from: William Hughes

Raymond McCord, Sr. is one determined Ulsterman! On Oct. 22, 2009, he got a chance, on Capitol Hill, in Washington, D.C., to tell a House Subcommittee his story about his long struggle to bring the killers of his son, Raymond McCord, Jr., to justice. Mr. McCord claims his boy, age 22, was viciously murdered by individuals, in 1997, in North Belfast, who were members of the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF). They were also government agents and “police informers,” according to Mr. McCord. As a result, he further alleges that the case “is not about police corruption. It is about police and state collusion with murder.” The hearing was held by the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, Subcommittee on International Organizations, Human Rights and Oversight, in the Rayburn Office Building. It was chaired by Rep. Bill Delahunt (D-MA). I chatted with Mr. McCord after he finished his testimony, along with Father Sean McManus, one of Mr. McCord’s strongest supporters in the U.S. He’s the President of the Irish National Caucus, a D.C.-based lobbying group. See for background: http://www.hcfa.house.gov/hearing_notice.asp?id=1122 and http://www.rte.ie/news/2007/0122/mccordr.html and
http://www.irishecho.com/newspaper/story.cfm?id=19305

http://gilad.squarespace.com/gilad-with-strings/

Gilad Atzmon’s acclaimed Orient House Ensemble and the Sigamos String Quartet on the road with their new project. This features interpretations of Charlie Parker’s legendary strings recording, as well as new works by Gilad. The combination of Atzmon’s unparalleled bebop virtuosity with stunning strings arrangements promises to create a special performance. The project is a product of a growing collaboration between Gilad Atzmon and Ros Stephen. Back in 2006 Gilad joined Ros’ Tango Siempre for two tours and an album project. They then decided to join forces and to bring 'Bird with Strings' to live. http://gilad.squarespace.com/gilad-with-strings/

from: William Hughes

On Thursday morning, Oct. 15, 2009, in down town Washington, D.C., in a steady rain, about 15 supporters of single payer, Medicare for All solution to our healthcare crisis engaged in a “sit-in” outside a building which houses an office/pr branch of the insurance giant, WellPoint. The demonstration was part of an ongoing and growing national campaign by the “Mobilization for Health Care for All” group. The police chose not to make any arrests, although the protesters were clearly blocking one of the main entrances to the office building. The activists were demanding “real healthcare reform” that puts the needs of the patients before corporate profits, and also that is not scripted by the powerful insurance companies. The CEO of WellPoint, Angela Braly, for example, hauled in $8.7 million in compensation in 2008! For more information, check out: http://mobilizeforhealthcare.org/ | http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cxtN19Ug8ew

from: William Hughes

Activists demonstrated, in a steady rain, in Washington, D.C., on Oct. 15, 2009, at the office/PR branch of the insurance giant, WellPoint. It is located only blocks from the White House. This slideshow represents some of the sights and scenes from that spirited demonstration that demanded genuine healthcare reform in this country. See related videos of the protest, at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cxtN19Ug8ew and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gPYuWqHv9TM For more information on the Single Payer Healthcare issue and on the organizers of the event and its ongoing national campaign, check out: http://mobilizeforhealthcare.org/

from: William Hughes

Activists demonstrated, in a steady rain, in Washington, D.C., on Oct. 15, 2009, at the office/PR branch of the insurance giant, WellPoint. It is located only blocks from the White House. The demonstration was part of a growing national campaign by the “Mobilization for Health Care for All” group. The activists were demanding “real healthcare reform” that puts the needs of the patients before corporate profits, and also that is not scripted by the powerful insurance companies. For more information, check out: mobilizeforhealthcare.org See also related video of that protest action, at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cxtN19Ug8ew

from Morris

Muhamed a Gazan journalist tells us what life in Gaza is like. He is jolly and articulate. Descriptive images and footage accompany his talk.

http://www.pmptv.tv

The trials and tribulations: Skype didn't work, Yahoo and Messenger didn't work. Phone calls could not get through. The electricity in Gaza went down. YouTube failed on two uploads.

Finally made a lower resolution quality in order to upload successfully.
http://www.youtube.com:80/watch?v=TV077SgyHyE

from: William Hughes

On February 11, 2008, then U.S. Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) made a campaign stop at College Park, MD. This was the day before the Democratic presidential primary in Maryland. At this event, Sen. Obama promised a cheering audience at the Comcast Center: “I will bring this [Iraq] war to a close. In 2009, I will bring our troops home. It is time for the Iraqis to stand up and stabilize their country. We cannot have a permanent occupation in Iraq...We are going to close Guantanamo and restore Habeas Corpus...No more FEMA Justice...We are going to have...a Justice Department that believes in Justice. And, you will elect a president who has taught the Constitution, and believes in the Constitution and will obey the Constitution of the United States of America.” For background on the Feb. 11, 2008 rally, check out: http://baltimore.indymedia.org/newswire/display/16834/index.php For how President Obama has waffled, dodged and/or broken many of his campaign promises, see: Author/Activist David Swanson’s commentary, “Not What Obama Promised,” at: http://www.opednews.com/articles/Not-What-Obama-Promised-by-David-Swanson-090720-253.html and http://open.salon.com/blog/behind_blue_eyes/2009/05/22/obama_proposes_indefinite_preventive_detention_without_trial and
http://www.salon.com/opinion/greenwald/2009/04/11/bagram/ and http://irregulartimes.com/index.php/archives/2009/05/15/obama-reinstates-bush-kangaroo-courts/ and
http://news.antiwar.com/2009/09/15/obama-seeks-patriot-act-extensions/

from: William Hughes

Ralph Nader is an American original! He’s activist, a courageous gadfly, a former presidential candidate, a champion of social justice and a best selling author. His latest book is: “Only the Super-Rich Can Save Us!” On the evening of Oct. 8, 2009, he spoke at the popular restaurant/bookstore “Busboys & Poets,” in Washington, D.C. Nader, during the Q&A period, said that the late, great President Franklin D. Roosevelt had a “fighting personality,” unlike President Barack Obama, who has an “excessively concessionary personality.” Nader added that he sees Obama as being “not wanting to take on the power structure.” He spoke before a SRO audience. For background on his tome, watch this video: http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=liamh2#p/u/11/wdZZuniQno8

From Morris

His articulateness reveals him as one of the leading thinkers within the Occupation - Indeed he was released from prison only because of a public outcry

This is the fourth in a series of five Khalid Amayreh videos:

1. Khalid Amayreh: Goldstone report, the PA and Abbas: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2b8jwTeBBaw
2. Khalid Amayreh: One state or endless conflict: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z7rqJQm8PDk
3. Khalid Amayreh introduces himself and the West Bank: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yvd563ZfcYI

This is one of five videos of Khalid Amayreh, an American educated journalist living in the West Bank, Khalid Amayreh: Goldstone report, the PA and Abbas