CitizenSugar -- Breaking News, Together.

Code Pink Socks It To Bush With Shoe Protest

LibertySugar — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 09:30:41 -0800

It was only a matter of time before Bush's opponents at home took advantage of last weekend's shoe attack to highlight their frustration with the President. Code Pink, the infamous group of women for peace, gathered outside the White House and in Berkeley, CA yesterday to hold a "Farewell Kiss Shoe-In" for President Bush.

Just like the Iraqis, who gathered in the streets carrying shoes to show their solidarity with the jailed journalists, the women of Code Pink picked up, or untied, the latest symbol of dissent. One member explained the group's motivation:

"It's outrageous that al-Zaidi could get two years in prison for insulting George Bush, when Bush is directly responsible for the deaths of 1.5 million Iraqis and 4,200 U.S. troops, and 5 million displaced Iraqis. The one who should be in jail is George Bush, and he should be charged with war crimes."

While the shoe demonstration could be seen as a little predictable, perhaps Bush only invited it when he said about his attacker, "I don't know what the guy's cause is." With banners dedicating shoes to the "widows, orphans and those killed in Iraq," Code Pink offered Bush an explanation. Check out the pics from the White House protest.

Source

Thailand Protesters Shut Down Airport and Tourist Economy

LibertySugar — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 10:00:59 -0800

Thailand's opposition is set to form a new government, after protesters help wrestle power from the prime minister. Thai courts banished PM Somchai Wongsawat from politics thanks to electoral fraud. Shutting down Bangkok's airport proved to be the most successful protest tactic, but it also left 300,000 foreign travelers stranded.

The timing of the airport blockade couldn't have been worse, as it came during the holiday season. Tourism makes up 12 percent of the Thailand's GDP. Since the country just started to recover from the tourism slump following 2004 tsunami, it would be a shame if the latest blow leaves long-term economic damage, too. Check out these pics of Thailand's empty, but beautiful, resorts.

Source

Front Page: Strike Kills Taliban Leader, Protesters Attack UN in Congo, AIDS Treatment Should Start Sooner

CitizenSugar — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 07:00:26 -0700

Strike Kills Taliban Leader:
An missile strike thought to be from the US has killed 20, including a top Taliban commander in Pakistan. Mohammed Omar was killed when the missile, fired from a pilotless drone, hit his compound in South Waziristan. Omar fought with the Taliban in the late 1990s. The US has launched an increasing number of missile strikes from Afghanistan against suspected militants.

Protesters Attack UN in Congo:
Thousands of protesters attacked the UN headquarters in eastern Congo today rallying against the UN peacekeeping force that has been unable to protect residents from rebel attacks that have forced tens of thousands to flee. Thousands of refugees continued to flee as protesters threw rocks at the UN compound.

AIDS Treatment Should Start Sooner:
A new study recommends that people who have the AIDS virus should start treatment sooner than current guidelines suggest. Delaying treatment until the immune system is badly damaged almost doubles the risk of dying in the next few years. There was a 70 percent improvement in patients who started therapy early. Approximately 56,000 Americans are infected with HIV every year.

Source

Front Page: Protesters Trap Thai Legislators, Fed Considers Plan to Buy Debt, Report of Western Plane Down

CitizenSugar — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 06:58:36 -0700

Thai Legislators Trapped:
Thousands of anti-government protesters surrounded the Thai Parliament today, trapping legislators inside for more than five hours. The incident followed a day of street clashes that left more than 100 people injured. The siege was an escalation of a six-week sit-in seeking to change the country’s democratic system to weaken the electoral power of the rural poor.

Fed Considers Plan to Buy Debt:
The Federal Reserve is considering a proposal to buy large amounts of unsecured short-term debt that companies use to finance daily activities. The plan is a radical move to jump start the financial system, and though it puts more taxpayer dollars in play, a radical move is seen as necessary to reinvigorate the financial system. The Dow finished below 10,000 yesterday for the first time since 2004.
Report of Western Plane Down:
Iranian news is reporting Iran has forced down a Western plane that entered its airspace. After initial reports that it was a US military plane, a claim refuted by the Pentagon, a senior Iranian official says the plane belongs to a European aid agency. Apparently the occupants of the plane have been released following questioning.

Source

Pencils Sharpened, but Back to School Boycott on in Chicago

CitizenSugar — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 07:57:07 -0700

It's back to school day for everyone from Belgian princesses to my mom (Princess Laetitia of Belgium, pictured) but not for hundreds of Chicago public school students expected to skip classes today. They're protesting the financial divide in the Illinois public school system.

