"You commie, homo-loving sons of guns," "I did not expect this and I want it to be very clear that I do know how hard I make it to appreciate me often."

-- Sean Penn accepting his second Academy Award for best actor for Milk

Activist San Diego contacts: Martin (619-226-1116), Tanja (858-459-4650), Activist Update: ASDUpdate@activistsandiego.org

WANT TO ADD TO THE ACTIVIST UPDATE? Email ASDUpdate@activistsandiego.org
Please submit your event listings at least 1 week prior to the event.

Activist San Diego Monthly Meeting Third Monday each month, 7pm - Joyce Beers Community Center, 1090 Vermont, one 1/2 blocks north of University, just east of Trader Joe's in the Hillcrest Shopping Center. Call ASD early on at 619-528-8383 or cell 619-871-9354 if no answer. Everyone welcome Please join us

• ASD News and Views
• Food For Thought
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• This Week's Events
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• Update Archives

The corporate news media is part and parcel of the way a tiny ruling class maintains control over hundreds of millions of working people. As Robert Jensen reminded us at an Activist San Diego event last Saturday, the media is not a dispassionate observer of society, but part of the system that controls that society.

Institutional racism has been a fixture in American society. The most toxic racism today is subtle and covert. So imagine our shock and disgust at the publication of a violently racist cartoon in Rupert Murdoch's New York Post. Under the caption *"They'll have to find someone else to write the next Stimulus Bill" *the cartoon depicted a chimpanzee as the author of the stimulus bill, having just been gunned down by police officers. After centuries of slavery, generations of lynching and countless police shootings of African Americans, this imagery is nothing short of the perpetration of white supremacy ideology.

A cartoon of the assassination of the author of the Stimulus Bill (presumably President Obama) would be considered a hate crime in many countries and a 'promotion of terrorism' in many others. Publication in the New York Post is no minor error of editorial judgment. It is a blatant provocation and fundamental disrespect of peoples of color and working people purported to be helped by the Stimulus.

More than 80 activists attended the last ASD general meeting to see Occupation 101 and discuss the occupation of Palestine. Join with us in further support of Palestine. We look forward to seeing you at the film _American Ruling Class_ on Fri. Feb. 27th. More Info

Call us at 619-528-8383 to get involved or support ASD's quest to build a larger and boarder movement for social justice.

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DONATED CARS HELP MOVE ACTIVISM FORWARD! Please donate your car and other items. As a bonus you get progressive satisfaction and a healthy tax deduction! Call us at 619-528-8383

For all of the above we will need your help and financial support. If you would like to make a donation, please click on the button to the right.

Or, we can also accept donations mailed to: Activist San Diego 4246 Wightman St San Diego, CA 92105-2618

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“Last year, the securities and investment industry made $146 million in campaign contributions. Commercial banks, another $34 million. I mean, American taxpayers don't have a flea's chance on a dog like that, do they?”

-- Bill Moyers interview with economist Simon Johnson on economic recovery, February 13, 2009

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"Did it occur to you that this suggestion would imply a connection between President Barack Obama and the deranged chimpanzee? Did it occur to you that our President has been receiving death threats since early in his candidacy? Did it occur to you that blacks have historically been compared to various apes as a way of racist insult and mockery?"

-- Open Letter to the New York Post From Singer John Legend

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FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 7:30PM: Activist San Diego presents the film: The American Ruling Class America Rules the World! But Who Rules America? The American Ruling Class is a morality tale set to music about of two Yale students who seek their opportunities after graduation. Lewis Lapham, the renowned essayist, author and longtime Harper's Magazine editor, conducts them through the corridors of power. The subject is our country's most taboo topic: class, power and privilege in our nominally democratic republic. Joyce Beers Community Center, 1050 Vermont, 1½ block north of University Ave in Hillcrest, San Diego - Donations requested. More Info

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WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 5:30PM: Colectivo Zapatista Tzajalek 32 presents: Mexico Unconquered: Chronicles of Power and Revolt. A Book Presentation and Discussion by author, John Gibler. Mexico Unconquered is an evocative report on the epic powers of violence and corruption in Mexico and the underdogs and rebels who put their lives on the line to build justice from the ground up. SDSU Library, LL-430. Co-sponsored by SDSU Library and the Center for Latin American Studies. More Info

