8:04 am By Maegan la Mamita Mala · Gaza|holidays|israel|military|Palestine|Violence · 2 Comments
31 May 2010For some, Memorial Day is the unofficial start of summer. I know I have been taking advantage of the warm weather and feeling how the summer heat burns away through winter depression and doubt. Others, take the day, a holiday set aside to remember those who have lost their lives in the name of the United States. I have flipped through the television watching flags placed on the graves of fallen soldiers.
I count myself as among the somewhat lucky, that with a few family members in the military, I have not lost anyone. So maybe that’s why my memorial day will not be the same as yours. My mind will not wrap itself in red white and blue when so many soldiers who die do so because they were promised a piece of ownership over the U.S. flag via coveted citizenship or residence for their familias.
I will light candles for los muertos hoy, pero I do that everyday. Maybe of equal importance is lighting candles for those who are still alive and struggling with the choices that appear before them. Today, Free Speech Radio News is highlighting a report that they did on military recruitment in Brooklyn. Hearing young people of color speak about how their options are presented to them is nothing new for me. I, like the youth featured in the report, see military recruiters in the busy subway stations. I walk by, holding my three year old daughter’s hand, feeling a little more than helpless as a mouth “don’t do it” to the young people being sweet talked. I make loud comments as I walk to catch my train to work about how youth are being manipulated.
Read more…
8:13 am By Maegan La Mala · Activism|media justice|Palestine|TV · Comments Off
1 Feb 2009The BBC wouldn’t show this pero we (and others) will.
There are a number of organizations accepting donations for Gaza relief: Doctors Without Borders (US), Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) (International), the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), and the Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS).
Via / Suburban Guerrilla, Wampum
7:46 am By Maegan La Mala · Colombia|Palestine|Politics|Quicklinks · Comments Off
17 Jan 2009It’s still pretty cold here in the big mango, so grab something warm and read a little of what I’m reading this morning.
Labor Secretary nominee Representative Hilda Solis Sails Through Senate Confirmation Hearing.
10 FARC Hostages were Rescued in Colombia.
Is there a ceasefire in the works for Gaza?
11:22 am By Maegan La Mala · Palestine|Puerto Rico · Comments Off
16 Jan 2009
The island of Vieques, part of Puerto Rico, is no stranger to being used as a colonial target. For almost 60 years, the island, whose economy is based on fishing, was used as a bombing range for live ammunition, shelling, strafing, and illegal chemicals such as napalm and depleted uranium, contributing to deaths, injuries and a cancer rate among Viequenses which is 26.9% higher than the rest of Puerto Rico, all thanks to the U.S. Navy.
Thanks to a huge grassroots movement, Vieques is no longer used for U.S. military experiments (although it’s future is still uncertain)and it from that history of struggle linked to a wider anti-colonial struggle that Vieques has expressed it’s solidarity with Palestine.
“Viequenses join the call for peace in Palestine”.
On Saturday, petitions were sent from Vieques to President Bush, President-Elect Obama and to Puerto Rico Governor Fortuño urging them to join the world-wide outcry for a cease fire in the Gaza Strip. The petitions were signed by almost 400 residents of Vieques in only 24 hours and express the solidarity of the people of Vie ques with the people of Palestine who are suffering a huge humanitarian crisis. During the last two weeks, more than 900 people have be en killed in Gaza, including more than 200 children; more than 4000 have been injured. More than 10 Israelis have died; some were soldiers killed by “friendly” fire.
Read the official statement, in Spanish after the jump.
The horrors in Gaza continue unabated. The following is a segment from an interview a Palestinian professor who is living in Gaza right now gave:
I STRONGLY believe the United Nations, the European Union, the Arab League–really, the international community at large–have failed the Palestinian people.
I think the example of the United Nations Security Council resolution issued yesterday, that called for a durable and respected cease-fire, is a good example. It treats the whole issue as if there are two sides–as if you have two equal armies at war.
Israel has killed more than 830 people and injured more than 3,000 people so far. Israel is a colonizing power. It is based on deep-rooted racism, and it has reoccupied parts of the Gaza Strip. And the Security Council acts as if there are two equal parties that have to declare a cease-fire.
That is why I strongly believe we can’t count on the international community any longer. I think the UN Security Council and the international community in general reflect the balance of power, and that balance of power is still in favor of the U.S. and Israel.
I can’t separate the United States and American imperialism from Israel and Zionism. And that’s why I see the war conducted against us now as part of the Bush Doctrine. This is part of what Condoleezza Rice called “the birth pangs of a Middle East” out of what she called “creative destruction.” I think that’s exactly what is happening right now.
Read the whole thing here
9:17 am By Maegan La Mala · Palestine|Politics|Venezuela · Comments Off
12 Jan 2009
Venezuela’s President Hugo Chavez has been showered with praise here in comments after he kicked out the Israeli Ambassador. Jordanians were so impressed with his move, that they sent him flowers.
Who else is Chavez looking to expel? U.S. Embassy officials.
The statement is the full text of Marcos’ speech on Gaza, given at the World Festival of Dignified Rage on January 4th. As Jen wrote Monday, the EZLN is celebrating their 15th anniversary through the Festival of Dignified Rage. In his statement, Marcos specifically addresses how the war crimes of Israel will create a new generation of dignified rage in Palestine.
Read the entire statement after the jump.
8:00 am By Maegan La Mala · Activism|Colombia|Gaza|Palestine · Comments Off
8 Jan 2009While I know some readers don’t appreciate the connection I made between U.S. colonialism in Latin America and what is happening in Gaza, in Latin American protests against the continuing massacre of people in Gaza, the connections are being made.
The Colombian blog Equinoxio has some images and audio from a march on Tuesday in the capital city of Bogotá.

10:29 am By Maegan La Mala · Gaza|israel|Palestine · 8 Comments
7 Jan 2009
While the message that many are parroting, even in comments here and everywhere in the mainstream media, is that the Israeli assault on the people of Gaza is an act of self-defense. As if a nation who is propped up gracias to the patronage of the United States needs that much defense against hand made rockets from people who right now are burying their children. Explain to me how bombing a United Nation school full of refugee children is an act of self defense and not an act of showing extreme power, of sending the message to the people of Gaza that “We will kill your children”.
VivirLatino is a daily publication published by Mamita Mala Media, dedicated to featuring all the latest politics, culture, entertainment of interest to the diverse Latin@ diaspora.
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