what the - is that, no..!?
Friday, February 25, 2011
sometimes, even amidst chaos, once isn't enough
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Thousands Feared Dead in Gaddafi’s Crackdown on Libyan Uprising
The United Nations is warning thousands of people may have been killed in Colonel Muammar Gaddafi’s assault on the growing popular uprising across Libya. The United Nations is also warning Libya’s food supply network is on the brink of collapse. Deadly clashes are ongoing as anti-government forces close in on the capital city of Tripoli. We get a report from Democracy Now!’s Anjali Kamat in Libya.
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Protesters Expect 100,000 in Madison as Assembly OKs Anti-Union Bill
The Republican-controlled Wisconsin State Assembly has passed Gov. Scott Walker’s budget repair bill that would eliminate collective bargaining rights for most public employees. The measure has sparked an unprecedented 11 days of protest in the capital city of Madison and across the state. Broadcasting from the Capitol Rotunda in Madison, we speak to The Nation magazine’s John Nichols.
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Despite Exemption From Anti-Union Bill, Wisconsin Firefighters Stand with Public Sector Workers
Thousands of workers and labor activists have descended on Madison since last week, calling on state lawmakers to reject Republican Gov. Scott Walker’s anti-union bill. Although police officers and firefighters are exempted from key provisions of the bill, they have joined the protests in large numbers. We are joined by Mahlon Mitchell, president of the Wisconsin Professional Firefighters Association. “There is not one public employee that does their job to get rich,” Mitchell says. “We don’t do our job to get rich. We do our job to have a decent life, to have a decent middle-class family and not have to struggle like a lot of our other people do.” [includes rush transcript]
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"Until We Throw This Bill Out, We Cannot Come Back:" Wisconsin State Senator Chris Larson Remains in Illinois
Wisconsin senate Democrats have stalled the anti-union bill by fleeing the state, thereby denying Republicans quorum for a vote. On Thursday, Wisconsin police were deployed to retrieve the absent senate Democrats at their homes without success. We speak to Democratic State Senator Chris Larson, who has fled to Illinois.
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Policing & Protesting: Wisconsin Officers Patrol Capitol, But Join in Demonstrations
Wisconsin police officers have participated in the Madison labor protests, not only on the job as public security, but also as demonstrators. "Law enforcement officers from across the state are proud to stand by their fellow devoted public employees," says Jim Palmer, executive director of Wisconsin’s Professional Police Association.
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"Gov. Walker Needs to Get Over His Koch Addiction": Labor Activists Protest Koch Brothers’ Madison Office
Hundreds of demonstrators gathered outside the lobbying offices of the Koch brothers in Madison on Thursday. "The Koch brothers] have funded a lot of anti-union, anti-worker legislation not just in Wisconsin, but across the country," says Elizabeth DiNovella of the Madison-based magazine The Progressive. "People in Wisconsin are here to say that Walker needs to get over his Koch addiction and respect workers’ rights to organize."
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Teachers, Students Among First to Protest at Wisconsin Capitol
Teachers and students have been on the front lines of the Wisconsin protests. We speak to University of Wisconsin Graduate student Angela Wellman.
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Wisconsin’s Uprising: A Guided Tour of the 11-Day Protest Encampment Inside the State Capitol in Madison
Public employees, labor activists and students have been filling the hallways of the Wisconsin State Capitol for the past 11 days. Hundreds of people have slept inside the capitol building each night. So many people are staying here that protesters have begun building impromptu dining areas, a lending library and a medic center. Democracy Now! senior producer Mike Burke and John Hamilton receive a tour of the building from an activist who’s stayed at the capitol building for nine straight nights.
Thousands Feared Dead in Gaddafi’s Crackdown on Libyan Uprising
The United Nations is warning thousands of people may have been killed in Colonel Muammar Gaddafi’s assault on the growing popular uprising across Libya. The United Nations is also warning Libya’s food supply network is on the brink of collapse. Deadly clashes are ongoing as anti-government forces close in on the capital city of Tripoli. We get a report from Democracy Now!’s Anjali Kamat in Libya.
