blogging it up

through out the summer, and into the fall i have done a 175 degree turn. i use to focus on others, their events, their life, their news, their world and was lost in my own world. 

i stopped writing because i got a pinched nerve for spending so much damn time writing, researching, bloggin, posting and who knows what else. ive gone to the chiropractor, the acupuncturist, a massage therapist… but honestly, what i needed was to focus inwards. focus on my heart. and in this way i have begun my process into being more real and true to myself. 

i love it. because i am rediscovering and remaking myself. my writing has turned exclusively inwards. i still expose what little i am willing to share to the world wide web, and if i kick it with you ill write and read to you. this is the way i want to share with people right now. one on one. or simply one with myself. 

so enjoy this blog project i started a year ago. i had lots of fun with it. i got to know some really amazing writers, bloggers, and photographers thru this medium. there’s some cool stuff on this site. and the link to alex sanches is www.wearealex.org. 

maybe ill pick up this project again later. when im willing to be there. paz.

Feminist Voices from Honduras

This is a video made by CATTRACHAS, a feminist group in Honduras denouncing the military coup take-over of June 28th, 2009. Since the mid- 20th century, dozens of military coups and dictatorships have installed themselves violently in democratic countries through out Latin America. Personally, one of the most tragic stories is of Chile’s Salvador Allende, who was killed in the presidential palace that Pinochet forcibly stepped into. Allende was a doctor, turned socialist after learning of the great health disparities between privileged and impoverished. He was the first democratically elected  socialist president in Latin America. However, the United States being in the middle of their Cold War would not allow this in their “own backyard”. Pinochet was trained at the School of the Americas, and the coup received financial backing from U.S. mining corporations along with political maneuvering from Henry Kissinger within Nixon’s presidency.

Chile’s September 11, 1973 coup is exemplary of U.S. military intervention throughout Latin America, whose patterns continue to surface. In Honduras, Roberto Micheletti, is also a former student of the School of the Americas. Honduras also served as a base for counter-insurgency operations during the 1980’s. On Sunday, Zelaya, the ousted Honduran president, circled his country’s airport but could not land due to military vehicles blocking the run-way.

Military dictatorships and violence just doesnt rub off well on me. Mainly because it is women who have to carry the burden of violence when we are raped, our partners disappear, and our children are tortured and thrown in ditches.

Woman in Honduras stands up to military.

This is not happening in Honduras, but there is still a highly tensioned level of state-violence in effect. On Sunday, shots were fired from inside the airport towards the demonstrators who gathered outside in support of Zelaya. One person died.

Obviously men have military and political power in the world, and it is obvious that most everything they have to show for is violence, oppression, and exploitation. It is not ok. If women came into power, would we even have nuclear bombs? Would women train soldiers and send them into foreign countries to kill and be killed? Would women dehumanize men, women and children? Any form of extremity is dangerous and I am not advocating for complete domination by women. It might be nice. But living in balance and in harmony would be much nicer. Men are not the villains, patriarchal culture simply needs to end. Is dialogue and negotiation still an option for Honduras, or will men’s violent territorial aggressiveness be the story re-told for generations to come?

For more independent news information on Honduras go to Telesur and to the School of the Americas Watch.

Mi Corazon Quiere Escribir

Mi Corazon quiere escribir
Quiere contar secretos
Quiere que reconoscan su lujo y brillo
Porque ya no aguante el silencio

Mi Corazon se siente rebelde
Quiere correr
Quiere subir montanas
Porque ya no aguanta estar encerrada

Mi Corazon cree en romance
Le gusta las mariposas aventureras
Le gusta las flores dulces
Porque los sentimientos necesitan expresarse

Mi Corazon le gusta lo intellectual
Le gusta el arte de manana
Le gusta la poesia de ayer
Porque ahorra quierre leer tus libros de amor

Alex Sanchez Bail Hearing Update

I am sad to say that Alex Sanchez was not released yesterday by the courts. This comes to show that a fair process has already been denied in this case. A case where over 100 character letters of support was scuffed off by the courts, Over 1 million dollars in bail was raised by community in less than a week and the court still stood by their words, “he’s a risk to the community”.

