Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee Hearings on Puerto Rico Status held August 1, 2013.Music: Apollo 440 ''Crazee Horese '' The Mars Volta ''L'Via L'Viaquez''' Robi Draco Rosa ''Luchar Por Ella'' The Express Local ''The Annexation of Puerto Rico'' Coheed and Cambria ''The Hard Sell.''

Be The Change Puerto Rico

Senate Committee Status Hearings

We interview Proyecto Estrella Director Jos Cabrera Costas, Esq. about the November 6, 2012 plebiscite on status results.You can find out more about Proyecto Estrella by visiting their website http://proyectoestrella.org/You can also Like Proyecto Estrella on Facebook, and follow on Twitter @proyestrella.Martin Luther King, Jr. ''I've Seen The Promised Land'' Speech, Luke Vibert ''Electrophy'' / Apollo 440 ''Crazee Horse,'' Million Young ''Weak Ends,'' Moby ''Shot In The Back of the Head,'' Forever Came Calling ''Annexation of Puerto Rico,'' and Eastern Sun ''Days Gone By.''Be The Change Puerto Ricowww.bethechangepuertorico.org

Proyecto Estrella's Jose Cabrera

1. West Wing on Puerto Rico Statehood2. Wolf Blitzer CNN on Rick Santorum Gaff3. MSNBC on Rick Santorum4. Romney on Puerto Rico Statehood5. Starting Point on Rick Santorum and the Language Issue6. Johan Bodell ''The 51st State?''Music: Apollo 440 ''Crazee Horse,'' Ramones ''My Brain Is Hanging Upside Down,'' Placebo ''Trigger Happy Hands,'' James Iha ''To Who Knows Where,'' & Nine Inch Nails ''The Hand That Feeds.''Be The Change You Want To See In Puerto RicoSupport ChangeSupport Puerto Rico StatehoodRebel Against Colonialism & All Those That Perpetuate It

Language Non-Issue As A Colony Ends

On this episode of Be The Change Puerto Rico Podcast we present ''Lip Service: When Democracy Need Not Apply to the Territory.'' President Obama's lack of clarity and commitment to Puerto Rico's century old quest of decolonization and self-determination under American rule has many in resignation and in ire. Lip service can only take a politician so far, but action is what the island really needs. Unfortunately, Puerto Rico's lack of political power within the American union of which it is a part, makes it hard for the island to commit leaders on a national level to its causes. But now, with the advent of the Puerto Rican mass migration of the past decade, especially to Florida, a swing state, this might begin to change as most Puerto Rican residents in Florida support Statehood for the island. In order for politicians to gain their trust and their vote, they will have to start to commit to resolving the island's woes at the hands of the current status quo - which has done nothing but destroy its economy, its social, and its political structure to shreds.Music: Apollo 440 ''Crazee Horse,'' Arcane Roots ''You Are,'' Poisonblack ''Mercury Falling,'' William Control ''Cemetery,'' Opeth ''Windowpayne,'' and Black Books ''The Big Idea.''Be The Change You Want To See In Puerto Rico.Get Involved!Write us at: bethechangepr@gmail.com

When Democracy Need Not Apply

The Puerto Rico Statehood movement is a coalition of Republicans, Democrats, and independents all working together to achieve full equality within the Union of States. This is why it is important for every Statehood supporter to gain perspective to the fact that, while we remain a territory, our job is to leave national partisanship aside until we accomplish our ultimate goal. Statehood is not a Republican issue and it is not a Democrat issue its an American Civil Rights issue, its a political issue, its a democratic deficiency issue affecting almost 4 million American citizens living on an island territory of the United States. Nevertheless, every single pro-statehood Puerto Rican must get involved in national politics it doesnt matter whether youre republican or democrat we must get involved in national politics because they are consequential to out political goals. Our involvement and activism in both parties can influence the partys position on our status problem as a matter of public policy that, once a party gains control of the federal government, the partys public policy will help bend politicians to treat the subject in a particular way. Therefore, I dont see any practical benefit for any pro-statehood supporter favoring or, god-forbid, supporting Congressman Luis Gutierrez for Congress. It doesnt matter if you happen to be a Democrat or a Republican Luis Gutierrez has dedicated much of his tenure in Congress to negatively affect the Statehood movement. So has New Yorks Nydia Velazquez.It is up to you to get involved, and seek and help out those who are aspiring for political office that are and will be friends to Puerto Rico and our noble cause for Statehood. We have friends in both Partys they understand our struggle, they understand our strife, they understand it is unfair and un-American and that the current political status flies in the face of Democracy - and we need to do everything within our power to help elect them in 2012 and beyond.In this episode of Be The Change Puerto Rico Podcast we interview Congressional candidate for Illinois 4th District, Hector L. Concepcin. He is one of those friends.Music: Apollo 440 ''Crazee Horse,'' Zwan ''Freedom,'' Tool ''Schism,'' Dave Matthews Band ''#41,'' Creedence Clearwater Revival ''Lookin' Out My Back Door,'' and Tyler Bates ''Two Perfect moments.''Be the change you want to see in Puerto Rico and get involved.Inquiries and questions: bethechangepr@gmail.comTo support Hector L. Concepcin for US Congress visit his official Facebook page, or Union Estadista also on Facebook. You can also call (847) 406-8031 or Ana Echevarria (939) 397-3939. Get involved!

