The video essay below was built by master photographer Hakim Young from some of the many photographs he took during our June, 2016 trip. Hakim’s photos captured more than just the story of our trip…
Archives for July 2016
US Conference of Mayors (1,407 cities) Speak Out!
Dear CCI Friends,
At last America’s Mayors speak out against President Obama’s decision to spend $1,000,000,000,000 (trillion) on advanced American nuclear weapon systems in the near future.
Unfortunately our mainstream media don’t cover this kind of material today, perhaps believing that it’s better not to alarm Americans? Or simply wishing not to be stopped in their tracks?
If Americans across the country learn of this, it could help spearhead a nationwide rejection of the dangerous position in which we find ourselves in 2016.
Please call your Mayor and learn his/her position on this resolution. Let us know your response. Let’s find ways to buttress this effort and increase its momentum.
Since they’re not likely to hear about the Mayors’ action through the mainstream media, please consider letting your friends and colleagues know about this blog post.
Together we might make a difference.
Sharon
theAntiMedia.org
1,400 US Mayors Just Slammed the White House for Risking Nuclear War With Russia
Everett Numbers
(ANTIMEDIA) Indianapolis, IN — War games and nuclear policy perpetuated by the Obama administration are “fueling growing tensions”with Russia and putting the world at risk of a nuclear war, according to an official nonpartisan organization consisting of 1,407 mayors and other leaders of cities with 30,000 or more inhabitants.
The Media’s Incessant Barrage of Evidence-Free Accusations Against Russia
In one month, its government has been accused of hacking the DNC, orchestrating the Brexit, tacitly supporting Trump, and more.
By James Carden
If there is one country in the world which garners media coverage bereft of even the most basic journalistic standards, it is Russia. Over the past month, the Russian government has been accused of hacking the DNC, orchestrating the Brexit, tacitly supporting the candidacy of Donald J. Trump, and much else.
On June 14, the Washington Post’s Ellen Nakashima published what, at first sight, looked to be a blockbuster scoop, a Watergate scandal for the cyber-age. The report alleged that the Democratic National Committee’s computer network was compromised by Russian hackers who stole caches of DNC opposition research on Trump. According to Nakashima, the Russian hackers were so thorough that they were able to access the DNC’s email and chat traffic. Yet the firm which supposedly spotted the hack, Crowdstrike, admitted that they were “not sure how the hackers got in.” They were definitely sure, however, that it was the Russians.
Russians Ask “Why Do You Demonize Us When We Are So Much Like You?”
The following piece was written by CCI trip participant Ann Wright based on her experiences during the just-concluded CCI Russia trip.
I’ve just ended two weeks visiting cities in four regions of Russia. The one question that was asked over and over was, “Why does America hate us? Why do you demonize us?” Most would add a caveat — “I like American people and I think YOU like us individually but why does the American government hate our government?”
This article is a composite of the comments and questions that were asked to our 20-person delegation and to me as an individual. I do not attempt to defend the views but offer them as an insight into the thinking of many of the persons we came into contact with in meetings and on the streets.
Russia Doesn’t Look Like a Failing State
Dear friends,
I’m writing this while in flight having just left Russia. This trip was the “richest” experience in my hundreds of trips to Russian cities in the past 33 years. U.S. media tell us that under the pressure of sanctions and low oil prices the Russian economy is failing, but after seeing Russia this spring one has to question this.
I traveled to Russia numerous times during the drabness and product scarcity of the Soviet years (1983 – 1989). Following that, I spent months each year in Russia amid the disintegration, lawlessness and chaos of the 1990’s. During this period Russians had lost all hope in themselves and in Russia at large. I watched during the 2000’s as a semblance of order began to slowly emerge. During this period I also noticed Russians beginning to question “Who are we? What is our “National Idea?”