By GUT Fest organizers
This summer, Gainesville will host an underground performance art festival.
Gainesville Underground Theatre Festival will assemble 32 performances and a community panel over the weekend of July 21-23.
Performances will be held at The Civic Media Center, M.A.M.A.’s Club, Black C Art Gallery, The Atlantic, High Dive and the Boxcar at Depot Park.
Posted in Articles, July-August 2017
By Fred Sowder , WGOT Financial Director
Perhaps you listen weekday mornings to the latest news of the day from Amy Goodman on Democracy Now! Or maybe you catch the jazz selections Sunday mornings on Jazzville, or the darkwave industrial sounds of Shadows at midnight on Saturdays. Or, it could be another of the dozens of locally produced and nationally syndicated Pacifica Radio Network shows we air each week.
100.1 FM WGOT-LP is your community radio station, and we can continue to thrive with your help and that of local businesses. Our studio crowdfunding campaign is ongoing; details can be found on the WGOT Facebook page. A donation of any size will get us that much closer to providing you live programming originating from the Civic Media Center studios under construction.
Posted in Articles, July-August 2017
By Joe Courter
I grew up with radio and it still is a huge part of my life. Fred Sowder is a real hero to me for his commitment to WGOT.
WGOT.org has a grid of their programming, which we have printed in prior issues. As I live on the Eastside, and frankly like most people, unless you live near the transmitter out near Santa Fe College NW, my car radio is my link. In years to come, streaming and a bigger range will be available. My top seven:
Posted in Articles, July-August 2017
By Gainesville IWW and Fight Toxic Prisons
Last year prisoners from around the country participated in the Sept. 9 National Prisoner Strike, the first of its size and scope in U.S. history. The wave of prisoner labor strikes and other resistance actions on and around that day were led by organized groups of prisoners such as the Free Alabama Movement, the Incarcerated Workers Organizing Committee, or IWOC, of the Industrial Workers of the World labor union (IWW), as well as a large number of unaffiliated prisoners.
The strike was supported on the outside by the IWW, Fight Toxic Prisons (FTP), Anarchist Black Cross chapters and other grassroots groups. Numerous rallies and demonstrations were held at prisons around the country. In Florida, the Gainesville branch of the IWW, FTP, the Green Party and others held a demonstration at the gates of the Coleman Federal Corrections Complex near Wildwood in support.
Posted in Articles, July-August 2017
The Alachua County Labor Coalition is spear-heading an effort that might get the Congressman’s attention better. This is, namely, a series of demonstrations against his largest local donors. We will have our first on Saturday morning on July 29. The groups Indivisible and Women’s March will be supporting this effort as well. More details to follow. Save the date! Make your signs!
In addition, we are celebrating Medicare’s Birthday Party this year on the evening of Saturday, July 22. How much do you value Medicare? Come celebrate your present coverage (which is under attack in our present government), your parents’ coverage, and what is, or should be, coverage coming up for you. We can no longer take our Medicare or Medicaid for granted.
Come join us in this evening, to learn how it might be possible to expand Medicare to all of us by hearing fiery and articulate Congressional candidate, Tim Canova from South Florida, who will help us host this event. If Ted Yoho agrees to join us, we will have a rousing debate you will not want to miss.
Again, save the date and keep your eyes peeled for more details. Bring your stories and your outrage. If you want to help us organize or get more details, call the Alachua County Labor Coalition at 375-2832 or email us at info@laborcoalition.org.
For those of us here for the hot Gainesville summer, the summer has just gotten a little hotter. Let’s get a mob at both events! Show that you care.
Posted in Articles, July-August 2017
by Faith C. Carr
First gather a few people around a table, get them a pitcher of beer. Then ask the question, “How can we get more people growing their own food?” Meet up with a small local “prepper” group. Toss in a random bunch of social activists who want to eat clean healthy food – and a local food movement is begun.
Create a list of things required for community resilience: give it a catchy name. Build a website, create a Facebook group, and collaborate with that MeetUp group.
Posted in Articles, July-August 2017
by Madison Rubert
Hundreds of LGBTQ supporters adorned in rainbow face paint and flags paraded the streets of Downtown Gainesville to march in solidarity with the Equality March for Unity and Pride in Washington D.C.
