The Veggie Grill

The Veggie Grill is ecstatic that they won "Best American Restaurant" and "Best Vegetarian/Vegan Restaurant" in the LA Times 2012 Reader's Choice Awards. They are giving free iced tea and lemonade! So next time you go enjoy!

LA Bans Plastic Bags

Los Angeles has followed suit with other California cities which include; Santa Monica, San Francisco,  Long Beach and San Jose, in banning plastic bags. It started by clean water advocates campaigning for years that it will reduce the amount of trash in landfills and ocean. One of the major reasons for the ban is that less than 5% of the plastic bags used are recycled. It is estimated that California uses about 12 billion plastic bags.

In 12 months smaller markets will be expected to remove plastic bags, larger markets will be expected to do it in 6 months. Also, after that time they will charge a fee of 10 cents for paper bags. People are expected to either buy paper bags or used reusable bags.

Story summarized from LA Times.

Here's an awesome song by Contravene. The song doesn't directly cover the topic, but deals with how some corporations do not care about the environment. Speaks of the importance of preserving life and environment and take a stand against it!

Prop 8 Declared Unconstitutional

An immense step was taken today by the California courts. The courts ruled Prop 8 unconstitutional, stating that it restricts the rights of the gay and lesbian group. They stated the prop is discriminating against a group of people. This ruling will only pertain to California.

Hopefully the rest of the United States can follow California's example and start rethinking their laws for marriage. Let's look at each other as equals, no matter what our sexual orientation is.

Story derived from: LA Times1 and LA Times2

SOPA and PIPA

These bills, SOPA and PIPA, were suppose to be voted on this week. They were dropped due to the massive protests from the people, mass media sites (facebook, reddit, wikipedia, etc), and various other corporations this past Wednesday. They rebelled by going "dark" for 12-24 hrs. This means no internet accessibility or going online. This was the massive wake-up call the politicians needed, considering protests have been going on for the past two months and they were not actively responding.

The protests showed the politicians that the bills are formatted and phrased in such a way that it infringes on the freedoms we are entitled to. Now they are going back to the drawing board, and are going to fix the problems. They state their  initial intention was to prevent any overseas piracy from other countries who sell stolen American property and innovation back to the American consumers.

This is a major win for us. It showed that the masses can always keep the government in check through perseverance and hard work to get the message across. Always continue on fighting for a better future!

Here is a link to a few statistics of the protest: SOPA Strike

Sources: NY Times: Vote on SOPA/PIPA
                NY Times
                LA Times

Here is an amazing song about Unity by Operation Ivy. Such an uplifting song for a great day! Enjoy.

Detainment

An immigration enforcement program, Secure Communities immigration enforcement program, caused an American citizen to be illegally detained. Secure Communities has been around since 2008. The purpose of the program is to share fingerprints from state and local police forces with immigration authorities to identify and deport thousands of people. The ideology was to be able to identify convicts and deport them back. Thus far, all they've gotten are immigrants with petty crimes or no crimes at all.

This problem does not just involve immigrants, but also American citizens. The American Civil Liberties and other groups have found four American citizens who have been kept under detainment through the fingerprint-sharing program. People have been arrested,  then once they are "released," they are kept in detainment due to the immigration authorities.

Antonio Montejano, 40, was arrested for a diminutive and petty crime. He pleaded guilty and a judge had released him. However, he was detained for two days in a prison cell with no bed or mattress. He reported that he would tell the officers that he was an American citizen and no one would believe him.

Story is taken from LA Times

Any form of detainment is horrible. In our own backyards we are keeping our own American citizens locked up. This is not right, it's violating their own freedoms and rights. We can not be repeating history; remember when we detained the Japanese?

Elephant Death

An elephant death occurred on Thursday in the San Diego Zoo Safari Park. Umoya was a 21 year old elephant originating from Swaziland, Africa. Umoya was one of seven elephants brought to California to be put in the zoo.Umoya most likely suffered attacks by another elephant.

The zoo has reported the death to the federal officials, since it is their stand procedure to do so. However, the death has caused  an uproar amongst the animal liberation community. It has shown how inadequate zoos are to hold any animal.

In Defense of Animals called for the Department of Agriculture to do a full investigation on what actually occurred. Peta spokesperson, David Perle, state that the elephant should have never been driven away from their home.

Both these organizations, Peta and In Defense of Animals, strongly oppose the idea of having animals in zoos.

Story was paraphrased from LA Times.

Conflict talks about animal liberation strongly throughout their lyrics and songs. We must continue to push to get animal liberation. Organizations such as In Defense of Animals, Peta, and Ethical Treatment of Animals are showing how much they want to push for animal liberation. Here are a couple solid tunes from the band. Enjoy.

Elephant Rides

The board for a San Diego County fair turned down activists, who are against elephant rides. The activists, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals and Animal Defenders International, claim that they are being abused. Have Trunk will Travel is the organization that brings the elephants to the fair. They deny any accusations of abuse.

Although the activists lost this battle. The board members agreed to revisit the issue in 2014, when there are stricter rules provided by the Assn. of Zoos and Aquariums.

Story is paraphrased from LA Times. 


Here is a song in relation to the topic by Antisect.

Police Brutality

The Occupy protests have gone across the nation. Protestors all around are occupying cities peacefully. LA has been quite calm compared to other cities being occupied. In Oakland on Tuesday an ex-marine, Scott Olsen, was seriously injured. The authorities claim it was due to demonstrators provoking them, but the demonstrators deny this accusation.