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Protesters Expect 100,000 in Madison as Assembly OKs Anti-Union Bill
The Republican-controlled Wisconsin State Assembly has passed Gov. Scott Walker’s budget repair bill that would eliminate collective bargaining rights for most public employees. The measure has sparked an unprecedented 11 days of protest in the capital city of Madison and across the state. Broadcasting from the Capitol Rotunda in Madison, we speak to The Nation magazine’s John Nichols.
*
Despite Exemption From Anti-Union Bill, Wisconsin Firefighters Stand with Public Sector Workers
Thousands of workers and labor activists have descended on Madison since last week, calling on state lawmakers to reject Republican Gov. Scott Walker’s anti-union bill. Although police officers and firefighters are exempted from key provisions of the bill, they have joined the protests in large numbers. We are joined by Mahlon Mitchell, president of the Wisconsin Professional Firefighters Association. “There is not one public employee that does their job to get rich,” Mitchell says. “We don’t do our job to get rich. We do our job to have a decent life, to have a decent middle-class family and not have to struggle like a lot of our other people do.” [includes rush transcript]
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"Until We Throw This Bill Out, We Cannot Come Back:" Wisconsin State Senator Chris Larson Remains in Illinois
Wisconsin senate Democrats have stalled the anti-union bill by fleeing the state, thereby denying Republicans quorum for a vote. On Thursday, Wisconsin police were deployed to retrieve the absent senate Democrats at their homes without success. We speak to Democratic State Senator Chris Larson, who has fled to Illinois.
*
Policing & Protesting: Wisconsin Officers Patrol Capitol, But Join in Demonstrations
Wisconsin police officers have participated in the Madison labor protests, not only on the job as public security, but also as demonstrators. "Law enforcement officers from across the state are proud to stand by their fellow devoted public employees," says Jim Palmer, executive director of Wisconsin’s Professional Police Association.
*
"Gov. Walker Needs to Get Over His Koch Addiction": Labor Activists Protest Koch Brothers’ Madison Office
Hundreds of demonstrators gathered outside the lobbying offices of the Koch brothers in Madison on Thursday. "The Koch brothers] have funded a lot of anti-union, anti-worker legislation not just in Wisconsin, but across the country," says Elizabeth DiNovella of the Madison-based magazine The Progressive. "People in Wisconsin are here to say that Walker needs to get over his Koch addiction and respect workers’ rights to organize."
*
Teachers, Students Among First to Protest at Wisconsin Capitol
Teachers and students have been on the front lines of the Wisconsin protests. We speak to University of Wisconsin Graduate student Angela Wellman.
*
Wisconsin’s Uprising: A Guided Tour of the 11-Day Protest Encampment Inside the State Capitol in Madison
Public employees, labor activists and students have been filling the hallways of the Wisconsin State Capitol for the past 11 days. Hundreds of people have slept inside the capitol building each night. So many people are staying here that protesters have begun building impromptu dining areas, a lending library and a medic center. Democracy Now! senior producer Mike Burke and John Hamilton receive a tour of the building from an activist who’s stayed at the capitol building for nine straight nights.
Thursday, February 24, 2011
"David Pogue tests his mettle against the world's strongest stuff"
Making Stuff: Stronger | NOVA | PBS Video
..the spider goats are unsettling but, that 2d animation was hilarious.
Watch the full episode. See more NOVA.
..the spider goats are unsettling but, that 2d animation was hilarious.
Why Monsanto Always Wins
..The USDA fully deregulated the alfalfa on January 27, 2011.Like the GE corn and soybeans that now dominate agribusiness, Roundup Ready alfalfa is genetically engineered to tolerate glyphosate-based herbicides like Monsanto's Roundup. Farmers can plant Roundup Ready crops and blanket their fields with the herbicide knowing that weeds will be killed and the Roundup Ready crops will be spared.
Back in 2003, USDA officials were concerned about "deficiencies" in Monsanto's original petition to deregulate the GE alfalfa seeds, so they drafted a letter with about 90 questions for Monsanto. In several emails, officials working with the USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) asked Monsanto officials to comment and "suggest improvements" on at least three drafts of the "deficiency letter." Monsanto was happy to redraft the letter point by point.
