"Dear Reader: The title of this book is composed of three words from my novel Cat's Cradle.
A wampeter is an object around which the lives of many otherwise unrelated people may revolve. The Holy Grail would be a case in point.
Foma are harmless untruths, intended to comfort simple souls. An example: "Prosperity is just around the corner."
A granfalloon is a proud and meaningless association of human beings.
Taken together, the words form as good an umbrella as any for this collection of some of the reviews and essays I've written, a few of the speeches I made."

- Kurt Vonnegut (November 11, 1922 – April 11, 2007)
(Introduction to "Wampeters, Foma and Granfalloons")

On Sunday, March 4, 2007 the official launch of the Forgotten Voice newspaper was held across the street from Las Vegas City Hall at Frank Wright Plaza. Forgotten Voice is a street paper in which homeless and formerly homeless people, as well as homeless advocates, write and produce. The mission is to be a voice for homeless people.

The objectives for Forgotten Voice are:

• To publish a street newspaper written mainly by homeless people, formerly homeless people, and homeless advocates in order to empower them and give them a voice;

• To build and enhance a sense of community and facilitate positive communication between homeless people, homeless advocates, service providers, and the general public;

• To build awareness of social services that are available to poor and homeless people, and other such information that would be educational to the homeless population;

• To expand and redefine our charitable, educational, and literary program from time to time as necessary to meet the continuing need to empower homeless people.

Read more...

LINKS: Amanda Haymond | http://www.forgottenvoice.org/archive/FV_V1_No1.pdf | Forgotten Voice

March 4, 2007: Over 40 people bore witness as 34 activists crossed the line in civil disobedience at the Nevada Test Site at around 10 AM this morning protesting the Nevada Test Site’s nuclear testing on Western Shoshone land.The action wrapped up a weekend retreat of the newly rebirthed Pacific Life Community.

The police stated that the line-crossers would not be processed until the rally ...

Read More | Pictures (1 | 2)

LINKS: Nevada Desert Experience | Pacific Life Community

In Las Vegas on March 17, 2007 (time still to be determined), a group calling themselves the Las Vegas Peace Coalition is planning to hold a massive march against the occupation of Iraq in front of the Lloyd D. George Federal Courthouse. The Las Vegas Peace Coalition is made up of various groups and individuals, including: MoveOn, Democracy for America, Nevada Workers Against the War, Nevada Desert Experience, Food Not Bombs, and members of many different unions and progressive political parties. The group states that "ending this war must be a priority, the elected officials must do more than non binding resolutions, they must cut off funding and demand this occupation be ended immediately. Not one more death or one more dollar for Bush's war of aggression."

Read more | Announcement

United for Peace and Justice (1500 organizations) is teaming with over 500 additional groups to march on Congress to insist the US get out of Iraq. Massive numbers are expected to rally and march around the Capital on January 27 at the start of a 3-day event.

Call for participation in an anti war rally Sat Jan 27, 2007 at 1 pm in front of the Federal Building.

Saturday Jan 27, 2007 at 1 pm MoveOn will be holding an anti war rally in front of the Federal Bldg at 333 Las Vegas Blvd (downtown) in solidarity with the March on Washington.

LINKS: UFPJ January 27 Info | United for Peace | Act Now to Stop War and End Racism | U.S. Labor Against the War | D.C. Indymedia

Date: January 9, 2007

Time: 5:30 pm (Press Conference), 6:30 – 9:00 pm (DTRA open house)

Location: Cashman Convention Center, 850 Las Vegas Blvd North, Las Vegas, NV 89101
[ Read more ]

LINKS: Cashman Center Location Map | Shundahai Network Comments | Revised Environmental Assessment | Citizen Alert | Nevada Desert Experience

Please join us to mourn all the lives lost in the Iraq war and call for the troops to come home!

Where: Lloyd George Federal Building, 333 Las Vegas Blvd S, Las Vegas NV

When: Thursday, January 4, 2007 8:30 am

COME FOR FREE LUNCH AND PROTESTS AT CITY HALL!!!!
Where: Frank Wright Plaza,
Stewart Avenue and 4th Street, Las Vegas, NV
(the park right across from the DTC)

Dates: Wednesday Jan. 3rd, and Wednesday Jan. 17th

Every year since 1970, United American Indians of New England has organized the National Day of Mourning in Plymouth at noon on Thanksgiving Day. Hundreds of Native people and supporters from all four directions join in. Every year, Native people from throughout the Americas speak the truth about our history and the current issues and struggles we are involved in.

Las Vegas, NV: -- Monday, November 20,2006 -- an injunction is expected to be handed down against the law prohibiting the sharing of food in public parks with the underprivileged. In a move that can only be seen as a victory over the violent and repressive City of Las Vegas – led by Mayor Oscar Goodman and overseen by his shill Bradford Jerbic – Federal Judge Robert C. Jones is expected to hand down an injunction against a statute passed by the Las Vegas City Council which prohibits sharing food with whom a “reasonable person” could perceive as eligible for, or receiving government assistance.

During oral arguments today, Lee Rowland of the ACLU articulately and aggressively argued that the law violates the first and fourteenth amendments by limiting expressive action (sharing food with the homeless or indigent) and specifically targeting the underprivileged. ( Read More... )

Timeline of 2006 LVIMC Coverage

February: First Citations - Februrary 19, 2006 Eight Arrested - February 24, 2006 March: Protest Announcement - March 4, 2006 One Less in LV - March 10, 2006 Going to Court - March 17, 2006 Circle Park Video - March 19, 2006 Protest Press Release - March 20, 2006 April - May - June: Going to Court Again - April 20, 2006 Homeless Meeting - May 23, 2006 Meeting w/ Mayor - May 24, 2006 Grafitti Arrest - May 26, 2006 Homeless Advocate Meeting - June 22, 2006 July: Goodman, No Show - July 1, 2006 Message to the Mayor - July 11, 2006 The Law is Passed - July 20, 2006 Protest Flyer - July 22, 2006 Orlando, FL Anti-Homeless Law - July 29, 2006 August: Modest Proposal - August 2, 2006 FNB Protest Announcement - August 4, 2006 FNB Protest Pics - August 11, 2006 FNB Protest Article - August 15, 2006 Showering in Jail - August 28, 2006 September: SNAPH Demo - September 13, 2006 SNAPH Demo Pics - September 27, 2006 October: Suzie's Citation - October 14, 2006 Cop Abuse Rally - October 23, 2006 Oct. 25 Demo Pics - October 25, 2006 First Unconstitutional Ruling - October 27, 2006 November: Ruled Unconstitutional - November 20, 2006 Victory! - November 20, 2006

Organize for Change Host The Palestinians' Right of Return Forum Tuesday Nov. 28th 5:30pm UNLV's MSU Room 208A Free to All

Mahmud Ahmad is a Palestinian born and raised in exile. He has been an activist and organizer in the Arab community for Arab, Arab-American, and Palestinian rights for nearly 20 years. Mr. Ahmad is currently serving in Al-Awda's executive committee.

Dr. Zahi Damuni is a long-time activist for Palestinian rights. He is co-founder of Al-Awda and currently serves on Al-Awda's coordinating committee. He is also a member of the Palestine Right of Return Congress.

Spread the Word!

LINKS: Al-Awda CA | Organize For Change | Palestinian Right of Return Congress | Interview with Dr. Damuni | Palestinian Resistance | Stop The Wall | Global Week of Resistance | 30 Days in Nablus

VIDEO: 1

LVIMC ARCHIVE: Previous Forum | U.S./Israel Overthrow of Palestinian Government | Poem | Israelis Refuse to Fight | Visit to Nablus