Marielle Franco’s Murderers Must Be Brought To Justice

Prominent activists, film-makers and writers demand an independent investigation into the killing of the campaigner and her driver, Anderson Pedro Gomes, in Rio de Janeiro

Last week one of Brazil’s most courageous social leaders was brutally assassinated on the streets of Rio de Janeiro. Marielle Franco, a city councilwoman and human rights defender, was shot four times in the head by unknown assailants in a passing vehicle shortly after leaving a gathering of young black activists. Her driver, Anderson Pedro Gomes, was also killed (Report, 16 March).

Long before being elected to Rio’s city council in 2016, Marielle was widely known as a tireless and fearless advocate for the rights of Afro-Brazilians, LGBT people, women and low-income communities. A gay black woman born and raised in one of Rio’s poorest neighbourhoods, she campaigned relentlessly against spiralling police violence in the city’s favelas.

Marielle’s activism earned her many powerful enemies. She vehemently challenged the impunity surrounding extrajudicial killings of black youth by security forces and, two days before her death, had denounced the police’s role in the killing of a young black man named Matheus Melo. She was a leading critic of the military intervention in Rio de Janeiro and was the head of a city commission tasked with monitoring the intervention.

We are deeply concerned and shocked by this commando-style killing of a woman who was a voice for the voiceless and a symbol of resistance to state-perpetrated violence, militarisation and anti-democratic forces. Given that Marielle’s murder bears all the hallmarks of a targeted assassination, we call for the creation of an independent commission comprised of prominent and respected national and international human rights and legal experts and tasked with carrying out an independent investigation of the murder of Marielle Franco with the full cooperation of state judicial and police authorities.

Shortly before her death, Marielle asked: “How many others will have to die before this war will end?” We call for justice for Marielle Franco and the daughter and the partner she leaves behind, and for an end to the killings and criminalisation of activists, government opponents and low-income people in Brazil.

Ava DuVernay Film-maker
Rev Jesse Jackson Civil rights activist
Anielle Silva Sister of Marielle Franco
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie Author
Arundhati Roy Author
Angela Davis Distinguished professor emerita, University of California, Santa Cruz
Janelle Monáe Singer and actress
Edward Snowden Whistleblower and president of the Freedom of Press Foundation
Shami Chakrabarti UK shadow attorney general
Naomi Campbell Model and activist
Ta-Nehisi Coates Author and journalist
Noam Chomsky Professor emeritus of linguistics at MIT, political theorist
Patrisse Cullors Co-founder of Black Lives Matter, LGBT activist
David Miranda First LGBT Rio city councillor, PSOL
Glenn Greenwald Journalist
Bertha Zúñiga Cáceres Daughter of the late Berta Cáceres, general coordinator of the Civic Council of Popular and Indigenous Organisations of Honduras (COPINH)
Wagner Moura Brazilian actor and director
Luciana Genro Founder of PSOL, former presidential candidate, Brazil
Marcelo Freixo Rio state representative, PSOL, Defence of Human Rights & Citizenship chair
Linda Sarsour National co-chair of the Women’s March on Washington, former executive director of the Arab American Association of New York
Ayo Obe President of Nigeria’s Civil Liberties Organisation
Baltasar Garzón International human rights lawyer
Thandie Newton Actress and activist
Celso Amorim Former Brazilian foreign minister
Danny Glover Actor, film director, and activist
Naomi Klein Author and journalist
Gael García Bernal Actor and director
Shaun King Journalist and civil rights activist
Pamela Anderson Actress and activist
Alfonso Cuarón Film-maker
Opal Tometi Co-Founder of Black Lives Matter, executive director at Black Alliance for Just Immigration
Oliver Stone Film-maker
Yanis Varoufakis Former Greek finance minister
Viggo Mortensen Actor
Renata Avila Guatemalan human rights lawyer
Owen Jones Journalist
Slavoj Žižek Philosopher, Birkbeck Institute for Humanities

Global Gift Foundation - Help Refugees - Speech

As you know I am here to encourage everyone to give to Help Refugees. I think the plight of refugees is one of the most misunderstood issues in the world today. When I hear about countries closing their borders instead of opening their arms sometimes I wonder what's happening to humanity. 

By 2050 we expect to have one billion displaced people in the world. These people are running away. An estimated 11 million Syrians have fled their homes since the outbreak of the civil war in March 2011, what happened in Afrin just a few days ago is a scandal and human tragedy, at the same time people from the horn of Africa are running to take their families away from brutal civil wars. 

