The Occupied Nation Show is throwing a Party in Benefit of OBR.fm w/Leaders Led and Titans of Industry@All Asia!

The Occupied Nation Show is throwing a Party in Benefit of OBR.fm, an online indie radio-station that strives to bring you the many diverse voices and opinions of the 99%. OBR.fm is commercial-free and funded by people like you that want an alternative to the corporate propaganda in a majority of the mass-media we are surrounded by, and believe that the needs of the many outweigh the greed of a few.

The Party starts @ 10 and there are two bands, that feature Occupiers, and Supporters of Occupy and OBR.fm . We hope to see you there, and thank you for your support. We also thank the owners of All Asia for their continuing support of OBR.fm, and Occupy Boston, also a huge thanks to Leaders Led and Alex their manager, as well as Titans of Industry. Can’t wait !

Sunday, June 2nd 2013

All Asia; 334 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, Massachusetts

21+ $10 donation @ the door

10pm– Leaders Led
11pm– Titans of Industry

If it’s impossible for you to make it to the show, you can still support by going to our web page @ www.obr.fm and making a donation using our WePay option there. Peace

A Second Bill of Rights?

A Second Bill of Rights? This was actually proposed in President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s January 11th, 1944 State of the Union speech. Roosevelt stated that  ”political rights proved inadequate to assure us equality in the pursuit of happiness.” In hindsight, it’s easy to see that even though attempts have been made to address some of the issues in this second bill of rights, our society is failing to facilitate economic equality or freedoms. The Social Security Act, Unemployment Insurance, ADC. Food Stamps, Federal Minimum Wage, etc., all are attempts to provide a safety net, but all have been under attack in the decades old class warfare on the 99%.

One fairly common misguided critique of the ‘Occupy’ movement was that they didn’t have a clear message. This is far from the truth. ‘Occupy’ had many different messages. As diverse as the participants in the movement, are the issues effecting them, as are the tactics employed to accomplish their goals.

Through disinformation, suppression of first amendment rights, agent provocateurs, and physical violence perpetrated on ‘Occupy’ , some of the spirit has been subdued. Logic dictates however that the more the majority of the people are oppressed, the more will realize their right to change the constitution to reflect the needs of the majority, rather than the profits of a few.

Perhaps a second bill of rights to address economic inequalities is needed. Dare the majority of the people demand a third bill of rights to address any other issues?

Occupied Nation show 4/25/2013 ft. Ray Lewis, Bryan McPherson, and Sarah Sparks

You can listen to ‘Occupied Nation’ from 4/25/2013 here. This show features Sarah Sparks, Ray Lewis, as well as musical guest Bryan McPherson on the 420 intermission. Occupied Nation airs live every thursday night from 7-10pm edt. on http://www.obr.fm ! Thanks for listening!

Roll Your Own Cigarette Trend is catching on

The trend today of rolling your own cigarettes is catching on and spreading across the country more so today than we have ever seen in the past. In today’s world, for many the trend is a matter of simple economics. After 1998′s (MSA) Master Settlement Agreement which amounted to $246 million, in addition to dramatically steep increases in price of packaged cigarettes due to ever increasing state taxes upon packaged cigarettes, for many it’s an easy choice. While initially it’s about economic’s, it quickly becomes about quality, as there are many grades, and choices when selecting tobacco’s. For some it is the touch and feel of rolling an individual cigarette, and knowing what goes into that cigarette, as opposed to the chemicals that are found in the packaged variety. In the 90′s there was the cigar boom, that was more a social status thing, where it was thought that smoking unique and exclusive cigars was a sign of success, not to mention the pseudo-sexual undertones in some communities.

The current trend can be broken down into two categories, RYO (roll your own)  and MYO (make your own). RYO is essentially buying rolling tobacco and loose rolling papers and rolling your own. MYO is buying pre-made tubes with filters and using a machine to inject the tobacco into the tubes, producing a very packaged cigarette like product.

The MYO product can be done by buying a small machine for personal use that makes the cigarettes individually, or one can at some shops use a larger machine to make 200 cigarettes in a short period of time, and getting a discounted price on the equivalent to a packaged carton of cigarettes. The RYO products can be bought in several ways. Products like Bali Shag, Drum, Bugler, and Top can be bought alongside packaged cigarettes at the normal convenience stores and gas stations, etc.. While better quality tobacco’s can be bought from tobacconist shops where cigars, and pipe tobacco’s are traditionally sold.

The price of RYO can vary, while the products that are sold alongside packaged cigarettes can range from $7 to $11 depending upon the shop one buys them from and generally come with rolling papers, the tobacco from a tobacconist shop can be bought for $4 to $6 an ounce, and the papers to go along with them can range from 60 cents to $3 per package. Most can generally get the equivalent of 2 to 2 1/2 packs of commercial cigarettes from an ounce of tobacco. When compared to over $8 for a commercial pack of cigarettes, it’s easy to see the appeal of RYO.

