a while ago. The impression being created is that a soldier was so racist that he might have picked her up because he thought she was native, killed her and left her body in the ditch in Tweed.

These kinds of rigged stories are meant to put our women in the position of victims and our men retaliate by terrorism.

Kahentinetha, MNN Mohawk Nation News kahentinetha2@yahoo.com www.mohawknationnews.com

MNN Commentary (above) on the following misleading story.
Subject: CLASSWAR: [eaglewatch] Trenton Military Commander Charged for Murders of Two Women: Just the Tip of the Iceberg
Another police/military goon serial killer... except this one got
hisself caught. Like his arrogant masters and other goons, he probably
started feeling invincible. The harder they come, eh?
I don't know when the working-class in North American will wake up to
the very real threat these organized killers pose to all of us -- and
not just to people in their colonies. But it won't be happening while
workers continue in their very mistaken support of the likes of the
NDP and Democratic Party, and various union and "community" dis-leaders
- -- who keep us in thrall to this class enemy and their murderous stooges.
Frankly, I hope they hang this guy. From the wing of one of his jet
fighters.
From: "Mrs. Stanley"
Date: Tue, 09 Feb 2010 12:19:00 -0500
From the Eagle Watch #28
When we first heard about 27-year-old Jessica Lloyd gone missing in
Belleville, we suspected she was dead. We further speculated that it
was a soldier at Trenton who killed her. Someone replied that we were
just saying that cause we're so against the military. We objected that
our speculation is not based on blanket hostility toward military people
but on analysis and observation of the military mentality.

Belleville is a small city in southern Ontario with a high rate of
unemployment. Young women go to Belleville to sell their bodies just as
women desperate for livelihood have done for centuries during hard
times. It's the only way they see to survive. The market for
prostitutes in Belleville is huge with the Trenton Air Base just 20
minutes away.
Soldiers living away from home and family have "needs". They also have
some income to pay for such luxuries and indulgences. It doesn't stop
there.

Soldiers are trained to develop a dehumanizing attitude and to have
contempt for women who are viewed as weak and inferior. The military is
a fertile breeding ground for a chauvinistic outlook that glorifies self
and despises others. War is anti woman and anti life. It is
dehumanizing to the soldiers themselves.

On February 9, 2010, the commander at Trenton, 46-year-old Russell
Williams was arrested and charged for two murders, the missing Jessica
Lloyd whose body was found at Tweed, north of Trenton and another 36
year old woman who herself was a soldier at Trenton. He was charged in
two more cases of sexual assault involving home invasion. In the news
coverage, Williams was not shown shamed and in shackles but chatting
with Defence Minister Peter MacKay who himself looks like a perv.
That's just our opinion but as eagle-eyed grandmothers we read people
like open books. You can bet that Williams will get kid glove treatment
by his peers.

How did this man think he could get away with such horrific antisocial
behaviour? The simple fact is: rape, sexual assault and abuse of women
by military men goes on all the time. It is only when women are
reported missing and dead bodies start turning up that police and media
become involved.

This case is just the tip of the iceberg. How many of Williams'
subordinates admire him and emulate him? What kind of sexist and
racist jokes do they constantly utter, endorsing this dehumanizing
brutality toward women? What goes on at various parties and bars where
alcohol brings out the beast?

Police themselves also feel they can act with impunity in committing
crimes against women. Statistics indicate that both demographics of
military and police commit more domestic violence than the average.
While some foolish women find the uniform "romantic", those in uniform
hide behind its authority. Who can a woman turn to for help under such
circumstances?

Now, with more and more Canadian military people going to war theatres,
this cynical and cruel mentality is becoming ever more widespread. It's
the proverbial chickens coming home to roost. These men are sick and
unfit for normal society and family life. They consider themselves to
be better than everyone else. The matter is hidden from public view yet
it is a growing stinking cancer in society that cannot remain hidden.

There are solutions. It is extremely urgent that we speak out to stop
the growing militarization of society. Too many people are not even
paying attention. The expansion of the Trenton air base now underway,
will double the military population there. What will it take for people
to see what is happening? What magnitude of scale must be reached
before people wake up?

Southern Ontario is on its way to becoming a militarized zone where
only the military have jobs. Kingston, east of Trenton is an
historical military city with another base and the same scenario of
prostitution, strippers and careless young women being victimized.

