Category Archives: Section

The Union-Cooperative Model: A Key to Economic Democracy

Posted on 05/09/2012 by Belden Fields

By Belden Fields  Worker cooperatives can take a variety of forms. Each one tends to have unique aspects; however there are some overarching types that we can identify. There are retail consumer coops, service coops, and producer coops.   In … Continue reading →

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A Bad Idea: The County Board’s Proposal to Spend $20 Million on Jail Construction

Posted on 04/24/2012 by Public i

Over the last few months a classic political power struggle has been taking place at Champaign County Board meetings.  At the center of it has been a Board proposal to spend $20 million on jail construction. People from Champaign-Urbana Citizens … Continue reading →

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NATO & G8 Imperialism

Posted on 04/24/2012 by John Kenealy

NATO (or the North Atlantic Treaty Organization) is, according to its website, a political and military alliance founded in 1949 to protect its member states from attacks by non-member states.  It “promotes democratic values and encourages consultation and cooperation on … Continue reading →

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BOT Speech

Posted on 04/24/2012 by Jimmi Jay

First of all, I would like to thank the Board for granting me the opportunity to address them. I am here to discuss an issue at the local Flex-N-Gate auto-parts plant that is actively harming our entire community and threatening … Continue reading →

Posted in Human Rights, Immigration, Labor/Economics | Comments Off on BOT Speech

CUCPJ Public Forum on New Jail Proposal

Posted on 04/22/2012 by Public i

Champaign Urbana Citizens for Peace and Justice Present A Public Forum on: The County Board’s Proposal to Spend $20 Million on a New Jail Speakers: Carol Ammons, County Board member who opposes the jail proposal Members of Decarcerate Monroe County, … Continue reading →

Posted in African Americans, Community Forum, Policing, Politics, Prisoners, Voices of Color | Comments Off on CUCPJ Public Forum on New Jail Proposal

The International Year of Cooperatives: The Change We Have Been Waiting For

Posted on 04/07/2012 by Keith Taylor

It would seem that when a systemic crisis arises, the problem is identified as either the market (the Banks!) or the state (entitlement programs!). Yet, in a perversely twisted line of logic, the corrective solution for such crises is either … Continue reading →

Posted in Food, Labor/Economics | Comments Off on The International Year of Cooperatives: The Change We Have Been Waiting For

Growing Community Through Local Capital

Posted on 04/07/2012 by Jacqueline Hannah

Jacqueline Hannah Jacqueline Hannah is a 15 year resident of C-U and the general manager of Common Ground Food Co-op in Urbana. She’s passionate about growing the cooperative movement and being a part of the health and vitality of her … Continue reading →

Posted in Food, Labor/Economics | Comments Off on Growing Community Through Local Capital

Urbana-Champaign Mini Maker Faire

Posted on 04/06/2012 by Public i

Saturday, April 14 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. IMC, 202 S. Broadway, in downtown Urbana Free to the public! ucmakerfaire.com Make something! This event is sponsored by the Urbana Public Arts Commission

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Dismantling Democracy

Posted on 04/05/2012 by Marya Burke

By Marya Burke The very first amendment of our constitution states: “Congress shall make no law… abridging the freedom of speech… or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.” … Continue reading →

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FLEX N GATE WORKERS FIGHT FOR HEALTH, LIVING WAGES AND JUSTICE IN URBANA ILLINOIS

Posted on 04/05/2012 by David Johnson

CENTRAL ILLINOIS JOBS WITH JUSTICE FLEX N GATE WORKERS FIGHT FOR HEALTH, LIVING WAGES AND JUSTICE IN URBANA ILLINOIS WHY A BILLIONAIRE CANT AFFORD SAFETY EQUIPMENT OR LIVING WAGES ? Billionaire Shahid Kahn, owner of Flex N Gate Incorporated, manafactures bumpers for the … Continue reading →

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Reduce the U.S. Military to a Defensive Force

Posted on 04/04/2012 by Belden Fields

Dannel Mccollom DEFENSE To say that I am unimpressed with the President’s latest announcement regarding the department of defense is a colossal understatement.  What is especially troubling is the suggestion that even with anticipated cuts, in the words of the … Continue reading →

Posted in International, military, Politics | Comments Off on Reduce the U.S. Military to a Defensive Force

NATO & G8 Imperialism

Posted on 04/03/2012 by Marya Burke

NATO & G8 Imperialism   NATO (or the North Atlantic Treaty Organization) is, according to its website, a political and military alliance founded in 1949 to protect its member states from attacks by non-member states.  It “promotes democratic values and encourages … Continue reading →

Posted in International, military, Politics | Comments Off on NATO & G8 Imperialism

WOMANSPEAK: Feminist Poetry and Poetics

Posted on 03/22/2012 by Public i

 WOMANSPEAK | Feminist Poetry and Poetics R A C H E L   L A U R E N   S T O R M  The Gendering of Cotacachi   With each fragmented patch of earth, that Andean sun-god catches her … Continue reading →

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AsiaLENS: AEMS Documentary and Independent Film Series at the Spurlock Museum

Posted on 03/22/2012 by Public i

AsiaLENS is a series of free public film screenings and lecture / discussion programs — organized by AEMS in collaboration with the Spurlock Museum — presenting recent documentary films on issues reflecting contemporary life in Asia. Local and visiting experts … Continue reading →

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Upcoming Documentary Screening: The Invisible War: Sexual Trauma in the Military

Posted on 03/22/2012 by Public i

The Invisible War: Sexual Trauma in the Military Presented by the Central Illinois Civillian-Soldier Alliance Today, a female soldier in Iraq and Afghanistan is more likely to be raped by a fellow soldier than killed by enemy fire. Sexual assault … Continue reading →

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Pre-1968 Foundations of African American Recruitment at the U of I

Posted on 03/22/2012 by Belden Fields

(767 words)   Pre-1968 Foundations of African American Student Recruitment at the U of I (edited)   Joseph H. Smith   Joseph H. Smith served the U of I as an administrator and English professor from 1964 to 1994.  He … Continue reading →

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International Capitalism Writ Large in Our Community

Posted on 03/05/2012 by Jimmi Jay

By Jimmi Jay Flex-N-Gate is a multi-national corporation that manufactures auto parts ranging from bumpers and hinges to pedal systems and instrument panels for major automakers including BMW, Ford, Nissan, and Toyota. In 2011, Flex-N-Gate reported $2.5 billion in annual … Continue reading →

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Winning the Bread

Posted on 03/04/2012 by admin

By Nancy Dietrich Dietrich works for the University of Illinois and lives in Urbana. This piece (which has been slightly modified) was originally published as a Guest Commentary in the Champaign-Urbana News-Gazette. Awhile back, a male friend disclosed to me … Continue reading →

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“Shut Down the Mills!”: Women, the Modern Strike, and Revolution

Posted on 03/03/2012 by Belden Fields

By Berenice Carroll Women’s nonviolent direct action has a more extensive history and has been more influential in the history of political action for social change than is generally recognized. One of the most important contributions of women to the … Continue reading →

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Coming Soon to a Police Department Near You: Unmanned Aerial Drones

Posted on 03/02/2012 by Alex Cline

Raven. Predator. Reaper. Over the last decade, we’ve heard the news reports about the Pentagon’s cutting-edge unmanned aerial platforms flying missions over Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Yemen, Libya, Iran, and Somalia. Used for reconnaissance as well as search-and-destroy missions, the United … Continue reading →

Posted in Policing, Technology | Comments Off on Coming Soon to a Police Department Near You: Unmanned Aerial Drones