Hector L. Concepcion for Congress

Welcome to Be The Change Puerto Rico Podcast.In this episode we take a look back at HR 856 of 1997-1998. We find that many of the arguments against Puerto Rico self-determination and Statehood are the same today, even when most, if not all of those arguments, including the Spanish language and Puerto Rico as the American Quebec arguments, have proven to be utterly false. We can't move forward if we do not know our past, and it is essential to know this if we are to be successful in formulating new strategies in order to advance in our struggle for equality and Statehood for our island of Puerto Rico and it's almost 4 million American citizens that reside therein.Music: Apollo 440, ''Crazee Horse,'' Enigma ''The Same Parents,'' Hooverphonics ''Sarangi,'' Digital Farm Animals ''Home,'' Westbound Train ''Check Your Time,'' Unkle ''Burn My Shadow,'' & Mansions on the Moon ''For Awhile.''Be The Change You Want To See In Puerto Rico and Get Involved.All inquiries write to: bethechangepr@gmail.com

The Time Is Always Right Now

In this episode of Be The Change Puerto Rico we hear the voices of Congressmen from the last two territories admitted as States of the Union in 1959 - Hawaii and Alaska. We also hear the problem of disenfranchisement of American citizens that reside in US territories such as Guam and Puerto Rico. We hear the frustration of being able to participate in presidential primary elections, but not the presidential elections themselves & how this is not only incompatible with our democratic system, but with everything we stand for and that are willing to fight for in foreign soils. Isn't it time we take care of our own as well?Be The Change YOU want to see in Puerto Rico and get involved!Write us at bethechangepr@gmail.comMusic: Apollo 440 ''Crazee Horse,'' Dishwalla ''Counting Blue Cars,'' Israel Kamakawiwo'ole ''White Sandy Beach of Hawaii'', AFI ''God Called In Sick Today,'' Placebo ''Ashtray Heart,'' Alice In Chains ''Your Decision,'' Israel Kamakawiwo'ole ''Somewhere Over The Rainbow/What A Wonderful World.''

Echoes of Self-Determination

In this episode of Be The Change Puerto Rico, we present you with legal analysis on the status options Puerto Rico has, as argued and presented by Prof. Richard Pildes of NYU School of Law and Law Prof. Christina Duffy Burnett of Columbia University School of Law. We also hear from Xavier Romero, former Secretary of Commerce of Puerto Rico. Music by: Apollo 440 ''Crazee Horse,'' Deftones ''Drive,'' 30 Seconds To Mars ''A Beautiful Lie,'' Days of the New ''Seasons Change,'' Unkle ''Lawless,'' Frank Black ''Man of Steel,'' and Boat Club ''Nowhere.'' Please support our Podcast by subscribing on iTunes and writing a review. For all questions, comments, or inquiries please write us at: bethechangepr@gmail.com Be The Change You Want To See In Puerto Rico and get involved!

Legal Arguments on Status

Don't miss our revealing interview with Dr. Miriam Ramirez in our upcoming episode of Be The Change Puerto Rico Podcast. Everything you thought you knew about the struggle for Statehood within party lines will be challenged as Dr. Ramirez offers us the insight she has gained from her more than 30 years experience as a Statehood advocate, activist, and politician. Adelante estadista! Music by: Apollo 440 Crazee Horse, Eastern Sun Days Gone By, The Gathering Monsters, Foo Fighters Aurora, Jimmy Eat World May Angels Lead You In, John Lennon Watching the Wheels, Weezer This Is Such A Pity, Vic Chesnutt Sad Peter Pan, The Twilight Singers Hard Time Killing Floor, & Washed Out Eyes Be Closed (Lovelock Remix).

