Mary and Amy!
The Hobo Dispatch endorses the Mary MacEwan/Amy Goodman ticket for president. So write in your vote on the November ballot so drones will only be used in the future to drop lollipops and pencils for the world's children. Cuban dentists are already on the ground in most countries to compensate for increased cavities.
A CENTURY OF WISDOM! Listen Now!
Listen to our exclusive interview with Mary MacEwan in Tucson, AZ. Mary doesn't mention running for president but she did speak about what often happens to presidents who fight for the poor in history--they get assassinated or imprisoned. Mary has long been involved with the Womens International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF) and she discusses her ideas for achieving world peace and inspiration from Nelson Mandela and Buddha. Mary had a tray of coffee and cookies waiting for us. We look forward to interviewing her on a regular basis!
Other Insights on the Upcoming Election
Recently writer Alice Walker (author of The Color Purple) was interviewed by Amy Goodman (link to full interview at end). During the interview, Walker read her poem "Democratic Womanism".
AMY GOODMAN: What are your thoughts about President Obama today?
ALICE WALKER: Well, you know, I continue to care for President Obama and his family. I think that in many ways they are very courageous people, and I honor that, because I know what it means to live as a black person in a racist America. But I cannot feel good about drone strikes. I cannot feel good about bombing people. I don't--I just don't believe in war. I think it's stupid. And I think that he is so smart that it's a waste of his intelligence to pursue peace by making more war. It does not make any sense.
DRONES TO BEGIN BOMBING US-MEXICO BORDER ON LIVE TV--ENTER CONTEST TO BECOME A DRONE PILOT FOR A DAY
The Dispatch has learned that US policy-makers have designed a campaign based on a remarkable 2008 film "Sleep Dealer" (a sort of Blade Runner on the US-Mexico border) which depicts drones bombing targets in Mexico. As portrayed in the movie this campaign will be filmed and aired as a live reality show on television. There will even be opportunities for civilians to pilot the drones after training on special video games. Watch the "Sleep Dealer" trailer below to see the chilling future waiting around the corner:
Drone Bombing 101 from the Comfort of Home Sweet Home
Tucson, AZ is one of the bases for drones currently bombing Pakistan and patrolling the US-Mexico border. Drone pilots can bomb a Pakistani village in the morning and play a round of golf at Ventana Canyon Resort in the afternoon. Recently the Hobo Dispatch visited a protest outside the gates of Davis-Monthan Air Force Base and interviewed these anti-drone activists.
Dalton McClelland is a retired physician who grew up in India. In the interview he also discusses a letter his father sent to Mahatma Gandhi who wrote him back with his thoughts on immigration and treatment of immigrants.
Jack Cohen-Joppa is one of the founders of the Nuclear Resister publication (nukeresister.org) which provides information about and support for imprisoned anti-nuclear and anti-war activists. Here Jack shares his thoughts on the use of drones in the Middle East and Mexico.
The Mounting Toll on the Border
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| José Antonio RodrÃguez after being shot by US Border Patrol. Reports stated he was hit by between 5-8 bullets and the medical office behind him was riddled with bullets (photographer unknown) |
Hundreds of migrants die every year trying to cross the border. Others are dying a violent death in encounters with law enforcement. In early October one Border Patrol agent shot and killed another agent while patrolling the Arizona desert. The photo on the left shows a 16-year old boy who was gunned down by US Border Patrol on Oct. 10 after he was allegedly throwing rocks at agents from the Mexican side of the border in downtown Nogales, Sonora.
Tucson-based groups Derechos Humanos and No More Deaths have long denounced the climate of terror and human rights abuses due to the militarization of the border. Links are included at the end to their press releases and reports.
A US TOURIST DISCOVERED IN MEXICO!
Finally a hopeful sign. While visiting and filming the annual October fiestas in Magdalena de Kino, Sonora, Mexico, the Hobo Dispatch actually encountered a US tourist who dared travel there despite warnings from the US government and the barrage of bad publicity about the violence in Mexico.
A little video about the Magdalena Fiestas which includes pilgrims walking to the town on spiritual journeys and samples of the music and culture.
AND HERE'S OUR EXCLUSIVE SCOOP WITH A REAL TOURIST FROM THE U.S AND HOW HE EXPECTED TO CROSS RIGHT INTO A WILD WEST MOVIE--WAS HE SURPRISED BY WHAT HE ENCOUNTERED!
LINKS
A recent press release from the Derechos Humanos Coalition in Tucson, AZ.
Border Patrol's Deadly Force Terrorizes Border Communities
A report about Border Patrol abuse of detained migrants from the No More Deaths
coalition in Tucson.
"A CULTURE OF CRUELTY" REPORT BY NO MORE DEATHS
Some other tragic recent news:
Border Agent Kills Mother of 5; Family Demands Answers
Mexican beaten to death by Border Agents (Democracy Now)
The wonderful Alice Walker with her words of wisdom:
Alice Walker reading "Democratic Womanism" on Democracy Now
