Frank Wain : Inspirational Native American Hip-Hop Artist

Frank Wain is a Sicanhu Lakota, Hip -Hop Artist from He Dog on the Rosebud Reservation in rural South Dakota. An award winning artist and outspoken activist. Frank uses his music and performance to address colonialism, state violence, the legacy of broken treaties, Native American genocide, racism, appropriation and environmental exploitation among other issues affecting Indigenous people today.
Wain uses his music as a way to call out historical wrongs and  uplift American indigenous youth, many of whom struggle from the impacts of poverty violence, suicide and other inter-generational traumas. He has been featured in many publications, and on MTV'S Rebel Music Native America episode.

Rebel Music: Native America : Official trailer

Influenced and inspired by Emiinem, Nas,  John Trudell, Native activist and poet and the Sundance songs and ceremonies of his culture. His sound is unique, while hip-hop based, he also mixes in the sounds of his native roots, and integrates lyrics that are politically outspoken.He takes a beat, weaves in the drums and sounds of the Sicangu Lakota  and powerfully retells American history through the eyes of a group that has been forgotten, capturing a spirit of resistance..
He is very conscious of how his depictions of Native American culture are so often twisted into "poverty porn ""There will be no porn in music video," he tweeted about rhe following video "Aboriginal " in October 2013. "No models. No bling. Just some Lakota people, smiling, riding horses and being a community." The video shows children on the reservation playing basketball, hanging with family, living ordinary lives - lives that are frequently misunderstood and overlooked.

.Frank Wain -  Aboriginal

Frank was raised only by his mother and aunts on the Rosebud Reservation in South Dakota. His father was absent in his life, but he says his mother made him who he is today and without her he would not be doing what he does. Although he is representative of his culture, his music also deals with trauma that can be felt by those that  are not Native. He has also spoken cadidly about his own personal battles with depression.
The following song speaks of his love for his mother and the struggles they have endured together, this love can resonate with many of us. Though Frank is proud of his identity and writes content geared towards issues relevant to his community, his music also stresses how these situations can also be viewed through a broader lens. These struggles are not exotic nor alien.

Rebel Music ;Frank Wain Performs "My Stone

From a very young age he found it was his responsibility to keep his culture alive  and shed light on the reality of what indigenous people have been experiencing and living for hundreds of years. He attended Colombia University in Chicago, Illinois as a recipient of the Gates Millenium Scholarship. He has said that it was this scholarship that enabled his to began making music. He began producing music in college using his laptop. Since then he has gone on to win several awards for his outspoken and powerful sounds, who has managed to build a large and devoted audience of fans drawn to his heartfelt music.
Currently living in Chicago, aside from creating music highlighting the struggles of  his people in today's society, he is also a youth mentor and social activist and speaks about self- empowerment travelling the world spreading messages of hope through performance and workshops.In 2017 he went on a trip with https://www.dreamdefenders.org/ who he works with to Palestine where he bore witness to their own struggles under settler colonialism.Re-connecting to his own culture  has allowed him to release his revolutionary voice, providing an inspiration to many, using his powerful voice as a political and environmental activist for American Indian rights. while using music as a much needed  force for love, struggle, healing and social change.In an interview he refers to his people as "A people with a past, not a people of the past."
Long may he keep up his good work.

Frank Wain - What makes the Red Man Red

Frank Wain - Oil 4 Blood

Let Them In - Soul Inscribed; featuring Frank Wain
https://soulinscribed.bandcamp.com/track/let-them-in-feat-frank-waln
all proceeds going to http://www.lahuelga.com/

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https://twitter.com/frankwaln

https://frankwaln47.bandcamp.com

"I stand for the power of art to bring about healing and change for the communities we call home." 

