Hello World!
Time for a Social Justice News Update from around the world. Giving you news and my perspective on it all from those fighting the good fight all around our Mother Earth.
In Climate Justice News…
This week started the environmental conference in Paris COP21 the UN Climate Summit where a group of Indigenous environmentalist from Turtle Island came to represent and bring awareness to the issues of the grassroots folks. One of my mentors and brothers Gerardo Marin was fortune to be invited to attend the conference alongside the group Earth Guardians on behalf of the youth. The Earth Guardians have been doing some amazing things in Paris this week like helping carry a sacred stone brought to Paris from Alaska to the conference and bringing their music, heart and passion to the front lines. Itzcuauhtli, Tonantzin and Xiuhtezcatl were the last to carry the sacred stone that was run to COP21 by indigenous peoples all the way from the Artic in the “Run for your Life” initiative. They passed it to the Marshall Islanders to be carried into and kept inside the COP21 summit with all of our prayers for World Leaders to wake up on behalf of the future of humanity. One big agreement that many Indigenous communities from all over the world are hoping for is for world leaders to keep the climate temp at 1.5 and no higher. Some other issues that folks want an agreement on are: 1. Enshrinement in Paris agreement respecting the rights of indigenous peoples against climate aggression affecting their way of living. Local respect and leadership in solution building. Respect traditional ways. 2. Transition to post mining (fracking/ oil drilling) society and support grassroots initiatives, #leaveitintheground 1.5 degree temperature increase, not the 2 degrees other members have pushed. 3. Guarantee a full participation of indigenous women children and handicapped in decision-making policies. At the community, regional, national, international level) 4. Direct access to governance and being their own leaders of indigenous people’s climate funds to carry out plans in traditional ways. This all happing weeks after Obama vetoed the Keystone Pipeline in the USA a big win for a lot of Indigenous communities who are effected by the pipes. Another big issue with many grassroots folks is the TPP or Trans-Pacific Partnership.
http://www.theguardian.com/environment/video/2015/nov/29/paris-climate-protesters-banned-but-10000-shoes-remain-video
http://edition.cnn.com/2015/11/30/opinions/sutter-obama-climate-change-cop21-two-degrees/index.html
In Terrorist News…
Paris happened by ISIS. People go crazy hating on all Muslims and not wanting Syrian refuges in this country. Now ISIS is a very small group that does not represent all Muslims. Furthermore not all Syrian refuges are Muslim either. Also if you think about it we should be a little more focused fighting domestic terrorist who end up having a shooting every week in different ways. From lone shooters shooting up Plan Parrenthood rales, to what happened in San Buradino to the cops who continue to kill black women & men. Just because the media likes to make this narrative that Muslims are the enemy which is wrong does not mean they are really are biggest threat. Now I find it extremely wrong for Brittan and other states of power to go on trying to fight this issue by bombing Syria and other countries when most of the people you’re looking for probably live in your cities. Now you have Obama trying to basically ban guns in this country which so much that will do but I can see where he’s coming from. There is a great song by M.I.A the Indian rapper who just dropped this gem last week called Boarders. The whole song she goes on about all these things like boarders, the poor, war and more saying “what’s up with that” while in the video a bunch of refuges are walking, climbing fences and boarding boats getting out of their country to freedom.
http://www.theguardian.com/music/2015/nov/27/mia-borders-video-refugee-crisis-europe
In Black Friday & Black Lives Matter News…
Black Friday sales were down this year yes! Lots of black folks in Chicago and other places across the country took the streets that day to protest the killing of Laquan McDonald and other women and men killed this year. This comes off the heels of a protest that they did the week before where 5 Black Lives Matter protesters where shot by police officers. Also during the Million Man March 2 there was a cry out by the group Justice or Else for everyone to boycott the holidays by not buying into the cooperate capitalistic greed of the season and bring back the spirit of the holidays. Boycott Santa, Boycott Black Friday & Cyber Monday. All of these comes weeks after all the protest at colleges over racism happing all over. Have to say I admire all the students who rallied together to fight racism on their campus and taking a stand to get well deserved change in their schools. But what you won’t hear on the mainstream media is about the 5 black men killed in Brazil after the police shoot 50+ bullets at their car window. Also if you are looking to get your holiday shopping done but wanna stay true to the cause then here is a gift guide with a list of black owned business you can support and buy from to help put your money back into the community.
