Deconstructing Anti-Chávez Propaganda - From the Washington Post, to the Miami Herald to the Morning Call of Allentown, PA, those who fear the rising forces of democracy in Venezuela disseminate mischaracterizations and hostility - analysis by Joe DeRaymond, here... (posted 7-6-2008)
Rallying around the flag? - This essay, by Bernie Berg, examines this season of flag waving, parades, and war. "Murder decorated with a ribbon is still murder…" Click here for the essay... (posted 6-16-2008)
New Jersey considers medical marijuana bill - 12 States have passed similar laws. For analysis of a failed and repressive US drug policy, see the article "Decriminalize Marijuana for Justice and Humanity" by Joe DeRaymond, here... (posted 6-8-2008)
Spinning with the Pentagon - 8th Congressional District Congressman Patrick Murphy and 15th Congressional District Congressman Charles Dent have identical positions on the School of the Americas/Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation - for analysis and rebuttal of this shameless spinning act, read here. (posted 5-19-2008)
"Brain Cancer in a Dramamine Age" - this is a spoken word article by Joe DeRaymond, with clarinet background by Kayla Wirth. It was first published as an article on May 5 on the website www.dissidentvoice.org. It is the first audio presentation of LVIP, and will be followed by more audio productions. Click here to connect... (posted 5-10-2008)
Express-Times Sells Out with Kevin O'Brien Column - On May 9, the Express-Times published "Green policies reason we pay more at pump", by Kevin O'Brien of the Cleveland Plain Dealer. For an analysis of its inanity and calculated cynicism, by Joe DeRaymond, click here... (posted 5-10-2008)
Hilaria Supa Huamán, a Peruvian Congresswoman, visited Allentown on April 29 - For a summary of her talk, "Environmental, Economic, and Human Rights Issues in Peru Today", in English and Español, click here, haga clic aqui... (posted 4-30-2008)
Stop Believing the Lies - In this article, Louise Legun outlines the corruption of the Iraq War, and proposes an end to the war, and an economic conversion to production and prosperity, for more click here...(posted 4-30-2008)
On January 27, 2008, in Columbus, Georgia, Roy Bourgeois spoke at the "Festival of Hope" - The audience was comprised of the 11 who were to go on trial the next day for protesting the School of the Assassins, one of whom was Art Landis of Perkasie, PA (see below) - Robert Daniels of Bethlehem taped the event (here is the video) - for the transcription of Roy's talk, read here...(posted 2-14-2008)
Eleven months before the Salvadoran elections of 2009, the US has begun to interfere - Senator John Rockefeller IV, chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, released intelligence information to the ARENA President of El Salvador. The "information" presumes that Hugo Chavez will financially support the opposition FMLN in 2009. For insight into the ensuing controversy in El Salvdor, read more here...(posted 2-14-2008)
In the Mountains of Morazán - A trip to Perquin and El Mozote, retracing the footsteps of those who fought and died in the civil war of El Salvador. For the article, click here...(posted 2-10-2008)
The world demands peace for Colombia - looking beyond las FARC to the Colombian State, and the US - On February 4, over one million marched in cities around the work to demand a release of the FARC hostages, and for peace for Colombia. For more, click here...(posted 2-9/2008)
El Salvador 2008, the first of a series of journal articles by Joe DeRaymond, from El Salvador, where he is spending 10 weeks as a volunteer with the Centro de Intercambio y Solidaridad, with a focus on organizing election observer missions for 2009 - for more, click here...(posted 1-31-2008)
Art Landis of Perkasie is sentenced to 30 days in prison for protesting torture school - On Monday, January 28, 2008, Judge G. Mallon Faircloth of Georgia sentenced 11 human rights activists to prison, including Art, for more, click here...(posted 1-29-2008)
The subprime lending crisis threatens international capital markets - and who will pay the bill? - For an analysis by Glen Ford, of Black Agenda Radio, click here...(posted 1-27-2008)
From the Rivers of Blood trial, a call to speak out - On January 16 and 17, Tim Chadwick of Bethlehem and Joe DeRaymond of Freemansburg were on trial in Washington, DC, for protesting the Iraq War on September 20, 2007, in a demonstration of Rivers of Blood. For trial testimony, perspective, and a call to action, read here...(posted 1-23-2008)
As Charles Chrin pushes for a landfill expansion, we remember his similar effort in 1981-1982 -In 1982, Joe DeRaymond wrote in New Valley Press, "New Jersey records show that 85 shipments of hazardous wastes totalling 2,505,870 pounds were dumped at Chrin in 1978 and 1979." Despite EPA tests that showed heavy metal and chemical contamination, Chrin got his expansion. Should he get another? For more, click here...(posted 1-19-2008)