I was unable to attend the court hearing myself, but I am adding a link to a piece written for The Nation by Senator Tom Hayden, here.  This is a really well written article with insight given from Father Boyle of Homeboy Industries on MS members refuting the information that the FBI is putting out there about Alex, in fact they laugh at the idea of Alex being a “shot caller”. Tom Hayden was at the bail hearing and was questioned as to why he did not put up his house as a bail asset if he believed in Alex’s innocence, at which point he did offer the title to his home as bail. The court said they would not take his home as an asset either way. 

Also, below is an informal report by Sandra, who was inside the court hearing and by Sonji, outside on the streets for the community press conference. After all of this, Juan Gabriel’s song, “Pero que Necesidad”, is the only thing making me feel better, watch the whole video, you’ll understand why… 

___________________________________________________________________

“i just got back…sandra and i totally needed a beer after that one…

so bail was denied..apparently because he is a “flight risk” and he has contacts in El Salvador…totally ignoring the fact that alex is here due to political assylum..he can’t go back…this is just another way of keeping him locked up..in a matter of days..alex defense was able to raise 1.1 million dollars to bail him out..just goes to show the power of people, right? and tom hayden actually offered to put his house up as callateral and the judge said NO..Alex stays in jail..

These are some notes that  sandra took because she was inside the hearing…im putting everything as bullet points.
* it was mentioned that alex can loose his political asylum
* he has no respect for US law.
* he’s a danger to the community
* his defense attorney had not been provided any discovery (evidence documents) before the hearing so he couldn’t provide a good defense for this hearing

* What they have as evidence:
- about two dozen phone calls where intercepted by wire taps 2000-2001-2006
- a 1999 photo taken of alex coming out of a anti-gang conference..they said he is posing with gang members throwing gang signs 
- although alex has taken most of his gang tattoos off he still has one around his neck they said that shows that he’s still in the gang and that the tattoo removal program is a sham..the defense response was that tattoo removals are very expensive he did take most of them off and the only one left is around his collarbone..the most painful place to remove a tat from

* charges: extortion, narcotics trafficking, swaying witness testimony, raqueteering, murder and conspiracy to murder
* they said alex has been living a double life and that Homies was created as a MS front and that they have proof of him being a shot caller for MS13, normandie clique.

i was outside and took notes of the press conference…bear with me..

Monica one of the board members addressed:
* alex is not a flight risk and a part of the community
* over 100 letters were written from people around the country and given to the judge.
* the Board of Directors and Homies Unidos stand by Alex.

Tony Mohammed repin’ the Nation of Islam:
* Nation of Islam stands by Alex and Homies Unidos
* this is an injustice being committed
* Alex has broker more peace deals and saved more lives then any lapd or sherriff officers
*we are not pleading for quilt or innocence but his honor as someone who has put himself in the front lines and bringing peace between the black and brown community.

Deacon Douglas Johnson on behalf of Greg Boyle of HOmeboy Industries:
* Father Boyle is out of town
* Homeboy Industries stands by Alex and Homies Unidos
* Alex stands by the demonized and placed him self on the margins; true prophets of justice often pay a price.
* we wait with alex and stand by him as he stands by those disfranchised and readly left out.

Oscar sanchez – Alex’s brother:
* was confident due to bail amount raised and his history with community work. is disappointed. thanks for all the support…

Senator Tom Hayden:
*the judge said alex had no community support, that he leads a double life and we are all being fooled.  (he kind of went over what happened in the hearing)
* he said that in his experience this case is weak

Cecil B. Murray FAME Pastor, was not present but fame stands by alex and homies.
Luis Rodriguez the author is Always Running was also present…
so was a bunch of folks from homies, yjc, i don’t know who else but it was a decent size crowd and it was very diverse too…

for more info go to - www.wearealex.com

that’s it..i got to go throw up now.. peace…”

WE ARE ALEX

I met Alex Sanchez for the first time when doing a radio interview for Mujeres Abriendo Caminos on the work of gang interventionist and the transformation it was creating in the lives of two teenage womyn who were who were caught up in a local gang. The young women respected Alex and saw him as a mentor because he was brave enough to change his life and help young people like them find hope in creating a different future. These women were very smart and greatly related and recognized Alex’s work from ex-gang member to peace-maker.

