2009 March 17 | VivirLatino

Archive for March 17th, 2009

Communities of Color hit hardest by economic downturn

8:40 pm By la Macha · Cities|economy|Women|youth · Comments Off

17 Mar 2009

Democracy Now! has a really good show today–the first segment in particular was really good. We all know that communities of color are hit hardest by economic recessions–generally, we all are surviving on a day to day basis, so when something harder hits, we go into tailspin. The DN interview showed very clearly how this crisis is not just hitting communities of color hardest, but how the stimulus package may continue the downfall of our communities.

MAYA WILEY: But the other is, we’re going to stimulate jobs through the recent stimulus act through construction, right? I mean, a big part of that is “shovel ready,” projects that are ready to start digging in order to get those construction jobs going, to get people working, to get money flowing into the economy. Well, blacks and women of all races are deeply underrepresented in the construction trades. So if we’re stimulating those jobs, we’re not actually stimulating jobs for the communities that have the highest unemployment rates, unless—unless—unless we learn from some of the lessons of cities like Los Angeles, where both the city and the unions really took leadership in making sure that they got tracked people of color, women into apprenticeship programs, so that when those construction contracts came, there were real community benefits. That’s the model that’s very important, and our implementers, our public officials that are going to be looking at stimulus implementation, should also be taking the leadership to demand, for example, that 30 percent of the jobs that are part of the construction jobs that are stimulated go to people who are living at poverty level at the time that they’re hired.

AMY GOODMAN: I’m always amazed when we hear unemployment numbers. They say they could hit double digits, when the

unemployment figures for African Americans that are over 12.6 percent—in some communities, young black men at 50 percent.

MAYA WILEY: Correct. If you look at the demographic, particularly for black and Latino males between the ages of eighteen and twenty-five, those statistics can get as high as 50 percent in some communities. And I think nationally it’s in the high twenties. So we’re talking about communities where you literally have no economy that is supporting those communities.

Here’s the segment if you want to watch it:

You can also read it here.

Natasha Richardson gravely injured in accident

8:13 pm By la Macha · Celebrities|Entertainment · Comments Off

17 Mar 2009

Natasha Richardson is one of my favorite actresses. She is clean and understated–she can convey meaning with just the way her eyelids open and close. And she’s married to one of my few male crushes, Liam Neeson.

But even if she was a horrible actress, this news would still be pretty upsetting:

The actress, 45, suffered a devastating head injury Monday in a freak skiing accident outside of Montreal. Neeson immediately left the Toronto set of his latest film, Chloe, to be with his wife.

According to representatives of Sacre-Coeur Hospital in Montreal, the couple of 15 years departed together by ambulance at 12:30 Tuesday. Richardson was spotted on the yellow stretcher by a reporter from the Toronto Star, which published the account. The couple were then taken to Elliott Trudeau Airport for a private jet flight to New York, arriving Tuesday evening. They have a home in Manhattan and another outside the city.

According to sources, friends and family members gathered for a vigil in New York to be with Richardson. It was not immediately known whether she was being taken to a hospital or to her home.

Some websites (which won’t be linked) are already reporting her death and/or speculating that she has irreversible brain damage–which is the last thing she and her family need right now. I’m all for a little celebrity gossip, but when it comes to serious things like death, life and death choices, and kids–gossip sites need to STFU or offer some prayers and good thoughts.

Please keep Natasha and her family in your thoughts.

A-Rod Goes Gayish (For a Photo Shoot)

17 Mar 2009

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A-Rod might be yesterday’s news for Madonna (who is allegedly now living with her Latin lover Brasileiro Jesus Luz), but Madge’s ex-lover doesn’t look like he’s sulking. In the photo above, A-Rod loses all inhibitions to appeal to Details magazine’s main demographic: gay guys.

But wait, who’s that hot guy A-Rod is getting all kissy with? Oh, it’s…his own reflection! WTF?

I like the photography, and you gotta hand it to A-Rod for being bold enough to do a shoot like this. Baseball is a man’s game and it takes some guts to shake off all that machismo. Way to go, A-Rod!

