For the bibliophiles

Some dude made a poster that featured the cover of every book he'd ever read. How cool is that? He did it with help from friends, family, and old book reports. Oh, and Library Thing, an awesome way to catalogue your library online. Did I just out my nerd self?

Bush gives himself more power

In light of the power shift in Congress and the scientific community's insistence on global warming, W. Bush has decided (remember, he is The Decider) to give himself more power over regulatory agencies like the Environmental Protection Agency and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. President Bush has signed a directive that gives the White House much greater control over the rules and policy statements that the government develops to protect public health, safety, the environment, civil rights and privacy. This might be just as disturbing as the new crowd-control heat ray gun developed by the military. Everyone spell it with me: F-A-S-C-I-S-M.

An inconvenient truth?

Some pissed off parent in Washington has managed to get Al Gore's film An Inconvenient Truth pulled from classrooms. "You will not teach or show that propagandist Al Gore video to my child, blaming our nation — the greatest nation ever to exist on this planet — for global warming," he wrote in an e-mail to the Federal Way School Board. The computer consultant is an evangelical Christian who says he believes that a warming planet is "one of the signs" of Jesus Christ's imminent return for Judgment Day. Because of this dude's cataclysmic Christianity, An Inconvenient Truth now may only be shown in conjunction with "balanced views" AND with a principal's written permission. But I'm confused. Shouldn't we be at least slightly concerned about global warming even if it is sanctioned by God? I mean, when locusts start pouring out of the sky, is this guy not going to ask questions?

Dick Cheney is insane

The evidence is clear.

She's back

Thanks for hanging in there while I got a few hours of sleep and caught up with some friends. Be sure to check out the photos and videos from the Forum. Regular posting will resume Monday.

Our final hours in Nairobi

The internet went down in the whole Kasarani complex two days ago (shortly after my post) and so yesterday I was unable to catch you all up on the happenings. There's so much that I want to say right now, but I'm sitting without my notes in yet another cyber cafe that keeps losing connection to the internet satellite. But who needs notes when you've got memory? I'll of course add much more once I get back to NYC, but the World Social Forum has been a really fascinating juxtaposition of social activism, elitism and simultaneous challenge to corporate and neoliberal globalization with active participation in the exact system that its very nature is meant to resist. What I'm trying to say is that the WSF, a space for the world's marginalised peoples to actively challenge neoliberal economic power and violence, is being sponsored by CelTel, a global cellular technology company. Strange, no? The Kasarani stadium complex is surrounded by neighboring slum villages wherein thousands of Kenyans live in unbelievable poverty. The WSF had entry fees on a sliding scale depending on one's home country (the North paid the most), but even the 500 shilling entry fee for Kenyans was too much for the people of the slums in Nairobi and beyond and so they were denied entry into what is allegedly the very space in which they should have the loudest voice. In response to this discrimination, the youth and adults of the slums staged large protests outside of the stadium and demanded free entry, free water and free food for Kenyans. There have been so many contradictions amidst some serious discussion and spirited idea exchanges at this 7th World Social Forum. And while I have had a difficult time trying to make sense of it all, it remains clear that the need for this space and the actions that come out of the WSF make the global meeting necessary. But there is always room for dialogue about the internal tensions and the latent consequences of these kinds of meetings: who's left out? who decides what? how does this meeting reproduce the same problematic paradigms that it challenges? Tonight I'll board a plane to begin the 24 hour journey back to New York (with a nice little eight-hour layover in Amsterdam) and will use that time to reflect and think properly on how I can move forward from this phenomenal and confusing experience. And I'm sure many of you will get to walk with me through the journey of trying to understand all of this. Oh yeah: who wants to come with me to the U.S. Social Forum in Atlanta this summer (27 June to 1 July)?!?

dunia mbadala yawezekana

Haribu!! (hello in Swahili). Yesterday was a total sham in the press room. I was in the middle of this brilliant post about something or other when every light, monitor, and computer went kaput. The power had completely crashed and the collective "f*ck" from journalists could be heard from afar. I just had to leave the building. But today is a new day and I've brought the voltage converter so my laptop is plugged in, my photos are uploaded and ma videos will be available shortly. Yay. It's day two of the Forum and I've just managed to get my hands on a printed programme. And yet, I find myself sitting here in the media room, away from the chaos of the tents and pavillions. Events like the Social Forum remain a space of high manic activity at the risk of low productivity. My hope, though, is to re-acquaint myself with a global movement of activists, particularly young people, who are committed to causes in which I very much believe. To remind myself that there is more than New York City, more than the United Nations (and its reform), more than U.S. feminism. There are so many issues and identities represented here, but with one simple understanding: another world is possible. Un otro mundo es posible. Un autre monde est possible. Dunia mbadala yawezekana. The WSF is meant to be a meeting place for those who envision this alternative world and to share their ideas about what that would look like. Through dance, theory, direct action, theatre, policy making, music and talking these activists are gathered to bring their experiences and perspectives to others. To that end, the Social Forum is doing just that and I'd like to report that I'm learning a lot and making loads of new friends, allies, and future comrades.

