PGHIMC - Pittsburgh Independent Media Center

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BTL:Former Religious Right Activist Warns Against Incitement to Violence Distributed by Squeaky Wheel Productions http 2009-11-07 7:18 AM
BETWEEN THE LINES Syndicated Radio Newsmagazine (text/plain)

Jackson’s ‘Hit Man’ Stalked Another Congressman Anonymous 2009-11-06 8:57 AM
Kudos to our source in Washington D.C. for pointing out a little-noticed news item in The Washington Post some time back indicating there was an FBI probe when a purported associate of Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. (D-Ill.) allegedly stalked Rep. Lee Terry (R-Neb.). The news apparently never made it into the Chicago papers. Hmm. We wonder why the papers here are so timid about this hot story? (text/plain)

BTL:Civil Disobedience Actions Launched to Stop Mountain Top Removal Distributed by Squeaky Wheel Productions http 2009-11-06 8:39 AM
BETWEEN THE LINES Syndicated Radio Newsmagazine (text/plain)

Rivers Casino Supervisor Physically Assaults Casino Security Officer during Union Campaign Rivers Casino Union Busting News 2009-11-06 12:40 AM
Rivers Casino nightshift supervisor John Kovach had demanded that the 22 plus casino security professionals working on that shift remove their SPFPA Union RESPECT pins from their jackets. When they refused their supervisor John Kovach then Physically Assaulted at least one of the officers by Physically Removing his SPFPA RESPECT Button from his jacket. (text/html)

BTL:Karzai Government Corruption Hobbles Obama Afghan War Strategy Distributed by Squeaky Wheel Productions http 2009-11-05 8:18 AM
BETWEEN THE LINES Syndicated Radio Newsmagazine (text/plain)

MarkWest Compressor Station to Spray Natural Gas into residential area for 20 hours TODAY Nastassja Noell 2009-11-03 11:26 AM

Natural Gas Production requires gas to be pumped long distances from the well head through pipelines. The gas must first be cleaned of water, sulfur and other gas contaminants at compressor stations; the "sweetened" gas is then pushed down the pipeline by fossil fuel fired compressor engines. The chemist Wilma Subra calls these compressor stations "mini-refineries"; residents complain of constant headaches and strong nauseating smells. Dr. Subra's work has included studying the air quality around compressor stations in Dish Texas where extremely high levels of benzene, toluene, and other carcinogenic and neurotoxic compounds were found hanging in the air, breathed in by residents for the past few years of the natural gas boom. Keep compressor stations out of your community, and advocate for those families who are forced to have these toxic facilities in their backyards: the environmental protection agencies will not help us, their business is to coordinate industry interests. (image/jpeg)

Venezuela: The error of being Lusbi Portillo Rafael Uzcategui 2009-11-03 10:47 AM

* The latest demonstration of political criminalization of autonomous social movements by the Venezuelan government is exposed by Rafael Uzcategui, a member of the anarchist collective El Libertario. (image/jpeg)

the Obamma problem continues Mike Rhodes 2009-11-03 2:34 AM
EVEN CNN IS GETTING UPSET ABOUT THIS (text/plain + 1 comment)

Olympics and Hajj to Shut Down due to Swine Flu – Global Warming Paradigm Shift Environmental Alliance 2009-11-03 12:41 AM

Olympics and Hajj to Shut Down due to Swine Flu – Global Warming (image/jpeg)

A Science of Intuition Sidney Martinez 2009-11-02 9:12 PM
(Commentaries on Science, Religion, Spiritualism, Politics and The Resource Based Economy) (text/plain)

Dr. Arthur Becker-Weidman and the "homework problem" Developments in Therapy 2009-11-01 8:16 AM
Dr. Arthur Becker-Weidman, founder of the Center for Family Development, discusses "homework problems" and their solutions… (text/plain)

Palestinian poet, Remi Kanazi, performz at Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions Conference seth ray bearden 2009-10-31 8:54 PM
On OCTOBER 23rd, Poets4Palestine poet and writer, Remi Kenazi, performed at the University of Pittsburgh David Lawrence Hall, Room 120.The US Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation partnered with Pitt Students for Justice in Palestine to hold a conference advocating a international Boycott, Divestment, and Sanction tactic be used against the state of Israel in light of past war crimes committed against he Palestinian people. There is a growing consensus that boycott and divestment are the best nonviolent strategies to bring human rights for all and an end to Israel's occupation of Palestinian people and land.The following track is a series of poema performed at the opening night of the conference. For more information, www.poeticinjustice.net/ 11 poems 17 minutes (audio/mpeg)