I continued knowing Alex and Homies Unidos for the selfless and tireless work they commit to on a daily basis in Los Angeles. Alex also participated in the hunger strike for immigrant and human rights that took place in Placita Olvera in 2008.  Homies Unidos works with families to help young people remove themselves from a life of violence. H.U. has offered free legal services to under-resourced residents of L.A. They have participated in free food programs in the Mac Arthur Park area. They have helped people clean their bodies and mind by offering affordable tattoo removal services. During another interview, I learned of the commitment that Alex and Homies Unidos offered to Luis Enrique Guzman to fight his case for freedom in the courts.

The positive transformation that Alex Sanchez has been a part of in inspiring is infinite. And it is the reason why hundreds of his supports, locally and internationally, are standing by him during this challenging time. Today a meeting was held where his lawyer, Homies Unidos board members, and family members spoke so that we may be a part of his campaign for a fair trial, WE ARE ALEX ! (website active after July 1, 2009). The truth is that Alex should not even have to go through this. Those of us who have worked with him throughout this city recognize his sincerity of servitude in peace-making. If you would like to support the campaign, you can attend his bail hearing on Tuesday, June 30th @ 1PM. Also, please write a character letter of support, there is also a collection of bail assets that are being received by: Kerry Bensinger’s Law Firm.  Bensinger, Ritt, Tai & Thvedt, 65 N. Raymond Ave, Suite 320, Pasadena, CA 91103 – fax 626-685-2562.

I will continue to update my blog as much as possible, currently I am in pain from a pinched nerve on my right shoulder, it hurts to type all this out on multiple levels. Below is my personal letter of support, also here is a link to CISPES Letter of Solidarity. Remember to keep the faith, we are all strong and courageous as we walk with truth and justice on our sides. WE ARE ALEX!

June 28, 2009

Honorable Alicia G. Rosenberg
United States Courthouse
312 N. Spring Street, Courtroom D
Los Angeles, CA 90012
Re: Mr. Alex Sanchez Cr. 09-00466

Dear Judge Rosenberg:

My name is Ana Castillo and I am a community organizer working with youth advocates in the prevention of substance abuse and violence in the city of Inglewood. I write to you in full support of Mr. Alex Sanchez, a person who is deeply valued in the community because of his tireless and selfless commitment to youth, families, and the social well being of the city of Los Angeles as a whole.  In my career and efforts to create a better future for our youth, I have had the honor of using Homies Unidos and Mr. Sanchez since 2005 as a resource and source of wisdom and inspiration in the arduous work of peace-keeping, creation of safe alternatives for young people, and collective empowerment of communities.

Mr. Sanchez has served as an example of what violence prevention and intervention can do in the lives of under-privileged youth in our city. He has over-come and survived the violence in this city and has committed himself for over 10 years to building peace and uplifting the lives of young men and women. His presence in the community has been so strong, that I have seen first hand the way young people look up to him. Young people relate to his past, but most importantly, they want to relate to who he has become, and that is a person of servitude, turning lives around for youth who desperately need a way out of the circles of violence and poverty.

In Mr. Sanchez’s commitment to the work of social justice, equity, and creation of opportunities for youth, he has been asked to speak in college lecture halls, community town halls, and media outlets. He is sought after as a person of example because his stories serve purpose time and time again for those of us who want to change at a personal level and beyond ourselves. Mr. Sanchez is no threat to our community; he empowers, gives tools, and resources to individuals so they can build their future.

I speak highly of Mr. Sanchez because of the work he is committed to in this city and across borders. Please allow for his release. I do believe that the court can see that he is a person of trust and respect because he also has the community’s trust and respect. Thank you for your time and commitment to justice.

Sincerely,
Ana Castillo

What is happening in IRAN ?

A lot is happening in Iran. Indeed it is beautiful and inspiring to see the power of the people rise in unison not just in Iran, but also in places like El Salvador and Peru. To be witness through media and computer screens to a nation’s awake in political resistance is inspiring. It is true that there can hardly exist such mass resistance to the status quo without mass repression and state-sponsored violence. 

I want my readers to also be aware of the happenings, so I have added links thru-out this blog in the name of solidarity. The best independent news source from Iran comes from the Tehran Bureau covering Iran’s questionable “re-elelection” of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and the supposed “defeat” of Mir-Hossein Mousavi that occurred on June 12th. By Sunday, mad twittering, skype conversations, youtube uploaders, and bloggers began to fill the web with news from personal accounts on the violent situation that the Iran population in support of Mousavi  are facing from their government. 

