While the Netroots Nation Convention commands the attention of many who are tuned into activism this weekend, there is another gathering of significance that is happening in Albany, NY–the United National Peace Conference.

Hotel workers from Chicago supported and participated in a nonviolent civil disobedience action aimed at calling attention to the Hyatt Hotel chain’s working conditions on Thursday evening. The action was part of a nationally organized plan to target Hyatt and call attention to its lack of fairness and respect toward workers.

That Americans are not supportive of progressivism is largely a conjured up fear to excuse a failure to advance a progressive agenda and win support from Democratic Party leaders for progressive change. The American people support progressive ideas. They just need real progressive leadership that, independently from Democratic Party interests, promotes a vision and future where these progressive ideas are indeed viable and practical.

Each year, for the past five years, members of what has become known as the “netroots” have come together for an annual convention known as Netroots Nation to participate in a forum for progressive activists and candidates to strengthen communities online and grow the progressive movement. As the “netroots” prepares for another convention, what might be the outcome? What is the state of the “netroots” and how are Democratic Party politics impacting the “netroots”?

What may be the only FCC public hearing on the Comcast-NBC merger was held Tuesday, July 13th. The following is a report from the hearing that shows how nonprofit organizations were enlisted by Comcast to distract from the possible impact if FCC approves of this media consolidation move.

It is uncomfortable and in some respects unreasonable to take to task those progressive Democrats who should be the biggest allies of social justice movements. This writer (who considers himself to be progressive) is in fact an ally of many of these Democrats. But the direction in which these progressives have led the Left is incredibly destructive to the future of this country and in fact the whole of humanity.

Congresssman Bobby Rush’s hearing on the Comcast-NBC merger in Chicago on July 8th shined a light on how Comcast-NBC hopes to get this through. They are hoping to demonstrate a concern for diversity and an interest in increasing minority ownership and leadership. Of course, why are they just now figuring out ways to make their corporations more diverse? Oh, yeah, this is one way to get the greenlight to merge.

A recounting of a chilling story Mac McClelland reported on that has been featured prominently on blogs for the past few week followed by a question — What is the link between this prohibiting of media access and detaining of photographers/videographers to Suspicious Activity Reporting (SAR) programs?

Adm. Thad Allen has issued a directive further restricting media access. This comes days after the ACLU of Louisiana wrote a letter urging an end to blocking of the press and censorship of information.

Video interviews with Margaret Flowers of PNHP and Katie Robbins of Healthcare-Now! on the deficit cutting agenda being pushed by AmericaSpeaks through “town hall meetings.” Last weekend, 21st Century Town Hall Meetings were held involving citizens in discussion and debate on the budget and economy, allowing citizens to talk about what they would like to cut so economic problems in this country could be properly addressed and solved.