Social movements democracy now articles 02/22 – 02/27/16
Refugee Afghans Stage Protest
http://www.democracynow.org/2016/2/23/headlines/afghans_stranded_in_northern_greece_stage_protest_why_racism
Afghan refugees fleeing have been thwarted from reaching their destinations. They have been stopped from going into and beyond Macedonia and are stuck in Northern Greece. The countries/states, located on the trail have declared not nott accept as many – or any Afghan refugees leaving them no options. They staged a sit-in protest occupaying the train station that leads to Macedonia, and held signs saying "Why Racism?" and "We can't go back".
The framing is that closing the borders prevents them from moving forward and they are stuck. Going back to Afghanistan is not an option for them.
The tactics are occupation of the rail station that would take them north, if the northern countries would take them. Holding signs and posters stating "why racism?" and "We Can't go back" is a clear message of the diagnosis of their issue.
Thirsty for Democracy: The Poisoning of an American City 02/17/16
http://www.democracynow.org/2016/2/17/michigans_water_wars_nestle_pumps_millions
Amy Goodman does a story about water rights and access to clean water for the citizens in Michigan. The citizens of Flint Michigan, whose water was poisoned and the local governmental eaders hid it, lied about it, and then were forced to admit it, but attempted to play down the severity of it, are having to pay some of the highest water rates in the state $140.00 per month.
The National Guard is handing out cases of 16 oz bottles of water, bottled by Nestle. The residents have to drink, cook, and bathe in the bottled water. There is NO FEMA presence and although there are cases of larger water bottled and provided by FEMA, however the National guard is handing out the Nestle water.
Amy Goodman speaks mostly to three women of "Michigan Citizens for Water Conservation" an activist group that was involved in a decade long lawsuit costing them $1 million dollars over protecting Michigans water from Nestle. They won-by sorts, the successfully limited Nestle from pumping 400 gallons of water per minute to 200 gallons per minute. Nestle doesn't pay for the water, but they sell it. Last year they earned 14 billion dollars.
Nestle and the Federal Bureau of Investigations retailiated against some of the three. One members son was sued by Nestle in a SLAPP (Stratigic Lawsuit Against Public Participation) and another of the ladies had an Uncle who the FBI went to arrest for a bomb and found him at home in his wheelchair. So it was eluded being a double amputee without prosthetics would eliminated him as a suspect.
The women of the Michigan's Citizens for Water Conservation make some very keen observation's, not only is the Nestle water being donated to the Flint residents, but Detriot, who have clean water cut off. It is pointed out that this action is Environmental Racism as both Flint and Detriot is being managed by Emergency City Managers and both cities are predominately poor black residents.
The diagnosis is that Nestle a corporation (This is a good example that Corporations are NOT people) from their profit on the free water, the SLAPP Lawsuit, the duration of the lawsuit, nestle was trying to bankrupt the cause, the involvement of the FBI going after the family of the one of the activist.