Monsanto withdrew its original petition in February 2004 after two undocumented conference calls with APHIS personnel. One month before the final petition was submitted in April, Monsanto regulatory officer Glen Rogan sent two emails to APHIS petition reviewer Virgil Meier indicating that Monsanto was willing to help draft the USDA's EA of Roundup Ready alfalfa. APHIS conducts EA's to assess the potential environmental impacts of proposed agricultural products...
Why Monsanto Always Wins
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Hundreds of Texans Protest Proposed Immigration Bills
Some marched and waved signs supporting the United Farm Workers. Others, cloaked in Texas and U.S. flags, proclaimed that “Texas Can Do Better Than Arizona.” The immigrants’ rights advocates, former military personnel, lawmakers and students — from seemingly every rural and urban sector of the state — rallied and proclaimed that bills like HB 17 and HB 22 would serve only to increase insecurity and distrust within immigrant communities, hinder Texas’ future workforce from being competitive and lead to an increase in crime. The bills, by state Rep. Debbie Riddle, R-Tomball, would make it a Class B misdemeanor to be in the country without proper documentation and mandate that school districts report the immigration status of their students. Riddle has also filed HB 1202, which would make it a state jail felony to knowingly and “recklessly” hire an unauthorized worker.
Hundreds of Texans Protest Proposed Immigration Bills — Immigration | The Texas Tribune
Hundreds of Texans Protest Proposed Immigration Bills — Immigration | The Texas Tribune
..y Siguen los Jueces Mexicanos
Ciudad Juárez.- El fiscal Jorge González Nicolás descartó que una omisión del Ministerio Público (MP) dejara en libertad a dos presuntos “carjackers”, quienes reincidieron en la comisión del delito de robo de vehículo con violencia cuatro días después de obtener su libertad.
En cambio, dijo, un Tribunal de Garantía fue el que determinó que los dos fueran liberados y que por lo menos uno de ellos se debería presentar cada 15 días “a firma”.
Como se informó, elementos de la Policía Federal arrestaron el sábado pasado a Javier Fernando Ríos Arellano, de 18 años de edad; Alejandro Arredondo Holguín, de 26; Juan Carlos Molina Camarillo, de 18; y a Juan Diego Barraza Manzano, de 22 años, por su presunta responsabilidad en los delitos de robo de vehículo con violencia, hurto de 15 mil pesos y posesión ilegal de un arma de fuego.
Pero tanto Ríos Arellano como Molina Camarillo habían sido detenidos apenas el día 13 del mes en curso por los agentes federales, en posesión de un auto con reporte de robo, por lo que junto con otra persona, Manuel Alvarado Torres, fueron turnados ante el MP, dio a conocer la corporación policiaca.
Efectivamente fueron detenidos el 13 de febrero en posesión de un vehículo que contaba con reporte de robo, explicó personal de la Fiscalía General del Estado. Junto a Molina Camarillo viajaban en la unidad Javier Fernando Ríos Arellano y Manuel Alvarado Torres, quienes ingresaron al área de separos el día 13 a las 12:20 horas.
El MP, adscrito a la Unidad de Detenidos, fincó responsabilidad legal únicamente en contra de Molina Camarillo, por ser la persona que conducía la unidad reportada como robada, precisó el fiscal Jorge González Nicolás.
Esta persona fue presentada el martes 15 de febrero ante un Tribunal de Garantía que determinó como medida cautelar que acudiera a “firma” cada 15 días y sería hasta ayer a las 09:30 horas cuando estaba fijada la fecha para la audiencia de vinculación a proceso, agregó.
“Esto significa que esta persona quedó en libertad por la orden del Tribunal de Garantía; el sábado anterior esta misma persona, junto con otros tres fueron detenidos por robo, robo de vehículo y portación de arma de fuego sin licencia. Ellos están en este momento detenidos y hoy serán puestos a disposición de un Tribunal de Garantía”, precisó el funcionario estatal.
“Una de las personas señaladas por los medios de comunicación efectivamente fue puesto en libertad al momento de determinarle la medida cautelar, a esa misma persona se le ha dictado un auto de vinculación a proceso, lo tenemos detenido por el otro asunto y lo pondremos a disposición de un Tribunal de Garantía hoy mismo”, afirmó.