-Frank Wain

Trump rally. What an amazing day

Yesterday, I was at one of the most diverse, vibrant demonstraitons, I have been to for years, proudly joining over 250,000 people as we stood together against the divisive, bigoted, climate-denying,  policies of Donald Trump. It was the biggest protest against Trump outside the US to date, despite the vitriol of our slogans and chants, the mood was a festive one of jubilation and defiance rather than aggressive, as we basked in glorious sunshine, in a carnival of resistance. A very special day as our humanity was shared.
People  young  and old from many  different walks of life, gathered at Portland Square from around 2 pm, marching to Trfalgar Square for a mass rally, that featured  politicians including  Jeremy Corbyn. Labour leader, and David Lammy Labour MP, and columnist Own Jones..
In a video posted on Twitter, Corbyn described the Trump administration policie "as putting the lives and wellbeng of millions of people at risk."
He also criticised Theresa May for her "red carpet welcome" despite Trump "tepeatedly trampling on the most basic fundamental rights that all of us hold dear." Adding 2our democracy comes from popular action, our right to demonstrate in this Square was hard fought for and hard won, the rights of women to vote was hard fought for and hard won. We're asserting our rights to demonstrate and live in a world that's not divided by misogony, racism and hate." To huge cheers he said "We come together becuse I wish to live in a world of peace, not war. I wish to live in a world where refugees are not blamed for th wars that they are victims of, When we divide ourselves by xenophobia we all lose, when we unite around common objectives we can all win."
Together we managed to show our solidarity, with those marginalised groups that have born the brunt of Trumps  regressive points of view managing to make international headlines. At the same time we managed to send a clear message to our own government  that we wont accept or tolerate the dangerous actions of the US president., or allow them to become the norm and acceptable, at the same time  making it loud and clear that he was not welcomed.Accusing him of creating a culture of racism, intolerance and misogony via his vile policies of targetting minority groups.
As the rally came to a close, people cooled  down from a long hot day of protest by splashing in the fountain in the middle of Trafalgar Square, and despite the bus that took us to London and breaking down, and getting gridlocked, meaning that we did not get back till about 6.am this morning, I believe a positive day was had by us all, a truly momentous occasion of political significance..
When we fight back together, in solidarity, we are more powerful, our love will always trump hate.
The huge turnout was a huge victory to everyone fighting racism, sexism and austerity. My thoughts are with those marching again today against supporters of fascist Tommy Robinson who are gathering in central London.

Arty Party Together Against Trump

Short post, off to catch bus to London. As Theresa May courts and hold hands with Trump, for  those who can't get to London, you can still raise your voices. Give Trump no welcome,  remember, no one is illegal, no borders are necessary. Evil triumphs when good people do nothing. Resist, resist with all your might. For those in West Wales, please attend following :-

 https://www.facebook.com/events/2163190237260648/

Love Trumps Hate/Mae Cariad yn Trechu Casineb

July 13th is coming
Catch a bus and protest
Greet orange man
With  freedoms voice
Cast out intolerance
That is accountable to no one
Flaming and flaunting fear
Daily releasing sad delapitdation
Let's weave together in unity
Be a speck that proudly stands
Sing together with one voice
Our bubbles shifting together
Hands together, raised high
Cries refusing to be silent
Collectively not frightened
Speaking in different tongues
Against racism and bigotry
Offering no welcome
To a narcissistic clown
Our love will triumph hate
We will loudly drown

https://iamnotasilentpoet.wordpress.com/2018/07/11/love-trumps-hate-mae-cariad-yn-trechu-casineb-by-dave-rendle/

Strong and stable Tories?

As Theresa May clings on in power weak and unstable, we are increasingly seeing signs of the Conservative governments fragility, as Brexit Secretary David Davis has done what he's been predicted to have been considering to do, and resigned. Departing just days after Theresa May secured the cabinets backing despite claims from her critics that it was "soft".
With Boris Johnson following suit after  2 years of embarrassing Britain as foreign secretary, we should be  asking ourselves,when have the Tories ever done anything good  for the country. Everything that they ever do is for their own benefit and self interest, and never for the rest of us, with their cruel and callous policies.Davis has now being replaced by Dominic Raab, whose own track record is simply astonishing, even for a Tory ttps://www.thecanary.co/trending/2018/07/09/five-times-the-new-brexit-secretary-already-showed-his-true-colours/
We are now seeing Tory hardline Brexiters rallying as many MP's as possible to demand by letter Theresa May's resignation, because staying in the EU single market is a complete anathema to them, clear signs of a party in complete division. As May and  her government faces a race against time to  find a solutions to the Irish border question, it clearly shows the Tory's to be in the grip of total chaos, which will hopefully trigger the collapse of their grip of power too.Theresa May's Tories are in a whole heap of trouble, as we witness how weak the ruddy lot of them are, the most fissile and disloyal bunch we have seen in living memory.This not a government of strength but one of utter weakness, what future do they have whilst they seem so unfit to govern at all.
At such a crucial time of the Brexit process, in which EU leaders have warned us that time is running out to get a deal sorted. The UK is supposed to be due to leave on 29 March next year. As their actions continue to be marked by incompetence and farce, and  as Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has pointed out "threatens our economy, businesses, jobs and communities."It is time for all the Tories to go as soon as possible for the greater good of all, Theresa May and co simply have no authority left, as they continue to cause so much irreplaceable harm to our country, as they show themselves to be in utter disarray and utter shambles.

