By Bill Sorem
Minneapolis, MN, January 12, 2011, 3:53 PM.
The sisters of the Visitation Monastery in north Minneapolis went out on their front step at the exact time of the anniversary of the 2010 Haiti earthquake. They rang their bells in solidarity with other Twin Cities bell ringers and ringers around the world. The bells rang for 35 seconds, the duration of the quake.
By Bill Sorem
Opponents of the wall argue that the barrier is an illegal attempt to annex Palestinian land under the guise of security and severely restricts Palestinians who live nearby, particularly their ability to travel freely within the West Bank and to access work in Israel
Before it was torn down at the end of the cold war, the wall that split the German city of Berlin was 96 miles long and nearly 12 feet high. A wall four times as long and about twice as high now divides Israel and the Palestinian West Bank. That wall, like the Berlin wall, was built in the name of security and is made of tall concrete slabs with electrified wire. Israel says the number of Palestinian suicide bombings has dropped 90% since the wall has been built. But not all Israelis are happy with the wall.
Gal Lugassi, an Israeli Jewish activist against wall being built by Israel. Last week in Minneapolis she spoke to The Anarchists Against the Wall at the University of Minnesota. She is a conscientious objector to the Israel military, a member of the Shiministim, The Anarchists Against the Wall and the Boycott from Within Group. The group works in cooperation with the Palestinians. They have participated in hundreds of direct actions against the wall, often at great personal risk. She adds a human perspective of the consequences of the apartheid wall.
Ms. Lugassi, a resident of Tel Aviv, has been touring the US describing her experiences and the experiences of Palestinians as well as objecting Israelis.
When is the last time you saw airline passengers break into applause in baggage claim? It happened after a Christmas Eve flight on Spainair. Passengers on the flight to from Barcelona to Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain had a surprise waiting for them in baggage claim. On the conveyor belt wasn’t their luggage (that presumably came later) but gift packages with their names on them.
The airline picked personalized gifts for each passenger based on their profile. For the children: teddy bears, giant candy bars, toy horses, cars, and trumpets, puppets and costumes. For the adults: beauty products, cameras and hats.
The airline provided the gifts to the passengers on the last fight before Christmas as a special gesture for those who had no choice but to fly on Christmas Eve.
This evening, the Twin Cities-based Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy (IATP) will host a discussion on what’s happening on the ground at the Cancún Climate Summit, or COP16. The UpTake will livestream the event from Minneapolis’ Midtown Global Market. We’ll hear from activists on the ground in Cancún while we celebrate our local grassroots organizing that has been building resilient communities and economic alternatives for decades — efforts that should be the building blocks for a just Minnesota response to climate change. You’ll remember that The UpTake was in Denmark last December to provide live coverage of the dramatic, but ultimately fractious and disappointing Copenhagen Climate Summit
Meanwhile, the New York Times reports today that the United States and China have narrowed their gap at the Climate talks.
During a surprise visit to Afghanistan, President Obama speaks to the troops at Bagram Air Base.
Key quote from President Obama:
” As General Petraeus mentioned, one year ago I ordered additional troops to serve in this country that was the staging ground for the 9/11 attacks. All of those troops are now in place. And thanks to your service, we are making important progress. You are protecting your country. You’re achieving your objectives. You will succeed in your mission. (Hooah!)
” We said we were going to break the Taliban’s momentum, and that’s what you’re doing. You’re going on the offense, tired of playing defense, targeting their leaders, pushing them out of their strongholds. Today we can be proud that there are fewer areas under Taliban control and more Afghans have a chance to build a more hopeful future.
” We said a year ago that we’re going to build the capacity of the Afghan people. And that’s what you’re doing, meeting our recruitment targets, training Afghan forces, partnering with those Afghans who want to build a stronger and more stable and more prosperous Afghanistan.”
Obama address US Troops In Afghanistan- Transcript
… Continue Reading
In Lisbon, Portugal, President Obama talks about the transition to Afghanistan troops taking the lead on their own security. That transition will begin in 2011 and is expected to be completed by 2014. However Pentagon Press Secretary Geoff Morrell says that US troops may still be in Afghanistan in 2014 and may still be responsible for the security of that country in some places.
President Obama gave the keynote address at the APEC CEO Summit in Yokohama, Japan. He spoke of the rapidly growing prosperity of the Asia Pacific region, and how buildings a few stories tall in his boyhood Jakarta are now replaced by towering skyscrapers. Obama talked about how economic strength was mutually beneficial to the United States and to the Asia Pacific region. He describes his goals in increasing exports and cutting the deficit. Obama said not all challenges can be solved in one meeting or “one term of my Presidency,” but said he remains confident in America’s future.
President Obama delivers remarks at CEO Business Summit in Tokyo, Japan. This event is audio only. We’ll post video later.
To view our live blog in a pop-up window, Click Here
President Obama and German Chancellor Angela Merkel speak to the media before a bilateral meeting at the G-20 Summit in Seoul, South Korea.
