Politics

Solution City is Where it’s at this June

Written by George Garza

For those of you who don’t know, Detroit, MI is the capital of the economic crisis as far as industry is concerned. The fall of the auto companies based out of what is widely known as “Motor City” has had a catastrophic effect on the community, leaving many homes abandoned as Detroit’s employment rate continues to fall.

However dire the situation may seem, there is a momentum brewing in Detroit that is lighting fires for social change around the nation and globe. The focus of efforts to deal with these issues, in the minds of the community organizers, starts locally first. By building back the local economy from the ground-up, the people of Detroit are… Read more

Politics

Anti-immigrant Movement’s Wicked Witch Tells Supporters to “Lock and Load”

Written by Jill Garvey

Amid tea parties and a re-emergence of white militia activity, notorious anti-immigrant leader Barbara Coe is preparing her supporters for a fight. In an email she sent out that was eventually posted on an anti-immigrant listserv, Coe wrote:

Fellow American Patriots…

“Hate/Destroy America Commie/Muslim OBAMA” has loosed his KILLERS on law-abiding American patriot Sheriff JOE ARPAIO.

It is the responsibility of EVERY LAW-ABIDING AMERICAN PATRIOT who gives a damn about YOUR LIFE or the lives of YOUR loved ones, to STAND IN DEFENSE of JOE ARPAIO – HERE AND NOW! HE is OUR law enforcement Representative NATIONWIDE!

I have made my verbal and monetary commitment to SHERIFF JOE ARPAIO. I hope and pray

… Read more

Politics

Anti-immigrant Groups Featured at Tea Party Events

Written by Cloee Cooper

Today, affiliates of the anti-immigrant John Tanton Network will be given the platform at multiple tea party events nationwide, as will a few of their nativist allies.

Corresponding to tax day, anti-immigrant group ALI-PAC organized Tea Party Against Amnesty and Illegal Immigration events from April 15-17 in 52 locations nationwide. When ALI-PAC coordinated similar tea party events on November 14, 2009, they featured several speakers affiliated with the Tanton Network. ALI-PAC is designated as a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center.

Congressman Tom Tancredo, founder of the Tanton-affiliated House Immigration Reform Caucus, and William Gheen, president of ALI-PAC, will be guest speakers at numerous Tea Party events. Tancredo will appear… Read more

Politics

Tea Party Future as Predictable as the Weather

Written by Sarah Viets

On the eve of Tea Party madness, hundreds of rallies are planned across the nation -nine in greater St. Louis, MO alone. In preparation for the big rally tea party goers are carpooling to Washington D.C. to participate in the second national tea party protest.

The festivities officially begin this Thursday, April 15, and will continue throughout the weekend. Currently, there are two major events planned for the day around the nation’s Capitol. Tea Party Express, Tea Party Nation, Resistnet.com, Michigan Sovereignty, along with eight other groups are hosting a “People’s Tax Revolt” at the Freedom Plaza. Tea Party Express is also starting the day off with a press conference at the National Press Club… Read more

Culture

Artists Against Anti-immigrant Bigotry

Written by Imagine 2050 Editors

Attention New York City Artists! Throw an event and stand up for justice at the same time. We’re looking for 25 events in the NYC-area to sponsor through April 21st.

Artists have historically been at the forefront of countering bigotry in the United States. Now, artist communities from across the country are standing up once again to renounce hate and bigotry.

Imagine 2050 is sponsoring 25 events around NYC with $200.00 each. One of them could be yours.

The event that displays “Artists Against Anti-Immigrant Bigotry” most creatively will win an additional $500!

Politics

The March for America

Written by Axel Fuentes

The big March for America happened on March 21 in Washington D.C. where thousands of people from all around the nation gathered and marched to ask the U.S. government for immigration reform.

Working as a volunteer in the days before the big march, I held several conversations with people who were getting ready to travel to Washington D.C. It was amazing to listen to how people organized themselves in their own communities, even when they encountered many difficulties and barriers. Families got together to rent vans or find other transportation, single mothers pooled their resources for babysitting , students formed traveling groups, and hundreds of workers waited for paychecks in order to pay their way… Read more

Politics

Tea Party Harbors Dangerous States’ Rights Agenda

Written by Eric Ward

The so-called “tea party movement” is actually made up of a number of factions, including Tea Party Patriots, Tea Party Express, and the Tea Party Nation, that have latched onto the concept as a way of attracting attention and pushing a political agenda that has so far relied on old fashion racism, intimidation, and sometimes violence.

Alongside operatives of the Republican Party, neo-confederates, and anti-immigrant activists the tea party movement is drawing support from “States Rights” supporters. In fact a cursory search of the terms “states rights” and “tea party” turns up numerous examples of Tea Party leaders defending the concept and the right of states… Read more

Health

Bottled Water Can Hurt You, Your Wallet and the Environment

Written by Imagine 2050 Editors

This article was originally posted on AlterNet by Jeff Deasy.

From chemicals in plastic bottles to contaminants found in popular brands, it’s a wonder people consider bottled water a healthier option.

“Ever wonder about those people who spend $2 apiece on those little bottles of Evian water? Try spelling Evian backward.” -George Carlin

Millions of Americans have taken to drinking water from plastic bottles in the belief that it is safer than tap water, leading them to pay 1,000 times as much for their drinking water. But evidence from scientific studies shows that bottled water is no less contaminated than tap. Jane Houlihan, Senior Vice President for Research for the Environmental Working Group

… Read more

Politics

Cross-post: How Glenn Beck and Fox News spread the militia message

Written by Imagine 2050 Editors

Eric Boehlert of Media Matters for America wrote a compelling piece on the significance of April 19 to far-right militia groups, and the connection between their potential for violence and the rhetoric spewed by Glenn Beck on FOX News.

Reading last week’s disturbing news accounts about the Midwestern arrest of nine alleged members of a Christian militia known as the Hutaree, a group whose members were reportedly planning to kill cops in order to spark a wider, armed revolt against the U.S. government, I noticed this nugget [emphasis added]:

FBI agents moved quickly against Hutaree because its members were planning an attack sometime in April,

… Read more

Politics

FDA Has Little Control Over Food Safety

Written by Amy Spicer

A new government report shows an alarming weakness in the Food and Drug Administration’s food inspection program, which oversees over 80% of the U.S. food supply.

More than half of food manufacturing plants haven’t seen an inspection for five years while the FDA overall inspects less than a quarter of U.S. food facilities each year. With 51,000+ facilities the FDA regulates it could seem daunting. But with the breakdown in the system the U.S. is shouldering $152 billion in health related expenses due to contaminated food.