[Lowdown] September 2010

[Mallory Knodel]

LOWDOWN SEPTEMBER 2010

MEMBER NEWS: Domestic Worker's Union Victory | From OUR Perspective: 
Iraq | Katrina | Net Neutrality
MF/PL EVENTS & NOTICES: Our New Website! | MF/PL seeking interns
NEW MEMBERS
MF/PL MEMBERS, DID YOU KNOW: Why MF/PL's support system is public?
SERVER NAMESAKES: didier

MEMBER NEWS

Paterson Signs Landmark Bill of Rights for Domestic Workers

After years of struggle, Domestic Workers United won a giant victory for 
their members and domestic workers throughout the state with the passage 
of the Bill of Rights for Domestic Workers.

http://www.domesticworkersunited.org/shownews/59

United for Peace and Justice on the End of the Iraq War
http://www.unitedforpeace.org/

The real transition underway is not from US to Iraqi control, but from 
Pentagon to State Department deployment.  Military resources are being 
shifted from Pentagon to State Dept control, thus remaining within the 
terms of the US-Iraqi Status of Forces Agreement that calls for all US 
troops and Pentagon-controlled mercenaries to leave by the end of 
2011... On October 2, peace activists will again march on Washington, 
DC, joining thousands of civil rights, labor, immigrant rights, 
environmental and other progressive organizations in a unified call for 
jobs, peace, and justice.

Katrina Information Network on 5th Year Anniversary of Katrina
http://katrinaaction.org/
Our experience with Hurricane Gustav last year has taught us that our 
communities cannot depend on the government’s provisions alone. We are 
acting to ensure that our folks are not subject to the widespread 
discrimination, criminalization and post-evacuation economic disasters 
as they have been in the past. That is why we are reaching out to our 
networks in the top cities where we tend to evacuate in order to prepare 
some provisions ahead of time, just in case. This grassroots preparation 
and support is what we are calling The People’s Evacuation Plan.

Jamie McClelland on Net Neutrality
http://current.workingdirectory.net/posts/2010/net-neutrality-take-two/

When net neutrality first surfaced as an issue years ago, it was hard to 
get behind. Not the principle - which states that providers of Internet 
access should supply a connection without restrictions or preferences 
based on where or who the content comes from - that should go without 
saying. The battle grounds became the Google/Verizon corporate 
negotiating table and the US federal regulatory agencies - both 
historically have served as empowerment sink holes for anyone trying to 
build a political movement ... however, we need to join this fight. The 
future of our Internet depends on it.

EVENTS & NOTICES

Our website, mayfirst.org, was just remodeled. We've updated text, added 
some photographs, and upgraded (finally) to Drupal 6. You can help make 
our website look even more beautiful by sending your organization's 
Name, URL(s), Description, and at least one photo. We'll feature your 
work in our Member Profiles section.

MF/PL is seeking two interns for the fall and spring semesters. We are 
looking for students interested in combining the principles of openness, 
transparency, democracy, and free access with the Internet to build 
stronger political movements in the United States and internationally. 
In addition to helping with the day-to-day tasks of the organization, 
interns will have the opportunity to develop technical and 
organizational skills. For more information, please visit (and send 
out!): https://support.mayfirst.org/wiki/intern-description

Interested applicants should send a cover letter and resume to 
apply at mayfirst.org.

WELCOME! NEW MF/PL MEMBERS

Deep Dish TV
Simon Fondrie-Teitler
Roberto Tijerina

FYI: IF YOU'RE A MF/PL MEMBER, DO YOU KNOW...

...our online support system is fully public. Here's why:

A big part of our philosophy is mutual aid and community building. 
That's why the ticket tracking system is open to the public - to create 
a space so that one member's problems can help another member. In 
addition, we would like to encourage members to help other members.

Anyone can participate and we strongly encourage our members to work 
with one another. To help you help other members - we've written a few 
guidelines:

https://support.mayfirst.org/wiki/participate

SERVER NAMESAKES: REVOLUTIONARIES & ACTIVISTS

Server Name: didier

Didier Lestrade was born in Mehdia, Algeria. He grew up in the Southwest 
of France, and left home in 1977 after failing twice to graduate from 
the French Baccalaureate. He then went to Paris, where he began working 
for the first French independent gay publication, Gaie Presse. This 
magazine was short-lived (four issues only). At the age of 22, he then 
decided to found Magazine Trimestriel, with Misti who soon became art 
director for the leading 1980s French gay newspaper, Gai Pied. Magazine 
Trimestriel was considered by many to be the most influential all male 
underground gay publication of its time.
 From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Didier_Lestrade

Lowdown is published by May First/People Link. Have a notice or event?
Email mallory at mayfirst.org to be included in our monthly newsletter.

-- 
Mallory Knodel

May First/People Link Leadership
...Growing Networks to Build a Just World...

mayfirst.org
malloryknodel.net/blog