Benjamin Dangl, Author at Toward Freedom

Vermont Peace Activists Occupy General Dynamics Weapons Plant

Benjamin Dangl May 2, 2008 Benjamin Dangl

On May 1st, International Workers’ Day, ten peace activists in Burlington, Vermont entered General Dynamics and locked themselves together in the main lobby of the building in protest against the company’s weapons manufacturing and war profiteering. University of Vermont student Benjamin Dube, one of the dozens of other activists present at the event, leaned out a window of the lobby, and pointed to the GD building, explaining, “This is the gas tank of the war machine, and we are the sugar.” read more

Brewing Trouble: How to Drink Beer and Save the World

Benjamin Dangl March 18, 2008 Benjamin Dangl

Beer, like so many other products, is largely in the hands of giant corporations. Therefore, drinking beer can often enrich the same systems of power we as activists are fighting against. Fermenting Revolution: How To Drink Beer and Save the World by Christopher O'Brien is a book about how the people can take back the brew and join together in saying, "If I can't drink good beer, it's not my revolution."

New Versus Old Right in Paraguay’s Presidential Election

Benjamin Dangl February 26, 2008 Benjamin Dangl

Blanca Ovelar

Now that much of Latin America has shifted to the left, Paraguay remains a key Washington ally. The country's political landscape continues to be dominated by the Colorado Party, which has been in power for 61 years. Yet as the panorama of candidates for the April presidential election makes clear, a new right-wing faction is emerging within the party, pledging to cut the umbilical cord with the past.

Undermining Bolivia: A Landscape of Washington Intervention

Benjamin Dangl February 11, 2008 Benjamin Dangl

US Embassy in La Paz

A thick fence, surveillance cameras, and armed guards protect the U.S. Embassy in La Paz. The embassy is a tall, white building with narrow slits of windows that make it look like a military bunker. After passing through a security checkpoint, I sit down with U.S. Embassy spokesman Eric Watnik and ask if the embassy is working against the socialist government of Evo Morales. "Our cooperation in Bolivia is apolitical, transparent, and given directly to assist in the development of the country," Watnik tells me. "It is given to benefit those who need it most." From the Bush Administration's perspective, that turns out to mean Morales's opponents.

New Hampshire: A Report from the Streets and Campaign Offices on Primary Day

Benjamin Dangl January 9, 2008 Benjamin Dangl

On January 8, primary election day in Claremont, New Hampshire, hundreds of campaign signs flapped in the wind, toppling over in snow banks as the sun grew warmer. Competing canvassers zigzagged through neighborhoods while volunteers made countless phone calls from campaign offices. Early polls before primary day pointed to a landslide victory for Barack Obama, but Hillary Clinton ended up winning. What led to the surprise results among Democratic candidates in the New Hampshire primary? A few experiences and sentiments in the streets of Claremont point to some answers.

Fear and Loathing in Bolivia: New Constitution, Polarization

Benjamin Dangl January 3, 2008 Benjamin Dangl

Pro-Government March in La Paz

"Let's go unblock the road, compañeros!" a man in an old baseball cap yells as he joins a group of people hauling rocks and tires from a central intersection in Cochabamba. This group of students and union activists are mobilizing against a civic strike led by middle class foot soldiers of the Bolivian right. These actions in the street are part of a political roller coaster which is dramatically changing Bolivia as it enters the new year.