The people we are talking about are fleeing war and conflict. We must be less afraid to be honest about the fact that the West is contributing to this conflict, to the extent of selling arms to the countries perpetrating the atrocities like Yemen and Turkey. We should all request from our governments to stop the arms sale immediately, from United Kingdom to Spain. The United Kingdom is not only Spain's biggest investment destination and the country that provides it with the largest number of tourists; it is also the main customer of the Spanish defense industry. Both United Kingdom and Spain sell tens of millions worth arms to Saudi Arabia, which is responsible for the war in Yemen. But as we can see, our Western governments are also complicit. 

The disproportion between where the wealth lies in the world is only growing, we are so lucky, we must use the privilege we were born into to help others in whatever ways we can. At a time when world leaders should be coming up with the solutions we have a responsibility to help our fellow humans. And we are all the same. Refugees could be our children, our mothers, our sisters or brothers. We ourselves could be refugees already tomorrow. 

That's why I'm here tonight with Help Refugees. Help Refugees began by going to Calais, to the so called, Jungle Camp, because nobody, neither governments nor aid organisations were helping. I volunteered with them and saw with my own eyes the vital work they are doing there, improving people's lives in many ways, making it bearable. Just two and a half years later they have helped over three quarters of a million people and they work in 10 countries in Europe and the Middle East. They fund emergency medical care in Syria, thousands of diapers per month in Greece, fresh fruit and vegetables to fight malnutrition and much much more. In addition to providing for people's basic needs Help Refugees also advocate for long-term change, recognising that changes in attitudes and policy are equally important in order for us to move forward, together. 

Climate change is only going to make the refugee crisis worse and one of the ways You can combat this is to strive towards being vegan. Refugees, conflict and climate are all profoundly connected to one another. ´Choose Love' is Help Refugees slogan. Let's choose love for our families, for our fellow humans, for animals, for our planet. Choosing love is activism. 

If you can support Help Refugees I really urge you to. There is much much more that they can do and many more lives they can save with yours and their help.

Thank you

www.globalgiftfoundation.org

www.choose.love

www.helprefugees.org

THE FBI SHOULD RATHER BE BUSY WITH FACEBOOK, THAN WITH ME

Are you following the current Facebook-Cambridge Analytica revelations? It's the best latest political Rorschach test: it shows not only how a data company (Cambridge Analytica) harvested millions of Facebook profiles and used it for psychological warfare (helping to get Trump to power; producing Brexit), but the power structures behind it - from Steve Bannon to hedge-fund billionaire Rebekah Mercer. Imagine a world where everything you do in your online life, your dreams and desires, are not only harvested by the Surveillance Valley, but used for what Noam Chomsky called "manufacturing consent", not only to decide elections but to program and reprogram human behavior, to program our very dreams and desires.
We need a multi-level trans-national resistance movement, across borders and disciplines, from artists to whistleblowers, from community organizers to hackers, from psychologists to actors, from kids to adults, a multitude of different experiences and histories from all over the world, which would enable a collective and effective resistance to the ultimate (digital) robbery of our dreams and desires.

We do not have this sort of global movement yet but DiEM25 is making a great effort in Europe, 
Bernie Sanders is trying in the US, 
Corbyn in the UK -
The courageous Marielle Franco tried in Brazil before being killed, 
Assange is still in the Ecudaorian Embassy and now
the boss of CIA
became someone
notorious for torture...

Journal Entry March

On my way to a beautiful place Gut Aiderbichl
Feeling like a little girl.
To support farm animal rescue
Je parle française beaucoup maintenant - it’s coming 🇫🇷 merci ...
on my mind
re-
indépendance I understand.- 
and it’s a naive concept -
but
the world is so small ...
Do you think a world without borders is even possible?
No more war -
cyber currency ?
world owned by the world -
We rent space here -
custodians-
to give back to the planet -
and the people -
but in a more socialized way - worldwide.
less consumerism for survival and sharing of wealth -
Political positions/leaders would be volunteers/acts of passion and empathy -
I’m starting to feel like John Lennon and may start preaching this ... but after the book I wrote #hatchettebooks on love and feminism. ( Lust for Love ) comes out end of April in USA (hoping to translate into French, German and Russian)
I believe in self regulated population control which would help with immigration issues -
in every country. Everyone is a climate refugee climate revolution
I believe in
less prisons -
I love Deanna Van Buren's Ted Talks on this. www.ted.com/talks/deanna_van_buren_what_a_world_without_prisons_could_look_like
To replace with more résolution centres-
And they could all be vegan.
The film I produced ( The Game Changers ) with James Cameron about vegan men is getting a nice response.
In the mean while (in the ‘reliable’ press) I’m dead and FBI is ´probing ´ me ?...
not sure if you have seen my response.
My son gave his father a well deserved bop on the nose in self defense .
- another
wake up call -
and
life keeps moving.
How do we appeal to the terrible people in the world.
the greed .., through art, expression - philosophy and exposing the truth through
loving activism. Angela Richter Julian Assange
marriage, family, renewable energy
I’m In Madrid. next week at Global Gift Foundation event in response to refugee crisis. Poverty  hunger human rights Help Refugees uk will be there with me.
but I also want to expand my focus.
A receptive audience.
open minds -
and my new book will help throw me into mainstream TV
and give me good opportunities to discuss the root of what we all desire.
Love
Uncensored -
Just a girl in the world ...
exploring.
Learning all I can -
trying to help, shed light and work hard-

