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Telling the Truth....
The US and Russia: Democracy
in Check
By Brandon Batzloff
Editor, Free Voices
At the end of September, 115 politicians and foreign policy experts
signed a letter that was delivered to the heads of NATO and European
Union States.Ê The letter criticized Russian President,
Vladimir Putin's recent moves to end Democratic process in Russia.Ê
One of the recipients of the letter was George Bush, jr.Ê
As a man who has moved to end Democratic process in his own country,
it would have been very hypocritical of Bush to condemn Putin
for his actions.Ê Consequently the only rebuke was Bush
stating that he hopes Putin does not abandon Democracy upheld
by checks and balances within the Russian government, but even
this was ironic Continue
Reading
Armed Federal Agents Shut
Down Free Radio Santa Cruz
by Steven Argue
Santa Cruz, CA
On Wednesday September 29th, a morning raid carried out by armed
Federal Marshals and agents of the Federal Communications Commission
(FCC) stormed Free Radio Santa Cruz, toppled their broadcasting
antenna, and stole $5,000 worth of radio equipment. Free Radio
Santa Cruz is a low-power non-commercial radio station that has
been broadcasting non-corporate news, poetry, and music for the
past ten years. Through Free Radio local anarchists, liberals,
and socialists (including this author) have been defiantly claiming
airwaves that the U.S. government claims belong only to the big,
and mainly corporate, radio stations. Continue Reading
Be the Wind: On the Upcoming
Elections
By Starhawk
San Francisco, CA
As you read this, a mother in Iraq is newly wailing over the body
of a dead child. ÊA nineteen year old kid who used to be
the star of his basketball team is being sent home without legs.
ÊA father in Guantanamo hasnÕt seen his kids, or
sunlight, for three years. Another chunk breaks off the polar
ice caps and the heat trapped by greenhouse gases churns the atmosphere
into new swirls of turbulence like those that unleashed four hurricanes
in one season in the Caribbean. ÊAs I type this sentence,
another worker loses her union job, another child is shot in Palestine,
another farmer somewhere drinks pesticides in despair. Continue
Reading
Backtalk....
Draft Voted Down, But Will
It Come Back?
RE: Kerry's Militaristic Intent
By Brandon Batzloff
Editor, Free Voices
Tension has been mounting for some time over the possibility of
a military draft. Congress decided to allay those fears on October
5th. The compulsory military service bill known as the "Universal
National Service Act of 2003" has finally been put to rest
by a vote of 402-2 in the House of Representatives. Does this
really end the danger surrounding the draft, or is it just an
election ruse? Continue Reading
Last Word....
This is the lucky thirteenth issue of Free Voices!
Unfortunately the attacks against independent media that i detailed
in "US and Russia: Democracy in Check" are going to
continue and will likely increase in ferocity. Please do everything
you can to support independent media projects. There are three
ways you can help Free Voices survive the crackdown:
1) Safety in numbers: The more people that are aware
of Free Voices the more safe we wil be. Please forward the zine
to five people or have five people subscribe by emailing freevoices-subscribe@lists.riseup.net
2) Be Loud: Please contribute writing about the
work you are doing or about news you have found. The more involved
people are the bigger our voice!
3) Keep Free Voices on the road: We are in need
of donations of all kinds. At this time we are most in need of
a wireless cards for pc laptops. We also need funding to set up
mirror sites in other countries. Anything you can give would be
very helpful. You can donate at www.free-voices.org/Donations.html
If you make a donation online or would like to make one in person,
please contact me.
peace love victory.
Brandon Batzloff
Director, Free Voices
freevoices@lycos.com
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