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Oakland parents and teachers sit in at Lakeview Elementary in protest of school closure

Compiled by the El Reportero’s staff

­A group of parents, teachers and community members commence a sit-in at Lakeview Elementary on Friday, in protest to the proposed closure of five elementary schools in Oakland.

Parents from the affected schools, and a variety of community members held a press conference regarding the sit-in and School closure.

This action, the culmination of a year long fight to stop the closure of five elementary schools, also marks the last official school day ever at Lakeview.

Parents from the affected schools, as well as community members involved in education spoke about far reaching impacts of school closure and cuts to education within the school system in Oakland.

The sit-in at Lakeview was held in solidarity with all parents and teachers struggling to demand quality public education, and marked the launch of the People’s School for Public Education—a free social justice summer camp.

Below is a message from the Libertarian Party: Rand Paul betrays his father’s principles, endorses Mitt Romney

– Why Ron Paul Supporters Need the Libertarian Party

— When Dr. Rand Paul ran for U.S. Senate in Kentucky, many of his fund-raising appeals were sent to the donors and supporters of his father, Congressman Ron Paul. They were designed to convince Ron’s supporters that the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. That Rand was, like his legendary father, a steadfast champion of liberty.

But no true libertarian, no true friend of liberty, and no true blue Tea Partier could possibly even consider, much less actually endorse or approve of, the Father of Obamacare, Big Government tax and spender, Republican Mitt Romney.

Especially the son of Ron Paul, who has no excuse.

Especially a medical doctor, who has even fewer excuses.

Earlier this year, Rand Paul showed his willingness to sell out his supporters when he called higher federal government spending a “spending cut” – Orwellian language used routinely by Big Government Democratic and Republican politicians.

Sorry, Senator Paul. An increase is an increase, whether it’s a big increase or a really, really big increase in federal government spending.

Rand Paul had a list of excuses for his endorsement of Mitt Romney for president. For example, he claims that Romney will support auditing the Federal Reserve, oppose SOPA legislation which impairs Internet freedom, allow construction of the Keystone Pipeline, and support the REINS Act which would require Congress to vote on major new regulations.

But as Sherlock Holmes would note, it’s the dog that didn’t bark that proves Rand Paul made a devil’s deal with Big Government Mitt Romney.

It’s what Rand Paul did not say that Mitt Romney will support that tells us what we really need to know.

He did NOT say that Mitt Romney would cut federal spending.

He did NOT say that Mitt Romney would never raise taxes.

He did NOT say that Mitt Romney would end Obamacare.

He did NOT say that Mitt Romney would bring the troops home from Afghanistan like Rand’s father has promised to do again and again.

Because a President Mitt Romney would NOT do those things.

Which is why Republican Mitt Romney is unfit to be president.

Vote Libertarian – the only political party that embraces the same core value as Dr. Ron Paul: Liberty!

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SF Latin Jazz icon to receive Bay Area 2012 “Jazz Her0” Award

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Compiled by the El Reportero’s staff

John CallowayJohn Calloway

Multi-instrumentalist, bandleader, composer and educator Dr. John Calloway will be honored in a special concert and tribute on June 20 when he receives a local “Jazz Hero” award from a national jazz writers organization.

This year’s “Jazz Hero” awards will be presented in conjunction with the 2012 Jazz Journalists Association’s Jazz Awards honoring significant achievements in jazz music and journalism.

“Jazz Heroes” are activists, advocates, altruists, aiders and abettors of jazz who have had significant impact in their local communities. Previous award winners include Bay Area jazz singer Ed Reed (2011), Jazzschool founder and director Susan Muscarella, record producer Orrin Keepnews, musician and educator Khalil Shaheed, guitarist Bruce Forman, educator Dr. Herb Wong, and publicist Terri Hinte.

Calloway will be feted June 20 in the second-floor Hall of Culture at the African American Cultural Arts Complex in San Francisco. The event, which runs from 6:30 until 8 pm, is free and open to the public, and will offer light appetizers, beverages and a musical performance by the Latin Jazz Youth Ensemble of San Francisco who Calloway is the musical director.

Bellydance & Live Music. Classical & Fusion

Menage 2012. Classical and fusion, an experimental night with live Arabic musicians and dancers juxtaposed with musicians and dancers of other genres. Produced by Rebecca Vasile and featuring some of the best dancers and musicians in the Bay Area. 8pm. $10 adv. $15 dr. Friday June 22. At La Peña.