BTL:West Virgina Activist Battles Mountain Top Removal Coal Mining Distributed by Squeaky Wheel Productions http 2009-10-31 9:30 AM
BETWEEN THE LINES Syndicated Radio Newsmagazine (text/plain)

New Comic Strip Series re Organized Stalking Eleanor White 2009-10-30 6:31 PM

New comic strip to educate the public about the crime of organized stalking has been made available on the web. It is hoped this series will help educate the public about a crime for which action by the justice systems of the world is long overdue. (image/gif)

UNION BUSTING Play Book: What Union Busters Don't Want YOU to See or Know! Union Busters EXPOSED 2009-10-30 12:00 PM
A Step by Step Union Busting Playbook on What UNION BUSTERS Do and How They Run UNION BUSTING Campaigns. (text/html)

BTL:Suspended Member of Afghan Parliament Condemns Karzai, Warlords and U.S. Occupation Distributed by Squeaky Wheel Productions http 2009-10-30 9:31 AM
BETWEEN THE LINES Syndicated Radio Newsmagazine (text/plain)

Seattle to Pittsburgh- A Look at North America's Global Justice Movement Ten Years Later Mac Lojowsky 2009-10-29 6:05 PM
This is an in-depth article of the global justice movement through the lens of the Pittsburgh G-20 protests. Through on-the-street coverage, media review and tactical comparisons of other actions, this article explores what happened in Pittsburgh and what needs to change. (text/plain)

BTL:Banks That Triggered Financial Collapse Push Back Against Proposed New Regulations Distributed by Squeaky Wheel Productions http 2009-10-29 9:39 AM
BETWEEN THE LINES Syndicated Radio Newsmagazine (text/plain)

Zhibin Gu: China's communist government and society: 60 years in review globalization forum 2009-10-29 12:43 AM
What has been going on in Communist China since 1949? What is really behind China's politics, business, economy and international relations? Will China's communist corruption going to ruin the nation in light of global financial crisis? Get powerful reviews from a new posting by provocative Chinese thinker George Zhibin Gu of World Association of International Studies at Stanford University. (text/plain)

How long will your Job Last? Mike Ferris 2009-10-27 6:26 PM
How long will your Job Last? (text/plain)

Rustbelt Radio for October 26, 2009 Pittsburgh Indymedia: Rustbelt Radio Collecti 2009-10-26 8:06 PM

BTL:W. Virginia Community Rallies to Safeguard Schoolchildren from Coal-Processing Health Distributed by Squeaky Wheel Productions http 2009-10-24 9:03 AM
BETWEEN THE LINES Syndicated Radio Newsmagazine (text/plain)

BTL:Concessions in Cap and Trade Bill Boost Nuclear Power, Offshore Oil Drilling Distributed by Squeaky Wheel Productions http 2009-10-23 9:43 AM
BETWEEN THE LINES Syndicated Radio Newsmagazine (text/plain)

Residents report Toxic Clouds of Gas near a MarkWest Compressor Station Nastassja Noell 2009-10-23 12:33 AM
The Marcellus Shale is said to be the third largest natural gas field in the world, but the gas is trapped as small pockets inside of rock. During the past 5 years, as rising prices have made unconventional gas sources profitable for the industry, a frenzy of drilling rigs have entered the Northeastern US. Natural Gas drilling infrastructure requires CNG compressor stations, which are known for having incidents such as explosions or high pressure releases. (text/plain)

Ten Days Left to Apply to the 2010 School of Authentic Journalism Jose Smith 2009-10-22 1:16 PM
It is a herald of the hour we live in that the New York Times has to lay off eight percent of its news reporters but the Narco News School of Authentic Journalism is out scouting and recruiting for a different kind of journalism that is growing and on the ascent. (text/html)

BTL:Health Care Reform Bills Could Reverse Insurance Discrimination Against Women Distributed by Squeaky Wheel Productions http 2009-10-22 11:27 AM
BETWEEN THE LINES Syndicated Radio Newsmagazine (text/plain)

