[Correction: Ralph Munro's name is spelled without an e.]

According to Friends of the Waterfront, a message from former Washington State Secretary of State Ralph Munro will air for several weeks on at least one local radio station (MIXX 96). During his time in office, former Secretary of State Munro served on both the Capitol Committee, and the Capitol Campus Design Committee.

In the radio message, Munro commends the Olympia City Council for responding to the Citizens' Initiative for an Isthmus Park Feasibility Study. He urges the City Council to delay voting on the proposal to increase isthmus building height limits until all the facts from the study are in. He then urges Olympia Residents who want the facts (and want the Council to consider the facts) from a completed study before a Concil decision about the rezone (which would have such drastic impacts on park feasibility), to then contact the members of the City Council and let them know.

Here's the radio message: Ralph Munro on the Isthmus [mp3 audio]

Again, the message is to contact members of the City Council to thank them for pursuing the Park Feasibility Analysis and urge them to wait to vote on the proposal to rezone the isthmus building height limits until all of the facts from the park study are in: until the Park Feasibility Analysis has been thoroughly and faithfully completed.

Olympia City Council

Also try these email addresses:
councilmembers@ci.olympia.wa.us
cityhall@ci.olympia.wa.us
and
citycouncil@ci.olympia.wa.us

On my way to KAOS I stumbled across Northwest Indy Radio 92.9. Beaming a strong signal out of Aberdeen, the station airs a lefty mix of Air America, Pacifica, BBC, CBC, radio Deutsche Welle and much more. Two days ago I heard Harry Shearers La Show, last night Mike Malloy, and this morning Democracy Now. Pretty cool. Check it out. Their web site.

Despite the horrendous events of September 11th, 2001 here in the US - it might be easy to forget another horrendous historical September 11th. 35 years ago, on September 11th, 1973, the democratically elected government of the popular President of Chile was violently upended in a coup d'Etat. Salvador Allende, the democratically elected President was overthrown when subversive elements within the Chilean military stormed and bombed the La Moneda Presidential Palace. Many dissidents were rounded up and they are alleged to have been been killed. The incoming dictator, Augusto Pinochet, is known to have practiced torture in the execution of an authoritarian and harsh, militaristic rule over the people of Chile.

I just wanted to post a link back in my personal blog to a previous story I published about Jeff Sharlet's book, "The Family." Here's the link: The Family: Elite Fundamentalism at the Heart of American Power

I heard some great segments (as usual) on today's Democracy Now! program. I wanted to draw particular attention to this one, because there is some choice testimony.

“We Are Not Terrorists”: Activists with the RNC Welcoming Committee Speak Out Against Police Crackdown & Terrorism Charges

Ramsey County prosecutors formally charged eight members of the RNC Welcoming Committee with conspiracy to riot in furtherance of terrorism. On Thursday, other members of the anarchist group held their first press conference. One local activist accused the police of beating and torturing him in jail. [includes rush transcript]

WILLIAM GILLIS:... I want to see a world of anarchy without domination, without thugs, without warlords, without tyrants and without politicians. And as an American, I believe in actively resisting those who would rule us all.

The brutality and the lies of the state this week are not a surprise, but they are still deplorable. Police kicked down doors with guns drawn on families with their children at dinnertime. Reporters and the media at large have been repeatedly target for repression. Activists have been abducted off the street in unmarked vans and political prisoners held without access to medical attention.

The state has never really bothered with ethical justifications for its violence. But now we see that the agents of the law don’t even bother with internal consistency, ignoring the few rights they have pledged not to violate. Sheriff Bob Fletcher has unleashed a degree of repression that should embarrass and anger us all.

...

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I enjoyed listening to Kim on Parallel University today. He interviewed Susan Lerner, from Common Cause, an organization that seeks to "hold power accountable." It was a good interview. I wish I could get an mp3 of it. If I do, I'll post it. Do you know where I could find one? [update: I also can't remember what the national legislative action item was - the information needed to give my Congressional Representatives. So if you heard it, and you know - well then - don't hold back. Shout it out!]

The second portion of the show was with Ralph Nader. Ralph Nader is so awesome. He was really instrumental in kindling my political awareness. I saw him in Minneapolis, MN at the "Target Center." I haven't been the same since. I suppose you could consider it an awakening. I was working, at the time, on a Voter Registration Drive for the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN). I registered a lot of people in traditionally economically depressed and low voter-turn-out areas, can't remember exactly how many, but it was right around 2,500 if I remember right.

Voter registration drives are great. It's good to inspire political awareness.

Anyway, it was a good program. Thanks to Kim and all the good folks at KAOS.

And I hope that I can find a mp3 from the show so that I can plug you in to the discussions. - bert

Just a quick heads up that I'll be talking with Palestinian singer Reem Kelani in the first hour of Spin The Globe tomorrow morning (Friday May 16). The rest of Spin The Globe will feature music from Buddhist lands, and the usual assortment of global grooves.

Listen in at KAOS 89.3 FM or listen online

Palestinian singer, musician and broadcaster Reem Kelani is in the Northwest as part of the , and performs this evening as part of the Global Divas show, as well as Friday morning and Saturday afternoon shows.

Kelani released her debut album “Sprinting Gazelle – Palestinian Songs from the Motherland and the Diaspora” (Fuse Records) in February 2006 to critical acclaim. Representing the culmination of twenty years’ work, which included research in Palestine, in Palestinian refugee camps and the Palestinian Diaspora into old traditional songs, Sprinting Gazelle is a fully independent production.

For more info, go to: www.hoboradio.cfsites.org

or e-mail: ontheroad@riseup.net

The Mike Malloy Show is being aired live every weeknight on 92.9 FM in Olympia.

Malloy is probably the most outspoken left wing voice who hasn't yet been thrown off the radio or into prison.

If you want to hear the guy who's the sand in the NeoCon butt crack and the guy who coined the phrase "Bush Crime Family", check it out.

-Dr. Sandi

"No Talking Heads" heard on KAOS, 89.3 FM, Olympia, WA every Sunday night at 5pm -John Dodge environment and energy reporter for the Olympian will be on- Keep an eye on Howard's blog, he keeps it updated for his upcoming show