Navajo Wanda MacDonald: McCain is anti-Native

Open letter to Native America,
'Native Americans are in danger of becoming an endangered species'

By Wanda MacDonald
Former First Lady of the Navajo Nation
Censored News
http://www.bsnorrell.blogspot.com/

TUBA CITY, Ariz. -- Native America and all my relations, we need to inform and think for ourselves. I want to appeal to all Native voters that electing a US President should have nothing to do with party affiliation (the non-Native party system) as far as our needs are concerned in Native America. I am a Republican, but I always stand for what is best for our people first. We must look at who will be good for Natives. We need to show our nationalism in this election.
We are a big voting block, if we band together. Otherwise, Native Americans are in danger of becoming an endangered species under a McCain/Palin administration. Palin does not support her own Native Alaskan rights.
Read more of commentary:
http://censored-news.blogspot.com/2008/10/navajo-wanda-macdonald-mccain-is-anti.html

Under surveillance: El Paso border wall protest

Vigil Against the Wall in El Paso, October 1, 2008

By Carlos Marentes

EL PASO -- As you may have witnessed, the Border Patrol officers in charge of protecting the wall, became visibly nervous when they saw so many people protesting at the site. They were watching us from the entrance at the top of the border since the beginning of our peaceful vigil.(Aren't they supposed to be looking south to "protect" this nation instead of watching towards the American side?)
Many people participated in our vigil including small children and old people as well as whole families from the vicinity of the construction site. It was a peaceful gathering of people of faith opposed to the wall. All of us had candles and were following the matachines of our Lady of Guadalupe in a religious kind of procession.

Read more ...
http://censored-news.blogspot.com/2008/10/under-surveillance-el-paso-protest-of.html

O'odham on alert: Drug violence targets O'odham pilgrimage

Tohono O'odham on pilgrimage concerned over drug cartels

By Brenda Norrell
Update: Sunday, Oct. 5, 2008

SELLS, Arizona -- Tohono O'odham Nation family members remained worried about their loved ones on pilgrimage to Magdalena de Kino, Sonora, Mexico, Friday, after O'odham telephoned home with reports of gunfire from competing drug cartels on the pilgrimage route on Thursday.
There were also reports of cartel threats that a church would be bombed in Magdalena, the site of a religious festival, the annual San Francisco Xavier Festival over the weekend. O'odham on pilgrimage were walking 60 miles from the border to Magdalena.
However as the commemoration culminated on Saturday and Sunday, there were no reports of violence in the region of Magdalena or the O'odham villages in Mexico.
As concerns increased on Friday, an O'odham telephoned Censored News by way of a cell phone and said O'odham in both Magdalena, and villages south of San Miguel the Gate in the state of Sonora, Mexico, reported that there were no problems. O'odham reported that they had not witnessed any violence or trouble on the routes or in the communities.
Spanish language newspapers in the state of Sonora attempted to eliminate fears. The Spanish language El Imparcial online stated that no reports of violence were confirmed in the area. The newspaper also published the travel advisory statement issued by the Tohono O'odham Nation, advising O'odham against travel in Mexico at this time.
http://www.elimparcial.com/EdicionEnLinea/Notas/Noticias/03102008/331470.aspx
On Thursday, the Tohono Oodham Nation sent vans to Sonora, Mexico, offering an option to O'odham on pilgrimage to return home. Tohono O'odham Chairman Ned Norris issued a statement and discouraged O'odham from traveling in Mexico.
"We strongly advise members of the nation to not travel in Mexico," Chairman Norris said.
On Thursday evening, fears circulated through the Tohono O'odham Nation, as family members walked to Magdalena. The same day, an emergency worker with the Tohono O'odham Nation said it was unknown whether Tohono O'odham were killed as they walked on pilgrimage from the US border to Magdalena for the San Francisco Xavier Festival. Some O'odham returned home from the 60-mile pilgrimage, while others remained on pilgrimage or unaccounted for on Thursday.
The Tohono O'odham Nation radio station, KOHN-FM in Sells, Arizona, reported Thursday night that some O'odham were arriving home and medical attention was available. Tohono O'odham family members can call 520-383-8867 for information on loved ones.
Earlier Thursday, Tohono O'odham in Magdalena called friends and relatives back home in Sells and reported deaths on the pilgrimage route, from drug cartels crossfire.
However, no confirmed reports were received concerning gunfire at Santa Ana, on the pilgrimage route between the border and Magdalena. Still, fears increased with reports of bomb threats for a Magdalena church.
O'odham, Yaqui and thousands of others attend the annual gathering San Francisco Xavier Festival each year.
Reporting from the border, Michel Marizco, publisher of Border Reporter, reported late Thursday that there was gunfire by narco traffickers at Santa Ana.
Marizco writes, "... local drug dealing gang, Los Jabalíes, got into a gunfight with another crew early this morning in Santa Ana ..."
While some O'odham returned home, others remained in Magdalena and the state of Sonora.
Although violence and bloodbaths linked to drug trafficking has increased to the west of Magdalena, in Tijuana and the state of Sinoloa, and to the east of Magdalena, along the Texas border, this region of Sonora has been relatively peaceful.

