September 2011
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Issue #4
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zine@GoodMorningRevolution.org
Created by the people in the interest of the people to energize our community in a more sustainable way from the bottom up.
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...and grow up strong
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Don’t get too down on the noobs for being late to the party. This thing started millennia ago.
We’re all thousands of years past fashionably late to this shindig.
It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, am I right? Throughout history and into the future there will be a constant struggle of beauty and pain. Look around you with wide eyed wonderment. Our world is an amazing place filled with oddities and atrocities. We are under no illusion that we can end all suffering. We are, however, stricken with the moral outrage that compels us to try. With compassion for our fellow humans and a deep awareness of our place in the ecosystem, we seek to build a better world. There is no such thing as a clean slate. No revolution can wipe the past clear and start fresh. All that have tried have failed. We must understand that our task is to do what we can, encourage others to do so as well, and not loose sight of what is still beautiful in our lives. Good Morning Revolution is a collection of individuals coming together to work towards this imperative. We are just a small part of this big world and on our own, we’ll never be enough. We need you! You are a valuable part of your community. And it is this community which GMR is focused on. Encouraging and creating social change, mutual aid, and individual empowerment in the Grand Rapids and Michigan from the bottom up. We want to create discussion of how we can have a stronger effect. We want your stories of change, of improvement. We want to hear of and publish tales of positive growth. We are asking for submissions of your successes and failures. We want to know what you love and what you want to change in this city. Please submit essays, drawings, poems, photos, comics, quotes, etc. to:
zine@GoodMorningRevolution.org
The Human Race:
But Variations on a Theme.
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How can one person be more real than any other? Well, some people do hide and others seek. Maybe those who are in hiding—escaping encounters, avoiding surprises, protecting their property, ignoring their fantasies, restricting their feelings, sitting out the pan pipe hootchy-kootch of experience—maybe those people, people who won't talk to rednecks, or if they're rednecks won't talk to intellectuals, people who're afraid to get their shoes muddy or their noses wet, afraid to eat what they crave, afraid to drink Mexican water, afraid to bet a long shot to win, afraid to hitchhike, jaywalk, honky-tonk, cogitate, osculate, levitate, rock it, bop it, sock it, or bark at the moon, maybe such people are simply inauthentic, and maybe the jackleg humanist who says differently is due to have his tongue fried on the hot slabs of Liar's Hell. Some folks hide, and some folk's seek, and seeking, when it's mindless, neurotic, desperate, or pusillanimous can be a form of hiding. But there are folks who want to know and aren't afraid to look and won't turn tail should they find it—and if they never do, they'll have a good time anyway because nothing, neither the terrible truth nor the absence of it, is going to cheat them out of one honest breath of Earth's sweet gas.” ―Tom Robbins (Still Life with Woodpecker)
Good Morning Revolution
is a name we’ve given to a collections of projects and activities organized a local group of community minded folks. Our current set of reoccurring events are this zine, the Really Really Free Market, and Critical Mass. If you have any desire to become involved to any degree or have something cool you'd like help on, drop an email to info@GoodMorningRevolution.org or stop by our website: or our Facebook page: http://Good Morning Revolution.org
http://facebook.com/ GoodMorningRevolution
In this time of overwhelming apathy, we want you to know that their are people that care enough to act. We need to know this. Knowing we are not alone give us motivation to continue. Having others to discuss our thoughts, feelings, values gives us direction in which to continue. Who are we? If you identify with anything above, then we are you and you are us. What are you doing? Share what you’re working on. Submit your writing or drawing or anything that’s printable.
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This is but an experiment in bringing together and building up the active community. With these pages, we want to talk about important things. We want you to talk about important things. We want all this talk to inspire us to DO important things. To have lives of conviction, of action, of satisfaction. We want to understand our chaotic world. With this knowledge, we want to effect change. We want to let change happen. We want to exist best we can. We started a zine to put something into the world. Something physical, permanent, visceral. Something to pass between friends. Something real.
presidents, editors and people with tapeworms have the right to use the editorial ‘we’.” ―Mark Twain
The Freedom Zine
Really Really Free Market
We all have heard of the Free Market, the economic system free from the meddling hands of government. It’s a system that works out quite beneficially for the fat-cats but quite detrimental to a thriving middle class, the environment, and authenticity of human relationships. It’s not really free...really.
I May Be Missing—But I'm Not Lost © 1979
Stan & Elizabeth Honer
The very first RRFMs ever was held simultaneously in Miami, Florida, and Raleigh, North Carolina to protest the 2004 G8 summit and has since spread across the US. In Grand Rapids, The Realy Really Free Market has been a monthly staple for coming on 4 years now. Taking place the 1st Sunday (the 2nd in cases of rain) of every month at Martin Lurther Kng Jr. Park. Skip the busy bullshit mall and come have a lovely afternoon in the park. Bring your stuff that has become a burden. Pick up stuff that you’ll find useful. Help sort stuff and tidy up. Bring a ball or accordion to play with. Make some friends and have a laugh. And, most importantly, be free.