Packed classrooms, old textbooks, and a dearth of technology tips the scale between schools who have and schools who ain't got it. Up to 2,000 city students are expected to try to enroll in the tonier schools in the suburbs, distinguished for their wealth and academics, even though residency in the area is required to attend. One mom says, "I don't want to send my kids to any second-class school anymore. If I have to keep my kids out for a whole month, I'm willing to do that."

The plan might do more harm than good. To see how,

Front Page: Gustav Spares New Orleans, Thailand Declares Emergency, McCain Raises $47 Million

CitizenSugar — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 06:56:08 -0700

Gustav Spares New Orleans:
Hurricane Gustav, thought Sunday to exceed the strength of Katrina, largely spared New Orleans. The city's improved levee system and mandatory evacuation order and curfew helped keep damages low. The storm was responsible for eight deaths in the US and 94 people in the Caribbean. Residents are expected to be able to return in the next few days.

Thailand Declares Emergency:
Thailand's Prime Minister has declared a state of emergency today to try to restore order after overnight clashes between protesters and government supporters left one dead and 43 injured. Though the prime minister wants to end the violence "softly," the military has power to suspend civil liberties, ban public gathering, and bar the media from reporting news that "causes panic."
McCain Raises $47 Million:
John McCain raised $47 million in the month of August, more than double his previous best month. $10 million in donations have come in since he announced Gov. Sarah Palin as his running mate. The amount comes close to Barack Obama's take for July at $51 million. At the end of the convention, the Republican campaign will get $84 million in public financing.

Source

Thousands Protest the War at the Republican Convention

CitizenSugar — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 06:00:13 -0700

While the Republicans prepared for a subdued opening to their convention, the protesters were out in full-force. An event called "March on the RNC" drew 8,000 to 10,000 people with seven arrests.

The group chanted slogans like "war is not pro-life" and displayed signs against President Bush, who canceled plans to speak at the convention because of the hurricane. The protesters paraded across St. Paul, from the state capitol to the Xcel Center, where it's expected that John McCain will accept the Republican nomination later this week.

To see video of the event,

Thousands of Mexicans Protest Kidnapping Crime Wave

CitizenSugar — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 06:00:07 -0700

In response to the rising numbers of murders and kidnappings throughout Mexico, citizens took to the streets by the hundreds of thousands this weekend to call attention to this problem. The rallies took place in all of Mexico’s 32 states and more than 150,000 gathered in Mexico city alone.

The last straw may have been earlier this week when a dozen decapitated bodies were found in the Yucatan Peninsula. This horrific incident is in addition to the 2,700 killings and 300 kidnappings already this year. The marches were designed to spur elected officials who seem either unwilling or unable to combat this crisis, to action.

To see how the protests happened,

Front Page: Thousands Protest in Thailand, Sudan Hijackers Free Hostages, Decline in Number of Uninsured

CitizenSugar — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 06:57:07 -0700

Thousands Protest in Thailand:
Thai police are trying to remove anti-government protesters who have taken over the prime minister's compound. The protesters are vowing to stay on the grounds until the prime minister, now living in self-imposed exile in London after corruption charges, steps down. The protests started yesterday with more than 30,000 people taking to the streets.

Sudan Hijackers Free Hostages:
Hijackers who seized an airplane leaving the Darfur region of Sudan yesterday have freed all 95 passengers, but six crew members remain onboard. Forcing the plane to land in Libya, one of their demands is for asylum rights and refugee status. Negotiations are ongoing to free the remaining crew members.

Decline in Number of Uninsured:
After rising for six years, the number of Americans without health insurance has dropped by more than a million. The Census Bureau reports that 45.7 million are uninsured. The drop is a result of government-sponsored health insurance programs, particularly those aimed at children. The number of people covered by private insurance continued to decline.

Front Page: 1 Million Cut Off By Floods, China Deports Protesters, Pakistan Bans the Taliban

CitizenSugar — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 07:00:49 -0700

1 Million Cut Off By Floods:
In India, more than a million people have been stranded by monsoon-season flooding. Authorities are struggling today to get aid and food to people in the stricken northern state and the government has issued a plea for relief agencies to provide food and shelter. The area's chief minister says, ''It is not a normal flood, but a catastrophe." This year's monsoons have killed 330 people so far.

