Hella Solutions blog: "Document. Share. Inspire."

When I was growing up in the 1980s - for those of us who were in bands - one of the coolest places to play was the all-ages spot called the Gilman Street Project. And you know what? The place has survived all this time; giving young people a safe and ‘clean’ place to play music, hang out and meet friends.

But the landlord has recently increased the rent so high that the future of this amazing resource is in immediate danger of being killed off. Do you want to make an immediate impact in the lives of young people? Donate to the Gilman Street Project! Today!!! I did…

www.924gilman.org

Action, audio events, capitalism, entertainment, news concerts, entertainment, history, to-do

The local Bay Area micro- and Internet radio station Pirate Cat Radio (PCR) has inevitably gotten snagged by the FCC. The U.S. airwaves which are public and owned by the citizens of this country have been high-jacked by massive corporations who can afford astronomical licensing fees. These corporations continually hide behind the “just get a license” defense when sicking the FCC on SMALL stations like PCR. While I believe that there is reason to regulate the airwaves I do not believe that folks like PCR are the problem…nor should they be fined any amount for filling a much needed niche on the radio dial. Head over to www.piratecatradio.com and get your self a cool shirt while helping the station stay afloat.

Action, internet radio internet broadcasting

Today the California Supreme Court acted in a cowardly manner in upholding Proposition 8 (the discriminatory legislation that denies same-sex couples equal marriage rights under the law). The kicker for me is that no where in the civil law that same-sex couples are fighting for does it mandate that religious groups be required to marry same-sex couples; only that they be able to legally marry. If your church doesn’t support same-sex marriage, good for you. But why does your church support unequal treatment for all human beings under State law? Shame on you! /rant

I spent the past two days with organizers of the recent “Day of Decision” and “One Struggle, One Fight” events that culminated today. Here’s a bit of audio from today’s rally. It’s the initial reaction from a large crowd at the steps of the San Francisco office of the Supreme Court. It then cuts to a couple (Sean Higgins and Robert Franco) who participated in the non-violent civil disobedience that over 100 people committed to as a protest…more to come!

CLICK TO LISTEN (c) Noah Chandler www.hellasolutions.com

Action, Activism, audio sample

I’m currently transferring the soundboard ‘tape’ I got from the “Stop the Circus. Stop Arpaio” hip-hop show I covered in Tempe, Arizona this week. I’m happy with the sound; it ain’t perfect but there are some very usable pieces to post. So, stay tuned as I’ll be posting some awesome sh*t from show for your listening pleasure. Sheriff Joe’s guys say he’s not concerned but Arizona’s young people showed a strong and positive force this week and I recommend that Joe start looking for a new job because the people coming up in AZ aren’t going to stand for his racist ways. Serious!

http://www.verbalkent.com/
http://www.myspace.com/wordsworth
http://www.myspace.com/onebelo

Action, Activism, audio events, entertainment

I’ve spent the past few days in and around Phoenix, Arizona working with a group called Campaign for a United America Hip-Hop Project. The group itself is based out of Chicago, IL but has been working here to connect with the vibrant, grassroots hip-hop scene. Why hip-hop? Well, it’s one of the largest voices of the youth and one that has consistantly spoke against authoritarian abuses of power. And while not always “political” it is most often a deeply personal expression. But then, as the popular saying goes, “the personal IS political.”

Anyways, I was documenting the organizing efforts of the young people in Phoenix as they organized a hip-hip concert in support of human rights and in opposition to the recent anti-immigrant violence from Sheriff Joe Arpaio (for more visit the Imagine2050 blog). It’s been a whirlwind ‘tour’ here and I look forward to going over my tape once I get back home tonight. Below is a link to a VERY rough little “promo” piece I threw together for the event. Check it!

Click HERE to listen.

Click HERE for original posting.

Maximum respect to all the folks I met out here! Seriously, you all give me a ton of hope!!!

Action, Activism, audio documentary, audio sample, concert recording, entertainment, podcast

May be “Sarcastic Friday” would be a better title. However, yes, our Republican lead country and state has now hit a new low, a 15 year record high unemployment rate. Bush’s America. Lower Standards. Don’t forget to email or call TGI Friday’s today about their horrible treatment of employees here in California.

Action, Happy Friday, capitalism

On Tuesday the chain restaurant TGI Friday’s closed up 3 Bay Area restaurants without notice to most of their employees. Yes, times are tough for retailers but this kind of treatment of American workers can not be tolerated. If you do nothing else this Friday, send an email, letter or make a personal call and tell TGI Friday’s “No Thanks!” to treating employees like garbage. Or do all three!!!

For General Info
1-800-FRIDAYS, Option 1

Guest Relations
T.G.I. Friday’s
4201 Marsh Lane
Carrollton, TX 75007

http://www.fridays.com/contactUs/contactForm.aspx

Action, Activism

I don’t know where I would be without my SomaFM.com and all the other wonderfully different alternative online broadcasters. And if we wait a few weeks we won’t have to worry about that question as “Big Brother” wants to increase broadcasting fees by 1200 percent!!! But don’t just take my word for it:

On March 2, 2007 the Copyright Royalty Board (CRB), which oversees sound recording royalties paid by Internet radio services, increased Internet radio’s royalty burden between 300 and 1200 percent and thereby jeopardized the industry’s future.

