Published September 2, 2011 Benefit talks & shows , Events Closed On October 27th, activist and singer/songwriter David Rovics will be performing in Detroit to raise much needed support funds for political prisoner Marie Mason. If you are in the Detroit area, check out this great event and bring as many of your friends with you!
If you are not near Detroit, you can look into organizing a benefit show with David through his website at http://davidrovics.com/organizeShow.php. David is a long time friend and supporter of Marie, talking about her case regularly on tour as well as writing the song, Marie for her. Learn more about David Rovics and his upcoming “No Fracking Way” Tour at www.davidrovics.com.
About Marie
Marie Mason of Cincinnati, Ohio is a long time environmental and social justice activist and loving mother of two. On March 10th, 2008 she was arrested by FBI, Homeland Security and local police on charges related to two Earth Liberation Front actions that occurred in Michigan, in 1999, and 2000.
Marie’s case is one of the latest developments in what many have dubbed the “Green Scare,” a recent wave of government repression aimed at disrupting and discrediting grassroots environmental activism and criminalizing dissent.
Please send cards and well wishes to the address below. Detailed mail guidelines can be found here.
Marie Mason #04672-061 FMC Carswell Federal Medical Center P.O. Box 27137
love and rage: life after the collapse of capitalism
Greetings to all, especially you FoFees (friend of the Free) hope you’re enjoying the book
Set in the Collapse of Capitalism our heroes escape their School and Family and fall in with the squatters, anarchists and gays, who are busy getting ready for the final confrontation and the Dawn of a co-op Money Free world.. It’s a thriller as well..
Just to say it is selling well..Not a surprise as it’s FREE (lol). It also makes a very economical present.
Abuse of power being consistent in our culture, where fear colludes with the bully, it is cheering to see victims organising and supporting each other . This will appeal to a great many young people. You give us moments of delight:… rolling her big eyes back to us girls … such scandal would zoom round and round the area – like a bee in a jar … Then her daffodil moment of glory: dancing and swirling, waving the flowers at the grey building … the golden snow. I’ve never heard of ‘testerical laughter’, but it kind of hits the mood of the moment.I really like your book and back it with pleasure. Pia (Course of Mirrors)
Wow; I can’t stop reading! I’ve just finished chapter 8, and I’m only stopping because it’s 1AM! It seems to remind me a little of ‘A Clockwork Orange’, combined with ‘A Child Called It’. I cannot wait to read on. I’m still not entirely sure about a lot of things (such as the political situation) but everything I’ve read so far has been wonderful. If I get the chance, I will buy this book.
Karen Eisenbrey I read three chapters and the glossary. I like your ideas for remaking society, especially the mix of practical, earnest things with more whimsical ideas of fashion etc. I especially like how in the first chapters, it’s not obvious that the story takes place in (I would guess) the near future in a shifting, alternative society. But there are little clues all over the place that things are falling apart and changing, present but not taking over the story. We start with Linda, a real, relatable character. You’ve nailed the voice here. She’s articulate and smart, but not at all formal; young, angry, scared, beaten down but ready to stand up. Good luck with The Free!…Karen Eisenbrey
Aaron Pattis wrote After three chapters, nothing will stop me from reading the rest of this book! Who couldn’t pull for a kid like this and wonder where she’s going to end up? There are some terms that I have difficulty with sometimes, like “lekky” and such, but soon enough figure it out. But I wouldn’t change that voice for this story because it adds to the richness realism in the characters. Great job and backed with pleasure..Aaron,”80 Grit”
Lmfrenchwrote Wow, what can I say? I love how you capture Linda’s voice. It wasn’t too long ago that I was a fifteen year old girl and…well…wow. I read some of this the other day and wasn’t too
Occupy The Planet. Abolish Debt. For a Co-Op world.
impressed, but I re-read it and trudged on to see what happened beyond the first page and I must say, I am very glad I did. I found myself giggling a bit and read on with a smile. It is a fun story. I am not normally a fan of 1st person POV but you seem to be able to still bring your characters to life. Very nice.
Great opening. Fast-paced and spirited way of writing. I like the talk about men drooling over Janice (lol); very typical. It’s real! and the “like a pack of randy dogs snifting after her”…This is what happens most of the time, in real life. Good job Mike. This work is so rich and moving, good humored. I can’t stop reading it.GOOD LUCK!! Emma Philips…The Dark Intruder
Well Mikey…a huge HUGE contemporary tale. Brutal and brave..comical and painful. Your style is enviably quirky. The language stripped yet so incredibly weighted. Congratulations, I wish you every success with THE FREE. . Dawn:ARK
traducciò Anglès..On September 14 the trial will begin our comrade Tamara. The State demands 16 years imprisonment under
the accusation of trying to assassinate the head of the prison services of the Government..Mr Batlle.
