On Thursday, August 4th at Holiday Inn Midtown (6000 Middle Fiskville Rd, Austin TX) a dozen construction workers will lead a protest to reclaim over $10,000 in wages from a recent remodel at the hotel. "It's just not right that we worked hard and didn't get paid" said Quirino Juarez, a construction worker who performed framing and drywall work at the Holiday Inn Midtown. Juarez along with 11 other workers worked under Mely's Construction, a San Antonio-based sub-contractor, in January and February of 2011. Over thirty workers are owed wages for work on the hotel, although only 12 have come forward so far. WDP has attempted to negotiate a fair settlement with the general contractor and Holiday Inn management. However, all parties have avoided responsibility, promising to pay numerous times but never following through. "The job is done, the rooms look really great. They raised their rates and are benefitting from the remodel but we've received nothing", said Heladio Liborio who is owed two weeks of wages for drywall work at the Holiday Inn project. "It's been hard to pay my rent, bills and take care of my family." According to Bloomberg News, InterContinental Hotel Group, owner of the Holiday Inn franchise, saw a 38% increase in profits in 2010 due mostly to remodels like that done by these workers1. The worldwide makeover has given the company a fresh new image and a higher level of revenue. Meanwhile the workers who helped remodel Holiday Inn Midtown in Austin have yet to receive payment for their work. "Holiday Inn has an opportunity to be a leader in corporate responsibility by ensuring that those that work so hard to make it one of the nations most profitable hotel chains are compensated for their work" stated Patricia Zavala, Workplace Justice Coordinator at WDP. A ZGraphix Video Production. http://zgraphix.org Video produced for Austin Indymedia by Jeff Zavala http://austin.indymedia.org Photography by Jason Cato Learn more about Workers Defense Project/Proyecto Defensa Laboral: http://workersdefense.org
Sunday, August 7, 2011
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
Feminist Flash Mob Protesting Larry Flynt & $exual Exploitation Industry at BookPeople
Larry Flynt was in Austin, TX on Tuesday, July 26, 2011 speaking at Book People as part of his tour to promote his newest publication, One Nation Under Sex: How the Private Lives of Presidents, First Ladies and Their Lovers Changed the Course of American History. Sexual Violence Free Austin joined allies and advocates who stand in opposition to rape culture and the commoditization of women's bodies, the sexualization of young girls. R.A.G.E. - Radical Action for Gender Equality was also an organizer for peacefully protesting this event. Larry Flynt has made a 400-million-dollar fortune from his pornographic empire, including cartoons such as "Chester the Molester", which follows the life of a pedophile, and his infamous publication, Barely Legal, that features very young women portraying even younger girls in a pornographic manner. Want to learn more about his most famous magazine, Hustler? Sponsored by Sexual Violence-Free Austin and Radical Action for Gender Equality Check out this: WARNING: GRAPHIC CONTENT http://www.hustlingtheleft.com/ http://www.hustlingtheleft.com/CRAPP_E_LIB/russell.html http://www.wnd.com/index.php?pageId=2678 Produced for Austin Indymedia by Jeff Zavala http://austin.indymedia.org A ZGraphix video production. http://zgraphix.org
Saturday, July 23, 2011
Paul Cienfuegos on Corporations vs. People
The Citizens United Supreme Court decision gave corporations a green light to secretly funnel in as much money as they want to elect candidates. The justices in their supreme wisdom have once again privileged corporations over citizens. The results have been dramatic. Even with a weak economy a record amount of cash has flooded political campaigns. Although corporations are not mentioned anywhere in the Constitution or Bill of Rights a series of legal decisions have given them the rights of personhood and free speech. Focusing on limiting or even stopping corporate harms is an inadequate response to a fundamental problem. And that is corporations rule and not the people. Citizens are marginalized and are left with Coke and Pepsi choices. Paul Cienfuegos is a community organizer and activist. He co-founded Democracy Unlimited of Humboldt County in Northern California, an organization which works to dismantle corporate rule. He lectures and leads workshops on this topic. Recorded in Portland, OR on February 26, 2010 Audio Produced by Alternative Radio http://AlternativeRadio.org Video produced by Jeff Zavala ZGraphix Productions. http://zgraphix.org
Friday, July 22, 2011
Texas Parent PAC - Fighting for Our Children's Education
Texas Parent PAC is a bipartisan political action committee for parents, grandparents, parents-to-be, and anyone who supports high quality public education. Our statewide group has a track record of success, helping to elect 23 new members of the Texas Legislature. In each election cycle, Texas Parent PAC supports an equal number of candidates from both major political parties. Endorsed candidates reflect traditional mainstream American values that honor and support families, communities, democracy, and quality public education. Texas Parent PAC seeks to elect more state legislators with the courage to stand up for children and neighborhood public schools. Endorsed candidates understand that children are our future, and lawmakers must adequately invest in education to ensure prosperity in Texas. All endorsed candidates support the Texas Parent PAC Guiding Principles, which are posted at www.txparentpac.com/principles.html Donate: http://www.txparentpac.com/donate.html Contributions pay for myriad campaign expenses, including postcards and letters, yard signs, TV advertising, phone banks, campaign staff, get-out-the-vote efforts, and more. Email: info@txparentpac.com Website: http://www.txparentpac.com Video produced by Jeff Zavala. This video is a ZGraphix production. http://zgraphix.org
Texas Parent PAC - Fighting for Our Children's Education
Texas Parent PAC is a bipartisan political action committee for parents, grandparents, parents-to-be, and anyone who supports high quality public education. Our statewide group has a track record of success, helping to elect 23 new members of the Texas Legislature. In each election cycle, Texas Parent PAC supports an equal number of candidates from both major political parties. Endorsed candidates reflect traditional mainstream American values that honor and support families, communities, democracy, and quality public education. Texas Parent PAC seeks to elect more state legislators with the courage to stand up for children and neighborhood public schools. Endorsed candidates understand that children are our future, and lawmakers must adequately invest in education to ensure prosperity in Texas. All endorsed candidates support the Texas Parent PAC Guiding Principles, which are posted at www.txparentpac.com/principles.html Donate: http://www.txparentpac.com/donate.html Contributions pay for myriad campaign expenses, including postcards and letters, yard signs, TV advertising, phone banks, campaign staff, get-out-the-vote efforts, and more. Email: info@txparentpac.com Website: http://www.txparentpac.com Video produced by Jeff Zavala. This video is a ZGraphix production. http://zgraphix.org
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Striving for a Sustainable Future Where Our Actions Match the Crises and Opportunities We Face
Paul Cienfuegos on June of 2010 at the Village Building Convergence in Portland, Ore. Topics include: Democracy, Natural Rights, The Colonized Mind, Pushing the Envelope, Citizen Action, The Populist, Climate Change and more. To find out more visit his website http://PaulCienfuegos.com
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
Author and Radical Activist Robert Jensen on Rag Radio 7-8-2011
Robert Jensen is a University of Texas journalism professor, widely-published author, Austin-based political activist, and leading radical thinker. Prior to his academic career, he worked as a professional journalist for a decade. At UT, Jensen teaches courses in media law, ethics, and politics. He is also a board member of the Third Coast Activist Resource Center. His most recent books are All My Bones Shake: Seeking a Progressive Path to the Prophetic Voice, Getting Off: Pornography and the End of Masculinity and The Heart of Whiteness: Confronting Race, Racism and White Privilege. Jensen also writes for popular media, both alternative and mainstream. His opinion and analytic pieces on such subjects as foreign policy, politics, and race have appeared in papers around the country. We discuss his recent essay, The Anguish in the American Dream posted on The Rag Blog, as well as the current ecological crisis and the key role he believes it must play in our political thinking. Rag Radio is Cutting-edge alternative journalism, politics, and culture in the spirit of the Sixties underground press. Rag Radio is Broadcast Live from 2-3 PM CST Every Friday Afternoon on KOOP 91.7 FM in Austin and Streamed to the World. http://koop.org Host and producer: Thorne Dreyer Co-producer and engineer: Tracey Schulz Video produced for Austin Indymedia by Jeff Zavala. http://austin.indymedia.org This video is a ZGraphix production. http://zgraphix.org
Thursday, July 7, 2011
Crossroads Events presents Mexican American Experience 2011
Mexican American Experience 2011, a two-day Tejano music fest at the Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center which featured Grammy winners, Tejano music hall of famers and rising newcomers. This event was produced by Crossroads Events (http://crossroadsevents.org) and in collaboration with The Mexican American Cultural Center (http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/macc/). Video Produced by Jeff Zavala. Video Production by ZGraphix. http://zgraphix.org Photography by Rene Renteria and Gilbert Rivera. http://renerenteria.com Videography by Rene Renteria, Gilbert Rivera, Leonard Davila and Martin Gonzalez.
