insurgent49 - Independent Media for Progressive Alaskans

May 7, 2007
A Dark Day In Alaska History
by Aaron Selbig, insurgent49

Last Friday, the day that the news broke that three more Alaska legislators had been arrested and indicted in connection with the Veco bribery scandal, a friend of mine commented that I, being a liberal, must be excited that so many corrupt Republicans were finally getting their just desserts.
Not so. As a matter of fact, the first emotions I felt that day were sadness and shame.
It is sad that our state seems to have become a breeding ground for corrupt politicians. It’s sad that we have a state legislature that is incapable of policing itself, blind or simply indifferent to the wolves among them.
As for the shame, well, there is plenty to go around. Bruce Weyrauch, Tom Anderson, Pete Kott and Vic Kohring should, one would hope, regret their actions, not so much for the consequences facing them, but for the great disservice they have done to their constituents and the rest of Alaska ... (more)

May 7, 2007
Some Legislators Still Stumping For Veco
by Ray Metcalfe, Republican Moderate Party of Alaska
Even though the FBI's indictments of dirty politicians and those who bribe them has begun (just the tip of the iceberg), House Majority Leader Ralph Samuels, Senate President Lyda Green, and about twenty other members of our Legislature who owe their elections to VECO are still stumping for the oilfield services company that is at the center of the ongoing FBI investigation ... (more)

emailbag

*To Noble's Diner

*Citizens vs. the Anchorage Assembly

*Why Is Maimon Leaving UAA?

April 26, 2007
To Fuel the Future
Alaska's Need For Sound Renewable Energy Policies
Part Two of a Two-Part Series
by Brian Yanity, insurgent49

Part one of this article described some renewable energy policies practical for Alaska in short to medium term: state-level renewable energy funds, renewable energy certificates, net metering, and tax credits. Here in part two, we will explore some renewable energy policies that Alaskans should know about for the longer-term. Like different renewable energy sources themselves, some policies are more developed, or ‘mature’, than others ... (more)

April 26, 2007
Globalization: Some Get It and Some Don't
by Katy Parrish, insurgent49
According to Thomas Barnett, the ones who don’t get globalization it “lack the democracy gene …and very soon everyone will be forced to accept it.” He further explains that “you can’t add three billion more capitalists and call this whole thing off.” ... (more)

April 16, 2007
A Winter On Two Wheels
story and photos by Clark Yerrington, insurgent49
I bought my first mountain bike in Anchorage in 1984. I was 24 years old and I used it to get to work on nice days in the summer. By the late '80s there was a growing crowd of winter riders, especially in the closer-in areas (Spenard, Inlet View, Fairview) that I gravitated to after getting out of South Anchorage ... (more)

April 16, 2007
Kidnap Victim Finds Refuge In Syria
by Karen Button, insurgent49

Damascus - Mamoon Chalabi is one of hundreds of thousands who’ve narrowly escaped death in the lawlessness of Iraq—whether at the hands of American troops, Iraqi forces, government-backed death squads and other militias, armed groups or criminal gangs. Most who’ve been interviewed have harrowing tales to tell, either about themselves, a family member or friend. Chalabi’s is no exception ... (more)

April 16, 2007
Iraqis Resist Four Years Of Occupation
by Karen Button, insurgent49
Damascus - Fours years of occupation by Anglo-American forces in Iraq was marked in many countries around the world by massive demonstrations this past week. But as the occupation entered another year, Iraqis themselves did not demonstrate. In the country where democracy was promised, a sweeping emergency law, implemented in 2004, bans demonstrations in Iraq ... (more)

April 5, 2007

To Fuel the Future
Alaska's Need For Sound Renewable Energy Policies
Part One of a Two-Part Series
by Brian Yanity, insurgent49
Renewable energy sources are those which are replenished by natural phenomena in a way that will not permanently destroy them for future use. Examples of such sources include solar, wind, hydroelectric, geothermal, biofuels, and ocean (tidal, wave or current) energy ... (more)

April 5, 2007
"I Am Just Like You"
by Karen Button, insurgent49
Damascus - Danya, a petite 14-year old Iraqi, and I are sitting in a small garden, the sun shining through small green leaves pushing their way into spring. Danya and her family are in Damascus for a two-week holiday (if one can call it that) from Baghdad ... (more)

March 27, 2007
Enshrining Bigotry
by Kevin Morford, insurgent49

One of the easiest ways to identify the bigots in Alaska is to read the letters to the editor in our mainstream newspapers.
Yeah, that’s right, I used the “B” word. Bigots, bigots, bigots.
It is astounding how many people are eager to widely publicize their ignorance and narrow-minded chauvinism to the world at large.
There are lots of vulnerable targets which these hate mongers are eager to attack. It is almost always weak targets that they go after. In the aftermath of 9/11 it was Muslims. Before that it was “welfare mothers.” A lot of them seem to regret the fact that they can no longer get away with lynching the people they hate ... (more)