Critical Mass:
the tipping point at which biking in the road becomes normal.
Critical Mass is group ride in advocacy of bikes as traffic. The bicycle and it’s many variations are great ways to get around this city. We enjoy bike lanes, few hills, free parking, and (most of the time) respectful drivers. We’re no Porland, OR or Boulder, CO but we’ve got it pretty good. Grand Rapids has been ranked 37th of the bike friendliest cities in the USofA by Bicycling Magazine. In celebration of this, we ride on the last Friday of the month, rain or shine, along with Critical Mass rides happening in cities around the world. We meet at Rosa Parks Circle at 5 PM. Hang out and say hello*. We start the ride at 6 PM. We like to keep it slow (about 7 mph) so that everyone can enjoy the ride. Critical Mass asserts cyclists’ right to the road—not infringing on other’s rights to the road. Always leave a lane free (on roads with more than one lane). Use the bike lane if available. And if a driver gives you flack, just wave, smile, and exclaim, “Happy Friday!” Hell, shout salutations at everyone you see! Anything to get (positive!) attention is strongly encouraged: costumes, signage, sound systems, shouting of friendly salutations, penny-farthings, or whatever. Not your style? Time no good? Some other folks put on the Wednesday Evening Ride, a weekly ride that meets at 9 across from the DAAC. Pedal on, Dude!
All of these are semiorganized events to promote the values of the revolution. They are not the revolution. The revolution exists in your life. In yourself when you act for a better world. When you act for the benefit of others. And when you can be grateful for what others have done for you. When you see yourself in the context of the larger world. Not lost in, not overwhelmed by that. But at one with and a part of it all.
the revolutionaries' salute. ยกVIVA LA LIBERATED!
Most people would elect to end hunger and poverty but many of the people running for office have another agenda, cutting social services while transferring our tax dollars to wealthy military contractors and their corporate friends. While elected officials cut social services like unemployment insurance, food stamps, education, health care and other basic necessities they are also passing laws against the poor and their supporters. Food Not Bombs is responding to this crisis by recovering, preparing and sharing vegan meals and groceries with the hungry in nearly 1,000 communities. Look for them during ArtPrize. Food Not Bombs will be serving food downtown on September 24th. For more information, check out their Facebook Group: →→→ Or for typing → http://is.gd/GR_FNB
A Series of Rhetorical Questions by Zachairah Malachi Before the oil is sucked from the earth, to whom does it belong? Who could own the beast before it is captured? Where did your belongings come from? Before the store, where? And before the factory? Before man imposed the concept of property onto providence? Before some turned to others and told them to move this there and that here, sow, reap, hammer, weld, erect society from the life and fruits found lying around our earth... Before all that, what was the point and purpose? Was it not to live. To Thrive. To love. How is it any different now?
FREE!CALANDER!September! Sept 4th: Really Really Free Market @ MLK Jr Park noon-5 Pm [Corner of Franklin & Fuller] Sebt 5th: West Michigan Labor Fest @ Ah-Nab-Awen Park 11am5pm [Pearl St & Front Ave] Sept 7th: Marital Justice Rally @ Rosa Parks Circle noon-1pm [135th Monroe Center NW] Sept 8th: IGE Talks: Don’t Waste Michigan @ IGE 7 pm [1118 Wealthy Se] Sept 12th: SASS Free Women's Self Defense Class @ Gymco Sports 7:30-8:30 pm [2306 Camelot Ridge Court SE] Sept 14th Living Without Religion-Panel Discussion @ Women's City Club-Upper Level [254 E. Fulton St.] Sept 15th: Demonstration against Ringling Bros Circus @ Van Andel Arena [130 W. Fulton St]
Sept 17th: Urban Foraging Workshop @ Garfield Park 10 am-12 pm [343 Burton Se] Bats of the World @ The Main Library, Ryerson Auditorium Level 3. 1pm-2pm [111 Library St Ne] Demonstration against Ringling Bros Circus @ Van Andel Arena [130 W. Fulton St] Sept 20th: Ask-the-Lawyer: Citizens Rights-Criminal Laws & Civil Rights @ The Library, Ryerson Auditorium Level 3. 6:30-8pm [111 Library St Ne] Sept 21st: Artprize Openings: all over town, times vary. Sept 28th: The Good Atheist: Living a Purpose-Filled Life Without God-Dan Barker @ Women's City Club-Upper Level [254 E. Fulton St.] Sept 30th: Critical Mass @ Rosa Parks Circle 5pm [135th Monroe Ave NW]
Reoccurring Events Sundays: Free Tacos @ Birch Lodge [732 Michigan St Ne] Free Dinner @ Degage Ministries 7:30-9 pm [144 S. Division Ave] Mondays: Peace Presence Vigil @ NE Corner of Division & Fulton 4:30-5:30 pm Comedy Improv @ Dog Story Theater 10-11 pm [7 Jefferson SE]
Thursdays: GVSU Downtown Toastmasters Club: Public Speaking competition. Coffee and light Refreshments. @ Devos Center Room 107 C. 7:30-8:30 am [301 W Fulton Ave] Monday-Friday: the Art Studio is open @ Heartside Ministries 9 a.m3:30 pm [54 Division Ave S] Every day (except the 1st Friday of the month): Free Lunch @ God’s Kitchen 2:30-4 pm [303 S. Divison]
Did we forget your event? Do you have an event that needs promotion? Email us at zine@GoodMorningRevolution.org or make a flier like Joelle Tuna did:
And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom.” ―Anais Nin
a doodle found in ook.
