Republic of Lakotah- The New Lakotah State
Are people aware of what is happening with the Lakotah State? They are legally separating themselves from the U.S. to become their own sovereign nation. It is very exciting and way past due in my opinion. Who wants to move to the Republic of Lakotah? Watch the video below for an explanation of the need to separate. Russell Means makes parallels with the West Bank and invites all to move to the Lakotah State.


Republic of Lakotah
http://www.republicoflakotah.com/

1/1/2008

Notice to All Foreign Governments and Private Owners of Real Estate within the Republic of Lakotah

TO: The United States of America; The States of: Montana, Wyoming, North Dakota, South Dakota and Nebraska; The County and Municipal Governments Operating within the Republic of Lakotah; and
All Private Owners of Real Estate within the Republic of Lakotah
Lakotah, through its government, have appointed representatives to withdraw from all the treaties with the United States of America.

Lakotah, through such representatives, have formally withdrawn from all agreements and treaties with the United States of America. The reinstitution of our freedom and independence is found in law.

Lakotah has reclaimed sovereignty as a nation and over its traditional lands.
Despite many years of repeated bad faith on the part of the United States government towards the Lakotah People, the Lakotah hold no animosity toward the American people, most of whom have had no part in the actions of their government. We wish to deal with the American people in good
faith and in a win-win manner.

While we have the right to impose liens on all of the real estate in our country, we prefer to come to resolutions with you all with out resorting to such measures. Accordingly, at this time, we are only declaring liens on real estate held by governments foreign to the Republic of Lakotah, but not on
real estate held by private parties.

The Declaration of Independence, the Constitution of the United States of America and the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties substantiate this freedom.

Lakotah welcomes the opportunity to meet and discuss this matter. We are in the process of scheduling meetings and will issue public invitations. Should you desire input with regard to scheduling these meetings, please contact us at the above.

Russell Means, Chief Facilitator
Provisional Government
Republic of Lakotah

Even under occupation, life goes on...

Kids playing in one of Nablus's public parks

I just got back from a short visit to my hometown city Nablus in the occupied West Bank. The visit was for personal reasons and I didn't get much of a chance to snoop around. Still, there is one thing that any visitor to the occupied territories cannot help but notice: despite all the chaos and brutality and against all odds the people's determination to live and enjoy life prevails.

Despite being aware of the situation in the West Bank and having seen dozens of photos of the daily humiliation that goes on, especially at check points, witnessing it was a different story. Crossing the Hwara checkpoint on our way into Nablus and seeing the lines of people waiting to be searched in what looks like animal cages just to get out from Nablus to a neighbouring Palestinian town was heart-wrenching, I couldn't even reach for my camera.

But a few minutes past the checkpoint we were already going through the familiar streets of Nablus, and there it was a different story. We happened to arrive right when the schools were out. The streets were swarming with boys and girls in uniform with their colorful backpacks giggling, laughing, chatting; care free and full of energy and optimism. It was a stark contrast to the dark image a few minutes earlier. Life goes on after all and the Palestinians are not leaving or disappearing anytime soon.

School girls going through Nablus's "old town" on their way back from school

Overall, life in Nablus hasn't changed much since I last visited in 1999. People expected a lot from the new government and were very disappointed to see very little change. The Israeli checkpoints that choke the city's economic and civil life, and the nightly visits by the Israeli Occupational Forces to arrest more young Palestinian men are a constant reminder of the occupation. However, beyond that, there is also a complete lack of security. Hardly a day passes by without gunshots fired by some Palestinian "gang" at another, and the authorities can do little besides stand by and watch.

Even the main market place, the "dawwar" (roundabout), is a mess: cardboard boxes, paper, and plastic bags everywhere. It seemed to me that the municipality wasn't doing its job at keeping the place clean, but I was wrong. Every night the streets are cleaned only to be trashed by the shop owners and customers the next day.

The "dawwar" right before closing time at sunset

With the rapidly deteriorating economic situation, mainly due to the international boycott and the Israeli checkpoints that limit travel to and from the city, the market place is very quiet compared to how it used to be. Many shop owners don't even bother opening their stores anymore.

The market place in the "old town" relatively empty even at midday

The city has definitely grown though and it seems there are people that are managing to live comfortably despite everything. There are whole new areas of houses and buildings and there promises to be more to come.

Below are a couple more photos of "Jabal Innar" (the mountain of fire), the nickname given to Nablus because of its courageous resistance to the Israeli occupation.

A view of the down town area and the southern mountain

A view of the northern mountain. An Israeli military settlement is visible at the very top of the mountain.

All Along the Watchtower

...Palestinian kids play, while crooks and racists justify their imprisonment.

The song holds true in Apartheid Israel. Bob Dylan wrote this wonderful song, with Jimmy Hendrix, Pearl Jam and Dave Mathews Band doing some amazing covers.

Enjoy the lyrics, enjoy reality- because outside "in the distance a wildcat did growl, two riders were approaching, the wind began to howl."


All Along the Watchtower

"There must be some way out of here," said the joker to the thief,
"There's too much confusion, I can't get no relief.
Businessmen, they drink my wine, plowmen dig my earth,
None of them along the line know what any of it is worth."

"No reason to get excited," the thief, he kindly spoke,
"There are many here among us who feel that life is but a joke.
But you and I, we've been through that, and this is not our fate,
So let us not talk falsely now, the hour is getting late."

All along the watchtower, princes kept the view
While all the women came and went, barefoot servants, too.

Outside in the distance a wildcat did growl,
Two riders were approaching, the wind began to howl.


It speaks wonders to the situation in Israel. During this time of Dylan's life he faced being cheated out of what was his- "Businessmen, they drink my wine, plowmen dig my earth" the same way Zionist settlers usurp Palestinian lands and Israeli soldiers tear apart Palestinian farms. "None of them along the line know what any of it is worth" speaks to how the systematic destruction of the Palestinian people has not destroyed or swayed their deep seated desire to return to their homes and have a nation of their own all the while only marginalizing and creating hatred and resentment and fueling the fires of violence among the next generation of children.

Its not what the Palestinian teach their kids, its rather what the Israeli's teach all Palestinian generations- ethnic superiority- Israeli peace over Palestinian justice, Israeli sovereignty over Palestinian ability to have a functioning future independent state and Israeli future over that of Palestinian past, present and future.