China Deports Protesters:
Eight American protesters who were detained by Chinese authorities during the Olympics and given 10-day sentences, have been released six days early. The protesters were part of Students for a Free Tibet, four of them were detained for unfurling a Tibetan flag near the stadium. They were deported as the closing ceremony started.

Pakistan Bans the Taliban:
After the Taliban claimed responsibility today for one of Pakistan's worst ever terrorist attacks, Pakistan has banned the Taliban. The move shows the country is toughening its stance a week after Pervez Musharraf left power. Just 24 hours after rejecting a Taliban cease-fire offer, the ministry announced the decision sayiing, ''This organization is a terrorist organization and created mayhem against public life."

Source

Front Page: McCain Powder Not Dangerous, Iraq Withdrawal Agreed Upon, 200,000 Muslims Protest

CitizenSugar — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 06:54:24 -0700

McCain Powder Not Dangerous:
Two of McCain's campaign offices received suspicious letters and white powder yesterday — the substance has been deemed not dangerous by police and fire officials. The Denver and Manchester, NH, offices reacted quickly to the letters with Denver return addresses. Florida Gov. Charlie Crist also received a letter with powder that has been deemed nontoxic.

Iraq WIthdrawal Agreed Upon:
The US has agreed to remove combat troops from cities by next June and from the rest of Iraq by 2011. The schedule, which the Bush administration calls "aspirational goals" rather than deadlines, depends on the stability of Iraq. Ending combat operations in Iraq in less than a year didn't seem possible even a short time ago.

200,000 Muslims Protest:
Hundreds of thousands of Muslims gathered in Indian Kashmir's main city today in the largest protest against Indian rule in two months of conflict. Long lines and huge groups of people prayed and spoke as part of the protest sparked in June in a land dispute. One protester said, "This is a freedom movement, a people's movement. We are united to fight India until we get freedom." 68,000 have died in Kashmir conflicts since 1989.

Source

Elderly Chinese Women Sentenced to Hard Labor For Protests

CitizenSugar — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 03:00:40 -0700

Despite the news of sparkly gold, silver, and bronze medals raining out of China, some awards haven't been so auspicious. Despite big plans to allow dissent during the Games, not only have no protests been approved, some of those who did apply have either disappeared or were sentenced to labor re-education camps.

Who's being sent to camps? Threatening characters like two women in their late 70s who were forced from their homes in 2001 and wanted to use the Olympic opportunity to protest. On their first trip to Beijing Public Security Bureau, they were interrogated for 10 hours and then the two septuagenarians were then sentenced to one year for “disturbing the public order.” To see what the sentence means for the women,

Eco-Nudists Go Naked to Save the Planet & Paltrow's Fur Furor

CitizenSugar — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 07:46:39 -0700

Want to help the planet? Then what are you doing sitting there all dressed and everything? The newest wave in eco-activism is all natural, sans a stitch of clothing. Gwyneth Paltrow may be wishing she'd followed that example after her deal with Italian designer Tod's and resulting ad showing her wearing fox fur and fur-lined boots has earned her heat from animal rights groups.

Gwyneth has been known for her embrace of holistic practices, yoga, vegetarian husband, and pal and vegan designer, Stella McCartney — but this campaign stands to erase that cred. The director of Respect for Animals, said: "Gwyneth Paltrow should be ashamed. I can only assume that Paltrow either is ignorant of the facts or lacks human decency and compassion." Friends have even said that Gwyneth's decision will flay her close friendship with Stella McCartney.

If Gwyneth wants to get back on track, maybe she can embrace the naked eco-movement? To see the story and a cheeky protest,

Louisiana Teen Who Hung Nooses Gets Four Months in Prison

CitizenSugar — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 13:23:51 -0700

Louisiana Teen Who Hung Nooses Gets Four Months in Prison A Louisiana teenager who hung nooses off the back of his truck to intimidate a group of black civil rights demonstrators has been sentenced to four months in prison. Federal prosecutors say 19-year-old Jeremiah Munsen displayed the nooses when he drove past people who had attended a massive civil rights march in Jena on Sept. 20. Munsen had faced up to a year in prison after pleading guilty in April to a misdemeanor charge of interfering with the marchers' federally protected right to travel.

Energy Faceoffs Spark Police Raids and Surprising Couplings

CitizenSugar — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 07:58:52 -0700

Grab a Redbull, it's a big week of energy match-ups: Obama vs. McCain, Protesters vs. Police, and Pickens plus Gore?