Via / Details

Mexican City Outlaws Catcalls

17 Mar 2009

cat_calls Hot on the heels of Guanajuato, Mexico’s banning of public displays of affection comes another strange local law: the city of Culiacán has decided to fine anyone caught shouting “piropos” — catcalls — to women on the street. The anti-piropo law is just one in a series of measures designed to promote morality in the city:

The new law “Police and Good Government” that went into effect yesterday (Monday) in this city provides for economic sanctions for those who catcall, encourage or allow the viewing of pornographic websites in cybercafés and those who leave children under 12 years of age alone in parked vehicles. In addition, the law will also apply to those who do not paint the fronts of their homes and those who play live music loudly at house parties.

Some of these measures seem crazy, others sound about right, but the combination of all of these things is RANDOM. Was there suddenly an outbreak in Culiacán of catcalling, porno-looking, child-leaving and non-painting and the city council just had to put a stop to all of it? And why not fine those playing taped music loudly?

In any case, I wouldn’t worry so much about these social ills, since the first thing that comes to mind — at least to my mind — when I hear the name Culiacán is narcotráfico.

Via / El Universal

Submit a Session Proposal to the Allied Media Conference

11:48 am By Maegan la Mamita Mala · Detriot|Events · Comments Off

17 Mar 2009

VivirLatino loves the Allied Media Conference because it’s about what we do, independent, activist media making. Pero you can get in on the act by attending, participating, and shaping what this year’s AMC will look like.

From Nadia Abu-Karr:

PLEASE CROSSPOST AND FORWARD FAR AND WIDE!

Session Proposal Deadline April 3rd!

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Friends,

We’re excited to let you know that you can now Register for the 2009 Allied Media Conference. We recommend you do so right away so that you can cross that off your AMC to-do list and focus your energy on designing all the
ground-breaking workshops/panel discussions/caucuses/strategy sessions that you want to see happen at this year’s conference.

Watch this inspirational PSA about grassroots fundraising and jump right in to planning a fundraiser in your town that will allow you to bring your whole crew to Detroit — and you don’t have to leave the kids at home! This will be the most inter-generational AMC yet.

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Propose a session!

The first thing you should do, especially if you’ve never attended the AMC, is check out past year’s programs and familiarize yourself with the kinds of sessions AMC participants are looking for.

At the AMC you will find sessions that engage people in:
hands-on media-making
using media for community-building, organizing, and action
educating with media, both in and beyond the classroom
expanding our access to distribution networks (radio, the Internet,
television, etc.)
conversations about the future of our media and social movements
building and sharing open source and DIY technology tools
economic sustainability for our organizations and communities
forming new models of leadership and leadership development

There are four kinds of sessions:

Workshops: These run the gamut in terms of topics. We love “how-to” workshops, from both an introductory to an advanced level. We encourage presenters to think creatively about how to make content as accessible as possible (for example, how to video-blog if you don’t have a mac, or if the library is your primary source for internet access).
Panel Discussions: Moderators of panels need to draw out essential ideas and questions from panelists and then bring the room of AMC participants into the discussion.
Film Presentations: We give preference to sessions that explain how a video is being used for social and political transformation.
Caucuses and Meet-Ups: The AMC is an opportunity for people with a common interest to come together and strategize. Explain what you want
to base your caucus around and we’ll do our best to support it.

Session topics: Arts & Culture, Print, Radio, Video, Photo, Web, Media Policy, Economics and Sustainability, Strategy & Infrastructure

We like sessions that:
are interactive and creative
share successful strategies that will work for other conference participants; it has to be more than just a showcase for a project
build off ideas from past AMCs or other conferences
are particularly relevant to the conference vision (Please read it before submitting a proposal)
are collaborations across multiple organizations
are friendly to all ages from infants to elders

**New this year:**
A “smart classroom” with computers, cameras, a green screen, and some other fun things which will allow for more hands-on technical
workshops.
A team of educators who will offer support to any presenter wanting to translate complex academic or technical ideas into interactive
popular education activities.

