Category Archives: Music

activism, Environment, Indigenous, Music, North Carolina

G.E. Trees Action Camp, Sept 24-27 in Asheville + announcements then metal

Ruddy on GE Trees Action Camp

nogetrees.org
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This week William speaks with Ruddy Turnstone of the Global Justice Ecology Project and BJ Mcmanama of the Indigenous Environmental Network about the issue of Genetically Engineered trees, their ecological and social impacts, and of the Action Camp to take place just outside of Asheville NC on September 24th-27th. The Action Camp has a registration deadline very soon so if you wish to participate in this amazing event, go to http://nogetrees.org to register! You can email our guest, Ruddy Turnstone, at ruddy(at)globaljusticeecologyproject(dot)org for particulars and for info on how to subscribe to GJEP’s newsletter. For more on the Indigenous Environmental Network, you can visit http://ienearth.org.

But first, a few announcements:

Free Eddien

From http://FreeEddien.wordpress.com:

We have just learned from Eddien’s Public Defender that he in fact can be bailed out despite violating his probation. His bail is $50K so we need $5K to bond him out. Eddien is currently doing okay in jail, but strongly wants to be bailed out and desires that all money be used for that first and later for his legal defense.

Eddien was initially charged with 2nd degree felony assault and battery by a mob as well as 3rd misdemeanor assault and battery. He also has the additional charge of Breach of Peace of a High and Aggravated Nature for allegedly breaking the windows of a KKK member’s pick up truck.

You can donate to Eddien’s defense/bail fund at FreeEddien.wordpress.com. Benefits of any kind are welcome–if you want to get in touch with us about any details shoot us an email at free(d0t)eddien(at )gmail(dot)com.

Background:
Eddien was one of six arrested at an anti-KKK demonstration on July 18th in Columbia, SC. On that day around 2,000 people showed up to confront the Klan, whose rally was cut short out of concerns for “public safety.” In a historic show of opposition, a rowdy and diverse crowd of gangs, black nationalists, anarchists, and various anti-racists humiliated the Klan and their Nazi counterparts and literally chased them out of town. A short zine about the demonstration can be found on http://ruinsofcapital.noblogs.org/.

Robert “Skinny” Mahone

(Trigger Warning: violent genital damage below)

In other news, Robert “Skinny” Mahone is being tortured by staff at Southern Ohio Correctional Facility (Home to the Lucasville Uprising). Skinny has been abused by staff before, this is a continuation of that abuse. In the past Skinny has had his genitals pepper sprayed without reason, now he is being forced to wear the same dirty clothes for weeks while he is attempting to heal from a broken jaw.

What is being asked of everyone who reads this to do is very simple.
1. Buy a .50 cent stamp
2. Trace your hand onto a piece of paper
3. Mail it to Robert ‘Skinny’ Mahone at:

Robert Mahone #255-225
SOCF
P.O. Box 45699
Lucasville, OH 45699

Supporters are choosing this course of action to let Skinny know that he is not alone, and even more importantly to let the staff at SOCF know that he is not alone and that we will know if something happens to him. Prisons are able to do what they want to prisoners largely based on the fact that they are isolated and no one pays attention. But there are lots of us, and we pay very close attention. “

More information available at:
https://www.facebook.com/events/722696497862815/

Sean Swain

We also have some words of wisdom from anarchist prisoner Sean Swain on banks: what are they anyway, really? how many of them are there? are they edible, yes or no? Stay tuned, as always, for answers.

We close out the show with some anarchist and anarchist leaning metal from the last couple of years.

Next Week

On next weeks episode of The Final Straw, Bursts’ll be speaking with organizers involved in the Connecting European Struggles Conference in Malmö, Sweden from September 18-20th, 2015. The theme for the conference is “Feminism In The Crisis” and will be bringing together autonomous, anti-capitalist struggles from around Europe to discuss austerity, gender, immigration, care work, health care and much more. More info in many languages can be found at connectingeuropeanstruggles.tumblr.com or on their facebook page.

Playlist

Music

Resistance updates + Metal/Punk

Resistance Updates

https://thedarkskiesaboveus.bandcamp.com/
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This week’s episode features some announcements, a Sean Swain segment, and about 50 minutes of metal, punk and deathrock from around the world (mostly new titles!).

 

Announcements:

Mountaintop Removal Meeting

What: The Federal Office of Surface Mining is holding a public hearing on a new rule to protect streams from mountaintop removal coal mining.

