End o' the Year Sedition Newsletter

Happy beginning of winter! (almost)

You of course know what winter means...it means coming down to your favorite infoshop to mingle at one of the great upcoming events. It's been a lot of years since the Beehive Collective graced Houston's shores so we need to let 'em know we missed 'em. And there are two fantastic film screenings coming up as well--one all about early Black Panther organizing and the other about coal and its effects on the environment.

If you can't make it to the events come out and check out what we've got on the shelves these days. The library is brimming over with fascinating literature and the books we're selling are pretty friggin' cool as well !! And we're gonna run out of Black and Red Slingshot Organizers any day now.

Oh--almost forgot to mention that we now have Free Wi-Fi in the bookstore and soon we should have steaming hot organic fair trade coffee for you to drink while you browse the shelves!

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**SATURDAY DECEMBER 20TH**
8:00 PM

The Beehive Collective presents: MesoAmerica Resiste!--The struggle of diversity vs. homogenization in the Americas

Sedition is pleased to announce this appearance of the Beehive Collective in Houston. The Beehive has produced a series of amazingly intricate drawings that represent the struggles in the Americas using insects as an extended metaphor. The art is incredible but the politics behind the drawings is the real clincher! So come out and listen to Juan from the Beehive Collective. Bring $$ if you want to purchase posters or patches!

This graphic takes a critical look at Project Mesoamerica (formerly "Plan Puebla Panama")- a development plan designed to facilitate the exploitation of resources by corporate interests in Central America, and transform much of its land to create more "efficient" trade routes for global markets. This elitist plan is a threat to the very survival of unique and important ecosystems and traditional cultures. Our presentation illustrates many inspiring and successful examples of resistance to this top down development through horizontal community based organizing.

http://www.beehivecollective.org/english/tour.htm
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**SUNDAY, DECEMBER 21ST**
8:00 PM

Film Screening: Self Respect, Self Defense & Self Determination

Featuring Mabel Williams and Kathleen Cleaver, w/ an introduction by Angela Davis.

Mabel Williams, with her late husband Robert F. Williams (author of Negroes With Guns), met with Malcolm X, Ho Chi Minh, Che Guevara, and Mao Tse Tung to help internationalize support for the Black Liberation Movement.

Kathleen Cleaver was Communications Secretary and the first woman Central Committee member of the Black Panther Party. Later, she also lived in exile, gathering worldwide support for the BBP.

These two inspiring women of the 60s Black liberation struggle share their personal experiences—resisting the KKK and police repression, forced exile and their international experiences in Third World nations—and how their history relates to the struggle today. Moderated by Rachel Herzing of Critical Resistance, and introduced by Angela Davis.

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**SUNDAY, DECEMBER 28th**
8:00 PM

Lump of Coal in your Stocking film screening!

Rising Tide Houston and Global Justice for Animals & the Environment present two short films on the coal industry, as well as clips from Earth First!, Rising Tide, and other groups.

1)Fighting Goliath: Texas Coal Wars (34 min)

"The story of Texans fighting a high-stakes battle for clean air. The film introduces the unlikely partners—mayors, ranchers, CEOs, community groups, legislators, lawyers, and citizens—that came together to oppose the construction of 19 conventional coal-fired power plants that were slated to be built in Eastern and Central Texas and that were being fast-tracked by the Governor.

The film documents how pressure from these various groups changed public opinion throughout the state of Texas and influenced a proposal made by private investors looking to purchase TXU—the company proposing 11 of the 19 conventional coal-fired power plants slated for construction in Texas—and convinced the buyers to reduce the amount of new plants they would build from 11 to 3.

The change in approach and significant reduction of potential pollutants is clearly a victory for the people of Texas, and a national example for others to follow since as of Feburary 2008 114 conventional coal-fired power plants are currently being proposed across the U.S., and close to 1,000 are in development worldwide. In addition to this being an important local story, it’s a powerful national and global story with the potential to educate and inspire audiences worldwide."

2)Mountaintop Removal (from Ilovemountains.org)(10 min)

This short film, part of the National Memorial for the Mountains, introduces and explains the practice of Mountaintop Removal coal mining, and the ways in which it devastates communities and ecosystems.

"More than 450 mountains have been destroyed by mountaintop removal coal mining. Watch this video of mountaintop removal featuring Woody Harrelson and a soundtrack featuring an original recording of "Blowin' in the Wind," sung by Willie Nelson."

3)Relatively recent, fun clips from Earth First!, Rising Tide and others.

A discussion will follow, including ways you can get involved locally fighting climate change and other ecological problems.

For more info, visit:
http://www.risingtidenorthamerica.org
http://www.freetradekillsanimals.org
http://www.earthfirst.org

Contact: houstonrt@riseup.net
http://www.myspace.com/houstonrt

All events are free but donations are welcome to keep Sedition's rent paid and the lights on!