Immigrant Voices Festival

La Peña Chorus celebrates LP’s 37th Birthday. The La Peña Community Chorus takes great pleasure in honoring La Peña Cultural Center’s 37 years of providing the community with arts, music, theater, and children’s programming, ­music and art classes, films, forums, cafés, street fairs, and progressive politics, not to mention its own resident community chorus! The Chorus has been a committed participant in La Peña’s storied existence for 34 years, so come help us celebrate the work of this vital Berkeley institution. 8pm. $15 adv. $20 dr. (Benefit concert for La Peña). La Peñas’s 37th Anniversary: The Celebration and Struggle of the Universal Immigrant Voice. Saturday June 23.

See the entire Festival at http://www.lapena.org/index.php. At La Peña Cultural Center, 3105 Shattuck Ave. Berkeley.

Festival on Aging at SFSU

The Legacy Film Festival on Aging and the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) at SF State University are proud to present a film series portraying the richness of later life.

The festival promises to inspire, educate and entertain intergenerational audiences on how to live well and enjoy life, despite life’s challenges. After each film there will be a Q and A and after the session on Saturday, there will be an interactive movement workshop, and all invited to participate.

The Festival will be presented on Friday – Sunday, July 6, 7 and 8 in the Coppola Theatre, in the Fine Arts Building. For a full schedule, and to purchase tickets go to ­http://legacyfilmfestivalonaging.org/film-schedule.php.

Rufino Tamayo exhibition continues

The Consulate General of Mexico in San Francisco and Bray/Herrman Fine Art are proud to present, The Magic Surrealists of Oaxaca, Mexico. Rufino Tamayo’s Legacy: Contemporary Zapotec Artists.

One of the greatest Mexican artists, created modern art that celebrated his Pre-Hispanic roots. He also left a legacy of indigenous artists influenced by him.

The exhibition hosts Rufino Tamayo’s art work juxtapox to the next generation of artists of Oaxaca. Open through out August 9, 2012, at the Consulate General of Mexico, 532 Folsom St., San Francisco.

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Benicio Del Toro to star as plains indian in Jimmy Picard

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by the El Reportero’s news services

Benicio Del ToroBenicio Del Toro

New father Benicio Del Toro is set to be playing the lead in director Arnaud Desplechin’s Jimmy Picard, according to Deadline.

Jimmy Picard is based on ethologist/psychologist Georges Devereux’s project titled Psychotherapy Of A Plains Indian, and follows the friendship between Devereux (Mathieu Amalric) and Picard as the French psychoanalyst attempts to help Picard work through physical and psychological turmoil.

Picard, a member of the Plains Indian Blackfoot nation, has returned from World War II and struggles with feelings of rootlessness, alcoholism, and severe neuroses. He meets Devereux at Winter Hospital in Topeka, Kansas. The 80 meetings the two men have lead to a friendship.

The film is being produced by Desplechin’s long-time partner Pascal Caucheteux and Jennifer Roth of Black Swan.

Before Jimmy Picard however, Del Toro can been seen in Oliver Stone’s alongside Taylor Kitsch, Blake Lively, John Travolta, and Salma Hayek.

Mexican Actor Carlos Cobos Dies, Age 52

Award-winning actor Carlos Cobos died Wednesday of complications from a cerebral hemorrhage, Mexico’s National Council for Culture and the Arts said. He was 52.

The veteran of stage and screen passed away less than two week after receiving the Ariel – the Mexican equivalent of the Oscar – for best supporting actor on the strength of his performance in the comedy Pastorela, which took best picture honors.

Cobos, who suffered the cerebral hemorrhage last month, was unable to attend the award ceremony.

­“Thank you for your genius, for your friendship, for so many hours of laughs,” the film’s director, Emilio Portes, wrote on Twitter after learning of Cobos’ death. “Good journey, brother.”

Cobos began his career at the end of the 1970s in independent theater and made his screen debut in 1986.

His films include Pachito Rex and The Legend of Zorro, starring Antonio Banderas and Catherine Zeta-Jones.

Only 1.2 % of books reviewed by NY Times are Hispanic authors

According to a study recently published in the online cultural magazine, ‘The Rumpus,’ close to 90 percent of books reviewed by the New York Times in 2011 were written by white writers. Writer Roxanne Gay led the study along with her research assistant finding that of the 742 books reviewed 655 were written by Caucasian writers. Only nine works were written by Hispanic authors. The numbers were also low among other racial backgrounds.

The statistics did not come as a surprise to British writer, Malorie Blackman. Her young adult series, Noughts and Crosses, reopened the topic of racism by making the majority race in her series black. She stated, “These statistics don’t surprise me. It’s not just about the books getting reviewed, but about the diversity of the authors actually getting published. The publishing industry needs to be more diverse.”