At the request of the Recording Industry Association of America, the CRB ignored the fact that Internet radio royalties were already double what satellite radio pays, and multiplied the royalties even further. The 2005 royalty rate was 7/100 of a penny per song streamed; the 2010 rate will be 19/100 of a penny per song streamed. And for small webcasters that were able to calculate royalties as a percentage of revenue in 2005 – that option was quashed by the CRB, so small webcasters’ royalties will grow exponentially!…

To read more please click over to this site: www.savenetradio.org!

Support Internet Radio Diversity (we’ve already lost the airwaves)…

Action, Activism, internet broadcasting

from: Farm Labor Organizing Committee
to: FLOC Supporters
re: Labor Organizer Murdered

Last Monday, Santiago Rafael was found in the FLOC Mexico office tied up and beaten to death. Santiago had been a FLOC organizer in Ohio, had helped with several North Carolina activities, and had started in January as the administrator for the FLOC office in Monterrey, helping workers get their visas processed, investigating worker complaints, and fighting for worker and immigrant rights. The brutal murder of Santiago further emphasizes the need for FLOC to continue its fight for justice for immigrant workers. We will have regular updates about Santiago’s case on our website at http://www.floc.com.

Please pass on this action and related information to your contacts and networks.

Thank you for your continued support of FLOC in our time of mourning for the brutal murder of our friend and companion in the fight for justice for immigrant workers.

Hasta La Victoria!

Baldemar Velasquez
President of FLOC

ACTION

1. Contact the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (http://www.cidh.oas.org/):

We are asking all FLOC supporters and organizations who are deeply affected by the brutal murder of Santiago Rafael Cruz to call or fax the Executive Secretary of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, Santiago Canton, and encourage the IACHR to investigate the murder of Santiago Rafael Cruz. The IACHR will consider Santiago’s case this coming Monday.

If the IACHR accepts the case, it has the power to compel the Mexican government to provide security for the FLOC office in Monterrey and for all FLOC staff operating in Mexico. This would be a major step forward in insuring a speedy investigation and helping FLOC prevent tragedies like this in the future.

A FAX is most effective, but if you do not this capability you can call, email, or write a letter to the IACHR. Send your message to:

Dr. Santiago Canton, Executive Secretary
Inter-American Commission on Human Rights
1889 F St., NW, Washington, D.C., USA 20006.
E-mail: cidhoea@oas.org
Telephone: (202)458-6002
Fax: (202) 458-3992

Ask the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights to take on the murder of Santiago Rafael Cruz as an official case. Points to make are:
* Santiago Rafael has been involved in the struggle for the human rights of immigrant workers in the U.S. for years.
* The brutal nature of his murder in the offices of the Farm Labor Organizing Committee AFL-CIO in Monterrey Mexico indicates that this murder has serious human rights implications for Mexican workers coming to work in the U.S.
* A thorough investigation of Santiago’s murder is needed to reveal those forces involved in the abuses of “guest workers” bound for the U.S., particularly in the recruiting system.
* This is an international human rights issue, involving both Mexico and the United States.

Be sure to send a copy to FLOC at mhale@floc.com, so we can follow up with the IACHR.

2. Contact the Mexican Ambassador to the United States:

Please write to the Mexican Ambassador expressing your outrage at the murder of Santiago Rafael Cruz and demanding a rapid, thorough, and professional investigation of his murder, and bringing Santiago’s murderers to justice.

Ambassador Arturo Sarukhan
Mexican Embassy
1911 Pennsylvania AV, NW
Washington D.C. 20006
Tel: (202) 728-1600
Internet message at: http://portal.sre.gob.mx/usa/index.php?option=contact&Itemid=6

Ask the Ambassador to ensure that the Mexican government conducts a thorough and open investigation of the brutal murder of FLOC organizer Santiago Rafael Cruz in Monterrey. Points to make are:
* The Farm Labor Organizing Committee AFL-CIO has a long record as a grass-roots leader in the immigrant rights movement in the U.S. FLOC organizer Santiago Rafael had been involved in the struggle for the human rights of immigrant workers in the U.S. for years. Santiago’s murder is a critical challenge to protecting Mexican workers in the U.S.
* The brutal nature of his murder in the offices of the Farm Labor Organizing Committee AFL-CIO in Monterrey Mexico indicates that this murder has serious implications for Mexican workers coming to work in the U.S., particularly in the recruiting system for “guest workers”.
* A thorough investigation of Santiago’s murder is needed to reveal those forces involved in the abuses of Mexican workers in the U.S., particularly in the recruiting system in Mexico itself.
* This case has serious implications for international human rights issue, involving both Mexico and the United States.

Be sure to send a copy to FLOC at mhale@floc.com, so we can follow up with the Mexican government.

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This list is operated by the Farm Labor Organizing Committee AFL-CIO to keep our supporters informed about FLOC activities and events.

If you wish to support the efforts of FLOC for farmworker and immigrant justice, please go to the FLOC website at www.floc.com, where you can find information about donating to the FLOC cause, volunteering, and supporting the FLOC movement in your local communities. Tax-deductible donations to support the farm labor movement can be made to the Campaign for Migrant Worker Justice, Inc., 1221 Broadway St., Toledo Ohio 43609, 419-243-3456.

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This is a good time to brush up on your labor, class and immigrant rights knowledge and this is a perfect book to do that with:

clik here for more info

click here to purchase.

Action, Activism