Gordon Gekko Buys Morning Call - Gordon was the predatory investor played by Michael Douglas in the movie "Wall Street", who states, at a stockholders' meeting, "Greed is good". The new owner of the Morning Call, Sam Zell, echoed that statement in a recent interview, for more, click here... (posted 1/4/2008)
"Impeachment is off the table" - George Bush and Dick Cheney will finish their terms, and the damage they and the Democratic Congress has done may not be soon remediable...click here (posted 1/2/2008)
The brutal reality of the death penalty is the actual killing of a person - it is no easy matter. An article by Joe DeRaymond about the politics and reality of lethal injection, as well as the perspective from Texas' death row, by Hank Skinner. click here...(posted 12/21/2007)
Yesterday, New Jersey abolished capital punishment. Today, December 18, Citizens Against State Killing, a committee of LEPOCO, marched from Phillipsburg, to Bob Freeman's office, and then on the Northampton County courthouse to petition for an end to State killing in Pennsylvania and the entire US, for more, click here... (posted 12/18/2007)
Max Obuszewski of the National Campaign for Nonviolent Resistancehas compiled a list of 2007 anti-war protests - This is what the mainstream media will not tell you about the depth and seriousness of protest against the illegal Iraq War and Occupation: here... (posted 12/13/2007)
Abortion and Human Rights: An overview of the issue, including an article by Rita Corriel, analysis of the situation in Central America, and how Amnesty International dealt with this complex issue, only to be condemned by the Catholic Church; read on...(posted 12/12/2007)
"December 15th is the anniversary of the Bill of Rights to the Constitution." Louise Legun analyzes the current state of adherence to the Bill of Rights in this essay, in which she calls for citizens to Stand Up for the Constitution, ...click here for the essay. (posted 12/11/2007)
The Anti-Chavez propaganda that fills the airwaves and dominates the editorial pages prompts this letter from Bernie Berg. click here for the letter...(posted 12/7/2007)
Lehigh Valley activists at the School of the Americas Watch demonstration at Fort Benning - Art Landis of Perkasie crossed the line and will go on trial January 28 for protesting this school of torture and assassination - for more click here...(posted 11/23/2007)
Bernie Berg writes "Another View" on the tradition of Christian resistance to war - from the Catholic Left, through Camus, an examination of the duty to resist - for the article, click here...(posted 11/19/2007)
This week is Veteran's Week, and the Lehigh Valley Veterans for Peace had a presence at the Veteran's Day Parade in Allentown - For photos and some links to the current reality of Iraq War Veterans click here...posted 11/14/2007
Congress accepts new Attorney General Mukasey, despite lie on torture issue - When Michael Mukasey stated he did not know whether waterboarding was torture, he clearly lied to protect his bosses in the Bush administration. Torture, however, from Chicago to Easton to Central America to Iraq, is as US/American as apple pie, for more, read on...(posted 11/9/2007)
Antiwar Puerto Rico Independistas opting out of US military service, hate groups in PA, and Arlen Specter on Global Warming - "The Struggle Shared" by Jeff Vitelli, as it appears in the LEPOCO October Newsletter: check it out here...(posted 11/3/2007)
We ain't paid no whisky tax, since 1792 - War tax resistance is as "American" as any form of resistance. The War Tax Resistance Coordinating Committee, with other groups, is organizing a 2008 war tax boycott - for more information on how you can extend your resistance to the war crimes being committed with your tax dollars, click here...(posted 11/1/2007)
Local Activist provides death penalty analysis - Maria Weick, Pennsylvania State Death Penalty Abolition Coordinator for Amnesty International, writes about the Morning Call's October 14 editorial on capital punishment in Pennsylvania, here...(posted 10-26-2007)
Bill Cahir, Washington correspondent, supports and justifies Charlie Dent in his recent Express Times column - Is this what a free press is supposed to be? For more, click here...(posted 10-25-2007)
Raed Jarrar is an Iraqi speaking out on the US occupation - he spoke in Bethlehem on Monday, October 15 - For a summary of his talk , and links to more information, click here... (posted 10/17/2007)
John Brinson joins push for War against Iran in Morning Call column - local conservative pundit John Brinson believes it is imperative that the US attack Iran, and if you disagree, you are a liberal wimp. For an analysis of his article, as well as the reasons an attack against Iran is senseless, read on here....(posted 10-16-2007)
Eyes Wide Open Across Pennsylvania made another tour through the Lehigh Valley recently. The dramatic exhibit which has toured in many forms throughout the United States depicts The human cost of the War in Iraq. For the story and pictures of this event click here (posted 10/8/2007)
