March 31st, 2011

Solidarity with Immigrants


March and Rally. Solidarity with Immigrants: Resist SB590 and HB1402. Fight Racism

Monday, April 4, 2011, 5:30pm

Sample Gates

This march is family friendly but unpermitted. There will be a sidewalk option.

Join others in a discussion following the march to determine the next steps in the struggle against SB590 and HB1402 at the Monroe County Library, Meeting Room 1b, on Wednesday, April 6, at 5pm.

The grannies will meet at Bloomington Bagel on Dunn at 5pm (Monday April 4) prior to the rally and head from there to the Sample Gates.

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March 30th, 2011

World Water Day + one week


March 22 was first deemed World Water Day in 1993 by the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) as an international day of observance and action to draw attention to the role that freshwater plays in our world and lives. Today’s reality is that one in eight people in the world don’t have access to safe water, millions of women and children must still spend several hours a day collecting water from distant, often polluted sources, and 2.5 billion people live without a toilet.

Petition to the United Nations:
I applaud the proposed Bolivian resolution to the United Nations to block the sale of public water service to private companies.
I denounce corporations that attempt to dictate community water service. I advocate for community-driven solutions that protect water as a human right, a public good and a part of the global commons.

You can sign on to the petition by visiting http://action.foodandwaterwatch.org/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=6241

Version:1.0 StartHTML:0000000182 EndHTML:0000028843 StartFragment:0000019223 EndFragment:0000028807 SourceURL:file:///Users/Followthenightlight/Desktop/song%20book%20-complete

When Water Rights are Private

Lyrics by Gail Sredanovic

Tune: When Irish eyes are Smiling

When water rights are private

Watch the costs begin to rise

Funding corporations profits

Higher price is no surprise

When water rights are private

Public access will be lost

If you want to drink pure water

Let the people be the boss

Bottled Water

Author: Gail Sredanovic

Tune: Roll out the Barrel

Forget bottled water

It’s worse for your health than you think

Chemicals transfer to YOU every

Time that you drink

Those plastic bottles

Are BAD for you and the earth

Corporate control of water

Makes the problem worse


RAINDROPS WERE MADE FOR YOU AND ME

Author: Joan Bazar  (San Jose WILPF)

Tune: This land was made for you and me

Rain falls on our land, rain falls on our sea

From Cochabamba to California

The corporations try to grab our water

Raindrops belong to you and me.

Big farmers waste our precious water

Growing rice on desert land

It’s time for us to take a stand

Raindrops belong to you and me

When Bechtel told the Cochabambans

Collecting rain was now a no-no

They took to the streets, said

(spoken) “Bechtels got to go!”

Raindrops belong to you and me

In Stockton town, the mayor and council

Sold the city’s water to the highest bidder

Folks rose up, said( spoken) Reconsider!

Raindrops belong to you and me

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March 9th, 2011

Union Made-Union Maids-Join the Rallies


Union Maid
Words and Music by Woody Guthrie

There once was a union maid, she never was afraid
Of goons and ginks and company finks and the deputy sheriffs who made the raid.
She went to the union hall when a meeting it was called,
And when the Legion boys come ’round
She always stood her ground.

CHORUS:

Oh, you can’t scare me, I’m sticking to the union,
I’m sticking to the union, I’m sticking to the union.
Oh, you can’t scare me, I’m sticking to the union,
I’m sticking to the union ’til the day I die.

This union maid was wise to the tricks of company spies,
She couldn’t be fooled by a company stool, she’d always organize the guys.
She always got her way when she struck for better pay.
She’d show her card to the National Guard
And this is what she’d say

CHORUS

You women who want to be free Just take a tip from me

Break out of that mold we’ve all been sold, You’ve got a fighting history

The fight for women’s  rights with workers must unite

Like Mother Jones, bestir them bones

To the front of every fight.

Updated last verse thanks to Ned for giving me a copy of the  Solidarity Sing-along

songbook by the Wisconsin Network for Peace and Justice www.wnpj.org

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March 8th, 2011

International Women’s Day March 8


In the United States, “union maids” are key to mass actions and occupations by public workers defending living standards and collective bargaining rights in Wisconsin, Ohio and Indiana. As a legacy of affirmative action, the majority of public workers are women and people of color-including teachers, nurses, office staff, and social workers. National Nurses United and others are boldly standing firm against concessions. They ask why the poor and workers are expected to “share the sacrifice” while last year Corporate America raked in record profits and Wall Street paid average bonuses of $128,530. Instead of slashing social services and workers’ pay and benefits, elected officials should balance government budgets by ending give-aways to big business and the rich. (From the Radical Women site)

Check out the card from WILPF at the url below. Click where indicated on the upper right side.

http://www.peacewomen.org/assets/swf/wilpf.swf

http://www.peacewomen.org/publications_initiative_document.php?id=47

Half the Sky

  • Author: Victoria Grannies
  • Tune: Union Maid

WE NEVER WILL FORGET
GRANDMA WAS A SUFFRAGETTE.
WE’RE FIGHTING STILL FOR WOMEN’S RIGHTS
AND WE AIN’T GOT THEM YET.

BUT WE WON’T SIT AND SIGH,
BURST INTO TEARS AND CRY.
THE WORLD WON’T CHANGE WITHOUT US
‘CAUSE WE HOLD UP HALF THE SKY.

WHEN YOU WANT THINGS CHANGED, CALL IN YOUR SISTERS,
AND TELL THE MEN THEY’RE WELCOME TO ASSIST US.
THERE’S NO POWER ON EARTH THAT CAN RESIST US
‘CAUSE WE HOLD UP HALF THE SKY.