The forcible transfer of Palestinians is a war crime

The state of Israel  is currently attempting to raze to the ground the  villages of Khan al-Ahmar  and Avu Numar which is home just around 2,000 Bedouins  but the impact of their removal would be long lasting.People who live in these villages threaten no one. Their crime is to have homes on land that Israel wants, in order to expand the illegal settlements of Kfar Adumim and Ma'ale Adumim.. In what many see as state sponsored theft, a theft that will cut the West Bank in two making a contingous Palestinian state no longer possible,  and the prospects of a  two-state solution still more remote., and  is yet  another testament to Israel's culture of impunity that allows it to continue endangering the very existence of the Palestinian people on their land  and to commit further grave violations of international law.
On Wednesday bulldozers demolished nine homes and three farm buildings in Abu Nuwar and clashed with Bedouin residents in Khan al-Ahmer. According to the Palestinian Red Crescent Society Israeli police injured 35, of whom 4 were hospitalised. Amit Gilutz of human rights organisation B'Tselem said ;No military order or court ruling can make the transfer of these residents lawful or moral. Forcible transfer of Palestinian communities is a war crime, and all who are involved in approving or implementing it bear personal liability." https://www.btselem.org/
Amnesty International have said  that Israels continuing policies of settling Israeli civilians in the Occupied Palestinian territories, wantonly destroying property, and forcibly transferring Palestinians living under occupation violates the Fourth Geneva Convention are war crimes listed in the statute of the International Criminal Court. Since 1967, Israel has forcibly evicted and displaced entire communities and demolished more than 50,000 Palestinian homes and structures.
Meanwhile the top Palestinian political bodies have accused the United States of giving the green light to Israel. Trump's recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital and the EU's acquiescence pushed the Israeli government to advance its annexation plans which affect  vast occupied areas of vital importance for Palestine. http://mondoweiss.net/2018/07/demolishing-jerusalem-netanyahu/"
Furthermore, building permits are nearly impossible to obtain for Palestinians in Israeli controlled areas of the West Bank and despite Israel pledging to resettle the residents, one of the alternative locations is near a garbage dump in the nearby Palestinian town of Abu Dis which Bedouin villagers say the location is  unsuitable for their way of life. Israels's actions are not isolated, but part of a systematic plan to take the whole of Palestine from the rivers to the sea.
At the same time companies with headquarters in the UK are directly supporting the destruction of Palestinian homes, companies like CAT and JCB  who continue to profit from illegal activity and directly contribute to ongoing war crimes, whilst aiding and abetting the criminal activities of the Israeli government.
It's time for the UK government to step up and hold complicit companies to account over their involvement and to end its complicity in Israel's systematic violation of Palestinian rights.At the same time Israel must be held accountable for its grave violations of the International Humanitarian Law, UN resolutions and the human rights of the Palestinian people I would urge you after reading this to ask your MP to suspend arms exports to Israel

https://www.waronwant.org/ask-your-mp-suspend-arms

DONNY TAKES A TRIP by Fake News Corp

Fake News Corp is an alliance of disparate souls who wanted to manifest their opposition to the ‘alt-President of the USA’ in a rousing song. We can’t stop him coming to England but we do not welcome him. We disapprove of his racist, abusive, divisive activities and we object to his fascistic, bully-boy gang members.

Whilst he travels freely to England he attempts to restrict the movements of others, whether from Mexico, South America or the Middle East. Alt-POTUS is a self-confessed abuser, a charity fraudster and a graceless lying bully. He has no manners and is dangerously happy in the company of the despots and dictators he admires so much.

This song and this video are available free to anybody who wants them for non-commercial use. It would be great if you would consider donating to one of the charities linked below or to one of your choice. We have created this work in order to add our voice to the millions of voices speaking out against greed, corruption, violence and cruelty, and speaking up for peace, cooperation, equality and truth. Download the MP3 here: https://allthemadmenrecords.bandcamp....
 
This song and this video are available free to anybody who wants them for non-commercial use. It would be great if you would consider donating to one of the charities linked below or to one of your choice.

We have created this work in order to add our voice to the millions of voices speaking out against greed, corruption, violence and cruelty, and speaking up for peace, cooperation, equality and truth.
Download the MP3 HERE

TRUMP IS COMING 13TH JULY.

Join the carnival of resistance HERE

Black Lives Matter HERE

Politifact – US fact-checking website HERE

Full Fact – UK’s independent fact checking charity HERE

SARI – Stand Against Racism and Inequality HERE

Full list of image and video copyright accreditation to follow asap.

