Anti-coup protest in Honduras. Photo from TML Daily.

For decades, critics have accused the United States of viewing Latin America solely as a project for economic expansion and exploitation. Even liberals see the global south as an object of unilateral help or charity. But social change activists say the tables have turned.

On this edition, we’ll hear from experts who insist the U.S. has a lot to learn from social movements in Latin America — especially in times of crisis.

Featuring:

Marina Sitrin, author and attorney; Ben Dangl, Burlington College in Vermont professor; Mario Murillo, author & Hofstra University professor; Oscar Estrada, Honduran filmmaker & 2010 NarcoNews School of Authentic Journalism participant.

Special thanks to Between the Lines at WPKN Radio in Bridgeport, Connecticut.

For more information:

Between the Lines
A weekly radio news magazine show

Latin America Solidarity Coalition

Latin America Solidarity Network

Left Forum 2010
New York, NY

NarcoNews

Articles, Blogs, Films, Reports, Other:

South of the Border
A new movie by Oliver Stone exploring social movements in Latin America

‘Horizontalidad: Where Everyone Leads’
An article by Marina Sitrin, Yes! Magazine, 2007

‘Horizontalism: Voices of Popular Power in Argentina’
A book edited by Marina Sitrin

‘The Price of Fire: Resource Wars and Social Movements in Bolivia’
A book by Benjamin Dangl

Upside Down World
A blog covering activism and politics in Latin America

Venezuela Analysis
A blog providing in-depth analysis about developments in Venezuela

Music:

The Platform

Women from the Peoples Freedom Caravan arrive marching into the U.S. Social Forum. Credit: Lisa Rudman

This June, thousands of grassroots activists converged on Detroit, Michigan to attend the United States Social Forum. Participants said it wasn’t a conference, but a movement building process toward ecological and economic justice. We were at the forum, and on this edition of Making Contact, we’ll bring you some of the local and international voices we found there.

Featuring:

Lidy Nacpil, Freedom from Debt Coalition Vice President in the Philippines; Liepollo Pheko, The Trade Collective in South Africa policy & advocacy director; Invincible, Detroit-based hip-hop artist; Gloria House, Detroit-based professor and long-time activist.

—

Lidy Nacpil, Vice President of the Freedom from Debt Coalition addresses the global economy.

—

Liepollo Pheko speaks about the recent global financial crisis and its impact on women in Africa.

—

Detroit-based hip-hop artist Invincible says grassroots movements are alive in Detroit.

—

Gloria House or ‘Mama Gloria’ offers 10 poetic lessons-learned from Detroit social movements.

—

For more information:

Freedom from Debt Coalition
Manila, Philippines

Invincible
Detroit, MI

James & Grace Lee Boggs Center
Detroit, MI

South African Civil Society Information Service
(Trade Collective)
Johannesburg, South Africa

US Social Forum 2010
Detroit, MI

Articles, Blogs, Films, Reports, Other:

FLYP Media – Breath of Hope in Detroit
A Multi-Media site highlighting good works in Detroit

Music:

Shapeshifters by Invincible
Ai Bine by Ali Farka Toure

Bill Fletcher, Jr., Dr. Frances Fox Piven, Saket Soni

It’s been decades since the U.S. has had a powerful labor movement and recent efforts to revive it have mostly fallen flat. But there is hope for a new U.S. labor movement. It’s a vision that goes beyond the unions.

On this edition, we’ll hear from an array of panelists discussing the future of labor in the U.S. It was recorded at the 2010 Left Forum in New York City.

Special thanks to Between the Lines at WPKN Radio in Bridgeport, Connecticut.

Featuring:

Dr. Frances Fox Piven, Left Forum 2010 ‘Future of Labor in the U.S.’ moderator & CUNY Graduate Center sociology & political science professor; Dr. Stanley Aronowitz, CUNY Graduate Center sociology, cultural studies & urban education professor; Bill Fletcher, Jr., labor activist & BlackCommentator.com editorial board member and columnist; James Gray Pope, Rutgers School of Law-Newark professor & Sidney Reitman Scholar; Saket Soni, New Orleans Workers’ Center for Racial Justice Director; Elaine Bernard, Labor and Worklife Program at Harvard Law School Executive Director.

–

1.  Dr. Frances Fox Piven makes opening remarks

–

2.  Dr. Stanley Aronowitz speaks about why organized labor is in the sorry state it’s in.

–

3.  Bill Fletcher Jr. offers ideas on how a different labor movement can emerge.

–

4.  James Gray Pope speaks about the need for organized labor to be more strategic and realistic.

–

5. Saket Soni, New Orleans Workers’ Center for Racial Justice Director talks about some successes he’s had uniting organized labor and the immigrant workforce on the Gulf coast.

