On the front lines: creating democracy
Jim Rough has just uploaded an audio interview with Joseph McCormick of the Democracy in America campaign. It is very inspiring, and talks about Joseph's very effective work bringing diverse groups together to achieve a sense of We The People. Jim is the interviewer, and various forms of facilitation are discussed as well. Joseph talks about several of the harmonization events mentioned in the book.
Democracy in America campaign: http://www.democracycampaign.org/
Jim Rough's website: http://www.societysbreakthrough.com/audiovideo.html
The interview: http://www.societysbreakthrough.com/JRShow-JosephM.mp3
Democracy in America campaign: http://www.democracycampaign.org/
Jim Rough's website: http://www.societysbreakthrough.com/audiovideo.html
The interview: http://www.societysbreakthrough.com/JRShow-JosephM.mp3
posted by rkm at Monday, March 13, 2006
2 Comments:
From: Joseph McCormick
Subject: Community Empowerment Initiatives
To: Richard Moore
Richard --
I received the BELOW email after the recent radio interview that is related to your new Community Empowerment Initiatives blog. Patrick makes some goods points about the need for a "Empowerment Toolkit." I've added some obvious elements of a Citizen Empowerment Toolkit to my site --
http://www.democracycampaign.org/toolkit.html
I'm open to posting more.
I am very focused on organizing events right now, but recognise the need for bringing these resources together.
Blessings!
Joseph
... I think it would be very helpful if the Democracy Campaign could publish (for free or a modest donation) a "Democracy Empowerment Kit." The kit would include the following:
* Facilitator Guide that contains recommendations for conducting an appropriately sized meeting (from neighborhood clutch to local Grange or Ward). The facilitator's guide might also include guidelines and norms for establishing a safe environment, leading questions and tips on how to summarize or conclude the meeting.
* List of content resources (web links, pod casts, books, meetings,
etc.)
* Net Forum for people to share their insights and to establish communication linkages with democracy advocates nationally and globally.
Thanks for listening. Given your list of advisors, I'm sure the Democracy Campaign can find a way to empower the people at the grassroots level. Should you care for additional details from this casual observer, feel free to respond to this email.
Sincerely,
Patrick Marcus
Ashland, OR.
Not true that there are 3 political status options for Puerto Rico
The United States (US) government has made Puerto Ricans believe that there are 3 political status options for Puerto Rico. That is a lie. The purpose for that is to have Puerto Ricans fight amongst themselves. The plan has been a huge success! Puerto Rico has been a colony of the United States for 116 years, and judging by the 80% voter turnout in the colonial elections, the majority of us has not realized that we have been lied to.
In reality, there is only one option. The United Nations (UN) in 1960 determined that colonialism is a crime against humanity. Therefore, the only thing that Puerto Rico can do is to become her own nation. That means that the US must give Puerto Rico the sovereignty that the US illegally took away from her by virtue of the July 25, 1898 military invasion.
Thus far, the US government has ignored the 33 UN resolutions asking it to immediately decolonize Puerto Rico. Instead, it has tried to hide these petitions, and at the same time appear to believe in democracy by pushing for plebiscites so that Puerto Ricans could decide between colonialism, being a US state, or independence (decolonization as required by the UN).
The problem with the US pushed plebiscites are that they:
1. don’t comply with international law that prohibits a nation to have a colony.
2. don’t comply with international law that requires the empire to give the sovereignty it illegally took away to its colony.
3. don’t comply with international law that requires that to have free elections, that country must be free first.
4. have 2 options that are not permitted by international law- continuing being a colony and becoming a state of the country that has the colony. For the option of becoming a state of the country that has the colony to be considered, the colony must first become her own nation (decolonized).
This is why we have to peacefully protest 3 times a year until the US government complies with the UN resolutions for Puerto Rico decolonization.
José M López Sierra
www.TodosUnidosDescolonizarPR.blogspot.com
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