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Ian Wilder: ianwilder7@gmail.com<
You can also find us at:
facebook.com/iswilder
twitter.com/wilderside
Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire: The Ultimate Fan Guide [Kindle] $0.99.
I
Georgiana is the subject of the movie "The Duchess" (currently on Netflix) and a relative of the young Prince and Princess of Cambridge. Get the Ultimate Fan Guide -- with plot points, history, and what happened to the historical characters -- for only 99 cents!
Green Party Peace Sign Bumper Sticker
The Green Party has continually opposed entry into war and has consistently called for the immediate return of our troops, in stark contrast to the Democratic and Republican parties.
Today we march, tomorrow we vote Green Party.
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Reflections on Occupy Wall Street, with photos, fun, and good wishes for the future. eBook, Occupy Wall Street: What Just Happened? (Only $.99 !) In the eBook, the Occupy movement is explored through original reporting, photographs, cartoons, poetry, essays, and reviews.The collection of essays and blog posts records the unfolding of Occupy into the culture from September 2011 to the present. Authors Kimberly Wilder and Ian Wilder were early supporters of Occupy, using their internet platforms to communicate the changes being created by the American Autumn.
The eBook is currently available on Amazon for Kindle; Barnes & Noble Nook ; Smashwords independent eBook seller; and a Kobo for 99 cents and anyone can read it using their Kindle/Nook Reader, smart phone, or computer.
KW: Received the poster and the message below in my e-mail as part of an action alert from MAPA:
May 21, 2010
Greetings!
National Day of Action in Arizona! Read more »
Filed under: Action Alert!, activism, immigration, News, politics, progressive politics, US Politics | Tagged: Arizona, Arizona Law, Demonstration, Human Rights, immigration march, Phoenix March, SB1070 | Leave a Comment »
Rich Whitney
Green Party gubernatorial candidate Rich Whitney will begin day three of his 654 mile with a 9 am breakfast at the world famous Stockholm Inn in Rockford. The day will continue with the candidate cycling to Sycamore and then South Elgin. The day will conclude with a fundraiser and meet and greet at Booker’s Pub in South Elgin at 6 pm.
The Sustainable Transportation Tour is a 9 day, 654 mile event in which Whitney will travel the state of Illinois using a bicycle and public transportation. He is using this as an opportunity to illustrate and discuss his proposed Green Capital Bill. For a complete itinerary of the tour, please visit here.
May 22nd Itinerary
9:00 AM Breakfast-Stockholm Inn-2420 Charles St., Rockford, IL.
10:30 AM- 1:30 PM Ride to Sycamore- 33 miles
2650 Bridge Ln., Woodstock, IL.
1:30 PM -2:15 PM Lunch-PJ Courthouse Tavern &Grille
202 W. State St., Sycamore, IL.
2:15-5PM Ride to South Elgin- Joined by Dan Kairas
6 PM Fundraiser/Meet and Greet-Booker’s Pub & Grill
420 N. McLean, South Elgin, IL.
Filed under: 3rd party, election, Election 2010, grassroots democracy, Green Party, News | Tagged: Illinois, rich whitney | Leave a Comment »
Green Party leaders responded today to the Dalai Lama’s statement on Thursday that the US has no Green Party, but he would join if one were started. “We’d be thrilled to welcome the Dalai Lama as an honorary member of the Green Party,” said Farheen Hakeem, co-chair of the Green Party of the United States. Speaking in Radio City Music Hall in New York City on Thursday, May 20, the Dalai Lama said, “America still, no Green Party. But, actually you should start one. Then, I may join.” [In the video above the Dalai Lama made a similar comment in 2008.]
We’re honored that the Dalai Lama said he’d be willing to join us. In the context of his speech at Radio City, he clearly recognized that the Green Party is the party of nonviolence, ecology, human rights and freedoms, and basic values of social justice and economic fairness. These values include democracy and self-determination for people around the world, including Tibetans.
The Dalai Lama apparently doesn’t know that we have a growing Green Party here in the United States. And perhaps for some good reasons, such as the media’s tendency to limit political coverage to the narrow choice between Democrat and Republican. Or because of the prohibitive and antidemocratic ballot access rules enacted in many states to hinder third parties and third party candidates. Read more »
Filed under: grassroots democracy, Green Party, News, Spiritual Study | Tagged: Dalai Lama | Leave a Comment »
A federal judge today issued an extraordinary order barring enforcement of an Oyster Bay ordinance that violates day laborers’ core constitutional right to free speech. As a result of the order, day laborers whose livelihoods were threatened because of the ordinance can exercise their First Amendment rights and go back to work immediately without being ticketed or fined.
“This ruling is a great victory for the First Amendment and for the day laborers who can now go back to work and support their families,” said Samantha Fredrickson, director of the New York Civil Liberties Union’s Nassau County Chapter.