Alliance for Sustainable Communities-Lehigh Valley responds to Governmental and PPL proposal, for larger transmission lines, one cutting a swath through the Lehigh Valley area from PPL’s two existing nuclear reactors at Berwick to the Northeast’s urban centers; also, a new third nuclear reactor at Berwick., click here for the Alliance analysis (posted
Francisco Flores, the President of El Salvador from 1999-2004, Spoke at Lafayette on September 17 - for his surreal view of El Salvador and the LVIP analysis of his record, click here... (posted 9/18/2007)
The ANSWER Coalition September 15 rally in Washington, DC - Several carloads of Lehigh Valley activists traveled to participate in this rally to end the war and protest the Bush/Cheney agenda. For more, click here... (posted 9/18/2007)
Boomer was a dog worth remembering - here is an essay by Bernie Berg about a true friend, long may he run, click here for his story... (posted 9/11/2007)
As Congress Questions Petraeus and Bush Pushes for More Years of War, Here is an Iraqi Perspective, from Louis Yako. For a timely point of view on the the Take-A-Stand event sponsored by the Iraq Summer Campaign on August 28, by Francesca Lo Basso, click here... (posted 9/10/2007)
"The Struggle Shared" Discusses the Rejection of Hazleton's Anti-immigrant Law by the Federal Courts - Jeff Vitelli, in the August-September LEPOCO newsletter, talks about the decision and ramifications of the recent decision preventing the implementation of Hazleton's Illegal Immigration Relief Act, here... posted 9/10/2007)
Pennsylvania has 231 Prisoners on Death Row - Terrance Williams has been one of them since 1986. Here is his article about his experience, "Breaking Barriers of Isolation" (posted 9/9/2007)
Counter Recruitment in Wartime, an overview and analysis of military recruiting -and Lehigh Valley efforts to get the full story to local students, with interviews of Stephanie Garman and Peter Crownfield, prior coordinators of the LEPOCO Youth and Militarism group, click here... (posted 9/7/2007)
The Iraq Summer Campaign comes to a close. Charlie Dent and the Media are conspicuously absent. On August 28th the long sixth summer of anti war events known as Iraq Summer came to a close. The event was to be a Town Hall Meeting with our elected Representative, Charlie Dent. Since he did not show, it became more of a Teach In Rally. To read the complete article/op ed and see pictures from the event, click here..(posted 8/30/2007)
The White Rose was a student resistance group in Nazi Germany.Their 4th leaflet talked about the need to put Hitler on trial. Not that the members of the White Rose felt that any punishment given to Hitler could restore justice; but that such a trial would serve as a warning for tyrant wannabes..." writes Curt Day in his article, "Try the President, Save the World", on his blog, "extrememoderate". For this complete article and more, click here... (posted 8/19/2007)
Northampton County Council passes American Heroes Grant for Iraq Soldiers: But you can only be a hero if you own real estate - In an attempt to demonstrate support for US soldiers serving in Iraq, Northampton County Council passed a law granting property tax relief to service men and women deployed to Iraq. A similar Lehigh County law has aided no one. For more, here...(posted 8/17/2007)
Congressman Dent tries to justify a political vote in a recent Morning Call editorial - Providing healthcare to children should be a priority, not a political football. Charles Dent shows his true colors as he attacks a bad bill for the wrong reasons, and fails, again, to own up to his political motivations. For more about our Bush-clone Congressman, here... (posted 8/11/2007)
Why is Erin Davies driving her VW, named "Fagbug" across the country? - In April of 2007, Erin, a lesbian, was the victim of a hate crime. She turned this experience into an odyssey across the United States to "increase public awareness about the blatant homophobia that exists in our society." For more about her trip and her upcoming visit to Allentown on August 19, read more here...(posted 8/10/2007)
Surge a Body Count Success, a Failure for Iraqis and US Troops - While much of the media joins Robert Gates and the Bush administration in spinning the surge as a military success, Iraq is in tatters and there is no policy change in sight. For more, click here. (posted 8/6/2007)
Cindy Sheehan - Why not in her own words? - Some photos and an essay on Cindy's visit to Allentown... (posted 7/30/2007)
Cindy Sheehan Calls for Impeachment, Challenges Democrats and Republicans to Reclaim Democracy -
Cindy Sheehan visited Allentown on July 25, and marched from the Armory at 15th and Allen to the Sterling Hotel, where she addressed about 300 to call for a new politics in the United States, an end to the war and occupation in Iraq, and confirmed her Independent candidacy for Nancy Pelosi's seat in Congress. For the text of her speech, click here... (posted 7/26/2007)