President Obama and Chinese President Hu Jintao spoke to the media before a bilateral meeting yesterday at the G-20 Summit in Seoul, South Korea.
Senator Al Franken announces the “Understanding The True Cost Of College Act” that would require colleges to use easier to understand language in their financial aid package offers to students.
Hindia Ali, Youth Leadership Development Coordinator at Somali Action Alliance is a delegate the the 2012 National Democratic Convention, the first Somali-American to be a delegate.
Speaking to the press on Tuesday, President Obama ripped into Republicans for their lack of compromising and for the first time mentioned his likely Republican opponent, Mitt Romney, by name.
Minnesota women in healthcare predicaments met with with HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, Sen. Al Franken, Rep. Betty McCollum and Governor Mark Dayton on Friday — the two year anniversary of the Affordable Care Act.
President Obama says many of the factors that are driving up gas prices are out of our control such as unrest in the Middle East. However, he points out there are some things that are in our control such as fraud and manipulation that can cause prices to spike even further.
President Obama talks about an all-of-the-above American energy strategy at a Daimler manufacturing plant in North Carolina that’s making trucks that run on natural gas.
Senator Al Franken is used to close elections. This time he didn’t beat his opponents, but had to settle for a tie with Representative Chip Cravaack in the second annual Minnesota Congressional delegation hotdish cookoff.
President Obama would like to reform taxes so we reward companies that invest in the US, not ones that send jobs overseas. But there are some barriers, such as Congress.
Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu uses his photo op with President Obama today to talk up how the US and Israel are united against Iran, which is suspected of trying to create a nuclear bomb.
President Obama warns that “loose talk” of war was only helping Iran, while pushing back against charges from GOP presidential contenders that he has been less than a loyal ally to Israel.
Somali women and men gather to discuss the many aspects of female infertility with medical and social experts.
3M shareholders at annual meeting were asked to stop all corporate contributions to political campaigns and to disclose corporate political lobbying efforts. As expected, the resolutions were voted down, but the activists pledged to continue efforts.
Occupy backed homeowner successfully re-negotiated her loan with MN based US Bank.
After the six-week US-Dakota War of 1862, 38 Dakota men were hung in one of the largest mass executions in US History. Many argue that the trials were a sham, that is was the largest injustice in the nation’s history. Today, Representative Dean Urdahl, Chair of the Legacy Committee in Minnesota and the Civil War Task Force, seeks to, “rub a little salve in the wound,” by seeking a pardon for one of those warriors who was hung on that fateful December day. His name is Chaska.
Rep. Ryan Winkler (DFL) decides to support the Vikings stadium because of the jobs it will create.
Principle or politics? On Friday, Governor Mark Dayton went heavily with principle and imperiled the politics of his top legislative priority — thousands of jobs from building a new Vikings football stadium.
A bill that would give business owners a tax cut is hailed by Senator Geoff Michel (R-Edina) as the “best piece of legislation” to be considered his year. Senator John Marty (DFL-Roseville ) counters it deserves a “smoking’ hot veto pen” because it isn’t paid for.
A Minnesota Senate attempt to override Governor Mark Dayton’s veto of a bill expanding the kinds of fireworks that can legally be sold in Minnesota fails to get the 2/3rds majority needed.
Several thousand Minneapolitans joined the hundreds of thousands around the world celebrating May Day, International Workers’ Day, on May 1, 2012 with a march down Lake Street to Powderhorn Park.
Alejandra and her brother David, two Minneapolis college students and activists for the Dream Act, took the Occupy Homes pledge this week to stay in the house which their Mexican immigrant parents purchased and are in danger of losing.
Occupy backed homeowner successfully re-negotiated her loan with MN based US Bank.
Nearly a year after the tornado that ripped through North Minneapolis, opinions vary greatly on what the poverty-stricken community needs most from local and state government. Should the City introduce “pie in the sky” ideas or focus on more immediate problems?
Representative Bobby Jo Champion talks about the challenges facing some of his constituents in North Minneapolis almost a year after a devastating tornado.
Rebuild It Right, an organization made up of architects and designers from Minneapolis, is helping homeowners advocate for quality design in the wake of the May 22nd Tornado.
The Vikings stadium deal got the support of Minneapolis City Council members. Council member Don Samuels says that this is a good deal for his constituents. It will provide jobs to a part of the city that has the highest rate of unemployment.
Local, Minneapolis non-profit Urban Homeworks works with banks and other community organizations to fight foreclosures.
Embattled homeowner Monique White took one more step Friday toward what could become an improbable victory that would let her stay in her North Minneapolis home. Judge Mark Labine will decide on Monday whether White will get a jury trial in District Court.
The Northside Economic Opportunity Network works with small businesses and micro-businesses in North Minneapolis to help them achieve success.
As we’ve been reporting for the past six months, many tornado victims who need help still haven’t gotten it.
The UpTake’s Livestream Schedule