BTL:Use of Twitter in U.S. G-20 Protest Leads to Arrest; Erodes Civil Liberties Distributed by Squeaky Wheel Productions http 2009-10-18 9:31 AM
BETWEEN THE LINES Syndicated Radio Newsmagazine (text/plain)

BTL:Israeli Military Refusers Bring Their Message to America Distributed by Squeaky Wheel Productions http 2009-10-17 9:39 AM
BETWEEN THE LINES Syndicated Radio Newsmagazine (text/plain)

CONSTITUTION ADOPTED; MOVEMENT FOR A DEMOCRATIC SOCIETY mds 2009-10-17 8:19 AM
Organizers ratify Constitution, lauch agenda, begin movement for radical democracy anew. (text/plain)

Obama Derangement Syndrome John Milton 2009-10-17 4:29 AM
President Barack Obama won the Nobel Peace Prize When I first heard last Friday morning that President Barack Obama won the Nobel Peace Prize, my heart sank a little. Not that I wasn't proud; I was just scared of the reaction of the radical left. Strangely enough, they're scared too, or at least professing to be. Turns out, receiving the Nobel Peace Prize is tantamount to being crowned the Antichrist. Take for example this response to the breaking news that Obama had been awarded the prize: When I heard this morning about o's [sic] glorification, I was terrified that the Rapture had occurred and I had done something to miss it. No way in a normal world would anyone give the prize to 0bama based on his record to date... I mean something weird had to happen, right? But, I got on here, you guys are all still here, so either we messed up somewhere along the way, or we're still waiting to be called home! These comments come from a user named "Never alone" posting on the bulletin board for the Web site Rapture Ready, a resource for Christians who believe the end is near and that it will unfold as written in the Bible's Book of Revelation. Back in August of 2008, I looked behind that infamous political ad called "The One" by the McCain campaign, with the help of religious scholar Bruce Wilson of Talk 2 Action. Wilson told me he worried the ad was evidence that eschatology (the study of the "end of times") and dispensational Christianity (a modern platform for explaining the existence of evil in an end-of-times narrative) are "becoming the idiom of politics." Little over a year later, I'm ever more convinced that Wilson had it spot-on. Much has been made of the right-wing's unpatriotic and anti-peace reaction to the Nobel committee's decision. MSNBC host Rachel Maddow called it "Obama Derangement Syndrome." "President Obama's critics railed today that winning the Nobel Peace Prize is somehow an insult. That international hope and encouragement for success for an American president is something to be ashamed of," Maddow said. "The American president just won the Nobel Peace Prize. By any reasonable measure, all Americans should be proud." But Maddow and other commentators are missing the undertones of religious fundamentalism, a major component to this story. The people who consider themselves "Rapture ready" believe that a long list of events, as prophesied by the Bible, must occur before and after the Rapture. The Rapture itself is merely one event, at which the cream of the Christian crop is able to avoid seven years of hell on Earth ruled by the Antichrist and his pal the false prophet. The image of the Antichrist as charismatic and well-loved by the world, made very real-looking by movies and books such as Left Behind, Day of Deception and Vanished, easily fit into the "other" meme of Obama's presidency. The Web site AreWeLivingInTheLastDays.com (hint: the answer according to them is a resounding yes) says this about the Antichrist (emphasis mine): "He will be super, not ordinary; everything about the Antichrist will be extraordinary. He will possess great eloquence, charm, wit, military genius, vision, and intelligence. He will be extremely influential, charismatic, a false champion of peace, and will possess strong leadership abilities. One could even say he's a rock star." The site even notes that the Bible says he will "arise out of the sea." Maybe we can finally put this whole Kenya-born rumor out to pasture, as his birthplace in Hawaii fits better within the framework of dispensational Christianity? A different poster at Rapture Ready who goes by the name AmazingLove said of Obama, "If he's not 'it', then the 'one' to come will sure be a doozy, because I have never seen an individual's characteristics and worship by the world fit any better than this creepy Obama." The thing is, these people are not just against Obama getting the Nobel Peace Prize. It may sound strange to say it, but they're also anti-peace and anti-Nobel. Beyond anti-Obama sentiment, these Rapture-ready folks are also anti-Nobel in that they're against any kind of global committee of any sort, as it may lend itself to co-option by the Antichrist. They get nervous when any group spanning more than one nation gets together, be it the European Union, G8, G20, International Monetary Fund, or the World Bank. You name it, there's probably someone