Sunday, July 3, 2011
Environmental Activist Diane Wilson, Author of 'Eco-Outlaw' on Rag Radio 6-24-2011
Environmental activist Diane Wilson, a fourth-generation shrimper from Seadrift, Texas -- and a mother of five -- has earned the wrath of industrial polluters everywhere. She has been arrested 50 times and has participated in disruptions of U.S. Senate hearings and corporate shareholder gatherings in Houston, Taipei, and London. Wilson was Mother Jones magazine's "Hell-Raiser of the Month," and was one of Grist's "13 Badass Greens." She was a founder of CodePink, the Texas Jail Project, and Injured Workers United. Diane Wilson is the author of Diary of an Eco-Outlaw: An Unreasonable Woman Breaks the Law for Mother Earth, and An Unreasonable Woman: The True Story of Shrimpers, Politicos, Polluters, and the Fight for Seadrift, Texas. She was featured in the award-winning PBS documentary, Texas Gold, and received a Dobie Paisano Writing Fellowship for 2010. Host and Producer: Thorne Dreyer; Engineer and Co-Producer: Tracey Schulz Video Produced for Austin Indymedia by Jeff Zavala. Video Production by ZGraphix. http://ZGraphix.org http://austin.indymedia.org
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
U.S. Boat to Gaza: Austin Solidarity Launch 6/26/11
CodePink Austin, along with other friends and supporters of the U.S. Boat to Gaza, held a symbolic "launch" on the Pfluger Bridge over Lady Bird Lake in Austin, Texas. Participants read excerpts from writings by Alice Walker and Kathy Kelly and the letter... to President Obama regarding the reasons for the trip to Gaza. Austin citizens were asked to stop and write messages to the passengers and participate in other symbolic actions. This event took place on June 26th, 2011. Organized by CodePink Austin (http://www.codepinkaustin.com). To learn more about the voyage please visit: http://ustogaza.org/ To read about US activists who prepare to break Israels blockade on Gaza, please visit: http://electronicintifada.net/content/us-activists-prepare-break-israels-blockade-gaza/10070 Video produced for Austin Indymedia by Jeff Zavala. This is a ZGraphix production. http://zgraphix.org http://austin.indymedia.org
Friday, June 24, 2011
Music from World Refugee Day March & Rally in Austin, TX 2011
This video contains live Son Jarocho music from June 20th 2011; which was World Refugee Day, and it also marked a lengthy discussion at the Texas Capitol on Senate Bill 9 and House Bill 9, both immigration bills left pending in committee. Outside the Capitol building, civil rights and immigration rights groups marched in opposition of those two bills and in opposition of an immigrant detention center being built outside San Antonio. The march was organized by Texans United for Families, but the immigration bills have stirred up plenty of controversy. Other organizations joined the march including PODER, Austin Immigrant Rights Coalition, Austin Tan Cerca de la Frontera, American Gateways, American Civil Liberties Union of Texas, Detention Watch Network, Grassroots Leadership, Texas Civil Rights Project, Texas Jail Project, Texans United for Families, San Antonio Immigrant Youth Movement, Save Our Youth, Southwest Workers Union, Wilco Justice Alliance and Workers Defense Project. To learn more about the movement and the detention center to be built outside San Antonio in Karnes, check out the Grassroots Leadership website (http://www.grassrootsleadership.org/). This video is a ZGraphix production. Produced for Austin Indymedia by Jeff Zavala. http://zgraphix.org http://austin.indymedia.org
World Refugee Day March & Rally in Austin, TX 2011
June 20 was World Refugee Day, and it also marked a lengthy discussion at the Texas Capitol on Senate Bill 9 and House Bill 9, both immigration bills left pending in committee. Outside the Capitol building, civil rights and immigration rights groups marched in opposition of those two bills and in opposition of an immigrant detention center being built outside San Antonio. The march was organized by Texans United for Families, but the immigration bills have stirred up plenty of controversy. Other organizations joined the march including PODER, Austin Immigrant Rights Coalition, Austin Tan Cerca de la Frontera, American Gateways, American Civil Liberties Union of Texas, Detention Watch Network, Grassroots Leadership, Texas Civil Rights Project, Texas Jail Project, Texans United for Families, San Antonio Immigrant Youth Movement, Save Our Youth, Southwest Workers Union, Wilco Justice Alliance and Workers Defense Project. To learn more about the movement and the detention center to be built outside San Antonio in Karnes, check out the Grassroots Leadership website (http://www.grassrootsleadership.org). This video is a ZGraphix production. Produced for Austin Indymedia by Jeff Zavala. http://zgraphix.org http://austin.indymedia.org
Sunday, June 19, 2011
Anti-SB9 Rally in Austin Texas Hosted by R.I.T.A (Reform Immigration for Texas Alliance)
Senate Dems:SB 9 Passage is about Fear & Politics by MELISSA DEL BOSQUE Published on: Tuesday, June 14, 2011 After 9 hours of testimony Tuesday by Senate Democrats against SB 9, the controversial immigration bill passed anyway along a party-line vote. Its pretty certain SB 9 will pass just as readily in the House, with a Republican supermajority that already voted out the controversial sanctuary cities immigration legislation during the regular session. So at this point we have to ask what are the Republicans thinking? In a state with a 38 percent Latino population and growing, Bushs brain Karl Rove must be feeling dyspeptic right about now. All those George W. years of the Republican party making inroads with the Hispanic community in Texas only to have it obliterated by some poorly crafted Arizona-immigration style pandering. For you lucky readers who have a life outside of the Legislative dome, SB 9, incorporates the prohibition of sanctuary cities language from the regular session with a mandate that Texas use the federal program Secure Communities which places federal agents in county and city jails to check for citizenship. (Texas already uses Secure Communities in every county in the state, but oh well.) SB 9 also makes it law that DPS clerks check for citizenship status before granting a drivers license. The most controversial portion of SB 9 is the language banning so called sanctuary cities. In these mystical Texas sanctuary cities illegal immigrants run amuck doing whatever they please. Except, that throughout the six months this legislation has been debated, Republicans pushing the bill have been unable to name a single sanctuary city. But who needs facts when the 2012 presidential election is just around the corner? Forget Texas' multi-billion dollar budget shortfall, the public school crisis or crippling healthcare cuts Governor Rick Perry deemed it a legislative emergency to ban sanctuary cities. Longtime Austin political reporter Harvey Kronberg summed up Perrys naked political ambitions in an op ed piece in Quorum Report: Governor Perry needs a non-Arizona style Arizona bill for his non-campaign campaign. Passing the bill also wouldnt hurt Lt. Governor David Dewhursts chances in the Republican primary, he noted. And lets be clear thats what this is all about politics. Police chiefs from every major city across the state, a wide swath of the religious community, business owners and countless other Texans testified against the bill but to no avail. Texas Republicans want to pass SB 9 and they have the numbers to do it. And its the people of color in Texas who will pay the price. With the passage of SB 9, Texas citizens of color will have to prove their U.S. citizenship to law enforcement a burden that Texas Anglo citizens wont have to bear. During the course of the debate, Democratic Senator Juan "Chuy" Hinojosa offered an amendment to the bill, which Williams accepted, that should soften the blow. It requires that the exchange between police and citizens be consistent with DPS policy. The policy is that a police officer can't pull someone over or search a business or residence to check immigration status unless requested as back up by a federal immigration officer. Close to midnight one Hispanic senator after another rose to speak against the passage of SB 9 even though they didnt have the numbers to prevent it from passing. At times they got emotional. Laredo Senator Judith Zaffirini exhorted the Anglo Republican senators to vote against the bill. Voting for SB 9 will cause you to discriminate against us, she said. Senator Carlos Uresti who represents two-thirds of the border said This bill strikes at the heart and soul of Latinos of Texas. Brownsville Senator Eddie Lucio called the passage of SB 9 the lowest point in his 24-year career as a legislator. Senator Jose Rodriguez of El Paso pointed out that at a time when Hispanics are making a mark as the fastest growing population and future workforce the Senate is passing a law that threatens that progress and harms not only their prosperity but Texas as well. But their passionate speeches didn't budge SB 9's supporters. Republican Senators Bob Deuell and Steve Ogden spoke in support of the bill. Ogden said most of the complaints about the bill sounded preposterous to him. "Law enforcement is not going to go out and hassle people," he said. Deuell said he was an optimist and that the bill will not bring out the worst in Texas. "Some of us are uncomfortable but we are going to vote for this bill anyway," he said. And with that the bill passed along a party-line vote. If the passage of SB 9 isnt a wake up call for Texas Latinos and other minority communities to start voting I dont know what is. Video Production by Jeff Zavala. A ZGraphix/Austin Indymedia production. http://zgraphix.org
Sunday, June 12, 2011
Builder of 21Rio Partners with Workers Defense Project to Protect Workers