The ruling follows a lawsuit filed on May 18 on behalf of Centro de la Comunidad Hispana de Locust Valley and the Workplace Project by the NYCLU, American Civil Liberties Union and LatinoJustice PRLDEF. It challenges an ordinance enacted in September 2009 that prohibits standing on the sidewalk to solicit employment and bars motorists from stopping to solicit employment or hire workers. The Oyster Bay law, enacted in September 2009 purportedly to address traffic and pedestrian safety, criminalizes a wide variety of constitutionally protected speech that presents no threat to traffic safety, including, for example, students soliciting cars for a high school carwash fundraiser. Read more »
Filed under: Action Alert!, activism, immigration, local, long island, Long Island Politics, New York State Politics, News, social & economic justice | Leave a Comment »
Says Democrats’ and Republicans’ Support for Charter Schools Benefits Their Campaign Contributors, Not Children’s Education
Howie Hawkins, the Green Party nominee for Governor of New York State, said today that he opposed increasing the cap on the number of charter schools in New York.
“The Democrats and Republicans are using the budget crisis to push charter schools on behalf of their campaign contributors in Wall Street banks and hedge funds who see profit opportunities in capturing public revenue streams. We should be taxing these wealthy interests at higher rates to fund public education rather than allowing them to dismantle public education, attack teachers unions, and create a segregated two-tiered educational system for their own profit,” Hawkins said.
Hawkins noted that the only major national evaluation of charter schools, which was conducted by a Stanford University group, funded by pro-charter foundations, and released a year ago, found that, compared to regular public schools, 17% of charters got higher test scores, 46% had gains that were no different than their public counterparts, and 37% were significantly worse. Read more »
Filed under: Education, grassroots democracy, Green Party, New York State Politics, News, politics | Leave a Comment »
Archival photo of bird with oil: (cc) Paul (talk) at Flckr/Wikimedia
Got Gulf Oil? Call for Work…
Please consider sending something along in solidarity – once we have enough work posted, we’ll start sharing with media outlets – thanks.
Poets for Living Waters is a poetry action in response to the Gulf Oil Disaster of April 20, 2010, one of the most profound man-made ecological catastrophes in history. Former US Poet Laureate Robert Pinsky describes the popularity of poetry after 9/11 as a turn away from the disaster’s overwhelming enormity to a more manageable individual scale. As we confront the magnitude of this recent tragedy, such a return may well aid us.
The first law of ecology states that everything is connected to everything else. An appreciation of this systemic connectivity suggests a wide range of poetry will offer a meaningful response to the current crisis, including work that harkens back to Hurricane Katrina and the ongoing regional effects. Read more »
Filed under: Ecology, Environment, nature, News, poetry, politics, progressive politics, US Politics | Tagged: amy king, call for work, Gulf Oil, Heidi Lynn Staples, oil spill, poetry, poetry anthology, topical poems | 1 Comment »
KW: This list is really fun to read. And, you might learn something…and/or someone to ask a favor from or watch out for! This year’s list includes: Someone in the compost business; a man who gives the Independence Party place for their meetings; the most powerful mucky-muck at Newsday; and, several college presidents. Hat tip to Capital Confidential, for leading me to the story in my own backyard…
The 50 most influential Long Islanders of 2010
8th Annual Power List
Long Island Press
Filed under: activism, local, long island, Long Island Politics, media, News, politics | Tagged: long island, Long Island community, Long Island leaders, nassau, Power, suffolk | Leave a Comment »
Boy, do I feel guilty. One of our favorite, progressive activist friends, Bill McNulty, gave our blog a shout-out on his radio show. And, the post I had on the front page was about a garage sale we have stuff at. Eek!
Well, here are some of the important things that we usually write about, and that Billy McNulty mentioned on his show:
Monthly demo against military drones at BAE in Greenlawn (listing on the PeaceSmiths web-site): here.
Reflections on the life and work of Long Island activist Susan June Blake: here.
And, don’t forget to listen to Billy McNulty’s show, “Lunch with Bill”, on WUSB 90.1FM Stony Brook on Thursdays at lunch time (I think that is 11:30am to 1:00pm?).
For a bonus, and a taste of Bill’s show…Today he played “Deportee” by Arlo Guthrie. I didn’t hear who the artist was, though it was a woman. So, at the read more, three good videos I found of that song…
Thanks, Bill! Read more »
Filed under: activism, Anti-War, local, long island, Long Island Politics, News, Peace, progressive politics | Tagged: BAE, Bill McNulty, Long Island demonstrations, Long Island events, Lunch with Bill, military drones, Susan Blake, susan june blake, wusb | Leave a Comment »
Some lamps like this and other kinds of stuff will be on sale
Well, Ian and I won’t be there, but some of our stuff will be. Some of our musician and artist friends are having a multi-family tag sale in Huntington. Maybe you will show up and make their day?…
(No early birds please)
Multi-Family Yard Sale.
Something for everyone.