Wishing everyone well 🙏

Any ideas ?

Ride Responsibly Speech - LCT International Show Las Vegas

For more than two years now, I have worked with the National Limousine Association, advocating for stricter safety regulations for ride-hail apps to ensure that the millions of men and women that use them each day can remain out of harm’s way. Despite numerous victims, these companies have done absolutely nothing to better themselves and protect their customers. There have been thousands of documented instances of violence plastered across the headlines, and very few lawmakers have taken any meaningful action. The majority of you in this room go through painstaking effort and spares no expense to keep both passengers and drivers safe, and it seems that these companies, with much bigger wallets, feel no responsibility to do the same. My latest PSA with the National Limousine Association’s Ride Responsibly campaign, “Terms & Conditions,” calls attention to the fact that these companies are fully aware of how dangerous their services are. Their terms and conditions seek to absolve themselves from any responsibility, and basically wishes their customers “good luck” when they accept a ride.

In addition to the exploitation of their riders, Uber & Lyft are actively exploiting their drivers on a global scale by misclassifying them as independent contractors rather than employees. While there are certainly thousands of wrongdoers among them, many of their drivers are hardworking Americans trying to make ends meet. Yet, they are denied healthcare, workman’s compensation that the law guarantees them, which is something that I’m working close with the National Limousine Association to change as well. We have the opportunity to make our streets a safer place for all of us. Thank you for your continued support, and with your help, this is a battle that I know we can win. 

www.rideresponsibly.org

www.pavingtheway.net

Pamela Anderson Continues Support of National Domestic Violence Hotline

Pamela Anderson speaks with advocates during her 2015 visit to The Hotline.

This gift by Pamela Anderson Foundation, a major benefactor of The Hotline, will contribute to emotional support, safety planning and local resources for family members in abusive relationships.

Austin, Texas / Los Angeles, Calif. - March 13, 2018 - Actress, author and philanthropist Pamela Anderson announced, today, the donation of $30,000 to the National Domestic Violence Hotline (The Hotline) on behalf of the Pamela Anderson Foundation. This marks the fourth year of the Pamela Anderson Foundation’s generous support of The Hotline. Anderson, who now spends most of her time raising funds for non-profit organizations worldwide, visited The Hotline’s headquarters in 2015 to present a $60,000 donation and hear firsthand how advocates are making a difference in the lives of those affected by abuse.

Anderson’s donation will support The Hotline’s work in educating and providing resources to family members affected by abusive relationships in the home, by providing emotional support, safety planning and local resources, such as legal advice and counseling.

Advocates from The Hotline often hear from victims and survivors whose abusive partners exploit their children as a tactic for control in the relationship. They work with victims and survivors to assess tactics that are used when there are young people in the home and provide safety-planning tips. They also coach families on how to communicate when alcohol and drug abuse are a factor.  

Every day, advocates at The Hotline receive nearly 1,300 calls, chats and texts from victims, survivors and their friends and family seeking information about domestic violence. With one in four women, one in seven men and one in three teens experiencing physical, emotional or verbal abuse by an intimate partner in their lifetime, the need to provide resources and support for victims is critical.

“It’s a privilege to continue to support the important work of the National Domestic Violence Hotline, whose advocates I’ve had an opportunity to meet and hear from directly,” said Pamela Anderson, founder of The Pamela Anderson Foundation. “As a mother of two, I am particularly delighted to know that our donation will help ensure that families in need of both compassion and information will continue to find a 24/7, trusted resource in The Hotline.” 

“Our everyday work is made possible by supporters like Pamela Anderson, and we are tremendously grateful for her partnership and generous contributions over the past four years,” said Katie Ray-Jones, chief executive officer of The Hotline. “The Foundation’s support significantly and positively impacts our ability to offer services and provide resources for parents who are experiencing abuse, which is critical to our mission.”