¿Qué se le puede a la ciudadanía que se ha visto afectada por este tipo de bandas y que la ley sigue siendo flexible con ellos?, se le preguntó.
“Es importante señalar la gran diferencia que existe entre las penas que hay para una persona que es sorprendida robando un vehículo y la persona que va circulando en posesión de un vehículo robado. Hay una gran diferencia”, expresó.
Indicó que es necesaria la aprobación de las reformas al Código de Procedimientos Penales que impone sanciones más severas a las personas detenidas con autos robados, con el fin de que alcancen la prisión preventiva.
“Se enviaron unas iniciativas de ley para modificar ante el Congreso del Estado modificar el Código de Procedimientos Penales, entre otros (delitos) exige que la persona que es detenida en posesión de un vehículo robado no tenga otra (medida) cautelar más que la prisión preventiva, en tanto se lleve a cabo el proceso (penal). Estamos esperando a que el Congreso determine si aprueba (las reformas) o no para inmediatamente aplicarlas”, expuso.
El funcionario dijo que el MP solicitará al Tribunal de Garantía le revoque la medida cautelar de la firma cada 15 días y le imponga como medida cautelar la prisión preventiva.
De acuerdo con las estadísticas mensuales proporcionadas por la propia Fiscalía General del Estado (FGE), en los primeros cuatro meses de la actual Administración estatal han sido interpuestas 6 mil 148 denuncias por el delito de robo de vehículo tan sólo en zona norte, por lo que se sitúa como el ilícito patrimonial que más afecta a los fronterizos.
De ese total, el Ministerio Público únicamente ha judicializado 60 carpetas de investigación ante un Tribunal de Garantía, es decir menos del uno por ciento del total de casos denunciados, de acuerdo a los datos oficiales.
Las detenciones
El reporte oficial de la Unidad de Detenidos establece que de octubre a enero el total de corporaciones policiacas arrestaron a mil 914 probables delincuentes, dentro de los términos de flagrancia, de los cuales sólo 403 llegaron ante un Tribunal de Garantía.
Esto implica la captura de 15.5 personas al día durante los 123 días contabilizados.
La corporación que más detenciones reportó fue la Policía Federal con 681 personas; le sigue la Dirección de Tránsito con 623 arrestos; la Policía Municipal con 475; 74 por parte de la Policía Estatal Investigadora; 35 por el Ejército Mexicano; 24 de la Policía Estatal Única; y 13 más por la Procuraduría General de la República.
De ese total, mil 402 personas fueron liberadas en un término de 48 horas por el Ministerio adscrito a la Unidad de Detenidos, 13 personas más fueron consignados ante el Ministerio Público Federal, 68 eran menores de edad y 21 más seguían detenidos al momento de la realización de los reportes mensuales, revelan los datos.
Los documentos oficiales indican que de entre los motivos por los cuales estas personas fueron liberadas en un plazo de 48 horas destacan: bajo reserva de ley, libertad caucional, perdón, no existir querella, inexistencia del delito, no flagrancia, no haber encontrado responsabilidad legal, pena alternativa, excluyente de responsabilidades y llegar al acuerdo reparatorio.
con Video: JUEZ LIBERA A CARJACKER | La Voz de Juárez
En cambio, dijo, un Tribunal de Garantía fue el que determinó que los dos fueran liberados y que por lo menos uno de ellos se debería presentar cada 15 días “a firma”.
Como se informó, elementos de la Policía Federal arrestaron el sábado pasado a Javier Fernando Ríos Arellano, de 18 años de edad; Alejandro Arredondo Holguín, de 26; Juan Carlos Molina Camarillo, de 18; y a Juan Diego Barraza Manzano, de 22 años, por su presunta responsabilidad en los delitos de robo de vehículo con violencia, hurto de 15 mil pesos y posesión ilegal de un arma de fuego.
Pero tanto Ríos Arellano como Molina Camarillo habían sido detenidos apenas el día 13 del mes en curso por los agentes federales, en posesión de un auto con reporte de robo, por lo que junto con otra persona, Manuel Alvarado Torres, fueron turnados ante el MP, dio a conocer la corporación policiaca.