It has been almost two years since three construction workers died while building the 21 Rio complex in West Campus. Now, the company that subcontracted some of that crew is partnering with the Workers Defense Project to raise awareness about employee safety. The three men who died at 21 Rio were employed by American Mast Climbers, a company subcontracted by Maxum Development. Investigators say faulty scaffolding led to the workers death in June of 2009. It's reported the crew was forced to work more than 60 a hours week applying stucco to the building, which is now an apartment complex."They not only worked long hours, but were forced to work in hazardous working conditions without workers compensation or rest breaks, Director of the Workers Defense Project, Christina Tzintzun, said. They were even illegally charged for their safety equipment."This past April, a judge forced the contractor to pay $15 million to the victims' families, and Maxum Development dropped American Mast Climbers from all of its projects. In addition, Maxum plans to improve communication at construction sites and increase safety inspections and training."We are trying to build a repertoire with the workers to make these projects flow better, safer and work better as a team," Gary Perkins with Maxum Development said. Maxum's Gary Perkins signed an agreement Thursday with Workers Defense Project, promising those construction site improvements."I think many construction workers that already work in Texas are sometimes even afraid to go out every day to do their jobs, Tzintzun said. I think we need an industry where people--at the end of each work day--know that they can go home safely to their families."As Austins skyline continues to change and urban development moves forward, the Workers Defense Project hopes other companies will follow Maxums lead.Last fall, Austin City Council adopted an ordinance requiring workers to take breaks every four hours. The mandate also requires contractors to have drinking water available on site.Construction rights advocates still say there is still much to tackle in terms of safety. Just this past Tuesday, a teenager was hospitalized after suffering a severe heat stroke on a construction site. He told investigators he did not take any breaks and was not drinking enough water.This is a ZGraphix Production.Produced for Austin Indymedia by Jeff Zavala.http://zgraphix.org http://austin.indymedia.org
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Anti-Groping Rally in Austin Against TSA's Total Sexual Assault
Texas citizens of all political stripes gathered to rally in support of the 4th Amendment and the Right to Travel Freely and with Dignity. Texas must set an example and lead the USA in resistance to the abuses of government exemplified by the Gestapo Grope-Fest being perpetrated by via the TSA. It's a Total Sexual Assault against Liberty and Freedom. Produced for Austin Indymedia by Jeff Zavala. A ZGraphix Production. http://zgraphix.org http://austin.indymedia.org
Save Texas Schools Protest Inside Capitol 6/4/11
ON Saturday June 6th 2011 More than 200 teachers and parents protested against state cuts in school funding in a gathering at the rotunda of the Texas Capitol on Monday. They lined the hallway leading to the House chamber as lawmakers arrived for a brief floor session, waving placards and singing a song that ended with, "We will vote you out." The protest organized by the American Federation of Teachers was intended to pressure lawmakers to alter their plan to cut $4 billion from the state's obligation to school districts. Public education in Texas is paid for with state-collected sales and business taxes and local property taxes. State Republican leaders and the Republican-controlled Legislature have chosen to close a $27 billion budget shortfall mostly through cutting state services. They tapped $3.2 billion of the state's nearly $10 billion Rainy Day Fund to cover a deficit in the current budget, but lawmakers chose not to use it any further. Chanting "Spend the Rainy Day Fund," the teachers and parents protesting Monday oppose firing teachers and closing schools, which will be necessary if the new school finance plan becomes law. The Senate passed the bill on Friday and the House is expected to take it up on Thursday. If the House does not modify the legislation, it will then go to the governor. The bill is necessary to balance the state budget. Read more: http://www.timesunion.com/news/article/Teachers-stage-new-demonstration-over-school-cuts-1411093.php#ixzz1OXJ89dhl To learn more visit: http://www.savetxschools.org Produced for Austin Indymedia by Jeff Zavala. A ZGraphix production. http://zgraphix.org http://austin.indymedia.org
Sunday, June 5, 2011
Thomas Jefferson Dance Party in Austin & Police Violation of U.S. Law
June 4, 2011 Austin Activists join forces to form a solidarity dance party in the Texas State Capitol Building, exercising their constitutional rights when the Capitol Police harass and use unreasonable force against free press reporters. The police also refused to help a victim of assault. Facebook event invite: May 28 2011 Adam Kokesh and friends were wrongly assaulted and arrested at the Jefferson Memorial for dancing. They will be back out next weekend and here in Austin we are planning a similar event in solidarity. Come out and dance to make people aware of the recent ruling making it "illegal" to dance at the Thomas Jefferson Memorial in Washington, D.C. and also the brutality of police against peaceful protesters on May 28, 2011. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8jUU3yCy3uI&feature=youtu.be *Suggested rules (but we don't need any rules to dance)**** -Leave political signs affiliated with political parties at home -Bring MP3 player and headphones -Bring Smiles, good cheer and have fun! -And remember WE CAN DANCE IF WE WANT TO! Dancing is a healthy and elegant exercise, a specific against social awkwardness. ~Thomas Jefferson. This is a zgraphix production. Produced by Jeff Zavala. http://zgraphix.org
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
Fairouz performs 3 beautiful songs
Nouhad Wadi Haddad (Arabic: ) (born November 21, 1935), famously known as Fairuz (Arabic: , also spelled Fairouz or Fayrouz) is a Lebanese singer who is widely considered to be the most famous living singer in the Arab world and one of the best known of all time. Her songs are constantly heard throughout the region, and still spark Lebanese national pride. She was born in Jabal al Arz (Cedar Mountain) to a Maronite Christian family. She is of the Greek Orthodox faith, having converted when she married Assi Rahbani, one of the two brothers who helped shape her singing career. She is also the mother of the Lebanese singer and composer Ziad Rahbani and the Lebanese director and photographer Rima Rahbani. She was first noticed at the International Festival of Baalbek, where she performed many of her songs. She became famous after appearing on the "Lebanese Nights" part of the festival for many successive years. Fairuz is commonly known as "Ambassador to the Stars" and "Neighbor to the Moon".
Monday, May 23, 2011
Bobby Whittenberg - We Choose Anarchy (docu-music-video)
Bobby Whittenberg plays his song "We Choose Anarchy" from his "No Gods! No Master Sergeants!" album released in 2010. Music and lyrics written by Bobby Whittenberg. ; Visit Bobby's myspace to hear more of his music! http://www.myspace.com/bobbywhittenberg & Visit Bobby's blog to learn more! http://veteranarchy.blogspot.com
Friday, May 20, 2011
ZGraphix DVDs Now on Sale! - Lectures, Music, Activism & Entertainment
At ZGraphix we are a community of artists, concerned citizens, activists, and media makers who endeavor to create change through meaningful media. We work on a shoestring budget and depend on donations from the community to continue our important work. ZGraphix brings you the information that will help move the struggle for justice forward. Available to order are more than 375 videos in our archive for sale on DVD. $10 DVD copies of any episode can be purchased & donations sent by PayPal to support our efforts, via the ZGraphix email: zgraphix789@gmail.com ZGraphix is a Channel Dedicated to Broadcasting, Citizen Journalism, Direct Action, Civil Disobedience, Social Activism, Community Organizing, Lectures and Music in and Around Austin, New Orleans, Houston, Olympia, Washington, Washington D.C. and Others Places. ; Produced by Jeff Zavala. This is a ZGraphix production.
Thursday, May 19, 2011
Jump and Rejoice - Ivvy Da Don Ft. Ice
Ivvy and Ice will make you "Jump and Rejoice" in this new hit song from Nigeria! Nigerian Hip Hop at its finest, Ivvy Da Don moved to Austin, Texas from Nigeria in late 2010 and is now getting ready to release his new album "Message" in Nigeria. Song by Ivvy Da Don. Video Production by Jeffry Zavala. Produced by ZGraphix. http://zgraphix.org
Transmutational Whiplash! An Art Project
Manor Middle School & Theatre Action Project present "transmutational whiplash". A class art project to paint an evolving mural on the side of a school building, "transmutational whiplash" explores the ever changing nature of collaborative endeavors. This video includes 15 hours of painting time-lapsed down to 3 minutes. Enjoy! Produced by Jeff Zavala. This is a ZGraphix production.http://zgraphix.org
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Robert Jensen on What Does It Mean to Be a Human Being? The Mistaken Identities of Nation/Race/Gender
University of Texas Professor Robert Jensen will be the speaker in the First Unitarian Universalist Church Public Affairs Forum. In his talk, Jensen will examine how nation, race, and gender affect our understanding of ourselves, with a focus on the unjust systems of power and privilege in which they are embedded. In each case he argues against the dominant culture's ideology and for a radical politics that takes seriously not only political but ecological realities. Time: Sunday, May 15, 2011. Location: First Unitarian Universalist Church, Austin, TX 78756
A ZGraphix production. Video produced by Jeff Zavala http://zgraphix.org
A ZGraphix production. Video produced by Jeff Zavala http://zgraphix.org
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
A Letter by Palestinian Poet Remi Kanazi
Palestinian poet Remi Kanazi performs his poem "A Letter" at Monkeywrench Books in Austin, Texas on 4/4/11.
Remi Kanazi - a poet, writer, and activist based in New York City. Poetic Injustice is the long-awaited release by this Palestinian-American poet and it is a diverse mix of unabashed resistance poems. Laced with searing indictments of occupation, ethnic cleansing, and war, Remi tackles some of the most important issues facing the world today.
Remi is also the editor of Poets For Palestine (Al Jisser Group, 2008). His political commentary has been featured by news outlets throughout the world, including Al Jazeera English, GRITtv with Laura Flanders, and BBC Radio. His poetry has taken him across North America, the UK, and the Middle East, and he recently appeared in the Palestine Festival of Literature as well as Poetry International. He is a recurring writer in residence and advisory board member for the Palestine Writing Workshop.
