By MICHAEL SCHREIBER On April 8, the case of Judi Bari v. the FBI will be heard in a federal courtroom in Oakland, Calif. The trial begins almost 12 years after Earth First! organizers Judi Bari and Darryl Cherney were injured when a bomb exploded in Judi's car. The bomb attack took place on May … Continue reading FBI Indicted in Earth First! Bomb Trial
Month: April 2002
Picket Line and Barricades
Sharon: 'Palestinians-out!' In the elegant phrase of Washington bureaucrats, they "don't give a rat's ass." They don't care a whit if all Palestinians were to die tomorrow. No, not true-they'd be overjoyed. Another tough problem overcome! Unfortunately for Washington, the Palestinians have no intention of quietly committing suicide. On the contrary, with every tank, aircraft, … Continue reading Picket Line and Barricades
Youth in Action
The Truth about Shell Oil By MARK OSTAPIAK In September 2001, Northland College in Ashland, Wis., sponsored a forum on "sustainability" featuring a representative from Shell Oil. In response, the Youth for Socialist Action on campus distributed a leaflet describing Shell's atrocious record in Nigeria. This article is adapted from the leaflet. Beneath the ground … Continue reading Youth in Action
One Woman Speaks for Many
The FCC has banned her rap CD, calling it "indecent" - but Sarah Jones attracts huge audiences to her feminist performances. By GAETANA CALDWELL--SMITH SAN FRANCISCO-The mostly young activist types and older leftists packing the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts Theatre had come to see Sarah Jones's performance of "Women Can't Wait." Initially, the … Continue reading One Woman Speaks for Many
US Resumes Bombing of Puerto Rican Island
By GERRY FOLEY The U.S. Navy resumed its practice bombing of the island of Vieques, off the coast of Puerto Rico, on April 1, despite massive opposition among the Puerto Rican people to the Navy's use of the island as a test range. The present exercises are scheduled to last until April 20. In its … Continue reading US Resumes Bombing of Puerto Rican Island
National Steel Corporation Declares Bankruptcy
By ADAM RITSCHER DULUTH, Minn.-In early March, National Steel Corporation filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. National Steel is the fifth largest steel company in the country, and its bankruptcy comes on the heels of that of Cleveland Cliffs-which is the nation's number one iron ore producer. Both corporations have blamed their financial difficulties on … Continue reading National Steel Corporation Declares Bankruptcy
United Airlines Machinists Vote for Contract – May Vote Out Union
By CHARLES WALKER If on March 5, the ranks of the Machinists Union (IAM) had voted down United Airlines' second contract offer, the union's officialdom would have been between a rock and a hard place, because the officialdom went all out to sell the airline's offer. Just three weeks earlier the ranks rejected a very … Continue reading United Airlines Machinists Vote for Contract – May Vote Out Union
How Much Will Steel Tariffs Cost Steelworkers
By CHARLES WALKER You can't blame steelworkers for taking to the streets, demanding that their jobs and their security be protected from the dog-eat-dog competition that's driving some steel companies into bankruptcy and steel workers onto unemployment lines. But sometimes when the demands of some steelworkers are met, even partially, other steelworkers are forced out … Continue reading How Much Will Steel Tariffs Cost Steelworkers
Chinese Workers Protest Layoffs
By GERRY FOLEY Since China, unlike Russia and Eastern Europe, is still a predominately rural country, the effects of the ruling bureaucracy's turn toward restoring capitalism have not been so obvious. But for the industrial sector, they are basically the same. The first effect is massive layoffs of workers in the big industries built up … Continue reading Chinese Workers Protest Layoffs
Revolutions Brought Gains in Education and Health Care
By PAUL SIEGEL Following is the third chapter of a new pamphlet by Paul Siegel on the theory and practice of socialism. It is available from Socialist Action Books for $3. It is noteworthy that the Soviet Union, China, and Vietnam all made great strides forward after their revolutions in the vital fields of health … Continue reading Revolutions Brought Gains in Education and Health Care
New Surge in Argentina’s Social Crisis
By GERRY FOLEY The economic crisis in Argentina took another jump at the end of March, as the peso at one point plunged to four to a dollar. The government barely managed to bring it down to three at the end of trading before the Easter holiday-and probably not for long. Even at this shaky … Continue reading New Surge in Argentina’s Social Crisis