a (w e t ) b
When Tao is lost, goodness appears. When goodness is lost, philanthropy appears. When philanthropy is lost, justice app ears. When justice is lost, only etiquette is left. ―from The Tao Te Ching of Lao Tzu #38
infographic from online: http://nyti.ms/phmhDo
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Without access to material goods, one’ll never ascend Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs. We are living in a material world. Are you not a material girl?
The Iceland Experiment by Jesicka Crunch
On the rare occasion that Iceland comes up in conversation, most people think of Björk or shisty vikings. Maybe images of cloudy volcanoes holding up air travel this past spring. What should come to mind is their financial collapse and phoenix like emergence complete with a new constitution. Remember the Y2K paranoia? Back then, Iceland was enjoying the economic boom. Prior to the new millennium, the island had relied on fishing as it’s main industry, but financial services took front seat and made Iceland one of the richest countries in Europe. They privatized all of the banks in 2003 which attracted investments from Britain and Holland and more. These investments in private banks were backed by the government. The lenders and countries who invested had promised their constituents and share holders reimbursement. The economic boom was all fueled by state backed private debt. A time of recklessness with little to no regulation. Four years after privatization, Iceland’s debt rose to 10 times their Gross National Product. In 2007, the world was just entering the Great Recession. Iceland, with 80% of its economy in the financial sector no longer binging on easy credit, was fucked. Loans where made by European Union, Britain and Nordic countries to pump money into the economy to keep it afloat a little longer. But loans are just more debt. The banks defaulted, some were nationalized, and now all that debt was owed by the Icelandic government. In 2008, the EU and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) tried to take over the debt in order to demand repayment. The citizens of Iceland mobilized to protest this foreign infiltration and their corrupt, incompetent government. Every Saturday protests were held at the capital. One blogger, Alda Sigmundsdóttir, wrote in her post titled Who needs concerts when you have protests?, “the recent revolution has consisted of people showing up in strategic locations and banging pots, pans, drums or whathaveyou, inevitably creating a tribal beat replete with chanting.” The citizens gathered in temperatures as Continued thataway →→→
low as 17°F until the government resigned in 2009. A left-wing coalition was formed and they threw out the guarantee to back the debt. Foreign investors continued to bully the bankrupt country for reparations. The new government suggested each citizen pay back debt out of pocket--100 Euros (about $141.65) a month for fifteen years per person. Citizens were once again outraged. They had protested to avoid taking responsibility for someone else’s bad investment. Instead of bending to Britain & Holland’s pressure, the head of state refused to ratify this law, instead he called for referendum. In March 2010, 93% of Icelandic citizens refused to repay the debt. Instead they rewrote their constitution.The authors were elected from a pool of 522 adults who were without partisan affiliation. The whole process was broadcast on the Internet! Citizens could call in and voice their opinions. Prime minister Johanna Sigurdardottir stressed the importance of this direct democratic aspect, "It is very important for ordinary citizens, who have no direct interest in maintaining the status quo, to take part in a constitutional review... We are hoping this new constitution will be a new social covenant leading to reconstruction and reconciliation, and for that to happen, the entire nation needs to be involved." This is a bad ass example of people utilizing technology to implement direct democracy. They overthrew the boom-bust cycle that has become normative economics and instead increased their sovereignty to unite with solidarity. They rebuilt their government. As when our country was birthed, this should be on the world stage--this new Icelandic Democratic Experiment. Editors Note: we did our best to be accurate but it’s impossible to sum up 10 years of international economics and foreign policies of countries that speak languages we don’t. So, get more info on the internet or some other news source, I guess.
“A truly good book teaches me better than to read it. I must soon lay it down, and commence living on its hint. What I began by reading, I must finish by acting.” —Henry David Thoreau