Poetic Injustice: Writings on Resistance and Palestine available today at -
http://www.PoeticInjustice.net
Produced by Jeff Zavala.
A ZGraphix Production.
http://zgraphix.org
Remi Kanazi - a poet, writer, and activist based in New York City. Poetic Injustice is the long-awaited release by this Palestinian-American poet and it is a diverse mix of unabashed resistance poems. Laced with searing indictments of occupation, ethnic cleansing, and war, Remi tackles some of the most important issues facing the world today.
Remi is also the editor of Poets For Palestine (Al Jisser Group, 2008). His political commentary has been featured by news outlets throughout the world, including Al Jazeera English, GRITtv with Laura Flanders, and BBC Radio. His poetry has taken him across North America, the UK, and the Middle East, and he recently appeared in the Palestine Festival of Literature as well as Poetry International. He is a recurring writer in residence and advisory board member for the Palestine Writing Workshop.
Poetic Injustice: Writings on Resistance and Palestine available today at -
http://www.PoeticInjustice.net
Produced by Jeff Zavala.
A ZGraphix Production.
http://zgraphix.org
Friday, May 6, 2011
Only as Equals by Palestinian Poet Remi Kanazi
Palestinian poet Remi Kanazi performs his poem "Only as Equals" at Monkeywrench Books in Austin, Texas on 4/4/11.
Remi Kanazi - a poet, writer, and activist based in New York City. Poetic Injustice is the long-awaited release by this Palestinian-American poet and it is a diverse mix of unabashed resistance poems. Laced with searing indictments of occupation, ethnic cleansing, and war, Remi tackles some of the most important issues facing the world today.
Remi is also the editor of Poets For Palestine (Al Jisser Group, 2008). His political commentary has been featured by news outlets throughout the world, including Al Jazeera English, GRITtv with Laura Flanders, and BBC Radio. His poetry has taken him across North America, the UK, and the Middle East, and he recently appeared in the Palestine Festival of Literature as well as Poetry International. He is a recurring writer in residence and advisory board member for the Palestine Writing Workshop.
Only as Equals:
Every time I think of 9/11?I see burning flesh dripping off the bones of Iraqi children in Fallujah Now Gaza I tend to memorialize the forgotten The collateral damage eclipsing our unpunished crimes
Maybe its because Im a numbers guy Because if I had a dollar for every time an Iraqi died since 2003 ?Id be a millionaire
And dont get me wrong Sometimes I dont know who I hate more The governments in the West Or the politicians in the East Who sell their souls quicker than the oil they export Straw men who use Palestine as a tool to line their pockets And dont give a nickel to their people Quisling governments Who stitch mouths shut for a check from Washington and AIPAC How can you be their prototypical anti-Semite If you are signing peace accords to oppress your own people?
And then Orientalists and idiots talk about how We cant have democracy in the Middle East Because of what happened in Gaza A Hamas boogyman wrapped in democratic elections Rahm Emanuel wants to educate me and my people about democracy gone wrong Why doesnt he try implementing one Israel first? Instead of bowing down to terrorists like his father and the IDF Lauding a third rate, racist, European society thats imploding quicker Than its moral standing in the world Enlightened like 1950s Afrikaners and slave traders Just because the house is beautiful Doesnt mean the bones you built it on have fully decomposed
The Israeli left is about as alive as Ariel Sharon Im sick and tired of asking for permission to resist From antiquated leftists and progressives Who care more about keeping it Kosher than moving things forward I put down my pen and waving fist to resist with college kids and Palestinians Boycott and divest! Because who cares about preserving a living when governments are killing civilians Complicity by silence and reserve units bombing Gaza Your academics and scholars, theater groups and practitioners, are part of the problem
And if logic doesnt fit into your long term plan of rejecting My right to return, Im sorry Maybe one day youll return to reality Where my people have babies quicker Than Zionists can concoct Jordanian options
I dont want your sympathy or introspective confessions Wont sit on my hands till they loose oxygen Like the people of Balata and Rafah?Vote for Barack Obama And pretend that his 22 day silence was golden While emaciated children starved to death Surrounded by their parents corpses
This cant be America the Beautiful A criminal with a few positive attributes Doesnt alleviate genocide Bombing Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Iraq Into oblivion doesnt make you historic It makes you as blind and bloodthirsty As the white men that came before you Apathetic hipsters now excited about a presidentWho broke history, but not poverty, occupation, or corporate interests
Id rather proudly walk through the graveyard of peace accords And failed dialogue sessions Than see my people just as occupied or third class citizens We are the gavel that will slam down like a verdict We are not waiting for Israel or America or the Supreme Court to approve it Well boycott Lev Leviev, Caterpillar and your apartheid companies Were taking back the right of return and the keys to a country Because we never asked you to go back to Europe or sit in open air prisons Im not asking for your advice, Im explaining the decision You can stay here, with us, but only as equals?Its not that youre Israeli, its that youre wrong Thats why I fight for my people!
Produced by Jeff Zavala.
A ZGraphix Production.
http://zgraphix.org
Remi Kanazi - a poet, writer, and activist based in New York City. Poetic Injustice is the long-awaited release by this Palestinian-American poet and it is a diverse mix of unabashed resistance poems. Laced with searing indictments of occupation, ethnic cleansing, and war, Remi tackles some of the most important issues facing the world today.
Remi is also the editor of Poets For Palestine (Al Jisser Group, 2008). His political commentary has been featured by news outlets throughout the world, including Al Jazeera English, GRITtv with Laura Flanders, and BBC Radio. His poetry has taken him across North America, the UK, and the Middle East, and he recently appeared in the Palestine Festival of Literature as well as Poetry International. He is a recurring writer in residence and advisory board member for the Palestine Writing Workshop.
Only as Equals:
Every time I think of 9/11?I see burning flesh dripping off the bones of Iraqi children in Fallujah Now Gaza I tend to memorialize the forgotten The collateral damage eclipsing our unpunished crimes
Maybe its because Im a numbers guy Because if I had a dollar for every time an Iraqi died since 2003 ?Id be a millionaire
And dont get me wrong Sometimes I dont know who I hate more The governments in the West Or the politicians in the East Who sell their souls quicker than the oil they export Straw men who use Palestine as a tool to line their pockets And dont give a nickel to their people Quisling governments Who stitch mouths shut for a check from Washington and AIPAC How can you be their prototypical anti-Semite If you are signing peace accords to oppress your own people?
And then Orientalists and idiots talk about how We cant have democracy in the Middle East Because of what happened in Gaza A Hamas boogyman wrapped in democratic elections Rahm Emanuel wants to educate me and my people about democracy gone wrong Why doesnt he try implementing one Israel first? Instead of bowing down to terrorists like his father and the IDF Lauding a third rate, racist, European society thats imploding quicker Than its moral standing in the world Enlightened like 1950s Afrikaners and slave traders Just because the house is beautiful Doesnt mean the bones you built it on have fully decomposed
The Israeli left is about as alive as Ariel Sharon Im sick and tired of asking for permission to resist From antiquated leftists and progressives Who care more about keeping it Kosher than moving things forward I put down my pen and waving fist to resist with college kids and Palestinians Boycott and divest! Because who cares about preserving a living when governments are killing civilians Complicity by silence and reserve units bombing Gaza Your academics and scholars, theater groups and practitioners, are part of the problem
And if logic doesnt fit into your long term plan of rejecting My right to return, Im sorry Maybe one day youll return to reality Where my people have babies quicker Than Zionists can concoct Jordanian options
I dont want your sympathy or introspective confessions Wont sit on my hands till they loose oxygen Like the people of Balata and Rafah?Vote for Barack Obama And pretend that his 22 day silence was golden While emaciated children starved to death Surrounded by their parents corpses
This cant be America the Beautiful A criminal with a few positive attributes Doesnt alleviate genocide Bombing Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Iraq Into oblivion doesnt make you historic It makes you as blind and bloodthirsty As the white men that came before you Apathetic hipsters now excited about a presidentWho broke history, but not poverty, occupation, or corporate interests
Id rather proudly walk through the graveyard of peace accords And failed dialogue sessions Than see my people just as occupied or third class citizens We are the gavel that will slam down like a verdict We are not waiting for Israel or America or the Supreme Court to approve it Well boycott Lev Leviev, Caterpillar and your apartheid companies Were taking back the right of return and the keys to a country Because we never asked you to go back to Europe or sit in open air prisons Im not asking for your advice, Im explaining the decision You can stay here, with us, but only as equals?Its not that youre Israeli, its that youre wrong Thats why I fight for my people!
Produced by Jeff Zavala.
A ZGraphix Production.
http://zgraphix.org
Monday, May 2, 2011
Mariachis on the Beach at Moon Palace Resort in Cancun, Mexico
Mexican mariachis play beautiful live music on the beach at the Moon Palace Resort in Cancun, Mexico.
Songs include:
Malaguena Salerosa
El Mariachi
Contigo Aprendi
Somos Novios (It's Impossible)
Alma Corazon y Vida
Bamboleo
Filmed in Cancun, Mexico.
Produced by Jeff Zavala.