out there who thinks it's a sign of end times. This comes from the fear of what they call the New World Order or One-World Government, which extends to One-World Religion as well as that One-World Currency thing Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN) keeps crowing about. Any time the world gets together and agrees on virtually anything, it means the Rapture is right around the corner. And while some were heartened to hear Obama accept the award "as a call to action, a call for all nations to confront the common challenges of the 21st century," as well as to hear his commitment to share the Nobel with the world, such language comes off as threatening to the Rapture-ready crowd. They're also anti-peace, partly because the Antichrist supposedly presents himself as a man of peace. But also, warfare and Israel play big parts in the plan from Revelations, which is unsurprising, since most of the entire book's events unfold in that very region. This "timeline" for the end of days begins in 1948 at the formation of the Israeli state. The Bible predicts that the Antichrist will broker a seven-year peace treaty with Israel. Again, from the "last days" Web site: Once this treaty is signed, a very specific set of events will unfold over the next 7 years. The importance of the signing of this treaty cannot be understated. [It] marks the beginning of the 7 years of tribulation which will conclude with the return of Christ. Beginning with the signing of the treaty as day one of the seven year tribulation, we can calculate the number of days that will separate each of the major events of tribulation. We are able to calculate when the Antichrist will stop the daily animal sacrifice on the temple mount in Jerusalem, when he will desecrate the temple, when he will be assassinated and satanically resurrected and indwelled [sic] by satan [sic], along with when the final battle of Armageddon will take place. Several posters reacting to the Nobel news on Rapture Ready referenced the rebuilding of the temple in Israel. User "justthinking" warned that he foresees Obama may now begin "spouting off about the Jews needing their temple rebuilt in the 'International City of Jerusalem', allowing all three faiths (Judiasm [sic], Christianity and Islam) to worship together." The end-of-times narrative is particularly damaging politically, when bloody conflict in the Middle East means Jesus is right around the corner. As I wrote in a post specifically about Sarah Palin's ties to dispensational Christianity last year: The danger in this goes far beyond the erosion of separation of church and state. This "end of times" belief translates to the end of responsibility and custodianship for leaders. As Wilson puts it, "since they believe the world is spiraling to a terrible end anyway, why bother preserving the environment? Also, they find everything from war to natural disaster quite exciting because it means the Rapture is near." This is why I cringe when I hear Palin say the Iraq war "is a task that is from God." People like her want to fight religious extremism with more religious extremism, and think that the Rapture is not an event to wait around for, but something they need to hasten. I don't think very many Americans want someone who wants the world to end ASAP to have nuclear codes. Indeed, I was struck by the escapism evident in many of the hundreds of posts on the Nobel Peace Prize thread at Rapture Ready. It seems that, if these people don't get their way politically, they'd prefer to be raptured off of this Earth, rather than deal with four years in the minority. One user who goes by BAC said Obama "is so arrogant and all about his agenda that it literally makes me sick to my stomach. I will continue to pray for him as best I can for as long as this nation holds together, which most likely will NOT be long! PLEASE COME SOON LORD JESUS!!!!!" "DeputyEZ" used six emoticons to express concern about the future of the country, writing, "I just pray that we are not here to see it. I grow more and more weary of this world everyday [sic]. Come quickly Lord Jesus." Another writer, mom4Yehoshua, had similar worries, writing, "I am not looking forward to the likes of this country or world in the next many months and years, Lord willing of course. I really hope that our Lord Jesus will call us home soon. I wanna go now Dad, come on!" Sure, immature nutcases have been relying on fundamentalism to get them through tough times for centuries. But the days of the preacher wielding a "The End is Near" placard on a busy street corner are over. These people are being whipped into a frenzy by Internet rumors and code-wielding politicians such as Bachmann and Palin. They think Jesus is going to come down onto the planet and sweep them into heaven any day now. Who knows what they'll do in the name of eschatology. And that is why little things, like the Nobel Prize, scare me nowadays. feel free to repost (text/plain)

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