At 1:30 p.m. on June 11, local LGBTQ supporters gathered at Depot Park before the Gainesville Area Equality March for Unity and Pride, a 10-minute walk through South Main St. towards Bo Diddley Plaza hosted by the Pride Community Center of North Central Florida.
Posted in Articles, July-August 2017
1. Alachua County residents may install roof-top solar power now, at much lower rates and with the assistance of professional staff, by joining the Alachua County Solar Cooperative (www.flsun.org/alachua).
2. This Cooperative is being hosted by the League of Women Voters, Alachua County (LWVAC). The Cooperative is organized and administered by Florida Solar United Neighborhoods (FL SUN), a partnership of the Florida League of Women Voters and the non-profit, 501(c)(3) Community Power Network.
Posted in Articles, July-August 2017
by Central Florida DSA
Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) is the largest socialist organization in the US. It is an educational organization, not a political party, with more than 22,000 members nationwide and over 120 local groups, one in nearly every state in the U.S.
Members are activists committed to democracy as not simply one of our political values but as a means of restructuring our society to make it more free, participatory, and humane.
Posted in Articles, July-August 2017
There have been big changes in the world of media since the CMC opened its doors in 1993. The internet was brand new then, and people needed places (i.e., the CMC) to access it. Now it is pervasive, and devices to use it are common. The internet also has a vast, VAST storehouse of documentary and regular film, music and spoken word recordings. In fact, the CMC’s VHS and audio cassette collections are now in storage, whereas they were central to the collection before.
Books they’ve got, yes; thousands lining the walls; a stunning collection augmented by the large donation of his personal library by Florida author and folklorist Stetson Kennedy.
So here in 2017, what is the CMC’s role in the community? This has not changed: a vital community space for meetings, discussions, and organizing. A place for music and art that is not a bar or museum. A counter-cultural place where marginalized people can find acceptance and thrive. And WGOT is in the process of moving their studios into the CMC building.
BIG NEWS: The CMC has been taken under the wing of another local 501(c)3 non-profit while reapplying for theirs. Those of you who can donate, may send tax deductible checks to the CMC at 433 S. Main St. Gainesville, FL 32601. Make checks out to NUBA, earmarked for the CMC. (NUBA is Neighborhoods United for a Better Alachua, a 501(c)3 organization which shares similar goals to the CMC.)
Community support is another vital constant, especially true in the summer. Visit www.civicmediacenter.org to learn more.
Posted in Articles, July-August 2017
by Joe Courter
“Eight hours for work, eight hours for rest and eight hours for what you will.”
–This was the slogan of the Eight-Hour Day movement in May of 1886.
Now personally I think that 8 hours for work is a few hours per day longer than optimal, but we were then coming from a system of 10 and 12 hours (or more), so it was a great step in the right direction. What I want to focus on here is the “what you will” part, and the vast array of options open to us in the here-and-now of 2017. And within that, moving beyond the social and familial responsibilities to the stuff we choose to put in our heads, and what we do with our non-sleep, non-work time.
Posted in Articles
by Heidi Harris
The Say YES to Second Chances initiative has entered the home stretch for inclusion on the 2018 ballot, and Floridians from all walks of life are mobilizing in support. Almost 800,000 signed petitions are required, proportionately represented statewide. The 3rd Congressional District, which includes Alachua County, must submit a total of 28,808 petitions. We have a good start, and the momentum is building as residents of Gainesville, Hawthorne, Palatka, Interlachen, Alachua and other communities are joining together to gather signatures.
Posted in Articles, July-August 2017
The 2017 July-August issue of the Iguana is now available! If you want to get your hands on a hard copy, check out our distro locations here.
Posted in Articles, July-August 2017
by Joe Courter
For those of you who missed Pierce Pettis’s wonderful house concert about a month ago, he is coming back to town to do a “pro bono” benefit show for the Civic Media Center on Friday evening April 28. The location will be next door to the CMC in M.A.M.A.’s Place, a new addition to the block spearheaded by Faye Williams inside the old location of Citizens Co-op at 435 S. Main St. (Pierce is, as usual, on tour and this one night of availability corresponded to Art Walk, which the CMC was already booked for).
Pierce is a veteran singer-songwriter with a great talent for heartfelt songs, great phrasing and a very entertaining presence, and this is a very kind gesture to waive his fee (this is how he makes his living) to help the CMC raise the funds it needs to keep going in these times we are in. It is kind of a reward for the over half dozen times I have set up shows for him in Gainesville over the last 20 years, including the old CMC, the current CMC, the Thomas Center and the Acrosstown Repertory theater.