When: Tuesday, September 15, 2015 from 5:00 – 9:00. Folks will gather around 3:00 p.m. this day before the hearing begins.

Where: Mountain Empire Community College 3441 Mt. Empire Rd., Big Stone Gap 24219
We will have more info it the days to come.
https://www.facebook.com/events/534264246720862/

The No New Animal Lab Tour

Sunday, September 6th at 1:00pm
Firestorm Books & Coffee (610 Haywood Rd)

Less than eight months ago, a small but determined group of people wrote the words ‘No New Animal Lab’ in black paint across a flannel bed sheet. Although they were preparing late into the night, the full impact of their efforts would last well beyond.

The following morning, the University of Washington Board of Regents prepared to approve the construction of the Animal Research and Care Facility (ARCF). This move came after a lawsuit against the Regents for hosting private dinner meetings in violation of Washington’s Open Public Meetings Act. It was under this shroud of secrecy that the Regents developed and approved the ARCF contract with Skanska USA. As a hollow gesture towards accountability and transparency, UW decided to produce this sham re-vote to skirt public criticism. As the Regents prepared to approve project construction, the group unfurled the bed sheet banner and began a disruption.

That day marked the beginning of No New Animal Lab, a grassroots campaign to stop the University of Washington and construction giant Skanska USA from building a new underground animal lab that will expand the number of animals that the UW can torture and kill by thousands.

Since then, the campaign has transformed from that first small disruption into a high-profile campaign that spans over a dozen cities, multiple countries, and two continents and that employs a diversity of tactics, letter writing, petitions, public comment, office protests and disruptions, home protests, mass demonstrations, and direct action. The campaign’s dynamic tactics, expanding momentum, accumulating pressure, and radical foundations have awoken and inspired the animal liberation movement.

Now with the arrival of summer, No New Animal Lab campaign is launching a national tour to escalate pressure even further against the University of Washington and Skanska.

The No New Animal Lab Tour will take the campaign across the U.S. with two goals in mind to stop the lab and to build a movement. Through workshops and protests that will span the country, we will build a network, foster organizational skills and resources, and bring pressure to the University of Washington and Skanska like they’ve never seen before. The tour will end in Seattle, with a second March on University of Washington of hundreds of people. We will travel from coast to coast, we will take to the streets, we will stop this lab from being built, and we will build a grassroots movement for animal liberation.

IWOC

The Incarcerated Workers Organizing Committee is now a Standing Committee of the IWW, and as such, our officers will be elected this fall via referendum. We have grown to 576 members and need your support.

We are looking for FWs to run, nominate others, start local organizing groups, and otherwise get involved, especially those who have been incarcerated or with personal ties to the prison system.

See the different officer positions available here: Inreach (to prisons), Outreach (to IWWs and allies), Media/Literature, Newsletter Editor, and Fundraiser. Contact us at iwoc@riseup.net with questions.

Spread the word!

Unist’ot’en camp on high alert

From Earth First! Newswire via It’s Going Down

“The Unist’ot’en Camp has sent out a message letting their supporters know that they are on high alert and could use more help.

Unist’ot’en Camp and community currently remains on high alert. We have multiple sources of information that indicate towards police escalation and/or other forced trespass. We write this to inform our networks that we are on high alert and if you don’t hear from us within 24 hours, it means we are unable to get word out. Let others know that we continue to peacefully assert our laws and our jurisdiction on Unist’ot’en yintah.

The Unist’ot’en have maintained vigilance for a number of years against several pipeline projects slated to pass through their lands carrying tar sands oil to the coast for export. Arguably the most environmentally destructive project in the world, the Alberta Tar Sands are destroying the Boreal Forest in order to perpetuate unsustainable fossil fuels development in Canada and around the world.

The tar sands are also causing cancer and illness in First Nations’ communities, and the pipelines threaten to devastate native forests and fresh water systems, thus continuing the systematic genocide of First Nations in North America.