While Barack Obama may be declaring it "energy week" in a speech in the US today, in the UK police have cracked down on a camp of eco-activists protesting a new coal-fired power station. Police made arrests today during a second raid of the campsite.

Earlier, around 200 officers raided the climate camp, taking custody of hundreds of items they said could be used to break the law. The week-long camp out is being held at the proposed site of the UK's first new coal-fired power station in 30 years.

To see their difference in opinion, plus the green team of Pickens and Gore,

Obama Gets Heckled by Crowd at Townhall in St. Petersburg

CitizenSugar — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 09:00:21 -0700

Obama appeared in front of a "feisty" crowd in St. Petersburg, FL, this morning. Midway through his opening remarks, three young, African-American men stood up behind the senator with a banner that read, "What About the Black Community, Obama?" The men heckled, the crowd booed, and Obama turned to engage with them telling them to be courteous and that they'd have their time to ask a question during the Q&A.

He kept his word. One of the hecklers asked this question:

Why is it that you have not . . . one time . . . speak to the issues and even speak on behalf of the oppressed and exploited African or black community?

Though the crowd jeered, Obama said: "I want everybody to respect him . . . he has a legitimate question."

To see Obama's response,

Does Civil Disobedience Like "Critical Mass" Inspire Change?

CitizenSugar — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 10:03:45 -0700

If you live in a city, chances are you know to avoid the streets during the last Friday of every month. That's when the event, Critical Mass, takes over with hoards of bicyclers all gathered together to ride the streets, snarling traffic, and calling attention to the plight of the two-wheeled rider. Some call it a social movement, a celebration, some a protest ride, and others, the mildly creative, "Critical Mess." Whatever the nomenclature, it's a happening that inspires passion — like this video taken at last Friday's Critical Mass ride in New York City. In the video — especially in the slow-motion replay — it appears as though the police officer approaches the bicyclist and shoves him over. The officer has since been placed on desk duty pending investigation of the incident, but the video fully encompasses the conflicting viewpoints of mass disobedience as a means to enact change. The riders intend to disrupt order. That's the means by which they make their message heard — the thought is if enough people, a critical mass of people, follow suit and subjugate the norm, the norm will be questioned. However, from those on the other end of the "conversation," the disruption caused by these methods does more to denigrate the cause than to gain followers. To those questioning why the police don't do more to control the event, and perhaps stop events like the one captured in the video, the Seattle Post Intelligencer had this to say yesterday: "police don't exactly have a hands-off policy, but they're not going to devote significant resources to the regular act of civil disobedience."Is Critical Mass the perfect example of change-inspiring civil demonstration, or is the emphasis really on "disobedience?"

Does Civil Disobedience Like "Critical Mass" Inspire Change?

CM is perfect! It's nonviolent, directly related to their message and changes behavior.

It's ridiculous to think that you'll gain sympathy to a cause by bothering everyone.

It's neither. It's just one of those things that happens in cities — not a big changer.

Other. I'll ride on into the comments.

Front Page: Huge Hole Forces Plane Landing, Nepal Police Detain 125 Tibetans, HIV Drugs Add 13 Years

CitizenSugar — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 07:00:43 -0700

Huge Hole Forces Plane Landing:
A Qantas passenger plane from London to Melbourne made an emergency landing in Manila after a giant hole was ripped in its underside. The emergency landing left all 346 passengers safe, but the nine-foot wide hole led to a loss of cabin pressure and a rough landing amid emergency preparations. Once safe on the ground, reactions of the passengers ranged from vomit to tears.

Nepal Police Detain 125 Tibetans:
Nepali police have detained 125 Tibetan refugees for attempting to storm a Chinese consular office in Kathmandu. Over 20,000 Tibetans live in Nepal and many regularly protest for the freedom of Tibet. Human Rights Watch said yesterday that Nepal was responding to pressure from China without regard for human rights with unexplained arrests and abuse in detention.
HIV Drugs Add 13 Years:
A study of 43,000 patients shows that life expectancy for people with HIV has increased by about 13 years since the last decade because of HIV treatments. Researchers liken HIV now to a chronic condition like diabetes instead of a fatal disease. The study found that a person diagnosed at 20 could expect to live for another 49 years. Meanwhile, the US House passed a bill tripling the money spent on fighting AIDS worldwide.