–

WEB ONLY EXCLUSIVE:

6. Elaine Bernard, Labor and Worklife Program at Harvard Law School executive director gives her view on the future of labor and moderates the panel discussion.

–

For more information:

Between the Lines

A weekly radio news magazine show

The Black Commentator

Mullica Hill, NJ

CUNY Graduate Center

New York, NY

Labor & Worklife Program at Harvard University

Cambridge, MA

Left Forum 2010

New York, NY

Rutgers School of LawÐNewark

Newark, NJ

Articles, Blogs, Films, Reports, Other:

Audio recordings of panel discussions recorded at the Left Forum, March 20, 2010 in NY.

Music:

Mass Appeal by Gangstarr

Lovesick by Gangstarr

Chicago May Day March

This June, the second ever US Social Forum will be held in Detroit, Michigan. Activists, organizers and concerned citizens from all over the country will be coming together to brainstorm about how to unite their movements, and how to respond to the problems of 2010. On this edition, we look at how Domestic Workers got organized at the last US Social Forum. We also ask–what can we learn from the fall and rise of one of America’s great industrial cities–Detroit?

Featuring:

Pat Francois and Barbara Young, Domestic Workers United members; Beatriz Herrera, POWER (People Organized to Win Employment Rights) organizer; Donaji Lona, POWER Women Workers’ Project organizer; Ai Jen Poo, Domestic Workers United co-founder; Marcia Lee, Boggs Center and Hush House organizer; Lydia Wylie-Kellerman, international community organizer; Malik Yakini, Detroit Black Food Security Network Chairman; Adele Nieves, US Social Forum Communications Coordinator; Jon Blount, Detroit Summer Program Coordinator; Ben Chodoroff, The Hub of Detroit co-founder; Invincible, Hip Hop Artist and Detroit Summer mentor; Adrienne Marie Brown, US Social Forum National Coordinator and Allied Media Conference board member;

–

Domestic Workers Alliance builds for USSF

It’s been 3 years since the first US Social Forum in Atlanta; so organizers are just starting to see some of the long term possibilities.  Key to the forums success is whether it can help unite local campaigns, and create a large coordinated national social justice movement.

One group that’s been taking that step is domestic workers.  In 2007, they formed a new National Domestic Workers Alliance. Andrew Stelzer has more.

–

Detroit Prepares to Host

Detroit resident Erica Class talks to some community leaders, and brings us her view about what’s happening in Detroit, and what the social forum’s host city has in store for those who’re coming to town.

–

For more information:

Allied Media Conference
Detroit, MI

Boggs Center
Detroit, MI

Building Bridges on WBAI
New York, NY

Community News Production Institute

Detroit Black Food Security Network
Detroit, MI

Detroit Summer
Detroit, MI

Detroit Women of Color International Film Festival
Detroit, MI

Domestic Workers United
New York, NY

The Hub of Detroit
Detroit, MI

Hush House
Detroit, MI

National Domestic Workers Alliance
San Francisco, CA

People Organized to Win Employment Rights (POWER) & Women Workers Project
San Francisco, CA

United States Social Forum
Detroit, MI

Articles, Blogs, Films, Reports, Other:

‘Breath of Hope’ by FLYP Media
A Multimedia Site about Detroit

‘On the 2010 Social Forum’
A blog entry by Cindy Wiesner

‘Domestic Workers Win Montgomery Protections’
An article by Katherine Shaver, Washington Post, July 21, 2008

Live Arts Media Project CD: Rising Up From the Ashes–Chronicles of a Dropout
A website where you can find this CD by LAMP

‘The forum in a Nutshell’ by Adrienne Marie Brown
A blog by Adrienne Marie Brown

Music:

Climax (Instrumental) by Slum Village
Selfish (Instrumental) by Slum Village
Tainted Love (Instrumental) by Slum Village
Get Ya Paper (Instrumental) by Fat Killahs
Hello Detroit by Sammy Davis Jr.
Renaissance State of Mind by Ro Spit and Monica Blaire
We Almost Lost Detroit by Gil Scott-Heron
Freedom Schoolin by Namaste Brown and El-iqaa

Child's letter to HI Gov. Lingle

State budgets are strapped and deep cuts to public programs continue, putting public education on the chopping block. On this edition, we continue our series, How We Survive with a look at the crisis in K through 12 education. While the Obama administration pushes states to “Race to the Top,” teachers, parents, and students are resisting budget cuts from the bottom up.