The ‘sin tax’ on commercial cigarettes can be seen as an additional revenue source for many states, especially when combined with laws that limit or prohibit the sale of RYO or MYO cigarette products. Meanwhile in states where other options to commercial cigarettes are available, one can easily see why many are choosing alternatives

On this weeks Occupied Nation show

What a busy week this is shaping up to be! Lot’s to cover on this weeks show. We will have three guests in the studio to talk about various conspiracy theories in the last segment. Joining us will be KC Hoye (unregular radio), as well as Frank Capone (host of the Real News) and Chris Maxwell (Obr.fm). There will be a segment about the Michigan Union Protest that is currently going on in relation to the legislature of Michigan passing a bill making Michigan a ‘Right to Work’ state.  As well as the police violence against the Union members. In this weeks news, we will also be covering the Korean Rocket Launch, the Fiscal Cliff, the Syrian Conflict, and many other stories!

Tune in to ‘Occupied Nation’ Thursdays 5-8pm EST on http://www.OBR.fm . Radio for the 99% by the 99%.

The photo above appears courtesy of Overpass Light Brigade.

Consumerism, and a more healthy alternative

Consumerism  is something most of us can be susceptible to. Whether people realize it or not they are emotionally dependent on a reward at least psychologically from buying something. There is marketing everywhere from cradle to grave, to instruct us in how we can be happier by buying a gadget, or how our love can be measured by the jewelry that we buy, and the more exclusive the items we own, the higher place in society that we hold. Meanwhile most items we buy have become more and more disposable, so that we are forced to buy things even more regularly.

In our lust for a bargain, we shop at retail stores that promote horrible labor practices. These stores use their incredible profits, based upon the volume of what they sell, against the average american through their financial ability to lobby our government. Let alone the manufacturers etc., that have shipped our jobs to other countries for lower labor costs, and lower safety requirements.

One thing that people can do, is to use less disposable items. Items that can be reused multiple times can not only save money, but can also be a bit kinder to the environment. Buying recycled, or pre-owned items can also make a difference, this also cuts out the large retailer. Buying a pre-owned item also tends to keep money local, and supports your local economy. Buying something that is stamped Union-Made, or Made in U.S.A. is also beneficial to the interests of the 99%, as it supports workers rights as well as fair and safe labor practices.

Many things that people purchase can be made one way or another at home, or locally, sometimes even better than what you can buy that has been mass-produced. People generally don’t have the time to make all of these things though. We all have something that we are good at making  or doing, be it prepared food, or produce from a garden, be it labor, a service, or a product. Through communication in our communities, and support with our dollars locally, there is a pathway for the people to gain their independence from the corporations that hold them in such contempt.  A person may not feel as though the contents of their wallet may make a difference, but collectively, the wallets of 99% of us can.

You can listen to ‘Occupied Nation’ on Thursdays each week on http://www.obr.fm 5-8pm EST.  Obr.fm is a radio station for the 99%, and by the 99%

Unemployed, Underemployed… A solution for the 99% Join us!

Many reading this, or who listen to the show most likely find themselves in a position of being unemployed, or underemployed. As the unemployment numbers show part of the picture, there is the reality that there are many that are not counted in that particular number. There are those that have “fallen off the cliff” so to speak as far as their unemployment  benefits are concerned, and far more that are working in unfavorable positions that are simply not counted as far as what is reported in the media.

In the United States, the richest country in the world, it should be possible for a person to find work that is not only dignified, but is also free of discrimination, cronyism and exploitation. There are many obstacles that are in the way of accomplishing this in our society. Worse yet, most people feel isolated in the endeavor of survival.

With the inspiration of Occupy last fall, Occupy Sandy these past weeks, and of Debt Strike/Rolling Jubilee it has been shown that the people of this great country can make a difference, and the truth of the matter is that those that are unemployed or underemployed is a rather large demographic.

With the combined efforts between the people, unions, organizations and employers a  difference can be made. Perhaps as Americans we can return to a environment of “an honest day’s work for an honest dollar”. This is not an easy task, nor an immediate one as we endure part of our own elected government acting in obstructionist behaviors, but one that is accomplishable over time through working together.

# If you are an employer, or employed by a company, or workers co-op that can add employees get in touch with us.

# If you are part of a union or advocate organization that can help, get in touch with us.

# If you are unemployed or underemployed, join us to help create a solution.

In the very near future we will be adding a section to this website that will display available jobs, and opportunities with dignity for those that are unemployed or underemployed. With your help many people will be able to work again creating a sustainable life for many. By working together in solidarity, we can be successful.

Please tune in to ‘Occupied Nation’ thursdays from 5-8pm EST on http://www.obr.fm