Source

Front Page: Hurricane Dolly Hits Texas, China to Allow Protests, Iran Says No Concessions

CitizenSugar — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 06:56:59 -0700

Hurricane Dolly Hits Texas:
Hurricane Dolly arrived on the Gulf Coast early Wednesday with heavy rain and winds ramping up before the center of the storm hits towns on the Texas-Mexico border later today. The hurricane will bring up to 15 inches of rain, threatening local levees that gave way 41 years ago in Hurricane Beulah. The National Hurricane Center said Dolly could approach Category 2 strength when it makes landfall today.

China to Allow Protests:
China has announced that protests will be allowed in three specific city parks during the upcoming Olympics. To protest, one has to apply for permission from the city government and police, and stay within the parks. The director of the Beijing committee said the parks are "close to the city proper and the Olympic venues," but didn't know how the application process would work "at this time."
Iran Says No Concessions:
The president of Iran says the country will not back down in its nuclear activities. The US, UN, and EU have instructed Iran to give an answer on the issue within two weeks or face sanctions. President Ahmadinejad responded in a televised speech, "the Iranian people are steadfast [they] will not retreat one iota in the face of oppressing powers."

Source

Front Page: Election Riot in Mongolia, Bulldozer Attack, India's Truck Drivers Strike

CitizenSugar — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 06:56:28 -0700

Election Riot in Mongolia:
In Mongolia's capital, protesters rioted over alleged election fraud destroying the ruling party's headquarters, dampening hopes for a stable government, and resulting in five deaths. President Nambariin Enkhbayar declared a four-day state of emergency late last night after the fire was set at the headquarters. The emergency announcement is the first in Mongolia's history, and allows security forces to use tear gas and rubber bullets to break up demonstrations. About 220 civilians and 108 servicemen have been injured in the clashes, with another 700 protesters detained.

Bulldozer Attack:
A Palestinian smashed a bulldozer into a bus and several cars this morning in Jerusalem, killing three people before being killed himself. The rampage left dozens injured in the city center before a police officer engaged the driver, struggling with him in the cab of the vehicle, and shooting him dead. One witness said of the attack, "I saw [the bulldozer driver] crashing cars and going into the bus... He wanted to kill as many as he could."
India's Truck Drivers Strike:
India's truck drivers are striking, keeping nearly four million trucks off the roads to protest against rising fuel costs. The Indian government has cut subsidies due to rising global prices of crude oil and passed the increase on to drivers. Oil prices have risen by 40 percent since the beginning of the year. The strike is likely to push up the prices of food and other necessities. One trucker said, "we are already running under huge losses. The cost of diesel is so high that we have nothing left to live on."

Source

Front Page: Pregnancy Pact Investigated, Israel Shows Iran Attack, 22,000 Protest in Thailand

CitizenSugar — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 07:00:04 -0700

Pregnancy Pact Investigated: Officials in Massachusetts are investigating why 17 teenage girls from the same high school have become pregnant, a number four times higher than the year before. Reports claim the girls, all under the age of 16, entered into a pact to have their babies together. No comment has been forthcoming from the girls or their families. Officials are investigating the ages of the fathers, as some are believed to be in their twenties — facing the possibility of being charged with having sex with minors. Birth rates for girls aged 15 to 17 rose by 3 percent in 2006, the first increase in the rate since 1991.

Israel Shows Iran Attack: Israel has performed what appears to be a rehearsal for an attack on Iran's nuclear facilities. More than 100 Israeli fighter jets conducted manuvers over the Mediterranean and Greece this month. Though Iran insists its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes, Israel sees Iran's development of the technology a threatening problem. The UN has demanded that Iran stop the enrichment of uranium, and approved a third round of sanctions against Iran over the issue in March 2008. A Pentagon official says of Israel's show of force, "they wanted us to know, they wanted the Europeans to know, and they wanted the Iranians to know."
22,000 Protest in Thailand: Several thousand protesters broke through a tight police seal around Thailand's seat of government today, planning to occupy the compound until the prime minister resigns. The protesters claim that Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej's government is just a proxy for former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who was ousted in a 2006 military coup. Though he's facing criminal charges for corruption, Thaksin remains a powerful figure in Thailand. Despite the huge protest, there were no immediate plans to declare a state of national emergency or martial law. Police estimated that about 22,000 people were present for the protest.

