Leonard Peltier - Parole Hearing

The following update comes from Who Is Leonard Peltier.

In spite of scorching temps and humidity, there were several hundred people who attended and waited for several hours until attorney Eric Seitz came out and addressed the crowd.

He said the FBI did not have anything new to say but that he was able to present some additional evidence on Leonard's behalf to the board. Leonard spoke with the board and answered questions for 1-1/2 hours.

The hearing officer said he would look over his documentation and make a recommendation within 24-48 hours, at which time the parole board has up to 3 weeks to make a final determination.

Leonard has expressed his thanks for all of the efforts made on his behalf today. Eric Seitz said he feels "optimistic."

Rally calls for justice for Leonard Peltier

Protesters lined the southwest corner of Route 15 and William Penn Drive to fight for the release of Leonard Peltier as his second parole hearing was held Tuesday afternoon.

“The reason we are here is to bring attention to the illegal, immoral and unjust incarceration of Leonard Peltier that has been going on for 35 years,” said Dave Hill, organizer of the protest. “Today, there is a parole hearing, and he could be freed this time. We are here in solidarity with the people trying to free him, and we are here in solidarity with Leonard Peltier.”

The Daily Item has the full article.

Free Leonard Peltier

Leonard Peltier (born September 12, 1944) is an American activist and member of the American Indian Movement (AIM) who was convicted and sentenced in 1977 to two consecutive terms of life imprisonment for the murder of two Federal Bureau of Investigation agents who were killed during a 1975 shootout on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation.

Peltier's conviction sparked great controversy and has drawn criticism from a number of sources. Numerous appeals have been filed on his behalf; none of the resulting rulings have been made in his favor.

Peltier is considered by some to be a political prisoner and has received support from individuals and groups including Nelson Mandela, Rigoberta Menchú, Amnesty International, the U.N. High Commissioner on Human Rights, the Zapatista Army of National Liberation, Tenzin Gyatso (the 14th Dalai Lama), the European Parliament, the Belgian Parliament, the Italian Parliament, the Kennedy Memorial Center for Human Rights, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, and Rev. Jesse Jackson.

Peltier's next parole hearing is scheduled to be held on July 28, 2009

(Wikipedia)

Many thanks to Native Village for the image.

Tiananmen Square, 20 Years Later

June 4th, 2009, marked the 20th anniversary of the military crackdown on student protesters gathered in Tiananmen Square in Beijing, China.

Beginning in April of 1989, thousands of students and other citizens started gathering in groups large and small, protesting many issues, centered on a desire for freedom and democratic reform.

By mid-May of 1989, hundreds of thousands of protesters occupied the square, staging hunger strikes, and asking for dialogue.

Chinese authorities responded with a declaration of martial law, and sent soldiers and tanks from the People's Liberation Army, preparing to disperse the crowds.

Late on June 3rd, 1989, the tanks and armored personnel carriers rolled into the square, killing and wounding many, mostly civilians - estimates vary widely, from several hundred to several thousand dead.

See the full set of images in the article by Alan Taylor on The Big Picture.

Join the Internet Blackout - Protest Against Guilt Upon Accusation Laws in NZ

As the natural world meets the digital opportunities are opening up for artists to connect with new audiences across the world. However, with the digitisation of media the lines between use and copy have become blurred.

Laws regulating the act of copying have failed to keep pace with technology and soon ISPs will be forced to take down internet connections and websites of anyone accused (not convicted) of copyright infringement.

Copyright law is now having the effect of limiting artists, restricting businesses, and harming public rights.

The Creative Freedom Foundation speaks for artists concerned at this trend and through Our Goals we seek to bring Copyright Law into the 21st Century.

Blackout against Guilt Upson Accusation Laws.

Check out this site as it gives you instructions on how to black out Facebook, Bebo, Twitter and others.

Mistress.

Chill the F@#k Out - NSFW

I must say I am quite fascinated with Obama.

I've never followed the American government so closely except to laugh hysterically at G.W. I suppose.

I hope Obama can do great things.

Mistress

Let's Play Naughty Nurse

The Bush Doctrine

I have a Dream

Senators

Nine Out of Ten Doctors Agree...

Thanks Reddit.

Soldiers Going to War

This has to be one of the most disturbing images i've seen in ages. They look like sheep in a truck off to the slaughter house - Mistress

Freedom

When Bush met Bob Geldof

Bob Geldof gave President George Bush a copy of his book “Geldof in Africa" during a recent flight on Air Force One.

“Who wrote this for ya, Geldof?” joked Dubya.

Quick as flash Saint Bob replied: “Who will you get to read it for you, Mr President?”

Bush vs. Clinton