Featuring:

David Lyell, substitute teacher and participant in the ‘March for California’s Future’; Naomi Spencer, parent, Ypsilanti, M.I.; Marguerite Higa, parent, organizer of Save Our Schools Hawaii; Scott Paulin, principal, Potter Valley, C.A. school district; Keith Canova, music teacher, Potter Valley, C.A.; Kevin Paren-chini, parent and teacher, Potter Valley, C.A.; Maria Johnson, coordinator, Potter Valley Community Center; Lisa Oden, parent, Potter Valley, C.A.; Amy Silva, parent, Potter Valley, C.A.; Meredith Randall, vice president of education and student services at Mendocino Community College; Stan Karp, editor, Rethinking Schools.

—

Parents, Teachers and Students Respond to Cuts in K-12 Education

Lately, it seems almost no state is safe from budget cuts to K-12 education. Furloughs, teacher layoffs, and school closings. Producer Pauline Bartolone gathered stories from those affected in Hawaii, Michigan and California.

—

Rural School Districts Get Creative on Furlough Days

Furloughs aren’t just a problem for Hawaii schools… Districts in more than a dozen states have cut back to a four day school week. Some Rural districts are dealt a double financial blow from state cuts and declining enrollment. While parents in the story we just heard want to end furloughs – and fast – one small town in Northern California has come up with creative ways to supplement their new found free time. From Mendocino County, Christina Aanestad has more.

—

Stan Karp on Rethinking Federal Policy

We’ve heard about the cuts and about how people are trying to rise above them. But what about the roots of the crisis? What are the policies that enable these hardships? To get some perspective, Making Contact producer Andrew Stelzer spoke with an Editor at the magazine Rethinking Schools.

For more information:

Center on Education Policy
Washington, DC

Civil Rights Project (UCLA)
Los Angeles, CA

March for California’s Future
Central Valley, CA

Philadelphia Student Union
Philadelphia, PA

Rethinking Schools
Milwaukee, WI

Save Our Schools Hawaii
Honolulu, Hawaii

Articles, Blogs, Films, Reports, Other:

Choice Without Equity: Charter School Segregation and the Need for Civil Rights Standards
A report by UCLA’s Civil Rights Project

‘School Reform We Can’t Believe In’
An article by by Stan Karp, Rethinking Schools, Spring, 2010

‘The Fight to Save Public Education’
An article by Shamus Cooke, Counterpunch, March 8, 2010

‘Detroit: A Model for Nationwide Assault on Public Education’
An article by Joe Kishore, World Socialist Web Site, March 19, 2010

Music:

Airs Above Your Station by Kinski
Warm Sound by Zero 7
P.S. by Chromakey

Plus more from Chromakey

Source: flimjo.com

‘No new taxes’ has been a conservative mantra for generations.  Lately, it’s been taken beyond the campaign trail, and into the streets.  But why are so many Americans opposed to taxes and who does the system serve anyway?

We take a look at a tax revolt movement you might not have heard about, including upper income folks asking for tax increases on themselves.  And we compare the tax burdens and benefits in Europe and the United States.

Featuring:

Jim McDermott, Oregon lawyer; Chuck Sheketoff, Oregon Center for Public Policy Executive Director; Jon Shure, Center on Budget & Policy Priorities Deputy Director; Marcy Westerling, Rural Organizing Project, Scappoose Executive Director; Marcy Westerling, Rural Organizing Project Executive Director; Tom Duley, Alabama Arise board chairman; Kimble Forrister, Alabama Arise coordinator; Gwendolyn Gray, Alabama Arise member; Steven Hill, Political Reform Program Director at the New America Foundation & author of ‘Europe’s Promise: Why the European Way Is the Best Hope for an Insecure Age’

Thanks to contributing producer, Abby Scher.

And thanks to Joe Hendricks at WSLR Radio & Jan Nichols at the NC Justice Center for technical assistance and our tape synchers Chris Lehman, Don Gronnin, Robert Frazier & Kelly Walker.

—

Grassroots Groups Call for Change in the Tax System

Besides the Tea Party, there are other grassroots tax movements building strength in places like Oregon, Alabama and North Carolina.  These citizens are calling for higher taxes, to dig their states out of the mess created by the economic crisis.  Raise taxes on the wealthy, they say, so the burden falls more equitably on those best able to pay.  Generally overlooked by the national media, these campaigners are winning many of their battles, and as correspondent Abby Scher reports, they’re growing in number every day.

—

Author Compares U.S. Tax System with Those of European Countries

Making Contact’s Andrew Stelzer interviews Steven Hill , author of ‘Europe’s Promise: Why the European Way Is the Best Hope for an Insecure Age’, about the difference in tax benefits and burdens in Europe and the US.