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WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 5:30PM: Racial/Ethnic Violence in the Gaza Strip: An Ethnic Studies Community Forum. With the participation of Prof. Gary Fields (Communication dept), Prof. Roshanak Kheshti (Ethnic Studies), Lila Sharif, and José Fusté, followed by a town hall discussion. LOCATION: Social Sciences Building – UCSD Room 107 (Dean’s Conference Room). More Info

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 6:30PM: UC San Diego Honors Black History. Please join us for an address given by Nobel Laureate Wole Soyinka, "History in Remedial Spin,” presented by Thurgood Marshall College and The Helen Edison Lecture Series. Price Center Ballroom West, UC San Diego (Park in Gilman Parking Structure and follow the pedestrian signage to the Price Center Ballroom.). Nobel Laureate Wole Soyinka, a lifelong human rights activist, educator, award winning playwright, poet, and author, has in his life been charged with treason for his literary works and been imprisoned without trial. More Info

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FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 7:30PM: Activist San Diego presents the film: The American Ruling Class America Rules the World! But Who Rules America? The American Ruling Class is a morality tale set to music about of two Yale students who seek their opportunities after graduation. Lewis Lapham, the renowned essayist, author and longtime Harper's Magazine editor, conducts them through the corridors of power. The subject is our country's most taboo topic: class, power and privilege in our nominally democratic republic. Joyce Beers Community Center, 1050 Vermont, 1½ block north of University Ave in Hillcrest, San Diego - Donations requested. More Info

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ONGOING EVENTS
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EVERY SATURDAY UNTIL MARCH 7TH: Old Town State Park Picket Line and Rally. Where: Old Town State Park, inside the park off the corner of Calhoun and Wallace. Who: Restaurant workers at Old Town State Park. Background: Workers employed by restaurant operator Delaware North at Old Town State Park were informed at the beginning of the year that they would all be terminated in early March, as Delaware North plans to bring in a subcontractor to take over the state lease to operate concessions at Old Town. While Old Town Hospitality Group has remained mum on the workers' future, it has announced plans that include major renovations and capital improvements. Nearly 130 workers could lose their jobs. More Info

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Malcolm X Library Programs in February 2009: More Info

“ENOUGH” PEACE AND IMPEACHMENT VIGILS ~ EVERY WEEK UNTIL THE IRAQ WAR ENDS. More Info

EVERY SUNDAY 3PM: Free Vegan Food at the North Park Community Park with San Diego Food Not Bombs. The North Park Community Park is located at the intersection of Oregon and Polk in North Park. More Info

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SATURDAY, MARCH 7, 10AM: UNA’s Women’s Equity Council, and TJSL present No Way to Treat a Treaty, a workshop to learn about treaties not ratified (e. g., Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW)) by the U. S. Thomas Jefferson School of Law, 2121 San Diego Avenue, Rm. 101, in Old Town. Christie Edwards, Adjunct Professor of Law, leads a discussion on the current status of three international treaties. Free; light refreshments. More Info

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SUNDAY, MARCH 8, 10:30AM: Women from Iraq, Somalia, U. S. A., Iran, Philippines, and Venezuela discuss their Roles, Realities, and Hopes, sponsored by UNA’s Women’s Equity Council. Women’s History Museum, 2323 Broadway, #107, Golden Hill. Free; coffee and muffins. More Info

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SUNDAY, MARCH 8, 2PM: American Association of University Women, Cabrillo-Diego Branch, presents Women in America, a DVD of photographs, music, and poetry celebrating the Women’s Movement in the U. S. A., followed by an interactive discussion, 2:00 P. M., Women’s History Museum, 2323 Broadway, #107, Golden Hill. Free; light refreshments. More Info

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Tuesday, March 17, 2PM and 7PM: CPUC Public Hearings on Power Lines & Wildfires. Al Bahr Shriners Center 5440 Kearny Mesa Road, San Diego. The CPUC NEEDS to hear that deferred spending on power-line maintenance (including vegetation trimming) is NO LONGER acceptable AND that we don't need additonal power-line hazards in wildfire country when we can generate clean, renewable energy on SoCal rooftops and low-profile wind turbines. The CPUC is conducting an Order Instituting Rulemaking (OIR) to potentially change CPUC rule(s) regarding power lines and wildfires. More Info

