Globalist - An Eye for an Eye - Op-Ed - NYTimes.com

My fathers murder is cited:
Globalist - An Eye for an Eye - Op-Ed - NYTimes.com

The Road back home, True Archdale and her return to the Wolfpoint Reservation

The Road back home, True Archdale and her return to the Wolfpoint Reservation

Kirtan in Los Angeles: Crossroads of traditions

Kirtan in Los Angeles: Crossroads of traditions
an article covering Joey Lugassy and MoMo Loudivi
Francisco Letelier

Miracle Quest: Abu and Gary

Gary Nelson is a cultural treasure;
a gifted songwriter and guitarist I have known him
since the lates 70's when I lived in Berkeley.
Here is a sample from his latest album.
Follow links there for more music and
check out the cool collage I made for them.





Myspace.com: Music - PopUpPlayer

Letelier Moffitt Human Rights Awards

Indians, Peruvians Honored for Human Rights Work | OneWorld.net (U.S.)

El Mercurio article about the El Bosque mural in Santiago Chile

El Mercurio.com

DAWSON, ISLA 10 (TRAILER)

Dawson Island - Isla 10

In the memoir article I wrote for Tin House, I mention Dawson Island,
where my father and others were held in a camp after the coup in Chile in 1973.
Director Miguel Littin, has done an extraordinary job of bringing Isla 10, by
Sergio Bitar to the screen.

"I felt like the protagonist of one of those World War II movies.
When we arrived at the camp, some of us cried to see so
many wire fences. There were 27. It was difficult to believe."
Baldovino Gomez, Dawson Island prisoner

In the Magellan Straits in the extreme south of Chile, 100 kilometers south of Punta Arenas. Dawson Island was used as a concentration camp for the Selknam (Ona) and other native people in the 19th century. In 1890, the Chilean government gave some Salesian missionaries from Italy a 20-year concession to Dawson Island to educate, care for and adapt indigenous people.

From immediately after the military coup of September 11, 1973 until October 1974.
About 30 important political figures involved in Salvador Allende's overthrown Popular Unity (UP) government were sent to Dawson Island following the coup, alongside some 200 prisoners from the local area. Among the UP prisoners were Orlando Letelier, Jose Toha, Christian Democrat Senator Sergio Bitar, and former Mining Minister Benjamin Teplinsky.

* cited from Derechos Chile- an excellent site for a broad overview of human rights history in Chile.

http://www.chipsites.com/derecho/campo_isla_dawson_eng.html

Lincoln, Che and Martin

Honoring MLK

MLK_MANY

Originally uploaded by VeniceVandal

Remembering Martin Luther King

Speech given at rally for tenants of Lincoln Place Apartments, Venice CA.

After several years, tenants overturned illegal evictions and were allowed to return to their homes. The years old struggle continues.

We gather today remembering Martin Luther King, a name which reverberates through history. In some places his example, his will, and his legacy is perhaps felt more strongly than in others. Dr King I am sure is with us here today.
Today, here in this place it may not be an easy task to feel that we have the power to shape our destinies. It is difficult to grasp a connection between the lessons of history and the realities of the present day. Determination, unrelenting will, hope and faith are not easy to find when our most basic needs and rights are disappeared and refused.
We found ourselves here in that long and relentless struggle, a struggle which goes on despite the victories of the past, despite the heroic journey of the man we honor and remember today.
All over this country and throughout the world there are those who like us here today surely are legitimate inheritors of the principles and legacy of Dr King. In the future we will feel the power of the actions and decisions of those who have stood before power here at Lincoln Place. Stood as women and men, as citizens endowed with rights which cannot be erased by faceless decision makers and powerful economic interests.
We are connected to others throughout time and geographies, who are ignored, who’s human rights are disregarded.
Last fall I worked with Rev. Joseph Lowery, Cofounder of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference with Martin Luther King. We stood on Capitol Hill with representatives of many faiths and nations to demand an end to torture. As we prayed on the steps of the Capitol and Reverend Lowery gave us a blessing I looked through the crowd and grasped the enduring and difficult path each one of us had traveled to come together with others there at the seat of power in this nations capital. Each of us had felt alone, experienced loss, lost the elusive grasp on the power to shape our histories. All of us had experienced a dark night, had seen our rights and needs refused and had with difficulty grasped at the elusive qualities of determination of hope and faith.
But on that day we had come together and for a moment broken free above our troubled personal geographies and had a glimpse of our power, of our place in history of the meaning of our collective struggles for freedom and basic human rights. In moments such as those we are touched by grace. Here today we are also touched by this same power. The grace which carried marchers in Selma, the grace and courage that comes to those who understand that struggles for justice are often carried out by a handful of people who work against powerful forces and feel isolated and alone.
The truth is that the tenants here are not alone, they are carried by history and legacy, they are not isolated, more and more people are understanding what this struggle here means. This struggle is for all of us.

Behind The Wheel part 1 of 9

Behind The Wheel by Tao Ruspoli with Francisco Letelier, Oliver Stone, Robbie Conal and others.

Painted Son- Documentary

Trailer for "Painted Son" by Christopher Gallo a documentary about Francisco Letelier.
with Jackson Browne, Tom Hayden, Chilean Senator Juan Pablo Letelier, Rene Castro,