Thanks Susan B. Anthony

  • Author: Peggy Dempsey (Rochester, NY)
  • Tune: “When Johnny Comes Marching Home”

There was a time not long ago, it’s sad but true,
Women were kept from voting booths, they couldn’t get through.
Women were governed by men in their lives;
Gave up their property when they became wives
Until some stood up ‘cause change was overdue.

In eighteen hundred and seventy-two, Hooray! Hooray!
Susan B. knew what to do, Hooray! Hooray!
She marched down Main Street in Rochester
Marked a ballot and caused a stir,
And we all thank Susan for making a fuss that day.

The struggle went on for many a year for me and you.
Women had to persevere but they came through!
Lucretia Mott and Matilda Gage,
Amelia Bloomer… how they did rage!
And we all thank them for working for me and you.

But what have we done with the rights they won for me and you?
Do we vote? Hold office? Make them proud? Do you? And you?
Do we stand up strong and speak our minds
The way Susan B. Anth’ny used to do?
When she cast her vote ‘cause change was overdue.

It’s many a year that Susan B’s been dead and gone,
But all of us who treasure justice must fight on,
For the sake of all who are under-served
‘Cause freedom’s a right that we all deserve
So we’ll work and rage, then pass her torch along.

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March 3rd, 2011

INTERNATIONAL WOMENS’ DAY – MARCH 8


Women’s History Month Luncheon – March 8, 2011

Nearly 500 people from throughout the community attend the luncheon. The lunch serves as an opportunity to recognize individual and collective accomplishments of women in our community. WILPF  will exhibit at the luncheon.

The 26th Annual Women’s History Month Luncheon will be held on Tuesday, March 8, 2011, at the Bloomington-Monroe County Convention Center, 302 S. College Avenue. The doors will open at 11:00 a.m. for viewing of women’s exhibits and the program will begin at 12:15 p.m. and end at 1:30 p.m. The Woman of the Year and the Lifetime Contribution award recipients will be honored at the luncheon. Advance tickets must be purchased by March 4.

Thanks Susan B. Anthony

  • Author: Peggy Dempsey (Rochester, NY)
  • Tune: “When Johnny Comes Marching Home”

There was a time not long ago, it’s sad but true,
Women were kept from voting booths, they couldn’t get through.
Women were governed by men in their lives;
Gave up their property when they became wives
Until some stood up ‘cause change was overdue.

In eighteen hundred and seventy-two, Hooray! Hooray!
Susan B. knew what to do, Hooray! Hooray!
She marched down Main Street in Rochester
Marked a ballot and caused a stir,
And we all thank Susan for making a fuss that day.

The struggle went on for many a year for me and you.
Women had to persevere but they came through!
Lucretia Mott and Matilda Gage,
Amelia Bloomer… how they did rage!
And we all thank them for working for me and you.

But what have we done with the rights they won for me and you?
Do we vote? Hold office? Make them proud? Do you? And you?
Do we stand up strong and speak our minds
The way Susan B. Anth’ny used to do?
When she cast her vote ‘cause change was overdue.

It’s many a year that Susan B’s been dead and gone,
But all of us who treasure justice must fight on,
For the sake of all who are under-served
‘Cause freedom’s a right that we all deserve
So we’ll work and rage, then pass her torch along.

HALF THE SKY

  • Author: Victoria Grannies
  • Tune: Union Maid

WE NEVER WILL FORGET
GRANDMA WAS A SUFFRAGETTE.
WE’RE FIGHTING STILL FOR WOMEN’S RIGHTS
AND WE AIN’T GOT THEM YET.

BUT WE WON’T SIT AND SIGH,
BURST INTO TEARS AND CRY.
THE WORLD WON’T CHANGE WITHOUT US
‘CAUSE WE HOLD UP HALF THE SKY.

WHEN YOU WANT THINGS CHANGED, CALL IN YOUR SISTERS,
AND TELL THE MEN THEY’RE WELCOME TO ASSIST US.
THERE’S NO POWER ON EARTH THAT CAN RESIST US
‘CAUSE WE HOLD UP HALF THE SKY.

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February 19th, 2011

todos somos inmigrantes


Stand in solidarity to oppose Indiana senate bill 590.

Stay tuned for future actions.

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February 9th, 2011

Fran Quigley to speak March 2 at MCPL


The U.S. military, especially the CIA, is relying increasingly on unmanned aerial vehicles, or “drones,” to conduct both surveillance and bombing in Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iraq. Indiana is home to multiple sites of manufacturing, testing and support of drones and drone technology. Purdue University is involved, as are several Indiana companies.

In Bloomington at 7 p.m. on March 2, Quigley will outline those Indiana connections and the legal and moral concerns over aerial robotic attacks. He will also discuss the growing resistance to drone warfare. The talk will take place in room 1B of the public library, and its title is, “Indiana Drones: Robotic Warfare in the Heartland.”( by linda greene)


Drones

To the tune of “Somewhere Over the Rainbow”

By Paul Smith

Somewhere over the rainbow,
Drones fly by.
Raining death and destruction,
Out of the clear blue sky.

Somewhere inside a bunker,
Men fly drones.
They kill helpless civilians,
All without leaving home.

Some day a drone may come your way,
You’ll panic but the drone will stay
Above you.
When drones pop up like lemon drops,
Away above the chimney tops,
That’s when they’ll find you.

Somewhere skulking in secret,
C. I. A.
And the drones that they dream of
Aren’t very far away.

When military drones can spy
Upon civilians
Kiss your ass goodbye.

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