Colonialism

The Roots Of Charlie Hebdo Attacks: Colonialism & War

January 11, 2015 Kevin Zeese, www.PopularResistance.org Educate! Colonialism, France, Imperialism, Terrorism, United States, Wars and Militarism

Understandably the government of France does not want to admit that its policies contribute to the anger of Muslims living in France and around the world. No one want to justify these mass killings, really they cannot be justified, but that does not mean we should not try to understand where this anger comes from. The roots run deep. Al Jazeera reports the killings are "rooted in generations of violence, hypocrisy and greed." Mark LeVine points out people do not want to face these truths because "The problem is that this system is hundreds of years old, implicates most everyone . . ." The roots are in French colonialism. Former CIA analyst Ray McGovern warns that we should not let these killings lead to another cycle of violence. The attacks on Muslims in France and the "war" comments of the Prime Minister sadly seem to be leading toward more violence. If history were faced would it not be obvious that this violence comes from violence. McGovern points out: “Carif Kouachi was previously known to the authorities, as he was convicted by a French court in 2008 of trying to travel to Iraq to fight in that country’s insurgent movement. Kouachi told the court that he wished to fight the American occupation after viewing images of detainee abuse at Abu Ghraib prison.” The endless war on terror is itself terrorism, it "hardens the views on both sides" creating "extremists by the bucket-load." Rather than admit the true cause of non-state violence the politicians and the media that reports the government view blames the violence on Islamists, hate preachers and Muslim extremists -- rather than colonialism and war being the drivers of violence it is the Muslim faith. A false conclusion based on lies that will continue the cycle of violence

The Art Of The Indigenous Protest Movement

October 27, 2014 Lisa Sproull, www.cultmontreal.com Resist! Art, Canada, Colonialism, indigenous

These issues are so large it can be hard to know what action to take for individuals invested in anti-oppressive politics. Sometimes it’s a matter of creating spaces for dialogue to occur among our own peers and communities. Back in August, a group of Montreal based artists have done just that by organizing a convergence called Decolonizing Street Art, which brought together artists, activists, youths and community members from Montreal and beyond to engage in making art and in conversation with a focus on decolonization. The artworks created during the convergence can be found in the Petite-Patrie neighbourhood in the general area bound by Beaubien to Jean-Talon and Parc to St-Urbain, and include works by organizers and Montrealers Cam and Zola, Swarm (Toronto), Jessica Sabogal (San Francisco), Bandit (L.A.), lmnopi (Brooklyn), Chris Bose (Kamloops) and Nigit’stil Norbert (Yellowknife).

Seattle Votes To Recognize Indigenous People, Not Columbus

October 7, 2014 Victoria Cavaliere, www.rawstory.com Create! Colonialism, indigenous, Law, Seattle

The Seattle City Council unanimously voted on Monday to redesignate the federal Columbus Day holiday as Indigenous Peoples’ Day to reflect that Native Americans were living on the continent before Christopher Columbus’ 15th Century arrival. Mayor Ed Murray was expected to swiftly sign the measure, making Seattle the second major U.S. city after Minneapolis to mark Indigenous Peoples’ Day on the second Monday in October, the same day as Columbus Day. The change will take effect for the upcoming October 13 holiday, the city council said. The legislation acknowledges that Native Americans were already living in the Americas before Columbus’ arrival and says Seattle, named after a Native American tribal chief, was built atop indigenous peoples’ homes.

Idle No More: Why We Don’t Celebrate Christopher Columbus

October 6, 2014 Elyse Bruce, www.elysebruce.wordpress.com Educate! Colonialism, indigenous, Racism

We don’t celebrate Columbus Day in this house, and we never will. It’s not that we don’t enjoy holidays when they come around. We love holidays around here as much as anyone, but there are some holidays that, in my opinion, should not be celebrated. Columbus Day is one of those holidays I believe should not be celebrated … ever! I’d consider celebrating Columbus Day in this house if it was treated the same way we observe Remembrance Day. There are far more similarities between Columbus Day and Remembrance Day than there are between Columbus Day and happy celebrations like the 4th of July or Christmas.

$554 Million Landmark Settlement With Navajo Tribe

September 26, 2014 Steve Gorman, www.reuters.com Organize! Colonialism, Indigenous Rights, Reparations, US

The Obama administration has agreed to pay the Navajo Nation a record $554 million to settle longstanding claims by America's largest Indian tribe that its funds and natural resources were mishandled for decades by the U.S. government. The accord, resolving claims that date back as far as 50 years and marking the biggest U.S. legal settlement with a single tribe, will be formally signed at a ceremony on Friday in Window Rock, Arizona, the capital of the sprawling Navajo reservation. The deal stems from litigation accusing the government of mismanaging Navajo trust accounts and resources on more than 14 million acres (5.7 million hectares) of land held in trust for the tribe and leased for such purposes as farming, energy development, logging and mining.