The Yellow Rose of Texas Peace Bus - Jim Goodnow is touring the country with a very basic appeal: "By your support in keeping this message and the Yellow Rose Peace Bus on the road, you will be directly helping to continue in all our frontline efforts to end this seemingly endless war and bring all our troops home." For more on the bus and its visit to the Lehigh Valley, read on... (posted 7/24/2007)
Kissinger May Be Sane, but Is He Oriented to Time, Place and Current War ? Henry lives on, puffed by syncophants such as Charlie Rose, and he remains a White House adviser: picture this strange scene... (posted 7/19/2007)
Specter Joins Dent in Support for Bush Iraq Policy - On Wednesday, July 18, Senator Specter voted to filibuster a bill that would have forced President Bush to change his policy in Iraq. He joined a minority of the Senate that was, nevertheless, able to stop the legislation, as 60 votes are needed in the Senate to bring a bill to a vote. Local activists rallied at Specter's office, see more here... (posted 7/19/2007)
PPL Joins New Push for Nuclear Power, with Support from Express-Times Columnist - PPL Corporation has committed $70 million to pursue licensing of a third nuclear unit at Berwick. With profits of $842 million in 2006, and a rate increase under consideration, Lehigh Valley consumers will be asked to join a renewed drive for more nukes. For more on this issue, check this out... (posted 7/15/2007)
Iraq Summer Calls for Specter Action on Wednesday, July 18 - Senator Specter sometimes talks like a moderate, but has supported the Bush War on Iraq vote by vote. Senator Casey also has supported the war in his latest votes. For details of the July 18 Specter actions, and for the voting records of our Pennsylvania Senators this year on the Iraq War, read more here... (posted 7/14/2007)
Bernie Berg on "Limits" - “How long will you abuse our patience? How long will your madness mock us? To what limit will your unbridled audacity vaunt itself?”For more on the historic perspective on the Iraq War Crimes perpetraters, Bush, Cheney, and Dentread here... (posted 7/13/2007)
Sister Cities Group Arrested in El Salvador at Water Privatization Demonstration - On July 2, 14 leaders of CRIPDES were arrested while on the road to Suchitoto, El Salvador. They were going to participate in a demonstration against water privatization. They have been charged with terrorism, and placed before a Special Tribunal that acts outside the normal constitutional process. For more, click here. (posted 7/10/2007)
Darfur Report - an Account of a Visit to the Sudan in December, 2006 -Amnesty International member Anthony Udu-Gama of Washington, DC, describes his participation in an International Crisis Group delegation to the Sudan. While the delegation was cancelled for security reasons, Anthony and another delegation participant made their own way to the war torn region. Click here for his account and analysis. (posted 7/9/2007)
Charlie Dent in Lockstep with Bush - Despite recent efforts to distance himself from Bush's war policy, Charlie Dent's voting record shows total support for the Bush Iraq policy. See the Voices for Creative Nonviolence website for the voting record of our Tom Delay, George W. Representative. Click here for his votes. See our "Who is Charlie Dent" section for ongoing analysis of our "Representative". (posted 7/8/2007)
From "Sicko" to a Healthy Healthcare System - Can a Movie Make the Difference? Michael Moore has once again focussed our attention on an element of our broken United States government and society. For a look at how the current US Healthcare system is also part of our crisis of democracy, see this article,Paying for Healthcare and Not Getting It. (posted 7/8/2007)
Congress Turns Away from Immigration Justice, Local Efforts Needed - Congress failed to pass Immigration Reform legislation this year, a mixed blessing, as the bills being considered were not justice bills. Local vigilante efforts to stigmatize and criminalize the immigrant community continue in Northampton County, and around the nation. For a deeper analysis of one nation's emigration reality, see El Salvador 2007 - A Nation Fleeing Itself. (posted 7/7/2007)
Americans Against Escalation in Iraq Launch Summer Campaign in Lehigh Valley at Dent Office - On Thursday, July 5, about 35 Lehigh Valley people picketed the office of Charlie Dent in support of the Iraq Summer campaign of the Americans Against Escalation in Iraq Coalition. The Coalition includes the Service Employees International Union, Move On, Win Without War, Vote Vets, Working Assets, and other groups. Local organizers Aaron Swisher and Dorothellia Mills introduced themselves and their program to Rep. Dent and the Lehigh Valley. For more photos and info, see here... (posted 7/6/2007)
Colombia Video