Yesterday, over a million people gathered at Azadi Square, aka Freedom Square, even with cell phone networks and texting cut off by authorities. to limit organizing. But pay phones and the world wide web has prevailed! The threat of police induced violence and murders has created much tension and suffering throughout these past few days. Yet, the face of defiance is much more brilliant, bringing this uprising as one of the largest in Iran since the 1979 Iranian Revolution.The best collection of photographs i have found thus far are here. 

If you twitter, you can search the following hashtags and keywords for direct tweets from Iran:  Ahmadinejad, Mousavi, and Tehran also go here, to tweet is to be at risk of being persecuted.

If you are on Flickr search under:  Iran Elections and Iran Riots 2009 

On Youtube you can find videos and type in Iran Riots, Iran Protests, Iran Elections 2009. 

If you need more links, check out this blogger and my most sincere recommendation goes to this site: Revolutionary Road

Galeano on a party bus!

I arrived at 3PM to stand in line to see Eduardo Galeano speak till 7:30PM. The first 7 women that arrived brought books to read, notebooks to write in, & cameras to document with. Everyone i met was a geek at heart and we were all proud to be fans of Galeano. We discussed L.A. apartheid, Gealeano’s femininity vs masculinity in writing, and a world-wide peace march. Mayra, the woman wearing green is an international organizer from Bolivia but lives in New Zealand. She is part of the World March for Peace and Nonviolence, and they are organizing a trans-continental march from October 2 thru January 2, 2010.  Please support a world peace march, follow the links. 

While we stood in line, we self-organized a waiting list that went up to 50 something. We originally offered to volunteer to set-up tables, but all we got was a smirk. Turns out that they over-booked the event anyways. There were seats for 235 people but allowed 400 RSVP’s to be made. It did not matter that we stood in line so early, we were never going to get in. The organizers were punks about it too, at one point they wanted to throw the cops on us and denied the validity of our list. Even though as Galeano fans, we were peaceful and beyond it all. 

After all the madness of trying to get in and finding alternative routes to sneaking, my friend and i decided we had done everything we could. So instead, we went to go dance, on the streets! The Downtown Art Walk was happening and this is what we found …

We walked across the street and found some beautiful art curted by The New Latin Theater Company on Spring St. The artists were refreshing. 

Then we skipped around to other galleries and spaces and found more music,more artists, more fun, and a party bus. By the end of the night, we wondered if Galeano would have rather hung out with us and enjoyed the art walk instead. 

 

A Flexible Potato Salad

Umm… I will let this video speak for itself bc after the 1 minute mark I kept getting impressed over and over, second after second.  At the 3:50 mark, all I could say was “WOW!”

Climbing windows for Eduardo Galeano

There are many reasons to admire Eduardo Galeano. For me it came with an understanding of Latin American economics. You can not get a full perspective of Latin American politics or history, without understanding the place of Latin America in global economics from mercantilism to industrialization, capitalism, globalization, and neo-colonization. 

When I discovered Galeano I noticed the poetry in his words. When I opened “Venas Abiertas de Latino America” (Open Veins of Latin America), I was sucked into the way he told the story of Latin America because it was beautiful, sincere, passionate, and empathetic. This was something no academic book was able to give me while a Latin American and Latino Studies major at UCSC. Recently, Chavez introduced Obama to Galeano by giving him this book. 

Galeano, as a writer and journalist has my respect and admiration. He had to flee both his native-country of Uruguay and then Argentina because of military coups and dictators who did not want his voice in the public. This is very much the story of one of my professors at UCSC, Guillermo Delgado, who had to leave Bolivia bc he was a journalist  for the people. Delgado has recently served as an advisor to Evo Morales, and can you believe that UCSC wants to cut his position. The UCSC Students of Color Colletive added the retention of Delgado to their list of demands from the university. for which they held a hunger strike. Add them on facebook, here. 

Anyways, I derived from my original story…today, Galeano is speaking at the downtown L.A. Library and I’m arriving several hours before the doors open…i failed to RSVP. Hopefully I get in, even if I have to climb windows. Check out the following clips, this is Galeano remembering womyn thru-out history from Joan of Arc to Violeta Parra. 

 

 

A Scribbled Mind, A Wild Web of Thoughts

ana's tangeted mind

Lately, the theme of soul searching and query has been on “how to focus”. My answer is something like this: It takes dedication & discipline towards your passion and goals…

Simple enough. But I can not commit to one single purpose. I have already attempted to be more selective in what i involve myself and commit to, but I am still finding myself busy, sometimes overwhelmed, and sometimes stressed. At the end of the day, I am still unsatisfied with my progress… in media production.