LYRICS:

Intro
No Trump, no KKK, no fascist USA
Resist, resist
Resist the white supremacists
Resist, resist
Resist fascists

Verse 1
We can learn from history
Hitler lost and Mussolini
Franco left no legacy
And there is no Confederacy
Someone’s got their eye on you
From Pennsylvania Avenue
There’s Nazis in the White House too
It’s Donny and his fascist crew

Chorus 1
Resist, resist
Resist the white supremacists
Resist, resist
Resist fascists

Verse 2
The man to represent the dumb
The racists and intolerant ones
Every white man with a gun
Out many comes the one
Bend the knee reveal the shame
It’s a zero sum racist game
Bullies on the street again
Donny gives the poor the blame

Chorus 2
Resist, resist
Resist the white supremacists
Resist, resist
Resist fascists

Verse 3
Racist, liar, tax cheat, deadbeat,
Draft-dodger, Russian agent, sex offender
Fake news, fake press, fake university,
Fake hair fake tan fake fucking charity

Chorus
Resist, resist
Resist the white supremacists
Resist, resist
Resist fascists

Break chant
You are not welcome here

Break spoken section
“Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses
yearning to breathe free.”
And lo it shall come to pass,
As we receive them unto us
We will incarcerate and humiliate them,
We will demonize, degrade and demoralize them
We will heap blame upon their shoulders
Burdens on their backs
And a price on their heads
A price they can never afford

Even though we will employ them on pitiful wages
House them in low rent slums
And anaesthetise them with bad TV and bad drugs

Send us your Mexican cleaners,
Send us your Filipino houseboys
Your East European sex workers
And lo, will we use them, abuse them,
Hold them in contempt and confuse them
They will be held in suspicion at all times
And held in custody at others
And when we can no longer exploit them
We will arrest and deport them

America, home of the slave
And the land of the wealthy
God bless America

Chorus

Resist, resist
Resist the white supremacists
Resist, resist
Resist fascists

No Trump, no KKK, no fascist USA

Resist, resist
Resist the white supremacists

No Trump, no KKK, no fascist USA

Resist, resist
Resist fascists

Resist, resist
Resist the white supremacists
Resist, resist
Resist fascists

PLEASE SHARE ON YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA AS YOU SEE FIT, TO HELP SHINE A LIGHT ON THE HARD STRUGGLE AGAINST THE FORCES OF FASCISM IN THE WHITE HOUSE.

The arrival of the world's no 1 racist on our shores is a serious threat, and many are rightly asking why there is no money for nurses when Theresa May can find the magic money tree to foot the bill for a £5m golfing trip for Trump in Scotland. It really shows her priorities and sense of values.Together on July 13th we will be putting on a massive united show of opposition to him, against his politics of racism, war, sexism and hate.
If we come together, and get hundreds of thousands of people on the streets, we will be the reception the world sees. Our message of global solidarity against bigotry, racist borders and corporate greed wills  drown out the mainstream, pompous welcome. If you can't make it to London , find your nearest local protest here https://www.stoptrump.org.uk/events/

Cardigan and North Pembrokeshire Amnesty Group : AmnesTea / Freedom to Express Yourself.

Reminder about our ANNUAL AMNESTY ANNUAL AMNESTEA this year at Clynfyw Care Farm, Abercych, SA37 OHF Sunday, July 8th 2.00 - 5.00pm with tea and cake, plant sale, bookstall, Jewllry Sale, Farm tours, live music and poetry reading. Indoors if wet, outdoors if dry, please spread the word, come with your friends1 Cakes needed and plants please. Travel directions to Clynfyw, From Newcastle Emyn go to Cenarth take turning on left just before the bridge to Cenarth follow to the end off the road. Turn right up hill towards Boncath. Clynfyw is a little way on that road, clearly marked on your left. From Cardigan, over bridge in Cenarth, first turning on your right. From other directions see facebook page.
Come for a relaxing day and fun afternoon, bring your friends, and help raise money for Amnesty International human rights work around the world.Every year hundreds of supporters do exactly this, and last year raised over £17,000 for vital research and campaigning work. It's amazing how much a humble cup of tea can achieve. Just as Amnesty is about people coming together to defend human rights, AMNSTEA is a chance for friends to share good food and support human rights, whilst having some fun at same time. Hope to see you there. 