In Music News…
Just wanted to through this out here from the Soul Train Awards. Erykah Badu was hosting and at one point during her opening the show her phone rings and its Iggy Azala. Now this year at the award show they were trying to celebrate straight up soul and R&B so no rappers where allowed there. So when she answers her phone she says yes you can come because what you do is defiantly not rap. Lol had me dyeing. I have expressed my distaste for Iggy before so I won’t get into it but I just thought that was classic and so true. You go Erykah oh and of course she did a dope job hosting and this year the awards did feel more soul then in the past which felt good. They gave a big award to Jill Scott, Babyface and did the first ever soul cypher. Good show all around. Also on Black Friday we got a great treat from Kendrick & J-Cole as they gave us some new bars using each other’s instrumentals. They were amazing and great treat for the fans who have been waiting for a Kendrick & Cole colab for a while. I will say Kendrick’s was a little better but Cole’s was on point too. Fav line comes from Kendrick’s bars: “Nothing more influential then rap music I merge jazz fusion with the trap music I mix black soul with some rock and roll” Oh and a couple weeks ago Missy Elliot came back with a killer song produced and ft Pharrell Williams called WTF (Where They From) which is amazing in typical Missy fashion. Even the video is dope you need to check it out if you haven’t. Oh and if you were a Stone Temple Pilot fan like me then you were saddened to hear of the death of lead singer Scott Weiland at 48. He now goes on a list of some of the great Grunge artist to leave us suddenly due to drugs or self-harm like Andy Wood, Layne Staley, and Curt of course and now Scott Weiland. And of course Billboard put out there Top 10 Rappers List and of that had some people up in arms as the list kind of sucked. They did have my girl Lauryn on it and Kendrick which good job but they had them on a list with Lil Wayne really? No originators of hiphop were on it and it was just a bad list.
In TV News…
Last night the incredible stage show and 1970s movie came to a new generation with the one-take live play version of The Wiz on NBC. It was incredible every actor and actress was on point and for a one-take they were amazing. From new comer Shanice Williams as Dorothy to David Alan Grier as the Couragedly Lion, Ne-O as the Tin Man, and Elijah Kelly as the Scarecrow taking Michael Jackson’s spot in the iconic role they couldn’t have cast a better team. Of course you also have Miss Queen Latifah as the Wiz, Common as her door man, and Mary J Blige as the Wicked Witch of the West, Amber Riley and Uzo Aduba as the good witches. Their costumes where on point and they can sing! A+++ Also do you love ‘90s Nick? Well Nick decided to make all the ‘90s kids happy by giving us the programing block called the Splat on Teen Nick where they show all our fav ‘90s Nick shows from 10pm-6am M-S. Check it out it’s a great programing block if you’re feeling a little nostalgic I just watched Kean and Kell last night still awesome. Oh and on the subject of ‘90s Nick they are finally making Hey Arnold the Jungle Movie which is amazing and will tie up a bunch of loose ends like where are Arnold’s parents and are Helga and Arnold going to hook up.
In Movie News…
The Force Awakens comes out in 17 days and we just got trailers for Civil War & Batman v. Superman. Also the Peanuts movie is amazing so I hear and brings the nostalgia while keeping it current in the best way and I’m really glad.
In Presidential Candaties News…
Everyday Donald Trump insults another person in this country and this week it was a news reporter with a disability who he mocked during an interview. Then there is Dr. Ben Carson who just makes no since at all and everything that comes out of his mouth just trash and makes all his black voters just shake our heads. He even made a rap song to try and sway the black vote and it was completely ridiculous. Hilary I think still has the white feminist vote but not really anyone else ok maybe old house wives just saying. Then there is the youth who are in their 20s or are just becoming voters who are sick of where this country is going and want some real change are voting for Bernie Sanders. He seems like a great canadate from what we’ve seen of him and seems to really care about the issues.
In Sports News…
Not a big sports fan but if you are Kobe has left the game.
Um I think that’s it but there is always more so be on the look on for more of these news updates to keep you in the know in the future.
Also if you’re looking for alternatives to the mainstream news check out these news outlets:
Democracy Now!, RT, Young Turks, AJ+
The Life & Times of Ice 