Denver Police Stock Up on Protest-Quelling Pepper Guns

CitizenSugar — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 09:00:33 -0700

Summertime in an election year means convention cities are stocking up on confetti, balloons, and. . . pepper guns? Denver police hoping to prepare against disorder are stocking up on guns that fire a peppery powder instead of bullets in case they need to disperse crowds at the Democratic National Convention.

The department recently ordered 88 Mark IV launchers and projectiles at a cost "in the low six figures," spending a mere portion of the $50 million federal security grant. The hushed details of the budgeting have the American Civil Liberties Union filing a civil lawsuit alleging the city is violating the Colorado Open Records Act.

Denver authorities say releasing the information is "contrary to the public interest" because it could compromise important tactical information hampering security.

Some organizers of protest groups think police are amassing an arsenal of extended-range tasers and weapons that cripple people with high-intensity sound. The bullet balls ordered up are filled with powder "that's like a combination of cayenne pepper and baby powder" and can incapacitate a person like pepper spray.

Should Denver have to disclose how they're dishing out their security dough — or does that defeat the purpose? Do you expect violence or protests at the conventions?

Source

80,000 Protest Beef Imports in South Korea, Government Hears

CitizenSugar — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 08:00:06 -0700

The right to assemble is alive and well in South Korea — and what's more, the government is paying attention. Between 80,000 and 100,000 people demonstrated last night in Seoul, the largest demonstration yet against a deal to resume imports of US beef into South Korea.

The South Korean President Lee Myung-bak said today his government intends to make a fresh start following the protests, and that his entire Cabinet has offered to resign in response to weeks of rallies against the incoming beef. Lee said, "I thought about a lot of things while watching protests last night. The government intends to make a start with a new determination."

Though he's concerned the Cabinet resignations might cause "a vacuum in state affairs," he has not yet said whether he will accept the resignations, but will probably reassign some ministers.

The candlelight vigil was sparked by an agreement Lee made with George Bush to resume imports of US beef, following a mad cow disease-inspired ban in 2003. What started as a trickle of small protests swelled into a torrent of anti-government street rallies that continued into the early morning, miraculously despite the passion and huge number of people, no clashes or injuries were reported.

South Korea was the third-largest overseas customer for US beef before the ban. Can you imagine a similar response to a protest in the US? Could 100,000 people protesting prompt the Cabinet to offer resignations?

Source

Sexy Shop Protesters Put "Secrets" Customers on YouTube

CitizenSugar — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 08:00:56 -0700

Shoppers looking to snap up a pair of lacy panties (not unlike those the thong bandits arrested over the weekend used) in Vacaville, CA better be prepared to have their shopping habits shown on YouTube.

Protesters have been gathering outside of Secrets Lingerie Boutique to film shoppers heading into the store because they say Secrets "is a shop that is profiting from pornography and other materials that we feel are degrading to people and exploitative."

The store sells lingerie and gifts in front and adult movies in the back. A local business owner defends the honor of the underduds store saying, "from what I've seen so far, it's no worse than Victoria's Secret, or worse than Hanes Underwear store across the way in the factory stores."

Are the panty-vigilantes, justified? To find out,

Egyptians Use Facebook to Mobilize, Government Not Happy

LibertySugar — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 10:00:31 -0700

Social networking site Facebook is getting in the way of Egypt's emergency law governance, which has not allowed more than five people to congregate unless registered for the last 25 years.

In April, young citizens used Facebook to get 80,000 supporters to protest rising food prices. Also that month, on April 6, the site spread support and increased turnout for a textile workers' strike and protest. Just yesterday, an imprisoned blogger was released, after being allegedly tortured for his alleged role in the April 6 deadly protests.

Now, the LA Times reports that Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak may shut off Facebook access in Egypt. Already, the government is warning media not to mention Facebook, while leading a defamation campaign against those who use it.

The article continues to say that the Facebook movement, which offers a safe political space, has shown that there is secular opposition in Egypt. If not ill-fated, Facebook activism may counter the agenda of President Mubarak's son Gamal, who wants to gain youth support for his succession to power.

The Internet, which helps citizens circumvent traditional repression by allowing them to meet virtually, may be the solution for a freer society in Egypt. But, considering that only 40 percent of Egyptians are literate, and much less have Internet access, online tools will most likely be only a catalyst at first.

Source

Rising Tortilla Prices Could Cause Political Unrest in Mexico

LibertySugar — Mon, 19 May 2008 10:00:20 -0700

Fearing political backlash, Mexico's government is promising citizens that it will do what it can to keep tortilla prices right where they are. According to Mexico's National Chamber for the Tortilla and Dough Industry, prices will rise 18 percent in the coming weeks.