We are NOT saying that Jessica Lloyd was a hooker. We don't know
anything about her except that she is dead and someone is mourning her
now.

The other long overdue solution is the legalization of the sex trade
workers into safe houses. Known as the "oldest profession",
prostitution is not going away, even in times of permissive sexual
mores where favours are given away. Why not dignify the job and make it
safer for the women and even the young men who choose this line of work?

Kingston is also the site of several prisons where Indigenous people
are released to the streets with nowhere to go. Indigenous women under
the double stigma of gender and race, are especially vulnerable and at
risk. We have to take care of our own. We have to teach our daughters
the truth about the dangers of careless sexual conduct. We must also
teach our sons to respect women. We need better opportunities for
education and livelihood for our children. The military life is not
the answer.

Wells Fargo 'Just says No' to Sheriff Arpaio

Puente Press Release/Contact: Salvador Reza 602 446-9928 http://www.puenteaz.org/
Date: February 10, 2010, Phoenix, AZ

Wells Fargo serves Sheriff Arpaio notice of eviction

“If Well Fargo lets Joe Stay, We will be here everyday”
Chant sung everyday by daily protesters at Wells Fargo Bank
Press Conference
Date: February 9, 2010
Time: 12:00 noon
Location: Corner of 1st Ave and Washington
In Front of Downtown Wells Fargo Bank

After one year and a half of daily demonstrations Wells Fargo sent letter to Maricopa County evicting Sheriff Joe Arpaio from Wells Fargo Property on the 18th and 19th floor. This is the culmination of continuous daily pressure by PUENTE Movement Organizers.
“This is a great victory for the Puente Movement which was responsible for evicting Sheriff Joe Arpaio from Pruitts Furniture Store two years ago.” said Salvador Reza.
The Phoenix New Times reported that Wells Fargo Bank Vice President Leo Bauman sent a letter to Dennis Lindsey, Maricopa County Real Estate Manager, stating that the bank “needs the space for its own use … but Bauman says the bank will waive the contract penalty fee of 12 months’ worth of rent for early termination.”
Rob McElwain who has been demonstrating daily in front of Wells Fargo said, “This is only the beginning. We will continue demonstrating until we evict Sheriff Joe and Andrew Thomas out of Maricopa County Government where they can no longer abuse their power or intimidate Maricopa County residents.” County Attorney Andrew Thomas also occupies two floors in the same building.
The Puente movement had asked the Wells Fargo Bank not to renew Sheriff Joe’s contract but they refused to heed our advice. Now Sheriff Joe is a symbol of repression and intolerance and an embarrassment to Maricopa County and to Law Enforcement Nationwide. Wells Fargo seems to finally have seen the light. However County Attorney Andrew Thomas is equally guilty of abusing our community and should also leave the Wells Fargo Building before we stop targeting Wells Fargo Bank.

Bolivia Peoples Climate Summit: Restoring the Balance

Evo Morales' Peoples Climate Summit: Restoring the Balance
http://bsnorrell.blogspot.com/2010/02/bolivia-peoples-climate-summit.html
Narcosphere
By Brenda Norrell

Registration for conference: Agenda and registration http://pwccc.wordpress.com/

(Espanol) http://cmpcc.org/guia-informativa

COCHABAMBA, Bolivia -- Bolivian President Evo Morales, announcing the objectives of the upcoming Peoples Climate Summit, made it clear that the so-called developed countries of the world have usurped the bounties of Mother Earth at the expense of the poorest people in the world.

Cautioning mankind of the suffering and displacement which leads to forced migration, Morales called for The Peoples World Conference on Climate Change and Mother Earth's Rights, in Cochabamba, Bolivia, April 19-22 2010.

Stressing the need to reestablish harmony with nature and establish the rights of Mother Earth, Morales welcomed those willing to work for the good of all mankind, and those governments willing to work for the best interests of their people.

Morales said climate change represents a real threat to the existence of humanity, of living being and Mother Earth. The danger is serious for the islands, coastal areas, glaciers in the Himalayas, the Andes, mountains of the world, poles of the Earth, warm regions like Africa, water sources, populations affected by increasing natural disasters, plants, animals and ecosystems, he said.