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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 18, 7PM: The Fifth Annual International Women’s Day Breakfast celebrates Powerful Voices in Peacebuilding. Joan B. Kroc Institute for Peace & Justice, University of San Diego. More Info

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SATURDAY, MARCH 14, 7:30AM: San Diego County Commission on the Status of Women presents the 2009 Forum on the Status of Women and Girls in San Diego County, Joan B. Kroc Institute for Peace & Justice, University of San Diego. More Info

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SATURDAY, MARCH 21, 1PM: End the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan! Meet at 5th and University (Hillcrest) at 1pm and march to the War Memorial (Park and Upas) for a 2:30 rally. Similar demonstrations are planned on that day in Washington DC, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and other cities throughout the US. The bankers get their billions, the war machine continues to spend $1 trillion a year, and the wars in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Palestine continue. Bush may be gone, but we still need a popular movement to win the change that we need. We need your support and your endorsement. More Info

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SATURDAY, MARCH 21, 3PM: Dr. Gail Dimitroff discusses memoir writing and her memoir, Mande!, for the Authors’ Series, Women’s History Museum, 2323 Broadway, #107, Golden Hill. Free. More Info

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SATURDAY, APRIL 11, 11AM: 51st Annual Ebony Fashion Fair. The Ebony Fashion Fair, the world's largest traveling fashion show, returns to San Diego to showcase the latest runway designs and raise funds for the Elementary Institute of Science (EIS), San Diego’s premier science enrichment center for children. This year's show will be held at the Joe & Vi Jacobs Center. The social hour begins at 11 AM, and is followed by a sit-down luncheon. Ramp seats, which are located right next to the runway and include VIP parking with escorts, are $125. General admission tickets are $75. More Info

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SATURDAY, APRIL 25, 12PM: San Diego County Library. Vegetarian Day @ Your Library. Come watch movies, learn about being a vegetarian, sample foods, raw and vegetarian cooking demos, speakers, crafts and much, much, more! Free @ your library. Limited Supply of food, please arrive early. Spring Valley Library 836 Kempton Street. More Info

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 7PM: V-Day San Diego 2009. A V-Day Benefit Production of The Vagina Monologues. To benefit V-day and The San Diego Center for Community Solutions. Join Us As We Raise Funds And Awareness To End Violence Against Women And Girls. V-Day San Diego will present a one-night only benefit reading of Eve Ensler's award wining play The Vagina Monologues at The Birch North Park Theatre 2891 University Avenue San Diego. More Info

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SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 7PM: San Diego Premiere Production of The MENding Monologues at The 10th Avenue Theatre, 930 10th Avenue, San Diego. The MENding Monologues By Derek Dujardin. A group of talented men in Sedona, AZ. wrote, rehearsed and produced a show of personal monologues, poetry and comedy that embraced the themes, issues and spirit of The Vagina Monologues. Of more than 6,600 V-Day events around the world, this is only men's show in production that we know of. The purpose of The MENding Monologues is to "restore our faith in men" by acknowledging where men both protect and revere women and at times, we fail them. Through this work, we are dedicated to ending violence and mending hearts—of men and women alike. More Info

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MARCH 12 - 22, 2009: 16th Annual San Diego Latino Film Festival: Latino Stars Light Up The Screen at UltraStar Mission Valley Cinemas at Hazard Center (7510 Hazard Center Dr. San Diego, CA 92108). Close to 20,000 festival goers will have the opportunity to attend over 150 screenings, meet approximately 100 actors and filmmakers and attend workshops, live music events, parties and other exciting events. More Info

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MARCH 28, 2009: 11AM: San Diego IndieFest (SDIF)V ~ The Culture of Possibility In San Diego's North Park. 7 Stages on & off University Ave., between Kansas and 30th Streets. $23 General, $20 Students, Seniors and Military w/ Valid IDs, Kids 8 and under FREE. Wildly diverse & exciting independent music, film, art, business and ideas all day long. Rock, Hip Hop, Folk, World, Country, Funk, Punk, Jazz, Latin, Spoken Word... Film, Photography, Dance, Painting Poetry and more. More Info