https://www.facebook.com/events/214732922647282/ 


Also please go and see our beautiful exhibition at Small World Theatre where we are hosting Freedom to Express Yourself. This exhibition is free of charge to view during office opening times: Tuesday-Friday, 10.00am-4.30pm.May 23d to July 27th.
This is the blurb.
"Amnesty International has partnered with top artists and designers to create a beautifully illustrated notebook that celebrates our right to freedom of expression. Previous Children’s Laureates Sir Quentin Blake and Chris Riddell, Turner Prize-winner David Shrigley, Lord of the Rings artist Alan Lee, and best-selling journal author Meera Lee Patel, are just a few of the artists that have produced new artwork for the notebook, basing their creations on pivotal quotes from some of the most important human rights thinkers and activists of the past two centuries, including Malala Yousafzai, Mahatma Gandhi, Bob Marley and Harper Lee. Full of inspiring ideas, the notebook has plenty of empty space for readers to express themselves with their own creative drawings, musings, to-do lists and doodles."

http://smallworld.org.uk/cy/event/freedom-to-express-yourself-exhibition/2018-07-10/ 

As the NHS turns 70, remember to keep fighting for it.

Today many people will be marching to celebrate Nye Bevans legacy that came into the world 70 years ago  on 5 July 1948, when he opened Park Hospital in Manchester at a time of rationing and shortages, when we were nearly bankrupt, a jewel  that the war generation left us with, a proud legacy, for us to all to continue to share. It offered for the first time a free healthcare system for all, and has since  played a vital role in caring for all aspects of our nations health. For the first-time doctors, nurses, opticians, dentists and pharmacists all worked under one organisation, free at the point of use, which has since  played a vital role in caring for all aspects of our nations health, that has been the envy of the world,  currently fiecely defended by people as their fundamental social right.
This right now in jeapordy at moment because the NHS is being transformed into a skeleton, for profit service, modelled on the US healthcare market,and as as a result of chronic underfunding, a massive expansion of the private sector into healthcare provision, and a demoralised, underpaid workforce have combined to put the NHS in grave danger and the result of  of the privatisation policies of successive  governments has put  it constantly under threat.
But today is the perfect opportunity today to appreciate the achievements of one of the nation’s most loved institutions, and acknowledge the vital role the service plays in our lives, and to recognise and thank the extraordinary NHS staff – the everyday heroes – who are there to guide, support and care for us, day in, day out. It wouldn’t be possible to run a 7-day NHS, caring for millions of people day-in-day-out without the hard work and dedication of its staff. Despite all the adversity that’s thrown at them: poor pay, bursary cuts, hospital parking fines and staff shortages to name a few; they continue to become stronger and relentlessly keep delivering fantastic healthcare to the nation .
The NHS  here in Wales employs close to 72,000 staff which makes it Wales’ biggest employer. I can never forget the compassion they gave to my dear departed, my dad, who himself served for 30 years. the staff always managing to keep their spirits high, never once showing any dereliction of care, dedicated, compassionate people under increased pressure, some of whom are resorting to food banks to get by. As the Tory's and their rotten hearts seek to dismantle it,  we should not forget Nye's words who said " It will last as long as their are folk with enough faith to fight for it."
We  cannot reach the day again where people make a profit out of our sickness. On its birthday we should also join the call for fair pay for all NHS staff . We  must not reach the day again where people make a profit out of our sickness . The NHS continues to be  a shining example of how a caring society can create good and safe care, making such a great contribution towards social and health equality, remember we paid for it, so it is owned by us, it is our precious commodity our national treasure that must suvive, we must do all that it takes, to tear the vultures hands from it. We must continue to keep fighting for it, put people before profit, allow it to keep providing free and universal world-class care far into the future.

 Tonight, some essential viewing, a film poem by Owen Sheers, with a great cast, including Michael Sheen

https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b0b7x2nt/the-nhs-to-provide-all-people

Wild Swimming (After Poppit beach/ Traeth Popit)

After much hibernation
I returned to a favourite place,
Submerged myself in its waters
Enjoyed a fine summers day,
After heaviness my body grew light.
before golden sunset, and full moon called,
found peace and calm to restore sanity
As my body moved in the ocean,
Arms outstretched, tasted sense of freedom,
On my back, body felt warm and tranquil
In  serenity, mind drifted in restful space,
As the world went silent for a while
Its weight no longer carried me,
In the distance the sound of laughter
Warm  healing air, released contentment,
Moving through patterns of light and shade
Thoughts felts at ease, as lapping waves soothed,
This tranquil place felt like magic
I feel I could have basked there forever,
Today thoughts keep on swimming
Feeling recharged, heart not currently sinking.