"Those most affected by climate change will be the poorest in the world who will see their homes and their sources of survival destroyed, and who will be forced to migrate and seek refuge."

He pointed out that 75 percent of historical emissions of greenhouse gases originated in "the countries of the North that followed a path of irrational industrialization."

"Climate change is a product of the capitalist system," Morales said. While citing regret at the failure of the Copenhagen Climate Conference, he said the so-called developed countries failed to recognize their climate debt to developing countries, future generations and Mother Earth.

The purpose of the conference in Cochabamba is to discuss and agree on the Universal Declaration of Mother Earth Rights. It seeks an agreement on proposals for new commitments to the Kyoto Protocol and a COP Decision under the United Nations Framework for Climate Change.

Morales welcomed a broad range of people to the summit. "The Government of the Plurinational State of Bolivia calls on the peoples of the world, social movements and Mother Earth's defenders, and invites scientists, academics, lawyers and governments that want to work with their citizens."

Earthcycles, http://www.earthcycles.net/, and Censored News, http://www.bsnorrell.blogspot.com/, will be streaming live from the summit, with on-air Indigenous cohosts.

Meanwhile, the Parliamentarians of the European United Left, and the Nordic United Left proposed a Resolution, in relation to the outcome of the Copenhagen summit on Climate Change, that "welcomes the initiative" taken by President Evo Morales "to convoke the Peoples' World Conference on Climate change and Mother Earth's Rights from the 19th to the 22nd of April 2010 in the city of Cochabamba; urges the Commission, the Member states, the European Parliament and the ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly to send representatives to this important event."

Registration is free and available in Spanish and English: info@cmpcc.org
Updates will be available at Censored News http://www.bsnorrell.blogspot.com/
The objectives are:
1) To analyze the structural and systemic causes that drive climate change and to propose radical measures to ensure the well-being of all humanity in harmony with nature
2) To discuss and agree on the project of a Universal Declaration of Mother Earth Rights
3) To agree on proposals for new commitments to the Kyoto Protocol and projects for a COP Decision under the United Nations Framework for Climate Change that will guide future actions in those countries that are engaged with life during climate change negotiations and in all United Nations scenarios, related to:
- Climate debt
- Climate change migrants-refugees
- Emission reductions
- Adaptation
- Technology transfer
- Finance
- Forest and Climate Change
- Shared Vision
- Indigenous Peoples, and
- Others
4) To work on the organization of the Peoples' World Referendum on Climate Change
5) To analyze and develop an action plan to advance the establishment of a Climate Justice Tribunal
6) To define strategies for action and mobilization to defend life from Climate Change and to defend Mother Earth's Rights.
The statement was made by Evo Morales Ayma, President of the Plurinational State of Bolivia, on Jan. 5. info@cmpcc.org
Working Groups
1. Structural causes
2. Harmony with Nature
3. Mother Earth Rights
4. Referendum
5. Climate Justice Tribunal
6. Climate Migrants
7. Indigenous Peoples
8. Climate Debt
9. Shared Vision
10. Kyoto Protocol
11. Adaptation
12. Financing
13. Technology Transfer
14. Forest
15. Dangers of Carbon Market
16. Action Strategies
Objetivos
La Conferencia Mundial de los Pueblos sobre el Cambio Climático y los Derechos de la Madre Tierra tiene por objetivos:
1. Analizar las causas estructurales y sistémicas que provocan el cambio climático y proponer medidas de fondo que posibiliten el bienestar de toda la humanidad en armonía con la naturaleza. 2. Discutir y acordar el proyecto de Declaración Universal de Derechos de la Madre Tierra.
3. Acordar las propuestas de nuevos compromisos para el Protocolo de Kioto, y para proyectos de Decisiones de la Convención Marco de las Naciones Unidas sobre Cambio Climático que guiarán el accionar de los gobiernos comprometidos con la vida en las negociaciones de cambio climático y en todos los escenarios de Naciones Unidas.
4. Trabajar en la organización del Referéndum Mundial de los Pueblos sobre el cambio climático.
5. Analizar y trazar un plan de acción para avanzar en la constitución de un Tribunal de Justicia Climática;
6. Definir las estrategias de acción y movilización en defensa de la vida frente al Cambio Climático y por los Derechos de la Madre Tierra.

