The recently-concluded fight over the deficit reminds me of a recent movie about a terrorist.

Activists to Hold Hiroshima Day Protest on August 6 at Valley Forge Arms Giant, Lockheed Martin, and August 9th Nagasaki Day Candlelight Ceremony on Market Street Bridge in Philadelphia

Ten years ago this week, 300,000 people -- unionists, people without steady jobs, bourgeois people, people without housing, children, elderly people, peasants, laborers, anarchists, communists, economists, priests and nuns, migrants, indigenous people... people from every continent came together to demonstrate at the Group of Eight Summit in Genoa, Italy.

Protesters discussed the role of investments in the Israeli occupation in Palestine in 100 degree heat.

Related from NYC-IMC: New Yorkers demand retirement-fund TIAA-CREF divest from Israeli occupation

This morning, July 18, 2011, two banners were dropped in Philadelphia in solidarity with the courageous actions of the Pelican Bay hunger strikers and the 6600-plus prisoners throughout the state of California who have joined the strike.

The banners read “Philly Supports the Pelican Bay Prison Strike” and “From CA to PA: Stop Prison Abuse.”

Yet another front in the many wars in the oil-rich area of the world.

[This has been worked on for a few days. We were waiting to get confirmation on the serious charge that the Medical Director at Pelican Bay prison ordered medication withheld from hunger-striking prisoners. It was difficult because of the communications lock-down at the prison, but the charge was confirmed. Please sign and forward to other healthcare professionals. Return your signed letter to INFO@KERSPLEBEDEB.COM.

Life, liberty, the pursuit of happiness... justice for all. These are the lofty ideals celebrated each year on the 4th of July. The government often confuses the saying with the doing, however... like in the case of Leonard Peltier.

On June 27, Leonard Peltier was removed from the general population at USP-Lewisburg and placed in solitary confinement. Due to his age and health status, his support network is calling for his immediate return to general population. Call to Action from Leonard Peltier Defense Offense Committee | Video Dispatch (via YouTube) | Coverage from PA Prison Report's Special "Freedom Isn't Free" edition (7/4/2011)

The Declare Peace Fair was held on the lawn opposite the Liberty Bell on the July 4th weekend. Coincidentally, the good ship "Audacity of Hope," which was bringing supplies to besieged Gaza "The World's Largest Open-Air Prison," was detained by the Greek government.

Rally against war in Libya was carried out by Philly Against War. We assembled outside City Hall, facing to the West. Officially, the reason that the US intervened in the fighting in Libya was to protect the civilian population from Libya's Moammar Gadhafi (He's officially listed as the "Leader and Guide of the Revolution of Libya"). BTW, the US wars in Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan have cost us about $4 triillion.