District 42 City Council Member Charles Barron speaks with his guests, 40th District Assemblywoman Inez Barron, his Chief of Staff Nayo Simmons, Council Staff Member Lamont Carolina about impressions of the Middle East after their recent trip to Gaza as well as the shift in mayoral control of New York City's educational system.

From: nada kassass

Is Israel guilty of piracy? Watch the video and decide for yourself how many international and maritime laws Israel has broken. The Israeli navy hijacked the Spirit of Humanity in international waters. The Israeli government hijacks Palestinian fishing boats, in Palestinian territorial waters, kidnaps the fishermen, and sends its military out to shoot to wound and kill them as they struggle to make a living. After watching this video, you will be convinced that Israel has committed acts of piracy against Palestinians and against internationals. No other country would be allowed to do what Israel does on a daily basis. The International Solidarity Movement (ISM) volunteers were accompanying fishermen to document attacks on them by the Israeli Navy, and to provide a deterrence to these attacks. www.palsolidarity.org
For more information and current reports about Gaza fishermen:

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from: William Hughes

On Thursday, July 30, 2009, advocates for a Single Payer Healthcare system (Medicare Expanded for All) stormed Capitol HIll, in Washington, D.C. This date marks the 44th birthday of the Medicare program. Taxis circled Capitol Hill with “Single Payer” signs hanging from their windows; cup cakes and birthday cards were delivered by activists to each Congressional office; and rousing speech making took place at the Upper Senate Park, just south of the U.S. Capitol. Appearing on stage were members of the Code Pink organization, one of this country’s finest activist groups. It has been in the vanguard in the struggle against the illegal and immoral Iraq War and in exposing the serial excesses of the Bush-Cheney Gang. The Code Pink contingent was led by its cofounder, Medea Benjamin. The Code Pink activists shouted out: “Healthcare, Not Warfare!” They were introduced by activist, Donna Smith. See: http://www.codepinkalert.org/
For background on Single Payer, see: http://www.healthcare-now.org and
http://singlepayeraction.org and http://md.pnhp.org and
http://www.prosperityagenda.us/ In the House of Representatives, Single Payer advocates are pushing HR 676; and in the U.S. Senate--S 703.

from: William Hughes

On Thursday, July 30, 2009, activists for a Single Payer Healthcare system (Medicare Expanded for All) stormed Capitol HIll, in Washington, D.C. This date marks the 44th birthday of the Medicare program. Taxis circled Capitol Hill with “Single Payer” signs hanging from their windows; cup cakes and birthday cards were delivered by activists to each Congressional office; and rousing speech making took place at the Upper Senate Park, just south of the U.S. Capitol.
On this video, you will hear from some of the advocates at the spirited event, who endorse the Single Payer cause. Some spoke from the podium, others chatted with me before the rally. They are: Mikuak Rai, Kevin Zeese, Tim Carpenter, Pauli Miller, Dr. Carol A. Paris, Dr. Harvey Fernback, Dr. Margaret Flowers and Ms. Frankie Hughes.
For background on Single Payer, see: http://www.healthcare-now.org and
http://singlepayeraction.org and http://md.pnhp.org and
http://www.prosperityagenda.us/ In the House of Representatives, Single Payer advocates are pushing HR 676; and in the U.S. Senate--S 703.

from: William Hughes

On Thursday, July 30, 2009, advocates for a Single Payer Healthcare system (Medicare Expanded for All) stormed Capitol HIll, in Washington, D.C. This date marks the 44th birthday of the Medicare program. Taxis circled Capitol Hill with “Single Payer” signs hanging from their windows; cup cakes and birthday cards were delivered by activists to each Congressional office; and rousing speech making took place at the Upper Senate Park, just south of the U.S. Capitol.
For background on Single Payer, see: http://www.healthcare-now.org and
http://singlepayeraction.org and http://md.pnhp.org and
http://www.prosperityagenda.us/ In the House of Representatives, Single Payer advocates are pushing HR 676; and in the U.S. Senate--S 703.

from: William Hughes

On Thursday, July 30, 2009, advocates for a Single Payer Healthcare system (Medicare Expanded for All) stormed Capitol HIll, in Washington, D.C. This date marks the 44th birthday of the Medicare program. Taxis circled Capitol Hill with “Single Payer” signs hanging from their windows; cup cakes and birthday cards were delivered by activists to each Congressional office; and rousing speech making took place at the Upper Senate Park, just south of the U.S. Capitol.
One of the speakers at the rally was Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT), the architect of S 703. For background on Single Payer, see: http://www.healthcare-now.org and
http://singlepayeraction.org and http://md.pnhp.org and
http://www.prosperityagenda.us/ In the House of Representatives, Single Payer advocates are pushing HR 676; and in the U.S. Senate--S 703.

from: William Hughes

On Thursday, July 30, 2009, advocates for a Single Payer Healthcare system (Medicare Expanded for All) stormed Capitol HIll, in Washington, D.C. This date marks the 44th birthday of the Medicare program. Taxis circled Capitol Hill with “Single Payer” signs hanging from their windows; cup cakes and birthday cards were delivered by activists to each Congressional office; and rousing speech making took place at the Upper Senate Park, just south of the U.S. Capitol. One of the speakers at the rally was Dr. David L. Scheiner of Chicago. He was President Barack Obama’s personal physician for 22 years before he took office. Dr. Scheiner took strong exception to the President’s current healthcare reform proposal. The doctor also endorsed the Single Player system as embodied in HR 676.
For background on Single Payer, see: http://www.healthcare-now.org and
http://singlepayeraction.org and http://md.pnhp.org and
http://www.prosperityagenda.us/ In the House of Representatives, Single Payer advocates are pushing HR 676; and in the U.S. Senate--S 703.

from: William Hughes

On Thursday, July 30, 2009, advocates for a Single Payer Healthcare system (Medicare Expanded for All) stormed Capitol HIll, in Washington, D.C. This date marks the 44th birthday of the Medicare program. Taxis circled Capitol Hill with “Single Payer” signs hanging from their windows; cup cakes and birthday cards were delivered by activists to each Congressional office; and rousing speech making took place at the Upper Senate Park, just south of the U.S. Capitol. Before the rally began, I chatted with Rep. John Conyers, Jr. (D-MI), the architect of HR 676. He is also the chair of the House Judiciary Committee.
For background on Single Payer, see: http://www.healthcare-now.org and
http://singlepayeraction.org and http://md.pnhp.org and
http://www.prosperityagenda.us/ In the House of Representatives, Single Payer advocates are pushing HR 676; and in the U.S. Senate--S 703.

Rest of South America has reason to be alarmed by future US military presence on Colombian bases. With the hemisphere fixated on the coup d'etat in Honduras, the Colombian military announced it would be opening up some of its military bases to be shared with the US military. This caused immediate condemnation from the leadership of Colombia's neighbors, Ecuador and Venezuela. Forrest Hylton, expert on Colombian affairs, believes that the two countries are justified in their reservations about the move, given the potential the base offers and the recent history of US surveillance activity in the region. On the other end, Hylton points out some discomforting activities in the Colombian military, an institution that is the fifth largest recipient of US military aid. With the US now seeking even deeper ties with that same military, Hylton concludes that "Colombia's increasing violations of human rights in its pursuit of counter-insurgency, doesn't seem to have any impact on the flow of US aid." therealnews.com