This is a ZGraphix production.
http://zgraphix.org
Songs include:
Malaguena Salerosa
El Mariachi
Contigo Aprendi
Somos Novios (It's Impossible)
Alma Corazon y Vida
Bamboleo
Filmed in Cancun, Mexico.
Produced by Jeff Zavala.
This is a ZGraphix production.
http://zgraphix.org
Sunday, May 1, 2011
Poem for Gaza by Palestinian Poet Remi Kanazi
Palestinian poet Remi Kanazi performs his short piece "Poem for Gaza" at Monkeywrench Books in Austin, Texas on 4/4/11.
Remi Kanazi - a poet, writer, and activist based in New York City. Poetic Injustice is the long-awaited release by this Palestinian-American poet and it is a diverse mix of unabashed resistance poems. Laced with searing indictments of occupation, ethnic cleansing, and war, Remi tackles some of the most important issues facing the world today.
Remi is also the editor of Poets For Palestine (Al Jisser Group, 2008). His political commentary has been featured by news outlets throughout the
world, including Al Jazeera English, GRITtv with Laura Flanders, and BBC
Radio. His poetry has taken him across North America, the UK, and the Middle East, and he recently appeared in the Palestine Festival of Literature as well as Poetry International. He is a recurring writer in residence and advisory board member for the Palestine Writing Workshop.
Produced by Jeff Zavala.
A ZGraphix Production.
http://zgraphix.org
Remi Kanazi - a poet, writer, and activist based in New York City. Poetic Injustice is the long-awaited release by this Palestinian-American poet and it is a diverse mix of unabashed resistance poems. Laced with searing indictments of occupation, ethnic cleansing, and war, Remi tackles some of the most important issues facing the world today.
Remi is also the editor of Poets For Palestine (Al Jisser Group, 2008). His political commentary has been featured by news outlets throughout the
world, including Al Jazeera English, GRITtv with Laura Flanders, and BBC
Radio. His poetry has taken him across North America, the UK, and the Middle East, and he recently appeared in the Palestine Festival of Literature as well as Poetry International. He is a recurring writer in residence and advisory board member for the Palestine Writing Workshop.
Produced by Jeff Zavala.
A ZGraphix Production.
http://zgraphix.org
Palestinian Poet Remi Kanazi - Iraq
Palestinian poet Remi Kanazi performs his poem "Iraq" at Monkeywrench Books in Austin, Texas on 4/4/11.
Remi Kanazi - a poet, writer, and activist based in New York City. Poetic Injustice is the long-awaited release by this Palestinian-American poet and it is a diverse mix of unabashed resistance poems. Laced with searing indictments of occupation, ethnic cleansing, and war, Remi tackles some of the most important issues facing the world today.
Remi is also the editor of Poets For Palestine (Al Jisser Group, 2008).
His political commentary has been featured by news outlets throughout the
world, including Al Jazeera English, GRITtv with Laura Flanders, and BBC
Radio. His poetry has taken him across North America, the UK, and the
Middle East, and he recently appeared in the Palestine Festival of
Literature as well as Poetry International. He is a recurring writer in
residence and advisory board member for the Palestine Writing Workshop.
Produced by Jeff Zavala.
A ZGraphix Production.
http://zgraphix.org
Remi Kanazi - a poet, writer, and activist based in New York City. Poetic Injustice is the long-awaited release by this Palestinian-American poet and it is a diverse mix of unabashed resistance poems. Laced with searing indictments of occupation, ethnic cleansing, and war, Remi tackles some of the most important issues facing the world today.
Remi is also the editor of Poets For Palestine (Al Jisser Group, 2008).
His political commentary has been featured by news outlets throughout the
world, including Al Jazeera English, GRITtv with Laura Flanders, and BBC
Radio. His poetry has taken him across North America, the UK, and the
Middle East, and he recently appeared in the Palestine Festival of
Literature as well as Poetry International. He is a recurring writer in
residence and advisory board member for the Palestine Writing Workshop.
Produced by Jeff Zavala.
A ZGraphix Production.
http://zgraphix.org
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Trip to Moon Palace Resort - Cancun, Mexico 2011
We visit Cancun, Mexico in April of 2011 to hear beautiful music, explore nature and soak up the sun! This film documents the 8 days of beauty and excitement from start to finish!
We also visit Xel-Ha (http://www.xelha.com), an inlet of heavenly design and a sanctuary of amazing biological wealth within the Riviera Maya. Renowned as one of the most important Natural Wonders of Mexico, its rich underwater life and luscious jungle are complemented with unforgettable activities, world-class service, and an award-winning philosophy for its constant commitment to nature and social development.
We stayed at the Moon Palace Resort which is part of Palace Resorts;
http://www.palaceresorts.com
Produced by Jeff Zavala.
This is a ZGraphix production.
http://zgraphix.org
Facebook: http://facebook.com/zgraphix.org
We also visit Xel-Ha (http://www.xelha.com), an inlet of heavenly design and a sanctuary of amazing biological wealth within the Riviera Maya. Renowned as one of the most important Natural Wonders of Mexico, its rich underwater life and luscious jungle are complemented with unforgettable activities, world-class service, and an award-winning philosophy for its constant commitment to nature and social development.
We stayed at the Moon Palace Resort which is part of Palace Resorts;
http://www.palaceresorts.com
Produced by Jeff Zavala.
This is a ZGraphix production.
http://zgraphix.org
Facebook: http://facebook.com/zgraphix.org
Sunday, April 24, 2011
Mayan Dancing at the Moon Palace in Cancun, Mexico
This film features a traditional Mayan dance performance live at the Moon Palace in Cancun, Mexico.
The Maya maintain a strong link to the past through rituals, folklore and family. Fiestas, dancing and traditional music remain important as several festivals and celebrations occur throughout the year. On these special occasions, masks and elaborate costumes are worn by dancers, singers, and musicians.
The Feast of San Luis is celebrated during Easter. Traditional dances such as the Cortes Dance and the Deer Dance are held. The Cortes Dance uses drums, flutes, and rattles to dramatize the combined forces of the church and army during the European conquest. The Deer Dance is accompanied by the marimbas and symbolizes the important relationship between humanity and nature.
Ancient Maya dance is characterized by transformations of human beings into supernatural beings by means of visionary trance. Some think that hallucinogenic drugs or entheogenic medicines were used to put the performer into an altered state of mind. Once in this state of mind the participants were transformed into their wayob or soul companions. These soul companions were depicted through the masks and the costumes people wore in the dance. Some scenes are painted on pottery such as that from the myriad ritual meals of Classic festivals. These vessels depict humans, both kings and nobles, dressed in costumes. Their human faces are shown in cutaway view inside the costumes of the fantastic creatures they have become through the transformation of the dance. Some of these wayob are recognizable as animals like jaguars and birds of prey, but others just look like strange monsters.
For the Maya, dance was a very public affair. It induced visionary trances where either individuals or groups went into an altered state of mind that allowed them to communicate with the other world. Those who were strong enough to travel there, told stories about how the land had things like rivers and trees in this world. Some of the great Maya lords even depicted themselves dancing out over the abyss that leads into the otherworld.
One of the problems researchers have encountered is that the boundaries between humans dancing as supernatural beings and supernatural beings materializing in human rituals. The distinction between the two was never sharply made. Through dance, people became gods and gods became people even if it were only for a moment. It is important to note that these were more than just acts of civic pride or piety. They were considered to be direct connections to the otherworld.
Produced by Jeff Zavala.
This is a ZGraphix Production.
http://zgraphix.org
The Maya maintain a strong link to the past through rituals, folklore and family. Fiestas, dancing and traditional music remain important as several festivals and celebrations occur throughout the year. On these special occasions, masks and elaborate costumes are worn by dancers, singers, and musicians.
The Feast of San Luis is celebrated during Easter. Traditional dances such as the Cortes Dance and the Deer Dance are held. The Cortes Dance uses drums, flutes, and rattles to dramatize the combined forces of the church and army during the European conquest. The Deer Dance is accompanied by the marimbas and symbolizes the important relationship between humanity and nature.
Ancient Maya dance is characterized by transformations of human beings into supernatural beings by means of visionary trance. Some think that hallucinogenic drugs or entheogenic medicines were used to put the performer into an altered state of mind. Once in this state of mind the participants were transformed into their wayob or soul companions. These soul companions were depicted through the masks and the costumes people wore in the dance. Some scenes are painted on pottery such as that from the myriad ritual meals of Classic festivals. These vessels depict humans, both kings and nobles, dressed in costumes. Their human faces are shown in cutaway view inside the costumes of the fantastic creatures they have become through the transformation of the dance. Some of these wayob are recognizable as animals like jaguars and birds of prey, but others just look like strange monsters.
For the Maya, dance was a very public affair. It induced visionary trances where either individuals or groups went into an altered state of mind that allowed them to communicate with the other world. Those who were strong enough to travel there, told stories about how the land had things like rivers and trees in this world. Some of the great Maya lords even depicted themselves dancing out over the abyss that leads into the otherworld.
One of the problems researchers have encountered is that the boundaries between humans dancing as supernatural beings and supernatural beings materializing in human rituals. The distinction between the two was never sharply made. Through dance, people became gods and gods became people even if it were only for a moment. It is important to note that these were more than just acts of civic pride or piety. They were considered to be direct connections to the otherworld.