"School of Assassins" Vote Fails - By a vote of 214-203, on June 21, the House of Representatives rejected an Amendment to the Foreign Appropriations Bill that would have defunded the SOA-WHISC. Local "legislators" Charlie Dent of the 15th Congressional District, Patrick Murphy of the 8th District, and New Jersey's Warren County Representative Scott Garrett all voted to keep the school open. They all support the War on Terror, except when they might actually have to make a tough vote against our military to close a school dedicated to teaching and promulgating terror in the Americas. The House Bill HR 1707 to investigate the SOA-WHISC is still pending, and they will all get a chance to vote again on this issue. For more, see the SOAW website. (posted 6/28/07)
Colombia Peace Efforts Threatened by Series of Computer Thefts - In the first three weeks of June, the Colombian offices of the Fellowship of Reconciliation (FOR), the Christian Center for Justice, Peace and Nonviolent Action, Justapaz, and Corporación Yiro Castro were ransacked and computers with contact information were stolen while other valuables were ignored. These attacks threaten the lives of internationals and Colombians working for peace. A Dear Colleague letter is being circulated by Rep. Jim Langevin of Rhode Island. Congressional support for this letter could save lives, for more info, read here...(posted 6/28/07)
School of Assassins Vote this Week in the House of Representatives - An effort to defund the Western Hemisphere Institute of Security Cooperation (WHISC), formerly the School of the Americas, will be brought to the floor this week. Visit the School of the Americas Watch website to send a fax or email, and for more information. Neither Charlie Dent of the 15th Congressional District nor Patrick Murphy of the 8th District is one of the 104 co-sponsors to HR 1707, a bill that would investigate WHISC. A YES vote on the amendment to be introduced by Jim McGovern would end funding - to vote against this amendment is to vote for no accountability for torture and assassination.
Dent 9 Case Before the Superior Court As more revelations appear about the coverup of Abu Ghraib (see the recent article by Seymour Hersh in the June 25, 2007 New Yorker), United States citizens are confronted with the dilemma of how to make their voices heard before a President and Congress hellbent on pursuing an illegal and useless war and occupation in Iraq. The local effort by the Dent 9 to produce a moral position on the war from Representative Charles Dent is now before the Superior Court of Pennsylvania. For a history and update of the case, read more here...
Local Peace Activist Susan Ravitz Visits Israel /Palestine With Interfaith Peacebuilders - Susan Ravitz of Easton has been active in peacework to end the War in Iraq, and to end the US bombing on Vieques Island, Puerto Rico. She is now in Israel/Palestine with a delegation Assessing the Prospects for Peace: 40 Years of Occupation, 40 Years of Nonviolent Resistance. Interfaith Peace-Builders began as a program of the Fellowship of Reconciliation in 2000. Its mission is to give US citizens the opportunity to see and understand the Israeli-Palestinian conflict firsthand and to empower these citizens to educate their local communities and advocate for better US foreign policy when they return to the US. To follow delegation reports, see their website at Interfaith Peacebuilders. For more, read on...
Gaza and Nahr al Bared, an escalation of repression of Palestinian refugees - This week, we have watched the further disintegration of the prison camp known as Gaza, and of the refugee camp of 59 years known as Nahr al Bared, in Tripoli, Lebanon. Human rights have no meaning in the context of these forced incarcerations of populations. The battles between Fatah and Hamas, with the concurrent armed conflict ongoing with Israel in the Gaza, and the indiscriminate attack against Nahr al Bared in Tripoli by the Lebanese Army are situations that have grown out of decades of occupation and repression of the Palestinian people. The United States and Israel have avoided justice and perpetuated oppression for many years in Palestine - for an analysis cerca 2002, and the first of a series of articles,see this...
Paramilitary government in Colombia claims another life in Peace Community - On May 14, Francisco Puerta, a leader of the Peace Community of San José de Apartadó, Colombia, was assassinated at the bus station in Apartadó. For a complete account, see forcolombia.org. For more on the paramilitary program of the United States and Colombia, read more here...
Requiem for the Steel - On May 22, Sheldon G. Adelman, the CEO of Las Vegas Sands Corporation, visited Bethlehem. The headline in the Express Times was "Titan's Words of Wisdom", which included, "I hate losing as much or more than I love winning." His $28 billion corporation will develop a slot machine casino on the Bethlehem Steel site in south Bethlehem. For a retrospective on this development, read more here...
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