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Tuesday 31 August 2010, Olympia, Washington—Palestinian-American Ali Abunimah gave a presentation about BDS and the situation in Israel Palestine before an audience of about 120 people at the Olympia Center. Abunimah is a journalist, a co-founder of Electronic Intifada, and an author, including most recently of, One Country: A Bold Proposal to End the Israeli-Palestinian Impasse. The event was organized and hosted by Olympia BDS.

Peace talks between representatives from Israel and the Palestinian Territories are scheduled to start tomorrow (Thursday,) but Abunimah said the expectations of many people are low, because of a precedent of bad-faith negotiations. He used a metaphor of pizza pie to explain the negotiations. For example, analogous to the occupation of the West Bank would be if he were to sit down to negotiation and immediately begin by grabbing pizza and stuffing it into his mouth, and if his partner were to complain, or to try grabbing some pizza for theirself, then he would slap them and chastise them for it.

Hey Everyone,

The September issue of WIP is on stands now, I have seen WIP distributors trundling about with heavy loads of papers, so keep a look out at your favorite locations. This issue is heavy, a 28-pager filled with interesting information and opinion. The boycott is still a big topic of interest, and there are many articles on it in this issue. You can download a pdf here.

And you can also visit the official website: Works in Progress

[Click on the thumbnail to see this image full size....]

This carpet cleaner van turned north on Lilly, only to encounter a BMX bike being ridden by a young man.  The bike and rider were pulled under the van, and an ambulance had to be called.  The young man went to the hospital with an injured leg, but no head injury, which was lucky since he was not wearing a helmet.  He was smiling by the time the crew put him in the ambulance.  In the picture you can see that the van blocked the two northbound lanes of Lilly Road. The van had to be lifted to clear the bike, which had hung up under the van. I spoke to the driver of the van briefly, he was very upset that he had not seen the young man in time to avoid hitting him.  I don't know if he was cited, but in my ear witness position it was not his fault.  The bike was coming south against traffic, on the sidewalk, and should have stopped for driveways.

Lilly is a very busy road, so we immediately began to route traffic around the accident until the police arrived.  Even so, traffic had backed up past pacific Avenue, three blocks to the South, by the time I left the scene.  OPD officers Krasnican (car 2171) and Beckwell (motorcycle) responded to the accident scene.

The folks at the Olympia Food Co-op has taken a tremendously brave stand against human rights violations in Palestine! They have never needed our support more than they do now.

Local Co-op lovers are calling for a Shop In at the Eastside location (3111 Pacific Ave S) to demonstrate community support by flooding the store with compassionate, supportive shoppers on Wednesday, September 1st, from 4pm to 7pm. If you can't afford to buy much, that's okay. Please just schedule your shopping so that you can purchase all you can on Wednesday, September 1st, from 4pm to 7pm.

Show your love and invite all your friends! You can head over there on your own or meet up with folks at the Olympia-Rafah Solidarity Mural www.olympiarafahmural.org (State and Capital in downtown Olympia) and caravan to the co-op at 4pm.

Let's get together as a community and show them how much we appreciate their courage by buying locally sourced and ethically produced food in mass!

Here it is folks, in all its Glory! The World Premiere of ArtsWalkOlympia.com.
A fully interactive map and events listings of every artist, location and event at Fall Arts Walk 2010.

Amazing, only online, and brought to you by einmaleins MEDIA. Incredible and you're welcome Olympia!

Stop the Struggle:

Understanding Emotional Eating and Finding Your Way to Freedom

Evening of Friday Septemeber 11, 2010

Olympia Center Building

For more information call (360) 350-7801

Are you tired of feeling out of control around food?

Do notice that at times you eat when you are not hungry?

Do you feel guilty during/after eating?

Do you know what you are “supposed” to eat and find that you struggle with making that a reality?

Do you have digestive and/or weight issues?

It's time to clear up struggles around food to Start living the life of your dreams!

In this workshop you will:

Learn, experience and discuss simple ways to permanently change the role that food plays in your life

The long awaited, and promised, US Social Forum "Cascadia 2 Detroit" Community Film, Art and Music Event! Films by Portland's B Media Collective! Music by Danny Kelly and friends! Photo Slide show by Berd Whitlock! Open Discussion! Vegan Pizza! Free! Please Join us! TONIGHT! 7PM. Quick teaser, Mic Crenshaw Hiphop video, made on the bus to Detroit! Fertile Ground -- 311 9th Ave. SE

From Pacific Citizen:

PNW Mill Workers, Descendents Sought For Historical Site Interpretation

Mill operations in Thurston County employed many Japanese Americans.

By Pacific Citizen Staff
Published August 20, 2010

Before World War II Issei mill workers lived and established roots in the Puget Sound area, but left behind a little known legacy, according to a historian who is searching for their descendents to reconstruct the area’s early Japanese American history.

my partner left olympia this morning to head out on his first bike tour!  he drove to spokane where he sold his van, and now he's going to ride from there to idaho.  the trip is being documented from the road at "Tales from Cowboy Dad," his first adventure in blogging.  i'm looking forward to following things from here, and thought some of you might be as well.