To learn how to join in solidarity, check out the Unist’ot’en Solidarity Brigade. “

Playlist

A-Radio Berlin, Anarchist, Music, Political Prisoner, Prisons, Radio, repression

A-Radio on Week of Solidarity with Anarchist Prisoners plus new METAL traxx!

http://tillallarefree.noblogs.org
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This week on The Final Straw we feature a short interview by our komrades at Anarchistisches Radio Berlin with anonymized organizers of the International Week in Solidarity with Anarchist Prisoners, which is called for August 23rd-30th of 2015. More info on that can be found at http://tillallarefree.noblogs.org

After that we’ll be playing some recent metal and punk tracks from around the world. Much of this was gleaned from R-A-B-M, a site featuring global perspectives and music from across the Loud spectrum. Red & Anarchist Black Metal, as a site, hosts political commentaries and musical projects of anti-capitalist, ecological, anti-state, feminist and other common sense pursuasions… or at least projects that’re good and reject NSBM & RAC trajectories. More can be found at http://R-A-B-M.blogspot.com

But first in news:

Earlier this week Sean was unexpectedly transferred to Warren Correctional. It seems he wasn’t given enough notice to send word out to supporters, so we’re not sure what’s up with this. Warren is a primarily level 3 institution, so Sean also likely had his security level reduced.

It is located near Cincinnati, so anyone there, in Bloomington, or in Columbus are now closer than they used to be. Sean loves visitors (and is more down to earth in person than his writings would suggest) so if you’d like to hang out in a big room with uncomfortable chairs, lots of sad people who are happy to see each other and vending machines that provide the best food half the people in that room can get, fill out some visitation forms and write Sean a letter letting him know you’d like to come.

His new address is:
Sean Swain
243-205
Warren CI
P.O. Box 120
5787 State Route 63
Lebanon, Ohio 45036

Chelsae Manning, who is currently serving a 35 year sentence at the maximum security US Disciplinary Barracks in Ft Leavenworth after disclosing to WikiLeaks nearly three-quarters of a million classified or unclassified but sensitive military and diplomatic documents while she was in the military, is facing indefinite solitary confinement. The charges that have been brought up against Chelsae are very clearly the product of institutional intimidation, and they include: having literature pertaining to trans issues (Manning is a transgender woman), spilling food onto the floor, and being in the possession of an expired tube of toothpaste.

From her support page: “This is a disturbing attempt to silence Chelsea’s voice. Chelsea has been very active while in prison, speaking out through her twitter account about issues of government transparency, transgender rights, and the prison system. She’s been writing a regular column for The Guardian, and even wrote a bill to reform the Espionage Act and protect journalism.These absurd charges against Chelsea, and the outrageous threat of indefinite solitary confinement, are clearly an attempt to silence Chelsea’s important voice and cut her off from the outside world.We have to make sure this attempt to silence Chelsea not only fails, but backfires”. And we here at The Final Straw agree!!

To sign the petition created by Fight for the Future, you can go to: https://www.freechelsea.com/

And to read Chelsae’s regular column at The Guardian you can visit: http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/chelsea-manning

To write to Chelsae, you can address letters to:
CHELSEA E. MANNING 89289
1300 NORTH WAREHOUSE ROAD
FORT LEAVENWORTH, KANSAS 66027-2304

And to donate funds, read updates on her case, and to see guidelines for sending her mail, you can visit the very comprehensive website http://www.chelseamanning.org

Columbia, SC native, Eddien Patterson was arrested during the July 18 anti-KKK demonstration in South Carolina (which we at The Final Straw reported here: http://thefinalstrawradio.noblogs.org/post/2015/08/03/they-ran-the-kkk-out-of-town-in-fact-exclamation-point/). He was initially charged with 2nd degree felony assault and battery by a mob as well as 3rd misdemeanor assault and battery. Eddien was on probation at the time of arrest and now is serving ten months for violating the probation. He is currently being held at the Richland County jail.

On July 29 Eddien was given the additional charge of Breach of Peace of a High and Aggravated Nature for allegedly breaking the windows of a KKK members pick up truck. Currently we are trying to find a lawyer for Eddien, but he has requested that money be added to his books and desires to receive letters.

To send money, either send donations to free.eddien@gmail.com on PayPal or go to https://richland.mcdanielsupply.co/deposit/index
his Department of Corrections # is 591561, which you’ll need to either send him funds or mail.

