Students, Youth will converge in Columbus, Ohio to build a stronger movement.
June 27, 2012 — Students from all over the U.S. are planning a National Student Power Convergence in Columbus, Ohio from August 11-14th. Inspired by successful, youth-led campaigns at home and transformative movements abroad, students in the U.S. feel the need for a national movement. The convergence will bring together hundreds of students from across the country to discover the connection between our struggles and ignite a broader movement for justice and equality.
The convergence will feature appearances from organizers of international movements like the spokesperson for Québec’s CLASSE student union and noted speakers like Naomi Klein. Participants will learn from leaders of historic student movements and key organizers behind successful campaigns to stop the Keystone Pipeline and fight the deportation of Dream Act eligible students.
The convergence will include trainings designed to equip attendees with movement building skills and strategy sessions to connect a wide variety of organizers from across the student movement. Students from fledgling statewide networks like New York Students Rising, the Ohio Student Association, and many from more established groups are organizing the event.
This is the most diverse, tech-savvy generation in our history – and the first that can’t expect a higher standard of living than its parents. Our generation sees its opportunities increasingly eroded by inequality, racial injustice, and austerity. The political system, ruled by corporate interests, no longer serves the people. Students refuse to allow our country to continue going fiscally, morally, and culturally bankrupt.
“As students from the U.S., we come from a legacy of progress through resistance. Now it’s time to unite and realize that nobody can shape our future but ourselves,” says Biola Jeje, a CUNY student helping to plan the convergence.
From the mass student movements of the 1930s to student sit-ins of the 1960s, young people have instigated some of the most significant social and economic shifts in our nation’s history. Groups like SNCC and SDS were among the most influential change-makers of the 20th century. Now, it’s our turn.
The past year has shown resurgence in youth activism. From Wisconsin to Keystone XL, from Occupiers to DREAMers, youth in the U.S. already have the will and determination to forge a politically transformative movement. The convergence will provide a shared space where U.S. youth can determine a path for collective action.
Contact:
Max Berger – (503) 863-4662 Sean Collins – (910) 381-5815 http://studentpower2012.org/ @studentpower12 /// facebook.com/studentpower2012
"If history is violence and sex, I'd rather not pay my respects. If I've caused offense, I'm just trying to talk sense. Forgive me if I'm too direct or politically incorrect."
Jon Foreman
"There are other good reasons you might want to be giving Johnson some thought.
• He’s the only candidate who will be on the ballot in all 50 states and Washington D.C. who shows no interest in bombing Iran.
• He’s the only candidate willing to violate the politicians’ version of don’t-ask-don’t-tell and say out loud what they all know, that the war on drugs is a useless waste of money.
• And he’s the only candidate promising to cut the federal budget — actually cut it, not just slow its growth — in his first year in office."
Dr. Jill Stein recently won The Green Party presidential nomination. Jill Stein is an activist (in the medical community, environmentally, and also involved in her local Occupy Wall Street) from Massachusetts who has been involved in politics since 2012.
Also before the Green Party National Convention, in front of the National Press Club, Jill Stein announced her choice for VP - Cheri Honkala. You can watch Cheri Honkala's speech to the National Press Club, here:
Cheri Honkala is a poor people's advocate from Philadelphia, PA
The Baltimore Sun yesterday made the same tired attempt at saying that the Green Party would be a spoiler. Their particular angle was that the Green Party would 'tip the scale' in Romney's favor and that this would hurt the environment. The President, however, still drills off American shores and still buys oil from foreign countries. So, the question is, is he any better for the environment then Mitt Romney will be?
Recently the website UtahPolicy.com looked at recent Gallup Poll results. They claim from looking at this poll data that, "But, the same survey shows those who would vote for a third-party candidate would do so at the expense of Mitt Romney."
They also claim that, "Americans most likely will not vote for a third-party candidate in 2012. But, if they do, that vote will likely hurt Mitt Romney." They present this argument WITHOUT presenting the margin of error for the polling, without actually providing any previous poll numbers for Romney, without looking at any gaffes that took place prior to or during the polling. Also, they make those claims without acknowledging who was being voted on, Democrats? Republicans? Independents?
(All of this ignoring the 5% of people polled who said they wouldn't vote.)
So, when you see this kind of thing presented, please remember to consider what is, and what ISN'T being said.
Tours & Festivals -
Warped Tour -
Today Warped Tour hits Scranton, PA at the Toyota Pavilion. You can find more information here.
Mayhem Festival -
Today Mayhem Festival hits Oklahoma City, OK at the Zoo Amphitheatre . You can find more information here.
Trespass America Festival -
Today Trespass America Festival is off, it will resume tomorrow, 7/19 in Milwaukee, WI at The Rave/Eagles Ballroom. You can find more information here.
Summer Slaughter Tour -
Summer Slaughter will kick off in two days, 7/20, at the House of Blues in West Hollywood, CA. You can find more information here.
Meat Loaf -
Today Meat Loaf's taking a day off, but he will be back on the road in New Brunswick, NJ on 7/19 at the State Theatre. You can find out more information here.
PLEASE be careful out there guys!
If you have any indie festivals, tours, concerts, shows, venues, bands, etc that you would like covered and promoted, please feel free to email me at LongHairedPoet@gmail.com
Activism -
Student Power Convergence
The Student Power Convergence is gearing up to meet in Columbus, OH from August 10th - August 14th. If you would like to participate in organizing the convergence, or if you would like to attend or donate to the convergence, then please visit the website - StudentPower2012.org - and donate, sign up for the weekly call or register to be a part of the convergence.
If you would like to donate to my going to the convergence, you can do so on this blog page by clicking my donate button.
Community-Wealth.Org (A Project of The Democracy Collaborative at the University of Maryland)
Community-Wealth.org"focuses on the role community economic stability plays as an essential foundation of civic practice and democratic life."
According to them:
"Across the United States, democratic, community wealth-building institutions have begun to multiply dramatically in number in recent years. Although many ventures are small in size, a number have already become a major presence in their communities and have implications for longer-term community change. The various efforts differ from traditional corporations, on the one hand, and small individually-owned businesses, on the other."
If you have a small business, are a part of a Collective, help run a municipality or a university, this is something you should check out.
Band of the Day -
Eyes of Torment -
Today's band of the day is Eyes of Torment. Eyes of Torment are a Metal band from Atlanta, Georgia that were the Mayhem Battle of the Bands winners. They have had the opportunity to play at Mayhem Festival and now will also open the Summer Slaughter Tour when it stops in ATL.
"We are a grass roots organization. People of all ages and background, people of all faiths and heritage and political views. We do not have millions of dollars in contributions to ply the airwaves and print media. We want to meet as many people as possible. We desire to share our message and invite participation by as many as possible. We do not believe we need to compromise our ideals just to “look like” other traditional campaigns. Our message is about people coming together to creatively develop and define the policies we need as a state and country to pass along to our children the strongest, most prosperous, most peaceful, vibrant and clean country as we can. As in Scouts, “always leave a place in better condition than when you found it”. We could use a lot of that now.
It is never too late to do the right thing. No vote is ever wasted. Join us."
Andrew Groff wants to reinstate Glass-Steagall (reregulate banks), he wants to repeal the PATRIOT Act and he wants to overturn the part of the NDAA that takes away our right to a fair trial.
That wraps it up for this Wednesday edition of Morning News to Keep You Ranting! I hope you all enjoyed.
If you have any comments, questions or concerns, you can leave them in the comment section or email me at LongHairedPoet@gmail.com or reach me on Twitter @JAFThrasher
Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/07/16/2898206/gary-johnson-its-not-just-a-two.html#storylink=cpy