The concert will be at 8pm sharp, but since it is Art Walk night, you can come early and browse the downtown galleries beforehand. There is parking in the lot just south of the building, across the street on Main, or just north at the courthouse lot. Tickets will be $15 in advance and $20 at the door. More details from Joe at 352-378-5655 or gainesvilleiguana@cox.net.
Posted in April 2017, Articles
by Women’s March on Florida
The Women’s March on Florida, Gainesville Chapter is organizing for upcoming challenges to protect our civil liberties. During their first few months, they have created a sustainable grassroots organization with a foundation to support resistance efforts and to ensure that the voice of progressive Americans who care about our environment, civil rights and equality are heard.
WMFL is committed to supporting the causes you care about. Join the 400 volunteers as they work collaboratively with the local government officials and other grassroots organizations. Get involved by coming to one of their events, email them at womensmarchflgnv@gmail.com, and participate and like them on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/wmflgnv.
Upcoming Women’s March Gainesville Events
See our complete list of upcoming events at www.hearourvoicegnv.org/calendar
April 17 at 6:30: Economic Justice Action Group Meeting. Alachua County Labor Coalition, 901 NW 8th Ave., Suite A1
April 22 at 11: March for Science. March begins at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium
April 27 at 6:30pm Action Group & Volunteers Leadership mtg.
Posted in April 2017, Articles
by Wes Wheeler
The League of Women Voters – Alachua, in partnership with FL Sun, has a brand-new web page (you are among the first ones to see this!) that explains the Alachua County Solar Co-op.
If you’ve ever wanted to go solar and you live in Alachua County, this is an opportunity to use group buying power to get a discounted price for solar panels. The link is: http://www.flsun.org/alachua/
Posted in April 2017, Articles
by Marcella J. Mulholland
“I would not agree that [CO2] is a primary contributor to the global warming that we see,” Environmental Protection Agency director Scott Pruitt said in an interview with CNBC on March 9. A mere three weeks into his term as Donald Trump’s EPA cabinet appointee, Pruitt displayed an alarming level of ignorance about the field which he is supposed to lead.
Unfortunately, Pruitt’s behavior is not uncommon in Washington. Over the past decade we have seen politicians attack science on all fronts. From funding cuts to gag orders to blatant denial our scientific community is plagued by a political body that largely ignores empirical evidence when it is inconvenient for their party affiliation or campaign donations.
Posted in April 2017, Articles
Patricia Sheehan [S], Orlando City Commissioner and past president of the Gay Lesbian Bisexual Local Officials, was interviewed by Holland Hall [H] in December 2016, six months after the Pulse nightclub massacre.
This is the 39th in a series of transcript excerpts from the Samuel Proctor Oral History Program collection at the University of Florida.
Transcript edited by Pierce Butler.
H: Who are some of your favorite queer artists …
S: Melissa Etheridge. We actually jammed together way back when, and we were working together on a community garden for breast cancer survivors. I’m just fried right now, really exhausted, trying to be visionary and what’s fun, it’s kind of hard to get into that space because it’s been really hard the last month or so. But yeah, Melissa, Katy Perry, I love Pink. I find their work to be hopeful. They overcome a lot of odds.
Posted in April 2017, Articles
by Gainesville Veterans for Peace
Veterans for Peace has, each Memorial Day weekend since 2007, assembled the “Memorial Mile” of grave stones along the stretch of NW 8th Ave running eastward from NW 34th St. Each grave stone holds the name, age, hometown, service status and date of death for an individual casualty in America’s wars in central and southwest Asia: the previous display showed 6,888 United States troops, with 63 more on the list for this year (so far).
Posted in April 2017, Articles
by Julie Matheney, Organizer with the Florida Homelessness Action Coalition
I know you’re busy. There are so many things competing for your attention, and it’s hard to keep up with all of the things happening in the world right now.
Trust me. I get it.
Since the election, I’ve felt really overwhelmed. I’ve kept busy with community organizing, petitions, calling representatives, and going to every demonstration I could. I’m encouraged to see so many people taking up new fights and continuing old battles … but there’s one underlying issue that’s not getting enough attention.
Posted in April 2017, Articles