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Boxing

The Sport of Gentlemen

June 20 At Osaka, Japan­

Kazuto Ioka vs. Akira Yaegashi, 12, for Ioka’s WBC and WBA World minimumweight titles.

June 22 At Morongo Casino Resort, Cabazon, Calif.

(ESPN2), Kendall Holt vs. Josesito Lopez, 12, IBF junior welterweight eliminator.

June 23 At Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, Hollywood

Fla., Cornelius Bundrage vs. Cory Spinks, 12, for Bundrage’s IBF junior middleweight title.

At Sonora, Mexico

Hernan Marquez vs. Ardin Diale, 12, for Marquez’s WBA World flyweight title.

At Staples Center, Los Angeles

(SHO), Victor Ortiz vs. Josesito Lopez, 12, for the vacant WBC silver welterweight title;

Lucas Matthysse vs. Humberto Soto, 12, for the vcanat WBC continental americas super lightweight title.

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Mexico: Student-led movement upending election to AMLO’s benefit

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­by Louis E.V. Nevaer

New America Media News Analysis

Estudiantes miembros del movimento Yo Soy 132, marchan en México.Students members of movement Yo Soy 132, march in Mexico.

When Mexico held its first presidential debate on May 6, it was caricatured publicly as a contest between a “Pretty Boy” (Enrique Peña Nieto), a “Quinceañera Doll” (Josefina Vázquez) and a “Has Been” (Andres López Obrador).

At the time, Peña Nieto, of the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI), was the candidate to beat, leading both Vázquez, of the incumbent National Action Party (PAN), and López Obrador, of the Democratic Revolution Party (PRD), by more than double digits in opinion polls.

Of the three, López Obrador was considered the long shot, largely written off in Mexico’s mainstream media as a tired leftist stalwart. López Obrador was the old man, the sore loser – he lost the presidential election by a controversially slim margin in 2006 – and the candidate with a head full of socialist ideas that had long ago been discredited.

But today, with only three weeks of campaigning to go before Mexicans elect a new president, López Obrador – known in Mexico by his initials, AMLO – has moved into a statistical tie for first place with Peña Nieto. The political resurrection of AMLO has stunned observers, with the prospect of a leftist government being elected in Mexico now a real possibility.

The sudden ascendance of AMLO is the unintended consequence of a grassroots and mostly student-led protest and social media campaign that sprung up more than two weeks ago as a reaction to and condemnation of Mexico’s “old media” – the major television stations like Televisa and newspapers that have long represented Mexico’s elite – and their perceived role in pandering to the interests of the PRI.

After being booed off the stage by students at a university appearance two weeks ago, Peña Nieto did little to help his case when he belittled the uproar in the media, proclaiming it to be the product of “131 malcontent” students. That comment resulted in spontaneous street protests in Mexico City that utilized the slogan, “Yo Soy #132” (I Am #132), a catch phrase that quickly went viral on YouTube, Twitter and FaceBook.

“It was about time that Mexico woke up, that it stopped watching television,” Leonardo Mata, a student at Mexico City’s Metropolitan Autonomous University who participated in a rally that grew to almost 45,000 participants on May 24, told CNN Mexico.

The protester’s allegations of favorable coverage by the largest television network, Televisa, on behalf of the PRI’s Peña Nieto, were confirmed on June 7 when The Guardian published a budget and schedule of payments by the PRI to Televisa totaling more than $22 million USD.

The revelations created a major crisis for Peña Nieto and the PRI, with only three weeks left before Mexicans head to the polls. With The Guardian report, the Yo Soy #132 student movement was vindicated, and there is even some speculation that Peña Nieto may have to withdraw from the election. Rallies and demonstrations are being planned for this weekend and next week to force Peña Nieto to withdraw.

The student uprising, which has been called Mexico’s version of the “Arab Spring,” is actually something altogether different: Where the Middle East demonstrations sought to overthrowunpopular regimes from power, in Mexico they are designed to prevent a political party – the PRI – from re-gaining power. That’s quite a difference. Yet the important role of social media in each movement is undeniable. Students in Mexico took to social media to spread a simple message using Enrique Peña Nieto’s initials: “Este Pendejo No,” meaning “Not This Asshole.”

In other words, any other asshole would do. It was just the opening that AMLO needed. While Peña Nieto and the PRI have been paralyzed by the student uprising – Nieto recently withdrew from the third presidential debate scheduled for June 19 — AMLO’s campaign has seized on the opportunity. AMLO’s strategy has been two-fold. First, he proposed the creation of a “República Amorosa,” or “Loving Republic,” that would restore the moral values of Mexican society to solve the nation’s ills.