I am living in Los Angeles, a city with hundreds of happenings a day. And do I want to miss any of them? No, quiero andar de metiche. I enjoy people and being out, and this city fulfills that for me. But talk about distractions, I sit here wishing there were 20 of me to attend to all the things i want to see and do and know.

So, how can I focus? Cut myself off from the internet so that I may never know what is happening and in this way cut off temptation? Re-adjust my environment to obtain some sort of discipline and scheduled routine for media production work? Oh, i just remember how much post-production frustrates me bc I don’t have anyone to teach me this software mess! There I am at 1AM trying to figure out what could be simply done with a click of a button, except i don’t know which button. So I give up on production, i give up on focusing…

My mind feels scribbled on. I can’t focus. I need to move past this realization and do something about it…my mind feels heavy and messy (its why i write anyways) I need some words of wisdom… do you have any to spare?!?!?

Dime lo que es el Amor

Tell me what love means to you. What memories do you have attached to this word which helps give meaning to it. How do we create love, find love, and give love? What type of lover are you? Do you fall in love only once or many times thru-out life? 

I beleive that in many ways LOVE has been taken hostage by the mainstream popular culture of consumption. It has been turned into fantasy many times over. This hype created around being in love can also really mess with a young person who sees his/her peers coupling up. It can devastate self-esteem if there is no “love” returned. 

Here’s  a video in Spanish that i discovered today. It is in Spanish and the concept of love is very simply stated here, The philosopher speaking is actually a scientist by the name of by Eduard Ponset. (unfortunately worpdress wouldn’t let me embed this video, please watch the video)

also, a year ago i wrote the poem below. I myself have been thinking about love lately. I am 26 and have been in 2 very committed relationships since I was 20. I am re-realizing that there’s a part of me that i have yet to discover bc i have limited my love and experiences to these specific persons. I am not your typical person who imagines families and marriage at any age of choice. I don’t care about ticking clocks either. I just know that i have evolved many times over. and so has the way i love. 

if you have been thinking about love and its meaning, comment below or write to me at anaruth@streetinc.biz.

5/15/08 -on love: 

comes without asking for it. 
i’ve been afraid of it. 
i’ve invited the feeling and emotion. 
it is possible to love more than once. 
it is possible to fall in love with the same person countless times. 
“loving somebody is different from being in love with somebody”

usually the first connection/attraction with someon is physical. but the connections that are longer lasting are intellectual and spiritual. 

the person i love: 
loves life. 
loves to dream.
loves to create. 
was sent to me by a shooting star.

as a woman, we tend to love or care for our partners (especially men) as if we were there mothers. serving them, making sure they eat, regressing more than necessary, endless devotion, pampering, making sure they feel good. in that process we forget about ourselves. we forget about our dreams, our goals, our freedom. 

a partner should motivate and inspire. a partner who loves you should bring you up, belive in you, instill confidence in you. 
a person who loves themself can love someone in a healthier manner. you compliment your own love with someone elses. you share love. as opposed to just giving and giving more of you with little to nothing in return. 

 ”you dont have to be rich to rule my world, you don’t have to be cool” 

communication between people is a challenge, but it is important to have, especially if you are building. honest communication in any relationship must be practiced.

if intentions are not apparent, be careful. follow your instincts. 

“the signs are everywhere”

are you a consumer? or do you create ? 
love?

i love.

 

Lo Tiene Todo!

My girlfriend Hazel, turned me on to MALUCA, an artist from NYC, raised in a Dominican household, whose father DJ’ed through the 60’s and 70’s. I went to check out her performance in L.A., twice! “Tigeraso” is what happens when you mix it all together … 

Isn’t she hott? Her outfits declare it, her moves scream it, her rhythm has u sweatin’.  She’s definitely about to hit the starz, bc she’s outta this world!

Embodying the Spirit of Justice

I remember when this raid happened in Postville, Iowa and it stole 400 people away from their families. I believe that there is a whole generation of children that will grow up with much resentment towards this government for what is happening. Watching this clip, confirms that all the oppression that is occurring, has its resistance too. Beyond that, a whole wealth of manifestations. This boy stands for what is being created, a whole generation of justice seekers.