Either way, the injured ex-marine has caused a spark for more people to join the movement. People are upset that the police are a part of the 99% and they cause harm to "preserve order." More protestors are joining in support of Olsen. They definitely are in disbelief that the man toured Iraq twice and arrived home safely, but once at home he got injured by joining a peaceful demonstration.

A lot of the other Occupying cities are showing support to Olsen. Since this has caused a lot of questioning, it is being investigated, and the city will give proper disciplinary action to those policemen involved. Demonstrators want a better way to preserve the peace from the police force. They do not want this to be the issue at hand, they rather want to focus on the actual cause of jobs, justice, and equality. Which are the important issues to the movement.

Story paraphrased from LA Times and LA Times.

Discriminating Law

In Alabama a law was passed  that allows schools to know if children are legally in the country. It went into effect this month, however on Friday it was temporarily blocked by federal courts. Now the federal government must ensure that the law is permanently overturned.

Even though the Education and Justice departments sent out warnings to school districts if they violated the 1982 Supreme Court decision on Plyler vs Doe (children are allowed free education regardless of immigration status) they would lose all federal funding. Alabama claims that they just passed the law for statistical purposes and nothing else.

All the law has caused is intimidation, confusion, and fear. Children have been bombarded with teachers and administrators about their immigration status. It is no wonder children have been more and more absent. People are afraid to go to work. Some are even moving to another state. These children are being robbed of the 14th amendment, which ensures and protects all school-children no matter of immigration status of discrimination.

This xenophobia is a serious issue across the U.S. Discrimination and immigration can not be ignored needs to be addressed by Washington.

Story taken from LA Times.

Contravene speaks out against these types of laws in this amazing track "Man Made Borders, Man Made Lies" from their self-titled album. Also, they are informing us to do something about it!

Lyrics are:
"Another racist law, another restriction
The explanations that they cling to are purely contradiction
If you've something to offer they may let you in
Especially if they approve of the color of your skin.
We have to fight back against this racist jurisdiction
We have to fight back and show our opposition
The number of laws are growing everyday
The borders they recognize shouldn't be there anyway.
They say immigration's causing the US to overpopulate
Causing us to become unemployed at an alarming rate
But the bastards don't think twice about the lower rate of pay
They're dishing out to some poor child in a 3rd world country.
So they'll build another wall up to keep "those people" out
And hire more armed guards to ensure that there's no doubt
Of the people ever gaining power and taking back their lives
Or of tearing down these man-made borders that perpetuate their lies.
We have to fight back and oppose their hate
We have to fight back before it's too late
We can't sit back and let them win
We have to fight back against this racist system.
And it's our legislation with another law to pass
That only serves the interest of the fucking ruling class
The same legislation that gives INS the right
To rape, murder and torture anyone who isn't white."

No Different

Next year a law in California will allow public schools around the state to teach the youth about lesbians, gays, bisexuals, and transgenders (LGBT). Starting in January teachers will be able to integrate information of LGBT into their curriculum. The way it will be presented will vary between grade levels, which dictates what is appropriate.

Children in k-4th grade will most likely be taught that other children with two mothers or fathers, single mother or father, and any other type of family configuration is perfectly fine. This is simply to show acceptance and to prevent any form of teasing. Children in 5th grade or higher would be more specific, since at those levels they receive sex education. This stage in life the bullying is more common, which this law is trying to prevent.

Some teachers are confused on how to integrate this topic into their curriculum, while others have found ways to integrate it already. Something simple as displaying a painting of a same-gender couples or handing out good literature from LGBT to show that there is nothing to be ashamed of and you can still accomplish your dreams.The students, where the teachers have incorporated LGBT discussions and awareness, claim that has become a safer and nurturing environment.

This new law does not have everyone ecstatic over the situation.An evangelical Christian church (Calvary Chapel Corona) of 1,200 congregants is in opposition with this law. A few have pulled their children out of the public school system. These people are outraged and claim it is inappropriate to teach children about LGBT. Most of them think that it's just going to be about sex, instead of looking at their accomplishments.

Story taken from LA Times.

Racism Still Exists...

Most people live day by day thinking racism is pretty much gone within the U.S. The truth is, it is not completely gone. Intolerance still prevails. This week on a Wednesday night or Thursday morning an incident occurred of somebody spraying painting a swastika, and writing the word "Jew" on a Messianic Jewish pastor's home in Hemet, CA.

For full story at LA Times.

Down below is the song Nazi Scum by Oi Polloi.

Drinking and Driving

A woman in Lancaster, CA was out drinking and driving, which caused six children to be seriously injured. For full information check out. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2011/09/dui-lancaster-children-injured.html

Drinking and driving is dangerous and should not be attempted at any cost. However, a band from the 80s named The Business sing about the joyous time of drinking and driving. Joyous by trying to keep your cool by not hitting anything and finding a correct place to vomit!

Lyrics are:
"Half past 5 I'm in the pub
Six O'clock it's home for grub
Eight O'clock I'm back to the bar
Sod the walk I'll take the car

[Chorus:]
Knock it back
Have another one
Drinking and driving is so much fun

In the motor off you go
Not too fast and not too slow
Keep your head and keep your cool
Must avoid that rightful pull
As you meander down the road
Don't forget your highway code
See the spot and take your pick
Out of the car to be sick!.....  "

Violent Society

A couple police officers are being charged with violent acts against an innocent schizophrenic homeless man. You can find the full article here: http://www.latimes.com/news/la-me-kelly-thomas-20110922,0,6969613.story

These acts show that our society can be violent. Which leads to bands voicing their thoughts against this and what they think of the police.

Oxymoron expressed their views in this song "The Pigs."

The Voids speak out against the .LAPD. in their song "LAPD."