As of Wednesday, February 29, the Kickstarter Project to fund the publication of the English translation of Oscar Lopez Rivera: Between Torture and Resistance has raised $1275.00 out of $3500.00 needed to publish. Please go to the Kickstarter site (link at the end of the story) and donate what you can today. We must raise all of the money or we receive none of it. Between Torture and Resistance is the story of one of Latin America's longest-held political prisoners, a Puerto Rican pro-independence activist who was convicted of the political "crime" of seditious conspiracy, not of harming anyone. Lavishly illustrated with photos of his life and artwork (he has become a painter during his now over thirty years behind bars), the book is an easily accessible introduction to U.S.-Puerto Rico relations and contemporary prison issues.  

On February 24, the long anticipated Noche de Libertad 2 took place. The open mic started at 7pm and for a Saturday night, Batey was filled with over 40 people, the majority being college students and some young progressive poets. The poets' pieces were all unique and one could describe the vibe in the room as lively and meaningful.

The 8th Gathering of the International Women's Network Against Militarism, that occurred on February 19-25, 2012, reunited 26 women representing 8 countries gathered in Puerto Rico. Delegates from the Philippines, Guahan (Guam), Japan, Okinawa, South Korea, Hawaii, and the US joined their counterparts in Puerto Rico to evaluate the growing military threat and develop strategies to counter the impact of militarism, military contamination, imperialism and systems of oppression and exploitation based on gender, race, class, nationality and sexual orientation. They passed the following resolution:  

* We oppose the repression and incarceration of people who fight for genuine peace and human rights.  We call on President Barak Obama to order the immediate release of Oscar Lopez Rivera who has been unjustly imprisoned for over 31 years. The U.S. Parole Commission recently denied his application for parole and ordered that he serve an additional 15 years in prison. By that time, he would be 83 years old and would have been incarcerated for 45 years for politically motivated offenses where no one was hurt. We condemn the inequity in his treatment, compared to his co-defendants. He is now the only one of the 1980's pro-independence prisoners still in prison.
   

Amidst pain and poverty lies possibilities, and the poets of Dr. Pedro Albizu Campos Puerto Rican High School have proven that they have what it takes to persevere. In the 12th annual Louder Than a Bomb spoken word slam festival, the students told stories of death, life, Humboldt Park, revolution and family, all of which formed them into the creative beings that they are today. "Campos gave me a reason to get up and speak, because I refuse to give up my freedom of speech. Louder Than a Bomb lets go of stereotypical identities and looks at me as an individual," said Brigitte Hurt, a performance poet.

With different difficulties getting in their way, Roberto Collazo, Stanton Howard, Brigitte Hurt, Lorraine Melecio, Wilberto Morales and Hecmarie Rodríguez took second place in their first bout, missing the first place mark by only a tenth of a point. In their second bout they placed in fourth, but left with high spirits and a rigorous resolve to continue sharing their words with the world. Joel Jiménez, a senior at PACHS, made it to the Louder Than a Bomb college finals, which takes place on Saturday, March 3rd in the Chicago Cultural Center (78 E. Washington) at 8pm. In a poetry competition that one poet compared to the feeling of "love for the first time", and in a forum another detailed as their safe space to finally set their soul, words and emotions free, the poets of PACHS were able to travel outside of themselves in rhythmic verse, and represented Paseo Boricua righteously.

Urban agriculture and community food production was the topic of a Café Society event hosted by the Humboldt Park Bureau of WBEZ Chicago Public Radio. Carlos R. DeJesús, Director of Urban Agriculture of the collaborative in community food production by Dr. Pedro Albizu Campos High School (PACHS) and the Puerto Rican Cultural Center. Carlos is also an Assistant Principal of PACHS.

The event was well attended by community residents and service professionals interested in discussing innovative ways to address the community's designation as a food desert and the resultant health disparities. Humboldt Park and parts of West Town have an exceedingly high prevalence of obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease.

Asthma cannot be cured but it can be controlled-children with asthma can live without symptoms.