14 Bouton Street
Huntington, Long Island, New York
(Behind Huntington Town Hall)
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Filed under: local, long island, personal | Tagged: Bouton Street, huntington, Long Island Shopping, Long Island Yard Sales, Tag Sale, Yard Sale | Leave a Comment »
Cindy Sheehan and Cynthia McKinney on HWY 78 in Ga. (Cynthia McKinney Pkwy)
Filed under: activism, Anti-War, Cindy Sheehan, cynthia mckinney, News, Peace, peace sign, Photos, progressive politics | 1 Comment »
Law Restricts Free Speech Rights of Day Laborers
Two Long Island organizations that protect the rights of Latino day laborers filed a lawsuit today challenging an Oyster Bay town ordinance that violates core constitutional rights of free speech and equal protection under the law, and is intended to drive Latino immigrants from the community.
On behalf of the Centro de la Comunidad Hispana de Locust Valley and the Workplace Project, the lawsuit was filed by the New York Civil Liberties Union, American Civil Liberties Union and LatinoJustice PRLDEF.
“This misguided ordinance uses public safety as a smokescreen for intolerance and violates the constitutional rights of day labors and all Oyster Bay residents,” said Samantha Fredrickson, director of the NYCLU’s Nassau County Chapter. “It is a symptom of the anti-immigrant hostility that has swept across Long Island and the country in recent years.”
The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York against the town of Oyster Bay and Town Supervisor John Venditto, maintains that the ordinance violates the First and Fourteenth Amendments of the U.S. Constitution. Read more »
Filed under: immigration, long island, Long Island Politics, News, social & economic justice | Leave a Comment »
2011 Update!
Current school board budget vote and election results
for May 17, 20011:
See onthewilderside post: click here.
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2010 Newsday reports:
2010 results…
Polls close for most Long Island school districts at 9pm. And, for some districts 10pm.
As of 11:36pm, 114 districts report budget passed. 10 districts failed: Port Jefferson, Westbury, West Hempstead, Elwood, Herricks, Garden City, Levittown, East Rockaway, West Babylon, Wyandanch.*
Newsday’s chart/list of district budget results: Click here for chart.
School District Vote Stats story at Newsday: Click here for story. They appear to be updating at that link every once in awhile.
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*KW notes: It is ironic that the school budgets in West Babylon School District and Wyandanch School District both failed: They are both in The Town of Babylon, on opposite sides of the racial divide. Maybe if they all got together, they could create more harmony, educate all the kids fairly, and pass a budget. (“City Data” lists West Babylon School District as 81.9% white, and the Wyandanch School District as .3% white. There are many inequities and injustices in government and quasi-governmental support for these two areas.)
Filed under: children, Education, local, long island, Long Island Politics, News, politics | Tagged: East Rockaway, Election results, Elwood, Garden City, Garden City School District, Herricks, Levittown, LI School Vote, Long Island school districts, Long Island schools, nassau, Port Jefferson, School Budget Vote, suffolk, West Babylon, West Babylon School District, West Hempstead, West Hempstead School District, Westbury, Westbury School District, Wyandanch | 3 Comments »
3rd Party candidate Victoria Woodhull, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Lucy Stone and Judge Ward Hunt at the Hofstra Unversity pre-debate re-enactment
In 2008, Hofstra proved they thought that the only good third party speaker is a dead third party speaker during their presidential debate activities. For the real, Presidential debate held at Hofstra campus, only Obama and McCain were invited. But, in the lead-up activities on campus, third party candidates from the past, such as Victoria Woodhull, were played by scholars and historical re-enactors. In 2010, Hofstra is telling third parties to drop dead, again.
Hofstra is now partnering with Newsday/News 12 to put on what it calls a Renew New York Initiative. Hofstra claims that “Statewide elected officials and candidates will discuss New York state issues and politics.” It makes sense that Hofstra has partnered with Newsday/News 12 for this event since those two companies are the media equivalent of the Democratic/Republican Parties: They pretend to be competing entities providing the only choice you have while at the end of the day they answer to the same corporate masters. Newsday and News 12 are owned by the Dolan family and the Democratic/Republican Parties have the same corporate patrons. Hofstra ignores that Long Island has a wide range of independent and local media, just as it ignores that 1/3 of voters are not enrolled in the Democratic/Republican parties. In order to represent this 1/3 of US voters, Hofstra has invited the following 3rd party leaders:
Sen. Dean Skelos, Republican minority leader; and Republican gubernatorial candidates Steve Levy, Suffolk County Executive, and Carl Paladino, a Buffalo businessman; Edward F. Cox, chairman of the New York Republican State Committee, and Jay Jacobs, chairman of the New York Democratic State Committee.
Just more of the same old, same old. That’s not how to re-new NY. Hofstra does not seem to get the message that Green Party Presidential candidate delivered during her 2008 acceptance speech:
We will never get a United States that is reflective of different values if we continue to do the same thing. Those who delivered us into this mess cannot be trusted to get us out of it. Read more »
Filed under: 3rd party, campaign 2008, election, Election 2010, elections, events, grassroots democracy, Green Party, hofstra, local, long island, Long Island Politics, media, New York State Politics, News, politics, progressive politics, rants, republican, third party, US Politics | Tagged: hofstra, Long Island media, Long Island Politics, Long Island universities, News 12, Newsday, Renew New York, third parties | Leave a Comment »