Presented as “AMLOVE,” the idea was to create a national conversation among business, religious leaders, and academics to find sustainable solutions to Mexico’s problems based on humanistic ideals.

Second, AMLO has focused his relentless criticism on the “state of insecurity” and “corruption” in Mexico, as a consequence of the War on Drugs. Playing to Mexican’s fatigue over the daily body count splattered on the front pages of newspapers and television news reports, AMLO has found tremendous resonance among a public that is exhausted by the emotional stress of the War on Drugs.

Indeed, Mexico, for the first time, is confronting the reality of a large number of people showing symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder, known as TEPT in Spanish. Since 2008,studies have documented TEPT in Mexican children as young as 8 years of age.

In Spain, the largest newspaper, El País, has hailed “the resurrection” of AMLO, and the most recent opinion polls by the Mexican newspaper Reforma put Peña Nieto at 38 percent, with AMLO at 34 percent, within the margin of error. This represents a surge of 10 percentage points in less than two weeks after the Yo Soy #132 student movements began.

AMLO’s rise has rattled Mexico’s business class, which fears he would follow through on his promises – or threats – of imposing a Venezuela-style economic program of nationalization ­and social engineering. AMLO has had to reassure the public he is not intent on pursuing a Hugo Chavez-style government in Mexico if elected.

None of this has been reassuring, and the students who are part of the Yo Soy #132 movement are not sure of what to make of the fact that their protests against the PRI’s Peña Nieto are paving the way for what has become the most highly-contested presidential election in a generation.

As recently as April, Mexicans were resigning themselves to the PRI’s return to power, but now all bets are off. Mexican students may get their wish – Not This Asshole (Peña Nieto) — after all, but it’s still not clear how Mexico will fare should AMLO ride the coattails of their uprising to the presidency.

 

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A magic from Mother Earth: the increidible cucumber

by New York Times Spotlight on the Home

This information was in The New York Times several weeks ago as part of their “Spotlight on the Home” series that highlighted creative and fanciful ways to solve common problems.

1. Cucumbers contain most of the vitamins you need every day, just one cucumber contains Vitamin B1, Vitamin B2, Vitamin B3, Vitamin B5, Vitamin B6, Folic Acid, Vitamin C, Calcium, Iron, Magnesium, Phosphorus, Potassium and Zinc.

2. Feeling tired in the afternoon, put down the caffeinated soda and pick up a cucumber. Cucumbers are a good source of B Vitamins and Carbohydrates that can provide that quick pick-me-up that can last for hours.

3. Tired of your bathroom mirror fogging up after a shower? Try rubbing ­a cucumber slice along the mirror, it will eliminate the fog and provide a soothing, spa-like fragrance.

4. Are grubs and slugs ruining your planting beds? Place a few slices in a small pie tin and your garden will be free of pests all season long. The chemicals in the cucumber react with the aluminium to give off a scent undetectable to humans but drive garden pests crazy and make them flee the area.

5. Looking for a fast and easy way to remove cellulite before going out or to the pool? Try rubbing a slice or two of cucumbers along your problem area for a few minutes, the phytochemicals in the cucumber cause the collagen in your skin to tighten, firming up the outer layer and reducing the visibility of cellulite. Works great on wrinkles too!!!

6. Want to avoid a hangover or terrible headache? Eat a few cucumber slices before going to bed and wake up refreshed and headache free. Cucumbers contain enough sugar, B vitamins and electrolytes to replenish essential nutrients the body lost, keeping everything in equilibrium, avoiding both a hangover and headache!!

7. Looking to fight off that afternoon or evening snacking binge? Cucumbers have been used for centuries and often used by European trappers, traders and explores  for quick meals to thwart off starvation.

8. Have an important meeting or job interview and you realize that you don’t have enough time to polish your shoes? Rub a freshly cut cucumber over the shoe, its chemicals will provide a quick and durable shine that not only looks great but also repels water.

9. Need to fix a squeaky hinge? Take a cucumber slice and rub it along the problematic hinge, and voila, the squeak is gone!

10. Stressed out and don’t have time for massage, facial or visit to the spa? Cut up an entire cucumber and place it in a boiling pot of water, the chemicals and nutrients from the cucumber with react with the boiling water and be released in the steam, creating a soothing, relaxing aroma that has been shown the reduce stress in new mothers and college students during final exams..

