Tom Hayden's Blog, page 62

Julian Assange To Face Charges in Sweden

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange will likely go to Sweden in early December rather than continuing his appeals in British courts against extradition. Assange has hired a public relations firm in Stockholm to represent him as the case moves to the Stockholm arena. The decision, as yet unannounced, was confirmed by two sources in Stockholm and has been reported in Espressen.

On the Movement's Focus and its Connection to Tuesday's Election

Keith Olbermann and Tom Hayden connect Occupy Wall Street to the recent defeat of Mississippi's Personhood Amendment, the union-busting bill in Ohio and the recall election in Arizona of the author of the "papers please law." Referring to protesters, Hayden says, "They've moved from occupying tents to occupying ballot boxes." He goes on to caution the movement against losing focus by going after political figures like Michele Bachmann.

Environmentalists May Cause Delay of Pipeline Decision

After major environmental demonstrations outside the White House, and revelations of internal conflicts of interest in the review process, it appears that the Obama administration may delay or revise its plans for the Keystone XL pipeline moving Canadian tar sands oil through pipelines to Texas.

Ohio Votes Against Tea Party Republican Policies, Wisconsin Recall Next

Ohio voters rebelled at the polls 62-38% Tuesday against Republican governor John Kasich's attack on collective bargaining rights, sending a strong message from the heartland that the Tea Party agenda may be unraveling. Next week, Wisconsin activists will launch their drive to obtain 540,000 signatures to recall Gov. Scott Walker sometime next year.

Public Strongly Supports Obama's Iraq Pullout But U.S. Military Balks

While a stunning majority of Americans favor President Obama's decision to withdraw troops from Iraq by this December 31, some neo-conservatives and Pentagon factions are lobbying hard for a contingent of American troops to remain. The internal battle may continue deep into December, while Congress is out of session.

'The fight is on': Hayden, Ross lead talk on engagement and citizenry

The year was 1961, and Tom Hayden had been in jail in the South for participating in civil rights protests when he put pen to paper. What began as a letter to his friends in Students for a Democratic Society blossomed into the blueprint for the Port Huron Statement, the manifesto that helped launch the student activist movements of the 1960s.

Palestine Wins UNESCO Membership, Deepening U.S. Global Weakness

UNESCO voted 107-14, with 52 abstentions, to accept Palestine's membership on October 31, despite a $70 million cutoff of American funding. The vote vindicates the current Palestinian diplomatic strategy while exposing a US weakness in preventing growing global recognition of Palestinian statehood.

Imran Khan Considering Presidential Peace Campaign in Pakistan: "Not a Rally But a Turning Point"

Imran Khan, the legendary cricket star and vocal opponent of US military policies in Pakistan, is considering a campaign for president on a peace platform, according to Bulletin sources. Pakistan must schedule its next general election by not later than February 2013.

U.S Prosecutors Undermine Medical Marijuana Successes

Prosecutors and DEA agents are escalating toughening marijuana prosecutions and militarizing the overall "war on drugs" just as prospects have never been greater for phasing out the costly 40-year campaign.

UK Judges Ruling on Julian Assange Wednesday

A UK judicial panel will rule on Julian Assange's extradition appeal this Wednesday, November 2.