To write to Eddien, address letters to:
Eddien Andre Patterson #591561
E Dorm
Alvin S Glenn Detention Center
201 John Mark Dial Dr
Columbia, SC 29209

For updates on his case, you can visit https://freeeddien.wordpress.com/

EXTREME HEAT IN TX PRISONS by Malik Washington:
The next audio was a lengthy letter dated July 20th from Keith “Malik” Washington. Keith ‘Malik’ Washington is living in the Wallace Pack Unit in Navasota, Texas. He reports on human rights abuses in the Texas prison system. Known to his friends as Comrade Malik, his life mission is to serve the people and create conditions in the United States in which all humyn beings have access to freedom, justice and equality! More on his observations, his case and the contents of the letter on Extreme Heat conditions at Wallace Pack Unit (and the retaliation for complaint against 3 inmates there) at http://comrademalik.com

UNICORN RIOT:
And finally, we’d like to suggest another source for what’s called “alternative media” aka media for all you trouble makers out there. The website http://www.unicornriot.ninja/ boasts a bunch of awesome looking videos and articles about current events which would be of interest to anarchist leaning folx.

From the website:

“Unicorn Riot is your commercial-free not-for-profit media alternative. We operate independent of government/corporate funding and are currently accessible to anyone with an internet connection.

The purpose of Unicorn Riot is to amplify the voices and images of marginalized people and further the understanding of dynamic social struggles in communities around the world. We produce media in order to educate and expose the root causes of social conflict in today’s globalized world.

Unicorn Riot is comprised of independent journalists and multimedia artists working together from around the world who are committed to providing uncensored alternative media supported by the viewers themselves.”

MUSIC TRACKS:

This track is “a gospel of the flesh” by SEEDS IN BARREN FIELDS from Gothenburg, Sweden, which formed in 2007. They focus on themes of anarchism and environmentalism and are out on Lundr Records. This track is off their July 19th, 2015 release Let The Earth Be Silent After Ye.

AMESTIGON is from Lower Austria, and they formed in 1995 and are still going strong. They focus on Satanism and the Occult among other themes and are out on the lable World Terror Committee. Right now we’re hearing the track, 358 which is off the band’s full length album “Thier”, which was released in May of this year.

PALE CHALICE from San Francisco, formed in 2008 and out on the label Gilead Media. We’re hearing Shaking Nerves & Vacuous Spheres from their June 16th, 2015 release, Negate The Infinite & Miraculous.

activism, Anarchist, Ben Turk, Earth & Animal Liberation, Eric McDavid, gender, General, June 11, Marius Mason, Michael Kimble, Missouri, Music, Prisons, Queer, Sean Swain

June 11th, inmate drugging at SECC Missouri & Sean Swain updates

june11.org
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This episode of The Final Straw is served in three portions, all concerning prisons and prisoners.

Before the segments begin, a couple of announcements concerning upcoming events in Asheville, North Carolina for the days surrounding June 11th and the International Day of Solidarity with Long Term Anarchist and Eco Prisoners. These events include a Books to Prisoners open house at Downtown Books & News on Thursday the 11th at 3:30, a showing of a documentary about Mumia Abu-Jamal at 7:30pm at Firestorm that night and a dance party and pie auction on the night of the 13th at the Odditorium. Facebook pages exist for these events, with details listed.

Also in there is mention of the call-out for Monday the 8th & every Friday to protest the Durham County Jail’s refusal to allow prisoners there the chance to get out of their cells for more than 2 hours a week. For more info on this struggle against the so-called Lockback, check out http://amplifyvoices.com

First among the segments, following commentary by Sean Swain, we’ll hear an up date on his situation from his friend and supporter, Ben Turk. Sean’s outgoing communication has been blocked, so his segment has had to go underground. This is in repsonse to Sean speaking up for another prisoner and using his outside support network to press the prisons after a racist attack by guards on a fellow prisoner at Lucasville. More at http://seanswain.org

Following that, we hear from Jenny of Sacramento Prisoner Support about the call-out for the upcoming June 11th International Day of Solidarity with Eric McDavid, Marius Mason & Long Term Anarchist and Eco Prisoners. Jenny tells us about the history of June 11th, talks about differences in the circumstance of June 11th for this year, and other aspects of prisoner support. More info on June 11th can be found at http://june11.org

Finally, we talk to Brianna Peril & Tommy Powell from the Incarcerated Workers Organizing Committee & the Missouri Innocence Project (respectively) about prisons in Missouri and what appears to be the psychiatrization and forced drugging of inmates at the SouthEast Correctional Center (SECC) outside of Charleston, Missouri, and this week’s call-in-campaign to pressure the jailers to stop the process and bring more transparency to the situation. More about the call-in can be found on the fakebook page for the event here: https://www.facebook.com/events/405416019661232/
Linked from there is the fakebook page for IWOC.
The page for Midwest Innocence Project, affiliated with the MO Innocence Project can be found here: http://themip.org/

The episode is capped by a sludge metal track by General Grievous. More info in the playlist.