11. Just finish a business lunch and realize you don’t have gum or mints? Take a slice of cucumber and press it to the roof of your mouth with your tongue for 30 seconds to eliminate bad breath, the phytochemcials will kill the bacteria in your mouth responsible for causing bad breath.

12. Looking for a ‘green’ way to clean your faucets, sinks or stainless steel? Take a slice of cucumber and rub it on the surface you want to clean, not only will it remove years of tarnish and bring back the shine, but is won’t leave streaks and won’t harm you fingers or fingernails while you clean.

13. Using a pen and made a mistake? Take the outside of the cucumber and slowly use it to erase the pen writing, also works great on crayons and markers that the kids have used to decorate the walls!!

Pass this along to everybody you know who is looking for better and safer ways to solve life’s everyday problems.

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Argentinian president, Falklands capture interest at U.N.

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by the El Reportero’s news services

Cristina Fernández de KirchnerCristina Fernández de Kirchner

In the face of Argentina´s disapproval, the “Falklands”´ flag is waving at 10 Downing Street, official residence of British Prime Minister David Cameron, marking the thirtieth anniversary of the end of the war over the islands.

To commemorate the occasion, Cameron reiterated his commitment to continue British occupation of that South Atlantic territory and recalled the courage of the European soldiers who participated in the 1982 conflict over the archipelago, stolen from Argentina in 1833.

Likewise, despite considerable disapproval from the international community, the British secretary of state for Latin America, Jeremy Browne, attended celebrations for the 30th anniversary of the war that killed 649 Argentines and 255 Britons.

Meanwhile, before the full United Nations today, Argentina´s president, Cristina Fernandez, reaffirmed her country´s right to the islands, overwhelmingly supported for historical, geographic and political reasons, and backed by Latin America.

In that sense, the president expressed her deepest gratitude to the more than 70 countries supporting the Argentine claim over the Malvinas, (called “Falklands” in English) the South Sandwich Islands, South Georgia and surrounding maritime areas.

Fernandez took advantage of her visit to the UN´s Decolonization Committee, the first visit by a head of state, to ask London to comply with Resolution 2065, urging the two governments to open negotiations to resolve the issue of the islands´ sovereignty.

So far, Britain has rejected the chance to discuss the situation, to the point of violating over 40 UN resolutions, directed toward cordial dialogue and a diplomatic solution to the century-old conflict.

Two days ago, in a surge of tensions on both sides of the Atlantic, at London´s request, the local government of the Malvinas appealed to the principle of self-determination and called for a referendum vote in 2013 over the disputed political status of the archipelago. (Prensa Latina).

Correa gears up the military for public security role

Latin News reported that the government of President Rafael Correa has been gearing up the armed forces to act, ostensibly in support of the police, in public security tasks. Hundreds of military personnel have been undergoing special ‘military police’ training that includes anti-riot and anti-crime tactics.

This come as evidence emerges, writes Latin News, that Correa has been using a special presidential unit to infiltrate the civic organizations that have been protesting against mining and oil drilling projects, which he has denounced as part of a conspiracy to destabilize his government.

­Venezuela: World leader in proven oil reserves

Venezuela surpassed Saudi Arabia becoming the world´s new leader in proven oil reserves holding a figure equivalent to 296,500 million of barrels by the end of 2011, official sources informed on Thursday.

According to the Statistical Review of World Energy released by British Petroleum Company, Saudi Arabia´s figures were equivalent to 265,400 million barrels.

Caracas´ increase was of 85,300 million barrels regarding the 2010 figures, so Venezuela holds 18 percent of the total amount of reserves worldwide.

The BP review estimated that the world´s reserves reach 1,650,000,000 barrels with a 1.9 percent of growth in comparison to 2010.

Canada is in the third position of the countries with largest proven oil reserves with 175,200 million barrels (11 percent) and is followed by Russia with 88,200 million barrels.

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10 signs that the highways of America are being transformed into a high tech prison grid

by Michael Snyder
The American Dream

Once upon a time, the open highways of America were one of our greatest symbols of liberty and freedom. Anyone could hop in a car and set off for a new adventure at any time and even our music encouraged us to “get our kicks on route 66. But today everything has changed. Now the highways of America are being steadily transformed into a high tech prison grid.

All over the country, thousands upon thousands of surveillance cameras watch our highways and automated license plate readers are actually being used to track vehicle movements in some of our largest cities. Many state and local governments have come to view our highways as money machines and our control freak politicians have established a vast network of toll booths, red light cameras and speed traps to keep cash endlessly pouring in. If all of that wasn’t enough, TSA “VIPR teams” are now hitting the interstates and conducting thousands of “unannounced security screenings” each year. Driving on the highways of America used to be a great joy, but now “Big Brother” is rapidly sucking all of the fun out of it.