Produced by Jeff Zavala.
This is a ZGraphix Production.
http://zgraphix.org
Sunday, April 17, 2011
P. Sainath on Mass Media v. Mass Reality: From Farm and Field to Wall Street Deals
Award-winning journalist ;P. Sainath - http://www.indiatogether.org/opinions/psainath/ - will speak on the failure of mass media to report
Friday, April 8, 2011
March to Save Our State - Austin, Texas 4/6/2011
Led by union workers from across Texas, thousands of chanting marchers converged on the Capitol on Wednesday to protest the recently passed House budget's deep spending cuts to education, health care and state jobs.
"We are all in this together," Judy Lugo, president of the Texas State Employees Union, told the raucous, cheering crowd on the south steps of the Capitol. "Every Texan, now and for years to come, will suffer the consequences if the Texas Legislature does not change course."
"We must not pack our kids into overcrowded classrooms or dismantle our parents' and grandparents' nursing homes" or allow legislators to "paper over their mismanagement with pink slips for teachers and public servants," he said.
After gathering at Waterloo Park, the line of marchers stretched for five blocks on the route to the Capitol. Popular chants included "They say cut back, we say fight back" and "It's raining, it's pouring, Rick Perry is snoring."
The Texas State Employees Union, a lead organizer of the "Save Our State Rally," estimated that 6,000 to 7,000 people attended.
At the Capitol, Lugo pushed for spending more of the rainy day fund and asked legislators to find additional revenue to repair a budget shortfall caused by "decades of bad public policy" and a recession brought on by financiers, speculators and corporate leaders.
Workers, she said, "did not cause this problem, and we are not going to pick up the tab for it."
Senators have been looking for $5 billion in non-tax revenue to help pay for as much as $10 billion in additional education and health care spending that has been added to the Senate's version of the budget. The first phase of their findings will be laid out at a hearing today.
The groups also called for lawmakers to leave untouched the remainder of the state's rainy day fund. That money will be needed two years from now for the additional Medicaid costs that stem from federal health care reform, said Talmadge Heflin of the Texas Public Policy Foundation, a limited-government think tank.
A ZGraphix/Indymedia production.
Produced for Austin Indymedia by Jeff Zavala.
http://zgraphix.org
Videography by Jeff Zavala and Matt Gossage.
Photography by Rene Renteria.
http://renerenteria.com
"We are all in this together," Judy Lugo, president of the Texas State Employees Union, told the raucous, cheering crowd on the south steps of the Capitol. "Every Texan, now and for years to come, will suffer the consequences if the Texas Legislature does not change course."
"We must not pack our kids into overcrowded classrooms or dismantle our parents' and grandparents' nursing homes" or allow legislators to "paper over their mismanagement with pink slips for teachers and public servants," he said.
After gathering at Waterloo Park, the line of marchers stretched for five blocks on the route to the Capitol. Popular chants included "They say cut back, we say fight back" and "It's raining, it's pouring, Rick Perry is snoring."
The Texas State Employees Union, a lead organizer of the "Save Our State Rally," estimated that 6,000 to 7,000 people attended.
At the Capitol, Lugo pushed for spending more of the rainy day fund and asked legislators to find additional revenue to repair a budget shortfall caused by "decades of bad public policy" and a recession brought on by financiers, speculators and corporate leaders.
Workers, she said, "did not cause this problem, and we are not going to pick up the tab for it."
Senators have been looking for $5 billion in non-tax revenue to help pay for as much as $10 billion in additional education and health care spending that has been added to the Senate's version of the budget. The first phase of their findings will be laid out at a hearing today.
The groups also called for lawmakers to leave untouched the remainder of the state's rainy day fund. That money will be needed two years from now for the additional Medicaid costs that stem from federal health care reform, said Talmadge Heflin of the Texas Public Policy Foundation, a limited-government think tank.
A ZGraphix/Indymedia production.
Produced for Austin Indymedia by Jeff Zavala.
http://zgraphix.org
Videography by Jeff Zavala and Matt Gossage.
Photography by Rene Renteria.
http://renerenteria.com
Thursday, April 7, 2011
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
James Galbraith on "The Great Crisis in the US and the World: Debt, Inequality, Fraud and Oil"
Economist James Galbraith will discuss the roots and consequences of the financial ;crash and the ongoing economic crisis. A
Sunday, April 3, 2011
Playing God with Planet Earth
Imagine a time in the not too distant future when scientists try to mimic the effects of a volcanic explosion in a desperate bid to reverse global warming. Consider a climate emergency so severe that engineers create a sulphuric sunscreen, hoping to stop the melting of polar ice, turn back the rising sea and prevent the horrific storms that would send environmental refugees running for their lives. Playing God With Planet Earth explores the last ditch efforts of scientists and engineers trying to avert a planetary meltdown.As the threat of climate change grows more urgent, scientists are considering radical and controversial schemes to rehabilitate the climate. Since none of these wildand possibly dangerousideas have ever been tried before, the filmmakers used a distinctive painted animation technique (like a graphic novel) to explore these futuristic scenarios. Human ingenuity could temporarily roll back the effects of global warming. At the same time, it could cause catastrophic damage and spark deadly political conflict, says director Jerry Thompson. ; Weve interviewed some of the worlds leading scientists, engineers, environmentalists, lawyers, and disaster-relief workers about the possible consequences of intentionally manipulating the climateversus the risk of doing nothing.Salting the ocean with iron dust to trigger plankton blooms, shooting salt crystals into clouds to make them brighter, genetically-engineering robo trees to hoover carbon from the air -- these are just a few of the big ideas under consideration.But the one form of solar radiation management likely to work fastest in a climate emergency would be to mimic the effects of a huge volcano by spraying clouds of sulphuric acid into the stratosphere. Jet drones or high-altitude balloons could do the job. Quick and cheap compared to breaking our addiction to carbon and retooling the industrial revolution. Cheap and easy enough that any country feeling threatened by horrific storms or a rapidly rising sea level could decide to go it alone and launch one of these climate rehabilitation campaigns unilaterally. The problem? They might save themselves but cause unintended consequences for others by reducing rainfall, causing drought and mass starvation. Climate change and geoengineering could even lead to war.
Tinkering with the atmosphere: will it save the dayor trigger disaster on a planetary scale?Playing God With Planet Earth was developed and produced by Lightship Entertainment Inc. in association with CBC Television, with the participation of The Canada Media Fund, The Canadian Film or Video Production Tax Credit and The Province of British Columbia Film Incentive BC. The documentary was directed and produced by Jerry and Bette Thompson, and executive produced by Terence McKeown.
Tinkering with the atmosphere: will it save the dayor trigger disaster on a planetary scale?Playing God With Planet Earth was developed and produced by Lightship Entertainment Inc. in association with CBC Television, with the participation of The Canada Media Fund, The Canadian Film or Video Production Tax Credit and The Province of British Columbia Film Incentive BC. The documentary was directed and produced by Jerry and Bette Thompson, and executive produced by Terence McKeown.
Friday, April 1, 2011
The Blooming of a Movement - Documentary Film
On Saturday, (3/20/10) thousands of people converged at the White House for the March on Washingtonthe largest anti-war demonstration since the announcement of the escalation of the Afghanistan war. By the time the march started at 2 p.m., the crowd had swelled up to 10,000 protesters.
Transportation to Washington, D.C., was organized from over 50 cities in 20 states. Demonstrators rallied and marched shoulder to shoulder to demand U.S. Out of Iraq and Afghanistan Now, Free Palestine, Reparations for Haiti and No sanctions against Iran as well as Money for jobs, education and health care!
Speakers at the Washington rally represented a broad cross section of the anti-war movement, including veterans and military families, labor, youth and students, immigrant right groups, and the Muslim and Arab American community.
Following the rally, a militant march led by veterans, active-duty service members and military families made its way through the streets of D.C. carrying coffins draped in Afghan, Iraqi, Pakistani, Somali, Yemeni, Haitian and U.S. flags, among those of other countries, as a symbol of the human cost of war and occupation. Coffins were dropped off along the way at Halliburton, the Washington Post, the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs and other institutions connected to the war profiteering, propaganda, and human suffering. The final coffin drop-off was at the White Housethe decision-making center of U.S. imperialism.
The A.N.S.W.E.R Coalition Organized this event;
Visit the A.N.S.W.E.R Coalition Website for More Information:
http://AnswerCoalition.org
Produced by Jeff Zavala.
This is a ZGraphix production.
http://ZGraphix.org
Transportation to Washington, D.C., was organized from over 50 cities in 20 states. Demonstrators rallied and marched shoulder to shoulder to demand U.S. Out of Iraq and Afghanistan Now, Free Palestine, Reparations for Haiti and No sanctions against Iran as well as Money for jobs, education and health care!
Speakers at the Washington rally represented a broad cross section of the anti-war movement, including veterans and military families, labor, youth and students, immigrant right groups, and the Muslim and Arab American community.
