Pass the Mic - The Bay - 3 minutes

Ron Dellums - Oakland Ca's new mayor.

Oakland California's homicide count in 2006 was 148. With a population of 400,000 this is a very high murder rate. Oakland has a long rich and interesting history in the Bay Area, with one of the busiest ports in the U.S. and is today a city with one of the worst public school systems in America (which was recently taken over by the state) with drug and crime problems that don't let up.

Ron Dellums was a pro-active congressman who appears to have pursued issues based on his moral convictions, without reserve. He initiated the sanctions on South Africa, worked against the Vietnam war, etc. It seems people are excited to see him come into power in Oakland, replacing Jerry Brown who was considering running for president. Lets see what Ron can do for Oakland. See a list of all of Oakland's mayors since the 1800's.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_mayors_of_Oakland,_California
See Ron Dellums in an interview in 2000.

I know I'm not alone

Michael Franti takes his guitar to Iraq, Palestine and Israel during conflict.

Koreans are serious about society, jobs and politics

Ive been to S.Korea twice and both times I saw so many riot police buses parked all over the city with riot police standing by the hundreds along streets, outside buildings etc. From what I understand that is very normal there, part of the reason for the strong police force I think is the strong public reaction to anything the government does that the people do not agree with. Often regarding shrinking labor rights and job security, (and maybe a shift away from a united country during Japanese occupation, pre-war and post war times)towards a more American style big business cut throat take no prisoners every man woman and child for themselves. But the sheer level of political activism is high and the level people are willing to take it is high. I've seen a protest and the people have been more courageous than at any other protest Ive seen, pushing police lines etc. I don't really know why, I'm just guessing, so you see these articles and video clip, and find some more and figure out why they are so fierce and fearless in their stance, and different than many others. this is a 2 min video

Bay area - youth street side show culture - GET IT WHILE ITS HOT!!!

Japanese mochi making, 鏡もち

about making Japanese rice mochi

Japanism

I've added an article about Japan heading into the nationalist direction. It talks about the govt. wanting the young people to embrace and love Japan more than it does now, and it seems the current Japanese administration wants to tell the world that it is not ashamed of it's past aggressions. Now I can see how some people would say how bad that is, and I also feel this is not a path to win friends but more like make enemies while boosting the national pride. At the same time I can't say because I don't know but America does the same, there is an anti-Japanese feeling in Korea and China.

I recently read in J.times opinion that The latest U.S. policy on N.Korea (which may move into a softer negotiation) isolates Abe, doesn't stand as firmly with Japan as previously which can put Abe in a position more likely to pursue his/Japans own independent solution to N.Korea, such as nukes, etc.
see the article on Japans rise in Nationalism

U.S. - India Nuculear deal on Walmart

It looks like the Nuclear deal with the U.S. and India mean a lot for the world in the future. For one, it seems the U.S.'s main political objective is in the long term foreign policy strategy of "containing or balancing" China's rise in power. The Nuclear energy the U.S. is giving or selling to India is for the use of energy, but, with this then India will be able to use their own nuclear energy to make nuclear weapons. The other side affects of this are big as well. For U.S. Wall-Mart or Monsanto share holders, its profitable thing, one part of the deal is that India open up its country to Wall-Mart which will start next year with 500 stores, which could have a damming effect on the way people in India buy and sell and work. Whats bigger than that is the part with Monsanto which owns and sells rights to farming seeds that are supposed to be good, but only harvest one time then the farmers have to buy again every year. India is making its farmers buy them, which binds them to Monsanto.


for that conversation go to about the fifth paragraph of Vandana on this web-page
http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=06/12/13/1451229