Efectivamente fueron detenidos el 13 de febrero en posesión de un vehículo que contaba con reporte de robo, explicó personal de la Fiscalía General del Estado. Junto a Molina Camarillo viajaban en la unidad Javier Fernando Ríos Arellano y Manuel Alvarado Torres, quienes ingresaron al área de separos el día 13 a las 12:20 horas.
El MP, adscrito a la Unidad de Detenidos, fincó responsabilidad legal únicamente en contra de Molina Camarillo, por ser la persona que conducía la unidad reportada como robada, precisó el fiscal Jorge González Nicolás.
Esta persona fue presentada el martes 15 de febrero ante un Tribunal de Garantía que determinó como medida cautelar que acudiera a “firma” cada 15 días y sería hasta ayer a las 09:30 horas cuando estaba fijada la fecha para la audiencia de vinculación a proceso, agregó.
“Esto significa que esta persona quedó en libertad por la orden del Tribunal de Garantía; el sábado anterior esta misma persona, junto con otros tres fueron detenidos por robo, robo de vehículo y portación de arma de fuego sin licencia. Ellos están en este momento detenidos y hoy serán puestos a disposición de un Tribunal de Garantía”, precisó el funcionario estatal.
“Una de las personas señaladas por los medios de comunicación efectivamente fue puesto en libertad al momento de determinarle la medida cautelar, a esa misma persona se le ha dictado un auto de vinculación a proceso, lo tenemos detenido por el otro asunto y lo pondremos a disposición de un Tribunal de Garantía hoy mismo”, afirmó.
¿Qué se le puede a la ciudadanía que se ha visto afectada por este tipo de bandas y que la ley sigue siendo flexible con ellos?, se le preguntó.
“Es importante señalar la gran diferencia que existe entre las penas que hay para una persona que es sorprendida robando un vehículo y la persona que va circulando en posesión de un vehículo robado. Hay una gran diferencia”, expresó.
Indicó que es necesaria la aprobación de las reformas al Código de Procedimientos Penales que impone sanciones más severas a las personas detenidas con autos robados, con el fin de que alcancen la prisión preventiva.
“Se enviaron unas iniciativas de ley para modificar ante el Congreso del Estado modificar el Código de Procedimientos Penales, entre otros (delitos) exige que la persona que es detenida en posesión de un vehículo robado no tenga otra (medida) cautelar más que la prisión preventiva, en tanto se lleve a cabo el proceso (penal). Estamos esperando a que el Congreso determine si aprueba (las reformas) o no para inmediatamente aplicarlas”, expuso.
El funcionario dijo que el MP solicitará al Tribunal de Garantía le revoque la medida cautelar de la firma cada 15 días y le imponga como medida cautelar la prisión preventiva.
De acuerdo con las estadísticas mensuales proporcionadas por la propia Fiscalía General del Estado (FGE), en los primeros cuatro meses de la actual Administración estatal han sido interpuestas 6 mil 148 denuncias por el delito de robo de vehículo tan sólo en zona norte, por lo que se sitúa como el ilícito patrimonial que más afecta a los fronterizos.
De ese total, el Ministerio Público únicamente ha judicializado 60 carpetas de investigación ante un Tribunal de Garantía, es decir menos del uno por ciento del total de casos denunciados, de acuerdo a los datos oficiales.
Las detenciones
El reporte oficial de la Unidad de Detenidos establece que de octubre a enero el total de corporaciones policiacas arrestaron a mil 914 probables delincuentes, dentro de los términos de flagrancia, de los cuales sólo 403 llegaron ante un Tribunal de Garantía.
Esto implica la captura de 15.5 personas al día durante los 123 días contabilizados.
La corporación que más detenciones reportó fue la Policía Federal con 681 personas; le sigue la Dirección de Tránsito con 623 arrestos; la Policía Municipal con 475; 74 por parte de la Policía Estatal Investigadora; 35 por el Ejército Mexicano; 24 de la Policía Estatal Única; y 13 más por la Procuraduría General de la República.
De ese total, mil 402 personas fueron liberadas en un término de 48 horas por el Ministerio adscrito a la Unidad de Detenidos, 13 personas más fueron consignados ante el Ministerio Público Federal, 68 eran menores de edad y 21 más seguían detenidos al momento de la realización de los reportes mensuales, revelan los datos.