The government, sensing troubling inflation and massive protests, is planning to offer financial support to offset the price of transportation and warehousing, according to BBC.

The high costs of corn and gasoline are causing the spike. Hording of corn by producers is also putting a strain on supply. Tortillas, being such a staple, have ability to influence Mexico's national economy. Bloomberg News reports that a 40 percent jump in tortilla prices would probably force the central bank to deliver a significant interest rate hike.

Can you think of a food staple for which an 18 percent rise in price would cause massive street protests in your neck of the woods? Is it surprising that food prices would have a direct impact on the bank's interest rates? What food would cause the government to intervene in the States?

Source

Former National Guardsman Plays Strip-Protest for Playgirl

CitizenSugar — Fri, 09 May 2008 06:00:36 -0700

We're all seeing a lot more of former Army Specialist Stewart Zamudio. He's taken it all off for Playgirl magazine in protest of the Patriot Act which he says, heh, "strips away" Americans' freedoms.

Zamudio spent six years as a National Guardsman even appearing in a TV commercial from Ground Zero for the military but slowly started to feel as though his opinions didn't jive with his mission.

He says of his time in service, "I think that there is a restriction on what you shouldn't say and what you should do and shouldn't do and how you should express yourself," he said. "I mean, you're not supposed to criticize your boss. . . And I did." He continues, "I think it's gotten too political, the war and everything. And we just have to focus. I want to change the meaning of what the American flag is to the people."

The meaning of the flag just might be different draped across his naked shoulders in the pages of the racy mag. He's also pictured in his official uniform. Critics don't like either method of covering up, nor Zamudio's message. One says, "It's a dishonor to everybody else who serves. We don't need to do that that. We don't need to look like the sorry character he's portrayed."

Zamudio received $1,000 for the shoot, money he's giving to a veteran he says needs money for medical reasons. What do you think of this protest? Is wearing his uniform and his flag in protest in a magazine like Playgirl a clever and appropriate way to sound off or does it strip both of dignity?

To see Zamudio in action (don't worry it's safe for work),

Would You Go to Tough Lengths to Boycott Chinese Goods?

LibertySugar — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 15:45:46 -0700

Considering the intimate economic ties many countries have with China, boycotting the Beijing Olympics to protest human rights violations seems like an incomplete and insincere gesture. Yet, some individuals are attempting to resist China on their own by boycotting products made in China. These conscious consumers are finding it nearly impossible to not buy China.China dominates the manufacturing market. BBC writes: Listening to your iPod. Made in China. Fiddling with your key ring. Made in China. Label on the inside of your underpants irritating you a little bit. It more than likely says "Made in China."

Even if you want to buy a TV "made" — aka assembled — in Europe, most of its parts probably come from China. And if you can find the goods, your guilt-free conscious isn't going to be free . . . or cheap. Is a consumer's hands tied when big businesses and governments decide to do lucrative business with China? Is it a luxury to make a political statement with your purchasing power? Source

Would You Go to Tough Lengths to Boycott Chinese Goods?

Yes. Money is power, and consumers should make their position known.

No. It's a lost cause; it's better to petition leaders to change policy.

No. This is strictly business, and countries should not police each other.

Sure. But, what about Western products? No country is perfect, so it's hypocritical.

Other. I'll tell you in the comments.

IOC Considers Calling Off Olympic Torch Relay

CitizenSugar — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 07:19:03 -0700

Following flame-dousing protests yesterday in Paris, the International Olympic Committee President Jacques Rogge said he was "deeply saddened" by the protests and will decide by Friday whether the torch race will continue.

The flame has just landed in San Francisco, ahead of the only US-leg of the race to be held tomorrow. (Liberty and I will be there! Look for our exclusive CitizenSugar coverage tomorrow!) If protesters scaling the Golden Gate Bridge in protest is any indication of the scope of the protests to come, it stands to be quite a story.

Should the torch relay be called off? Have the events in London and Paris shown the true international thoughts about the Beijing games?

Source

Karl Rove Gets Protested, Audience Boos, Yells "Tase 'Em"!

CitizenSugar — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 00:00:33 -0700

C-SPAN has never been this rowdy! At a speech given at the George Washington University, former Bush adviser Karl Rove received a heckling to remember. But the yells of "Tase 'Em"? Not directed at who you might expect! Check it out.

Get Flash to see this player.