—

For more information:

Alabama Arise
Montgomery, AL

Center on Budget and Policy Priorities
Washington, DC

Oregon Center for Public Policy
Silverton, OR

Rural Organizing Project
Scappoose, OR

Steven Hill

Wealth for the Common Good

Articles, Blogs, Films, Reports, Other:

‘Americans pay fewer taxes than Europeans’
An article by Steven Hill

‘Creating a Fair and Adequate Revenue System’
A report by North Carolina Justice Center

‘Europe’s Promise: Why the European Way is the Best Hope for an Insecure Age’
A book by Steven Hill

‘I Want to Pay More Taxes’
An article by Jim McDermott, The Oregonian, April 12, 2009

‘Impact of State Income Taxes on Low-Income Families in 2008’
A report by Center on Budget and Policy Priorities

‘Reversing the Great Tax Shift: Seven Steps to Finance Our Economic Recovery Fairly’
An article by John Cavanagh, Chuck Collins, Alison Goldberg & Sam Pizzigati

‘Tax Fraud: Debunking the Claim that higher income-tax rates reduce GDP’
An article by Eliot Spitzer

‘Taxing the Poor’
A PBS NOW documentary on Alabama Arise, April 11, 2008

‘The Tea Party and Misconceptions about Taxes’

10 Excellent Reasons Not to Hate Taxes
A book by Stephanie Greenwood

Warren Buffett Tells Tom Brokaw, Raise My Taxes!

‘Why Tax the Rich? Efficiency, Equity, and Progressive Taxation’
A journal written by Reuven S. Avi-Yonah

Music:

Sweet Home Alabama by Lynyrd Skynyrd
Alabama A&M Univ. Gospel Choir
Money, Money, Money by Abba
Me and the IRS by Johnny Paycheck

What is the future of print journalism? Source: www.psfk.com

The business model of journalism is collapsing. Thousands of journalists have lost their jobs, newspapers are folding, and major dailies are in bankruptcy. Sources blame the rise of the internet and the economic recession. But some argue the industry’s crisis was accelerated by a decades-old trend – corporate ownership and the rise of the media conglomerate. On this edition, we hear a discussion about government subsidies and new funding models to save the Fourth Estate.

Featuring:

Robert McChesney, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign communications professor and co-author of “The Death and Life of American Journalism;” John Nichols, Washington Correspondent, The Nation Magazine; Laura Flanders, GRIT TV Host; David Carr, The New York Times Columnist; Pamela Newkirk, NYU Journalism professor. 

For more information:

Free Press
Washington, DC

John Nichol’s Political blog on The Nation

Media Matters for America
Washington, DC

The Nation
New York, NY

Articles, Blogs, Films, Reports, Other:

David Carr’s Biography on NYTimes

The Death and Life of American Journalism from NationBooks

‘How to Save Journalism’
An article excerpted from the book “The Death and Life of American Journalism”

The Nation magazine podcast

Pamela Newkirk’s bio on TheNation

Robert McChesney’s website

Music:

John Fahey, The Death of the Clayton Peacock
John Fahey, Orinda Moraga

Scenes from the ColorLines TV special "Race and the Economic Recovery."

Social programs have been cut, living wage jobs are scarce and our economic system is in upheaval.  While the White House claims its stimulus package is working, the question remains, is it working for all Americans?

On this edition we bring you the audio version of Link TV and Applied Research Center’s video, ‘Color Lines: Race and Economic Recovery’. Hear the untold stories of how racism hurts all of our economic futures.  The documentary also examines how the current recession and time limits on welfare are affecting women of color.  It’s hosted by Chris Rabb, author of the soon-to-be released book, ‘Invisible Capital.’

Featuring:

Tisha, 29-year old African-American woman and mother of three; Jane MacNichol, Legal Assistance Resource Center of Connecticut Executive Director; Vijay Prashad, Trinity College Professor in Hartford, CT; Steve Thornton, SEIU 1199, VP and Education Director; Tram Nguyen, California Reinvestment Coalition Media Coordinator; Eric Mar, SF Board of Supervisors; Manuel Hernandez, S.C.O.P.E. Los Angeles community organizer; Elsa Barboza, S.C.O.P.E. Los Angeles Campaign Director; Herb Wesson, Los Angeles City Council; Kevin Norton, I.B.E.W. Local 11; Dr. Manuel Pastor, USC; Art Shanks, Cypress Mandela Training Center; Dorothy Morris, Cypress Mandela Training Center student; Ron Dellums, Oakland, CA Mayor; John Tafoya, Cypress Mandela Training Center graduate; Erika Artis Cruz, Green Jobs Training graduate.