About the Pamela Anderson Foundation (PAF): The Pamela Anderson Foundation supports organizations and individuals that stand on the front lines in the protection of human, animal, and environmental rights. By funding the efforts of those who inform and defend the planet and all who live within it, the Pamela Anderson Foundation is an agent of change, love and an advocate for justice. For more information, please visit www.pamelaandersonfoundation.org

Connect with Pamela

• Like Pam on Facebook 
• Follow Pam on Twitter 
• Engage with Pamela on Instagram

About the National Domestic Violence Hotline: The National Domestic Violence Hotline is a non-profit organization established in 1996 as a component of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA). Operating around the clock, confidential and free of cost, The Hotline provides victims and survivors with life-saving tools and immediate support. Callers to The Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) can expect highly trained advocates to offer compassionate support, crisis intervention information and referral services in more than 200 languages. Visitors to TheHotline.org can chat live with advocates and they can find information about domestic violence, safety planning, local resources, and ways to support the organization.

The National Domestic Violence Hotline relies on the generous support of individuals, private gifts from corporations and foundations and federal grants.  It is funded in part by Grant Number 90EV0426 from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)/Administration for Children and Families. Its contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of the Administration for Children and Families or the U.S. Department of HHS.

Supporting Resources

• Become a fan of The Hotline on Facebook 
• Follow The Hotline on Twitter 
• Engage with The Hotline on Instagram
• Press Contacts: Kyrsten Aspegren, Edelman for The Hotline NDVH@edelman.com / (512) 770-8036

Alcoholism is the Devil

For the record.
I have made NO comment anywhere to anyone before this -

Beware of tabloid gossip.
This is a matter of life and death.
I am surreally calm
- I feel justice is at work.
I am not frantic or ‘as reported’ -
devastated. I am hopeful -
This is not new to us -

I am staying in France for the moment.

I have complete faith in Brandon and his team to resolve this unfortunate and sad situation regarding his father.
I pray Tommy gets the help he needs.
His actions are desperate and humiliating -
He is a disaster spinning out of control.
and he is not acting like a father.
But this is nothing new.
My sons have made every attempt to help him in recent months -
staying with him to make sure he’s ok.
Just by being present with him they were hoping he’d feel loved
and act differently.
I feared things might escalate.
But-
knew this might be what it took to heal old wounds.
Him blaming his son or us for anything is delusional.
We have all tried to
protect him and help him for too long.
Hoping he’d look after himself better.
I do not like to comment about this.
But feel like it’s necessary because of Tommy’s ‘Trump style’ no thought out rampage on twitter and IG?
This matter is ideally between just a father and a son -
And rehab if the stars align.
I will never talk to Tommy again before he is sober and in his right mind.
Though he’s made attempts to contact me. I have blocked him.
It is impossible to reason with crazy.
I’m sure the world can see the truth.
I stand beside my son who acted out of self defense and was scared for his life.
Nobody understands the lifetime of disappointment this man has brought our family.
Consistently the centre of sadness,
drama and confusion.
Jealous of his sons talent and beauty from the day they were born.
He is sick. The definition of narcissist/sociopath-
His fiancé keeps him drunk - this is what he wants - someone to behave badly with.
It’s terrible
and unfortunately he has made this private matter very public.
I have always tried only to set record straight.
Trying to paint him as not a bad guy.
Just one who is human and made mistakes -
He still cannot handle the guilt about his abusive behavior and has never taken responsibility for what he has done.
Let’s hope this will be his saving grace.
I can only pray for him.
And protect my sons
Who also fiercely protect me.

Brandon has asked me to stay in France and not come home right now.
He is happy and content that I am safe and loved where I am at -
He has invaluable support and has everything under control.
His heart amazes me.
He still does not want to see his dad in Jail
He just wants him to get sober. He was puting together an Intervention (along with friends and people Tommy works with and admired). So that whatever is left of his life can be healthy and peaceful and maybe he will be a healthy part of their lives one day.
Maybe a positive part of our future grandkids life.
Brandon has risked everything to save his father.
He takes his career very seriously.
He does not touch alcohol or drugs - (he understands his genetics) and is an example to many.
He is a tremendous talent that will show the world-
But he has put all on hold for dealing with this.
his family - his brother and our family is his priority.
Believe me
He punched him in the nose for all of us who he has hurt -
Now
Tommy feels humiliated - and is attempting to destroy his own son.
This is the Devil - This is the disease of alcoholism.

Choose Love

Help Refugees is not simply another aid organisation. We’re a group of everyday people, taking joint action to improve lives of refugees. In less than two years, we’ve become the biggest facilitator of grassroots aid on the continent, with more than 80 projects across Europe and the Middle East.

www.choose.love

www.helprefugees.org