Following the rally, a militant march led by veterans, active-duty service members and military families made its way through the streets of D.C. carrying coffins draped in Afghan, Iraqi, Pakistani, Somali, Yemeni, Haitian and U.S. flags, among those of other countries, as a symbol of the human cost of war and occupation. Coffins were dropped off along the way at Halliburton, the Washington Post, the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs and other institutions connected to the war profiteering, propaganda, and human suffering. The final coffin drop-off was at the White Housethe decision-making center of U.S. imperialism.
The A.N.S.W.E.R Coalition Organized this event;
Visit the A.N.S.W.E.R Coalition Website for More Information:
http://AnswerCoalition.org
Produced by Jeff Zavala.
This is a ZGraphix production.
http://ZGraphix.org
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Empire - Pax Americana
Al Jazeera - Empire looks at the dramatic changes taking place in the Arab world and their strategic implications.
The fear factor has been broken, the genie is out of the bottle. Arabs have taken to the streets demanding freedom. As the winds of change blew across the Arab world, the US, the power that has long dominated the region, has been particularly absent.
With all its allies crumbling one after another, what will the US do to maintain its influence in the region? And what can be expected of Israel, the country's closest ally in the region?
Will the spread of democracy lead to a peaceful end to decades of autocratic rule in the Middle East or will the fear of Islamist extremism galvanize Washington's resolve to reinforce Pax Americana?
Our guests today are: Rashid Khalidi, a professor of Modern Arab Studies at Columbia University; Seymour Hersh, a Pulitzer-winning author; and Thomas Pickering, the former US under secretary of state.
Our interviewees are: Clovis Maksoud, the director of the Center for the Global South; and Rob Malley, the Middle East director of International Crisis Group.
This episode of Empire originally aired on February 7, 2011.
more info: http://english.aljazeera.net/programmes/empire/2011/02/20112875931593543.html
The fear factor has been broken, the genie is out of the bottle. Arabs have taken to the streets demanding freedom. As the winds of change blew across the Arab world, the US, the power that has long dominated the region, has been particularly absent.
With all its allies crumbling one after another, what will the US do to maintain its influence in the region? And what can be expected of Israel, the country's closest ally in the region?
Will the spread of democracy lead to a peaceful end to decades of autocratic rule in the Middle East or will the fear of Islamist extremism galvanize Washington's resolve to reinforce Pax Americana?
Our guests today are: Rashid Khalidi, a professor of Modern Arab Studies at Columbia University; Seymour Hersh, a Pulitzer-winning author; and Thomas Pickering, the former US under secretary of state.
Our interviewees are: Clovis Maksoud, the director of the Center for the Global South; and Rob Malley, the Middle East director of International Crisis Group.
This episode of Empire originally aired on February 7, 2011.
more info: http://english.aljazeera.net/programmes/empire/2011/02/20112875931593543.html
Sunday, March 27, 2011
The Day the Klan Marched - Anti-KKK Protesters Beaten by Racist Austin Police
Original documentary footage of the day the Ku Klux Klan marched to ;the Texas State Capitol Building in Austin, Texas on February 19, 1983. Includes footage of Austin City Council meeting vote giving the KKK permission to march.
The documentary also shows the violent response of the Austin Police Department to the engaging yet peaceful counter Anti-Klan march organized by concerned
The documentary also shows the violent response of the Austin Police Department to the engaging yet peaceful counter Anti-Klan march organized by concerned
Monday, March 21, 2011
Lifting the Veil - Barack Obama and the Failure of Capitalist Democracy
Sub-headed Barack Obama and the failure of capitalist democracy, this film explores the historical role of the Democratic Party as the graveyard of social movements, the massive influence of corporate finance in elections, the absurd disparities of wealth in the United States, the continuity and escalation of neocon policies under Obama, the insufficiency of mere voting as a path to reform, and differing conceptions of democracy itself.
"Lifting the Veil is the long overdue film that powerfully, definitively, and finally exposes the deadly 21st century hypocrisy of U.S. internal and external policies, even as it imbues the viewer with a sense of urgency and an actualized hope to bring about real systemic change while there is yet time for humanity and this planet. See this film!"
-Larry Pinkney
Editorial Board Member & Columnist
The Black Commentator
Original interview footage derives from Noam Chomsky, Michael Parenti, Michael Albert, John Stauber (PR Watch), Sharon Smith (Historian), William I. Robinson (Editor, Critical Globalization Studies), Morris Berman (Author, Dark Ages America), and famed black panther Larry Pinkney.
Non-original interviews/lectures include Michael Hudson, Paul Craig Roberts, Ted Rall, Richard Wolff, Glen Ford, Lewis Black, Glenn Greenwald, George Carlin, Gerald Cliente, Chris Hedges, John Pilger, Bernie Sanders, Sheldon Wollin and Martin Luther King.
Lifting the Veil is a major contribution to political documentary. ; It teaches everyone from the uninitiated to the most sophisticated the true nature of the American government... It covers the issues clearly and succinctly, from the opening narrative through to its stirring conclusion.
-Ralph Poynter
lynne stewart defense committee
new abolitionist movement
"The best political film I've seen to date.
"Lifting the Veil is the long overdue film that powerfully, definitively, and finally exposes the deadly 21st century hypocrisy of U.S. internal and external policies, even as it imbues the viewer with a sense of urgency and an actualized hope to bring about real systemic change while there is yet time for humanity and this planet. See this film!"
-Larry Pinkney
Editorial Board Member & Columnist
The Black Commentator
Original interview footage derives from Noam Chomsky, Michael Parenti, Michael Albert, John Stauber (PR Watch), Sharon Smith (Historian), William I. Robinson (Editor, Critical Globalization Studies), Morris Berman (Author, Dark Ages America), and famed black panther Larry Pinkney.
Non-original interviews/lectures include Michael Hudson, Paul Craig Roberts, Ted Rall, Richard Wolff, Glen Ford, Lewis Black, Glenn Greenwald, George Carlin, Gerald Cliente, Chris Hedges, John Pilger, Bernie Sanders, Sheldon Wollin and Martin Luther King.
Lifting the Veil is a major contribution to political documentary. ; It teaches everyone from the uninitiated to the most sophisticated the true nature of the American government... It covers the issues clearly and succinctly, from the opening narrative through to its stirring conclusion.
-Ralph Poynter
lynne stewart defense committee
new abolitionist movement
"The best political film I've seen to date.
Minor Mishap Marching Band Plays in Honk! TX 2011
MINOR MISHAP MARCHING BAND is a 25 piece renegade circus brass band. They are an absurd expression of boisterous pandemonium Bourbon street meets Budapest.
http://minormishap.com/
Twenty of the most exciting, original, and talented community street bands from across North America will perform absolutely free in streets, parks, and neighborhoods throughout Austin for the inaugural HONK!TX festival, from March 11th to 13th, 2011.
Inspired by the success of the original HONK! Festival in Somerville, Massachusetts and HONK! Fest West in Seattle, Washington, HONK!TX is a non-profit and grassroots gathering of street bands that defy simple categorization. Bands will play unamplified and without built stages, breaking down any barriers between the crowd and performers.
The bands range in size from four to forty members, all diverse in age, ethnicity, and musical background. They represent various performance traditions, including New Orleans second line brass, European klezmer, Balkan and Romani music, and festivals such as Mardi Gras and Brazilian Carnaval.
HONK!TX is made possible by the wholehearted support of neighborhood associations, local businesses, city officials, and other community members. Volunteers will provide housing, transportation, and their time at the festival.
The festival has raised funds from over 230 individual donations through a kickstarter.com campaign. Wheatsville Food Co-op, Whole Foods Market, and SXSW are major sponsors along with fiscal and in-kind support from numerous other local businesses.
The HONK!TX Organizing Committee is comprised of the Minor Mishap Marching Band, Austin's own community street band, and iLoveMikeLitt, a local arts and culture group.
More information, including full band lineup, locations and hours, is available at
http://www.honktx.org/
Produced by Jeff Zavala.
A ZGraphix production.
http://zgraphix.org/
http://minormishap.com/
Twenty of the most exciting, original, and talented community street bands from across North America will perform absolutely free in streets, parks, and neighborhoods throughout Austin for the inaugural HONK!TX festival, from March 11th to 13th, 2011.
Inspired by the success of the original HONK! Festival in Somerville, Massachusetts and HONK! Fest West in Seattle, Washington, HONK!TX is a non-profit and grassroots gathering of street bands that defy simple categorization. Bands will play unamplified and without built stages, breaking down any barriers between the crowd and performers.
The bands range in size from four to forty members, all diverse in age, ethnicity, and musical background. They represent various performance traditions, including New Orleans second line brass, European klezmer, Balkan and Romani music, and festivals such as Mardi Gras and Brazilian Carnaval.
HONK!TX is made possible by the wholehearted support of neighborhood associations, local businesses, city officials, and other community members. Volunteers will provide housing, transportation, and their time at the festival.
The festival has raised funds from over 230 individual donations through a kickstarter.com campaign. Wheatsville Food Co-op, Whole Foods Market, and SXSW are major sponsors along with fiscal and in-kind support from numerous other local businesses.
The HONK!TX Organizing Committee is comprised of the Minor Mishap Marching Band, Austin's own community street band, and iLoveMikeLitt, a local arts and culture group.