She is accused of sending a package with gunpowder to Battle, and was carried out as part of a campaign to fight for the release of the anarchist prisoner
Amadeu Caselles, at that time on hunger strike.He had endured over twenty years of condemnation being
especially punished for his work of reporting abuse, torture, and murder in the prison system run by the same
Mr. Batlle.
Tamara was arrested on 15 December at her home (Madrid) by members of the Guardia Civil in prison and
Catalonia for 4 months until a judge accepted a defense expert report proving that a purely
intimidating and non-lethal package was sent.
The trial continues against our colleague, in order to publicly punish the audacity of those who faced up to the
powerful’. The message is that people like the prosecution and Batlle have every right to cover up their crimes,
ruining the lives they want. Our message is that despite the threats and punishments, you will never have our complicit silence.
Do not let any single fighter be destroyed!
On 14 September..Lets take to the street against the killers
EN CATALÁ..El proper 14 de setembre començarà el judici contra la nostra companya Tamara. La petició fiscal és de 16 anys de presó, sota
l’acusació d’intentar assassinar el cap dels serveis penitenciaris de la Generalitat Albert Batlle.
L’acció que se li imputa és
l’enviament d’un paquet amb pólvora a en Batlle, i es va dur a terme en el marc d’una campanya de lluita per l’alliberament del pres
Amadeu Caselles, en aquell moment en vaga de fam. Aquest pres portava més de vint anys de condemna a les seves esquenes, sent
especialment castigat per la seva tasca de denúncia dels abusos, tortures, i assassinats inherents al sistema penitenciari dirigit pel
Sr Batlle.
La Tamara va ser detinguda el passat 15 de desembre a casa seva (Madrid) per membres de la Guàrdia Civil, i empresonada a
Catalunya durant 4 mesos, fins que un jutge va acceptar un informe pericial de la defensa que provava el caràcter merament
intimidatori i no-letal del paquet enviat.
El procés judicial contra la nostra companya continua, amb l’objectiu de castigar públicament l’atreviment de qui s’encara als
poderosos, de qui toca als ‘intocables’. El missatge de la fiscalia és que persones com en Batlle tenen tot el dret i la cobertura per
arruïnar les vides que vulguin. El nostre missatge és que malgrat els càstigs i les amenaces, mai tindràn el nostre silenci còmplice.
No deixem sola a cap lluitadora perseguida
El 14 de setembre, al carrer contra els botxins
On sat 20th Aug a massive demo took place against the ongoing Amazon destruction for the Belo Monte dam. Also against the new Forest Law, now in the Senate, which ‘relaxes’ the already unenforced deforestation code. Brazil had been a constructive leader in Climate talks, which came to nothing due to the greedy demands of the West.
Milhares de ativistas protestam contra Usina de Belo Monte
“A represa de Belo Monte significa a última punhalada no coração da Amazônia”, declarou em Belém o presidente do Conselho Indigenista Missionário, Erwin Krautler, que é também bispo prelado do Xingu, região onde as obras inundarão 516 quilômetros quadrados de floresta e que, segundo os povos ribeirinhos, vai obrigar a remoção das famílias de cerca de 50.000 pessoas. Além de Belém, onde 2.000 pessoas se mobilizaram, e São Paulo, houve manifestações similares em Brasília, Rio de Janeiro, Fortaleza, João Pessoa, Recife, Salvador, Santarém, Florianópolis, Cuiabá, Manaus e Belo Horizonte.Enquanto você lê isso, centenas de escavadeiras agem ilegalmente na Amazônia, dando início a um dos mais avassaladores e irreversíveis crimes ambientais de nossa história, a construção da hidrelétrica de Belo Monte, que vai acabar com o Parque Nacional do Xingu. No mesmo instante, as emendas feitas no Código Florestal Brasileiro, propostas pelo deputado Aldo Rebelo (PC do B), já foram aprovadas pela Câmara e aguardam apenas a votação no Senado para permitirem aos grandes latifundiários do Agronegócio desmatarem à vontade nossas florestas, sob a desculpa da “necessidade de produção alimentícia”.
Arrested for planting tree on parliament lawn
Jovens são presos após manifestação contra Código Florestal em Brasília
Além de protestar contra o Código Florestal, os manifestantes querem manter o diálogo com a sociedade que, pare eles, está mal informada em relação ao projeto. “O novo Código Florestal nos faz ver que esse é um dos maiores escândalos governamentais desde a guerra do Iraque. Isso se não for mais. E a população precisa saber disso, uma vez que essa aprovação irá alterar suas vidas no futuro”, acrescenta Leandro.