Arizona Daily Star
Published: 10.03.2008
Fearing cartels, O'odham move tribal pilgrims out of Sonora By Enric Volante
Tohono O'odham leaders began transporting tribe members making a religious pilgrimage out of Sonora on Thursday because of concerns for their safety and urged other members not to enter the violence-plagued area. The tribe sent 20 vans Thursday afternoon to pick up members who wanted to return to Arizona from Magdalena, Sonora, because of recent violence in the area and reported threats of more violence from drug cartels. The religious celebration is expected to draw thousands of people to a small church in Magdalena this weekend. http://www.azstarnet.com/metro/260576

Related: Mexico deadly for journalists
Special Report from the Committee to protect journalists
"Mexico is already one of the world's deadliest nations for journalists, with 21 killed since 2000, at least seven in direct reprisal for their work."

Made in L.A., sweatshops in America

Sweatshops at home

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

LOS ANGELES -- Made in L.A. tells the story of three women, and of all women, who sacrifice for their children, and struggle against all odds. But it also tells the story of courage, the courage of all people who are called on to give more than they think they can. Ultimately, Made in L.A. is the story of America, of the United States, and the blindsightedness and denial that keeps Americans shopping for low prices without regard for the consequences to others.
Made in L.A. is the story of sweatshops, the story of sweatshops in the United States, where migrant women are exploited for cheap labor, women working 12 hours a day, with children at home. These are women working surrounded by rats and roaches, in inhumane conditions, then fired without pay.
The profiles of three women reveal the broken hearts and broken dreams of the women who come to this country seeking education and opportunity, only to find that the United States is neither as kind, or alive in spirit, as the countries they leave behind. The documentary film reveals the heartbreak of the women who must come to this country to labor, and leave their precious children behind in their home countries, because there is no way to provide food for them.
It also reveals the long hours and struggle of single mothers and the long path endured for justice.
After three years of protests and court battles against Forever 21 clothing factories in L.A., these women and their coworkers gained justice and dignity through community organizing and perseverance. The film is a testament to the strength of women and a reminder that the colonized United States, established by immigrants, has become a world leader in human rights abuses, racism and xenophobia toward migrants.
Congratulations to these women of courage and the filmmakers of Made in L.A. for their Emmy!
The film, which premiered on PBS, received an Emmy at the 29th Annual News and Documentary Emmy® Awards in the category of Outstanding Continuing Coverage of a News Story-Long Form at the ceremony in New York.
Synopsis by Made in L.A.
Lupe Hernandez, a five-foot tall dynamo who learned survival skills at an early age, has been working in Los Angeles garment factories for over 15 years since she left Mexico City at age 17. Maura Colorado left her three children in the care of relatives in El Salvador while she sought work in L.A. to support them. She found that the low-paid work came with a high price - wretched conditions in the factories and an "undocumented" status that deprived her of seeing her children for over eighteen years. María Pineda came to Southern California from Mexico in hopes of a better life at 18, with an equally young husband. Twenty three years later, substandard working conditions, a meager salary and domestic abuse have left her struggling for her children's future and for her own human dignity.
Read more at: http://www.madeinla.com/about
Host a screening
The filmmakers are currently engaged in a two-year long outreach campaign and have recently launched a new "Host A Screening" initiative (http://www.madeinla.com/get/host) that enables grassroots groups, nonprofits, student groups, unions, and faith-based organizations to hold their own screenings of Made in L.A. in order to engage their communities around local issues and spark an essential dialogue around low wage work, women’s empowerment, consumer awareness and the everyday struggles of immigrant workers.
CONTACT:
Almudena Carracedo, Director/Producer
Robert Bahar, Producer
contact@madeinla.com
(323) 924-5445

Cauca indigenous leader assasinated in Colombia

Cauca indigenous leader assassinated
Monday, 29 September 2008 15:48
The Cauca indigenous council denounced the assassination Sunday of a prominent local indigenous leader.
According to the Regional Indigenous Council of Cauca (CRIC), Raúl Mendoza, indigenous governor of the cabildo Peñón and former member of the council, was shot dead inside his home by paramilitary hitmen.
The indigenous governor had made repeated announcements before local authorities and the government office dealing with indigenous issues about ongoing threats against his life and his community for weeks before his assassination, the CRIC said.
The council says the murder is the last of three assassinations that took place in Cauca the past week.
The indigenous leaders blame Colombian President Álvaro Uribe of provoking violence against indigenous and social leaders and asks the international community to "remain on high alert and to express solidarity with the social processes that continue to get attacked by violence promoted from the spheres of the central government."
* ARTICLE SOURCE LINK -
http://colombiareports. com/colombian-news/news/1473-cauca-indigenous-leader-assassinated. html