Eventually, it may get to the point where Americans simply dread having to go out on the highway.

The following are 10 signs that the highways of America are being transformed into a high tech prison grid.

#1 Surveillance Cameras

All over the United States, a vast network of surveillance cameras is carefully watching our highways. The following is an excerpt from a recent article in the Baltimore Sun http://www.baltimoresun.com/topic/services-shopping/dp-nws-public-camera-surveillance-20120520,0,3815887.story about this phenomenon.

The room is large and well lit, and it buzzes with activity even though its occupants remain seated.

The video screen at the front of the room is as wide as an IMAX, though not quite as tall. It consists of 64 smaller screens – 16 columns of four apiece – that monitor every inch of interstate between Great Wolf Lodge and the Virginia Beach Oceanfront. There is an emphasis on tunnels and bridges, and one corner screen is tuned in to a 24-hour weather report.

If you are driving on an highway in Hampton Roads, VDOT is watching you.

#2 Automated License Plate Readers

In a previous article, http://endoftheamericandream.com/archives/rise-of-the-beast-system-11-ways-that-amerika-is-becoming-more-like-north-korea. I detailed how automated license plate readers are being used to track the movements of every single vehicle that enters Washington D.C.

A recent Washington Post article http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/license-plate-readers-a-useful-tool-for-police-comes-with-privacy-concerns/2011/11/18/gIQAuEApcN_story.html explained that most people do not even know that they are there.

More than 250 cameras in the District and its suburbs scan license plates in real time, helping police pinpoint stolen cars and fleeing killers. But the program quietly has expanded beyond what anyone had imagined even a few years ago.

With virtually no public debate, police agencies have begun storing the information from the cameras, building databases that document the travels of millions of vehicles.

Nowhere is that more prevalent than in the District, which has more than one plate-reader per square mile, the highest concentration in the nation. Police in the Washington suburbs have dozens of them as well, and local agencies plan to add many more in coming months, creating a comprehensive dragnet that will include all the approaches into the District.

A lot of police cruisers are being outfitted with this technology around the nation as well.

So if you see a police car pull up behind you, there is a very good chance that a computer has already read your license plate and is giving the officer all of your information.

#3 Ridiculous Regulations

Some of the new “auto safety laws” going in around the nation are absolutely absurd.

For example, do you buckle up your pet when you go for a ride?

Well, in New Jersey you can now be fined up to $1000 http://philadelphia.cbslocal.com/2012/06/02/new-fines-in-place-for-cats-and-dogs-that-dont-buckle-up-in-new-jersey/ for not having your pet properly restrained while you are out driving.

#4 Outrageous Fines

In many areas of the country, unpaid traffic tickets can rapidly become a major financial burden.

For example, the new tolls on the 520 floating bridges in Seattle are absolutely killing http://www.king5.com/home/520-toll-late-penalty-fight-153604065.html some commuters.

Registered vehicle owners who do not pay their toll within 80 days or more will be mailed a $40 civil penalty for each unpaid toll transaction in addition to a $5 reprocessing fee.

WSDOT confirmed some tolls plus penalty fees have added up to more than $1,000.

#5 Oppressive Toll Roads

Toll roads have become one of the favorites “revenue raising tools” for our politicians.

At this point the tolls on some roads have become so incredibly oppressive that many people simply cannot afford to drive on them anymore.

And for some reason the toll increases are coming especially fast and furious this year.

A recent USA Today article http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/story/2011-10-10/toll-road-bridge-tunnel-us/50722352/1 summarized some of the oppressive toll increases that we are seeing all over the nation.

•California and Washington authorized high-occupancy toll (HOT) lanes, where tolls rise or fall depending on traffic flow. Texas enacted laws authorizing private toll roads and allowing regional authorities to collect tolls. Indiana removed a provision requiring legislative approval for toll roads.

•Some Maryland tolls will double this year as the state seeks money to rehabilitate aging roads, bridges and tunnels.

The use of tolls on interstate highways also is spreading:

•Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell, a Republican, just won approval from the Federal Highway Administration to add tolls on Interstate 95 in his state. The state estimates that tolls on the heavily traveled corridor could generate $250 million over the first five years for 1expanding, improving and maintaining the highway.

­•New York and New Jersey recently announced that E-ZPass commuters will pay $1.50 more and cash customers $2 more to cross bridges and tunnels between the two states.