Files Opened on 27 Years of US Terror in Angola
By JEFF MACKLER After 27 years in the service of one or another imperialist power, Jonas Savimbi fought his last "rebel" battle in February when he met his end at the hands of Angolan government military forces. Savimbi headed the National Union for the Total Liberation of Angola (UNITA), a military/political force armed over the … Continue reading Files Opened on 27 Years of US Terror in Angola
Solidarity Activists Forced Into Hiding in Colombia
The Irish Latin American Solidarity Campaign announced March 29 that two representatives sent to Colombia to investigate a complaint of human rights violations had been forced to go into hiding by collusion between the Colombian army and right-wing terrorist death squads. One of those endangered was an Irish citizen, Gearoid O Loinsigh; the other was … Continue reading Solidarity Activists Forced Into Hiding in Colombia
Three Million Workers Rally in Italy to Protest Anti-Labor Legislation
By GERRY FOLEY Three million workers and youth marched in Rome on Saturday, March 23, in response to an attempt by the recently elected reactionary government in Italy to give employers an unrestricted right to fire their workers. It was undoubtedly the largest demonstration in the history of the country. The march, called by Italy's … Continue reading Three Million Workers Rally in Italy to Protest Anti-Labor Legislation
Is the US Recession Really Over?
By JEFF MACKLER There is little agreement among the ruling rich as to the state of the U.S. economy. While some government officials tentatively assert that the recession is virtually over, a poll of Fortune 500 CEOs indicated that 75 percent disagree. The fact that Congress failed to pass President Bush's proposed $100 billion stimulus … Continue reading Is the US Recession Really Over?
Hundreds of Thousands Protest EU Meeting in Barcelona
Hundreds of thousands marched in Barcelona last month protesting the conference of the European Union (EU) summit. Some highlights of the week of activities were: Sunday, March 10, 400,000 people demonstrated against Spain's National Hydrological Plan. Thursday, March 14, 100,000 trade unionists answered the call of the European TUC, demonstrating for "More Europe with full … Continue reading Hundreds of Thousands Protest EU Meeting in Barcelona
In Struggle, from Death Row at San Quentin Prison: WAR
By KEVIN COOPER War is defined as: 1) A state or period of conflict or armed conflict between nations or states. 2) A determined struggle or attack. 3) A condition of antagonism or conflict. 4) The techniques or procedures of war, military science. 5) A concerted effort to put down, reduce, or exterminate a group … Continue reading In Struggle, from Death Row at San Quentin Prison: WAR
Commentary by Mumia Abu-Jamal: Silent, Hidden Terrorism
By MUMIA ABU-JAMAL The envoys, public relations specialists, and apologists for the Bush administration tell all that their's is a global, borderless war against terrorism, and "all who harbor terrorists." This glib threat has justified the American entry and intervention into nations as diverse as Somalia, the Philippines and the Indonesian islands, in a search … Continue reading Commentary by Mumia Abu-Jamal: Silent, Hidden Terrorism
Fidel’s Speech in Monterrey, Mexico
(This English translation, from the March 22 issue of Granma, differs slightly from the translated paragraphs in Jaime Gonzalez's article above.) By FIDEL CASTRO Excellencies: Not everyone here will share my thoughts. Still, I will respectfully say what I think. The existing world economic order constitutes a system of plundering and exploitation like no other in … Continue reading Fidel’s Speech in Monterrey, Mexico
Cuba Rejects Phony ‘Aid’ Plan at Mexico Economic Summit
By JAIME GONZALEZ MEXICO CITY-Fidel's sharp and short speech on March 21, at an international conference held in Monterrey, Mexico, was very far from the courtly hypocrisy accustomed at United Nations boondoggles. "The current world economic order represents a system of plundering and exploitation like no other in history," Castro said. He pointed out that … Continue reading Cuba Rejects Phony ‘Aid’ Plan at Mexico Economic Summit
Stop US Aid to Apartheid Israel
By GERRY FOLEY In the face of a growing international outcry over Israel's massive terror against the Palestinian population, U.S. President George Bush went on TV on April 4 to try to defuse criticism of the United States for its backing of the Zionist state. Bush's hypocrisy was underlined by the contrasting headlines in The New … Continue reading Stop US Aid to Apartheid Israel