Indigenous In Guatamela Blockade Roads

June 28, 2014 First Peoples Worldwide, www.firstpeoples.org Resist! Colonialism, Guatemala, Indigenous Rights, Protest

On June 24, 2014, 7 Toj in the Mayan calendar, Indigenous groups from all over Guatemala took part in national protests and roadblocks to bring attention to the continued discrimination and injustice faced by the Indigenous Peoples of Guatemala. Among the main priorities on the list of grievances were the discriminatory telecommunications laws and the mining and hydroelectric companies exploiting Indigenous territories. Our team took part in the march in the city of Quetzaltenango (Xela), in the department of Quetzaltenango. The march in Xela began at 8 am from three different entry points into the city center. The three groups would all meet for a larger demonstration in the Central Park of the city later that morning. Our team met with friends from Radio La Doble Vía and Asociación Mujb’ ab’l yol close to the terminal at the north west side of the city. Arriving there, it was shocking to imagine that this crowd represented only a third of the number of people that would be in the Central Park for the demonstration later on. An enormous crowd of mostly Maya Mam and Maya Kiche Indigenous groups were standing in front of Minerva Temple, with signs in hand, cheering along to chants like “Un pueblo unido jamás será vencido!” or in English, “United, we will never be defeated!” The sun shone down on the hundreds of demonstrators as we began our march towards the park. Leading the march was a large pickup truck with speakers, filled with community leaders and community radio volunteers speaking out about the important reasons that we were protesting on this day.

Vancouver Declares City Is On Unceded Aboriginal Territory

June 27, 2014 Peter Meiszner, www.globalnews.ca Create! Canada, Colonialism, First Nations, Indigenous Rights, Vancouver

Vancouver city council has unanimously voted to acknowledge that the city is on unceded Aboriginal territory. Mayor Gregor Robertson declared a ‘Year of Reconciliation’ last summer, in the hopes of building new relationships between Aboriginals and Vancouverites. “Underlying all other truths spoken during the Year of Reconciliation is the truth that the modern city of Vancouver was founded on the traditional territories of the Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh First Nations and that these territories were never ceded through treaty, war or surrender,” reads part of the motion from the city. The city says it will now work with representatives from the Aboriginal community to determine “appropriate protocols” for conducting city business.

Australia’s Annual Apology To Indigenous People

May 25, 2014 National Sorry Day Committee, www.nsdc.org.au Educate! Colonialism, Human Rights, Indigenous Rights

The annual Sorry Day commemorations have helped to remind and raise awareness among politicians, policy makers, and the wider public about the significance of the forcible removal policies and the impact that they have had not just on the children that were taken, but also on their families and communities. The intergenerational impact of the forcible removal policies on young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander citizens in the 21st Century have been profound, and the commemoration of National Sorry Day each year helps contribute towards a broader ongoing effort toward healing and social and emotional wellbeing for individuals, families and communities across the country. The NSDC works to support and encourage schools and community groups across the country each year to plan and hold their own Sorry Day events, whilst holding events itself normally in Canberra and Sydney.

14 African Nations Forced To Pay French Colonial Tax

February 7, 2014 By: Mawuna Remarque Koutonin, www.siliconafrica.com Educate! Africa, Colonialism, Finance and the Economy, France, Imperialism

At this very moment I’m writing this article, 14 african countries are obliged by France, trough a colonial pact, to put 85% of their foreign reserve into France central bank under French minister of Finance control. Until now, 2014, Togo and about 13 other african countries still have to pay colonial debt to France. African leaders who refuse are killed or victim of coup. Those who obey are supported and rewarded by France with lavish lifestyle while their people endure extreme poverty, and desperation. It’s such an evil system even denounced by the European Union, but France is not ready to move from that colonial system which puts about 500 billions dollars from Africa to its treasury year in year out. We often accuse African leaders of corruption and serving western nations interests instead, but there is a clear explanation for that behavior. They behave so because they are afraid the be killed or victim of a coup. They want a powerful nation to back them in case of aggression or trouble. But, contrary to a friendly nation protection, the western protection is often offered in exchange of these leaders renouncing to serve their own people or nations’ interests.

Enemies: Left And Right

November 12, 2013 Khelsilem Rivers, www.dividednomore.ca Educate! Colonialism, Indigenous Rights

Colonists write the rules on how we are governed and how we are supposed to resist their control is outlined within these rules: rules that provide a misdirected sense of security and certainty by permitting us to launch our grievances according to these rules. While we get caught in political debates or debate the finer points of each party leader, the scale of colonialism becomes confined to “Left to Right”, and we end up articulating our debate along those lines. The problem is, as we articulate our grievances and proposals along those lines, we are misled into believing one side of that spectrum is on our side, and the other is our sole enemy worthy of our organized opposition.

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