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ONGOING EVENTS
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JANUARY 31 – MARCH 8, 7PM: Visual Migrations. Opening reception. FREE. Deportation Nation: History Repeats A cultural series highlighting the issue of deportation in America presented by USD Ethnic Studies, Calaca Press and the Red CalacArts Collective. Centro Cultural de la Raza 2125 Park Blvd, SD. Art exhibit addressing the issue of deportation. Opening reception music by Gabriel J. Vélez. More Info

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Announcements / Workshops

POTS AND PANS FOR PEACE! .... and pens, pencils, paper, hats, gloves, etc. too! Since most people's first reaction will likely be, "HUH?!"---- let me follow up quickly with "Citizen Diplomacy: Reaching out to the needy people in Afghanistan!" We have an opportunity to let the people of Afghanistan know that the people of the United States care about them, by filling "flat rate" boxes of donations to be shipped to Afghanistan! Help put a smile on the face of a child half a world away! To participate, please bring your donations to: San Diego First Church of the Brethren 3850 Westgate Place San Diego. More Info

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LIBRARIES THREATENED AGAIN! Your help is needed now to help protect our Libraries as the City Council begins its budget preparation for Fiscal Year 2010. Budget & Finance Committee Chair Tony Young has scheduled meetings to solicit public input in preparation for the FY10 City budget. Most City departments have been asked to present the Mayor with budgets that show 15% cuts for FY10 (compared to the 10% budget cuts that were sought in the mid-term FY09 budget adjustments). Library supporters must let the Committee and Council know that Library services must be protected. The February meetings will help the Committee prioritize City services as they consider budget cuts. Please try to attend these meetings and make it clear that all San Diego Public Libraries and services are essential! Sat., February 14 & 21st and Wed & Thur., February 25th & 26th. More Info

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MARCH 15, 2009: Z-Day; The Zeitgeist Movement. www.thezeitgeistmovement.com to get more info. What we're trying to do is spread the word and have several presentations around the world on 3/15/09. In January 2009 the website will have their movies available for download along with a digital presentation. The digital presentation is to be used to present the idea of the zeitgeist movement to others. More Info

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BLANKETS & WARM CLOTHING URGENTLY NEEDED for farm workers living near Ensenada. It's really cold! PLEASE DROP OFF BEFORE DEC 5. A letter from my friends Omar Clay & Nina Leshan: We are living in Mexico, about 45 minutes south of Ensenada on the peninsula. Many of our neighbors are from the south of Mexico, and are here temporarily here working in agriculture. They have a need for clothes and blankets this winter. Specifically, there are whole families including children. If you have any extra blankets or warm clothes, including children's shoes, I can pick them up at Tanja Winter's house on Saturday, December 5 in the morning. Tanja says that you can leave your contributions on her driveway. Tanja's phone number: 858-459-4650 twinter@san.rr.com. More Info

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Get FREE copy of "A Question of Power", A documentary about the resistance in San Diego against this powerline. Video Link provided here: Also attached are action items for folks to talk once they have seen the documentary. We have complimentary copies of the documentary that can be requested by emailing: thecoane5 <thecoane5@cox.net There is no charge for the DVD or the mailing. More Info

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ONGOING EVENTS
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SDCPJ HIGH SCHOOL LEAFLETING PROJECT. The SD Coalition for peace and justice high school leafleting project is still looking for volunteers. Please reply to this e-mailsjagitator@ucsd.edu if you can join us with this special outreach to Latino students as they are heavily targeted by military recruiters. Help deny the military what they need most - young men and women to send to war or call me at 619-237-8870. More Info

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MISCELLANEOUS
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90.7 KPFK PACIFICA RADIO IS BACK ON THE AIR IN SAN DIEGO.....!!!!!! KPFK is back and it is the only information and cultural programming of it's kind in San Diego. People should listen, tell others and work to keep it here in San Diego and South Orange County. More Info

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Peace Flags. Excellent for display or for Peace Rallies. Call 858.459.4650 or email TanjaWinter@ActivistSanDiego.org

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The Guerrero Azteca Project ~ www.guerreroazteca.org

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The GI Rights Hotline ~ girights.objector.org

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South Central Farm: Oasis in a Concrete Desert ~ VIDEO 24:10

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South Central Farmers ~ www.southcentralfarmers.com

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LA VOZ Community Events Newsletter over the last 12 years has worked towards keeping the San Diego non-profit, Latino, and community at large connected ~ LA VOZ Community Events Newsletter

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