Interview with Dr. Miriam Ramirez

The language issue on Puerto Rico Statehood is pivotal and important. Unfortunately, most people, even in the island, have the language debate wrong. Puerto Ricans for the most part are proficient in English in one form or another. When polled, island residents consistently say they wish to dominate the language and wish more English is taught in public schools. The reason this doesn't happen is because the language issue has been taken hostage by the Pro-Commonwealth Popular Democratic Party. For decades, said party has sought to limit English in schools as a way to perpetuate the status quo. They also use the issue as a way to block Statehood, go to Congress and say ''Here, Puerto Ricans do not speak English and some don't even want to learn it.'' This is false. Mainland residents must be aware that what is going on in the US island territory goes much deeper than any one would have you believe.Music by: Apollo 440 ''Crazee Horse,'' Zwan ''Ride A Black Swan,'' Wise Guys ''Start the Commotion,'' Green Day ''American Idiot,'' and Pixies ''Isla de Encanta.''Enjoy and remember, support Puerto Rican Statehood.Be the change you want to see in Puerto Rico.

The Language Debate on Statehood

In this episode we present you a recast of Solid Principles' Episode 33, The United States Plus One: The Prospect of Puerto Rico As the 51st State brought to you with kind permission from our friends and producers of the episode Craig Edwards and John Cronin from solidprinciples.com. You can link to their page at www.solidprinciples.com, to listen to this and other Solid Principles podcasts and access their blog. Solid Principles can also be found in Facebook, Twitter, and through their Solid Principles You Tube Channel. Please visit them as they were kind enough to let us recast their episode on Puerto Rico.The following episode will serve as our third and final installment in our series The Haunting of HR 2499. Music by Apollo 440, ''Crazee Horse,'' Arcade Fire, ''Wake Up,'' Dredg, ''Ode to the Sun,'' and Dropkick Murphy's, ''Amazing Grace.''

The Haunting of HR 2499 (Part 3)

In this episode we feature excerpts from the 2011 Young Democrat's of America National Conference held in Kentucky during the last week of July. Puerto Rico made an impact and had presence in the conference. We must also make clear that, while this episode feature Democrats, the Puerto Rico Statehood issue is not a one party issue - neither Democrat nor Republican. Rather, it is an American Democracy and Civil Rights issue where 4 million American citizens remain disenfranchised solely because of geographic and misconceived and faulty judicial interpretations. Since the Puerto Rico Statehood movement is a coalition of Democrats, Republicans, and independent voters, We wish to reflect that by presenting an episode featuring the Young Republican Federation of Puerto Rico in a future podcast if that organization is willing to submit audio for us to work with. Music: Apollo 440, ''Crazee Horse,'' Empire of the Sun, ''Standing on the Shore (Lifelike Remix),'' Joey Ramone, ''What A Wonderful World,'' Tiger Army, ''Forever Fade Away,'' Ben Harper, ''Fight Outta You,'' and INXS, ''Don't Change.''

Puerto Rico in the YDA Conference

The Haunting of HR 2499 (Part 2): President Obama's historic visit to the US Territory of Puerto Rico as it relates to it's status. Excerpts from John F. Kennedy's speech of 1961 in Puerto Rico, President Obama's speech in 2011, Jon Stewart, Democracy Now!, Fox News, and The Miami Herald.Music by: AFI, ''End Transmission'' Blink 182, ''Mutt'' Karen O, ''If You're Gonna Be Dumb, You Gotta Be Tough'' Incubus, ''Pardon Me'' Lucinda Williams, ''Can't Let Go'' & Hibernate, ''Alaska Waves.''

The Haunting of HR 2499 (Part 2)

The Haunting of HR 2499, Part 1: Unmasking the Friends & Enemies of Puerto Rico Decolonization. Featuring: a CNN Report on HR 2499, Congressman Jos Serrano (D-NY) Congressman Steve King (R-IA) Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL) and a speech by President Ronal Reagan. Music by: Airtone, ''Sometimes'' Pedro Rivera Toledo, ''En Mi Viejo San Juan'' Raga Against the Machine, ''Guerilla Radio'' Rancid, ''Time Bomb'' Smashing Pumpkins, ''Everlasting Gaze'' Stabbing Westward, ''Torn Apart'' Thrice, ''Stare at the Sun'' & Empire of the Sun, ''We Are the People.''

The Haunting of HR 2499 (Part 1)

Our aim is to inform listeners about Puerto Rico and the island's struggle to achieve full US Statehood, and to combat and dismiss many of the misconceptions disseminated on our national media about the US island territory. Get to know your next State. Support us and subscribe today!

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Be The Change Puerto Rico

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