•Georgia just created toll lanes on Interstate 85 in suburban Atlanta. The toll hikes are more than chump change: Cash tolls on the Chesapeake Bay Bridge jumped to $4 from $2.50, and to $12 from $8 on all the New York-New Jersey Hudson River crossings.

Toll roads are one of my pet peeves. Any time I see a tollbooth it immediately puts me in a bad mood.

#6 Red Light Cameras

Red light cameras are another favorite “revenue raising tool” for the control freaks that run things.

Unfortunately, these cameras don’t always work right so a lot of innocent people end up getting ticketed.

But politicians love them because they can raise a lot of cash. The following is from a recent Business Insider article http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/story/2011-10-10/toll-road-bridge-tunnel-us/50722352/1.

This article was cut to fit space. The complete article will be publish in www.elreporteroSF.com next week.

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Martial Law, War World I and the Great Depression

Marvin J. RamirezMarvin J. Ramirez

FROM THE EDITOR: I hope you all are enjoying this article, which was divided in several parts due to its length. This one, written by Gary Hunt in May 24, 1994, is an example of how much information is out there that most of us – purposely – was never thought in our school system or presented by any mainstream media. El Reportero takes pride in sharing it with our readers, and hope you learn a little bit of history from it.

Martial law, War World I and the Great Depression

by Gary Hunt
Part 3

Let me repeat this as, it has read since 1933: “During time of war or any other period of national emergency declared by the President, the President may, through any agency that he may designate, or otherwise, investigate, regulate, or prohibit, under such rules and regulations as he may prescribe, by means of licenses or otherwise, any transactions in foreign exchange, transfers of credit between or payments by banking institutions as defined by the President, and export, hoarding, melting, or earmarkings of gold or silver coin or bullion or currency by any person within the United States or any place subject to the jurisdiction thereof; and the President may require any person engaged in any transaction referred to in this subdivision to furnish under oath, complete information relative thereto, including the production of any books of account, contracts, letters or other papers in connection therewith in the custody or control of .such person, either before or after such transaction is completed “ Interestingly, it appears that all reference to “enemy” is deleted, and the law now acts on “any person within the United States or any place subject to the jurisdiction thereof” Have WE become the ENEMY? Note, also, that if the President were to issue a “license”, the trading would be condoned. Have we been given a “license” to conduct our everyday activities of commerce?

Many businesses, along with driving, hunting, fishing, etc., have become “licensed” activities. I leave to you to find the correlation.

The question might arise as to whether Roosevelt thought this out by himself The answer is a resounding NO! In a letter and recommended Resolution that Herbert Hoover received from Eugene Meyers, Governor of the Federal Reserve Board, dated March 3, 1933, we find the exact wording incorporated in the Act.” This “advice” was finally followed by Roosevelt just a few days later, just after he was sworn in to office.

It is even more interesting to understand just what happened to all of the gold, at this point. Remember, this was predicated on the fact that the Federal Reserve Banks were unable to pay out the gold for which “certificates” had been issued. But, what happened to the gold? In “The Hoover Policies”,” in discussing the affects of the New Deal, “This first contact of the “money changers” with the New Deal turned those who removed their money from the country a profit of up to 60 per cent when the dollar w as debased [gold was $20 per ounce before, and $32 per ounce after the banking act].” It appears, then, that those “in the know” were able to “remit” their “gold certificates” for gold prior to these Acts. The result was the reduction of assets in the banks to repair those with money on account and the transfer of the real “money”, gold, to those who fled the country to profit from the misfortune of most of working America, throwing these working people into a dependency on government that resulted, in 1934, in the establishment of the Social Security Act, the beginning of “The New Deal” and the beginning of the demise of the “Great Experiment.”

Let’s check the validity of what we have just said. From the Congressional Record [March 9, 1933, page 79, by Steagall], “Section 2 confers upon the President the powers bestowed under the act of October 6, 1917, regardless of whether or not the county is involved in war.” Later, in that same document [page 82] Mr. McGugin says, “Anyone knows that this Government cannot now collect enough taxes to meet their expenses . . . there is only one thing left for them, and that is to print money. “ In a report “Contracts payable in Gold” [Senate Report, Document No. 43, April 17, 1933, Page 9], we ­read the following statement, “The ultimate ownership of all property is in the State; individual so-called “ownership” is only by virtue of Government, i. e., law, amounting to mere user; and use must be in accordance with law and subordinate to the necessities of the State.”

Well, this appears to be consistent with much that we have learned lately, we own NOTHING, not even our children. To bad they didn’t teach this lesson in “government school” history class, after all, this is an official government document, and is obviously what government believes to be true – do you wonder whatever happened to what used to be called a “freeman”?