Opening ceremonies and wi-fi

The beginning of the World Social Forum marks the convergence of approximately 200,000 social justice activists and access to wireless internet! While I'm still working on someone else's computer, I plan on posting photos and video tomorrow of all that I'm seeing and hearing. The taxi's are still proving to be an adventure in themselves, but each day I'm getting more and more excited about the people I'm meeting (French feminist filmmakers and writers, Guatemalan farmers, European policy-makers, and mor) and the experiences and ideas that I'm sharing with these wonderful people. For the second night in a row, I joined a group of women working on agriculture and trade for dinner. We went to a local Kenyan joint where we imbibed and danced to a live band. We're officially the crazy foreigners (from all over the world), but it's so energizing being around bodies and voices from around the world. I'm learning Swahili and Italian and working out my tired Spanish. And dancing. It doesn't hurt that Kenyan food is damn good (not to mention the sun). Tomorrow the official World Social Forum programme will begin and I'll be busy running around what I've heard is a ginormous sports complex called Kisarani. It's going to be hectic, especially considering I don't even have a printed programme with times yet (they ran out this morning). In fact, Nadia and I just found out the time of the WEDO panel tomorrow!! And you can bet that when I'm not in workshops or meetings that I'll be camped out in the Press area (I totally scored a press pass!) or at one of the two wi-fi stations at the stadium. Stay tuned, cause it's about to get crazy.

When in Nairobi. . .

. . . avoid taxis at all costs. And I mean that literally cause those fools be trying to take all of our money!! Every day it's a different cost to get to the same places to which I'm going every day. My new game is to just keep going lower on my up-front negotiations. For example: Day 1: From airport to our guesthouse, we ended up paying nearly 3000 shilling (approx. USD 40). Day 2 AM: From guesthouse to downtown (approx one-third the above distance), we paid 1500 shilling. Day 2 PM: From downtown to guesthouse we could have paid 900 shilling (had I not opened by big a**hole mouth before getting the quote). Day 3 AM: From guesthouse to downtown, we paid 1200 shilling. As you can see, it's a crapshoot and even when you negotiate up front, you could end up forking over extra if the driver so decides. But have no fear friends, I've gotten chummy with Ben, a local taxi driver, with whom I'm gonna work out a deal with tonight. If things go my way, he'll be our official driver for the remainder of our stay in Nairobi at a discounted rate. It will work. You'll see. Nairobi is a really crazy city. In as much as I've seen--I'm staying in an Italian's home across the street from the President's private residence and travel daily by taxi to downtown 15 km away--it's a city of many people, the smell of gas that is consistent with any Central American town I've ever visited, and an odor of burning that I haven't quite figured out yet. Economic disparity is great, although there seems to be a middle class (by manner of dress, houses, transport), but I don't know the economic breakdown of the city. The roads are winding and the traffic rules loose. Pedestrians and cars fight for street space and I'm amazed that no one has been hit by the taxis that I've been in. The city is loud with sounds of screechy brakes, diesel motors, feet padding along pavement and continuous chatter. It's definitely a city that is alive and I can't wait until I can really get out and experience it. I've got lots of photos, but no way to get them up here. When I get my intenet situation worked out (hopefully after tomorrow), I'll share the love.

Feminists transforming democracies . . .

That's the title of three day conference, also known as The Feminist Dialogues (FD), I'm participating in prior to the start of the World Social Forum (opening ceremonies tomorrow). The FD brings together feminist activists and scholars from all over the world to share strategies and visions for a future feminist movement. Many of the conversations--ranging from militarism, neolieralism, space & leadership, feminist organizational structures--have been really interesting, but I don't know how much they've actually informed my own work or the way that I think about global feminism(s). To be a part of large forums such as these can often provide a great space within which stories can be shared, personal and organizational efforts highlighted, but alternatives and solutions remain few. Which isn't to say there's a lack of individual or collective imagination for creating solutions, but rather that the systems against which we're all fighting in our various parts of the world are the same and different. The World Trade Organisation, the World Bank and other institutions are global in their oppression, but the consequences of their practices range from region to region. From landlessness to violence against women to HIV/AIDS, the issues that women mobilise around are a great many and while they are inarguably interlinked and connected (particularly by structures that create these systems of violence and oppression) feminist activists must narrow their activism to make it more manageable. Trying to fight so much all at once can seem unfathomable and often times, impossible. Piecemeal approaches in the meantime make successes more likely. Small structural, cultural changes can have huge implications on subjectivities of communities and women. All of this is to say that systems of oppression--governments, institutions, cultural modes of knowledge and access to power--form a complex web of interlinked and tangled lines. To imagine untangling even one third of that in a three day conference with nearly 200 feminist seems insane. So I'm trying to figure out what I'm to take out of The Feminist Dialogues. I will recall the amazing women I've met. I'll try to re-tell their stories so as to spread the word of their work and their lives. I will try to push my imagination beyond it's current limitations so as to use what I've learned to create new feminist visions of a future. And I will encourage those I know to do the same.