More information, including full band lineup, locations and hours, is available at
http://www.honktx.org/
Produced by Jeff Zavala.
A ZGraphix production.
http://zgraphix.org/
Sunday, March 20, 2011
The Real Avatar - The Nature of Things
Peru is in the midst of an unprecedented resource "rush" - 72% of the
jungle has been zoned for oil development alone. And according to
recent studies, in just 10 years nearly half the Peruvian
rainforest - one of the most biologically diverse areas on Earth - may be
past the point of no return if current rates of deforestation
continue. In The Real Avatar, David Suzuki sets off for the Amazon to
investigate the effect this rush is having on the native peoples who
call this land their home.
Under the shadow of the Cordillera del Condor mountains, and near
where the mighty Amazon river begins, live the Awajun and Wampis
peoples, a proud, warrior nation, never conquered by the Incas or the
Spanish. Today, they feel they are being invaded again: Peruvian and
Canadian mining companies aim to set up a gold mine on land these
natives say is their traditional territory. In fact, the Awajun had an
agreement for the establishment of a National Park along the
Cordillera that would protect their land. But the Awajun found their
agreement broken, quite literally in two, when Peru's President gave
half the area over to mining interests. Studies indicate that mining
here would devastate the areas water system - water that flows to the
downstream Awajun communities.
The Awajun were already part of a deadly confrontation with National
Police in 2009 over Peru's plans for "developing" the Amazon - can
more violence be avoided in the future?
In the southern province of Madre de Dios, native peoples fought
successfully for over a decade to establish a communal Reserve to
protect their lands from illegal mining and logging. The Reserve
created was so protected that not even the natives themselves were
allowed to use it. And yet today, this same Reserve finds itself
nearly totally engulfed by Oil Block 76, sold to the Hunt Oil
Corporation of Texas. As Hunts exploratory work begins, the natives
find themselves divided. Some feel oil development will bring jobs and
money, while others fear the social and environmental impacts, and
know their very way of life is at risk.
And for those nearby "Uncontacted" natives living in the forest in
voluntary isolation, in the same way they have for thousands of years,
the stakes are even higher.
In The Real Avatar, David Suzuki journeys to the Peruvian Amazon to
see first-hand the forces threatening the way of life of its
indigenous peoples, and to explore the magnificent beauty and richness
of this now-vanishing land, this "Pandora" on Earth.
A dramatic story of cultures in conflict, with the fate of the Amazon
hanging in the balance, The Real Avatar is shot in full HD and is
produced and directed by Roberto Verdecchia.
jungle has been zoned for oil development alone. And according to
recent studies, in just 10 years nearly half the Peruvian
rainforest - one of the most biologically diverse areas on Earth - may be
past the point of no return if current rates of deforestation
continue. In The Real Avatar, David Suzuki sets off for the Amazon to
investigate the effect this rush is having on the native peoples who
call this land their home.
Under the shadow of the Cordillera del Condor mountains, and near
where the mighty Amazon river begins, live the Awajun and Wampis
peoples, a proud, warrior nation, never conquered by the Incas or the
Spanish. Today, they feel they are being invaded again: Peruvian and
Canadian mining companies aim to set up a gold mine on land these
natives say is their traditional territory. In fact, the Awajun had an
agreement for the establishment of a National Park along the
Cordillera that would protect their land. But the Awajun found their
agreement broken, quite literally in two, when Peru's President gave
half the area over to mining interests. Studies indicate that mining
here would devastate the areas water system - water that flows to the
downstream Awajun communities.
The Awajun were already part of a deadly confrontation with National
Police in 2009 over Peru's plans for "developing" the Amazon - can
more violence be avoided in the future?
In the southern province of Madre de Dios, native peoples fought
successfully for over a decade to establish a communal Reserve to
protect their lands from illegal mining and logging. The Reserve
created was so protected that not even the natives themselves were
allowed to use it. And yet today, this same Reserve finds itself
nearly totally engulfed by Oil Block 76, sold to the Hunt Oil
Corporation of Texas. As Hunts exploratory work begins, the natives
find themselves divided. Some feel oil development will bring jobs and
money, while others fear the social and environmental impacts, and
know their very way of life is at risk.
And for those nearby "Uncontacted" natives living in the forest in
voluntary isolation, in the same way they have for thousands of years,
the stakes are even higher.
In The Real Avatar, David Suzuki journeys to the Peruvian Amazon to
see first-hand the forces threatening the way of life of its
indigenous peoples, and to explore the magnificent beauty and richness
of this now-vanishing land, this "Pandora" on Earth.
A dramatic story of cultures in conflict, with the fate of the Amazon
hanging in the balance, The Real Avatar is shot in full HD and is
produced and directed by Roberto Verdecchia.
Saturday, March 19, 2011
Rahul Mahajan Speaking on the Wisconsin Labor Struggle and the New Radical Right Agenda
The union-busting agenda in Wisconsin is part of a carefully planned ;national offensive by the newly ascendant radical right wing. Bills in a
Friday, March 18, 2011
Rahul Mahajan Speaks on The Libyan Revolution & the Nuclear Crisis in Japan
Rahul Mahajan, a co-founder of the Third Coast Activist ;Resource Center and original member of the Nowar Collective, is
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Honk! TX Festival 2011
Twenty of the most exciting, original, and talented community street bands from across North America will perform absolutely free in streets, parks, and neighborhoods throughout Austin for the inaugural HONK!TX festival, from March 11th to 13th, 2011.
The first HONK! festival took place in 2006 in Somerville, Massachusetts, when local community street band Second Line Social Aid & Pleasure Society set about envisioning and creating a festival to celebrate the growing nationwide community of activist marching bands and the community-rooted union of art, activism, and music. In their first year, HONK! brought in bands from as far away as Chicago and Vancouver. And, that festival continues to feature street bands from around North America and countries as far away as Italy, and it continues to draw the support of area residents, businesses, arts groups, volunteers, politicians and citizens.
Inspired by the success of the original HONK! Festival in Somerville, Massachusetts and HONK! Fest West in Seattle, Washington, HONK!TX is a non-profit and grassroots gathering of street bands that defy simple categorization. Bands will play unamplified and without built stages, breaking down any barriers between the crowd and performers.
The bands range in size from four to forty members, all diverse in age, ethnicity, and musical background. They represent various performance traditions, including New Orleans second line brass, European klezmer, Balkan and Romani music, and festivals such as Mardi Gras and Brazilian Carnaval.
HONK!TX is made possible by the wholehearted support of neighborhood associations, local businesses, city officials, and other community members. Volunteers will provide housing, transportation, and their time at the festival.
The festival has raised funds from over 230 individual donations through a kickstarter.com campaign. Wheatsville Food Co-op, Whole Foods Market, and SXSW are major sponsors along with fiscal and in-kind support from numerous other local businesses.
The HONK!TX Organizing Committee is comprised of the Minor Mishap Marching Band, Austin's own community street band, and iLoveMikeLitt, a local arts and culture group.
More information, including full band lineup, locations and hours, is available at
http://www.honktx.org
MINOR MISHAP MARCHING BAND is a 25 piece renegade circus brass band. They are an absurd expression of boisterous pandemonium Bourbon street meets Budapest.
http://minormishap.com
Produced by Jeff Zavala.
A ZGraphix production.
http://zgraphix.org
The first HONK! festival took place in 2006 in Somerville, Massachusetts, when local community street band Second Line Social Aid & Pleasure Society set about envisioning and creating a festival to celebrate the growing nationwide community of activist marching bands and the community-rooted union of art, activism, and music. In their first year, HONK! brought in bands from as far away as Chicago and Vancouver. And, that festival continues to feature street bands from around North America and countries as far away as Italy, and it continues to draw the support of area residents, businesses, arts groups, volunteers, politicians and citizens.
Inspired by the success of the original HONK! Festival in Somerville, Massachusetts and HONK! Fest West in Seattle, Washington, HONK!TX is a non-profit and grassroots gathering of street bands that defy simple categorization. Bands will play unamplified and without built stages, breaking down any barriers between the crowd and performers.
The bands range in size from four to forty members, all diverse in age, ethnicity, and musical background. They represent various performance traditions, including New Orleans second line brass, European klezmer, Balkan and Romani music, and festivals such as Mardi Gras and Brazilian Carnaval.
HONK!TX is made possible by the wholehearted support of neighborhood associations, local businesses, city officials, and other community members. Volunteers will provide housing, transportation, and their time at the festival.
The festival has raised funds from over 230 individual donations through a kickstarter.com campaign. Wheatsville Food Co-op, Whole Foods Market, and SXSW are major sponsors along with fiscal and in-kind support from numerous other local businesses.
The HONK!TX Organizing Committee is comprised of the Minor Mishap Marching Band, Austin's own community street band, and iLoveMikeLitt, a local arts and culture group.
More information, including full band lineup, locations and hours, is available at
http://www.honktx.org
MINOR MISHAP MARCHING BAND is a 25 piece renegade circus brass band. They are an absurd expression of boisterous pandemonium Bourbon street meets Budapest.
http://minormishap.com
Produced by Jeff Zavala.
A ZGraphix production.
http://zgraphix.org
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