Los documentos oficiales indican que de entre los motivos por los cuales estas personas fueron liberadas en un plazo de 48 horas destacan: bajo reserva de ley, libertad caucional, perdón, no existir querella, inexistencia del delito, no flagrancia, no haber encontrado responsabilidad legal, pena alternativa, excluyente de responsabilidades y llegar al acuerdo reparatorio.
con Video: JUEZ LIBERA A CARJACKER | La Voz de Juárez
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Time was,
The Dervaes Institute sent a complaint to Facebook and, as a result, Facebook promptly took down the pages for Coyne and Knutzen’s book. When the publisher protested, Facebook politely suggested that the publisher take the matter up with the Institute and get back to Facebook when the matter was resolved. Of course, in most instances, takedown targets will lack the resources to persuade a trademark owner to withdraw a complaint, much less take legal action if necessary. We're glad that Coyne and Knutzen thought to call EFF for help.
We are also glad to see that our clients are not alone in fighting back against the Dervaes Institute's misguided campaign. Today has been declared an Urban Homesteader’s Day of Action, itself organized through Facebook, that promises “to blanket the web with the words urban homestead and urban homesteading through blog posts, web pages, and articles.” The Dervaes Institute should recognize that this is one community that will not be intimidated, cease its heavy-handed tactics, and take steps to repair the damage it has caused.
from: Riding the Fences of the “Urban Homestead”: Trademark Complaints and Misinformation Lead to Improper Takedowns | Electronic Frontier Foundation
We are also glad to see that our clients are not alone in fighting back against the Dervaes Institute's misguided campaign. Today has been declared an Urban Homesteader’s Day of Action, itself organized through Facebook, that promises “to blanket the web with the words urban homestead and urban homesteading through blog posts, web pages, and articles.” The Dervaes Institute should recognize that this is one community that will not be intimidated, cease its heavy-handed tactics, and take steps to repair the damage it has caused.
from: Riding the Fences of the “Urban Homestead”: Trademark Complaints and Misinformation Lead to Improper Takedowns | Electronic Frontier Foundation
"Homegrown Revolution Evolution!"
..recent events have been sweeping the world of sustainability in and around the west coast lately and it's inspired me to FINALLY write a blog on my site. Some friends of mine (not good friends but kind people in my experience) decided that they wanted to protect their investment of years of work and put in process a trademark for many terms including 'urban homestead' and 'urban homesteading'. These people, the Dervaes family, have been doing urban homesteading for years and have received a lot of fame and fortune as a result of their efforts. I've been to their place in Pasadena, brought high school students there, and a permaculture course there. They haven't been open for tours for years though once they started getting lots of attention - I imagine they were busy!
Their recent actions of sending polite letters to people who are using the terms 'urban homesteading' and 'urban homestead' asking them to stop using these terms is right out of the twilight zone. These letters had facebook pages removed (fb was concerned that anyone using these terms was in danger of violating the Dervaes trademark), and a whole host of other repercussions for the many fine people who use these terms to describe what they do.
I've used those terms a multitude of times to describe building soil, growing food, conserving water, seeking alternate sources of energy, raising livestock (for soil building, scrap eating, or food uses), and a host of other activities that bring a farmer mentality to city life.
For anyone to trademark or claim ownership of these terms is a joke. What's not a joke are those that have been harmed by these actions. There is a huge amount of information on facebook in support of organizations and entities who now have to grapple with finding lawyers to navigate trademark law so that they can freely sell their books, use their website, and advertise their services using these terms.
I'm happy to be part of this movement or urban homesteading and happy that these concepts have been catapulted into the limelight because of how much the press likes a cat fight. I hope that good common (commons! ) sense prevails and the Dervaes back down from the notion that they have any right to ownership of these terms. I hope that the people who have vilified them appreciate all the years of hard work that have gone into their 'Little Homestead in the City' and the thousands of people who have been inspired by their message. I hope that the idea of being more resourceful, practical, diy, and long range in thought, word and deed get planted into the hearts and minds of the common public because of the extra media generated by all this.
