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Showing posts from August, 2012

Across A Bridge in Linden: To El Dorado or a Symbol of our Historical Dilemma.

Wismar-Mackenzie Bridge, Linden The Guyana Police Force. Improperly Dressed for Peace (C) Norvell Fredericks Demerara Bauxite Company was Canadian owned before nationalization in 1970.Things have changed ((C) N. Fredericks) The People United ((c) N. Fredericks) By: Clairmont Chung On July 18, 2012 residents in Linden, Guyana, blocked a bridge in protest against a plan to increase electricity rates. The State responded by firing on the unarmed crowd. Three people died and several more were wounded. Residents responded by seizing and occupying that, and a second, bridge. A state of siege, undeclared martial law, descended on the community and continues as I write. Here I attempt to show the history of our dependence on fuels, energy, and violence and why the bridge at Linden is such an important symbol. Linden is not alone, it’s happening to people everywhere. It is not a romantic lament about the good old days. They were not. It’s the same strategy of old...