Let’s go a bit further on this thread — the United States Supreme Court said, in United States v. Russell [13 Wall, 623, 627] “Private property, the Constitution provides, shall not be taken for public use without just compensation. . . . Extraordinary and unforeseen occasions arise, however;… in cases of extreme necessity, in time of war or immediate and impending public danger, in which private property may be impressed into public service, or may be seized or appropriated to the public use, or may even be destroyed without the consent of the owner. . . .”

It appears that it had taken the Money Merchants just twenty short years to evolve from their first introduction, along with the 16th and 17th amendments, of the Federal Reserve Bank, into the history of the United States, to a position whereby their “currency” (fiat money) was made the “coin of the realm.”

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I am 132: Breaking the information blockade

P. Jorge Atilano González Candia sj
(Jesuit priest)

The protests of IBERO students in the presence of Peña Nieto has resulted in a student movement that aims to break the information blockade established by the major television networks and newspapers of the Mexican Publishing Organization (OEM). They seek to inform the public about the existing bias in the nation’s media and to raise awareness of the corruption that dwells in the current political system.

They demand to democratize the media in order to have an informed citizenry on national issues and the various national projects offered by the candidates. What happened on Friday, May 11th in IBERO? The awkwardness of Peña Nieto and his campaign team degenerated into a dissatisfaction of the students that revealed that there is no such renewal of the PRI sold by the media. That day the old practices of the PRI were highlighted: carrying, vote buying, authoritarianism, incompetence, manipulation of the information, control of the media, etc. The red tide that had been gaining ground since the 2009 federal election ran into a critical and intolerant of deception citizenry.

According to IBERO students, five events upset them before Peña Nieto’s arrival at the Good Citizen Forum:

1) the arrival of students from outside the university carrying Peña Nieto’s propaganda, who entered the auditorium and occupied the first rows,

2) the candidate’s safety guards were placed at the entrance of the auditorium to remove the signs carried by the youth,

3) the presence of a man in a black suit offering 250 pesos for not asking critical questions to the candidate,

4) the photos that the presidential staff took to whoever shouted or carried any slogans, and

5) the presence of a PRI leader who coordinated the followers of Peña Nieto to make invisible the protests.

In Peña Nieto’s presentation the students discovered a proud man, who even said “nothing happens if I don’t convince you”, a candidate who answered questions superficially, and using prefabricated speeches.

But the straw that broke the camel were his statements about Atenco at the end of the Forum, where Peña Nieto takes responsibility for the human rights violations that occurred in this event: two deaths (Alexis Benhumea and Javier Cortez Santiago), 253 people brutally arrested and 47 women raped by the police of the State of Mexico.

This sparked outrage among the youth, which was expressed with the cry Out! IBERO doesn’t want you! Atenco is not forgotten! To the point that he suspended an interview with Radio IBERO and left the university in an emergency.

The leader of the Green Party and the Institutional Revolutionary Party advanced the interpretation of the facts by saying four things: it was a small group, they were not IBERO students, they were ­Lopez Obrador’s followers and it was necessary to research them in order to punish them. This generated even more outrage among IBERO students and they manage to put together a video in the social networks to refute the accusations: 131 students responded.

The publication of the story with the headline “ Peña Nieto’s success in IBERO despite orchestrated boycott attempt” in the largest newspaper chain in the country (OEM) generated more outrage among the students who followed these events. This fact revealed the control of the media in the country and showed the practices of the PRI over the last century. Today, thanks to electronic networks this manipulation was unveiled and it unleashed popular anger at a PRI that is not wanted in office.

The screams Out! IBERO doesn’t want you! echoed in the hearts of many citizens who know that the country is being destroyed by corruption and hunger for power. These screams were connected with the desire for justice, the desire for freedom, the desire to restore peace in the country.

The sympathies awakened have been a catalyst for the dissatisfaction with traditional politics that ends up benefiting only a few. Out the hunger for power, out the deceiving image, out the pride that doesn’t listen.

The movement “I am 132” can be used as an opportunity to sow in the young the desire for a new way of doing politics. Beyond electoral contests, the spark that has lit is a good opportunity to coordinate efforts and create networks to conspire in favor of a wounded nation. The situation of the country needs politicians determined to make the cultural changes that reverse the spiral of violence in which we have sunk. We need to look into the past to recover the wisdom of our indigenous people and to look forward to imagine the Mexico that our heart claims. The great task of politics is to rebuild the social fabric, and thus the energy and creativity of young people have much to contribute.

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