The conference organizers make final decisions on conference programming based on the vision statement, the proposals and suggestions from this form, the input of the track advisory boards, and our financial and logistical capacity.

Submit a session proposal ! Session Proposal Deadline April 3rd!

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Have You Proposed A Session for the AMC Kids’ Track Yet?

The deadline for Allied Media Conference proposals is quickly approaching, but there’s still time before April 3rd to submit your proposal!

Now in its second year, the Kids’ Track is a children-centered space which recognizes kids as media makers by providing them with the skills to create media work influenced by their own points of view. Last year, sessions included Print Making, Street Art for Kids, and Letter Writing as Activism. Other popular activities included theater games, painting with water colors and a discussion about school and education. We like sessions that are hands on, engaging, artistic and that provide opportunities for participants to learn and teach.

Session proposals can be submitted through the Allied Media Conference website: http://alliedmediaconference.org/propose. Please include what age range your session is for in your proposal.

Parents, if you’re thinking of coming to the AMC with children please register or get in touch early to help us plan the best kid’s track yet! This helps us get an idea of the number of kids and age ranges to expect.

Cell Phone Bills Through the Roof, Consumers Look for Options

10:42 am By Jennifer Woodard Maderazo · economy|Money|Telecomm · Comments Off

17 Mar 2009

sticker-shock In this time of economic difficulty, it seems that more and more people are getting the short end of the stick when it comes to paying what’s fair for the basics — which in this day and age means a cell phone. I’ve had my fair share of through-the-roof cell phone bills myself, but a report in The Christian Science Monitor this week made my jaw drop: according to a consumer advocacy group, cell users in San Diego are paying a whopping $3.00 per minute for their calls. Excessive text messaging can also make your bill go through the roof. Are unlimited cell phone plans the answer? It depends on your usage, according to experts.

This average is driven up by a small slice of consumers who buy large plans but rarely use them. If you cut out these big-spenders, the average falls somewhere between 50 cents and $1 per minute – far more than the “10 cents a minute” claim made in many ads.

That means if you are a big talker/texter an unlimited plan is the way to go. But if you aren’t, you’ll be selling yourself short.

I experienced sticker shock a few years back when I went over my minutes on my cell phone: a $300 bill was my punishment for not watching the clock. That decreased when I went on an unlimited plan but the problem was I wanted to use the Internet, and an unlimited data plan was also really expensive on my carrier. I sucked it up and paid — and continue to pay.

As people start looking for creative ways to cut costs, some are turning to pre-paid cell phones. That sector has reportedly grown some 13% this year, as a result of the economic downturn.

If I weren’t on contract with another company, I’d be interested in this offer, which came to us via Boost Mobile, and that you might find attractive as well: an unlimited plan WITH Internet for only $50. Check it out.

Are you cutting back on your cell phone use as a result of the recession? Let us know what you think in the comments.

Via / Chicago Tribune

14 Years Later NYC Police Brutality Case Gets A Chance in Court

9:42 am By Maegan la Mamita Mala · Activism|Justice|New York City · 3 Comments

17 Mar 2009

anthony_hilton
Bronx Civil Court is not the ideal venue for Margarita Rosario to seek justice for her son, Anthony Rosario, and nephew, Hilton Vega. Civil court won’t send the killers to jail and it certainly will not return her family to her. Pero when a grand jury declines to indict the and federal investigations reportedly reviewing the case seemingly lead nowhere, you take what you can to speak the truth.

14 years ago (January 12, 1995), the lives of the 18 and 21 year old Puerto Rican young men, were violently taken from them thanks to Detectives Patrick Brosnan and James Crowe of the 46th precinct.

The details of the case are gruesome and show the levels of depravity that racist police violence can reach. Brosnan and Crowe, who at one points in their careers were bodyguards to once NYC Mayor and presidential wannabe Rudolph Giuliani, shot Rosario and Vega execution style. Independent pathologists and an investigation by the NYC Civilian Complaint Review Board (CCRB) showed that all the bullets were fired from behind the victims; that both Rosario and Vega had bullets entry wounds under their arms, indicating that their hands were raised; and that they had sustained wounds to the backs of their heads, torso and back. Rosario was shot 14 times and Vega was shot 8 times.

