Shauen's blog

By Iranian blogger Shant Baghramian

Finally the day comes. 4-th of November 2008.The American elections, and Barack Obama become the projected president of US. He is the one who convinced American people about change. It is good and fascinating.

In order to express my thoughts about this event, I want to organize my entry in two parts: a) All happenings up to the election of Obama b) After election and up comings.

a) Election of Obama

1) Lately reading political texts of Karl Popper, about the government, I liked the part that he declare the question as below: Which political power is the best one?

Counter It!
Minnesota’s antiwar youth training camp

Last summer the Pentagon was busy preparing for an ambitious “surge” in military recruitment to meet the bipartisan plan to expand the military by 92,000 troops. At the same time, young people in Minnesota were also busy preparing our response.
Twenty two young activists – high school and college students as well as several trainers – gathered for four days in August at Garden Farme in Ramsey, MN to develop our skills and strategy. Organized by Youth Against War & Racism in partnership with the Fellowship of Reconciliation, the Ruckus Society, and others, the “Counter It! Training” was a great success.

The Twin Cities have seen "No WAR, No RNC" sprayed across bus stops, public trashcans, light posts, and sidewalks for months now.  Downtown Minneapolis has been beautified by a hosts of murals on large buildings and electric boxes and flyers for RNC festivities are placed all over the state.  Well, it seems that the beautifying is over.

A number of convergence spaces have been raided throughout the metro and near metro area.  It is true that many organizations plan to March on the RNC and we've hit the point where spaces are being raided.  At this time, there are a number of neighbors who have been detained.  Here is the latest information from Minnesota's presses, IndyMedia, and the UpTake:

From MN IndyMedia:  Click headline for full story.

Written May 1, 2008

The value of the almighty $ just keeps on going

down that is.

You see, I have a preoccupation with my new $-->RIAL exchange
Why?
There are no ATMs or Cash Stations here
and I just could not afford to bring hundreds/thousands of por si acaso dollars
As some may have.

The value of the dollar is dropping

Truth is
back home some of us would be pinching pennies
Not because the compensation is not fine
But because like so many who live under
the red, white, and blue of liberty at all costs, selective justice, and exploitation for all
we have bills stemming from entry to the medical complex
by way of harm inflicted by the government and everyday US
Through environmental degradation
Do you see?
The value of the dollar just keeps dropping

And without a change soon