Experiments with the Truth 1/27/10

• A protester has a banner around his head that reads ‘Let the people judge’ during an anti-corruption protest in front of the parliament building in Jakarta last week. Lawmakers are conducting an investigation of the government’s $730 million bailout of Bank Century in 2008, which the demonstrators opposed.

• Tens of thousands of pro-life activists marched in San Francisco on Saturday, January 23, for the 6th Annual Walk for Life West Coast.

• In Albany, New York, a rally was held on Monday over plans to allow for natural gas drilling in the Marcellus Shale in upstate New York. Critics say the drilling process known as hydraulic fracturing, or “fracking,” could contaminate the water supplies of New York City and other areas of the state.

Learning from civil disobedience ...

Yesterday, Dr. Carol Paris – a psychiatrist from Maryland who was part of the Baucus 8 – wrote a nice reflection on her experience protesting and getting arrested in front of the Harbor Hotel in Baltimore last Friday, where President Obama was scheduled to give a speech. While she held a banner that read, “Letting you know: Medicare for all,” with Dr. Margaret Flowers, and spoke with the police and Secret Service about why they were there, many thoughts were running through her head:

Human Rights Day Goes Well Beyond NGO's

Sadly, the Cambodia Daily article, on page 27 today (November 11, 2009)
is titled "NGO's Mark Human Rights Day With Rally". While technically
correct, and nothing to be ashamed of, it hides the more beautiful truth
of celebrations that went on all around the country yesterday.

These celebrations were held by local communities with support from a
range of sources, including NGO's, but who gathered to express their
desires for a more just future where the voice of the poor is considered
equally to the voice of the powerful.

Many activities expressly included local officials in the proceedings to
build good-will and trust that the search for peace and justice will not
be at the expense of those in official positions, rather it will lift up
the marginalised and vulnerable to a place where they can access
freedoms and benefits of a country like Cambodia.

The article importantly highlights that NGO's "called on the government
to end forced evictions in land disputes" and "this celebration is to
show our deep appreciation to the heroes around the world, and
particularly Cambodian human-rights activists who have sacrificed their
efforts and lives for the cause and protection of human rights."