General, Health, Music, Prisons

Prisoner Health announcements for Abu-Jamal + Robert Seth Hayes + metal and punk

freemumia.org
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There are two announcements at the start of this episode concerning health developments and request for public action on behalf of longstanding prisoners and former Black Panthers. Following those, we feature new death rock by BÖRN from Iceland (playing at Static Age in AVL on May 9th), doom by Thou and more.

First, Mumia Abu-Jamal is an imprisoned journalist, former Panther and supporter of MOVE members while they faced repression in Philly in the 70’s and early 80’s. He was accused of killing a cop while driving his cab in 1981. He is not getting enough medical treatment for his recently diagnosed diabetes (including a specific diet to help him cope and medication) and related skin disorder. More information and a call to action on his behalf can be found at http://www.freemumia.org

Robert Seth Hayes is a former Panther and BLA member who is accused of killing a cop in NYC in 1973. He suffers from many, worrying and chronic health problems including poorly controlled diabetes and weight loss, much like Mumia. Supporters are requesting that people call in on April 27-28th to a number of officials in NY to get him medical treatment and stop this punishment. There’s also a fax-in day on April 29th and 30th on his behalf. More info at http://powmedicaljustice.com/call-fax-in-for-seth

Playlist

activism, Author, Capitalism, Dean Spade, Feminism, gender, General, Music, Neoliberalism, Prisons, Queer, Racism, Rebroadcast

Dean Spade on “Normal Life” (rebroadcast) + metal + punk

http://www.deanspade.net/
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“This week features a conversation with attorney, educator and trans activist, Dean Spade about his new book, “Normal Life: Administrative Violence, Critical Trans Politics and the limits of law”, just out from South End Press. Normal Life is a finalist for the 2012 Lambda Literary Awards. Follow Mr. Spade’s writing at http://www.deanspade.net/”

In the conversation, we discuss “mainstreaming” efforts by liberal LGBTQI organizations towards pressing for same-sex marriage, removal of Don’t Ask Don’t Tell, hate crimes legislation and other reformist measures in the U.S. Dean contrasts these efforts and visions with abolitionism. We also discuss calls for justice in the wake of the killing of Trayvon Martin, attempts to reform aspects of the Prison Industrial Complex and discuss Foucaultian models of power in society.

Following the interview, we featured tracks from Skaphe, Youth Avoiders, Oblivionation and more for the last half of an hour.

activism, General, Music

Music for the week of 11/16/2014 plus upcoming events

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This week’s episode features some announcements of upcoming online and local to North Carolina events in the next week and UTTERLY forgets to mention the (Another) Carrboro Anarchist Bookfaire or ACAB), totally on accident. Check out info on the bookfaire next weekend at http://carrboroanarchistbookfair.wordpress.com/

The playlist is present, and includes new releases from Seeds in Barren Fields, Parusía, Bereft and much more!

For the fundraiser to help pay for heating and cooking fuel and warm clothing for the folks in need a Pine Ridge, South Dakota this winter, check out https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_donations&business=hoffjames25%40yahoo.com&lc=US&item_name=The+American+Indians&currency_code=USD&bn=PP-DonationsBF%3Abtn_donateCC_LG.gif%3ANonHosted

At Warren Wilson College at 7pm on Monday the 17th at the Canon Lounge, Aragorn! of anarchistnews.org, Little Black Cart and a co-editor/contributor to Black Seed will be talking about that journal and his conceptions of green anarchism.

At 6pm on Tuesday the 18th at Downtown Books & News, Aragorn! will be present to speak on the same fore-mentioned topics.

In Raleigh on 11/19, there’ll be a day of events around the disappearance of the 43 students in Ayotzinapa, Guerrero, Mexico. Starts at 10AM at the Mexican consulate.

On 11/20 at 5pm at the Vance Monument in AVL, there’ll be a demonstration in solidarity with striking people across Mexico around the case of Ayotzinapa.

At 7pm that same day, there’ll be a walk from the Civic Center to Vance in recognition of Trans Day of Remberence when we remember our siblings stolen by this cys-hetero-patriarchal society.