The G-20

more pics here: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2033255&id=1566630110&l=54ec9e9eff

The twenty largest world economies converged in Pittsburgh to discuss the future of the global economy and continue to guide it via their agreed policies. Iraq Veterans Against the War joined by a several members of Veterans For Peace gathered with thousands of activist in Pittsburgh to register our dissatisfaction with G-20 policies.

We conducted a living memorial to all those who have died in war and those who have otherwise suffered because of war. Before the program portion of the memorial, we mud stenciled and chalked thoughts about our refusal to give of ourselves for corporate profits. A moment of silence was followed by an open mike for veterans to share what we have given and what we will no longer give for war. The attendees where then asked to share in the same way.

Pittsburgh was selected to host the summit by the Administration because: (from the White House website: Pittsburg is “a city that has transformed itself from the city of steel to a center for high-tech innovation –including green technology, education and training, and research and development – Pittsburgh will provide both a beautiful backdrop and a powerful example for our work.”

White House statement on Pittsburg and the G-20

http://www.whitehouse.gov/the_press_office/Statement-by-the-President-on-G-20-Summit-in-Pittsburgh

Moreover how can 20 nations claim to represent what is best for the world of 195 countries.

IVAW mud stencil G-20

The residents of the Hill district where Bail Out the People erected a tent city on Monumental Baptist Church grounds would wonder about that work. If the work is supposed to help or provide opportunity, it has not reached that Pittsburgh neighborhood. It is clear that the economic policies of at least the past 35 years have tilted economic growth to benefit the well to do, rich and super rich. The financial crisis has laid bare the failure of the policies and millions suffer as a consequence. Yet in the face of this failure, the 20 do not change direction. They choose to maintain the same general policies, with moderation and adjustments. Corporate profits will continue to be the main measure of success. Investment in human needs and growth will continue to loose to profit motive rather than considered essential to have a fair and just society. Greed will continue to be applauded as good, but in smaller doses.

Greed is never good. There is never a good war.

I have some connection to the Steel City. My late Aunt Beatrice’s children live in Aliquippa, a small steel town along the Ohio River right outside Pittsburgh. It once had a thriving economy. The 1980’s collapse of the steel industry devastated Aliquippa and it has not recovered.

I found a personal witness to the violence and suffering brought by the disappearing of jobs. Darrelle Shavar Revis is a cornerback for the New York Jets of the National Football League. Revis is 24 years old and grew up in Aliquippa. This is a September 27^th interview in the NY Post.

Q: The worst thing you saw growing up in Aliquippa, Pa.?

A: The worst thing I saw is on the corner somebody just running up to somebody just shooting them right in the head . . . like three times . . . and everybody just scattered running, and he’s on the ground bleeding. I’ve seen guys get stabbed before. . . . It’s horrifying to see. It seems like these movies we see today, I mean, movies are just movies, but when you actually see it in reality, it’s not a fun sight. You don’t just want to wish that upon nobody.

Q: How old were you when you saw the guy get shot?

A: 12.

Q: Somebody you knew?

A: Yes, I knew him.

Q: Friend of yours?

A: Our hometown is very small, everybody knows everybody. Everybody always said I was probably gonna make it out of there to play sports or do something. . . . so everybody kinda knew like I was one of the young guys that, “Oh yeah, he has potential, he might be the next Ty Law” or stuff like that. . . . I used to carry a ball — a football or basketball — with me everywhere.

We had like four people die the last two months, and one of ‘em was my cousin. In the summertime, I went home, I saw him . . . and the next week I get a call from my mom saying, “Your cousin’s dead.” I’m like, “What? I just saw him last week.”

I really don’t go home that much. . . . I don’t know if people are gonna be jealous of me, or things like that. Some people now are saying, “Maybe you need to come back and reach out or talk to some of the young kids,” and I will do that eventually. You gotta go back to show love and make sure these young kids can know it’s a bigger world. Some people don’t leave where they’re from. . . . Go travel somewhere, go see other places . . . and it can open up your eyes.

http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/jets/serby_sunday_with_darrelle_revis_WojUVfULuCTY5AZjc3dbjL/1

Four in the last two months could have easily been five. I ran into Progressive Democrat member and co-activist Carl Davidson. He now lives in Aliquippa. He introduced me to Rick Kimbrough another Aliquippa resident. We talked a bit about the G-20. We went on to talk about Aliquippa, family and violence. He told me his nephew Shawn had been shot in the head the night before, but he was alive and recovering. I was taken back by the story. Eighteen year old Shawn was a random victim of gun violence. The shooting was extremely blatant and senseless. The shooter opened up on a crowd of youth hanging out at a favorite spot. I later related this story to my family and they were well aware of it and new of the victim. Read the news account. Youth violence is a common experience. It is painful when anyone dies, but when the youth kill each other there is a special kind of hurt.