Open Thread – Occupy May Day
The first of May seems to be destined for association with popular and raucous holiday celebration.
To the ancient Celts, it was the spring festival of Beltane. It is also associated with the Germanic celebration of Walpurgis Nacht. Celebrations are full of flowers, dancing around the May pole, and crowning the Queen of the May. In Roman Catholicism, it has become a celebration of the Virgin Mary.
But there’s another meaning to May Day that was on in full force yesterday in New York City. Occupy May Day. May Day is also known as International Workers’ Day which celebrates the international labor movement. It is commemorated with organized street demonstrations and marches by working people throughout most of the world. May 1 is a celebration of labor unions that is a national holiday in more than 80 countries, and unofficially celebrated in many others.
So, you can imagine that the Occupy movement might have an especially interesting May Day.
The Mudflats’ New York City Bureau Chief, one Mr. Zach Roberts was there, with his eye to the camera, and sent these great shots from the march.
My city came in #1 in public transportation:
http://www.treehugger.com/public-transportation/walkscore-ranks-25-us-cities-transit-friendliness.html
What a great solution to potholes!
http://www.mnn.com/your-home/organic-farming-gardening/photos/10-clever-urban-gardens/pothole-art-gardens
Gingrich’s exit speech was not well received…not even by Fox:
http://www.mediaite.com/tv/shep-smith-slams-gingrich-i-dont-know-anyone-on-his-side-of-the-aisle-who-can-stand-him-anymore/
Gingrich even mention Todd Palin in his long-winded remarks but left she-who-must-not-be-named out. You’ve got to wonder how Fox views those who supported the failed speaker’s ‘wild ride’….
How do people become preachers in a church and preach hate? And then tell his people how to vote? I call it SICK!!!!!!!
http://www.forbes.com/sites/erikkain/2012/05/02/north-carolina-pastor-sean-harris-urges-parents-to-man-up-and-punch-effeminate-children/
Alaskans!! The petition for a hand recount of the Anchorage election is being delivered in less than 20 minutes. If you haven’t signed it yet, please do so:
http://signon.org/sign/full-hand-recount-and?source=s.em.cr&r_by=219841&mailing_id=3748
I signed it, and I’m on an island off the other edge of the continent.
NARAL has a great letter (to Boehner, Cantor, Ryan and the gang) you can sign:
http://www.prochoiceamerica.org/get-involved/
Great column by Paul Krugman on the “austerity fairy” and its consequences:
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/27/opinion/krugman-death-of-a-fairy-tale.html?WT.mc_id=NYT-E-I-NYT-E-AT-0502-L14&nl=el
“And serious analysts now argue that fiscal austerity in a depressed economy is probably self-defeating: by shrinking the economy and hurting long-term revenue, austerity probably makes the debt outlook worse rather than better.
“But while the confidence fairy appears to be well and truly buried, deficit scare stories remain popular. Indeed, defenders of British policies dismiss any call for a rethinking of these policies, despite their evident failure to deliver, on the grounds that any relaxation of austerity would cause borrowing costs to soar.
“So we’re now living in a world of zombie economic policies — policies that should have been killed by the evidence that all of their premises are wrong, but which keep shambling along nonetheless. And it’s anyone’s guess when this reign of error will end.”
Occupy your redistricting process: Comment, comment, comment.
Let’s get this process out of partisan board intent on stonewalling the public process and into the hands of a redistricting master that will consider all proposals and follow the Alaska Constitution.
http://www.adn.com/2012/05/01/2448278/redistricting-map-solutions-elusive.html
???
How does it feel
After your summer of love,
Your march for civil rights.
How does it feel
After your fight for ERA,
Your protest of war.
How does it feel
To find your self at the mall
With a fist full of debt.
How does it feel
To find yourself at the airport
With you genitals in the hand
of Homeland Security. ?
ivan bacon
It feels like we need to get our asses in gear again and kick some butt. Let’s put this oppression behind us…
Rob Zerban’s campaign was kind enough to send a link to a must-see Stephen Colbert clip:
http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/413498/may-01-2012/paul-ryan-s-christian-budget-cuts
The campaign to label genetically modified organisms in food in California is growing. Add your voice:
http://salsa3.salsalabs.com/o/50202/p/salsa/web/common/public/content?content_item_KEY=10346
I made a contribution, because I’m passionate about it.
I agree on this CA effort. If they can get this passed it will give consumers everywhere a chance to see how much GMO products have gotten into our everyday food.
When you top that off with the new, fairly comprehensive, medical studies showing that many of our major health issues, heart and diabetes, might well be tied to sugar and things like refined foods it makes this all the more important.
Thanks, UgaVic. I’m an educator/counselor in holistic health, as well as an organic consumer. I’ve never seen so many seriously ill people as I have in the last ten years. Whether it’s asthma and other breathing problems, diabetes, heart disease, morbid obesity, or a roster of other issues, it’s more and more widespread.
Please, anyone who has the means, contribute to the CA initiative. With so much of our produce coming from that huge state, it will make a difference!
Health and peace.
Just 6 short months until election day;
what are we doing to Occupy our Government?
Next week, we’re having a voter registration drive at my high school.
That’s a step. A baby step, but also a giant leap, eh?
Now to engage, educate, and inspire voters and get them to the polls;
we can give a whole new meaning to Citizens United.
Isn’t it pretty to think so?
“If you have built castles in the air, your work need not be lost; that is where they should be. Now put the foundations under them.” ~~Henry David Thoreau
Good on you, thatcrowwoman.