This audio was repurposed from Link TV and Applied Research Center’s video: ‘Color Lines: Race and Economic Recovery’.

For more information:

Afro-Netizen
A Blog by Chris Rabb

Applied Research Center (Public Policy, Research, ColorLines)
Oakland, CA

California Reinvestment Coalition
San Francisco, CA

ColorLines

Cypress Mandela Training Center
Oakland, CA

Green for All
Oakland, CA

International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 11
Pasadena, CA

LinkTV

Legal Assistance Resource Center of Connecticut
Hartford, CT

Los Angeles City Council
Los Angeles, CA

Oakland Green Jobs Corp (Ella Baker Center Initiative)
Oakland, CA

Oakland Mayor’s Office
Oakland, CA

San Francisco Board of Supervisors
San Francisco, CA

S.C.O.P.E. Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CA

SEIU Health Care 1199NE
Hartford, CT

Trinity College
Hartford, CT

Articles, Blogs, Films, Reports, Other

Invisible Capital: How Unseen Forces Shape Entrepreneurial Opportunity
A book by Chris Rabb

‘Color Lines: Race and Economic Recovery’ credits:

LINKTV SHOOT
Chris Rabb, Host
Tram Nguyen, California Reinvestment Coalition Media Coordinator
Erica Marcus, Executive Producer
Tammy Johnson, Merin Mathew, Noel Rabinowitz, Co-Producers
Michael Smith, Director
Kevin Mazzier, Director of Photography
Caio Simbula, Camera 2
Channing Kennedy, Camera 3
Stephanie Cardenas, Makeup
Shayla Durrett, Teleprompter Operator
Wanjiru Kamau, Production Assistant

WELFARE SEGMENT
Tammy Johnson, Noel Rabinowitz & Seth Wessler, Co-Producers
Channing Kennedy, Editor
Rafael Delauz, Director of Photography
Seth Wessler, Field Producer
Noel Rabinowitz, Music Soundtrack Editor
Music by Quinn Raymond
Additional Music by Juba Kalamka and Randy Green

GREEN SEGMENT
Tammy Johnson & Noel Rabinowitz, Co-Producers
Channing Kennedy, Editor
Jorge Rivas, Director of Photography
Laura Merians, Lighting Designer

CONNECTICUT AND LOS ANGELES FIELD CREW
Tammy Johnson, Field Producer
Channing Kennedy, Camera
Yvonne Liu & Christina Chen, Assistant Producers
Yvonne Liu, Story Consultant
Simone Andrews, Assistant Producer
Music by Quinn Raymond

OAKLAND FIELD CREW
Merin Mathew, Field Producer
Kevin Mazzier, Camera
Manfred Lee, Grip

COLORLINES ADDITIONAL CREDITS
Theme Music by Juba Kalamka
Writing by Chris Rabb, Tammy Johnson, Noel Rabinowitz & Channing Kennedy
Research assistance provided by the Investigative Fund at the Nation Institute
Special thanks to SCOPE LA
Major Funding provided by the Akonadi Foundation

Top: Steve Williams, co-founder of POWER. Bottom: Stanley Aronowitz, Professor, City University of New York Sources: http://therealbarackobama.wordpress.com

It’s a time of economic transition, and systems that may have seemed stable over the past few decades are proving to be far from it. But how did we get here? And how can we learn from the past, to build a more fair and just system in the future? While many politicians and pundits claim that no one saw the current economic collapse coming, in fact, we had plenty of warning, depending on who we listened to. This week, we hear from three people who’ve been sounding the alarm about capitalism’s house of cards for years, and in some cases, decades.

Featuring:

Steve Williams, POWER: People Organized to Win Employment Rights co-director and co-founder; Rick Wolff, University of Massachusetts at Amherst Economics Professor and author; Stanley Aronowitz, City University of NY Graduate Center Sociology & Urban Education Professor and author.

This program was co-produced by Megan Martenyi as part of Making Contact’s internship program.

For more information:

Stanley Aronowitz

Left Forum

People Organized to Win Employment Rights (POWER)

University of Massachusetts-Amherst Department of Economics

Additional Information:

Building Bridges Radio: Your Community and Labor Report

“Capitalism Hits the Fan” by Richard Wolff
A 57-minute video on the economic meltdown
Produced by the Media Education Foundation: Documentary Films

WBAI, 99.5 FM

Music:

“Martin Fierro,” by Juana Molina
“Fall in Love,” by Flying Lotus
“Rich Get Richer,” by The O’Jays