I am going to work backwards and try to remember all that we have done or tried to do. First, we just came off the Hawthorne Bridge last Friday, it was cold and just two of us stood to announce the war in Iraq was not over, just the removing of the “Uniforms” was reported. We did have the president tell us that the Iraq War was over, but presidents do lie from time to time. I remember another president on May 1, 2003 who announced that major hostilities were over; as he landed on the carrier, USS Abraham Lincoln. There is the hope that this president is telling the truth and we can cheer the end of the war in Iraq, now we only have his word and I have always taken the word of a politician with a grain of salt. What we must do as a first step is stop bombing other nations at will; until that happens these undeclared wars will continue. So, we will continue protesting on the bridges because we need to keep telling all who drive past us to keep up the pressure until all the wars in the Middle East are officially over. Someday all who called for invasion, occupation and the destruction of Iraq, Afghanistan, Gaza, Yemen, Libya, and others will be called before a judge to be tried for violations of the Geneva Convention and our laws. If you think we are finished causing wars, you are foolish. We will control the Middle East or destroy ourselves in the process. Iran is now being called the same names as we called Iraq just before “Shock and Awe.”    Read more ...

We attended the vote for two measures by the Portland City Council. I thought I was attending to support just one resolution but found myself looking at two, R-48 and R-49. I had asked the Oregon Progressive Party if I could speak for them during one of our general meetings, and they gave me the OK, speaking for Individuals for Justice was easier in the sense we have so few members I felt safe to speak for both organizations. First, let’s look at why I could not support R-48, a resolution calling for the return of our troops. After negotiations with Jobs with Justice, in the first paragraph the resolution states that the War in Iraq is over. They lost me with that statement, for I believe it is not so. The entire resolution is acceptable to most of the people who have worked on this, and that pains me, thanking President Obama for ending the war in Iraq is premature. I will agree that the war may be over when whatever legal basis the bush administration ordered for the invasion is rescinded! I expect all troops be removed from Kuwait and other nations in the area. Then, and only then, will we celebrate the end of the terrible war in Iraq. President Obama can order the troops back at will, this is not peace, it is a transfer of authority from the military to mercenaries and that is not good. I made the statement that because of the changes I would speak only for myself and would not support this Resolution (R-48). The next motion was R-49 and I enthusiastically supported the call for Corporations not be called persons. I honor the two Council members and Mayor Adams, who joined other cities who have moved against the Supreme Court decision ( 5-4 ) that says basically Corporations are people and are allowed to spend any amount of money to get their guy/lady elected. Going back to another meeting with a sub-committee for the commission to change the city charter, I like the group of volunteers who are working on changers to our city charter, it is lead by a no nonsense hero JoAnn Hardesty.

http://www.truth-out.org/problem-citizens-united-not-corporate-personhoo...

The group split up to 4 smaller groups, each taking up a set of ideas that we thought needed changes, our group took up the question of using animals against citizens in Portland. We will be meeting every Wednesday and hope to present something to the Charter Commission in a few months that they will vote on. If 15 of the 20 Commissioners agree on an item it will go on the ballot sometime in 2012 so we the people can vote whether an item should be part of the Charter of the city of Portland or not. Good possibilities for the people of Portland to decide what they want. We also attended a meeting of Occupy, it is called the Labor Committee and they are working on a Citizen’s Budget.

The Citizen’s Budget is something that I like, anytime one presents something to the City Council, there should be some new ideas. Well, back to work to listen, learn a bit and report on what we are up to on the local level.

PS from my brother and friend Roberto:

Last Friday, 1/13/12 I attended the Occupy open house at St. Francis on S.E. 12th Street. I can report that it was well attended (at least 200 people) and the crowd was well mixed. They had videos, free pie and coffee, group discussion and action groups for future action and finally music. There was good energy there and Occupy's headquarters showed much promise and organization. I saw some of our friends there.