This is what he wrote.. “I think we should start rioting, it’s about time we stopped the authorities pushing us about and ruining this country. “It’s about time we stood up for ourselves for once. So come on rioters – get some. LOL.”
This is an absolute attack on free speech. The 17 year old lives in a small village near Bury St.Edmunds.There is nothing specific in his facebook post to any area – it’s a general statement. He’s been given a curfew, youth rehabiitation order and god knows what else. He’d even deleted it so it ws only up for a short time.
The weekend before last Nik Cohen posted in The Observer ‘Why are there no riots here’ – why aint he been done. Or a thousand pieces you could read in broadsheets giving opinions or on leftie blogs like this. Why pick on teenagers?
This prosecution is worse than the other one because it’s a general statement of opinion by no mean a specific incitement. If a kid in Syria had posted this he’d be hailed a hero. It’s now a crime here to say ‘I think we should start rioting’.
I think we need a lot of people who write and blog to stand up now and be counted on this one. Maybe some mass signed statement – maybe all put our names to what this kid has said and wait for the knock at the door. First they came for the 17 year old Facebookers…….
Veteran Indian social activist has been arrested and 1400 of his supporters detained as authorities defy a protest to force tougher laws against corruption.
Anna Hazare,74, was taken into custody early Tuesday as he prepared to lead a parade to a public park in New Delhi where he was to begin a “fast unto death”.
Hundreds of of his supporters gathered outside the building as he was driven away.
“Police have detained us,” Arvind Kejriwal, an aide to Hazare, told NDTV broadcaster before being taken away by plainclothers police in a white car early on Tuesday.
In a pre-taped appeal, Hazare urged his supporters to protest despite his arrest.
“My dear countrymen, the second freedom struggle has begun, and now I have also been arrested. But will this movement be stopped by my arrest? No, not at all. Don’t let it happen,” he said.—…
…Hazare’s protest has tapped into deep public anger against corruption in India as the Congress party-led government battles a series of graft scandals.
These include the sale of mobile phone licenses and the hosting of last year’s Commonwealth Games, which together lost the country as much as $40bn, according to government auditors.
The Indian parliament has been paralysed by anti-corruption protests for two weeks, stalling crucial legislation.
Criticism of the rich is less welcome. The ‘Loot only the Rich’ badge published here yesterday was blocked from tagging and then banned by Facebook. Though this failed, maybe as it had already gone all over. (see here http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100001284179241)
The badge/graphic was tagged to about 200 of the 1200 ‘friends’ on the page before Farcebook could block it.
Then the page of ‘TheFree Mikegilli’ displayed the following, which still appears on the Homepage. But the Badge was not deleted.. maybe as its too widely copied already.
WARNING. You uploaded a photo that violates our Terms of Use, and this photo has been removed. Facebook does not allow photos that attack an individual or group, or that contain nudity, drug use, violence, or other violations of the Terms of Use. These policies are designed to ensure Facebook remains a safe, secure and trusted environment for all users, including the many children who use the site.
HERE’S SOME MORE CRITICISM OF THE BRITISH RICH
Cameron (centre) at Oxford ''This society of toffs was known for its practices of pot-smoking, drinking and eating to excess before carrying out some "robust" redecoration of the restaurants..''
Grant Shapps, Housing Minister, declared today that it would be to empower councils and housing associations to evict tenants found to be involved in the riots. The definition of anti-social behaviour is to be extended from the immediate vicinity of their houses to almost anywhere.
Our bankers, exposed for their ineptitude and greedy speculation, have been bailed out to the tune of nearly £40,000,000,000 of taxpayers’ money – over £1,000 per British adult – yet continue to receive tens of billions in bonuses. The richest dodge their taxes, with the authorities writing of billions, like Vodaphone (£6 billions excused). Public services are being closed to keep our rich elite in champers.
mmm..maybe I should try them on..
Our police, the London Met most of all, have been shown to be riddled with corrupt practices – with cops receiving payments from newspapers for confidential information; investigations tainted by officers receiving gifts, lunches and even jobs from the people under suspicion; and just last week a Chief Constable and his deputy suspended for alleged fraud.
And of course, we have our Prime Minister, David Cameron. In his own youth, Cameron was, along with London Mayor Boris Johnson, a member of the Bullingdon Club at Oxford University (see picture on right ; Cameron is in the center). This society of toffs was known for its practices of pot-smoking, drinking and eating to excess before carrying out some “robust” redecoration of the restaurants they used for their revelry, the main difference with this week’s rioters being that Mr Cameron’s associates had their Daddies’ money to pay for the damage they wreaked.
The Free 