The Palestinian grassroots, including people in exile, continues the independent organizing that earlier this year led to the historic May and June Nakba and Naksa border-crossing “Marches for Return.” In August the focus turned to an intervention into the controversy over Palestinian Authority head Mahmoud Abbas’ plan to call for a vote on “statehood” at … Continue reading Palestine: ‘Statehood’ or liberation struggle?
Month: September 2011
Obama, Fed offer no solutions as capitalism’s crisis deepens
“ZERO JOB GROWTH LATEST BLEAK SIGN FOR U.S. ECONOMY,” reads the lead headline of the Sept. 3 New York Times. The article expresses the deep pessimism of the U.S. ruling rich that no solutions are in sight.The government’s new report on hiring—a better term would be “firing”—released the day before, according to The Times, “provided … Continue reading Obama, Fed offer no solutions as capitalism’s crisis deepens
Do Israeli protests signal a shift toward class-struggle politics?
July and August have seen an unprecedented number of mass demonstrations in Israel. These mobilizations are similar, in many ways, to protests in the Arab world and in Europe. The demonstrations have raised demands against high prices and against privatization, and for increased minimum wages, but the main thrust has been high rents and a shortage … Continue reading Do Israeli protests signal a shift toward class-struggle politics?
Chicago meeting plans NATO/G8 protests
CHICAGO—On Aug. 28, over 160 activists, representing 73 organizations, met at the Kent College of Law here to take the first steps toward building a national coalition capable of mounting sizeable peaceful, permitted marches on the occasion of the NATO/G8 summits to be held next May. Speakers from many Chicago communities spoke alongside leaders of … Continue reading Chicago meeting plans NATO/G8 protests
Panel’s report continues greenwashing of gas fracking
On Aug. 11, a panel convened by the Department of Energy released a report on natural gas “fracking” (hydraulic fracturing), the first time a federal regulatory agency has weighed in on the practice. The report makes no direct policy suggestions but suggests significantly more oversight, including the disclosure of the chemicals being pumped into deep … Continue reading Panel’s report continues greenwashing of gas fracking
Verizon workers go back to work without a settlement
After a two-week strike, workers at Verizon have gone back to work with only an agreement from management to continue bargaining. The 15-day walkout by 45,000 members of the CWA and IBEW at Verizon’s landline division on the East Coast was the largest strike in the United States since a brief strike of GM workers in … Continue reading Verizon workers go back to work without a settlement
Antarsya: Summit decisions on Greek debt will bring more austerity measures
Stop payments! • Cancel the debt! • Nationalize the banks under workers control!ATHENS, July 27—The decisions of the EU summit of July 21 do not represent the “salvation of Greece”—as the prime minister hastened to explain of the Memorandum and the Midterm Program, and the mass media—submissively dependent on the government—has parroted ever since. Nor … Continue reading Antarsya: Summit decisions on Greek debt will bring more austerity measures
S.F. activists protest murders by police
Heating up the typically cool summer months in the San Francisco Bay Area have been the nearly unmitigated mobilizations and solidarity meetings throughout July and August to protest the police murders of a Black man and a white man in two of San Francisco’s transit systems. In an attempt to cool off a planned political … Continue reading S.F. activists protest murders by police
‘People not Poisons’ rally in Louisville
<!--[if !mso]> <![endif]-->LOUISVILLE, Ky.—On Aug. 13, residents of this city’s Chickasaw neighborhood, along with organizations such as the Sierra Club and Jobs with Justice, held a rally called “People not Poisons,” which focused on the effects of toxic pollution in local communities caused by private companies and corporations. The rally was located in Chickasaw Park, … Continue reading ‘People not Poisons’ rally in Louisville
Northern Lights
Ontario: On Oct. 6, Vote NDP! Tax cuts for the rich. Service cuts and fee hikes for the rest of us. That’s how the bosses make workers pay for the capitalist crisis around the world. Ontario, Canada’s most populous province, is no exception. And if the governing provincial Liberals, or the official opposition Progressive Conservatives, … Continue reading Northern Lights
Documents reveal Gadhafi ties with U.S. government
Documents show that the Bush and Obama administrations were intent on developing firm “military to military” ties with the Libyan regime of Col. Muammar Gadhafi. This was revealed in transcripts of diplomatic cables released by WikiLeaks on Aug. 24. In addition, Human Rights Watch has released copies of papers found in Libya’s office of External … Continue reading Documents reveal Gadhafi ties with U.S. government
Syria uprising is critical to continuing Arab revolt
With the NATO victory in Libya, the regional Arab revolt faces a turning point. In our last issue we explained that Egypt was the key to the fate of that revolt, because of the weight of its working class, that class’s militancy and state of mobilization, and new political projects in its ranks.Now NATO has … Continue reading Syria uprising is critical to continuing Arab revolt
Imperialist Victory Is No Gain For Libyan People
Tragically, Libya’s short-lived February 2011 “Arab Spring” was rapidly transformed into a six-month imperialist-led onslaught that wrought death and destruction on the Libyan people. The U.S. and other NATO countries are seeking to establish a beachhead in Libya that can be used to derail the mass revolts that have taken place throughout the region and … Continue reading Imperialist Victory Is No Gain For Libyan People