Kirk-Anthony Hamilton (Huffington Post) writes about projects in downtown Kingston that focus on the revitalization of the area. These efforts include social intervention projects such as Paint Jamaica and Plant Jamaica. Here are excerpts with a link to the full article below:

Fortunately there are those who believe hope still lives here. One solution to downtowns many issues is gaining serious traction. A parallel dynamic including art and food two grassroots social initiatives have emerged with a mission to sustainably educate and empower the people of downtown Kingston. Jamaica is without a doubt one of the most creative and fertile countries in the world, but unfortunately the island has failed to truly capitalize on the real potential of either resource. Paint Jamaica and Plant Jamaica are social intervention projects birthed to provide communities with a sense of pride and independence, which have so far eluded them.

Paint Jamaica…

Your Mother carried you inside of her womb for nine whole months, she felt sick for months with nausea, then she watched her feet swell and her skin stretch and tear. She struggled to climb stairs, she got breathless quickly and even a simple task like putting her shoes on was a huge struggle for her. She suffered many sleepless nights while you kicked and squirmed inside of her and while you demanded that she scoffed junk at 3am, she then went through excruciating pain to bring you into this world. She became your nurse, your chef, your maid, your chauffeur, your biggest fan, your teacher, your agony aunt and your best friend. She’s struggled for you, cried over you, fought for you, put herself second for you, hoped the best for you and has driven herself insane with worry for you but never has she asked for anything in…

Matt Peppe writes about the trials and tribulations of being a small, colonized territory in the 21^st century. In “Puerto Rico’s Subjugation,” Peppe reports on how Puerto Ricans are stepping up their calls for President Barack Obama to pardon 71-year-old political prisoner Oscar López Rivera, underlining that, for Puerto Ricans, “dismissal of their political demands is emblematic of their subjugation as colonial subjects.”

In the segment entitled “A History of Repression,” Peppe explains: “Although Puerto Ricans are American citizens, Puerto Ricans residing on the island cannot cast a vote in federal elections. Entitlement programs such as Social Security and Medicare do not apply equally to Puerto Ricans. U.S. businesses are guaranteed the same access to Puerto Rico as to any state under the Interstate Commerce Clause, subverting the island’s self-sufficiency. Puerto Rico doesn’t have the ability to make foreign policy, enter into trade agreements, impose tariffs, or provide universal public…

Speaking Lakota: Basic Commands Iyáya yo! You go!

Letter from Esteban, prisoner from San Sebastián Bachajón

DECEMBER 2014

To civil society

To the independent media

To human rights defenders

To independent social organizations

To the pueblo creyente (believing people)

To the Indigenous National Congress

To the EZLN
THE PRISONER = ESTEBAN GOMEZ JIMENEZ

I have been imprisoned since 2012, they accuse me of an assault, carrying weapons, and murder, my arrest was in a village called (Pamala) when they found me cutting wood and took me to cereso no. 17 playas de Catazaja where I spent a year and 8 months, then I was moved to cereso no. 14 “EL AMATE” in Cintalapa de Figueroa, Chiapas.

Since I was detained there have been many violations of my human rights. Therefore I demand they grant my immediate freedom because I am innocent of these charges that are put against me, I hold the three levels of bad government responsible for any other injustice…

So many bright memories

when we were young

if I could  pull one string

memories would unravel and sing

Your favorite cake cut, 16 pieces

somehow shattered the moment

no one could understand

inside you cried

kaleidoscopic do they turn

island letters on soup can labels

and crushes on boys

such are a young girl’s toys

the merry-go-round up and downs

so many presents still to be wrapped

burning late Christmas Eve light

sharing dreams long into the night

 the stability you gave

 my life in chaos

much more than absurd

no one could love just hurt

I offer you a wish over many miles

you deserve candles

and  so much more

I’m bringing chocolate cake to your door

This poem is written for a good friend who put up with so many of my highs and lows (in life.)

Blessings to you Lorodd, you deserve the best.

Photography: Moondust Designs 2014. (The shot is a candle in front…

Please find below a press release posted by the environmental sector, together with the text of the letter sent to Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller, to be read out at today’s meeting of the Partnership for Jamaica (PFJ).

Environmental sector suspends attendance at Partnership for Jamaica meetings

Following sector-wide consultation and participation in two meetings with the Governance Committee of the Partnership for Jamaica (PFJ), the environmental sector has written to Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller suspending their participation in Partnership for Jamaica meetings.

The letter to the PM outlines the sector’s discomfort with the National Housing Trust/Outameni transactions and regards the handling of this matter as a breach of the Partnership Agreement, which emphasizes accountability and transparency.

“We have asked that our letter to the Prime Minister re read at tomorrow’s Council meeting of the PFJ, so it can be part of the record,” said Diana McCaulay, the environmental…

(not satire)

From Charlotte Ryan:

“I have terminal cancer, my prognosis is 0-3 years and I was diagnosed in March 2014 with my brain stem glioma. In April 2014 I was placed in the support group* for 3 years and I have gone from being able-bodied to hopelessly disabled. I have many neurological deficits including diploplia, dyspraxia, dysarthria and dysphagia. To save you googling, this means that I have double vision and am going blind, I’m very clumsy and most days I drop everything I pick up, my speech is failing and one day I won’t be able to communicate verbally at all and I have such difficulty swallowing that I now have a feeding tube. I cannot leave the house alone and I’m at risk of choking and need 24 hour care. They speak of me going into residential care, but they hope to keep me in my…