live blogging my ass

any of ya'll ever tried to find an internet connection in Kenya? I arrived safely last night (with my colleague), but what a trip it was to land from the plane, hop in a taxi, get lost on the way to your lodging only to find out that Mrs. Tozzi (with whom you were to be staying) does not recall you calling to book a room for eight nights. So you and the taxi driver scheme in a mini-mart parking lot while Mrs. Tozzi calls a friend to see if you can stay there. Good news: you can. Bad news: the home is beautiful. the bed is big. you have a private bathroom. it is a very wealthy italian family's home wherein black Kenyans are there to serve you and the family. Yes, you, who has come to Nairobi to take part in a large social justice movement, are officially participating in the colonialism of a country. Welcome to Nairobi. Oh, and there's also no internet anywhere. Except, of course, in the internet cafes. And let me tell you how speedy those virus-filled computers are (the one I'm working on currently has frozen six times in the course of crafting this little ditty). So savor these beautiful moments cause they're are going to be few and far between (hopefully at least one a day though!). Oh, and just to assuage your fears about the rain....it's beautiful here. I'm 'bout to get a tan (if I ever get out of any of these meetings on neoliberalism)!!

Leaving on a jet plane . . .

. . . hopefully I'll be back again. :) JFK to Amsterdam: 6:10p - 7:45a Amsterdam to Nairobi: 10:20a - 8:20p Total flight time: 23 hours Awesome.

More U.S. women living solo

For the first time ever, more U.S. women are living without a husband rather than with one. In 2005, 51 percent of women said they were living without a spouse, up from 35 percent in 1950 and 49 percent in 2000. Coupled with the fact that in 2005 married couples became a minority of all American households for the first time, the trend could ultimately shape social and workplace policies, including the ways government and employers distribute benefits. You know what would be awesome? If this information (and possible pattern) really did start a national dialogue about workplace standards & benefits or women's leadership capabilities. It's only one percent above half, but it has serious implications if the trend continues. And for the sake of honesty, the plan was always to take over the world, we're just hoping that there's some cooperation with the whole thing.

Wear the veil? Want to surf? No problem.

Surfing is huge in Australia, a country surrounded by water. For young Australian-Muslim girls who wear the veil water sports or lifeguarding has never really been an option. Until now. The "burkini" (bikini + burqa) is a wet-suit hijab basically. The full-length lycra suit with hijab head-covering is not too figure hugging to embarrass, but is tight enough to allow its wearer to swim freely. It will soon be manufactured in the iconic red and yellow of Australia's surf life saving movement. This comes out of some tense race relations between Lebanese and Christian Australians in 2005 and means that Muslim women's mobility is that much freer. Is there agency in veiling? Wearing a burkini? That's a question best left to graduate school.

A high-performance tampon?

I don't really know what to think of the new product and ad angle of Playtex Sport: ". . . a high performance tampon with sport level protection. . . . and a no-slip grip." Aside from the reality that I've never felt the need to add any more grip protection to my tampons, I'm just a bit weary of a high-performance tampon. What does that even mean?!? To think, I've been recklessly sporting around without "unique 360-degree coverage"!! Rather than even bothering with an analysis of the ad (Slate takes care of that here), I'd rather plug more sustainable options for menstrual care. Check out The Keeper; many ladies I know swear by it.

MLK Day

"Wars are poor chisels for carving out peaceful tomorrows." -Martin Luther King, Jr. (1929 - 1968) "He was not God. And yet, behold the legacy of one man trying to do good. I would hope that we shall once again begin to build beloved community not looking for a leader but determined to respect and activate the leadership capacities whithin each one of us. And as we, millions of leaders of our own lives, united according to shared values and priorities, if we are lucky enough to discover another Dr. King among us, so much the better for our good speed towards our goals. But if we do not, then we will not languish, mute and immobilized. We are not gods. But we are many." -June Jordan (1936 - 2002)

rain rain go away

Nairobi forecast: warm and muggy. I could have just gone to Houston for that.

Forget malaria . . .

Judging from this video, the biggest danger I face in Nairobi is crossing the street. Check out the pedestrian cajones at this intersection!

Nairobi or Bust!!

Rather than packing for my trip (two days left!) to the World Social Forum in Nairobi, I figured I should do a little redecorating. I hope you like the new look and enjoy the bunches of posts that will be coming your way as I run amok at what is sure to be a frenzy of activist mayhem. It's gonna be awesome and I'm going to do my best to share it all with you. There will be photos and videos and you're bound to read something else about it in preparation for a super-secret project.

Immigrant power

Mexicans are about to change the U.S. economy (legally): Starting Monday, patrons of the Dallas-based Pizza Patrón chain, which caters heavily to Latinos, will be able to purchase American pizzas with Mexican pesos. We gotta start calling that shit like it is, like it was, like how it should be: Texico.