The CCRB found that the detectives had used excessive force, but when its report was sent to the police commissioner, he ignored the CCRB’s substantiation of the charges. This undermined the CCRB by exposing its lack of power. Detective Brosnan was allowed to retire – without facing departmental charges – with benefits, including a disability pension after he claimed hearing damage suffered during the shooting of the young men.

The Rosario-Vega case happened under Giuliani time, which for many families of color in NYC meant mourning time as more and more of their young people were killed. Anibal Carasquillo, Yong Xin Huang, Anthony Baez, Frankie Arzuaga, Aswan Watson and on and on. Pero out of that mourning came organizing and community building led by the mothers of those who were killed.

Now Anthony Rosario’s mother needs support. She is reliving the pain of losing her son and nephew and hearing the lies put forth by the police.

Those interested in court support please contact justicecommittee@ gmail.com and/or call 212-614-5343

More information on the case is available at: Reality Films-Justifiable Homicide and the Justice Committee .

El Salvador Meet Your President Elect

7:29 am By Maegan la Mamita Mala · El Salvador|Politics · 1 Comment

17 Mar 2009

mauriciofunes
Ending 20 years of rule by the right wing ARENA party, Mauricio Funes of the Farabundo Marti Front for National Liberation (FMLN) won the presidential election, held this past Sunday, in El Salvador.

“Today, the citizenship that believed in hope and defeated fear has
triumphed. In the wake of an aggressive campaign, he promised to “cast aside
confrontation and the spirit of vengeance. My government will be based on the spirit of national unity,” Funes said.

The official count has Fulnes winning 51.3 percent of the vote against 48.7 percent.

The ARENA candidate, Rodrigo Avila, ran with ads linking Fulnes and his party, which were the Marxist rebels during the long, bloody Salvadorian civil war, with Hugo Chavez and Cuba, trying to inspire a new level of red fear that the voting public didn’t fall for.

Amy Goodman of Democracy Now, interviewed our amigo Roberto Lovato, the son of Salvadorian immigrants and a journalist who is in El Salvador.

“Let the joy come and wash away the suffering.” It’s something on an order I’ve never seen in my life. As a child of Salvadoran immigrants and as someone who’s spent time here and as someone who saw the Obama experience, I really can’t tell you what this is like, when you’re talking about ending not just the ARENA party’s rule, but you’re talking about 130 years of oligarchy and military dictatorship, by and large, that’s just ended last night. You’re talking about $6 billion that the United States used to defeat the FMLN, as you mentioned earlier. You’re talking about one of the most formidable — a formerly political military, now political forces, in the hemisphere, showing the utter failure of not just the ARENA party but of somebody in particular, too, who has a special place in many of our hearts: Ronald Reagan. This is the defeat of Ronald Reagan, nothing less.

Via / New York Times and Alternet

Maegan La Mala: Hola Juliana and thanks for commenting. There is a dearth in activist/critical thinking Latino blogg [...]

Julio Ricardo Varela: Good for you for asking. I got goose bumps just reading this and yes, yes, yes, to it all. Thank you [...]

julianabritto: The sense that I get is that you might feel a little frustrated at the dearth in activist bloggers? [...]

Maegan La Mala: Hola Ray and thank you for commenting. You are spot on when you say that both parties will exploit u [...]

AngryLatino: Great question! One thing we need to all be very aware of is that throughout this election year, bot [...]

VivirLatino

Archive for March 17th, 2009

Communities of Color hit hardest by economic downturn

Natasha Richardson gravely injured in accident

A-Rod Goes Gayish (For a Photo Shoot)

Mexican City Outlaws Catcalls

Submit a Session Proposal to the Allied Media Conference

Cell Phone Bills Through the Roof, Consumers Look for Options

14 Years Later NYC Police Brutality Case Gets A Chance in Court

El Salvador Meet Your President Elect

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