"The tail and the horns are retractable." If you say so! And for the Rove quote I'm getting put on a t-shirt? "Look, I'm a myth!" Ohh, and about that "war criminal" sign? That reminds me — there's an appalling amount that we don't know about the run up to the war. Heard of "Curveball?" If not,

Paying Taxes With a Rubber Check = the Boston Tea Party?

CitizenSugar — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 06:00:00 -0700

According to the folks behind Wayne Enterprises, it's almost exactly the same. I was initially investigating bottled Holy Water (a whole story in itself) and I ran into these: Rubber Checks. Real checks made out of 1/8th inch rubber. They're supposed to work like real checks with a twist of protest.

According to the site, if you use them to pay taxes or government fine, the thicker checks will modify behavior and make the government more thoughtful. To see how,

Check This: My Peaceful Demonstration Against Protests

CitizenSugar — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 16:25:21 -0700

As I listen to the screams of sirens and shouts that are the soundtrack to our local antiwar protests, I can't help but be struck by the irony of the chaos and anarchy that surrounds the activity that is a demonstration for peace.

I'm all for the Constitutional right to freedom of speech, but I'm a bigger proponent of the efficacy of speech. In this, a republic with delusions of true democracy, we've spent the last couple hundred years developing a system of protocols and channels by which things get done. People wearing giant heads and gorilla suits aren't mentioned once.

While the dissemination of ideas is crucial to debate, one must consider the method. In rhetoric, four of the five components of persuasion are wretchedly and fundamentally absent from the typical modern social protest. I fail to see how a large group assembling with the intent to cause gridlock, disrupt peace, target entrances to buildings, and endanger public safety in a futile attempt for attention is advantageous to the message. It is irresponsibility on an incomprehensible level.

Worked up? Me too. Please,

Check This: Iraq War Protesters, I'm Listening

LibertySugar — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 16:24:40 -0700

Today's protests made me proud to be an American. In our political dialogue, sometimes the voices of everyday Americans get drowned out. While I can understand the annoying disruption caused by people blocking the busy streets with their bodies, think of how much attention and influence they would command if they did it every day.

In the last five years, 4,000 US soldiers and tens of thousands of Iraqis have died. Millions of Iraqi refugees are displaced. The war costs US tax payers $600 billion per year. Al Qaeda has entered Iraq. America's standing in the world has diminished. If the majority of Americans want something to change, they should not be complacent.

Those with a concentrated interests in the Iraq war have the incentives and means to assert such interests. The organized industries can make their case to policymakers. But the average American doesn't have the ear of those in power. That is why I think it is crucial for Americans to manifest their dissent. Only then can we know the sentiment of the people. Whether you agree or disagree, the conversation must be had.

Walking among the protesters this afternoon did not make me nervous. Everyone I saw was peaceful, yet frustrated. Check out this great video of what was going on right outside Sugar HQ.

Have a different opinion? Check out Citizen's response.

Front Page: Tibet Surrenders, Floods, McCain in Israel

CitizenSugar — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 07:00:31 -0700

More than 100 people have surrendered to police following anti-China riots in Tibet's main city of Lhasa, according to Chinese media. China had issued a deadline of midnight on Monday for the protests to stop, though the Dalai Lama refused to issue the order. The authorities threatened great harm to anyone who ignored the deadline. Accounts of the outcomes of the violent protests differ wildly. The Tibetan government in exile in India says 99 people have now died in clashes with security forces. Chinese officials claim only 13 people have died, and that they were killed by mobs during riots by Dalai Lama supporters. Tibet's Communist Secretary said, "we are in the midst of a fierce struggle involving blood and fire, a life and death struggle with the Dalai clique."

Flood and flash-flood warnings from Texas to Ohio, combined with tornado watches in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Tennessee, previewed harsh weather that has flooded homes and roads throughout the central United States. The storms have killed at least two in Missouri and swept a teen down a drainage pipe in Texas. Since Monday, states have seen between six and ten inches of rain. At the Dallas airport, they broke the previous one-day rain record by an inch, coupled with winds up to 100 mph. Hundreds have been evacuated from homes across the Midwest.
Senator John McCain is in Israel today as part of a tour of the Middle East and Europe. McCain met with Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni. In a joint news conference, McCain confirmed his commitment to Israel and attacked the Islamist militant groups Hamas and Hezbollah saying, "if Hamas and Hezbollah succeed here, they are going to succeed everywhere."