Larry Kibby: Religious freedom and preservation

'A Small Viewpoint' by Larry Kibby
Reznews
Good Evening Ladies & Gentlemen,

On this Superbowl day, I visited my Reznews Radio Video station earlier this morning to discuss briefly my viewpoint on the American Indian Freedom of Religion Act of 1978, a dialogue that had a little to do with the Sweat Lodge incident in Sedona, Arizona back in October of 2009, a tragic incident that took the lives of three Human Beings and sent 18 other folks to the hospital with serious and maybe even critical long term health problems, an incident that should not have happened but did.

Of course that video was done around 5:30 am this morning and since then I've been thinking and asking myself, "Why do we have a federal law that grants us religious freedom?" Aren't our religious rights protected by the U.S. Constitution?

Back in 1978, so much activity was going on, so many activists proclaiming, advocating and promoting a lot. From the Treaty Right Movement, Red Power Groups and the American Indian Movement, groups and organizations staging protests, demonstrations and sit-ins, debating the Civil Rights, Freedoms and Injustices of the American Indian.

Anyway, I was wondering, how it was that there was such a demand by folks that our Religious Rights be recognized, when there was on some occasions that some of us had been told by our elders, medicine people and holy ones, that we shouldn't argue, fight or get angry over matters we have no control over, because there are some things that can be put away or will go away and sadly, somethings that can come back around in a way we may not like or understand.

I wonder if people even really care to know or understand, that when something is abused or misused, something that has a strength, power or is very sacred, what would happen to them, their family or even to their tribe? And what about the non-Indians who abuse or misuse these matters, how does that impact our respects?

In this day and age, throughout this society, there are a huge number of Religious Belief's available for people to grasp a hold of, religions that provide Faith and Hope and as well, there are a great number of New Age theories and belief's available for people to practice, yet with such a huge amount of devout groups and organizations in America, what has bought all this attention and focus on the Religious Freedoms of the American Indian?

Of course it is ever so easy to state that money is the greatest reason, get rich quick schemes for the most part, however, not everyone is looking for wealth, some folks are serious about their search for Faith and Hope. Could it be that Americans have fallen away from their own Religious Convictions? Have Americans lost their respect for their pastors, priest and preachers? Why is it that Americans have strayed from their own devout beliefs? Does politics have a lot to do with Americans losing Hope?

America grew far too fast, what with all walks of mankind coming through the doors of immigration, some searching for a New Life, while others were searching and hoping to find the Great American Dream, a Dream that was thrashed when 9/11 occurred.

The Nations of Mankind came to America, bringing with them their country's cultural and religious values and principles, with some setting up their own communities, while others slipped into mainstream society and America became the Land of Opportunity for so many.

Do you know, not one of those immigrants, none of those people coming from throughout the world made any effort to understand who the original occupants of America were or if those Native people had their own way of life, their own culture or beliefs? And when it finally came to an understanding, the multitudes had already been brainwashed, the wheels of propaganda spewed out false and misleading information about the American Indian, an American History full of untruths, a history that was incomplete.

At one point in time our people loudly proclaimed that our land was not for sell, so how was it that from such a statement that a few Indians and non-Indians decided that it was ideal to sell the ceremonies, medicines, languages and other sacred regalia?

At what point in time did the elders, medicine folks and the holy ones express that it was ideal to change, add and distort the traditional values and principles? How was it that the ceremonies, medicines and so much else became so distorted, destroyed and desecrated? And why was such political corruption, cultural and sacrilege terrorism allowed to go on and on?

I'll never understand why some of our people turned their backs, minds, souls and hearts on the culture and beliefs, but I think now, we must make some serious effort to preserve and protect what we can of that in which our ancestors handed-down to us to safe-guard for our generations.
I can only hope that my children and my grandchildren and future generations will be able to have the culture and beliefs that so many of us have respected and held close to our hearts, because anymore, so much is being changed, so much is being restructured, so much is so wrong, yet it being advocated as authentic, only it doesn't come from hearts of truth. Hopefully that in which I believe will sincerely take care of that in which has become so wrong.
Composed & Posted by:
Larry Kibby - l.kibby@frontier.com
Reznews Radio Video
http://ubroadcast.com/channel/reznews