I recently gave a workshop to some very inspiring people in Lincoln Heights (www.hm157.com) and it made me keenly aware of how important this knowledge is. I won't let any silly notion of trademark stop me from being an urban homesteader or teaching others how to create their own urban homesteads! I'm happy to be part of this Homegrown Revolution Evolution! and not afraid of the law (mostly).
Thanks for reading..
mamabotanica's blog>
Their recent actions of sending polite letters to people who are using the terms 'urban homesteading' and 'urban homestead' asking them to stop using these terms is right out of the twilight zone. These letters had facebook pages removed (fb was concerned that anyone using these terms was in danger of violating the Dervaes trademark), and a whole host of other repercussions for the many fine people who use these terms to describe what they do.
I've used those terms a multitude of times to describe building soil, growing food, conserving water, seeking alternate sources of energy, raising livestock (for soil building, scrap eating, or food uses), and a host of other activities that bring a farmer mentality to city life.
For anyone to trademark or claim ownership of these terms is a joke. What's not a joke are those that have been harmed by these actions. There is a huge amount of information on facebook in support of organizations and entities who now have to grapple with finding lawyers to navigate trademark law so that they can freely sell their books, use their website, and advertise their services using these terms.
I'm happy to be part of this movement or urban homesteading and happy that these concepts have been catapulted into the limelight because of how much the press likes a cat fight. I hope that good common (commons! ) sense prevails and the Dervaes back down from the notion that they have any right to ownership of these terms. I hope that the people who have vilified them appreciate all the years of hard work that have gone into their 'Little Homestead in the City' and the thousands of people who have been inspired by their message. I hope that the idea of being more resourceful, practical, diy, and long range in thought, word and deed get planted into the hearts and minds of the common public because of the extra media generated by all this.
I recently gave a workshop to some very inspiring people in Lincoln Heights (www.hm157.com) and it made me keenly aware of how important this knowledge is. I won't let any silly notion of trademark stop me from being an urban homesteader or teaching others how to create their own urban homesteads! I'm happy to be part of this Homegrown Revolution Evolution! and not afraid of the law (mostly).
Thanks for reading..
Monday, February 21, 2011
"El gobierno es cómplice, no investiga, es sordo”
MÉXICO, DF, 21 de febrero (apro).- Sara Salazar, madre de Josefina Reyes, activista asesinada en febrero de 2010 en Ciudad Juárez, decidió hoy realizar un plantón fuera del Senado, en demanda de la presentación con vida de sus hijos Malena y Elías Reyes, y de su nuera, Luisa Ornelas, quienes fueron secuestrados en Chihuahua.
Por su parte, Marisela Reyes Salas, hermana de Josefina, se encuentra en huelga de hambre desde hace 11 días, ya empieza a padecer los estragos del ayuno. Presenta mareos y presión alta, pero aclaró que se mantendrá en la lucha “hasta que nos atiendan, escuchen y devuelvan a mis hermanos”.
En conferencia de prensa, Sara Salazar advirtió: “Mis hijos me pidieron que me quedara en casa, yo les digo que no, voy a salir a demandar que me devuelvan a mis hijos, quiero justicia, y no hay que tener miedo. El gobierno es cómplice, no investiga, es sordo”.
La senadora Rosario Ibarra, presidenta de la Comisión de Derechos Humanos, dijo que presentará ante el pleno un punto de acuerdo solicitando que “intervenga el Senado para que se resuelvan estos secuestros”.
Read it at Proceso.
Por su parte, Marisela Reyes Salas, hermana de Josefina, se encuentra en huelga de hambre desde hace 11 días, ya empieza a padecer los estragos del ayuno. Presenta mareos y presión alta, pero aclaró que se mantendrá en la lucha “hasta que nos atiendan, escuchen y devuelvan a mis hermanos”.
En conferencia de prensa, Sara Salazar advirtió: “Mis hijos me pidieron que me quedara en casa, yo les digo que no, voy a salir a demandar que me devuelvan a mis hijos, quiero justicia, y no hay que tener miedo. El gobierno es cómplice, no investiga, es sordo”.
La senadora Rosario Ibarra, presidenta de la Comisión de Derechos Humanos, dijo que presentará ante el pleno un punto de acuerdo solicitando que “intervenga el Senado para que se resuelvan estos secuestros”.
Read it at Proceso.
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